Cha Cha Cha Mexican Restaurant, Restaurant Reviews, Portland Oregon Restaurant Reviews

What's Cooking America - Restaurant Reviews
Portland, Oregon Metro Restaurant Reviews

Overall Ratings: ***1/2

Overall Review: Basically a fast food Mexican Taqueria, but don't be fooled - this is a top-notch one with excellent food.

Review Date: September 23, 2007

Cuisine: Southern Mexican Cuisine

Alcohol: Serve all the favorite Mexican drinks.

Attire: Casual

Location: Located in the Sellwood neighborhood of southeast Portland on the corner of Bybee Blvd. and 13th Street.

Open Hours:
Open Seven (7) days a week
10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Parking: Street parking

Price Range: Moderate

Reservations: Not needed

Rating Key Explanations:

* Bad (will never go back)

** Fair (below average - will not go back)

*** Good (would consider dining there again)

**** Very Good (will definitely go back)

***** Extraordinary (will be back as soon as possible)

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Cha Cha Cha

1606 Bybee Blvd.
Portland, OR

Map & Directions

Phone: 503-232-0437

This is what good Mexican food should taste and look like - vibrant colors, fresh taste, and great prices! The atmosphere is cozy, the neighborhood is lively, and the owners are very generous and friendly.
You will never find me in any more of those "so called" Mexican restaurant found around town. The Cha Cha Cha is my choice from now on!

Located in a huge bungalow-style home in Sellwood (former home of the Ivy House Restaurant). They presently have five locations around the Portland area. Generally, you order your food at the counter, but for large groups, they have table service. In the summer, you can choose to dine on the front porch or the from lawn.

The portion are huge for the price. Generous dinner plates that miraculously remain under $5.95. They include lots of vegetarian offerings. We fed a family of five large eaters, which included margaritas, for only $45.00. The menu offers an assortment of home-style Mexican dishes with an emphasis on traditional spices and ingredients. All the dishes, including beans and rice, are prepared in house using either olive oil or canola oil.

My only negative thing I can say, is that the print on their menus is too small and hard to read. So bring your magnifying glass and enjoy their great Mexican cuisine.

Some of the dishes we ordered:

Pacifico Ceviche - A Mexican fisherman's staple, prawns cooked and simmered in our house cocktail sauce mixed with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and slices of avocado, served with chips. $5.95.
You must order the Pacifico Ceviche to share with your friends. It is so good! Sorry about the quality of the photo. Next time I dine there, I'll try to get a better one.

Tinga Tostada - Juicy shredded chicken cooked in a chipotle sauce served on a crispy corn tortilla with pinto beans and topped with romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cotija cheese. $4.75

Cha Nachos - Homemade tortilla chips topped with pinto beans, your choice of meat, melted jack and cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. $4.95

Enchiladas Rojas - Two corn tortillas filled with your choice of meat, cheese, or veggies topped with our house red enchilada sauce, melted cheese, served on a plate with pinto or black beans and spanish rice, garnished with pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. $5.95.