A 30-minute commute from Portland, Ore., will bring you to the suburb of Hillsboro, where authentic Mexican eateries are abundant. The family-run restaurants will please the Mexican food aficionados with dishes that go well beyond the ubiquitous burrito, served in generous portions and at unbeatable prices. Many of these eateries are located in an area where small Mexican shops such as carnicerias, supermarkets and panaderias can be found.
El Flor de Michoacan is a brightly colored eatery that dishes up large portions of authentic Oaxacan fare at excellent prices. Order at the counter from a menu that includes clear photographs of the dishes. Specialties include plump chile rellenos that ooze with queso fresco, and the homemade mole, seasoned with just the right amount of spices. Equally delicious is its roast chicken combo plate. Soak up all the sauces on your plate with their freshly made corn tortillas.
El Flor de Michoacan
1075 S.E. Baseline St., Ste. K
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 693-7782
Located in the Crimson Corner Shopping Center, Taqueria Santoyo dishes up a variety of authentic dishes made from quality ingredients. Enjoy a steaming bowl of spicy menudo or order several tacos with fillings such as carne asada, sesos, birria, carnitas and even lengua (tongue). Tacos de pastor is another favorite, as is its salsa verde, made with the right amount of heat. If you are new to Mexican food and unsure of what to order, the menu comes with photographs of the food.
Taqueria Santoyo
1895 S.E. Tualatin Valley, Hwy. Ste. H
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 844-7005
Pepper's is a clean and popular family-run eatery that can draw large crowds during lunch time, but it's worth the wait. House specials include fish tacos, chile rellenos and carne asada, and weekend specials include the hearty barbacoa de borrego, pozole and more. The friendly and efficient service makes for a pleasant dining experience that complements the tastiness of its food.
Pepper's Mexican Grill
976 S.E. Baseline St.
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 681-8226
Upon entering this unassuming eatery, you may be outnumbered by Spanish speakers, but rest assured for you will be guaranteed an authentic Mexican dining experience. On weekends the smell of roasting chicken can be detected from blocks away as a large barbecue grill cooks the meat filling for its taco al pastor. Try its chicken mole enchiladas, which could easily feed three people. The menudo, tamales, carnitas and enchiladas rojas are other popular choices.
Taqueria Hermanos Ochoa's
943 S.E. Oak St.
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 640-4755
Tucked inside the Weil Arcade in downtown Hillsboro, Los Chapines is a small family-run eatery that serves both Mexican and Guatemalan food. Marimba music plays in the background and a TV set blares television shows in Spanish. Aside from the usual Mexican fare of burritos, enchiladas and tamales, it offers Guatemalan foods such as pupusas, empanadas and choripan.
Los Chapines
232 N.E. Lincoln St.
Hillsboro, OR 97124-3048
(503) 640-8018
La Guanaquita offers a mind boggling array of Mexican, Guatemalan and Salvadoran dishes. If you can't make up your mind, order an assortment of foods to savor the numerous house specialties available. Pupusas aside, it has crisp fried platanos, flaky meat-filled empanadas and a pepian with a luscious sauce. For a lighter meal, try the sopa de pollo and the tamales.
La Guanaquita
2401 N.E. Cornell Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124-5979
(503) 844-6884
