On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Mexican, Vegan, Vegetarian [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Clinton, Southeast PortlandMon-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Loading...
Having stopped by various taco trucks these past couple of weeks, hopeful for some way to finally quiet my cravings for fish tacos, I noticed Los Gorditos when I was stuck in traffic on Division and decided to check it out.
Although they didn't have fish tacos, I was impressed by their large vegetarian and vegan menu items and was curious about Soyrizo (similar to chorizo, but made of soy the cashier told me) and ordered a Soyrizo taco and Carne Asada burrito. I am so glad I stopped by! The Soyrizo was very tasty, and actually tasted like chorizo. The taco came with cilantro, onions, beans and rice and avocado which was so good, I have to come back with my Buddhist vegan family. The burrito was also delicious and, at about the same size as Chipotle's, the $5.25 pricetag is a little lighter on the wallet.
I was lucky that there was hardly a line and the service was patient and friendly. They have little tables everywhere and even have a few under their awning to protect us from rainy Oregon weather. Can't wait to come back!
Yes, it's in a truck; no, it's not overrated.
You might wait forever for your food.
Once you eat it, you won't care. Best Tacos Pastor I can find in the area. Not sure who Stacy is, but the burrito named after her is juicy and delicious. Sure, Por Que No ain't far away--but this place is just as good without the crowd of hipsters.
Doesn't hurt that it's right outside my front door.
Ever have a Mexican food hunger pang but never been able to fully satisfy it?
I have found the solution that will remedy most Mexican food hunger pangs. When my body is panging for Mexican food, I drive 6 miles from home to cure it. The burritos are the size of one of your calves! The meats are moist and well seasoned, the cheese is luscious and melty, and the tortilla is thin and tasty. I love this place! I usually mix the orange sauce with the green sauce to get my perfect sauce.
Great cart food!
Oh, hello. After living the So Cal Life for a brief stint I now understand a good burrito from an excellent burrito and let me tell you I love the burritos at this place. I could eat here everyday and I would tumble for them multiple times. The soy chorizo makes me want to shake my hips. The wait is a little long so bring the crossword, call your mother, get your to do list done, oh hello.
Ok, so I grew up eating Mexican food. My mom makes the best, hands down! BUT, my fellow co-worker suggested this place, I was pretty damn shocked how delicious the burrito was. Not what I expected from a truck. It was a ton of food for a few bucks and the guy working the window was amusing. He was surprised a "huera" could speak Spanish and he cracked us up the whole time. The wait was less than 5 minutes and we enjoyed the window guys humor as we ate outside.I've been craving another burrito since. Damn... wish they were open now...
This is the best place for vegan burritos. Sometimes I have to do a double-take with the tofu and make sure it's not chicken - it's full of flavor and has a perfect texture. It's so good that they seem to run out of it quite often when I show up. Never fear, they also have soyrizo burritos - almost as tasty, but the tofu is definitely a favorite. I really like that you can have a full-on vegan burrito - they've got tofu, tofu sour cream, and vegan cheese. Though I happen to like their non-vegan sour cream. Mmm. I've also had some other things that were just as good (seriously, it just needs some of that tasty tofu in it and I'm sold) but none compare to the burrito.
Not only bitchin' vegan food, but some of the best Mexican food I have *ever* had. Everything I have tried (tofu tacos, all manner of burrito, enchiladas, pretty much everything) has been beyond superb, even the vegan quesadilla, which I was skeptical of. Also, whatever they use to season their peppers and onions is habit forming.
Aside from that, the family is so wonderful. They are so kind and friendly - who doesn't love a warm hello everytime they stop for a burrito?
I would have Los Gorditos' babies if it asked me.
I went tonight with a handful of other people - arrived around 5:35, noticed a massive line (a great sign), and waited until about 6:00 before placing my order. After a bit of mental arguing, I ordered a tortilla-based dish (name escapes me) that was essentially three tortillas, stacked with foodstuffs in between - namely, pastor meat and cheese in this case.
It was quite good - as well as the rice and beans that came along with it, and I definitely could not finish the entire dish, something that's probably a good sign. A meal (with drink) in the neighborhood of $7? Count me in for a second visit.
I was asked to take the soyrizo challenge.
Soyrizo as good as chorizo? No, sorry. The flavor and texture are completely different. I can't hate on this place for offering it though. I'm just glad I'm not a vegan.
Now that I think about it, I've heard the same thing about almost every variety of meat substitute.
"Tofurky is JUST AS GOOD!"
"Tofu cheese tastes like cheese!"
"Soy milk beats real milk!"
Seriously people. Great, don't eat meat, that's fine. But this stuff does not taste the same. It doesn't even have the same texture. You know why? Because it's not turkey, it's not cheese, and it's NOT chorizo! It's not as simple as walking down the isle at Fred Meyer and buying a box of generic Fruity Gravel instead of Fruity Pebbles. One is meat, one is plant. One builds muscle, one builds boobs.
I don't hate soy/tofu products. I am just tired of people telling me it tastes the same as the stuff I love. If certain people can tell me they can taste the difference between PEPSI, COKE and RC SODA, then god damn I can taste the difference between meat and TOFU.
I also asked them if they could make me a so-cal style carne asada burrito. He said he'd do it, but it would be the size of my index finger. How depressing that King Burrito is so far away.
Trying a variety of the tacos at Los Gorditos would be a great introduction to this place - they're cheap, varied, and delicious. I've also really enjoyed their tortas and quesadillas - so much so that I haven't explored the vegan side of the menu. The people that run Los Gorditos are very sweet, and I'm thrilled that their business appears to be a great success. The only downside is that it's unusual not to find a line, so stopping by the neighborhood taco truck for something quick has gotten a bit slower of late. The annual Cinco de Mayo party here is a delight - a genuine celebration, rather than an excuse for people to come in from the suburbs to drink beer.
I've visited the Los Gorditos (both the one on Division and the all-vegan one on Ankeny) many times. Every time the service has been very friendly. It's a family business and I always see one of the family members there, normally the dad.
My all time favorite item is the torta. I first scoffed at such a thing. A burrito in a toasted hoagie instead of a tortilla just sounds disturbing. the thought of refried beans with the bread just sounded....mushy. since everyone i knew gushed at how good they were, i finally gave them a try. i now can't seem to order anything else. There's refried beans, veg protein of your choice (they may have meat options, i haven't looked....veg choices: tofu, soyrizo, and sometimes soy curls), lettuce, tomato, avocado, follow your heart cheese, pickled jalapenos, and vegenaise. i've heard it's good with soyrizo, but i've o.d.ed on the stuff so i stay away. the tofu is great and so are the soy curls. the tortas are $5 and if you're vegan, keep in mind that sometimes the bread isn't vegan at the Division location. i was ordering one there once and was informed that they didn't have vegan bread that day.
i've had the tofu burrito, mulita, quesadilla and the beans/rice/avocado. soyrizo can make things very greasy, so beware. everything i've had has been good, but seriously, TRY THE TORTA. i've only known one person not to like them.
They are cash only. Also, it can sometimes take awhile so if you're in a hurry don't go or get a togo menu and do a phone order.
One of the few places that actually has Soyrizo. Despite what some others say, I think Soyrizo is extremely delicious!
The composition of the burritos is just right, with just the right amount of each ingredient. Well done, I say. It's always nice to call in and then pick up your food without waiting, but the wait time is minimal. SO, are you going to go to some place and pay $7-10 for Mexican food that just doesn't measure up to the competition?! In this case by competition I mean Los Gorditos. I think you'd be a fool to pass it up. A FOOL!
I'll never own a Delorian. I've never been to the future. In my estimation, this cart is the closest thing I'll ever know to experiencing the wonder of an 88 mph thrillride through quantum history. Their burritos hit like a futuristic sports almanac and their salsa tastes like a smooth cruise on a hoverboard. I wish I could like other things in my life as much as I like this place. Maybe my Back to the Future trilogy? I definitely don't like the guys who gun down Doc Brown as much as I like this place. If they were to be placed in relative terms, they'd be Cha Cha Cha; just a group of dudes who are totally out to bum out enthusiasts of the future, or in this case enthusiasts of burritos.
What else am I supposed to say in one of these things? Los Gorditos' burritos make me feel like I've hit 1.21 jiggawatts? Run for it Marty? You keep your hands off her Biff? God, I wish I could eat here every single day all day and not get super fat. Scratch that. I wish society were more willing to accept my experiment in fattiness where I eat at Los Gorditos every day and gain 3000 pounds. Then I'd really be somebody, but I wouldn't be able to fit in a Delorian. It seems every way I turn, life's trying to close another door on me. :-( :-( :-(
5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess the whole world has discovered this cart since the wait is now a standard 20 minutes at about any given time of the day. That's a LONG wait for a truck burrito. The regular Mex food is not so great here, but the vegan burritos are quite good. If it weren't for my vegetarian wife, I would go to one of the many other trucks in town (where the wait is more like 5 min.), but alas, the only other vegan truck in town is Los Gorditos 2, which I am guessing will be just as long of a wait.
Also, the prices have gone up by about $1.50. :(
Dios mio. What's a guy to do (besides call in my order ahead)?
Three words:
Vegan
Taco
Cart
Oh yeah, they got meat too. Seriously, though, to find vegan mex options…
Read more »
I want to give this truck 5 stars, but after my experience yesterday, they are lucky that I am not giving them 3.
I love that this stationary taco truck offers vegan & veggie options, a whole menu in fact. Giant burritos with awesome grilled flour tortillas and soyrizo (a soy version on chorizo)! They also have Follow Your Heart vegan cheese & Tofutti sour cream. The orange salsa is hand made and so good.
The hours are hit-and-miss, but they are usually open for weekday lunches. Generally closed on Sundays.
Beware - this is a cash only establishment! Nearest cash machine is across the street @ Plaid Pantry and there is a $1.97(?) ATM fee. When the burritos are only $5 a two-dollar ATM fee racks the bill up quick.
I will warn you that this isn't your grab-and-go taco stand. The secret is out and there is usually about a 20+ minute wait for food. You can call in your order ahead, but it doesn't mean it'll be ready when you arrive.
The prime time to hit it is when El Papa is working the grill and La Nina or La Madre is working the window. If there is any other combination... you will probably end up getting the wrong thing or end up waiting FOREVER!
Even though I walked away angry yesterday, I still got a yummy burrito. It was obviously the "B team" running the place. I think that the guy working the window was slightly challenged in more that just the language barrier (even though I was speaking Spanish to him he was VERY slow). I was a bit hungover so patience was not my virtue at that moment.
Half the time I have to wait, the other half I get speedy service. Consistency is not their strong suit, however I still day-dream about the grilled veggie and soyrizo burrito that is often 2 meals for the price of one. So I must strongly suggest...only go there if you are not in a hurry, or don't go there at all, then I have to wait less. ;)
While I wouldn't consider myself a food snob, I tend to keep my nose in the air about certain types of food in Portland, Mexican food being one of them. Neither am I a full-blooded purist who would fully understand or expect "traditional" Mexican food; sometimes a hard shelled taco or a burrito just sounds right for me.
To that end, Los Gorditos is a great place to visit on account of it's simplicity: a simple menu, friendly service, satisfying portions. And that's it. It has the warmth of a cart but never leaves you second guessing the quality of your food.
Think about this: I don't eat dairy, and the nachos (without cheese) are my favorite item on the menu. What does that say to you?
Just ate there once again tonight. Do put the orange colored chili sauce on everything! Do not deny yourself of this flavorful masterpiece. And for those meat eaters, the pastor is where it's at!
So much word of mouth from ex-Californian transplants made Los Gorditos a mandatory destination on our recent roadtrip. Too bad my friends forgot how much better the burritos are south of the 42nd parallel. From a meat-eater's perspective, this is not the food a Cali ex-pat should write home about. Still, it was okay.
The orange-colored sauce with its nice blend of spice and creaminess certainly made things better. A little open flame on the tortilla is a nice touch, too. But otherwise, it's far too basic, with only two (lowest common denominator) meat choices. It's fresh. It's alright. But if I ever move to your city against my better judgment, I'm sure that King Burrito would still be my weekly routine.
For vegetarians, however, I can tell it's a totally recommendable place, and I can understand why some folks are so proselytic about it.
I am truly terrified of the mere concept of taco trucks, coffee carts, etc. Where do the employees wash their hands? Where do they complete their bathroom activities? And back to the hand washing issue, because really, the OCD is greater than the need for food.
I got over it, or I pretend to have gotten over it for the delicious soyrizo burritos here. I've heard the omnivore food here is just as good, but I've got to say that as far as fake meat mexi food goes, Los Gorditos has the best by far.
I have been a faithful patron of Los Gorditos for almost two years. Granted I've branched out and tried a few others, but a great majority of my allotted restaurant bucks goes to support this family. This family that I speak of is composed of the nicest, funnest and respectful people I've met in food service. Their menu offers a wide variety of options for people with every diet. Since I've been eating their I've cut down on wheat and corn, and I'm vegan to boot. Getting good, tasty and healthy (Iceberg is vegan right?) Mexican food without wheat or corn is hard to come by, which is why I order the tofu bowl. As a native of the American Southwest, I've come to know the proper flavors of this cuisine, and Los Gorditos is spot on. I can no longer be homesick in the Pacific Northwest. I just grab my to-go from Los Gorditos and sit under my sunlamp in February.... just kidding. The flavor alone is all I need.
I'll admit I don't really go here as I got burned out on it fast. I was going twice a week for the first couple months they were open.
Now, it's great to see them doing so well.
This place definitely caters to whitey. The only meat you can get is beef and chicken. Aka, whitey friendly meat.
No carnitas, no menudo, no lengua, no cabeza. Aka not whitey friendly meat.
Plus, they have vegan and veggie options. I think this particular truck needs to have a special mention in "stuff white people like"
Did I mention white people yet?
Try the beef and onion taco. I can't remember what it's called, but it's dynamite. The soyrizo burrito is not so shabby either.
Six hours after eating here, including two hours in the gym, I still feel the carne asada burrito lurking somewhere in the pit of my stomach. Please make it stop. Please?
Goddammit, I really wanted to be blown away. The reviews of this little taco truck are mostly glowing, and I live right down the street. My sweetest and I took the plunge this afternoon, and we were both sorely disappointed.
The burritos were mushy, formless, and tasted a little like mexican seasoned mashed potatoes. I think the asada might be good, if I could find it in a cringe-inducing sea of refried bean paste, cheese and rice.
The people were uber friendly, and the food is dirt cheap. I'm gonna go back and get a taco next weekend. Hopefully I can get this rating out of the basement. I feel a little guilty.
When my boyfriend and I moved into the apartment complex across the street from Taqueria Los Gorditos, I was over the moon about living so close to a FRICKIN' TACO TRUCK. Maybe it's my white trash roots, by I'm a sucker for any food delivered to me out of a vehicle. I go to the county fair just to get soggy corndogs from that bullet-proof camper thing in the middle of the fairgrounds. And a truck that serves ethnic food? Well, that's just classy.
My better half, however, wasn't so enthused. When I suggested we go get dinner at The Taco Truck (I refuse to call it by it's real name), he adopted a sassy Chola-esque accent and firmly declared he'd have nothing to do with a truck full of tacos and enchiladas. Apparently, he has too refined a palette for street vendor cuisine, even though he eats Ho-Ho's and Zebra Cakes for lunch. ¡Aye Carumba!
So I left him on the couch watching the Disney Channel and walked across the street to The Taco Truck (sorry, "el" Taco Truck), and returned with two heaping veggie burritos. I lied, telling him I'd found a very classy, very expensive Mexican joint down the street, and he promptly stuffed his face. I don't even think he chewed. After he was finished, I yelled, "HAHA! YOU'VE JUST BEEN PUNK'D! THAT WAS FROM THE TACO TRUCK!"
After a couple moments of pissy boyfriend silence, he responded, "Fine. That was a good burrito. And I hate you."
The Taco Truck has since become a staple in our diet. So much so that we'll probably need to get our own stomachs stapled soon.
Having an overly developed taste for good Mexican food, I've had a hard time finding eats in Portland that reminds me of my good old fashioned bay area burrito. Fortunately for me, my san diegan friends introduced me to this little treasure. Between the delicious food and the cheap prices, this places is up awesome creek. They have a fantastic vegan menu. An even better not vegan menu, and above all, an amazing garlic pepper salsa.
You'd be doing yourself a favor if you treated your pallet to some of this. I highly recommend their vegan burrito with tofu, and their vegan nachos.
P.S. The price is right.
Whenever I'm asked the question "if you were on a desert island and could only have one food, what would it be?" my answer is always "Burrito Cart." And everyone know's what I mean. It's this place. I used to work for the store across the street Bearly Worn (great store, but the owner is bat-shit insane, so watch out!) and would eat here almost everyday. Not because I didn't have options, but when you go outside and smell the most delicious food in the world, how can you say no? The people are awesome, the prices are great and the food is amazing. I almost always get the carne asada burrito. Burritos made in heaven.
also known as "taco truck" by myself and all my friends, Taqueria Los Gorditos is AWESOME. Coming from Southern California I miss real authentic mexican food and being vegan I have always dreamed of a place I could get just that and add some vegan sour cream. This place has it all!!!
The caramelized onion tacos are sweet and delicious. The nachos are huge and cheap and they never skimp on avocado. The whole family is super nice and behind the counter the kitchen is always SO clean.
I love taco truck.
I am not a vegan but I become one every time I come to Los Gorditos. No it's not because I don't trust their meat and cheese source. It's quite simply because for $4 I can get a damn good burrito and I don't even notice the absence of cheese or sour cream. How is this possible? It's the avocado. I don't even have to pay extra for avocado in every burrito bite. Sure there's a bit of rice,beans, lettuce, tomatoes and blah,blah I care not because it was the avocado that seduced me. Los Gorditos offers vegetarian and vegan food minus the healthy taste and feel. After dining here you will won't feel much different than when you consume a plate of authentic mexican food: full, bloated, slightly greasy. This is kinda the point.
Hands-down, the most expansive menu I've ever seen for a taco cart. Lots of vegan and vegetarian choices that looked tasty, and a meaty menu reminiscent of a regular restaurant. All at super cheap prices ($1.25 for a taco? $3.50 for a gigantic burrito? $4.00 for beans, rice, avocado, and tortillas? YES PLEASE.)
And what can I say? They did the asada tacos right...double tortilla'd, onions and cilantro, perfect asada. The red salsa was also perfect--tasty with a huge kick. My mouth hasn't burned like that since...since...I was living on the border.
I felt, for just a moment, that I was back in Mexico.
If you're accustomed to the kind of burritos you find in San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area, you'll probably be disappointed. I personally found the flavor odd (neither my wife nor I could really put a finger on it), and refried beans are generally a turn-off too.
The carne asada quesadilla, however, was fantastic. I'd probably go back for that, but don't head here if you're expecting memories of a Bay Area taqueria.
Readying myself for a barrage of "then go back to the Bay Area" replies. :)
As we walked up the boyfriend said, "This smells like home."
Gorditos offers both a regular menu and a vegetarian/vegan menu. both full of unholy deliciousness. Even the long wait can't tarnish the love I feel for these tacos. I want one right now.
This food is yum. That's all there is to it. Yum. They have a whole menu of vegan options, and it's got some great stuff on it, like Chorizo tacos, a yummy-sounding (but as yet untried by me) tofu burrito and of course the vegan tacos/burritos loaded with beans, rice, lettuce, cilantro, onions and AVOCADO! I love it when the veg options give you avocate for free.
Their prices are VERY reasonable. My friend and I had a burrito each, an order of chips and two sodas for $12. That's a deal right there.
My only complaint is about the wait. For a taco cart, you think they'd be super snappy with the tortilla slinging, but our order took over 10 minutes. It was well worth the wait for piping hot delicious, animal-free Mexican food!
What a great vegie place! A taqueria with vegan and vegie focus, wow! Love it - would go there all the time if I lived around there - a snack on the way home, a meal... I had the vegan plain tacos and the soyrizo taco. The soyrizo was amazingly tasty!! My couch surfing friend who came with me also liked it!
I think I'll add this place to my list of must-trys - it's a permanent food wagon with a deck, vegan/vegie mexican. What's not to like! Go there! Enjoy!
The meat experience there - dunno if I would even bother - leave that to a traditional taqueria. :)
The wait is usually long, not what I'm looking for in a taco truck. If there are more than two people waiting, it'll be 20-30 minutes for your food. In my opinion, not worth it. I've been there about 5 times in the past year, and it's been the same every time.
We stopped by again this afternoon because it was after the lunch hour, and there wasn't anyone waiting to order. Still took close to ten minutes. The chicken tacos were pretty good, and priced right, but I think I needed to eat about 4 of them to get a good sized meal. My husband and I each got 2 tacos and split a quesadilla, and that was plenty, thanks to the quesadilla. It comes with a side of rice (gross) and beans (gross), with lettuce and tomato and sour cream. For everything together it was only $9, so pretty cheap.
I know a lot of people rave about this place, but I just don't see the appeal. i want to love it, i'm a big fan of taco trucks in general, but i've never eaten it and loved everything.
EDIT: Yep, today, waited 25 minutes for food that took less than 5 to consume. I'm SO done with this place.
i've bitched and complained continually about the absence of delicious burritos in portland since i moved her from denver last fall. so much in fact that one day, my boss had enough and took me here for lunch, and let me just tell you.. so good! this is by far the best burrito in portland hands down! the red sauce is to die for! eat here!!
I ordered the regular veggie burrito. YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM Food is absolutely terrific and I think it is all handmade! There is a wait, especially around lunch time. WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!
If you know what you want, call them at 503.875.2615 and they'll have it ready for you when you go pick it up!
They have vegan, vegetarian and meat menu items.
Whatever you get, make sure you get refried beans. They are the best!
Ok, wow.
My brother in law talked this place up so I was prepared to be disappointed. I wasn't. For $5 I got a carne asada torta and a can of soda. The torta didn't seem that big in its foil, but it seemed to last quite a while. I'm active and I can eat a lot, but this torta filled me up and kept me satisfied throughout a night at Ski Bowl.
I should probably mention that it was delicious and the salsa was great. I can't wait to try a burrito. Authentico!
I freaking adore this place - my big complaint about them isn't even about them - it's about it being cash only. so it goes. the plaid pantry probably has an ATM across the street.
I come for the beans, rice and soyrizo.
having grown up in los angeles, i didn't even know that vegan tacos existed in the world of taco trucks (aka roach coaches)!
the soyrizo taco was F-ing delicious! los gorditos to the rescue for non-meat eaters! yay!
Oh yeah, this is our new favorite burrito joint, for sure. My son loves the meat burritos, I adore the vegetarian/vegan menu.
The burritos are built right there on the grill, so it's always hot and so damn good. I've also tried the tacos (excellent) and the grilled tofu/pepper/onion burrito is out of this world. It takes longer for them to make it because they grill the veggies to order, but man, it's worth the wait.
I wasn't thrilled by the soyrizo (veg chorizo), so there's one thing I wouldn't recommend.
Otherwise, AWESOME.
Taqueria Los Gorditos is a little taco stand on 50th and Division, and its wonderful.
First of all, the people taking your order are really friendly, which just makes the ordering process a lot nicer.
Secondly, everything is really really cheap.
Thirdly, everything is delicious, so its not JUST cheap, which is awesome.
Fourthly, it is super vegetarian/vegan friendly- they have soyrizo, tofutti sour cream and follow your heart cheese. However, for the meat eaters, they also do have an array of meats and they have dairy cheese and sour cream.
Just a tip- if you're getting the quesadilla, ask for a knife and fork because it is gigantic (and i think no more than $3.50) and really hot and oozing with cheese and filling.
Neighborhood: Lower Burnside
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Clinton
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Alberta Arts District
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Restaurants
Hawthorne and Clinton? They're just the bread on…
You want a Southern Cal style burrito in Portland?…
Interesting places I've found around NA. Worthy…
After not taking any time off work all summer…
What's better for my first list than the places…
Vegan friendly food carts in Portland, OR!…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
These are the results of my ongoing, and thus…
