Colibri by Tamale Boy

Omg this place is phenomenal. All of the food was absolutely delicious. The staff is AMAZING! Talk about passion and kindness, they are gold stars! Their food is so flavorful, well thought out, balanced, and surprising in the best way possible. Colibri has stolen my heart and is easily one of my top 3 favorite spots in Portland!

This place is a hidden gem. A popular food cart turned brick and mortar restaurant, the food is the main attraction here. The happy hour menu is generous and lasts 3 - 6 PM Monday to Friday week days. The cocktails are low priced and creative. I had a Fiesta Americana cocktail with añejo tequila, apricot, lime and pineapple 🍍 that was delicious 😋 The food portions are generous! I'm a big carnivor by nature, and I can say they do not skimp on the meat at Colibri! I was prepared to order 5 entrées to get enough food when the server warned me the portions were big. So, I ordered three different tamales 🫔 a chili Verde (pork) a tinga de pollo (chicken) and an Amarillo (shredded beef) wrapped in a banana leaf! I was teased by the waitstaff, who were making side bets on if could finish or not. Someone lost, because I finished every bite! It was too good to let go to waste. However, I'll admit to you, I could have easily stopped at just 2. Don't tell anyone 🤫 Go see for yourself, and make sure to bring your appetite. The food and drinks are a great value, extremely high quality and very authentic. You can't lose!

Amazing food! We had to try a bit of everything and nothing disappointed! The drinks were refreshing with just the right amount of booze, the shrimp burger was a very delicious surprise and the shrimp burrito covered in a buttery cream sauce that was not a drop was left behind. The tamales... they're big. They're made to share. They won't last. Pork and chicken steamed to perfection. I'm going back.

Had the worst chilaquiles I’ve ever had, and I’m from Latin heritage. The food was not cooked properly at all, even the egg was undercooked. I ordered takeout and live only five minutes away, yet the food was completely cold. I had to put it back in my oven just to make it even a little warm. The tortillas were soggy, drenched in sauce, and had no fresh or crisp texture. It was basically a cold, over-soaked mess. It was supposed to come with queso fresco and crema, but didn’t. I had to add my own cheese at home just to make it somewhat edible. The sauce tasted more like marinara, too Italian, instead of an authentic salsa roja. On top of that, it was overly salty, which made it even worse. The undercooked egg completely grossed me out, and unfortunately I had to toss more than half of my meal away. Pretty bummed about that being I really just needed a nutritional meal after a long night. It’s quite obvious to what customers you are trying to cater to, because there was a complete lack of culture in this dish. If you can’t get something as basic and traditional as chilaquiles right, I honestly don’t have much hope for the rest of the menu.

We got pork bowl and shrimp, steak and birriha taco. My pork bowl was good. I’d i would likes more veggies/onions but it was delicious. Shrimp taco had a tomato sauce that tasted uncooked and too sharp to my senses. Like eating marinara sauce out of the jar. Steak and Birriha taco were delicious though. Staff are super nice and the place is cozy too.

Delicious authentic food, many items to choose from and definitely leaves you wanting to go back again. The refried beans and tamale are fantastic! Recommend 10/10

AMAZING!! We went for HH before the thorns game and I highly highly recommend. I made reservations day of but you’re probably fine popping in esp if you want to sit at the bar. All of the staff was helpful, nice, and funny and so attentive (not in an annoying way). I got the beef tostada which was a texture and flavor journey! The beef was incred and all the layers on the tostada were unique and flavorful. Highly recommend for a date, quick bite, drinks, or just a nice dinner. The happy hour prices actually felt like happy hour prices which is rare to come by these days - portions were still huge. Mmmmm so good!!! 🤤 💋 🍹

I visited the restaurant for a business lunch. They have a full bar, some tables and counter seating. It's a small and cozy spot serving up the authentic yum! When we arrived, the staff was warm and welcoming. Carina was an exceptional hostess ensuring we had all we needed for our meal and dining experience. Our time there didn't feel rushed and we truly felt at home, almost like we were hanging out in aunty's kitchen while the food was being prepared. The restaurant was sanitary and well maintained. The Restrooms were spotless! The food was AMAZING and VERY reasonably priced! If you're searching for authenticity... this is the spot. The Tamales are larger than the typical size found elsewhere - great bang for the buck. They ensure all Tamales are filled with deliciousness. The food is very well seasoned and true to authentic flavors. They have delicious sauces to enhance the flavor of your food. If you are a person who likes a hearty serving, or enough to take some home for later, you'll get that here. As mentioned, it felt like home. Thanks Colibri! We had a wonderful time. I'll most certainly return to this restaurant, over and over again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Tamales are top notch Bring an appetite Bring lots if friends So delicious You will want to revisit Again & Again

Food - got the arroz de rajas, perfect taste and spice. Was great to take the sweet fire from my main dish, gobernado tacos... shrimp pablabo peppers and Oaxaca cheese. Not your everyday tacos. Great music playing , not too loud, just right. Friendly service.

I was on my neighborhood walk and saw that this place was having a soft opening today. So I popped in to check it out. Usually soft openings are somewhat of a train wreck as it is the test run. This was amazing. I had the 3 halibut tacos($17) Pineapple Cocktail($13?) and a Modelo($5) they were not only really good, they were huge. I wouldn't call these street tacos cause they were large. See pic. The couple next to me ordered a Tamale and if the tacos weren't so good I would regret my decision on that. It's all bar seating, maybe 20 stools with backs. My only thought is they need a much larger Tequila selection. This is the kind of place that needs their own Tequila list of 60+ tequilas.

If I could give Colibri six stars I would. Service was friendly and quick but the place was also empty at 5pm on a weekday. Why is a place like this empty? Perhaps some of the best casual Mexican fare in Portland is right here on 12th and Glisan. Colibri looks high end but it's pretty casual. They serve an assortment of cocktails but the star today on our plates are the tamales and fish tacos. Fish tacos are hard to get right and Colibri knocks it out of the ballpark. Perfect construction, amazing flour tortillas, and the flavor is spot on. The tamales are soft and decadent with flavors that stand out compared to other places in Portland. I will be back to try more for sure.

Fabulous food and drinks! So glad we tried this place. The tacos were delicious and the mixed drinks equally good. It will definitely be a regular on our list!

I dropped in at lunchtime. Picked up the pork tacos, three large and delicious really loaded up with seasoned shredded pork. Would've loved more garnish like pickled cabbage / veggies. The refried beans are creamy and I could smell maybe bacon fat or some good Lardo - perhaps used in the cooking process. Will go back with friends to sit at the contemporary bar for margaritas, tequila, and beer. Bravo! TBoy - suggest selling single tacos so a taco connoisseur can make a combo selection. List purveyors, particularly if northwest local and that would probably pick up another star. Go TBoy!

So happy there is a new restaurant in this area! Cute little bar with a nice ambiance. The food was amazing! Bartender was nice and the ladies in the kitchen know what they are doing. (ps add some hooks for bags under the bar top)

JUST AMAZING! The tacos were so fresh and tasty. They have a soft opening going on but they crush it already!

Check this place out. Best chilaquiles I've ever had. So tasty ! Great service and fun casual atmosphere as well. Enjoy!

I am from South Carolina and have heard people say food is so good that you'd "slap your grandma." I never quite understood that phrase. Until tonight. When I took my first bite of chilorio tacos, it's lucky for grandma she was not in arm's reach. All I could do was repeatedly say, "Oh. My. God." This is my new favorite spot in Portland. The ceviche my partner had was off the charts too. And the beans. Holy cow, the beans. The only way I can think to describe them, go with me here, is warm, creamy, smoky bacon pudding. I know. That sounds weird. But trust me and try them. Better yet don't. Don't go. I want to always be able to get a spot at this bar. Staff are a delight. Cocktails are delicious and special. 10/10

Great menu, fantabulous food, and the margaritas are as authentic as one can have. Terrific team at the bar.

Excellent, generous-sized tacos, nice chunky guacamole, smooth margaritas! Friendly service. We had the halibut and the pork tacos. We will definitely return., Great addition to the neighborhood.

The tamales are the best I've ever had, and are a great deal for the price. Service was excellent, the space is very beautiful, I can't wait to come back.