Cha Taqueria And Bar

Was at Cha Chas with my wife twice during our visit to Portland. We liked the food and seating outside. Reminded us of La Condesa area in Mexico City. Very few joints serve Molcajete Mixto in actual Molcajate. Our first encounter of Molcajete Mixto was in Guanajuato, Mexico. We live in Canada so not that many Mexican joints here. We liked the vibe and will visit next time we are in Portland. Gracioso.

I have a limited lunch break, so I called my order ahead. My boyfriend and I arrived at noon, and it was not very busy. They had our food on the table within 5 minutes. I had the carnitas burrito and it was very good. The guacamole was fantastic! My boyfriend had chicken tacos; he said that while the chicken was well seasoned and the other toppings were flavorful, the tortillas were very tough and chewy. It was like they fried them, but not enough to be crispy. The staff were very nice and understanding of our tight schedule. The decor is nice (we didn't sit outside because there was a family with children out there), but the music is irritating at times (fast paced Mexican dance/pop). I will likely be back as I work in the neighborhood.

A happy hour that will leave you saying "Cha, Cha, Cha!", only don't get it confused with the actual Cha! Cha! Cha!. Cha Taqueria serves up easily satisfying margaritas, sangria, and mojitos; in addition to a very happy hour menu of tacos, nachos (veggie or pork), and mole enchiladas to name a few. And, with a free small plate of chips topped with a little cheese, some black beans, and a little verde salsa to start; it's a hard one to beat. Don't Cha think?

The upscale sister restaurant to the popular Cha Cha Cha local tacqueria chain. Excellent drinks, some really terrific small plates including a fresh ceviche trio. Service is a bit slow, but they do get packed and at least there is live music to entertain you. Both the interior and the colorful patio are beautiful spaces, but the bathroom is sort of in a creepy corridor shared with other businesses. Also, be prepared to drive around for a while to find a parking space.

This is my favorite happy hour in Portland. I've been for non-happy hour eats, but honestly it's a little spendy for a struggling college student like myself. The happy hour menu ranges from $3-$5 and the food is all fantastic. For the non-adventurous eater, I'd go with the Pastor burrito or the nachos. Very common plates but served in a way that is a little fancier than your run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant. For something you might not have heard of, I'd suggest the Picaditas. They're small corn cakes topped with veggies and a little fresh cheese that are probably your healthiest menu option, but still super flavorful. Actually, all the food is great and I've tried most everything on the happy hour menu. Happy hour is not happy hour without drinks. You have to get the margarita del dia for $5.50. They have specials like hibiscus, blood orange, and prickly pear. Not sure what tequila they use but it's really smooth and they pour them boozy! Stop in from 3-6 for awesome cheap food and a margarita (or 2). This place is legit.