Easily the best Mexican restaurant in the Portland area. Food comes out fast even though this place is always packed. Parking isnt great. The staff is very friendly and helpful. There desserts are crazy awesome! Perfect spot for a great casual lunch or dinner. Highly recommended. read more

El Indio - Great food!!! - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Lots of food and left overs to boot!! A great Mexican meal- we had tortilla soup ( huge!!) veggie fajitas and flatus ... all Delish

We start going there for lunch since the late 90's, and we've gone there once a year since then, one time for dinner. We recently stopped there, last Sunday. We were the only customers in the restaurant, and we got served right away. So far so good. This is the first time that I ordered something other than tacos, so I added tamale to my order. It was more than I can chew, so I had a 'doggie bag'. We briefly stopped @ Bi-mart, my hubby went inside for less than 5 mins, and I stayed in the car. The next day, I ate my leftover for lunch. By Wednesday, I got sick. I suspected, it must have been my lunch, since it was hot that day and it was in my car. But I got since the next day also, so I know now, it was from my Mexican food! Hubby didn't get sick, but he didn't order the same food as me. I'm giving them 3 stars only because my last meal didn't agree with me, or I would have given them 4 stars! read more

I had heard such good things about this place, but it let me down. Salsa was meh. Tamale was mainly a slab of corn masa with a tiny bit of dry pork inside. Express pork burrito was bad. Dry Pork, weird sweet taste. And the rice was bad also. read more

Im a huge fan of this place. I go here all the time and love it. Their portion sizes are large for reasonably priced food. Although their food doesnt have a huge array of flavors, and can tend to be a little bland, it does taste mexican and thats all I care for. I love their Chicken Mole (Mo-lay) they make it nearly perfect everytime and its always hot and fresh tasting when it arrives. Beans and rice taste consistent every time and I will admit, are not the greatest, but i love them and would just eat those if I could, they grow on you for sure and then you crave them. Their food is always persistent and I can always count on the taste im looking for. Their drinks are always strong and delicious, they also have a big variety of Margarita flavors, my favorites the blackberry. V.I.P comes in a huge goblet ($14) but they dont hold out on the alcohol! Staff is always so nice! However, they do recognize us since we are there so much.. but still! The manager is interactive with the customers making sure everything is right and the waitress helps my mom pronounce the menu items in Spanish (every. single. time.-even though she gets the same thing every. single. time. -you'd think she'd have it down by now...) but she always helps is nice to us about it. read more

El Indio - Strawberry blended margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Love it for years. It is not totally authentic Mexican food but it certainly is good. Service is always fast, family friendly place, drinks are mixed strong and salsa is good enough to drink! Perfect for laid back date night in the bar, get lost in the crowd, servers dont rush you and catch a game! read more

This restaurant is the reason I started dating and then married my husband. I grew up down the street when they first opened, and I keep going. Thank you to my El Indio family for your food and hospitality. If there were 10 stars to give, they would get every one. read more

Such a cozy and welcoming place. The food was amazing and authentic. The service was also so quick. Our server was such a sweet lady too!!

The interior is dusty and dirty. The food is mediocre at best, the service is lousy, and everything is so over priced. The employees were so rude. unfortunately this used to be my favorite place to eat, but after this last experience I will never be coming back. There are many other Mexican restaurants in the area that I will be checking out in the future. Forget coming back! read more

Good - lots of seating Friendly staff Really good guacamole Delish salsa Cons- you have to pay for more salsa and chips after what they first serve you Plates hot as heck Waitress never came back to check on us Food was subpar I had to ask for a refill for my soda read more

Run of the mill cheaper mexican food. Nothing really to rave about. The service was meh. The waiter seemed to not care if we were there or not. Food was ok. We got the two combo meals for 15 dollars special. First round of chips and salsa are free, after that they charge. I get it, dont want freeloaders. Will i be back, most likely not. So many other mexican places in town with better service and food. read more

You must try the margaritas. They're strong and tasty! Also the servers are super friendly.

I came here the first time when they opened their doors to the public. The food was great then. Today.....the fresh made guacamole looked and tasted like it came out of a Reesers container....any guacamole lover KNOWS the difference. Shell to the taco salad was cold and tasted like it had been sitting for awhile and last but not least the chips were out of a bag....Come on people....we can do this well at taco bell. When confonting the waiter asking about the change he tells me he thinks they still make it but he does not care because he does not like guacamole......very likely they just lost a long time customer. read more

Went here with my cousin for late dinner. After we started eating he discovered that his food included a hard but malleable metallic tinsel from a cleaning brush buried in his food. Luckily he didn't bite or swallow it before finding it. Having metal bits in the food is unacceptable and a health hazard. Restaurant staff were not very apologetic and were rude. They do not seem to be the type that would take steps to ensure this doesn't happen again to other dishes served. read more

El Indio - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Birthday party with 14 guests,took care of each request,gave excellent service for a large group

I went to El Indio for the first time a few days ago and it will be the LAST TIME I go there - it was HORRIBLE. First, the cleanliness - this restaurant needs a good scrubbing - it appeared dirty and dark - not inviting at all - the windows were filthy - CLEAN THEM! My food - I ordered the Pollo Asado which they describe as "Butter fried boneless skinless chicken breast grilled and placed in a special spicy tomato sauce" - what I got was a bone dry slab of chicken that seemed to be first dipped in a tomato red sauce then overly fried leaving no trace of moisture or juiciness to the chicken. If they grilled it after that, all it did was dry it out even more. Since it was dry, it was difficult to cut and awful to eat. The "sauce" they dipped it in had no flavor and it was not spicy at all. They also describe it as being "...placed in a special spicy tomato sauce" - there was NO SAUCE on my plate - it was placed in heapings of cut lettuce and tomatoes - just a bizarre mix of greens that added nothing to the flavor - the rice was not great - this dish was a disaster. We asked the waitress about the missing sauce - she said that is the way the dish comes and could not provide anything to help turn around this disaster of a dish. So don't believe the descriptions of the dishes in the menu - you may get something completely different. She just said a quick "sorry" and left our table. Unacceptable service. My friend ordered a steak dish that was equally overcooked. Just a truly horrible dinner experience from top to bottom. When we went to pay, the gentleman (maybe the manager?) asked how our meal was and we told him it was bad - he didn't offer anything to turn our experience around - he didn't offer to comp our meal - not even a discount and nothing to entice us to give them another try. All we got was another "sorry" - but he sure was quick to take our $50.00. Never again - I will never set foot in this restaurant again - since we are now able to enjoy going out to restaurants again (COVID) I want to help local businesses stay afloat - BUT they need to provide at a minimum good food and service - EL Indio DOES NOT- avoid this place. They are happy to take your money but they do not care if your food or experience was a good one. read more

Loved the Enchilada Suiza! So fresh and clean tasting. Great service too. Good portions.

What happened to the free chips and salsa!? Now the first ones free but they charge you for chips and they also charge for more salsa!? So if your here with the family and waiting on food you could imagine how the chips begin to cost. What's next, you going to charge for the water? Money saved, customers lost. read more

Great neighborhood location! Food is pretty consistent although sometimes if it's suuuper busy my food has come out later and was even wrong a couple times. Good thing their amazing fish bowls are amazing to help keep me distracted. Prices keep climbing though. Everything goes up in time but theirs took a good hike over the last year. I'll go back just not as often. read more

Sadly they now charge for any extra chips and salsa. We were told that they are doing it because some people come in and eat only that and leave. We have been going there for decades so this is really unfortunate. They also removed all of the customers birthday pictures from the wall. Our 33 year old son had his picture there from his 9th birthday. Not any more. Just a sad visit. This is the last place I expected a downturn in customer appreciation from. read more

I moved to the neighborhood a year ago and have been here a handful of times. This place is solid for going out with a group, good margaritas friendly service and your standard Mexican platter meal. Yum yum. Doesn't disappoint. The woman who frequently works in the bar ( I wish I would remember to ask her name) is an absolutely amazing server! The star docked is because I too thinking paying for chips and salsa is some bull and the food is everything you expect from your family Mexican spot but nothing amazing. Will be back! read more

My friends and I got there before 4pm so it wasn't so busy, we got our drinks and food in a good timely manner, out waitress was polite and friendly, since we told her we were celebrating my friends bday she brought a dessert and the some of the stuff came to sing happy birthday to my friend, that was very nice. read more

Was visiting in Portland, was in need of some great Mexican food. Needless to say this was mediocre at best. Food was cold and tasteless, I got the chicken burrito and it didn't have any sauce. Super dry, flavorless chicken. read more

Really good Mexican food. These folks have the best chicken fajitas I have ever had based on the orange/pineapple marinade they use on the chicken. Only 4 stars on this review as the marinade was a little light last night. They have different cooks make their salsa as sometimes it has a lot of "kick" (I prefer), other times it is not as hot, last night was not the "higher kick". When they have the salsa with that "kick" I usually get a pint to take home. I like that I can get a cold 1/2 litre bottle of Mexican Coke as well. I highly recommend eating here, I do once a week. Their Camarones Vallarta are a great crispy bacon wrapped shrimp, but it is the slightly sweet vegetable medley that comes on that dish that really set it off. The Pollo con Crema is fantastic with the caramelized onions in the creme sauce. The service staff is great stopping by to make sure everything is good, or if you need anything else. Very diverse menu so you can always get what you are looking for or try something new. Everything I have eaten here; I would order again. read more

Service was terrible, food mediocre at best. We waited 40+ minutes for our check. The waiter told me to wait when I asked where the check was. I went up to the register to ask if I could get the check and I was told to go sit back down. I have never been treated so poorly at ANY restaurant. Would give zero stars if I could. read more

This place used to be so good! It's not so much anymore though :( chips and salsa are good but everything else tastes so dry and unseasoned now. Oh, and there was dark red HAIR in my margarita this time, so I don't think I'll be back. read more

El Indio - And more hair lol - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I've came here for lots of special occasions/dinners and I never seize to regret it. They always are the most kind and helpful people! I recommend the green chicken enchiladas for those looking to try something good. I can always relay on this being the best Mexican restaurant I've been to. read more

5 oz margarita cost $12. Poor customer service, never offered napkins or silverware! When I complained all cashier said was sorry! Yeah not sorry enough! I won't be back! read more

I used to go here for year but it seems lately they have changed some of their recipes and menu items. Don't like it at all. Not authentic family Mexican food I've been served for years. I would rather eat at Isla Bonita!! I will never return to this restaurant sad to say. read more

If I had written this review after my first visit, El Indio would have earned a 3-star review. I was far from impressed with what I felt to be overly-salty mole and a bland rice/bean side to accompany it. My wife, however, is a huge fan, so we would venture back on occasion, and I would find the most basic item to order and just enjoy what was, at least, a passable meal. That all changed, however, when I finally noticed the lobster chimichanga, tucked away in an unassuming corner of the menu. Intrigued, I ordered it, my expectations already anticipating the pollock-rich crab substitute filling... ...but those expectations were quickly dashed when I took my first, amazing bite of this rich and decadent fried bit of paradise! Did I say dashed? Those expectations were completed manhandled, beaten down and finally given a post-thrashing cigarette. Wait, what am I talking about, again? In my self-induced delirium, I seem to have mixed metaphors and potentially discovered something disturbing about myself in the process. Oh well, here's the deal - the dish is packed FULL of lobster. I mean actual, honest-to-Isis REAL lobster of the so-fresh-you-can-taste-it variety. It is cooked to delicious perfection in a cream sauce and served with mushrooms (a stroke of genius, as the mushrooms absorb so much of that amazing lobster flavor) and rice to create a...a... ...ok, enough of this typing nonsense. I'm off to El Indio! I'll see you all later! read more

This might be a controversial review, since I have numerous friends who religiously visit El Indio and frequently state that it's their "favorite Mexican restaurant"... sigh. I'm actually so grossed out by the food that the last two times I went, I just stuck to drinks. Their margaritas are ok (nothing special and moderately priced), but last night I ordered a piña colada and there was no discernible amount of alcohol in it. Which was disappointing to say the least. As for the food, and I've had my fair share of it, the quality is barely above Taco Bell. The meat is terrible, and the sauce they use to masque the low quality of meat is equally as terrible. Rice and beans are bland and they have the off-putting consistency of diarrhea (speaking of diarrhea, I always inevitably get hit with a spell of it every time I've eaten the food here). The lack of taste/flavor has been commented on numerous times in other reviews, but it's almost like they're afraid of using any fresh ingredients or spices with discernible taste. I will most likely be visiting this place begrudgingly in the future with my white friends who think mustard is spicy... hopefully next time the piña colada will actually have some rum in it. read more

If you are looking for trendy new wave Mexican fusion food with Grasshopper encrusted taco shells this is NOT the place you are looking for. Are you looking for a down and dirty cheap taco truck type Mexican joint with pickle jalapeno carrots that will melt your face off? Then this is NOT the place for you. If you are looking for free range vegan holistic tofu tamales serviced by suicide girls this is NOT the place for you. If you are looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant that looks and feels like a Mexican restaurant where the enchiladas sauce tastes like Enchiladas sauce, The re-fried beans are fried twice for good measure, the margaritas go down way to easy, and the tacos taste like Marco Hernandez's mom made them, then I suggest El Indio. The kids love it and the ivy canopy above the tables is just cool. WARNING. The plates are hot. Hot like the medallion that scarred the hand of the evil Nazi in "Raiders of the lost ark" The wait staff will warning you by saying "Careful those plates are hot." You won't believe them though. You will think to yourself "the plate can't be that hot". You will touch the plates. You will be wrong and it will hurt. fair enough excuse to order a second margarita. PS: Yes I know all Nazis are evil. You are missing the point. The food is great read more

I am sorry to disappoint some people, but I have to be truthful about this one. The food, the service, the place it self, I mean come on people, putting 5 stars for this place? I guess you just didn't have any better then this. I will not, and I mean NOT recommend to any of my friends or family, until this place improve-how it looks, how it cooks, the service was ok. The fajita that they serve some other people, it smelled burn so bad, I can only imagine how it tastes. I am saying all this because I make better Mexican food at home then I had in here. I hope that they make the changes that they need to bring people back. read more

There are so many good choices for Mexican in the Portland area. I urge you to go somewhere other than here. Besides the fact that they had the door propped opened and it was cold outside, everything seemed okay upon first sitting down. The waitress was attentive about our drink order and brought chips and salsa right away. Things started to go downhill from here. They forgot to blend one of the margaritas and we had to request the salsa verde twice. Fine, little things, whatever. Then the food came. The steak fajitas I was served at El Indio were the worst I have ever had. The meat tasted as if it had gone bad and they were smothered in a disgusting sauce. I barely ate any of it. Even the rice, beans, and tortillas that came with it were bland and unappetizing. I started to feel sick while still at the restaurant and my stomach hurt all night. Other peoples' food didn't look much better. I had a bite of my fiancee's shrimp enchiladas. Totally unappealing. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one. read more

What's not to love? I'm a regular here. Whether we sit in the bar with the beautiful windows or get it to go, the food is always spot on! Great portions & seasoned great... I recommend the shredded beef taco salad, tortilla soup or steak super nacho (for 2 ppl, it's HUGE) There are multiple screens & video poker as well. The bartenders always impress me with their courteous and lighthearted demeanor. And they're SUPER funny! It's rare to find a spot you can come at 1pm or 10pm & have the same fun experience. Oh yeah... get the guacamole & try a Cazeula - you wont regret coming here. Te quiero mucho read more

BEWARE! False charges on receipt! My friend and I visited this restaurant for dinner and both ordered the same burrito, the Expreso Burrito. The bartender, who was also our waiter, asked us what meat we wanted. I got steak and my friend got chicken. Burrito was meh, chips and salsa were average for any Mexican-American restaurant. After our dinner was over we got the receipt and I noticed that they charged me $5.50 more for my burrito than my friend's. I inquired as to why the additional charge with the bartender and he said it was because the steak costed more. I said the additional charge was never mentioned in the menu and he never said anything about it when we ordered. The bartender said that it was mentioned in the menu and brought a copy over. When he opened up the menu even he couldn't find an area where an additional charge for steak was mentioned. When I pointed out that the menu clearly stated "Your choice of meat" under the burrito description he started to backtrack and said the additional charge was for the rice and beans that I'd ordered.... But my friend and I both ordered rice and beans and he wasn't charged extra? He again shrugged and just kept staring blankly at me and said there's nothing he can do. Tired of arguing at this point I handed him my card and let him overcharge me for my meal. One of the few times I've left a $0 for my tip. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

Ok, let's be honest here. The positive reviews of El Indio here in Portland, Oregon, tend to be gringos, like me, who love Mexican food as long as it doesn't deviate too far from our culinary comfort-zone. Portland's El Indio and restaurants like it have filled a niche in the Portland landscape for decades, and still do. To my fellow gringos, El Indio (Portland) offers good quality, good quantity, and acceptable (think taco-bell) flavor, at a reasonable price. It is what it is. Not great. Not bad. But this gringo liked it for the price. If you want the real-deal, try El Indio in Tucson, Arizona, read more

So I've been going to El Indio for a few years, and while it's not my favourite mexican restaurant, it is consistently good. For those of you who want the real authentic mexican food, this probably is not it. It's more Americanized (which is why I'm probably a fan). I usually order a blended margarita, and they have a lot of flavours to choose from. Blackberry happens to be my favourite, but they also have strawberry, midori, blue curacao, peach, mango and a few others that I can't remember. I am a huge fan of their albondigas soup, which is a brothy soup with vegetables and meatballs. The meatballs were definitely fresh, not the prefrozen hockey pucks that some places have. It was served with tasty tortillas, and the onions, and cilantro are served on the side (score for me, since I HATE cilantro). I've had a few other items off their menu, and they are all okay. I wouldn't say their picadillo is amazing or super flavourful, but that could be because I've been spoiled by family friend's with the real deal. It's a good place to stop by if you're in the area, but definitely not worth going out of your way for. read more

I heart Mexican food and can eat it more than once a week, surely. I love anywhere that gives you chips and salsa when you sit down and the biggest soda I have ever seen! Where do Mexican Food Restaurants get those big cups? Anyway, I like this place. The servings, like most Mexican food places, are gigantic! I usually get the flautas, but their tacos and enchiladas were great as well. The shredded beef was a skosh on the wet side, left my taco a little soggy, so I usually opt for the chicken. They have a ton of seating and a bar area as well. Their is a really sweet waitress/bartender on the other side, I can't remember her name but she's great! Oh, and order a Consuelo! It's a huge mixed drink served a big plastic cup....effective and classy, just how we like it. Good eats on the East side, this makes me happy! read more

I'm increasing my rating of El Indio as I've now seen them to be very consistent about serving great food. A recent visit I tried the chicken nachos and they were delicious, everything was very freshly made and service was great. Really low prices and you get a lot of food. If I lived closer, I would be in here weekly. **Oh, and their house hot sauce is the bomb! Forget the commercial stuff. Have them bring a little bowl of the homemade. It is super delicious and has a good kick to it! read more