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This meal was SO good! I came on a Sunday night and it was pretty empty. I ordered at the counter and my food was brought out to me after a short wait! Also thought it was super smart to have a true to size outline of the empanada on the menu because I definitely asked the cashier how big they were. I got the tostones, a pollo empanada, and a carne empanada. The tostones were so delicious and I loved the garlic aioli and guac together. The carne empanada was surprisingly my favorite, it had ground beef and rice and was super tender and flavorful. The pollo was good, but the shredded chicken kind of clumped together which made it hard to eat. The empanada dough was so flaky and soft with a good crisp!
What a great unexpected surprise while visiting town. First of all, I love the name. Straight to the point, I want coffee. The inside is cute and cozy. The staff was super friendly and patient with all the menu questions. You order your food, they give you a number you get up to get your food. They have a good variety of South American food. We ordered the fried empanadas and a lomo saltado. The lomo saltado the meat was good and tender good flavor, I wouldn't necessarily consider it a lomo saltado but it was good. The empanadas were a good size. Had beef, chicken and the cheese with plantains. My favorite was the beef. Overall a good spot, I would for sure come back.
Took my father in law for a treat earlier this year. I'm so glad to have found this place. I think we have a new favorite spot in Portland. We got 3 fried empanadas (cheese, veggies and cheese and chicken, 3 baked empanadas (chorizo, beef and rice and piña) & a chicken tamale with salsa verde. Everything was delicious and prices are reasonable. The Colombian coffee is solid too. P.S. the baked empanadas are stamped, y'all!
Super cute little place! Loved the leaves painted on the walls. A little confusing quesadilla menu- but the staff easily set us straight. I was here for a snack so I just had a cheese quesadilla. Cooked perfectly, good cheese. I would visit here again but heads up- only on street parking and a lot of needles on the ground outside the establishment...
Really nice Latin food, we got the lomo saltado and the patacone which was the bomb! The yuca frites were a little dry but the garlic aioli was great. The people were very friendly , will go back to try other entrees. Not sure if I want to try their empanadas though , Boludo in Minneapolis has spoiled us
Stopped here for a quick bite on my walk around town and was pleasantly surprised by the meal. The prices were quite reasonable considering the portion size and amount of meat provided. Service was friendly, especially with the cashier explaining different menu options in depth to me. The decor was nice, giving a feeling of being in a more tropical area. I ordered the cold cafe con leche to drink which was a bit mild on the coffee flavor and had a little too much cream, otherwise was quite enjoyable (for only $3.50). The empanadas were really the star of the show though. The beef in the carne empanada was cooked quite tender and served with well seasoned rice. The puerco was probably one of my favorites with tender pork and plantains that were boldly sweet. The pina was also very good, with sweet and juicy pineapple that mixed well with the fattiness of the ham and cheese combination. All of these had a nice crisp dough as well. Overall, delicious food and reasonable places make this a place I'd happily stop by again when I'm in the area.
Stopped here for a quick late lunch with my family. It has a casual cafe vibe with lots of seating. The dishes we really liked were: Sweet corn Arepa, Vegetable Empanada and Tamales. Pulled pork empanada and Tomate Empanada were average. Yuca fries were hit or miss. The first plate came in perfect, so much so that we placed another order; but this time the yuca was overcooked and too dry. Some items on the menu are a little overpriced, but it is what it is. The service was okay too and so was their Cafe con leche.
I didn't want to give them two stars. I really didn't. For the record, it's not all-around terrible and I believe it could be easily improved. I'll start with the most egregious error: there was a massive piece of paper in my meal. From what I did eat, the patacon left so much to be desired. The plantain was so overdone that I couldn't even chew it. Furthermore, although the carnitas was nice and tender, it lacked flavor and the overall dish was underwhelming and aesthetically unappealing. The rice and beans were also bland. I also tried the arequipe. The cheese was not melted on the inside which was a tragedy. The wait was long, the food was mediocre yet moderately priced, and the service is tepid but not rude. Unfortunately I won't be in a rush to come back.
Wow. The food is so fresh and delicious! The coconut limeade was beyond refreshing after a long day at Maine Medical Center. The yuca fries. we're out of this world yummy! I was impressed with how clean and welcoming it is inside and the service was fast. The churros were the perfect sweet treat to end the meal! We will definitely be coming back to try more!
This quiet and out of the way café is a hidden gem. We were walking in the area and came across this restaurant by accident. Maybe it's not so hidden because there seemed to be a steady stream of customers the entire time we were there. This was my first time in a Mexican/Spanish café, and it won't be the last. We ordered the puenco, carne, and pina empanadas, and the cold café con leche. The empanadas came out individually branded so you could tell which empanada you are eating. These came out hot and bursting with flavor. The café had a neighborhood feel and gave off a very welcoming vibe. Unlike most things in Portland, this café had very reasonable prices. If you're in the neighborhood, it is worth the time to stop in for a bite. You won't be disappointed.
We were going out for dinner, so we just wanted a light lunch. An empanada each was a good choice. I got the chorizo empanada and my wife the frijol. I felt the dough was kinda dry and too flaky. The filling was spicy and hit the spot. The frijol was pretty good, but the inclusion of tomato in it felt odd. We both wished we'd gotten the sour cream or some other dip as the garlic aioli was thick and chunky, and resembled a salad dressing more than anything. It was weird. I suppose the pico was complimentary and it was fine. In retrospect, maybe even a real aioli wouldn't have been so good with empanadas, so that's kinda on us too I guess. Definitely potential in the rest of the menu, so we'll be back.
Service: I have nothing bad to say even if I tried. Everyone was so friendly and talkative. Making conversation and not giving any sort of uninterested attitude. Ambiance/atmosphere: really nice and quite inside. The place wasn't too big, but not small enough you couldn't find a secluded spot if you wanted to. Nice music, vibrant color, and a really nice smoothie bar. Food: I ordered the steak and papas and it was delicious. Very well seasoned filet with crispy and fluffy soft potatoes with rice and really good pickles pink onions. I added quac and cheese onto it after mixing things together and when I ordered an extra side of steak they really hooked me up. So delicious. My dad ordered the patacon which has a very large and perfectly friend piece of savory plantain and topped with chicken and added steak with quac, lettuce, tomato, and a side of rice and black beans. For starters we ordered the yuca which was perfectly fried and crispy with a really good garlic aioli and cheese blanket over top. We also ordered the sweet madudo(sweet plantain) which came with cheese and was perfectly sweet and tender. So delicious. The side of tostones(savory plantain) was again perfectly friend and salted and with that garlic aioli dip and quac with pico de gallo it was fantastic. The empanadas came with all types of flavors. The beef was my favorite and had an amazing juicy, salty, and tangy flavor with the crispy casing. I'll say to skip the chicken, it was bland and had no flavor. My mom ordered the dessert empanada with cheese and a fruit inside and she said it was delicious and I'll say I can second that. The smoothies were delicious and had plenty of options to choose from. My mom ordered a Columbian milk coffee and said it was one of the greater ones she's tried, possible the best. read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Wow. As stated in the other reviews, wish I lived closer so this could be my go to once a week. Even after I was full I couldn't stop eating the rice and beans, everything here is so tasty! What the heck is that? Lard? A special garlic/spice? Can't believe I've been going to Portland (driving from Rockland) for 10 years and never found this place before. After 40 years in NY we really really miss good South American food (not Tex/Mex this is so far removed from that) and we were delighted to find not only great choices, incredible empanadas, the BEST tamales I have ever had but also sweet service, kind people. I was even warned about how hot the hot sauce is. The tamales aren't those hard yellow kind but white, light and fluffy. The food here is absolutely delicioso. Will be back soon! read more
This meal was SO good! I came on a Sunday night and it was pretty empty. I ordered at the counter and my food was brought out to me after a short wait! Also thought it was super smart to have a true to size outline of the empanada on the menu because I definitely asked the cashier how big they were. I got the tostones, a pollo empanada, and a carne empanada. The tostones were so delicious and I loved the garlic aioli and guac together. The carne empanada was surprisingly my favorite, it had ground beef and rice and was super tender and flavorful. The pollo was good, but the shredded chicken kind of clumped together which made it hard to eat. The empanada dough was so flaky and soft with a good crisp! read more
What a great unexpected surprise while visiting town. First of all, I love the name. Straight to the point, I want coffee. The inside is cute and cozy. The staff was super friendly and patient with all the menu questions. You order your food, they give you a number you get up to get your food. They have a good variety of South American food. We ordered the fried empanadas and a lomo saltado. The lomo saltado the meat was good and tender good flavor, I wouldn't necessarily consider it a lomo saltado but it was good. The empanadas were a good size. Had beef, chicken and the cheese with plantains. My favorite was the beef. Overall a good spot, I would for sure come back. read more
Took my father in law for a treat earlier this year. I'm so glad to have found this place. I think we have a new favorite spot in Portland. We got 3 fried empanadas (cheese, veggies and cheese and chicken, 3 baked empanadas (chorizo, beef and rice and piña) & a chicken tamale with salsa verde. Everything was delicious and prices are reasonable. The Colombian coffee is solid too. P.S. the baked empanadas are stamped, y'all! read more
5 months ago
Super cute little place! Loved the leaves painted on the walls. A little confusing quesadilla menu- but the staff easily set us straight. I was here for a snack so I just had a cheese quesadilla. Cooked perfectly, good cheese. I would visit here again but heads up- only on street parking and a lot of needles on the ground outside the establishment... read more
Really nice Latin food, we got the lomo saltado and the patacone which was the bomb! The yuca frites were a little dry but the garlic aioli was great. The people were very friendly , will go back to try other entrees. Not sure if I want to try their empanadas though , Boludo in Minneapolis has spoiled us read more
4 years ago
Stopped here for a quick bite on my walk around town and was pleasantly surprised by the meal. The prices were quite reasonable considering the portion size and amount of meat provided. Service was friendly, especially with the cashier explaining different menu options in depth to me. The decor was nice, giving a feeling of being in a more tropical area. I ordered the cold cafe con leche to drink which was a bit mild on the coffee flavor and had a little too much cream, otherwise was quite enjoyable (for only $3.50). The empanadas were really the star of the show though. The beef in the carne empanada was cooked quite tender and served with well seasoned rice. The puerco was probably one of my favorites with tender pork and plantains that were boldly sweet. The pina was also very good, with sweet and juicy pineapple that mixed well with the fattiness of the ham and cheese combination. All of these had a nice crisp dough as well. Overall, delicious food and reasonable places make this a place I'd happily stop by again when I'm in the area. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
Stopped here for a quick late lunch with my family. It has a casual cafe vibe with lots of seating. The dishes we really liked were: Sweet corn Arepa, Vegetable Empanada and Tamales. Pulled pork empanada and Tomate Empanada were average. Yuca fries were hit or miss. The first plate came in perfect, so much so that we placed another order; but this time the yuca was overcooked and too dry. Some items on the menu are a little overpriced, but it is what it is. The service was okay too and so was their Cafe con leche. read more
2 years ago
Cool little spot, friendly staff. Best empanada I've ever had. Wish I was hungry enough to try more. read more
I didn't want to give them two stars. I really didn't. For the record, it's not all-around terrible and I believe it could be easily improved. I'll start with the most egregious error: there was a massive piece of paper in my meal. From what I did eat, the patacon left so much to be desired. The plantain was so overdone that I couldn't even chew it. Furthermore, although the carnitas was nice and tender, it lacked flavor and the overall dish was underwhelming and aesthetically unappealing. The rice and beans were also bland. I also tried the arequipe. The cheese was not melted on the inside which was a tragedy. The wait was long, the food was mediocre yet moderately priced, and the service is tepid but not rude. Unfortunately I won't be in a rush to come back. read more
Wow. The food is so fresh and delicious! The coconut limeade was beyond refreshing after a long day at Maine Medical Center. The yuca fries. we're out of this world yummy! I was impressed with how clean and welcoming it is inside and the service was fast. The churros were the perfect sweet treat to end the meal! We will definitely be coming back to try more! read more
This quiet and out of the way café is a hidden gem. We were walking in the area and came across this restaurant by accident. Maybe it's not so hidden because there seemed to be a steady stream of customers the entire time we were there. This was my first time in a Mexican/Spanish café, and it won't be the last. We ordered the puenco, carne, and pina empanadas, and the cold café con leche. The empanadas came out individually branded so you could tell which empanada you are eating. These came out hot and bursting with flavor. The café had a neighborhood feel and gave off a very welcoming vibe. Unlike most things in Portland, this café had very reasonable prices. If you're in the neighborhood, it is worth the time to stop in for a bite. You won't be disappointed. read more
2 years ago
Lots of items to choose from, and plenty of seating available. Big fan of the cheesy items! read more
We were going out for dinner, so we just wanted a light lunch. An empanada each was a good choice. I got the chorizo empanada and my wife the frijol. I felt the dough was kinda dry and too flaky. The filling was spicy and hit the spot. The frijol was pretty good, but the inclusion of tomato in it felt odd. We both wished we'd gotten the sour cream or some other dip as the garlic aioli was thick and chunky, and resembled a salad dressing more than anything. It was weird. I suppose the pico was complimentary and it was fine. In retrospect, maybe even a real aioli wouldn't have been so good with empanadas, so that's kinda on us too I guess. Definitely potential in the rest of the menu, so we'll be back. read more
Always in the mood for a good empanada, look no further this is the spot. Quiero café which stands for "I want coffee" is never far from the truth. Alongside my delicious empanada was a delicious cup of cafe con leche. This place brought me back memories of being in Colombia. There is an array of empanadas to choose from along with multiple delicious coffees and smoothies. I settled for both the chorizo and Piña empanada. My order was to go and was ready in about 10min. To accompany my empanadas was a small side of pico de gallo. As I sat in my car and devoured my empanadas in 4.5 bites I was in heaven. Warm, crispy crust, and delicious filling. My coffee was a nice pairing and I was in sheer bliss. Come check them out, this place is spectacular! read more
I knew about the location in Saco but never went and wasn't sure if this was related...sure enough, it is! This has become one of my favorite places to go. I'm astounded and impressed by the offerings of latin food here in Portland... Their tamales are absolutely delicious...5$ a pop but they are gigantic. My favorite of their empanadas is the puerco...that with those platanos...wow!!! Their coffee is the best we have ever had here....perfectly smooth and not bitter in the least. A perfect cup. But I gotta say, their star of the show...those churros. You will never have had better in this little town of Portland. For 7$ per pair, it's pricey but oh, so, worth it. read more
3 years ago
Excellent food! Not they close at 8:00pm. Margaritas are top notch!!! Place is really clean and the staff is very good! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Great Latin food, quick service and pleasant staff. Love the Portland location! Drinks are yummy - the mango daiquiri is a must try read more
6 years ago
Delicious and flavorful food at this establishment. My cousin, friend and I were looking for a place to have dinner while out for our day in Portland. Quiero Cafe gives lots of options on their menu. I honestly did not where to look on their menu and what to get because everything looked yummy and I wanted to try it all. I settled on the chicken lunch meal which was shredded chicken, sweet plantains, rice & beans, cheese, salsa, avocado & veggies. I also ordered an empanada and tostones. Ok so let's break it down a bit. Chicken lunch dish-So delicious guys, fresh and surprisingly light. Ate it all up with some hot sauce. Tostones-I really liked this dish especially when I put on all the toppings on BUT I actually thought they put the toppings on for us which I would have enjoyed more. Empanada-Looked amazing but I was too full to eat it and then I forgot to eat it! Darn it! read more
3 years ago
Quiero brings all of their goodness to the Portland scene! I was first originally introduced to Quiero Cafe in Saco, where I originally fell in love with their aesthetic, service, and incredibly good, authentic food. When I had heard that they opened a new venue in the Portland area, I was eager to check it out, and I was excited that they were able to share their food with a wider audience. The Portland Quiero Cafe has the charm of its Saco venue with its wooden walls, modern lighting, and authentic food. A friend and I went to check it out together, and their menu is the same as their Saco facility with their homemade empanadas and other Latin American goods. They also serve a variety of alcoholic drinks. My friend and I each ordered some empanadas, with the chorizo being my favorite, and we each ordered some beers. The service is fast, and the flavor profiles are always incredibly good. They serve their empanadas with some fresh salsa, which adds another layer of complexity when combined with their empanadas. My friend, who has never been to the Saco or Portland venue, instantly fell in love as well. Definitely a place to check out! read more
Man, I wish I lived in Portland just so this could be my local go-to spot. I'd been missing decent empanadas and guanábana con leche batidos since leaving Costa Rica. This satisfied my cravings and then some. I got the 3 Empanadas Tipicas - pollo (chicken), carne (beef), and the vegetales con queso (veggies with cheese). They were the perfect ratio of dough to filling and cooked flawlessly. I tried them with the creamy garlic sauce and various hot sauces that complimented the empanadas perfectly. The guanábana "milkshake" with whole milk was a nice balance to the heat, and added the right level of sweetness to balance the spices. I will definitely be returning to try more of the menu, or perhaps just order the empanadas again since they hit the spot. I could see this being a good environment to work remotely - well maybe not good for the waistline LOL. read more
6 years ago
Thank you so much Antonio for your superb service. The pharmacy at Maine Medical center has been yearning for a taste of flavor! Best food that anyone can get! Being a Central American girl, this brought back memories with my grandma! Especially Los platanos Fritos y Yucca! Muchas gracias! Xoxo read more
A solid find - I'm surprised it's not more popular! You don't often find places with so many choices for empanadas, even for vegetarians. I got the tomate, frijol, and veggie. The tomate was by far the best. I felt the frijol was quite dry and the veggie was not very filling. The churros are excellent and well worth the price. Lots of interesting drink choices as well. Unfortunately didn't get to try their sweet empanadas on this visit. Cool vibe and reasonable prices. Overall a unique spot in Portland. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
I visited on a rainy day recently and can't wait to return. Parking isn't the easiest so give yourself time to circle around. The place was BUSY with families eating so it was really loud. I had 3 empanadas which were ready pretty quickly. I love that they stamp each empanada with its name so you can identify them. The menu is vast and that's why I want to return with my husband. So much to choose from, you definitely need more than 1 person in your party so you can try a variety of the offerings. read more
This place is fabulous. Tried lots of empanadas, all delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by the ham and pineapple empanada, so good! Also, the pork and plantain was also delish. I will enjoy coming here to taste ALL of the menu (although it will take a few trips because there are so many items)! Parking isn't great here, but it's worth driving around the block a couple times for. My only suggestion for this business would be to print some additional copies of the menu, so that those who have trouble reading the print on the chalkboard can have an easier read. My eyesight is probably average, and I still found it a little bit overwhelming to read. Older people, or people who have forgotten their glasses might struggle. Other than that, fantastic! I'll be back soon! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Empanadas are amazing. Location is perfect. Staff is sweet and quick! Love the wallpaper that makes it feel like you're not in the city, and the outdoor option on nice days. The steak entree is to die for. read more
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3 Deering Ave
Portland, ME 04101
Parkside
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(207) 536-7033
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https://www.quierocafemaine.com
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Quiero Cafe - latin - Updated July 2026
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