This may be the best tacos I've ever had in my life and this is coming from a socal boy born and raised. Mindblowingly good, I always kick myself when I can't make it while I'm in town. Only my second time having Yucatan-style Mexican food that I know of (there is a spot between Seattle and Portland that is OK) before. The tacos are street taco sized where you can either get the panucho-style where it's crisp like a tostada with a little bit of refried beans cooked in or salbutes where it has like a thin puffed crispy tortilla. I always get both when I visit. You HAVE to start with the cochinita which are the best, but feel free to try the asada and pollo if you're craving those too, that's the best part of these bite-sized tacos you can get lots of different ones. I get 4 when I come in and that usually satisfies me just fine. I've tried other dishes here like the chips & salsa, the black bean soup, but they're nowhere near the level of the cochinita tacos. These are the best I've had after a lifetime of tacos up and down the west coast, do not sleep on this absolute gem of a spot in a place where authentic Mexican food of this quality is hard to find! And pro tip: ALWAYS get an agua fresca. It rotates frequently and they make them all just as good as their tacos. Horchata, Tamarind, Melon, never had one that was anything less than stellar. A good rule of thumb is you can tell how good a Mexican spot is by the agua fresca! read more

My sister and I were in search of some PDX Mexican food to celebrate my dad's life on the third anniversary of his passing. After some extensive research, I landed on Ki'ikbáa and WOW! It blew me away. We went on an unassuming Tuesday, early evening. By the time we left, nearly every table was occupied and the patrons just kept coming. I wanted to try a little of everything, so I had a taco, empanada and tamale and each item was better than the last. The gentlemen taking our order were very sweet and the food arrived quickly. The interior is cute, but I can't say enough about how good the food was. Can't wait to eat my way through their menu. read more

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On our last visit to Portland, Ki'ikibáa seemed like the most interesting place to try near where we were staying in NE Portland. It's a counter service establishment and it wasn't too busy when we arrived for a Thursday dinner. The food took about 15 minutes to cook after we ordered at the counter. Since we're not very experienced with Yucatan cuisine, we tried out a bunch of small items. Starting with the salsa - there are two types provided with every meal. Firstly a fiery orange colored one that initially tastes quite fruity and smoky but a microsecond later assaults the tongue with blistering heat. I seriously started sweating with only a couple of drops of this habanero-based salsa. The green salsa, on the other hand, starts with a earthy and herbal taste, while the heat lingers in the background only to build and build to finally erupt into a fireball in the mouth. Cochinita Pibil ($15) - This dish has a very interesting aroma. It's very gamey, almost goat-like in smell. Luckily it tastes nothing like how it smells. Instead, the large chunks of perfectly cooked pork shoulder are braised in a deep and savory stew, like it's been slow cooked for hours upon hours. The taste is very familiar and comforting, something perfect for a cold and rainy day. With the savoriness comes a slight bit of a fruity flavor as well, very complementary rather than clashing. The dish comes with five warmed corn tortillas. (5/5) Tamales ($4) - This tamale includes masa surrounding an inner core of pork and chicken shreds, then steamed in a banana leaf, unwrapped, and topped with a tomato achiote salsa. The salsa on top is extremely acidic and tangy like a strong tomato sauce. The masa is fantastic. The banana leaf imparts a fragrance to the corn flour that wafts into the nose with every bite. The masa forms a more firm outer layer while the inside is tender - not as tender as the kind of goopy Salvadoran variety, but softer than a typical Northern Mexican corn husk tamale. The interior, where the masa touches the meat, there's almost like a reduced gelatinized broth, kind of like gravy that gives a concentrated savory and meaty flavor. Super delicious. (5/5) Empanada de Carne Molida ($4) - They had three choices - pork, cheese, or spinach. We went with the pork. The empanada is just okay in my opinion. It's fried, but then plopped onto a piece of parchment paper, which is nonpourous and lets the freshly fried moisture underneath soak the bottom. The top still retains a fried masa-like crisp, and the entire thing is topped with chopped pickled cabbage and red onion, giving even more crunch and a pleasing acidic punch. Unfortunately the masa and especially the filling, a savory and sour ground pork mixture, are quite dry. This dish practically requires salsa to eat and unfortunately the salsa is too spicy for me. It's great dipped in the Cochinita Pibil broth though! (3/5) Panuchos de Asada ($4) - This is an interesting flat tortilla disk, fried until nicely crunchy although not quite to the point of turning into a tortilla chip. They slather a thin layer of refried black bean inside, essentially stuffing the tortilla, leaving a cloudy layer of soft masa on top, then add a vegetable mix of chopped onion and cilantro. The menu also mentions lettuce, pickled cabbage and red onions, tomato, avocado and jalapeno, but none of those were included. Strange. At any rate, the overall flavor profile is nice, with the herbal and allium notes on top, the savory and salty beans, and the slight char on the meat. The meat itself is perhaps a little on the tough side, but nothing a little chewing can't solve. I do think that it's again a dish that requires salsa, but it has a bit more moisture than the empanada. (4/5) Salbutes de Asada ($4) - This is basically the same as the panuchos minus the refried beans and with a different fried tortilla. The fried shell is kind of a like a tender basket with a delicately crispy skin. It's puffy but not airy; much more substantial than the fried tortilla in the panuchos. This one also suffers a bit from being placed on the parchment paper, getting the bottom a bit soggy and messing with the fluffiness. (4/5) Overall I really enjoyed trying food at Ki'ikibáa. They certainly serve some interesting dishes, familiar yet different, that I can't say I've had before. I have no idea how this restaurant compares with food actually in Yucatan though! Bathrooms - Single Unisex Room read more

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Excellent, everything. I'm so glad such a high-quality place is right on 82nd in a fun and inexpensive format. Each dish is special and made in-house. I got the pozole verde as they were out of the red, I heard they sell out very quickly, so maybe go for lunch. The soup is rich, full of corn, pulled chicken and lots of fresh sides ($15-ish). I will be back to try everything. Lots of parking in the back. Counter service only. :) read more

Ki’ikibáa - Pozole verde - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Came back to try the panuchos since they were out last time I came but they were so good especially with cochinitas. Also the pozole is super good as well! read more

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I love the Salbutes and Panuchos so much here and get 4-6 of them each meal and it's hard to have to cut back on them to try other things, but the weather is getting chilly, which means it's SOUP SZN!!! On this most recent trip, my mission was to order the Pozole. I get there and order the Pozole and the cashier hit me with "red or green." S#!T...that curveball led me into panic since I didn't know which pozole I had last time, which one was better, what the differences are, etc. The cashier told me green was her favorite and that's what I ordered, but that being said I couldn't resist and still had to order 3 Salbutes/Panuchos to supplement. The Pozole was fantastic...it came to the table hot with so much steam that it was hard to get a good photograph as it was fogging my lens. It came with cabbage, tortilla strips, avocado and lime all on the side so you can add to your liking. The soup was seasoned really well without being salty and was so comforting and savory with a solid amount of umami goodness. I ran into a problem in that the pozole was so good and I couldn't put down my spoon but I had the fortunate dilemma of having 3 other Salbutes/Panuchos to eat and I had to prioritize what and how much to eat since I definitely ordered more than I could handle lol. Staff are always such a pleasure to interact with and chat with here, and I think this is the restaurant I've frequented the most in 2025 and probably have introduced it to 6 others as well. read more

I have had Mexican food but not necessarily Yucatán in particular, and this place does Yucatán food really well! My only regret was I didn't order more. This is a fast casual place where you order at the front and they deliver the food to you. We tried the panuchos de cochinita, salbutes de asada, and empanadas de carne molida. For $12, it's okay price since each piece is tiny but they're super delicious so they emphasize quality over quantity. I loved the panuchos since the "tortilla" is like a black bean pupusa and they load up the meat on top. The cochinita is super flavorful and juicy so I highly recommend this meat, but the asada was good but not too memorable. The salbutes is a fried dough as tortilla which is also quite interesting. I enjoyed the empanadas with the generous amount of meat but I liked the panuchos and salbutes more. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Menu - IG @bougiefoodieboi - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came here with a friend on his recommendation. He was blown away by the food and wanted me to experience it. Well, he was spot on! Everything was so fresh, delicious flavored and satisfying. I was so impressed with the love they clearly put into every dish and how beautifully everything is plated. This is not a fancy restaurant by any means. You order at the counter, take a number, and they bring the food to your table. Lots of seating - wooden tables and chairs - in a light filled room with charming little details like the napkin holders and little vases of flowers. The food is Yucata, not many Yucatan restaurants in Portland, and the word is out after being named Portlands Restaurant of the Year in 2024. I ordered a pork panucho, both a pork and chicken cochinita, and we shared an empanada. The panucho is a flat refried tortilla topped with refried black beans, the only kind I like, pork, pickled red onion, lettuce and avacado. It was absolutely delicious. So fresh and flavorful. The salbutes were similar, without the beans, and equally delicious. Just writing this review has got my tastebuds ignited! I need to go back and get more of what I had, plus try the soup, the burritos and tacos. Kl'kiba'a is affordable, high quality food made with so much love. read more

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Excellent food, quick service. Braised pork is absolutely the best. All were good but pork was a clear winner. Highly recommend

Hidden gem. So good. Incredible food. I got a burrito and loved it. Staff was friendly. FYI, you can't bring outside drinks in and they will make you throw it away. Inside has lots of seating. There is parking outside. I wish it was more obvious where this is from the road. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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GOOD FOOD GOOD PEOPLE. The cashier was very kind, he introduced me to some of their top dishes. I had never had a Panucho before but I will have many more: Handmade tortillas and the savory beans from heaven. Friendly restaurant, good vibes, good music, really good food. read more

SO MUCH FLAVOR! This Texan has NEVER had Mexican food THIS tasty!!! I know, hyperbole, right, but seriously, the flavors (and textures) are fantastic! I had the 3 Panuchos plate with chicken, asada, and conchinitas, while Miki had a couple empañadas and a tamale with a side of black beans. My first bite was the chicken. You might think, "Oh, chicken, you started with the boring one first" and you'd be right, or so I thought! But, no, we are both wrong! The first thing I noticed was the slightly crispy outside and edges of the thick tortilla and the soft center, very much like a San Antonio style puffy taco, but a bit denser. Then, the flavors, the juiciness, the everything... even before I anointed it with salsa... just WOW. The only thing that used to come close were the guisados at De Leon's. Close. The refried beans layered at the base of the panucho was so flavorful! The use of pickled radishes was really great and reminded me of the relationship of some Mexican dishes to Lebanese influences. And this was the wallflower of the three...! The Asada was wonderful, juicy and flavorful, but the Cochinitas ... dayum. Here is a cook who understands the need for juicy, flavorful, drip down your chin fat! All that orange-colored goodness makes the meat so flavorful, so moist. The Achiote is prominent without overpowering, but made this the standout. Again with the pickled radish, a perfect addition to help cut the fat a bit. God, I so want one right now. And, Miki's food had some standouts too! The empanadas were light and crispy, a nice change from thicker versions I have had more often and her tamale was moist and flavorful... but the beans, oh..., the BLACK BEANS! Wow, these were flavorful beans! Miki scraped out every last bit. I thought she might try to lick the bowl clean! YUM! Pro Tip: If you are coming Northbound down 82nd, pull in at the little road right before the strip center and then turn left to find parking. They are down on the corner near Klickitat, but getting in this was is much easier, especially with all the construction right now. read more

Ki’ikibáa - A beautiful tamale and two empeñadas topped with beautiful and tasty pickled radish! - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I like the food there-but they put almost nothing of azada-to my panuchos-they lost me as a costumer

The interior is bright, clean and inviting. The folks behind the counter are friendly and helpful. The menu is full of great options. All of my three visits have included different dishes, and all have been delicious. The food is an interesting blend of traditional Mexican and Central American flavors. read more

Amazing food, very delicious. The food is more unique in America in that it isn't the typical Tex-mex

Having grown up in San Diego about 30 minutes from the US/Mexico border, I've been eating Mexican food of all varieties my whole life. From Taquerias, taco trucks, and sit down restaurants to my friends' moms kitchens. Does that make me an expert in Mexican food? Absolutely. Having lived in both Seattle and Portland, I didn't know anyone could make food like this in the Pacific Northwest. I'd given up looking for it. This place is next level. I went in and ordered food to go. It took about 20 minutes to get my food. That tells me that they're actually preparing my food to order and not slapping it together. This is not fast food. It's high quality, well prepared food made with good ingredients. Yes it's good Mexican food, but more importantly it's just good food. read more

We loved this cheerful little Mexican place with Yucatán food packed full of flavor. Their empanadas are so crispy and delicious! Between my son & I we got both kinds. I also got a puffed, deep fried tortilla called a salubute with beef and a chicken panucho, which is a flat fried tortilla. Both were so good! I got a cup of black beans too. The beans were smooth & blended so they were sort like a thick bean soup. Corn tortillas came with it so I dipped those in and ate some with a spoon we well. They are smooth and creamy and flavorful. My son got a large bowl of posole that he liked and my husband got what I think was a carne asada plate which also had refried beans, etc . We all enjoyed our food. Their salubutes and panuchos are small and the empanadas aren't huge so order accordingly if you want to order them. It was so much fun to try a different type of Mexican food, rather than the same ol' same ol' Mexican fare most Mexican restaurants serve. We'll be back! P.S. Could somebody please tell me how to pronounce the name? read more

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This is authentic Mexican food!! If I was in Cancun this is where the locals will eat the banana leaf tamales are amazing the cochinita is amazing super friendly staff. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Amazing Mayan authentic food!! - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Wanted a quick bite to eat before a flight back home and my brother came across this place. Exterior can be deceiving, once inside it's very cozy. The cashier was very friendly and explained the dishes. We decided to have Panuchos and Salbutes and the strawberry and watermelon to drink. Food was quick, it wasn't busy. The dishes were delicious and the beverage was good. If we're back in Portland definitely will be back. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Wonderful cooking, run by beautiful family. Flavor-intense, delicious frijol con puerco, posole verde, cochinita pibil. All good.

This restaurant is probably one of the best experiences I've had in a long time if not ever! You have to order at the counter, with the friendly staff. This restaurant would be great to take someone on a date because it is a little dark inside and peaceful. I had the pazole verde and salbutes with carne asada and they were delicious! I tried a bite of my son's pazole rojo and it was even better! The panoches with pork was so good I can't even think of the right words to explain it! 10 of of 10 recommend! read more

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Everything well done. Friendly staff/service. Occasionally can be slower during peak hours but since everything is made fresh probably you should expect that. Burritos, tortas, pozole, tamales you can't miss. They introduced us to panuchos and were enchanted. read more

This place was really good! It was quite busy on a Saturday evening - not a long wait to order at the counter and we got lucky and got one of the 2 available tables. The kitchen is pretty slow though, be aware. It was at least 30 min before we got our food. We got chips and salsa to start and luckily they were served right away, along with our drinks. We were pretty hungry. We ordered 2 each of the panuchos and salbutes, chicken and pork. They were delicious! Kinda like a sope, kinda like a taco, but unique in their own way. Flavors were good, and the salsas they brought in bottles were plenty spicy. We also tried the cochinita pibil (slow roasted pork) which came with a few corn tortillas. Also flavorful, if quite fatty. We couldn't finish this at the restaurant, so we took it home and had the leftovers for lunch today. I really liked the salbutes and panuchos a lot - first time I've had these and I was impressed. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Cochinita pibil - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A great discovery the day we tried their food! Meat is so moist and delicious! Vegetables are cooked perfectly! Nice presentation! People who own and operate this restaurant are friendly, professional, and seem meticulous about keeping it clean. We keep going back to try more dishes. A line can form at the counter for lunch, so the word is out--great food here! read more

I thought it was great! Not sure where the person who reviewed ate but I didn't think it was anywhere near Taco Bell (I still love Taco Bell) and delicious. It was crispy where it needed to be and juicy and flavorful. Not the fastest service but again, it's not Taco Bell lol. read more

Ki’ikibáa - (Top to bottom) Asada plate, chicken nachos, ponuchos de pollo, and ponuchos de asada. - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Wow, what an amazing find. On a far corner of a sketchy looking building is some of the most creative and flavorful Mexican food. The servers were so kind and friendly and pointed us to the right direction. We tried a little of everything. The crispy shells, the puffy ones and the tamales. The pork was the most flavorful ones but we loved it all. Tried a turkey stew and that was a nice addition. Just go, you can't pick wrong! read more

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If you like Taco Bell, this place is a small step up. I lived in California my whole life except for the last five years in Portland. I've traveled in Mexico and I've eaten some of the best tacos on the planet. The guacamole tasted like it was mixed with mayonnaise. I've never had a burrito or taco this bad in Portland. read more

Delicious, authentic food, and vibrant room that makes you forget you're on East 82nd! I tried the chicken, carne asada, and pork--all three were superb. read more

Best Mexican food I've had outside Mexico! Really authentic and a good variety of dishes beyond the usual fare in American Mexican restaurants. Spicy and crispy panucho and flavorful tamale. Classic decor and good service. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Tamale and panucho - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

In the area and gave Ki'ikibaa a try. Wholly baby Jesus, I'm glad I did. Great spot with ample parking. We walked in and enjoyed the music and space inside. The woman behind the counter was helpful and friendly. We ordered the asada burrito, carnitas quesadilla and the panuchos pollo. We sat down at a table and the food was brought out quickly. Damn. Flavors were great in ALL. If this restaurant was closer id be here every week. Great food and staff. read more

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Solid carne asada burrito. They grill the cheese which really sets it apart. The Panchos and the salbutes are the show stoppers, my favorite is the cochinita. Chips and salsa are serviceable, very tomato forward salsa, unique and delicious. The table salsas are all made in house, wonderful with the burritos. Takes time to make the food, everything is made to order and does get busy. Service is great, good vibes always. Is a neighborhood favorite for us. And prices are below market. No frills, quality food, good people behind the counter. read more

I visited Ki'ikibàa Mexican Restaurant a few weeks ago for dinner. The restaurant had great decor. It was an order at the counter place. I ordered an horchata and a burrito de cochonita. The wait for the food was weirdly long. It took 40 minutes or so for the burrito to arrive. It was a stand out burrito. It was well stuffed. The pork was flavorful and delicious. The red and green salsa that were on the table were both delicious. The horchata was high quality too. I would be down to visit again but hopefully, the wait would not be as long. read more

Delicious salbutes and panuchos! Not food I've had before but it looked great and tasted even better. I got takeaway but looking forward to see the inside of the restaurant and seeing how the service is. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great food obscure location. A new region for me in Mexican cuisine. - this app is forcing me to input more characters to post which is ridiculous if i can say what i need to say succinctly. read more

Delicious and interesting food! It was fun to try a style of Mexican food that was new to me. I got the slaubute with beef which has a puffy, deep fried tortilla. The meat was plentiful, tender and flavorful. I also got a cheese empanada which was crisp and delicious. Both came out quickly,freshly made and steaming hot. They aren't big, but the 2 were perfect for lunch. We found the guy who took our order at the counter to be friendly and helpful. I appreciated his answers to my questions. This is a cute, clean little place and I know I'll be back! read more

Ki'ikibáa is a standout mexican restaurant in Portland that executes at a very high level while staying true to their Yucatan roots. I have been here atleast 5 times and while everything is amazing, the panuchos are a strong standout. The asada and carnitas panuchos arey preferred and their salsas go great with every bite. I highly recommend this place to the person who finds themselves craving good mexican food in Portland. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Number one rated in 2023 by the Oregonian. Hiddengem. The burrito is really big and for my appetite would be a two meal burrito. The rice and beans are great. I got the other special things which I can't remember the name like an open face Street taco with fried tortilla. I've never had that before and they were delicious. I tried the pork and the chicken ones. read more

Mexican food is the most reviewed category of my ~1500 reviews. This Yucatán inspired sit down is in my Top 5. So good! I'm partial to banana leaf tamales over the more hefty corn husk ones like you find at farmers markets. The version here is melt in your mouth super soft popping with flavor. I enjoyed the Salbutes a bit more than the Panuchos; the shell on the former was puffy and delicate. They offer a platter of three for $10, or you can purchase singles. The noodle soup with chicken on the bone exceeded expectations, I hope it remains a regular menu item. And while I didn't order a burrito, I heard it includes fried cheese. My mouth waters. Value-wise its average, portions maybe a little small for the price. But its a steal when compared to inner Portland stand in line, get your own everything gringo spots like Tacovore and Por Que No. The only slight drawbacks: no carnitas or breakfast burritos. Service is very friendly. The neighborhood a bit sketch, you can enjoy a post-meal happy ending right next door. read more

Ki’ikibáa - This is the best Yucatán spot in Portland. - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I was looking for a good burrito spot in the Portland area, and I saw this place was recommended by many. So I ordered their chicken burrito, and it was impressive. The chicken did not taste boring, and all the ingredients mixed very well! Also, the green salsa I used enhanced the overall taste of the burrito. Would highly recommend this place! read more

Impressively delicious food. We went for the panucho plate (one asada, two cochinita), a burrito con cochinita (pork, lettuce, rice, onions, black beans, sour cream, pickled cabbage, cheese, and guacamole), and a tamale (chicken and pork mix with achiote sauce wrapped in a banana leaf and served with tomato sauce). Outstanding flavors on the panuchos. Crunchy tortilla, just enough meat, very tasty toppings. Burrito was large and packed with flavor. Tamale good, though somewhat less striking than our other orders. KI'ikiba'a is a restaurant well worth visiting multiple times so as to be able to try out its daily specials as well as explore its wide-ranging menu. No-doubt-about-it five stars here. Truly delightful food. read more

Ki’ikibáa - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon