Stopped in here as we were going to a concert nearby and we're so pleasantly surprised the staff were friendly and helpful The food was delicious. I had the mango salad with avocado and Beebe lettuce then the chicken enchiladas which I have had a lot of enchiladas. These were the best I ever had. Fresh white meat chicken read more

Nuestra Cocina - Chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Right off of Division Street in Southeast Portland, is this unassuming authentic Mexican restaurant. It was absolutely packed on a hot summer day, but they still managed to find us a table. We were seated right next to the misters, which felt magical. Between the cool mist drifting over the surrounding plants and the open air atmosphere, it made for such a relaxing escape from the weather. We stopped in for a quick bite for lunch and ordered a few tacos, which were solid - plus flan for dessert. We couldn't stay as long as we would've liked since we had somewhere else to be, but we really appreciated how welcoming and accommodating they were on a busy day. I would happily come back and try more! read more

Nuestra Cocina - Flan, so good! - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I love the big bold flavors and the big friendly smiles of the staff. As a Los Angeles native I think this is the most legit Mexican restaurant in the greater Portland area. A lot of times I travel to a random city and my host will say we have a great Mexican restaurant and I think to myself ya you don't. But Portland you do and it is Nuestra Cocina. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Dropped by around 530 pm Saturday night and there was room at the bar. Ordered the Carne asada entree with beans and grilled jalapeño and it arrived in 5 minutes despite the full house. Also got guacamole and chips which arrived quickly. Food was hot, steak was high quality and well marinated. Bartenders were friendly and incredibly efficient in making drinks. Good happy vibe, great food served fast. All around just right! read more

Nuestra Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The staff was nice. The place was clean. The drinks were good specifically the Mezcal drink we also had chips and guacamole, but we did not take a picture that was really good too, but I like mine more spicy and with more lime we couldn't tell if this place was authentic, but the tortillas were definitely made here so no complaints. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Tacos De Puerco and Tacos de Camarones Baja style - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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As its name states, Nuestra Cocina feels like you are over at someone's homey kitchen. No frills and thrills, Nuetra Cocina gets straight to the point with good food. Cozy and welcoming, service was attentive and hospitable. We shared chips and guac, and I got the tacos de puerco. Their handmade tortillas truly make all the difference! The tortillas had a little texture from the masa, which I love and it held together nicely, soaking up the juices from the meat. The spiced pork was tender and well-seasoned, and the salsa had a nice kick. Overall, a solid taco! The atmosphere is just homey and comfy, everything you want in a restaurant. Division St. has great food, and Nuestra Cocina is not one to be missed! read more

Nuestra Cocina - tacos de puerco - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Excellent food , great staff. First time here but will definitely will be coming back. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I can't count how many times we've eaten here. I first went May 5th, 2008. Since then my wife & I have been back many times. The specials are "special", should be called superbs. The salads are always something to try as well. And if you can get to a class, take it. Ben is great. read more

The experience at this place is amazing! The service by Colleen and Ben was so great! The food is so fresh and homemade wonderful flavors! I can't wait to go back! Beautiful place too! read more

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Nuestra Cocina might be the best restaurant in Portland when you consider all elements of what makes the Portland food scene great. The energy is stupendous; I would recommend a seat at the bar around the open kitchen. They have nothing to hide because everything is amazing. The menu is dynamic with small plates great to share and larger entrees as well. This week we tried some of their seasonal specials and were blown away with pork tacos and a habanero salsa that brought deep flavor and heat in an inspiring manner. Their chips and mushroom queso or house salsa are money too. The service is great every time. Additionally, the restaurant itself is beautiful with various seating options and a greenhouse like "sunroom". The chile relleno was my favorite this time but I also love anything the chefs do with shrimp. Can't wait to come back! Thank you :) (Get the sopes de chorizo) read more

This place was okay. The staff were really nice and attentive. But the food was just okay, and really expensive to be just okay. I went back and read the one star review they have, from a customer calling it culture appropriation for calling dishes traditional names while not resembling them. While I am not qualified to say it is or isn't, what I can say is that I've had pollo asado ALOT in my life, and the menu item they have called pollo asado was extremely different. I am not sure why they call it that. It was honestly missing the things pollo asado traditionally comes with, like the pineapples and grilled peppers. Tortillas didn't even come with the meal. It was basically just a plate of chicken and rice swimming in a really thick albeit tasty sauce. We wouldn't come back, but it wasn't bad. Just weird and expensive for what you get. read more

Food here is always delicious, good cocktails . This visit, service was not up to par, probably a new server, needed some training. Didn't let the bad service ruin our meal, but owners can't have untrained staff ruin the experience read more

When you arrive prepare for a wait. We were tiled about 30 minutes. They don't accept reservations and the restaurant is fairly small with modest seating. Servers are buzzing around waiting in tables as people continue to poke in looking to be seated. The place as a nice vibe of the sound of the patrons chatting over top one hundred pop music. Once we got seated it didn't take long for the food ordered to get to our table. The enchiladas were amazing. They were full of flavor and some of the best enchiladas I've ever had. The Gorditas rellenas were spectacular. I tried the vegen version which to my surprise was very very tasty. I also enjoyed the cauliflower ceviche coated with some sort of balsamic reduction. Not pictured I finished the meal off with a coconut lime sorbet. Perfect ending to a great meal. This place is next level Mexican cuisine. If you as k me was it worth the wait I would answer YES!!!!!!! read more

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After much too long of a wait (thanks for nothin Covid), I finally returned and was instantly reminded of why this is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. I love the atmosphere. It's upbeat, cozy, and comfortable. And I love the open kitchen and eating at the kitchen bar. The flavors are always amazing. This time I enjoyed the Cochinita Pibil and it was delightful (don't tell Johnny!). Their Cadillac Margarita is one of my favorites. And even the simple flan desert was delightful and the best I've ever had. Prices are cheap, considering the quality and creativity of the dishes. There is much on the menu that I haven't had yet so I will have to return. I think this is also a great spot for date night :) read more

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As a Mexican, I can assure you this is NOT authentic food. It is actually infuriating that they use all these names of our authentic dishes to make money and fool people. The "twist" that they give to the food is not even tasty at all. Lack of seasoning and flavor and WAY TOO OVERPRICED. This is a clear example of what cultural appropriation is. If you want to get scammed and waste your money, come to this place. If you want to have great Mexican food that uses authentic ingredients and will cost you less than half the price of your check, go and support the local food trucks that are Mexican owned. Do not support white people making profit out of our beautiful culture and gastronomy. read more

What a fine variety of tasty foods, especially sauces, and that just in the four dishes we had. Chicken enchiladas in chile puya mole (lower right) was excellent, quite picante, and good sized for a small plate. The mole with the beef tips (upper left) very savory, more spice than heat; the beef itself very tender laid over the squash and rice. The chile relleno very fresh and well-stuffed. The tlacoyo (lower left) the most experimental order, the beef very tasty, the tortilla a little dry. They have excellent margaritas here. The place is popular, well packed, and a little noisy, with lots of light through the windows. And maybe best of all was the service, six stars at least!--very knowledgeable, good listener, great sense of humor. read more

Nuestra Cocina - A fine foursome - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Small place with a little outdoor patio. Their menu is not overwhelming which is great. Street parking is on either busy Division St. or a side street. Don't forget to pay if it's required. :-) They had a couple drink specials.... I had the Peach Sangria...it was just so so and didn't have a lot if flavor. They had good service and I ordered the carne asada street taco trio and a side of black beans because it's ah la carte. Since it was Tuesday early dinner the orders came quickly.....I was dining with 3 others. A tacos were delicious but the black beans had no flavor which was disappointing. They needed seasoning big time. Dining out is not cheap these days and yes the prices are not low here. All in all I do not know if I will be back since there are many other restaurants with a Mexican flair, that have great food for a lower price. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Carne Asada Taco Trio. FYI I put the black beans on the one because it doesn't come with black beans. - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Coming from Texas, I struggled to find Mexican food here in PNW. Nuestra Cocina brings classic recipes with a twist with local ingredients. House made tortillas and some of the best mezcal margaritas in the city. Absolutely enjoy yourself. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This is a Portland must!! I recommend Family style to share with 2+ people. The food was amazing, the drinks were amazing and the host was fast and kind. read more

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Love. Love! LOVE!! Wonderful staff who make sure you have the best experience. Great music, patio, and ambiance. Wonderful food! We were seated inside and started with the guacamole. Very chunky (just how I like it) with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro with a squeeze of lime and a dash of salt I think. The chips looked homemade and were in strips (also my favorite) and lightly salted. I ordered the enchiladas Blanca with shrimp. SO GOOD. I've never had shrimp enchiladas before so this was a pleasant, new dish for me. I got the special peach ginger margarita AND a glass of the sangria. Both were delicious. Dessert was the chocolate pound cake with cinnamon ice cream and I think the ice cream was my favorite part! Great restaurant where the owner is involved and cares about your experience. Would highly recommend. read more

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The food was amazing here so delicious I couldn't ask for a better food. I've been going here for years and I get a new thing every single time but this year just hits like nothing. read more

Nuestra Cocina - enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Good Mexican food, not just a taco place, but tasty meals, good specials and tasty cocktails. Of course they have some tacos too, but not what I would order there read more

This place was great. The food was delicious, the cocktails were really good, and the staff was really kind, gave us some great recommendations. My one regret is not getting the steak entree, that will be for my next visit. read more

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This Mexican restaurant was thoroughly enjoyable. It's on the smaller side, and doesn't take reservations, but we had no wait on a sunny Friday evening. Dress code is casual, but several women were wearing summer dresses. There's indoor and covered outdoor seating with numerous plants. On this evening, the Jesse Broderick jazz trio was playing just feet from our table, which was delightful. The kitchen is open, and the head chef runs a tight ship. He stands stoically at the pass, hands crossed professionally in front of him, waiting to bark out food orders, doing final plating, and calling out waiter names. There were at least 13 staff, so service is lightning quick. The dishware were authentic and the tables have Mexican tile tops. The menu is heavily meat oriented, but my wife found a couple vegetarian options. We had a Lime Drop that was refreshing, the beef fillet and squash entree which had a generous amount of beef and a delicious mole sauce, and two small torta side dishes that were perfect. No complaints. We're looking forward to going again. read more

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I'm an avid foodie and get out quite often to try new places. Nuestra Cocina is simply one of the best places I've been to recently. We ordered the Sopas. Devine little masa and explosions of flavor. The perfect mix of chorizo, black beans, and mole. Next, we ordered the pork carnitas tacos. Amazingly moist and pan fried to a finish for the perfect crisp. We also ordered the Gordita. I can't tell you how good those were because my girlfriend ate it all. We're going back soon and working our way down the menu. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Sopas and pork carnitas tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Fantastic food. Fantastic cocktails. Intimate atmosphere. Portland casual. Delightful time in this classic neighborhood respite on Division. Wow Portland has a lot of places to put your credit card to work but Nuestra is well worth the effort. I venture to say, the best meal I have had at a fairly reasonable price. This is worth coming to time and time again. I know there are so many choices but this should be on the top of your radar screen. They only take reservations for 6 or more so you may need to wait a bit to get in. J read more

I love this place. It never disappoints. Our server Mike was absolutely wonderful. And the food and drinks are delicious. Very unique and creative. I had the goat cheese appetizer, and the grilled shrimp and what a perfect combination. Everything is always delicious. I highly recommend it. read more

Great service, delicious food and drinks! They have quite a few vegetarian options on their menu. Food isn't bland, or overly oily or spicy. Our server's recommendations were spot on. Their flan and cinnamon ice cream were both delectable. Glad we didn't head out without dessert. This restaurant is family friendly, casual and fancy at the same time. read more

This is a solid option for a date night. The ambience is awesome, food was good, especially the specials. I also can't say enough about their drinks, really delicious. The service was excellent and I'm excited to go back! read more

The food is amazing. Not your average American-Mexican cuisine. The service is top notch. And very friendly. The ambiance is nice enough for a date, but casual enough for friends. read more

Vibes aren't it. We walked in at 3:45 on a Saturday, maybe 10 people were seated and we were asked,"do you have a reservation?" Did we need one? We decided to avoid the answer and asked if we could sit at the bar- no one came, not sure if there was even a bartender. Can't speak to the food, but service def needs improving before their hard launch. There are too many great restaurants in Portland to think you can open with this type of service. read more

This is hands-down, the best Mexican food in Portland. The handmade tortillas that just melted in your mouth. They have a fantastic bar and make all kinds of interesting flavorful, mocktails and cocktails. Our family has been going here since they opened and that's a long time. I have my birthday dinner here every year. I am very picky I'm a Virgo, so your food needs to be on point, and they never disappoint me. Now, will say that their air-conditioning was out and it was like having the experience of being in Mexico This year for my birthday!..lol. However, the the service has fantastic, and the food is otherworldly. It's also consistent.. we literally had like one of every appetizer and 9 to 10 items on the menu. We shared it family style and everyone was stuffed to the gills. Oh, and the desserts are tantalizing. I love the cinnamon ice cream. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Birthday dinner! - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great service and delicious meals! Our server gave us good recommendations and we didn't wait long for our dishes. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Tuesday night special: tender coulotte steak with spicy mole over refried beans - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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First time back in 3 years now we are back in town. Also first time dining out with friends in sooo long. We had a great experience. The waiter was wonderful. Helped me know which items could be served up non spicy. Also helped the rest of the group pick a bunch of small plates. Even the cauliflower dish was a hit with someone that doesn't really like cauliflower. Checked in on occasion to make sure we had more drinks if we wanted and we did. I had the Camarones Con Tamarindo which had great flavor and asked for a side of the so so good fresh tortillas. You must have some tortillas when you go. We did have to wait a bit to sit but I liked that the tables were more spread out so I'm okay with some wait. We also closed the place down and we're never rushed. All the small plates were a hit. They must have had 5-6 of them. Then we also had the chocolate cake with cinnamon ice cream which was really good, so happy we didn't forgo dessert. read more

Wow! This place is the real deal. In my experience,Mexican food is very easy to be average at. Most of the time when I go to a Mexican restaurant it is exactly the same as every other Mexican restaurant I've ever gone to. They load you up with chips and salsa before the meal and give you so much food that you confuse plentiful with flavorful. Not here! The menu fits on one page and we had a hard time not wanting to try everything. We decided to split two appetizers and then share a main meal. That worked out perfectly. The chicken enchilada was incredibly flavorful and just the right size. The chicken was tender and the sauce added to it in such a way that you tasted it but we're not over powered by it. Our second appetizer was a chorizo dish which was actually served on these little biscuit like cakes which I believe were called Mesa cakes. In any case they were incredible. The cakes were the perfect amount of crunch that you felt the new texture in your mouth combined with the meat and sauce. Our main meal was the gordita. These gordita's were actually several smaller versions which was perfect for sharing. As with the enchilada this dish was amazing. Everything blended together yet somehow stood out. That doesn't make any sense but when you eat this dish you will understand. We have been looking for the perfect Mexican style restaurant since we moved to Portland and I think we have found it! If I were to complain about anything, it's that the restaurant is very cold in the winter months. They could certainly do with better insulation. However if you wear a coat, the food makes up for it. read more

Nuestra Cocina - Enchiladas En Mole Con Pollo Y Queso Cotija - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This was our go-to spot for chicken mole and different tacos, coming monthly for a number of years. We returned after a year and were bitterly disappointed. The tacos were beyond tiny, with smallest morsel of meat on the tortillas. The chicken was bland with no flavor -- and was charred crisp on the outside making it a most unpleasant combination. The mole had no depth and was unbalanced with no richness of chocolate flavor. No clue what caused all these changes but it made the meal unrecognizable from what it once was. read more

At the last moment I decided to take myself out for a birthday dinner. And when I came across Nuestra Cocina's name, I realized how many times I have passed by them (before 4pm) wishing they were open. Now, for my dinner, I was looking forward to finally finding out if I had in fact been missing anything. I arrived around 6:15 or so, with a wait for tables, the place hustling with activiing. I uncharacteristically opted for a counter seat. Facing the kitchen activity, calls from the chef, I was watching a delightful dance of activity. Mallory, my waitress, was so helpful as I pondered margaritas and also a typical series of appetizers. I cannot say enough about the tacos de carnitas. THIS is how carnitas is supposed to taste!!! And the 'guacamole relish'? AMAZING. Rebecca was running the kitchen, but by the time I was finishing my second appetizer, she was checking in with me, and chatting. I felt in VERY GOOD company... atmosphere... and with a very very happy palate!! I will now be planning my regular returns!! Thank you Rebecca, Mallory and the others for such a lovely birthday evening!! And the assessment: I had indeeeeed been missing out on one of the best restaurants, the best mexican food in Portland (...Oregon?... Northwest?) read more

Sitting at the bar with a full view of the kitchen, we watched as meal after meal was crafted before our eyes (it was fascinating). We started with drinks and the chips and guacamole. The chips were homemade (crunchy, salty and not greasy like some places). the guacamole was the best I've had even compared to all the places I've been in Puerto Vallarta. We both had the beef tips in a chipotle moles sauce. It was delicious and packed a bit of heat. It wasn't so spicy as to overpower the dish but I definitely finished my drink faster due to it. For desert we had the crepes with fried bananas. The cinnamon cream filling of the crepes was delicious and cooled the heat from the mole sauce. I am looking forward to returning to try their Asada and some of their small plates. The service was on top of everything and made us feel very attended to. Thank you! read more

The food is always amazing, as is the service and ambiance. Its margaritas are first rate too.

This is a treasured, revered neighborhood bistro, the kind you hope to experience in Portland, with delightful ambiance. There are no reservations here, you should plan on a substantial wait. Knowing we could wait for at least an hour for a table put me into a brief quandry. Should we wait to get a table for two nestled in the dark recesses of a snug, darkened dining area, or forgo the long wait and grab the two open seats at the counter? Maybe not as romantic, but it was obvious there was no shame in eating at the counter here. We picked the counter and I am glad we did. I declare, we had the best seats. This was the enviable spot where you could take in everything as it happens. This gives you a fascinating and ideal view of the hustle and bustle of a finely tuned, well choreographed kitchen. Here is where the tortilla lady rolls her eyes as she mindlessly pat, pat pats her thick, succulent corn tortillas and drops them into a container, ultimately to be baked in the industrial oven. No doubt a boring job, but hypnotic and not often seen. The end results I can imagine were tender and mouth watering. This would be one of those times I wish we were not refraining from corn and wheat products. This is where the chefs, dashing from container and refrigerator as slabs of meat sizzle on the griddle top, compose their perfect dishes of savory food for the hungry locals. The final touch, frenetic servers impatiently arranging the finishing touches on their plates before dashing their generous platters out with some of the finest morsels you could ever hope to put in your mouth. Our meal was extraordinarily good. We started with a delicious, baby greens salad that was tossed with jicama, mango, avocado, and pumpkin seeds. The citrus dressing was out of this world delicious. A perfect 5 stars. Cochinita Pibil, a slow braised, citrus and herbed savory pork dish served over plate licking black beans, grilled vegetables and pickled red onions. Traditionally it is cooked in banana leaves and served in its wrapper, however this restaurant plated it without. Regardless, a perfect 5 stars. Carne Asada Con Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans), beautifully marinated and grilled, large steak served over savory pinto beans. 4 1/2 stars, and only because mine was even better. I was the person with the Cochinita Pibil and who jealously coveted my prize. This is a meal I will not forget. When in Portland, this should be put on "the list". Only open 5 nights a week, for dinner. Worth the wait, worth the cost read more

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