Taco Del Mar

The West Coast chain Taco Del Mar certainly makes its presence known here. It is a convenient location, and it offers discounts from time to time. Of course, the Mexican food here is not the best, but it does have some merit, so it isn’t the worst either. Seating is plentiful.
This is something of an occasional staple for me. Things such as their beans could use improvement, but I do like their fish tacos, for around five dollars. Those fish tacos have a crispy flavor with a good sauce. Visually, I wondered if the fish was deep fried or not. Prices are good, though more power outlets would make things better. And their offering seating is no measure to be scoffed at compared to the carts. It does have plenty of competition in the precise neighborhood.
This is a good place to be in a rush at.

I would NOT RECOMMEND this restaurant. If you are looking for customer service your not going to get it from here. The employees are RUDE and ARROGANT. The food is blah!

Very rude owner and poor customer service. I rarely ever give negative reviews. Was verbally accosted for moving a chair to sit with my friends. Agree with all the other comments. I’d rather wait in the lines across the street.

I walked in, there was no one at the counter, so I rung the bell (which was broken). The lady walks out, and she just looks pissed that I came into the store. I asked for chicken tacos. She fills the very small scooper with chicken meat about half full, making sure to shake off «excess» chicken that would have made it full scoop. Adds about 12 shavings of cheese per taco, and then a few stands of lettuce, some tomatoes, and mediocre salsa. Everything was soggy. Not nearly as good as food carts across the street, and !!$ 4.50! for 2 tacos??? Never coming back.

This is the lowest common denominator for Mexican food, bit its close to work.
Got two chicken tacos, and the tortillas were soggy. Chicken was bland.

This place has been my compromise when I want a burrito, but the food carts that I prefer to go to are overflowing with the lunch crowd and I’m too hungry to wait.
That about sums up why I go here. It certainly isn’t the service. The lady behind the counter and I argued four or so years ago over my punch card. For four years I refused to return until recently. Before that I came regularly, and tolerated the gruff service. The service remains poor now that I’m back.
Along with the gruff attitude, I always feel like they do their best to ensure I’m paying the most for my lunch while giving me the absolute minimum. Like others have said, they skimp on guac and sour cream most of the time. I’m always on alert for items they’ll charge me extra for without informing me.
The positive? I like their burritos, and their fish tacos are OK.
That’s not enough, however. Typing this review has just convinced me to not return there. As a customer, I deserve friendly service, and a better experience. So do you.

This was just awful ‘Mexican’ food — the tortilla was soggy, they skimped on the sour cream and guacamole even though I paid extra, and it was all so bland I didn’t even want to finish it. Never again — just wait with the mobs at the carts across the street!

The food sub-​par but what really did it to me was how bad the service is here. They penny pinch you for everything and I can’t help but feel not welcomed. All the tables say customers only and I get the sense they just want my money. I can’t wait for them to close down because it is such a good location. Also as a franchise taco del mar is bad but this stores should close immediately

I don’t eat there now since the woman behind the counter was really rude to me. After being a semi-​regular at this location for a couple of years, she never once was friendly or seemed to appreciate my patronage. In fact, as I too am a PSU student, she’d get annoyed if I’d request a discount, or use my punch card. The final straw was when I stopped in quickly just to fill up my water bottle — granted, wasn’t buying anything on that stop, but being a faithful customer, knew that I’d eventually come in again — HOWEVER — she glared at me and reminded me that water wasn’t free. I reminded her that I’d been in there dozens of times. She mumbled something under her breath, to which I asked «Excuse me? I didn’t catch that…» she didn’t repeat it. I then told her essentially what I now tell you, dear reader, that in the 2+ years I’d been coming here, she’d always been rude to me, and I didn’t appreciate it, and would never again give her my hard-​earned student loan money.
Chipotle is overkill, but I’d rather go there than ever frequent this establishment again. Most of the other TDM’s I’ve been in have been the bomb — but that was back in the day when their motto was ‘Roll a FAT one today!’ Before the dark times…

Crunchy rice, very watery sour cream. The cashier forgot to give me back my credit card. Throwing away this $ 6 bowl, it is terrible.

My boyfriend & I walked in last night around 7:30. I use to work in a food place & it taught me to be personable to people behind the counter, the job isn’t easy. This women around 45 – 50 sat w/​a smirk on her face impatiently waiting for my order. I noticed they have student discount menu (I go to PSU) even a free birthday burrito, I thought the sign was cute so I brought it up «that’s cool you get a burrito on your birthday»
she quickly replied. «No. We don’t do that.»
I looked at the sign closer, it read, «free mondo burrito w/​student ID on your birthday & a picture of a burrito w/​a candle in it». I said «ummmm yes you do»
she responded «no. We don’t. My manager said I can’t do that any longer.»
My boyfriend & I (both bus. majors, he’s graduated) said «that’s misleading but w/​e it’s not like it’s my b-​day» (in our brains we thought: FALSE ADVERTISEMENT)
he asked her «oh would you like me to take the sign down for you?»
She responds «no don’t touch it»
…weird right?
I made a decision,
she put the tortilla in the the dirtiest, most disgusting tortilla press I’ve ever seen (the place I worked at we would have to be able to lick the press before we left when closing, it’s suppose to be silver).
My boyfriend & I looked at each other & said, let’s leave.
I really wanted to take a picture of the sign to post it

It was alright. The ingredients weren’t superior quality and honestly if I’m going to go to a burrito shop I might as well go to a truck, local one, or at least Chipotle (they buy their ingredients locally, despite being owned by McDonalds). It was alright I suppose.

Eh, had to grab a quick bite before work. There was not a soul in sight and the guy who helped me made me feel like I was bothering him. The taco salad was good for money.

Terrible.
I went at 6:30pm, because all the 4^th Ave food carts were closed (bad weather). I got the $ 5 special plate thing: choose two entries; beans and rice on the side. The rice and fish (in the fish taco) were so crunchy I expected to lose my teeth. Nothing was flavorful.
Maybe it was just too late in the day, but if the food is that bad they shouldn’t be selling it.

fish tacos.
motherfucker!
5*s.
Add a CokaKola! Smooth.
The insides are dope w/​colors n photographs of surfers, spots, cars and the music is low and alright. fuck that Chipotle shit!
(this review is for the one by the airport. Next to Yo Cream, brah! and Ross. Fuckin’ ross and ikea. Fuck ikEa.)

I finally decided to try Taco Del Mar after forgetting to include it on my fish taco rampage a few months ago and have heard «meh» reviews about it so I decided to check it out on «free taco tax day»! I wanted the fish taco but alas it was sold out so I had to settle on the chicken and shredded beef instead. The server kept on sighing loudly and pointing at the clock which read 7:20 pm so my friend and I thought they were closed at 7. However, upon looking closely at the business hours sign, they’re not closed until 9. Chalk it up to poor service it seems! And then instead of asking if we wanted to eat there (which we did!) or order to go, they just stuffed everything in a takeout bag. Because I wasn’t in the mood to get tacos over all my clothes and car, we decided to sit in the dining room to eat really fast.
First impression? Salty! Way too salty even after the lime and fresh tomato salsa added. The price was also pretty steep granted they were a bit larger than I had anticipated but $ 4.19 for 2 tacos? I will go to Chipotle next time both for flavor and freshness. However, the dining room looked clean enough but the service and tacos aren’t going to bring me back.

I’ve given this place so many chances. My first day at my new Portland job, I had my first lunch here. The bright colors, palm umbrella and location got me excited about having Mexican food downstairs. Everything I’ve had here seems so «bla». There’s nothing wrong with the food — but it’s not something you remember. I’m not one to give negative feedback for no reason, but this place isn’t that good and some of the guys give attitude when there’s no need for it. I’d only go here again if I had no choice. I’ve given up!

I’m not proud of going here. Especially when there is a bevy of top notch food carts just across the street. However, it was raining and we needed to eat in a sheltered environment.
Surprisingly the 2 for tacos on Tuesday are… not so bad. That’s all I’m saying.

CHOICES!
That’s what I’ve always loved about Taco Del Mar — I can take my food weirdnesses, and go out to eat with other people who have food weirdnesses, and we all find something we’re very happy with.
Fish, chicken, beef, animal-​free, choices in beans and rice, choices in sauces, choices in sizes and portions, choices in tortillas/​shells. I always have the fish or a quesedilla — which have always been terrific for a healthy, inexpensive fast food. And am I remembering correctly that it’s cabbage, not lettuce? I think so; flavor and crunch instead of mushy space-​filler.
This location is my favorite, because of their $ 3 student specials that aren’t a ricey/​noodly cop out like the carts across the street. (there are two; they also have several choices to customize) Also, they have both the iced tea in the soda fountain, and a real freshly brewed iced tea. The staff I’ve encountered have also always been responsive and attentive.

Most of the Taco Del Mar menu doesn’t move me – I’d rather get my burrito at Chipotle. But their taco salad in the _​baked_​taco shell is scrumdidilyumptious. Friendly staff. This location is always cold inside, but it is right around the corner from the lovely Lovejoy Park so in the warm months it provides some great outdoor seating.