Stingy with 5 stars but I believe this little restaurant deserves special recognition. Thought it may lack ambience and polished fixtures, I come for the service and for truly unique Mexican fare. My heart was captured and remains smitten with the Camarones Poblano. What experience is a taste treat, carefully thought and excellent execution. I can't say every dish is a 5 star experience but the service in two visits, the ordered dishes and attention to patron care elevate this little restaurant. Concentrate your energies on specialty dishes. This chef has a good sense of sauces and flavors. Even a simple, lowly enchilada can be covered in a unique and flavorful red sauce (Enchilada Guajillo). My soda was drawn from the bar and was lifeless and tasteless. They immediately aplogized, brought me a freshly carbonated and mixed replacement and a heartfelt regret for the inconvenience. I recommend this restaurant. It may take a few visits to find your favorite, unique dish but I believe it is worth the investment to find it/them.Kudos to the owner/chef and great service and food.
(5)
Jim D.
A nice surprise. Clean, super friendly and good quality food for a very reasonable price. I would say it's a great place to take a family and or friends. It's not a "foodie" destination, but a great place for a casual meal.
(4)
Foodie P.
I rarely review, but I think this is a hidden gem. My measure of a Mexican restaurant is the way they make and serve Chiles Rellenos. We have tried them both as take-out and today in the restaurant. They are among the best I've had since the 1960s when Los Angeles had excellent Mexican food in Hispanic neighborhoods. The atmosphere is pleasant, not fancy, the co-owner was our server and immediately brought salsa and chips. Their tortillas are homemade. My husband had their soft chicken tacos and said they were excellent. If you are looking for a good Tigard/Tualatin family restaurant, give them a try.
(4)
O E.
We purchased the Groupon to cure our craving of Mexican. We arrived on a Saturday around noon and there were only 2 other parties there, which was cool as we didn't have to wait to be seated. The chips and salsa were delicious! Basically devoured those once we sat down. I ordered the chicken enchiladas a la crema and my boyfriend ordered the quesadilla. We were unimpressed, but the staff was friendly and attentive.
(3)
Mandy M.
This is my favorite Mexican place I've been to in a very long time. My first time went on a date there on a Saturday night, and it was busy. This place is family owned, and the pride shows. Its typical decor for restaurant with carved back booths, bright colors, etc. Very clean. This is not a dive. We both had the traditional margarita, he got his blended, I didn't. Delicious, strong, mixed well. You get attentive but laid back service every time I come here. Warm chips right away. Their house salsa is medium spicy, which is my kinda flavor. Pork carnitas. This is the top dog here for me. Amazing. Juicy tasty marinade, presented in a molcajete at the table. Beautiful goodness. He had tacos all pastor, which was also delicious, fresh pineapple and cilantro yes!. I've now taken my dad there and he was totally impressed, and thanked the husband and wife several times, so cute haha. He loved his enchiladas! I like that they separate your beans and rice (with choice of beans), I like black beans myself, but the key is it isn't a swimming pool of lard grease cheese on your plate. It stays fresh, and the rice is flavored nicely. You taste more, enjoy more. Yum yum yum. Now on to trying more seafood! Camarones al Diablo? Yes. The fish tacos with the chipotle crema and fresh tortilla. Oh yep. A bright gem for Tigard from a family who cares about real traditional food and flavor. Felicidades.
(5)
Demri V.
I've been here quite a few times as I used to live down the street. Sometimes it's delicious sometimes not so much. For first time customers I recommend you come a few times before you really make up your mind.
(3)
Brie R.
Finally, passable Mexican food in Tigard! This place was definitely better than passable so it far surpassed our typical experience in this area. Natives of California, we have high standards and while this isn't quite all the way there it definitely passes muster. The food was anything but bland, in fact, some dishes were a bit over seasoned but delicious nonetheless. Great service and friendly staff rounded out the experience.
(4)
Mira M.
I absolutely love this place!! It's so random - I'm hardly ever in the suburbs - but I stumbled upon it a few months ago and have come back many times. I'm not a fan of garden-variety Mexican restaurants (like Acapulco), and El Guajillo proves why - there is SO much better available! The employees are very sweet and the service is fast. Every table gets freshly-baked tortilla chips and salsa - so good! My margarita was HUGE! And I keep ordering their Mexican pizza - this ain't no Taco Bell! If you're in the area, definitely check it out.
(4)
Dylan S.
I would not recommend this place to anyone. TL;DR: extremely slow and poor service, incorrect order, sub par food, lies on windows. 4:10 - My party arrived. Immediately we were sat in the front corner of the restaurant. There are two other parties in the restaurant. Everything appears to be going fine. We decided to come here because the tortillas are advertised as homemade 4:20 - We get our menus (not yet salsa) 4:25 - We get our salsa (which is actually above average salsa) 4:35 - We get our water (we said no ice, but got glasses full) 4:41 - All water has been drank 4:50 - We are asked by another person, not our waiter, if we have been served yet/ordered (we haven't) 5:03 - We order Tacos al Carbon and Chicken Mole with flour tortillas, and ask for a refill of water and salsa. Tacos al Carbon are advertised as corn tortillas dipped in special salsa, grilled, then stuffed with either chicken or steak 5:17 - We get a refill of salsa 5:40 - Our waters are finally refilled, and we get our food, the Chicken Mole did not come with tortillas, and the Tacos al Carbon were simply flour tortillas with steak (no 'dipped and grilled') and very minimal steak (less than an ounce per tortilla, there were 3) 5:45 - After waiting for a server to talk to us, I decide instead to flag one down and ask for the promised tortillas and ask what happened about the tortillas dipped and grilled. We are told the plain tacos ARE the Tacos al Carbon, but if I want more salsa, he can get it for me. 5:48 - We get our tortillas, and I get another bowl of salsa. The tortillas are noticeably not home made 5:55 - We finish eating, pay, and leave. One of the parties that arrived before us still hasn't gotten their food. Do not come here.
(1)
Rafael Z.
This place is great, very attentive stuff, reasonable prices on food and low prices on drinks, if you love authentic Mexican restaurant this is the place to go, a family sit down restaurant with the flavors that will satisfy to anyone who appreciate good cooking, my wife and I tried the Molcajete, a mix of flank steak, chicken breast, grilled cactus leaves, jumbo shrimp and cheese with a delicious mild sauce garnished with grilled green anions and jalapeños, server in a lava hot stone that keeps the food warm all the way until you finish it, served with rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and tortillas. The drinks were well mixed and served, we will make El Guajillo our favorite Mexican restaurant!
(5)
Natalie C.
My family has made El Guajillo our go to restaurant. The food is authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. Kids eat for less than $2 on Sundays. The chicken enchiladas with cream sauce are some of the best I've ever had! I have loved everything that I've tried there aside from the soup, which was bland for my taste. That is what I get for trying to eat healthy at Mexican food restaurant. The waitress that always takes care of us is so friendly and especially kind to our children. We love it here and would recommend it to anyone. If you are a fan of Margaritas, they have the best Margaritas in town! With great food, service and prices El Guajillo gets five stars from our family!
(5)
Daniel C.
El Guajillo may have an outdated building, and an interior that needs major renovations and updating, but you won't be disappointed coming here. Although they lack some updates, they are far ahead in authentic Mexican cuisine and service. The food was amazing, and probably in my top 3 Mexican restaurants in Portland right now in my book. I had a beef chimi and chicken enchilada with black beans and rice. The beef in the chimi was superbly seasoned, and they also added poblano peppers to add some extra pop. The chicken enchi was also terrific, and made with creamy authentic queso and cotija cheese. The only thing I would improve was the black beans, which was served more as a bean soup than a nice thick side of beans how I usually like them, but still tasty. The service here was extraordinary! I was served water, chips, and salsa immediately. I was tended to every couple minutes for more water and salsa for the chips. The waitress also gave me additional salsas to try and said that she makes them all fresh in-house and has about 7 different salsas. My check came with a tasty little chip with cinnamon, whip cream, and caramel drizzled over it. Very good! I'll definitely be back soon.
(4)
Gary-Lee R.
Always friendly cheerful staff. Terrific rellenos and large portions. Tight parking sometimes.
(5)
Gina A.
Wowza! I have been avoiding this place for quite some time mainly because so many crappy places have occupied this space since my arrival (ta da!) in Tigard about 10 years ago. It has FINALLY found an owner/operator who prepares quality food at a reasonable price. Too bad the decor is beyond kitchsy (electric orange and strange assortment of lighting and a terribly odd arrangement) and it honestly made me skeptical to say the least when I first walked in - it was so weird in there that I worried the food would be terrible - boy was I wrong! The chips are freakily thin, the salsa is just right (not too thick or too thin) and they are generous with both. The server, Sara, has been there every time my husband and I have gone and we haven't had a bad meal - yet. They could use a Gordon Ramsay face lift (where crazy workers come in and address the interior of your establishment in an overnight mad remodel) but that's no matter when the food is as homemade good as this is. Lucky me, many years ago I had a receptionist that worked for me who loved to bring me bring me her homemade Mexican specialties - things that she and her family grew up enjoying and making at home - that's what this reminds me of - home made tortillas (corn and flour), flavorful and meaty enchiladas with sauces that are subtle and well seasoned. I loved the Rellenos, the chili colorado, the chili verde and the rice has bits of more than just peppers - pieces of corn add a little something extra. We normally have a couple of Negro Modelos, guacamole (alright, and freshly made) and they always bring a tiny complmentary sweet treat at the end of your meal. Great food and service from beginning to the sweet end.
(5)
Dr. leo B.
Eat here often and it is always great. Fresh pretty fast and the people are very friendly.
(5)
Rian S.
I have had awesome experiences here And also had one time that wasn't great.. Normally it's great the guy knows me cause I go to the hookah bar next door (genie hookah) but this last time I was in I got a blue moon and asked for a Glass and when I poured the bar into it I noticed that the glass had stuff floating in it. The lady working didn't comp me the beer just said it had to have come from the beer. Which can't be true cause it's a glass bottle from a factory and I have had many blue moons and never had anything wrong with the beer. Also they didn't wait on me too well. Stuff took a long time. Forgot about my water. I will only come back if the guy is working he is always friendly and on top of everything :-)
(1)
Justin c.
Great prices, friendly service, great food. I love the laid back atmosphere definitely has an authentic feel and the owners are very nice and extremely attentive! This is hands down my favorite Mexican dining spot...and I've been to quite a few. They have daily specials, GREAT happy hour, and great prices for kids, as well as, kids free Wednesday's. Definitely recommend this place to my friends. The guacamole is DELICIOUS!!!
(5)
Matt B.
Lunch special is a good deal. I had the Burrito Supreme and it was very flavorful. The green sauce was a nice surprise. Only negative was that things were a bit salty, but overall good food and nice service.
(4)
Michael A.
I was at this place a little over a year ago. The place was completely empty despite it being a weekend (a bad sign). The only other people were 5 clearly overly intoxicated men sitting at the bar in the back. The food was okay, but the atmosphere was not good. There was one older guy that seemed to have no background in the restaurant or service industry that acted as our server, bartender, and presumably the cook. The thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was their inability to pay a $80 video lottery ticket???!! They said we would have to come back tomorrow or continue playing until it was lost!! Fast forward to last Friday. A friend has purchased a Groupon and invites me and two other friends to go. I reluctantly agreed. Once again the place is empty on a Friday night (Warning sign!), all four of us agreed the food was mediocre at best. My dish (Verde Chicken Enchiladas) was tasty, but served luke warm and undercooked. One friend ordered the Chimichanga and commented that it tasted freezer burned. Another friend commented her Mango (I think) Margarita tasted like it had been blended with a mix that had been sitting in a refrigerator for too long, and had a strange consistency to it. On a positive note, she did say it had a lot of tequila in it. The biggest problem, and the reason I'm taking the time to write this review is all of us ended up sick with some kind of stomach ailment the next morning!!! In my case full blown food poisoning in which I experienced severe stomach cramping, body aches, nausea, and a fever averaging 102. I could not get out of bed for the entire weekend except to the toilet and came close to calling an ambulance at one point. Stay away from this place!!!
(1)
Gabe F.
Nice little gem on HWY 99! Very affordable menu: almost all lunch menu items are under $10. The food was good with nice size portions. They're not as large as other places I have been to, but for the price it's hard to beat. No booths; all table seating. Salsa could use some more chunks but all around a solid find. The bar was closed when I was here so no review for that area - granted it's only 11:45 am. (it's Happy Hour somewhere).
(3)
Rebecca F.
I love this place. It has amazing food. It's not the fake nasty food most other PDX "Mexican" restaurants serve. The chili rellenos are bomb, they seriously have so much flavor it's insane. This is the only place in Portland that I have been able to find a chili relleno that actually tastes like one. The staff is wonderful. I love this place so much I had my 30th birthday party there. The staff was so accommodating and sweet. I was given a free shot of Taquilla and dessert. My husband and my two friends spent the night sinking karaoke in the back after dinner. This place rocks at food and service!
(5)
Nancy G.
The food was pretty good. Service was good and friendly as well. Drinks weren't that great. Which is strange because there's a full bar on site. Overall the restaurant food, drink and decor lacked imagination. Basic Mexican food. Good place for families, good kids menu.
(3)
Laura M.
The food is pretty good, but the atmosphere is a little weird. It feels like you're sitting in a restaurant that has turned over many times, so there's no clear sense of ambience.
(3)
James T.
Always a tasty meal! Always happy to support neighborhood businesses. Food is consistent, fresh, fast & hot - all big pluses. *Negra Modelo on draft too!
(4)
Lupe V.
The chicken fajitas were so good! The portions were very generous and came sizzling to the table. The service here is exceptional, friendly and totally customer oriented. The decor is vibrant, paintings & colors on the wall are totally in the Hispanic theme. This is a great place in Tigard, right on 99, please give yourself a treat and try it!
(5)
Steven A.
We used a Groupon and it was still a bad deal. Stale thick chips from a bag, nasty tasting chimichanga, orange colored chicken in the tamale, soggy Chile relleno, Soso beans and rice. Slow service. Not once were we asked if we would like more to drink. We had to explicitly ask for out initial water. Go down the road to Nacho Mama's or in to Tualatin for Cecelia's.
(1)
Jeff H.
This place....was weird. A sign on the front of the restaurant said "Pizza" and I was looking to get a pizza for my girlfriend who wasn't feeling well. I didn't want a chain pizza, so I looked for a pizza place. The place I -was- looking for said the address was here, so I stopped without looking at the name. Inside, I saw it was a Mexican restaurant. But the menu said they had pizza. It was very...weird. They have booths and menus and presumably wait staff, but they also have what looks like a deli counter with registers, which is where I made my order. The lady behind the counter seemed very confused by my order, which was just a large pizza with pepperoni and pineapple. Hard? She had to consult with someone in the kitchen, who came out and questioned me about it again. I repeated myself maybe five times. They got the idea and said it would be a little while. I took that time to go and look around the place. It was a full service restaurant (with no one in at 4 in the afternoon on a Friday), but in the back was what looked like a mini nightclub. A bar was there, that required the person to walk around the side of it to get behind it, and a little wood dance floor. The lady from the kitchen who questioned me on my pizza order came back, probably to make sure I didn't walk behind the bar and help myself. I got myself a Coors Light, which required here to unlock a cooler and take it out. Whatever. I drank that and then my pizza was ready. And honestly, it wasn't that bad. I've had much, much worse, but it was a pretty decent pizza. The box even had that fat happy smiling Italian dude on it holding a pizza. There was a lot of cheese, you could taste the pepperoni and pineapple very well (it wasn't mush), and the crust was sort of a pizza-hut original style crust. I was seriously surprised. It just seems like the place doesn't have much focus. And it wasn't good enough for me to go back for it. So...there you go.
(2)
Linda Z.
We have eaten here four times and had 4 different dishes and they were all delicious. The building is a bit old and the entry is deceiving as you park on the side and enter around the corner. You will immediately be served ships and salsa and asked if you want to order a beverage. Their food is very authentic Mexican and you have options on the beans; black, refried, pinto. There have always been other diners when I have gone for dinner and staff is always friendly. Sometimes it takes awhile to get your check, or ask for it to be delivered. This is now one of my favorite places for Mexican.
(4)
Vic G.
Simply the best Mexican food yet in the PDX metro area. Everything is prepared fresh to order so it's a bit slow coming to the table. The tortillas used were fresh and homemade. It's amazing the difference that one ingredient makes in the overall quality of the meal. I had a shrimp fajita burrito that I'll be dreaming about until I return. We also had chicken tacquitos which is a dish we use to compare restaurants. Both 5 star. Highly recommend this sleepy mom and pop restaurant in Tigard.
(4)
Janeane W.
The first time we came here it was after lunch, early afternoon and there was barely anyone there and the food was decent and the service by one gentleman there was completely excellent. The second time I ate here was on Cinco de Mayo (tonight) and just around 5:30 pm, so the real Cinco de Mayo rush had not arrived and they were plenty staffed. From each interval, we waited exceptionally long periods with no eye contact or concern. I had to ask for the same chips, water and salsa three times, and finally had to comment that we have been waiting quite some time for them. Also, when the meal was ordered, I stressed that we cannot have sour cream with it, as it really turns my daughter off to the meal, so this was stressed... yet it arrived with sour cream anyway after they assured me it would not. These people don't make eye contact the right way or act like they care. It was way no bueno service. The food was about a 6 out of 10 (but still pretty decent for so far from the border and not really an area of the country in which I feel Mexican food is at it's best). So with the food just above average, you'd think the customer service would be important. Exceptionally long waits for no expressed or caring reason with lack of eye contact and poor attitude. When I mentioned the poor service at the end the manager implied she already knew and left me a vague apology that was more out of protocol. Then I explained to her if people were simply being present and looking at their customer's faces they would see they had a need and things would not go so badly - and with that she laughed at me. I again tried to explain how simply being present could help her business so much - and then she laughed at me again. No bueno. No tip. No more business.
(1)
Josh W.
This was my first time here. It was weird. Like most Mexican restaurants, we were started with chips and salsa. Both were very good. The salsa in particular, was very good. But we ran out of chips with a party of 3. Never in the history of going to Mexican restaurants has my table been cut off after 1 bowl of chips. But this happened here. We asked for more. Never came. We ordered Nachos, and a very large special to share between 3. The pork on the nachos was very tender and well seasoned. The best part of the meal by far. Odd part of the nachos. There was no bean on the nachos. But when my girlfriend got towards the bottom of the plate there was refried beans caked onto the plate. We don't know if there was a smear of beans that was used as "nacho glue" to prevent chips from sliding around, or if this was a dirty plate. The large special (i don't remember the name) had chili verde, a chicken enchilada, some spicy pork that I don't recall the name. The chili verde was a little on the bland side. The enchilada was excellent. The spicy pork was like the verde, a little on the bland side also. Service was poor. Our waiter was very polite, but absent. He never refilled the chips to enjoy the salsa that was quite good. Nor did our water ever get refilled. Had we ordered drinks, this probably wouldn't have mattered, but we only had water. Over all, I'd say 2 out of 5, BUT.....I would return to give them another try. A second experience like that though, and I would not go back.
(2)
D H.
I drove past this place more then a few times n finally stopped and went in, delicious food, gotta try their chicken fajita n my girlfriend got the chimichanga AMAZING !!! Worth the stop
(5)
Kel L.
Get past the appearance of the place, it is clean and the staff are super friendly. They truly want you to have a great experience and they deliver! They are unique in that they make their own salsas (nearly 10 of them). If you want mild, which is what is served with the chips, it's fresh and has great flavor. But if you want hot, just ask. They have a couple tomatillo hot green salsas (one with avocado) using habanero chilies and while it may take the skin off your teeth, it is so tasty and smoky. I ordered a steak and bacon dish, not something I'd ever try on my own, but it was suggested and I was so pleased with the unique flavors. The burritos are filled with meat, the steak burrito was devoured by my husband. and he is very picky. They also make their own corn tortillas, which are so good, better than the average. The service was amazing, we were waited on by both a man and a woman. She made the salsas and may have made some of our dinner. Such friendly people and they really deserve to succeed. Not your cookie cutter chain American- Mexican restaurant.
(4)
Alessandro P.
I went to this restaurant with a Groupon, after noticing a 100% rating on Urbanspoon. Yelp rating is closer to the truth. The food is certainly not bad, yet not especially good. This is definitely a personal opinion, of course, being Italian I have no clue about a Mexican restaurant, if it's traditional, authentic, or anything of the sort. I can just tell whether I like it or not. Now the sore point. As in almost every other place I visited, the name "Margarita" is not used for a cocktail described and specified by the IBA (International Bartenders Association). Instead, it's a margarita-like concoction, quite likely made with some preparation bought by the gallon, and way too full of sugar. ...And they are so proud of it.
(3)
Eileen M.
We've eaten here several times and had outstanding food, but extremely slow service every time but once, it's clear their servers are not pros. This time we were seated and given chips and salsa but no water. Our server said she'd be right back to take our drink order. We observed her clearing plates from other tables, helping walk ins that were ordering to go and taking the order of a table that came in after us. Eventually we finished the chips, still ignored, so we left. We won't be back. If we want Mexican food, Celia's, formerly Juan Colorado, in Tualatin!
(1)
Kitty T.
The food was excellent and the service was very good. We had bacon wrapped shrimp and chicken poblano both served with rice and refried beans. The mexican rice was the best I have ever had; it was seasoned just right and had bits of corn - excellent! The atmosphere was confusing and uncomfortable; uninviting. They need to call Chef Robert Irvine and have a remodel like Restuarant Impossible. They serve excellent food, but need to fix the place up.
(4)
Stace K.
I had a chicken fajita burrito. It was huge, but I ate it all because it was so good. The staff was so nice. Reasonable prices and good food. We're coming back.
(4)
Bryant B.
I really wanted this place to be better. The staff is awesome, seriously some of the friendliest, bubbliest folks in the industry in Portland. The food however ...left a LOT to be desired. My order of Pollo alla diabla was bland and greasy (although the black beans were pretty good), and my friend's order of Carne encebollado was essentialy the driest, blandest jerky he had ever eaten. As others have said, the margaritas tasted like they were the product of a mix (Overly sweet, artificially green, and light on tequila). This is on a part of 99W where there are about 3 other Mexican restaurants within walking distance of this one...I hope for the sake of the nice folks that run and staff this place that they get their food and drinks dialed in, because at the present, I would be far more likely to keep on driving to Taqueria Sanchez than stop in there.
(2)
Chris H.
Well they USED to be good. Not anymore. I went in and had two cheese enchiladas rice and beans. When the food came I was extremely disappointed. The beans were no longer refried, but boiled. The rice was on the dry side. The enchiladas had very little sauce with No cheese on top of them. . Inside there was no sauce and the montomary jack cheese wasn't even melted. To top it off the food was warm, but not even hot. I had to track down the waiter for a refill and more chips and salsa. Won't be back.
(1)
Doug H.
What a pleasant surprise. I had the fajita burrito and it was fresh and hot. great taste. the staff was fast and friendly. a pleasant surprise.
(4)
J V.
I don't try to give bad ratings, but you'd do well to skip this place completely. Can't say I've ever had worse mexican food. When we came in there were 3 tables occupied - and the waitress sat us right under an AC vent (early april) and I was freezing. Had to move to a different chair and zip my jacket up all the way. The table next to us hadn't been bussed, and wasn't the whole time we were there. Just dirty plates for decoration. chips and salsa were a bit below average, but edible. ordered 'tacos al carbon'. my son ordered 'tacos el pastor'. when the food finally came 45 minutes later i was really disappointed. the meat was dry, overcooked and tasteless -- and that's all it was. Just a few strips of dry, overcooked and tasteless meat in a flour tortilla. No pico de gallo (as the menu promised). There was a bit of shredded iceberg lettuce on the side, and a bit of guacamole & sour cream. There was also a bit of 'straight from the package refried beans' and some rice. Both bland and uninteresting. You'll get much better food for a much better price just a bit up the road at Taco del Sol or Sanchez. can only recommend that you skip this place.
(1)
Liz M.
My husband and I have been here twice. Both times the it was pretty empty. HOWEVER nicest staff and food was hot and fresh. Plus we have 3 small kids so for us its great, we don't feel like we are bothering anyone and they are so accommodating to the kids. The most recent trip was over Christmas. We were the largest party they had ever had. (I think 22)? The server was fantastic and they really busted a move to make sure we were all happy and managed to get everyone's food out at the same time. This has become our go to neighborhood place when we have a hankering for good Mexican food. Its fresh, hot, family friendly, and inexpensive. We will be back!
(5)
Jenni B.
We've gone twice now. First time the salsa was delicious! Service a bit slow with refilling drinks. Second time we went, the salsa wasn't the same. Went for happy hour, but no food items are on the happy hour menu, actually there was no physical happy hour menu, just discounted bar drinks....?!? Food is pretty good, but prices are pretty high for the amount of small food you get. Nice staff, but slow service.
(2)
David G.
Ok ok. This restaurant just opened. In a place known, to break the first rule of real estate, chimi not good,service not there yet. Keep trying
(1)
Mali C.
Was there for lunch today around 1pm. 2 other people in the restaurant. Service was very slow. Salsa was salty. Ordered shredded beef chimichanga/ chicken tamale and 4 soft tacos. Tacos were great. Chimichanga/tamale wasn't so great.
(3)
Robert E.
Curiously empty for a place with such good food and terrific service. The Tacos Al Pastor is worth the trip by itself. The mole sauce is outstanding. The owners are also the servers and are very sweet people. Highly recommend a visit.
(5)
Frank K.
Dropped in the other day to try this place out. We had a party of 3 and got a wide selection from the Menu in the totally empty Restaurant. FYI, "Guajillo" is a type of Chile Pepper which apparently is used widely by this establishment. Lets scarf down some of their very good chips and salsa while we review this spot's (echo machine here): ~Case History~ This facility or "Site" has had an elusive grip upon "Success" for a coupla years now. It has been a "New York Pizza" (which has done well at OTHER PDX locations), a pretty good Falafel House, and I can't even remember what it was before those attempts. It has historically failed, "I" have a hunch, because it is a pain in the keister to get in and out of the parking lot. Just something about the place smacks of failure. The food we had was good stuff (they must be working the bugs out by now) from what my Brother said, extolling the merits of their Chili Relleno (as he is a master Rellenologist himself and he is a great, Navy trained, chef himself). I had the more than adequate Arroz con Pollo which was plentiful and half went home with me. I had an ala carte Chicken soft taco and my Bro a hard shell ground beef taco. We both nodded in acceptance.. The neighbor, being a born and raised Portlandish-er, got the Mexican Pizza. NOT mine own choice for a Sonoran delicacy, but he ate like a "Bird".. A "CONDOR" that is!!! He spun that thing like an old vinyl LP chewing it down like a LATHE!! Simply a disgusting display of swallowing with minimal mastication.. Remind me to drop him off at the Zoo!!! "Ilario" our waiter was an affable and attentive server but there was a bit of language lost in translation. IE: My Bro ordered extra enchilada sauce for his Enchilada (which he liked) and out came ANOTHER cheese enchilada. Never one to pass up an extra opportunity he shrugged and slathered it down like a Ball Python learning about Chipmunks!! I gotta stop eating with these guys... They're cramping my style, SEVERELY!! All and all we 3 gave the place a thumbs up and may eat there again from time to time if they can avoid the looming and everpresent parking lot curse (which they share with a HOOKAH place)... By the way, just what is it you young folks like about sucking on an old, swampwater pipe while reclining on satin pillows?? I just don't get 'cho guys!! Here we live in the lap of Nature and you wanna pretend yer some kinda "Potentate"!!! Good GAWD, move to Detroit willya?? ~'nuffsaid~ I must be getting "OLD" or something.... BYE!!!
(3)
Jim B.
I sure wish I'd received the food the people who left 4 and 5 stars because I sure didn't get anything close to edible. I ordered carne asada and as soon as it arrived, I knew it was going to not be good. It looked like convenience store beef jerky and ended up tasting like it. The refried beans were really salty. My wife had chicken enchiladas and they were equally as bad. We live nearby so we were really hoping this would be good. It wasn't. We won't be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Chris V.
Stingy with 5 stars but I believe this little restaurant deserves special recognition. Thought it may lack ambience and polished fixtures, I come for the service and for truly unique Mexican fare. My heart was captured and remains smitten with the Camarones Poblano. What experience is a taste treat, carefully thought and excellent execution. I can't say every dish is a 5 star experience but the service in two visits, the ordered dishes and attention to patron care elevate this little restaurant. Concentrate your energies on specialty dishes. This chef has a good sense of sauces and flavors. Even a simple, lowly enchilada can be covered in a unique and flavorful red sauce (Enchilada Guajillo). My soda was drawn from the bar and was lifeless and tasteless. They immediately aplogized, brought me a freshly carbonated and mixed replacement and a heartfelt regret for the inconvenience. I recommend this restaurant. It may take a few visits to find your favorite, unique dish but I believe it is worth the investment to find it/them.Kudos to the owner/chef and great service and food.
(5)Jim D.
A nice surprise. Clean, super friendly and good quality food for a very reasonable price. I would say it's a great place to take a family and or friends. It's not a "foodie" destination, but a great place for a casual meal.
(4)Foodie P.
I rarely review, but I think this is a hidden gem. My measure of a Mexican restaurant is the way they make and serve Chiles Rellenos. We have tried them both as take-out and today in the restaurant. They are among the best I've had since the 1960s when Los Angeles had excellent Mexican food in Hispanic neighborhoods. The atmosphere is pleasant, not fancy, the co-owner was our server and immediately brought salsa and chips. Their tortillas are homemade. My husband had their soft chicken tacos and said they were excellent. If you are looking for a good Tigard/Tualatin family restaurant, give them a try.
(4)O E.
We purchased the Groupon to cure our craving of Mexican. We arrived on a Saturday around noon and there were only 2 other parties there, which was cool as we didn't have to wait to be seated. The chips and salsa were delicious! Basically devoured those once we sat down. I ordered the chicken enchiladas a la crema and my boyfriend ordered the quesadilla. We were unimpressed, but the staff was friendly and attentive.
(3)Mandy M.
This is my favorite Mexican place I've been to in a very long time. My first time went on a date there on a Saturday night, and it was busy. This place is family owned, and the pride shows. Its typical decor for restaurant with carved back booths, bright colors, etc. Very clean. This is not a dive. We both had the traditional margarita, he got his blended, I didn't. Delicious, strong, mixed well. You get attentive but laid back service every time I come here. Warm chips right away. Their house salsa is medium spicy, which is my kinda flavor. Pork carnitas. This is the top dog here for me. Amazing. Juicy tasty marinade, presented in a molcajete at the table. Beautiful goodness. He had tacos all pastor, which was also delicious, fresh pineapple and cilantro yes!. I've now taken my dad there and he was totally impressed, and thanked the husband and wife several times, so cute haha. He loved his enchiladas! I like that they separate your beans and rice (with choice of beans), I like black beans myself, but the key is it isn't a swimming pool of lard grease cheese on your plate. It stays fresh, and the rice is flavored nicely. You taste more, enjoy more. Yum yum yum. Now on to trying more seafood! Camarones al Diablo? Yes. The fish tacos with the chipotle crema and fresh tortilla. Oh yep. A bright gem for Tigard from a family who cares about real traditional food and flavor. Felicidades.
(5)Demri V.
I've been here quite a few times as I used to live down the street. Sometimes it's delicious sometimes not so much. For first time customers I recommend you come a few times before you really make up your mind.
(3)Brie R.
Finally, passable Mexican food in Tigard! This place was definitely better than passable so it far surpassed our typical experience in this area. Natives of California, we have high standards and while this isn't quite all the way there it definitely passes muster. The food was anything but bland, in fact, some dishes were a bit over seasoned but delicious nonetheless. Great service and friendly staff rounded out the experience.
(4)Mira M.
I absolutely love this place!! It's so random - I'm hardly ever in the suburbs - but I stumbled upon it a few months ago and have come back many times. I'm not a fan of garden-variety Mexican restaurants (like Acapulco), and El Guajillo proves why - there is SO much better available! The employees are very sweet and the service is fast. Every table gets freshly-baked tortilla chips and salsa - so good! My margarita was HUGE! And I keep ordering their Mexican pizza - this ain't no Taco Bell! If you're in the area, definitely check it out.
(4)Dylan S.
I would not recommend this place to anyone. TL;DR: extremely slow and poor service, incorrect order, sub par food, lies on windows. 4:10 - My party arrived. Immediately we were sat in the front corner of the restaurant. There are two other parties in the restaurant. Everything appears to be going fine. We decided to come here because the tortillas are advertised as homemade 4:20 - We get our menus (not yet salsa) 4:25 - We get our salsa (which is actually above average salsa) 4:35 - We get our water (we said no ice, but got glasses full) 4:41 - All water has been drank 4:50 - We are asked by another person, not our waiter, if we have been served yet/ordered (we haven't) 5:03 - We order Tacos al Carbon and Chicken Mole with flour tortillas, and ask for a refill of water and salsa. Tacos al Carbon are advertised as corn tortillas dipped in special salsa, grilled, then stuffed with either chicken or steak 5:17 - We get a refill of salsa 5:40 - Our waters are finally refilled, and we get our food, the Chicken Mole did not come with tortillas, and the Tacos al Carbon were simply flour tortillas with steak (no 'dipped and grilled') and very minimal steak (less than an ounce per tortilla, there were 3) 5:45 - After waiting for a server to talk to us, I decide instead to flag one down and ask for the promised tortillas and ask what happened about the tortillas dipped and grilled. We are told the plain tacos ARE the Tacos al Carbon, but if I want more salsa, he can get it for me. 5:48 - We get our tortillas, and I get another bowl of salsa. The tortillas are noticeably not home made 5:55 - We finish eating, pay, and leave. One of the parties that arrived before us still hasn't gotten their food. Do not come here.
(1)Rafael Z.
This place is great, very attentive stuff, reasonable prices on food and low prices on drinks, if you love authentic Mexican restaurant this is the place to go, a family sit down restaurant with the flavors that will satisfy to anyone who appreciate good cooking, my wife and I tried the Molcajete, a mix of flank steak, chicken breast, grilled cactus leaves, jumbo shrimp and cheese with a delicious mild sauce garnished with grilled green anions and jalapeños, server in a lava hot stone that keeps the food warm all the way until you finish it, served with rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and tortillas. The drinks were well mixed and served, we will make El Guajillo our favorite Mexican restaurant!
(5)Natalie C.
My family has made El Guajillo our go to restaurant. The food is authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. Kids eat for less than $2 on Sundays. The chicken enchiladas with cream sauce are some of the best I've ever had! I have loved everything that I've tried there aside from the soup, which was bland for my taste. That is what I get for trying to eat healthy at Mexican food restaurant. The waitress that always takes care of us is so friendly and especially kind to our children. We love it here and would recommend it to anyone. If you are a fan of Margaritas, they have the best Margaritas in town! With great food, service and prices El Guajillo gets five stars from our family!
(5)Daniel C.
El Guajillo may have an outdated building, and an interior that needs major renovations and updating, but you won't be disappointed coming here. Although they lack some updates, they are far ahead in authentic Mexican cuisine and service. The food was amazing, and probably in my top 3 Mexican restaurants in Portland right now in my book. I had a beef chimi and chicken enchilada with black beans and rice. The beef in the chimi was superbly seasoned, and they also added poblano peppers to add some extra pop. The chicken enchi was also terrific, and made with creamy authentic queso and cotija cheese. The only thing I would improve was the black beans, which was served more as a bean soup than a nice thick side of beans how I usually like them, but still tasty. The service here was extraordinary! I was served water, chips, and salsa immediately. I was tended to every couple minutes for more water and salsa for the chips. The waitress also gave me additional salsas to try and said that she makes them all fresh in-house and has about 7 different salsas. My check came with a tasty little chip with cinnamon, whip cream, and caramel drizzled over it. Very good! I'll definitely be back soon.
(4)Gary-Lee R.
Always friendly cheerful staff. Terrific rellenos and large portions. Tight parking sometimes.
(5)Gina A.
Wowza! I have been avoiding this place for quite some time mainly because so many crappy places have occupied this space since my arrival (ta da!) in Tigard about 10 years ago. It has FINALLY found an owner/operator who prepares quality food at a reasonable price. Too bad the decor is beyond kitchsy (electric orange and strange assortment of lighting and a terribly odd arrangement) and it honestly made me skeptical to say the least when I first walked in - it was so weird in there that I worried the food would be terrible - boy was I wrong! The chips are freakily thin, the salsa is just right (not too thick or too thin) and they are generous with both. The server, Sara, has been there every time my husband and I have gone and we haven't had a bad meal - yet. They could use a Gordon Ramsay face lift (where crazy workers come in and address the interior of your establishment in an overnight mad remodel) but that's no matter when the food is as homemade good as this is. Lucky me, many years ago I had a receptionist that worked for me who loved to bring me bring me her homemade Mexican specialties - things that she and her family grew up enjoying and making at home - that's what this reminds me of - home made tortillas (corn and flour), flavorful and meaty enchiladas with sauces that are subtle and well seasoned. I loved the Rellenos, the chili colorado, the chili verde and the rice has bits of more than just peppers - pieces of corn add a little something extra. We normally have a couple of Negro Modelos, guacamole (alright, and freshly made) and they always bring a tiny complmentary sweet treat at the end of your meal. Great food and service from beginning to the sweet end.
(5)Dr. leo B.
Eat here often and it is always great. Fresh pretty fast and the people are very friendly.
(5)Rian S.
I have had awesome experiences here And also had one time that wasn't great.. Normally it's great the guy knows me cause I go to the hookah bar next door (genie hookah) but this last time I was in I got a blue moon and asked for a Glass and when I poured the bar into it I noticed that the glass had stuff floating in it. The lady working didn't comp me the beer just said it had to have come from the beer. Which can't be true cause it's a glass bottle from a factory and I have had many blue moons and never had anything wrong with the beer. Also they didn't wait on me too well. Stuff took a long time. Forgot about my water. I will only come back if the guy is working he is always friendly and on top of everything :-)
(1)Justin c.
Great prices, friendly service, great food. I love the laid back atmosphere definitely has an authentic feel and the owners are very nice and extremely attentive! This is hands down my favorite Mexican dining spot...and I've been to quite a few. They have daily specials, GREAT happy hour, and great prices for kids, as well as, kids free Wednesday's. Definitely recommend this place to my friends. The guacamole is DELICIOUS!!!
(5)Matt B.
Lunch special is a good deal. I had the Burrito Supreme and it was very flavorful. The green sauce was a nice surprise. Only negative was that things were a bit salty, but overall good food and nice service.
(4)Michael A.
I was at this place a little over a year ago. The place was completely empty despite it being a weekend (a bad sign). The only other people were 5 clearly overly intoxicated men sitting at the bar in the back. The food was okay, but the atmosphere was not good. There was one older guy that seemed to have no background in the restaurant or service industry that acted as our server, bartender, and presumably the cook. The thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was their inability to pay a $80 video lottery ticket???!! They said we would have to come back tomorrow or continue playing until it was lost!! Fast forward to last Friday. A friend has purchased a Groupon and invites me and two other friends to go. I reluctantly agreed. Once again the place is empty on a Friday night (Warning sign!), all four of us agreed the food was mediocre at best. My dish (Verde Chicken Enchiladas) was tasty, but served luke warm and undercooked. One friend ordered the Chimichanga and commented that it tasted freezer burned. Another friend commented her Mango (I think) Margarita tasted like it had been blended with a mix that had been sitting in a refrigerator for too long, and had a strange consistency to it. On a positive note, she did say it had a lot of tequila in it. The biggest problem, and the reason I'm taking the time to write this review is all of us ended up sick with some kind of stomach ailment the next morning!!! In my case full blown food poisoning in which I experienced severe stomach cramping, body aches, nausea, and a fever averaging 102. I could not get out of bed for the entire weekend except to the toilet and came close to calling an ambulance at one point. Stay away from this place!!!
(1)Gabe F.
Nice little gem on HWY 99! Very affordable menu: almost all lunch menu items are under $10. The food was good with nice size portions. They're not as large as other places I have been to, but for the price it's hard to beat. No booths; all table seating. Salsa could use some more chunks but all around a solid find. The bar was closed when I was here so no review for that area - granted it's only 11:45 am. (it's Happy Hour somewhere).
(3)Rebecca F.
I love this place. It has amazing food. It's not the fake nasty food most other PDX "Mexican" restaurants serve. The chili rellenos are bomb, they seriously have so much flavor it's insane. This is the only place in Portland that I have been able to find a chili relleno that actually tastes like one. The staff is wonderful. I love this place so much I had my 30th birthday party there. The staff was so accommodating and sweet. I was given a free shot of Taquilla and dessert. My husband and my two friends spent the night sinking karaoke in the back after dinner. This place rocks at food and service!
(5)Nancy G.
The food was pretty good. Service was good and friendly as well. Drinks weren't that great. Which is strange because there's a full bar on site. Overall the restaurant food, drink and decor lacked imagination. Basic Mexican food. Good place for families, good kids menu.
(3)Laura M.
The food is pretty good, but the atmosphere is a little weird. It feels like you're sitting in a restaurant that has turned over many times, so there's no clear sense of ambience.
(3)James T.
Always a tasty meal! Always happy to support neighborhood businesses. Food is consistent, fresh, fast & hot - all big pluses. *Negra Modelo on draft too!
(4)Lupe V.
The chicken fajitas were so good! The portions were very generous and came sizzling to the table. The service here is exceptional, friendly and totally customer oriented. The decor is vibrant, paintings & colors on the wall are totally in the Hispanic theme. This is a great place in Tigard, right on 99, please give yourself a treat and try it!
(5)Steven A.
We used a Groupon and it was still a bad deal. Stale thick chips from a bag, nasty tasting chimichanga, orange colored chicken in the tamale, soggy Chile relleno, Soso beans and rice. Slow service. Not once were we asked if we would like more to drink. We had to explicitly ask for out initial water. Go down the road to Nacho Mama's or in to Tualatin for Cecelia's.
(1)Jeff H.
This place....was weird. A sign on the front of the restaurant said "Pizza" and I was looking to get a pizza for my girlfriend who wasn't feeling well. I didn't want a chain pizza, so I looked for a pizza place. The place I -was- looking for said the address was here, so I stopped without looking at the name. Inside, I saw it was a Mexican restaurant. But the menu said they had pizza. It was very...weird. They have booths and menus and presumably wait staff, but they also have what looks like a deli counter with registers, which is where I made my order. The lady behind the counter seemed very confused by my order, which was just a large pizza with pepperoni and pineapple. Hard? She had to consult with someone in the kitchen, who came out and questioned me about it again. I repeated myself maybe five times. They got the idea and said it would be a little while. I took that time to go and look around the place. It was a full service restaurant (with no one in at 4 in the afternoon on a Friday), but in the back was what looked like a mini nightclub. A bar was there, that required the person to walk around the side of it to get behind it, and a little wood dance floor. The lady from the kitchen who questioned me on my pizza order came back, probably to make sure I didn't walk behind the bar and help myself. I got myself a Coors Light, which required here to unlock a cooler and take it out. Whatever. I drank that and then my pizza was ready. And honestly, it wasn't that bad. I've had much, much worse, but it was a pretty decent pizza. The box even had that fat happy smiling Italian dude on it holding a pizza. There was a lot of cheese, you could taste the pepperoni and pineapple very well (it wasn't mush), and the crust was sort of a pizza-hut original style crust. I was seriously surprised. It just seems like the place doesn't have much focus. And it wasn't good enough for me to go back for it. So...there you go.
(2)Linda Z.
We have eaten here four times and had 4 different dishes and they were all delicious. The building is a bit old and the entry is deceiving as you park on the side and enter around the corner. You will immediately be served ships and salsa and asked if you want to order a beverage. Their food is very authentic Mexican and you have options on the beans; black, refried, pinto. There have always been other diners when I have gone for dinner and staff is always friendly. Sometimes it takes awhile to get your check, or ask for it to be delivered. This is now one of my favorite places for Mexican.
(4)Vic G.
Simply the best Mexican food yet in the PDX metro area. Everything is prepared fresh to order so it's a bit slow coming to the table. The tortillas used were fresh and homemade. It's amazing the difference that one ingredient makes in the overall quality of the meal. I had a shrimp fajita burrito that I'll be dreaming about until I return. We also had chicken tacquitos which is a dish we use to compare restaurants. Both 5 star. Highly recommend this sleepy mom and pop restaurant in Tigard.
(4)Janeane W.
The first time we came here it was after lunch, early afternoon and there was barely anyone there and the food was decent and the service by one gentleman there was completely excellent. The second time I ate here was on Cinco de Mayo (tonight) and just around 5:30 pm, so the real Cinco de Mayo rush had not arrived and they were plenty staffed. From each interval, we waited exceptionally long periods with no eye contact or concern. I had to ask for the same chips, water and salsa three times, and finally had to comment that we have been waiting quite some time for them. Also, when the meal was ordered, I stressed that we cannot have sour cream with it, as it really turns my daughter off to the meal, so this was stressed... yet it arrived with sour cream anyway after they assured me it would not. These people don't make eye contact the right way or act like they care. It was way no bueno service. The food was about a 6 out of 10 (but still pretty decent for so far from the border and not really an area of the country in which I feel Mexican food is at it's best). So with the food just above average, you'd think the customer service would be important. Exceptionally long waits for no expressed or caring reason with lack of eye contact and poor attitude. When I mentioned the poor service at the end the manager implied she already knew and left me a vague apology that was more out of protocol. Then I explained to her if people were simply being present and looking at their customer's faces they would see they had a need and things would not go so badly - and with that she laughed at me. I again tried to explain how simply being present could help her business so much - and then she laughed at me again. No bueno. No tip. No more business.
(1)Josh W.
This was my first time here. It was weird. Like most Mexican restaurants, we were started with chips and salsa. Both were very good. The salsa in particular, was very good. But we ran out of chips with a party of 3. Never in the history of going to Mexican restaurants has my table been cut off after 1 bowl of chips. But this happened here. We asked for more. Never came. We ordered Nachos, and a very large special to share between 3. The pork on the nachos was very tender and well seasoned. The best part of the meal by far. Odd part of the nachos. There was no bean on the nachos. But when my girlfriend got towards the bottom of the plate there was refried beans caked onto the plate. We don't know if there was a smear of beans that was used as "nacho glue" to prevent chips from sliding around, or if this was a dirty plate. The large special (i don't remember the name) had chili verde, a chicken enchilada, some spicy pork that I don't recall the name. The chili verde was a little on the bland side. The enchilada was excellent. The spicy pork was like the verde, a little on the bland side also. Service was poor. Our waiter was very polite, but absent. He never refilled the chips to enjoy the salsa that was quite good. Nor did our water ever get refilled. Had we ordered drinks, this probably wouldn't have mattered, but we only had water. Over all, I'd say 2 out of 5, BUT.....I would return to give them another try. A second experience like that though, and I would not go back.
(2)D H.
I drove past this place more then a few times n finally stopped and went in, delicious food, gotta try their chicken fajita n my girlfriend got the chimichanga AMAZING !!! Worth the stop
(5)Kel L.
Get past the appearance of the place, it is clean and the staff are super friendly. They truly want you to have a great experience and they deliver! They are unique in that they make their own salsas (nearly 10 of them). If you want mild, which is what is served with the chips, it's fresh and has great flavor. But if you want hot, just ask. They have a couple tomatillo hot green salsas (one with avocado) using habanero chilies and while it may take the skin off your teeth, it is so tasty and smoky. I ordered a steak and bacon dish, not something I'd ever try on my own, but it was suggested and I was so pleased with the unique flavors. The burritos are filled with meat, the steak burrito was devoured by my husband. and he is very picky. They also make their own corn tortillas, which are so good, better than the average. The service was amazing, we were waited on by both a man and a woman. She made the salsas and may have made some of our dinner. Such friendly people and they really deserve to succeed. Not your cookie cutter chain American- Mexican restaurant.
(4)Alessandro P.
I went to this restaurant with a Groupon, after noticing a 100% rating on Urbanspoon. Yelp rating is closer to the truth. The food is certainly not bad, yet not especially good. This is definitely a personal opinion, of course, being Italian I have no clue about a Mexican restaurant, if it's traditional, authentic, or anything of the sort. I can just tell whether I like it or not. Now the sore point. As in almost every other place I visited, the name "Margarita" is not used for a cocktail described and specified by the IBA (International Bartenders Association). Instead, it's a margarita-like concoction, quite likely made with some preparation bought by the gallon, and way too full of sugar. ...And they are so proud of it.
(3)Eileen M.
We've eaten here several times and had outstanding food, but extremely slow service every time but once, it's clear their servers are not pros. This time we were seated and given chips and salsa but no water. Our server said she'd be right back to take our drink order. We observed her clearing plates from other tables, helping walk ins that were ordering to go and taking the order of a table that came in after us. Eventually we finished the chips, still ignored, so we left. We won't be back. If we want Mexican food, Celia's, formerly Juan Colorado, in Tualatin!
(1)Kitty T.
The food was excellent and the service was very good. We had bacon wrapped shrimp and chicken poblano both served with rice and refried beans. The mexican rice was the best I have ever had; it was seasoned just right and had bits of corn - excellent! The atmosphere was confusing and uncomfortable; uninviting. They need to call Chef Robert Irvine and have a remodel like Restuarant Impossible. They serve excellent food, but need to fix the place up.
(4)Stace K.
I had a chicken fajita burrito. It was huge, but I ate it all because it was so good. The staff was so nice. Reasonable prices and good food. We're coming back.
(4)Bryant B.
I really wanted this place to be better. The staff is awesome, seriously some of the friendliest, bubbliest folks in the industry in Portland. The food however ...left a LOT to be desired. My order of Pollo alla diabla was bland and greasy (although the black beans were pretty good), and my friend's order of Carne encebollado was essentialy the driest, blandest jerky he had ever eaten. As others have said, the margaritas tasted like they were the product of a mix (Overly sweet, artificially green, and light on tequila). This is on a part of 99W where there are about 3 other Mexican restaurants within walking distance of this one...I hope for the sake of the nice folks that run and staff this place that they get their food and drinks dialed in, because at the present, I would be far more likely to keep on driving to Taqueria Sanchez than stop in there.
(2)Chris H.
Well they USED to be good. Not anymore. I went in and had two cheese enchiladas rice and beans. When the food came I was extremely disappointed. The beans were no longer refried, but boiled. The rice was on the dry side. The enchiladas had very little sauce with No cheese on top of them. . Inside there was no sauce and the montomary jack cheese wasn't even melted. To top it off the food was warm, but not even hot. I had to track down the waiter for a refill and more chips and salsa. Won't be back.
(1)Doug H.
What a pleasant surprise. I had the fajita burrito and it was fresh and hot. great taste. the staff was fast and friendly. a pleasant surprise.
(4)J V.
I don't try to give bad ratings, but you'd do well to skip this place completely. Can't say I've ever had worse mexican food. When we came in there were 3 tables occupied - and the waitress sat us right under an AC vent (early april) and I was freezing. Had to move to a different chair and zip my jacket up all the way. The table next to us hadn't been bussed, and wasn't the whole time we were there. Just dirty plates for decoration. chips and salsa were a bit below average, but edible. ordered 'tacos al carbon'. my son ordered 'tacos el pastor'. when the food finally came 45 minutes later i was really disappointed. the meat was dry, overcooked and tasteless -- and that's all it was. Just a few strips of dry, overcooked and tasteless meat in a flour tortilla. No pico de gallo (as the menu promised). There was a bit of shredded iceberg lettuce on the side, and a bit of guacamole & sour cream. There was also a bit of 'straight from the package refried beans' and some rice. Both bland and uninteresting. You'll get much better food for a much better price just a bit up the road at Taco del Sol or Sanchez. can only recommend that you skip this place.
(1)Liz M.
My husband and I have been here twice. Both times the it was pretty empty. HOWEVER nicest staff and food was hot and fresh. Plus we have 3 small kids so for us its great, we don't feel like we are bothering anyone and they are so accommodating to the kids. The most recent trip was over Christmas. We were the largest party they had ever had. (I think 22)? The server was fantastic and they really busted a move to make sure we were all happy and managed to get everyone's food out at the same time. This has become our go to neighborhood place when we have a hankering for good Mexican food. Its fresh, hot, family friendly, and inexpensive. We will be back!
(5)Jenni B.
We've gone twice now. First time the salsa was delicious! Service a bit slow with refilling drinks. Second time we went, the salsa wasn't the same. Went for happy hour, but no food items are on the happy hour menu, actually there was no physical happy hour menu, just discounted bar drinks....?!? Food is pretty good, but prices are pretty high for the amount of small food you get. Nice staff, but slow service.
(2)David G.
Ok ok. This restaurant just opened. In a place known, to break the first rule of real estate, chimi not good,service not there yet. Keep trying
(1)Mali C.
Was there for lunch today around 1pm. 2 other people in the restaurant. Service was very slow. Salsa was salty. Ordered shredded beef chimichanga/ chicken tamale and 4 soft tacos. Tacos were great. Chimichanga/tamale wasn't so great.
(3)Robert E.
Curiously empty for a place with such good food and terrific service. The Tacos Al Pastor is worth the trip by itself. The mole sauce is outstanding. The owners are also the servers and are very sweet people. Highly recommend a visit.
(5)Frank K.
Dropped in the other day to try this place out. We had a party of 3 and got a wide selection from the Menu in the totally empty Restaurant. FYI, "Guajillo" is a type of Chile Pepper which apparently is used widely by this establishment. Lets scarf down some of their very good chips and salsa while we review this spot's (echo machine here): ~Case History~ This facility or "Site" has had an elusive grip upon "Success" for a coupla years now. It has been a "New York Pizza" (which has done well at OTHER PDX locations), a pretty good Falafel House, and I can't even remember what it was before those attempts. It has historically failed, "I" have a hunch, because it is a pain in the keister to get in and out of the parking lot. Just something about the place smacks of failure. The food we had was good stuff (they must be working the bugs out by now) from what my Brother said, extolling the merits of their Chili Relleno (as he is a master Rellenologist himself and he is a great, Navy trained, chef himself). I had the more than adequate Arroz con Pollo which was plentiful and half went home with me. I had an ala carte Chicken soft taco and my Bro a hard shell ground beef taco. We both nodded in acceptance.. The neighbor, being a born and raised Portlandish-er, got the Mexican Pizza. NOT mine own choice for a Sonoran delicacy, but he ate like a "Bird".. A "CONDOR" that is!!! He spun that thing like an old vinyl LP chewing it down like a LATHE!! Simply a disgusting display of swallowing with minimal mastication.. Remind me to drop him off at the Zoo!!! "Ilario" our waiter was an affable and attentive server but there was a bit of language lost in translation. IE: My Bro ordered extra enchilada sauce for his Enchilada (which he liked) and out came ANOTHER cheese enchilada. Never one to pass up an extra opportunity he shrugged and slathered it down like a Ball Python learning about Chipmunks!! I gotta stop eating with these guys... They're cramping my style, SEVERELY!! All and all we 3 gave the place a thumbs up and may eat there again from time to time if they can avoid the looming and everpresent parking lot curse (which they share with a HOOKAH place)... By the way, just what is it you young folks like about sucking on an old, swampwater pipe while reclining on satin pillows?? I just don't get 'cho guys!! Here we live in the lap of Nature and you wanna pretend yer some kinda "Potentate"!!! Good GAWD, move to Detroit willya?? ~'nuffsaid~ I must be getting "OLD" or something.... BYE!!!
(3)Jim B.
I sure wish I'd received the food the people who left 4 and 5 stars because I sure didn't get anything close to edible. I ordered carne asada and as soon as it arrived, I knew it was going to not be good. It looked like convenience store beef jerky and ended up tasting like it. The refried beans were really salty. My wife had chicken enchiladas and they were equally as bad. We live nearby so we were really hoping this would be good. It wasn't. We won't be back.
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