Nico's Cantina

Great family friendly cantina in Cully! Super amazingly friendly staff. Delicious food. So we ordered multiple rounds of tacos and they were all crazy tasty and they followed the “no cilantro” modifications - no mistakes. Chips +Salsa + Guacamole is rad. Beans and Chip dip is rad. Tasty salsa. Good beer selection too. Great indoor and outdoor seating options. You bus your own tables. Go here. Eat tacos. They’re simple and perfection.

We had such a great time at Nico's Cantina. We ordered several tacos and drinks everything was so good! I really enjoyed the rajas taco it was flavorful and spicy! The Cazuela was perfect and definitely hit the spot.

Nicos is a family friendly place. There are plenty of tables and even an outdoor patio. I have only had the brunch pop up and it was fantastic. The drinks were well balanced and the staff was very friendly. Looking forward to going back again.

Looove this place! The taco selection and quality is AMAZING. The margaritas are absolutely perfect. The bartender was super personable and social while he made my group drinks and it was just a really fun experience! I went on Cinco De Mayo and it was super crowded but totally worth the wait!

The tacos are spot on! The bar mixing skills are great. Looking forward to try more of the menu. Salsa dancing place like this is fantastic to have.

Authentic food. I got one asada, one shrimp taco and they were loaded! I squeezed my lime on them and needed nothing else! I also had a delicious mezcal margarita. Great selection of mezcal! Nice space, huge outdoor patio and live music every Saturday. Can’t wait to come again!

Lovely cantina and taqueria. Great atmosphere and vibe. Tacos were great and lots of drink options. Looking forward to coming back to try a Mezcal or Tequila flight.

Amazing little place! Simple & short menu so you don’t have to stress about what to eat. Lots of cocktails & drinks!! I will be back to try the drinks, they look amazing. I got nopal and asada tacos. Delicious! Their green salsa is also so good, tastes very fresh & has a hint of lime

I know, I know. You must be saying, "Sarah, you're writing yet ANOTHER review of one of Nico's businesses?? Do you go anywhere else?" I do! It's just that Cully is my neighborhood and it's awesome to have Nico's coffee, ice cream, and tacos so nearby. The cantina is literally on my block and within easy walking distance. And believe me, I've seen Nico nearly every time I go into his businesses. He must think I'm stalking him. But never doubt that this biz owner is hands-on with his employees and locations. LOCATION: Nico's Cantina is a great place to gather. This location is a unique spot, along a busy road, in an up and coming neighborhood, with a nice large outdoor area, and the interior has primarily booth seating. The tent outside in the winter makes for great use of the space. The decor is fun and cantina style, and involved a lot of other local Latinx-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses (eg, menu wraps and stools by Orox Leather). I hope this is a great long-term home for Nico's Cantina. FOOD: All of the food I've had here has been delicious. I've tried their rajas, nopales, and shrimp tacos. They're filled fairly generously. Prices for tacos are ~$3-4 which is totally reasonable. The salsas from the salsa bar are absolutely drinkable! The complimentary botanas are a nice touch. DRINK: The cocktails are delicious, though pricey. I'm about halfway through working my way down the cocktail menu. They've all been well balanced and tasty. I think the Gozar is my current fav. Many are rimmed with Sweet Creature's chamoy which adds such a nice sweet and sour kick. The beer, wine, and liquor options are filled with great local Latinx-owned or BIPOC-owned businesses. OVERALL: So, how could it earn the fifth star? I'd love a free chips and salsa. The cocktails would either need to be bigger or cheaper. It would be cool if they added a frijoles taco. But these are small requests that absolutely will not prevent me from coming back! I definitely recommend checking this place out. As with all of Nico's businesses, keep an eye on his social media for events, pop-ups, partnerships, specials, and more.

Came here for a Friday night trivia, which is super cool that they host. The staff was friendly, and was able to find a table easily. On the downside, the table was dirty with random bits of food and salsa, and it's an outdoor table, so I understand that they aren't the easiest to keep clean, but it was enough that I took notice and thought it should have been cleaned. It got pretty packed not too long after I took a seat, so I waited a bit to order until the line wound down. I ended up ordering a couple tacos (asada, chorizo and suadero), which all had some good flavor, but for the price ($12), didn't seem to have a lot of quantity, and only came with one tortilla, which is fine typically, but in this case, just seemed to add to the vibe of not enough quantity for what you're paying. It also seemed to take a good bit of time to get my tacos, although again, it was busy, but long enough I started to wonder if someone else had gotten my order. I originally gave Nico's 3 stars, as others have mentioned, the price/quantity ratio is off, and the overall appearance didn't seem as clean as a restaurant charging $4 for a taco should be, and it definitely felt like there should have been some free chips/salsa for the money, or as a cheap add on. I bumped them up one star for hosting trivia on a friday night. I'm sure I'll be back for a trivia night, and I'll debate whether to give the tacos another try. It feels like this place has a lot of potential, love the outdoor set up and the staff seems friendly, just was hoping to find another taco place that I loved and didn't.

Owner seems cool and you want to root for the local business, but I just didn't connect with their offerings. For me, the best Mexican food is value-driven, e.g., Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon and Birria PDX come to mind. Usually, the more Spanish being spoken, the better the food. If I'm gonna pay premium then it better be something unique. So I'm not a fan of the Tacovore and Por Que No model, i.e., high price points, small portions, and slightly above average taste. The tacos were good, but unmemorable. Another disappointment was paying $13 for a ice-heavy so-so cocktail. The space is very nice and the outside seating should do well in Summer. Parking is doable, but you wonder if your catalytic converter will still be there when you return, big time sketch.

Nico's Cantina couldn't be located in a better venue! The outdoor space, a graveled courtyard filled with umbrellas and tables, is the perfect setting to relax after work. I love the bright colors, modern design esthetic, and the attention to detail Nico has brought to this neighborhood hangout. There was a very large party placing their orders when I visited Nico's and I was initially concerned there would be a lengthy wait. However, I'm incredibly impressed with the speed and accuracy of the kitchen. From the swipe of my credit card, to tacos arriving on my table... five minutes MAX! The wait staff, bartender and everyone in the kitchen create a general vibe of precision and teamwork. My chicken and steak tacos were fresh off the grill, and perfectly seasoned. I also ordered chips and guacamole which were outstanding. The seasoning they use on the chips is absolutely delicious, but the guacamole... MY, OH, MY! It's divine! It was the best guacamole I've ever had in a restaurant. Located in the Cully neighborhood, the restaurant is very accessible on Cully Blvd with both street and neighborhood parking. It's in a part of the city I don't travel to often, but I was surprised to discover it's only 9 minutes from my house in Montavilla. I think I'll become a regular!

There's nothing better than discovering a spectacular new place, practically in your own backyard! Nico's Cantina boasts a spacious interior dining area, plus a sizeable courtyard, complete with festoon lighting and patio tables. Coupled with clear, sunset skies and this unseasonably balmy October weather we're having, the ambiance bordered on the romantic. I was charmed far more than I expected to be. There was no line whatsoever, and once our order was placed, everything arrived at our table in less than five minutes, which I was definitely not expecting. Our order consisted of the El Chingon cocktail (fantastic!) and 12 tacos, representing a cornucopic collection of fillings: carnitas, asada, pollo and camarones, each loaded with a sufficient amount of toppings and garnishes, easily enough to satisfy myself (although your mileage may vary). That said, they're tacos, so...the more the merrier! I'm sure I could have ordered another four and still waddled home, somehow, fat but happy! Each was delicious, and distinct enough that you knew exactly which you were consuming at the time, filled with quality meats and veggies. The parking situation is your typical Portland scavenger hunt, but that's one of the trade-offs for having a quaint local place like this tucked away in your neighborhood. Each of the servers that I interacted with were friendly, gracious, and seemingly unflappable despite being buried in orders. I'd say they were a bit lightly staffed for the number of people present at the time, but they pulled everything off with such cool-headed professionalism, they ought to be lauded for it, rather than derided. Nico's Cantina seems like a lovely place to gather with family or friends, to enjoy a game, share a few drinks, and scarf down as many tacos as your waistband will allow, especially during a warm sunset evening, out-of-season or not. I'll definitely be back, and I hope others will as well, because little gems like this aren't as common in this part of Portland as they should be.

My first impression after walking in: vivacious, inviting, and colorful. I ordered 4 tacos. - Asada - nice flavor from grilled char, however a drier style of meat. nice with the addition of lime juice. - Pollo - chicken with smoky and subtle heat, almost reminiscent of barbecue - Lengua - tender, fatty. Melts in the mouth like butter. Not seasoned like the other meats, for a more mild palette. - Camarón - shrimp w/ spices * my favorite! Overall, the tastiest flavor profile without the addition of any lime or sauce. All tacos come with small chunks of sliced onion. Salsa verde - Complements the tacos fantastically with very mild heat. Some sweetness as well. Pro tip with Topo Chico: If mineral water isn't your jam, try it with a couple of lime wedges juiced into it! Ambiance & Structure: Very cozy decor with potted succulents galore. Airy, and spacious. Fun, colorful flags strung for indoor decor with the namesake of the business. It can get a bit loud inside during the more crowded hours of the day. Forks, spoons, knives, napkins, salt, and salsa picante available at each table. TV mounted on an upper wall. Plenty of seating available indoors and outdoors with a variety of options: barstool seating, booths, small tables for 2, and tables for groups of 6 or more. Indoor has a salsa bar with 3 salsas, pickled vegetables, and sliced lime wedges. Small to-go containers are available for the above. Bathroom is located to the right of the kitchen. Staff is kind and efficient, the line was at least 30 people deep when I arrived. I received my 4 tacos within 30 minutes of arrival, and within 10 minutes of ordering. While shrimp is not naturally my first option, I would highly recommend trying the Camarón taco!

Nico's Cantina is the third restaurant to occupy the prime Cully neighborhood real estate space behind the Rite Aid and across the street from Albertsons. After the dipshit landlord fucked over the Portland institution, Beeswing, it fell into ruin. Rest in peace, Beeswing A failed attempt to revitalize it was done by Dick's Primal burgers. As Jay-Z said, grand opening/grand closing. It was gone before you could say fuck Dick's. It seemed like nothing could replace the beloved Beeswing. Until now, we got a contender in Nico's Cantina. Walking into Nico's Cantina today brought back a lot of memories of eating brunch inside at Beeswing when we first moved to Portland. The layout was largely unchanged except for the decor. Gone were the walls plastered in old newspapers. Now replaced with some modest highlights like a sun piñata or singular photos on the wall illustrating Spanish words for gringxs. It demonstrates how fun Nico's is without being elaborate or over the top. Just some fun accents, a great crew, and killer beats. We ordered some Asada, carnitas, nopales, lengua, and rajas tacos along with table chips + guacamole + salsa. The chips were crunchy and seasoned to perfection. Excellent vessels to scoop the green salsa that built heat with each bite or the creamy guacamole. Once we got down to the bottom, we mixed both and what a revelation! The main event was those tacos and none disappointed. If you want a good Asada or carnitas, they got you. If you wanna try something more on the veggie side, they also got you. For me, the bite of the night was that lengua taco. Like a mariachi band strumming for you, it sent tingles down my spine. The flavors of the meat mixed with onions and cilantro danced across my tongue. I couldn't get enough and I can't wait to try it again! I made friends with one of the cooks, Ricky because he recognized the drip of my Wind Waker button up. He had a third eye Pikachu pin in his hat that I loved. We bonded over our mutual drip god status and being from SoCal, he from SD and I from OC. Ricky hooked it up! He made me 2 fish tacos to try (one for my partner and one for me, but she left. So I gave it to the group buying cocktails and I hope they enjoyed it). It was out of this world! The perfectly battered fish catches your fancy. Covered in a colorful slaw to give it a visual pop. It has vibes and aesthetics before you take a bite. That first bite though. It had my toes curling, my tongue absorbing the flavors. The light and flaky fish inside the crunchy battered exterior is a Sunday surprise. It seems like the fish would be over cooked and heavy, but no. The fried outside is a feint. A Trojan horse hiding dragoons of flavor ready to call from the sky spear firmly piercing the flavor receptors of your tongue! Contrast this with the soft tortilla and the crisp, fresh acidity of the slaw meant each bite is going for the kill. There is something challenging about the fish taco, but also familiar. Comforting like a hug from your abuelita (well, not mine, but the Platonic ideal of an abuelita) or a quick bite at Rubio's. My third eye opened after the entire meal. There were some items not available today like Nico's ice cream and the nachos, but the tacos are the star. Live, love, and laugh while eating these delicious tacos. Look for the sign and rainbow fence, and be ready for one hell of a meal. Stay woke!

We're Mexican so this is the only review you should read. The tacos at this place are authentic, with a home made feel that transports you back to your abuelitas. Their drinks are bomb and they don't hold back on the liquor. Sweet spot with such a fun, easy going vibe. We'll be back.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with what some others said re: the tacos. Way too expensive for a too small taco with very little inside & not very tasty. If you're looking for tacos, definitely go somewhere else first. But come back for the ice cream! You also get a free cone with one topping for your bday & up to one week after.

Great place to try! I enjoyed the tacos and the cocktails were tasty, but the dulce de leche ice cream was the best flavor of the night. I tried a quesedilla and it was plain but good. Had asada, pollo and lengua tacos and all were well prepared and delicious (though they only come with one tortilla, so good luck not making a mess). Salsas were good as well and I really enjoyed the flavor of the charred veg that went into them. The guacamole, salsa and ben dip and chips were all good as well but extremely small. Glad that I tried it once but I likely won't return. The food was good but the menu is so limited that I've tried it all. Also, it's not a good value considering what you get. Greater flavor is available elsewhere in our city. (Note: extra star because I knocked one of their glasses on the floor. Yikes.)

The food, people, & the entire restaurant... all amazing. Perfect place for live music, birthday parties (any type of gathering really). If you want a quick drink or a bite of something tasty this place is perfect for that to.

Finally got the chance to go check Nicos Cantina out, and it was super cute! The back patio was beautiful, and everything was very colorful and themed and definitely seemed like a nice oasis despite being on the busy Cully Blvd. Unfortunately when we showed up, at about 5pm on a Wednesday, they were out of a few crucial menu items, including asada tacos and their esquites, two things I was looking forward to trying. That being said, my cocktail was absolutely delicious and refreshing, and the tacos we did get were pretty good as well, although the topping to meat ratio was a little high for my personal taste. I will definitely want to go back to try the things that I missed, or at least to get another cocktail.

Was there again recently and still don't get how a taco cantina doesn't have Taco Tuesday. They should at least be open for lunch on Tuesday. The food is good but the menu is very limited. Maybe add a burrito or something else. My wife thinks that the tongue tacos should be marinated because they lack flavor. It's the attention to detail that's lacking now. Just keep trying.

I love tacos... I love Nico's Ice Cream.... I do not know if I love Nico's Cantina. We were helped right away by Nico and he was as kind as always. 5/5 stars for the initial service. We ordered four different tacos, chips/salsa/guac and beans. For a drink, my partner and I split the CAZUELA. The drink was pretty sweet and TBH was not strong enough for the price. We decided one drink was enough... especially since we would need to go order another at the counter. Our food came out quickly, and all at once. I would have loved to have the chips + accompaniments come out before the tacos. The salsa seemed to be the same as one of the sauces on the "topping bar". Nothing special and kind of meh. None of the taco sauces were that great if I am being honest. The black beans were almost inedible, this could be a quick fix if they start making refried black beans or a more traditional refried beans made with pinto beans. The tacos were all slightly below average, but the one standout was the suadero... Very good! The reason I say slightly below average is due to the single tortilla, skimpy portions of cilantro + onions, and dry meat for the asada taco. And really, everything was just lacking flavor. My last observation was the lack of service and the expectation that everyone needs to go to the counter, and bus their own tables. Other businesses that have a similar model, still come out and check on their tables, ask if you want another drink, etc. With three tables dining and at least three staff members, Nico's Cantina could increase their sales by asking their guests if they wanted something else. I probably would have ordered a second drink if I was asked. When I closed out my tab the staff member didn't thank us or really have any customer service. I tipped 20% as customary, even with the limited service. When I go back, I think I am going to just try a beer and some nachos. I look forward to updating this review with some more positives!

Thought we would give this place a try as it is new. When we got there it was busy but not packed. The system; order at the counter get a number and the food is brought to your table. First surprise, tacos only with a few condiments on the side. Ok that's their menu, let's see how the food is. Well after waiting over an hour it arrived; not bad but pretty average not worth an hour + wait. Tortillas really nice, fillings ok but not great a bit dry and not particularly plentiful. Staff were nice enough but no one mentioned the wait until we asked about 50 minutes into it. When when the food eventually came the server was apologetic. Unfortunately this appears to be the typical new Portland restaurant; form over function, set up more to sell overpriced cocktails to hipsters rather than actual food. I suppose they have their niche but there seems to be more and more of them

Opening a taco shop in Cully is a bold move. We have many options here and some pretty damn good tacos for Portland. So when Nico's opened their cantina, we were excited to try their drinks, tequila, & mezcal. This is something the area doesn't have as much of. We tried a flight of mezcal. It was good, but very expensive ($35). Our table also tried some mixed drinks. These were notably thoughtful and on the sweeter side. The Papel Picado (photo'd) has a rim of grasshoppers. The menu doesn't indicate this, so some might prefer to know before they order it. Afterall you might spot a leg or two. It was delightful. Those crunchy Chapulines are yummy little buggers.

Another crappy taco place in Portland. Tiny tacos with no flavor and expensive cocktails. Very noisy as well. Very friendly staff though.

Tldr, Nico should stick to ice cream. I live in the area and have been going to Nico's ice cream for many months, its great, highly recommend. More recently though, another place called Nico's opened where many failed businesses have been. First it was a breakfast place, then a burger restaurant, and now, it's Nico's Taqueria. I waited in line with my family for close to an hour and afterwards we all agreed never to go there again. The food was outrageously priced, the proportions much to small to satisfy my appetite, and what little food we got was pretty bland. My recommendation: go get dinner somewhere else like Fire on the Mountain and then walk over to Nico's Ice Cream and have a really great desert.

Tried this place out for the first time. The visuals are awesome and outdoor seating isn't bad at all. The food was ok, the tortillas felt like they need just a bit more cooking but the meat was great! I wasn't a big fan of the sauces. I am a huge michelada fan and I do have to say that it was pretty good! I always love a chamoy rimmed michelada so that won me over. Service was good to my wife and I! They were busy at the time but didn't talk to us as if they were in a rush.

Great spot for some tacos. We got to try quite a few and really liked their pulled pork one. Make sure to get chips and guacamole. Staff was super attentive and service was quick!

Absolutely over priced with a tiny premixed $22.00 Cadillac margarita. no wonder there was nobody there tonight. You have to order at the counter, bus your own table, have a sub par Cadillac margarita, no ambiance on the patio. Look around?? Something's got to change or they will be out of business. Peter's just down the street on 57th and Fremont has the best Cadillac fresh fruit margarita around for about $10.00.

Food came out quick, but there wasn't anyone else there. Small portions and our order wasn't correct. Won't be back, as it was just awkward all around.

Pretty whack nonsense that rubes wait in line for. Couldn't be more whack really. The food was technically fine so 2 stars instead of 1.

Hosted a small engagement party at Nico's Cantina and it was an excellent experience. It was great to collaborate with Nico to make the event special. The day of the staff went above and beyond! The food was delicious, staff were super accommodating and great energy. Guests at our event were continuously impressed with the food and service. Highly recommend this place! Will definitely make more memories here!

I like the concept, nice outdoor area, love the botanas, unfortunately they ran out of pepinos when we went but we had the spicy peanuts and they were good, the drinks were excellent, the beans were great, the tacos meh, las rajas were a soft dripping mess, asada was chewy, chicken was bland, but if you know anything about taquerias is that what it makes a good taqueria is la salsa. We tried all the salsas and non of them were good, also who wants to put cold salsa in a warm taco? My advice is to eat at Pinche Burro that is around the corner and go for drinks at Nico's.

Finally got a chance to try this new neighborhood spot! The tacos, though on the smaller "street taco" size, were flavorful and had ample fillings. The drinks were delicious as well, and unique. This place isn't the cheapest place for tacos in the neighborhood, but the drinks and ambiance made the price worth it to me.

So happy to have Nico's in the Cully neighborhood! Excellent vegetarian tacos, friendly staff, quick service, and a beautiful courtyard.

We arrived when they opened at 4:00pm. We were the only customers during our dinner. After ordering at the counter we looked for the taco sauce. It hadn't been put out yet but the cook brought it over. Margarita were small but good. While we were eating the front person came over to our table to remove the taco sauces and put them at the taco station, we weren't done with them. If they were where they should have been they wouldn't have been on our table. After the meal you need to bus your own table we felt like we were in a fast food restaurant.

Uhhhhh.... Don't go here. Save your money. $60+ for two margs and a few tacos. It's a clean spot, nice staff, but the busser asked us to fill the napkin holder for her while we were eating. Like... she could wait until we left. Also didn't stock grand marnier for margs. Weird. All the small things wouldn't be a big deal but the food tasted like my white grandmother attempted tacos for the first time, then gave the recipe to Costco and had them dumb it down for mass production. It was basic and bland and dry. Awaiting food poisoning tbh. What a waste of money.

Ambiance and drinks are good. The tacos need work, better tortillas and better spices.

Was here for an event that we were really looking forward to- had attended the same event hosted at another location and really enjoyed it. The outdoor space is great and ideal for summer parties, however when we went to get a drink we were surprised to find that a lot of the people were stuck in line. Ended up being a 45 minute wait just for drinks. We had planned to try some cocktails and get some tacos but after waiting for so long we just wanted to get some quick drinks and go catch the rest of the DJ set before it ended. The bartender was moving slow but I don't even blame him for the experience. It just seemed like a lack of planning on management side. Could have easily cut the wait time in half by having another bartender or at least a beer only line for quick service. Really wanted to give them a fair chance and review but unfortunately after a 45 min wait all we got was some beers, went to enjoy the ambiance, and then headed to another spot for some good food. Willing to try them again in a few months but they really need to make an effort to improving the set up and focus on the details to create an authentic cantina experience.

Overpriced and zero service beyond delivering food. They have an army working there and we have to bus our own tables? Food was meh. Seven dollars for a small bowl of stale chips and guac the size of a golf ball? Ridiculous. I wanted to like it, but I was disappointed...

i live nearby and have been anxiously awaiting this place to open- it did not disappoint! the drinks were delicious as was the food. both the indoor and outdoor spaces are cute, and we loved sitting out in the sun with our drinks! the staff was friendly and our food came out quickly. the only complaint i have is that there was a very small selection of mezcal & tequila cocktails on the menu, and i figured that there would be more with such a big selection of both! all in all though we really loved it and will definitely be back

I came on opening night and the line was long but the food and drinks were worth the wait. I have been back since and there is less waiting, great staff and great music. I've enjoyed the things they have done out of the ordinary- like Day of the Dead (cookie decorating and movie) and the blazers opening game with merch and cheerleaders. I can't wait for World Cup there!