A review of their Chef's tasting menu. So sad to say this because we made this reservation 5 weeks in advance because of all the hype... but unfortunately, Republica just did not deliver for various reasons: (1) The biggest and most important is that the flavors were just lacking. Republica does a very nice job plating their foods and making them look so aesthetically beautiful except when you dig in, about half of our dishes were so bland. The worst dish was the Maiz ancestral quesillo which was served at room temperature and tasted like a piece of cold, hard cheese on a cold tortilla. Many (2) SKIP THE MEZCAL PAIRING. We were told that each pour would be about 1/2 ounce but we were definitely much less than that (see photo). I could barely see the liquid in the small shot glass they gave us. This made it incredibly hard to taste because there was wasn't enough of it. (3) We did have a less than pleasant server. When you are having a nice dinner, and what they want to be a fine dining experience, to have an unfriendly server really ruins the mood. Sad to say but the food looks better than it tastes. read more

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We went here for a special occasion because we had a family guest in town, and wanted to take her here. We saw a feature on YouTube about Republica, and it looked amazing. This place is highly booked out and hard to get a reservation, so it was very exciting to come and try. We were able to sit outside since the weather was nice that day. The outside decor is really lovely, so I highly recommend that if it's a nice day and you're able to. Each of us had the testing menu, which is quite expensive, but definitely worth the experience. Each plate was beautifully presented, and I love that a staff member comes out with each course to thoroughly present the course and give you the story of that dish. The service is definitely fantastic. In terms of the food, it definitely is very good. Some plates stood out to me and smacked me with flavor and depth, but there were a couple that were more lackluster and bland, or not seasoned enough. However, the cocktails were amazing and very flavorful. As a restaurant, I do think it's a little too expensive for what it is. But it was a worthwhile and fun experience, and I do recommend giving it a try for a nice night out. read more

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The Best Meal I've Ever Hated Not their fault, I am NOT a "foodie." I'm sure from a purely gastronomical perspective it was a triumph. Totally not their fault that I wasn't up to their standards. I will say that I think the staff could have enunciated more clearly and spoken more slowly. I think I understood about ever 10th word. Although in my case, ignorance might have been the best bliss I could have asked for. How does that saying go, "bad food and such small portions"? Just bad for me. (actually the portion size was a blessing. One bite and, give the rest to my table mates. Staff was friendly, prompt, responsive and enthusiastic. My friends were over the moon with the food and since this was their VERY generous gift to me, I hope they don't read my review. The experience overall was superlative. Hey, you don't always like the food. read more

Republica - Couldn't caption this if I tried - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Such a cool spot! Visiting from LA and booked based off of reviews. We were not disappointed. Top tier service, thoughtful gourmet eats. Portions are small and pricing is $$$ - as to be expected with a fine dining prix fixe dinner. But we didn't leave hungry. Cocktails were equally delicious and the eccentric collection of wines were great complements to the unique food. Highly recommend for a special night out. read more

I came here for my birthday and it was a great experience. I like that my friend and I each had a different tasting menu, so we got to try so many dishes. Food was fun and well executed. The service was perfect. A great spot for a cool dining experience or special occasion. read more

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Delicious food with super high-quality ingredients. Everyone I take here just loves it! I highly recommend!

We had by far the friendliest service yesterday & it was just what we needed for a pick me up for lunch time. We got the tacotes. They're two oblong taco shells made in house-- I got the pulled pork & meatball (on their special menu) and it did not disappoint. Very FLAVORFUL, filling, made with love read more

Republica - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Stopped by Republica for a quick breakfast while touring Portland. We ordered the meat stew, which was a little too salty for my taste but paired well with the tortilla on the side. We also ordered the breakfast sandwich and the two breakfast plates as shown in photo, which were all very good. The star of the show was the Fresca drink that we had (it was some berry flavor) - would definitely recommend trying their daily flavors if you get the chance. Overall this is a pleasant experience and I would definitely go back for the breakfast plates. read more

Republica - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Stopped by Republica again a few months after the first time I'd visited but this time I tried their pozole as well as picked up two conchas! Their pozole is truly my new favorite dish. I adore the flavours and it goes so well with the fresh tortillas they serve with it. The pork was perfectly tender and the hominy had the perfect bite! I'll definitely be back again real soon for more! Additionally picked up some conchas as they have them everyday now. I tried the brown butter vanilla (w sprinkles!) and the cinnamon. Both were so darn good and again, will definitely go back for more! Once again Republica continues to truly impress me. One of these days I'll definitely be back to try their tasting menu! read more

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Everything is absolutely amazing. We came from out of town not understanding the caliber of restaurant we happened upon. Though we had no reservations, they squeezed us in at the bar. Right away, we realized this was no normal restaurant. Then dishes were modern interpretations of traditional Mexican fare. Watching the chefs prepare each meal from the open kitchen was a treat. Each dish was a revelation. The creativity and care poured into every courses was evident in everything from the placement of every element in the plate to the pride in the servers smile as they described the preparation. Thank you so much for such a surprising and enjoyable experience. read more

I was waiting for too Long to come and try this restaurant with my family I was expecting a fancy and gourmet Mexican meal , something different . when you see the plates on instagram , looks really appetizing. Or even reading the reviews. But I was really disappointed. The food was not gourmet or typical Mexican , I think they are in the middle of no where , the quesadilla is just a quesadilla with cheese and for the price not worth it. The menudo is not a menudo, and the flavor are not good . We try almost the whole menu . And something was missing just one bite and don't want to keep eating . Well I just giving my review on my experience. I hope they can take a feedback . Else the customers service was poor . read more

Republica - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Our experience at Republica was magical, one of the best meals we've ever had. I felt like we were in NYC or Mexico City. The decor was tasteful, music was excellent, service was friendly, expert, attentive and wonderful. And that's all before the food, which was exceptionally crafted and presented. I was dining with two Mexican women (my wife and mother-in-law) and both remarked that they'd never experienced many of these flavors before. A wonderful time and wonderful memory. And yes it's expensive, but for special occasions, it was worth it 10/10. read more

The staff here is very kind m, the ambiance is welcoming although a bit crowded on weekend mornings. Turmeric latte was absolutely amazing.

This place has been a much needed Portland institution. A celebration of Mexican culture and cuisine, the people behind Republica's crafts are unmatched by anything I've ever experienced. The attention to detail and level of care in every single thing they serve is evident in every bite. The service is genuine and unpretentious. It feels like coming home even if I didn't grow up eating these dishes. But somehow, the food I get, prepared from the best ingredients from the PNW and Mexico, feel so familiar and comforting. Whether I'm grabbing a steaming bowl of Pozole with the best tortillas in the PNW (they ship in heirloom corn from Mexico, nixtamalize in-house, and hand form and press each tortilla) or journeying through their evening tasting menu experience, I always leave feeling amazing and full of inspiration. Anyone who gives this place low ratings because their egos got hurt because they were called out for being a terrible customer, I hope they learn that the customer isn't always right. read more

I have very mixed feelings about this experience. Which is what you're buying. Not a meal and drinks, but a three hour experience. And that's a good thing. I agree with the superlatives about the dishes and flavors and even the mixed drinks. But I have a real problem with the ethic of the restaurant. The miracle of regional Mexican cuisine is that the richest dishes and traditions come from the most humble of the people of the country. Travel there enough and indelible food experiences, including ingredients and samples of dishes offered by Reoublica, are to be had affordably to locals and certainly travelers. So the asymmetry of enjoying unique flavors from different corners of Mexico and two beverages for over $400 was jarring and seemed antithetical to what Mexican cuisine is. A diverse but humble miracle. Could I afford it? Yes. Would I do it again? No. It was a 5-star experience, but I'm docking them a star for each $100 I felt was incongruously charged for the essence of what was offered. read more

This is not fine dining (despite the price). What it is l, though, is entirely unique and incredibly well-thought-out, made, and presented. Some of these dishes could be served at a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Bay Area, and the kitchen has incredible talent. read more

You hear the saying, "you come for the food, you come back for the hospitality,"and hope that each restaurant experience will be like that but they're not. República makes me want to come back for both. We were warmly greeted at the door and sat on a wonderfully ambient patio. Our drinks were refreshing and all of the food came out in a timely manner. Someone was always there to explain each dish and you could see the raw passion through each description and the ties between dish and heritage. Everything was tasty, creative and fresh, left us wanting a little bit more. We enjoyed not just a meal here but an experience. read more

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This is a culinary experience not to be missed! I was visiting and my daughter took me. I was so very impressed. Each dish was not only beautiful and amazingly delicious, the staff is incredibly detailed in explaining what the ingredients are and why they are significant. read more

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We were excited to try this very popular restaurant we have read and seen online when we visited Portland last November 2022. We were very much impressed with the presentation and stories behind each dish and everything was delicious. The problem is that the portions were so small and the pacing of one dish to the next sometimes is very slow since most of the dishes you can eat in a couple of bites and ready for the next dish in no time. I was still happy to have experienced dining here but I would not be returning. read more

Great food! We got the vegetarian tasting menu and was impressed by the different textures of the food. There is a lot of corn in the menu as a heads up! The drinks were tasty as well. We did not get the drinks tasting menu but the cocktails were unique and delicious! read more

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I will be singing praises of republica for the year of 2022! My favorite Portland restaurant on this visit (and I've eaten across MX and still think this is a solid contender). Great tortillas, great pibil, great soups, MIND BLOWING agua Fresca (I got the papaya). I wish I could eat here every day. read more

The photos do not do this meal justice. The location was beautiful (outdoor patio), the service impeccable and friendly, and the food so unusual and incredible. We thoroughly enjoyed our night. A chefs choice Mexican meal with wine pairing? Yes, please. Do yourself a service and make a reservation now. read more

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This was hands down the best dining experience I have ever had. It's so much more than a meal. It's a history lesson, feeling like the wait staff are your friends by the end of the evening, and every bite is amazing! I highly recommend the wine pairing as the beverage coordinator was just fantastic. I never knew how much I love grilled octopus and how one dinner could affect me so deeply. I have a new found adoration for Mexico, it's people, and it's wine. Go, go now!!!!! read more

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Amazing, extremely authentic Mexican deliciousness. We've had two fantastic meals from Republica so far. Since it's covid times, both were takeout meals. We love a good food adventure, so we ordered the "Guests at a Mexican Household" package, where you set a price level and tell them how many people are eating. The rest is left up to the folks at Republica. What you get is an amazing sampling of various items from the menu, including a dessert. Please note that this is NOT standard, Americanized Mexican food. We've done some traveling (and a little living) in Mexico, and the meals that Republica are creating bring back many wonderful memories. Note on spiciness: Our first meal was incredible, but some folks in our family suffered from the heat. On our second order, we asked for a little less spiciness in the "dietary restrictions" section and they dialed it back just right. read more

Magical. One of the best meals of our entire life. No exaggeration. Think French Laundry a la Mexicana. If I paid 3x the price for this meal in SF or NY, I would not be disappointed. read more

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This is not just a meal. It is a dreamy storytime journey through the history of the dishes and ingredients. The plates are gorgeous, the food is delectable, and the service impeccable. The pricing was surprisingly reasonable for a Chef's tasting, and without really being able to travel for a while, it was glorious to be treated to this adventure through regions of Mexico. Enjoy a delicious cocktail and DEFINITELY do the wine pairing! You will try wines with familiar names and yet are very unique interpretations due to the region and conditions under which they are gloriously produced. read more

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Good food but overpriced. I've had fixed price meals with wine pairings before. With a Mexican menu there just isn't the variety or say, an Italian or Seafood feast. It was good but not great. We spent almost $800 for 4 people. At that price I should be floored. read more

Oh, these guys. Angel and his crew has done it again! Popped in on a Friday night with reservations and got seated right away, lovely open space in the Ecotrust building next to the beloved Perlita cafe. Small but thoughtful menu, printed on one sided card stock so you know things are seasonal and experimental. And also the menu is in Spanish so if you miss traveling, there's that for nostalgia. We ordered almost everything on the menu, it was beautifully presented and exceptionally tasty. The open kitchen allowed us to watch fresh handmade tortillas being rolled and pressed...I hate to sound basic but it was so cool. Do NOT skip over their Pistachio Flan dessert, phenomenal! Everyone wore masks and tables were spaced out well, I give them five stars all around!! read more

Republica - A note to father. - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Wow, ever heard of Mexican omakase? This is it right here. Small dishes prepared by the chef and it's a rolling menue. We got the agave pairing with our dinner and the spirits were AWESOME.. it paired so well to end each dish by refreshing your palate for the next dish. Go check this out. read more

Amazing! The presentation is art on a plate. When the flavors hit your palate, you will think you have just been transported to Mexico itself. The Chefs have come together to give a most delicious, authentic Mexican meal. The very pleasant staff explains each dish and the history of the ingredients. I was mesmerized watching the Chef take such detail to place each petal on his plates before the staff delivered them to their guests. If your looking for that perfect restaurant, you must make this one of your regular go to favorites. read more

We really enjoyed our meal at Republica. We especially appreciated that their tasting menu was so amenable to different dietary restrictions/preferences, including vegetarian, pescatarian, and omnivore. The mole especially stands out for the range of flavors, and even simpler dishes, like the quesadilla, impressed. The service was excellent, and the space was pleasant, while still retaining traces of the Laughing Planet it used to be. (Republica is in the process of moving to a new location.) It's a unique and lovely dining experience. Why four stars instead of five? It's all about the price point relative to the amount of food you get. I've only had two or three tasting menus at other restaurants, but in my experience, a tasting menu means that each dish is small, but you get a lot of dishes. (The late lamented vegan locavore Farm Spirit had ten or more courses. Republica has five very small courses with a few even smaller "snacks.") If I had paid $60 for this dining experience, I would have been thrilled. But $108 per person is steep, and it means I'm not going to be coming back to this restaurant very often. I think they need to find a sustainable business model at a lower price point, even if that means giving a larger portion of some of the courses that have less expensive ingredients. As vegetarians, we were surprised that none of the vegetarian dishes appeared to have beans/legumes in them. There are lots of beans that are indigenous to the Americas. Adding them to some of the dishes would probably make diners feel more full. I did feel like the vegetarian menu was a bit skimpy compared to the omnivore one. Meat is generally more expensive than vegetables, but the price was the same no matter which menu you ordered. Finally, between the main dishes and dessert, we were invited to "revisit" one of the dishes. I would have LOVED to eat more (especially of that delicious mole!) at that point, but I didn't understand what "revisiting" meant. I assumed we'd have to pay for the experience, and I didn't want to shell out still more money. (I know, I know, I could have asked--but I would have been embarrassed to decline if the amount quoted was more than I wanted to spend.) I think they should have made the price or policy clearer, either by putting the prices for "revisiting" on the menu or indicating that "revisiting" was included in the price. Better, though, would be just to give everyone slightly more food. I also would have liked to see the cocktail prices on the menu. In short, Republica is a great special-occasion experience. I recognize that it is very much of a "fine dining" place and most people aren't going to go there every day, but adjusting the pricing system to make it slightly more accessible to a slightly larger fraction of people would probably enhance the long-term prospects of this restaurant. read more

Not typical Mexican food. Better than Taco Bell, but WAY overpriced. We paid $135 EACH without wine for the smallest portions I have ever seen, anywhere. If you have read "The Emperor's New Clothes" you get the pictures. We spent 3 HOURS waiting for the courses, and when they arrived you were expected to split a tiny drab of food on your plate. Three bits max. My guess is that they are trying to emulate Michelin 3 star French restaurants in Paris. If so, they fail miserably. I want to like them, as they try hard, describing every tiny dish with earnest descriptions of the dish. Anyway, I won't be back, but my wife and our dinner companions were quite happy. Maybe it's just me... read more

This is a review of the tasting menu. The food is well prepared and interesting. The portions are small and to be shared. This was frustrating since they are not easily separated and small to begin with. Like other reviews we left hungry. It seems they could make each portion for one diner and not shareable. I came out thinking that their food costs were minimal but they may have a lot of labor with each plate. The attention to detail is excellent. There were long gaps of time between some courses and the wine pairings were not always timely. The predominately Mexican wines were a nice addition. Republica is close to being a great restaurant. Wish I could have sent this privately but their site does not have a customer response. read more

Went to get coffee at la perlita and got a torta next door. I have to say each bite of my chicken torta was bomb. I loved the habanero onions on the side for that extra kick. Great quality food. This shop has an authentic Mexican vibe. Me encanta el concepto de la comida mexicana moderna. read more

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Review for dinner on Friday, 2/19/21. Ordered the dinner special "Option C - Dinner at a Mexican Household" (with a special request that the torta was part of the spread) and a distilled agave flight. We were blown away by not only all of the dishes but the service as well. It was so clear that Angel (founder), his wife Olivia, and all of their staff love what they do and put in genuine passion and effort into making the República experience a special one. The concept of "Guests at a Mexican Household" is exactly what the title entails: a chef's selection of courses, with the customer designating price point and any dietary restrictions, and the experience of being taken care of with authentic, home-cooked meals. I highly recommend ordering this course! We opted for the highest price level for the two of us; I believe it was about $70. Each dish was presented with a story behind it, including the region of Mexico it was inspired by. For example, the paste ("paas-teh") was served in a white paper bag with a hand-written note, and our server explained how Mexican tin miners would be sent off to work with these empanada-like treats in paper bags and notes from their parents or wives. With the distilled agave flight, Angel took us on a journey through Mexico with 4 different bottles. It is so apparent how Angel is devoted to the craft of mezcal (and coffee--check out Reforma Roasters and La Perlita!). We spent a long time chatting with him about how each bottle is distilled and how to identify characteristics in each. He even gave us a laminated card as a reference to help us truly appreciate each tasting, instructing us how to describe visuals, mouthfeel, and flavors. Overall, we were so pleased with our experience at República. My boyfriend cannot wait to bring his mother, who is from Mexico, to taste the authentic and elevated flavors that Angel and his team put so much thought into. The restaurant is a gem of an addition to the Portland food scene, and deserve all of the praise and support from the community. We'll be back! read more

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Everything was delicious, beautiful, and well attended. Did the 10 course with the beverage pairing and have 0 regrets. Bill came out to $300 for me, myself, and I, but it was worth every penny. read more

This place is a work of art, each dish came out thought, determination, historical stories, and spiritual context. It wasn't only good that you ate, you ate and learned the great history of Mexico. Using locally or Mexican sourced ingredients only, and whatever is in season the chef and the whole team beautifully told us a story thru their food. As with any tasting dish, you're not going to get a huge portion that's the downfall, but uhm, if you go to tastings slot that's what you get. The date meal for two people paired with great Mexican wines and two house made drinks with 20% gratuity already included was only 148$. Literally that's nothing. Living in places like New York, Miami, LA, and food never touching the level of this food getting a bill this little for one of the most memorable nights out is absolutely worth it. This was not traditional Mexican food, at least not to my knowledge or my wife's knowledge who is Mexican. Yet every dish is high inspired by pre Spaniard invasion and post Spaniard colonization combing the two as an acceptation that something terrible did indeed happen during the conquest yet the restaurant takes and only speaks the best out of everything making light and positives of the experience. The menu had both meat eater options and vegan options. The vegan options were out of this world, and veganism isn't a much common scene in the Mexican food scene. That was a complete blessing for my wife who's from Michoacán loved her ancestral food but prefers it without meat. And so it was. She was blown away by the complexities of every sauce, the chilies that were used many new to her, and the dedication it took to make some of these dishes consisting of 50+ hours of cook time. Like I said art. Lastly this place is ran on equality, there might be a head chef but everyone Is treated and respected in the kitchen which was the middle of the restaurant. Nothing beats an open kitchen experience. I mean nothing. Our waiters changed with almost every dish and each one of them bestowed great and perfect knowledge on the dishes we were eating. Listening to the stories the told on how our art was made was absolutely so intriguing. This was probably one our best dates in the 5 years we've been together. We left completely astonished and can't wait to come back once the menu changes. I wish I can write more other than this is an experience of a life time. Don't miss out. read more

Wow, Republica has been on my list for a long time and I had high expectations but my experience was beyond what I expected. Each dish, I had the seven course dinner, was incredible and I was so impressed with the service! Each dish was explained in great detail and they kept refilling my water all the time. I had a Mexican Sauvignon Blanc, which was my first Mexican white wine and it was fabulous! A great dinner experience, highly recommended! read more

What a welcome back to eating out. Always hoping to find good food mixed with supporting good people, this was the spot. The food is fresh, unique yet had all the look and feel of authentic home-cooked food. If you like spices, you'll really appreciate these recipes. Each bite packs a lot of flavor. Angel, the owner, was so gracious and welcoming and told us the story of how Republica came to be. It feels like this place was built on a lot of love and commitment to quality. Kiddos loved the sopa, hubby loved the tacos and I loved the roasted veggie salad. Thank you Republica family for opening when we need you most! read more

I wanted people to beware of the cancellation policy for República and the amount of phone calls it took for them to get back to us. They require a $25 deposit per diner for cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance. Our party of 4 was charged $100. We called the number they have listed as the restaurant number (a Roseburg phone number). We never got a live person so we left several messages (at least 7) for the past 4 days until finally a person called back to tell us they would not refund our money. A person called on Sunday to confirm the reservation and because of circumstances beyond our control, I asked if she could cancel that for me. She said "yes" and never mentioned that regardless of the cancellation, we would need to pay the $100. We use Open Table all the time, including when we travel and I have never had anything like this occur. Open Table is siding with their customer, República and not this customer, our family. So, buyer beware! read more