Somewhere in Oregon, tucked along a busy neighborhood street, sits a little spot that quietly changes minds about what plant-based food can taste like. I walked in curious and a little doubtful, and left thinking about that wet burrito for days.
Word travels slowly here, mostly through friends who nudge you and say you have to try it. If you love finding places tourists breeze right past, this one deserves a bookmark.
A Killingsworth Street Gem in Northeast Portland
Right on NE Killingsworth Street in Portland, this taqueria hides in plain sight among the shops and homes of the Northeast quadrant. You could drive past a dozen times before someone finally tips you off.
The name is Mis Tacones, and it deals in something you rarely see done well: fully vegan Mexican food. Not a single dish carries meat, yet the flavors land so hard that even confirmed carnivores leave impressed.
What makes it feel like a real discovery is how unassuming it stays. No flashy corner lot, no tourist crowds spilling out the door, just a neighborhood counter serving huge plates to folks who know.
For Portland regulars hunting something genuinely different, this address rewards the trip. It is the kind of place you almost want to keep quiet about.
The Queer Chicano Dream Behind the Counter
Behind the kitchen doors lives a story that gives every plate extra meaning. Founders Polo and Carlos built this place around what regulars call their Queer Chicano Dream, and that heart shows in every corner.
Visitors often mention feeling genuinely at home here, especially those who share a queer Mexican identity. Several describe walking in and immediately sensing they belonged, welcomed rather than merely served.
The mission stretches beyond the tables, too. Guests speak fondly of the owners’ commitment to feeding marginalized communities and folks navigating tough stretches, treating food as something worth sharing widely.
You feel that generosity the moment staff greet you. This is not a soulless chain churning out plates; it is a community project that happens to make incredible food.
That combination of purpose and flavor is exactly why people keep coming back.
The Wet Burrito That Starts Arguments
If one dish has become the stuff of legend here, it is the wet burrito. Longtime vegans swear it ranks among the best meals they have ever eaten, and that is not casual praise.
Picture a hefty burrito drowned in jalapeno salsa verde, packed with vegan steak, guacamole, and a lineup of sauces that somehow all belong together. Despite the peppers, folks note it reads more flavorful than fiery, friendly even to spice-shy eaters.
One regular admitted being skeptical about the cashew-based sauce, expecting a strange aftertaste. Instead there was none at all, just creamy richness that sealed the deal.
Fair warning about the size: several diners report it comfortably feeds two, and leftovers taste just as good the next day.
Order it once and you will understand the fuss.
Empanadas Worth Building a Meal Around
Some folks arrive planning to order tacos and end up captivated by the empanadas instead. Mentioned in review after review, these golden pockets have quietly become a signature.
The variety alone invites experimentation. Guests rave about the elote empanada bursting with corn flavor and the chorizo con papas version, a savory tangle of vegan sausage and potato that disappears fast.
What sets them apart is texture. The shells crisp up beautifully around fillings that stay moist and generously seasoned, the kind of contrast that makes you slow down and pay attention.
They work as a shareable starter or, honestly, as the whole point of your visit. Order a few types and pass them around the table.
Pair one with a fresh drink and you have got a snack that outshines plenty of full entrees elsewhere.
Tacos and the Case for Vegan Asada
Tacos are right there in the name, so it should surprise no one that they deliver. What does surprise people is how convincingly the plant-based fillings mimic the real thing.
The asada taco earns steady praise, built on freshly made tortillas that fold around savory, well-charred vegan steak. Fans of al pastor and pollo have their favorites too, and one regular even calls the imitation chicken the standout on the whole menu.
A memorable detail from one visit: the non-vegan dad in the group insisted he would never have guessed the meal was meatless.
Those handmade tortillas make a real difference, soft and warm with a slight chew that packaged versions never match.
Grab a mixed order to sample several fillings at once. It is the easiest way to see why skeptics keep leaving as converts.
The Chimichanga With a Cult Following
Ask a table of first-timers to name their favorite and the chimichanga often wins by a landslide. It has quietly built a devoted fanbase among both vegans and curious meat eaters.
Crispy on the outside, stuffed and steaming within, it hits that satisfying deep-fried comfort note without any of the heaviness you might expect. One diner who split several dishes across the table declared it the clear champion.
Another visitor who came expecting tacos ended up dreaming about returning specifically for the chimi and nachos.
It travels the line between indulgent and craveable, the sort of plate you finish and immediately consider ordering again.
Serving sizes lean generous here, so come hungry or plan to take a box home. Either way, the chimichanga makes a strong argument that vegan comfort food can absolutely hold its own.
Weekend Brunch Full of Surprises
Saturdays and Sundays unlock a whole different side of this kitchen. The weekend brunch menu draws its own crowd, and for good reason.
Standouts include the breakfast quesadilla, praised for a garlic cashew crema so creamy and flavorful that guests keep talking about it long after. The enchiladas suizas off the brunch list earn equal affection, leaving one visitor wishing they had ordered even more.
Portions run big enough that folks describe leaving with at least two meals’ worth, turning a single brunch into lunch the next day.
The mood shifts too, with lively music and a bright, art-filled room that makes a lazy weekend morning feel a little festive.
Sunday hours start at 10 AM and Saturday at 10 AM as well, so early risers can beat the rush. Brunch here quietly ranks among the neighborhood’s best-kept secrets.
Fresh Drinks From Horchata to Cafe de Olla
The food gets the headlines, but the drinks deserve their own spotlight. Regulars consistently point newcomers toward the horchata, praised for tasting genuinely fresh rather than syrupy.
Beyond that, the lineup wanders through classic Mexican flavors. Guests enjoy the spiced cafe de olla, a tamarind-based cooler that doubles as a thirst quencher, and tangy jamaica in both drink and paleta form.
Those frozen paletas make a sweet finish on a warm Oregon afternoon, the kind of treat that pairs perfectly with a sunny patio seat.
What ties them together is that same commitment to flavor that runs through the whole menu. Nothing feels like an afterthought.
Order a drink you have never tried before and let it round out the meal. Half the fun here is discovering combinations you did not know you would love.
Desserts That Outshine the Non-Vegan Competition
Save room, because the sweets here punch well above their weight. One guest went so far as to call a slice of cake better than non-vegan versions they had eaten out, which says plenty.
The tres leches makes regular appearances, rich and moist, though one honest diner found it leaned a touch too sweet for their taste. Conchas, those pillowy Mexican sweet breads, show up on the menu for anyone craving a softer finish.
Fruit-forward paletas offer a lighter option when you want something cool rather than decadent.
What impresses most is how these desserts avoid the dry, apologetic quality that plagues so much plant-based baking. They taste like the real deal.
Finishing a meal here with something sweet feels less like a compromise and more like a reward. Do not skip this course.
A Cozy Room Bursting With Color and Art
Step inside and the walls do half the talking. The interior overflows with color and artwork, and guests routinely describe the decor as beautiful, even magical.
It is not a large space, which only adds to the intimacy. The design draws deeply on Mexican heritage and queer identity, and many visitors say the room made them feel both at home and safe.
Lively music keeps the energy up without overwhelming conversation, striking a balance that works for a casual lunch or a relaxed evening out.
Several people have flagged it as a lovely spot for a date night, thanks to that warm, artful atmosphere.
Because it is compact and charming, the room fills up quickly during peak hours. Arrive with a little patience and you will be rewarded with a setting as memorable as the plates.
Service That Brings the Vibe Up
Great food can only carry a place so far, and here the people behind it lift everything higher. Guests repeatedly single out staff members, mentioning one named Matt whose infectious energy keeps the room buzzing.
Newcomers appreciate how quickly they are greeted and how freely the team offers recommendations, guiding the undecided toward dishes they end up loving.
Even during a packed Saturday lunch rush, visitors describe the crew as kind, helpful, and genuinely attentive. That consistency under pressure says a lot.
There is a warmth to the interactions that feels rooted in the restaurant’s community mission rather than rehearsed hospitality.
People leave talking not just about their meal but about the folks who served it, which is rarer than it should be.
Friendly faces plus phenomenal food make for the kind of visit you want to repeat.
How the Ordering Actually Works
A quick heads-up will save you the confusion first-timers sometimes hit. Even though this is a sit-down restaurant, you order yourself rather than waiting for someone to take your request.
Most tables use a QR code system, so you scan, browse, and place your order right from your seat. One guest admitted losing time hoping a server would appear, so learn from that and dive straight into the code.
You are also expected to bus your own table afterward, keeping things casual and efficient.
Given how busy it gets, some visitors recommend planning ahead, since wait times can stretch during peak stretches.
None of this dulls the experience; it just keeps the vibe relaxed and the prices reasonable.
Know the routine going in and you will glide through it like a regular on your very first visit.
Hours, Timing, and Getting There
Planning your visit takes a little care, because the schedule shifts through the week. The kitchen opens at 3 PM Monday through Wednesday, noon on Thursday and Friday, and 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday.
Closing runs to 9 PM most nights, stretching to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, with an 8 PM finish on Sunday. One important tip: the kitchen tends to stop taking orders about 30 minutes before closing, so do not cut it too close.
One out-of-towner learned that the hard way after arriving minutes past the cutoff, so build in a buffer.
Getting there is easy without a car, too. A regular notes it is well worth the bus ride even from across town.
Reservations help during busy windows, so call ahead at 503-444-7972 when you can.
Why This Little Taqueria Wins Over Skeptics
By the time your plates are cleared, the doubts you walked in with tend to vanish. Time and again, meat eaters confess they would never have guessed the food was fully plant-based.
The formula is simple but hard to pull off: bold, generous portions, freshly made components, and flavors that stand toe to toe with any traditional taqueria.
Add a mission-driven crew, an art-filled room, and a neighborhood location tourists mostly overlook, and you have a genuine Oregon find.
Come for the wet burrito, stay for the empanadas, and leave already planning your next order.
If you have been quietly skeptical about vegan Mexican food, consider this your invitation to test the theory yourself. Chances are you will walk out a believer, full and grinning, ready to tip off a friend or two.
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