Original Taco House

Great place to take a date or family. Love the OTH, go there all the time. The chips and salsa are addictive. Also the deep fried ice cream tops off a great meal. Also pick up a jug of salsa and enchilada sauce on the way out. The staff is friendly and attentive, the top off my diet coke every few minutes. I am a big fan.…

Original Taco House stinks!. Worst meal of my life regardless of origin of cuisine, plus we all got sick afterwords. I've seen more appealing for come out a college dormitory microwave. This place and its food is downright awful!!!…

Good for family and kids. I have been going to the Original Taco House for over 35 years!! It may be one of my favorite places to eat although my selections of the menu are just a few I can never eat my entire meal. I do not like spicy food so this fits me just fine. The service is good and has changed over the years you use to orger food as you entered now you have a server the food has not and by the way it is made right next door then sent out to the other locations not in a can. The free chips are awesome. Enjoy your visit…

As unappleaing as it gets!. We thought to try out the Original Taco House since upon repeat passings, it's lot was always very full. Our out of town guest arrived and was looking to dine on some local Mexican food... so, we chose the Original Taco House.

Upon entry, the smells eminating from the kitchen seemed appealing... however, when we were seated, I was particularly overcome by an immediate sense of dread due to the bunched up seating arrangement afforded our table of four.

The wait staff was pleasant, but dressed in a manner that we found to be a bit too casual. Old, worn tee-shirts and jeans. Had the shirts been fresh and newish... that wouldn't have been an issue.

The salsa came to the table accompanied by tortilla chips and neither provided much desire by any of us to munch away. The salsa itself was especially sweet and rich in tomato, but lacking in traditional spices such as cumin and cilantro. Frankly, it came across as a fancy ketchup it was so sweet.

The menu was full of selectiona nd ensuing hype drawing attention to the founders and family recipes, etc. The prices were steep in comparison a near-by local fav... La Carreta.

Once our meals arrived, the beans looked canned.. and, tasted canned. The rice looked old and really was nothing at all special. My meal of a pork tamale was okay, filled with tender pieces of seasoned pork and wrapped in a decent masa, but, that was not enough to sway my opinion towards favorable. The price was outrageous considering it was a single tamale with beans and rice!

The balance of the table ordered various taco dishes none of which caused fits of food inspired euphoria. In fact, the general comment from around the table was... never again.

Given Portlands plethora of dining experiences to be had, I'm heartily suggesting you avoid this place by all means. it's over priced, uninspired and certainly not of sufficent quality to rate a great big hurrah!…