La Cocina Reviews

First time to Portland, my wife and family friend picked La Cocina as our first food stop. Margaritas were fantastic. Wife bought chimichanga with red sauce and stated she really enjoyed her meal. Family friend ordered Chilaquiles, she also really enjoyed her meal. I ordered the shrimp ceviche and it left a lot to be desired. I consider myself a little bit of a ceviche connoisseur and really enjoy a fresh ceviche. Being in the PNW I thought this would be a slam dunk. I was a little discouraged as the bowl came out frozen which let to the sauce sticking to the bowl and I had to chisel it off. My ceviche also had no pico in it, rather a lot yams/shrimp/and a red sauce. I left wanting more, but my wife and friend really enjoyed their meal.

First up La Cocina has moved to 3901 N. Williams in Portland (not too far from their prior location). I start there because secondly, La Cocina is legit. I ordered Pozole Rojo Got the chicken version which was totally flavored in an impeccable manner. I imagine the pork (or pork/chicken combo just is a flavor bomb). From nailing the broth to including sliced cabbage to add in (not lettuce!) the dish was spot on. Right level of spice. You get this dish in Central Mexico and you’d be all right on. Only points debit as there was no Mexican oregano to add it. Since this was takeout, I had some on hand. You should too if our love Mexican cuisine. Also nailed the chips and guacamole., the added in salsas and my wife’s carne asada plate. Portland has legit Mexican food and La Cocina is right at the top of that genre. They’ll now be in my rotation.

In a city known for great food, cafes and restaurants, this is a little neighborhood spot that might be off the radar if you live outside the area or are from out of town. But if you love south of the border food, take the time to find this place. We dropped by without a reservation, there was one table open, so we had no wait (8 pm). Started with great spicy flavored margaritas and ate tostadas, tacos and the marinaded steak. Fairly reasonable dinner tab a $50.

Simple, informal place with a menu that includes a a couple of interesting things that go beyond the standards. My wife and I particularly liked the Alhambra grilled beef.

The best Mexican restaurant I've ever been! Food and prices are mind-blowing! Enchiladas, beef burrito and rice water were the best! Plenty of room for our huge stroller as a bonus :)

And the food is only slightly better. 25 minutes to get our app. Never received our drinks. My “sizzling” platter was just warm, but burnt on the bottom so it must have sizzled in the kitchen for awhile. Soup was lukewarm. None of the dishes had much flavor. Don’t waste your time or money here.

I was craving Mexican food for my birthday celebration with family. After checking out various websites we landed on La Cocina because it was family friendly, took reservations, and was not packed. We found parking just to the south of the building. Atmosphere/decor was fun and they had a lovely outdoor seating area too. Food was great! A variety of food was ordered - nachos, quesadillas, taquitos, and burritos. All reported good food. I’m giving it four stars because they charge for small portions of chips and salsa. I understand an extra charge for guacamole but it’s $9 for an order of chips, salsa, and guacamole. Another $10 was for two more chips and salsa. Overall, I would go back and order Nachos for $10 instead of the non-complimentary chips.

We picked this restaurant because they listed themselves as a gluten-free restaurant option. That is so very, very wrong. At first pass, it seems like they're gluten free. Numerous menu items had the gluten-free marking on it. I thought we had found a safe place for my mom to eat. We were wrong. Her first dish choice was the taco salad. We asked what type of shell they used and they replied, "Wheat". When we asked about the gluten-free status mentioned on the menu, he informed us there was no gluten-free option for that dish. So, strike one. Her second dish was a tamale dish, also listed as gluten-free. We figured the corn wrappers would be safe. She went to order it and he shook his head and said, "I wouldn't eat that one, either." I was shocked. Two items listed gluten-free that were not gluten-free! That's scary and dangerous. To his credit, he did help us pick something that really did have no gluten, but it was a worrisome experience. The food was delicious and even a good price. However, a food safety issue (and a pretty severe one at that), gets just one star from me. I think this is now my second ever single star review and the other one was also a food safety issue.

Some of the best home-made Mexican food that I've eaten on a long time. I had the Chile Relleno Burrito, and it was sooo good!! Done to perfection, and can be served with a green, red or mole sauce. I opted for the green sauce, and I'm glad I did, it took the dish over-the-top!! Also the service is some of the friendliest I've experienced. The owner stops by and makes sure everything is fine. And it is. So I highly recommend this place to vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. There is something for everyone here. So when you're hungry for great tasting Mexican food, go here, you (and your loved ones) will be glad you did. You will also come back for more, I know I will.

We ordered carryout dinner. The items were interesting but the taste was OK. We ordered Tostones, Fried Cauliflower, Tamales with Chicken and Salsa Mole and Jamiaca Agua and Jarritos Mandarina as drinks. The Tostones were good but accompanying beef was very dry and tasteless. The tamales were OK and mole sauce as not that great. Fried caulilfower were least flavorful. They were just large florets with minimal amount of sauce.

We stumbled into this place after arriving at our airbnb one evening. It was fabulous! We are a family of 6 and EVERYONE loved it (which is saying a lot!) The food was fresh and flavorful. We all finished our plates! As a bonus, the waitstaff was extremely nice and attentive.

FOOD - exceptional STAFF - friendly and polite SERVICE - prompt Large menu, food is served with a special touch and casual atmosphere.

While picking up a few things at the hardware store we noticed this restaurant across the street and decided to get lunch there. Wow! The best Mexican food I have ever had in the US of A. Really! Authentic and healthy, great service and nice ambience, We shared the La Costa Fish Burito and had the chips with pico de gallo and left stuffed! Already planning a trip back with family over Thanksgiving.

Love this place 💗 Great breakfasts- and coffee flavored with cinnamon. Wonderful specials- & traditional Mexican foods. we usually go for Happy Hour 2-5 pm Best deal ! Enchiladas in the most delicious mole sauce mmmmmmm Shrimp cocktail, burritos covered in spicy sauces, empanadas etc.... Plus fresh juices ! (& of course yummy drinks; ) The decor and vibe are very Mexican, bright and festive! Staff are very nice Prepare to relax and stay awhile, sometimes it takes alittle while- but soooooo worth the wait!

Authentic Mexican food at its best! What a lucky find for us as we are from Boise and chanced upon La Cocina. Everything was fantastic: the service, the margaritas, the pollo en mole !, fresh made chips still warm with pico and guacamole! Delicious! Highly recommend.

alert- they moved to 3901 N Williams Ave Portland, OR 97227.......................................................................................................................................................we had a friend eat at the ne mlk location and wanted to try it back then, but couldn't.....we cycled over to the current location yesterday for lunch and were masked up.....we ordered then sat down at the window...we then took our masks off.......i had a dos equis, and my partner had a modelo...next, i had the big taco salad with shrimp, which included guac and pico de gallo, and she had the shrimp enchilada with mole.....the atmosphere is so festive and spacious, and love the music...the staff is real nice and quick.....we enjoyed looking out the window at the downpours....the food is so delicious, we can't wait to return...we bussed our the rest of out dishes, after one of the staff took some away initially...there's another room of tables, plus seating outdoors...... ..we will bring a friend for dinner soon....thx so much

Everything was super flavorful. My husband and I had the cauliflower as an appetizer. The fajitas and tamales for our entrees. Lots of sauces and they were all really good.

The service was excellent and so is the food. The food was served quickly and hot. The flavor was wonderful, spicy, but not too spicy. The staff was very nice. Will return in the future.

I went to visit my aunt to Portland, so we tried this new restaurant, they have vegetarian food, even though I wasn't convinced I tried and I was stumbled, It was so yummy, but what hooked me up was the business owner he is so attentive and nice I am coming back next time I am in town! I would definitely recommended this place!

Absolutely delish! Been looking for a Mexican restaurant in Nopo, that was well above basic burritos but didn't get all infused with "North West Cuisine" crap. This place is perfect, great empanadas and flautus! And a very fair price!!! Top marks!

I tried this little place with my dad and son over the weekend. The margaritas are great. I loved the fact that you could get spicy margaritas (jalapeno or habanero). They'll ask you just how spicy you want it. The salsa was fresh and tasty. My dad and son had the tamales and said they were great but I think my dinner took the prize. The shrimp enchiladas in the cream sauce were fantastic. I could have gone back a couple more nights this week to have more. I will definitely be going back.

La Cocina on MLK in NE Portland is the real deal. Nothing microwaved, all authentic dishes with great spicing and ingredients. The mole is worth a trip all by itself, and the good variety of dishes are just wonderful. If you crave real Mexican home cooking with a simple but sophisticated flair, this has to be your first choice - - and the owners are lovely and inspiring people who will make you believers.

we returned a couple of times this last yr in 2023, and came back with friends for lunch yesterday....it was a rainy and cold day, and it was so nice and warm inside....i had a dos equis, and my partner had a cadillac margarita.... our friends had the same margarita, and a water...next, i had my standby taco salad with big shrimp, and 2 had the enchilada with mole sauce, one with shrimp....our other friend had the chile relleno with corn tortillas.....the food/drink is excellent, and the place is cozy....it's very festive and optimistic....the staff, we've had her before is so friendly, and informative....we love coming here...thx so much!

Fantastic food and service! Honestly the best Mexican food I've had outside of Mexico. The food was SO flavorful. Everyone at the table had a seriously enjoyable meal. And they have 3 house made hot sauces. The habanero is delicious (and hot!). Amazing menu, I will be returning to try everything.

I visited La Cocina several times in the past and absolutely loved the food and the margaritas. The service, however, was pedestrian at best. This was a small restaurant which has now doubled in size. The best part is that they have added new wait staff which are all super and the food is as good if not better than before. I tried a nightly special of baked, layered enchiladas with chicken, fajita type beef, poblanos, corn, mushrooms, cheese and a wonderful creamy sauce. This is true Mexican food at it's finest.

What a great find! On a somewhat desolate strip of Martin Luther King, in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland, this was a great, authentic Mexican gem. I had pozole with shredded chicken, and my husband had fabulous fish tacos. They weren't battered in the typical Baja fashion, but were even tastier for that reason. I had a passionfruit margarita, which was large, tart-sweet and super-tasty!

I am visiting from Michigan and wanted Mexican. Good choice. Lots of yummy choices and more corn based than wheat based. I have a gluten sensitivity and everything I ate was fine. Sopecitos, nachos, empanadas and tamales. The black beans were PERFECT. Great margs and an awesome mojito too.

Stoped in for a drink and ended up getting a fish taco as well. The drinks and food were excellent. We got the house margaritas. Delicious.

We have eaten here twice and won't got back. Too many carrots! Our salad was covered in chopped carrots and loads if sliced red onion. Yuk! My veggie enchiladas were filled with - you guessed it, carrots! Good margaritas, good service. But, the food just isn't quality and it's not cheap. Drinks way too high for that neck of the woods!

I popped into this place with my family last year and thought it was pretty good, but it had been a long tiring day and I was starving. So I decided to try it again under more normal circumstances, I actually chose it as the place to eat for a business meeting. Everyone LOVED their meals. I had the kale and quinoa salad with salmon. Others had an assortment of tamales and one posole. Everyone raved. The music is a little loud but otherwise great atmosphere very nice wait staff. Very inviting, I will definitely for back again. They don't take reservations but I told them I had a group of six coming in for a business meeting and they did set up a table for us.

A group of 5 us ate here. There is a few on street parking. There is a small lot behind the restaurant. They have a nice patio for seating. The ambiance is pretty authentic. The server was a little slow. It took several minutes to be greeted. Only 3 tables in the place. The food came out pretty quick. We had tostones for an appetizer. It had really good flavor. Topped with radish, onion and carne asada. I had ordered 3 tacos (they are single entree) I had a conchanita pibil--it was very tasty. I got a Al Pastor--also pretty good. And a Carne asada. (all tacos only topped with onion and cilantro, as it should be). The other's entrees were good as well. A pretty traditional flavorful food.

I was with some friends on this last Saturday the 1st of October. My husband and I were from out of town visiting for the weekend. We love to go out and experience the night life and food in Portland. We ended up at La Cocina. As we all ordered I really didn't expect to receive the good service and spectacular food. My burrito came out (I ordered the La Costa Burrito with shrimp) and I was so excited to dig in. I was really hungry! :) I cant believe how amazing this burrito was. All of the flavors and the freshness! I just can't tell you how yummy and tasty it was and how much fun we had having drinks and enjoying our food. Our friends around the table including my husband had to try it. They were all shocked as well. I wasn't able to finish it because I was really full. But my husband did not hesitate to eat it all up. Happy with this place and we will definitely be back to Portland and I will be coming back to enjoy another La Costa Burrito!

We found this restaurant in the neighborhood where we were staying for our Portland visit. It was small and unassuming, but we were hungry and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised. Upon the staff recommendation, we got the large guacamole that comes in a mortar and pestle container. It was really delicious! Our other entrees were great as well. We considered coming back a few nights later, but sadly the restaurant had already closed for the night.

Typically mexican paintings and music. Not a chi-chi restaurant, my "nachos con pollo con guacamole" was exactly as I ordered and my friend liked her "tamales con carne" We did not try any dessert. Service was prompt and courteous and our wait person spoke back in mexican. The pico de gallo was perfecto.

Went in for happy hour. Food was very good. We had enchiladas and empanadas. Both were tasty. Drinks were good. Everything had a nice presentation. Our server was friendly and polite. The staff works as a team.

I've eaten lunch here for the past four days in a row. This is the Mexican food restaurant I've been waiting for in Portland for the past 20 years. Lots of vegan options. Fantastic!

We were looking for Mexican food in N/NE Portland so we stopped in fairly early on a Wednesday evening. Service was excellent, very helpful. Had a yummy guava margarita and a jalapeno margarita. We wanted to try everything so we sampled 4 kinds of tacos, alambre, chips and salsa. Everything was delicious!

Having grown up in Los Angeles and traveled extensively to Mexico finding great Mexican food in Portland is always a delight. We live in the neighborhood and have already eaten there 3 times since discovering this place. There is food for all culinary types canivores, vegans, gluten free. All the traditional dishes and many creative flares. It is all amazing and healthy !!

Ok, I can't do spicy AT ALL and I should have vetoed Mexican but 3 against 1, I went. Ordered 2 soups because the 1st one, Hominy, was way too spicy, was gladly taken back to try tortilla soup which was still too spicy for little ol me. I ate a little off my husband's plate. Get this: they did NOT charge us for either soup ordered!!! Everyone else was super satisfied with everything. Ya gotta love people who aim to please and aren't greedy for money.

We were so pleased to find this restaurant in our part of town. We’ve been looking for a favorite Mexican restaurant, and we may finally have found it. It’s an attractive place with great service, and it has a large menu that includes lots of dishes you don’t find elsewhere, as well as the old favorites. The food has a lot of flavor, and they make a great house margarita!

It's kind of a hole-in-the-wall, but the service and food couldn't be better. Their portions are good-sized, and their house-made mole is some of the best I've ever had. It's become our "go-to" for Mexican food.

we came back for lunch yesterday with friends, and sat inside due to rain....i had a pacifico and my partner had a dos equis....our friends had water....next i had the big taco salad with only veggie, no meat/seafood....she had the brussel sprouts and a grilled fish taco, plus a shrimp taco....our friends had the chimichanga and the other had a veggie burrito.....the food/drink is great, the staff is so nice and quick.....the ambiance is relaxing with lots of decorations and color.....great service all around, as it was busy....thx

My husband, our two adult children, and I sought out this restaurant after several closer to our rental didn't work out (one had to close early with water problems and the other was more fast-food than sit-down). La Cocina turned out to be a wonderful option! We took a walk to find La Cocina, and we were very happy that we'd done so. The food was delicious and the service helpful and friendly in this very casual place. I had the Ahambra (lots of meat and vegetables); my son had a burrito with pork; my husband had the two enchiladas (one with chicken--shredded white meat, and one with carnitas) that were outstanding, and with a green sauce; my daughter had the same mixture of enchiladas, but with outstanding mole. The chips and salsa are worth the small extra price. In short, if we lived in Portland, we'd be here very often. This is a very good, casual place, worth trying.

You can't beat the authentic food at La Cocina. Everything is delicious and huge portions. I visited and got the quinoa salad with salmon and it was fantastic. The portion was large and the amount of salmon was incredible for only $13. There were 5 large strips of salmon along with the salad. Everything is fresh and the salmon was cooked perfectly. Everything on the menu is around $7-$15. I was very impressed with La Cocina and will definitely be back.

I ordered HONGOS Y ESPINACAS QUESADILLA. I was very pleased with my meal. It was a spinach tortilla filled with gooey cheese, yum. Be adventurous. My husband got chicken tacos -- boring.