We had a great time at this restaurant, the vibes inside are amazing and the food is delicious! I'd…read morerecommend the horchata and the queso fundido poblano! What we ate: Queso Fundido Poblano as a starter. We had a Carne Asada Taco and a Pastor Taco. Then got the La Costa Burrito, a shrimp burrito drenched in a creamy white wine sauce with pico, avocado, chili oil & queso fresco. Additionally, for drinks we had a cocktail and a horchata.

Food~We started with Pozole Rojo (chicken) and, as a first timer it didn't disappoint (you can get…read morechicken or carnitas). Enchiladas (carnitas) it was only ok it was a tad bit salty and, a few hard parts (I'll definitely would get the chicken next time). Chicken Fajitas were good but, it's a different taste from other places I've had it (my love enjoyed it he said it had a very authentic flavor). Rice (fluffy) and Beans (well seasoned) both were really delicious. Service~Pearlina was super sweet, knew the menu very well and, had exceptional service. She made sure we had everything we needed and, continue to check on us throughout our meal. Ambiance~It's has a very calming vibe and atmosphere. I love the fact they have a privacy strip on the windows (so no one walking by watches you eat). It's a family owned restaurant and, I would recommend giving them a try. I feel what we ordered was worth it but, everything (except water) has a charge. Only street parking and, lots of indoor/outdoor seating.

Wow, what a great spot on Hawthorne for delicious and fresh Mexican! The people working here are so…read morenice, it seems like they are a family run business. The young woman taking orders was so helpful and friendly, as was the rest of the staff. My wife loved her carne asada torta, which was delicious and the telera bun was so crazy soft! I had a fantastic chile relleno burrito and we also got a couple quekas, which I'd never had before but were also delicious. It was one of those places where I had intended to take some pictures to use in a review but everything looked so good we ate it all before I remembered I wanted pictures! Highly recommend, give them a try!

I was craving tacos after a day shopping on Hawthorne, so I stopped in at Plaza Coyoacan…read more You order at the counter and bus your table afterwards. Ordering was quick, but the restaurant was fairly busy on a Saturday afternoon. We both ordered the carne asada taco plate. All the flavors were extremely mild. I could have used more seasoning on the meat for sure. The meat had a bit more chew to it. It was a bit tough. There was salsa brought out to top the tacos, but it didn't do anything to disguise the under-seasoned beef. The rice and beans were also under-seasoned. Overall, that seemed to be the theme. I would give my meal a 6.2/10. It's definitely an option if you are craving Mexican food and you happen to be in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way. Maybe we would have had better luck with another protein option!

DeNoche and companion Bar Comala are hidden gems. On the one hand, I don't want you to take my…read moreseats. On the other hand, the people are so nice and their place so great, I want to support them. Excellent atmosphere. I love the bar on a dark night. Excellent craft cocktails. Just trust the bartender. Food in the restaurant is tops: Sophisticated and tasty.

Really great and unique Mexican food. High level and unique versions of a lot of classic dishes…read more Smaller place, think there were maybe 6-8 tables? Plus a chef's counter seating area. Service was terrific. Wish I'd gotten our server's name so I could praise him here but he was friendly and interesting. Happy we came here.

Since moving to Portland about five years ago I had been wanting to go to Republica for a while. I…read moreavoided it because Republica only offered a tasting menu and there was always some ingredient or dish on the tasting menu that wasn't for me. Then one day a few months ago I was walking by and saw that they are open for brunch. And that dishes are under $20 for the most part. Cool, I'm in! It didn't disappoint. The thing that stands out to me most about Republica is that they just genuinely give a shit, and that really makes me happy. I think it's exemplified well by this carrot dish I posted a picture of. The owner explained to me how much goes into it: salt it, rest, roast, wait, soak in butter, wait 48 hours, do something else -- I don't remember exactly, but it's definitely a process. Carrots for brunch seemed odd to me at first but the menu sold me. There is a different menu each week and it includes something journal entry-like; something that explains the thought process behind the dishes that were selected. The owner seemed excited about the carrots, and I like to lean into dishes that the chefs are excited about, so I went with it, and it was great: textures, flavors, colors -- it all just worked well. It's not just the carrot dish of course. It feels like they take pride in everything they do and hit on a lot of small details. Example: they use avocado leaves when they cook the beans, similar to how you might use a bay leaf. It does something to the texture, breaking it down and making it easier to digest. I'm usually not much of a bean person -- I'm ok with them as a compliment to a dish but in isolation I find them too mealy and bland -- but these beans were actually really great. They were properly seasoned, had a nice hint of spice, and had a sort of rich, buttery mouthfeel. To be constructive, I will say that I didn't enjoy the mole negro. The owner did explain how it's meant to have a sort of charred flavor and shouldn't be overly sweet. I appreciate pursuing a vision, but I found the charred flavor to be pretty strong and unpleasant. It also wasn't really balanced by other flavors; the char was basically the only thing that came through for me. Maybe you need to be the type of person who enjoys black coffee to enjoy the mole negro. I don't like my coffee black. Overall, I think Republica is a fantastic place and would recommend it. The food is good, it's novel and creative, I think it's a great value at the price point it's served at, the ambiance is nice, wait staff courteous, and, my personal favorite -- there's an undeniable sense of craftsmanship. I'm excited to continue visiting.

I'm not really much of a Sunday brunch person, but I'd never had the brunch at Republica. I'd…read morewalked by Republica while exploring the downtown area on my way back to the hotel, but it was closed at the time. Thankfully, they had a menu posted by the entrance, which listed some intriguing offerings. As a result, the wife and I made 2PM reservations for brunch that Sunday and I'm so glad that we did. We were seated promptly upon our arrival. The dining room was largely empty since our reservations were late in their service. We started off with cocktails. Republica's brunch, thankfully, doesn't do bottomless mimosas, but it does do excellent cocktails. I had a La Michoacana ($13) made with Mexican rum, vermouth, orange liqueur, and citrus. It was refreshing, balanced, and a perfect daytime sipper. I'd describe Republica as serving a farm-to-table Mexican brunch focused on freshness and seasonality of ingredients rather than the usual suspects (think Chilaquiles and Huevos Rancheros) found on many brunch menus. The menu was concise, but offered plenty of delicious-sounding options. However, for us, we thought the "Let Us Feed You" tasting menu ($44 per person) was the only way to go. We received the following shared plates: Q'anxe Ik P'ak, Tomates En Salsa Verde Arabe, Arroz & Frijoles, Tacotes, Tostadas de Verano, Enmolada Divorciada, and Mole Manchamanteles. Each course was beautifully presented, vibrantly colored, and aromatic. Our food was equally vibrant and flavorful on our tastebuds. Republica's menu changes frequently based on ingredient availability and seasonality, so what we received on our visit will likely differ substantially for others. I cannot rave enough about Republica. It was the biggest, most pleasant, surprise and best bang for the buck value meal the wife and I had while we were in Portland. I highly recommend!

Great place, delicious tacos, nice people good vibes…read more Chips and guac was awesome. Nice outdoor seating! Good vegan taco options too!

Every taco here is interesting in its own way. They got your basics but they also have their own…read moreauthentic take on tacos. Some of the best tacos in Portland. I broke my rule that I only eat tacos out of a truck for this place. Worth it. (4.4 Stars)

Terrific experience dining here and cute clever name as well! I appreciated the touch of how they…read moretake drink orders while you're in line which adds efficiency and speed. Cashier and staff provided great service including the bartender/drink maker! I enjoyed my drink and food here. The ambiance has cute decor around! My brisket bowl and taco were flavorful and the corn, guac & chips, and salad were filling and delicious as well.

NEVER AGAIN! I am…read morefrom TN and I have lived in Southern California for over 10 years. I have also traveled to 49 states and many cities in Latin America. I know "real Latin/Mexican" and "Tex Mex" food. The food at the place HORRIBLE!!! The Esquites was dry and lacked any flavor. The Cheesy Refried Bean with chorizo as the ONLY decent thing we ordered. The carne asada, pork chili verde, carnitas tacos and carne asada were all BLAND. The service was great. As we were leaving the line of granola looking folks clearly told me exactly why this place has so many good reviews. NEVER AGAIN!

I've been coming to Güero for 9 years now. Some things have changed, but the best are still the…read moresame. Inside is my favorite spot - the light is good, everything is nice, and it stays cooler in the hot months (won't everything be the hot months soon?). My friend loves eating outside - those adjustable, wall-mounted tables are great. I have only had four items from their menu: the bean torta (the first thing I bought and took to eat with a friend - so long ago I remember nothing!), the tostada (nothing that stands out, but definitely fresh), the burger (I got it without ham and it blew my mind!), and the Cart Bowl. Reader, there is something about that bowl that makes it almost impossible to order something else. I did those two times, but once I had tasted the Cart Bowl with their chicken and avocado, it was game over. For a while (3 years?), I came here with a friend every Thursday evening. Every Thursday I had the bowl. I never got tired of it. The way they cook their meat, the flavors of all the ingredients when combined, always tastes perfect. I have had their margaritas. They are really delicious!! They also have bottle and tap beer options. I usually come during the day, so try to resist the margarita (margarita = mid-day nap time), but I look at other people's longingly. It is first come, first seated. The weekday lunch rush can be frustrating, so don't come if you have limited time to get back to work.

Güero is a VERY popular place, based on how crowded it was on my weekday evening visit. Despite…read morethe crowd, we were able to get a seat right away. Staff is very friendly, professional, and helpful. Ambiance is very casual, and the menu is small and specialized. Chips were remarkably good, as were all of the sauces. The torta I ordered was quite good, and very large in size. Parking is strictly street, but I was able to get a spot a few blocks away.

Stopped in for lunch around noon on a Saturday. Located in a strip mall area. Plenty of parking…read morearound the building, but only a few parallel parking spots available at the building entrance. The inside decor is super cute and colorful. The painting on the walls and furniture is very festive! I love how they have different seating area rooms to spread guests out for privacy. They also have a covered outdoor seating area available. Staff was welcoming, friendly, helpful and attentive. I read reviews about their complimentary chips, salsa and bean dip. We asked for the bean dip, but we found out when we received our bill that it's not complimentary anymore. Bummer. It was good, but not worth the extra $5. They were extremely generous with their chips and salsa, so in the end we were okay paying the extra $5. We ordered the chicken quesadilla and charbroiled burger. Both were great! Fresh ingredients. The quesadilla wasn't greasy at all. Neither were the chips! Our server recommended the pollo asada for my quesadilla and it was much appreciated. The seasoning on the chicken was delicious, including the charbroiled flavor. Overall a wonderful first visit here. We'll definitely be back! Would highly recommend.

I always love coming here. The food and drinks are both amazing and the service is always…read morewonderful. Plus this time I was pleasantly surprised there was a weekday happy hour for food! The venue is huge so lots of space and accommodating for those with kids or large groups.

Charming interiors, great service, fantastic staff who know their Mezcal history, and a kitchen…read morethat serves minimal but authentically Mexican dishes, with an upscale twist, combine to make this easily one of my favorite places in the city. It's Portland dining month so try their 3-course meal for $35. The blue corn mushroom quesadillas are packed with flavor in every bite, the carnitas with topping sauce are juicy and tender and their flan is extraordinary- I dare you to not get a second one! And don't forget to pair all this deliciousness with a Mezcal flight!

Really good mezcal selection and I also loved my carnitas sope. It's a cool dark lounge vibe with…read moregood service, I enjoyed my time.

Supermarket up front, supermarket taco lounge in back. Dang fine fast Mexican food. Grab a slice of…read moretre leche on your way out.

In the back of a Mexican grocery store in historic St. John's is a no frills eatery with no prices…read more You'd have to assume the prices are lower than any other Mexican restaurant. My guess is it's a sliding scale-prices depend on how Spanish or not you may be. Perhaps if you work on your Spanish speaking they'll give you a discount. One can only speculate. I ordered a few tacos, the standards: Al pastor, asada, carnitas. With these I feel you can't go wrong, and you won't be surprised by textures that lengua, cabeza, or tripa have. The seating is spacious, plentiful, and the most casual (think of mom and pop).