¿Por Qué No?

¿Por Qué No? is hands down one of the best taco spots in Portland! From the moment you step in, you're greeted with a vibrant, lively vibe that perfectly embodies Portland's eclectic charm. The colorful decor, friendly staff, and upbeat energy make this a place where you instantly feel at home. The tacos here are nothing short of extraordinary. The Verduras taco is a flavorful explosion of roasted seasonal veggies, paired with just the right amount of spice and freshness. It's a must-try for veggie lovers or anyone seeking a lighter, yet satisfying option. Then there's the Hongos y Papas taco, which is pure magic. The combination of earthy mushrooms, perfectly seasoned potatoes, and a hint of creaminess creates an indulgent bite that you'll want to savor slowly. Their commitment to using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients shines in every dish. Pair your tacos with one of their house-made aguas frescas or a margarita, and you're in for a treat. The line might be long during peak hours, but trust me—it's worth the wait! If you're in Portland and craving bold, delicious flavors in a fun and welcoming atmosphere, ¿Por Qué No? is the place to be.

This place has a vibe to it , loved the whole experience. Found this gem on our way to California from Seattle. Absolutely Loved the tacos , we ordered the shrimp (Camerones ) and Pollo Asado (chicken ) and then ordered some more !! The cheese quesadillas was oozing with cheese, kids loved it ! Parking is street parking. They have little Knick knacks to keep the kids busy . We ended up here on our way back too

Sooooo sooo good! Authentic fresh tortillas! Super authentic flavors in all of the meats, perfects toppings and flavorful house salsas! The vibes are awesome. You order then grab a seat, a separate counter open for drinks specifically. The cerveza roja another must try!

Honestly the only negative is the tacos themselves are mid for the price. Not bad, at all, but not $5 per taco good. The Al Pastor is clearly not carved from a sit, the fish#1 was just alright. Conversely, the value on chips w/salsa and guac is pretty great. The alcoholic agua frescas are solid, very refreshing. Everyone working here is super nice, and they may have an overstaffing issue if anything. Service is quick and gracious. Ambience inside is a little claustrophobic but outside there are EXPANSIVE options for sitting fully exposed, or under the patio cover, or under the covid-era street enclosure, or upstairs... A lot of options outside. So yeah, nearly a 5* experience, were it either a buck cheaper per taco, or a buck tastier. Don't listen to all the hipster hype in these reviews. It's Portland. It has absolutely no affect on the food or feels.

Incredible veggie tacos for the vegetarians. Had the mushroom, the potatoes and the seasonal corn one - each one topped the other with the ridiculous salsas. My wife gave the shrimp tacos 11/10 as well.

Noticed the long line outside and stopped to check it out. Very good tacos!! Had the chorizo, carnitas, pollo verde, and carne asada. All were delicious. The spicy cucumber slices and chips & guacamole were also good. Cute place with a lot of character. We didn’t have drinks, but most people were ordering and they had some pretty creative options on the menu.

This was my first time in Portland. I was there for only 3 days and came here twice because it was so good! Excellent service, you'll be asked for a juice order while waiting in line. They will bring your food to the table. There is a salsa bar in the back of the restaurant near the restrooms. The barbaco, fish, and chicken tacos were each bursting flavor! Can I take this place back to Florida with me?? 😍

This place is so delicious! Everything we got was so good. We ate outside but it was also really cute inside. We had to park a little ways away in the street, not out of the norm for Portland. There was a decent line but it went by fast. Can’t wait to eat there again!

Loved every bit of it. Went in for lunch with the wife and some friends while visiting Portland for the first time. Ambiance is solid, tiny little "hole in the wall" Mexican joint. Counter service, so order and pay at the counter - though they'll bring you your food to your seat. Taco selection was fab, and the margs were quite good. Staff was wicked friendly too. We messed around with some guac and salsa and chips and all were solid - nothing super special about them all to me, but I would get them again and again every time I went no questions asked. On the taco end of the spectrum I inhaled Carnitas - and these were some of the best Carnitas I have ever had. Sometimes Carnitas are juicy but just don't have a ton of flavor but PQN nailed these things. SO good. I also destroyed a chorizo taco and an Al Pastor. The Al Pastor was perfection - PQN really got a great heat balance with the pineapple, whereas many other places really just focus on savory pork with pineapple. For the adult beverages I tried both a regular marg and a mezcal marg, and was slightly disappointed that the mezcal marg just had a float of mezcal - but listen, it was still delicious. The whole thing was wonderful, and especially enjoyed on a fun outdoor patio on a gorgeous day. Loved this place. Gonna be my first stop for food when I'm back in town visiting again!

The people who think they make great tacos for $5 a taco have: 1. Never had a taco in LA 2. Never had a taco in Mexico 3. Think $5 for a taco (that makes no improvements over a street taco from a stand in La) is reasonable Or all 3. For five dollars a taco I would expect something special and unique that I wouldn't find at a taco stand. Instead, I found a five dollar taco that is worse than a one dollar taco from a stand and just made me feel like I got tricked into some hipster BS trend. You're allowed to charge more for a taco if it's better, but when it's worse, I don't know how you get away with it.

The food here is delicious! We walked up to the counter and were quickly helped. The menu board has a very specials so be sure to check it out as well as the menu. I wound up ordering a quesadilla. It was a nice size and quite satisfying. We also ordered the spicy cucumbers and guacamole for the table. Everything was well prepared. The different salsas are definitely worth trying. Some of them are very spicy! I enjoyed them. The only thing that was missing was a little bit of the service. Once they drop off the food nobody ever came back to check on us or see if we needed anything else. It was strange because everything else was top notch. I would definitely come back and recommend it to others.

Edible, but pretty underwhelming and overpriced in the taco department. You won't see any Mexicans eating here either, and that's a red flag for me. The place was clean enough and the service was fine though.. There's definitely better and fairer priced taco spots all over PDX. Not sure why people rate this place so high.

This place was everything!! It was not only super delicious but it was so cute!! Love that you could order at the counter than find your own seat, the staff was sweet and helpful! The bowl and tacos were a 10/10!

Omg the hot sauce was amazing! They had a hot sauce bar with many options so if you don't like one taste you can go for an entirely different option. The tacos were very good and the meat was seasoned well. The taste was authentic and the food was prepared very quickly. I liked the vibe of the place! It has nice lighting and a trendy feel.

Awesome staff! Oh my god and the food is delicious. $5 per tacos but it's worth it. I got two al pastor tacos and it had a spicy kick to it, it was good though. The drinks are good too. I got a michelada and it was delicious. The atmosphere is great, feels like saturday here everyday lol. Will definitely come here again.

First time in, it was Ah-mazing. It's like a taco boutique. Everything was so good. Cute atmosphere, good music, friendly service.

The tacos and (pomegranate) margs were amazing as usual - I had the chicken, carne asada and al pastor tacos with a side of guac/salsa and chips. Chips were fresh and guac was tasty. Even on a hot day they had plenty of shaded outdoor seating so it wasn't bad. This is one of my favorite spots for Mexican food in Portland and I have a high bar as a former Southern Californian. Service was fast and everyone who worked there very kind. Love it and will be back again.

Such an amazing place! Completely understand why there is always a line because it's that good! So many taco options to choose from as well as amazing bowls. I got the chorizo and pastor tacos, they were delicious! The meat was cooked perfectly. Fair warning that their hot sauces are HOT!!! I'm not hugeee on heat and I was sweatin a little after eating them but they were delicious nonetheless! Everyone else in my group got one of the bowls and they all were licked clean. I also got an alcoholic watermelon agua Fresca which was soo refreshing in the heat! Next time I'm in the area I definitely will be back!

Absolutely amazing mexican place in Portland. Love their delicious tacos and bowls and not to mention their margaritas. We ordered the carnitas, pescado, spicy chicken (special), barbacoa & camarones tacos with their bryans bowl. Omg everything we ordered was divine and we devoured our meal in no time. The bryans bowl was mind blowing. It all tasted so fresh and delicious. Their salsas are great too. The green and red sauce on each table elevates the flavors to the next level when added to any dish - taco or bowl. Their margaritas - the pomegranate one was refreshing and tasty and the others tasted divine too. They have huge indoor and outdoor seating. They can accommodate big groups and there is ample seating at this place. There can be a huge line to place your order during peak hours but the food comes out pretty quick. Highly recommend this spot in Portland.

The food is always absolutely incredible. The chicken and shrimp tacos are a little spicy but nothing I can't handle. Normally the corn tortillas don't break but they did this time. Not a big enough deal to take away a star. They taste great, have good texture, aren't oily, and don't need double layering. The chicken is always perfectly cooked. The salsa is phenomenal. The staff never misses a special request. The service is awesome. They are super fast. They also will come and ask for drinks when you're in line. There is plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor. It is loud inside, but outside is a tent. I love coming here!

Stopped in for quick lunch with friends. The street tacos, chips, salsa and guac, and guava Aqua fresca hit the spot. Love that the Hawthorne location has parking and plenty of indoor and outdoor (covered and uncovered)seating. The service is knowledgeable and friendly and the atmosphere is funky and fun. Street tacos are near $5/each and the chips, guac and salsa is $11. Not cheap but the food is great snd flavors well thought through and balanced.

Tasty, creative tacos but quite expensive. Some are almost double your average taco cart at 5.50, and they're the same size. However they have many other creative tacos that you can't find at most other carts. I tried 4: a crispy fish taco, pollo verde, a Veggie Taco and one of their specials; the Pollo adobo. The special was by far the tastiest, very flavorfully spiced tender chicken. The fish was good too, nice crispy breading. The pollo verde was pretty bland, just plain shredded chicken with some verde (should've known from the name). The queso asado was a fried cheese log with a poblano pepper strip, like a mozzarella stick taco basically. Tasty but definitely needs hot sauce. Pretty cool spot, lots of creative tacos, especially for veggie options. Too expensive for me to go out of my way to come here for tacos when there are 12 cheaper places I can walk to, but one of the best taco places for vegetarians I've been to.

Food was good and they had fast service! Definitely on the pricey side, but top tier margs at least. Very warm patio!

Delicious food and drinks! Our Airbnb was right off the same street as this taqueria so we immediately went to check it out. Wonderful vibes, servers were so kind and welcoming. There was a bit of a line when we got there but once we got in and got our food we could immediately tell why! We ended up coming here twice!

I had the tamale plate. One pork. One chilli cheese. Both were good. I would come back.

first ever taco place that had more than one fish taco on the menu! i was very impressed. i didnt really like the special fish taco, it felt like too much toppings and clashing flavors but im kinda picky :o) my fiancee got other tacos too which were pretty good had lots of seating outdoors which was great, free stickers, free dumdums, a free fan!!! clean bathrooms. the salsa bar was a little hard to find- its inside towards the back near the bathrooms (...) inside a mini fridge!!

So, my wife and mother and I went to the other location because we didn't pay attention to Maps. There is a big difference, apparently. Continuity and consistency is always a challenge. The beans were quite undercooked, my bowl was just meh. I should have just got 3 tacos for the same price. So the outdoor dining space was a bit dumpstery. In all fairness, they are constructing a magnificent new pergola for outdoor dining and is maybe a few feet further from the trash collection. This restaurant group is a work in progress and they are trying hard to bring their best. Please don't give up! For now, we prefer the Mississippi location, it's closer to our house.

I've been working on this street for a year now and always been curious about this place. My worker and I decided to go in for a non alcoholic beverage. We could tell that the drinks are watered down and when I asked for no ice the server had a whole attitude and served our cups halfway. Coming from a Latina, this place does not represent our culture or character. This was my $9.00 drink.

Por qué no? Cause it's kinda meh. It's a very very cute place. We went upstairs and we were the only people there. The tacos came with just one tortilla (what!!??) So of course they weren't easy to eat as they ripped. There's no fresh salsa the salsa tastes like from a jar, not spicy, not acidic. This place was very underwhelming as far as the food goes. The space was, however, very nice and pleasant.

My god, to think that all these years in Portland, I was under the false impression that this place is over hyped ... I was so wrong. We got lunch catered at work today (ordered on DoorDash) and woww I'm so blown away. Probably the best burrito bowl I've ever had?? Everything was perfection from the fresh chips to the carne to the salsas. All of it a 10/10. I will be thinking about this for a long time. Thank you por que no!!

Mexican food on Mississippi ~ why not? This front counter is overwhelmed with clutter chaos, introducing you to mixed replication of Mexico & PDX peculiar. Chido dive bar vibes. $5 mini street tacos not consumed too quickly if you hastily dip the first bite in their salsa ~ en fuego times en fuego! No expectations for service and you will not be disappointed. Pets not allowed except for sidewalk seating. Grungy good for late nite drinking.

Came here on taco Tuesday at 6:30pm and there was a decent line but it went by quickly. The bartender also went up to the line before we ordered food and got our drink orders ready by the time we were ready to pay which was really nice and helped the line move swiftly. The chips and guac were $8.50 which seemed very expensive to me for this quick service restaurant. The tacos were 50 cents off due to it being Tuesday which was nice but still think the prices were expensive for simple tacos. The place itself had lovely outdoor seating with both sidewalk seating for those with dogs and covered seating on their patio. They also had indoor seating but seemed overwhelming to sit there with the line and workers moving quickly. Overall I recommend coming here, maybe during happy hour for better deals!

Order: Chips and Guacamole; Barbacoa Tacos; Al Pastor Taco; side of rice and beans Drink: Margarita Pros: this food slaps!!!! The tacos were really good and the meat was not dry! The guac and salsa had amazing flavor and was seasoned! The chips were not super salty either. The rice and beans were hella good as well! The ambiance of this place is really dope. Its like a small taco bar with outside seating. I believe they also had roof top seating as well. Overall yes to the tacos, drinks, and vibes!! Cons: no

4.5 stars I ordered the chips and guacamole, the carnitas taco, and the carne asada taco. The chips were too salty, but they were served hot and the guacamole was very tasty! Both tacos were excellent! The tacos were served on corn tortillas that seemed like a hybrid between a corn and a flour tortilla, which I really liked because it had the structural integrity of a flour tortilla with the taste of a corn tortilla. They have inside seating as well as outdoor seating, part of which is covered. We sat in the covered outdoor part, and they played pop music, which wasn't too loud. I also enjoyed the salsa bar! Great options! The place itself is an order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. The servers were very nice and pleasant!

Enjoyed a lovely lunch here. This spot is easy to locate as it's near a slew of other shopping/food establishments. The staff were super friendly and inviting! Even though it was approaching lunch time, my food made it to my table quickly. The shops vibe is really cool too. You'll definitely enjoy stopping by here. Don't forget the bottled coke!

I saw very great reviews for this place and decided to meet here with some other friends after stopping by another place. They had a happy hour menu so I thought it would be great to have a drink It's located on the south end of N Mississippi Ave. There's only street and residential parking around the area which could be difficult to find on weekends. There was three seating areas: indoors where we ordered, upstairs by accessing from the outside side stairs, and outside on the "patio" with heaters. My group and I sat outside since we had other foods (shh). We all got a taco each as we had food from the other food place we went to earlier. I got the Carne Asada taco. The meat was nicely cooked (maybe a bit over cooked) with a nice sauce on top. It wasn't as flavorful as I hoped but still a delicious snack to have. I should had added the extra condiments from inside. My boyfriend got the Pork Carnitas which he didn't share with me. So no idea how it was LOL. My friends for a Carne Asada and Pescado. Seemed like they enjoyed theirs too! None of us got a drink in the end LOL. Failed but the tacos weren't bad! Great place to hang out with friends for both food and drinks.

Pretty solid place for tacos and recommended to me from someone who grew up here in Portland. They were flavorful and filled up just right. My total came out to be around $13 for two tacos and a side of rice. The tacos themselves are a little pricier than I'd like (around 4 dollars for one) but overall, a pleasant dining experience.

Amazing food! We like this place a lot & have eaten here 4 times now in our short stay in Portland. I continue to get the Bryan bowl, add shrimp with a side of chips. I dip the chips in the bowl like salsa ;) My hubby loves the tacos. This place has been highly recommended by many nurses at the legacy Emmanuel & friends who live in the area. Service is fast, & has very friendly staff who take the time to answer any questions we have. There is plenty of indoor & outdoor seating with a patio up above the restaurant in case you don't want to sit street side. You will love whatever you order here. I promise!!

A great friend of mine brought me here and described it as "the best tacos in Portland", and after trying them...he was absolutely right!! When we pulled up, the line was long, which is always a good sign. The young ladies at the counter were friendly and warm. I was told they have brisket tacos every so often, but I missed it by a day. I went with the asada tacos, a few barbacoa tacos, and chicken tacos. Also ordered the Chips and Guac, and a margarita. I was very impressed with the flavors, and how perfectly cooked the meat was on each taco. I could taste the freshness and delicious ingredients that stood out. The Chips and Guac was equally good with fresh, crispy chips and the Guac had a flavors that would rival any restaurant in Mexico. And the margarita was as authentic as they come. The salted rim on the cup just made it that much more special. The outside dining is nice, allows you to take in the sun and enjoy the beautiful day while eating a great lunch or dinner here. Porque? No is genius when it comes to creating one of kind, flavorful dishes. This will be one of my first stops when I come back to Portland!

Not worth the money. Go to Ole Ole on burnside for bigger tastier tacos. It's unreasonable to charge this much for single tortilla small tacos. The brisket taco only available for lunch was dry and the sauce was reminiscent of American-made body odor. The chips and salsa r aight tho

The service was great. Nice menu and drink options. Outdoor or indoor seating. The flavors of the salsa and guacamole were exceptionally great. I had ala carte barbacoa tacos. Those could have used a bit more flavor or 'kick' to them spice wise, but they were good. All ingredients seemed fresh. I would like to come back sometime and explore their menu more.

My go to place, every time I'm in Portland. Delicious tacos, quac, salsa, and homemade chips. Service is always great and small but interesting ambience, plus outdoor dining. Neighborhood is fun, as well.

Well thought out, balanced blend of ingredients creating all of the most delicious tacos. There was a line to order, but that just shows how sought after their food is. Plenty of drink options. Something for everyone. The outdoor space is so cute, and the service was great. I would definitely come back.

Quick and kind service complimented by amazing food. I would drive across town for this any day!

This is such a cute place with delicious tacos and more. During lunch hour this place is teeming with people but there's ample seating both inside, upstairs and outside. We got the por que plate with pollo asada and it came with a generous portions of rice and beans along with guac. We also got two tacos- pescado and carne asada. There is a whole salsa bar with so many different types of salsas with varying spice levels. Everything was so delicious! If you're in Portland and looking for a good Mexican food place, I would highly recommend this place.

The tacos at this location were average. Reasons for Rating: +0.5 Excellent location and parking +0.5 Food taste really good +0.5 Customer service +1 Interior/atmosphere +1 Would return/recommend others

One of the best taquerias in town! I've had most of their tacos and you can't go wrong. Their guac is amazing!

My friend and I both tried the por que no plate, mine with grilled chicken and hers with barbacoa. My friend also ordered a 12oz margarita and I got the horchata. The por que no plate was absolutely delicious. It had a great mix of items on it and I loved the salad that came with. Each plate came with 4 corn tortillas. The only thing I would've liked to see was more protein on the plate. The serving was pretty big, and I only managed to finish ¾ of it (note: the leftovers the next day were just as delicious and smelled delicious too). The grilled chicken reminded me of teriyaki chicken (without the teriyaki sauce, of course). The margarita was very strong. It didn't taste like any other margarita I've had before (the flavor wasn't one-dimensional which is a good thing) and I tasted I think apple in it? The horchata was a little pricy at $5 in my opinion but I loved how it was vegan. It was well-spiced

This is a must visit anytime I come down to Portland! Their taco selection is expansive and delicious. Their customer service has been consistently spot-on - albeit some of them can be a bit much when telling you about the line and people traffic etc ... However, that won't take away from how delicious their food has been both pre and post pandemic. Consistency is key. I love their guacamole & chips, their spicy cucumbers, various of their taco selections and of course, their salsas are delicious. I also very much enjoy their Aguas Frescas and their margaritas. As for the ambiance, this is a pretty cool spot with character & seating options both inside and out. Park nearby, explore Mississippi St. & don't forget to make a spot at this jewel in Portland!

The best tamales (meat) I've ever had. And a superb barbacoa taco. The other tacos (carnitas and carne asada) we tried were not good but edible. Super fast and friendly service.

The experience did not meet our expectations. We have lived in California for a long time and are familiar with Mexican cuisine. It is usually very delicious, and one portion can feed the whole family; it's affordable and very tasty. Here, we got something entirely different. The portions were very small and not tasty. We ordered takeout, and when we were ready to eat, we were very disappointed to find that they didn't include forks and even napkins. P.S. In the end, I only ate the chips because there was a hair in the main dish.

A coworker that lives in Portland suggested Por Qué No? for dinner last night and I'm so glad she did. There was a small line coming out the door and down the sidewalk, but it moved pretty quickly and we were inside within 5-10 min. The interior was warm and cozy. We ordered at the counter and my worries of finding a table were quickly erased when my coworker led us back out the door, around the corner, and up to the generously-spaced, tented seating area. I went to the bathroom and by the time I got back, our food was already on the table! I ordered 4 tacos - a barbacoa, carnitas, a chorizo, and the start of the show, the queso asado. I was so excited to try to queso asado, I couldn't wait before snapping a pic. After a few bites, I had to set it down to save it for my last bite. The other tacos were really good. The chorizo was close to tying for 1st place, but the sear on the cheese, along with the texture of the cheese and chile, made for an amazing bite! The chips were fresh fried and the guac was great too. I would not hesitate to return at all. Quick service and incredible tacos!

Huge taco, guac and salsa fan here. Their pico salsa is some of the best in town and even tho their tacos are spendy, they are delish. Their margaritas are yummy and strong my fav dish is the chips salsa and guac or fish tacos #2. Their beans and rice are good too. Service is prompt and their carry out service/ orders to go have been consistently fantastic with no missing items, comes out hot and quickly even if they are busy in the restaurant. The restaurant is nice now that they have expanded onto the street and back patio. It was pretty small before.

Decent tacos. We didnt eat inside, instead we had take out. The food was decent.

Heard a lot about this place and wanted to try it out while in Portland. This place is set in a cute strip of restaurants. Interior is so fun and colorful. They have ample out door seating with a upstairs terrace seating as well. They have covered seating area that gives you a tree house vibe and it's fun figuring out how to open the doors.Inside is small with limited seating but with the outdoor seats you are comfortable and cozy with heaters everywhere. We went during week day so the line wasn't that long. We were greeted with very friendly staff! We ordered a chicken bowl with extra hot sauce and a fish bowl alongside kids quesadillas. We opted for chips and salsa instead of tortillas. They have salsa bars located throughout the restaurant and the flavors and spiciness did not disappoint. The bowls were delicious and filling. Don't be fooled by the size of the small bowl. Fish bowl was a fried cod, mixed with rice and beans and corn. Same with the chicken bowl but it had extra spicy sauce. Chips were made freshly and had the perfect amount of crispness and salt to it. If I wasn't as full I would have given the fish tacos try as well. Everything on the menu looked good and seeing food on other peoples tables had me drooling. What really amazed me here was how efficient the staff were. With so many seating options inside and out the staff were able to locate table numbers to deliver food. Service is exceptional and food is outstanding. Worth the long wait and I can't wait to be back here to try other items on the menu.

A fun spot to eat with friends and delicious food too! Came here later in the day and had a positive experience.

This was a random selected restaurant based off the funny Hispanic name. The food slapped cause after all, why not?