Last year the survey order was Autentica, Por Que No & Nuestra Cocina. This year things swapped around, with a new restaurant in the mix. Though the category received 1096 votes, the lower-ranked restaurants individually received more votes. This dilutes the pool a bit, and shows that we have more of what PFD readers consider “good” Mexican food.
With the addition of Corazon, Mextiza (same owner as Autentica) and Mi Mero Mole to the mix, the competition will only get stronger. As it is, Mi Mero Mole, a relatively new restaurant, came out of nowhere to fall only two tenths of a point behind well-established 3rd place ¿Por Que No? That’s a great showing for a new business in a city where there is so much passion for this type of food. Mi Mero took some votes from both Autentica and ¿Por Que No?, which has affected their ranking. Overall, it is good to see some of these restaurants on the list – it gives me hope for Mexican food in Portland.
1096 votes were cast:
1. Nuestra Cocina – 16.8% of the vote. 2135 Southeast Division Street Portland, OR 97202 Map (503) 232-2135 My review
2. Autentica – 14.6%. 5507 Northeast 30th Ave., Portland, OR. 97211 (503) 287-7555. My review3. ¿Por Que No? – 11.5%. My Review
- 3524 North Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR. 97227 Map (503) 467-4149
- 4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR. 97215 Map (503) 954-3138
4. Mi Mero Mole– 11.3%. 5026 SE Division St., Portland, OR. 97215 Map (503) 232-8226
5. Mextiza – 4.6%. 2103 N. Killingsworth, Portland OR. 97217 Map (503) 289-37096. La Bonita – 3.8%. 2839 Northeast Alberta Street Portland, OR. 97211 Map (503) 281-3662
7. Cha Cha Cha – 3.1% of the vote
- 4727 NE Fremont, Portland OR. 97213 Map (503) 595-9131
- 3808 N. Williams, Portland OR. 97227 Map (503) 281-1655
- 1208 NW Glisan, Portland OR. 97209 Map (503) 221-2111
- 2635 NE Broadway, Portland OR. 97232 Map (503) 288-1045
- 3433 SE Hawthorne, Portland OR. 97214 Map (503) 236-1100
- 1605 SE Bybee Blvd, Portland OR. 97202 Map (503) 232-0437
- 11008 SE Main, Portland OR. 97222 Map (503) 659-2193
- 305 NW 21st Ave., Portland OR. 97209 Map (503) 295-4077
8a. (tie) Fonda Rosa – 2.1%. 108 Northeast 28th Avenue Portland, OR 97232 Map (503) 235-3828
8b.
Trebol– 2.1%. 4835 North Albina Avenue Portland, OR 97217 Map (503) 517-93479. La Calaca Comelona -2%. 2304 Southeast Belmont Street Portland, OR 97214 Map (503) 239-9675
10. Tienda Santa Cruz– 1.8% 8630 North Lombard Street Portland, OR 97203 Map (503) 289-2005
View Reader Survey 2012: Best Mexican Food in Portland in a larger map
Sellwood Mafia says
Cha Cha Cha – really…?
Food Dude says
Different strokes…
pdxyogi says
Wouldn’t be so concerned about Cha Cha Cha. It took them eight locations to muster a measly 3%. Sorta like Mio Sushi’s seven locations yielding 3.8%. When you figure that by votes per location, it’s statistically a non-existent showing.
Food Dude says
I agree
Sellwood Mafia says
Hadn’t thought of it that way… guess that’s why I struggled in my Statistics class way back when. Good point, thx
rouxster says
my thoughts exactly
extramsg says
Sweet, by that logic, we’re twice as good as Por Que No. Chupalo, Bryan! ;-)
Aestro says
Mi Mero Mole taking 4th when it’s brand-spanking new is pretty impressive. Granted, Nick’s never been shy about promoting himself (with good reason).
E says
So these places are all great for a nicer night out, but is there a different list for best CHEAP mexican food restaurants (aside from the carts?)
Food Dude says
Mi Mero Mole, Por Que No, and Cha Cha Cha are all what most people would call cheap.
joe says
any Mexican place that doesn’t have serve chips and salsa sucks. Por que no is a tasteless and over priced joke. Cha cha at least has good tortilla soup. Autentico? Pretentious…ico. $20 dishes? I’ll eat sushi if I’m going to spend that much on a dish. Portland has great fusionie restaurants but if you want straight up sushi straight up Korean, straight up Mexican…than drive to Hillsboro and Beaverton.
Food Dude says
Los Gorditos would have been #11