Good Tex-Mex and frozen margaritas? (Portland, Gresham: 2013, how much, live)

[sueholz]

Does anyone have any recommendations for places in Portland to find good Tex-Mex, like the chips, salsa, queso, and frozen margaritas you find in Austin? I'm moving to Portland soon and I'm afraid I'm going to go into withdrawal! lol!

[AndyAMG]

You won't get what you Texans deem good Tex-Mex for a few reasons.

1. Northwesterners don't like Tex Mex (not like in Texas), Tex Mex places don't stay open long because its a niche and we don't have that many Texans here. I've lived in Texas, there is nothing special about Tex-Mex IMO, give me autherntic Mexican cuisine any day. I went to Trudy's in Austin, it was okay, but people had talked like I would instantly want to slap my grandma and move to Austin because it was so good. Portland has nothing like Trudy's or Habanero or Matt's Famous Tacos or whatever it was called.)

2. It's not different from most Americanized Mexican food from a chain restaurant. There are tons of good cheap Mexican restaurants, but they don't claim to be Tex-Mex.

3. There are food carts and a few restaurants that have limited Tex-Mex selection. There is always Chevy's and On the Border lol.

like the chips, salsa, queso, and frozen margaritas.

That's easy to come by, that's everywhere. But things like Brisket Tacos, Crayfish enchiladas, Catfish Fajitias, and Migas, good luck, you might find one of each at different restaurants.

We also don't religiously eat catfish. We have them, they just aren't a big thing here.

I got so sick of Catfish, Brisket, and Tacos in my 4 years in Texas.

[EnricoV]

You no doubt will go into withdrawal. There are Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants, but no doubt they won't meet your standard. Hopefully, you'll learn to appreciate the food that Portland does have, and not continue to look for something that Austin did.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

The market is (apparently) wide open! Start up an "authentic" Tex-Mex restaurant!

And yes, what Andy and Enrico said - there are plenty of very good Mexican restaurants, and frankly Portland is such an awesome place for foodies, you'll be fine. That being said, I haven't seen anything resembling the fantastic Tex-Mex I had in San Antonio.

[hamellr]

We've had a couple of Tex-Mex places that have been opened for decades. Esparza's and Big Red's. Big Red's is now at it's third location, having been in Gresham in the 80's and 90's, at the top of Sylvan Hill in late 90's to about 4 years ago. Then the second and now only location is off of Scholl's Ferry Road in Beaverton.

[pdwpdx]

Not much to be found here. I moved here from San Antonio, hung out in Austin a lot. You WILL miss the Tex-Mex and the breakfast tacos. However, there's so much good food in Portland that you will have plenty of other options!

[Deezus]

I can't say how much it compares to San Antonio or Austin, but Podnah's Pit, while mostly a great Texas-style BBQ joint--has some good Tex-Mex options for breakfast/brunch. Excellent migas and breakfast tacos. The smoked brisket is great for lunch or dinner too...

Other than that, I haven't been to Esparza's or Big Red's in years to really say how those places are these days. The best Mexican in Portland is either the more expensive regional Mexican cuisine places like Autentica or Fonda Rosa or the cheaper taquerias, taco trucks and hole-in-the-wall places out on the eastside or further out in the suburbs...

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I'm not crazy about Tex-Mex or New Mexico sxtyle Mexican food, either one.

You'll find a lot of restaurants serving Californio style Mexican food. Not many serving Mexican food as you would find in the country of Mexico, but the Mexican food as evolved in Southern California is some pretty darn good stuff.

[Minervah]

Esparza's gets my vote.

[sueholz]

I really appreciate your feedback. May have to find a good taco truck, like Deezus mentions!