Taco Del Mar

Disappointing. I’ve been to many a Taco Del Mar, and somehow this location consistently has the smallest burritos I’ve had at this chain, that are mostly filled with rice. I’ve given them several chances, and even mention my experience before they make it. Must be the management or owners?

Dreadful. Stopped here because it’s on my way home from work. I’m not sure how you make Mexican food tasteless but this place has accomplished it. «Queso» is that horrid cheese crap from a can (apparently melting Velveeta and canned tomatoes together is very difficult). The only redeeming thing I can say about this place is that it’s cheap.

This Taco Del Mar is okay. A little bit better location could garner a better rating. Their menu is not hardcore traditional, but isn’t too Tex or California Mex. Seating and plenty of parking is to be found here. It just looks like a classic 1950’s-style establishment.
Going here was mixed. Only one person was staffing it, doing all the hard work. The door was open despite the cold, come on. I had a fish taco combo. The fish taco was actually fairly good. It was crunchy and creamy. The rice and beans were bland and I spread the vegetables which left my taco during it’s consumption by the likes of myself in order to compensate. Price wise, at $ 6.50 it was a good value, about par level for Mexican food.
Go here if it’s convenient.

A certain favorite companion of mine and I came here for a quick bite on a dinner break. I really liked the set-​up. Someone said it was an old gas station, but being a Portland native I seem to remember this as a burger joint that had waitresses to bring out your meals to the car from inside. Who knows, I could be wrong, but in the end I thought it was a cute place with good atmosphere.
The front counter server/​cashier was very friendly and chatted right along as he got our meal ready. Somehow the three of us got into a conversation about tofu and whether we liked it or not and ended up in gales of laughter (tofu as a comedic tool, never thought of it before). At that time, our fish tacos were ready to take to the table of our choice. I found the whole kitchen/​counter area, bathrooms, and general atmosphere to be super clean with great signage. There were outdoor tables, but it was so hot, we stayed indoors.
Sadly, the fish tacos weren’t just plain fresh fish, but lumps of mostly breading and bits of fish. The tortilla and dressings were great, but not the filling.
If you find yourself in the region of Sheridan Fruit Company, this is an OK place to stop to try some of their many other offerings. I can’t recommend the fish tacos, but can sure recommend a conversation with the front counter server. It’ll make your day.

Um. Not great. The corn tortilla fell apart before I even touched it. Meat was okay, but i expected better. The «Pico» is really just salsa. Actual salsa tastes like olives for some reason. Queso is decent, but extra is a whole dollar for like an ounce. I usually write reviews after two visits to give fair opinions, but really, i can do way better at home, so I’ll pass on this place. (Quesadilla was pretty good though)

It’s a Taco Del Mar. If you’re reading this, you’re looking to go to Taco Del Mar, so you know the food.
So breaking the mold of, by definition, a mold-​made chain establishment, this location is in an old repair shop /​gas station. It’s rustic, and that’s the nice way to say it.
But the deficiencies be damned, this place is awesome. Why? The people. Really good people. Go early on a weekday, food is fast, hot and good. Really good for the $ 8 you might spend (or less).
They have some outside seating, but with giant rolling doors inside can become outside with a swing of an arm.
So the place it neat if you’re into 1970’s built gas station, and the food is great if you like Taco Del Mar, but if none of those things meets your fancy go for the people.
Good service, even if it is «just a chain».

We passed the Food Court on our way downtown, and decided, since we’ll be coming back here, we’ll try the Food Court, just a short walking distance around the corner from Taco Del Mar. OK, but we couldn’t find a parking space, we went around the block 2x when we decided ‘there’s plenty of space @ Del Mar, let’s just have another Mexican food today!” We did.
While inside the car, I was finishing my hand-​sewing, one of the workers inside was looking @ me, while helping a customer. My husband, already had his side of the door opened, while I finish up, took a few seconds! I decided to bring with me, my basket of flowers. (People usually asked me what I’m making, this way, I can now show them). This is a first for me! Since I have no clue what this place was, I usually do some sewing as well, while we wait for our food, but I didn’t know it’s like McD’s.
As we approached the front door, this same worker was already waiting for us, opened the door & let us in. Think of Benson Hotel, a doorman welcoming you inside. I said: «Hello!» But no answer. I said «Hello!» again, a little louder.
Worker: «What do you have there?» I just thought she was admiring my flowers! So I told her they were hair clips. I make them! I also told her that one pharmacy in my neighborhood just wrote me a check, she sold all my flowers! I was beaming and happy to share the good news!
Worker: «Oh, we don’t do that here!» HELLO, I didn’t come here to sell you flowers, we came here to eat. You don’t do WHAT HERE?
I said: «Are you the owner?»
Worker: «No, I’m the manager.»
I said: «we were going to eat @ the Food Court, but we couldn’t find a place to park, so we stopped here to eat instead!» I was also holding a brand new milkshake that I bought @ the pharmacy 5 mins. ago, and I didn’t want to leave it in the car and order drinks here.
I almost walked out and went right back to my car! I didn’t realize, she’s GUARDING THE DOOR, think of your mom waiting up late for you, then you walked in the door and barked: «where the heckl have you’ve been all night?»
I couldn’t believe HOW RUDE THIS MANAGER was towards me, I hope she sleeps well tonight, because it was hard for me to digest my lunch!
Oh btw: the bathroom is outside, and they’re dirty, smelly and no mirrors!
We WILL NEVER RETURN HERE AGAIN, even if they gave me a FREE meal!

Gross caucasian version of Mexican food. It reminded me of getting the Taco Bell «create your own tacos» kit from the grocery store.
The staff was nice and the food is fairly cheap, but there are much better tasting options less that a block from this place.

We’ve been here before and really thought the food was good. Today’s visit was less than delicious. The food was far inferior to what you would find at a local food cart. And the manager screeching to the guy in the back was driving me nuts. My last visit.

I believe I got very used to Mexican street tacos in Texas because most anything I’ve tried since then (with the exception of Olé Olé on E. Burnside) has mostly been sub par.
Taco Del Mar is a California themed taco and burrito shop. They serve fish tacos as well as meat and «Mission» style burritos. Whatever that might be. I ordered two tacos just for a quick bite to eat. Braised chicken and carnitas. I will say the meat was great in both tacos. Very moist and very flavorful. As for anything that went with it? Meh. I added jalapenos and they were hotter than the habanero hot sauce I was supposed to have on my tacos. I didn’t even taste habanero. Shredded iceburg lettuce, tomatoes, pico de gallo and onions on corn tortillas. I don’t know, I guess I should give them another try. The prices were good. I paid $ 4.00 for the two tacos plus I got a small drink. I will have to get extra habanero sauce on the side just so I can see what it’s actually like.
I guess I should take notice when at lunch time (or a little after) that there really wasn’t anyone in the place. The location isn’t the best, but the Sheridan Fruit Company is right across the street and that is worth going to. Just saying…

I suppose I can say it was clean, the staff was nice, and had a lot of outdoor seating. Flavours were uninspired and the ingredients mediocre. Makes chipotle look sophisticated. Left with a stomach ache.

I really enjoyed my visit to Taco Del Mar. In my opinion, they fall somewhere north of Baja Fresh and south of Chipotle on my national-​chain fast-​food Mexican restaurant scale. The one thing that bugs me is that their items that use fish — in particular on this visit, the fish Mondo burrito — use the frozen-​food, Gorton’s style of fish planks. Separate, Mexican food and fish sticks are excellent food choices for the right places/​times. Combined? Not sure if I’m a fan.
That said, the Mondo burrito is indeed mondo. Lot of burrito for a decent price. Maybe I should try something that doesn’t have fish and maybe my review could be revised. But at first glance, it’s OK.

The Mondo burrito from them is always good! the staff is friendly the prices are good! The negativbe part of the visit is that there was an homeless man sitting in the corner making the place smell…

The staff is nice. I got a burrito for $ 5.60 that was mostly rice with two pieces of fish.

It cracks me up that, when living in Hawaii, Taco Del Mar was a good option for «Mexican» food. Obviously there are a lot more choices for tacos and burritos in Portland, than there are in HI, but I still find times where their Mondo burrito is calling my name. Carnitas is good, so is the shredded beef. My only complaint is that their salsa is seriously the most bland salsa ever. Hot is like a puny mild in my opinion.

The location is too prime for a chain like this. San Diego has nothing to offer Portland and this place is proof. The Fish Taco’s are really not that spectacular and you get 2 small pieces in a burrito. I probably ended up with more lettuce and beans than fish. It’s more like Taco De la Playa than Taco Del Mar because you’re getting more land in your taco than sea.

Really nothing to write home about. It is a decent cheap place to spend $ 5 and get couple of decent tacos. That is about it.

So I’d give the food a 4, and the service and atmosphere a 1.5, so that rounds out to a shaky 3 (sine I can’t give a 2.8) Service has been nice once, but mostly somewhat cold and abrasive. That I can live with. The worst thing about this particular location is it seems that the tables are always dirty, and not regularly wiped down. That part really sucks. I changed my mind since writing this, and I’ll have to give it 2. 2 it is.

Taco Del Mar is friendly on the pocket.
$ 5 will get you a big plate with
Two enchiladas
or
One Taco and One Enchilada
or
Two Quesadillas
With a side of beans and rice
Topped with guacamole, Pico De Gallo, and sour cream
It’s pretty big for the price
and pretty yummy for the tummy.
It ain’t Taco Hell, but it ain’t Chipotle either (I love Chipotle)
It’s Taco Del Mar and we are just in get to know basis
For now…

I’ve written about Taco del Mar before, but this one is the neighborhood location for me. Well, not much really to say about it other than it’s close? And they once let me get a kids’ meal for 99 cents (that’s the price on Sunday), despite me having a 5-o’clock shadow?
If I had one major complaint about this location, it would be the lack of bike parking. But I’d rather bike to the food cart pod on 12^th and Hawthorne if I’m really hung up on getting a burrito after the carts downtown are closed.