Tienda Santa Cruz

"Hidden behind a small mercado in downtown St. Johns, Tienda Santa Cruz is a cult favorite for rich and porky carnitas tacos, burritos the size of a small child harboring a full half-avocado, and some bright-red caldos. But the true star of this hole-in-the-wall is the avocado salsa, so popular that the restaurant has set limits on how much anyone can take. Stop in and order some burritos to take to Cathedral Park, just down the street." - Rebecca Roland, Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"Hidden behind a St. Johns mercado and panaderia, this no-frills taqueria is known for its lime-laden avocado salsa, so beloved that the owners have set limits on how much one diner can take. The salsas are a welcome addition to the shop’s gargantuan burritos, straining to contain mounds of cabeza or carnitas. However, a bowl of the restaurant’s deeply rich and broody menudo is hard to beat, avocado salsa or not." - Krista Garcia, Eater Staff

"Officially a panaderia featuring house-baked sweet breads, Tienda Santa Cruz feels more like a mercado, thanks to the aisles of Mexican provisions and colorful piñatas throughout the shop. The real secret is the cafeteria-style taqueria in the back, where you’ll find some of Portland’s most heavenly tacos, burritos, tostadas, and more. Signs peppered throughout the space detail the restaurant’s strict limits on its zingy sauces, but be sure to try the pastor tacos with as much of the obsession-inducing red sauce as the rules allow." - Kara Stokes

"It's well established that this tiny St. Johns tienda slings some of the neighborhood’s finest tacos. Standouts are the lengua, carnitas, and tacos al pastor, given some extra oomph with the restaurant’s garlicky, bright avocado salsa. Santa Cruz also excels at meats such as buche, cueritos, and cabeza." - Nathan Williams, Ron Scott

"Hidden behind a small mercado in downtown St. Johns, Tienda Santa Cruz is a cult favorite for rich and porky carnitas tacos, burritos the size of a small child harboring a full half-avocado, and some bright-red caldos. But the true star of this hole-in-the-wall is the avocado salsa, so popular that the restaurant has set limits on how much anyone can take. Stop in and order some burritos to take to Cathedral Park, just down the street." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden