¿Por Qué No?

Good! Generous portion and I loved the salsa. I had the porque no plate with mushrooms and potatoes. Great balance of veggies, salad, sauce, and beans/rice. The corn tortillas tasted fresh and were warm. It is an order at the counter place and bus your own table. They have a salsa bar and self serve water. I enjoyed the ambiance it felt homey and was spacious at the same time. Staff was also nice although we didn’t have much interaction apart from ordering.

Such a great vibe, kind of feels like you're in a small town in Mexico stopping by for tacos. Our food was delicious, service was nice and prompt. The ceviche is a must order! Tacos were great and my bf loved his flautas. Definitely recommend, we came for an early dinner so it wasn't too busy. Definitely recommend and we'll be back.

The cucumber side dish was not great but everything else was! Good selection of drinks and lots of outdoor seating. You pay first so you don't have to wait for your check. Will go back.

Wow, these are the best homemade tortilla chips I've ever had! I'm addicted and will be back. The tacos were great too. The salsa, guacamole, all of it. Like so good! I live over an hour away and would drive out here to eat again and again. Atmosphere was great. Employees are friendly. They have some outside seating too. Parking was kind of a pain, but well worth it.

Walking in, the place was humming with conversation. Places to sit everywhere, although from outside, it looked small. All the eatery spots in the area, and we are so glad we picked here! Customer service was on point. An array of different individuals with smiles ready to help you choose from a great and cost effective menu. We had the carne asada tacos and chicken tacos and kids mixed rice and bean bowl. Everything was awesome and I would highly recommend stopping in!

Wow!! 100/100 for the vibe and interiors. Feels like you're in a cozy beautiful Mexican home, with an amazing courtyard. The food was amazing too, we being vegetarians found ample options. Their home made salsa bar was legendary. Service is good, just that it would have been amazing if you didn't have to go and order and clean up after eating. Anyways, would come here again when I'm in Portland. Highly recommended.

March 22, 2025: Spring, sun, full patio, chill front-of-house (yes, please). And because it was quiet, this mist-and-cloud-loving customer got to take some new pics. But first, the good stuff: 🔸️Chips, smoky salsa, guacamole. 🔸️Modelo Especiale, lime wedge Stars of the show: 🔸️One veggie tamale plate... That. First. Bite. 🔸️Carnitas tacos 🔸️DIY'd a condiment plate: verde and arbol sauces and pickled veggies (nice!) Go, sun lovers! Enjoy the patio, outside tables, and, of course, the fantastic service. (I'll be chilling inside, chowing down.) Feb 22, 2025: Rainy Sat night. Dinner before Hollywood Theater. Always wonderful. Great service. Attentive OG crew. Veggie Tamale (I usually get the plate with beans and rice—this was a perfect pre-movie serving size). Chips, smoky salsa, guacamole. Carne Asada and Carnitas tacos for the guys Good soundtrack: Nirvana Lithium, Tonic Open up Your Eyes, Third Eye Blind Semi-Charmed Life. After eight years, it's our Hawthorne casa. Thank you, ¿Por Que No? ❤️ Previously: Sat in the 'new' room at the side of the restaurant. Picnic tables with lots of room to stretch out. Bright floral vinyl table cloths. Alanis Morrisette soundtrack at good volume. Good acoustics out here—low chatter. My go-to: Tamale plate with one veggie tamale plus a Migration IPA. Excellent service. Lovely, as usual, especially on this rainy Portland day.

Empanada for dumpling week. Spicy, crispy, super tasty. Definitely one of our top 3 favorites for everywhere we went. On the pricey side but it's PDX so it's about average. They definitely would've sold us another serving at a lower price. 10/10 of course. 9.5 for Whitney. Also, the tacos here are amazing. We love this place.

Heard this place gets crazy busy, went here on a Saturday Night but was lucky to not experience waiting at all. Recommend looking at the menu ahead of time since there's so many options to choose from and lots to read. No one was in line to order so we didn't really get a chance to thoroughly look at the menu. Restaurant itself was nice, a good vibe and a nice atmosphere. And all the staff seem to be friendly. Food is good! However price per taco can be a bit pricey. Recommend getting their Por Que plate since it seems like it's more bang for your buck. Chips, Salsa and Guac and Ceviche were all good! Good place for some food and drinks if you're in the area.

I thought it was good but not great. Bryan's Bowl was solid but not very filling. Lots of rice and not enough meat in my opinion. The horchata and blackberry aqua Fresca were tasty The chips had the perfect crunch!

First impressions: Came by as I saw this place open on Yelp during a late Sunday afternoon and was craving tacos. As we arrived (street parking), the line was LONG. That place was packed and it is a very small location. They have indoor and outdoor dining. We wanted to pick-up for take-out. I was debating on whether or not I should wait out, but I overheard someone in the line saying it's worth the wait because it's one of the best tacos they've had. Now coming from Cali, I was very curious. Order: The line moved fast, and we ordered: Ceviche + Spicy Cucumber add-on (I asked if it came with chips and they said no so I had to order separately for chips...), carne asada tacos, and al pastor tacos. Food: Now for the ceviche... that portion is SO TINY I would've assumed the container was for sauce. I'm actually shocked lol. And the "extra cucumber"? Dry and I should have taken a picture because they look like 4 slices of cucumber thrown into a container... for extra charge. And for the tacos that cost FIVE DOLLARS EACH... definitely not worth it. I'm genuinely confused how they're raved by this much on Yelp, or maybe this only happened to our batch? The tacos were falling apart, the meats were VERY DRY and some of them too salty? For my whole order to cost $60 for tiny ceviche and 6 tacos... is beyond me. Their jamaica was mid too. Workers were very kind though. Otherwise, will probably will have to keep looking for a new taco spot in Portland.

This place is definitely a vibe. I love the decor and the staffs are very nice! We dined in the back in this cute room with a sliding door. I felt like I was in a train, cute area to feast! I ordered chicken tacos with a side salad! The tacos were packed with flavor, the side salad was good but there was a lot of vinaigrette and it made my salad soggy. The chips with guac and salsa were amazing! Definitely coming back :)

Visited Por Que No on a rainy weeknight. There was a line out the door when we arrived around 6pm. We ordered our food at the counter and then grabbed seats. I got a Cuba libre and a guacamole + house made chips. The guacamole was ok. The Cuba libre was pretty small for the price. There's also a salsa bar on the side if you want additional salsa. I got the Pescado #1 (fried cod fish, pineapple, onion, cilantro and cabbage) and the Pescado #2 (fried cod fish, crema and cabbage). The breading on the fried cod was very good. Por Que No is a casual spot. There were additional seats in the back and the interior nicely decorated with colorful string lights.

so tasty! we were in the area and looking for a quick, light bite for lunch. this place delivered just that! my partner and i got two tacos each and my kiddo had a quesadilla. all the tacos were tasty, but my fave of the bunch was the carnitas taco! it was so good, i wanted to get another, but i abstained due to dinner plans later. i also really enjoyed the flavor of my rice. i'm glad the sides aren't super big, but i definitely could have enjoyed having a little more rice. the staff was also so nice, and the service was quick!

Got the Bryan bowl and three tacos for the two of us. The food tastes good. However it doesn't live up to the hype. There were minimal carnitas on my bowl compared to when I have been here years ago. I think the taco had more meat. It's overpriced for what you get and there are equally good, quality taco spots in Portland and Vancouver. Line is long to order and then wait for food. But service was good. Staff were friendly and getting drink orders for people in line which was positive.

Atmosphere: Good for nice weather if you sit along the rail. Walk-up counter Food: I got the tacos, which I thought were pretty tasty Price: Expensive for what it is IMO. Probably my main reason I haven't returned. Service: Service was fine but you walk up to order and bus your own table so there's not really much they are doing Parking: Street Parking

The pinto beans are absolutely delicious. I ordered a side of rice with beans and loved how there was pico de gallo on top. A hint of spice, too. The Jamaica was delicious but I ordered to go so I guess they don't fill it all the way without ice. Jamaica was delicious. Ordered two verdura tacos and a potato mixed mushroom taco. Very delicious and vegan.

After lots of recommendations, we checked this place out - and it did not disappoint. Probably some of the better taco places in the Pacific Northwest, but was this the best taco I've ever eaten? Unequivocally no. To be fair I am from the southwest so I'm a little biased. I do also recommend their tamales and really enjoy their veggie options!

Being from Southern CA means my standards are very high. No Mexican food in Portland seems to meet my standards and after this place I may be giving up. Don't get me wrong it isn't bad.. especially if you don't know the difference and have never had REAL authentic mx food. A few Oregonians recommended this place but personal opinion... it's just decent, not worth the hype or cost. Not sure if this place is actually owned by Mexicans as the only Mexican (singular) I saw working there was bussing tables. No shade but kinda sad to have a Mexican food restaurant with no Mexicans working behind the counter. Says a lot about the type of palate the restaurant is aiming to please. Food: Pomegranate margarita was decent, Chipotle makes better guac, salsas mediocre, shrimp tasted like it was from a frozen bag, "pollo verde" tasted good but very stingy with the meat portion in the Bryan bowl.. mostly filled up with rice and beans. Service: Order food first and seat yourself style restaurant. Counter girl seemed hot and bothered but not rude. It was hot and they were busy so understandable. There was a line outside the door but it went pretty quick as there is a lot of seating which doesn't seem to be the case from the front. Overall, I was able to finish my meal and left full but nothing made me want to ever go back.

Ok, their bryan bowl and rice & beans bowl with chips on the side is GENIUS. It's basically nachos but the chips don't get soft and soggy underneath the mountain of ingredients. Why have I never thought of this before?! I thought their tacos and guac were average, but definitely get one of these bowls for the table. There is a line so expect to wait, but it moves fast and be ready to order when you get to the front.

Mostly do pick up and been somewhat lucky to find a spot in the small parking lot. My favorite part is still the chips and get the big bag as they are good for leftovers. Also really love the carnitas tacos, always moist and good corn tortillas. My husband gets a Brian's bowl every time (switches up the protein). They are nice and let him hold the rice. Good quality ingredients and the staff at this location are always friendly. Have sat in the back area in nicer weather but the lines do get long.

My fraternal club had catering from this restaurant we only planned for 30 people and we ended up having 50 also we had to go and pick up the catered food but it was so good that there was hardly anything left.

Showed up at 2 o'clock after the lunch rush, but yet the restaurant still was a little busy so that was encouraging. Well everyone was waiting in line. One of the staff came out took drink orders and made sure people had what they were going to order whether it was as simple as water all the way up to cocktails.. that was a good touch. Once you order your food, you get a number and have a seat. it was a very short wait before my food was brought out. The Carnitas taco had salsa Verde and a little Mexican cheese on a fresh corn tortilla. The pork Carnitas was smoky, tender and juicy. The Birria tamale with spicy with very tender meat. The only downside of it was the Mesa.. it was dry and not very flavorful. I did, however, like the spicy salsa and crema on top. I likely will pass on a tamale if I return.. as orders were brought out the Aida and Paztor looked quite tasty. All of the staff were friendly and the restaurant had all of the windows open to let the nice breeze in.. the inside is quite small with everything open. It was not too loud.. Back in the area I think I would give this place another try and explore some of the other tacos.

It's been years since we've been here, and it's as good as ever. We got the por que plate with carnitas and a variety of tacos. All of it was delicious. The staff were friendly and the food came out promptly. I also like this location better for its ambiance than the Mississippi location. Can't wait to come back again soon - next time I'm going to get the Bryan's Bowl, which I love.

The tacos are overpriced mediocrity and the employees acted like I was being a nuisance for ordering *food* at a *restaurant*. Much better options elsewhere in this city

We came in around 6:15 on 7/10/2024 and it was moderately busy. I ordered two Chorizo tacos and the beef tamale and a diet Coke. GF Ordered another plate (don't recall which) and Sangria. Total cost was about $50. Staff was friendly, helpful, and attentive sans one specific incident (below). My tacos were cold. Good flavor, but would've been better had they been warm. Tamale was decent flavored but I would've expected it to be at least warm (it was room temperature). Presentation of dishes were excellent and regardless of the temperature, I could tell they were using quality ingredients as it was still pretty good cold. Diet Coke was more than half ice and didn't last long. I recalled seeing a sign that said something like "Ordered already? Come to the bar and you can skip the line." I brought my drink up and asked if I could get a refill. One of the employees (a guy) turned around said said something to the effect of "We can get you another Diet Coke, just go around to that other register (where I first ordered) and buy another one." I was taken aback at the curtness and replied, "Oh, no free refills? Never mind." and walked back to my table. I would've gone with something like "My apologies, we don't have free refills". Also, soft drinks were $3.25. Which brings me to my next issue - this place doesn't give free refills for soft drinks. I looked all over the menu and I didn't see a mention of it there or outside/posted anywhere. I could've missed it but it definitely could be made more obvious up front. This is an ugly surprise considering the overwhelming majority of businesses do provide free refills. GF's Sangria was only wine as far as she or I could tell, despite there being a few berry chunks in it. Neither of us could taste any of the fruit - just the wine. Also, why don't they serve nachos? It's nacho week, after all! So, could've been a lot better. Was disappointed. Lots of potential. I wouldn't have minded the no refills policy provided I been told about it as I was ordering. And the staff guy could lose the attitude.

This place is a staple for casual date night or to take a small family. The food is consistently good, the staff are always helpful, and despite that fact that it can get busy on weekend evenings, the line moves along quickly and we've always been able to get seating without any issues.

Yum! I really enjoyed everything we ate here and was impressed with quality and flavors. Counter service restaurant, with easy to find water, house-made salsas and silverware. Tacos were pretty spendy but great tasting. Bryan's bowl filling and delicious.

First I must say I hardly write reviews, but if a business is either outstanding or super crappy I will put out a public service announcement. Only reason I gave 2 stars is because if prepared right the food could be good, but there are too many "cons" about this place. The two major concerns about por Que no? Are: 1) wayyy too expensive. My wife and I got 2 tacos each and a drink each with chips and salsa and it was 44.00. If it was a large quantity of food that would be ok, but the tacos were small and the bag of chips was tiny. 2) food was very salty. The taco meat was so salty my wife couldn't even finish one taco. I muscled through mine, but I felt puffed up and swollen before I was done. The chips had so much salt we had to take a paper towel and scrape off the salt on each chip. We both got frustrated and just threw everything away.

I've been coming here since I was a little kid. The food here is FABULOUS. Absolutely fantastic. All the workers are so nice and friendly and especially good at their job. The new add on porch seating is absolutely beautiful and so cozy. Please come here. So good.

Incredible! Carnitas tacos, chips and salsa, and agua fresca's are to die for. Can't go wrong here

Wow!! Since my review was deleted from the owner here's another.. Went in yesterday, This place is by far the worst deal in town 6.75 for one taco and they are completely inauthentic and do not even taste good. This place is the reason why Portland has hardly any good Mexican food. No salsa bar, no radish, no lime, no good options for salsa. This is key for a good taco place. Completely flavorless and wayy overpriced. Tourists!!! Stop waiting in line for this place and go support a Mexican owned business in town for much better deals and food that actually is good and authentic Ochoa Lupitas on Powell has excellent tacos and salsa plus they give you grilled peppers and onions, radish, and escabeche for free!! (Take notes por que no) and tacos are priced at 2.50 can't beat that!! Sabor Tindureno for the best mole and handmade tortillas La Tiajuana for excellent fish and suadero tacos I am not a foodie with a grudge, just a Mexican chef that has lived here ten years and that misses los angels tacos and these places come very close.

was recommended this place many moons ago and finally had the chance to check it out. i ordered 4 tacos: carne asada, barbacoa, al pastor, and queso asado to go. all were delicious, but the al pastor and queso asado stuck out. i'd definitely go back and would recommend these tacos to anyone

One of the more popular taco places in Portland. It's consistently good, but doesn't quite live up to the hype. If you ask me to go, I will say yes and I'll love the tacos because I love tacos. I end up there on my own if I'm in the area at lunchtime. But there are better ones to be had.

Haven't been here in a few years but the food was just as good as I remember it. We got there around 5:15 on a weeknight and there wasn't a line yet but was a pretty long when we left. Service was quick.

Absolutely amazing mexican place in Portland. Love their delicious tacos and bowls and not to mention their margaritas. We ordered the carnitas, pescado, spicy chicken (special), barbacoa & camarones tacos with their bryans bowl. Omg everything we ordered was divine and we devoured our meal in no time. The bryans bowl was mind blowing. It all tasted so fresh and delicious. Their salsas are great too. The green and red sauce on each table elevates the flavors to the next level when added to any dish - taco or bowl. Their margaritas the pomegranate one was refreshing and tasty. They have huge indoor and outdoor seating. They can accomodate big groups and there is ample seating at this place. There can be a huge line to place your order during peak hours but the food comes out pretty quick. Highly recommend this spot in Portland.

Super cute place, great drinks, and really great food! Normally I do not go for Mexican food in Portland but this tasted authentic :-) The shrimp taco is so so good, I am absolutely hooked on it. That being said, the last time I went with my friends, we were refused drinks. We are all 22 and are all from out of state, so I understand the staff wanting to cover their bases, but the bartender was very rude about it. I have only experienced really friendly service all the other times that I have been, so it just took all of us aback -- we could see her glaring us down and she did not even attempt to scan the IDs or anything. Was just a negative experience overall, but we will still be back because the food is super good and that is the only time we have had a problem here.

Place was ok but the price was steep. Hard to find parking and seating was limited. Food could have been better.

I absolutely LOVE this place!!! There are very few places in Portland that I frequent more than once because why would you when there's so many options?? However, I find myself CRAVING a Bryan's bowl constantly so I've come here many a times. You might see a line but don't get discouraged! If moves fast with the ample amount of seating on the back patio so be patient and wait for the best damn food ever! I will always recommend the Bryan's Bowl. I usually get it with carne asada and add even more salsa on it because I love it extra saucy. Scooping it up with their tortilla chips is absolutely heavenly as well! I have yet to try their cocktails but that's next on the list. It is a pricey spot, I mean it's on Hawthorne so what can you expect? But I promise, it's worth it!

Decent taco bar, but overhyped. The shrimp tacos were my favorite, though nothing really blew me away and prices aren't cheap. The line was long but it moved fast, and there's lots of outdoor seating.

Brian's Bowl, with seasonal vegetables, is very tasty. I went for lunch and had my choice of outdoor tables (most with umbrellas). My meal arrived in an expected amount of time.

Mediocre tasting food at best. Over priced. What they call a large guacamole is laughable at $6.50. So much better Mexican food in town.

Can't go wrong here from the cool vibe to the tasty margs and everything in between. Sadly, they are not close to where I live and Mexi food in my area in Camas/Vancouver does not compare

The carne asada and queso asado tacos were among the best I've ever had. Despite the dinner rush and packed crowd, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the service was excellent. Definitely worth a visit.

This place is a real taco gem! I went out here with a date this week and I was pleasantly surprised! I'm a taco lover, and I would hope everyone could claim that same thing and I'd come back here 7 days a week if I could afford it. Starting with the moment we walked in the door the service is amazing! A staff member immediately asked if we would like a drink while we waited, and that is service right there. I ordered a mezcal margarita and it was phenomenal! We read through the menu while waiting in line and figured out what we wanted. We both got the calamari taco and I also got pollo asada and a fish taco, my date got carne asada. The home made tortillas are fantastic and really round out the tacos. Starting with the calamari taco. It was good, but a little too fishy for my taste, however the salsa they put on it really puts it all together. The fish taco which was my fav was amazing. They put a pineapple kind of salsa on it and it really made the taco for me. The pollo asada was good, but a little dry. They have a salsa bar so you can grab whatever salsa you'd like, a really nice touch. We also ordered chips and guac. The guacamole was amazing, honestly. Chips were just chips. Nothing amazing, just a solid chip. I will mention that the tacos are around 4 bucks a piece and three of them make a great meal. So everything from the customer service, to the food was amazing. Get out here and have some tacos!

Tacos are great. Service is fine. Space is nice. Only reason its not 5 stars is for one adult male to eat enough food costs $30 which is a bit expensive for the simple ingredients and counter service. Its also about bar though and I dont drink so I guess if youre drinking with friends and eating one taco it makes sense.

Only ordered one drink and they decided to cut alcohol two hours before close to the entire restaurant other than that the food was pretty good and the service was alright

Service was great. My margarita was very good. I got 2 tacos for $5.00 each and I really liked the carnitas nice & spicy. The pastor was very good it did have a hint of pineapple as it should. I also got the chips & salsa. I would love it if they had handmade tortillas. I sat outside with my pup to enjoy the sunshine. Will come back!

Delicious! Excellent sauce and great rotating specials. The flautas are fantastic (especially the current filling!) Tortillas are a standout, soft and fresh. The tacos are always a hit!

Solid place and ambiance. Been here twice now. This round I got the camarones, pescado, and deshebrada (braised beef). You can order your drink in line which makes the wait (reasonable) tolerable. I think these are overall pretty solid tacos. For this round shrimp wins, then fish then braised beef. Friendly service and a small outdoor and window seat area. Worth checking out

Came here for lunch on a weekday, and this place was busy! Some friends that live nearby had recommended the place so we stopped in for some mexican food to go. I tend to over order and got the Por Que Plate with carne asada, my friend got the Bryan's bowl and my other friends got guacamole and chips and a bunch of tacos. I also saw that they had a special taquitos (vegan) on their specials board so we got that too. How was it? Amazing! Everything was so fresh and delicious, we ate till we were full (and since we over ordered we had one taquito and my salad left at the end of the meal). The server at the bar that took our order was also super nice and friendly. Overall, was a great visit and is definitely a place I would come back to when I'm in Portland again!

Can't say enough. Food and margaritas are just delish. Mississippi is pretty cozy so prefer that location when it's warmer vs Hawthorne.

The food is always slightly warm, like the exact temperature at which food poisoning thrives. The beans and rice are never hot. Even instant service on a slow night. The hot food is never hot.

Great food, tough seating. Really great and unusual combinations. I strongly recommend the Tamal even though I'm not usually the one to order them. Kinda' loud as we went with folks we wanted to visit with and it was almost impossible to communicate so we shut up and got out.

Came here on a Tuesday night so all tacos were 50 cents off. You order at the front first and then take a number and find a seat in their dining area. It's a very casual open air spot. At 7:30 p.m. there was a line out the door which probably took 20-30 minutes to get through. The food was delicious and worth the wait! Very light, non-greasy tacos. They also had a ton of vegetarian/vegan options which was awesome to see. Parking was a little difficult. We had to go down one of the residential streets quite a ways to find a stall but the weather was nice so the walk wasn't a problem. Highly recommend this place and would definitely come back!

Wow, delicious food & drinks! A few of us ordered burrito bowls, while others ordered a variety of tacos. We also started our meal with guac, salsa, and crispy homemade chips! We had a large group with children, but were able to find a great spot further back in the restaurant. They have much more seating than what you can see at first entry. It was great and a surely enjoyed my margarita on the rocks!

Tasty, overpriced, great vegetarian options, delicious salsa, amazing drinks. I really enjoy getting their take-out taco bar options for big family parties. Delish pinto beans.