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An overhead photo of birria del res with the accompanying broth, two tacos, two margaritas, and a single cochinita pibil at Papi Chulo’s
Tacos at Papi Chulo’s
Molly J. Smith/EPDX

Where to Find Birria in Portland and Beyond

Where to find quesabirria, mulitas, birria en caldo, and more in the greater Portland area

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Tacos at Papi Chulo’s
| Molly J. Smith/EPDX

Quesabirria, a combination of braised beef and cheese with roots in Tijuana, is a culinary craze that’s swept the nation, from Los Angeles to New York and everywhere in between —including the Portland area. Its foundation is birria, a braised red meat stew with origins in Jalisco, reliant on the grounding spice of dried chiles. Birria — made with goat, lamb, or beef — is a longstanding celebration dish, but the buzzy quesabirria strays from the traditional birria en caldo in favor of beef tacos grilled with melted cheese and served with consomé, the dish’s flavorful braising liquid. At food carts, stands, and restaurants, people will wait in line for hours to dunk cheesy quesadilla-taco hybrids in consomé like a French dip. The phenomenon has stretched beyond this specific dish, however; birria chefs have branched out into other, new vehicles for the dish, including birria ramen, birria lumpia, and even vegan birria.

This map includes a wide range of birria specialists from Beaverton to Gresham, from those small mom-and-pop restaurants serving bowls of birria de chivo with stacks of tortillas to the food carts slinging cheesy quesabirria and to-go cups of consomé. For more tacos, try this map.

Note: On November 18, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown initiated a two-week pause on Oregon indoor and outdoor dining. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point, however, the status of these restaurants may change soon; it’s best to call or check social media accounts for recent information. For updates on coronavirus cases in this area, please visit the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID update page. The points on this map guide are not ranked; rather, they’re organized geographically. For all the latest Portland dining intel, subscribe to Eater Portland’s newsletter.

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Tacos El Patron

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Tacos El Patron, an Aloha food truck in a fenced courtyard off the TV Highway, is the place for weekends-only quesabirria, consomé, birria en caldo served in Tapatío instant ramen cups, and other birria de res treats on the Westside. Weekday tip: try the queukas, essentially deep-fried quesadillas that resemble empanadas. Tacos El Patron is open for takeout.

Papi Chulo's

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This Pearl District restaurant serves a wide variety of regional Mexican food, including Baja fish tacos and Yucatecan cochinita pibl, while also tapping into the birria trend. The taqueria uses locally nixtamalized Three Sisters tortillas filled with slow-cooked beef, sprinkled with queso fresco and served with consomé on the side. Papi Chulo’s is open for takeout and delivery.

Sabor Casero

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Northeast Portland can get its birria fix at Sabor Casero, a combo taqueria-pupuseria cart in an NE MLK food pod. On weekends, the cart serves up overstuffed quesabirria with free consomé on the side, in addition to Salvadoran classics. Every once in a while, visitors may spot birria ramen and birria tamales on the menu; they’re worth nabbing when they’re there. Sabor Casero is open for takeout.

La Taquiza Vegana

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It wouldn’t be Portland without meat-free versions of popular dishes. La Taquiza Vegana in Sandy Boulevard’s Rose City Food Park makes its birria from organic jackfruit braised in a guajillo sauce; the cart serves it as a filling for tacos or mulitas made with vegan mozzarella. La Taquiza Vegana is open for takeout and delivery.

Birrieria Carlos

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Formerly Carlos Beltran Birria, this popular truck in a gas station parking lot is out on 82nd, past Cartlandia, over the Portland border in Happy Valley. It has the full line-up of birria tacos, quesabirria, mulitas (two corn tortillas grilled with meat and cheese inside), plus curiosities like keto tacos using fried cheese in lieu of tortillas and ramen birria with consomé as a soup base. Birrieria Carlos is open for takeout.

quesabirria on a white and black checkered paper
Birrieria Carlos’ quesabirria
Krista Garcia/EPDX

Birrieria La Plaza

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Located in the birria nexus where Portland and Gresham meet, Birrieria La Plaza and Birrieria PDX both draw long lines with their crimson, chile-oil-soaked corn tortillas stuffed with stewed beef—and often stringy quesillo—grilled and transformed into quesabirria and other delicacies. For a little of everything, try the Plaza Plate, which includes a quesadilla, taco, mulita, tostada, plus a cup of consomé. Birrieria La Plaza is open for takeout.

Four birria tacos sit in a red-and-white-checkered paper -lined basket, topped with cilantro, onions, and salsa Birrieria PDX / Official

Sabor De Mexico

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Sabor De Mexico, a little red cart in a nondescript East Portland food pod, stands out with its weekend birria de chivo, announced on a sign displayed on the sidewalk. This is good news for fans of birria en caldo; however, antojitos like tacos dorados and the 14-inch pizzadilla are made with the more common birria de res, not goat. Sabor De Mexico is open for takeout and delivery.

Birrieria PDX

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A breakout star of the city’s burgeoning quesabirria scene, Birrieria PDX draws crowds from around the city who line up for a taste of the succulent beef, stewed for eight hours in a guajillo and ancho-rich broth. Its birria is employed in multiple fashions, including tortas, Instagrammable ramen, and keto tacos. Order the PDX sampler on weekends for a taste of tacos, quesatacos, vampiros, and mulitas, served with a small consommé. Birrieria PDX is open for takeout.

La Tía Juana Taqueria

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It makes sense that a taqueria with Tijuana in its name serves quesabirria in addition to Tijuana-style tacos, though purists might miss the side of consommé for dipping. La Tía Juana Taqueria is open for takeout, delivery, and has a drive-thru.

Birrieria Los 7 Hermanos

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Anyone craving traditional birria de chivo should head to Gresham’s Birrieria Los 7 Hermanos pronto. The weekend-only special features goat meat, rendered juicy and shreddable from a long braising in a guajillo-spiked broth. Birria is available as a standalone en caldo or in tacos made with corn tortillas so soft they almost seem like flour. Birrieria Los 7 Hermanos is open for takeout.

A plate of tacos with consomme and tortillas in the background
Birria en Caldo at Birria Los 7 Hermanos
Krista Garcia/EPDX

Tacos El Patron

Tacos El Patron, an Aloha food truck in a fenced courtyard off the TV Highway, is the place for weekends-only quesabirria, consomé, birria en caldo served in Tapatío instant ramen cups, and other birria de res treats on the Westside. Weekday tip: try the queukas, essentially deep-fried quesadillas that resemble empanadas. Tacos El Patron is open for takeout.

Papi Chulo's

This Pearl District restaurant serves a wide variety of regional Mexican food, including Baja fish tacos and Yucatecan cochinita pibl, while also tapping into the birria trend. The taqueria uses locally nixtamalized Three Sisters tortillas filled with slow-cooked beef, sprinkled with queso fresco and served with consomé on the side. Papi Chulo’s is open for takeout and delivery.

Sabor Casero

Northeast Portland can get its birria fix at Sabor Casero, a combo taqueria-pupuseria cart in an NE MLK food pod. On weekends, the cart serves up overstuffed quesabirria with free consomé on the side, in addition to Salvadoran classics. Every once in a while, visitors may spot birria ramen and birria tamales on the menu; they’re worth nabbing when they’re there. Sabor Casero is open for takeout.

La Taquiza Vegana

It wouldn’t be Portland without meat-free versions of popular dishes. La Taquiza Vegana in Sandy Boulevard’s Rose City Food Park makes its birria from organic jackfruit braised in a guajillo sauce; the cart serves it as a filling for tacos or mulitas made with vegan mozzarella. La Taquiza Vegana is open for takeout and delivery.

Birrieria Carlos

Formerly Carlos Beltran Birria, this popular truck in a gas station parking lot is out on 82nd, past Cartlandia, over the Portland border in Happy Valley. It has the full line-up of birria tacos, quesabirria, mulitas (two corn tortillas grilled with meat and cheese inside), plus curiosities like keto tacos using fried cheese in lieu of tortillas and ramen birria with consomé as a soup base. Birrieria Carlos is open for takeout.

quesabirria on a white and black checkered paper
Birrieria Carlos’ quesabirria
Krista Garcia/EPDX

Birrieria La Plaza

Located in the birria nexus where Portland and Gresham meet, Birrieria La Plaza and Birrieria PDX both draw long lines with their crimson, chile-oil-soaked corn tortillas stuffed with stewed beef—and often stringy quesillo—grilled and transformed into quesabirria and other delicacies. For a little of everything, try the Plaza Plate, which includes a quesadilla, taco, mulita, tostada, plus a cup of consomé. Birrieria La Plaza is open for takeout.

Four birria tacos sit in a red-and-white-checkered paper -lined basket, topped with cilantro, onions, and salsa Birrieria PDX / Official

Sabor De Mexico

Sabor De Mexico, a little red cart in a nondescript East Portland food pod, stands out with its weekend birria de chivo, announced on a sign displayed on the sidewalk. This is good news for fans of birria en caldo; however, antojitos like tacos dorados and the 14-inch pizzadilla are made with the more common birria de res, not goat. Sabor De Mexico is open for takeout and delivery.

Birrieria PDX

A breakout star of the city’s burgeoning quesabirria scene, Birrieria PDX draws crowds from around the city who line up for a taste of the succulent beef, stewed for eight hours in a guajillo and ancho-rich broth. Its birria is employed in multiple fashions, including tortas, Instagrammable ramen, and keto tacos. Order the PDX sampler on weekends for a taste of tacos, quesatacos, vampiros, and mulitas, served with a small consommé. Birrieria PDX is open for takeout.

La Tía Juana Taqueria

It makes sense that a taqueria with Tijuana in its name serves quesabirria in addition to Tijuana-style tacos, though purists might miss the side of consommé for dipping. La Tía Juana Taqueria is open for takeout, delivery, and has a drive-thru.

Birrieria Los 7 Hermanos

Anyone craving traditional birria de chivo should head to Gresham’s Birrieria Los 7 Hermanos pronto. The weekend-only special features goat meat, rendered juicy and shreddable from a long braising in a guajillo-spiked broth. Birria is available as a standalone en caldo or in tacos made with corn tortillas so soft they almost seem like flour. Birrieria Los 7 Hermanos is open for takeout.

A plate of tacos with consomme and tortillas in the background
Birria en Caldo at Birria Los 7 Hermanos
Krista Garcia/EPDX

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