We had a great time at this restaurant, the vibes inside are amazing and the food is delicious! I'd recommend the horchata and the queso fundido poblano! What we ate: Queso Fundido Poblano as a starter. We had a Carne Asada Taco and a Pastor Taco. Then got the La Costa Burrito, a shrimp burrito drenched in a creamy white wine sauce with pico, avocado, chili oil & queso fresco. Additionally, for drinks we had a cocktail and a horchata. read more

La Cocina Restaurant - La Costa Burrito, Carne Asada Taco, Pastor Taco, Queso Fundido Poblano, cocktail, & horchata - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Food~We started with Pozole Rojo (chicken) and, as a first timer it didn't disappoint (you can get chicken or carnitas). Enchiladas (carnitas) it was only ok it was a tad bit salty and, a few hard parts (I'll definitely would get the chicken next time). Chicken Fajitas were good but, it's a different taste from other places I've had it (my love enjoyed it he said it had a very authentic flavor). Rice (fluffy) and Beans (well seasoned) both were really delicious. Service~Pearlina was super sweet, knew the menu very well and, had exceptional service. She made sure we had everything we needed and, continue to check on us throughout our meal. Ambiance~It's has a very calming vibe and atmosphere. I love the fact they have a privacy strip on the windows (so no one walking by watches you eat). It's a family owned restaurant and, I would recommend giving them a try. I feel what we ordered was worth it but, everything (except water) has a charge. Only street parking and, lots of indoor/outdoor seating. read more

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Pleasant Mexican restaurant in Portland. Great atmosphere and staff. We ordered pork tamales, beef burritos, chips, guacamole, and salsa and chicken posole soup. Everything seasoned very well. Maybe a tad bit on the salty side. Street parking available, good luck. read more

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We recently tried this restaurant for the first time. Our favorite items were the pozole, and the jicama and cucumber salad. They were delicious. The server was very nice and friendly. Will definitely be back. read more

Great vibe, really good food beyond the typical menu. Brunch menu is a bit smaller but tasty treats abound. We voted for a breakfast burrito, truly delicious not a gut bomb. Tlayuda with an egg on top, so perfect with the green sauce, and Molletes. All with great ingredients and flavor. Super pleasant service and a nice indoor dining atmosphere. Definitely coming again for more! read more

Food was good and the service was great I was able to get an awesome drink that make my day! read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Tómame drink - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A Miami friend recommended this spot. It did not disappoint. It was mid day and the restaurant wasn't crowded. We got a table next to the windows. We ordered the Enchiladas Poblanas and the Alambre. Both good. The Alambre was super meaty, so if you're into that it's great. The Enchiladas Poblanas was delicious! Good meat to veg ratio. I would gladly order it again, but I never do order the same thing twice, so I'll try something else on the menu next time. I forgot which drinks we ordered, but they were both excellent. I'd try anything from the cocktail list. Great Mexican food & drinks. Nicely prepared in a festive setting with friendly service. read more

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We stopped into La Cocina for drinks and some chips and salsa. The music was upbeat and easy to listen to. They have outdoor seating too. The salsas and chips tasted homemade and fresh. We will be back for dinner!! read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We decided to try La Cocina as a late V-day dinner. I was here 8 years ago and you can see my stunning review from then when they were on MLK. It was nice to see the place crowded. The hostess was friendly and we were seated right away. I ordered the asada plate and my partner got the enchiladas. We each ordered margaritas which were the best part of the meal. We also ordered a starter of chips and salsa which never came even after I had asked for it. At least our server took it off the bill. The meat on my order was done well and tasty. The beans weren't real temperature hot nor was the rice. It was a nice size serving so I was able to bring some home. The least favorable thing was what they called guacamole - not sure what that was - more like a green dressing so maybe mostly Mayo or sour cream ? Glad we didn't order chips and guac.... My partner asked for another margarita to be brought with the meal but it didn't come until we asked for it. Maybe the server was new? . I hate to say anything negative so I'll give him/her the benefit of the doubt. Would I try it again? Not sure. read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Asada Plate - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food here is so good. Authentic dishes that are well prepared and flavorful. They also make great margaritas and have a very nice tequila selection (including my favorite blanco, Lalo, which they substituted into the house margarita for me). For appetizers we had the fried cauliflower and nachos with pastor meat. Both were excellent. The pastor had a nice flavor and the cauliflower was well cooked and seasoned. For an entree I had the Enchiladas Poblanas (see picture). It was a cast iron pan full of soul satisfying goodness. 10/10 would recommend! read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Enchiladas Poblanas - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Can't believe I've never tried this place, it's so good! I think the side street plus a fairly generic name meant I didn't notice them. Glad we finally tried it though because the food is excellent. Once you're inside the industrial exterior, it feels like you've entered a space that is beloved by a loving, cultured Mexican family. Our server was friendly as heck and attentive and seemed (pardon my generalization) like part of the family, as did the older woman who came out of the kitchen and brought our meals. So - the food. I ordered the enchiladas de poblanos, which was a hot skillet full of creamy green sauce, chicken enchiladas with zucchini and mushrooms and tons of cheese and even a pile of carne asada. I zipped it up with the green hot sauce and it was very tasty and filling. I couldn't finish it, brought half of it home. My wife got the chile relleno, which came drenched in an earthy red sauce and a pyramid of rice. She was also very happy. Important to note that in addition to their more elaborate $18 dishes there is a very reasonable tacqueria-style portion of the menu with tacos and burritos, plus a full bar. Pretty much any type of Mexican food experience you are looking for is here. read more

First time at La Cocina Restaurant and had a great experience!! Went on a slow night so service was fast and friendly. I was absolute in love with the ambiance of this restaurant, it's so nicely lit and beautifully decorated. Started with chips & beans. Love how they don't add too much salt on the chips but give you the option to add your own. Beans were flavorful, delicious and authentic. Had a Golden Margarita and it was so refreshing!! Absolutely loved the taste of the pineapple. Ordered Enchilada's Verdes that came with rice and beans. Everything was delicious. Authentic & fresh. Such a lovely place to dine with friends. read more

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I have to say, I was just passing through but I stopped to have a margarita and chips and salsa. These chips were fresh and hot, right amount of salt. The pico de gallo was perfection! This patron margarita was absolutely delicious! This is a cool, hip bar, I can tell the neighborhood is very cool. My bartender was awesome. Efficient and did a great margarita! You can get margaritas to go! What? Awesome! Can't wait to visit again! read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Patron Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Went to this place on a Friday evening with friends. Not so much crowded. Music was great, ambience is very intriguing and colorful ! Food: Selection of veg and non veg tacos: Shrimp taco, veggie taco were average and the remaining were good. I ordered a burrito bowl, it was good. Food was good, the best thing about the food was unlike other mexican places, they haven't added unnecessary cheese to just enhance the taste. That's why the food here was filling and nice. Cauliflower starter was really good with the house made sauce which was the best Drinks: The drinks were the best, everything was on point and amazing. Overall, a good place, you wouldn't be disappointed. read more

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Had a fantastic chicken tinga burrito with a side of excellent mole. Nice, quick service and lovely ambiance with an abundance of tropical plants inside. I found it tricky to see up-to-date menu photos online so I've attached some here that are current as of Jan 2025. read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Menu front - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This is ONE of my favorite places to frequent often. However the reason for 3 stars is because they recently changed their menu to brunch Fri-Sun 9a-2p which was a complete disappointment. We really didn't enjoy the new offerings that they had. In my opinion they should stick to their full delicious menu. One piece of feedback, they always seem to be shorthanded. It'd be really nice for their staff to have more support. I did witness at least 8-10 people walk out either. They didn't like the new menu or they were being ignored to get a table. read more

I'm actually very surprised that this is not five stars all the way across the board this place was really good and great staff to work with. there's ceviche is amazing and a very good amount as well but they also have many flavorful dishes. Would recommend this for anyone looking for good quality Mexican food. read more

We actually wanted to have dinner at a restaurant across the street, but the wait was over an hour. So we decided to walk around, and found this place. We peeked at the menu, looked really good. But when we looked inside, there was only one table occupied, which was a little bit concerning as it was 6:30 PM (dinner time). However, we decided to go for it! The chips, salsa, and guacamole was incredible. Both burritos were devoured. The service was great! This was probably the best Mexican food we've had outside of California. If you're reading a review, this is the sign to eat at this restaurant. read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

As a California transplant, I've been convinced that Portland doesn't have good Mexican food (for the last 6 years!). That is until my husband and I had La Cocina. The service was fabulous and the food was amazing. The carne en su jugo tasted just like the version from my childhood. The verde enchiladas were super yummy and had the perfect amount of heat. I'm super excited to come back soon and try other things + try out their margaritas! read more

AMAZING AUTHENTIC FOOD! Their pozole IS EVERYTHING!! but salsa, guacamole, tacos, rice, beans, burritos- everything is amazing!! Fast service!! read more

Really good food and the service was friendly. The Menudo is really good, and their Tamarindo Michelada was amazing

Our large group piled into this cute spot for dinner. We were all able to be seated although, the way to be seated was a tad weird. Before we could make our way to dine in, we were required to individually order upon entry and pay before sitting down. We went with it. While some enjoyed libations, which I heard were really good... we all enjoyed some delicious guac and chips. The salsa had some heat but it was missing something. I'd choose that guac over and over again. The food was good and I appreciated the variety of options. I wish there was another vegan/vegetarian option for the tacos aside from mushrooms but since there wasn't, I got the quinoa bowl. All the food was delicious. We really enjoyed our dining experience and I'm sure we will be back next year when we return. Stop in for the guac, stay for the adult beverages. read more

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The food was excellent, prepared with fresh ingredients, and tasted authentic and delicious. The service was outstanding, and the environment was welcoming for families. read more

Extremely tasty and authentic. Friendly staff and street parking. The chicken tortilla is a must on a cold or hangover day. Enjoy. read more

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Best Mexican food I've had in ages! We stumbled on La Cocina when we were in the neighborhood and were so impressed with the food and service. I had chicken enchiladas with verde sauce. The chicken was fresh and moist, the sauce the perfect spiciness, and they weren't smothered in cheese like you too often find in Mexican restaurants. Served with rice and amazing pinto beans that my husband raved about. my husband ordered a beef and vegetab dish serve sizziling hot on a bed of cheese...so delicious. Chips served warm with a Smokey salsa topped with fresh cilantro and onions. If you love authentic Mexican flavors, great service and a fun atmosphere, go now! read more

Good food, good vibes, and strong drinks! Came on a random weekday to hang out with a friend and I'm so happy we came here. I got a margarita and the tosada. Both were great and it was well priced for the food I got. The servicer and staff were super nice and attentive throughout the night. The restaurant was pretty quiet, which was nice for catching up. Lovely spot and will be coming back. read more

I write this review standing in the doorway waiting to be seated for the last 30 minutes. I won't be coming back. The wait staff walked by us multiple times and ignored us without a word. I've heard the food is great if the wait staff gives you the time of day. read more

I really have nothing negative to say! Good location, incredible friendly and attentive staff, and the food was amazing. I wish my fish taco was fried, but that's just a personal preference. The ceviche was literally incredible - order it to share with the table! Decor inside is really cute and was perfect for a casual birthday celebration. read more

we returned for lunch, and now they offer brunch beginning at 0900 on the wkend....i had a pacifico and my partner had a house margarita, no salt....next we ordered to go and sat outside...i had the tlayuda minus meat, and she had the chilaquiles...the food/drink were excellent...the staff is wonderful, and it's relaxing to sit outside on sunny day....thx read more

Super tasty and unique bites. Definitely going to spend 20-30$ a person but a lot of unique eats. My dad and I ordered the sopecitas. They have a nice thick blue corn base. Lots of vegetarian options. The servers were super nice and I loved all the succulents and cacti inside! read more

The service was horrible! We were seated and immediately ordered our drinks. After browsing the menu, we placed our order for food. Our food came before our drinks, which people who came in after us received their drinks before we did (I wasn't given a straw like everyone else); we were almost done with our food when we had received our drinks. And the taco I had ordered came after our drinks. The server never asked us how the food was or if anything else was needed. The place was designed cute but it was extremely hot inside (way cooler outside than inside the restaurant). The food was okay, but we definitely won't be going back. read more

I've been searching for my go-to Mexican restaurants in the area and La Cocina was next on my list to check out. Looking at online apps for delivery there was 50+ min wait so we ended up just calling in for pick up and it was going to be ready within 15 mins. For our first visit we ended up ordering: + Chimichanga + La Costa Enchiladas + Horchata The chimichanga was HUGE! Easily an option to share between two people or for one person but you will be left full in my opinion. This was OK I would give it 3/5 stars. The filling was flavored well but wish the chimichanga was crispier as the tortilla started coming off as I bit into it after my first bite. Enjoy this will the mixture of the green/red sauce with some of the guacamole and you got yourself a bite. I would probably pass on it next time to try something new though. I was surprised with the la costa enchiladas with shrimp and would get those again. The shrimp was flavored well and the sauce was delicious! Honestly give me more of the sauce! Give this 5/5. The horchata here was also tasty and is great to pair if you put too much of the red sauce and need to cool down the heat. Only comes in one size though so probably get two since it will go quick! read more

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A fun spot for Mexican eats with the cutest patio and outdoor seating setup -- it's super easy to place your order and pay inside, and they have a speaker system to announce when it's ready. You bus your own tables at the end of the meal and the staff was very nice! It's a bit on the pricier side BUT well worth because the food was SO. GOOD. House Margarita -- a classic done right! It was strong but still enjoyable and also came in the cutest little cactus cup! Chips and Guac -- a tasty app that's definitely worth getting! The guac was creamy and tasty, overall super good. Enchiladas de Mole -- my favorite by far! I'd never had mole before and it's a sweeter sauce BUT I loved it so much. The veggie enchiladas were filling and tasty and the rice and beans were really good too. read more

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This place was great! Tasty food, fun ambiance/decor, and genuinely friendly waiters. I am vegan and my friend has a dairy allergy. We both had great meals and I confirmed no chicken stock in rice nor lard in the beans. read more

The food and service was amazing. My boyfriend and I shared chicken pozole and I felt right at home, the serving was a good amount that we were both full. The lady that was assisting us was very helpful and kind, she offered us a taster of their agua frescas. The jamaica was perfect, not too sweet, not too watered down, perfect! I am pregnant ATM but ive been dying to try their ceviche and I will be back for it! Their mocktail was also a 10/10. The ambiance was very nostalgic and it was very clean and very beautiful. 10/10 in every area. read more

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When your craving some PR food and your just to lazy to cook or mom is not cooking today.....this was the place to go. Not everything taste like your moms cooking because you know no one never cooks at good as mom or grandma... but it'll hold you over till you get home cooked meals again. Whoever is the cook there now is losing their touch with the flavors this last time everything was bland not like when they first opened where everything had "SABOR"! So either 1 too many cooks or they starting to cater to gringo's where nothing has enough seasonings to make it taste good. read more

Terrible, terrible service. I went back a second time, but nope, the last thing this place cares about is how its customers are treated and cared for. What's more, on our second visit the place was nearly empty (surprise) and yet it took an incredible amount of time for our server to give us menus, take our orders, and bring our food. The food itself is nothing special. There's some tasty meats, for sure, but it really is a very standard and uninspired menu and there's no frills attached. If they offer chips and salsa or other such niceties, they certainly did not offer them to us. Giving up and not going back. A shame. read more

Food is great; great vegetarian options Salsa quantity is questionable for being an ordered dish, would recommend making chips and basic salsa complimentary read more

Everything is good, everyone is nice, an incredibly pleasant and lovely meal with incredibly fresh ingredients that shine through every bite. Incredible cocktails and beautiful artwork all around. My new go to spot. read more

La Cocina Restaurant - Ambience - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Located in North Portland's Williams neighborhood, La Cocina was a new dining experience for my sister and me. We sampled three dishes, starting with the flavorful queso, which was promptly followed by our main courses--steak fajitas for my sister and shrimp tostadas for me. The portions were generous, allowing us to take some home. We also enjoyed a refreshing margarita with our meal. The staff was friendly, and the service was efficient, making for a pleasant overall experience. I saw a few other things that looked good on their menu, so I might be back to try it! read more

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