clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
An assortment of tacos are shown on white parchment paper on a baby blue picnic table.
Tacos at El Catrin.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

22 Outstanding Taco Spots in Greater Portland

Eat your way through some exceptional tacos, filled with everything from cochinita pibil to seared shrimp

View as Map
Tacos at El Catrin.
| Ron Scott/Eater Portland

In a city where it's commonly understood that much of the best food comes from trucks and carts, tacos stand firmly at the top of the heap. It's a surety that almost anywhere in the city and surrounding suburbs, a taco truck is within walking distance.

Emerging from the pandemic-era restrictions impacting the restaurant industry, Mexican food in Portland has only grown and diversified. Carts specializing in birria have parked in lots from Gresham to Hillsboro, while restaurants focused on contemporary Mexican cuisine have opened in the heart of the city. Meanwhile, the small mercados, panaderias, and taco trucks that have retained customers for decades largely remain open, packing carnitas and cabeza into small, house-made tortillas.

Whatever the future has in store, tacos are a high-resiliency dish — built for travel, ingredient flexibility, and easy eating. So here's a look at some of Portland's finest tacos, from dripping guisados to super-crispy carnitas. This map focuses on spots underrepresented on some of our other Mexican food maps, so for more options in Gresham or birria spots, look for options via their specific maps.

Note: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Taqueria Hermanos Ochoa's

Copy Link

With decent-to-excellent taco carts gracing nearly every Portland neighborhood these days, it takes something truly special to lure Portlanders to the furthest end of the blue line in Hillsboro. Ochoa’s is indeed that extraordinary, filling their tacos with grilled proteins as tender and flavorful as the very best barbecue. With 16 different meat options, carnivores making the trip out west shouldn’t stick to just one — don’t hesitate to add goat, buche, or tripas to the order.

Mr. Pique Tacos

Copy Link

Mr. Pique is one of two trucks on TV Highway that are only open on weekends and only serve one type of taco: cabeza. The stewed cabeza is fatty and rich, and is commonly served as a street food hangover cure in places like Mexico City. The move here is to get a cup of the consomé con carne for dipping and sipping. Those averse to higher amounts of capsaicin should ask for no salsa or salsa on the side, as this bright and zippy habanero salsa packs a punch. Luckily, horchata and a rotating agua fresca are also available to cool things off.

A white taco truck is seen with a blue sky and trees behind it.
Mister Pique Taco Truck.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

El Jefe Mexican Grill

Copy Link

Operating out of a food truck just south of downtown Beaverton, El Jefe brings a variety of Mexican dishes and smoky chicken to the west side. The specialty here is obviously the “pollo al carbon” or charcoal-grilled chicken, but there is also a good selection of other meats that can be served as street tacos. Diners should also keep an eye out for specials, like spit-roasted al pastor. El Jefe is also expected to open its first brick and mortar on Pacific Highway in Tigard next to Mike's Drive-In sometime later this spring.

Tacos and a small cup of salsa are shown in a white takeout container.
Tacos con pollo at El Jefe.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

El Mas Chingon

Copy Link

This unassuming white taco truck on Canyon Road sits in a strip mall parking lot next to a soccer store. Inside, the usual suspects like carnitas and carne asada are tossed into warm and slightly fluffy corn tortillas that are made in-house. The standouts here, however, are the "choriqueso" (chorizo and queso) and the shrimp tacos, the latter being seared nicely and served with avocado.

A mixture of tacos are shown in a while polystyrene takeout container.
An assortment of tacos from El Mas Chingon.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Taqueria Y Panaderia Santa Cruz

Copy Link

It's well established that this tiny St. Johns tienda slings some of the neighborhood’s finest tacos. Standouts are the lengua, carnitas, and tacos al pastor, given some extra oomph with the restaurant’s garlicky, bright avocado salsa. Santa Cruz also excels at meats such as buche, cueritos, and cabeza.

El Coyote

Copy Link

Limited (and admittedly worn) signage adorns a makeshift cart that relies on its food to do the talking. El Coyote is known locally for having the best carnitas not only in St. Johns, but arguably in Portland — potato-chip-crispy at its edges and massively flavorful. The chorizo here, however, might be the sleeper hit: The meat is fluffy and chewy, with an almost smoky complexity that shouldn’t be missed.

Four tacos sit in a white takeout tray on a red picnic table.
An assortment of tacos from El Coyote.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

La Bonita

Copy Link

Now boasting three locations with bright aquamarine walls and cherry-red metal chairs, La Bonita is selling large tacos stuffed with meats (such as suadero or fajita veggies for those seeking something less carnivorous) on corn tortillas made in house, and doing so at a high level. La Bonita does what it does well, and its tight menu and vibe are recognizable across all three locations. The no-frills cocktails served in shaker pints are bright, refreshing, and complement the food especially well.

Three tacos are shown on a yellow plate sitting on a wooden table.
Tacos at La Bonita.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Little Conejo

Copy Link

This cheerful counter-service taqueria in Vancouver grinds its own masa every day for its tortillas, which end up loaded with wild-tasting lamb barbacoa, juicy and flavorful suadero, and wicked-crispy logs of chorizo filled with gooey cheese. Any combination works well with the restaurant’s extensive mezcal collection.

Pig Patas Tacos

Copy Link

Just off MLK Blvd. on Northeast Killingsworth sits this canary-yellow taqueria, one of the few in the city actually using a trompo. Fans of tacos al pastor will certainly be at home here, as the restaurant’s vertical spits slowly twirl with sliced and marinated pork or beef. Pig Patas specializes in "Chilango-style," which is a term used to describe the street food from Mexico City, but it's surprisingly the Tex-Mex, house-made wheat tortilla tacos filled with toppings like bacon, carne asada, pickled onion, cheese, and so on that steal the show here.

Tacos, lime wedges, and cucumbers are shown on a white plate.
Tacos from Pig Patas.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Taco Gang PDX

Copy Link

Located in the heart of Belmont, Taco Gang is a bit of a newer entrant into Portland’s taco scene, but it has already accrued its fair share of devotees. While the menu here is a bit simplified compared to others on the list, the tacos have the option of flour or handmade corn tortillas. For those wondering what protein to get, the perfectly crispy carnitas or the spicy chorizo is the move here.

Tight Tacos

Copy Link

Located inside the Zipper on Sandy Boulevard, Tight Tacos has a cult following for its no-joke carnitas and al pastor on house-made tortillas. Vegetarians will likely prefer the “impastor” cauliflower tacos, pastor-style in an adobo marinade. Beyond its Zipper location, Tight Tacos also has three sisters shops — one on Southeast Division and two in Hawaii.

Salsas Locas (Tortilleria Y Tienda DeLeon's)

Copy Link

With a new central location zeroing in on its tacos and burritos, Tortilleria y Tienda De Leon’s remains one of the city’s best spots for guisados. Lightly blistered tortillas arrive packed with saucy chicken tinga or saucy braised birria, with a strong selection of acidic salsas. Guisados change frequently, from bistec con nopales to citrusy cochinita pibil; they’re also available by the pound, to create a taco night at home.

Taquería Los Puñales

Copy Link

After opening on Belmont during the pandemic, Los Puñales has easily become a staple taqueria in Portland. The explicitly queer taco shop serves a huge variety of guisados on handmade tortillas, alongside a range of aguas frescas occasionally spiked with tequila. Unlike many guisado shops, the Belmont taqueria also offers a number of vegan guisados as well, including soy curl tinga and mole poblano.

Panaderia Mexicana Cinco de Mayo

Copy Link

This Reed-area market serves some of the finest carnitas, asada, and cabeza tacos in the area. All three are lusciously marbled with fat, with crispy edges on the asada and carnitas. The pastor is a sleeper hit; no, it’s not roasted on a trompo, but the marinade’s pairing of pineapple and guajillo adds a nice balance to the pork.

Santo Domingo Taqueria

Copy Link

This charming taqueria a block south of Fernhill Park features Oaxacan dishes such as tlayudas while also offering a full selection of tacos, tortas, and burritos. Santo Domingo also features a few margaritas, beer, and a small selection of tequila. The smart play here is the carnitas, which are squished to an impossibly crispy, crunchy texture with a salty pop.

Three tacos are shown on a white plate.
Tacos from Santo Domingo Taqueria.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Loncheria Los Mayas

Copy Link

This Northeast Portland food cart serves a stunning cochinita pibil taco on handmade tortillas, dotted with pickled onions and radishes. The lengua is no slouch, either — super flavorful with balanced texture — and those seeking something outside the scope of a taco can grab the panuchos, a Yucatecan fried and bean-stuffed tortilla topped with pickled onions and other fixings.

Matt's BBQ Tacos

Copy Link

Having crashed the barbecue party with the original Matt’s BBQ and collaborated with some Portland culinary greats to open Eem, Matt Vicedomini’s next trick is wading fearlessly into the crowded Portland taco scene. Specializing in, but not limited to, breakfast tacos, Matt’s BBQ Tacos in the Hinterland pod on Southeast 50th presents Matt’s signature charred-but-succulent brisket, pulled pork, and other expertly smoked delights in airy flour or weighty corn tortillas. Breakfast options generously pile on the eggs, potatoes, and guac and are easily the best in the city. Matt's BBQ Tacos is also operating a second location at Great Notion Brewery on Alberta Street.

Tierra del Sol Cuisine and Catering

Copy Link

The great thing about Portland Mercado’s cluster of Latin American food carts is that diners can mix and match cuisines from all over Central and South America. But no visit is complete without Tierra del Sol’s tacos, all served on organic blue corn tortillas. Owner Amalia Sierra serves three of her deeply complex moles — a dark and robust coloradito, a vegetal pipian, and a bright and lively amarillo — in tacos, an ideal solution for those wanting to try all three. The cart also offers fillings like carnitas and chorizo.

La Hidalguense

Copy Link

Tucked unassumingly behind the rough and rowdy Foster Gardens, La Hidalguense’s no-nonsense taco cart is a gem of Foster-Powell. Named after the diverse state of Hidalgo, just north of Mexico City, La Hidalguense serves tender pollo, tangy al pastor, and juicy camaron tacos with equal confidence. Lunchtime waits can be lengthy on busier days — with no onsite seating, calling ahead is advised.

A takeout container is packed with tacos from La Hidalguense in Portland.
Tacos from La Hidalguense.
Nathan Williams/Eater Portland

El Catrin Mexican food

Copy Link

In the same food cart pod as Birrieria La Plaza is El Catrin, a small yellow taco cart with a surprisingly large menu including typical Mexican platters, tortas, sopes, and the like. El Catrin builds its tacos on freshly made tortillas using everything from suadero to chorizo, while the salsas are almost in a league of their own. The thick, blended consistency is something to behold, and they take these tacos to the next level.

Three separate servings of tacos are shown on white parchment paper on a blue picnic table.
An assortment of tacos from El Catrin.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Las Chica Carnitas

Copy Link

Visiting a Costco without indulging in one of America’s greatest values can take iron will, but Las Chica Carnitas within steps of Camas’s Costco warehouse is well worth the diversion. As the name implies, pork is the star here, whether it’s the shredded pork carnitas or the cubed pork belly in spicy honey-chile lime sauce. The taco sampler is a tour of them all, and a smart choice when visiting with a group. Frequently changing daily specials and raffles featuring local businesses keep regulars on their toes.

Taqueria Amanecer

Copy Link

A destination for Gresham birria enthusiasts, Taqueria Amanecer pours equal love and care into its simpler, subtler street tacos. The soft-but-crispy handmade tortillas would be a pleasure alone, currently serving as the foundation for generously filled asada, carnitas, pollo, or chorizo tacos, each moist and distinctly seasoned.

Loading comments...

Taqueria Hermanos Ochoa's

With decent-to-excellent taco carts gracing nearly every Portland neighborhood these days, it takes something truly special to lure Portlanders to the furthest end of the blue line in Hillsboro. Ochoa’s is indeed that extraordinary, filling their tacos with grilled proteins as tender and flavorful as the very best barbecue. With 16 different meat options, carnivores making the trip out west shouldn’t stick to just one — don’t hesitate to add goat, buche, or tripas to the order.

Mr. Pique Tacos

Mr. Pique is one of two trucks on TV Highway that are only open on weekends and only serve one type of taco: cabeza. The stewed cabeza is fatty and rich, and is commonly served as a street food hangover cure in places like Mexico City. The move here is to get a cup of the consomé con carne for dipping and sipping. Those averse to higher amounts of capsaicin should ask for no salsa or salsa on the side, as this bright and zippy habanero salsa packs a punch. Luckily, horchata and a rotating agua fresca are also available to cool things off.

A white taco truck is seen with a blue sky and trees behind it.
Mister Pique Taco Truck.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

El Jefe Mexican Grill

Operating out of a food truck just south of downtown Beaverton, El Jefe brings a variety of Mexican dishes and smoky chicken to the west side. The specialty here is obviously the “pollo al carbon” or charcoal-grilled chicken, but there is also a good selection of other meats that can be served as street tacos. Diners should also keep an eye out for specials, like spit-roasted al pastor. El Jefe is also expected to open its first brick and mortar on Pacific Highway in Tigard next to Mike's Drive-In sometime later this spring.

Tacos and a small cup of salsa are shown in a white takeout container.
Tacos con pollo at El Jefe.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

El Mas Chingon

This unassuming white taco truck on Canyon Road sits in a strip mall parking lot next to a soccer store. Inside, the usual suspects like carnitas and carne asada are tossed into warm and slightly fluffy corn tortillas that are made in-house. The standouts here, however, are the "choriqueso" (chorizo and queso) and the shrimp tacos, the latter being seared nicely and served with avocado.

A mixture of tacos are shown in a while polystyrene takeout container.
An assortment of tacos from El Mas Chingon.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Taqueria Y Panaderia Santa Cruz

It's well established that this tiny St. Johns tienda slings some of the neighborhood’s finest tacos. Standouts are the lengua, carnitas, and tacos al pastor, given some extra oomph with the restaurant’s garlicky, bright avocado salsa. Santa Cruz also excels at meats such as buche, cueritos, and cabeza.

El Coyote

Limited (and admittedly worn) signage adorns a makeshift cart that relies on its food to do the talking. El Coyote is known locally for having the best carnitas not only in St. Johns, but arguably in Portland — potato-chip-crispy at its edges and massively flavorful. The chorizo here, however, might be the sleeper hit: The meat is fluffy and chewy, with an almost smoky complexity that shouldn’t be missed.

Four tacos sit in a white takeout tray on a red picnic table.
An assortment of tacos from El Coyote.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

La Bonita

Now boasting three locations with bright aquamarine walls and cherry-red metal chairs, La Bonita is selling large tacos stuffed with meats (such as suadero or fajita veggies for those seeking something less carnivorous) on corn tortillas made in house, and doing so at a high level. La Bonita does what it does well, and its tight menu and vibe are recognizable across all three locations. The no-frills cocktails served in shaker pints are bright, refreshing, and complement the food especially well.

Three tacos are shown on a yellow plate sitting on a wooden table.
Tacos at La Bonita.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Little Conejo

This cheerful counter-service taqueria in Vancouver grinds its own masa every day for its tortillas, which end up loaded with wild-tasting lamb barbacoa, juicy and flavorful suadero, and wicked-crispy logs of chorizo filled with gooey cheese. Any combination works well with the restaurant’s extensive mezcal collection.

Pig Patas Tacos

Just off MLK Blvd. on Northeast Killingsworth sits this canary-yellow taqueria, one of the few in the city actually using a trompo. Fans of tacos al pastor will certainly be at home here, as the restaurant’s vertical spits slowly twirl with sliced and marinated pork or beef. Pig Patas specializes in "Chilango-style," which is a term used to describe the street food from Mexico City, but it's surprisingly the Tex-Mex, house-made wheat tortilla tacos filled with toppings like bacon, carne asada, pickled onion, cheese, and so on that steal the show here.

Tacos, lime wedges, and cucumbers are shown on a white plate.
Tacos from Pig Patas.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Taco Gang PDX

Located in the heart of Belmont, Taco Gang is a bit of a newer entrant into Portland’s taco scene, but it has already accrued its fair share of devotees. While the menu here is a bit simplified compared to others on the list, the tacos have the option of flour or handmade corn tortillas. For those wondering what protein to get, the perfectly crispy carnitas or the spicy chorizo is the move here.

Tight Tacos

Located inside the Zipper on Sandy Boulevard, Tight Tacos has a cult following for its no-joke carnitas and al pastor on house-made tortillas. Vegetarians will likely prefer the “impastor” cauliflower tacos, pastor-style in an adobo marinade. Beyond its Zipper location, Tight Tacos also has three sisters shops — one on Southeast Division and two in Hawaii.

Salsas Locas (Tortilleria Y Tienda DeLeon's)

With a new central location zeroing in on its tacos and burritos, Tortilleria y Tienda De Leon’s remains one of the city’s best spots for guisados. Lightly blistered tortillas arrive packed with saucy chicken tinga or saucy braised birria, with a strong selection of acidic salsas. Guisados change frequently, from bistec con nopales to citrusy cochinita pibil; they’re also available by the pound, to create a taco night at home.

Taquería Los Puñales

After opening on Belmont during the pandemic, Los Puñales has easily become a staple taqueria in Portland. The explicitly queer taco shop serves a huge variety of guisados on handmade tortillas, alongside a range of aguas frescas occasionally spiked with tequila. Unlike many guisado shops, the Belmont taqueria also offers a number of vegan guisados as well, including soy curl tinga and mole poblano.

Panaderia Mexicana Cinco de Mayo

This Reed-area market serves some of the finest carnitas, asada, and cabeza tacos in the area. All three are lusciously marbled with fat, with crispy edges on the asada and carnitas. The pastor is a sleeper hit; no, it’s not roasted on a trompo, but the marinade’s pairing of pineapple and guajillo adds a nice balance to the pork.

Santo Domingo Taqueria

This charming taqueria a block south of Fernhill Park features Oaxacan dishes such as tlayudas while also offering a full selection of tacos, tortas, and burritos. Santo Domingo also features a few margaritas, beer, and a small selection of tequila. The smart play here is the carnitas, which are squished to an impossibly crispy, crunchy texture with a salty pop.

Three tacos are shown on a white plate.
Tacos from Santo Domingo Taqueria.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Related Maps

Loncheria Los Mayas

This Northeast Portland food cart serves a stunning cochinita pibil taco on handmade tortillas, dotted with pickled onions and radishes. The lengua is no slouch, either — super flavorful with balanced texture — and those seeking something outside the scope of a taco can grab the panuchos, a Yucatecan fried and bean-stuffed tortilla topped with pickled onions and other fixings.

Matt's BBQ Tacos

Having crashed the barbecue party with the original Matt’s BBQ and collaborated with some Portland culinary greats to open Eem, Matt Vicedomini’s next trick is wading fearlessly into the crowded Portland taco scene. Specializing in, but not limited to, breakfast tacos, Matt’s BBQ Tacos in the Hinterland pod on Southeast 50th presents Matt’s signature charred-but-succulent brisket, pulled pork, and other expertly smoked delights in airy flour or weighty corn tortillas. Breakfast options generously pile on the eggs, potatoes, and guac and are easily the best in the city. Matt's BBQ Tacos is also operating a second location at Great Notion Brewery on Alberta Street.

Tierra del Sol Cuisine and Catering

The great thing about Portland Mercado’s cluster of Latin American food carts is that diners can mix and match cuisines from all over Central and South America. But no visit is complete without Tierra del Sol’s tacos, all served on organic blue corn tortillas. Owner Amalia Sierra serves three of her deeply complex moles — a dark and robust coloradito, a vegetal pipian, and a bright and lively amarillo — in tacos, an ideal solution for those wanting to try all three. The cart also offers fillings like carnitas and chorizo.

La Hidalguense

Tucked unassumingly behind the rough and rowdy Foster Gardens, La Hidalguense’s no-nonsense taco cart is a gem of Foster-Powell. Named after the diverse state of Hidalgo, just north of Mexico City, La Hidalguense serves tender pollo, tangy al pastor, and juicy camaron tacos with equal confidence. Lunchtime waits can be lengthy on busier days — with no onsite seating, calling ahead is advised.

A takeout container is packed with tacos from La Hidalguense in Portland.
Tacos from La Hidalguense.
Nathan Williams/Eater Portland

El Catrin Mexican food

In the same food cart pod as Birrieria La Plaza is El Catrin, a small yellow taco cart with a surprisingly large menu including typical Mexican platters, tortas, sopes, and the like. El Catrin builds its tacos on freshly made tortillas using everything from suadero to chorizo, while the salsas are almost in a league of their own. The thick, blended consistency is something to behold, and they take these tacos to the next level.

Three separate servings of tacos are shown on white parchment paper on a blue picnic table.
An assortment of tacos from El Catrin.
Ron Scott/Eater Portland

Las Chica Carnitas

Visiting a Costco without indulging in one of America’s greatest values can take iron will, but Las Chica Carnitas within steps of Camas’s Costco warehouse is well worth the diversion. As the name implies, pork is the star here, whether it’s the shredded pork carnitas or the cubed pork belly in spicy honey-chile lime sauce. The taco sampler is a tour of them all, and a smart choice when visiting with a group. Frequently changing daily specials and raffles featuring local businesses keep regulars on their toes.

Taqueria Amanecer

A destination for Gresham birria enthusiasts, Taqueria Amanecer pours equal love and care into its simpler, subtler street tacos. The soft-but-crispy handmade tortillas would be a pleasure alone, currently serving as the foundation for generously filled asada, carnitas, pollo, or chorizo tacos, each moist and distinctly seasoned.

Related Maps