Verde Cocina Cafe

Seriously! The best tortillas in Portland! I was born in Mexico and raised in Arizona. We moved to Portland a couple of years ago and the one thing I miss the most from home are the tortillas. I’m pretty snobby when it comes to corn tortillas. In AZ I only got them from one place because they were made fresh every day with real yellow corn and tasted just like Mexico to me. When we came to Portland I couldn’t find decent tortillas so I just stopped eating them, until I discovered this place! They are beyond wonderful, just like tortillas from Mexico! I’m not exaggerating either, seriously try them and you’ll never eat store bought tortillas again. Ok, it’s not just their tortillas that are delicious, all of their food is. They have vegetarian options too! The flavors on all of their delicious are amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with any dish that I’ve ordered. Favorite Mexican restaurant in Portland hands down!

They have a very limited menu. Probably because they’re gluten free but I’ve never seen these kind of limitations before. The kids menu isn’t very kid friendly. No hot salsas, not very authentic for a «mexcian» restaurant.

Brandon was full of love for the food and I was surprised he was right on!!!
My friend and I were both very pleased with our meals-​the food was fantastic!

When I first read about this place in the various city publications devoted to that sort of thing, I scoffed. «No place could possibly be that good!» I thought. And I was SO wrong. I’m totally addicted now, and go as often as I can reasonably justify. Everyone I drag there to experience it with me takes a bite of their chosen dish and immediately proceeds to roll their eyes back in their head, followed by earnest nodding and chewing. Is it cheap? No. But, you get what you pay for. The quality of the food is way above 95% of the Latin-​inspired restaurants around town, and the execution and consistency is top-​notch. It’s one of the few places I’ve been in Portland that doesn’t overcook the salmon (super-​fresh fish from native-​owned company Columbia River Salmon, which can fish the river year-​round due to native fishing rights). The veggies are seasonal and always perfectly cooked. The service I’ve experienced has been great. Please, please open one on the east side!

Incredible food, and Tanya is the best bartender west of the Willamette! Try the SANGRIA

Great food, great service, great people!!! I recommend this restaurant to everybody

I was surely wary of going to Verde Cucina because of the location … surely not an expected place for good food and company. But having eaten at their Barbur road location ages ago thought it may be worth a shot. Our drinks were great, we were a party of 4 and we pretty much tried all their non whiskey based cocktails on their menu.
For food, our entrées were all fresh tasting and food looking and tasted different from typical mexican fare… but more catered to gringos (sounds like they want it to… with their mole dish called gringo…
I would have given full 4 stars but for their service… our server was very courteous and knowledgeable but a tad slow and forgetful. The restaurant was busy but not ultra full to warrant delays.

There aren’t many times when all five of my family members don’t want to eat the dish they ordered. We are still laughing about this experience because because everything seemed «off». Even the grilled chicken that you can normally count on had a funky texture that made us nervous to eat. I don’t like writing bad reviews, but I am surprised to see that this place has such good reviews. Overall there was minimal flavor, seemingly misplaced seasonings, and the atmosphere did not make up for these shortcomings. I would especially not recommend taking kids here as there is not even adult friendly food.

A good solid shoulder shrug and a hearty «It’s not aweful.»
I had one of the many «daily» specials: chicken enchiladas in adobo sauce with a fried egg. The sauce was a deep red, reminiscent of the New Mexican style red sauce. If was lacking any punch and had minimum flavor though. The corn tortillas were very thick and had an odd grainy texture with again no flavor. That was pretty much the theme running through the entire dish. It looked the part, but all the flavor was missing.

Great food! Mexican food using all local fresh produce and gluten-​free as well!
Service is excellent also!

Thoroughly enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service. Tanya was great. Definitely worth it!

This is not a review of the food.
I was a cook here in 1994 – 1995. It was called Big Red’s Western Café back then. Insane traffic on Highway 26 west, and a sense of nostalgia brought me in for a beer. The last time I sat in this bar, I rode my bicycle to work on a Sunday morning. And in a 4 hour time span, 6 inches of snow piled up. We closed due to lack of business that day, and got sloshed!
The bar, and the entire restaurant looks different. Smaller. It’s not, but a 20 year absence makes things look different than you remember. I ordered a beer and had a seat to watch sports center.
As I looked at the cocktail menu, I noticed an item called the, «Tequila Flight.» You choose 3 different half ounce shots, (about 1 tablespoons worth) of tequila. And it comes with sangria, lime, and salt. As well as a beer back. 3 samples for $ 14 dollars. Pretty cool if you want to sample tequilas that youve never tasted. The Chamucas Reposado was really good. So was the Don Julio 70 anejo. I’m not into Blanco’s. But my awesome bar tender, (Tanya) was very knowledgeable and helpful in selecting one. You can pick your own, or let the bartender pick them for you.
As for the food, I did not have any. Mainly because I wasn’t hungry. As I entered, I could not smell food. During my 2 hour stay at the bar, I could not smell food. As I exited, I smelled fish. (Catfish? Thats what my nose told me it was, at least) The restaurant advertising says farm to table, and I believe it. Why? Gruesome details below.
I went out to the smoking area. From there you can see the back door, where as a younger cook we would go out for our smoke break. (Smoking is bad, I know.) While out there, I witnessed a woman out there wringing a live chicken’s neck. Now if that ain’t fresh, I dont know what is.
Overall I really like the vibe of this place.

Delicious fresh food! Friendly service. Great atmosphere and did I mention delicious! The portions are great for the price. Happy hour guacamole is very fresh and delicious too!

Simply the best Mexican style food I’ve had in Portland. Service was quick and friendly, the server was accomodating of us changing our minds about drinks at the last minute, and the margarita was perfect. This place definitely has more in common with Mexican restaurants I’ve been to in Mexico than any place I’ve been to in the US. It’s not posing. The carne asada was delicious and was served atop a bed of greens and squash that screamed Portland farmer’s market. Presentation of the food was excellent. Everything was super fresh, and there were plenty of vegan/​vegetarian/​gluten free/​paleo options. We sat outside, so didn’t experience the atmosphere inside the restaurant. From what I saw it looked a little cramped, but nice in a funky Portland kind of way.
I visited the Hillsdale location, not the one by the zoo.

Get the fresh guac and homemade tortillas. They are delicious. Most other items I have tried are bland and not cooked well. I wish I liked their food better because he concept is great.

Although this is a new location, the quality of the food and the service is just as good as we experienced at their Capital Hwy location. This place seems to seat more people, but it doesn’t feel as intimate or fun. The higher number of kids from a zoo visiting crowd and the open hard surface resonant acoustics made this a 4 star. But we love the fresh healthy delicious food and fresh high quality ingredients in the drinks.

Five stars worthy! Very delicious food! I’m a picky eater and the food was just amazing. I had the salmon best tasting salmon I’ve had. I also tasted my companions quesadillas with meat they were to die for. You can tell when you eat quality ingredients. Now go and eat there you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Yes!!! Their food is awesome, great service and friendly along with good explanations of the menu. Good food recommendations (I love the beef brisket casadilla). When they say «HOT» on their menu, they really mean it. It’s spicy as hell.
I’m giving 4 stars for one reason, don’t eat inside unless you’re on a date with a woman like Janice from «Friends». Very hard to hear and it’s very echoey, especially if there is a large group there.
I do appreciate that they kept some of the Big Red stuff, like the sign turned into a table. Keeps some history and shows a desire for recycling/​repurposing. Drinks are a decent price and they carry a good beer selection.

We went looking for another place and found this Allergy friendly restaurant. AMAZING, beautiful fresh food, and Paleo/​vegan/​Gluten Free to match.
The Tortillas are fresh, and the Mole is the best I have ever tasted.
Two annoying things…
Our waitress was drunk, I mean literally. I smelled the alcohol on her breath, strong!
The noise level was so bad, inside. There was a large party with screaming children, and LOUD adults, who must have not seen the other 50+ people all around them trying to enjoy a meal.
We will definitely go back. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!!

Just had lunch here for the first time as my husband raved about it and I am not disappointed in the least! They have several vegetarian and vegan options (yay!) as well as carnivorous choices as well.
We shared the fresh made chips and guac to start we was large and delicious and is accompanied by a hot salsa and verde salsa both equally good. I chose the sweet potato black bean and kale salad which was perfect on this warm Portland afternoon and my husband chose the quinoa bowl with bacon the size of cherry tomatoes and tons of veggies. We sat out on the patio which had shaded and sunny tables available. We will definitely be back! Don’t let the funky location stop you from trying this amazing spot!
Side note they have not yet changed out the old Sylvan Zoo House sign so don’t let that throw you off.

Praise the heavens almighty. Finally, we have a decent place to eat up here on this lonely corner of Sylvan. This location at Sylvan has been plagued with the most absolutely god-​awful restaurants for years: first Big Reds, then Episode II: Sylvan Steakhouse, and finally Episode III: The Sylvan Zoohouse (whose interior design resembled something straight out of a twisted demon clown’s nightmare).
And now, finally, after 3 terrible prequels we have a New Hope: Verde Cocina has arrived on the scene. They are terribly overpriced, mind you, but at least they are GOOD. They’re not amazing. They are not the best thing to hit Portland. But they are definitely good. As in, I’m rather particular about where I eat and enjoy my time here.
The service borders on over-​eager good, but I don’t mean that as a diss, I just mean it seems they are eager to take care of their customers and prove that this restaurant means business and wants to thrive in this location. The customer service here has been excellent the 3 times I have come.
The food I can’t say anything bad about. It’s healthy, it’s well done, and it’s farm fresh. Quality costs money, so I understand paying a premium for good clean food. At the same time, we have no shortage of good clean food from superb chefs all around the city for much more approachable prices. My main gripe here is simply that I can’t leave without dropping way more than I feel I should be for what I’m getting, and as such, it limits the appeal of this place for me. I am happy to eat here, but I would be thrilled for a few bucks less. I ended up paying $ 17 for a burrito bowl with chips & guac the other day after I added protein. I mean it was good, but when a new seasons burrito bowl rings in at $ 6.99 and a laughing planet decked out bowl with extra meat and toppings hits $ 11, and $ 13.50 with chips & guac… $ 17 is pretty dang pricey.
A lot of menu items ring out for what most places would when already including a healthy portion of meat… but most things here with meat are gonna land you in the $ 15 ballpark and they aren’t huge portions — so plan a meal plus a side of something to share with someone. Most items around the $ 10-​$ 12 mark are meatless. which, despite how good it is, is an awful lot to pay for beans & greens, despite how well concocted they are. I mean, $ 12-​$ 14 for MEATLESS quesadillas? Come on guys. I know they’re good. But that’s just ridiculous, farm fresh or not.
But hey, at least its good, and it seems trivial to complain after the hellish places that have resided here for years. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive, because then I would have an excuse to eat here half the week seeing as I live so close. At the current rates, though, it’s more just nice to know I have good food close to home in a pinch.

We’ve been up the Verde Cocina farmers market stands for years so it’s awesome to have a café in the neighborhood. The lamb enchiladas special was delicious and a perfect with the side greens.
Can’t wait to see what they do with the space, its a bit bare at the moment.

The food was amazing! The best guacamole and salsa’s with homemade corn chips, brisket Quesadilla, rock fish taco, and Carne Asada tacos were all amazing! The NW needs this restaurant. They need to update the décor and booths. Great service!