MY SENSUAL EXPERIENCE AT TITO'S TAQUITOS

The restaurant that’s finally satisfying Multnomah Village’s cravings.

It was an ordinary spring day in Portland, Oregon, slightly cloudy with most definitely a chance of rain, when my now husband came home proclaiming some big news: a new restaurant was opening in our neighborhood. This time, right in the vacant spot left by a place that had closed just a month ago.

The news is not to be downplayed. The last time that space was empty, after Little Big Burger closed, it sat vacant for months. When it finally reopened, it was... another burger place. One I never even made it to and initially regretted, until someone told me about their bad experience there.

This short-lived burger place was open for less than six months and shut down so quietly it was almost eerie. Naturally, I thought, here we go again. It’s going to be ages before anything opens—and please, not another fucking burger joint.

That’s when my husband declared the glorious words: “Tito’s Taquitos is opening NEXT WEEK!!”

Not only was an iconic Portland pop-up opening a new brick-and-mortar location—it was doing so in the very neighborhood where it all began. I had heard of Tito’s Taquitos before but never made it over to their Swan Island or Beaverton locations, so I was beyond excited to try it out.

Now, I have a personal rule: I don’t visit restaurants during their first week. I’d rather not have a shitty experience that keeps me from going back, especially if they’re just finding their rhythm in that first week. So I waited until the third week of their soft opening—and went not once, but twice.

Before we get to the food, I have to talk about how they've transformed the space.

The location had always felt a bit cold—industrial lighting, basic setup—and the previous two tenants didn’t do much to change that. But when I looked in the windows from across the street and saw that Tito’s Taquitos had put up curtains, I instantly had a carnal draw to the place.

So when I walked in and saw the other décor elements—cozy artwork, box trim on the walls, and comfortable seating—I knew I was in the embrace of a safe and delicious setting.

For my first visit, I ordered the braised beef taquitos and a fish taco. I knew it was too much food, but I was feeling indulgent—so it's a miracle I even narrowed it down to two dishes.

While waiting for my food, I struck up a conversation with the woman sitting next to me—someone I recognized from our neighborhood bookstore, Annie Bloom’s. We were both there by ourselves, reading fun books, and ended up chatting about our experiences with the new restaurant. She’s lived in Multnomah Village longer than I have and gave me the full backstory of the space (she’s also the one who told me about her bad experience eating at the previous burger place) and how Tito’s Taquitos started out having a food truck in Gabriel Park. This impromptu conversation only added to the charming atmosphere.

Now, the taquitos? Easily the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly crispy with a warm potato filling and tender, stringy braised beef layered on top. This combination of tastes and textures was truly a sensual experience. Then you add in the toppings—avocado sauce, queso fresco, pickled onions, cilantro, and radish—for a freshness that really brought me to the edge. I also added a side of red salsa, which gave it just the right amount of heat to finish me off.

Then came the fish taco.

Sometimes I go to restaurants regretting having ordered too many dishes, but never have I been so grateful for a second round.

This fish taco was everything I ever wanted in a fish taco. Delicious flaky fish wrapped in the perfect amount of batter and delicately held by the strongest, most flavorful corn tortilla I’ve ever had. Corn tortillas aren’t usually my type because the ones I’ve tasted tend to abandon you while you’re trying to eat the taco. But this corn tortilla was sweet and sturdy and oh so delicious.

I couldn’t stop thinking about this fish taco and had to come back a few days later, like the love-obsessed person I am, and order it again...while also adding both the chicken and shrimp tacos to my order.

I didn’t think I could handle any more. But then I found out they had Tres Leches cake on their dessert menu and I knew I couldn’t turn down a third course. I hadn’t had Tres Leches cake since high school, when I worked as a hostess at a Cuban restaurant and treated myself to a slice every night. Since then, I had been deeply deprived of its spongy goodness.

So I ordered it.

It came out as the smallest, cutest Tres Leches cake I’ve ever seen—size was not an issue here because it was bursting with flavor. The fresh, bouncy berries atop the fluffy cream nearly ended me. I devoured it in about one minute, and this inspired the woman from Annie Bloom’s to order one for herself.

Between the seductive new décor, captivating atmosphere, and sensual food, I couldn’t be more satisfied with Tito’s Taquitos.