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Nuestra Cocina2135 SE Division St, Portland, OR | Directions 97202
45.504897 -122.643969 View Website
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Margies and fundido: fun indeedo. Best Mex in town, now with covered patio dining. Olé!

Bringing a burst of color to Division with its pumpkin façade, things only get more festive when you actually go inside this cheerful Latin looker, especially once you’ve ordered a round of the exceptional house margaritas. My ideal meal is the Yucatan lime soup, pork tacos, cebiche special and naturally, the dessert crepes.
Warm Tortillas remind me of Abuela. I love this restaurant! The fresh made warm tortillas are alway tasty. The staff is very accomodati8ng and friendly. Their twist to familiar recipes are so wonderful, I am very happy to see a restaurant serving Latino foods that are not smothered in cheddar cheese!
Food is Good...but. Good Food and Menu, but average service and it was LOUD the two times we've been there. We would go more often if it was in a better location.
Sub par service, good food. Tried a neighborhood recommendation last week and while it has unique fresh food you can't help but be soured by a host with no interest in really seeing where you order is as those next to you are seated after you, order an appetizer and drink (like us) and are finished with their meal before ours is served. no apology, no its coming right up just a "they ordered an appetizer and thats why theirs is out first" We ordered appetizers too and that is no excuse. Thats the last we saw of our host. Guess I scared him. Sorry if I did.
Best food and service in Portland!. This restaurant is an absolute gem. I've been almost ten times and it amzes me every time. From the spicy chile infused tequila margaritas to the daily ceviche, to the open kitchen with friendly chefs, nuestra cocina is a one of a kind experience. My favorite restaurant in Portland by far.
Favorite restaurant in Portland - always great!. I have been to Nuestra Cocina so many times and always have a great experience. It has a pleasant "nice casual" atmosphere with friendly, helpful servers. The pretty, warm-colored dining room is relaxing and pleasant. The bartender is great and the chile-infused margarita is deliciously spicy. It is so homey to sit down and enjoy those little handmade tortillas. Some of my favorites - any fish special (don't even think about it, just get it, you won't be sorry) the albondigas when they have it, and surprisingly, the delicious shrimp entree (don't usually care for boring shrimps). For dessert, try the lemon curd empanada or the rich drinking chocolate. Fabulous! The sous chef is great and it is fun to sit up at the counter and watch him cook (he makes the absolutely delicious desserts, too!!). The other cooks are talented and friendly and obviously care about their food. For the delicious food and good-sized portions, this place is a wonderful value.
Great food! Great staff! except Christina. I go to this restaurant often, I love the place. But, every once in awhile I have the misfortune of being served by Christina. Wow! She is possibly the worst server I have ever seen. I have had to wait many times at least 15 minutes just for her to stop by the table and even longer for a drink order or for apps. Several times other staff have had to take meal orders and most often deliver them to my table. Why Is this girl still working in such a great restaurant?
Better than most.
Growing up in LA and frequenting Tijuana, I found the best Mexican food to be at hole in the walls, carts, food trucks, etc. It's just one of those cuisines that?s best when cheap. However, there's only one such place in Portland that offers excellent fare: little dive next to a market on Fremont and 84ish.
Anyway, for the upscale variety, Nuestra Cocina outshines Authentica, Toro, Cha Cha Cha, and a host of popular mid-range establishments. Thanklfully, this is not a #2 special with rice and beans kinda place. I do prefer fresh chips to their small serving of corn-flour tortillas, but the accompanying paste/sauce is very good. Unfortunately, the pork in the Sopes was over-powering or else it's a great dish and value. The Gorditas are a must order. Yesterday was our fourth visit, but I can't remember what I had the first three. Their Mojito was one of the better I've had. Service was excellent and the Chef was very friendly. A great place, especially if you can garner a patio table on a nice summer evening.
harried and busy constantly. Food is good, but expensive, just know that you are going to have to drop some cash to truly enjoy this place. Also note that portions are small. They are busy, busy, busy. We usually get seated promptly...each employee seems to be doing the best that they can, but the place is usually packed and everyone is running around like crazy. It is not a relaxing experience by far, you are encouraged to eat as fast as possible. It is not a place to go if you want to sit and enjoy your meal.
It's worth the wait!.
I've never posted a restaurant review in my life, but I was so moved by my experience at Nuestra Cocina that I wanted to share it with others.
It was just before 6pm on Friday evening. We drove in from out-of-town looking for a place to eat before heading over to the Aladdin Theatre to see some great bluesmen perform. We heard Division Street was a likely place to find refreshments so we headed east from the Ross Island Bridge. The sky was wet and gray. The streets were crowded with cars, and as we drove by Nuestra Cocina, our eyes were drawn in not by the sign on the street (it was hidden by trees) but by the people in the windows dining and conversing intently inside. Not knowing the type of restaurant we had just passed, we decided to find a parking spot (we were lucky to find one just a few blocks away) and walk in the rain to this quaint restaurant that was obviously worth exploring given the full house. We entered the colorful, lively yet intimate space, and we knew we had come upon something special. The hostess greeted us and said it would be a 35 minute wait so we headed to the cozy bar and pulled up a stool. The bartenders were very friendly as they mixed up some unique concoctions (pomegranate margaritas, fresh mojitos, chile infused tequila). We had a lovely glass of Spanish wine before being seated about 15 minutes later. Our server was absolutely perfect. She was so pleasant, and genuine, and helpful, and willing to accommodate our every need. We dined on super fresh ceviche, the best tortilla chips I've ever had, and the night's specials: sea bass steamed in a banana leaf and a delicious salad of fresh greens, mango, and jicama with an avocado infused vinigarette. Each dish had wonderful combinations of many flavors.
This was a very special restaurant & experience. I would highly recommend Nuestra Cocina to anyone looking to explore unique, fresh, and creative Mexican dishes.
Muchas gracias, la familia de Nuestra Cocina!
Awesome!. First and foremost, this restaurant offers an incredible cocktail -- the serrano lime drop. Sweet, spicy, beautiful! The food is definitely stellar. The lamb entree is spectacular, and the rockfish special I had was also really good. The ceviche is great, of course, and the service is friendly. Ambience is a touch claustrophobic, but I'm really looking forward to eating on their patio once it warms up. I really like this place! I recommend it without a doubt.
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