Taqueria el Canario

Decent food, but not what I ordered

One of the worst tacos al Pastor I’ve ever had!

MY FAVORITE TACO CART.
I was back in Portland for the weekend and of course I couldn’t end a Friday night out downtown without a stop at el Canario. $ 1.50 tacos!!! Mmmm. Getting those calories right back after dancing them off.
My charming friend E even got a free taco after his 3^rd one.

It was 11:30 on a Friday night and a show had just ended at the Roseland. Huddled together in the pouring rain, a small group of friends discussed the next move of the night. Burritos and/​or tacos were eventually brought up, I’m not quite sure by whom, and seconds later our destination was decided.
«el Canario! Let’s go!»
So we hurried down Burnside in a «Follow the Leader» formation, until our pack was standing in front a small yellow truck with happy, bright white christmas lights strung around. Other orders were placed, and then it was time for this el Canario Rookie to step up.
«Could I get a cheese quesadilla, please?»
A familiar voice behind me *cough*Andrew C*cough* piped up: «You don’t have to say cheese… a cheese, cheese-​adilla? Come on now!»
Owned.
But the smiling gal behind the window got it, and in my highly Slovenian/​German defense it DOES say «cheese quesadilla» on the menu. In fact, everything they offer is pretty well spelled out. Prices are really reasonable, too. A ginormous quesadilla will set you back $ 3.50. It’s a simple list, with the usual suspects of any taco spot. No big surprises.
What is surprising is the quality. In a matter of minutes I had a piping hot, foil wrapped cheesy tortilla in my cold hands. A dose of their awesome green hot sauce on the side, and I was good to go. I almost forgot about the rain overhead, had it not been for the splash of the drops on the foil cover. The thing was delicious, and definitely a good option for a late night, greasy snack. I can see why they’re open in the evening, el Canario is better than any bar food options I’ve had in the area. Come to think of it, they easily have one of the best cheese quesadillas I’ve had anywhere.
Yeah. «Cheese Quesadilla.» I went there, again. Deal.

Very decent– and decently-​priced– Mexican food. And from a food cart, no less. Stopped by this place the other evening when we needed to get our grub on, and I wasn’t disappointed. Especially since the Yeeps I was with talked it up like it’s the best thing to happen to Mexican food cart since, uh, since… well, I don’t know all the Mexican food carts in town, so let’s just say that they really talked it up.
I selected a burrito that was filled with all kinds of yum in a hefty package. A word of advice, if you happen to go to this place and a certain Yeep whose last name rhymes with hibachi encourages you sprinkle your burrito with some of the red sauce, do it very, very lightly. That red sauce packs a punch that would taunt Pacquiao. Instead, drizzle some of the green sauce at the start, and gradually work your way to the red. If you need a reminder, just look at an effin traffic signal, and be reminded that green means ‘go’ and red means ‘stop.‘
I wish I had my wits about me that night because the burning sensation offered by that red sauce (which, by the way, didn’t phase that certain Yeep one iota because he apparently is capable of gargling with the red sauce) stayed on my tongue for a good hour after noshing on that tasty burrito. And this in spite of drowning my poor tongue in glass after glass of gin and tonic.
So, the moral of the story is, don’t talk to strangers. But, more importantly, when it comes to the red sauce at Taqueria el Canario, a little dash’ll do ya.

I’m always wary of reviewing anything I’ve eaten after 2 a.m. – let’s face it, most everything tastes good after a night on the town. But last night was glorious. I got the tacos and for a buck fifty (yes, $ 1.50), this place now stands as my number 1 late-​night snack cart in Portland.
The tacos were slightly greasy, but very fresh. There was actually some spice going on that made these little tacos anything but generic. And the woman who served us was incredible. Not only was she in a good mood serving the raunchy 2 a.m. crowd, but I think she was actually having fun. Ok, that’s probably just an act, but props to her for being awake.
As my old governator says, «I’ll be BAHK.»

yay! i’m a fan.
i was lamenting the fact that there aren’t many good places to go for dinner during the week within quick walking distance of my job, most food carts close at 6 or earlier and i don’t usually go on my meal break until 6:30 or 7 at the earliest.
the carts that ARE open late have let me down on more than one occasion, but being the glutton for punishment that i am, i kept going back.
UNTIL NOW… el canario, saludos! yes, it’s a few blocks farther than i typically might go, but with the time change it’s staying lighter later, and the temperature is rising, which means i’m more adventurous and willing.
located right on the far side of the parking lot across from berbati’s pan, it’s probably among the top 5 most convenient places to eat late night when you’re in the downtown/​oldtown/​pearl district area.
i had a carnitas burrito, and it was really pretty darn good. not fatty at all, and not greasy! they automatically put crema y guacamole on it, and they put rice in it (which as you may know, i don’t typically enjoy) but they’re rices was cheesey and therefore extremely palatable.
it’s a rare day that i turn down something cheesey.

Buck fifty tacos. Hard to beat. They’re the two little round tortillas variety. They do burritos also that aren’t much more expensive, $ 4, maybe. I got two al pastor tacos and a can of pop for $ 4. I don’t think you CAN beat that.
They were pretty dang tasty. The tortillas were soft, the veggie additions (just onions and cilantro, I think) fresh and the meat (pork, right?) was marinated in win.