07/20/09

worst mexican food ever!

by epicuriousgeorge

Oh god. Why anyone would want to return to this place multiple times is completely beyond me. I have been to this location twice. The first time the food was bland, not hot, just overall not good mexican food. not good food at all really. I decided to give them a second chance... but... nope... same deal. Overpriced, bland, food. I highly encourage the proprietors of Chez Jose to invest in some spices and a competent cook. If you want good mexican food, check out Taqueria Los Gorditos. Chez Jose could learn a thing or two or three or . . .

• Pros: hmm... let's see... none that i can think of
• Cons: stupid name, overpriced, bland food,worse than taco bell

07/08/09

A Perfect Patio Summer Dining Experience

by potterymaker

Having only lived in Portland 21 months, there are many restaurants to explore without returning to ones I have already been to. Chez Jose is my exception - I have returned at least once a month because the dining experience is so rewarding.

This last time, I took a friend who excitedly told me about coming to Chez Jose at least once a week for many years when she lived a few blocks away. And the day we were there, they had just re-hung their newly refurbished "Cowboy In The Cadillac," three dimensional sign in the patio for the enjoyment of the alfresco dining crowd. My friend was thrilled to see the iconic Cowboy was back after being away for so long!

We barely had time to applaud the Cowboy at our patio dining spot when our Cadillac and Strawberry margaritas were placed in front of us so we could toast him! We thoroughly enjoyed an appetizer of taquitos with guacamole - very tastey with margaritas.

Our delicious meals arrived very shortly after we finished our appetizers. My friend ordered the grilled prawns and vegetable quesadilla with honey chipotle sauce - her favorite from years before - cooked to perfection. Really missing TexMex food (moved here from Texas) I ordered the crunchy beef tacos - which were seasoned exceptionally well and very satisfying. The rice and beans were BETTER than in Texas.

I make a point to always order something I have not previously tried from the menu or one of the specials - my cuisine adventures at Chez Jose have always been delightful.

Our wait person was on his toes and engaging at all the right times. And I was so amazed how reasonable our bill was when it arrived, that I treated my friend.

As the sun was setting, a light breeze was stirring, and we sat contented with every morsel we consumed and wished we had room for Tres Leche cake and another margarita. Darn!

I'll be back!

• Pros: Outdoor Ambience, Wait Staff, Meal, Drinks, Price
• Cons: Didn't Have room for dessert!

06/04/09

What's not to like?

by whaddyameanmorewater

So, I felt compelled to write after reading the last couple of reviews. I come here a lot (TRIVIA NIGHT YEAH!) and I have never had a bad experience. The dining room is not for singles or couples without kids though and I do recommend you dine in the bar area if you are allergic to them. Food is cheap and good for what you get, which is A LOT. I take home half my order (that's the problem with free chips). The margaritas are good too. I eat out often and service here is better than most. Fife rules in the bar!

• Pros: Food and margaritas
• Cons: KIDS

05/30/09

DO NOT EAT HERE - worst experience ever

by Welikefoodalot

Even the water tasted bad at this hole.

Let's get the most important thing out of the way here: there was what tasted like a cleaning chemical of some sort IN OUR FOOD. Before we even had a chance to complain, the waitress hurried over and warned us that another table had alerted her to the frightening chemical tasting beans--she told us explicitly not to eat them, but she wouldn't compensate us for the meal... instead we got about $2 off our entire bill.

That aside, even the dishes not containing the chemical beans were freakish perversions of mexican food. Both my boyfriend and I grew up close to the border and there's nothing authentic--or even approaching mexican--about the place.

We left our uneaten plates in disgust and will never return.

You'd be better off at taco bell.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Horrid food, bad service

02/22/09

Kids Run Amok Here - Beware!

by volkman

We used to go to Chez Jose a lot but hadn't been there in quite some time. So we were surprised last night to see that it's been turned into a day care/restaurant. Many, many kids running around under foot. I assume they were there with their parents but it was hard to tell. The decibel level was unbelievable! I believe there should be kid-friendly restaurants, and I guess this is one now. But there's a difference between a restaurant where families are encouraged to bring their kids and one where they're able to drop kids off to run amok (or so it appears from the non-kids patrons' point of view). I have kids (grown now) and we used to take them out, but if they started getting down and running around, screaming, crying, throwing a fit or exhibiting any bad behavior, I took them to the car to wait it out until they could get it together. It was a good opportunity to teach them about how to behave in public. No such effort was seen from the parents in Chez Jose East last night. Ugh. It doesn't matter what the food is like (I think it was good?) if the ambiance is non-existent, even hostile. Just be aware before coming here expecting a relaxing night out.

01/11/09

Service was not consistant

by AlyseBaker

Our overall experience was very poor. We sat in the bar and got drinks fairly quickly, but waited 10-15 minutes for chips, even though 3 bussers were just wandering around. We asked for chips when we where ording our meal and they brought them right away. Our food was good but not amazing. We had to ask for a refill on our chips and for silverware and napkins (necessities when eating, right?) The service wasn't terrible, however we observed 2 other tables getting exceptional service. They were recieving service from the bartender and another waitress. We were right next to them and weren't even acknowledged by the extra server (until she relized we were not happy. She may have been the manager.) Won't go back again...they need some consistancy, so take your chances.

• Pros: none
• Cons: service

09/05/08

Trivia on Monday nights - oh so fun!

by dawncity

I you like a good laugh, good food and a little mental exercise - check out Chez Jose East on Monday nights. Grab a trivia table and away you go. It was a good time and it's all for fun.

04/12/08

I love cheese! (and the specials are always delicious).

by jo_portland

I like this resteraunt alot. It is casual and VERY kid friendly. If you don't care to be around the kiddies there is a back bar area where you can escape the commotion and ignore the squealing from the adjesent dining room. A flat screen television is always playing the most popular sports game and you can run in and check the score if you've been drawn out on an important sports event. All the food is delicious but my favorite is the lime chicken enchaladas. I highly reccomend this place for families and groups, and even kidless people that have the opportunity to sit in the bar. The specials are always very good.

10/15/07

Not your ordinary Mexican place

by iamb

Our party of six dined here last night celebrating a friend's 50th birthday. They wanted Mexican food and something reasonably priced so we picked Chez Jose. We all had different types of Margerittas. I had the Cadillac which was good and potent. Their chips are home made and served with two different home made salsas - hot and mild. They are both unique and good. I can see how some people would be disappointed since they aren't traditional but I've been eating their salsa for years and love it. I've never heard anything but good reviews except here. I had a fish taco / squash enchilda combo that was really tasty. Served with black beans and rice, it was really yummy. Everyone was very pleased with their food and the birthday boy who ate Chicken Enchiladas loved them. I'd definitely recommend Chez Jose as a great place to get Mexican food that is a little outside the box. The service was above average. It should be noted that this must be a great place for kids since there seemed to be a lot of families with kids.

• Pros: Butternut squash enchiladas
• Cons: A bit hectic with lots of kids

10/04/07

Taco bell taste better

by mik5001

Chez Jose use to be good but the last two times it's been bad. My food along with the others I was with tasted like it was out of a can and just warmed up. Plus our waiter was creepy. Didn't look like everyone else who works there. Looked like a guy that would be on "Dateline To Catch A predator." He also checked on us every 3 minutes to see if we were ready to close out so he could go home.