Calle 21

I try to hit portland at least once a week to have lunch with my kids. We like to go to new places and this week we stumbled across "Calle 21". The three of us were amazed at the quality, quantity and prices of the food. This is the first Mexican restaurant I've been to that didn't offer chips and salsa, so I asked our server to bring us some. She asked if we wanted guacamole, which I don't normally get because I am very picky, but she recommended it. All I can say is if you visit Calle 21 MAKE SURE YOU GET THE GUACAMOLE. It was absolutely amazing and reminded me of the homemade version Grandma Olga used to make! The service was incredible and the food we ordered came out quickly. We will definitely be visiting Calle 21 again.

I have been a regular customer at this restaurant since 2024, back when Juan, Daniela, and Ane were working here (and as Alejandra, John and Pedro are still working here). During all that time, my wife and I never had any problems with the staff and always felt welcome and well treated. Unfortunately, we recently had a very unpleasant experience with one specific waitress. She wears a beanie (she is not Mexican at all) and has tattoos on her face. She accused my wife of “throwing money at her,” which never happened, and later claimed that I was looking at her in an aggressive way (which I didn’t understand since I looked at the head chef, he looked at me and also smiled). The accusation made no sense, as we were simply sitting and interacting normally like any other customers, as normal people (there are cameras so it can speak for itself) While we were being served by a different waiter, she interrupted and told us we should leave, saying she would call security and the owner. Neither security nor the owner ever came, even though we would have been more than willing to speak with them to clarify the situation. The waiter who was assisting us apologized and said he didn’t want to get in the middle of this conversation, which shows that even he recognized how uncomfortable and unnecessary the situation was. We truly enjoy this restaurant, the atmosphere, and the Mexican culture it represents. That is why this experience was so disappointing and confusing. One staff member’s behavior should not reflect on the entire place, but it did affect our experience as loyal customers. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and addresses the situation so that other customers do not go through something similar. We care about this restaurant and want to continue supporting it, but respectful and professional treatment from all staff members is essential.

Ample outdoor seating partially covered. Indoor decor dominated by many live edge slabs, mostly white oak with some unidentified species. Menu has the expected mexamercan cuisine along with some surprising variations. Plating is functional if uninspired. It's the flavors that take center stage here, my Chile rellenos taco melted into my mouth with just the right heat. The quesabirria taco really stood out to me. Smash taco technique, the meat was sweet, savory and spicy with great crunch. Unfortunately the woodwork was poorly executed wich detracts from the experience.

downgraded my previous 5 star review based on utterly abysmal service and poor treatment on a second visit during a not busy at all Monday night. probably not revisiting. The biggest downside of this place is the balance between bartending vs serving duties (or maybe hire another person). My advice to patrons would be, if you see more than 2 people sat at the bar that means you are going to get very poor table service and should probably go elsewhere. … overall I thought this place was excellent. good value for money. great service , our waiter guy (young chap wearing white air force ones) was super gracious, nice and polite and food was excellent for the price. The carnitas were superb. well recommended. Food was quick and good portion sizes. Guac was great and lots of chips, expected for $9 guac and chips to be fair. The environment is casual and they have quite a few drinks / beer food specials. They have typical beers including NA and a margarita menu. I cannot comment on the margaritas. Seating outside is nice. Inside could be louder for those sensitive because it does seem like all tile. The other great thing is there are lots of desserts options close by for that sweet tooth afters I will return. thumbs up Also the closing time is the bomb 10pm. keep that up, we need more of that in pdx.

Great food, great price, great service! We have been on the look out for a new Mexican restaurant in the area and were pleased to find Calle 21. I had the potato taquitos, a side of rice, and my spouse had the fajita plate, while my son got nachos. All of our food was fresh and had great flavor. The restaurant was really clean and the tables were made of nice wood. Definitely would recommend stopping by to try them out.

Calle 21 is a very good cantina style Mexican restaurant. I only give 5-stars for organic, although a 4 is highly rated for goof fresh food. The food is mild so it isn’t like there will be complex or hot Mexican spice. The guacamole was fantastic; chunky with good citrus presence. The shredded beef from the fajita plate was great; although there were hardly any fajita peppers. It’s a fun environment with a patio out front and large central bar. Definitely loud inside. They also have a TV with sports playing. I’d come back again when we’re down here.

Been here a couple times and it’s been consistent since opening. Amazing margaritas and the tacos are soooo good. The mango habanero hot sauce omg. The bartenders are also consistently such great people. Always recommend!

This place has fantastic burritos. Large portions and filled with high quality fresh ingredients. If your in the mood for Mexican or a great burrito def check this place out!

Atmosphere: Bright atmosphere with TV's Food: Food was excellent. Loved the tacos and Cali Burrito Price: Reasonably priced with an excellent happy hour featuring a margarita and 2 tacos for $13 Service: Good service Parking: Street parking

Cute new mexican place. Good food. Great margs. $13 for two tacos and a marg? I'll be here all day! Wish the menu has more info but I asked the waiter and a) happy hour is only those two deals but it runs all day every day and b) all cocktails range from $8.50-$10.50 Will absolutely be back soon :)

Fantastic everyday happy hour all day: House margarita and 2 tacos for $13 Or Chips & salsa, 1 burrito, 1 shot, and 1 beer for $21 Great location, service, and atmosphere. AND they open early at 10am! I wake up at 5am so having early lunch options is a plus for me. Enjoy!

We had a really good experience at this spot right before our movie. Really good special for two tacos and a margarita. The tacos were tasty, they got them out fast, my wife liked the margarita. We need to come here for a proper meal. Good service and fun atmosphere.

First time here, I have to say service was really good. The food was the best I've had in the area. And they have the best margaritas I've tried since we moved to Portland. Definitely coming back.

SO GOOD! My husband and I went for breakfast burritos and we WILL be back! The 2 ladies that helped us were so nice and the service was very quick. The restaurant had nice interior design and the vibe was very fun and upbeat. 20/10 experience!

The service was good, but the food lacked a lot. This was our second time there. We wanted to try it again to see if some things had changed and we were quite disappointed . They had beers on the menu that they were out of. This was the case the first time we were there. The guacamole was way too salty. This was the case the first time as well. We ordered burritos and my friend and I ordered ours Wet. They only came wet with red sauce so we said OK. The red sauce was more TexMex and the chili relleno on the inside was in small pieces and the entire inside was more like it was all chopped up and mushed up than burritos we are used too. Flavors were nothing exceptional either. We would like them to succeed, but we are not sure we will go back due to these things. Portland needs an exceptional, authentic Mexican Restaurant so we will still keep looking and hoping.

I've been excited to try this place out since they recently opened. They did not disappoint. Their tequila and mezcal selection was solid. The server/bartender made excellent POG mezcal margarita by request. I did not complain. I ordered a 'Surfin California burrito' to go with my drink. The burrito is a good portion. It's filled with shrimp and carnes with potatoes. I'm not one for potatoes in my burritos, but there was just the right amount of it, and it was cooked perfectly for my liking. I will be back to try some of their other offerings.

Still on the hunt for delicious Mexican food in the area and this burrito did not disappoint. I ordered a super azteca burrito and it took me half of the burrito to realize the chile relleno was missing because the burrito as is was so good! It was sooo juicy and the salsas were so yummy, the dark brown one being much spicier than the green so keep that in mind. When I asked them about the chile relleno, they immediately got to work on a replacement and got it out to me within ten minutes. They were very kind. The outside seating is so nice and was great for a lunch. The inside is fun and lively. Will definitely be coming back!

Well, Portland still doesn't have any decent Mexican food. Completely tasteless, bland, and uninspired... how can even hot sauce be so boring? It's all the normal Cisco fixings with no flavor. At least Matador actually uses spices and real cheese, instead here we get partially rehydrated "vegetables." I'm embarrassed for that carrot to have even found it's way to this orange rice mush. The only reason for not one star is the lunch price was pretty good, but that likely because their food cost is so low... because is it food? Or food-like substance?

Excellent tacos, margs, chips in a clean, modern feel. We tried almost everything and it was all good!

Disappointed.. I ate here in person and it was good. I ordered their Azteca Burrito and this was what i got

Wow. Wow. Holy cow (literally). This burrito is an escape from reality, no drug could ever recreate the feeling I just had from eating the Machaca breakfast burrito. My favorite breakfast burrito place just closed down and I was craving some breakfast fillings wrapped up in a golden brown blanket of love. Calle 21 came into my life at the perfect time and told me "there's a new sheriff in town". By golly, they must've had Tommy lee Jones in there cooking with all the love in his soul. I've had to take multiple breaks writing this just to pour the green and red sauces into this Mona Lisa of a burrito and continue to just wolf down. My one complaint- I was provided a fork with my meal. Trust me, the way I'm eating this, no fork will be necessary.

A couple months back I was pleasantly surprised to be walking along 21st and pass a new open restaurant (a rare occurrence in much of Portland these days, sadly: most spots close and stay vacant). We finally had a chance to try it, and to say, "I wasn't disappointed," would be an understatement -- rather, the only disappointment was that it wasn't packed on a weekend. Good Mexican food in the heart of Portland is exceedingly rare (bordering on extinct these days) -- and in over a decade of living in PDX, this is the closest I've come to the San Francisco Mission District taquerias I've been longing for (worry not, dear reader: I may have moved from California, but the only real estate I'm buying is... well, none, ever: I guarantee I'm more broke than you). In short: the prices are reasonable (almost unheard of in this inflationary era of nonsense -- and quite unexpected in this area), the guacamole and salsa has flavor (this should not be a shock -- and yet), and the burrito was refreshingly solid (Chipotle this is not). Oh, and check the happy hour -- because it's all day, every day. This place deserves your business.

The server was very kind and the service was fast. The food was really good i enjoyed my combination plate. I tried the pastor taco and the seasoning was just right, I also tried the horchata and really loved it. overall very good food and great service

This is based on our 2nd experience, which was take out. The salsas tasted so different on our second try, I have to say bordering on unpleasant. You could tell there was good intention with the ingredients, but the flavor was off, astringent with aftertaste. On our 1st visit the salsas and food were great. Will change review if things improve.

This is a great new addition to the NW 21st part of the Alphabets. I had three of their tacos and the chips with guacamole. The service was very attentive. Everything came out quickly and was delicious. I sat at their lovely outdoor tables. They also have extensive indoor seating. They seemed to also have a good sized rotating craft beer selection.

The relleno taco is the bomb! Also had the California burrito, which was also tasty. Come check this place out.

I wanted to like this place!! The service and ambiance is nice, but the food is actually pretty bad, I'd recommend going... anywhere else. the chicken enchiladas were tough and not a good flavor and they happened to also serve me a beef one :( I left and went to eat somewhere else!

Phenomenal spot all around. Food, drinks, and service were all on point. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a beautiful bar inside. I had the asada azteca burrito, the spicy marg, and the mojito - drinks we're all perfectly mixed and delicious. The portions are sizable and well-priced. I already can't wait to go back!

We had a great experience dining at Calle 21. The staff was super nice, the food and drinks came out very quickly, and everything tasted great. We got cocktails, a burrito, two tacos, and some chips and salsa. Some of the best chips and salsa I've had in Portland! Wow! This is a gem in the neighborhood and we'll be back very soon!

Excellent shrimp tacos, guacamole was great as really good as well. Was visiting my daughter and took a chance on this place and it's a winner!

Very disappointed, we called to double check their hours tonight and they told us they'd be open until 10.00. We jumped a streetcar and arrived at 9:12PM on Saturday night and were told....Sorry, we're closed. Nice knowing you. I'm done.

So happy this place is here! Quality Mexican options in NW PDX have been so lacking, especially since Los Gorditos doesn't do dinner. Got the California Burrito which was delicious, fries and carne asada had great taste and texture. Most importantly, the tortilla was perfectly warmed, soft and not crunchy. The carnitas taco was also tasty w large chunks of pork. Can't wait to try everything else. Large indoor seating, outdoor tables as well, huge bar with tons of TVs. Just so awesome, exactly what this neighborhood was missing!

First off, the waiter was very nice. But, I ordered a Paloma and it was obviously just a regular margarita, I asked him about it and he just told me the ingredients in a paloma(yes sir, I know). The drink was green, no hint of pink, and tasted strictly of lime. It was clearly a basic margarita, and if it was a Paloma, they're doing them wrong. Fine, whatever, I'll drink it. I was sitting outside and he basically threw my drink and food through the window, didn't bring me any napkins, for tacos, I might add, didn't ask if I wanted any salsa, I had to ask for it. The meat was stone cold, I'll be surprised if I don't get food poisoning. Definitely will not be returning unfortunately

Extremely kind service, delicious food (I got the Azteca burrito) which came out quickly, and reasonable prices. Highly recommend!

WONDERFUL customer service, always so nice and have a smile to return:) their food is so delicious and i always leave with a full stomach!! anyways, you should def get a burrito

100% our favorite spot!! They've been open such a short time & we've been here a years worth of times already! Fabulous food! Wonderful family owned, AFFORDABLE, food!!! Tip like you would when you pay more... These guys are the best!!! I'd go daily, tostado is my fav & house margarita, but I'd recommend it all!! Love it all!!

Finally! A California burrito worth my time We had planned to get pizza but noticed Calle 21 and thought, why not? Great service. Chips and salsa was spot on. And they have tres leches!!!!

Great food and service. We started with chips & salsa alongside guava margaritas & enjoyed both. The chips and salsa were fresh and the margarita was tasty (& pretty!). Our group ordered the California burrito, Surfin California burrito and the Chile relleno burrito. We all enjoyed what we ordered! I am unsure if they make their salsa verde in house, but we all really enjoyed that as well. The service was incredibly fast and friendly. Great addition to NW. We will be back!

Great food, big portions, cool bar, super nice staff, overall really enjoyed the whole experience!

Incredible prices!!! Food was delicious and prices were unheard of. Highly recommend!! Quick service and great ambiance!

Stopped by for the first time today, friendly staff and a pretty space with lots of seating. I got the Cali burrito with steak and my friend got a breakfast burrito, both were great, and the house salsas were very nice. The margaritas were also well mixed and refreshing, will definitely be back!

Deserves every 5 star review it has. The azteca burrito with carnitas was FIRE. Really cute on the inside, food came out fast, nice workers, and delicious.

quick service yet my quesadilla was really soggy and i did get food poisoning the morning after.

The food is delish and customer service is always on point. Definitely recommend coming here for the Azteca Burrito!

I had high expectations after reading the reviews on this new NW Portland Mexican restaurant! But I was not disappointed. The service was great and the food was exceptional. I had Carne Asada and shrimp tacos and they were $3.50 each! Can't wait to go back and try other menu items.

Food was pretty good! The service we had was fantastic, big thanks to the waitstaff. Drinks were great, and flavors were pretty solid for Hispanic food in Portland. Prices were very reasonable, and we sat outside on a nice October day and had a good time observing the passerby. Thanks again!

Hidden gem! Fun spot to stop at on 21st for a great margarita, great prices, food and energy. We are locals and are so glad this spot just opened up. The staff are great and Leo is the best!

Great place for takeout, super fast, the best Carnitas in the neighborhood. Doing 4 instead of five because the rice is always a little crunchy, and cuz of one iffy experience dining in. The system broke and didn't take out order so it took about 30 minutes to get our food. Servers were clearly super frazzled with the dinner rush, so I don't blame them!

My husband had tamales, and I ate a vegetarian burrito. Wonderful Mexican food! Their salsas are delicious too! We will be regulars.