La Real Restaurant

A good Mexican restaurant in a sketchy neighborhood. Maybe this is just a normal neighborhood for Portland, but I don't feel safe parking my car here. The food was very good and the service was fast.

I was glad to find this restaurant with really good food at a great price. My favorite foods here are the "carne en su jugo" (A beef, bacon, and bean soup on an amazing broth), and the queso birria tacos (picturedl). What really blows my mind though is the "salsa macha"- a salsa made from nuts, dried peppers, garlic, and oil. It looks like a pasty mole, but is not that. Try some.

One of the better Mexican food spots in the area for sure. I’ve had the pleasure of eating here several times over the last year, so a review is well over due. I’m a torta man myself 👀, so I’ll usually either get one with asada or a burrito - both are fantastic, filling and well priced. They have a pretty wide variety of food options also which is nice - not just your typical, “tacos and burritos” but also quesatacos, sopes, tostadas and quite a bit more. Check it out, you won’t regret it. 🌮 🌯 🤙🏼

An exceptional, authentic, Mexican food restaurant. Their street tacos are my usual go-to option, with a side of beans. I first discovered La Real when I was living near their Tigard flagship location. I'm so pleased that new downtown location is just as good, as I no longer live in South West. Give them a try. You won't regret it.

Upon arriving in Portland from a 7-hour Greyhound bus ride, I was famished and craving some good Mexican food. I found La Real and glad I visited. I ordered the taco plate, got 3 different meats and came with rice and beans and some sour cream lettuce and tomato. Delicious and a good value IMO for $12.50. They have a condiment station with all the salsa fixings, limes, all that stuff. Delicious and hit the spot.

been here a couple times now and food is always fast fresh and delicious, prices are very fair the sauces are really good and the place is always really clean, highly recommend trying this place if you haven’t

Everything about this pearl of a restaurant is to like: clean, tidy, casual dining area; delicious, fresh, authentic menu choices; generous portions; friendly and efficient service; all at affordable prices. The menu is simple enough to not be overwhelming , but varied enough to keep me coming back! Today’s delights were a Pollo Asado + a *generous* Agua Fresca, supplemented by selections from the complementary self-serve Salsa Bar for just $20. P.S.: For agua fresca addicts like me, the rotating seasonal options are always refreshingly high-quality!

I’m so bothered right now spent $17 getting Carne Asada fries that they specifically advertise as crispy fries. My fries are as soft as your ex. I asked for no guac and extra cheese, barely any cheese on here at all. They actually did listen to the no guac, but I mean damn when I’m literally taking off one of the most expensive items on the meal you would think I could at least get the replacement of extra cheese. On top of that this whole meal has no flavor if it wasn’t for the three sides of salsa I got I wouldn’t be tasting anything but air so much for an amazing cheat meal. I’m so pissed off. I should’ve just drove across town to the north side of Portland and got myself some Muchas Gracias buy some people who actually know how to cook Mexican food. FOH. Be so for real rn.

In the heart of The Pearl District lies La Real, where the breakfast burrito is so divine, I considered moving in. Fluffy eggs, flavorful carne asada, shredded potato and melted cheese wrapped in a warm tortilla - it's like a comforting hug from your abuela. The taco dorado appetizer is a crispy golden gem. As for the regular burritos, they're big, bold, and bursting with flavor - the superheroes of the taqueria world. Salsa bar is legit with tons of self serve options - the Habanero and Verde are bomb. Full bar and beers - try the Paloma Plus, the food is cheap with quick service so your wallet will be as happy as your taste buds - a rare find in Pearl

Came for the Torta Ahogada, but apparently it's only available at the Tigard location. If so, they should remove it off the menu. It's not an exaggeration to claim this is a top tier spot for Mexican food in Portland Metro. For starters, they have decent salsa and veggie accouterments bar. Their breakfast burrito includes a key ingredient: crispy potatoes (hash browns), not boiled cubed potatoes. It makes a big difference. I opted for brisket, but you can create it with any of their meats. The pork tamale had very good flavor, but it's small. Kinda resembled Yucatan-style tamales much more than those you'd find at a farmers market. The aqua frescas are only available in one size (not a fan of this no option), but both watermelon and melon were excellent. The pineapple tasted off. Friendly staff and they bring the food to your table. Solid spot.

Order: Tamale (pork), 3 taco combo Pros: the place is clean and nice inside. Service was great. The sauces were really good as well. I loved that they served tamales as most dont even offer. Cons: the tamale wasnt bland and lacked seasoning. The taco meat was dry as if it had been sitting for quite some time. The beans were just okay as well. Overall, this was not my favorite Mexican spot.

Could it be....I finally have the Mexican restaurant I've been searching for?! I went in today for a carry-out burrito - rarely do I get a burrito, but it's one of those days. Delicious. I got the express burrito - rice, beans, meat, cilantro onion and it was everything I wanted. Meat was well seasoned, good ratios with rice and beans, salsas were tasty, esp the hot one. Seemed like good quality ingredients. I'm excited to go back and try the tacos. This is all I've wanted. A basic but delicious taco place, with no hipster ingredients like cabbage, pickled everything, or cauliflower....just cilantro and onion with well seasoned meat and fresh ingredients. I think this is it, but can only truly tell once I have my tacos....will report back. Looks like they have happy hour and brunch, and lots of other items on the menu that I'm interested in. Staff was friendly, plenty of room to sit down....looks like it'd be a good chill happy hour.

Have you been searching for that basic Mexican food spot that is reasonably priced? Well La Real restaurant is the spot for you! Ordered the veggie burrito which had the perfect amount of ingredients to make it flavorful. For the price of this burrito, bang for your buck! The horchata was not overly sweet and had more cinnamon flavor. Did not taste watery at all! They had a salsa bar which let me tell you, don't skip on the red orange salsa and the verde salsa. Service was great even though you ordered first and sat down. Food came pretty quick! As for the ambiance, it was definitely cute, however I feel like they could add a little more decor in there.

The food was great and the service was quick and friendly! The salsas and sides were excellent. We bought a few Tamales to take home for dinner too

Great portion sizes and delicious food! I got the Super Burito carne asada and chicken tacos. The chicken and carne asada were tasty. The restaurant has a spacious ambiance with plenty of seating options, and the overall experience felt authentically Mexican.

Visiting from Los Angeles and stumbled across this authentic Mexican restaurant walking distance from our hotel. Wife got a chicken burrito which was delicious, my daughter got 3 al pastor tacos that tasted just like LA tacos so good. My son ordered a chicken quesadilla which was huge and the chicken was full of flavor. I ordered a carne asada torta that beat a couple of tortas that I've tried in LA. Food was well priced, good portions and the food quality was great and authentic. Highly recommend this Mexican spot for locals and non locals.

We moved from the Los Angeles area so it was nice to find a Mexican restaurant here that serves authentic Mexican food.

I have eaten there twice and really enjoyed the food.... Unfortunately on Thursday June 6th 8:34pm it was a absolutely beautiful night out and when they close at 9pm they would only serve to go... To each their own but I would think in as difficult as the restaurant can be they would be more accommodating to customers.... 3 of us walked out and I know I will never return...

Adorable little restaurant with tons of potential. Grand opening was last week, so no liquor yet but margarita's to come. There is a decent selection of beers but again, amazing food. Very excited to see what they grow this place into.

Good food! Late night hours are a plus!! Note to vegans and vegetarians- their rice is cooked in chicken stock .

La Real is awesome. Our new go-to spot for Mexican food in the Pearl. Also, they serve American style breakfast food all day.

Brand new, yet the BEST authentic Mexican in Portland. Environment and service is wonderful, can't beat the location in the heart of the pearl. You've gotta come try it out.

Stopped by on a Sunday where they only do a modified brunch menu. I got the torta ahogada and my wife got the pozole. Both were HUGE portions; in spite of the size the pozole came with a side as well (she chose to get a tostada). I had hoped to get tacos, but the torta still hit the spot. It comes soaked in a mild salsa, but also had a really tasty and addictively hot salsa on the side. Carnitas was tasty and you could taste that it was not only slow cooked, but finished on a plancha. Prices were also really good, especially given the amount of food you get. Folks working were very friendly and attentive. The space was comfortable and open with a solid salsa bar that also had escabeche, radishes, limes and cucumbers. Glad to have a new Mexican joint in the neighborhood and looking forward to trying more of their meats.

Server was very nice but food was very mediocre and on the oily side. Burrito was mostly beans and rice. Scant pieces of chicken. Quesadilla was oily and limp. Tiny bit of shredded lettuce, teeny piece of tomato and a teaspoonful of sour cream. We were disappointed!

Visiting portland for a work trip and originally went to get sushi but i saw a mexican spot right next door and decided to check it out. Glad i did! Food was really tasty and everyone friendly. Only complaint is they were out of chocoflan but that's okay!

Best Mexican I've had in portland so far!! They will start serving margaritas next week! Definitely a place to try out.

Great New Mexican spot in the pearl! They said they'll be open for late night food pretty soon! The wet burrito was great, and service was fantastic.