Lechon Reviews

It was our honeymoon and so I planned a special evening out. They could not seat us outside as reserved which started the evening out bad… we took seats at the bar which translated into being forgotten all night…. Round one of drinks took 27 minutes even after our inquiry. Appetizer was literally given to another couple who questioned the delivery. Ours came with my order of short ribs 52 minutes in. Second round of drinks were ordered upon my meal delivery and came 23 minutes later…. Still no scallops delivered that my new wife ordered. We asked about them to the dark haired bartender (only identifying because the other guy was doing everything). He said he would check but the proceeded to just keep working and never inquired. Finally our vacant waiter showed back up. We inquired about the scallops. We are now close to an hour and 45 minutes in and a good 50 minutes since my meal had been delivered…. The had obviously been sitting ready for sometime - cold and inedible. Bad night? I would think so but others we asked said that the place had really gone downhill. Don’t blame Covid or staffing. Bad service is bad service. EXPENSIVE AND NOT WORTH IT!!

What a funky place! Although they have been open about 5 years, tonight was our first visit and we absolutely loved it! We ordered Tapas style and although I had my heart set on steak, we shared everything including the steak and we loved every single dish. The staff were all amazing, we liked the ambiance and yes, We will go again!

We came Saturday at 3pm, I was expecting dinner menu but they offer that manu after 4:30 pm. Food overall is good just some service issues is my compleint. Beer arrived at room temperature and after the tapas starterd to arrive, fried chicken was delicious but cold and restrooms were very dirty. I asked for a dessert Wich was ok nothing special and arrived 15 minutes later. Restaurant wasn't so busy . I would like to give a try it for dinner maybe service will be better ...

Probably the best steak we've ever had was at this wonderful little Argentinan/Latin restaurant. They had a wonderful drink menu as well as tapas. The bar tender was excellent and the food was incredibly fresh and amazing.

I found this restaurant on Trip Advisor, a great little restaurant with a variety of excellent dishes. Options for vegetarian were good. I had the Foraged Mushrooms which was superb. Service was good and location ideal. Great value for money

Everyone says you come to Portland to eat and drink. They’re right! We wanted to try something unique and different. From the moment we walked in the door, we knew we hit a gold mine. The ambiance is so inviting and the food is unreal. Peruvian fried chicken bites are like nothing you’ve had before and the cocktails were very unique and delicious. The food came out so fast and our waitress staggered our courses perfectly. Service was exceptional. For what we got we felt our money was well spent and we can’t wait to go back with friends.

This is terrific South American tapas restaurant; we had the Chef’s tasting menu so we had the opportunity to try a wide range of interesting dishes. The stand out for me was the short rib empanada. The food and presentation are certainly upscale. The decor and vibe are kind of youthful and rustic - very Portland. The one “complaint” I would have is with the wine list. I felt it was too limited, particularly on the higher end of the reds. I would bring a nice bottle of a Reserva Rioja or the like next time to maximize the experience. Overall, I would rate this a “must go” place for fine dining tapas.

We had a wonderful dinner with friends enjoying the Peruvian influenced food. The pork chops were fantastic and the chicken was beautifully prepared. The wine list had some personal varietal favorites at reasonable prices. All in all an enjoyable evening.

The food was VERY Good and nicely presented. Some entirely new items/presentations/ recipes ... I understand it is not PURE S.AMerican but with a 'twist"

Im not made of money but Ive eaten around all the country for 45 years. It was a major hobby before we had kids. Portland is probably the to city in the states now for quality and diversity. I would be afraid to open anything else here in town---its been done, being done and its great. Lechon really has no rivals with what it does. Back to the money---its a mixture of very good pricing and somewhat on the high side but Oh My God I could put a hammock in there and eat every day for the rest of my life. Their get together special nights are a GREAT value with everything included for a flat fee. . Im looking for a second job just so I can eat there daily!!! MMMMM the octopus, mushrooms etc. The meats must be from heavenly farms sent down here to make us want the afterlife! About the 'value' meter on this site. If we consider you can get a whole baked chicken at Costco for 5 bucks then Lechons food for the money 'value' is low, haha. If you want quality then its value is very high. I gave it a value rating of 5 though Im sure the site means this to be a food amount vs dollar rating Compliments to the Chef. I highly recommend Lechon. (No---I do not know any of the owners or workers, lol) This review got me worked up I have to go there---darn its now closed!

LeChon is a South American cuisine inspired tapas restaurant on the waterfront in downtown Portland. A large tapas menu with meats, fish, and many vegetarian options allows for trying multiple dishes. We had shrimp ceviche, scallops, cauliflower, patatas bravas and foraged mushrooms dishes. All were excellent with interesting flavors and methods of preparation. They had fun and different drinks including mocktails for our non alcohol drinker. Service was attentive and friendly. All in all, a great culinary experience!!

We tried both the piquillo pepper and fried pork empanadas. Wonderful, light and flaky crust! The choripan was good, but it felt like eating a fancy hot link. The duck wings are scrumptious. I will dream about the bacon-wrapped duck breast. Sooo tender and flavorful! We had to order the pork belly. I am a big fan of pork belly, but this was probably my least favorite dish here. The pork belly just didn't have much flavor. I regretted not going with the smoked bone marrow instead. Good service

We went to Lechon with a group of 10. The small plates were perfect for sharing around the group. We ordered numerous items so everyone got to sample a variety of dishes. There was something for everyone, vegetarian, seafood, beef, spicy, not spicy. Everyone was very pleased with the food and the presentation and atmosphere of the restaurant was all very nice. Not fancy, but nice. The service was very good as well. I look forward to going again. I do think it is more fun with a group but the food was excellent and would be good with just a few as well.

After three years of living in Portland (roughly how long the restaurant has existed) and walking past this restaurant many times en route to the Saturday Market, we finally tried it. After being severely disappointed recently by some supposedly great restaurants in Portland, Lechon came as a really pleasant surprise. The long, thin space manages to feel cosy and bustling all at the same time. The variety of seating arrangements - booths, tables, three different bar style areas - makes great use of the room and avoids the usual formal layout of most restaurants. You are predisposed to like the food just by walking into Lechon. And then the food arrives. And it is exactly as promised: a creative blending of traditional South American cuisines, leaning heavily on Argentina, with inventive touches both local and international. The food is spicy without going too far. Argentina is famous for its way with steak and Lechon follows in those footsteps. The dinner menu is far more extensive than lunch but that's not to say you aren't spoiled for choice at lunchtime too! And there, among the more typical South American flavors is a tried and true burger...possibly one of the better ones to be had in Portland. So don't worry about taking friends here who may be put off by the expectation of just more Mexican style food or of hot, spicy fare - Lechon's is a varied and extremely well thought out menu with something for every taste. The wine list is excellent, obviously biased to Malbec and other South American favorites but featuring a nice selection of world wines and local Pinot Noir. I am not a cocktail drinker so I will leave other reviewers to comment on those. Lechon has made it onto our list of places we will happily return to. The 3% health and wellness addition to the check is a non-issue. I personally prefer it when restaurants (like Park Kitchen) go the whole way and say no tipping - adding in whatever service charge allows them to offer full benefits to their staff. But if the 3% rubs you the wrong way, go ahead and reduce your tip by the same amount. However, something tells me after tasting the food and enjoying the friendly service you will not feel that is merited.

So my wife and I wandered in here based on the recommendation of the front end person at our hotel. It was some of the best advice we've gotten. We sat at the bar - the bartenders were polite, friendly, helpful - just great. We had the happy hour margaritas to start with. Amazing. Smoked salt, cucumber, not too citrusy - not too cucumbery - just perfect. With that we had the shrimp ceviche. Best we've ever had. Accompanied by in house made casava chips. Delicious! Then the foraged mushrooms. Delicious! Would definitely recommend and will definitely return.

A really unique place with great food, employees & atmosphere. They have a short happy hour with great prices, Id recommend going for that and trying multiple apps.

They sat us at the high two top at the end of the pass at the end of the kitchen. This table is an island in the middle of a very, VERY busy shipping channel. Always have the breeze of someone walking by. And the joyous view of the expediter constantly pulling up his pants. Onto the food. Meet and cheese plate was perfect. Fried olives were tasty and as expected. Peruvian fried chicken bites were room temperature and soggy. Pork belly was amazing, flavorful and just plane yummy and the highlight of the meal. Bone marrow is overcooked,overpowered by the capers pico salsa they poured over the top. Pastrami empanadas were more cheese than meat by far. Cooked perfectly tho. A nice end to our meal. Service bizarre and uneven. Staff running into one another. ...our chairs being bumped into one moment, then our table being ignored the next. Dessert menu looked as if more sticky fingers had handled that one piece of paper than necessary.. even the lettering was worn off on some of them so i passed. Thank you for taking the read this and know that i say those things too help.

OK, fourth time or so at Lechon, so I must know it by now...but the menu changed. We met friends there on a Monday night, a holiday. It was busy and we were seated in the rear of the restaurant in a small room with 3 other tables. Very noisy tables too. It was difficult to have a conversation, but we managed. I had the shrimp ceviche as appetizer. Very spicy but very good. Then the brined pork chop for entree. Very good and nicely done. My wife had the Peruvian chicken. She liked it a lot. But...the same problem as before. The plates were brought out one at a time, with some minutes between the first and the last. Oh well, we'll go again some time.

Wonderful South-American inspired food. Among the very best we had. Ambience is not the best in the back, sitting at the bottom of what is essentially a 4-story commercial staircase, and service can be slow, but the food more than makes up for it. Pricing is quite reasonable considering the food quality.

Amazing vibe. Busy restaurant. There wasn’t anything that we didn’t like. Gluten free accommodations. We had Shrimp Ceviche, Grilled Octopus, Foraged Mushrooms, Corn & Cheese Fritters, Smoked Beef Marrow & Beef Short Ribs. Everything was fresh, hot and delicious. Not overwhelmed by sauce. Highly recommend!

I have dined at a number of restaurants that specialize in South American cuisine, but I believe that this one is one of the best. I was impressed with variety of menu offerings, so that it was easy for everyone to find something that they really wanted to eat. The evening we went to the restaurant it was cold and raining, so I wanted something warm- a "comfort food". However, I could not pass up one of their excellent cerviches. For my main course I chose a hearty pork belly stew with dumplings, which was perfect and delicious. Everyone enjoyed their selections. We brought our own wine so I cannot comment on their wine list. We were a party of six and the restaurant was full, but despite that the service was quite fast, but not too fast. I was also favorably impressed by the cost of our meals, which averaged about $40 per person without wine, which I thought was quite reasonable for downtown Portland. Overall, this was both an interesting and a delicious dining experience.

We came here after visiting the art museum as a spur-of-the-moment thing. So glad we came. We managed to make reservations online with a last time slot that fit our needs. The atmosphere is inviting. The jellyfish tank and regular fish tank add a fun ambiance. The staff was very polite and attentive. Our server had good customer service skills (sense of humor and all). The drinks were both very good (properly made). I had the pineapple gin drink and my significant other had some smokey drink (looked fun when they were pouring it in front of you, it was called 'what the chef's drinking' or something). We ordered several dishes and shared. We had a mushroom dish, crab dish,and octopus dish - all wonderful (well prepared, well seasoned, total balance). We will definitely return to try other items.

Lee hon serves South American food. It is best to share the many tapas that are on the menu including,duck wings, bread, beef and pasta. Excellent service.

We arrived at Portland, OR from a different time zone, in time for an early dinner (by local standard) to sample multiple tapas at Happy Hour. LeChon is located across the Riverfront Tom McCall Park with street-side tables - perfect for casual dinner under accommodating evening weather. Although we were aware of the Latino leanings of LeChon, we were nonetheless impressed by the exquisite range of seasoning presented in small plates. My daughter hogged the Yuca fritters, whose flavor was a notch above the common potato chips. Both foraged mushrooms and the smoked and slow-roasted pork tacos presented with freshness and layered flavors to be savored time after time. Sauteed mussels were a bit overdone but nonetheless memorable. A must-visit for foodies while in Portland.

This is my second time to eat here and it did not disappoint. Great food and service. Very happening vibe. Some portions are tapas and some are entrees so be sure how much you order. My wife and I enjoyed this place a lot.

We were so looking forward to our dinner at LeChon but were disappointed on several levels. Two of the three items we ordered were very good but really, 3 ribs for $28! And the grilled Octopus for $17 when there were more potatoes than octopus! And the chicken which the waiter highly recommended was cooked unevenly. The dark meat was fine but the white meat was overcooked and dry. When we told the waiter he asked what he could bring us but we had already finished eating 10 minutes before. The waiter didn't offer or take anything off the bill which was surprising. Our drinks were good but I had to have mine altered a bit. The $98 bill for what we ate was much higher than what we get at other restaurants where the food is as good and much less expensive. Too bad - we won't be returning... too many other choices in Portland

We really enjoyed our meal at Lechon. The food was good. I would recommend dining inside as opposed to outside due to the large homeless population in the area. We dined outside. A few of the homeless people walked through the outdoor dining area during our meal.

I rarely get to Portland city center for lunch but I was at a professional conference here and the food was just great -- had the steak sandwich and the vegetarian sandwich -- as was the service. We will come her for dinner ASAP but I'm already sold. the only problem is that the streets around here are currently torn up, so be prepared.

This will officially mark the first time I've given a 5 star review to a restaurant that gave us sub-par service. I have to say that I was far too blown away by the dishes to give Lechon anything but a 5 star. So let's get down to the food. We started the night with the smoked bone marrow. I think most of us know right off the bat that most bone marrow dishes are above average. But the caper mustard relish that they had it topped off with was out of this world amazing. The second dish we had was the avocado and smoked trout toast. Light and deliciously seasoned. The highlight of the night for me was my matambre dish. This Argentinian stuffed steak was cooked to perfection with all the the amazing veggies and herbs inside of it. And our last dish of the night was the spicy Manila clams. If you love seafood and you love spicy, this is the way to go. An awesome balance of sweet and savory. My only complaint is the 20 minute wait it took for us after seating for anyone to come and take our order. But like i said, I love the food too much for any docked stars here.

My husband were in the mood for tapas after enjoying a great play. We found LeChon which was about 17 minutes from out theater. We were very lucky to get seating at the bar area near the Oyster Bar. We had no idea how popular this restaurant is. Our waiter, James, got us started on drinks as we decided on the delicious tapas we would eat. Every small plate was delightful! The menu changes daily but I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. The atmosphere is great.

Nice spot to relax. Friendly service with pleasant outdoor tables. Good food - wide variety of small bites. Particularly Enjoyed the empanadas- although different than those served in south Florida. Would definitely return.

We took advantage of the Portland Dining Month $33.00 a person meal. This was one of the best experiences we have had over the years with Portland Dining Month. LeChon served a six course dinner with a South American flair that featured an unusual empanada, tune poke, a wonderful salad, beef sirloin shis-ka-bob, a pork belly rice dish, finished with a fantastic chocolate brownie and mango ice cream. Total for the evening, including 1 beer and 2 glasses of wine and tip was was a well-worth it $90.00. The only sour note was a 3%, unannounced addition the the bill to provide health insurance for the staff. As a former business owner who provided benefits to my employees, I feel that this is a concern between the owner and his or her staff, and can be covered in the price of the dinner. My customers would not have appreciated an addition to the bill at checkout when purchasing a pepper mill or a coffee maker. That said, we will return, the food is great!

Lechon hit a home run for our dozen-person wedding banquet this week. We booked a special room (in the back and perfect for our modest sized group) with attentive and friendly service by Michael. Food wonderfully exceeded all expectations -- even for this foodie crew. Gaucho bread was rich and garlicky . . . Shrimp ceviche came with avocados and peppers and sauces . . . Spring green and fennel salad was crunchy with radishes and sunflower seeds . . . the lamb chops were heavenly, tender, delicious, perfectly roasted . . . Peruvian roasted chicken (#1 favorite!) was unusual mix adding roasted corn cob slice, sweet potatoes, salsa criolla, and lime . . . Patatas were with charred salsa verde . . . Cauliflower with (get this!) snap peas, pickled cherries, tahini [not too much], and almonds (a vegetarian delight) . . . and the salted chocolate tarte was even a tiny bit spicy. Thanks to Lechon for an impressive meal! Not exactly cheap eats but -- as other reviewers have noted -- this place delivers excellent food and real value in downtown Portland. Certainly "Worth a Detour" anytime you are in the PDX area.

This place knows how to impress. From the moment you walk in you are made to feel special. Great staff, and awesome food. The atmosphere was really cosy and welcoming. I will go back there in a heartbeat.

This, is how I love to eat. Brazilian themed restaurant with lots of delicious small plates so you can eat as much or as little as you want and share. Everything we ordered was fantastic, drinks were good and the restaurant had a great vibe. On a warm night, sidewalk seating looks nice, bar seating has views of 2 big salt water fish tanks or the kitchen cooking up the nights deliciousness. We were greeted in with a big friendly smile from the hostess who took care of us even though we had no reservations (which you should, Tuesday night was packed). Our waiter was not really great as he didn't even introduce himself and seemed nervous. When we asked what he recommend that was great, he said the pork belly (hunk of fat, that I don't love) and the Marrow dish....you got it.....fat. They have 20 other really great choices, so I guess he likes fat. Anyway, Clayton stepped in, was excellent, took the order, checked in on us several times and we were impressed. All was right with the world. Definitely would find this place, on the park, near the waterfront.

Everything was amazing about this experience! From the location/view, decor, fabulous drinks, and Felicia bites!!! I wish there was one in my home state!

Beautiful old building with exposed brick, and wonderful aquariums (one saltwater fish and one jellyfish). Great starters and entrees with interesting flavors. Salmon and steak entrees were amazing. Try the Banana caramel pie for dessert.

As soon as you walk in the door you get the feeling that this will be the place you have been searching for. Its a warm, comfortable long open space that has defined seating areas. Booths, bar, counters, high tables by the open kitchen and low tables towards the back, make it feel like several restaurants in one. We were promptly seated and warmly greeted by Vashti our server who was both engaging and very informative of both the menu and the wine list. Somewhat overwhelmed by the vast selection of South American offerings that appealed to us we opted for the 5 course fixed price dinner (which also included a cocktail) and put our faith in the chef. It was a very good decision. The starter salt cod fritters were crisp on the outside and savory on the inside with a delicious aioli, followed by the Vietnamese skewers that had chunks of tender umami flavored beef. Vashti recommended a great Malbec which we enjoyed with the roasted hen and squash and cauliflower side accented with pork belly lardons. Dessert followed. Then the check... Lechon made dining great again! I'll be back!

Had a delicious dinner here with tapas. Great selection of food and cocktails. I love that if you are hungry, order more food. If you are not that hungry, 2 tapas is enough. We liked the pisco cocktail and the caipirinha cocktail. Reminds us of South America. The food came as they are ready. The salad with goat cheese is excellent. The foraged mushrooms is yummy ** For me, it was a worthy stop. I would dine here again next time I'm in Portland.

Wow! The food was just excellent. Not some of it, all of it! We had 8-9 dishes between the 3 of us and every one was prepared with great flavor. Even the vegetable ceviche which frankly sounds somewhat boring was outstanding! A must visit in Ptown.

Great food and spectacular service. Staff were very accommodating to our needs and tasted excellent. Definitely worth the wait and hype.

The food at Lechon is spectacular, granted I’ve only had items off their happy hour menu. Ordering off the happy hour menu is a great way to explore a variety of food that a restaurant has to offer without having to commit to one entrée and pricier items. I’ve had several of their happy hour items and my favorites are the; sautéed mussels, edamame with ceviche, any of their specialty empanadas, mushroom & egg on toasted brioche and their burrata (no longer on happy hour just the dinner menu which starts at 5pm). I’ve also had the banana carmel pie, meringue which is really good and tastes like a fancier version of banana pudding (the soul food version lol). I would highly recommend ANY of those dishes. Today I will be talking in detail about two of those dishes. Dish #1 foraged mushrooms and seabeans, farm egg, aged parmesan, toasted brioche, caramelized onion puree, herbs* (v) This is a vegetarian dish (which makes no difference to me) that is a must have…must eat! It’s an over easy egg that is on lightly toasted, deliciously flavored and fluffy brioche (a fancy bread) and under the bread is a very well-seasoned mushroom and caramelized onion gravy. It “sounds” weird but compliments to the chef for putting these three items together. Once the egg is opened, the yolk seeps down into the deliciously herb topped buttery toast and if you dig your fork all the way to the bottom and bring it back up, you are able to get some of the smooth, rich gravy and maybe even a perfectly sautéed mushroom or two. All of these flavors in your mouth feel like a circus performance, a really good circus performance. Like the one where so many cool and awesome things are happening and you are not sure where to look and you have to keep scanning the arena to not miss an act. That’s exactly what was going on in my mouth. I can taste each food item individually while simultaneously tasting them all together to get the full performance. At the same time, it’s not overbearing. None of the ingredient's presence is stronger or overshadows the others and the taste is substantial enough to delight the taste buds on your tongue but not overpowering that it’s too much going on. And most importantly, it makes for a pretty Instagram photo. Dish #2 piquillo pepper empanadas, caramelized onions, monterey jack, fontina cheese, ancho aioli (v) This is also another vegetarian dish that is one of my favorites and that I’ve ordered each visit. This specific menu item has changed each time as far as what type of empanada is available. The first time I visited Lechon, I had the beef brisket empanada which was so good! The brisket was smoked and then marinated (well, honestly I don’t know the order in which it was prepared and cooked but would bet money that it was prepped about 126 times cuz it was that darn good). This visit, I could not choose so I ordered both (I had a friend with me to help me finish them to the last crumb) and if I went back, I still wouldn’t be able to choose and would be inclined to order both again. The piqullo pepper one had Monterey cheese melted with pepper spices that made for a tangy yet savory (and a hint of sweet) taste. It was not too spicy (my spice capability is fairly low), very gooey and not the sticky, messy kind but almost…sensual flow (get your mind out the gutter) that would go wherever it was directed (into my mouth of course (omg…get your mind out of the gutter!). The second empanada that had the fontina cheese, was milder and had a more…sophisticated taste (we were not worthy) and mixed with a smoky and earthy flavor provided by the aioli. This was surprisingly a bit spicier but again, did not take away from the flavor and tastiness of this dish. Another pleasant surprise was that this dish came with two empanadas so my friend and I were able to have one of each. Once you bit into either empanada the crust was lightly flaky and had absorbed the contents inside into its crust. Unlike other empanadas I’ve tasted, it was NOT a hard rock capsule or to the other extreme, doughy. Lechon empanadas are baked to perfection. Crispy and golden brown like a perfectly baked pie crust and very inviting to dive into it more. In the words of my friend who accompanied me, “it’s not like the crust of bread where you want to peel it off…it flowed well into what was coming next.” Her comment made me think of my other favorite hobby which is going to the movie theater. The crust of the empanada was like watching the previews before the movie starts. It’s not the reason why you are there but it is a part of the whole experience of going to the theater. Pricing:The pricing for happy hour items is a bit on the expensive side compared to other happy hour prices. Hmm, like, it’s affordable but not what I would consider a cheap happy hour. The happy hour menu ranges from $2-$11 per dish but for the dishes I like to order the average price is $8-$9ea. It’s a restaurant you go to when you are trying to impress a tourist but you make sure you go during happy hour times. Drinks: I’ve had a drink or two each time I’ve gone but nothing memorable.

We had some amazing jfood adventures when we were in Portland - but this was the standout restuarant. It is Tapas style and the food was really really tasty. I especially enjoyed the cerviche, the gauncho bread (TO DIE FOR Chummichuri) and a delcious salad. I tried a lot of other dishes - just tastes and although the meat platter was a hit - not my thing. We were pleasantly stuffed when we left. I would recommend without hesitation - the service was attentive, timing was perfect and everyone in my group of 10 thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I would suggest a reservation - it was quite busy when we left (we got there early).

The food was amazing however the service was not good. We ordered four small plates. The first two arrived on a timely basis however it took another 20 minutes for the next two to arrive. Moreover we wanted a second glass of wine which took 20 minutes to arrive. We had much more interaction with other servers who were delivering our small plates. In the future we would choose to sit at the bar as the bartenders were much more attentive to the customer service vs our sever.

So to be fair, when this is listed as a South American, Argentine, Latin restaurant, and I am bringing Argentines to the restaurant, we were sure shocked when our waitress told us that the Latin theme was only a “concept”. The empanadas were very small and didn’t use the correct type of dough for any Latin American empanadas. For some this may be great but it was a disappointment for our group. Great location, the place was beautiful but the menu concept needs work.

Had dinner here for the first time recently. We arrived without reservations, and were seated at the bar after a relatively short wait. Everything we tried was delicious including the ceviches, empanadas, chicken and meat pies. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the preparation and ingredients used in various dishes. Prices seemed reasonable for the portion sizes. Also, it was fun to watch the jellyfish circulate around while we dined at the bar.

good restaurant with great food, however portions are very small and pricy for that small portion. furthermore, the restaurant chrges 20% tip authomatically on your bill wthout your consent...!!!!

We arrived a few minutes before our reservation, and were properly seated at our table. We were fortunate to get a street side table, so we could watch the traffic back-and-forth. The waiter was right at the table, and took our drink water immediately. The drinks were fabulous and unique. We had different tapas, and were impressed with all of our selections. One of the items was off of the regular menu, but was actually tapas sized. The dinner was fantastic, and we left without being able to get dessert. The bill was reasonable considering that we each had two drinks and we had four different items. The food was served quickly, and was all well done with a good presentation. The waiter was attentive but not bothersome. We plan on going back the next time we are in Portland. I highly recommend this restaurant to all, and especially to my good friends.

Lechon offers a very eclectic, varied menu that cuts across cuisines, though it says it is Peruvian. I know nothing about Peruvian food but I really like Lechon. Creative dishes that aren't "cute," very pleasant staff, lots of bar seating in addition to tables and booths, and a very warm, pleasant ambience. Lechon is pretty loud which normally really puts me off but in this case, it comes across more as convivial and friendly than as annoying. I've had dinner there twice with friends and we've had good luck with lamb chops, halibut, pork, vegetarian entrees, and very creative salads. This is a little off the beaten path for the typical downtown visitor but well worth walking a few blocks for something a little different.

Continuing on our foodie journey in Portland, this was a recommendation from a colleague and gotta admit, it was a great choice for my wife and son. After 3 days of eating, we wanted to lighten up and enjoy and sample smaller dishes. This is on the SW Naito Parkway which is a busy thoroughfare and the area has limited parking so rideshare may be your best bet. We shared and enjoyed brisket empanadas which was filled with beef, Golden raisins and fontina cheese, great dish to share. The foraged mushrooms was also a dish we enjoyed. The bone marrow was served with gaucho bread . The bread was fantastic but the marrow was less than I’ve had in other restaurants and needed some flavor. Grilled octopus came as advertised and a generous potion to share. The pan seared scallops, cooked perfectly and not tough, was served with polenta, tomatoes and Parmesan, highly recommend this dish. For dessert, we had a volcano cake which didn’t have the chocolate oozing from tensile as you cut this open but still tasty l Place is fairly large by Portland standards but plan ahead as you will definitely need reservations.

After a beautiful 4 night stay in downtown Portland that included many fabulous eateries, we ended on the BEST! My daughters and I had enjoyed several fun happy hours at The Lobby, also rated by me with 5 stars, and it was the excellent staff at The Lobby who told us about Lechon. It's the same owner and in fact The Lobby included the name "The Lobby by Lechon". Lechon is a Peruvian fare restuarant that has amazing appetizers and main dishes. My girls and I also enjoyed some delicious wines and mixed cocktails. We took the waiter's advice on almost our entire selection and they were some of the best dishes I've ever eaten! I would advise you choose many smaller plates and share. What a beautiful experience that we will not soon forget. SALUD!!

Our table of 4 shared several different plates and all were quite good. Service was pretty quick. Enjoyed the variety of menu items.

A regular one on my list especially if you’re in a small group as it allows you to order a varied selection from the menu and share the food. Although I pretty much know what I want before I come to this place now as well, as its really consistent with the dishes. I was a bit unsure this time whether it would have enough variety for one of my colleagues who is vegetarian, but eats fish from time to time. He was more than satisfied so the gamble paid off! Peruvian chicken bites are a clear winner, and 1 portion is never enough. Great balance between sweet and chilli. The roasted delicata is cooked perfectly, still leaving a nice crunch to the vegetables. From the grill the octopus is a must, and if you want a selection of meat, the Asado is a great choice for you. Wine menu is extensive, and the selection of Pinot noir was excellent. With many food choices in Portland, this one still stands out as one that isn’t imitated by others.

Went with friends who live in the area who chose the restaurant. Very cool ambiance, wide variety of things to order - something for everyone. Enjoyable time - did not seem overly Latin American (which would have been fine.) I need to admit I did not see the bill as our friends snagged it - but would definitely go back again.

We came here last night after looking up on TripAdvisor. We were in early and the restaurant was 1/3 full. We did not have a reservation, the staff found us a table we could have until 6.30. Thank you. The happy hour menu was on and it had a great selection. We ordered 3 plates at a time and over the could our dinner sampled at least half of the options. The skewered pork was amazing. So tender and juicy. The Portuguese chicken was really tasty. Avocado and smoked trout toast was also another stand out item. We had our boys 8 and 10 and they loved the atmosphere and great food. I highly recommend.

I am embarrassed to admit that an out of town friend is the one who researched and found this Portland jem. We showed up at 4pm (opening) and essentially ordered the entire happy hour menu, plus two orders of short ribs. I am embarrassed to say our group pretty much ate every bite! We had the crab toast, pepper empanada, peruvian fried chicken bites, gaucho bread, corn fritters, foraged mushrooms, vermicelli dumplings, vegetable ceviche, pork belly, and the spare ribs. Everything was amazing! The staff was attentive, the atmosphere was fun, and as stated, the food was great! Go, enjoy, and spead the word about this amazing restaurant.

We ended up at Lechon because we were staying with a close friend in Portland and she highly recommended it - she said everything they make is good and after eating there I can say she was no exaggerating even a little. Everything we ate had amazing flavour and interesting, new combinations. The Lechon margarita was life changing- the best margarita I have ever had. I also highly recommend the shrimp ceviche, it was divine. The bonus is that at happy hour prices it is extremely affordable for the quality of food that it is (think $7-9 per tapa).

My wife and I eat lunch here and the food was unbelievable. Best meal we’ve had in quite some time. We will definitely be going back soon.

We enjoyed dinner at LeChon tonight with another couple. They both had mixed drinks which they said were quite good. The guys ordered the "What the Chef Eats" which is for two people, and was a bit spendy at $55 each, but the variety of foods they were served at intervals was pretty impressive, plus everything I got a small bite of was very good! The other gal and I both got the Peruvian chicken and, on the advice of our server, Lily, split the "farmers green salad" which was more than enough for us! Everything we ordered was very delicious and we were impressed by the quality of the meals.

We've been to Lechon before and love it, but this was our first time for Happy Hour. It is a spectacular menu with dishes not available anywhere else in Portland. Standouts were braised brisket empanadas with ancho aioli, Peruvian fried chicken bites with fermented hot honey, and their gaucho bread with chimichurri. Most dishes are $6-8. Creative cocktails and good wines on the HH menu. Unique to any other restaurant in Portland, they have a giant aquarium of jellyfish behind the bar that is mesmerizing. The downside: Don't be late because their HH is one hour only, 4:30 -5:30. Go!

The food here is excellent! First visit to this restaurant and it won’t be my last. We ordered a few things so we could share family style. Beef rib, spicy chicken and octopus were clear winners. Service and ambience was also great.

Great meal and solid happy hour! I went early and snagged a spot at the bar. I enjoyed several tapas - the grilled octopus was delicious! The foraged mushrooms were lovely and I finished the meal with the burrata and peaches (yum). If you like smoky cocktails, try the lechon margarita The bar staff were super friendly and I would definitely visit Lechon again.

Great food, not one dish we didn’t enjoy. The following dishes were great - plantain fritters, Hawaiian shrimp, elote (amazing), salmon, farmers salad and chocolate dessert. Great sauces, well seasoned, and pretty presentation. Restaurant is so cool, there’s a huge jellyfish aquarium at the bar! Service was friendly. Would recommend!

Great place! Food was exceptional. Wait staff was very friendly and knowledgable. Would highly recommend.

Made it in time to enjoy happy hour prices. The meat empanadas are very good. Could pass on the veggie ones. All the pork dishes were good. Anything spicy is well prepared and worth trying. I don’t think we had a bad tasting and we had at least 8 plates of different tapas.

With a long bar, salt water fish tanks, and lots of indoor seating, this is a great place for dinner! We were down for Portland Dining month so had the pre fixe menu and the small plates/6 courses were fantastic! They have great wine/beer menu and craft cocktails as well. Cool vibe and can get busy...worth a visit while in downtown Portland, OR.

What an amazing restaurant! Dining here is a true culinary experience. Our group of six enjoyed a family-style meal, and every dish—from the unique meat selections to the seafood and the exceptional vegetarian options—was outstanding. The restaurant has a fun vibe, and its location near the Willamette River adds to its charm. We were warmly greeted upon arrival, and our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. This place is a winner, and if I lived in Portland, I would visit every week.

Nice peruvian take on food. Ceviche is excellent. The choripan is to die for. great $5 cocktails and beers, the epanadas are always a hit. Sit outside on a nice day and enjoy the ambiance.

Highly recommend. The steak was absolutely top quality. Great selection of dishes with really interesting twists and modern takes. Service solid but not the most friendly. Decor great. A few outdoor tables. Definitely recommend. (And we were worried about parking- there is a self-park lot right at the corner of the street so it worked out great).

Lechon is an incredible restaurant. We visited on a Friday evening, so it was really crowded. We had a reservation so we still got seated in a timely manner. The restaurant was very crowded, so it took a while for our server to get around to us, but after we ordered the food came very fast. We ordered a salad, a flat iron steak entrée and dessert. Every segment of our meal was incredible. The salad was very creative and well fused with numerous elements, the entrée was well plated and had amazing flavor. The dessert was outstanding. This was an amazing dining experience, with great service in an amazing atmosphere.

I highly recommend this amazing restaurant. Everything about it was exceptional: food, drinks, service, and ambiance. Their tuna, scallops, and mushrooms were particularly great. If visiting from out of town, it is best to get a reservation. We saw the bar start to clear out a bit around 8-8:30 if you are looking to grab a free seat or two walking by.

This food is SO good. We had tuna poke, shrimp ceviche, Brussels sprouts, beef kabobs, and mango sorbet. Each dish was incredible. Some reviewers have complained about the health insurance surcharge, but the measly $3.00 was so worth it and the amazing staff is very much deserving of the coverage. Would highly recommend !!

My daughter and I wanted to go out for a date. Although on their site the earliest table was available for 8.30 we tried our luck around 6.30. There were tables and bar seats available. We chose 3 tapas crab and avocado, lomo, and bone marrow. The crab was nice and fresh but the avocado was too plain. The lomo sauce was delicious but I would I liked a little more lomo. The smoked marrow with gaucho bread was very tasty

we originally wanted to go to Toro Bravo for dinner but the wait was too long so we decided to check out LeChon. Though the inside seating was filled up, we were able to sit outdoor. A bit cold, but tolerable. I wish they had heat lamps! i got a glimpse of the interior of the restaurant and i wish i was able to sit inside because i really like their fish tank, but most of all their jellyfish tank! so mesmerizing! Each table had a few dishes on their table and drinks flowing continuously. This must means this restaurant is good and i was excited! I do think it was very expensive since most of the dishes are tapas (average price for tapas were in the teens) Grilled octopus with chorizo, fried diced potatoes, and salsa verde. The octopus was charred, tender and the salsa verde gave it a kick! though the portion is small for the price, but again, remember tapas, the dish as a whole was delicious! I could order this over and over again. If you like calamari, you should really try their fried calamari. Lightly battered and well seasoned. The calamari was soft and the dipping sauce was amazing. it kind of remind me of the sauce you get when you order a baja fish taco (lime jalapeno tartar sauce). this is better than most fried calamari appetizers that you order from italian restaurant. leche di tigre - it's a ceviche that's beautifully presented with shrimp, corn, salsa, criolla, and aji rocoto. this was refreshing. you dont get corn tortilla chips for this; instead you get yucca chips - a very good pairing. sautéed mussels in jalapeno miso broth, crusty bread. This was my favorite dish. Each mussels were fresh and plump. A few were huge. biggest i've seen for black mussels. Not a single dead mussel nor bad mussel. Each one was tasty fresh! That broth was so aromatic and flavorful. You definitely need more bread for this to soak up some of those broth! This dish is highly recommended!!! salume and artisanal cheeses board that came with manchego cheese, a variety of salami, some mustard and jams and a giant scoop of goat cheese. it was as if this was the last chunk and might as well scrape all of it onto our board. It was endless goat cheese. The goat cheese was not strong. so for those who are not goat cheese fans (like me) this was tolerable. But still i couldn't eat much of it. ordered myself a passionfruite lechon mocktail and it was yummy! fizzy passionfruit drink! i wish this was a real drink i can buy from the market. though they could pour more passionfruit puree

We had the tasting menu which we never order. It was delicious and beautifully prepared and all of it was really good. Thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant in all ways. It is kind of a cozy, dark spot interns of atmosphere. We all would have chosen to go back to this place.

Had a great time at Lechon sitting at the bar trying all sorts of tapas. Food was great as was the service. They have really nice fish tanks to stare at while wining and dining. Restaurant is across the river so after dinner you can take a nice stroll.

My wife and I have eaten at Lechon about 5 times now. We started with the ala carte menu for the first couple of times, which was very good, but the last 3 meals we have chosen the chef's set menu. What treat! Jaco has every time put together a meal where each dish is remarkably good, and one or two are beyond spectacular. Let him put together a meal for you! You will not be disappointed.

Wow. Great food and service at a very fair price I'd call this a mix of Peruvian and argentine cuisine but who cares... It is really freakin yummy Small outside patio is dog friendly A must visit regardless of whether you are a local or tourist

We have eaten at LeChon many times over the past two years and have always found the food to be of high quality with unique flavors. The wait staff is extremely friendly and kind to our 7 year old granddaughter who says this is her favorite restaurant. At only 7 years of age she has a very discerning palate! But what she gets is the kids meal and they that up right as well. She loves their grilled cheese sandwich and she always get the side of fruit. The fruit is always fresh and beautiful and can include blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or apple slices. My favorite dish is the Peruvian chicken bites, and my husband loves their empanadas. He also loves the mal humerado drink from the bar which is hot and spicy and excellent! They also have a great happy hour.

Great decorations. Beautiful restaurant. Two great fishtanks, one with Tropical Fish and one behind the bar with hypnotic jellyfish. The staff all look like well selected. Bar tenders making great cocktails behind the bar. Open kitchen without any stress. We’ve ordered for $65 each the Chefs sharing menu. All good and delicious. One minor the staff isn’t that interested in the guests, the listen badly and don’t come with any advice. Feels like they feel themselves a little superior to their guests as the know they work in a great place. So work to do :)

The food was delicious, the service very friendly, and they were very attentive to allergies. Don't miss the grilled octopus, it was the best octopus ever!

I loved this place! We went here over the weekend for Portland Dining Month and they had 6 courses on their menu, more than most restaurants. Every course was different but tasty. Our server was friendly and patient, recommended food and drinks and let us stay as long as we wanted just chatting away. I will definitely go back, glad we had a reservation because the place was packed. We went on a Sat at 6....right in the middle of a rush, then it cleared out around 7 but another dinner rush came around 730/8. Worth every penny! Even when they don't have the special menu, I will still come back. And a bonus is that their kitchen is fully staffed and organized, we didn't have to wait FOREVER for our food like we have done at some nicer restaurants!

Extremely satisfied with our meal at Lechon. The food was delicious. The menu was filled with unique offerings. We particularly enjoyed the shrimp ceviche, the foraged mushrooms, the brisket empanadas, and the elote. The service was very good. Overall, it was a fun, yummy dining experience.

This menu is full of taste sensation. We started with plantain and it came with a green dipping sauce that we could not stop eating. The shaved squash salad was fresh and unique with a miso dressing ( I will try to replicate at home) The main courses were inventive as well as tasty. It was an enjoyable dining experience I highly recommend.

This restaurant was close by our hotel and was randomly recommended by family and friends. The food is to die for. We enjoyed the flank steak and the scallops. Highly recommend.

The Lechon margaritas were unique and delicious (not to mention, rather strong.) Corn and cheese fritters were the perfect starter. Scallops and polenta - incredible. Ribeye steak with dipping sauces - so good! Atmosphere is cozy. Service, from the host to the waitstaff to the bartenders, was first rate!

It was all perfect. The food was was all very flavorful and cooked to perfection. Sophie our waitress was very attentive and helped us thru the many choices on the menu. We were wowed and we will spread the word about our 30th anniversary dinner location. Jennifer and I agreed that this was our favorite !! Mark

There is a reason we dine here for our anniversary each year. We look forward to dishes on the menu that we love to eat each time and are delighted by new dishes that showcase that chef's inspiration and local meats and vegetables. Each dish is meant to be shared, and the portion sizes are perfect. The service was fantastic, as always, with dishes brought out with perfect timing and just the right amount of attention. Of particular note, we were provided a champagne toast to celebrate our anniversary. Without any prompting or request, the server provided a non-alcoholic version for my wife, who wasn’t drinking that night. It was a lovely surprise and an example of divine service. Whether for a special occasion or new to Portland, this restaurant is a must-visit.

The food was very good. The service was very relaxed, so don’t expect a quick dinner. The decor is eclectic, and the aquariums are impressive, especially the jellyfish. The prices were reasonable. Too bad we weren’t hungry enough to eat “What the Chef is Eating” special.

We went to try the Iberico Especial pork - it was so good. A savory carnivores delight. Chef came to our table- service was attentive and professional. It is a top spot in town for sure- classic but also trying new things.

Came in with a large group (12) and was so surprised and overjoyed at how attentive and prompt the service was. The food was DELICIOUS. We tried many of the tapas and the were literally all incredible. The ones that stand out are the avocado smoked trout toast, the grilled octopus and the singe was Astoria crab. We shared bites of our meals and everyone was very happy with their dinner selection. We had everything from pescatarian to gluten free and everyone was able to leave full and happy. The drinks are also very delicious and creative. The tapas come in generous portions and really could be shared in a group as a meal.

My favorite meal on this vacation! The ribeye was amazing. The scallops were so delicious and the crème brule was the perfect end. Oh! And the elote was the perfect side with amount of perfect seasoning, a little spicy but not too much. Every bite of the meal was delicious! I almost didn’t get the Lechón margarita but thought I’d give it a try. So light and refreshing, I had 2!

Had high expectations - but was disappointed. Ordered 3 items including 1 drink. Drink was alright but was taken away with no questions before I could finish it. The server just assumed I finished it after I made the payment - almost 1/4th of the expensive drink got wasted. The grilled octopus tasted alright but had charred portions - Clearly the grill wasn't cleaned good enough at least in this particular case and left a bad taste in my mouth - I should have completely cut those portions off. The third dish - a trout toast was good but nothing extra ordinary.

We went to Lechon on a Saturday afternoon for happy hour. The place wasn’t too crowded yet and there were seats at the bar near the interesting salt water fish and jellyfish tanks. What a great experience at the bar. It was so much fun to see the bartenders making drinks, especially our drinks! The pisco sour was beautifully done and was delicious. The old fashioned and manhattan were as good as we had at the Multnomah Whiskey Library and that’s high praise indeed. We had three awesome appetizers, including the foraged mushrooms dish. Overall, we had an excellent time and would definitely visit Lechon if we are in Portland again.

Two great meals, one lunch and one dinner. Very friendly welcome, excellent service, eclectic menu and beer/wine list, very tasty food, very reasonably priced: well worth a detour! A highlight was the salt water fish tank, which was full of (but not crowded with) rare exotic fish.

This good restaurant in Portland with a South American influence, offers a variety of flavorful dishes, good ambience and service. During our visit, we ordered different entrees and appetizers ( six in our group ), to share, all quite good , except for the duck which was below expectations despite the bacon wrap. They offer a good selection of wines, with a number of argentinian ones, beers and cocktails. The restaurant has a $20.00 corkage fee. Prices are moderate given the quality.

Our dinner at Lechon was amazing! We tried a variety of tapas and they were all excellent. We picked it because several different friends had recommended it, but also because they actually took reservations - I read a lot of reviews for Portland restaurants where they don't take reservations and the wait is 2+ hours. When it is time for dinner, I want to eat :) I honestly can't remember all the names of all the different dishes we tried, but the signature pork was awesome. Everything was delicious!

Great food, reasonably sized portions, great service, great decor! First the food. We ate at another tapas style restaurant the night before and while the food there was also good the portion sizes left us wanting more given the cost for each plate. Almost $20 for 4-5 mushrooms was a bit over-priced. It was our first night in Portland and we were not sure if this was what we should be expecting in terms of value. This was not a concern at LeChon. We ordered the chefs menu the grilled octopus and the rib steak and this was more than the two of us could eat. The run steak was easily three times the size of the steak we had the previous evening and it was cooked perfectly. The octopus is one if their specialties and we were glad to have ordered it. Everything on the chefs menu was fresh and delicious. Service was attentive. We did not have a reservation and the restaurant was busy. We sat at the bar and that was fine. They have a great decor with two huge tanks. One with fish and one with jellyfish. The jellyfish were lit up and the lighting could change colour. Like the people sitting next to us said, it was a few steps up from a lava lamp and oddly soothing and endlessly interesting.

This was my second time here for happy hour. I love the atmosphere, the service, the food and drinks. Their house margarita is excellent, and their happy hour food menu is extensive and reasonable, flavorful, and delicious. The brisket empanadas, the Peruvian chicken bites, and oysters were especially good. Will definitely be back!

Lechón has a vibrant space and creative menu. All dishes were perfectly prepared and presented. However, we felt that they were missing flavor. Another issue was that although the staff was lovely the service was too fast.

I made reservation for dinner. When we got to the restaurant, we noticed it was still happy hour so we decided to give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised by the extensive HH food menu. We ordered 6 items to share and they were all perfectly prepared and delicious. Totally forgot to take photos of the dishes because they were so tempting. Will definitely go back for dinner when we are in town next time.

After not getting a reservation on a busy Saturday evening, we chanced it and just walked to Lechon where we found two of the last available seats at the bar. This was probably a lucky thing for us, since the bartenders Jeff and Owen took pity on us and helped us with wine selection. Before deciding on a glass each, they let us taste a few of their favorites. Granted, the wine list (by the glass) is not very long, but we managed to settle on a local pinot noir, which was good. Food selection at the bar is the same as at the tables, and we chose tapas-style small plates, such as smoked bone marrow (very good) with bread and excellent chimichurri, crab meat (good), and mushrooms (good). It would probably be worth coming back on a quieter evening for the full plates, which also looked very interesting.

Friday nights are always busy in this place. We arrived for our reservation on time and a a drink and appetizer before dinner. My wife ordered the lamb T-bone chops, I ordered the Lechon meal and our dinner partners ordered the Lechon meal and the 16 oz. pork chop. The first meal to arrive was the lamb dish. A few minutes later the two lechon dishes arrived together. About 10 minutes after that, and after flagging down the supervisor, the pork chop arrived. Obviously a kitchen problem here. But all of the dishes were excellent. This will not cause a curtailment in our visits to this great restaurant. BUT, the delay caused me to overstay my paid parking in the next door private lot by 15 minutes, resulting in a $49 fine!! I'll try to negotiate that one down a bit...wish me luck.

Our first time there and we loved it! The food was really, really good, as well as the service and vibe. Outdoor seating is available and there was live acoustic guitar music which added to the good feeling of this restaurant. We will go back for sure. Have no idea why this restaurant was so off the radar for us... possibly the location. We dine out in Portland regularly, but it's not in a location of downtown where we spend a lot of time. Anyway, go there, you won't be disappointed.

Thus restaurant was open Christmas eve which was a blessing. Service was prompt but minimal lighting made it reading the menu and adventure. Many choices - hard to decide. Opted for the rib eye steak done medium rare. It was cooked to perfection and it came with a butter and chili topping. It was also sliced which challenged my perception of eating steak. It had a different flavour from what I am used to. I actually enjoyed the salty/charcoal exterior. The apple, winter salad with beet and blue chees was exceptional. Would really liked to have tried the cheese and corn fitters but could not fit it in. Service was prompt and staff were very helpful. Definitely not a cheap eat though.

I visited this restaurant for the first time this year and returned twice in 1 week in July when I was with different groups of people. Great food, cocktails and service which have been consistent in all 3 visits. Would advise you to book as with everything in Portland, you could end up wit a wait on your hands. Flow of food is well timed, restaurant always has enough people to create a nice atmosphere that doesn’t make it feel over busy. Had a slight misunderstanding this time with the waitress over last orders, but this was quickly rectified by the manager.

Best tapas I have had for a long time! We were 3 guys sharing 5 plates: grilled octopus, pork belly, shrimp ceviche, avocado salmon toast, sushi dish plus a desert. All of them I can highly recommend. If I’m back in Portland I would definitely revisit. Only miss is we came 30 min early to our reservation and they had no place in the bar or waiting area to sit us so we had to go elsewhere to wait.

The tapas were really good. Didn't try larger courses though. We had around seven plates and all were delicious. The server was very helpful in explaining the dishes. The place is located in a small atrium on the ground floor of a building with exposed staircase and railings on each floor. Setting is pretty neat, although I didn't care too much for the rugs that draped over the second floor railing over the dining area. The location was on a busier street (Naito Parkway) which was fine if you can find parking. I had to park on the inside streets a couple blocks away and while it is safe to walk, I dropped off my family in front of the restaurant and parked/walked by myself.

The uniqueness of Lechon from the ambiance, aquariums, menu, and vibe make Lechon a restaurant that I recommend to everyone that visits Portland. We went with a group of friends and chose to eat tapas style which was simply outstanding. The waiter helped guide us through the menu and options that are good to share. Everything we ate was very tasty and the bone marrow was perfect.

Excellent restaurant. Been here about a dozen times for lunch and dinner (dinner is much better in my opinion) and it doesn't disappoint. The service is always good and this time was no exception. Our server was probably 7.5 months pregnant and her attentiveness was superb. The manager, Bran, was fantastic. Super friendly and knowledgeable about wines, great personality. We ordered 4 dishes to share, all of them were excellent...tuna, empanadas, mushroom dish, and brussel sprouts... We ordered the ribeye and it was so flavorful and juicy, cooked perfectly. The only disappointment was the ribs. They were tough, oily, and were not cooked long enough. Cocktails here are very good as well, however, they could have used another half ounce of booze... All in all, a fantastic experience.

Food was amazing Server demanded more tip, really. She would’ve received more had she not. Food astounding though.

The highlight of our Portland visit, we started with individualized takes on favorite cocktails like the customized old fashion with rye and cardamon. All the tapas sizes offerings were amazing, crisp pepper empanadas, complexly flavored mushrooms, spicy Peruvian chicken lead up to the moist pistachio cake with strawberry ice cream. The jellyfish aquarium added a soothing completion to a wonderful dining experience.

Visiting Portland for the Labor Day weekend with friends and booked a late night happy hour here for tapas and drinks. Brandon our server was very helpful to guide us on the local favorite tapas and he didn’t disappoint. Paired with a great bottle of Malbec we tried from grilled octopus to lomo saltado to bone marrow. All great dishes and so much great flavor in how they were prepared. This is a must to try when visiting downtown Portland. Now for the name of this restaurant...lechon is a suckling pig which is famous is many Latin American and Asian cultures but they don’t serve it AT ALL. They have pork anticuchos and pork shoulder but nothing close to lechon. It’s too bad because I am sure it would attract many but their tapas are still amazing. Only reason I still docked it a star but overall a great vibe and awesome service by the staff.

Visited multiple times. Sat inside and outside (both were nice, but traffic could be annoying). Food was excellent and served in a "tapas" style. The gaucho bread was phenomenal.

I have dined at LeChon many times, and it is always at the top of my list for an evening out with friends. Any of the menu choices is good, and you can enjoy just one or two items. But I always want to choose "What the chef is having" prix fixe dinner, served to two or more at the table family style. It has several courses, often seasonal items, and usually I can point to it as my favorite meal of the year. They take reservations, and I would encourage that as it is quite popular. Great for my four-person book club to discuss our monthly selection, or my Meetup wine club to share bottles.

I love the vibe in this place with industrial decor but not too noisy. I could still talk easily with my friend without shouting. Waiter was attentive but did not hover. Dishes were unfamiliar but well explained when they arrived at the table. They were all tasty but especially the empanadas and steak kabobs. If you like delicious food in a vibrant atmosphere complimented by cool cocktails, then this is your place.

I took my foodie family here for their first pupuseria experience. We were not disappointed. Go try some things you are unfamiliar with.

Nice vibe and location. But the dishes lack refinement. The taste of the fish was overpowered by fried flavour and strong spices. And I did not like the almond cake dessert. Was just really sweet.

"You've stumbled into greatness," my son commented when I remarked that I found Lechón after a 5-minute search for a plausible brunch spot under constraints of extreme sleepiness. As we dined, one treat arrived after another -- truly fresh-squeezed orange juice, excellent espresso, a tasty Peruvian chicken sandwich, and that's omitting the two knock-outs: the forest mushrooms with a toasted brioche and sunny egg on top (an epiphany for one of us) and the addictive banana caramel pie. Oh, yes: we'll be back. The service was perfect, too, and we liked the warm, woody atmosphere of the dining area. A gigantic aquariam completes the look of this intimate restaurant in a grand old building on the riverfront.

Everything from patatas to beef ribs was excellent! The flavors are so amazing in your mouth... everything is mouth watering ... service is little slow because it’s a busy restaurant... but I would recommend it for everyone... love it!!!

This is a place best enjoyed by a group where you can order away on the menu and test several of the scrumptious items while sharing around the table. We didn't order one thing that we didn't like, although I certainly had some favorites that if I were to go with just a friend, I know what I'd focus on. The order that food comes out in is somewhat random and paced, so plan on ordering as you go. If you're still hungry, order a few more. Meant to be a slower foodie experience that is more traditional in the latin countries than here in the US. We also ordered all 4 desserts and each of those was delicious as well - but the banana caramel pie was the table favorite. A fun night in a cool hip atmosphere. Can't wait til company comes into town so I can take people here again!

This placed has changed for the worst!! I have been going to Lechon for the last couple of years and have enjoyed everything that I have received from the service to the food. However, the menu has changed, the service has changed, and I absolutely DO NOT recommend coming here. The tapas style they originally had prompted better service and a better eating experience. Now, the the service was horrible, the manager lied to me about the changed to the menu right to my face, even after she claimed to be there for the last 3 years. The tapas style that they turned into "family style" basically means they charge more for the food and get less of the service that one gets at a traditional tapas restaurant. This place was my favorite spot in Portland for many years, but I will never go back.

They fit us in without a reservation and brought us drinks...... then completely ignored us. The drinks were good and the vibes were fun but...

I can’t say enough good about this. Food and service was excellent. Vibe was terrific. Yes it’s in an area of town that’s bordering on not awesome but legit one of the best meals I’ve have in years. Do it.

Amazing food, taste, presentation and originality in the fusion of ingredients. Excellent service, totally recommended. If you visit Portland, you have to eat here!

First off the ambiance is great. Two large fish tanks were eye catching and the service was great as well. For food we got the ceviche which was really good and large to split. My coworker then got the daily burger special which was a bone marrow burger and I got the lomo saltado. My dish was good but my coworker couldn't stop raving about his dish. I had some order envy. Overall the food had extremely unique flavors to it and was tasty. I hope to go back and try more of their dishes. Also they take reservations, which I recommend if you are going during busy times.

What a lucky night to get to done at this restaurant. Read reviews on this site and was happy to get a spot. Really great dinner. We did the tasting menu and everything was delicious. Our server Ella was helpful and very engaging. Scallop ceviche was especially good.

Holy smokes! This is one of the best Tapas places I’ve been to. Tapas places in Chicago and New York can’t touch this place. The flavors were wonderfully paired. For example, the Pork-belly with leek pancakes were fantastic together. The green salad was equally as tantalizing—we ordered another one after finishing the first. The white corn and cheese fitters were did not live up to the rest but maybe if we ate them first we’d have loved them. The fried seafood— do it. Delicious. Service was outstanding and the music was from the 90s, which I appreciated. Oh and we did the late night menu which offers two tapas for $25. Definitely worth it. Love love love. Will return. Maybe even tonight.

Happy hour is from 4:30 to 5:30 pm only, but the prices are fantastic. We had reservations for six people at 4:30 and were delighted with the $6 lechon margaritas (make that two, please), and the marvelous happy hour tapas that are significantly less in price but not volume or flavor. We went with avocado and smoked trout toast that was so good we ordered it three times, pork tacos, the chimichurri burger, green salad, peruvian chicken bites, oysters so good we ordered this three times too, and ribs from the main menu. Unfortunately, we missed trying the bone marrow and scallops because we were.... well....just too full. The service was wonderful and the dishes kept coming one after the other in perfect timing. The waiter even came over to let us know that he was making the last happy hour call..... just in case someone wanted another of those margaritas. Was he looking at me? Our bill came to around $200 which would have been much higher if we had come later. I realize happy hour is too early for many but it sure suits our lifestyle and desire to enjoy dinner in a less crowded atmosphere. Oh, I should mention that there are some nice salt water aquariums here. This was perfect as we had an 18 month old with us and that kept her entranced for a while. Nice touch. We will definitely be back to sample more of this great cuisine and atmosphere.

A group of 10 of us were at a Conference in downtown Portland. One of our group was celebrating her 40th Birthday and she wanted to eat here at Lechon. Even as small as the restaurant is, they were able to put something together for us in the back. Our waitress was AH-MAZING and was fun to be around. Basically, our group ordered 10-15 different appetizers and we just passed it around so everyone who wanted to try it could. I've never tried some of the items that I tried that night. The Empanadas, Ceviches, and various tapas were all delicious. I tried everything and it was delicious. But the one thing I've never eaten before was the grilled octopus and it really wasn't that bad. The staff was very friendly and helpful throughout our tour of South America. Thanks...we soooo enjoyed the tour.

It was supposed to be a surprise. “Close family dinner, casual and relaxed but good service and memorable cuisine”, that was what I asked my cousin who chose this place. Being on holidays from Australia, and wanting to surprise my girl, I was worried if my cousin would choose well. And I could not imagine a more perfect evening. The food was divine with my fave being the Foraged Mushrooms (sorry no pic here) followed by the pork empeñada and the Lechon specialty smoked and roasted pork. The service was excellent and the owner even bought us a celebratory bubbly! Loved the whole memorable evening. Thank you to everyone at Lechon for helping us during our special evening!

Lechon is my tried and true and go-to for everything! Good day or celebration - Lechon. Bad day or high stress - Lechon. Friends visiting from out of town - Lechon. I've never had a bad meal and I haven't missed a cucumber cardamom margarita there yet! The food is always incredible and you get great quality and quantity for the price!! I hope they never change!

Not only is it a fun place, it is lively and vibrant. The food is excellent and not the usual Portland fare and we enjoy coming back to it.

In the most unlikely part of Portland there is a fantastic restaurant. The service was great, the food is stunning. One of the best meals I've had anywhere in the world. Honestly I'm shocked - I thoroughly enjoyed a number of dishes that were cooked to perfection including scallops, octopus and brussel sprouts ( I'm a bit of a wimp about these kind of dishes but would order them all again). Only criticism would be that the pork dish was over flavoured - hardly a problem to worry about. Amazing food and great ambiance.

My wife and I went to Lechon on a busy Saturday night and had a great time! The restaurant was nice and has a pleasant atmosphere. Service was friendly and pretty attentive despite the place being packed. I started with one of their zero proof cocktails, a "friendly ghost", which was great. We tried several of their vegetarian dishes including the Plantain & Black Bean Empanadas, Foraged Mushrooms, Jicama Salad and Patatas and they were all very nicely presented and delicious. I also had the Ribeye, which was very tasty though served a bit lukewarm. We finished with a banana caramel pie which was yummy. Definitely recommended for a night out in Portland!

Chic restaurant with great ambiance. Happy hour is really awesome, they have got good deals on both food and drinks. Shrimp ceviche and chimichurri burger were both delicious. Presentation of the food, like the fancy plates etc, is akin to that of much more expensive restaurants.

This place was fabulous! We ordered four South American-inspired tapas: ahi ceviche, steak tartare, lomo saltado, and bone marrow. Everything was phenomenal. We also both ordered supremely tasty mocktails and finished it off with a banana dessert that had dulce de leche to die for. (Two informational non-complaints: It's a little dark in there, so our older eyes had trouble reading the menus without phone flashlights. There is no espresso available for dessert, just drip coffee.) I look forward to trying other dishes soon!

I just had an engaging evening participating in 'Sunday supper' at LeChon. It was very enjoyable. The service was nice and easy. And the wait staff very polite. We had 7 in our party and we shared a table with 5 others. It is a fixed menu and all fees and gratuity are paid in admission. Which is very nice. (Very reasonably priced) Not at all like what they do for specialty dinners at Ruth Chris (skip those) The menu was tasty. (India was the focus) If I had to be nitpicky, my only complaint was how loud it was in the restaurant. We couldn't hear the wait person.

We went there for the first time and tried the Portland's Dining Month menu. Unfortunately, we were told the food is not on the regular menu. Everything, especially the food was excellent. The service was great! We will definitely will go back there again.

Went this quaint and festive South American Restaurant. First words that come mind is: Fantastic in so many ways. We had four small plates and each was so well prepared and the beverage selection was so unique. Our server was attentive and very well knowledgeable of all the dishes and gave insight and complete descriptions and answered all of our questions. This has the BEST ambience and is so inviting. I would highly recommend this charming restaurant. We will definitely be returning and bringing friends and out of town guest. This is not a restaurant to be missed. Portland has many wonderful restaurants and this is one not to be missed!

LeChon is an outstanding restaurant with wonderful food, service and a very happy and lively atmosphere. We enjoyed several different tapas and small plates which were unique and perfectly prepared. When you are in Portland, you really need to try LeChon, but be sure to make a reservation in advance to assure you can get in when you want to be there. I promise you will have a great time and a wonderful dining experience.

I had a business lunch at Lechon and it was wonderful. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, a huge jelly fish tank behind the bar and another big aquarium next to the bar. The decor is kind of industrial but really comfortable. The food was amazing. We tried the veggie ceviche, empanadas and fried olives for apps (all perfection). I had the seafood farro bowl. It contained and generous portion of seafood and the broth was amazing. I will definitely visit again.

This place is fabulous! The ambience, the service, and best of all, the food! We tried all the vegetarian options on the menu and loved every single bit of it. Highly recommend the Elote, the veggie empanadas, the mushroom dish, and the chimichurri bread.

This was one of our most memorable Portland experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the items we ordered, but I am going to wax poetic about the smoked duck breast for a minute. The texture was like a well-cured ham. The smokiness accentuated the flavor of the duck. A magnificent dish! Well worth a visit, if you like food. One dish that I personally feel could be reworked is the elote. It was served as strips of kernels on cob, which looked a bit like octopus tentacles. Very pretty. But there was NO WAY that I was going to gnaw corn off a thin strip of cob, and then suffer through the rest of the evening with corn stuck between my teeth. So I tediously cut the kernels off one piece of the cob and let my BF have the other pieces.

Incredible! They absolutely went above and beyond to make an anniversary experience of a lifetime... during COVID of all times! If you want to enjoy incredible and unique food paired with exceptional hospitality then Lechon is the place to be. This is a place I will make a point to visit every time I come up to Portland. Thank you for everything.

The ambience of this restaurant great, and the food is amazing. The service was great - helpful, courteous and unobtrusive. Above all the restaurant is not loud / noisy and conversations with my guests was easy, with no one straining to hear or having to yell. The core of the experience is the food; I was there with some business associates who are local. They suggested the Tapas part of the menu where we shared the various dishes. Normally I am not a fan of such "family style sharing" but I went along with it, and was glad I did. The quality, array and flavours of the dishes, (the 4 of us had 7 dishes in total) was wonderful; so much so that I am looking forward to revisiting this restaurant on my next visit. The wine list was also good, offering a great range of wines by the glass, and some by the bottle, but not so many as to overwhelm the patron with choices. They also offer a very limited, but varied and excellent cocktail drinks, and of course, (being Portland OR), a few local brews. An excellent culinary and social experience.

Phenomenal food! everytime I go to Lechon I am completely full and satisfied. I have been here 4 times in the last 2 years and already have plans coming up again soon. The flavors are wonderful and they have many vegetarian options.

From the cocktails to the Tapas to the banana Carmel pie the flavors and tastes were wonderful and unique! We visited on a busy evening and sat @ the bar but the service was great and the staff checked with us regularly.

Accommodating with our reservation We sat at the bar and the staff were wonderful and engaging. Food was very good. The scallops were absolutely a highlight. The best scallops we ever had. Perfectly seared and served over a mashed polenta. So flavourful, sweet and spicy. It was almost like a dessert. They also have a build your own old fashioned on the menu. Such an interesting concept. They have over 20 different bitters options. A must try. Nice shareable. They also provided us a free dessert on the house because we were on our honeymoon. Great touch

Lechon has a lovely warm atmosphere, perfumed with a light woodsy smell that is so inviting in our damp weather. Comfortable booths, tables or tall tables await. The Jellyfish tank in the bar is not to be missed. The menu can be several small plates or a lovely plated meal. The food from the farm to the sea is fantastic. The salads, and tapas are incredible, smokey woodsy meats and of course the gaucho bread, oh my. Cocktails are so delicious, and desserts are out of this world. Knowledgeable attentive staff round out the affair. I rated it a mid-range for the price but the food and beverages are fine dining.

We had a party of 4 for dinner this week and we all were very pleased. We shared several appetizers and we were all satisfied. We had octopus, chicken, corn fritters, and pork belly. We also had draft beers from local breweries that were delicious.

This is a busy place that you will need a reservation for, especially on a weekend. We ended up waiting for quite a while for our table, even with our reservation. Food is tapas style and shared by the table. We ordered an empanada, mushrooms and flank steak, all of which were good. The cocktails are fun. Because it was so busy and we were just a couple, we were overlooked by our server who was serving some larger groups, which was a bit irritating.

Food was totally spot on with some unique and delicious twists and service was great! One of our fav meals!

My husband and I enjoyed an awesome meal at Lechon. The restaurant has a quaint environment with intimate booths and fun lighting. Our table as fairly private and we weren't cramped by any means. The food was phenomenal. We ordered 5 dishes and all of them were very delicious. My favorite was the lomo Saltado - incredible flavor but honestly everything was delicious. Our waiter was knowledgeable and easy to talk to but gave us our space as needed. Would definitely return and recommend to anyone in town. This is a gem!

Booking is recommended if you don't want a wait for dinner. Service is efficient and friendly. We decided on the tapas option and chose 6 selections between the two of us. Unfortunately, and a major fault with the service, is that the plates came rapidly one after the other. Surely the kitchen can manage food delivery more professionally. My recommendation, if ordering tapas is to simply order 2 dishes at a time prior to ordering further options. This will ensure your table is not swamped with plates. Despite this flaw in service we did enjoy our evening the food was all cooked and presented to a high standard.

Our group of visitors to Portland - 4 adults and 2 children - enjoyed happy hour on our second evening in the city. We enjoyed everything that we ate and drank! Service was great, drinks were fabulous and the food phenomenal. The food items came out at a good pace, for our group to share and nibble on without feeling rushed. Although the prices (even for happy hour) are not cheap, the quality of everything made it worthwhile. Even the kids in our group enjoyed the food. We sat at one of the outside tables, which is exposed to the street noise, but with the beautiful green space across the road, and the ambiance of the city, we really enjoyed where we were. I noticed when using the facilities inside, that the vibe indoors was quite different (more adult oriented), and felt we had done well to be outside with the kids.

Fantastic tapas and a wonderful environment. A family favorite! Such a wide variety of foods and flavors, and the vibe is perfect.

This restaurant is worth 5 stars in every aspect. We came at 7:15 pm on Friday and it was full. They took our contact info and sent us a text when our table was ready. It took about 20 min. We sat outside but I can say the interior was also great, modern and stylish. Our server was awesome: friendly, knowledgeable and very personable. She would answer all our questions in great detail, beginning from wine selection and ending with chef’s experience. We ordered several tapas, one entree and a bottle of white wine. Avocado smoked trout toast was superb, octopus and shrimp seviche - wonderful, porbelly - just to die for! Peruvian chicken entree came a little late but it was well worth the wait. Portions were just right size and presentation exquisite. It is not cheap but also not overpriced. We paid about $39 per person including a bottle of wine.

This was our second visit. We were very pleased with everything and will go back more often. Their dishes were different from other restaurant, such as ceviche, pork belly, ribs, etc., and very flavorful!!!

We loved Lechon so much on our first visit that we made sure to return 3 days later while still in Portland

This was our first night on a 2 week vacation, our first time in Portland. My nephew and his girlfriend recommended Lechon and we met them for dinner. They had just come home from 6 months in Argentina so they knew the menu well. We ate quite a bit of food and all of it was delicious. The tapas are the best. We stayed quite a long time, catching up on things, and the staff stayed very attentive to our needs. The venue is contemporary and very sharp. It's not very big but we didn't have any problem with noise.

We reserved the private space at Lobby by LeChon for our rehearsal dinner and it was magnificent. The private space was gorgeous (we especially loved the live plant wall) and the perfect size for our group of 18 people. The Events Manager was great to work with, the service was attentive, the craft cocktails were incredible, and the food was out of this world! Our group included a few foodies as well as a few less-adventurous eaters and everyone loved the entire menu!

The food here is amazing! We’ve spent a lot of time in Latin America but have no restaurants near us offering this food, so we were excited to try it and were not disappointed. Getting to this little place was easy, parking plentiful (free on street if you can find it or $10 lot right next door). The decor was fun. We were seated in the back next to a wine fridge & right near the speakers where loud but good 70s & 80s music played. Not too loud to be disruptive to our meal, but more notable than in the front. But none of that mattered when the food came. LeChon margaritas to start were delicious with a refreshing cucumber finish. My family of 3 shared patatas, corn fritters, Dungeness crab toast, and gaucho bread - all delicious (even for my 12 year old). The ají verde and chimichurri sauces were so good! I had the scallops - 3 small but perfectly cooked scallops on a bed of the most amazing polenta. My husband had the pork chops and said they were excellent. Lava cake with strawberry ice cream for dessert was wonderful! Every bite of each dish was simply fantastic. Overall an excellent experience.

Lay back, friendly and efficient service. Clean, quiet and well designed. Let me say that the only reason this establishment did not receive a 5 is because of the limited menu. The flavors, and presentation of the dishes, are right on point. While simple and not overreaching, the humbleness simplicity of both, is outstanding. Try the seafood ceviche, you will love it, even when it has a little bit too much “picante” in the dressing, it is full of flavor, the octopus is tender and magical when it hits the palate. Worth the stop when in town

Lechon is an amazing restaurant! This restaurant specializes in tapas of a wide variety. Every tapa I have tried at this restaurant was amazing. This was my second visit to this restaurant, both visits were outstanding. I highly recommend the pan seared scallops, flank steak, brisket empanada and roasted brussels sprouts. The desserts are also very good. I tried the banana caramel, it was outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant.