Cha! Cha! Cha!
4727 Ne Fremont St, Portland, OR, 97213
Cha! Cha! Cha! Menu
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Address :
4727 Ne Fremont St
Portland, OR, 97213 - Phone (503) 595-9131
- Website https://www.chachachapdx.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
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 : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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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Audrey F.
Waited over 15 mins before getting up to go see where our drinks were. took another 10 mins for drinks to come out. waitress was loopy and not knowledgeable. took over 30 mins for our food to come out. staff never apologized for the extended wait times. my partner had to get up twice for water because the staff never came to give us refills. and he got up another 2 times to see what was taking so long with our drinks. and the entire time we were sitting at a table with dirty dishes from the previous party sitting next to us. nobody even came to clear them the entire time we were there. disgusting. after looking at the other yelp reviews im wondering why this place is even still in business. there are reviews on here from 2011 complaining about the awful service. would not recommend this place to anyone. don't waste your time or money.
(1)Anthony K.
Friendly staff... Menu selection not amazing but what they do offer is good. Could be better but is a nice mexican fix when craving.
(3)Anna B.
Well, hello, there Beaumont Cha! Now wait... are you really a Cha Taqueria, a la the NW 21st location? Or the standard Cha-to-the-third like the rest of 'em around town? Turns out, it's a hybrid of both, which I realized only after receiving one menu bearing each separate logo. The standard Cha Cha Cha menu but with waiter service and a full bar. Happy Hour offerings include a $4 food menu (full meals, even, like the gigantic burritos, nachos, salads, taquitos), $3 draft beer, and margarita specials. There were a couple of differences from this joint and the other Chas - chips and salsa free, on the table, and some pricing differences, but really not all that different. I had my usual tempeh tacos with a side of black beans, my dinner pal had a huge chicken burrito mojado, and mad props to her for saving half to eat later. I usually down the whole thing before I know what's hit me. A solid Cha in a solid neighborhood, plus outside seating is always a bonus. While the CCCs are all very, very similar, there's definitely a scale and this one's nestled toward the top. Our service was super friendly, our food came out really quickly, and we had no complaints. Great specials on the chalkboard.
(4)Nicole K.
Went for a business lunch with my recruiter. It ranks about the same level as all the Portland Mexican food does to me. Meh. I guess I was ridiculously spoiled in Los Angeles, because this did not impress me at all. Boring, bland... I had the grilled chicken enchiladas, green sauced. Am I ordering wrong or something??? I want my Mexican food to have a certain kick to it, and I found this to be FAR underseasoned for my liking.
(2)Jess K.
Went here once, and will never go back. Service was HORRIBLE... the place was practically empty when we went, yet we had to wait almost fifteen minutes to get menus after being seated. Then had to get up and GO FIND someone to take our order [we almost just left.. should have]. Food took forever, then was served without silverware... yet another venture to find someone to get some. Asked for water about three times, never even got any. Cha Cha Cha's around Portland all have OK food, but nothing to write home about.... this location is no different. You'd get better food from a taco truck. Seriously pathetic experience, no part of this place warrants a second chance. There are plenty of other good restaurants around this area.. I'd avoid this one if I were you.. that is, unless you want bland tex mex and crappy service.
(1)Klay A.
Really yummy! Fantastic margaritas. I had a vegetarian enchilada that came with a delicious and tangy green sauce, husband had a burrito and 4 year old had a quesadilla. All were great! Service was spot on too! Very friendly and quick which is nice when you are dining with a 4 year old. Looking forward to our next visit.
(5)Michael B.
When I get a hankering for a giant burrito, this is my go to place. The CARNE Assada burrito, wet style, fills me up and leaves a smile on my face. This was the very first place I ate when I moved to Portland and I have been going back ever since.
(4)Brian O.
Tried some new dishes I don't normally get and they were great! Had the Pozole soup and the Sope. Both were awesome and especially recommend the Pozole. Have been here before and always been very good food and friendly service.
(4)John T.
found a chunk of meat in a vegetarian burrito. that is unacceptable in my book. as other vegetarians may know this brings to question their vegetarian friendly cooking practices. Are you all segregating a portion of the grill for non meat eaters? Are your beans and rice really clean of animal products? If vegetarian options are proudly given on the menu please respect those vegetarians that you are serving. the food is ok but once again a lack of authentic mexican flavors. Once again I come from a bordertown and I don't expect mexican food in the northwest to be spectacular but Cha Cha Cha on Fremont is about as bland as they come.
(1)Emily H.
Droooool. I went to Cha! Cha! Cha! with a group of six on Sunday. It was tricky to find a restaurant that catered to both vegans and gluten-free diets, but Cha! Cha! Cha! nailed it! I had the vegetarian quesadillas and they were amazing. Seriously, it was the kind of food you dream about. My husband had the vegan burrito, and it was full of the best tempeh I have ever tasted. Everyone was satisfied, and it will now be our go-to for sunday lunches!
(5)Bob K.
This is really just a 3 star Mexican place. But Portland seems to be a wasteland when it comes to Mexican food. So compared to other places in PDX it's at least a 4 star place. Nice place, good service, good food and proper portions. We will be back.
(4)Neeva D.
I come here a lot. It's near my house and is far more affordable than many of the other places on Fremont (I'm looking at you, Alameda Brewpub). Plus, when you are starving and need food NOW, nothing's better than starting your eating experience with free chips and salsa! It's a life saver at times. Now this here Cha Cha Cha is a sit down, be served kind of place with a full bar. The staff is super nice and always attentive to top off my water or iced tea, and is (usually) quick to get more chips and salsa for my husband, the salsa annihilator, and I, the chip destroyer. The red sauce on the smothered burritos can be a tad to sweet sometimes, but other than that, I think the food is delicious. I can't remember the name at the moment, but the pork burrito with pineapple is fantastic. I crave it. And it's pretty damn cheap to boot. Really, if you are in the area and want to spend under $30 on dinner for two, there's no reason not to go.
(4)Arnie Lewis T.
UPDATE: We're headed into the summer season.....temperatures are heating up. I've sent a request to Cha Cha Cha on Fremont with regard to their clear lack of air conditioning. It's so so hot inside. In fact, it is usually hotter inside than outside! This is one of our favorite neighborhood standards. But I have to boycott it in the summer. They really need to step up to the plate and install AC. They will tell you that "it's on....but it's too hot outside for it to do much good." The reality of it is that they don't have it. So, for the summertime, we go elsewhere. Until I feel the cool air inside.
(4)Cody W.
Home to a can't-miss Happy Hour, loaded with delectable staples. But the crowning small plate is the generously-topped $5 chorizo nachos: sturdy chips loaded with a perfect balance of toppings, generous yet practical.
(4)Andrew A.
Great service with above average fare for a mid-priced Mexican establishment. The best Mexican food has always been the hole in the wall type and cheap. Portland's best undiscovered spot is on Fremont past 82nd heading east, next to a liquor store. Anyway, we're regulars to Cha Cha Cha on Fremont and are rarely disappointed. Ala carte tacos and burritos are very good; black beans are excellent. The shrimp dinner plate and ceviche are so-so. The beef in the taquitos is quite tough, but some like it that way. The chips and salsa rock. Drinks have a creative flare. An overall great fit for our cool neighborhood.
(4)Noelle W.
Every Cha Cha Cha is different in some way. This specific location is more so a sit down restaurant rather than take out. The mixed drinks are pretty good and the food was well done. My partner in dining crime ordered enchiladas with a green sauce that was amazing. .
(4)David C.
I'm a big fan of Cha! Cha! Cha!, they have good food that's priced cheaply. You really can't beat a Fundido! The servers here have always been very nice and attentive and there's some space to sit outside if you want though it crowds the sidewalk a bit. Appreciate the complementary chips and salsa but I'm not a big fan of their salsa and would have passed had they asked.
(4)Lisa T.
We were all disappointed! I've eaten at the Sellwood location years ago, it was good food & good service. But this place is so loud, we couldn't hear ourselves think! They need to invest in some accoustic tiles. We went there on a Wednesday after 6pm & every table had small fussy kids at it, it was like going to Chuckee Cheeses! The service was really inattentive. We were told that we couldn't sit at a large table because there were only 3 of us so we stood around for awhile waiting for a table to be cleaned while there were 4 waiters standing around at the bar. Our order was incorrect. We had to ask for sugar for our tea twice. We requested no onions or cilantro on one plate & it came with both. We had to ask another waiter for a 2nd bowl of chips. The mole sauce on the enchilada was really bad, it just tasted burnt. We all tasted it & no one could eat it. It was $12.95, an expensive waste! My burrito was good but it isn't worth all the noise & hassle for just a good burrito. We won't be back.
(2)Janet L.
I wanted to love Cha! x3 but my first experience wasn't the best. The complimentary chips and salsa were good. The chips were warm and perfectly crispy, you could tell they're fresh. And the salsa was a bit nontraditional - not tomato based, and the texture was pureed. It could have done with a little more heat but I really liked it as is. When we walked in I saw that Margaritas were the "special drink" of the day at $5. Maybe I have been spoiled by cheap Mexican eateries but $5 doesn't classify as a particularly "special" price. And indeed it seemed pretty high for the heavy-on-the-ice 12oz-ish Margarita I received. But it was tasty. My friend and I weren't looking to gorge ourselves so we looked over the menu and decided to split the Empanada entree and a bowl of guacamole. The Empanada entree came out with some flavorless black bean mush and Mexican rice. What I am about to tell you may seem kinda weird, but stay with me. The Empanada tasted like a petting zoo. A petting zoo. It was my first reaction when I had it in my mouth - it was most definitely not the flavor combination I was expecting. It was.. weird, moldy tasting, and there was Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. My friend agreed it tasted like petting zoo. I kind of want to tell you to order it anyway so you can see what I mean. But it didn't taste like any traditional Mexican dish for sure, nor any Empanada I've had before. The guacamole was okay, but not great. Service was quick at first but then as the dinner rush started it was hard to flag down the server.
(3)Thomas W.
I told myself that I would never review more than one location of a chain unless it offered something completely extraordinary, something so completely awesome that it tore the fabric of constant energy with the Vorpal Blade of its inventiveness and offered not only a higher-quality of food and service, but also a redefinition of our understanding of the human consciousness and its relationship with the metaphysical realm we call "reality." Since the contents of that run-on sentence are impossible, I will make a special exception in this instance due to the food and service alone. Since I had only ever been to the Cha! Cha! Cha! on Broadway (due to its close proximity to my place of employment) I had no idea that two locations under the same banner could differ so completely in their model as to distinguish themselves as seperate entities entierly. The Broadway location is very much of a cafe-style, right from placing your order at a counter and paying before-hand down to busing your own tables, etc. Imagine my surprise, then, when our waiter kindly offered us a table, sat us down, and (le gasp!) brought us free chips and salsa! Now, this may SEEM proto-typical of all Mexican restaurants, but seeing as how this is a costly extra at the Broadway location, I was already pretty much floored. Add to that the fact that it was GREAT salsa? Wow. The menu, also, differed - whereas there are several "meh" quality options at the Broadway location, Fremont offers a more high-class menu, with a smaller selection of better-tasting and customizable options. I say customizable because you can choose not only the meat for pretty much all of your entrees, as well as the sauce. You know that feeling you got as a kid when Burger King put out the soda dispenser for you to mix and match your own drinks? Yeah. Ever have carnitas enchilladas smothered in mole? Probably not, because it is rarely offered anywhere. I can only tell you that the combination was delectible - I was literally scrapping my generous plate towards the end in order to keep the taste alive! To top it all off, our servers couldn't have been more friendly and gracious - never once did we see the bottom of our drinks, our chips and salsa kept coming, and the check was very reasonable. We will definitely be back, of that there can be no doubt!
(4)Cindy I.
Went last month and I think there is something about me and sit down Mexican restaurants. We sat outside and there was one other table outside and maybe 3 filled inside (not busy). It was later and I was pretty hungry. I asked how long it would be and they said quick. So I ordered the fajitas since I usually get tacos at the other Cha! x3. Well 20-30 minutes fly by and the waiter sees me eying him and says do you want your bill? What?!? I have haven't even eaten and my blood sugar is through the floor. He runs off to tell someone. They do get high marks for the owner coming out and apologizing which I noticed doesn't happen much these days in restaurants, no one wants to ever say they did something wrong. He was about to put in our order and the phone rang and he forgot and he is sooo sorry. He brought extra guacamole and chips and rushed our order. The food was okay but don't come really hungry and order the fajitas - they were skimpy on the meat. I would think after loosing our order he could have given me a better portion. I don't know if I will go back or not since I think the one on Broadway is better because it's cheaper, they give you more meat and you see them hand over the ticket with my order.
(3)Lisa T.
This Cha Cha Cha was our savior. We had taken our small one up to Beaumont for a Harvest Fest and it was about 7pm on a Friday. Dinner options, many. Dinner options without a wait, not so much. Probability of imminent toddler crash without application of food, high. So, we opt for the Cha Cha Cha, and were very surprised. Where is the counter? What are these waiter like people doing here? It turns out that this location is a hybrid with their more upscale Cha restaurant and I have to say; I like it a lot! Our waiter was friendly, and most importantly with toddler in tow, fast! My husband's shrimp burrito was excellent, and the shrimp fajitas in guajillo sauce that I shared with the small one were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The only sad part was there were only like six of them. Now came the huge kudos, without me saying anything (frankly I was grateful to get quick food I was gonna let it go) our server brought us the bill and said, "I discounted the shrimp fajitas because it was smaller than normal." Wow, thanks! They have a full bar as well, and the drinks looked really good.
(4)Aleksandra E.
Each Cha Cha Cha location has really great, friendly service and delicious food that comes in enormous portions. The difference between this Cha^3 and the others is that it's a sit-down-and-be-served deal, and slightly more expensive. It's also nicer inside than the, say, Broadway location. Cute decor, super nice staff, excellent food and the best pineapple Mojito I've ever had. I've been instructed to "screw the skinny jeans," and I'm happily obliging.
(5)Pablo G.
The quality/price ratio is hard to beat. I had the salmon burrito and I loved it (even if I usually dont like burrito). One of the best rice-Horchatas I have ever had.
(5)Sherlock H.
Went this week and now I'm downgrading my rating from 2 to 1 star. My dining partner ordered their two taco dish and asked for the veggie tacos with meat added. I got the enchiladas. We ended up with a burrito and enchiladas. I pointed out to the waitress that the burrito is not what was ordered, and she just chuckled and said it's basically the same thing. She never refilled our drinks, we had to go in search of a water pitcher ourselves. Then when she took my card to run it she was gone for about 10 minutes. Then she came by and said, "Oh, didn't I bring you back your card?" Great, someone's off buying new shoes by now. She got my card back to me, and I downgraded her tip after each screw up.
(1)Erika L.
I wanted to love this place. The service is perfect. Friendly, come around just enough. The music and decor creates the beginning of a great meal. The food fell so incredibly short for is. Bland and boring. The chile relleno burrito tasted like scrambled eggs and canned chokes with no actual spices ir herbs. The rice and beans were also lacking real flavor. Everything else was wonderful but the food. No.
(2)Monte H.
We love Cha! Cha! Cha! Each of the locations we have dined at have been awesome. We've been to the Glisan, Broadway and Freemont locations. Good cheap food and excellent service. Their burritos are definitely enough for two meals! I usually eat half and take the rest home. They have a great white sauce that they usually only serve on their seafood dishes but if you ask they will substitute. It is amazing! We love walking to the one on Freemont, sitting outside and enjoying a nice summer evening with great food!
(5)Christian W.
Great place with excellent service. They are usually fast unless they are super busy. After all it is a small place so be patient. I really enjoy their burritos and they have really good cookies too. They have free chips and salsa while you wait and everything is reasonably priced.
(4)Ben P.
I can't see any reason to go back to this location or the one on 27th and Broadway. We went to use up a friend's $20 Groupon (we thought, hey this is a burrito place, we'll be able to have fun and get a few different things), and we decided to order takeout to save time (my wife needed to head to school to finish a project). The order took 45 minutes to arrive, I've never experienced anything even close to that, and they charged us $4 dollars more than what we pointed to on the menu. We were already late enough that I called them from the car to ask what happened, and he said "chicken fajitas are $12 senior, do you want to come back and look at the menu?" Well, the ones we asked for on the menu said $7.95, how do you think that makes me feel? Would you want to give them one more minute of your time if you were me? You've got to draw the line somewhere. We get home and open up the food and I say, "hey hon, how does mine look?" "Mediocre", she says. A small portion of pork in green sauce, and the rest of the plastic container is full of that crappy orange rice that lets you know you're getting the BEST quality available, teaspoon of sour cream in the corner, teaspoon of pico de gallo. My wife's overpriced fajita platter looked better, but both were overpriced disappointments. The only reason you'd go to a Cha Cha Cha is because you've never been to Taqueria Los Gorditos or Por Que No (now these places deserve your support), or you think it's the best option you have. Let me tell you, no matter what location you're near, it just isn't. I'm pretty bummed out to be disagreeing with a bunch of other reviews, I'd much rather give praise than complain, but this nearly ruined my night.
(1)Jay D.
First, no this isn't totally authentic Mexican, but it isn't too far off. Plus, um, this is Portland. Second, this is a bit more upscale that your normal neighborhood joint, but still a nice faikly feel. Third, $3 Happy Hour! Fourth, good salsa, good food. Fifth, great cheap Happy Hour drinks! Oh, did I mention Happy Hour already? While I'm not totally enamored with their new, upscale "Cha" positioning, I still love this place. I've only been to this location and the one on Hawthorne (more of a fast food feel), but I really like this one the best. A great neighborhood restaurant. We also generally get good service from the manager/assistant manager guy. Extra points for coming back to the table right before Happy Hour is up to get our next round of drinks. Sunday brunch on a sunny day sitting outside--even in Winter or Spring--is a great experience. Happy Hour indoors or out in any season is great. The new menu isn't as great in terms of ingredients, but can you beat $3 food? They have some great variety on the menu. They do great things with fish and carnitas. The mole burrito is truly amazing. Actually, all their burritos are. Good prices, and great taste. Almost makes me miss the taco truck back in Cali. One thing, I like cactus. I'm VERY picky about my nopalitos. Cha's are okay, not great. Not fresh, at least they didn't taste that way, but you don't see it on menus much around here. Okay, to sum up: really good food, great happy hour, nice neighborhood feel, and some of better Mexican food I've had in Portland.
(5)Alexa R.
Delicious authentic food that is reasonably priced! Really close walk (Lombard) from UP. Great for birthdays/big groups. I've been there multiple times.
(4)Pam L.
Stopped in here for a cocktail before Yelps Big Fat Italian Wedding! Sat at the bar and had great service! The menu and margarita list looks delicious and I can't wait to go back and try them out!
(4)Rian O.
I hate to sound like a meanie (because I like cha cha cha's food, convenient location, and reasonable prices) but the lady who I dealt with today was a total bitch. I called in for a to-go order, it felt like I'd committed a crime. I asked some simple questions, she acted like I was simple minded. When I showed up she completely ignored me, and let the bus boy sweat and scramble around assuring me I'd be able to pay at some point. God, she really looked unhappy. I'm not trying to deter anyone from going to cha cha cha, i actually recommend it! But hours after enjoying my meal, I still felt the need to write this, my first review, and hope that that cranky lady reads it. Cheer up, woman! You've got a pretty good gig.
(2)Richard M.
Amazing food, great service. The chimichangas are to die for, and the chile relleno burrito is worthy of a medal.
(5)Maria J.
Really enjoyed the food and general environment! Waiter was very attentive, great service.
(5)KT K.
The drinks are mixed just right. The flavors of the dishes are superb. The meats are all from good sources like Painted Hills Beef and Carlton Farm Pork. The prices remain very reasonable. The services is very friendly. And I am now obsessed with their Chipotle sauce! And the little known secret is they have a fantastic breakfast, and no waiting forever like the well known brunch places.
(5)Joshua M.
Decent Mexican food in the Pacific Northwest? Wha?? Well I preface this by saying I currently am pretty sick so my tastebuds aren't 100% functional. But everything I ordered at the triple Cha tasted great. Beef taquitos were good, chips and salsa are fantastic, pollo asado tacos were good, and the chicken fajitas were so so. I will definitely be back.
(4)Jeremy S.
This is a slightly fancier version of the more prevalent tacos-n-burritos chain that seems to have at least one location per Portland neighborhood. They still have the cheap tacos & burritos, but they also have a slightly more expensive "sit down" menu as well (in addition to a full bar!). The ambiance is clean and modern, although when we were there there was a rather loud, annoying soccer game on the TV that our server seemed to be watching very intently. Perhaps the best thing about this place is that they have a very nice happy hour from 3-6pm every day. Lots of nice $3 food options, and even $3 sangria! (which, while decent, was pretty light on the fruit and heavy on the wine). I will say that the fish tacos were about the strangest I've ever had (umm...since when do you put grilled onions on fish tacos??), but the wife's taquitos were normal, and, well, I'd just say...maybe don't get the fish tacos! In the time since I first wrote this review, we have pretty much adopted this Cha Cha Cha as our "local"...whatever...warts and all. The happy hour food isn't all that great, but the burritos are bomb...especially the Pastor. Yum. The happy hour drinks are also kinda so-so (the Sangria is good for the price, but the happy hour 'ritas are way too sweet and weak)...but despite it all we keep coming back. Probably because of the burritos.
(4)Raechel S.
Food was salty. Very salty. Three of us ordered different things and they were too salt...not much flavor. Got happy hour margaritas..tasted good..but not sure there was any alcohol in them. Service was great! Fun atmosphere. But I wouldn't go back for the food.
(2)Jes P.
Regardless of the tasty food at this place I have to give it low stars because of the horrible service. It puts a major damper on the experience. I first ate at a table outside and thought that was the cause of the slow, unattentive service. But, I went back last night, sat at the table closest to the bar and kitchen and the result was the same, maybe even worse. The servers were clueless, slow and could care less. They were more interested in sorting the 3 different types of menus (which I don't understand the need for) than bringing us our drinks. I think we waited a good 15 minutes for water and had to ask twice. And waited close to 25 minutes for our cocktails. My friends and I almost never leave a restaurant without having at least 2 drinks, but that wasn't even an option here- on either night that I went. The food was delicious, but the service makes me never want to go back. I'll try and stick to the other locations or take-out.
(2)K H.
This is our go-to place for a quick dinner. The grilled salmon tacos hit the spot. The portions of everything but the tacos is gut busting huge, so use restraint or risk a food coma. Good food value, nice people...what more can you ask for?
(4)Doug M.
What appears to be a fast growing Mexican chain is welcome in our Beaumont neighborhood. The tacos and burritos are imaginative and flavorable. And it's very inexpensive. After four visits to the Fremont location, though, I have to gripe about the setting and the service. The tables are arranged as mostly two-tops and close together so that it's hard to come as a larger group. The times we've been there, the music is too loud to permit conversation. And the chairs are these weird straight-back neon colored plastic things that are uncomfortable and visually off-putting. Each time also, the service has been poor. One time, the poor woman serving us told us that she'd been left alone to prepare the dishes and serve and she was about to quit. I don't know what the Cha! Cha! Cha! business model is, but it appears to be having quantities of meats, sauces and toppings prepared in advance and then leaving one or two staff to handle the kitchen and the front
(2)Mani S.
Delicious food and drinks. We got the taquitos and carne asada to share and were very pleased. We also got the tamarind margaritas and they were literally the best cocktails we ever had. I'm not from Portland, but I had drinks at a few other places while visiting, and always had a good tasting cocktail; however, this tamarind margarita from Cha! Cha! Cha! was the best. I want to come back just to have it again!
(5)Katherine V.
This is my second time eating at a CCC location. The first was in 2012 in Sellwood. I didn't enjoy the food there and haven't been back since. This visit was slightly better, but I really can't see myself returning. I very much enjoyed the chips and salsa. Fresh and mostly mild. A great way to start off lunch. I had so much salsa left over that when the server asked if I wanted more chips, I asked if he could bring a container so that I could take it home. He misunderstood and just brought another bowl of salsa. I ordered the Organic Quinoa Salad w/ Chicken. It came out fairly quickly and the presentation was nice, but the taste just wasn't there. It seemed to have way too many poblanos. It's not that it was too spicy...it was just too poblano-y. There either wasn't enough quinoa and black beans to balance it out, or it needed some other spices or flavors to complement the pepper. I was disappointed with this and felt like I had to force myself to keep eating the dish. Also, the chicken was oddly cut into very thin strips. This would have probably been fine if it hadn't seems so dry. I'm highly suspicious that it was already cooked and simply heated up. On a positive note, they do use Draper Valley chicken. The service was mostly positive. Timely with chips and food and the check. I did finely receive a take-home container for my extra salsa after asking a second time. There's a 20% off coupon in the Chinook Book!
(3)Chris D.
disappointing visit to cha cha cha. the burrito was top notch, but unfortunately i do not recommend the nachos. they not _bad_, they were just not good. it looked like chips were casually thrown about the plate and some light fixins sprinkled on top. there was nothing special about them. bland, boring. i do love cha cha cha, but what a bummer!
(3)Patti F.
So this isn't one of those reviews after going to a place once, having a good or bad experience and reporting as such. We've been here now at least 4 times (only for brunch/lunch) and I think we can safely say we enjoy the place; though we have not tried for dinner....yet Service has been good - but different almost each time. One day for brunch the server told us that they fresh press each coffee so it would take a little bit - and you could tell by the stain on the bottom of the cup that it definitely was pressed (impressive!). The next time, the coffee seemed to be just your normal brewed coffee - which was weird. Food has been consistently good, good flavors. LOTS of vegetarian (and vegan!) items which is always a plus. The menu is quite extensive, with breakfast burritos, bowls, salads (which are gorgeous), and of course the traditional fare of tacos/enchiladas, etc. I wouldn't say this is the best Mexican food ever - but it's decent and fills the gap when in need.
(4)Tim G.
Cha is not a bad Mexican food spot. I get pretty regular burrito cravings, and there aren't any better options in this area. The machaca burrito is my go-to, and it never disappoints. I usually wash it down with an horchata, which is sweet and delightful.
(4)Chris A.
There seems to be a lot of Cha Cha Cha's in Portland these days. They each have their own style. This one is a good lunch and dinner spot. They have a full bar, friendly staff and tasty burritos. I'm 50/50 on the eat in or take out scenario for this place. If you are on the go, call ahead and they will have your order ready to pick up in about 15 minutes. The happy hour is pretty solid, $6.5 for the margarita of the day, $5 for a HH burrito and $4 for a couple tasty tacos. One TV at the bar, not a great place to watch the game. Only a couple of tables out front so don't get your hopes up on outside eating.
(4)Brittany P.
This is my go to Mexican place. Service is always amazing and the food taste great. Prices are right. Everyone in our family has found something they enjoy and it's always a cheer when we decide to have cha cha cha! The outdoor seating is limited but awesome when u can score a seat.
(5)Ryan Y.
I really would not recommend this place for Mexican food. There are so many good Mexican restaurants, so why drop more than $7 on two tacos with black beans? I can find better food, and better deals, elsewhere. I do like the atmosphere, and it's been a Fremont institution for a while now. It's a friendly place where I can often expect to run into people I know.
(2)Henry C.
This is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in Portland. The atmosphere is nice and the staff are friendly. Also, The Chicken Burrito is excellent which is what I always get.
(5)H K.
Pros: Good service, nice atmosphere, great neighborhood, good gauc, tasty beans. Cons: overpriced fajita, small amount of chicken given with fajita, corn tortillas seemed average. I will give it a shot again, however, there are many other amazing mexican places as well.
(3)Kendra L.
Great service, very personable. Food came out quickly and was tasty... big proportion sizes too. We say outside, nice seats! Hit the spot!
(5)Brenda F.
Found this place by an app that I down loaded for Happy hour. I came here because margaritas said $5.00 And when I saw the menu it stated $6.00. So I asked the manager if he can match the price because the app said $5.00 and he said no and that he's deeply sorry but he can't reflect the price, so I showed him the app that said five dollar margaritas and he said it was an old menu and there's nothing he can do! Hmmmmm,,, I live in Vancouver and I traveled all the way to this place because of an app! Anyways we proceed to order and the Margarita was so-so and Full of ice and served in a jar. the chips were stale but the dish itself on happy hour wasn't bad..... So this is my review I hope it helps for anybody else!!! I personally wouldn't be recommending this place to my friends and family! Just Sayn!
(1)Eclectic P.
Just another dissapointment for "mexican food" tasteless and unoriginal. Where is el diablito cart?
(1)Drew D.
Good service, clean building, nice patio furniture but the food was sub par. Definitely not the best Mexican, tacos and burrito were dry. Alotttttttt of rice in the steak burrito and hardly any meat.
(3)Beth O.
THIS REVIEW IS ABOUT THE CATERING. I can't say enough amazing things about Cha Cha Cha's Catering. Javier (the owner!!) was laid back and easy to work with. He set up a tasting for us and designed a menu to cover all our needs plus show off the amazing local and vegetarian food here in PDX to all our wedding guests. The day of the wedding, the people that came out to work the event were incredibly patient, kind and helpful. I was totally and utterly blown away by their organization and great attitudes. "Oh, you forgot to bring the signs for the food items? No worries! we'll stand here and explain what things are to people." "oh you're running a little behind schedule? No worries, we'll make sure everything is ready when you are!" "by the way, here's a bunch of containers so you can take home your leftovers. We'll clean up and disappear before you even notice!" They were so awesome in fact, I must have had at least 6 people come up and tell me how impressed they were with the crew. The food, needless to say was awesome. It always is, but to have guests comment on the staff? Now THAT'S amazing service!
(5)Sharon M.
Food is just okay, but a good place to take the kids. But after my last trip I will NEVER return. The service was TERRIBLE. Usually we have to hunt down the server for a bill, or wait for our food. That's fine but for them to be rude in front of my children?! No thank you, not worth the annoyance. Staff needs training and a new manager.
(1)kelly s.
We decided to order take out from this location last night. It is so close and convenient for us and we've eaten here a hundred times (full disclosure - I used to work here) Placed a phone order. Tried to order the Flautas, but the girl on the phone said "you must have an old menu, we don't have those anymore." Well that's weird because we got some last week!?! I told her I didn't have a menu and that I used to work there. So she went into the kitchen and asked the cook (while I was on the phone) if he KNEW how to make Flautas. Why wouldn't he know how? He's a cook at a MEXICAN restaurant. Anyway..... I ordered my usual bean and cheese mojado style and a side of guacamole and salsa. We got the order home and there was no salsa. I tried calling (5 times) and finally got an answer. The guy on the phone said an order of salsa was never added to my order. Well, ok. She must have forgot. The guacamole was watery and tasteless and the bottom of my burrito was so hard, I couldn't even cut through it. I ate half of it and had to throw the other half away. I am so disappointed because we've never had an issue with the food or service. I will say the staff turn over is very high. Also when we picked up the food and asked for a new menu, they didn't have any. How are we supposed to order off of the menu that they changed "a month and a half" ago without a new menu? Well, we won't be ordering from there at all. What a waste of 30 bucks.
(1)Donna G.
We love Cha Cha Cha! My husband and I come here at least a few times a month. It's our neighborhood standby if we don't want to go far. The service is always fast and friendly and the food is great. I think their menu is a little pricey, otherwise I'd give them five stars. You can get the happy hour menu & prices if you sit at the bar.
(4)Eli F.
This place is consistently delicious and I am always really pleased with the service. However there's just no good place to wait for a table...don't forget ID because the bar stools are off-limits if not and the other chairs are right in the middle of the passway to the kitchen...on a busy night you end up making waitstaff enemies before your meal has even started all for lack of space! After so many years in this space you think they'd have this figured out. Food however was great as usual!!
(4)Nicole M.
We come here all the time. People are very friendly and willing to help. Food is very good and you feel after you eat. Would recommend this place to anyone. Their drinks are so delicious and I love their guacamole.
(4)Vinnie B.
The Ceviche is good and the Enchiladas are real tasty every time I eat here it gets better and better. The Salsas are much more thought out. Service is hit & miss. The prices have gone up a bit, but so has the quality. It's totally kid friendly too so, it can get loud. It takes a long time to get a drink. I've see 3 people walk out because of this. They need to get this right. No excuses for this. The chairs are so uncomfortable.
(3)Alison V.
I always enjoy Cha Cha Cha's food, but the service at this location isn't great (or at least from my experience). Just don't expect too much, and you'll enjoy it. I got the Machacha burrito. It was really good, but next time I will for sure get the drunken burrito. It looked soo good! They put sauce on top of the drunken one which is the difference between that and the regular burrito. I do like the salsa as well! Usually it's hard to find good salsa at Mexican restaurants these days. I approve, check it out! Or check out another location you might be happier.
(3)Alena C.
The Cha Salad with prawns is the best thing to happen to my life. The salsa that comes to you with chips is kind of blah. But ask and they will bring you the two spicier sauces which are much better. The drinks are on the light side, so just get a beer.
(4)Marcus C.
I've been around to a few of the different cha's in Portland, and I gotta say I really do like this one. Service is on point, attentive, and speedy! After I put in my order I thought I was going to be in for a long wait, but not so. Here they are pretty quick. Also, there hasn't been another Mexican restaurant that has come close to a mole burrito as good as Cha's! Good feelings for this place, for realz!
(5)Abril G.
They might have good burritos but they have terrible service. Every time I go and give them another chance i always end up not wanting to leave a tip. The one time I didnt leave a tip I was really broke and had to share a burrito with my boyfriend and the waitress followed us outside to belittle us infront of the other potential tippers;I didnt say anything. iIf she needed that tip, she probably needed her job. I decided to try take out instead of eating at the restaurant and I still got bad service. I had to wait 13 minutes to pay for my burritos when they were right in front of me. I stood there ignored and burrito-less.
(1)Rob C.
I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed in Cha!^3. The reviews were pretty positive and while it wasn't bad, our overall experience was just 'meh.' The place itself looks nice and the menu looks great, but the service was lackluster and the food was surprisingly bland. I ordered the mole burrito with carnitas and it was... okay. The mole was decent but nothing great, and the beans/rice/meat was fine. My DC's (dining companion's) vegetarian burrito was similarly just okay. Underseasoned and definitely under-served. Portland already has a shortage of good Mexican restaurants (that are in the middle of the affordable v. skeezy scale), and I can't say I'll probably be back. Like I said, it wasn't bad and I'm not irritated or anything. Just not impressed.
(3)J T.
DREADFUL. The service was horrific from the moment we walked in. First of all, when you walk in, you aren't greeted by anyone, so you don't know if you should seat yourself or wait to be seated. We finally just sat ourselves. There were only 2 servers, one of which was running around, obviously very busy.. she said she would be right with us (she never came back). The other server had no sense of urgency, and after sitting there for about 5 minutes, we noticed a couple who sat down after us get water and chips. It took another 10 minutes for him to come over and take our order, then another 5 minutes to get our chips and salsa. We had ordered guacamole, which he didn't bring out with the chips, and had to go back and get. It wasn't that busy, so we were baffled by the slow service, and we noticed people walking in were also being ignored. It took another 15 or so minutes to get our drinks, and when we finally asked for them, the server brought us the wrong drinks! When we finally got our food, which also took FOREVER it was decent, not great, but decent. Overall, the experience was a total nightmare. I would not recommend dining there. They need to hire more servers and maybe re-think their game plan.
(1)Joseph A.
Seriously delicious mole burrito. It's a giant burrito smothered in complex mole sauce. Been here a couple times, and both times, friendly quick service and delicious food. Really, can't go wrong.
(5)stacey k.
I have been here several times since I moved into the neighborhood. Today was my last time it was about 12.30 which I understand is peak lunch but the service was so slow, borderline rude and the mahi tacos were just ok at 11 bucks for 2. There are too many other great Mexican restaurants around to go back.
(2)Kolten L.
Service alright. Food excellent! Have tried something new each time visiting- no let downs yet! Yummm...
(4)Jennifer L.
Great margaritas. Good food. Ok service. Very reasonable prices. I have a toddler and the waitress was very accommodating when I asked for an urgent box to dump the food in due to toddler meltdown. Would love to come back when she can sit still for longer than 10 min.
(4)Nora B.
This was my first time there, and of course why not try for cinco de mayo !! The food was A-MAZING !! definitely try the enchiladas. The blood orange margarita was strong and their mojito was PERFECT !! The food wasn't too salty or greasy at all considering it is Mexican. The service was okay - but then again it was cinco de mayo so ill have to go back on a different day when it's less crowded. Prices were average. Nothing special although I think I noticed their happy hour menu and they had some good prices. :) overall, A- *** Their mojitos are AMAZING !!!!!!
(4)Steph S.
*EDIT* I went back to this location today, against by best instincts, because it was happy hour and my friend had a 20% off coupon. Huge mistake. I love Cha! Cha! Cha! but I did NOT like the one on Fremont! I'm not sure what this Cha^3 is trying to pull off, but it's not working. This location is apparently trying to be classier than say, the Hawthorne or Sellwood locations, and it's not flattering. Food is done table-service style instead of ordering at the register. It took the waitress / bartender almost 30 minutes to bring me a margarita, in which time all my friends had finished their beers already. The waitress said "the bartender apologizes, she forgot" but I could see her inside casually chatting with people at the bar the whole time! Let me add that they were NOT busy at the time. The second time we went, it took them 20 minutes to bring us the bill and another 10 to pick up our cards despite the fact that they were again, NOT busy and we were clearly not still eating. Also, clearly the burritos are huge and way too much for one person [usually] at Cha cha cha, but not at the Fremont one. I don't need the world's largest burrito when I go out for cheap Mexican food, but it does seem odd that in a chain of restaurants, one of the locations would serve smaller portions for the same price. I actually was able to finish my food which has never happened there before! P.S., my burrito fell apart after 2 bites and trust me, I'm pretty sure I know how to eat a burrito. At the end of it all they almost overcharged us $2 each for our drinks and we had to go to the bar and correct the matter. At the same time, another woman across the room [at one of the only 2 other tables with people at it] was also complaining about her drink be because it also got messed up. Go figure.
(1)Stella w.
food's decent. place is in the hood so we go occasionally. twice my family and i have been greeted and shown a table and then waited 15 - 20 mts for menus or water or a waiter to show up?! last time we tried waving to get a server's attention but finally gave up and left. very weird. very hit and miss.
(1)Don B.
In what is otherwise a wasteland of midday food options, this Cha Cha Cha is an oasis of pretty decent Mexican food and a surprisingly well-stocked tequila bar. Cha Cha Cha, for those that don't know, is part of a thriving little local chain of Mexican joints that seriously deliver on value. Big portions meet small prices meet fresh ingredients at these colorful neighborhood eateries. Is this the heady food what you'd expect to be served up by some non-English-speaking folks at a dirty taqueria? No. Is it tasty? It's tasty enough to merit a solid 3 stars in my book. This location gets an extra star for the bomb tequila rack and being pretty much the only option besides Stanich's for a semi-quick lunch up on Fremont. My vegetarian quesadilla was tasty... and for the price, not bad. I can dig it.
(4)Evelyn S.
I like the various Cha Cha Cha's in Portland. This is my third favorite after Sellwood and Downtown Milwaukie. Their happy hour is perfect if you want a freshly made Margarita and a meal for under $15 including tip. The Caesar is really tasty although it doesn't look like anything special when it is served. Everything else we have tried is always freshly prepared. Chips and Salsa good. I would like them to add a bit more of a kick to many of their items but over all they are a great place to go. Service super friendly and efficient.
(4)Kerri H.
Ate here tonight with a friend. (Fremont location) This is second visit. (The first was a few years ago.) We walked in and were seated immediately. The place was not entirely full, but enough people to call it a dinner rush. Waiter was very friendly and cleared the corner window table for us very quickly. He brought us chips and salsa which were very good. My friend expected a little more salt on the chips, I felt they were perfect without. Last visit, friend and I were soo hungry upon arrival that we filled up on chips and spoiled our appetites and packed most of our dinner to go. I ordered Mole Enchilada's (chicken), friend had Fajitas. Both were served hot, fairly quickly, and were very good. The mole had a little kick to it that built some steam as I ate, but not unpleasant by any definition. Rice portion was smaller than expected, but really the perfect size with 4 enhilada's total. No alcohol ordered, drank waters and one Agua de Jamaica. I had convinced my friend to try a Portland restaurant instead of going to a national chain, and I'm glad we ended up here. She was very impressed with the fajitas. We will definitely visit again when we're in the neighborhood. Table was cleared, and bill presented in timely manner. We paid, and were able to sit talking for some time afterwards without interruption. Dinner rush clearly was over, and when we left, only one other table was filled.
(5)Travis J.
When you've lived in California your whole life, it's hard to find a decent Mexican restaurant in the North West. There salsa didn't really have any flavor; it was more like red wet paste to put on your chip because, what else are you going to do? I had the Chile rellano burrito, which was kind of small, and I actually thought it was a simple rice, bean and cheese burrito at first. The decor is really fun with the bright walls and Los muertos paintings. We didn't have drinks, but it looked like they had a full bar.They also have a strange long bathroom if you're looking for a place to set the world record for most people crammed into a water closet.
(3)Flory W.
Dh and I had lunch there one time, and it was freezing cold. The only complain I have was they don't have enough selection for hot drinks. I'm not a coffee or tea drinker, but I LOVE chocolate or hot cocoa when I'm cold. For a restaurant not having a package of hot cocoa mix around, is negative, because what if children go there and they want something hot to drink, like around Christmas time? It doesn't cost much to buy a package of hot cocoa or take a lot of space, so why don't they HAVE THEM IN HAND? If they have hot water for teas, why not cocoa? BTW: I can't complain about the food!
(2)Jenn S.
Love all the seafood and veg/vegan options. I call for carry out and they are always fast and correct.
(4)