Allan’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant
18305 NW West Union Rd,Ste 6F, Portland, OR, 97229
Allan’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Address :
18305 NW West Union Rd,Ste 6F
Portland, OR, 97229 - Phone (503) 629-1764
- Website https://www.allansmexicanrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 10:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Abbie P.
I don't even look at the menu anymore, I just let Leo order whatever sounds good to him (that follows my "no peppers" rule) and EVERY single time I am extremely pleased with how delicious my meal is. I've also gotten over the bland salsa idea that I previously stated, cause boy does their spicy salsa really kick you right in the teeth... in a good way. I go for the margaritas alone -- the blended raspberry is my favorite, but blackberry on the rocks is a killer too -- but stay and continue to come back for the food. The fried ice cream is nothing to joke about too, it's seriously amazing. I'm not kidding, Allan's is my FAVORITE Mexican restaurant. I even dropped Si Senor for this place, and tell literally everyone I know to eat here.
(5)D.J. L.
My wifes steak burrito was pretty good seasoned nicely. My pork burrito was subpar at best. The pork was dry and flavorless. Their chip seamed a little burnt or they needed to change their cooking oil before they cooking them. The best part of the meal was the salsa they give you with the chips. It could have been more spicy for my liking, but that's just my personal preference. The chairs are odd to me. They were like old wicker furniture from your grandmas house. The service was better than average, just not very personable. Just my 2 cents.
(3)Shikha C.
Taste wise 3.5 ***.. Service 4****.. Decor 3.5***. Good vegetarian options. My baby loved Mexican rice here. Side of Guac was for $4.5 which I didn't mind paying but portion was too small. Staff was friendly and quick in their service. Veggie Fajita and veggies enchiladas tasted decent. If I have to come back.. It will be for their rice and may be to try veggie burrito. Overall decent lunch experience!!
(4)Nathan S.
This place was great! Service was top notch and quick. I ordered a pork tamale which was nicely flavored and filling, along with well seasoned rice and refried beans. Chips and salsa accompany the meal, and they're some of the best I've had at a Mexican restaurant. The chips for me were well salted, warm, and crisp. The salsa was more of a puree, which i normally like chunky, but the flavor was outstanding.
(4)Kayrin P.
One of my favorite local spots! We hit this place up at least every two weeks. We LOVE their food. Great salsas, and the fajitas are amazing. We have tried several varieties, and we're always so happy with our choices. It is so nice to have an independent business to support in this area! Oh...try the margaritas...while I am not much of an expert on them, the one I had was totally yummy and fresh!
(5)Michelle M.
Wow! This is absolutely the best pollo la crema within 30 miles at least! The corn tortillas are to die for and all fresh salsa and guac. We came here just not wanting to go to the Beaverton others and might not ever go anywhere else! Service was great. Cadillac margarita worth the 11 dollars. My tummy and my heart are very very happy!
(5)Cheryl D.
We have had Allan's on our list of places to try and today we finally made it for lunch. It appears they are in the middle of a remodel, and when you walk in you see what looks like a busboy/beverage area straight ahead. Not very enticing. The booth we were shown to had a cheap plastic tablecloth. Their salsa is the consistency of Enchilada Sauce, we asked for something hotter and they gave us their Habanero Salsa, and holy shit is it spicy and it lingers which we both loved! Hubby got the Taco Plato Tradicionales which was 2 small street style tacos and a salad which was $8.00 (or you could opt for rice and beans) You can get the same taco's at Don Chilito's for $1.25 and they are tastier. Very much not worth the money, hubby states they were quite bland. The salad had a chemical taste like you get with bagged salad, they clean their own lettuce but I think the shredded carrots were from a bag, quite yucky. I ordered the lunch Enchiladas, one beef, one cheese and onion. It was pretty good, although the cheese was not fully melted but kind of hard. I thought the rice was tasty and the beans were perfect (Pinto). The chips appear to be home made but they were nothing special. They need some chunky salsa! They did serve an Avocado and Cilantro Salsa with the meal and it was delicious! The Waitperson was attentive and quick, very well done. The wait staff kept coming out to watch the Soccer Gave which we enjoyed. The booth behind us is the napkin wrapping silverware station. It got super annoying hearing silverware clanking every few seconds for nearly my entire meal. Overall a solid 3 stars, we may be back after they finish their remodel.
(3)Corinna T.
Fast service by our server named Leo. He really did give excellent service, from moving the umbrella on the patio to ensure my family and I were all in the shade, to taking beans off my 3 year old nephews chip just because he asked him to! Completely satisfied all our needs, and the food is AMAZING! Homemade corn tortillas and the best fresh blackberry margarita on the rocks I've tasted! I recommend this restaurant to families and couples in date night!
(5)Care P.
Many margaritas to choose from and they were good. Food however was not so good. Chips were stale. Salsa was not salsa but enchilada sauce in a bowl. It was thick and boring. Our server was a bit rude. When we said we were ready to order drinks and lunch, she said ' I'll just take your drink order for now'! Sheesh.
(2)Chris D.
Best fajitas I have ever had, and i grew up on the Border near Algadones and Negales. And of course the Margaritas were top shelf and tasty. They also have a tequila flight I must try next time. My girl got steak enchiladas and they were solid. Salsa with chips and salsa is really good too.
(5)Erica J.
They are currently short handed which caused our dinner to stretch out a bit but nothing a margarita and some chips & salsa couldn't fill. Our waiter was very knowledgable of the menu and attentive to what we needed. I was thrilled that they brought my son's meal out first. I was impressed to say the least. The margarita was freshly made and not by using a bottled margarita mix. The drinks were delicious, so much so that we ordered a 2nd round. The food was just as tasty. There were 4 adults and 1 toddler in our party and everyone walked away full and happy. This is now our favorite place for Mexican cuisine and margaritas. With their nice patio I can see us spending quite a bit of our summer at Alana's.
(5)Travis K.
Great food and margaritas. The service is good but they're way under staffed...please have more servers!
(3)John P.
GREAT MEXICAN FOOD * Grilled chimichangas are great and substitutions are no problem. .. have it exactly how you want it * The food hasn't been dumbed down for the bland Northwestern palate like it has in so many so-called mexican restaurants in the portland area * A refreshing change and the ambiance is good since their expansion
(4)Mike C.
Fantastic Food! We happened across this place by pure chance born from necessity. Totally random find, and boy were we happy! The place is nicely arranged, cool chairs, neat atmosphere. The service is great. Seems like a family place. The waiter said they are from Chihuahua Mexico. The food was so good. Large portions that pleased the senses. We will stop by this place again!
(5)Etoulia S.
This was a good meal! I was a little skeptical at first since the entrance door opens right to the kitchen (did we come in the wrong way??) and the decor was pretty sparse (fluorescent lights, Yuck!) but I did enjoy the food and drinks. Our sever was very professional and knowledgeable on the menu, and he made some killer margaritas! We had the premium, 901 and the jalapeno. All were perfectly mixed and tasted great. I had the chicken quesadilla ala Allan's, and he had the Verde enchiladas. Both were good and tasted fresh. We will definitely be back!
(4)Matt B.
Food was pretty good for the area! But the service took a little while.
(3)Jackie B.
We tried Allens quite a while back when it first opened. We were not impressed. After recommendations we decided to try it last night. The food was bland. It was like eating nursing home food. They overused the cheese and the food overall lacked seasoning. Allens needs a Robert Irvine Restaurant Mission Impossible make over. The only thing that was yummy was the fried ice cream but the over use of artificial maple left a lingering taste that was tiresome. I honestly didn't think you could screw up steak fajitas and tacos.
(2)Scott N.
Allan's Authentic Mexican Restaurant is located in the West Union Village shopping center just off West Union Road. Take a look at Allan's and you'll see that it's not your typical fast food Mexican restaurant. The interior is classy and comfortable. Servers are dressed in black and Cuban music plays in the background. Allan's offers some excellent outdoor dining on the sidewalk under Tony Bahama umbrellas. There's probably no cuisine in the world that gets the word "authentic" attached to it more than Mexican cooking. If you're like me then you're probably totally confused as to what exactly what is meant by "authentic Mexican cooking." However one thing I do know is that if you're using the word authentic in your restaurant name then you're raising the bar very high. How well does Allan's do? Actually, quite well. Among the interesting menu items here are salmon, white fish, and shrimp. Allan's Authentic Mexican Restaurant offers an excellent selection of salads, burritos, chimichangas, and tamales. The dishes are flavorful and the plating is superb. On our visit we sampled the Chicken Burrito and the Carne Asada Chimichanga. Our burrito was a masterpiece covered with a delicious dark mole sauce. The rice and vegetables were inside the burrito so there was no need to serve rice and beans on the side. Plating rice and beans with a dish that already includes these items is not only redundant it's just plain silly. The Carne Asada Chimichanga was the best chimichanga I have ever had. My chimichanga was filled with delicious roast beef and sautéed vegetables. The Spanish rice and refried beans were served up separately on a second plate. Our service was friendly and attentive. The prices are very fair. Two entrees, two drinks, and we were well under $30. Does Allan's Authentic Mexican Restaurant serve up authentic Mexican food? Hell, I don't know and I don't even care. However, one thing is for certain. Allan's Authentic Mexican Restaurant can serve you up one tasty South of the Border meal with great class and enthusiasm!
(4)Jeremy E.
We've been back a number of times since my first review and Allan's has never let us down. Staff and ownership are both incredibly friendly and the food is so good. Best Mexican we've had in Portland or the surrounding areas and second place isn't close. If you like jalapeño margaritas I definitely recommend the one at Allan's. Go for a 10 on the spicy scale.
(5)Krista G.
Been going here for a while now, I like that it's in my hood. That being said this place really is just ok. I think I want to like it more than I do but if I'm being honest I can cook better Mexican food than this place. I love the staff, family owned but I just think they lack flavor here. I always get the tacos and they are always just ok, I want them to be killer. This place is more like gringo Mexican food and that just ain't my thing.
(3)Heather F.
SOOOOOOOO GOOD! Omg. I've been here a ton of times. Not only is the food delicious EVERYTIME but service is wonderful as well. The young man who served us is great!! He serves us everytime. If u like authentic Mexican food. This is the place to go!! It's my hidden gem :)
(5)Kylee B.
I LOVE ALLENS. My boss took me here for dinner with autistic son. They come here very often and now I know why. I came 3 days in a row and the food and service was 100% on. I love the salsa, although not very spicy. From what I hear you may ask for one with more spice. Best raspberry margarita I've had from any Mexican restaurant including si senior, which used to be my favorite Mexican spot. Allens has taken that spot :). The rice and beans are PERFECT. And the chicken tacos are to die for. I always have left overs. As for the service, it's great! My friend ordered the burrito and did not see there was peppers in its description. Leo fixed it right away no problem at all. Have to love a family owned business. Coming to allens often I have had the chance to get to know the people making my food and serving me. I'll be back, probably tonight!
(5)Annette D.
This was a wonderful meal with great service. The Pollo Crema was superb and had flavor a notch above the best I've had before. The Shrimp fajitas tasted fresh caught. And the rice and black beans were cooked perfectly. Add to that an awesome blackberry margarita and an adorable waitress named Katie who was helpful and enthusiastic and you have a rave review for a gem of a restaurant off the beaten path. We will deffinately return.
(5)Ethan B.
Better local options are available. We got two plates of nachos and tried to order a pitcher of Virgin margaritas. They won't even make regular size Virgin drinks. The wait staff looked uncertain and rushed, and were very pushy. I would not recommend going here again.
(3)Saloni S.
Allan's is a nice family restaurant and we had a good time there. Although they were short staffed when we visited and my husband got a spicy dish when he didnt want one. But overall the food was good and I'd like to go back to try some more.
(4)Audrey L.
Wow! AWESOME food and great service. Ordered shredded pork tacos and pollo quesadilla...bring on the cilantro :)
(5)Rebecca S.
I loved the salmon burrito! I am not a huge fan of beans, but the refried beans and salmon worked together in a surprising way and I was so happy that I tried something new. That was also my first time at Allan's. The service really was excellent as well. I didn't love the salsa or the chips (I prefer fluffier chips and salsa with tomatoes or fruit), but I really did appreciate the wonderful service when we said we wanted a different variety of salsa. The bottles of alcohol were displayed in a nice way, and I like the chairs. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere after dark (when I was there) . It was family friendly, but cool. I didn't like the large tvs in the dining area, but I guess some people probably do. The wait staff were friendly and well groomed. I felt like I could trust that my food was coming from a good place.
(4)Janet M.
We really like Allan's. It gets five stars from us because they are clean, the people are nice, the food is tasty, we like the "chip salsa" and it has worked as an easy neighborhood family run joint to catch a quick meal, both just for us and for out of town visitors. We get takeout quite often. Last night we did take out chicken fajitas, enchiladas verdes, and a kid's chicken quesadilla. We had chips and salsa. Everything was fresh and delicious. I feel sad other reviewers had poor experiences there. For us it has always been solid Mexican, so much better than Juan Colorado or one of the other chains. Princess wants you to know " best chip salsa ever". I had leftover enchiladas for lunch and they were so yummy.mm P.S. The place is called "Allan's" after the littlest brother in the family ( who's name is incidentally made up of the first initials of his siblings). I keep seeing " Allan's doesn't sound very authentic etc." In reviews here). Just because it doesn't have Don, Juan, Carlos, Mazatlan, Jalisco, or some other stereotypical Mexican words in the name does not mean the food isn't the real deal. It is.
(5)Aaron W.
I've read mixed reviews about Allan's. So naturally, the pandalogic method is to intentionally make your first experience at a restaurant a painful one. Killer Burger (Portland) and Ribslayer (McMinnville) were other prime examples of that. As I continue to subject myself to spicy torture, more people have jumped on the bandwagon to let me know how crazy I basically am. That's perfectly fine with me. I'm honestly having the time of my life enjoying my spicy addictions. Meeting new people and eating great food are great perks. I stopped by Allan's a few days before Christmas and I had only been in the area one other time: when my friend tackled the Mad Greek Challenge at Mad Greek Deli across the street. The Diablo Burrito Challenge is not featured on the menu, but multiple photos of it are on the business Facebook page. It probably weighs around 1.5 lbs, but I'm poor at judging burrito size. There's rice, beans, steak, and 7-8 of the hottest peppers in the world. The family prefers that the actual pepper combination be kept a secret, but you can bet the farm that the burrito contained ghost peppers and habaneros. The burrito is also smothered in a mild red sauce that just happens to look very angry. The challenge is also quite pricey ($20), likely because of all the peppers that go into this one. Challengers sign a waiver and then have 10 minutes to eat the entire burrito. You have to eat the two serrano pepper "horns" on top of the burrito first. If you succeed, you'll get your picture on their FB page and a free shirt -- and perhaps you'll get some other rewards (to be determined by the owner). Roughly 30 people had attempted the challenge before me, with no one finishing in the allotted time (three people managed to finish after time elapsed). It took me 8:20, but I was successful. Of course, I have my video proof: youtube.com/watch?v=_yc1… Before the pain hit about halfway through the challenge, I was enjoying my burrito experience. I suggest that anyone attempting the challenge should cut the burrito open to release all the steam, then just swallow large bites with water. From what I gathered, dairy products are not allowed during the challenge. There's no dairy in the burrito, either. I drank a bunch of milk afterward to soothe the pain, but my stomach threatened yet again to mutiny. I don't blame it at all. The family is real cool and I hope to head back there in the future. You can bet that I'll be getting a much more enjoyable meal on my return.
(4)Kellee M.
We ate at Allan's for the first time today and it was great. It was clean, I liked the Mexican style decor, the staff was INCREDIBLY friendly, the prices are reasonably low and the food was simple and tasty. The salsa they give with the chips is not spicy, though it has some flavor (enough to entice me to eat the whole bowl). My picky 2 year old also enjoyed the Mexican rice. I wasn't hungry but ate all of my enchiladas (with green sauce) as well as the beans and rice on the side. That should say something in itself. We went to Allan's because the shopping center that it is located in was having a holiday type of celebration where several of the stores gathered with samples, give aways and kid's crafts as well as featuring Santa photos for cheap. It was a great way for the merchants to advertise (Allan's was giving away quesadilla slices and coupons) while also appealing to the community. We had fun, my son got to see Santa and we ended up enjoying a quiet and good lunch. Great job to Allan's for participating and supporting the community. We're glad we went because otherwise we probably would not have dropped in for lunch and it was worth it!
(4)Jeff S.
We really liked their salsa for the chips. That's where the one star comes in. Otherwise, we walked in and stood for several minutes as workers walked past without greeting us. Then the sat us down and gave us some chips. Then, we sat, and sat and sat. The menu looked good but they never took our order for drinks or food. Several very piercing "spirited" toddlers screamed and climbed around. It wasn't busy. Just poor service. I did leave money on the table to cover the chips but will not go back there.
(1)B R.
What a shame this space can't be Si Senors instead. I really don't know how they stay in business. I kept thinking I'm missing something so have gone four times and tried different menu items, all bland boring lacking. I guess it helps to be the only one nearby
(1)Tiffany P.
Awesome food and great service. My favorite is the Pollo en Crema Chipotle. I could eat this daily! Will definitely be visiting again.
(4)Jim R.
Just delicious! I've never had anything from Allan's that was less than excellent. Very fresh, vibrant, and unique. And if there's a friendlier staff than the folks at Allan's (it's family owned and operated) I've not met them yet.
(4)Patrick C.
I've traveled all over Mexico and frequented many of the Mexican restaurants around town, and while I've only been here the once, I am extremely impressed. The salsa is the perfect mix of flavor or spices. The traditional chicken enchiladas with red sauce is amazing. The sauce has a hint of mole, which was a nice touch. The horchata was really refreshing - not too sweet, which was what I've been looking for. The only thing negative was that there wasn't free refills on it. Good music, friendly service, very open to custom orders, and a pretty relaxing vibe overall. Highly recommend it.
(5)Victoria N.
I grew up on the border of Mexico. Allan's is the only place around here that really captures the taste of Chihuahua. It was like coming home!
(5)Sue R.
This is the best Mexican food I've had in the Portland area. Very good, fresh food. Lots of flavors, which is a very good thing! Staff is very friendly, the restaurant is very clean. What more could you want? It's also a big plus that it's locally owned (I always want to support local, small businesses)
(5)Cherrell E.
I'm a very picky eater. This food was hit, fresh, very flavorful, and I enjoyed it until the very last bite. The chicken fajita is amazing add mushrooms and I will definitely be back. None left over and no room for dessert.
(5)Jeff R.
Amazing Mexican food! Great prices and family owned and operated! Our family and friends love Allan's we have eaten here many times and never had a bad experience!
(5)David C.
Allen's is a good Mexican restaurant. The food is great the service is slow otherwise food is consistently good. We will go back.
(4)Mychelle S.
Food was good but service was slow. Staff was in the kitchen laughing while we waited for water, menus, etc. one speed. Slowwww.
(2)Dylan H.
I want to preference this review by telling you that we have tried this place twice. Once as takeout and once dining in. Also we love love love Mexican food and grew up around some great restaurants and people that make great "authentic Mexican food". The best part about this latest dining experience was our server and the busboy, they were both very nice. That is the only positive I have for this restaurant. Now I'm not sure if this is some sort of cruel joke or something but the rest of the people reviewing this restaurant and giving it positive reviews must be void of all sense of smell and taste. This is hands down the worst food I have ever allowed myself to eat twice. I figured we got them on a bad night for the take out but after this dining experience I can tell you that this is consistently bad. There is just something off about the flavors/lack of flavors in this food. Also there is some sort of sub-par standard for what is allowed to pass for food at this restaurant. We had chicken fajitas and steak tacos. The meat in the tacos was something other than steak, it's something other than ground beef its some sort of strange school lunch mystery meat. Something that and I kind you not we would not feed to our dog. We thought about taking home our leftovers but decided that if we wouldn't even feed it to our dog than what was the point. Please please do your taste buds a favor and eat at any of the other great Mexican restaurants in the area. What about the atmosphere you ask? Oh you mean the hallway they have you sitting in that is filled with old booths form a failed soda shop... yeah that was bad too. Drive by, drop off some good salsa for them, give them a cookbook on Mexican cooking if you want to help them or support them just don't eat with them.
(1)carolyn s.
We are of mixed feelings on this place. I give the young staff 5 stars for friendliness but that is where our stars end. We ordered a pork chimichanga and the taquitos. My husband liked the chimichanga and the taquitos had a lot of shredded meat but very little flavor. The beans and rice were not flavorful and the sprinkle of cheese on the beans was not melted. The salad was of the bag variety with a wishbone italian type dressing. The salsa is like a canned enchilada sauce which may be indicative of their area of Mexico...that I do not know. I would have loved to see some freshness to the salsa and the salad...maybe a cabbage slaw with vinaigrette? The bar looked nice...if you order a regular margarita it looks like it comes from a margarita machine as there is a big container on the bar. The prices are on the high side compared to other mexican places...there is no comparison here to some of the great mexican places here in town. Again, I give them props for trying and the clientele looked very happy, very suburban and it is child friendly. There is a patio in front and families were dining out there too! Give it a try...this old California girl may just be spoiled by her Mom's great mexican food!
(2)Brian W.
Our family is a big fan of Allan's and we've gotten to know the owners fairly well. Their burrito special is phenomenal, and even the quesadilla is a classic. Service is very friendly. I've seen a few reviews saying otherwise; one of the waiters doesn't speak as much English but is still very sweet, and the other (Leo) is one of the greatest people you'll ever talk to, so personally, we've never been disappointed. Fact of the matter is: if you're looking for authentic Mexican food, look no further - this is your place.
(5)Andy B.
My review coincides with most of the others. Super good, authentic dishes not seen at tex-mex joints, great service and reasonable prices. Pretty much the only place I go for Mexican food round these parts!
(5)Kristin F.
My favorite sit-down Mexican restaurant meal is the pollo a la crema and theirs was the best that I have ever had and I have tried a lot of places! The margaritas were fantastic as well!
(4)lee t.
Awesome Burito's. Been eating here since they opened I also like that I am supporting locals' not a mega corp. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Valerie W.
Average at best. The atmosphere of this tiny little place could certainly use some help. I was seated in a booth not terribly far away from the door and every time someone walked in, the table cloth would blow up into my food. Lame. This place has no appetizers? None that I could see anyways. Everything was a meal and everything seemed a bit overpriced. The chips and salsa were so-so. The meal came with a salad that was iffy. The "house" salsa ranch tasted off. My chicken enchiladas were OK. Nothing to write home about. Our guy server was friendly. It's unfortunately not worth the food just because the environment is unpleasing. Feels like you're in a fast food restaurant nearly.
(3)Jimi C.
Great food! I've eaten here three times and loved it every time! Try the mole, or the chicken chipotle mushroom cream sauce over rice. Good service. Fair prices!
(5)Daniel H.
With a name like Allan's, I wasn't sure what to expect from this place. I just moved out to the Rock Creek area, though, so I had to make my rounds to find my favorite take-out joints. My buddy actually recommended Allan's, so I decided to give it a shot first. I ordered the taco plate, and honestly, I can't remember what my friends ordered. The tacos were perfect. Small corn (I think) soft shells filled with beef and a little cilantro. Plain, simple, delicious. Rice and beans on the side were good, as well. I enjoyed the chips and salsa that came with the meal, but I'd have to rate the chips as average. One of these days, I'll actually have to go in and sit down and check out the restaurant itself, but as far as take-out food goes, it's a solid 4 stars for me. Allan's is going on my short list of take-out lunch joints in the new neighborhood.
(4)Kathy H.
Great family run local restaurant! Their remodel is complete and looks great! The customer service is warm and inviting. I have been 6 times and once service was slow but that was before the remodel was complete. The chips and salsa are fresh and tasty. Every meal I have had has been delicious and beautifully presented, and reasonably priced!
(4)Lesley R.
We stopped in today for the first time. (To be fair. My favorite Mexican place in the Capitola, CA area is a hard place to beat, so just know I am still looking for a place to rival it.) It is nice to have authentic Mexican food right up the street. That Americanized garbage found most all other places in Washington county has driven me to try just about everywhere I can just to get some good tacos. It is a sit down place, but we asked for two tacos each (4 total) and they let us do that (see photo of just 2 carne asada tacos). They brought us chips and salsa (out of a bag and bottle, but nice if you are hungry right now). It was very fast, very clean (you could smell the pine sol which I never like, but...I do not get a choice on that), and in and out. I still like two taco buses better, but....hey, it is a step in the right direction. It was $5.90 for 4 tacos....plus a tip.
(3)B B.
We like to eat mid-afternoon, which can be problematic at times; at other places the staff forget we're there but that didn't happen here. We had the shrimp fajitas and steak with cilantro rice. Quantity was generous, but the steak (I ordered medium) was overcooked to the point that it had a thick black crust on it (I probably should have sent it back). It was a nice preparation wrapped around cheese & cooked fresh veggies, and wasn't too bad even overcooked. Service was fine and staff were pleasant. Overall it was OK but not outstanding.
(3)R T.
The relleno, we had two versions and both were tasty. The cheese was disappointingly unmelted, there was a curious unnecessary abundance of oil in both the shrimp relleno and under the rice. Aside from the oily presentation the flavors were interesting. Not sure we'll go out of our way to return, but would stop if I was hungry at this out of the way intersection again.
(3)Squidward T.
Most sophisticated Mexican fare I've had. Family owned..
(5)Alina I.
One of my favorite restaurants. Great service and tasty dishes & drinks.
(5)Emily M.
What I love about this place is that, not only is the food delicious and freshly prepared, but also the staff are incredibly friendly and take their jobs seriously. I love this place! Oh, and one day, I WILL WIN the diablo burrito challenge. Just you wait.
(5)Aslynn M.
When it comes to Mexican I tend to prefer authentic top-notch restaurants or Taco Bell--for some strange reason, to which I'm in the dark regarding, I don't tend to like Mexican food intended to be somewhere in the middle (e.g. Chevy's--eek, I'll get to that later!). What can I say about Allan's food? Excellent, excellent, excellent. I haven't ordered anything I haven't thoroughly enjoyed with the exception of their tacos (probably authentic, but I tend to like mine "Americanized" so it's admittedly a personal preference). Yummy nacho's, so good I have to stay away from them if for no other reason than this slowly growing pouch around my belly. Yikes. They claim to have the best burritos in the North West and while I cannot confirm or deny this claim, they do have a d*mn good burrito. Be brave, order it with everything! You won't be dissappointed. So, why have I given Allen's a 4? 1) Great food. 2) Family owned and you can tell they're dedicated. Everyone has big smiles and they're more than friendly. 3) Since opening they've evolved the restaurant to better meet the needs of customers (for example turning down the music which they used to have cranked so high you had to practically scream your order); I value this in any relationship I have whether it be to a business or another person. P.S. Yes, I don't know why I do this--maybe just for kicks--but if you're a girl of high school age (16 - 18) your eyes will be most pleased by a certain young member of the staff.
(4)A P.
We found this place from Yelp looking for good authentic Mexican food, and wow - what a find! Authentic excellent food, not salty drab typical Mexican, really great dishes. The food was not only tasty, but healthier like I appreciate. Not the huge pile of beans and rice, but great portions of carne asada and beans with amazing sauce. So refreshing after the typical fare. And the chips and salsa - perfect. The staff is really attentive and friendly. This will definitely be our place from now on out. It is small, but don't let it fool you. I would highly recommend.
(5)Brett O.
The food was standard American style Mexican food you can find at practically every Mexican spot in the area. Very small dining area, nothing aesthetically different from any other place in the West Union shopping mall. Also prices are slightly more than I would want to pay for the food.
(2)Z P.
Casual place, nice servers, we usually have the younger guy and he is really nice and always talks to our 3 year old which is nice since we don't feel like a burden bringing a child with us to a restaurant (it feels like that sometimes at other places). Dinner is pricier so we usually go for lunch on a weekend. Good food, I've tired the shrimp dish and a enchilada with veggies/spinach in it. It was just the right size, not too much to feel overly stuffed.
(4)Blorch H.
This place gets a star based on how good it was three years ago. If I were to review it solely for my experiences in the last year and yelp allowed it, Allan's would get no stars. Two years ago, I would have written this review: Prices are on the high side of reasonable, the food is decent, and the seating is so-so indoors and great outdoors. The interior and the outdoor patio furniture are essentially unchanged from when it was a Bubble-Tea franchise. Service is above average for Portland. The two times I've been in there in the last year: Ugh. Where do I begin? We had to beg for water. No, we don't want to start with some beer. Beg for utensils. No thanks, I'm not interested in a fermented grain beverage. Beg for a menu. Uhh, my plate has dried food on it. Would you like something to drink? Sure, could we have our water or the soda we ordered? Beg for chips. Do we want a beer? No thanks, we'd just like what we ordered and a clean plate. Food arrived a half hour later... cold. On a slow night. The black beans weren't completely cooked. The rice tasted like rice-a-roni. The Salsa tasted like ketchup. The tortillas were dried out. The mole on the entree tasted like spoiled vinegar. We got shorted on the portions. We had to beg for the check. The list of irritations went on and on. The first time it happened, we figured maybe someone just had a bad night. Nope, exact same experience the next time around. I won't be back and I won't miss it.
(1)K S.
Clean, friendly and GREAT food. I had shrimp ala diablo that had such a wonderful mixture of spices (this was better than what I have had in the past). My husband had carne asada tacos which he ate in loud ecstasy. The margarita was impressive as well. We will definitely return.
(5)Marie H.
I wandered in here the first time because it is next door to my knitting store. What a pleasant surprise. I lived in San Diego for many years, and had almost given up on finding good Mexican in Portland. I have had a number of good dishes there, but for cold rainy weather, their jalapeño soup with chicken and avocado is tough to beat. I take half home for another meal. The staff is friendly and efficient. If you are looking for atmosphere, it isn't here, but it's clean and serves great food!
(5)Darce R.
Went here for the first time tonight...one word: DISGUSTING!! My husband and I each ordered fajitas...he got steak; I got chicken. First, my husband's steak had been overcooked to the point that it was completely shrivelled up and tasted like shoe leather. My chicken was very dry, but worse was the very strange "off" flavor it had...almost like cinnamon??? Whatever it was, it didn't taste anything like any fajita seasoning I've ever tasted! And I would hardly call the stale chips and packaged tortillas "authentic!"
(1)Xochitl V.
Best Mexican food in Oregon! I love love love this restaurant!!! Authentic Mexican food that is so delicious and tasty. Ever since we moved here, a couple of years ago, we tried it and loved it and have been going back ever since. And the food is very nicely priced, the food is so good! Everyone there is very nice and friendly. I also love their deserts, I love the churros. Highly recommended, 5-STARS!!!
(5)Emily L.
I only gave Allan's a 2nd star because of how nice our server was. He was the best part of our meal which was mediocre at best. It wasn't terrible but just good enough to get us by. I ordered the chicken enchiladas verde style. My husband had the chicken guacamole enchiladas. I probably won't make another trip.
(2)Steve W.
The word "Authentic" can have so many meanings. Authentic in look? Authentic in taste? Authentic in style? Allan's may not be authentic in name (kinda like Joey's Authentic Sushi), but at least the prep looks authentic. I had the tacos, and they were put on small corn torillas with plenty of meat, with a topping of onions and cilantro. Remembering my vacation in Mazanillo back in the 90s, I recall my tacos there looking the same way. Cool! It looks authentic! Taste...not so much. The pork was really dry...I mean super dry. The cilantro and onion was fresh, but the tortilla looked a little too perfect. As if it came from a place that made a whole bunch of them with the same cutter and then placed in a bag. Nothing wrong with that, but authentic? Hmmm... Authentic in style. Close, but I have never had a side salad with Italian dressing while I was in Mexico. Just saying... My wife had enchiladas with mole...and her chicken was dry as well. The mole tasted quite bland...and possibly pre-made. Compared to Red Iguana in SLC, it was an extreme disappointment. The waiter was a nice kid, somewhat attentive, and very friendly. However, he did not refill our glasses of iced tea, and he gave us the check before asking if we wanted dessert (which we did). Maybe it is his youth, so I will cut him a bit of a break. This food teetered between two and three stars for me. What really knocked it down to two was the cost. Way to expensive for what we received. Granted, I am not going to get the prices of Mexico for tacos, but it was too much for too little flavor. Authentic? Don't really think so. There are too many other Mexican restaurants to try in the 'boro before I go back to this place.
(2)Brenna D.
Best chimichangas ever! Reasonable prices, excellent service, and above all, fabulous food!
(5)Brandi W.
"Authentic" Mexican food? I guess it depends on what you consider authentic. I don't think think much of anything here is made fresh, so I have a hard time calling it authentic. Some of it is put together in a more authentic style, so I suppose in that sense it is authentic. But regardless, I found most of the food bland and dry. The salsa is basically like a cold soup, no chunkiness to it. One of the other reviewers called it 'cooked'. I don't know how to describe it but it had very little flavor and was thin. The chips came from a package and were flavorless and season-less. I had the Chicken Enchilada Mole Chihuahua. The mole was okay. The chicken was dry. They serve you a salad first, which was overdressed just like most restaurants. Both the salad and the entree were sprinkled with a 'Mexican Blend' shredded cheese that any of us could find in a grocery store. Ole! On the plus side, the rice was pretty good. My companion got the tacos carnitas. The pork was waaaaay dry. The tortillas also came from a package (if I am any judge). It's nice to have a double corn tortilla served with cilantro and red onion, but I could do that at home. Without a good, juicy, flavorful meat inside, it's a cheat. While seeming very nice when he was at the table, the server didn't come by very often (despite there being only 4 other diners there). He never offered to refill our iced tea and brought the check without bothering to ask if we wanted anything else. We actually did tell him we wanted to try the Tres Leches (one of my favorite desserts). This was actually the highlight of the meal. Whether it was made fresh or not, I didn't care, it was yummy. With the Mad Greek and Rock Creek Corner across the street, I'll have a hard time going back here.
(2)LaQueanya H.
We come here often. One because it is close to home. I love the family friendly environment! Food and service is great! I always try to eat something different each time I go because everything on the menu sounds great!
(5)Jennifer G.
We are lucky to have this Mexican restaurant close by. If we don't feel like making dinner, it's a sure bet for yummy good food. The staff is always helpful and friendly.
(5)Jill H.
Being from Southern California, I'll be the first to admit that I am a bit of a Mexican food snob and most of the Mexican food I have had since moving to Oregon has been somewhat disappointing. That being said, I love Allan's! The food is very tasty. They use fresh, quality ingredients and everything is well-seasoned. They offer their versions of some of the traditional favorites as well as some wonderful house specialties. Their portion sizes are pretty big, too, and yet their prices are reasonable for what you get. I usually get the carne asada burrito but had the chicken taquitos dinner last night and it was excellent. The rice, refried beans, guacamole and salsas are delicious and they make a great margarita as well. I also love the fact that it is family owned and operated so the food quality is consistent and the service is always very friendly and personalized. I highly recommend giving Allan's a try!
(5)Cole B.
I tried this place because it is close to my house. I am a new found chili relleno fan and have started to use that meal as a judgment for good mexican food. So my girl friend and I ordered food to go. First of all, it was very hard to find a menu online. They do not have a website that I could find. So we ordered food. I got my relleno meal and I don't even remember what she got. Maybe an enchilada? It was forgettable for me but she liked it. My rellano was expensive for what it was. There was only one rellano. Any other restaurant has given 2 rellano's or something else to go with it. It was also like $12, which again would of been ok if something else came with it. Overall the food was just ok. My overall experience was sub par. The cost was not worth the food. There are so many mexican food places, that I will most likely not be back unless I hear there was a change...or if there's a coupon or something. Maybe I will go if I am lazy, because of its location. I was on the verge of 3 stars because I don't like to harsh but....meh
(2)Katie a.
Really great Mexican food! The fajitas are great and the servers are always super friendly. Dare I say best fajitas in town?
(4)Sam R.
Good traditional Mexican food. Tacos are a bit more expensive than the typical place but that might be because it might have waiter service. The carnitas are pretty good. Chips and salsa are set on the table as soon as one walks in. The chips and salsa are okay. I prefer fresh salsa, hence I'm not that much of a fan of cooked salsa. It is the only game in that area so it has no competition. Compared to other traditional Mexican food places it about average. Compared to Americanized Mexican food place this place is miles ahead. It gets a 3 out of 5 when compared to other traditional Mexican restaurants but gets a 4 out of 5 compared to Americanized Mexican restaurants. The food and service are good, hence the 3 stars.
(3)Michelle M.
Yum! Food is great, everyone is friendly, and they will totally cater to your dietary restrictions.
(5)Tj E.
The fish tacos are tasty and the taco salad was good. Seems like a family run business. I'd rather support a family business rather than a corporation.
(4)tim t.
As authentic as is gets!!! Great food, great service, great family owned restaurant with reasonable prices. I drive all the way across town from se Portland weekly to eat here and will continue to do so. There are so many tasty items on the menu, everything is cooked to perfection and so wonderful!
(5)Alicia S.
They are so friendly and the food is great! Try the shrimp enchiladas!
(5)Steven J.
I'm a big fan of Mexican food but can be picky. A good burrito is what matters and this place did not disappoint. Very authentic flavors, good size, and very delicious. The salsa and hot sauce were unique (smokey hot sauce) and complimented it well. There are a ton of other items on the menu that I want to go back and try. They are dog friendly too on their outdoor patio!.
(4)Walnut A.
This place does not have friendly servers and most importantly the food is bland and not authentic tasting. Chips were cold and stale. Salsa has no flavor is sweet not spicy. Rice is very Indian tasting instead of Spanish tasting. Beans tasted like they were out of a can. The cheese they use in the Quesadilla is rich it tastes like cream cheese with mozzarella its very odd. Overall the food is down right flavorless and will not curb your Mexican cravings!
(1)Suzanne D.
Tried this place on a whim because it's right down the road from us! Adored it! I'm not gonna lie, I wish it was a little bit cheaper. The food however is the best Mexican in the area. Service can be a little slow at times, mostly because it seems to be understaffed (especially at lunch) but the food never disappoints!
(5)David C.
I have lunch here regularly, and I get excellent service every time. I strongly recommend the fish tacos (salmon) and the a la Allan's quesadilla (vegetable)... Look, this place is small and family-owned so don't expect incredible ambiance. It used to be a bubble tea shop, and it still has some of that decor present. Having said that, I will always root for the hard working small business who tries their best and provides a good service. Try one of the plates that I recommended, you won't regret it.
(5)Katya B.
great food! huge portions. will go again!
(4)L. C.
in my opinion, Allan's Authentic Mexican Restaurant is the BEST Mexican Restaurant in Portland! They are extremely authentic, the food is delicious, and the prices are very reasonable. The service is also the best out there. It is a family owned business and they are kind, professional, and all round wonderful. Everything from their burritos to their fajitas are mouth watering. I especially love their chipotle chicken and their fish tacos. No matter what you order there, expect it to be fresh, delicious, and the service to be the best. Try them out. You will definitely want to go there again.
(5)Catlin V.
This is by far the best Mexican restaurant I've been to in Portland. Everything on the menu that we've tried so far has been excellent. The burritos are a staple for a quick weeknight dinner, but the menu is so varied that it will take a long time to get through everything, especially when I keep ordering the same thing more than half a dozen times in a row because it's so good. The quesadillas are fabulous -- lots of cheese and the steak is a great option, though the sauteed bell peppers and onions really make it unique. The chimichanga is the best. But the salsas (four different kinds that I've tried) and the restaurant's chicken cannot be beat. Truly the best chicken I've had in a Mexican restaurant -- well seasoned, perfect white meat. Also, the staff at this family-run restaurant is super friendly, which always makes our visits extra pleasant. As you can tell, my husband and I are big, big fans. He won't go to any other Mexican restaurant. We've paid way more at other restaurants and gotten food half as good. Love this place!
(5)Misty B.
I was weary about coming into this restaurant. I mean, Allan's doesn't really sound authentic when it comes to Mexican food, but the husband and I stopped for takeout one afternoon on a whim since it's just around the corner from where we live. I tried the burrito, he had an al pastor quesadilla. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was! Their house made salsa is fantastic. We went back the next night. I ordered chicken tacos. They're the taco truck kind with cilantro & onions on corn tortillas with a wedge of lime. They make their own tortillas from scratch, along with most everything else on the menu. My daughter and I ordered food again the other night. We both got taquitos. Again, soooo good. The staff is very friendly as well. I've never been to Mexico so I can't vouch for how authentic the food is, but it's pretty darn good food. A new local favorite.
(4)Melanie L.
This is a family run restaurant and the food here is consistantly fantastic.
(5)Megan M.
Excellent food! The interior could use some work, but I bet eating outside in the summer would be awesome :) Everything has great flavor and juciyness!
(4)Jo Ann S.
Wonderful food. I had the fish with shrimp over sauted veggies. Hubby had enchiladas and they were nice enough to do a combo of meats and cheese. Great value !! We will be back!!
(5)Bill G.
Great food and very courtesy servers. Have enjoyed every meal.
(5)Amanda Z.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the world! my boyfriend and I eat here 1-2 times a week.
(5)