Most cities in the United States now have Mexican restaurants galore, but not all are blessed with food from other Latin American countries. Unlike Miami and Detroit, Portland doesn’t have neighborhoods with concentrated Latin American immigrant populations (think: Little Havana); instead, restaurants and food carts serving lomo saltaldo and empanadas are scattered throughout the greater Portland area.
When looking for an array of Latin American fare, the all-in-one Portland Mercado is an obvious place to start, but the city is home to a number of locally beloved establishments, bakery-cafe hybrids, and restaurants where reservations are highly recommended. Here are 14 places in Portland serving myriad dishes from counties south (and east) of Mexico. If you’re looking for Mexican dishes like guisados or carnitas, try our taco map or our Mexican restaurant map.
A number of Portland restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID update page. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.
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