EL JEFE MEXICAN GRILL (TIGARD)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tigard’s Hidden Gem – Flavor, Value, and Consistency I’ve been coming to El Jefe in Tigard for years, and I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to write a review. This place is truly one of the best little spots to grab a bite to eat. The food is consistently amazing, and the prices are incredibly affordable—making it a total five-star experience every time. Let’s talk food: The Tacos Al Pastor are packed with juicy, perfectly seasoned meat and served just right. The rice and beans are fresh, flavorful, and never feel like filler. I’ve had the grilled chicken, which is tender and delicious, and their quesadillas—oh wow, they’re warm, cheesy, and full of flavor. The breakfast burritos? Total game-changer. Whether it’s morning or midday, everything on the menu hits. One of the highlights that keeps me coming back is their homemade salsa bar. It’s packed with variety—each salsa bursting with freshness, spice, and flavor. You can really make every bite your own with the different heat levels and styles. Plus, they’ve got a nice little outdoor seating area, which makes it super convenient if you want to eat on the go. It’s casual, easy, and adds to the relaxed, welcoming vibe of the place. In a world full of overpriced, inconsistent food spots, El Jefe stands out for doing everything right. Great food, fair prices, and fast, friendly service. If you’re in the Tigard area, don’t miss it.

This is my first time ordering food from here, and I want to like this place because the food I ordered was not bad; it just had hair on it (see pic). I ordered the chicken plate even though I wanted the 3 pcs. pollo ranchero, but online ordering suddenly removed it and marked it “out of stock”. Anyway, my order also had quesadilla, fries, supreme El Jefe burrito, and pineapple aguas frescas. I live a good drive from this place so I'm not sure if I want to try it again. I did call the restaurant to let them know about the hair and I was given just an option of picking up a new plate tomorrow.

Update- DELICIOUS! 6/7/25 Order too much food because the portions are too large, but man was it delicious chicken seared over lump coal. Oh man the flavor Slow cooked above huge fire pit! The flavors! Please make one near my house… three times a week, I promise. Don’t change, keep it delicious.

They have really good quesobirras at a great price range, not from the region just visiting but would come again Also to add on for 4 tacos it was 12 dollars and some change so honestly great pricing and portion sizing.

The breakfast burrito is amazing! Very well priced for such good quality. I like to have them add rice and beans inside of mine! This burrito was cheaper than breakfast burritos at other places of lesser quality in my opinion. No exaggeration.

Coming from Texas, this is the second mexican restaurant that I've been to in the Greater Portland area and El Jefe suffers from same ailments that are affected the surrounding mexican restaurants in the area: No Flavor. If you dont want to be blindsided at the possibility of a mexican cuisine not having symphonious ballet in your mouth, I'd recommend that you ask any of the many residence who replies in the "no hablo inglés" affirmative where they like to eat out. Or at least inquire who is making their own tortillas. You deserve to eat love, not cost savings.

It really is the best grilled chicken in town. Friendly service, excellent food, and a nice variety of menu items to choose from. The salsa bar is wonderful. Freshly made salsas and a very nice variety. I will definitely be a return customer.

Amazing! Also, salsa bar is awesome (didn’t get a pic). Food was fresh, big portions, and delicious.

So far we've loved the food every time going. We used to drive to Gresham for good Mexican food but the quality is no longer worth the drive, so we've been looking in the area and I think we found it. The little salsa, carrot, pico bar is very tasty and free with dine in - along with free coffee! The prices for modern 2025 aren't bad, and the portions, quality is great! My boyfriend (who was born and raised in San Diego so he's picky about his Mexican food) and I can easily share a breakfast burrito and a quesabirria and be very full! So far we've eaten the birria tacos (to go style), the bacon breakfast burrito, and the quesabirria taco. We are looking forward to trying more of their menu.

Pretty good tacos. Fast service too. Got 4 pork el pastor tacos this time and 4 chicken tacos. I wish I would have gotten the pork carnitas in stead of the el pastor. The pork carnitas were way beer and more meat. I did like how they put the pineapple on the el pastor tacos. The rice and beans are pretty good. The place is always clean too. If you want some good Mexican food this is a good place to go. Give it a try. I got 8 tacos, rice and beans for $30.00.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. I was looking for a place to kick it and have a bite while my son was taking driving lessons. This place was right across the street from the Tigard Park and Ride. I was excited about the fresh salsa bar, although one isn't allowed to take any if you get to go food. That was a bit of a red flag. I was there right after they opened, 10:15 on a Saturday morning, expecting fresh food. I asked what was good, and was told "Everything!" I ordered chicken enchiladas, with red sauce, accompanied by rice and beans. I was the only customer in the restaurant and it took around 20 minutes to receive my order. The rice and the beans, served in side containers, were actually really delicious, escpecially with some extra fresh salsa. SORRY, TO GO ORDERS! The four enchiladas were covered with...SALAD??? Like, seriously, there was a salad on top of the enchiladas! I scraped that off, and the salad was actually pretty good, fresh romaine, yummy mexican cheese, and some kind of white dressing that I certainly DID NOT want on my enchiladas. Then, oh, no. I took a bite of a chicken enchilada. Then I chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and chewed...and spit it out. I tried another bite from another enchilada, just to be sure this wasn't a fluke. NOPE. Chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed...spit it out. I was never asked how I was enjoying my meal. I left my leftover plate with almost four full enchiladas at the garbage area, in case someone wanted it. THEN: I picked up my son from his driving lesson and he said he needed to pee. I drove back to this restaurant and told him where the restroom is, knowing no one would notice a non customer coming in to use their restroom They didn't. When he came out, I asked if there was still a plate of food at the garbage and he said there was. My food had been sitting there for around 30 minutes. AGAIN: AVOID AT ALL COSTS. I was going to take a photo, because it actually LOOKED kind of yummy, but I didn't once I began eating it. I ate about two bucks worth of rice and beans and threw out four chicken enchiladas.

The food is amazing. Very traditional and incredibly flavorful. Had a lingua taco pollo and barrier "sp" taco. Husband had chicken enchiladas and everything was absolutely amazing. Staff was very friendly and incredibly accommodating. Atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing. We will definitely be back. Always support small businesses.

We were randomly in the area on a Saturday afternoon so tried out El Jefe Mexican Grill. Their original location is in Beaverton. Order at the counter, salsa bar is help yourself. - Jamaica ($4.12 USD for 24oz) - refreshing, good hibiscus flavour - 2 piece pollo ranchero ($11.34 USD) - Spanish rice and guacamole & chips. Chicken was a mixed bag; dry, not much flavour - Tacos street style ($2.75 USD) - lengua ($3.25 USD), asada, carnitas, chorizo, al pastor and birria. Good portions of meat. Favourites were the lengua and birria. Asada a touch overcooked

Hands down the best Birria I've had outside of Mexico...maybe even better. Their Quesabirria tacos were cheesy and crunchy and the consome was perfect.

Huge baby leg sized burrito that my 7 year old will easily devour by himself. Great tasting food and is happily the go to place for dinner for we need something filling and yummy in a pinch! 12/10 recommend!

This maybe my new fave for Mexican food on the west side. The place is not large but has ample seating in the extended covered patio area. The service is fast and friendly and delivers dishes better than any of the more well known names. The pricing is fair for the quality of food you get. I will definitely be back.

Amazing tacos! I was really happy with the service and received great recommendations from the staff.

Kinda tricky to find the driveway for this Mexican place off 99, but you'll be glad you did. It's a pretty small setup inside --- the kitchen takes up most of the space but that's not a bad thing. There are tables outside too, and an entire covered/ enclosed/heated patio just outside the main door. Now for the food -- 10/10 all around for our basic but super tasty taco plates. They come with two tacos and your choice of two sides in very generous portions; I got the Pollo Asado plate since they're known for their chicken. The tacos weren't huge but came stuffed with lots of perfectly marinated meat, and my side of whole beans was just massive. All this for under $10. Even better is their salsa bar, where you can rummage through like a dozen kinds of sauces and condiments, and really jack up the flavor on your meal. The counter service is efficient and friendly, and the food is all fresh and made to order. I'll be back.

I got their whole chicken combo and it was everything ive been craving: smoked and grilled whole chicken to perfection, beans, rice, salsa, and tortillas. My boyfriend and I couldn't finish it. It could easily feed three people and the price is very reasonable in this economy!! Truly a healthy comfort food that you can't find anywhere else. I can't wait to try other menu but I will definitely be ordering more chicken from here.

Mexican food cravings satisfied! I enjoyed the carne asada fries. It was a big portion and definitely shareable! We also got the birria tacos that I thought were a bit too salty and very cheesy. I also tried their melon juice that tasted a bit too artificial for me. I hope to come back and try their chicken which is apparently very popular.

Very good Mexican style food for Oregon. Big portions and tasty food. Salsas are very good and they provide many options. Menu is extensive with chicken dominating as the star of the show. We are spoiled with so many outstanding choices for Mexican food in Southern California. We would not hesitate to return and try some other items on the menu. Easily one of the better options in the Pacific Northwest.

Two words Birria Tacos!!!!!! You have to try these. Simply amazing with the dipping sauce. Is it messy? Yeah. Is it greasy? Yes. Is it good? Heck yeah!!! Also tried their other corn tortilla tacos. Equally WOW! The jefe Burrito supreme. Was pretty well done as well. They included enough guac and salsa on the side to complete this We found their truck awhile ago on Allen, and just found their brick and mortar on 99, next to Mikes. Their place is small. Parking can be a challenge, but it is totally worth it. We would absolutely come back.

Decided to give El Jefe a try 2xs on my business trip. Unfortunately they were out of the chicken, so I tried the carnitas. It was flavorful & very reasonably priced. Next day I came earlier to make sure they had the chicken. I didn't mind waiting until 5:30 until it was ready. It did not disappoint. The chicken was tasty, along with the rice & beans as a side, also had corn tortillas. Looking forward to returning on my next visit. Great local spot. Definitely recommend take out.

I may need multiple visits to add or subtract a star. We were there an hour before close and approached the counter. Person behind the counter at first said we are closing looked at their watch and then said its okay. Meanwhile three more customers walked in over the next 15 minutes and all were given the same treatment. They all considered leaving but then we're told ok we can do one more. IDK were they low on food or trying to close early? It's cramped inside. I didn't see a bathroom so must be porta pot or something outside. They do have large outdoor seating area that looks like it would be fun on a warm night. Tonight was not that night. I don't know how they handle crowds because the right people that came in over 15 minutes seemed to overwhelm the staff. I guess it was because they were an hour from closing time and the kitchen was trying to close some of our food was clearly microwaved and had hot and cold space. It really seems like it was just thrown on the plate or sorry the small tray. The tray kind of gets in your way and is not big enough to serve as a plate. So you are looking for where to put it as you try to assemble your food. Music was so loud it made it hard to communicate with the staff and ask questions about the menu. My daughter liked her chicken quesadilla it was just nothing that made it special or something different than what you can do at home. Will have to go back two hours before closing to see if that makes a difference.

Good as always! We ordered chicken mulitas, steak taco, and birria plate for the two of us. More than enough food to have a doggy bag! So delicious too!

So good! Hubby had the chicken and rice burrito - huge . Love the salsa bar. We will definitely be back.

This place - i had high expectations for this place; I was let down. The burrito i asked for no rice but they put so many beans instead. And the meat isnt very good. The guacamole does not taste good. Sad I wasted my sunday meal here

I've had their supreme burrito with chicken twice and it's good! Kind of on the salty side and they don't always get the ingredients mixed well so you might get halfway through with no guac but it's tasty and HUGE! They also have a nice outdoor area so I'd be inclined to go back and dine in during warm months.

A few months ago we would have given it 4-5 stars but lately we've had negative experiences. The last one time we came-one of the carne asada burritos we got had literally 3 pieces of meat in i and the other was just subpar but at least had some meat. This time we tried bacon breakfast burritos and other than the bacon being good they were just bad. They had no cheese and the eggs were burnt and tasted awful, the tortillas didn't seem as good as before too. We got a side of chips that tasted like gross old oil, we just threw most of it away. Maybe they're training someone new or changed staff. But the prices here aren't amazing so we don't want to throw more money away here. Too bad we enjoyed it several months ago.

The charge for each individual item was odd, e.g., $4.18 for a homemade drink when the list price is $4. The explanation: "oh the machine is temporarily adding a fee." WTF? The Cheesy Taco with birria was very good, but unfortunately, very small. The Mulitas was weak, no crisp cheese on the edges. And for a place that rides its laurels on the chicken, it was somewhat unmemorable. The salsa selection is plenty. I wish I had a choice of drink size rather than the one-size towering monstrosity. The vibe felt chaotic: at least two customers questioned their order. It's Tigard so my expectations were low. One and done.

I was so excited to see that their Tigard location finally opened. My son and I came on a Thursday around 12:45ish. It was so incredibly busy. I was not expecting that. There were so many people! Lol That's not a bad thing. We ordered online and were a little early. Our food came out later than expected... I think they forgot about us, but it's not that big of a deal. They have more options here than at the food cart. So my son tried the carne asada fries, and I got my usual asada torta. They were both excellent! Please do go support this local business.

I don't know what it is about Mexican grilled chicken, but it sure is tasty and now conveniently right down the street from me. El Jefe has been a food cart over in Beaverton and still is, but I guess it was time to open up a brick and mortar spot. It's right next door to Mike's Drive-in in Tigard. As of writing this review, this location hasn't even been open a full two days. So they are still working things out. The food was as expected, great. That chicken is so well seasoned. I used to live in Texas and there were a couple of places that had this type of grilled chicken and I missed it. I got beans and slaw for sides and it's served with the option of tortilla chips or hot tortillas in eith flour or corn. I'm sorry but hot flour tortillas can't be beat. They also give you grilled and pickled onions, sliced radishes and pico on some lettuce. You won't leave hungry. Since it's brand new, the place is pretty spotless and the service was attentive. You do have to wait for the food, but it's worth it and by the amount of people there trying El jefe out, I hope they are here for a while. Enjoy and support local!

I waited for my second time here to write a review as I got 2 different dishes. The first time I had 2 chicken street tacos which were really flavorful but I missed that they had a condiments bar so they were plain (totally my fault). This time I got the quesabirria tacos and they do not disappoint at all. They have several homemade drinks including horchata and strawberry lemonade which were delicious as well. Staff was friendly and helpful. This is a small place inside and there are only 3-4 tables but there is ample outside seating. Come enjoy the new location in Tigard!

Small place, not a lot of seating but they do have some benches outside. The Quesabirria were hella good! I loved bits of cheese that oozed out and fried crisp. They also had cans of Pepsi and bottles of Coke. No issues with the cola wars here. #pepsi4life Was my first time here and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

This is some good chicken. I wasn't ready to commit to a full plate so I just got the tacos. Very flavorful juicy and tender. Nice big hunks of chicken not tiny dried out ones that I'm used to getting. Didn't even need sauce. I'm sure this chicken is awesome in everything or by itself. It's a winner. The quesataco was ok. Decent enough price. Actually really good flavor on the birria too but nothing compared to the other nearby joints that specialize in it. The pastor was all right but here the chicken is the star. I also appreciate the cooked onions. I don't know what it is called but I always love when they are included so I don't have to look like a jackass attempting to ask for them. Doesn't smell as good as the food cart but they got a solid thing going.

El Jefe is my go-to spot for tacos in the Portland/Beaverton area. Their quesabirria with consome and tacos Al pastor are next level! I recommend their salsa verde and avocado salsa for those who aren't a big fan of heat but want great flavor!

I got the Jefe bowl to go with Birria. There was a little confusion over whether I could get a small container of salsa with it to go. I think the lady behind the register was new and just didn't know much yet. The food was flavorful, and a cut above most fast food. It's a solid place to stop in and grab a quick lunch when you are in the need. The portions are of sufficient size. I'm thinking I would stop by again when I need a quick lunch.

El Jefe opened its doors, we have been dying to try them, they also have a food cart on Lombard and Allen. The employees are very friendly and they are bilingual. We really enjoyed our food. The tacos were full of meat, onions and cilantro, the green salsa and red salsa were very tasty! For those of you that enjoy jalapeños they give you plenty! The rice and beans are very authentic. I asked them to add some cheese to my tacos, that topped them off perfectly! The interior is well decorated and they have about 6-8 tables it's a small place. They do have a nice outdoor covered seating area. You can also pick up your favorite salsa in the grab and go fridge as well as sliced fruits!! I would recommend this place it has a nice variety of Mexican favorites.

Love the salsa bar. Nothing is too spicy. Both Quesabirria with shredded beef and El Jefe with carne asada burrito are excellent. Not sure why they put lettuce in the burrito, but it was good and hit the spot.

Oh this place is fantastic! We came by for lunch and boy was it packed and understandably so. I order the carne asada plate and a quesabirria solo. The quesabirria was crispy, savory, and juicyyy. The meat was tender enough and the taco shell had a decent crunch. The cuts of meat for the carne asada plate was flavorful and not too fatty. They gave us a lot of meat in our order! The green (I think avocado) salsa was AMAZING. I did wish they put slightly more rice with the combo plate, but only because it was just that tasty. The place is small, but mighty. A few tables inside and plenty of tables outside. I will def make my way back.

Food was good I really liked the ambiance it clean in there and the food portion are really big the service was okay

Old Taco Bell converted into El jefe. Famous for their chicken. I really enjoyed the nachos. The salsa and pico de gallo is excellent. Dessert from a Beaverton bakery is available.- cookies and cheesecake. Price of food is excellent in this post pandemic world. The desserts are really expensive compared to the food. Lots of outdoor seating. Indoor seating, available in one long row against the window

This is a top tier roasted chicken spot . They got the rotisserie and grill pumping out nonstop chicken . The horchata is delicious. I only come here when I'm in the mood for some good rice beans and chicken. Get some consume and you have yourself a filling cheap meal . Service is quick and prices are low for the quality you get . Ambiance gives off a fast food vibe but the food is 100x better .

Absolutely perfect in every single way shape and form! Divine fresh food and great service and amazing selection. ! Love you!

The food is always amazing when I come here. Today there was a mishap with my order and the customer service and friendliness I received in return was amazing. This place is so underrated. Hidden gem!!

Update as of July 15, 2022. Service was terrible today! We waited 35 minutes for our food and the tortilla chips AND corn tortillas were MISSING! Guacamole without chips is a serious mistake! Plus my chicken was quite dry today. Too bad because we really liked this place the first time we came but the next two visits were not even half as good.

Jefe is a friend Yeah, I know, he's been a foodie of mine But I'm waiting, anticipating Ándale, ándale Jefe's Quesabirria And I want Consome I'll play Rick Springfield all day Working Class Dogs give me a reason to change You know, I feel so hungry When they start talking food I wanna dive into the Salsa Bar But the heat is through the roof And I'm wanting Salsa Molcajete And it's nourishing my body I just know it Yeah, and he's fire-grillin' chicken Late, late at night You know, I wish that I had Jefe's bird I wish that I had Jefe's bird Where can I find Pollo Ranchero like that?

The food here is really solid - great even! Usually very flavorful and fresh. The problem is the staff - the majority of them are EXTREMELY rude. Very frequently, when I enter I'll hear sighs or see eye rolls when the cashier notifies me. After they sulk up to the register, they'll barely mumble at me when asking me about my order, and sometimes they'll just flat out refuse to make something because they're 1 & 1/2 hours close to closing (which, as someone who has worked retail and service their whole life, is way, WAY too early to attempt cleaning up). They're lucky they've got such good recipes and cooks on staff because the counter-staff would otherwise be reason enough to never come back here. My advice to the owner - stop hiring family member's, bored and bratty teenagers and get some actual employees to back up your otherwise great food! To everyone else: Until they get better counter staff, order ahead and use curbside pickup!

Never tried the food truck, which at this writing, has a better rating that drew me here. But .... No chips for the guacamole. Chicken was very dry and no knives to cut it with. Beans and rice was okay but not outstanding. May try again sometime but not soon.

So good! Really great options here. Everything we tried was very flavorful. Excellent rice and beans, yummy tacos, juicy chicken and a good variety of sauces to pick from with different heat levels. The service was very friendly and efficient. Your order is taken at the counter and you're given a buzzer for when your food is ready. There are also lots of places to sit in and outside.

Very inexpensive food and great quality, workers were very nice!! The food was incredible and enjoyed the vibe of the place !

If you have a hankering for some tacos or a really good burrito, this is a great place. Probably one of the better places around the Tigard, Lake Oswego, Tualatin area. Fast service and good food.

We spend some time in Arizona and have developed a strong love of birria, so when my partner realized that this place makes quesabirria, he immediately placed an order. We had just stopped by Mike's Drive In for some ice cream on our way home from a beach trip, so we got our order to go. This first visit, there was a problem with their system and our order took a little longer than usual - the staff handled this beautifully: they let us know there was a delay, explained enough of the problem that we figured it was not likely to be a repeat issue and provided us a cool beverage while we waited. By the time the got us the beverage, the food was then ready, so we were happy. When we got home, my partner said it was the best birria he'd ever had! THE BEST BIRRIA HE'D EVER HAD?! Yes, better than the truly excellent birria he's enjoyed in Arizona. I couldn't believe it so I snuck down and scarfed some of his leftovers. I said it was good and as good as, but that wasn't a glowing enough review - so we returned for another round, also to go. No delays this time - quick service, got the food and returned home. He was right that sneaking leftovers out of the fridge without the consommé, pickled onion and sauces wasn't the way to eat this. Eaten fresh, chef's kiss, truly delicious. They call themselves a chicken place, but I'm not sure I'll be able to report on that because we are so hooked on birria. Either way, I'm so happy this place is so conveniently located for me. I can see popping over for a weekday lunch, stopping by for take out dinner and meeting friends here to enjoy yums at their picnic tables. Don't miss this.

I went to this place w my husband and I ordered carne asada plate and quesabirria it's cause I saw this on review it's pretty good so I have to tried it but no no no it's good presentation but the meat is not even hot it's almost cold and hard and the Spanish rice it's old cause when the rice is old the texture is kind of wet n like sticky I know cause I cooked rice and know when it's bad. And what I'm saying is don't get this one or try it anyway maybe you get lucky and you don't get stomachache. Yak!

Food is great! Fresh cut ingredients. Incredible deal for what you get. You can't get a decent size meal at a restaurant any more without paying a hefty prize. Service was great! Friendly staff. Love the outdoor seating when your craving the outdoors. Lots of shade. The indoor seating is nice as well! Great establishment to eat at!

Ordered ahead since it's a new spot in Tigard, didn't want to wait a long time. The food was great, best burrito I had in a while. Tacos were also very yummy. Staff seemed great it was busy when I picked up my food. There's sitting inside and outside. Will be my new fav. Mexican spot.

Three visits, 3 incorrect orders. There is a definite language barrier with the staff understanding english. First up, an eat-in order for the chicken burrito which was very dry but still a tad flavorful only due to the onions and cilantro they add to it. The pico de gallo I ordered was missing. The second visit involved an order for 2 tacos without pico de gallo that came drenched in it and missing sides. The third and final visit today, at 3pm, was a to-go order for several chicken plates and some street tacos. The chicken was very, very dry, tough and completely flavorless. The sides of beans (mushy!) and rice (also dry!) were correct but the tortillas and chips were missing and I was told that the they had no Pico de Gallo available as "no mas". Eat-in or to-go, prepare for a very long wait for your food. If you go during a lunch or dinner rush, prepare for an even longer wait and an indoor noise level that is off the scale - not from the patrons, from the staff yelling orders and directions at each other. Time to invest in some hands-free headsets, you guys. Three strikes and I'm out. It's kinda sad really as this Tigard location is only 1/4 mile from my home and would have been good for a wfh lunch place once a week or so.