Taqueria Villanueva

Mexican restaurant · Downtown

Taqueria Villanueva

Mexican restaurant · Downtown

1

281 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204

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Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null
Taqueria Villanueva by null

Highlights

Huge burritos, amazing tacos, friendly service, and great prices  

Featured in Eater
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281 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204 Get directions

taqueriavillanuevaor.com

$1–10 · Menu

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281 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204 Get directions

+1 503 890 6537
taqueriavillanuevaor.com

$1–10 · Menu

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Last updated

Sep 25, 2025

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Where to Find Knockout Tacos for Takeout and Delivery in Portland - Eater Portland

"A longstanding Portland food truck, Taqueria Villanueva is open for pico de gallo-topped tacos, fajita-style tacos, and gorditas." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

https://pdx.eater.com/2020/5/5/21248467/taco-takeout-delivery-portland-gresham
View Postcard for Taqueria Villanueva

Chris Pucci

Google
Solid taco cart on 3rd and Oak. Ordered a chicken burrito and it came out fast. It was hot, tasted good, full of stuff, wrapped well. Everything you'd expect from a good burrito.

Tiffany Moehnke

Google
I should keep it a secret but I have to share this Amazing find. Burritos are so Humungous, easily the biggest I have ever seen. Very fast friendly service as well. The verde salsa was way way to hot and the flavor overall was quite whitewashed but very good fast and extremely AFFORDABLE!!

adam

Google
The lady seemed bothered when I ordered. Got a bean and cheese burrito. It was ok, but a very small burrito. Sauces seemed good. There are homeless tents outside.

Bilal Anwar

Google
Things I liked, food came out fast no problem, both salsa were good, lady at the window was nice & answered my questions. It took between 3-4 min for my food to be ready. I ordered a steak burrito with no beans. Meat was precooked little heavy on salt which help cutting down spice for some people. I would have liked it bit more toasted. I am not a big fan of lettuce in burritos, I also forgot to tell them. Lettuce made the food cold. Over all 3.5 stars. Yes I would visit again & am sure it could be alot better.

Jocy Fajardo

Google
A huge fan of their tacos!!! I would say it’s in my top 5. I would visit Taqueria Villanueva after a night out. The people who work here are super friendly and quick to get you your order. I usually get the asada tacos and horchata, sometimes the elote with Cheetos. Prices are reasonable. $2.50 for a taco is a steal. This taco truck is located on the corner of a paid parking lot. I usually just park in it while I wait for my order or you could also park on the streets.

Gabby P

Google
The burritos are huge and full of flavor, salsas are amazing as well. It was so yummy!!

Esteban Torres

Google
The food was amazing, humble family and service was excellent. Easily one of my favorite burritos (carne asada) and the salsas were delicious too! I would recommend trying!

kyle finney

Google
This isn't even close to authentic Mexican food. Instead of cilantro they use heaps of lettuce. No refried beans. Instead they use whole pinto beans. I asked for sour cream and guacamole. Neither were on my burrito! The atmosphere is scandless! I have no idea how this stand has a 4 star review. It just goes to show how easy it is to have your Amigos make fake reviews. No way 4 stars is accurate. To the owners of this stand: please stop ripping people off! Stop saying 'authentic' when you know darn well it isn't even close to authentic. Step up your game. You represent Portland. Ain't no other food truck around you scamming people. Put some heart back into it and you wouldn't recieve these kinds of reviews. Everyone knows I wouldn't of took the time out of my day, the next day after my experience, if it didn't need to be said. I've had this happen to me twice at your location. GUERANTEE IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN!

Anna S.

Yelp
Food is always amazing! Have gone here for years for the tacos + the Gordita's! They are the best hands down! Everything has flavor & is delicious! The owners are always working so hard, and are really kind humans! Fun Portland location to hit late night!

Tanya G.

Yelp
My go to spot when in downtown. Food is always on point and quick! I have yet to experience bad service here... been coming to this taqueria for YEARS ‍
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Ashly S.

Yelp
Bit into this rock today in my burrito. Had more than one in it. Super not cool to bite into.

Cheryl B.

Yelp
The service is fast and always delicious. This place is less than a block away from where I work, which makes it really easy to go grab something real quick for lunch. The chicken burrito is my favorite, but the nachos are also Amazon, and very large portions.
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H W.

Yelp
Today begins my journey of finding the best vegan burrito (and sauces) amongst the numerous Mexican food trucks downtown! Today I journeyed over to Taqueria Villanueva and ordered the vegetarian burrito w/ no dairy. The moment I got my order I noticed the tremendous size of the burrito! It's always a plus getting a burrito you can split up into two meals. Off rip I was impressed with the first bite. I have noticed that a lot of burritos are quite dry without sauce, but this one was already wet. I tested the green and red sauce with the following bites. The green is a perfect amount of sweet, tangy, and spicy. The red was a littleeee bit too smokey for me but if you're into that sort of thing, go for it! I was super impressed with the distribution of beans, rice, and veggies. I swear every bite had everything in it! (My pet peeve is when each side of the burrito tastes completely different). Overall I would give this burrito a 8/10. I will most definitely be coming back!

Kyle F.

Yelp
Omg my dog literally wouldn't eat the rest of my burrito. She loves asada. This IS THE WORST TACO TRUCK I HAVE EVER EATEN AT! THE WORST! Please don't waste your money!
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Javier M.

Yelp
It's a food truck so it's street parking. The seem clean and are nice. If your hungry in the middle of the night then you have no choice because ALMOST EVERYTHING in Portland will be closed. Also slightly overpriced
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Rose M.

Yelp
I wasn't intending to eat at this food cart, I actually wanted one if the carts next to it, but the male cook said "Hola Señorita" and hooked me right on in. While I initially regretted being hooked in, I'm so glad I took the bait. The food was cooked quickly and I reviewed for bang for my buck than I would've at the other similarly priced food cart. Ordered: Chicken Quesadilla- delicious!! Filled with sour cream, onions, cilantro, cheese, chicken, lettuce, and tomatoes. Came with beans and rice. While the beans were good, the rice really stood out with how perfectly cooked it was. A lot of Mexican rice that I've eaten in the past had a bland, right out the box taste. Their rice had a homemade feel that was soft with a hint of flavor. Service: Great, the workers were really respectful and made sure I had everything I needed for my meal. Wait Time: 6 minutes Bill: $
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Armando C.

Yelp
Friendly staff. Great food. Ordered a couple of burritos that were excellent. A little short on the protein (carne asada) but the flavors were good.
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Sam E.

Yelp
This was the spot after a drunk night on the weekend, the tacos are amazing. I recently discovered that the tacos are still amazing during the day and the week :0 I always get the tacos and I respect the lady that take orders from all this drunks lol

Gannon D.

Yelp
exceptional burritos at a great price. you really cannot go wrong with this place.
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Isabel S.

Yelp
Ordered a bean and cheese burrito & a veggie one. I moved here less than a year ago from the Bay Area and have been looking hard for a good/authentic Mexican food spot. THIS IS IT! To start, I love seeing BIPOC running their own food carts. It's wholesome to see. On the note for wholesome, their whole pinto beans are the best part! So fresh! Will def come here again soon.

Odaeza F.

Yelp
Not worth your money. Walk around the block to La Jarocha. Or down 2 blocks to La Jorchita. This place doesn't care about your food.

Shane A.

Yelp
Cheap and service was pleasant. Pretty much the only reason it wasn't only one star. Might as well just go to Taco Bell...
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John P.

Yelp
Got into town late and hungry. I ordered a few crispy tacos and a burrito for my wife and I. My daughter really likes beans and cheese with nothing else. It wasn't in the menu but the nice lady put together a nice container of beans and cheese for her without overcharging for it. I don't know your name, but thank you again for doing that. We all had a long day and your food made our long day little easier.

Nate K.

Yelp
Good food. Happy to support local food trucks, but Staff was very rude to my girlfriend.

Jane D.

Yelp
This place is amazing. The Al Pastor is so good and the portions are generous. So grateful to work just a few minute's walk from here. They even have corn in a cup.
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Jacob E.

Yelp
Thanks for such delicious food! Al pastor was sooo good!! There are a lot of onions which I enjoyed! Look forward to trying more things!
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Vats A.

Yelp
I am envious of Portland for their food truck scene. This one had a premium location nearby a popular nightlife scene. There were a few other patrons ordering from this truck, which gave us confidence to order our own bitings. The taco that I got was AMAZING! Spicy and full of flavor, the right size, and the right price. I would highly recommend this place and would even go so far as to consider it as an option to replace a sit down meal.

Anastasia B.

Yelp
So freaking good. ‍ As a Mexican in pdx it's almost impossible to find good Mexican good and these people CAN COOK THEIR ASSES OFF.
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Tamara C.

Yelp
Hello awesome, monster-sized, chicken burrito for only $5.50! The bean and cheese is only $3.00. Seriously big. Seriously delicious. Seriously cheap. Seriously, if you dig Mexican food, go there and get some really awesome grub for chump-change. I have only tried the burritos but I know I will be back to try some other menu items. Their tacos are on my radar right now too. Like Jeannie J. mentioned in her review, it would be nice if they had their hours posted online and I would like to see an online menu as well. The folks working at the cart are super nice and my order was prepared quickly. This cart is a winner! 2014 - Review # 27
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Ryan H.

Yelp
The Taqueria Villanueva I go to is on SW 3rd Ave and Oak St. It's somewhat near Stumptown Coffee and Ash St. Saloon, except on the other side of the street. This place has been consistently VERY good. I've eaten here during the day and late at night. Burritos seems to taste better at 2am, funny how that works, right? I'll post a picture above of what to expect. In terms of So-Calness, this place does an OK job. I think they have their own flavor thing going on, and you end up with a carne asada burrito consisting of So-Cal style ingredients (only carne asada, salsa fresca, and guacamole - no rice, beans, lettuce, etc.), but it just tastes DIFFERENT. And not in a bad way. The burrito is spicy. It's juicy. It's BIG. I don't know what they do with the meat at this cart, but they season it with crack. I could eat 4 of these things in a row. Seriously. The quesadillas they do here are damn good too. Big tortillas. Super-stringy cheese. Really, stretch that sucker, because you can. I'm not going to say this is my favorite carne-asada so-cal burrito in town, but it's my favorite PDX-style carne asada burrito. If you asked me to go here or La Sirenita in Sellwood, I'd have to really think about it.
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Carrie P.

Yelp
Coming from Phoenix (born and raised in San Diego as well) to a place like Portland can get pretty tricky when looking for Mexican food. Now being married to my Mexican/Hispanic wife and having been exposed to homecooked Mexican food...I'm a bit hesitant about walking into joints like Tacos Del Mar, across the street from Villanueva. I don't really feel like I have to look any further though. I've now had their carne asada corn tortilla (street taco) tacos, bean/cheese/rice burrito, and their beef crispy tacos on two separate trips. Their food tastes like it was made in a kitchen back home. Every. Single. Time! The homemade salsas are just what I need to pour on my tacos or burritos. The habanero salsa is fiery and what I now like to call Mace (uhhhh...a sort of inside joke with my family), but my wife sure loves it! I prefer their green tomatillo salsa which is still hot as well, but something I can handle. Their tortillas are for sure handmade as well. Mmmmm. You can't get those in a grocery store! They are sweet people as well and they are now my go to for tastes of home (both of them). Now, I'm hesitant to even go anywhere else and try Mexican food. No need to track down a Filibertos type joint here in Portland!
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Sarah C.

Yelp
Consistency is key. Unfortunately Taqueria is lacking it somewhat. Both times I ordered the fajitas plate but I wasn't impressed the second time around. This plate serves up a lot for $5.50 (no issues there). It's a combo of onion, green, yellow & red peppers & choice of beef or chicken with a dab of sour cream & guacamole. It also has beans with shredded mozzarella & spanish rice on the side. The flavor of the dish & the quality of meat was what lacked the second time. Even the beans & rice were mediocre. I want to blame it on the rush but then again, whether it's the slowest or busiest time of the day, the food should be just as good. There's a lot to choose from on their menu. Most plates are $5.50 & the burritos are big for $5. Breakfast items are also an option. Try TV if you're near PSU or working downtown but don't go out of your way for it.
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Brittany J.

Yelp
excellent taco cart! great food, kind service, and inexpensive. i also really appreciated how fast the food came out despite having a few people ahead of me. i got two tacos, carnitas and chicken, and they were big and filling(i'd usually order three but in this case, two was perfect). the lady taking the orders was really kind as was the gentlemen cooking. definitely worth a stop if you're wandering downtown and looking for some good mexican food!
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Charles S.

Yelp
A $3.50 sope. Was surprisingly very good. It was all flat without the normal or customary edge all the way around. So it was a think flat corn tortilla. I got mine vegan. Make sure you let them know if you dont want rice if not they will automatically put rice on it. After i ordered i wasent sure if they put rice on it but i asked for no rice and she stated oh you dont want rice on the sope and i stated again please no rice at which time she instructed the cook" no rice" anyway if you dont remember to say no rice they will add it on. What was on top of my sope........Whole pinto beans lettuce tomatoes onions avocado and a green avocado sauce.the corn sope tasted really good and they use of whole beans instead of mashed up beans; was a welcome and refreshing change. the lady told me that the beans were just freshly cooked. I was surprised as i wasent expecting such a delicious tasting sope. Is $3.50 a fair price for a vegan sope? If you use debit it come out to $3.85 I found some times these things are a fluke the taste and quality is not reflected or repeated in future visits. However if they maintain the quality and good taste; i will become a regular visitor. Worth while to add. The lady that took my order was personalble and friendly. It was a pleasant experience.
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Elizabeth C.

Yelp
What a find! :) I never would have expected to find such amazing tacos in Portland, but wow this place really knocked me off my feet. Get yourself some carnitas tacos! I was blown away by the taste.

Bash A.

Yelp
Absolutely delicious shredded steak burrito, really nice people! come here if you want some awesome food
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Alicen B.

Yelp
If you aren't running here right now there is something wrong with you. The tacos are cheap and delicious. The people that work there are humble and kind. Best tacos I've had in a long time.
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Pierre B.

Yelp
As someone who likes my burritos plain (just meat, cheese and guacamole), I made sure to specify that I did not want pico de gallo, rice, or beans in my burrito. Low and behold, the burrito arrives stuffed with almost only lettuce -- when the menu makes no mention of there being lettuce in the burritos. The lady working the window insists that the burritos always come with lettuce and charged me another $6 to get a second burrito remade without the lettuce. If you're me I is incorrect, you should own up to it, and not charge your customers.
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Sudipto G.

Yelp
Nice food cart next to PSU campus. Have gotten lunch there multiple times on weekends, its good value for money, i like their mole preparation the best of their dishes. Good place to get to go food if you live in the area, generous quantity and freshly made.
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Ryan H.

Yelp
Most flavorful Mexican food ive ever had. I had a carne asada burrito and it was perfect!
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Jonah R.

Yelp
I had the most delicious vegetarian burrito here. The service was fast, friendly, and efficient. The ingredients were all natural and authentic. I would recommend this food truck for anyone looking for a great burrito!

Randall F.

Yelp
Best tacos - and by extension - Al Pastor tacos in Portland. Also very friendly staff. This is based on several (and still ongoing) repeated visits. I've not tried the other items, but I'd expect nothing less than excellent food if I did.

Abriannah C.

Yelp
Great food! open til midnight. big portions couldnt finish everything between two people. very filling and tasty. I got the chicken quesadilla, vegetarian (beans) taco, and 4 enchiladas. enchiladas + quesadilla came w rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, little sour cream. chicken quesadilla n taco was amazing, enchiladas wasn't my personal fav and smaller than i thought but my mom likes it a lot. called to ask if they were still open around 11 & person who answered was very nice. definitely gonna buy again
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Xavier O.

Yelp
Always happy to see these guys!!! Love their horchata and selection of tacos(pastor,carnitas, carne asada) and right next to my favorites to do my shopping.
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Rodrigo M.

Yelp
This great taqueria is located in SW corner of 4th and Hall. I have been coming here since i started school at PSU a year and a half ago. This is by far one of the most authentic mexican food carts in portland. The guy running in it, Jose, is also one of the nicest, most genuine persons i've met. His story is one of struggle to success. His wife also helps to run a different location, which i have yet to check out. Tacos at $1.50 each and Burritos at $5? Deliciously cheap. and all other items, taquitos, sopes, etc are made from scratch. i would recommended to place to anyone and everyone that enjoys true mexican food.

Jacob C.

Yelp
i was NOT expecting this quality of mexican food in oregon. i live in la and spend a lot of time in san diego, this place knows what it's doing. carnitas burrito is fire. their salsas are the best i've ever had. spice, flavor, sensational!
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Kemi A.

Yelp
It can be tough when finding an authentic Mexican restaurant in Portland. I found myself in this area, craving some tacos and this gem of a place pulled up. They were both so nice when I stood there debating for hours on what I should get, but I finally decided on the chicken and beef tacos, which at $1.50 each are a steal. They throw in some awesome sauce, which really brought everything together. I'll make sure to try the other items as well!

Kayloni J.

Yelp
I love their pastor meat, but they put iceberg lettuce on the tacos which I don't care for when I'm looking for authentic tacos.
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Jeannie J.

Yelp
My favorite Mexican food cart. This is where to go when you NEED a burrito. Seriously. I get the bean and cheese with habenero salsa for a mere $3, and it fixes me right up! I get at least 2 meals out of one too, they're ginormous. The only downside is that I'm not always sure when they will be open. I wish they had a website or Twitter account to check.

Jordan H.

Yelp
I love this truck! I will literally go out of my way to come get tacos from here! So delicious and such a nice couple who own it!
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Tim O.

Yelp
I'm pretty sure Taqueria means "You're drunk" and Villanueva means "at 2 a.m. in downtown Portland" in Spanish, but I'll have to look that one up. Anytime you can a bean/rice/cheese burrito the size of your arm for $3 and you finish it in a couple of bites, you know it's damn good. Delicious homemade salsa just seal the deal.
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Kody L.

Yelp
Solid taqueria option if you're in the area. This block has no shortage of Mexican options, but feel safe with this cart. I got the chorizo burrito for $4.50. I've had better chorizo, but this was good and monstrous. I can't believe how big the burrito was: the size of my head! They have tamales, quesadillas, tacos and your basic Mexican food fair, but dine with confidence here!
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Magicka M.

Yelp
When I was going to PSU (engineering student here!! as this cart is right in front of the engineering building making it much easier to give into temptation), this is where I get my tacos! They put a real good helping of meat in there. I've tried other mexican carts and their portions of inside goodies just doesn't compare. It even includes guacamole. I manage to make a mess every time I eat it. I always request no sour cream and when I did the first time they even asked me if I wanted cheese. I thought that was weird to ask, but I take it the other people who request no sour cream are actually dairy free. So that's nice that they are looking out for ya! They even remembered me after the first day! don't even have to mention anything about that sour cream even on day two. Tacos only $1.50 and well worth the price. I'm super stuffed after 3 delicious carne asada tacos! Only thing I have to say (which is probably not changeable by their means) is the height of the truck! I'm only 5 feet tall and this cart is comparatively higher than the others in that row. Not sure how I manage to even order but it works. I almost opted to go to a different cart during my initial trials just because of that, but let me tell you that that would not be a great idea! They are pretty attentive, you really don't have to try hard or even at all to gain their attention.First cart I tried on 4th ave and I keep coming back!
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Mac M.

Yelp
Nice, quick, and perfect for filling your empty belly if you happen to be around PSU for some strange reason. Since I happen to go to PSU, it's perfectly located for me whenever I'm in the mood for a big-ass burrito. I normally procure a cheese, bean, rice, and shredded beef burrito and proceed to chow down the bastard, like a shot of bourbon, in three minutes, or less(on average). Yummy, cheesy , and savory goodness all for $5 - hard to beat that on a student's budget. My only complaint - and the reason why I only gave them 3 stars - is the lesser quality and consistency of the shredded beef. Sometimes it isn't really shredded and tender; more like rubbery and in strips - ut that's reasonably uncommon for them. Not much of a complaint really, and certainly no reason not to give them the ol' college try.
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Hannah K.

Yelp
I am rating this as a Mexican food cart. It's the best in Portland and I've tried everyone. The husband wife team who run it are always so nice to me. They have tacos for a dollar, and they're not meat, cheese and cilantro. They're meat, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, et cetera. They don't skimp in anything. You can also get a giant burrito for $5 which will be enough for three meals. I'm a Mexican food fanatic, and this place was by far the most delicious I have found anywhere in Portland. Five food cart stars.
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Jeff C.

Yelp
I'll throw in a sober review of this place, just because a lot of things can taste good at 3 AM after a night out. I grew up in southern california in a town that was primarily mexican. A lot of my friends, girlfriends, etc. were mexican, and I grew up eating a lot of really really good authentic mexican food, as well as going to mexico quite a few times. Although they don't really serve 100% authentic mexican food, it is pretty close and it is tasty, and on par with california mexican food. I don't usually like shredded beef, but I prefer it here. I stuck with the tacos for a while, but got a burrito for lunch today for $5 and it probably was a couple pounds. I still need to try some of the other stuff on the menu, but the food is hot, the (soft) drinks are cold, and the price is right.
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Jessica K.

Yelp
I'm in love with this place! The cart by PSU campus has the best veggie tacos, which consist of pinto beans, rice, onions, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and green sauce with some cilantro :) I like to add the green sauce to it, which is different than the sauce which already comes on the tacos. They are only 1.50 each, and they have a great variety of tacos to choose from. What got me started on this place was the chicken tacos, also 1.50 each. I used to slip these in between running from one class to another, but now it's all about the veggie tacos for me ;)! The service is amazing, both employees are husband and wife, and are always friendly :) I wish I lived closer to this place. Maybe it's a good thing though, I would be HUGE XD