Taco House Original

Wow… What awful service!
The younger female with the black headband and no name tag waited on me. It was around 1:30 PM and this place was was dead.
She was busy eating… I must of interrupted her because that was her vibe from the minute she almost «threw» the menus on my table.
I had a question which she rudely didn’t really answer because she had turned and was looking back at me over her shoulder. She had to get back to her lunch.
The tortilla chips were cold which it not usually the case, I ran out of salsa with no refill, received a hard shell taco that was cold, overflowing and full of shredded lettuce. It came with a scoop of dry mexi rice for $ 8.95. Even the cinnamon sugar dessert cookie was cold and stale. Taco Bell was sounding good at this point.
So I paid cash and when she returned she laid my cash change on the table but didn’t give the coin change. Therefore she shorted me. Not sure what to think of that.
She was in a hurry to go lean against the counter in the kitchen to talk.
It’s going to take some time for me to come back and give this place another try after being a customer for so many years. Too bad! :-(
2016 – 6

Great good, we got the original taco platter which had one beef one pork and one fish taco. The pork was by far the best of the 3, but the others were very tasty as well. My wife got the coconut shrimp and loved it. She said it was by far the best Mexican food she’s had in Portland to this point.

I’m sorry, they try, they do great for a specific clientele but if your looking for true authentic tacos or Mexican food in general– do not go here. If your grandpa is afraid of «ethnic food» then this is his place to experience tacos. On the bright side, the margaritas are great and the house made sangria is delicious!!! So if «Ko-​rean war vet» grandpa’s feeling feisty, order a pitcher, sit back and enjoy the company! :)

It’s been a few years since I came here and again we LOVED it. I again got the El Picador, but this time I got the Deluxe. It was absolutely delicious. They stacked it high with chips and all kinds of toppings. My dad got the normal El Picador and my mom and sister got the Enchilada and Burrito respectively. We all cleaned our plates and left stuffed full.
The server was excellent and on top of our every need.

Had lunch in the bar on 12/​9, food was pretty terrible, except for the chips. Hadn’t eaten here for years, used to enjoy it so when I saw the Groupon decided to go again. The kicker was when we used the ladies room and there was NO SOAP IN THE DISPENSER. Made me wonder how many cooks, waitresses had not properly washed their hands. ICK. Won’t go back.

I thought I’d update my review because this is solid Mexican American food. The service is always wonderful and efficient. Also, they’ve really upped their margarita game with fresh sours. Tonight, I had the best margarita ever there. It was boozy, fresh and citrusy. Delicious!

I think this place is good. Very cozy and great service. No complaints. Food was yummy and quick! Loved the warm chips and salsa!

I have been coming here since I was a child. Service was so slow. The waiter didn’t seem to care to help us besides bringing the check. No straws, barely any ice in our tea, dropped the food off and left. The busser was helpful. The biggest problem here is the way it’s deteriorated… The service, the interior, and the bathrooms. The bathroom was so disgusting. Dirty no toilet paper overflowing trash, cold as peeing outside. It’s sad, it used to be a great place. It’s turning into a dump.

We have been coming to the Original Taco House for years! I could not believe some of the bad reviews I read. Every time we go, the service is great! The food is amazing and it is always the same :-) The whole family loves this place! Every once in a while, me and my husband are lucky enough to have a date night without the kids. We always hit up the bar for their fantastic Mango Margaritas!

Try the Tostada! Efficient and professional service. Not usually too busy at lunch.
Affordable prices, private parking lot. Check it out.

Was greeted by manager at door who said wait we need to set up a table for 5. 5 minutes later, a server says how many and starts setting up a table. While waiting I notice the bags of rice and beans in a fridge that they sell. Should’ve left right there. Ordered a quesodilla, my friend ordered an enchillada, and a burrito, and coconut shrimp salad.
Food was gross. Friend couldn’t eat the dry chicken. Later on that evening my friend pukes up his enchillada. Server was nice. Food lacked presentation, taste, creativity, and fresh ingredients. Also served on plastic plates. 1295 for tacos on a plastic plate? Ridiculous. Never again will I eat here again. Taco bell around the corner gets 2 stars. To my friendly server, you deserve easy better job, stop serving garbage and find a place with good food.

Great food here. have some home made house sause and fresh chips… huge burritos. Great environment comfortable.

I don’t get the low reviews and bad reviews this place gets.
Understand…it’s NOT Por Que No and don’t expect it to be… it’s a different kind of «Mexican/​Tex-​mex food»!!!
This place has been a staple since I was a kid. I have had countless meals here over the years and it has been consistent for YEARS! Now, I’m usually here with my husband and toddler. Everyone is always nice, helpful, friendly and the service is quick. My toddler is always acknowledged, and we never wait long between ordering and the food arrival.
We will continue to frequent The Original Taco house due to all of its wonderful offerings! I also love that I can get the taco dressing at Fred Meyer!

Long story short: Avoid this place like the plague. More detailed description to follow, below:
I had the misfortune of visiting the Taco House last night for dinner. As an out-​of-​towner, yet frequent visitor to PDX, I have to say it was the worst dining experience I’ve had in Portland. Our (admittedly well-​intentioned) waitress did not know the menu well, but she made up for it in politeness. (She really did her best, so don’t let the negativity of this review reflect too poorly on her.) That, as well as the complimentary chips and salsa, were the highlight of my meal. The chips and salsa were really good. I should have cut my losses at that point.
I ordered the tortilla soup, which had the consistency of runny Cream of Wheat. The flavor wasn’t horrendous, but it looked like frat boy vomit and had what I would imagine to be a similar feeling in the mouth. This was followed by what was billed as a chimichanga, but turned out to be more of a giant egg roll filled with chicken. It was slathered in sour cream, but was completely devoid of any sauce or seasoning. I’m not being hyperbolic — it tasted exactly like an egg roll. It was unlike (read: way worse than) any chimichanga I’ve ever had. This was served with rice and black beans. The black beans were pretty bland, but palatable. The rice had a rubbery aftertaste as though it was cooked inside a latex glove. The rice was basically inedible.
(In the interest of full disclosure, my friend and dining companion had ordered a side of rice with his meal as well. I stole a bite of his for comparison and his did not taste like rubber, meaning were 50% on the rubbery rice quotient for the meal. However, one of the wait staff did try to take his half-​full bowl of rice from the table without asking, which he returned after my friend protested that he wasn’t finished with it. Thanks, dick.)
As part of the combination plate that I’d ordered, I was promised ice cream, which I had to ask my waitress for, instead of it being offered, since y’know, I was paying for it. I’m confident that had I forgotten to ask, I wouldn’t have received it. I got vanilla ice cream. It was good, probably by virtue of the fact that it came from a carton and was not produced anywhere near the kitchen of the Taco House.
The ambiance was tacky and reminded me of a «South of the Border» themed high school prom. They had a fireplace, which was sort of nice, I guess. Gave me somewhere to toss my leftovers.
Final bill was just under 30 bucks for the two of us, which is nuts considering how much less I’ve paid for more (and better) food elsewhere in Portland.
Fuck this place.

A family favorite for decades. Taco snobs, this is not the place for you so take your pretension elsewhere, but people who like good old Mexican food without gimmicks you should give this place a try. Ask to sit in Chris or Joey’s sections, they are the best! The Taco House has the best and most fresh chips and salsa and their el picador is something that dreams are made of. The enchilada sauce is amazing and the fajitas are sublime. Prices are reasonable and portions are big. I Love Taco House!

I’m not one to care enough to note the appearance of a joint, unless there are signs of an infestation, especially that of the La Cucaracha. In which case I wouldn’t even be typing this review right now — as a result of having entered full-​on Starship Troopers mode during dinner. Anyways, if you take away the cheesy looking hanging plants and the mini party store sombreros, the walls look similar to those in one of the bars shown during a scene of Robert Rodriguez ‘Desperado’ film (you know, where Cheech Marin and Tito Larriva are sitting there, and Steve Buscemi walks in to tell a story? Then Antonio Banderas is blasting chunks out of the brick walls and stuff… yeah, you’ve probably seen it). Just sayin’…
The staff was very accommodating. We were happily greeted upon entering, and the waiter didn’t seem irritated that I wanted to taste the difference between their house enchilada sauce and the «Colorado sauce,» which are both good. The Bloody Mary I sipped on wasn’t half bad. Their salad was a bit sad looking, but their house dressing is actually kinda unique — I was tempted to ask if I could purchase a bottle (I didn’t). I ordered a grilled steak fajita burrito with refried beans and rice. When I received the plate I *almost* felt like I was back home in Texas, at the local Taqueria. Until I bit into the beef. I couldn’t tell if it just wasn’t a decent cut of beef, not seasoned or grilled properly, orrrr? In their defense, I seem to be having difficulty finding quality steak in this state, period. I’m hoping that changes, soon. Nearing the end of the Mexican-​food-​conquest, we were presented with the check, and cinnamon toast… crisps? The actual name of the desert escaped my memory. Having already met defeat, I proceeded to nibble… these tasted like a thin, crispy version of cinnamon toast crunch. Can’t really describe them any better than that.
Overall, it was okay. I’m still a bit envious of the dude a table over, who had a tiny Mexican flag stuck in his burrito. Toothpick flags are definitely on the list of things that make everything better. Much like plastic googly eyes, marbles, and re-​discovering your early 90’s POG collection.

Really disappointing. I’ve driven past this place for years. Finally went in for lunch. They have great chips, and that’s is where the fun stops.
Bad rice… Old beans… Crappy beef.
Taco Bell is a few blocks up the street. Your best to head there.

When did it cost over $ 50 bucks for two people to eat and drink at a Mexican joint… NOW IT DOES.
I wouldn’t mind paying the money if it was authentic Mexican food, but this place is worse than Taco Bell. The food tastes as if it was made days ago and reheated in a microwave. The margaritas were nasty I couldn’t finish mine, it was pure sour.
I’d eat here again if I’m not paying and I’m tipsy before I go.

I went to the Original Taco House on Powell without the highest of expectations. When I ask people who grew up in Portland about the Taco House, they speak nostalgically about visits as a kid. Well, I live only a few minutes away now, so I thought I would try it out.
The experience was true to what one would think of from a family Mexican restaurant. The food was pretty good, the service was friendly, and the portions were good sized.
I wouldn’t say it is in the top Mexican food I’ve ever had, but it was not bad. I wouldn’t rush to take an out-​of-​town visitor, but I’ll walk back over from time to time when I’m in the mood for an enchilada.

Um. Just no.
My Portland raised friends have a nostalgic affection for this place but every time Ive been the goopy cheese, flavorless sauces, mushy proteins have just creeped me out and I find myself longing for Don Pedro instead. Last time I had a nasty tummy ache after. I won’t go back.
The outdated décor is just the icing on the tortilla.
Robert Irvine and his sledgehammer could have a field day in here.
There are many better places to get Mexican in town.
I mean it.