4. Restaurants

Salvador Molly’s

1523 SW Sunset Blvd, Portland, OR, 97239
  • (503) 293-1790
  • Store is closed

Salvador Molly’s Menu

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  • Derek W.

    OUCH! I made a grave mistake by trying the "Great Balls of Fire" on my first visit as an appetizer before I got to enjoy my actual food (contrary to popular belief, the Great Balls of Fire aren't food, they're weapons). It was busy as expected, after all this is the same place that was featured on the Man vs. Food challenge. The menu is eclectic and the food that I did have a chance to taste before I was disabled with pain was delicious. My friend and I each order ONE Great Ball of Fire. The challenge is if you can eat 5, you get your picture on the wall. I ate my ONE and felt fine, definitely felt the heat, but wasn't that bad. My buddy as a quarter of one and didn't finish, so I ate it. BIG MISTAKE! I was in crippling pain. My stomach felt horrible and I thought I was going to puke. BUT I refuse to puke. I just sat outside the rest of my dinner in the rain to enjoy fresh air and enjoy my agony alone. The guy sitting at the table next to me tried to eat five, but ate four and puke. Not an appetizing sight at a restaurant. I'm torn about this place. I don't like the chance of people puking around me while I eat. I probably won't be here again.

    (3)

  • Maddy H.

    I haven't actually been into the restaurant itself, but I've used Salvador Molly's a few times now to cater work events. They offer a great, hearty selection for family style catering that can work well for vegan and gluten-free folks. Staff is amazing -- excellent service and really easy to work with, and very willing to make menu/ingredient substitutions to fit your needs. And food is, of course, super yum!

    (4)

  • kim g.

    Fun atmosphere and eclectic menu. They were receptive to my low carb requests and the food was unique for the neighborhood. I recommend the calamari--fried (a little on the salty side for me) but delicious! The shrimp tamarind curry would have been better with their rice instead of veggies but that was my request and so i enjoyed it all. Good place to take guests or a kitschy fun meal. Wish I could have indulged in a drink because I hear happy hour is fun there.

    (4)

  • Tiffany B.

    Great balls of FIRE... that's all I gotta say! All the hype on those bad boys lead me here....finally! Met my sweeties family here, so we had somewhat of a wait on a Sunday night for a table, but not to bad. All I wanted to try were those great balls of fire! My sweetie has done them before and survived...but this time around he was challenging his 2 brothers to it!! And the winner was.....oh yeah, my sweetie! The look on their faces, was priceless....eyes tearing up...sweat coming down their foreheads...mouths on FIRE!!! These were some seriously heated fritters! They are small, but don't be fooled- hotter than hell! The heat creeps up on you, so at first it's not too bad, but then...oh man, mouth goes numb and all! Warning...the day after- not so fun!!! I tried one... and well, let's just say, I only made it thru half of one! I think they are all feeling the sting still, just a little bit...

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    I'm a fan of this place. The food is always good, the service is always fast and it's always a fun atmosphere. When you sit down you get a bucket of peanuts to shell at your table. C'mon, that's fun right there! We started with the guacamole which was seasoned well and was tasty. My husband always gets the jambalaya and tries it a level spicier each time we go. I had the Kalua Mojo Pork and it was delicious. This place would be great for a big group and has something on the menu for everyone. If you're brave, you can try the Great Balls of Fire (habanero cheese fritters). If you eat 'em all, you get your picture on the wall. Good luck!

    (4)

  • Regina C.

    Pro: variety of food, fun decor, $ to food ratio, propensity to burn your taste buds up Con: limited seating, aftershock from select dishes I am now able to complete my review of this place as everyone in my group has now recovered from the Great Balls of Fire- their famous habanero cheese fritters featured on Man v. Food. The first bite is actually pleasant, didn't taste any cheese but then the heat begins. Reactions to GBoF may vary.* We went for lunch yesterday and the place was pretty empty. Pele's Volcano- delicious slow-roasted pork complimented well with their BBQ sauce and a generous helping of curly garlic fires. Louisiana King Jambalaya (full portion)- comes mild, medium, hot, and extra hot. The medium is definitely other places hot. This dish was full of flavor from the obvious pieces of veggies, chicken, sausage shrimp and rice. Be warned that the heat from GBoF may be reignited from eating this dish. The house cornbread was Eh... but I tasted it post-GBoF. My friends had the Kalua Mojo Pork and Molly's Hot Tamales, both said the taste was right on. Conclusion: will definitely try this place again, perhaps HH for their happy bites and to hopefully watch some unfortunate soul try the ghost pepper fritter the server told us about. *Reactions at the table: Me- (1/2 fritter) turning pink in the face, tearing up and onset sweating bf- (1.5 fritters soaked in salsa) GBoF challenge is a no-go. Burned from the inside out all day yesterday and some today. friend 1:(1/4 fritter) eased the pain with guacamole friend 2: (1/2 fritter) looked like her bf just broke up with her, streaming tears no joke and water just spreads the pain. Expressed discomfort later in the day too, this time on the inside no less.

    (4)

  • Erin O.

    Festively decorated, quirky restaurant in a strip mall. I had seen it on Man v. Food on the Travel Channel and so when a Groupon came out, I opted in. For 2 of us, it was hard to get the bill up to the $35 value of my Groupon. We've been twice now. Once for lunch, once for dinner. You get a bowl of peanuts and a pot to throw the shells in the minute you sit down. Entertainment in a messy way. And it tides you over while you wait for food. My daughter loves the $5 mini corn dogs and fries. I tried the jambalaya for our first lunch. Just OK. But I have nothing to compare it to because it's not something I've ordered before elsewhere. Tonight, I tried the Curry Dahl with Sweet Potato soup. It was really good. And I had the chimichurri steak. Fresh spinach with some sort of garlic sauce lightly drizzled on it. Great mashed potatoes. Flavorful black beans. Quite good. I tried the Pain Killer drink. Wouldn't recommend that. It killed none of my pains, and I am a lightweight drinker. Overall, a place I'd go to again for a casual and not-too-expensive dinner.

    (3)

  • Fly_Gu Y.

    My boy at work constantly raved about this place, so I had to give it a try. An $11 cab ride later, we arrived at Salvador Mollys, a restaurant stuck inside a strip mall. The surrounding area looked a little sketchy but that was probably due to us not being from the area. Perhaps it was a nice part of town but regardless we refused to let the area deter us from getting our grub on. Upon entering the busy and cramped restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the incredibly short shorts on one of the waitresses. Okay my mind is not in the gutter but seriously, her shorts were darn near thongs! If the restaurant had a pole, she would have been ready for her second gig as Ms. Sunshine!!! Perhaps I would have been mildly entertained if I was with my frat, but I was with the Mrs in what was supposedly a family-friendly establishment...COME ON NOW!!! LOL Nevertheless, we grabbed a seat at the bar and moments later were shown to our table. No she was not our waitress!! Our drink and entree orders were taken and promptly delivered. The Jamaican jerk chicken was a HUGE disappointment to say the least. The best part of my meal were the sweet potatoes. I didn't even give the mango/hot cole slaw a try. My wife ordered the Djibouti Injera Lamb which was quite tasty and a vast improvement from the not so Jamaican Jamaican jerk chicken I ordered. Enough about the food....the service was HORRIBLE!!! Our waitress Jasna needs to give up waiting tables and try her hand at hide and seek. She hid all night and could not be found! She took our orders, delivered the food, and NEVER returned for the remainder of the night! I only left a 10% tip and that was 9.5% too much. Bottom line....Mediocre food + Poor Customer Service = We will NEVER return!

    (1)

  • Jen S.

    Fair, not great. They have an interesting menu, but the food was not that good. I had the vegan tamales. I didn't like that happy hour prices were only available in the bar and not the dining area. It wasn't terrible, but just not a place I'd go out of my way to visit again.

    (3)

  • Ben J.

    BOGOPOD...make sure to check it before you go for a good discount. Also other daily deal sites in Portland seem to every once in a while have one for here. Beyond that more food challenges found! Spicy food? Yes Please! Love me some flaming balls...interpret that as you will but they have the flaming balls of fire challenge here. Personally I found them spicy but not to the point of being unable to eat them or anything and actually pretty tasty. After killing your taste buds with some spicy specialities, check out the drink menu for some interesting selections and a very unique food menu from different locations all over the world.

    (5)

  • Amanda K.

    I'm still a fan, and for that reason I wish to take back my "the wait staff here sucks" comment. They don't. Yes, hit or miss with how attentive they can be, but as a regular myself, they have not screwed up my order the last few times i've been in AND while I wouldn't say they're "friendly", the guy in the bar remembers exactly what I like to eat AND drink and in which order I like it in. That, is something that I f**cking LOVE in a server. lovelovelovelove. You just won me over for good, boys.

    (4)

  • Frank R.

    Our first (and last) visit began with a long wait for our seemingly stoned waiter, Adam to actually noticed that we existed. Not unlike the long extinct dinosaurs it took a few moments for the neurons in his brain to engage to actually take our order. Needless to say, after 35 minutes of waiting, out comes Salvador Molly's excuse for jerked chicken, arriving as a soggy mess. Perhaps they should rename it Katrina Khicken, it was certainly a disaster. The kitchen staff are disorganized, but less so than the servers who leave orders piling up at the order window. The place was packed which is mystery, but then again its close to Beaverton, and we all know those heathens aren't real foodies like us on the East Side... So, we're going to stay east of the river until something truly worthy comes around. So the only thing I would ask of Salvador Molly's: If I gave you the food back, would you give me back my money???

    (1)

  • Elaine L.

    Dirty. Gross, refrigerated-for-who-knows-how-long guacamole. Dirty. Flippant help. Did I mention dirty? Our out of town guests were polite and said they were full when they didn't finish their meal. Hey Salvador Molly, it seems somebody got a big head over a good thing and lost sight of quality along the way. Too bad.

    (1)

  • John S.

    We sought this place out because we saw it on Man vs. Food and thought we'd give the Great Balls of Fire a shot. The host of that show ate them as one of his spicy food eating challenges. From what I could tell, they were just deep fried habanero cheese balls. They came with a side of habanero salsa, and I ate the whole plate. Let me tell you that this was one of the top three biggest mistakes of my life. I state this without hesitation. The balls were pretty hot, but I've definitely eaten spicier food, and more of it in one sitting. Suffice to say, I feel that I have a pretty strong stomach. So, I don't know if it was food poisoning, if it was someone in the kitchen passing on a funky virus, or if someone was just pulling an evil prank because they knew we were tourists, but I spent the remainder of that day and all of the next day coiled up on our host's guest bed, in between trips to the toilet puking and pooping my guts out. I actually used every bit of toilet paper in their entire house. In all the times I've been sick throughout my entire life, nothing compared to this feeling. Not even close. Thank god my fiance decided to just have a beer. To top it off, the bartender didn't even offer to take my picture for the Wall of Flame (you're supposed to get your picture on the wall if you eat the whole plate). The dude just walked by, took my empty plate and dropped the bill. Considering the absolute hell I was about to go through, surely this was the least they could've done. You have been warned.

    (1)

  • Reddy M.

    We greatly enjoyed this restaurant. The varieties of items they offer from all over the world are great. We tried Drum Pan Jerk Chicken & Mango Sandwich and Namibian Braii Chicken. Both were excellent. We tried, but couldn't finish the great balls of fire. It's way too spicy for us. Waiters were nice and friendly. We would go there again.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    This place doesn't even deserve 1 star. The service and food were both horrible. A group of us went here when I visited my parents. We wanted to go try the Great Balls of Fire after seeing them on Man vs Food. I knew we were going to have a large group (there was 10 of us), so I called around noon to let them know there was going to be a large group coming around 7. The lady took my name and said that there would be up to a 20 minute max wait when we got there but our name was on the list. When we got there, they told me it would be a 15-20 minute wait (which I had planned on). After 25 minutes, I went to the hostess to follow up, which took forever because she was avoiding talking to me. We ended up waiting over 45 minutes. And over half the group had to wait outside in the 30 something degree weather because they didn't have room inside. While waiting a server bummed/nudged me out of her way without even saying "excuse me". When they finally seated us, they put us right in the middle of the room where people were constantly bumping into our chairs. The server kept getting annoyed because my friend kept asking for milk while doing the Great Balls of Fire challenge. By the way, the habanero fritters are disgusting and I usually like habaneros. The food was absolutely DISGUSTING. No one took more than 2 bites of their food. It was so bad we ended up going someplace else afterward. I will never return here and would never recommend it to anyone.

    (1)

  • Melissa L.

    Husband & I headed here on a weekday night for dinner. We just missed the happy hour/happy bites, but after seeing the list of stuff on it, well, I don't think we missed much. Anyway, I had some trepidation about this place due to the hype and the extremely mixed reviews, but we actually had a great dinner here. When we walked in, it was super noisy inside, so we asked to sit outside. We were seated *right* outside the front door, so I don't think it was possible for the waiter to ignore us. Bonus: good service. The food we ordered was all well-executed, with some highlights. The chimichurri flank steak I ordered was *perfectly* cooked. The chimichurri sauce on top wasn't the greatest, but pretty good. The pulled-pork sliders (non-HH price) were $1.50 each, and totally worth the price. The chicken lime soup was pretty tasty too. Even the iced tea tasted great. All in all, a very pleasant surprise.

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    This place was entirely enjoyable. Me and my roomate were sitting around friday night, and he was like, "Do you want to get pirate food?" And I was like, "What?" And he drove me Salvador Molly's, where I had ribs, and garlic & cheese fries, and a delicious mojito, and some sort of ridiculous drink that involved three types of rum (light, dark, and coconut) and curacao - this is my new favorite place to eat. We're scheming to figure out ways to eat there more often - hitting the happy hour window between 10 and 11 pm on Friday and Saturday is an important consideration. Now all I need is an excuse... my birthday is a few months away... hmmm... Anyway, the food was delectable, the drinks were great, the ambiance was enthralling, and the waitstaff were stars. It could be because I just downed a glass of three different types of rum, but I'm giving Salvador Molly's 5 stars, and planning to head back there as soon as is feasible. If you were wise, you'd be doing the same.

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    This used to be one of our favorite go-to spots for dinner. lately the atmosphere seems to have changed. And the food is lacking something I can't quite put my finger on. But it's just not the same. Freshness felt like it wasn't there. The weirdest thing was seeing some manager type walking around in a shirt and tie. And servers wearing the same thing That's not the Salvador Molly's we used to love. I kind of lost all taste for going back to this place

    (2)

  • Alexander T.

    The menu looks fantastic, and the main course was very good. However the appetizer was disgustingly salty and I had to throw out most of it. I tried to Habanero fritter (one) and drank two glasses of milk and a beer immediately following the experience. I was called a pansy* in the parking lot by a grandmother as I went out for colder air. Best night ever. *pansy is euphemism

    (3)

  • Dave R.

    Goodness, Gracious Great Balls of Fire. Yep they have them I only needed to try them once that was enough for me. Have been here many times since they opened and it's not a bad place it's just too damn small when they get crowed. We go here a couple of times a year mostly when we are looking for something different and are tired of the same old places on the west side. Food is always good but with it being so tight as it is inside it's just not worth the hassle to go to and if you think it's crowed inside good luck finding parking outside.

    (3)

  • Olivia S.

    My family visited this restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. Not a lot of other people there (two other tables were full) but we were a big party, so it looked like a packed dining room. The decor was ecclectic and fun. It had an international feel to it with the artifacts from all over the world. I also enjoyed the world music streaming through the speakers in the dining room. Having heard great things about the restaurant from another family member and seen it highlighted on the Food Network, I was expecting something fantastic. We were all sorely disappointed. The service was painfully slow. We weren't served our drinks until nearly an hour later(!) The food came 20+ minutes after that, and unfortunately they messed up one of the orders and my brother in law had to re-order his food -- another long wait. Unfortunately, the food was not worth the wait. I had the fish tacos - overly friend fish, no flavor...could have had a faster, better tasting meal at Tacos Del Mar :-( Other people in our party had the jambalaya and kalua pork. Not one of us felt the food was worth the wait or would come back to eat there. Additionally, when we ordered our food I asked to have our ticket split out so we could pay for our own meals and was informed there is a policy for big parties now that only one ticket be used... A policy is a policy, but it still was a little peculiar to me since this only would make things easier for payment purposes. As a customer, it's an inconvenience because it makes things far more complicated to split out, especially when most of us have credit cards. It ended up with one person paying the whole tab. Not a big deal to the restaurant, but a big deal for a customer when money is tight and the intention going there was not to pay a $200 tab and hope your friends pay you back later. All in all, this was my first and last experience at this restaurant. I would not come back here nor would I recommend it to my family and friends. There are plenty other ecclectic restaurants with faster service and better food in Portland.

    (1)

  • Dennis D.

    Don't be intimidated. Just eat! Even the air in this place is tasty! And the Balls of Fire? HOT! Though the challenge really isn't that bad. Five is easy, ten a little harder though. This place is a definite multiple visit as there are many items to try. Bring a friend too! As the 2G drinks are HUGE!

    (5)

  • Jacob G.

    We first went here for "happy bites." My pork sliders were OK, but since they were $2 for three, they were a good deal. I probably wouldn't get the regular menu version. As an entree, we got the Yucatan Sunshine Bowl with chicken. It's a salad with Mexican toppings (beans, salsa, guac, etc) and delicious chicken. We went back again and I got one of these for myself! I was that hungry, I guess. I should talk myself into getting something different next time, but I dunno.

    (4)

  • Peter T.

    Salvador Mollys is a casual bar featuring "world cuisine". That is, menu items reflect a whole host of different countries and cultures. I might not have ever noticed this place, at it not been featured on an episode of "Man vs. Food", where the chief gluttoneer, Adam Richman, took on a challenge to eat five spicy habanero fritters. Did he make it? Watch the video. Mrs. Burgerdogboy and I had a vague plan to meet after work and grab something. I had proposed a place or two, but when the time came, I didn't really have a yen for going out, and I picked her up, and we started home. On the way, she said she was feeling a might peckish, so purely on impulse, I pulled into "Mollys." They had me for three reasons right off the top: 1) a pitcher of ice water brought to the table; peanuts in the shell to munch on; 2) Stella Beer. We perused the menu to narrow down the choices, which wasn't that easy. I came to a decision, which was a tie between a Cuban Sandwich and a Vietnamese French Dip (menu). Prepared to offer one of those up to the server, I surprised myself, but mouthing those words, but out came "Djibouti Injera Platter", an Ethiopian melange of richly flavored sauces, vegetables, shrimp, and the local spongy flatbread. It was incredible, and I couldn't finish it. If I have a 'complaint', (don't I always?), I would have preferred larger shrimp (they used salad size), but they did make up for it in quantity. Mrs. BurgerDogBoy went with the Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad, and also found the experience filling to the point whereby she wanted to take her homes (it conveniently comes served in a Chinese take-out box), but alas, in the hubbub of leaving, we left it on the table. DOH! I am sure Mollys will become a regular stop for me. I was hard pressed to find a single item on the menu I wouldn't like to try. Salvador Mollys uses a couple of tag lines "Food without Borders" and "Pirate Cooking." Both suit them. Good job, folks.

    (4)

  • Melisa V.

    when the best part of your meal is the lemonade, that's not a good sign. I picked up a groupon and tonight was the night I finally persuaded my husband we should use it. we arrived and were seated immediately, but right next to a group of kids clanging their silverware while their parents chatted on the other end of the long table. anticipating a long night, we asked if we could be reseated. they put us at a table outside in the 90-degree heat, but it was better. the server took our drink orders and we also ordered guacamole as an appetizer (it seemed to be the app of choice in our area). when he returned with our drink, he took our order. I decided on kalua pork tacos (he insisted it was the best choice of meat though I wish I would have been able to select different meat for each of my tacos). I asked him what came on the tacos since I'm not a huge fan of anything creamy on mexican and ordered accordingly. my husband ordered a Djibouti injera platter with lamb. the food took a while because of the large party inside (or at least that's what we heard a server tell another table) but our dinner arrived shortly after. oh first, the guacamole was okay. definitely not worth $6 for the amount or taste though. my tacos arrived with beans in a small dish that still had the barcode sticker on it and some really bland rice. the tacos included bell peppers (which the server didn't mention - not one of my favorites) and wait... a creamy sauce? ugh! thankfully it was only on the outer tortilla and easy to scrape off. when the server returned to the area to take another table's order, I asked him about it and he told me matter-of-factly, it was garlic aioli. really, aioli in a taco? and when I asked, it wouldn't have been a bad idea to mention it, especially since I had him remove the other creamy items from the dish. my husband only ate half of his gamey lamb. we'll see if he conveniently forgets it tomorrow to bring for his lunch. the service wasn't horrible, just VERY SLOW. at one point, the server took my husband's sprite glass to refill and he wanted to bet me as to whether or not he'd remember. he did. five minutes later. needless to say, we probably won't be returning. for the price (what it would have been had we not used a groupon), the food quality and quantity is definitely not worth it!

    (2)

  • Sahithya B.

    We decided to try this restaurant after some friends of mine saw the Man vs food episode filmed at this place and we went there specially to try out the "Great Balls of Fire". We split a plate of 5 among the 7 of us.. and few who tried an entire piece really struggled later so I dont think the challenge is worth the "after-effects"! But overall, the food was pretty good and the menu had a wide variety of dishes from various cuisines. The complimentary salted peanuts on the table were a delight! The rasta rings were pretty good too. The garlic fries were just ok and so was Molly's juice squeeze. One of my friends tried the Kalua Mojo Pork, Hawaii and he really enjoyed it. The freetown zulu rotis are a very good option for vegetarians! It was a wrap with potato and veggies filling, served with rice, sambal, salad and mango chutney(a sweet mango sauce which I loved!). However, the place was really stuffy with very less ventilation (probably because we got seating right inside the restaurant in a corner). We would have been more comfortable had we taken seating outdoors. Overall, this is an interesting place if you like trying different cuisines and are up for a spicy challenge!

    (3)

  • Cassandra C.

    Things I Ate: Habanero Fritters (2, one per person) Cheesy Poofs Surfer Tacos Lemonade Wow! Those fritters don't F%$* around! It was flavorful and delicious (I love spicy and I love habanero) but there's no way I could eat 5. I think I could eat 2, maybe 3. So SPICY. Luckily the cheesy poofs (full of cheese and mashed potatoes! deep fried!) came with sour cream. It was the closest thing to milk available. The fritter and the poofs were awesome. I would order both again. My surfer tacos (2, chicken)...good stuff! Came with yellow rice and black beans...looked like chicken street tacos. The chicken was supposed to be Jamaican Jerk chicken. I would have preferred a bit more spice, even after the habanero. The tacos buried the best treasure: pico de gallo/salsa fresca. Mmm! I cleaned my plate. I did not eat my black beans and I very much enjoyed that they were in their own container so they wouldn't sog up the rest of the plate. Good thinking, cooks! Salut! Things I Disliked: Waitstaff was *somewhat*, marginally inattentive. I mean, we were eating the habanero fritters. It was a slight hassle (no big whoop) to go up the bar and ask for more water. We waited about 15 min to get refills. Should go without saying. They do provide carafes of water at the table. We also had to wait a while to pay our check. So minor fluke. No big issue but worth mentioning. I think the spiciness of the habanero angered my guts for the rest of the day. I punished my digestive system and now it's rebelling. Things I Liked: Unrelated but still contributed to a pleasing dining experience: a first date happening nearby. Awk-ward! I very much enjoyed that the bar was separate and large compared to the restaurant. I didn't hear screaming kids (as loudly) from my alcohol-laden refuge. I was close to the bathroom so that's plus one-minus one. It's nice to be close to it but it's also not nice to be close to it. +1/-1. I liked the food. I was expecting to be overwhelmed by the spiciness but I enjoyed it very much. Does anyone remember when Tim's Cascade chips used to make a limited edition Habanero?? Those were delicious and awesome and that's what I was hoping for. Spicy but still flavorful and edible. These were. I hear tell there's a SE location too. I'd be more likely to return to the SE location than to trek to SW. It was a fun adventure though, one time.

    (4)

  • Pat M.

    Good food, service is hit or miss... I can't do this kind of spicy food without issue so I give it 3 stars but would not argue if you wanted to give it four...

    (3)

  • Gena L.

    This is really hard for me to admit, but I truly think that Salvador Molly's has better tasting catfish than the Delta. I've only been here twice and each time had a great meal. I initially checked this place out because Adam Richmond had a food challenge here a few years back. A challenge that was easy for man to conquer food. Besides all that, catfish is rockin', so good in fact, I probably wont try any other dish the next time I go back.

    (4)

  • Sean M.

    Had the fireballs (habenero cheesy things)they were HOT! I enjoyed that. Also had the tamales and thought they were okay. We got an appetizer of quac and that was also okay. Sangria was great, got a pitcher for $20. No reservation, on a friday night, the wait for a table for 5 was 30 min (not to shabby) Atmosphere was fun. Had an Okay time, I think that is the best way to put it.

    (3)

  • Rebecca C.

    This place has some amazing food and some ok food. Went here not too long ago with a couple girlfriends and we all ordered something different. The appetizer we shared, the cheesy poofs, were amazeballs. I could have had 100 of them. My dinner, however, the cuban sandwich, was dissapointing. But hey, that's what I get for ordering a boring item I suppose. My roommate ordered the tiki mac and proceeded to get mad at me because I kept eating hers. I've also heard amazing things about the great balls of fire if you're brave enough, which i'm proud to say i'm not. Definitely check it out, but beware of ordering boring food! It will haunt you.

    (4)

  • Danielle R.

    I think the menus unique, great atmosphere and the foods had always been spot on. My only frustration is the servers. Last 2 times they have been to many tops assigned to a single server or they were very new. Everyone has a 1st day but the management should do there best to staff new people with a very seasoned server so it doesn't interrupt service to much. For instance, our last trip there, the server was super nice, but it took 15 mins for him to come to the table, about another 10 mins for the drinks and the bar tender had them up moments after making them. One of the drinks was a grapefruit vodka, after it sweated for 10 mins on the bar, it was served. I would never return it due to the circumstances but it was already watered down. It sounds picky but when you have a long day and are looking forward to an easy evening, waiting & being patient each time you go here, just makes me not want to return.

    (3)

  • Trevor M.

    I've heard about this place for as long as I've lived in Portland, or damn near (which is most of my life really). For a long time I've had plans to go here and eat. Well, the wife and I found ourselves sans children and on a whim stopped here. First, parking is slim and the lot is tiny. I found that you can park up behind the building on the street though and thus avoid the mess that is the lot. It was busy inside and though there were about 6 groups ahead of us, we were seated within 15 minutes, might have helped that we chose the bar as well (something to keep in mind). Started out with a couple of beers and appetizers. First appetizer was "Cheesy Poofs" which are essentially cheese, chipotle, and mashed potato fritters served with salsa and sour cream. Pretty dang tasty, though they weren't quite warm enough. We also shared a cup of the garlic lime chicken soup and all I can say is, big pieces of chicken and veggies and some really great taste. The tortilla chips that came with it made quick cleanup of the leftover salsa from our Cheesy Poofs too. For dinner my wife opted for the Baja Fish Tacos and I went with Jerk Chicken "Tsunami Surfer Tacos". Both were really large portions and came with sides of rice and beans. The ingredients were really fresh and the tacos were soft shelled but the ingredients were all crisp and well proportioned. Half the fun was trying to find a way to attack the tacos and I discovered that once you've picked one up, don't bother trying to put it down...it's better to just get a bit messy. Finally, yes...we tried the "Great Balls of Fire" as well and for those not familiar, they are habanero cheese fritters. Yep, they're warm...ok, pretty hot. Gotta have at least one (or a bite of one) if you stop in. Oh, the staff was really friendly and attentive as well and the meal came out fast along with the pints.

    (4)

  • Amber M.

    This is now my husbands and my fav late night spot. Drink of choice: The amazombie for 2- Huge Fish bowl glass, with tons of juicy carribbean flavors, and tons of alcohol. Yay! You will go home happy, wobbly, and riding shotgun of course. App of choice: The fresh and spicy guacamole. Just plain and simply AWESOME . Dinner of choice: Mine is the Bali Thai Green Jungle Curry. Wow, it is like a soup, but add your lightly seasoned to perfection yellow rice to it, and you come out with a hearty shrimpy SPICY (level 1-20 spiciness, I got 15) bowl of love. Of course we are trying out lots of things on the menu recently and I could go on and on about everything and why I love it. Service is fast, even on a friday night. Seating can be a kinda a wait, so be prepared.

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    Was suckered in because of Man Vs Food for those hot fritters! I love hot food and was really looking forward to trying them. Parking - OK, but a little tight. Glad I had a compact car. Half the parking spots are for compact cars on one side, and the place is the end cap of a small strip mall. I'm sure at certain times the parking is overwhelming. Atmosphere - Nice, a lot going on, and not too loud. Loudness will drive me out pretty fast. Pretty happy with it. Service - Terrible. The wonderful hostess allowed for my wife and I to have outdoor seating. Plenty of room outside, we were one of five full tables. The server came, set up 2 empty glasses, silverware, and napkins. The hostess then returned later with the menus and peanuts. 10 minutes later, had no further acknowledgement from the waiter. Glasses still empty, peanut bowl empty, and no food or drink order taken. Overall - Skip this place. I don't enjoy driving 10 miles away to eat just to have empty glasses sitting in front of me for 10 minutes. This is Portland, where there's someplace better to eat right down the road.

    (1)

  • Molly W.

    I think this place is neat. The decorations and atmosphere are fun, the menu is international and denoted by country, and the service was fast and friendly. My boyfriend and I also enjoyed our Fire'Ritas (spicy margaritas). They were truly spicy! The food: I'd give it a 7.5 out of ten. My fish tacos were enjoyable but the side dishes of black beans and rice were rather bland. My boyfriend's Kahlua pork was nicely seasoned. Everything was solidly middle of the road. I would go again for the interesting menu choices and the service. The food won't be the biggest draw.

    (3)

  • Bryon L.

    Love this place. Unique menu, great service, and fun atmosphere. Great balls of fire challenge is fun and a challenge. Get ready for some habenero goodness, the likes you have never had at a restarunt! Making this a regular thing!

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    Our first trip here, was, as of the writing of this review, 304 days ago. I can STILL feel the burn of the DEATHFALAFELS (aka Great Balls of Fire). ( re: twitter.com/salvadormoll… ) That said, the rest of the food here is quite good and the cocktails are inventive and tasty. Service is fairly good. We did have to remind our waiter about our cocktail order on one trip, but he quickly rectified the missing libations and bought our appetizer for us. He has been forgiven.

    (4)

  • Mark P.

    I'm a bit surprised by the dearth of good reviews here. The few times we've been, the food has been above average and the service, excellent. Go figure. I first discovered Salvador Molly's through their tamale stand at the Portland Farmer's Market. The artichoke heart and cotija cheese tamale was divine, especially "Boracho" style with red chili sauce and cheese, the perfect antidote to a rainy fall day. And then Adam Richman conquered the Great Balls of Fire challenge on Man V. Food, and I knew a return trip - or several - was in order. The menu describes "food without borders" and "a world of flavors," and both couldn't be more accurate: I have never been to a restaurant with a more eclectic menu. It veers all over the place, from the Southern U.S. to Hawaii, Ethiopia, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. And mostly, it works. Appetizers like the Chap Chee (a Korean egg and noodle cake with peas, daikon radish, a side of kim chee, and a nicely balanced citrus vinaigrette) are unique: texturally interesting and tasty. Pele's Volcano, a pulled-pork sandwich with tamarind barbecue sauce, is good but not great, a perfectly serviceable sandwich elevated by the accompanying Hurricane fries - salty, garlicky, and addictive. More interesting was the Cush Cush, an Ethiopian stew with a mixture of vegetables (heavy on okra and peppers) in a brown sauce that is both sweet and savory, and topped with cornmeal cakes. I added braised lamb since I'm a guy who enjoys his protein, and that gave the meal a nice contrast. I thought it could have benefited from a little more seasoning, but salt and pepper were missing from all the tables. Maybe so as not to offend the chef? Best of all were the Baja Saba fish tacos. Beer-battered Vietnamese Saba was tender, crispy, and not at all oily. I'm not familiar with this fish, but it sure worked beautifully stuffed inside corn tortillas and topped with shredded cabbage and garlic aioli. One of the better fish tacos in the Portland area, hands down. We washed it all down with a pitcher of Double Mojo Walkin' Zombie, a tropical alcoholic concoction that contained a mixture of rums, pineapple juice, and coconut. It was served in a fish bowl and was so good, we ordered another. Hey, don't judge! As for the Great Balls of FIre... I was tempted to try the challenge, but chickened out and settled for a single habanero cheese fritter instead. And was glad that I did. I love spicy foods and my stomach can handle a lot, but these things come with a warning label for a reason. The first bite is chewy and tasty. By bite two the heat kicks in, and on the third bite the inside of your mouth is on fire. Worse still was the afterburn. For a good fifteen minutes, it felt like my insides were on fire; I had a burning sensation that radiated from my ear canals down to my stomach. I have never felt such an intense heat before, and no amount of liquids offered relief. Just when I thought I was going to die, the heat finally subsided and my taste buds returned to normal. Whew! All these Yelpers who say they had "no problem" eating five? I flat-out don't believe them. They may have conquered the challenge, but the brave faces they put on in the meantime were purely for show. I could not have eaten a second fritter if my life had depended on it. The secret, I'm convinced, is to go very fast. Don't stop until you've finished all five. Pause too long, and you'll never go back. I also see a lot of people complaining about the, ahem, after-effects later in the evening. All I can say is, what goes in must come out, and it's every bit as hot exiting as it was entering. Ouch. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

    (4)

  • Poopy P.

    Yum, yum, yum, and yum!!! Salvador Molly's is deliciously creative and flavorful!! After a long read at the library Salvador Molly's is great for a snack or a feast!!! I love it! Plus the lemon heads are good!! :)

    (5)

  • Alina G.

    This place is not good any more. The food was plain!

    (1)

  • Chory F.

    Used to be there was another iteration of this restaurant--with a nicer interior, more atmosphere, tables that don't wobble, and a refreshing absence of children--off of SE Belmont & 35th. I have many fond memories of that locale, so when friends suggested we visit the Hillsdale location I was all for it. My memories of sipping south-seas cocktails at high tables under mood-lighting predate the appearance of this restaurant on the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food." I've found that appearances on national television have a way of destroying anything which was once good about an establishment (see also: hour long lines at Voodoo Donut, two hour table-waits at Pine State Biscuits). I might should've known from the proliferation of ten-year-old girls in heels and teeshirts emblazoned with "Sexy" across the front that something about this business had changed. Our waiter began by fastidiously checking everyone's ID--which leads me to believe the establishment has recently been dinged by the OLCC for serving minors, or he had only just passed his server's certification. When I didn't order a $4.50 beer (my ID is expired) he inquired "You OK just sticking with water, brah?" Given he was heavily bearded--and wearing shorts almost short enough to be hotpants--the expression seemed out of place, especially so seeing as I was in a blazer and tie. I HATE being called "brah" by California transplants; especially much so, it turns out, by hipstery ones in hotpants. Our first order of the (in)famous Great Balls of Fire (habanero hushpuppies, $7.95 for five) arrived set atop the habanero sauce--it used to come on the side--but I am a fan of heat, so this was no issue for me. What was an issue was that while the outside of the fritters was dark golden-brown, the inside was still sticky, gooey dough. After flagging our "Brah" back to our table, he seemed confused--"they always look like that on the outside"--until one of our foursome stated plainly, "They're raw in the middle. Uncooked dough." He brought us a replacement set which were cooked through, but near-black on the exterior, and this time had the sauce poured over the top. Apparently they've taken to using their frying oil FAR past its pull-date, so it's cooking FAR too hot. (I am not the only Yelp reviewer to note the poor quality of their frying oil-cooked items...See David P.'s review.) While the orders of my compatriots were as presented on the menu, none of them were remarkable. The "Delhi Dosas" ($8.50) were as described (though I have never seen a crepe quite so "crispy"). Other dishes were as described, if not remarkable. A pork dish had very moist pulled pork in an indiscernible mixture of vegetables and grain of some sort. A tamale-like offering strangely featured artichoke, but tasted nice enough. The Coconut Rice, our brah-waiter told us, doesn't taste like coconut because "it's only cooked in coconut water, not with meat or milk." Why call a thing something if its key ingredient is indiscernible? What was remarkable was the Ethiopian Cush Cush with Lamb ($14.95). The aroma alone was intoxicating enough to forgive the waiter's rudeness (he'd forgot to remove two of our empty small-plates from our tiny, cramped and cluttered table before bringing the entrées) in barking "Can you make some room, this plate is burning my hand..." The dish features finely diced and sliced vegetables and shredded lamb in an intoxicating brown-black gravy, presented with three triangular pieces of super-moist, grilled almost-cornbread atop. The cornbread, however is already so moist as to be incapable of soaking up the gravy. it might better've been served atop rice, or actual cornbread. In order to better imbibe the delicious sauce, I asked for a spoon, a request unheeded by brah-waiter, and when I'd grown tired of waiting--the staff here is SKILLED in ignoring both pleading glances, and waving arms--I made my way to the wait-station. It is my opinion that a dining patron should never be able to make his way behind a bar, into a wait-station, or into the kitchen--especially when walking past three chit-chatting blonde waitresses and the hostess--without being asked if he needs something. I made it not just into the wait-station, but behind the beer-bar and to the silverware rack all on my own. Only because I couldn't find any spoons--they were beneath some napkins--did I finally ask one of the leaning staff to point them out to me. We finished our dinner without further incident. But then the fun began. The two of us who'd eaten meat-dishes spent the remainder of the night and the small hours of the morning battling over the toilet. I am uncertain if "Ethiopian flavors" include large doses of horse laxative, or if the meat--like the fry oil--is just almost-rancid. In any case, delicious as it might've been in the consuming, the fiery expulsion of our meal, wrenching abdominal cramping, cold-sweats, and neausia have assuredly driven me from EVER returning.

    (1)

  • Bodhisattvah N.

    I have been a customer of Salvador Molly's for a long, long time. Since it was new. I was on the Wall of Flame at both their SW and SE locations at one point (the SW one is no gone now). I remember when they had half the space and you threw your peanut shells on the floor. Of all the restaurants I've been to across the nation, it may be the most consistent, and the most consistently flavorful. There isn't a thing on the menu that's ever been bland for me. Maybe that's luck, but I think it just says a lot about the quality of the food. The events I've attended where they catered have been on par too. Service has always been excellent and friendly. The happy hour is CHEAP! (everything is $2) And good too, although it's somewhat limited (perhaps by design, so you're forced to explore the full menu?). The drinks have always been good. My favorite is the "Cajun Martini" which is a pepper vodka martini, served with a slice of jalapeno (although I think it has been off the menu several times, it has remained available). I love the place so much that, when I found out my new girlfriend worked and lived within walking distance, I knew she was a keeper. I don't know what else to say, other than they're tops with me, and I hope they stick around for a long time.

    (5)

  • LaQueanya H.

    I purchased a Sharing Spree for this restaurant. I had been wanting to try this place since I saw it on the Man vs. Food show. I think the menu was a little too much! Sometimes just a few simple items works just fine! Lol! My husband did try the 'Great Balls of Fire'. He did say they were hot, but flavoring was still pretty good. I tried the Catfish Po Boy, it was good but not great. I think I tried the restaurant just to say that I tried it. Nothing spectacular.

    (3)

  • S C.

    This used to be a favorite spot for me, but on a recent visit, the salad was soggy, I sent the pulled pork sandwich back it was so dry, the fries were flavorless and tough, the second order of grilled chicken was also dry and tough. My friend was really looking forward to her steak, but said it was no longer prepared in the authentic fashion. Even the tea selection was scant. Horrible.

    (1)

  • Melissa W.

    Need to share my bad experience here so other folks can beware. Our family went for dinner (2 adults and 2 kids) and had good food but pokey service. The bill had the tip included (perhaps because we were eating with another family but had separate checks?). When my credit card statement came, the charge from Salvador Molly's was TWICE what our bill was! They must have fudged the tip somehow. Could have been a mistake on their part when entering the tip, but what a pain to have to deal with protesting the charge through our credit card company. I recommend paying cash or watching your cc bill when it comes!

    (2)

  • Katie C.

    On my list of Portland places to go and things to try, Salvador Molly's can now officially be crossed off! I came here for a late lunch with my bff and found the place to be whimsically colourful decor-wise, though the service was a bit lacking. [Meh, whatevs, it wasn't busy at all, not a big deal.] I wound up ordering the Fish Tacos; my dining partner chose the Tamales w/Artichokes + some frothy tasty daiquiri-like beverage. [The exact name of his drink is escaping me, but it tasted a whole lot like what I envision suntan lotion to taste like -- trust me, it was a good thing!] My favorite part about my experience here was seeing my friend's framed photos on the wall, depicting his two-time victory as The King of Heat ['06 + '07]. That's right, I dined in the presence of greatness. While I'm definitely curious about what those Habanero suckers taste like, I've decided to leave it to my imagination after hearing the horrors of the digestive aftermath. Thanks, but no thanks.

    (4)

  • Raja S.

    They have pretty good choices of food. I like the fact that they give free salted roasted peanuts as starters (never been to any other restaurant which does that). Their menu has items from different parts of the world. Most of the items that our group ordered was good. Afro carribean bollitos: Awesome... should order this every time. Drum Pan Jerk chicken & mango sandwich: Awesome. Jambalaya was good. The injera item with lamb was decent, not as great as traditional ethiopian restaurants (like Lalibela, etc). Namibian Braii chicken: normal. Balls of fire lived upto the expectations of spice level. Mollys' hot tamales: Very ordinary... should skip this next time around. La Chiquita's Flan: awesome (though my wife did not like it as she is not a fan of flan). Now they have a lot of 'Indian' items, we tried one: Delhi dosa: I was impressed (tried multiple times: should ask them to put the sauces on the side). Their hawain garlic fries (essentially curly fries) were pretty good, but nothing special (nothing 'garlicky'). Their Totally thai Tilapia was decent, but very oily (lacked salt): got the relish on the side. The other thing with this restaurant is the spice levels being from 1 to 20 (with 10 already being hot enough for most)... they don't do this any more. Great service.

    (4)

  • Tommy T.

    Not much for vegan options and the one they had was pretty bland. I miss their old SE location where it was ok to throw the peanuts on the floor and the rasta rings weren't soggy.The prices were pretty spendy for what you get too. I felt like i didn't have high expectations going into into it and those expectations weren't met.

    (2)

  • Matt S.

    I have lived in the Hillsdale/Burlingame area for several years, and have become a semi-regular at Salvador Molly's. I enjoy it there, but I find the food to be somewhat spotty. Sometimes the Surfer Tacos or the various Caribbean/African dishes are right on the money, sometimes they miss the mark fairly badly. In particular, their veggies are quite often overcooked and/or oversauced. I like to go there in the mid to late evening when I am looking for a lively atmosphere (which, as we all know, can be hard to find in Southwest). For a light bite and a beer in a cheerful place, it's a good call. Dinner . . . if you feel lucky that night!

    (3)

  • Justin S.

    Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn. -C.S. Lewis Extract from the dairy of a stupidhead: I eat hot things. I love them. I crave and seek solace in them. I've used all the sauces; Dave's Ultimate Insanity, Da Bomb Reserve Strength, amongst other stupidly hot sauces... Came here on Friday night and waited over 30 mins to do the GBoF challenge. It wasn't a hard one; I finished in about 3 minutes, chewing each of the cheesy-spice balls making hot burning eruptions of melted goodness, infecting my entire mouth. The sauce is puree'd habaneroes, quite spicy and murderous on the taste buds. My tongue hadn't felt that kind of pain in a really long time, not since eating a thai broth made with indonesian nasty green peppers. The "tongue-in-cheek" heat died after about 10 minutes of patience, just in time for me to eat my clams and sofrito. The sofrito was pretty bland, but I'm not sure if that is because my taste buds were on strike. After dinner my wonderful stomach decided it was done with the heat and passed its contents downstream. Stomach had not done its job to mitigate the heat; by delegating that task to small intestines it started a VERY fun ride home. Small intestines is not used to feeling that much pepper; it started going off in an charasmatic-exorcism rage and tied itself in knots, twisted, died and resurrected. Well, made it home ok. The aftermath the next morning was a little like splash mountain: three big spills and I'm soaking wet. Only difference was that this wasn't fun, and it was my cold sweat instead of chlorinated water! PROPS to the others that defeated this! 9/10 chilis!!!!

    (3)

  • Rajesh S.

    Extremely dishonest employees. DO NOT TAKE ANY VALUABLE ITEMS TO THIS PLACE...YOU WILL NOT GET IT BACK IF YOU LEAVE THEM!!!!! The service is average but the employees are not honest people. Our group was the last to leave the restaurant on a Friday night and I accidentally left my smartphone at that place. I thought I can call them the next morning and collect it later. I was wrong. One of their employees or the cleaning staff took the cell phone home used it till morning and did not return it. I found that out when I checked my AT&T call log the next morning. I lost my $400 smartphone. One of my friends recommended this place to me. I will never go there. The food was decent. We had the great balls of fire - it was just fried habenaro. It was the worst dish ever tasted. Mac tikki had only cheese in it.

    (1)

  • Sandra W.

    Sitting on a brightly painted and somewhat rickety picnic table under an umbrella, on a warm summer evening, high atop a hill overlooking I-don't-know-where because I'm new in town, and listening to Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds," for a brief moment I thought I was home in the Caribbean. We enjoyed a very tasty meal here. The food came out promptly and the server, despite a slight deer-in-the-headlights look-cauza-de-ganja-mon, did a pretty good job of remembering to bring necessities to us. My sandwich selection was the jerk chicken. The combination of mango, garlic aioli, pickled onions and spinach is, well...wow. The only thing wrong with my meal is that the bun got a bit soggy towards the end. Hubs enjoyed the jambalaya although he said it wasn't as spicy as he hoped. One of the parties outside easily completed the "Great Balls of Fire" challenge. He waited to begin eating until the waiter brought him a large glass of juice. He may be on to something...

    (4)

  • Kari J.

    We had a Groupon to use for Salvador Mollys, and tried to go last weekend...wow huge wait, so we left to return on a less busier night...I don't think Salvador Mollys has a less busier night! For starts we had the Memphis Blue Smothered Fries...I have it on good authority that these fries along with a cold beer cure the common hangover. We ate about half and could have easily eaten them all they were so good, but we have a starving college student at home... The bf had the Baja Saba Fish Taco's and said the fish was good tender crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I had the Chicken Tamale and it was o.k. the cornmeal of the tamale was dry and so was the chicken on the inside, but we both agree that the black beans were fantastic. We may go back someday.

    (3)

  • Robert C.

    Went to Salvador Molly's as part of our exploration of local Restaurants as we have moved to Portland's Bridlemile area just this month. We have two younger children, so we need to make sure that there is kid friendly food. We were very impressed by the eclectic menu for both the adults and the kids. We started with the Cheesy Poofs, which were quite good and had a nice little kick. They were served with a side of sauce that was most likely ranch dressing or at least that was the base and it helped to take the edge off so the kids also enjoyed them. I had the Tamales and my wife had a Chicken Bowl, don't remember the exact name but both were very good.

    (4)

  • Wolf L.

    I saw this place on an episode of Man vs. Food. Adam Richman wolfed down five Habanero fritters (Great Balls of Fire) and I said "Pfffft! I could do that in my sleep!" Thus, we loaded the entire family into the Truckster and headed for Hillsdale. Papa had a challenge! The restaurant was packed on a Saturday. We had to wait a bit for our table for six. The decor is cluttered and the tables are very close together in the main dining area. Expect to bump elbows and have your chair jostled a few times. Gratefully, our table was out of the major traffic zone. I must say the service was spotty. Our waiter wasn't very attentive and I found out why when the check came. 18% gratuity was already added to the bill. Why should he bust his hump when his tip was already guaranteed? Now, I understand a preordained tip for a table of eight or more, but I've never seen it done for a group of six. Ridiculous. Those fritters were freaking hot as hell! I was in some serious pain by fritter number four. AIYEEEEEE! Really, I can handle hot stuff, but I had trouble with these things. The Habanero salsa was tasty. The rest of the food was just so, so. The kids complained and didn't clean their plates, which rarely happens when they are hungry. I hate taking out the whole crew and dropping a bill on a dinner that doesn't get raves on the way home. Oh, yeah, and another thing to consider about those fritters: I'm still "experiencing" them this AM, if you know what I mean. AIYEEEEEE!

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Weak. This a city of so many good restaurants, this place just does not cut it. TV shows do not tell the truth. Give this place a wide berth. Hi Pebbles.

    (1)

  • Joshua M.

    I've been here twice. The first time was decidedly a 2 star experience. We got sat in the bar (next time I'd hold out for a dining room spot), and the tables were so close together I was nearly back to back with a guy. It was loud and distracting. I had something called Pele's volcano (I think), and it was so-so. Our server that night was somewhat of a DB. A week or so later I came back, and this time sat in the dining room which was a much nicer experience. I had a chimichurri steak that was excellent. The sides that came with the steak were very so-so, but the meat itself was fantastic. Service was good too. That one was a 4-star experience. So I'm taking the average. The decor in this place is strange and charming, and I'd be hard pressed to describe the genre of the cuisine other than, "vaguely latin." I'd probably go back a third time.

    (3)

  • Colin L.

    Had my birthday dinner here, they made room for 15 or so people and the staff was great. Good food and amazing cocktails! Also, they have the "great balls of fire" food challenge, which was good fun!

    (5)

  • Charles H.

    Had a pretty bad experience here tonight. it wasn't as much about the food as it was the horrendous service. First they screwed up my order, then tried to make it up and charged me for an extra dish. Getting someone to actually come to our table to check to see how we were doing was impossible. I finally had to flag down our waitress who I swear was servicing the entire restaurant. If there's one thing I can't abide at a restaurant -- or at least one where the wait staff actually expects to get tipped -- is serving your food and then never checking in again. Well, that's pretty much what happened tonight at Salvador Molly's. I heard they changed hands a few years ago and have never been the same sense. It will be a long, long time before I ever go back there again, if ever.

    (1)

  • Judy J.

    This is one of my favorites...if you love spicy food you definitely have to try Salvador Molly's. They have a spice-scale where you can have any of the foods be spicy on a scale of 1 to 20. They are famous for the Great Balls of Fire and they are something to try, at least once. Besides the great spicy options, the menu is full of delicious out of the ordinary foods. The atmosphere is fun and laid back with a being on an island feel. I have never been disappointed here (except on a Saturday night expect a long wait to be seated and they no longer serve what was the best jerk chicken sandwich ever, miss that menu item!). If you are a garlic fan, give the hurricane fries a try. My current favorites are the Jambalaya (heat level 11 or 12) and the Great Balls of Fire (Tip: if you are going for the hall of fame pic, try some mashed potatoes or the Rasta Rings to help get that sauce down).

    (4)

  • Jan H.

    The food is flavorful and unique. I ordered the steak with a citrusy sauce on top of smashed potatoes and served with black beans and fresh spinach.

    (5)

  • Aaron B.

    Salvador Molly's, please learn how to cook your RICE! Our rice came out very very dry, almost burnt. Unbelievable that they can stay is business not knowing how to properly cook something as simple as rice. Our server seemed like she was on drugs or something. Didn't seem to give a damn about us, and took literally 20 minutes to get my fiance a straw for her drink. Cheesy poofs were a sloppy mess, and our shrimp was cooked to death (similar to the rice) It was pretty busy when we went, and we received our food 10 minutes after another couple that had came in 10 minutes after us got theirs? We only order 2 appetizers. I guess they had better things to do, like stand there (which half the staff was doing!) Really bad, experience overall.

    (1)

  • Cathy P.

    Like a lot of people, we saw Salvador Molly's on Man v. Food. Fortunately, we have family in Beaverton and they love the place so it was not too hard to convince them to take us there. Expecting a pirate theme, I thought it had more of a Caribbean/Tex-Mex/Thailand/African vibe going on. Kinda like going on a vacation where Hawaiian shirts are considered "formal attire." The customers were of various ages too, so it's not just a place for youngsters. Of course I loved that most all of the older customers were wearing tie-dye (just as it should be). We had a group of 7 and while they don't generally take reservations, they had a table all ready for us when we arrived at 7pm the Friday after Thanksgiving. Immediately after sitting down, our waiter came over to tell us one of our big butts had pulled the plug on the red string of lights in the front window. OK, he didn't exactly say it that way but EXCUSE ME; it was a tight fit around the table! 2 big buckets of salted peanuts and big pitchers of ice water were already on the table and our drink orders were quickly taken. It took a while for our drinks to arrive and a little longer than average to have our orders taken - he did patiently answer all our questions - but the place was filled with big groups so I can't fault him too much. He was (wish I knew his name) nice enough but you could tell very busy, maybe flustered? No matter, we were one big happy family and I don't think anyone (but me) noticed. We started with the cheesy poofs: tennis balls of molten cheese, chipotle chile and mashed potato deep fried into fritters of deliciousness with crema & salsa Mo'Cajete on the side. In fear of an immediate heart attack, I did not try one so I take the word of those who ate them that they were out of this world. Three at the table had the Louisiana King Jambalaya: chicken, smoked sausage and shrimp, simmered with Holy Trinity vegetables (onions, bell peppers & celery), rice and Creole sauce served with Hush Puppies. Three of us had Tsunami Surfer Tacos, 2 with Kalua Pork and 1 Yucatan Jerk chicken, each on a pair of white corn tortillas with all of Molly's favorite toppings. This was also served with black beans and yellow rice. The last dish was the Kalua Mojo Pork, a Cuban twist on smoky shredded pork grilled with onions and peppers, served with 'dirty' mashers (mashed potatoes) garlic spinach, a creamy citrus slaw and hush puppies. Everyone was happy and satisfied. I read that Salvador Molly's started as a hot tamale cart at the Portland Farmers Market. No matter how it got started, it is definitely an escape from your everyday dining experience. Chef Margot embraces the notion that "ingredients have no borders" and that is exactly what I liked about this place. I saw the "Hall of Flame" but didn't get to see Velvis (he was apparently "travelling"). Salvador Molly's boasts that they have the most traveled velvet Elvis in the world and I have no reason to doubt them. I'd definitely go back.

    (4)

  • William B.

    The food here was horrible. All of it large piles of slop. Server was OK, young but attentive. Atmosphere seemed cool at first, but then realized it was too loud to carry on a conversation despite being a family joint. I'd give the atmosphere a 2 and the food a 0. Maybe OK to have pitchers of margaritas with your friends to get drunk. Food was bland with a spicy aftertaste. We ordered the jerk chicken and the pulled pork. Both came with a terrible cole slaw and pile of vinegary spinach. Mashed potatoes were terrible. Daughter had a kid's burrito that was 95% rice. It all tasted the same--the meat, the potatoes, the salad. To make sure it wasn't me I picked out individual ingredients to taste grade, and all were bland. And it wasn't cheap. Pathetic that such bad food can be served at a popular local joint. We boxed our leftovers out of habit but threw them away the next morning. Bleh!

    (1)

  • Maria H.

    Great food and even better margaritas! Don't forget to try the balls!!

    (4)

  • Samantha O.

    There aren't a whole lot of places to eat out in Southwest that are open past 9. On the weekends they're open till 11 and therefore are a good place to get a good meal and a tasty beverage. I can't hate! I am not a big spicy food eater. Yes, I have asked for the Volcano Fries to come with all the hot sauce on the side so I could dab the fries into sauces a little at a time to test my limits. I've straight up had to send things back because they were way too spicy for me. But the food here is pretty good. It's Afro-Carribean-Asian style food. I love the tamales here, and the rice and beans are definitely more Cuban-style than Mexican, which makes me feel all at home. They are also served up at the Hillsdale Farmers Market at Wilson High School across the street when it's open for the season. Again, the Happy Bites menus is a great deal. It changes frequently, and I haven't been in for a couple months, but I've had great chicken and shrimp skewers, and really enjoyed their last variation of cheesy-fries that was served up in a jambalaya-like stew with cheese sauce. But to conclude this review? I just have to state that I will never, ever ever, try those great balls of fire. Because I would die. But I still love you Salvador Molly's!

    (5)

  • Janice L.

    This place was on our must go list when we were visiting Portland, since i'm an avid travel channel viewer, and remembered the famous spicy fritters on Man vs. Food. This place was definitely packed, but we got seated immediately. I loved the decor, very random, just how i like it. It was definitely Caribbean themed. The staff was alright, they didn't seem to prioritize their customer's needs, which resulted in taking much longer to get water. First of all, you NEEED water, especially if you order the spicy fritters. So I ordered the fritters, which were not as spicy as the sauce (I definitely got teary eyed), calamari appetizer with ranch suace(delicious!), and a tamale (w/beans and rice, it was ok). Overall, I don't think I'll be coming back again if I were in town, but it's definitely worth trying once! Also, the prices are decent ($20 per person tops!)

    (3)

  • Amy B.

    What happened to Salvador Molly's!?! This was a really good, fun restaurant a few years ago and a pretty good restaurant a year ago but today it was no bueno! The light, fluffy, delicious cheesy poofs I once loved and was SO looking forward to today were a gooey mess, their centers somehow having the consistency of uncooked dough. Were the garlic fries always the same as the curly fries they serve at Jack in the Box? I really couldn't recall, my head still spinning after what I will come to think of as the great cheesy poof disappointment of 2012. The cuban sandwich was easily the worst one I've ever had, and I've had a couple, in more than one country. It was very bland and had no cheese. That's right, no cheese! It should have been salty, tangy, smoky, and gooey but was none of these (did I mention no cheese?). None of the people I was dining with seemed to really enjoy their food either but we were all too polite to say so. Don't you hate it when you suggest the restaurant and its not so good? I really used to love this place and the atmosphere is still very fun so I'm hoping that the owner will get a handle on the quality control.

    (2)

  • Marissa A.

    Great place! My boyfriend and I drive over 3 hours from Tacoma to eat here. The great balls of fire are delicious if you like spicy! I haven't done the challenge can only handle about 3 on my own and i don't eat them quickly. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu and the employees are always very friendly! We will be making the drive down there yet again maybe for their luau on Sept. 18th looks like a lot of fun!

    (5)

  • Holl T.

    After being spoiled by a bunch of delicious foods 1/2 way into our Portland vacation, we had very high expectations when we arrived at Salvador Mollys. And of course we heard about it from Man v. Food so we trusted it. It seemed pretty legit when we first got there - cute interiors, nice vibes, full bar. However it was a down ward spiral from there on out. Our server was a little socially awkward and seemed to know little about the items on the menu when we asked questions. The Food: Great Balls of Fire - I know these are supposed to be super hot but they should really fucking warn you. Pork Sliders - Good flavor, soggy bun. Duck Wings - I dont like duck but my bf liked these. Fried Catfish - Decent, not spectacular. Boraddos - My favorite, flavorful and dynamic. All in all these dishes, in theory, deserve more like a 4 star rating. The problem was that all the food was luke warm at best. We should have sent it back but it would have been such a hassle. Also, the service brought it down a full star. A couple of tweaks to the experience and this could have been a 4 star rating but unfortunately it just wasnt 'there.'

    (2)

  • Alyssa H.

    I first went here in college when a friend won the fireball eating contest (almost 10 years later his picture is still prominently on the wall). Anyway, we went back recently and I was happy to find it was still tasty. I had a caesar, jamaican chicken from the small plates and split cheesy poofs. I could have eaten many more of the cheesy poofs...mmm The drinks were also yummy. Great atmosphere for our kids and service was prompt.

    (4)

  • J R.

    Wanted to try this place for the longest time... Seeing all the reviews and hearing all the hype about this place, I figured I couldn't go wrong hitting this spot on a Friday Night... We got there about 5:30pm (HH ends at 6), being that the place is family friendly place was PACKED, however being that it was just two of us we were able to grab seats at the bar then moved to a table a minute later when it became available. They offer complimentary peanuts in the shell while you wait. We ordered: Drinks: HH $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon (can), 2 Passion Fruit Margaritas, and a Widmer Heff (tap). Food: Aji Honey Duck Wings, Garlic Lime Cheese French Fries, Mango Pork Rib Tips, Shrimp Sticks, Great Balls of Fire, Chiles Rellenos Desnudos, and Baja Saba Fish Tacos. The Good: The honey sauce, and the jalapeño cream for the Duck Wings. The first Passion Fruit Margarita The So-So: Fish tacos were tasty Habanero Sauce (Great Balls of Fire) was mild but could've used a little bit more taste to it. The Meh (borderline Bad): Everything else... But where to begin... Duck Wings were cold, and soggy... If I'm eating something fried, and get fat for it I want it to be HOT and CRISPY. Menu said Duck Wings... but uuumm... they were drumsticks... ??? False Advertising? Their honey sauce was good tho, i'll give them that much... Fries... they were cold and soggy, "cheese" didn't taste like anything, maybe a little bit of garlic but thats about it, they sprinkled SO MUCH italian parsley that that's ALL I could taste. Pork Rib Tips were cold and dry (meat itself) like it was left uncovered for hours, and then just smothered with luke warm sauce prior to be served. Shrimp Sticks we also cold, they tasted and looked like oversized Bay Shrimp on a stick, despite the caked on condiments on the shrimp they didnt really taste like anything, accompanying sauces were funky tasting and didn't quite go well with the "roided" out bay shrimp. Great Balls of Fire were cold, and burnt... almost charred if thats possible in a deep frier. Chiles Rellenos Desnudos were cold as well, the rice from this plate tasted old and weird compared to the rice from the Fish Tacos (isn't supposed to be the same type of rice? sure looked the same). Chile didn't really have any sauce on it, just a blob of guacamole with salsa, sour cream, and pickled onions on top... wth? Fish tacos and tortillas were cold, tomatoes in the salsa for the fish tacos looked and tasted a couple of days old. Did I mention the food was COLD??? I don't mind eating leftovers cold straight out of the fridge, but IF I'm going somewhere and paying money for something to eat there, I expect the food to be if not hot, then at least cooked in a pan and served ASAP, not being left under a heating lamp to heat up. I've worked as a cook at bars, restaurants, and 5 star hotels so this review is not just coming out of some guy who watches the Food Network all day long... The food had TOO many flavors going on that everything that we ate clashed with the sauces they provided with that dish. Everything that was supposed to be hot/warm was COLD, everything that was supposed to be cold was WARM. Even the Margaritas were inconsistent, first one was really good, second one was as if you had bought some powdered mix at a store. Had this place in my Yelp Bookmarks for the longest time trying to wait for a good occasion to drive over there and have some good food, and if it wasnt for a Living Social coupon I would probably still say that Molly's would be on my next 3 places to try out. However after tonight I can say that I'm not going back, not even for $2 HH beers. Nuff sed... *Getting off soap box*

    (1)

  • Jason P.

    Great food, wide ethnic variety of choices, festive atmosphere, reasonable prices sets this place on FIRE, especially those on their "Wall of Flame"! Don't mess around with those balls that are seemingly innocent and extremely delicious hobanero cheese fritters. Those 'Balls of Fire' will put you in your place! Down 5 of them and finish off the hobanero relish and you will end up on the wall of flame (among other places for the night...) I'm so thankful of my friend for humbling me (eating 5 delicious balls is not the hard part) otherwise I would have spent the night meditating on the ceramic sculpture! Aside from their balls, this place got great food from all over the world. Their steak, jumbalaya, and salads are all great with generous portions. Prices are very reasonable ($15 ballpark). We came with a $30 groupon and thats just about enough for 3 people. Coming back for sure!

    (4)

  • Hilary B.

    Guacamole is not supposed to fizz, is it? = fail. My "big" Cadillac margarita came in a 8 oz banquet water glass = fail. My tamale was all corn outing and very little vegan filling = fail. The service was contrived and borderline rude = fail. This place has taken a serious downturn from the fun SW happy hour spot I used to love. 2 positives - the host (very sweet brunette gal) and the percussion band outside (was a special night I guess). What happened to you Salvadore? I will not return = bummer.

    (2)

  • Tabitha B.

    We went here for lunch on a Saturday. The service was friendly and attentive, lots of soda refills (a pretty good barometer for waitstaff happiness). I was just a little disappointed with the food. We ordered the Cheese Poofs, and they came out pretty much burned. Even the hot sauce couldn't save them from being, well, burnt curds of cheese. Hot sauce is an accent, not a cover-all. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich, which wasn't actually a sandwich but was pretty good. More pulled pork bruschetta, but hey, that's not a bad concept. My Jamaican Jerk Mango sandwich was all right. I can't pinpoint what was wrong with it - nothing necessarily wrong, but with all the flavors that were promised in the description, it fell pretty flat in the sensation category. Also, kind of a nitpicky gripe, but I spent the entire time staring at the trash cans that were out in plain view. PORTLAND CARES! FOODSTUFFS. I wanted to look at the crazy lamps and Wall of Flame, but I couldn't avoid that bright, loud trash can and all the garbage associations of it. Any way you can, you know, just tuck it in the back? Not a bad experience, but not something I'll drive out from 30 miles away for again. Might be more fun for happy hour; it looked like there were some delicious drinks over on the bar side. It was only noon though, and my morning hadn't been near bad enough to kick off on that tangent.

    (3)

  • Clementine K.

    This place is not worth 3.5 stars. People recommended this place and I saw the ratings on yelp weren't bad so I decided to try it. I went with my roommate and we ordered the hawaiian khalua pork entree. -Food: bland and a weird combination with raw spinach -Service: it was horrible because the waiter was "fake nice". He had an attitude that was masked with a fake smile. -Ambiance: loud with plates clapping and buckets hitting the ground I had a really bad day and needed some good food, this place definitely did NOT hit the spot. I usually don't write reviews but I decided to write one for this place since I had such a horrible experience!!

    (1)

  • Brie S.

    First of all, let me say that the food is good and I really want this neighborhood restaurant to succeed. I have been to this place four times over the past four years. Each time I was disappointed but always want to give it another chance. Last night, my husband, 6mo old daughter and I went here for dinner, arriving at 6PM. We were seated right away (yeah!) and so I thought "maybe the service has improved." We quickly ordered two beers... they arrived 20 minutes later. In the meantime, we ordered our meals: two adult meals and a kids meal. We knew our daughter wouldn't eat much (normally we'd just feed her off of our plate) but the sign out front says "free children's meal with adult entree purchase" so we decided to get something for her. More on that later... Our meals arrived 40 minutes after ordering!!! Our meals were good (I had a lamb sandwich, my husband had the jambalaya) and the beers were cold. We were told that the carrots with the kids meal were steamed ("not mushy, but not raw either"). Perfect! When they arrived they were completely raw (still cold from the refrigerator). And then when we were about half through eating, the waitress kept wanting to get us out. She asked twice if we wanted a box to take our food, we said "maybe" but wanted to enjoy the meal before we made that decision. Then, while we were still enjoying our meal, she dropped by the boxes. Btw... our daughter didn't make a peep during this time so it wasn't like we had the screaming child they were trying to usher out. Also, for being a "family friendly" restaurant (their own website advertises this), it was rather frustrating to not have a changing table in the establishment. Oh... we were charged for the kids meal, even after we asked about it. We won't be back for at least a year and I'm feeling charitable enough to try again.

    (2)

  • Kazar L.

    I've been to food destinations the like that Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay and Anthony Bourdain have recommended. But damn you Adam Richman, and damn me if I ever take your advice again about visiting some place you recommend. Hot off the heels of visiting Red Mill burger and being generally dissapointed, the g/f and I were headed back to Washington from Portland and decided to look for a place to eat. We recalled an episode of MvF Portland and decided to hit this place up given the high recommendation from Adam. For the place having handful of people occupying the tables outside and inside, the service we received was possibly the worst that comes to mind. There was literaly 20+ minutes between taking our order, to delivering the food, to not checking up on us, to slamming the check down on our table before leaving. Actually, let me correct that. It was more of a toss onto the table that created a loud thud with not so much as a "thank you for coming" before leaving to attend to other tables. I felt equally as enraged that there was an elderly couple a few tables from ours that had the same look of fustration and disbelief on how blatantly horrible we were being treated. As for the food, it was sub par at best. The tamales we ordered were dry, there was nothing spectacular about the jambalaya, and the famous fritters, which tasted like they were fried and left under a heat lamp for a few hours, lacked any real heat(my significant other who can't handle tabasco, had only a moderate burn left after eating one). I'm not too sure if this was an off day for both front and back of house, but several months after this experience, I can still feel the regret and anger having been duped wasting time, money, and valuable stomach real estate on this place. Service: 0/5 Decor:3/5 standard Food: 0/5 Fun Fact: Adam Richman is an idiot.

    (1)

  • Julio M.

    Saw on Man V Food and had to try it out. I got there about 9 pm and was seated right away. Cool little place right outside of downtown Portland. I went there with my girlfriend and her sister. I ordered the cuban sandwich...and I like what I could taste! The explanation on this is that I tried one of their Great Balls of Fire and they were indeed on fire. The first bit into this little hush puppy is quite good. It has a good flavor and consistency. Then the heat kicks in...you have to have a high tolerance for heat to eat these things. It took 30 minutes before I could really eat anything else. After the I could eat my cuban was good. My suggestion is that if you are going to try this little challenge...dont!!!!!! If you do eat your food first then attempt. You don't really want to do it on a empty stomach.

    (4)

  • Jen K.

    Oooh, a pirate cafe.... argggh! Their menu says "food without borders" and the cuisine is all over the map. Their focus is on hot and spicy dishes from Asia, Africa, New Orleans, the Caribbean and beyond, but it is a true hodge podge. Some of their dishes come with a spice scale of 1 - 20, so beware landlubbers. On my latest visit, we grabbed a table in the bar, but I actually prefer the seating area in the converted garage when they raise the door on warm nights. Our group of six trickled in over an hour, but they let the first person hold a table as the rest of us slowly filtered in (damn you I-5 traffic). The best thing I tasted was the Zanzibar shrimp skewer appetizer. My meal, the Ginger Peanut Chicken Breast, was only so-so. The chicken was tender and spicy, but I wasn't a fan of the sides. Sort of variations on a BBQ theme (cornbread, sweet potatoes and curry rice), but I've had much better recently. I was being a good little teetotaller, but the rest of my group enjoyed the Big Daddy Caddy margaritas. And I've got to mention the decor. All sorts of crazy things are going on inside including a shrine to 'Velvis'. I had the misfortune of having the Holy Virgin mural staring me down throughout my meal. Oh, I can only imagine all the things she's seen in this place which has the air of casual debauchery.

    (3)

  • Todd G.

    Love this place for lunch. Moho Pork with spinach salad. Gluten free. Mmmmmmm.

    (5)

  • Allison D.

    I've been to Salvador Molly's twice now: both times were SUPER. This last time had incredible service and everyone had to make sure they told me thanks for coming when I was leaving. The decor is super funky and fun and so is the staff. The food is tasty, especially the sauces. I haven't had a dish yet that has failed my taste buds and everyone I've taken there has wonderful reviews too! Their Tsunami Surf Tacos are great with both the Jerk Chicken and the Pork and the Steak with Chimichurri sauce was killer (Calamari gets honorable mention). If you're curious, give it a go! And if you love spicy foods, you'll be happy to taste these dishes.

    (4)

  • Tee J.

    Not what i was expecting it to be, i ha a hard time deciding what to order. But i liked what i got. Alot. I love spicy foods & here you can chose how spicy u want it.

    (4)

  • Laryssa B.

    We came here for a friend's birthday celebration on Saturday. We ordered a couple pitchers of beverages, one was sangria, the other was some crazy rum drink. We also ordered a couple appetizers, and five entrees total. At one point in time the manager (I think he was the manager?) stopped by to ask how everything was. Everyone was polite, as most people are in that situation "everything is good, thank you..." I couldn't help myself, I told the truth. I told him the avocados in the guacamole were TERRIBLE. They were rock hard. Not even close to ripe. He told me, that they would have to stop serving avocados until they were back in season.... What? Don't you have a paper bag you can put them in? Anyway, they did not remove the guacamole from the tab. In fact, they also tried to charge us for the birthday girl's dessert, even after they originally told us it was complimentary. My burrito and my husband's curry were excellent, but the service was almost as disappointing as the guacamole.....

    (3)

  • Brian C.

    Funky decor, funky menu, but good food. It's not fine dining but I was impressed with the food on my first visit and you'll find lots of different international flavors here that are out of the ordinary but generally done well. Definitely a great place to have in the neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    I have been coming here periodically for years.... and will continue to do so. I have never had a disappointing experience here. Staff has always been friendly, although occasionally a little slow; food is great and there are plenty of good drink options from the bar. My favorite meal is probably the Surfer Tacos.... although I have tried several items and never been let down. Also, Don't forget to start with the cheesy poofs, or if you are brave the great balls of fire! This place is also a favorite for my kids, which is obviously a great plus.

    (4)

  • jason b.

    I had the Ethiopian lamb dish and my wife had the pulled pork type dish. They were really good, not great. The cheesy poofs were good and original, kudos. Overall it was a good meal and great service on such a busy night. We'd like to return once more just to try a few different items from their vastly varietal menu.

    (4)

  • Roman S.

    free peanuts? if only i didn't hate eating peanuts..(at least i can enjoy throwing them at my friends) food here is "fun". i have tried several of their menu items and some have been misses while others have been amazing. great balls of fire a great thing to dare your friends to. Watch them as they drink the whole glass of water in one gulp. The fries are great and imaginative here (I really liked the ones with the shredded beef). - they have several crazy fries here to try. anyways, some of the other things that i liked a lot were Kahlua pork and their bread pudding (note: i haven't tried most of their menu yet) i give this place 4/5 stars because its a great environment with unique food - however, they can have a few misses.

    (4)

  • Robert v.

    We stopped in for dinner - lured by thoughts of great caipirinhas (one of the best cocktails ever). We got there, it was crowded, we waited in the bar for a table. We ordered a caipirinha. I watched in horror as the bartender muddled then mashed and continued smashing the limes in the glass. The resulting drink was the worst ever... Bitter, nasty. The food was fine. Lots of children, toddlers and infants

    (3)

  • Ange K.

    We took advantage of a promo to visit a new (to us) restaurant, and the reception amongst the 4 in our party was, "It was OK. At least we tried something new..." First was the location - a bit out of the way, and dealing the onerous hwy 10/217/26 traffic was problematic. The parking lot was full - but we were the only ones in the restaurant (weekday early evening). As we got out, I noticed that several people were parking there and trekking the 1/4 block down to the McMenamin's next door. Hmmmm... By the time we left, there were two other parties, but most of the tables remained empty. We had the Memphis Smothered Fries (pulled pork & cheese atop fries) and loved them. Good start! But then... Our dishes arrived, embellished with fun sauce swirls. Kid 1 (11) wasn't a fan of the menu and, being "too old" for the kids' menu, opted for pork sliders & a side of fries. He of the bottomless stomach ate one slider, a few fries, finished the smoothie and said he was done. Uh-oh. Kid 2 (13) ordered his favorite, catfish - and didn't finish it. I have never seen this kid not finish a fish. He & Mr polished off Kid 1's leftover sliders. Mr had chile rellenos. The black beans were yummy (yes, I helped myself to a few bites) but he said the rellenos were meh. I ordered jambalaya. I was born & raised in New Orleans & *love* jambalaya. The waiter asked if I wanted it mild or medium - I asked for spicy. She said (eyebrow arched), "It's really spicy!" I said, that's fine. When she came to check on us five minutes after the dish arrived, I asked for Tabasco sauce. They didn't have any, but provided a tapatio-style sauce and a habanero sauce. I dosed the dish liberally with both, only to achieve a "sorta-spicy" taste. (What restaurant serves jambalaya but doesn't have Tabasco? Weird.) I also had a margarita (the amazing or something like that). I was asked if I wanted it "on the rocks" (yes), and what I got was a weirdly small snifter-style glass of ice-blended margarita, with the extra in a shot glass - last I checked, "on the rocks" meant poured *over* ice, not slushed with ice. And $6.95 for what amounts to a juice glass? The cornbread that accompanied my & Kid 2's southern dishes was, in the same word, "meh." I've made every variety of cornbread you can think of, but this was just...yeah. Thick, dense, crumbly with no real flavor of corn or saltiness/sweetness. I'm not sure of the "atmosphere/environment" many people have spoken of - there were some interesting paintings & artifacts on the walls, and the bowl of peanuts + bucket were fun, but I've seen more kitschy/fun in other places. Staff had a funky vibe - PDX-style with funky clothes & piercings - and were helpful and courteous. The dimming of the lights & raising of the music at 4.30PM was weird but not annoying. Service: 4 Food: 2.5-3 Atmosphere: 2 Location: 1

    (3)

  • Stefanie S.

    Really not impressed with the service here...the bartender is clearly racist. ...made for an interesting "happy hour".

    (1)

  • Brie P.

    This used to be good. Ownership changed a few times and it's just not what it was.

    (2)

  • Rick K.

    Its been a while since we've been here but it still seems to be the same friendly, good service, we got spicy place. We went as a family and between us we ordered the Tiki Mac, Catfish Po'Boy, Jambalaya & Country Stew (I think thats the name) . The Tiki Mac was kind of odd to all of us, not really sure how to describe it. I dont want to say it was bad, just wasnt our thing. I didnt eat the Catfish but my mother n law said it was very good. The Jambalaya was good but not great, my only comment is that for $14.95 your Jambalaya should be better than just good. My favorite was the Country Stew (or whatever its called), it was kinda like a soupy/stewy jambalaya type flavoring w/ bell peppers & okra and very spicy. We also had an order of the hurrican garlic fries, which again were good not great. We go to Safeco Field at least 1X per year and after having their garlic fries (which they absolutely drown in garlic) these seemed kind of bland. I still recommend SM to people especially if you like spicy but seems like their food might be slipping a bit.

    (3)

  • Oindrila M.

    Went to Salvador Molly's twice now and each time the food was really good. The only problem is its a very small place and sometimes you might have to wait for 15-20min to get a table. But its worth the wait. The dip that comes with the onion rings in the appetizers is just awesome. And the drinks are pretty good and innovative as well. You can try the cocktails that come in a huge martini glass which is almost the size of a serving bowl and share it between 2 or 3 people. The coconut shrimp and catfish are very tasty. Will definitely go back again to try out the other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Paris O.

    had i done this review 2 years ago, i would have given it 4 stars. 1. currently the staff gets 1 star. inattentive and uninterested. 2. the dining area is very close quarters, but awesomely decorated. 3. good food - 3.5 stars, food can only do so much for a place, the service makes me never want to go back. 4. even though you think you like spicy food, the fire balls are a stupid idea. don't do it.

    (3)

  • sarah y.

    after seeing the food network's man vs. food episode that featured salvador molly's, i was intrigued. a friend of ours had also recommended it because of its fun decor and pirate themed diverse menu. the food is all very spiced, which makes it rather yummy. i wasn't blown away by anything in particular, but the happy hour $2 appetizers are a GREAT deal. so bottom line: the dirt cheap happy hour (ooh, and sangria!) is worth trying.

    (3)

  • Kris K.

    I go to Salvador Molly's all the time. I get the cheese poofs every time and sometimes the balls of fire. They both tasty appetizers. The happy hour food is great and the prices are not bad. I also love their drinks. There is a tasty spicy margarita - The Fire 'Rita, and another tropical white rum and juice drink that I get sometimes. Fuckin Fantastic.

    (5)

  • Snow M.

    I was all sorts of excited to try this place. It was on my list of places to go. We showed up around 7:15pm and there was a wait, to be expected on a Sat night. We didn't wait too long for a five top. We got called but wait, the table isn't ready, sorry. Please go back outside and we'll call you again. 5-7 minutes later we are called again and we had to thread our way through an over crowed dining room to the enclosed "patio" seating. I felt we were shoved in a corner and forgotten about. The waitress was nice enough, I guess. She seems agitated and annoyed. Ordered the calamari and onion rings for the table. They came out quick enough then the waitress came back to take our dinner and drink order. We had already run out of water and had to ask for more. She came back with two pitchers to make sure we didn't run out. It just smacked of snarky waitress. The apps weren't even finished before the main courses came out. There was no room on the table and we had to maneuver plates and glasses around to make room. The food order was correct, thank god, but the drinks? A coke was forgotten altogether, the glass the ice tea came in was dirty and the food itself was subpar. I had the Richly spiced African sauce simmered with fresh vegetables and shrimp Served atop Ethiopian Injera bread with curry red lentil dahl, peanut-ginger roasted sweet potato and garlic spinach. It was warm only. The bread was soggy and the sweet potato was disgusting. I ate what I could of it, basically picked out the shrimp and spinach. As the meal progressed I grew more and more unhappy, this was not the experience I neither wanted, hoped for nor expected. We were there for a birthday dinner for my friend Chef, we were all terribly disappointed. So much so, I asked to speak to a floor manger. Snarky waitress came back and wanted to know what the problem was and for a moment, I was shocked that she was the floor manager. Thankfully for her and me, she was not. I would have gone rounds with her. Alex was a nice enough fellow who comp'ed us a dessert for our displeasure. Great, it was a flan that no one ate. Yippy. The best part of the night? When the bill came and we were told that they could only split it down three ways. At this point, the whole table had enough. I was seriously close to slapping down my credit card and telling them to charge me the whole $95.00 just to get the hell out of there. We ended up having to create our own ticket on a scratch piece of paper and assigned which credit card to which entry. You might be asking yourself if I even tipped the stupid cow. Yes, I did. I might be a bitch but I understand that is how waitstaff earns their living. I will -never- go back there again. EVER.

    (1)

  • Heina D.

    I got dragged along here because my guy wanted to take the balls of fire challenge. He succeeded, with the help of a very attentive waitress, but that couldn't mitigate my bad experience. Being the wannabe Portlander that I am, I ordered a dish that was locally-produced, the Jamon y Melon (ham and melon). What I was expecting was a simple but tasty dish. What I got was mediocre melon wrapped in bland ham, both of which could have been from Costco, so generic were they. There was nothing interesting, tasty, or unique about it. The salsa they had beneath it was good, but it was watery and so it wouldn't adhere to my food as I attempted to eat it. The only good part of the meal was the two thin back strips that adorned the dish, but then again, good bacon is a Portland staple. I only added a star because the waitress we had was patient, understanding, and awesome.

    (2)

  • Meredith P.

    If you are vegan: I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. If you are vegetarian, and want a meal based entirely on cheese, this place might work for you. I tried the EMA DATSHI Bhutan, and dear lord it was nasty. It is basically a watered down/bland nacho cheese in a big soup bowl with some peppers floating in it. It wasn't spicy, it was weird. Afterward, I actually sent an email to the management and told them, look, this dish is freaking gross. I'm sad to see it is still on the menu. The reason why I give this 3 stars is because if you are cool with meat, this isn't a bad place to grab a bite to eat. The cheesy poofs are pretty delicious. Also their tamales are pretty good too. I would recommend going to the Hillsdale Farmer's market and picking up some tamales-you'll get the best they have to offer. I found their happy hour to be "medium." Overall, not a bad place to go, but I wouldn't bring guests from out of town here.

    (3)

  • Mark A.

    Lot's of spicy food & a great atmosphere. Get there early as the wait on the popular nights can get excessive. Considering how busy we were our server/service was exceptional. We forgot our Groupon & the guy was nice enough to get his own laptop for us to pull it up & he printed it out for us. Above & beyond.... Zombie was one of the best drinks I have had. Fritters were way hot for this guy. I had a bite of the crust & was done. But hey I'm kind of a wimp.... Will definitely go again.

    (5)

  • Olivia T.

    Sucka.... Not Salvador Molly's who is the sucka. It's me. I'm the sucka for cheap eats and Happy Hour festivities. My sister and I decided to try again for the Happy Hour Bites. We called ahead and made sure that they would have the Happy Bites on Sunday. The nice lady on the phone told us, they will have it from 8 pm to 9 pm. Sure enough, we got there about 8:10 or so and the bar area was hopping with happy bites customers. We ordered almost everything from the Happy Bites menu. It's $2 per each plate. We got the Volcano fries, chicken skewers, Vietnamese noodle salad, shrimp skewers, and also the cheesy poofs (not on HB menu, but sounds delicious). Food came pretty fast and OH EM GEE, the portion was pretty big for two dollah plates. The Volcano Fries were delicious. Pretty much it was steak fries with few hot sauces, but those hot sauces were so spicy. I think one of the sauce was the one they use for great balls of fire because it made me sweat..baby..sweat. Cheese poofs was another winner as well. They were cheesy and tasty. We enjoyed the other items, but myself personally is not a big fan of the Vietnamese Noodle Salad. It was bland and just ok. We were stuffed after we gobbled down all those foods. Happy Bites is one of the best happy hour deals in town. Two dollah will make you hollah for realz.

    (4)

  • J M.

    Went there on a busy Friday night. I gotta say that for such a busy night, the service was top-notch! Even though I forgot to print out my coupon, the manager brought out his laptop and printed it for me! This was extraordinarily great service! The food: well, I must admit that a lot of the menu is not up my alley. However, as a hothead, I LOVE the Balls of Fire! Very delicious and spicy. The drinks were killer. If you're a fan of Caribbean food then I definitely recommend this place. This isn't my type of food, but it's done very well and the service is second-to-none! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone with a flair for the dare!

    (5)

  • Leah H.

    Salvador Molly's is one of my favorite happy hour spots. They have a great $2 plate menu with rotating menu items. It's a great way to try new things because you really can't be all that disappointed if you don't like something when it's only $2. The pork sliders are a must have every time. It comes with three sliders that are overflowing with delicious pork! Yum! I also always get the cheesy poofs. They are little balls of deep fried cheesy mashed potatoes. Need I say more? They have a fair amount of beers on tap and make good mixed drinks. A few of the mixed drinks even can be ordered in a pitcher. You can also order fresh smoothies where you can pick up to three fruits for the flavors. The indoor seating can be rather cramped, especially when they are busy. I'm not sure if it has changed but we found out on a hot summer day that they do not have air conditioning inside and it got pretty steamy and sticky sitting indoors. They have a nice patio though with tables (if you can snag one) and it's really just the kind of food that you would want to sit outside and eat on a sunshiny day =)

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    I'm not a great fan of hellfire hot food, but I like to try new stuff that I wouldn't ordinarily experience every day. We had an opportunity to buy some sort of internet coupon so we took it and tried this place. We ate in the bar so as to reduce the rugrat factor as much as possible. It was Movie Monday so they played Backdraft over the bar's TV screens. Possibly because of the movie night, we got a bottomless bowl of Cajun popcorn when we were seated. Another awesome touch was they gave us a huge pitcher of water right away so we wouldn't have to keep flagging down the waiter. We had margaritas to drink...these guys know how to pour...the drinks were not watered down at all. We also had the coconut prawns which were really good, but reading all the reviews I wish I'd ordered the cheesy poofs. My gf had jerk chicken tacos and I had a Bhutanese dish called Ema Datsik or something like that. We both really enjoyed our dinners and had no room for dessert. The service was excellent and I look forward to trying this place again.

    (4)

  • Amanda N.

    I came here with a small group around 9pm. The place was surprisingly dead; we sat inside and were the only people in the dining room. Long story short, the service was terrible. The food was great; awesome variety and large portions, but the server could have cared less about our table. It was really unfortunate because I was really looking forward to eating here.

    (2)

  • Jordan D.

    Fantastic food and great atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    June 16,2010-Food was really diverse and yummy but lacking in consistentcy. They were only seating in the upper portion of the restaurant and it was packed with large groups (including us). I had the jambalaya and it was delicious although I was craving more rice in it. Marc had the chimmichurri steak which was yummy, but the potatoes were disappointing. Everything was good and the atmosphere was fun but they just seemed to miss the mark on half of it. Chandra and my cocktails were warm and lackluster so we switched to beer and it was great. The coconut shrimp apps were over cooked but the calamari was perfect. It's kinda like this place is bipolar. It was fun and I'm glad we went. Large portions, reasonable prices and beer specials keep this place packed even if the food isn't the best.

    (3)

  • Andy W.

    Being a fan of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food I made a pilgrammage to Portland to sample the same restaurants that were featured; Stepping Stone Cafe and Salvador Molly's. Earlier today, I wrote a review of Stepping Stone Cafe, so why not follow up with my take on Salvador Molly's? I love really spicy food so the Fireball Challenge at Salvador Molly's was on my agenda of culinary things to do. My dad once said don't believe everything you see on TV, and throughout my MvF recreations I've discovered more of the old adage to be true. My buddy and I arrived on a Wednesday about 5:30pm and the restaurant was busy. We were seated quickly and they bring out delicious peanuts for hold-you-over noshing. The server was friendly and prompt to take our order. I bravely said I drove over four hours for the Fireball Challenge and was all prepared to do battle. Chase, my friend, held off to order to see if it was in his digestive system's best interest to follow me. After sigining the waiver, the Habanero Fritters came out. I must say they must have fried host of Man v Food Adam Richman's fritters in fresh oil because his were a nice. crispy golden color. Mine came out in a darker used the oil many times brown. But nonetheless, hastily and hungrily I dug in. On the drive up, I was filled with anticipation of what to expect. Would I drop dead from the heat? Would my colon need a fire extinguisher afterwards? These things are hot. Not the hottest thing I have eaten but they will leave the belly burning for a good half hour after you eat them. The habanero salsa (also required to eat all of it to win the challenge) goes well with the flavor of the fritters. After telling Chase that they aren't that hot, he ordered a set and experienced the pain too. I felt a little evil, but we got our pics on the Wall of Flame for finishing. I also ordered some Korean BBQ Pork (mediocre on my scale; I am very picky about good Asian food) that was served with a Korean Broccoli/vegetable salad concoction. I took one bite and it tasted so foul it was inedible. Don't know if it was the sauce or what, but skip this one entirely. I would like to try Salvador Molly's again to sample other fare, since the Fireball Challenge was top of my list. But as of now I recommend the restaurant for a different take on World fare.

    (3)

  • Kevin M.

    This use to be my favorite local place, eating there at least once a week. About two years ago, they changed their focus, less carribean, more world cuisine. From there it went down hill. The drinks are still good, but the food is scattered and inconsistent. The last time I was there I ordered a grilled shrip and gazpacho special. The Gazpacho was so salty it was inedible. And the shrimp were mushy and tasted like soap.

    (1)

  • Hana J.

    I feel like Salvador Molly's is one of those places you have a good feeling about, and then you leave feeling a bit like you just accidentally drove over a small, cuddly animal. I had a rice/chicken/beans bowl thing, which was extraordinarily bland. I just have to say that it is really, really hard to make Mexican food this boring. Even the guacamole didn't add to the dish. When the guac is bad, I just about lose hope for humanity. On top of that, the entire dish was less than lukewarm. Rice, beans, and chicken are not supposed to be served cold, unless I entirely misunderstood the dish. My partner had a fish taco thing, which was decent but really not up to par either. The service wasn't terrible, but wasn't great either. My partner commented that it seemed like they were trying to get rid of us, because all of our dishes/drinks arrived at once. The reason this joint gets 2 stars rather than 1 is because the drinks were pretty good.

    (2)

  • Gypsy R.

    The experience started off on the wrong foot when we were seated right outside the restrooms, which reeked of urine. We debated whether to just get up and leave and decided to ask for another seat, which we were granted by a friendly wait staff member who was very gracious. We ordered the cheesy poofs to start. They were actually alright tasting a came out fast and hot - which is why this review has two stars. I ordered a Sangria, which was pretty bad as far as Sangria goes. It was too watery and tasted like a bad wine cooler. Strike one. Our meal came out pretty fast and my partner ordered the Cuban sandwich and I ordered the Caesar with jerk chicken. The Cuban sandwich was the worst Cuban sandwich I have ever tasted and we could barely eat it. There was virtually no flavor, and the low-quality ham overpowered any decent flavor that could have been provided by the pulled pork, if it had had any flavor. Pieces of the pulled pork were inedible and the other than that the sandwich was bland and uninteresting. My Caesar salad turned out to be a tiny side-salad, even though it was not priced as such. I added the jerk chicken to it, since I love some spicy chicken, but was not impressed by the utter lack of flavor and spice on the chicken. The chicken was dry and tasted a little blackened, but did not resemble jerk chicken in any way. The staff was friendly and attentive, however it didn't make up for the $30+ tab consisting of low-quality ingredients and bland food. While I would not run the other way if somewhere suggested going to Salvador Molly's, I certainly have no need to go there again.

    (2)

  • Denise R.

    The stars must have all been aligned for us, because we went there for lunch mid-week, hardly anybody in the main dining room, great waiter and wonderful food! There were 4 of us, and only the two men wanted to test their balls of fired...Salvador's, not their own! They'd already been warned about the heat, so they just did 1 apiece and the two of us women enjoyed seeing their eyes water, noses sniffing and face reddening. That's as close to Salvador's balls as I ever want to be! We ordered the fries with the pulled pork, cheese and sour cream (could have used a big more sour cream), jerk chicken tacos, pork burrito and split them 4 ways. It was plenty of food, great spice and we all really enjoyed it. I washed it down with a mango smoothie which was excellent. One of the toughest things was figuring out what to order since they all sounded unique and delicious. I know that a lot of yelpers haven't had the same experience we did, so maybe I'll never go back so I can have a great memory of a great place and meal. Yeah right....if I'm back in the area I'll try it again and let you know how chapter two ends.

    (5)

  • Juliet H.

    Absolutely fabulous Food! Great service *with an attitude mind you but I like a confident waitress that takes no B.S.* and delightful atmosphere! Although there was a long line when my boyfriend and I arrived, it took a mere 15 mins to be seated. While waiting at the bar I was served by a magical bartender that made drinks that set my mouth on fire! (try the pepper pineapple cocktail for a true surprise!) Overall, both my boyfriend and I agree, that this was the best dining experience in Portland! Gotta be done again!

    (5)

  • ToniAnn M.

    Oh boy. I'm a little torn on this place. I did visit twice before I reviewed. & both times were a while ago. I guess I have been contemplating this Yelp so I could be delicate, yet truthful.... It's just what 3 stars says it is. OK. The food is (redundant) OK. Both times, by the time it got to me, it wasn't hot.... barely warm actually.......but it was very, very tasty. The drinks are well poured, & there is a nice selection of beer. Happy Hour prices are great...... but good luck getting in there for HH on Friday evening. Unless you get there early.....then maybe you could barter with someone who wants your seat!! All in all, it's a decent enough place.... I'll agree with some of my fellow Yeeps..... service is pretty poor.

    (3)

  • Jose Q.

    Went there for happy hour. My friend and I ordered 6 of the happy hour plates and the pulled pork sliders were by far my favorites.

    (4)

  • brian c.

    Garbage. The service was extremely badly. It took 20 minutes to get drinks. That could be forgotten if the food was good. But it was not. The jerk chicken was not jerk chicken. The salad looked like soup. It had so much dressing on it that i couldn't eat more then a bit. The ambiance was really kind of cheap with paper decorations strung around the ceiling. It was also very loud. I really don't know how this place is still in business with all the great spots in Portland.

    (1)

  • Martin F.

    I have been up since 4am regretting my visit.the service was ok and the food made me sick.ugh

    (1)

  • Emily Z.

    deliciousness. Great balls of fire...i should have done 5 only did 3...yeah I love it hot and spicy. I also had the Yucatan chicken tacos which were good too. Margarita was Meh ok....but I had 2. Service was average...Friendly but not attentive really

    (4)

  • Derya A.

    I came here with friends years ago, however I only remember the misery and struggle a few pals went through when attempting to tackle the Great Balls of Fire. I went with my family recently. I was a little disappointed with our 40 minute wait because on my trip to the restroom I saw an entire room full of tables completely empty but assumed it was reserved... after waiting the full amount of time, we were seated in that very section.... Despite this hiccup, the service and food were good. The cheesy poofs are AMAZING. The calamari is very good and is a large portion. I got the Bayou Crunch Catfish which was tender and juicy and flavorful. I've been craving it ever since. The entree sides of "garlic spinach" (raw spinach with a few garlic bits covering a quarter of the spinach) and some sort of yam dish were not my favorite, nor that of my family, but luckily the catfish and appetizers were able to fill me up.

    (3)

  • Kari O.

    It's not like I have to review the food. It speaks for itself. The Tamales were divine. The black beans were the best I've ever had. The Garlic Chicken soup actually got me to stop talking (I was sharing a bowl and did not want to miss out on a spoonful). More importantly it was the service. I have been on the other side of the table and my waiter was perfection. I may have indigestion all night long, but it was worth it!

    (4)

  • O D.

    As a native Jamaican (born in Spanish Town in Kingston) I know what Jamaican food is; and I can be VERY territorial and defensive when someone slaps a "Jamaican" title on something and actually believe that it is truely so. Growing up in a city like New York where there are just as much jamaicans as Jamaica itself I was surrounded by authentic jamaican food. Not only that,but I lived in Miami for a year where it is that much closer to the island so the food was also very authentic in certain parts. Now I understand that Portland is a few thousand miles away from my native land, but there are planes, trains, and automobiles to bridge the gap. With ALL that said.....THIS IS NOT JAMAICAN!! OCHO-RIOS JERK CHICKEN BREAST Marinated in authentic spicy "Jamaican Jerk" sauce and grilled. Served with coconut rice, roasted sweet potatoes, tropical slaw and buttermilk cornbread. 9.95 We don't do cornbread (thats more american), we also don't really do "tropical" slaw, and coconut rice is not something we usually make. When we make rice and peas it contains coconut milk but you can't really taste it. It is used to enhance the taste, not define it. This is not just about "jamaican' this is about food and culture. If you're going to represent a country try to pick something a little less generic and more authentic.

    (1)

  • Jared W.

    Global menu but suburban flavor; Salvador Molly solid food fills the body and not the soul. Salvador Molly is an international restaurant that has dishes from around the globe. The menu and location are bold for a little suburban strip mall, but sadly the "jack of all foods" is master of none. That is not to say the attempt and the food that comes with it are bad. The menu is very unique and most of the prices are reasonable. The international décor is fun, close to cheesy at times, but has a fun ambiance. Happy hour and a lunch menu are great deals, but drink prices seem slightly high for such a casual atmosphere. The flaw of the concept is that in carrying such a broad menu of different regional dishes is that by definition the dishes have distinct tastes. Blending these unique tastes is like a painting with vivid colors; processes that can give you a bright blended work of art or leave you with a brown canvas. Salvador Molly needs a bold artist to match its menu.

    (3)

  • El W.

    To summarize: while the food is great, the service is not that great. I ordered their ethiopian food, which I forget how to spell. The dish is herby but not overwhelming. It is just right. The portion is HUGE. I can't even finish it. My sister and brother ordered their mac and cheese and their argentinian steak. The steak is just okay. It is nothing special compared to other steak. However, their mac and cheese highlighted my night. They add a little bit of sour paprika (if it is not, i'm sorry). The addition of the sourness exterminate the overwhelming fullness that usually follow me when i eat mac and cheese. So, I will rate the food about 4.5 star. Meanwhile, their service is somewhat poor. When we got the menu, it took them more than 10 minutes to check back. The food got to our table in about 40 minutes (which is okay since they are quite busy). However, when we ask for a check, it took them more than 15 minutes to sort it out. So, I give them 2 stars for their service. I guess when other yelpers warned me about their service, I should take it to heart.

    (3)

  • Terry T.

    Balls of fire. Do yourself a favor, if you insist on trying them, order one and share with three other people. Wait five minutes. Then decide if you want more. I quickly ate three and will never eat another so long as I'm alive. They were very spicy and had great flavor, but it's all pain after the initial rush. The Cuban sandwich seemed pretty good but after a few bites I gave up on account of the knot in my stomach. Will start with the cheesy poofs next time instead.

    (4)

  • Brant W.

    I have been back a couple of times to try different dishes. Each one has it own flair. I have yet to try anything that was out of the park good. Its all kind of adequate. Just above cafeteria line food. The wait staff has too many tables and of course this casuse them to only spend three seconds of the night trying to get your order. I had the hawaiian pulled pork last night. It was bland with no falavor. Even the sauce on the side was bland. I was sort of hungry and ate the whole plate, which told me that the serving sizes are small. Definatley not worth $13. I probably wont go back. I think there are better places in my hood. -B

    (2)

  • Toy J.

    Enjoyed the steak over a bed of black beans and mashed potatoes. The waiter was nice and friendly. I would definitely come again

    (3)

  • Gehan K.

    Great atmosphere! Great balls of fire was an awesome challenge. Plus the cheesy poofs were sooo yummy. Great variety of food.

    (4)

  • Richard P.

    Wow, Balls of Fire are over the top. Love the lamb flat bread sandwich and the Cubana sandwich . This is a Man vs. Food spot.

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    I was not expecting too much after reading reviews and seeing this on Man vs. Food.... Now that I have eaten there I feel embarrassed that of all the awesome places to eat in Portland this is the one that was show cased on the Food Network So whats wrong.... the menu has just about no appealing sounding dishes, it is SUPER expensive for what you get, the decor has an interesting theme but comes off really trashy in person, our service was horrid, my food was very disspointing, umm..... the parking situation is rediculous and it is located in a strip mall in SW I will not be returning to say the least

    (1)

  • Miss Denice R.

    Jambalaya was far too salty and set under the heat lamp far too long. This Kitty is a salt-a-holic so I know what I'm talking about! Poor stuff was all crusty and dried out, YUK. The date's Sammy was a work out to chew. The only thing good was the booze. I'm giving them two stars, but only because I have been there before and had good meals. and the server really want us to have a good time. Horrid travesty of food.

    (2)

  • Travis R.

    Went here on a weekday around six, wasn't busy and the exalted one wanted to see the place Man. vs Food raved about. Really, not so much to rave about. I ordered the Kalua Mojo Pork. It wasn't bad, though I wasn't overly impressed with the BBQ they added. My companion in crime ordered the Thiebu Djien mahi mahi. Her impressions? Not so good. The Mahi Mahi never arrived. Instead she was treated to a surprise order of Djibouti Inerja (something with lamb in it from Ethiopia according to our menu.) She informed the server, and to their credit the waitress did promptly apologize and offer to correct the order free of charge. Unfortunately my mahi-mahi craving mate and I had a movie to make, and she ordered another sangria instead. The didn't charge us for the other two drinks we ordered which was nice. She did end up consuming half of my pork sammich, which she decreed in her own words, "tastes like disappointment." Interesting culinary description to say the least. A few days later she decided that we were required to forgive pasts transgressions and under-go the Balls of Fire challenge. Five fritters, layered in enough habenero lava sauce to induce pain. I was thrilled at this suggestion. Not really, but I pretended. You see I know what's going to happen. We were going to arrive, and she would heroically state to our server that yes, yes we will have one, NO SIR, but two orders of said fritters, and bring the pain. Then when the fritters arrive, she will have a bite of one of those stupid balls of fire, and then chug her beer and spend the next ten minutes sticking her tongue out at me like a child trying to cool it off. I on the other hand, would eat those fritters, noticing as my taste buds erupt in pain like someone just shoved an industrial can of pepper spray down my throat. I would shovel those bland fritter balls down my mouth at quick as possible, watching the tears begin to swell in my eyes, and making a date on my calendar for lunch next week, when hopefully my taste buds return and I can enjoy a normal meal. She would probably try to half-ass her way into eating part second fritter on her plate, before she decides she's had enough. Then once she see's my progress, and how I completed the challenge (and did so stoically I might add), she will then make a sarcastic remark about not wasting food, and that I should finish her plate because of starving kids in Africa or some stupid s*** excuse. Yep, I foresaw all of that occurring. And guess what, I'm freaking psychic. My only regret is that I didn't get her fritters to go, then somehow incorporated them into an omelette the next morning. Breakfast in bed sweetie, my treat. (insert evil smile) Bottom line is, if you like eclectic food cuisine that's not to bad overall, and a challenge that will make your taste buds die in mass genocide and tears of pain to flow down your face, then this is your home.

    (3)

  • Benjamin C.

    Wow! I don't even know where to start. The overwhelming array of eclectic international dishes makes me believe that people from these nations should be ashamed of this establishment. Period. This restaurant is harldy worthy of this one star rating!!! The food was EXTREMELY overpriced and bland. I will never waste my time or money to visit this restaurant again. By far the worst food I have eaten in Portland. Hands down. The only thing they have going for them is the novelty of being on Man VS Food.

    (1)

  • Katrina L.

    My little sister and I tried this place for the first time tonight. It was a bad experience and we will not be back. Here is why: - We were seated at a table on the bar side. We placed our (nonalcoholic) drink and food order, and THEN were asked if we're both over 21, which we are not (I am 31 but she is only 14.) The server then said "you can't be here" and acted like it was our fault, even though the hostess sat us there without questioning our ages. - My cotija caesar salad was fairly tasty but TINY. I thought I ordered the entree size (i.e. the only one listed under "caesar salad" on the menu), but they brought a side caesar without clarifying with me. - They brought an entirely wrong dish to my sister and seemed annoyed when I finally flagged someone down to point this out. There was zero semblance of an apology for their mistake and the time we had to wait for the right food to arrive. - My Namibian chicken skewers were dry and tough. Also, I was looking forward to trying the "garlic spinach" they were supposedly served over, but it ended up just being raw baby spinach leaves. - The service in general was apathetic and unfriendly, if not stoned as well.

    (2)

  • Shawn L.

    This is a very eclectic restaurant. The food is very good with a interesting twist on all of their dishes. The Fireballs one of their famous side dishes will only be eaten by the most serious of hot food foodies. Small place with a large flair

    (4)

  • Phil W.

    Great food, friendly service and fair prices!

    (5)

  • Terra M.

    I met a few girlfriends for drinks/dinner last week and we were all disappointed. The food wasn't bad, but it also wasn't great. The most annoying thing? We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and, seriously, it was mostly ice. Not only were all of our glasses served with ice already, but the pitcher was a typical beer pitcher (the clear plastic kind taverns sell beer in, ya know?) that was seriously filled with ice -- it took 3 of us to pour the margaritas: 1 to do the pouring, 2 to use knives to keep the ice from pouring out all over the table. Ultimately, we got a little more than 4 glasses of actual margarita, so it would have been cheaper if we'd ordered separate drinks. And the floor had recently been cleaned and the entire place smelled like 'mop' -- that kinda dirty, kinda wet smell. We actually moved tables b/c the smell was too much. Gross. None of us'll go back.

    (2)

  • Carla J.

    I LOVED this place! My tribe LOVED everything! We where in Portland for the weekend, Jr found this joint via Man vs. Food and bookmarked it.. Navigation brought us to the front door where the locals dine. Delicious, fresh, clean, good service equals WINNER!!!!

    (5)

  • Tim D.

    This is my 'go to' place when I want to have the best fish taco's ever! I have been coming here for years with friends and family and have always found this place to have an interesting and varied menu. During warm summer months, the outside dining is delightful.

    (4)

  • Tim M.

    Their menu is more interesting and diverse than any place I've ever been. My tamale was excellent, and the biggest tamale I've ever had. If you don't have a tolerance for spicy food you may have trouble finding something here, but otherwise you are gonna get great food, friendly service, and more than reasonable prices.

    (4)

  • kristin e.

    Oh, I get it! Salvador Molly's...like Salvador Dali! Heh. So I admit, I came here because I saw that Man Vs. Food episode a while back and quickly bookmarked this place to try out once I moved to Portland. After visiting OMSI, I was starving and didn't really feel like cooking dinner so I suggested going to this place. Luckily when we got there, there was an hour left of happy hour so I ordered the Spicy 'Rita (margarita made with their own jalapeño infused tequila) which was pretty tasty though a little on the sweet side. It did have a lovely kick to it. We were gonna go in for the kill and order the 5 servings of their Great Balls of Fire but our server suggested we each just try one since we've never had it before. Luckily we listened because while they were pretty spicy, I just didn't like the overall taste of them. It was just spicy and salty, not really a well rounded tasting deep fried cheese fritter (which sounds delicious in theory because it's CHEESE and DEEP FRIED). Fortunately my main dish (fish tacos with black beans and coconut rice on the side) was pretty good. I love me some fish tacos and this ranks pretty high up there (though I still think Rubio's is my favorite ever).

    (3)

  • Troy S.

    A place I will have to try a 2nd time, that is certain. My initial impression is just meh, but their menu is definitely not typical and deserves another shot. I had the duck wings and the hot balls (or whatever they are called) that come with a ridiculously hot sauce.

    (3)

  • John P.

    Salvador Molly's used to be a can't miss SW restaurant. Unfortunately, times have changed and so has Salvador Molly's. The service is akin to the Eastern European food lines. We asked for a table recently and they told us it would be 20 minutes. There was an entire section closed and outdoor seating but the hostess said they were not seating at either place. This was the second time that this has happened. We are done....pretty sad because we dined at Molly's opening night and had loved it for so many years. The menu has gone stale, management is in the witness relocation program and basically, the place has turned into a pirate dive bar.

    (1)

  • K. David M.

    My adventure began when I wanted fresh local berries mid-week to make ice-cream. This led me to the downtown farmer's market, which is held on Wednesday in the park located in front of the Portland Art Museum. After picking up a flat of blackberries (I make a lot of ice-cream!), I grabbed a tamale and chips from one of the vendors. Yummy! While I was eating I noticed a sign hanging on the front of the booth which read Salvador Molly's, but in my head I read it as Salvador Dali's. I may have had the museum on the brain. As I finished my tamale the line slowed down and I asked the girl working why they chose that name. She said it was the name of their restaurant. Since I loved my lunch so much, I asked where it was and immediately realized that when I first moved to Portland 20 years ago, I lived around the corner on Iowa Street from where their restaurant is located. Life got in the way and I kind of forgot about it. I was surfing for something to watch on TV when I came across Man vs Food this past week and realized they were talking about the restaurant. It must have been a sign (at least I took it as one) and decided that would my lunch stop on my way to Eugene. Thankfully the weather was beautiful, so there was plenty of seating during lunch and I arrived just as a table opened up outside. Score! Or at least I thought so at the time... My first inclination was to order a tamale, because I knew they were good, but then I knew I could hit the farmer's market and get one when I was downtown. I chose the Jambalaya as it sounded good. After ordering I went inside to wash up and I was immediately torn on if sitting outside was the best choice. Inside I found all kinds of things to look at and spotted the wall with the guy from Man vs Food's picture on it surrounded by dozens of others who had managed to eat their habanero fritters...you won't see my picture on the wall anytime soon...as in ever! By the time I returned to my table I had water, a ginger ale and peanuts to eat. Turns out everyone gets peanuts, so that's cool. When my Jambalaya arrived it smelled wonderful and tasted even better. It was thick and each spoonful was filled with plenty to chew. It wasn't a runny soup with only a few bits of meat. Did I mention it tasted great? I ate my fill (I don't stuff myself) and I was on my way to Eugene to visit my friends. However, I walked out with 1/3 of my lunch in a to go package, because I wanted my friends to try it. They loved it as well, so much so that when they came up this week we made the trip from Vancouver for dinner. This time I voted for sitting inside and we were seated where we could see the TV's. I really dislike establishments where you have to compete over the music, TV's or noise from the kitchen. So I wasn't too thrilled about this, but then I realized the TV's weren't turned up too loud that we couldn't talk normally and hear each other. We could even hear the music. If you haven't been here, the décor is hard to describe. However, I believe it could easily fit in along Hawthorn or Mississippi. The colors are varied and the pictures here on Yelp don't do it justice. I wish I had one of the three of us there so I could upload it. This time I had the ribs and a Thomas Kemper root beer. I can't remember what they call their ribs, but I liked them. My friends shared the Thai steak and tried the tamales. Actually, we all tried some of each others, but I liked my ribs best. And so ends my adventure on finding Salvador Molly's and returning to the neighborhood I lived in when I first moved here. It was a happy reunion! I rated the price here on Yelp with one $ sign, because my meal ran about $15 and that was closer to $10 than it was to $30. Having read all of the comments below (yeah, I have spare time to kill at work), I wasn't surprised that a few people didn't like the décor, but then I prefer the whacky and local over chain restaurants that all look the same. I will be back, but I won't be eating the habanero fritters!

    (5)

  • Breanna L.

    Went here for a friend's birthday and ate in the bar- had Cheesy Poofs, Great Balls of Fire, Tiki Tiki Shrimp, Chili Relleno Desnudos, Baja Saba Fish Tacos, Ajiaco and the bread pudding for dessert, amongst many, many drinks. It was all pretty good, but the Cheesy Poofs and the chili rellenos were excellent. Their jalapeno margarita was also very, very tasty. Their atmosphere is fun and vibrant and we will definetly be going back.

    (4)

  • Micah H.

    I must say I do enjoy their Happy Bites which provides a great selection of food at very decent prices. I have only been in the bar side but at least in there the service is lacking. One of the bartenders is plain rude and seems to be mad at the world. The others are decent but not great. Parking is also tough at this location due to the parking lot being shared with other businesses. There is parking available across the street if need be.

    (2)

  • Leang E.

    Holy Habenero! Those hot cheese fritters are spicy! Thank goodness we also had the calamari and ranch dip to try to bring us back to a fraction of our senses. I think my whole mouth was numb. I should have tried a little bite, but forgot that they were spicy and I was hungry. I made the mistake of slathering on the spicy salsa to top it off - like it was butter! As I think about it now, my face starts to sweat! One person ordered the short ribs dish, and another the pulled pork, and me the shrimp. All of it was really tasty. The ambiance is like a little dive restaurant that is colorful and fun. This would be an ideal spot for a happy hour. The service was a little lacking, but not too bad. Seriously, the repercussions of the spicy cheese fritters were not worth it. My coworkers and I were in the bathroom at night and in the morning we were paying for it.

    (4)

  • Leah S.

    I'll just say it. I hate the food. It tastes good, I'm just not a fan of the type of food they serve. I honestly go only because I'm out numbered on votes (everyone else loves the place) and I can't get my way all the time. However, 1 stars for excellent attitude. They let me order off the happy hour menu since I couldn't take 5 kids into the bar (haha) to order the smallest portion of whatever I thought I could stomach. The other star for just being a cool place to hang out. If I were to vote based upon others input, I'd go with 4 stars but I'm just giving you my opinion. And no, I'm not a picky eater. I just don't like this type of Caribbean food & I don't like Thai food.... I won't ever go to a Thai restaurant. If I'm out numbered on that vote, I would suggest Salvador Molly's instead ;)

    (2)

  • Leslie E.

    Salvador Molly's, though i love the food, really isn't my type of place, but i am so glad it exists! Salvador Molly's is small cozy space jammed with little tables on one side and a smallish bar on the other side, just a block up Sunset from Wilson Highschool. There is a wall of polaroids of all the people who have taken the Great Balls of Fire challenge (which i have heard wreaks amazing distress on your intestines the next day), a loose island and pirate theme with a bit of mexican and asian decor thrown in, friendly servers, and amazingly eclectic food. This place gets kind of hopping and seems to draw quite a crowd. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays it can be hard to find anywhere to sit, servers are really busy so service can be pretty slow, and i feel a bit overwhelmed by the crowd. Too bustling for me but it is quite the scene if you are into it. I'm never quite sure if the people filling it up are all Hillsdale local folks or coming from all over, but either way it is always filled with cool young-ish beautiful people who i don't know. What really keeps me going back there, despite me saying it is too bustling for me, is really the great service, awesome food and libations. Their happy hour prices, at $2 a pop really cannot be beaten...try the pork sliders which are a steal at 3 for $2! The sliders can also be bought at $1.50 per piece when it isn't a happy hour, which is still so worth it. The Mojarita is my favorite drink there, like a blended mojito margarita, minty, fresh, and you won't taste how much alcohol is in there...just watch out for brain freezes. Some of the staff there are really excellent. Krista is sweet, Mladen is a charachter and really nice, and Gabriel is hilarious! It really is the amaaaaazing pork sliders and the staff that keep me coming back here!

    (4)

  • Rich K.

    Went here after buying a Groupon -- hard to beat $35 worth of food for $15. That said, me and my friend were expecting more. We had the guacamole and chips for an appetizer -- they supposedly make the guac fresh in the kitchen, but it was perfectly bland, ordinary guac, like something you'd find in a can. And the chips may as well have come off a shelf at Freddie's. For entrees, I had the coconut shrimp, while my tablemate had the jerk chicken. We've both had better variations of both dishes in other Caribbean- and International-cuisine-specializing restaurants. Granted, they were all in SoCal, so maybe this place is the best Portland can do. Not too surprising, since it's just about impossible to get good Mexican food here also. Would we go back? Probably not. But like I said, we had a Groupon for $35 worth of food, which we bought for $15. That made it worthwhile. But not much else.

    (2)

  • Sung L.

    We saw the restaurant featured on Man vs Food so we thought we'd check it out. Unfortunately one of the two dishes we ordered was delivered with chicken that was raw in the middle. The chicken must have started out frozen because it looked cooked on the outside. The baja fish tacos were pretty good. The famous "Great Balls of Fire" aren't really that hot, so order them if you want your picture on their wall of fame.

    (2)

  • J P.

    We first saw Salvador mollys on man vs. Food and my roomates wanted to do the habanero fritter challenge (5 fritters to get your picture up). Also, amongst locals this place is pretty famous as well. Unfortunately we got to the bar a little late and had expected the kitchen to be open later than it was (11pm) so we felt a little rushed. The staff was gracious enough to let us order food anyways upon the kitchen closing but it had to be off the happy hour menu. I ordered the spinach salad with mango dressing with the garbanzo bean soup while my roomates had pepper cheese fries, pork sliders, and this other African hummus type dish (forgot the name). And the food was pretty tasty! The restaurant has a pirate theme I believe, so I suppose it made sense that the menu was so global. And damn did their ethnic food section look delicious!! Included was Thai coconut curry, butterfly shrimps, grilled halibut, and various middle eastern, Somolian, and Caribbean dishes. I so wish we could have gotten there early enough to order off that menu. The happy hour menu however does give you huge portions for only $2 a plate. As for the great balls of fire challenge, I had half of a fritter and wanted to die. My other roomate had one and a half and started shaking. Apparently they use 10lbs of habanero in each batch. They weren't kidding. You also have o sign a waiver prior to attempting. My other roomate was successful in the challenge. However, 40 minutes later he was plagued with such violent GI issues he almost drove us into oncoming traffic. Then we stopped, and he projectile vomited in the bushes of a parking lot of a liquor store. Epic win! We accomplished what we set out to do.

    (3)

  • Hilary C.

    I hear the owner travels the world and brings back recipes. I wonder if they need any help with their baggage :) Dropped in for lunch and had phenomenal baja fish tacos and some tamales. Moist and bursting with flavor. And messy, which amused the child at the table. They were amenable to substitutions, which I always appreciate due to my allergies. Can't wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Alex N.

    We got the worst service I've ever ever had. Our food was brought and one dish was forgotten our waitress disappeared for literally 30 minutes and we looked everywhere and could not find her and then later on in the evening we saw her talking to another waitress never having stop by our table to see how we were doing. So I got up and walked over to her and said hey We are missing a dish and she said oh really like it was a big surprise to her when it's really her job to make sure we'll have our food. After we left the restaurant I e-mailed the manager, which is the first time my life I ever have e-mailed any restaurant, who assured me that it would be taken care of and I'll be sent a gift card for all our trouble, yeah that gift card never came. I can't not recommend this restaurant enough.

    (1)

  • Colleen W.

    You feel as though you've stepped into someone's travel scrapbook with photos, postcards and colorful artwork adorning the walls and ceiling. I have a particular fondness for the Velvet Elvis shrine...really, who wouldn't? First up, the famous "Balls of Fire": You gotta try these things....but holy buttwater, they are no joke. We ordered one to split between the two of us (to see what we were made of) and after sampling perhaps 1/10 of that bad boy, we proceeded to sweat out the heat over the next 15 minutes. I kid you not. We were later told by our waiter that we could have had a glass of milk. Tip: have that on standby. The menu is eclectic and features many bold flavors from around the world. I probably could have ordered any item on the menu and been happy. We chose the Ocho-Rios Jerk Chicken (great spice and heat!) and the Kalua Pork (tasted like more of a southern pulled pork dish) as entrees. We enjoyed everything except the aftermath of the ball of fire...which was entirely my fault. I was warned of its legendary inferno. Overall, it was a fun, casual dinner date in the Portland burbs. I'd like to go there again to explore more of the menu.

    (4)

  • Bun R.

    Blah, not much to offer besides the peanuts. Used to be a lot better when the menu seemed fresher, they made their own hot sauces and soups and the employees seemed happier. Sad to see them go downhill so much.

    (2)

  • Brandon B.

    Went here for lunch and ordered off their 4.95 menu. The food was not only great but it was a very nice sized portion that left me full. Service was very quick and friendly and the overall environment was great. Loved this place and sad I don't live in Portland and can't come here more often. Awesome!

    (5)

  • Natan J.

    The Habenoro fritters were obviously spicy as they live up to their name, but also surprisingly delicious. I hate spicy things without flavor, and these flavors were delicious!

    (4)

  • Andy L.

    It's not posh, it's not elegant, but it's outstanding. I've been here four times, and each time I leave impressed. On my recent visit, I chose the beef platter, which had three different kinds of beef: ribs, a brisket-style beef, and deep-fried beef meatballs with cheese centers. Different, intriguing, yet delicious. I will have to say, they used to have a fantastic spare rib entree with kimchee, but it's been taken off the menu. The menu features an international dishes from around the world; likely something for everyone. Service has always been great, a decent beer selection, and a fun atmosphere are my experiences. Salvador Molly's is a reliable, adventurous, and delicious restaurant.

    (5)

  • Jaclyn G.

    Salvador Molly's is like no other! The food is indescribable, the staff is unreal and the atmosphere will bring you back for more! Great place for happy hour or even a family outing. Try the fritters. Sincerely, A fan

    (5)

  • Lyric A.

    This place was suggested by a coworker. I walked in not knowing that this is the place MAN VS. FOOD shot an episode where their host consumes five of Salvidor Molly's "balls of fire." Sadly, the food does not live up to my coworker nor to MAN VS. FOOD's positive reviews. I had a lamb dish that was overcooked, salty and dry. The lentil soup that came with the lamb was also overly salty. I decided to be brave and try one of their "great balls of fire." They certainly were the spiciest things I have ever eaten, but I survived. Sadly, all that this place has going for it is their famous little fire balls. Spicy doesn't make the food good though, it just makes it spicy. The wait staff made the place all the worse. Everyone who approached our table (a bartender, the waiter and the bus boy) were all awkward and on the cold side. It seemed like they had no soul. It also doesn't help that after delivering mediocre service, I walk outside and see my waiter somking in the parking lot. Pretty unprofessional; I should not be able to see the help on their leisure time. In all, this place is very mediocre and should be avoided.

    (2)

  • David A.

    This is a fun place! Lots of food variety, large portions, and delicious food! The decor is really eclectic. Prompt and cheerful service.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    First time at this spot and I'm planning my next trip as soon as I get a chance! First off the staff was great, everyone from the bartender, hostess and wait staff. They were all friendly, accommodating and attentive. The menu was much more eclectic then I thought it would be with many different options inspired by a number of different regions. Great portions for the value and the specialty margaritas were great! I enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and would recommend this place to a friend.

    (4)

  • Dan P.

    Ok we've all seen Salvador Molly's on M. vs F. with Adam Richman doing his best pirate impersonation. We know they have habanero fritters that will melt your tonsils or blow out your butt hole. And originally my only intention was to find my own face on the glorified "Wall of Flame". Is it there now? No. I have not accepted the challenge ... yet, only making it to second base thus far with the fritters - ARRRR. What Salvador Molly's does have beyond incendiary food is a funky vibe, eclectic menu and energetic staff. Their dishes focus on regional fare that includes bold flavors and exotic spices. Now they are known for their tamales yet this Mexican fare fan ironically has not tried them. The menu has many ethnic focal points; this allows a myriad of choices you can enjoy with each visit! I have sampled many other items from the dinner menu which have offered my taste buds something tasty and new. My absolute favorite dish is the Ethiopian Djibouti Injera Platter, with lamb. It has tender slow cooked strips of lamb that are served with warm pillowy flatbread, a red lentil curry and garlic spinach. There was one occasion I went when they were very busy (which is often) and my dish was less than spectacular. However 3 out of 4 visits where the food and atmosphere have rocked convince me to keep going back. So if you're looking to grab the world by the fire balls or up to trying something new from a far away land, go check out Salvador Molly's!

    (4)

  • Kathleen B.

    The name led me, incorrectly, to conclude that this was a Mexican food restaurant. Then, walking into the restaurant, the decorations revealed that this is a pirate themed restaurant. That didn't seem especially promising; what do pirates eat? Hard tack? Gruel? Luckily the restaurant actually features Caribbean food, although there is quite a range, from Ethiopian dishes to the obligatory mac 'n' cheese dish. And the food was GOOD. I liked my pulled pork tacos so much I inhaled them in about half the time it took my table-mates to finish their food. Even the rice and beans were delicious. Mr. T's tamales were just ok but the mac'n'cheese and Ethiopian beef that our friends got were both solid. I will totally come back here for the tacos, probably for some of the other Caribbean food. I have had a love affair with Caribbean food since a somewhat ill-fate trip to Puerto Rico where one of the few highlights was the food.

    (4)

  • Denise S.

    This is the kind of place I want to come back to every time I visit Portland. I love the atmosphere and the customer service was excellent. The food is sooo delicious. I've tried the Kahlua Pork, Curry Shrimp and the Mac and Cheese and they were all fantastic! I recommend going with a few people so you can swap bites. The spiked horchata was one of the best drinks I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Shane K.

    Good food and drinks for a reasonable price. You have to try the flaming habanero balls. It can be a bit full of tourists since it was featured on Man vs. Food, but still a good atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Tanna P.

    I went here this summer and loved it. I met my mom and stepdad there for happy hour. We got pretty much all the stuff off the happy hour menu and shared. So many flavors! Soooo good. I can't wait to go again. The cocktails are good too. They have a nice patio, privet parking, and nice staff. Good prices.

    (5)

  • Aubree N.

    I think I landed right in the middle on this one because half of our experience was good and the other was bad. How bout the good first? The food was great. My boyfriend go the jambalaya and I would highly, highly recommend it. He asked for spice level 9, which we were told would be pretty spicy, and it wasn't really spicy at all. Still good though, I would go back for this dish. I got the burrito with pork. The pork was great, a little dry but very good. The burrito was good too, just as you would expect from a mexican-style burrito. Loved the peanuts on the table and really loved the cheese pouf appetizer. And for the bad-the service is really lousy. We were supposed to get an order of garlic bread and it never came. It took them forever to check on us and the place wasn't really busy at all. We waited for the check for a very long time and then when he took our cards he just set them on the counter and walked away for a while. I wouldn't say that they were rude at all, just not very attentive and not what you would expect from the price tag. One last thing-the portions are very large and one entree could definitely be split, especially if you order an appetizer. In the end, the price is good for the portion and the food is good too. I will probably come back.

    (3)

  • Jey R.

    Awesome drinks and great tamale. So good

    (5)

  • Matthew P.

    I read the reviews in advance, went here thinking "the kind of place that non-foodie novices think is 'fun', but my jaded self will be bored with their proletarian cuisine." However, I ended up having a pretty good time, and my friends (who are less foodieish) had a great time. So I'll unclench a little and admit it was a 4-star experience. To reiterate all said before: the cheesy-poofs are a home run, the balls of fire are no shit extremely hot. For main dishes, I was initially extremely skeptical of the variety, fairly assuming it to be a "jack of all trades and master of none" situation. However, after tatsting several dishes, I'd submit that they grasp the (rather related) Caribbean basin, American Soul Food, and West African flavour spectrums. The West African chicken dish was on-par with the quality I've had in some good Senegalese and Nigerian joints; slightly Americanised, but that's okay since a lot of West African "authentic" chow is a bit off-putting. I would, however, stick with the Afro-Latin dishes; the Indian was okay, but the Asian dish (Vietnamese au-jus) was really way off from anything authentic; not necessarily bad but seemed really contrived. The drink selection was good and well-executed, and the ambiance was actually more charming than grating like I'd expected. It was kooky/novel, but came across as cuter than it did pretentious. Overall good night out.

    (4)

  • Kyle R.

    Bad location, that's about the only negative I could think of. Quality of food is diverse and pretty good. I've been about 3 times since the Man vs. Food episode, and have been happy with each occasion. Wait staff isn't the best in regards to attentiveness, especially with drink refills. The food selection is what sells this place -- all unique and quality stuff. It's worth the trip and experience. The place isn't as big as it appears on TV. So try and come during off-peak hours, for a better experience.

    (4)

  • Gregg A.

    This place has great Caribbean food. It all starts with the peanuts at your table and you throw the shells on the floor. It's a great summer time restaurant with outside seating. I would recommend the surfer's tacos (delicious!). All the food has a distinctive Caribbean taste to it. If you like a jerked chicken or pickled onions, this is the place for you. But really anyone can find something they like on the menu. The only downside to the restaurant is the beer. Not a very good choice of beers on tap, but you can always get a Corona in the bottle right... If you're really adventurous you can try a "great ball of fire". Ouch! The hottest , spiciest thing I've ever tasted. If you eat enough of them you get your picture up on the wall...No my picture is not up there....too freakin hot!!!

    (4)

  • John B.

    Back again to catch up on some of my favorite places. I've been going to this place for many years and have really enjoyed it with family and friends. Prior to the Man v. Food episode, it was a quaint locals only establishment. Other than the remodel they went though, net-net, it hasn't been positive for quality. Now-a-days, expect long waits and worse than average service. I still think that the positives outweigh the negatives as there are a couple of dishes that are really tasty. My favorites: anything kalua mojo pork, cuban sandwich, and the fish taco's. Also, the drinks are good AND stiff! As an added benefit, the Hillsdale pub is open next door which is REALLY important since for some reason they can't manage to stay up as late as the rest of us. Best bet here is to come for lunch and avoid the dinner rush.

    (3)

  • Jake W.

    We had to wait about 25 mins for a seat but it was worth it food was dank! The menu is great and we will be back, only complaint is they need some new chairs and tables they are run down and falling apart. Although I think I would eat their food on a dirty bucket so whateva... :)

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    Great food. I saw Salvador Molly's on Man vs. Food, and had to try it. I had the Jambalaya (heat level 7) and it was awesome. There were at least 4 other things on the menu that I wanted to try. I did finish 1 Great Ball of Fire (rated as a 14 on their heat index that tops out at 20) and it was the hottest thing I had ever eaten. I was teetering on panic because of the heat. But, like skydiving, I can say that I did it.

    (5)

  • Rose A.

    Good food, fast service. Crowded and noisy, but had a fairly good time. Jambalaya is good.

    (3)

  • Doug F.

    Gluten Intolerant BEWARE! I hate these restaurants that say they have gluten free entrees, even show them to be gluten free on the menu and then don't have a clue how to deliver. We went to this place tonight and were promised that certain entrees on the menu were gluten free but by the time we got home my wife was doubled over in pain. When I called to complain and spoke the manager she hung up on me. We'll never waste our time and money again.

    (1)

  • flitter k.

    Really good food! I even tried a teeeeensy tiny bit of the great balls of fire. :) Really, really spicy for me. I had the coconut shrimp and my cousin got the pulled pork, both were great. Minimal beer selection for Portland, but I have been spoiled by all the breweries. Nice selection from South of the border in bottles. Full bar.

    (4)

  • Aaron F.

    So yesterday was my birthday. One of my close friends suggested that we get together and have dinner at a place that I've been wanting to try, Salvador Molly's. I was excited. When my friends (Snow M) and I got there, we were told it would be a wait of 30 min, it was actually more like 45 (which is ok its not their fault they cant kick people out) We were called to come in, as we were walking through the door the hostess said oh wait im sorry its not ready yet, go back outside. So again we waited about 5-7 min more, then made our way through the overcrowded dining room to the back corner of the patio. The waitress was nice enough in the beginning. She got our appetizer orders and they came out pretty fast. About 4-6 min after the apps came our waitress stood there tapping her toe impatiently waiting for our dinner orders. It felt that she was rushing us through our meal. Granted they were busy, but still you dont do that especially when told the party is still waiting on someone else to arrive and they are celebrating a birthday. So we all order, the food get delivered fast (15-20 min), so fast we still had 3 full plates of apps on our table. The dinner entrees came and made me feel like the food was going to take over my world. It just felt crowded. So here is where I start getting picky. Being a classically trained chef, if I go out I expect my food be good. I ordered the Kahlua pork. It was served with a garlic mashed potatoes and a spinach leaf thing. The Spinach was fresh very well done as far that goes. The dressing on the other hand, WAY too much vinegar. The Mashed potatoes were decent (I could make them better. Now it was time to try to pork. Kahlua pork is my absolute favorite Hawaiian dish. I was excited to get the chef's spin on it. The menu description made the dish sounds amazing. The Pork had NO flavor, it was over cooked and dry, the sauce that came on the side did nothing to elevate the flavors actually it had the opposite effect it covered up the very little pork taste. Then, I noticed one of my friends didnt get the soda she had ordered in fact had to ask 2x for it to be brought to the table. Another friend ordered the Ice tea (very weak) which was brought out in a dirty glass. Finally, we got through the dinner and I asked our waitress who by now had an attitude of "I really dont give a rip about taking care of your party" for a run down of desserts. I ordered the Lava cake (it was good) as we were waiting my friend who set up the dinner asked to speak with the Front of House Supervisor. He was a good enough guy even comped a 2nd dessert (the Flan which no one ate). Then the bill came. It was not set down on the table it was thrown down on top of my glass of water, almost spilling it. We then were told that they would only split the bill 3 ways no matter how many were in the party. But they didn't even do that for us we had to take a scrap of paper and write down which order went with which card. It was a horrible experience and I will never go back. I will tell all of my friends in the culinary industry about this. There is no reason why a place of this reputation should have service or food this bad and charge what they do. break down of the bill. 3 apps, 4 entrees 3 alcoholic drinks, and 1 soft drink $93 and change. Now understand I'm not one to balk at a meal price close to $100 for 4 people, however only if the food and service make it worth it. Salvador Molly's wasn't worth it.

    (1)

  • Shawn S.

    I love two things: * Salted Peanuts at the table you can crack open, and when finished toss the shells over your shoulder on the floor. * The bolito burrito is fantastic. This vegetarian creation is filled with falafel balls and all kinds of other great tasting goodies. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Marc H.

    Food is a definite 5. Where else can you get such diverse offerings with lots of vegetarian options. Love it! Service is a 1, maybe a 2. This last time the waiter approached us right after we sat down and then realized that we weren't ready and proceeded to go away for....well forever. The table next to us got seated after us and basically had food arriving before we could get our waiter to come back and take our order. More blatent bad service is with the female hostess who basically charges around the front. The restaurant doesn't have much room for a hostess station but still...a little courtesy? One word of advice. Unless you really like spice, don't eat the peppers in the Ema Dhatshi. I can usually handle spice but these almost made me cry. I shall return often for the food and hope to bump the score up if I can avoid getting run over or waiting a long time to order.

    (3)

  • Zoe M.

    Soooo good! Had the MM'Zee sandwich.... You have to eat there!

    (5)

  • Erin M.

    It's hard for me to get a handle on Salvador Molly's. How to describe this joint? Somewhat pricey for what it is, low key, ecclectic food, decent. The wait staff can be cold, but they get their job done. I'm not drawn back to Salvador Molly's but I wouldn't refuse to eat there either. Their meat is well-cooked but not spectacular. Honestly, I wouldn't but S. Molly's at the top of my "to-eat" list.

    (2)

  • Tim C.

    There's something about crazy food challenges that seems to motivate us Americans. Is it our pride? Or is it our ignorance? Like many other reviews, I went to Salvador Molly's to take on the Great Balls of Fire. While the first one tasted pretty good, the last two seemed like a death sentence. They were definately the hottest food I have ever tried. It was cool to witness all the other brave souls on the wall as everyone who accomplishes this feat gets their picture put on the wall. The rest of the experience was quite pleasant, it was not too busy, the service was good, and my fiance said her Cuban sandwich was one of the best she ever had. I could not take a bite out of my Jambalaya because my appetite went to the Fritters. I enjoyed cold milk and numerous napkins wiping my face. I would definately recommend coming here if you want to test the inner lining of your stomach, or if you want a nice meal.

    (4)

  • Dawn D.

    Excellent food, but a bit spendy for the casual environment. Service was not so great and I would definitely pass on the Sangria (it was watered down and you can find better elsewhere). But, the food was SO good. We had an Argentinian steak and shredded pork and both were mouth watering good. The potatoes and roasted tomato was great, black beans were so-so. I'd go again just for the steak and pork (and I'm not normally a beef & pork lover). Oh, and the Balls of Fire are definitely hot. Make sure you have plenty of water, and if I did it again, I'd wait until I had something else to follow up the habanero poppers. Overall, we really enjoyed the food.

    (4)

  • Rachel E.

    i admit it: we came here after seeing the hot bombs (i believe they're actually called "great balls of fire") on tv. i think it was man vs. food. my roommate has an all-encompassing need to be the best, whether it's at sports or food, so the main reason for coming here was to get his picture on the wall for eating five of them. he didn't do it. i don't think he ate three. i think he may have started hallucinating afterward, but he claims they were great. i'm not a fan of habaneros because they taste like feet, but i did have a nibble and it was excruciatingly hot. aside from that i had some kahlua pork tacos which were pretty good, but i think the best thing i tried was pele's volcano. i love pulled pork and french fries and garlic, so it was perfect.

    (3)

  • Angela B.

    Some people spend a lifetime searching for that perfect career, that perfect mate, that perfect house. I have spent my life searching for that perfect fish taco and finally found it at Salvador Molly's. The fish is lightly battered and flash fried, the cabbage is fresh and crunchy, and the secret sauce will steal your heart after the very first bite.

    (5)

  • Mark C.

    After seeing this place on Food Network I had been wanting to check them out now for months. My wife and I had free day over the holidays and checked them out for lunch. From the looks of the menu we wanted a sampling of everything. We were seated and the place was pretty slow. (Monday). It took about 25 mins to get someone to acknowledge we were here. Seemed to be only one waiter running the whole floor including the bar. We started our meal with the rasta onion rings. They came out in about another 20 mins. They were all clumped together in one big ball and were soaked full of grease. The batter just slid off the rings like slip n slide. Very nasty. I dipped one in the garlic sauce and was burping garlic all day.. ack Finally our food arrived, about 45 mins later, I ordered the Louisiana king Jambalaya, my wife the Nubian chicken, my daughter the Pressed cuban sandwich. We had to send the Cuban sandwich back. The bread was soggy and nasty. How do you get soggy bread in a pressed sandwich??? Because it sat around that's why. Are order sat under the heat lamp. The second attempt was better, but the pork had a strange taste. My daughter asked me to try a bite and to me the pork smelled old. I felt sick to my stomach after that 1/2 sandwich, almost to the point of puking. I kept tasting old spoiled pork. My wife's chicken was very dry. Seemed to have been cooked before, then micro upon ordered. Anyways this place may be good for drinks and the balls of fire but for food, it's all just hipe. Terrible service. Wouldn't come back if you paid me.

    (1)

  • Peace S.

    Spicy & yummy! Not a huge selection of vegetarian choices, but they were all good. Best onion rings ever!

    (3)

  • Alex D.

    Came here a year ago for the first time; I would have given it 3-4 stars had I written this review then. I remembered the food being good and we tried the fireballs. They are definitey spicey and will make you sweat buckets! I was passing through Portland again and wanted to eat there again. Sadly, I was very disappointed. We ordered the gumbo soup and one of the sandwiches, both were super satly. It seriously tasted like someone just dumped the container into the dishes. The wait staff was friendly though.

    (2)

  • Chet P.

    So this place is interesting. The menu is all over the place. The weird part is that even though the menu has a lot of items, there is not much of a variety. The food was good but not great and the prices seem a little high for what you get. Shelled peanuts on the table are a nice surprise but I'm not sure how that fits into the menu. Overall it was pretty good but don't think I will go out if the way to visit again.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    I saw this place on Man Vs Food and had to go try the Habanero Fritters. When we arrived, the place was busy (Friday night) but we were able to get a table by the bar pretty quick. First thing, order the Habanero Fritters. I asked the waitress how the challenge worked, she said "Eat all 5 fritters and the sauce/salsa." She went off to help others and I started eating. She passed by 3 minutes later and was surprised I was 1/2 way through. I finished them in 6 minutes, including the salsa. The salsa was delicious, the fritters could use more flavor. Were they hot? Yes, but more in my head than mouth and stomach. I had sweat running down my head and my sinuses were killing me. I had to wait about 10 minutes before staring my entree, the Chili Relleno dish. The chili peppers were grilled and had some great cheese inside. The sides were ok, coleslaw was different (had mango in it). Rice was bland. All in all, I liked it and would try them again. I got my picture on the wall. Mission complete.

    (4)

  • Kimberly M.

    Seriously, the most amazing meal I have ever had.

    (5)

  • Jrj S.

    Fun bar area with a very inexpensive happy hour...but you can't sit on the patio for HH which is a bit of a bummer in the summer :-)...Note to management....LOSE the VERY rude hostess! We initially sat outside and tried to order happy hour and she said I TOLD you it is only served in the bar....(Gee, sorry, we obviously did not hear you.....) she then scooped up our silverware and when we thanked her (twice) she said nothing, just charged inside and plunked the silvereware down and marched away.....What the....? That' their HOSTESS? Big blonde gal for lack of better description....NOT someone I would want as the "front person" for my business!

    (3)

  • Marina C.

    This place remains awesome and a good place to eat, and the Great Balls of Fire were one hell of an experience to win, but I have to say that since the new menus came out last fall I'm rather dissastified with the reduction in the number of options on the menu and generally the cleaner, new look to them.... Part of the charm was the huge electic selection of food and the wonky metal-punched together menus and losing both of them just sort of takes the edge off, but especially the menu change, so that I can't give them five stars anymore in the beautifully competitive Portland food market (they'd still get five if they relocated to Tillamook, but why the hell would they do that?).

    (4)

  • Greg M.

    A little expensive for what amounts to mostly bar food quality meals, there are some outstanding dishes though and the staff have always been friendly. The Great Balls of Fire are most excellent though. The saving grace of this place is the uniqueness of the menu: pulled pork, gluten free menu items, catfish sandwiches, spicy jambalaya, even some Ethiopian dish with injera bread (the curried meal is way too sweet for me but is tasty).

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    Food was delicious. Wait was only about 10 minutes. Place was hopping. So many wonderful choices on the menu. Who would have thought that all those different cuisines would fuse together so well. Way to go and i'll definately be back next time i'm in Portland.

    (4)

  • Sara K.

    Funky atmosphere, innovative food. Just a warning: if you plan on doing the habanero cheese fritters challenge (or even just order one or two), be forewarned- my guy friend did the challenge, succeeded, ate a sandwich and proceeded to puke/get sick as soon as we got home. That stuff is HOT! I ordered one fritter for myself, dunked it in the habanero salsa (bad call on my part)- thought t wasn't so bad and proceeded to have my entire mouth/throat lit on fire, chased with five glasses of water and took at least 12 hours to recover from the experience. Besides that...I recommend the Ethiopian big plate with the little shrimps/dal/injera/sweet potatoes- definitely tasted like somewhat authentic ethiopian. I also tried the jamaican guinea hen with the mustardy sauce- also very good, but would've been much more enjoyed had I not taken a chance with the fritter before. The staff is nice, but definitely a bit on the slow side- they didn't have enough water for all us habanero eaters on the table!

    (4)

  • Stephanie F.

    This is a hip place to hang out with a few friends . The tables are small but there are peanuts! they have highchairs for kids and we saw two families with kids seated, so kid friendly place, except the tables are skinny and small and not enough room for little kids to move around. The menu has some delicious sounding dishes, some great island inspired themes, which is rare to find in Portland. We had the coconut prawn appetizer, but it was around $6 for just 3 shrimp and some weird rice and watery slaw; the shrimp themselves were good. Also got the guac which was also same price for not a ton of guac. For main dishes, we got the mahi mahi which was moist; the mojo pork which was good for that style with no sauce, but mixed with the mashed potatoes and spinach was even better; and the vietnamese beef noodle salad, which was just ok. If I was going to go again, I would go for the Sunday night supper deal for $10 or the Happy Bites menu. But I doubt our family will, as the size of the tables really aren't conducive for small kids and the size of the front room feels very cramped. But for single adults or small parties of friends, it seems like a hip local hang out...

    (3)

  • Eugenia P.

    Wow. what a great disappointment. I went there with a groupon. The appetizer was cold (chicken skewers) and l tasted old. Then we got the wine after the appetizer. The waitress had to come back and ask us what we ordered after we got our appetizer..NICE!!! Absolutely NOT! Bringing a guest out of town, I was really embarrassed to have such poor food and service. I left after paying for the appetizer..it was really, really gross.

    (1)

  • Nicole W.

    Fun atmosphere and great food - recommend you skip the pepper martini - get one at V instead if you like a spicy drink.

    (4)

  • Making H.

    Good for drinks. Try the cheesy poofs.

    (3)

  • Garrick F.

    we came here for the great balls of fire made famous by the man vs food challenge. the night started off easy with some garlic cheese fries. i freakin loovveee garlic and i loovvee cheese and i loovvee fries.. so you'd think that combining all three as one dish would be looovvee right? well. not here. we actually came here for the great balls of fire and the supposed pirate theme. i saw no pirates, so that was strike two so there was only one thing left: the great balls of fire, and let me say: the great balls of fire is right! and i was dearly paying for it the next day with a ring of fire if ya know what i mean. i wouldn't say it was tasty, or even that i'd order it again, but that damn ball of cheese was the hottest thing i've ever had, so hot that my eyeballs were sweating! and that is why i gave this place three stars.

    (3)

  • Jim P.

    We origainlly heard about this place on an episode of "Man Vs. Food" on the travel channel where Adam Richman attempted to tacle 5 "Balls of Fire" Habanero fritters. So when my wife and I got to portland this weekend we simply had to go there. The food was awesome, the service was okay and the Balls of Fire were incredibly hot. I had two of them and knew I had to stop there or I'd be curled up in a fetal position for a long time. they have an incredible variety of food from Afrian to Carribean to, well, you name it -- it's all over the map. I'd highly recommend it... it would be great to find someplace nearby to stay or get a designated driver s much of this food would go very well with some of the wonderful brews they offer. We'll definitely go back next time we're in the area! Oh and the Iced Tea was fantastic... normally I only drink Decaf but this was worth falling off the wagon for -- paradise passion tea I think.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth E.

    Another hidden gem, tucked up in the Hillsdale area of Porltand. This is a fun place to go with a date or a group of friends. The atmosphere is carribean-campy and energetic. An eclectic collection of art and decorations give this place a fun vibe. Servers are also friendly and every table has a bowl full of shelled peanuts--you shell them and throw the shells on the floor! They serve beer and a good variety of cocktails and martinis. As for the food itself, its tasty and delicious. At lunch you really should order the Jerk Chicken Burrito (you'll have enough to share or take some home). Enjoy the outdoor seating in the summer.

    (5)

  • Candice Z.

    We came here for a celebratory dinner a few months ago. Our family suggested it and we're always down to try something new. The service here is great, and to me the food was okay. My pulled pork sandwich was huge, but a bit too spicy for my liking. The garlic fries were delicious! The hubs tried one of the great balls of fire, and then proceeded to drink about 5 glasses of water. Definitely glad we didn't get a full order. But he really liked the fish tacos he got for dinner. I wouldn't mind coming back here again if we were in the area, but it's not a place I'd go out of my way to get to. But if you're a fan of spicy things, this would totally be your version of heaven.

    (3)

  • Kenneth H.

    Salvador Mollys was described to me by a friend as a pirate themed restaurant/bar establishment. Another friend added that," it is not that they dress up like pirates, its more the kind of food one would expect well travelled pirates to eat." This second description got me excited as I started to seriously ponder what pirates ate. I knew they drank rum, but food??? I seem to recall the Pirates disneyland ride recently substituting the male pirate chasing the busty wench to the same man chasing a pig. Other than that I had no idea what to expect. I think their menu boasted that the food has no borders, and on a first glance I was a believer. All of these exotically named choices recalling some of the great destinations of the world Zanzibar, Jamaica, New Orleans, Ethiopia! It was a travelers dream come true. Although I salute the attempt at broadening the average consumers horizons I felt that this could be accomplished better. Its an eclectic menu to be sure, but I found all the options to be the most obvious and basic interpretations of regional cuisines from the second tier trendiness (The first tier being Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, etc). For example instead of Jerk Chicken from Jamaica maybe some Ackee and Saltfish and Callaloo? The good news is that they have a great atmosphere with a nice half deck, sitting in the sunshine thingy (it feels like a converted garage), and free peanuts. So in a nutshell (bam!) I enjoyed my experience, but was a bit disappointed in the selection of foreign standards. Also they have these hot fried ball things that were featured on some TV show. I didn't try them but I imagine they are hot and spicy and for people with forgiving bowels.

    (4)

  • Rachelle P.

    After seeing Salvador Molly's on an episode of Man vs. Food, my fiance and I went to check it out on a recent trip to Portland. The show featured the "Balls of Fire" - fried balls of habanero heat with matching sauce. If you eat all five with all the sauce, you picture goes on the wall. This was a challenge he had to try. Caveat - my fiance can eat anything regardless of spice level. He took one bite of his first ball of fire, said it was good, but that it was hot. He ate the rest, but didn't taste anything because his mouth was on fire. We are talking tears from the eyes burning. Be warned, if you eat the famed Balls of Fire, the heat does not stop in your mouth. You will literally feel the heat of the habanero as it moves down your throat, sits in your stomach, through the intestines, and then....you get the picture. I am not a fan of spicy food, but they have plenty to choose fun with a fun menu full of variety. Three stars because it's not somewhere I would go out of my way to visit again.

    (3)

  • Jim P.

    Great food. Interesting decor and poor service.

    (4)

  • Mak H.

    Surpisingly good food. The blender at the bar can literally make your ear drums bleed, and is good if you don't want to talk to the people you are with- that cost them a star. I liked the Kalua pork sliders, and the tamales. Happy hour prices were pretty cheap. We will definitely be coming here again.

    (4)

  • Lora K.

    I had found out Salvador Molly's was on television after we had arrived there, we only went here because it was for a friend's birthday dinner. I'm proud to say we aren't one of the lemmings. My husband ordered a Mojito, one of his favorite drinks, one I do not care for, mostly because I don't like mint flavor or the taste of cheap rum. First his Mojito was in a small chimney glass, about 5-6 oz. I asked him what he ordered because I couldn't see any mint in it. He asked me to try it and that's one Mojito I liked because it tasted like limeade. No mint at all, and definitely no rum flavor either. Then the twist of the knife was that it was a $7.00 beverage. Service was slow, we were a party of 12, so you have to give them some slack there, but we sat for at least 15 minutes before we had our orders taken. I ordered Yucatan chicken tacos, my husband ordered the Tamarind mint shrimp curry, when they asked how hot he ordered medium to spicy-like Thai food should be. I expected my chicken to be nicely seasoned when I saw the unusual orange color to the meat. It was bland, wow, was it bland, and I don't necessarily go for spicy food. That Thai spiced bowl my husband got-no heat, also bland. One of our friends ordered the Louisiana King Jambalaya SPICY. They made him sign a paper because he ordered it spicy. He said it was hot, but as far as flavor...well, it was hot. During the meal, one of the few times our server came back, I requested a refill of my coke along with a couple other people. The refill was a diet coke, yeah-you can tell the difference. So when I asked if I could have a regular Coke, he insisted it WAS a regular Coke. I told him it was then it was the nastiest regular Coke I'd ever had then. He brought me another glass and slammed it on the table. When I requested some salsa or hot sauce for my tacos, the waiter brought out Habanero hot sauce -not sure if he was just being b*tchy by this point.. So, I'm not sure which should get a lower rating, the food or the service. Wait, since my husband missed work today sick to his stomach all last night, I think I'll rank the food lower.

    (1)

  • Stumbalina b.

    What a wonderful place with an eclectic menu, offering some inventive dishes from around the world. It's cute, comfortable and charming. The Indonesian tofu fries are amazing. They are served with a peanut ginger dipping sauce. I forget why, but we got a free order of delivous curry dahl. I think it was because we asked them about the specials of the day. How generous! Next time I go back, I'm going to get the African Injera platter with tofu, sweet potatos, curried lentils and mixed greens. My fried tried the taco plate and I got the Barbados mac pie, which was a spicy version of mac n' cheese. Mighty tasty, and I will return!

    (4)

  • Big Eaters C.

    "Great Balls Of Fire" Eaten By "Stephanie Collingsworth" The fritters themselves were easy enough to get down with the aid of some milk. My mouth was burning, but not unbearably, and that sensation only lasted about 15 minutes. The difficult part of this challenge started happening about an hour afterwards. The pain in my stomach was indescribable. Only unintentional upwards evacuation ended the agony. I DO NOT Recommend this challenge to any sane person. I have never before eaten food that has fought back. This busy and colorful restaurant, seemed to be popular based on the full tables and patio. I can see why, the staff was prompt, polite and friendly. The food being served around us looked amazing. Parking might be an issue in the small shared lot. youtube.com/watch?v=tJvg…

    (2)

  • Eggland B.

    So much went mildly wrong... We showed up ten minutes before happy hour and told the host that we were there for drinks and snacks and he sat us in the restaurant portion without asking any clarifying questions. We tried to order from the happy hour menu and the waitress informed us that it was only available in the bar. She suggested we move to the bar but made no effort to help us move our water. Once in the bar we tried to sit at the bar itself, but the bar tender told us that they had "too much stuff" on the bar and that we shouldn't sit at it. So we moved to a table. The waitress kept running by every few minutes to yell at us that we still couldn't order anything... even though drinks were not on special, so we really should have been allowed to place a drink order!! So finally we ordered some food and drinks. We ordered some french fries covered in stuff and some of the "great balls of fire," and a drink each. The fries were alright. A little goopy, but for $2 really okay. Some people at the next table had some awesome looking pork sliders. The great balls of fire were okay, but I think they were a lot better when I had them a couple of years ago. Is this place under new management? Waitress was bad about bringing more drinks and more water (hello, we ordered something called "great balls of fire"... I need some water!). She was rude and awkward, and had a weird interaction with some old dudes next to us that's a long story but it basically boiled down to lecturing them about how they weren't obeying the rules of the house. She brought us the check and it was twice what we expected. Turned out that she had put someone else's stuff on our tab. The problem was corrected, but still annoying. Actually, it wasn't really all that annoying (mistakes happen) except that I almost got the impression that the waitress thought it was our fault. Painfully mediocre.

    (2)

  • Bernhard W.

    Great food, great service...The food was flavorful and portions adequate. Although parking was a bit of an issue, don't let that deter you! If you like your food spicy....this is the place to go. Not sure I can down 5 of those 'Fire Balls' yet, but I look forward to trying! And trying the other dishes on the menu! The Jambalaya was incredible, although one more corn muffin would have been nice. Give it a try....I know I will be back!

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    It was a 3 hour wait to get into the "16th Annual Hillsdale Brewfest" at the McMenamins (why wouldn't they hold something that big at the Kennedy School?!) but luckily for us, Salvador Molly's was right across the parking lot! We grabbed a booth in the enclosed patio area and had a fantastic afternoon of delectable recipes from exotic locales (try the ribs, or the pulled pork!) along with delicious beers from Oregon! Everyone talks about the Balls of fire, so read any other review for that one. But I will tell you that next time, we'll just go straight to Salvador Molly's....

    (4)

  • Heather E.

    I like this place. I am a big fan of the tsunami tacos and the great balls o fire. The best part is it's just minutes from home. Nice to sit at the bar an watch the game

    (3)

  • Devon D.

    Wonderful service, fun atmosphere, extensive/inventive cocktail menu, and large portions if you don't mind waiting for a table. My friends tried the "great balls of fire" and were feelin' the heat for hours!

    (5)

  • LYNSEY L.

    Meh. The food was fine. The service was friendly. The drinks were good. The prices were standard. I left satisfied, but thinking of several other places I wished we had gone to instead. I left knowing we would never come back. I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. The menu is quite large and everything seems very interesting, but the reality is just kind of mediocre. We gave it a good go, ordering drinks, an app. entres and dessert (the best part, by the way, was the bread pudding - yummers!). I could see this as a fun place to bring kids as its decorated super over the top - but if you are looking for great food I say go somewhere else, I dont think you will be sad after your meal but you will likely be "Meh".

    (2)

  • Erika B.

    It took 10 minutes to even be acknowledged when we arrived. This was a weekend afternoon and they were not all that busy. The service was slow and unattentive.The food was not so great either. A huge disappointment.

    (1)

  • Kris W.

    This is not a restaurant review - I've only had the tamales from the farmer's market. All I can say is: you should buy a frozen six-pack and keep them in your freezer, because they are delicious and easy to cook. Whip up some Mexican rice and veggies to go along side, whirl some salsa in the Cuisinart, and you have dinner on the table in about 20 minutes...a good, hearty, satisfying dinner, too.

    (4)

  • Ethan H.

    I have been a devoted fan of Salvador Molly's since the early '90s. The management change last year brought with it a menu makeover. The latest incarnation is not for the better. For devoted Molly's fans, here are a few recent changes you will notice: No more dropping peanuts on the floor, no more Sunshine and Pain sauce (the magic behind the Hot Balls of Hot), and in the name of everything that's holy, no more surfing videos. Lack of any of the above should raise warning flags; the combination did not bode well. On our visit tonight, the aforementioned peanuts were stale, as were the tortillas. The kitchen has lost its way. The vibrant mix of flavors that characterized Molly's of old were replaced by heavy doses of salt and grease. The oil was tired at that - anything fried tasted distinctly rancid. Old standbys such as the Yucatan chicken and Kalua pork came out just plain nasty. Jerk chicken was edible, although "jerk" apparently implies lots of salt and a hint of thyme. Even the tamales, the item that Salvador Molly's first sold, were tasteless, managing a combination of dryness and greasiness I previously thought impossible. When the waiter asked how the meal was, our response was "OK at best." His resigned look said all that needed to be said as he cleared the half-eaten plates from our table. On the plus side, the drinks remain good. The bartender was an experienced hand, and the concoctions showed it. Salvador Molly's has gone from being a favorite we visited several times a month to one I have no inclination to subject my stomach to again. Bummer.

    (2)

  • Scott K.

    Right down the street from our house, this is a great casual atmosphere restaurant that is even kid friendly. The food is just plain amazing although a little greasy at times. That said, if that's what you're into, then this place is perfect. Happy Hour is great; drinks are unique and refreshing and the outdoor seating is lovely even during hot summer days.

    (4)

  • Ana R.

    I have to admit, we went to this place because it appeared in "Man vs, Food". My husband liked it, and that's because his stomach can deal with spicy stuff. I thought it was ok. The menu was a little all over the place, I don't even remember what I had 9I even went to their website and check the menu, still can't recall), obviously it wasn't memorable. My husband had the jambalaya, he said it was ok. Would I go back there? No, I don't think so.

    (2)

  • Chad D.

    Severely disappointing. I'd heard great things by word of mouth and was excited to try a variety of unique flavors. Turns out this is fairly typical bar food with a few slight twists. Completed the Great Balls of Fire challenge without too much drama. It's hot alright, but not suicidal hot. I would've loved to have had a much better experience, but this fell flat. It's tempting to give them another shot because there are so many positive reviews. I went for lunch and maybe the third string cook staff was working.

    (2)

  • Brian H.

    The food is always good here, not fantastic, but good. Above all, I've always had super friendly service and stiff drinks. I've had the tamales several times because they are consistently good. Tonight our server was Courtney and she was great.

    (4)

  • C.J. W.

    Disappointing experience. I expected way more out of a place that touts itself as providing a "world of flavors"...I thought it seriously lacked flavor in both of the dishes we ordered...the pulled pork and the jerk chicken sandwiches. There was WAY too much sauce on the pulled pork and it just wasn't that tasty. It was a bummer. I will say, if you're looking for a fun food challenge -- just stick to the GREAT BALLS OF FIRE and then go home. That's the only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.

    (2)

  • Denny S.

    I had the pampas chimichurri steak, wife had the pork sliders, and we shared the steak bite appetizers. The chimichurri steak came with spinach as a side. I forgot to ask them to leave it off, as I hate spinach. The only thing on the plate when it left the table was a smear of potatoes that I was embarrassed to lick off of the plate. The sides were nice, wife liked her sliders. The service was friendly and fast. The waiter was dealing with a difficult couple next to us, who ended up being very satisfied with their meal as well. I was very impressed with this cute little joint. I researched it a little before going, my wife did not. At one point she looked around confused by the decor, it's a little bi polar, then I just said look at the menu, it's from everywhere, therefore the Decor is also. Going back, good food, good service, groupon, how can you miss with this one.

    (5)

  • Andy B.

    Food so good, atmosphere so fun. Don't try the Great Balls of Fire, they are too hot! Great apps and entrees.

    (5)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - The food here looks good on the menu, but when it comes out, is either disgusting, over-cooked, under-cooked, or has been sitting in the kitchen so long that it's cooked fine but is luke-warm to cold. Our meal was so awful that I would never come back, and I suggest you spare yourself the misfortune of coming. Service is also lacking, but the 1-star rating is only for the food. I came for dinner on Friday, 17 June 2011 for dinner with 4 friends upon the suggestion of one of them... he found this place on the internet, and something about Man vs Food on the Food Network. In the end, I really don't understand why this place was packed. The table next to ours had the same exact problems we had with our food,.... only their food took 3 times as long to arrive as ours (and we were seated after them). Originally, I wasn't going to Yelp! this restaurant; however, in the middle of our awful meal experience, I decided this really needed to be Yelp'd. We ordered the following: Calamari ($8.95) - This was actually the best thing we had all night. Tiki Mac & Cheese ($9.95) - The mac & cheese had some sweet potatoes in it, and was topped with fries. The mac & cheese itself was okay, but the fries were totally cold... not even a hint of warmness. It was disgusting. Surf & Turf ($34.00 x2) - Two of my friends ordered this. They liked the coconut prawns, but one of the steaks was so utterly raw that it was still cold on the inside (he ordered it medium). In the end, he had to ask them to grill it more so that when he takes it home, it's edible. I'm sure he wouldn't order this again. Jambalaya ($13.95) - My friend ordered this and it had no real flavour. He had to add a lot of salt to it (he is sensitive to salty foods, so this was very surprising). He would definitely not order this again. BBQ Sliders ($1.50 x2) - I ordered this to share with a friend. The meat wasn't bad, but it did not come out hot. It was so cold that I had to return it for them to re-cook. Cheesy Poofs ($5.25) - Apparently, this is what they were known for... so we ordered it. It came out cold on the inside. It was gritty on the inside, like the cheese had curdled. I had to send it back for them to re-do... it came back burnt on the outside. This was disgusting and I can't believe it's even on the menu. Yuck. Namibian Chicken ($5.75) - This chicken dish was just some chicken on skewers. It came out cold (like it had been sitting out for a while). We had to send it back to be re-cooked. It came back hot, but the flavour isn't that great. We didn't finish it. Tiki Shrimp ($5.95) - This came out on skewers. It also came out cold (like it had been sitting out for a while). Cold shrimp, when it's supposed to be warm, was disgusting. We had to send it back to be re-cooked. Along with a soda water ($1.75), a Mr. Pibb ($1.95), a Baileys Coffee ($6.50), 4 Savignon Blancs ($5.50/each), something called "charge tips" ($4.00), our bill came to $125.50 + 8.00 service charge + 20.00 additional tip = $153.50 total for the 5 of us. Many restaurants deserve a second chance, but I just cannot bring myself to try this place again; especially with all the good restaurants in the Portland area.

    (1)

  • Valerie W.

    Eh. I don't really see all the hype. I'm not a fan of the location either. Seems like it would be better suited elsewhere. My order: Pele's Volcano sandwhich, Great Balls of Fire. Both were OK. Nothing special in my book however. The BBQ pork seemed a typical flavor. The Great Balls of Fire were indeed spicy. I only managed to eat about 1 1/2 before giving up and before my mouth wanted to bleed. I felt they were lacking some flavor though. All I could taste was the over abundance of Habanero. Other people's dishes looked delicious. There were several great looking options on the menu. The one good thing about this place is their $2 Happy Hour. Nice options of food for super cheap! My suggestion is to try out the Chili-Lime-Garlic Cheese Fries. Such a mouth explosion of delicious! The gooey cheese makes me salivate just thinking about it. The Jerk Shrimp sticks are pretty good as well. Nothing specktacular. They also have a $3 cocktail special that runs during this time. I'm more than happy to re-visit Salvador's but I think I'd need to try out the variety of dishes on the dinner menu.

    (3)

  • Francisco M.

    Oh the Fritters....I ate three of these little balls of hate. It hit me heading back on 84 when I had to make an emergency stop in the Hollywood District. I felt like I was giving birth to a chest-burster Xenomorph in slow motion for the next three or so hours. The aftermath of taking these on is quite interesting. It's a painful body high that borders on spiritual. It's like you actually are staring your own mortality in the face. Eating something so spicy is an affront to God. For my hubris, I ran the full gamut of emotions and paid the price. I was happy that I did it and full of bravado at the time. I even told the guy I wished I had gotten five. Reality kicks in though shortly and then regret. You suffer for your pride, and then face the shame. Oh the shame. The shame off running into a store trembling sweating buying something only praying you can make it to the restroom. Nobody wants to let you use the restroom because you look like a junkie skell all shaky and sweaty. You then feel the shame running into a plaid pantry like a meth-head looking for sudafed, frantically grabbing any pepto, zantac or whatever it takes to make the aweful pain stop. When the pain does subside eventually, relief kicks in and you feel a tremendous euphoria, that is until the pain comes back and it will. It's like a 90's boy band. Just when you think your are done, it comes back stronger than ever. All that said though, Molly's is super cool. I wont order the "Great Balls of Satan" or whatever they are called or should be called, but I will for sure come back. Killer environment, great drafts, free peanuts, and good service it's a real gem and if you go for the Fritters, I promise you'll have a GREAT story to tell your friends!

    (4)

  • Tiffany M.

    I'm shocked this place isn't hire in rankings. DELICIOUS! I have been here a couple of times and not have been disappointed. So far I have tried the Mahi Tacos YUM!, Kahlua Pork Tacos FANTASTIC!, and a few other things. The cocktails are also delicious. I had a habanero fritter and it was good and spicey I just made the mistake of washing it down with their Fire Rita. Not my smartest move HA! I will go back and do the challenge though. If you are looking for a place that is unique and plenty to choose from then this is the place for you. It has something for everyone and if you don't know what you want to eat then you will definitely find something on the menu. :)

    (4)

  • Richard M.

    (I have received emails that my reviews are too lengthy... I will attempt to be brief.) Date of visit: 27OCT12 Time: about 1600hrs. Ordered: Yukatan Sunrise Bowl (with tofu instead of chicken) and Negro Modelo. Let me start off with, "DAMN!". OK... now to the guts of this.... Not overwhelming from the outside... Not overwhelming from the inside... UNTIL, the wait staff appeared. From then on, the rest of our visit was out-freakin'-standing! Our reservation for nine was not on the pad of the guy at the front door. However, after checking twice, he gave us a huge smile and warm welcome. He offered us to select a spot and make ourselves comfortable. We opted for the bar area due to loud little children in the restaurant area. Our waitress was prompt to the table and did NOT make herself a stranger to us! I apologize for not having your name, dear. You were fantastic! We never waited for anything. The menu offered everything from a meat lover's plate-FULL of pulled chicken to vegetarian and everything in between. Oh...the best onion rings. And, yes, they offer a full bar. Thank you, Salvador Molly's for a great, birthday evening and meal. P. S. Those habenero cheese balls... go easy on those, folks. They are absolutely delicious but, they burn 'twice'... if you know what I mean.

    (5)

  • Jamie H.

    I can't believe it took us so long to finally come to this place. We love it! The staff was extremely friendly and the food was fantastic. I ordered the Tsunami Surfer Tacos with Kalua pork. and my husband ordered the Louisiana King Jambalaya. We were both very pleased with our entrees. I have to say, the best part of the whole meal was the appetizer. If you go to Salvador Molly's, you absolutely have to have the Cheesy Poofs. Holy moly those things are amazing! They are like tasty little balls of gluttony and we love 'em! We will definitely go back for more. :)

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    Not sure I understand some of the recent hatin' on Salvador Molly's. We came here last summer and it was just fine. We came back three Saturdays ago (another late Yelp, sorry) and it was still just fine!! Came relatively early for dinner, but it does get crowded, but at 5p the restaurant was 2/3 full or something and we were seated in the bar right away. Waiter was prompt. Receiving our funny colored cocktails from the bar was prompt. Order taking was prompt. Food was prompt.....it was all good....just like a service should be. I had jambalya...it was good and spicy (they ask, of course, your desired amount of fire-mouth...lol). One of my dining partners....a little 22 year old waif of a grad student (daughter of great friends....don't give me that creepy look!!) decided on the Great Balls of Fire Challenge. Hooo Boy...here we go. Six minutes later she is done with her fire balls!!!! SIX MINUTES!!!!! Fortunately she dressed sorta sassy, feeling confident her picture would end up on the wall.....and she also earned a new nickname from us..."Little Miss Fire Balls" I seem to always struggle to find SM, but once we make to the parking lot, we've never had a less than very good experience!

    (4)

  • Camel R.

    The fireballs are hot hot hot.....the most spicy thing my husband ate. We ordered the steak and thai tilapia. The steak is good. The beans on the side is good. But the fish is nothing thai. Smell a bit. The side noodles arw uncook. No tasty and not worth the money,

    (3)

  • Mike E.

    Salvador Molly's is a really cool place with one of the most unique menus I have ever seen. They have dishes on their menu from places like Jamaica, Argentina, Thailand, Columbia, and Ethiopia, among others. I've never been to a place with such a diverse offering. I had seen the "Great Balls of Fire Challenge" on Man vs. Food and that's what led me to Salvador Molly's. The Great Balls of Fire are habenero and cheese fritters. I didn't want to attempt the challenge, but I did want to try the fritters. I ordered the Great Balls of Fire as an appetizer along with Pele's Volcano for my entree. Pele's Volcano is a pulled pork sandwich with tamarindo bbq sauce and melted cheese. I think this would have been an excellent sandwich if I hadn't of made the decision to eat some of the Great Balls of Fire before hand. The Great Balls of Fire were the hottest thing I've ever eaten. They were so hot that I couldn't even taste my sandwich. It was the kind of hot that doesn't seem very bad at first, but hits you about a minute after you eat it and doesn't go away. Cool place, good selection of beers, unique and diverse menu, and the food looked really good... just wish I could have tasted it, :-).

    (5)

  • Allie R.

    My feelings about Salvador Molly's are deeply, deeply mixed. When I lived nearby, I came here a handful of times --usually because a friend or out-of-town guest saw this place on Food Network and wanted to check it out. My lunch experiences here have all been positive; on every occasion, I have visited with a friend, and we order a couple of things to share, with Pele's Volcano usually among them. My dinner experiences, on the other hand... The service has run the gamut from vaguely disinterested to spacey and disorganized to reasonably good. The food, on the other hand, has been consistently mediocre. I've ordered something different on every visit, and not one of those dishes was memorable. And on more than one occasion, my tummy was less than pleased by the time I headed home. The novelty factor might bring you here once or twice, but I don't think the experience will draw many people back consistently.

    (2)

  • Brandon T.

    The service could have been better, we had to wait sooooo long to order and soooo long before our food came and then even had to wait for the check........... We tried the "Great Balls of Fire" , they were not really that spicy I have to be honest...though I am glad that I we only got two because they were not that good either....i mean fried cheese is something one shouldn't be able to mess up but they managed it. The volcano pulled pork sandwich was good, the fish tacos were also good and the spicy ritas were not spicy but still tasty. All in all A-OK...........had good music too...

    (3)

  • Misty B.

    Our family has been going to Salvador Molly's for a while now. I've noticed it kind of getting more and more "meh" over the years. They're known for their Great Balls of Fire. I can't even...I don't do super spicy. I don't really know what I like here anymore. We came last month and I had the kaluha pork, it wasn't that good. I've always liked their tamales that I can get at the Farmer's Markets around town. It's too crowded and the parking lot is tiny and hard to maneuver in, so you usually have to park across the street. The drinks are pretty good though.

    (2)

  • Zack H.

    I have flown over 2,000 miles just to eat here, and I have survived their Great Ball of Fire (does that mean I have greater balls of fire?). However petty as it might be to review a place after only coming here once, I picked up enough from the restaurant to review it. The food is why this place is famous. I finished the Great Balls of Fire in 3 minutes, and there are, indeed, hot. However, this wasn't one of those challenges where you are only given heat and nothing else. The Great Balls of Fire were surprisingly good! They are deep-fried habanero poppers stuffed with cheese. The breading was excellent, and the cheese only added to the taste of the overall poppers. However, the best thing I tasted was the habanero salsa. I might have been because my tongue was numb, but the salsa tasted sweet and relaxing. It was not even close to hot; however, it was among the best salsas I have ever had. The decor is one-of-a-kind. Yes, a large portion of the restaurant is just random winners (myself included). However, this is one of those places where the decor adds to the overall character of the restaurant. Finally, the clientele and staff were both talkative and appreciative of each other. It was the perfect atmosphere. While it can be a little bit on the expensive side - and unfortunately big on hidden charges - this is one of the best restaurants in Portland.

    (4)

  • David P.

    Wow...I think I just had the worst Portland dining experience of my life... Granted the place was packed, but our appetizers came out quickly with the entrees 45 minutes later! The calamari are great, but the onion rings were inedible. The batter looked great on the outside, but was somehow undercooked once you bit in, and the oil tasted like it had been in the fryer far too long. The Tiki Mac (I think that's the name) tastes like cream of French onion soup (in a bad way), and my artichoke heart and cotija cheese tamale turned out to be chicken (vegetarians beware). To add insult to injury, I had purchased an online $30 coupon for $15, and when the manager was done crediting back all the stuff we didn't order (meat tamale) or couldn't eat (onion rings and Mac), the total was only $14.45! I ended up overpaying for the gastrotastrophe! I somehow have fond memories of this place, but I'm afraid that's the last time I will set foot in there. A real shame.

    (1)

  • Jennifer H.

    When we lived in Oregon for about 4 years, this was one of our favorite places. Now that we live in Arizona, we always make it a point to go to this restaurant every time we visit Oregon each summer. You can't go wrong with the Kalua pork tacos. They are absolutely delicious! The chimchuri steak is also good too! My husband and his brother always order the jambalaya, but be forewarned, that if you order it on the spicy side, your eyes might become teary. For appetizers, if prepared right, the rasta rings are great for sharing. The garlic aioli is a perfect compliment with the rasta rings. As far as drinks go, they have a good variety and for most of the times we've been there, the drinks have been on the stronger side, especially if you order that drink (I forgot which name) that can be shared for up to 4 people. Service is hit or miss! I understand that this place is often busy at night, and service can be slower at those times, but if you go during an early afternoon weekdays or even on a Saturday, the service is better.

    (4)

  • Anna N.

    Great Balls of Fire! I saw this place from Man vs. Food & thought that it would be an excellent place to take my girlfriend since the girl eats thai chili pepper like candy. It was a great opportunity for us girls to all get together and laugh at one another. =) We arrive there and ordered a pitcher of Sangria, which i must say tasted extremely watered down. We all order different items on the menu and none of us was really impressed with any of it, except my sister kept raving how delicious their fish taco are. However, i think it kinda taste like Chevy's fish taco. I literally had to season my dish with salt to get some flavor out of it. Anyways, the real reason we were there was to do the great ball of fire challenge. My girlfriend was all ready & prep for the challenge. She had taken the time to curl her hair, find the perfect outfit and her make-up was done to perfection (for the photo of course). As she was eating the fritters she kept complaining how bland it was and that it wasn't good to eat because they didn't bother to season it well. She said it tasted like a ball of raw flour...ugh! The girl didn't even break out in a sweat as she ate all the fritters and the sauce, but she did say she wanted to throw up cuz it was so gross to eat. We don't think we'll be back here again because the food wasn't that impressive and the food around the world selection could be a lot better. I definitely thought the Vietnamese noodle dish was ugh!

    (3)

  • Julie B.

    I was here 5/7 and had a great time with my guy. I was told there would be a 15 - 20 minute wait, but that's to be expected on a saturday evening. Turns out I only had to wait about 10. Cool. We were seated in the sunroom type area. It was crowded and it felt like we were in the way sometimes. I do consider that it was a busy night and we were seated quickly so I wasn't expecting the best seat in the house, I'm no diva. My guy and I tried the habanero fritters. Holy hot, batman. My brother won the king of heat contest by eating like 30 of these things. I ate one and it felt like I had been making out with the devil. The flavor was a bit too earthy for me but they're popular for a reason. I had the Injera platter which was pretty tasty but I wish the bread were served on the side so I could scoop the spinachy goodness up with it. The lentil soup was cuminy and peppery and I wanted more! The sweet potato side was good too. I usually prepare them in a savory way at home, but I liked the peanuts and sweetness with them in this case. My guy's cuban sandwich was good, or at least the bite I had! Unfortunately we were too full for dessert. The atmosphere is bright and reminds me of caribbean vacations. Actually I'm fantasy shopping for a Carnival cruise in another window... The server was surprisingly on top of it. It was a busy saturday, one of the nicest days so far this year, so everyone and their mom was thinking sunny weather food. Like I've said before, I can't fault a place for being popular. Apparently unlike some other reviewers I have been in the industry and know what a busy night is like. Sometimes you run out of water. OMG. Being given extra water is a time saver, not an insult. I plan to come back and hopefully sometime for happy hour since I worked near the one off Belmont and remember good cheap rum drinks. Oh and cheap food never hurts. I just wish there was a location closer to my area.

    (5)

  • H O.

    +: If you have minimal expectations on good ethnic food and want to chill in a wacky place, this is your spot! -: Peanuts were insanely salty and the sangria was really watered down. !: I love the concept of being able to dine on food from around the worl

    (3)

  • Fat L.

    My friends and I - and our stomachs (and apparently our buttholes - it's 24 hrs. later and and I'm writing this from the toilet: surprisingly solid, but painfully spicy poop #4) - felt up for a challenge, so we decided to head over to try the Great Balls of Fire. I hadn't been here for probably 10 years, but I remember the food was great and they serve pickled onions - pickling is one of those flavors right up there with bacon and chipotle in my book. I started with the "Painkiller" (pina colada meets orange juice, and some alcohol you couldn't taste), which was a nice breakfast drink, but I would have sent it back for more alcohol had it been later in the day - luckily our waiter forgot to even charge us for it. When it came down to it, my friend and I were the only two (out of 6) to actually order all 5 balls... I also ordered some smothered fries to act as a chaser for the fiery balls, but didn't really have the opportunity to fully enjoy them, as my stomach was rather occupied, so I'll leave them out of this review. On to the balls... Most people here have said one of two things "They don't taste very good" or "They're not that hot." In response to the first, I actually thought they had a nice flavor - I don't know exactly what traditional habanero fritters taste like as I've never had them before - and I'm also not that into eating more than one or two balls of cheesy dough deep fried to crispness, but they were nicely seasoned and you could taste more than just the habanero. As for the second statement, you're right, they're not that hot. But the sauce is EXTREMELY hot. The first ball was actually quite delightful as I decided not to dip it in the sauce, and the nice thing is that the "fire" remains more in your mouth and you don't feel it slowly burn down your throat into your stomach, like shots of everclear. I can deal with spice in my mouth, but after the 3rd ball or so, including sauce, my stomach started to feel rather unsettled. I think that it was pissed at me for asking it to digest mass quantities of habaneros and heavy fried goo at the same time. Needless to say, I finished all five, and my photo now adorns the lovely walls of Savador Molly's. A tip: Our waiter told us that some servers require you to finish all the sauce to complete the challenge, and others only make you finish all the balls. The rest of this may be rather vulgar, but if you plan on taking the challenge, I highly suggest you read on: As far as my digestive system goes in the 24 hours following the challenge... As I mentioned previously, my poop is surprisingly solid, but extremely gassy and burns just as much as the balls made my mouth burn (the balls, not the sauce - if it were the sauce, I would be in the hospital). It gets to a point where your asshole is so on fire that it's actually numb and it's hard to control or sense your pooping needs, so you end up sitting on a toilet for 20-30 minutes at a time (4 poops so far, each more fiery than the last), just to be safe. You just really need to ask yourself, is all that worth a picture on the wall and $8 (you don't get them comped just for finishing).

    (4)

  • romeo b.

    I thought it was Caribbean food - nope. Their food consisted of a variety around the world. Really, food around the world. What happened to the idea of focusing on a specialty? You don't eat fried chicken at a Mexican restaurant. You don't order pizza at a Chinese restaurant. In this case, you don't eat this or that, where they serve this and that. Sitting there just leaves you ... confused. We heard of their Great Balls of Fire (Habanero Cheese Fritters) through Man vs Food and decided to have one fritter each. When I think spicy, I think ouch my mouth and tongue. Instead, we ended up with red and painful tummies. Warning to all, do not try these fritters - we learned the hard way. Other than the fritters, nothing really special with the entrees.

    (1)

  • Ed B.

    Okay, I must be one of perhaps 7 people on the planet who did NOT see the episode of "Man versus Food" with the habanero cheese fritter challenge. But a friend of mine on the East Coast did see said episode and raved about it. Since he's coming out here to Portland for a visit in late June I thought I'd check the place out in advance and see if it will be on our list of gotta-dos while he's here. My partner and I got seated within 5 minutes on a busy Friday evening. I love the ambiance of the place... a little gritty and not too over-the-top with the pirate theme. Getting a nice tin bucket of salted peanuts to snack on while you wait for your drinks is a fun touch that's different from the cliche of chips and salsa. We both ordered drinks: I got a Jamaican beer and my partner sampled the Painkiller cocktail, which tasted like a big Orange Julius with booze (yum). And after perusing the menu, I decided to just have a sampling of appetizers instead of a full entree. I of course had to try the Great Balls of Fire cheese fritters (an order of 3 split between us), and also got the Indonesian Tahu Tofu fries, the Caribbean Bollitos (another fritter made of black-eyed peas, onions, and garlic), and the Cheesy Poofs (still another fritter made of mashed potatoes and chipotle cheese). My partner ordered the ginger peanut chicken breast that came with rice and sweet potatoes. The ginger chicken was great - moist and not overcooked, with great flavor in the sauce. The sides were fine - nothing to rave about but decent. My mixture of side dishes wound up being just a little too much "fried' for me... I enjoyed most of the dishes but overall having that many fritters was just too much grease. The bollitos were my favorite of the appetizers, followed by the fries. Both the cheesy poofs and the habanero fritters were disappointments... I agree with some of the other reviewers here - how do you mess up fried cheese? And my two cents on the fritters: I am genuinely surprised by the number of reviews here that say the Great Balls of Fire were not all that spicy. Maybe the fire level varies depending on the day and the batch of habaneros being used, but the batch I had was pure FIRE. LAVA. MAGMA. I love love love spicy food, and I could barely even eat these, they were so hot. My fingers burned from touching them for a whole DAY afterward (I was afraid to take out my contacts that night!). And let's just say the after effects were rather unpleasant... I even felt a little sick on the ride home from the restaurant. To me, there was not nearly enough flavor or seasoning in the fritters, just pure pain, which is not my thing. I'm not out there to prove that I'm more man than anyone else; I want to enjoy my food! Suffice it to say that I will probably never order them again. The service was great, and even with the fritter debacle it was a good evening. And I'll probably take my friend there when he comes to visit...

    (3)

  • Evan R.

    An excellent combination of great atmosphere, friendly service and an incomparable menu made up of flavors and culinary styles sampled from around the globe, Salvador Molly's offers one of the most unique dining experiences available in Portland. Molly's specializes in dishes that serve up plenty of spice, but there are plenty of tasty offerings for those with more sensitive taste buds. Everyone should make a point of sampling the pork sliders, and if you've got the intestinal fortitude, sink your teeth into an order of the Great Balls of Fire. To top things off, Molly's has by far one of the best Happy Hours in town. If you haven't yet tried it, I cannot stress enough how vital it is that you pay a visit.

    (5)

  • David R.

    Really great drinks here - I had a Jalapeno Cilantro Margarita (Awesome) and my wife had some sangria (very good and I hate wine) The food is really well thought out and the ingredients are fresh. I really like the creativity that comes out in the dishes and best of all the flavor. Their food is not only originall but you want to eat it. They have a Habanero salsa that is pretty fricken hot. The great thing is that it tastes good too, so at least you get to enjoy the burn! Definitely a place to try - it's small so be prepared for a wait

    (3)

  • J.K. P.

    I thoroughly enjoyed dinner here with friends. The atmosphere is very pleasant. It was a sunny day...rarity in Portland LOL...so we were able to sit outside. The staff is very friendly and very courteous. Ready to seat and serve you. Wait staff is very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was good...wait, no make that very good. On sunny days outside can get crowded. The menu has a wide variety of choices...I don't think you can go wrong. Fish Tacos are very good.

    (5)

  • R P.

    Horrible!! Used to be good, but the current hosting staff makes it crystal clear that they do not want or need anymore business. Came in from Dallas to revisit and the very curt hostess told us it would be a 15 minute wait even though there were plenty of seats available. When we asked if they would consider opening another section, the blunt reply was "NO!". We may never go back.

    (1)

  • Michelle S.

    Garlic mashed potatoes with barely detectable garlic, and cold. I asked our slow moving (not over burdened by a full restaurant) server for new potatoes, a flour tortilla TWICE (looked like I was a nut case for asking), and extra napkins. A new serving of garlic mashed came out and were at least room temperature. I had a pork dish. The pork was very good. Though, not hot (temp-wise) either. The corn bread, cold, was, at least tasty. Though, small and flat. Seating is not for the large person or anyone with a disability. The Lime Soup with sweet potatoes was thick and tasty. Though, hot would have been better. The whole room temperature thing was a definite negative. I think there are many areas for improvement. A more finely honed sense of quality control would do this little place well.

    (2)

  • Kevin J.

    I live nearby and have tried this place a few times. Have had terrible service intermittently. Food good but seems over priced. Would keep on coming back but the staff just isn't that welcoming

    (2)

  • Anonymous R.

    Ate here for the first time and was very disappointed. I ordered the Korean Anju Beef and the Namibian Braii Chicken-- both were terrible. The Korean Anju Beef is described as "thin strips of beef seared..." but in fact, it looked like tiny shreds of beef. The marinade was very salty and didn't taste Korean at all. If I had eaten the meal with my eyes closed, I probably wouldn't be able to tell that there was any beef in there. The Namibian Braii Chicken wasn't great either. The sauce on the chicken was extremely spicy and the "rice and peas" came in a little cup that tasted like mashed beans in terms of texture. I couldn't tell that rice was part of that dish. I felt that overall, it lacked a lot of flavor and the seasoning was just off. I wouldn't go back there even for the $2 Happy Hour. It seems like the reviews on Yelp! for Salvador Molly's are going up and down. A good restaurant should be consistent-- not hit or miss.

    (1)

  • Desiree R.

    My boyfriend and I have had this place on our list for a while and finally decided to check it out. Boyfriends jerk sandwich was bland, service was mediocre and to be blunt, our belly's weren't well for the rest of the evening. Checked off the list and will probably not be back. Atmosphere is festive, worth checking out once....

    (2)

  • Rick C.

    Very original food, another of my favorite places to eat...

    (4)

  • Ray V.

    A decade of good times and great food has made Salvador Molly's my absolute favorite restaurant in Portland. The unpretentious hole in the tiny strip mall wall it started out as has grown and while I celebrate it's success and continue to introduce others to it's culinary charm I bemoan the wait for a table especially during the summer. The pork, tamales and cuban sandwhich are all worth the trip, and if you can take the heat the balls of fire are a culinary masterpiece of heat and taste. But remember these balls aren't for wimps!

    (5)

  • Mike J.

    I had the fish tacos... very bland. Service was SLOW. Tables were packed in - no room to move. The others at my table were more impressed with their dinner choices, but we were all underwhelmed. Honestly, there are so many better food choices in Portland that I'd skip this place.

    (2)

  • Jae K.

    The food was awesome. I suffered the next day a bit after having the Great Balls of Fire. The service was OK, not great. I liked the down home atmosphere. It reminded of many places in Austin. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Terrell T.

    I love their fish tacos and garlic, lime chicken soup. Their menu is a unique blend of tropical, bold flavors from all over the place. Their bar is laid back and has a cool eclectic atmosphere. Service is great. Their drinks are good but on the short side.

    (4)

  • Jill S.

    Amazingly low priced and flavorful happy hour menu. I haven't tried anything I didn't like. I've never had a bad experience with service, though I've only sat outside when it was busy (fully staffed) and inside by the bar when it was dead. Entree portions are large. The mango slaw served with several of the bbq items is amazing.

    (4)

  • Jimmy B.

    I came here for the "great balls of fire" as seen on Man vs Food. Lets start with the basics. The waiters were extremely friendly and gave excellent service. Moving on to the fritters from hell. If you don't eat spicy foods regularly (like me) expect to be up all night with extreme stomach and chest pain. I ate the fritters around 3:30PM. The initial spice to them was bearable when washed down with three glasses of milk (which is almost $2.00 a glass). I felt bloated up until around 5:00pm. At around that time it began with extreme pain in my sternum. It was flash pain, so it would hurt every 10-15 minutes. At this point the pain has made it's way down into my intestines. I've tried taking tums, drinking 7up, and using ginger (an old Chinese remedy to cure upset stomachs), the pain continues to re occur just not as bad. I would have to say I'm glad I did it just to know what all of the hype was about. Needless to say, I will never consume that much spice in one sitting. Unfortunately I did not try anything else on the menu. According to other reviews, they have a lot of tasty foods. So I would have to recommend them just for the experience of getting your photo placed in the hall of flame ;) the flavor was exceptionally well.

    (5)

  • Karen R.

    My family insisted on going to Salvador Molly's after seeing the place on Man vs. Food. I've been a few times and told them it was good, but nothing earth shattering. They didn't believe me that there weren't really people dressed like pirates and that every day wasn't a gigantic party. The lack of pirate party wasn't the problem. There were other issues. We went for lunch on Saturday at 2pm. We had 4 adults and 3 kids. My 17 year old thought she was going to eat the 5 balls of fire and get her picture on the wall. After one ball she realized it wasn't going to happen. We all shared the rest of the appetizer and realized what a serious lack of judgement we had. Still, I recommend trying it at least once. The kid's menu is all Costco items and they have kept the Costco names for most items. I tried to block out that I was paying $5.95 for 4 Dino Nuggets and some curly fries. I know it isn't a lot of $ and I know I've paid more for less, but change the name. OH, please don't ask what kind of sauce the kids want and then charge fifty cents for a few tablespoons of BBQ sauce. That seems cheap, and it ticked me off when I saw the check and the full BBQ sauce dish at the end of the meal. Two of us had Molly's Tamales and they were too thick with masa and not enough meat. The Kalua Pork was excellent. The fish tacos had fried fish with too thick batter, not a good sauce, and not enough cabbage. BUT!!!! here is the real problem and the reason I will probably call the manager.....................they added an 18% gratuity. It was lunch for 4 adults and 3 children. I would have probably done 15% on the food and 10% on the drinks (1 cocktail and 1 beer) since it was lunch. (And, I was irritated about the Costco kids meals.) I am a good tipper and we weren't dressed in such a way that would lead anyone to believe that we wouldn't be able to afford a tip. We didn't require a bunch of extra service: ~We sat outdoors at a picnic table. ~We had to get flatware from the next table because they didn't bring ours. ~None of us are demanding dinners- we all took what we got and were polite. Our waitress was good, the food was good enough, we just left with a bad taste in our mouth ($103.66) and it wasn't from the Balls of Fire...........and the Pirate theme, ay, twas the way they grabbed my credit card without me looking and took that 18%

    (2)

  • James M.

    Good margaritas, quick, tasty food. Bar peanuts are addicting!!

    (3)

  • Joseph H.

    Mediocre drinks, mediocre food, but... but.. they have cheap prices. Drinks come out strong if not delicious. Peanuts accompany the table like free salsa at a mexican restaurant. Speaking of cuisine here Salvador's claims to be a world traveler picking up cuisine here and there but they don't really have a specialty. It's like when you took that trip somewhere and decided to make it at home. Yea, it didn't turn out that good so you went back to the restaurant. Who knows what the issue in direction is here at Molly's. It's almost like they're trying to get down food from the Gulf, Virgin Islands, Cuban food, etc.... They haven't pulled it off yet. Although some of their dishes can fill you up with flavor there's plenty to stay away from in this humble eaters opinion. Good for happy hour or if you're in the neighborhood. Wouldn't drive out of my way to get here for a destination. Argh matey...

    (3)

  • Lance K.

    I had to wait 24 hours to write this review. I of course went to try the great balls of fire. wow. it was hot going in and coming out. I of course was dumb enough not to have any milk and from what I found out from our waiter-lime is also good in calming the heat. If you are not into causing pain on to yourself try the jerk chicken and mango sandwich or the Vietnamese Rice Noodle salad. Don't expect much for the decor. The service was great and very helpful! *warning*post toilet anal holocaust!

    (4)

  • Booboo M.

    I hate these places that get a reputation so you feel you have to go then you get there and its a shitty little stripmall that opens late. You open the menu and things sound good, then you get your plate and the food is generic, bland and full of shame. But it looks cool and the names of the dishes are neat and it was on TV. $%^# these places. Generic "unique" food for generic "unique" people. Save your time find a quality restaurant that treats people well, that doesn't just throw dishes together as in "geez lets mix horse apples with kumquat and see how it tastes". The great ball of fire were spicy but besides that stay away. Oh if you like being treated like shit in a coffe bar, vooduche donuts, Twilight and Pabst youll like this place.

    (2)

  • Carrie P.

    We had heard about this place from friends and when Sharing Spree offered a deal, we snagged it! Thanks to Sharing Spree we got to eat some amazing cheese poofs for an appetizer, the drinks were blended perfectly, and the rest of our meal was terrific. The atmosphere made me feel like I was vacationing on some remote island, despite the fact it was cold and rainy outside. I tried the famous fireballs and they are HOT! We look forward to going back. Thank you Sharing Spree!

    (4)

  • Brenna S.

    Salvador Molly's is an experience in itself. The menu is good, the prices are a tad excessive, but the pirate decor alone makes it worth your while. My brother and one of my friends braved their "great balls of fire" (i dare you), and ended up with their pictures on the wall and xl tee shirts. totally cheesy, totally quarky, but totally worth a visit for a meal out of the norm.

    (4)

  • Dana H.

    One of my favorite places to dine in Portland on those rare, but very appreciated sunny summer nights. The festive Caribbean vibe is perfect for a night out with friends. The large picnic tables outside are the best place to sit. The drinks are great. In addition to all the beer and cocktails, they also have blended smoothies that are made to order with a choice of three fruits. Perfect for summer weather. The menu is fairly varied and includes everything from tamales to pressed sandwiches. Great for a group because everyone can find something they like. The giant pot of garlic fries is the best starter - it is literally a tin pot filled to the brim with curly garlic fries. They can be dipped in banana ketchup, which my friends always get a kick out of. The food is good and the atmosphere is great.

    (4)

  • Mike G.

    We have been going here for years and always have a great meal! They have a great menu selection and you HAVE to try the "Great BALLS of fire" they are incredible....(HOT too!) We have yet to have a bad meal! simple.....It can get really busy and noisy but other than that, it is great and the service has always been pretty good to excellent! If you like HOT with flavor, this is also your place to go eat as you can have it any temp. you would like!

    (4)

  • Raquel S.

    The Fire ritas are on FIRE!!! I could only have one. The happy hour us excellent especially the pork sliders....delish!!! The happy hour for $2.00 food plates are worth it as they give you a nice portion.

    (4)

  • Beth W.

    The menu is pretty extensive, which I appreciate. I had the like sunshine bowl or something...some kind of bowl. It had chicken and beans and various other things in it. It was good, not the best but definitely good. The sangria however was fabulous. The ambiance is my favorite thing about the place. It's really fun and welcoming...the bar was great too. It's kind of small, and the parking lot is small and in kind of an awkward spot. It's definitely a fun place to go for happy hour with friends!

    (3)

  • Erika L.

    Love the Molly's. Always get the mouth watering flank steak with a Fire-ita! Although this last time the steak was changed out for a NY and was quite gristley. Cust service was great as they comped us for our next steak. Hope it's the Flank!!

    (4)

  • Lizzie B.

    Meh is truly the word for this place. Over the years I have been here 4 or 5 times. Each time it gets progressively worse. The only redeeming item last evening was my mojarita (mojito and margarita finally united!). It was heavy on the cilantro and the rita and just cold and refreshing. I think the main problem with Salvador Molly's is the lack of focus on the menu. I realize they are trying to be eclectic and provide "Food without borders," but the execution just seems scattered and barely edible. I would much rather go straight to an ethiopian restaraunt than eat the shoddy African Injera Platter presented last night. The curry dahl sweet potato soup just tasted of too much curry, and I had practically a whole sweet potato in the cup and not much else. I think the chefs should get some ritalin and focus the cuisine on one or two countries fare.

    (2)

  • Meghan P.

    After a lot of hype... We thought we'd check Salvador Molly's out. The service was not good. We waited for-EV-er to get our order taken, or any drinks. At one point we had to walk up to the bar with our cup just to get a refill. The restaurant itself did not seem clean, although I'm typically not squeamish... Still there appeared to be a layer of grime on everything and a huge pile of dust on the mobile above us that I was worried would fall into my plate. As for the food -- the cheesy poofs were good... And definitely worth ordering! We also ordered the Great Balls of Fire -- holy. Hot. I only took a bite and my mouth was en fuego for the rest of the meal (which is probably why I was so sensitive to the drink situation above). The tamale was really really good, sides were so-so. The menu is definitely broad, offering a wide selection. Definitely glad we checked it out, was it worth the hype? Probably not.

    (3)

  • Alissa R.

    I think my experience at Salvador Molly's can be somewhat summed up with an exchange between the legendary Tobias and his brother Michael: Tobias Fünke: I booked a wonderful spot for the party - the Queen Mary. Perhaps I should call the hot cops and tell them to come up with a more nautical theme. Hot sailors. Better yet... Hot sea... Michael: I like hot sailors. Tobias Fünke: Me too. Although you won't find hot sailors at Molly's, you will find hot Cheesy balls of Fire... beware!! The food is top notch as are the drinks ... both of which are at prices that will leave enough change in your pocket for a Bluth Banana

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    3.5 stars Quite impressed with this eclectic Portland joint. Kalua mojo pork was pretty good even comparable to those in Waikiki. Great balls of fire? The spiciest food I've ever had period.

    (3)

  • Gina A.

    FOR THOSE ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS. Nothing against your establishment - I have heard that it's very tasty and I wish I could try it. My spouse and I drove especially over to eat here because we were craving tamales - super special ones! It was just a such a huge disappointment because the moment we walked in a lady handed me a bowl of peanuts! Thank God she didn't hand it to my husband, because it could have been horrible as he is fatally allergic to nuts. I know that for many people this is a real bonus (free nuts!) and they enjoy it - however, I nearly dropped it handing them back to her. We literally backed out of there like she was a flesh eating zombie. I tried to mumble something as we jetted the hell outta there to explain our reaction. NUTS. :(

    (1)

  • Katherine R.

    The Great Balls of Fire are incredible, if you can stand the heat. My favorite thing on the menu is Pele's sandwich... shredded pork and a tamarind barbecue sauce. I've only been in a couple times, but there has never been any problem with the service or food.

    (4)

  • Stephanie J.

    Everything about this place is absolutely awesome . The atmosphere was relaxed , our waiter was on top of everything and the fish tacos were delicious! I will definitely be back

    (5)

  • Food Reviews By Brad W.

    OCT 29, Read all the reviews and decided to try it out. (I have a cast iron stomach) Went at 4pm today and watched at least a dozen old ladies dressed as witches came in to eat. My waitress was the long dark haired girl in her mid 20s The pork sliders are no longer $2.50 happy hour It's now $4.95 I ordered the great balls of fire challenge along with cheesy poofs and steak bites. I made it crystal clear to the waitress to watch me as I needed coke to wash down the burn. Did she listen....NO, She was on the bar side chit chatting. Another nice younger than me man served up my destiny and I ate the balls of fire and sauce in less than 90 seconds. He gave me props. Immediately I felt the burn in my mouth, throat, lips and started eating the cheesy poofs.. No relief..I started the steak bites which were very hot to the touch...no relief. About 15 minutes of pure agony and it simmered down. My bill came out to $38 and I left a $5 tip . I would have tipped more but that waitress did not make do on her promise. About an hour later my stomach feel like there's lava bubbling in it Very warm fuzzy feeling. I burped and the scorching oils came up from hell. 9pm..owwwwww! Feels like I am pooping lava 10 pm......holy shit that burns! And it's bloody. This can't be good for my health Hotter coming out of my body than going in!

    (4)

  • Tiana C.

    I went here with my sister and had a great time. I had never had Cajun food before so I wanted to try to jambalaya. It was pretty good but I likely would try something else next time. I loved the atmosphere here - very fun and casual. Spicy food isn't too much my thing but I bet if I tried something less spicy I would love it more. This place is worth a try for something fun and different!

    (3)

  • Annette O.

    This place was cool. The setting was relaxing and the food was great. We ordered the "Great Balls of Fire" and tried to eat those. But did not succeed. Eating the "Great Balls of Fire" first was the mistake we made as that ruined our tastebuds. However I did get to eat the jambalaya and that was very flavorful and had the perfect amount of spicyness to it compared to other jambalayas I've had. The waitstaff was very attentive and informative (especially in regards to the great balls of fire). I would have given 5 stars but since I ate the great balls of fire prior to my main entree I couldn't really taste what else there was. Also, their drinks are deeeelicious!

    (4)

  • Drew G.

    Salvador Molly's // Friday Night Parking - Decent sized lot right off of the street. Atmosphere - Loud, TVs, music, dim lights, and that Latin/Caribbean feel. Feels like Portland, only instead of SE it's SW. Host - Was there one? "Sign up sheet" was on the bar... Pretty bad turn off. Price - Spendy for an appetizer. About $7 - $10. Dinner isn't bad. Good portions for around $13. Taste - Dang good! The fish tacos are highly recommended, and did not disappoint. The fish was huge and the sauce made it. The pork tacos are also really good. Overall - Eh... Kinda expensive for the amount of food. And the service was not asking for a good rating. Slow and unorganized. Will come back though for the taste.

    (3)

  • Jaime T.

    Good for familia style. The dishes are made for sharing ;) A large variety of cultural foods and good service. I got the chicken skewers with salad. Its decent food for the price.

    (3)

  • Adam M.

    Really good restaurant with a fantastic menu...but.... there is one big caveat. The food quality and service is inconsistent at best. Sometimes we'll have really great service with a delicious meal, and other times we've been offended by the servers. Overall, I love this place though.

    (4)

  • Susie B.

    Got a groupon and decided to try it out. Glad we didn't pay full price. The food did not have the expected flavor and the service was a bit slow, even though there only seemed to be a couple other people there. We probably wouldn't come back for a full price meal.

    (2)

  • Lindsey C.

    Looking for some fabulous authentic Jamaican grub on the West Side...look no further. Salvador Molly's is the place. I had one of the BEST servers EVER. Ask for Kaitlin as she is friendly and makes sure you and your guests are taken care of.

    (5)

  • Diana H.

    This restaurant is popular due to Man vs Food airing there. The inside is very small so you feel cramp. We didn't do the balls of fire challenge but did order 3 of them to try it out. Omgosh it burned! So be warned that those balls don't joke around lol My husband has the fish tacos and I had the Louisiana jambalaya. The fish tacos were okay. Nothing special. My jambalaya was sour. Too much tomatoes I think. My food wasn't hot so had to sent to back to the kitchen to warm it up. Overall we will come back to try other things on the menu.

    (3)

  • Jenny M.

    BACKGROUND - Okay, so I'm one of those fools who watched Man vs. Food, and paired with friends' telling me to try this place for the "Balls of Fire", it propelled me to eventually try this place after a hike with my neighbor on a nice Sunday evening. PROS - If you are over 21, bar seating is the way to go if you don't want to wait. Free peanuts to start off your meal! Haven't had peanuts in a while so that was nice. Great service. We had a bartender take care of us the whole evening and he was very sweet -- checked in with us a few times to see how we liked our food, and maybe a couple other times to see if I WAS DYING OR NOT (read on to see why...). We ordered off the HH menu (Mr. Kind Bartender let us order off that HH menu even though it was like 5:56 when HH ended at 6:00). Had their delicious pork sliders (3 sliders for $2.95, great deal would totally order again) and their indian grilled crepe stuffed with curried veggies and cous cous (too funky for me...would not order again). Annnnnd of course we ordered the infamous Balls of Fire out of curiosity. We toasted the balls to our friendship and had a bite. First bite was "hmm, there is some heat" and second thought was (piss poor thinking on my part) "well maybe I should eat the whole ball and see what happens". Oh. My. God. OMG x100. You could literally FEEL the damn ball going down your freaking esophagus all the way down to your stomach. And the heat...oh boy, the heat DWELLED in your stomach like a villain that cannot be killed. I mean it was like, you ate it, chewed it up, processed it through like any other food and you can still FEEL it. Minutes later, I started tearing up as my whole face went numb and I couldn't tell if I was smiling at the worried bartender or had a face of shock and regret. About ten minutes into my regret, my stomach was complaining to every organ inside of me. My stomach was trying to reach customer service but each organ was just like "yeah you are on your own, buddy" type of deal. I finally asked for a glass of milk like a big fat baby. Drank the whole glass, still felt it. My chicken tamale came and the waiter asked if I wanted some hot sauce. Normally, I would have said "heck yea, I love hot sauce!" but I must have looked at him like he just asked me a very offensive question. He looked down at my table and saw the remaining Ball of Fire, gave me a smile with an understanding "Ohhhh" and walked away. Yes, "Ohhhh" I made a very cocky and ill decision but now I know I will never order any more Balls of Fire ever again! My chicken tamale along with the side of black beans, guacamole and rice saved my sorry ass. It worked with the milk that was inside my stomach and as a combined force, provided cushioning for the passionate fire that had been set on SUICIDAL HIGH inside of me. The chicken tamale was delicious and the pork sliders would have been properly cherished by my tastebuds if I wasn't so busy battling between LIFE AND DEATH caused by a single damn ball. OF FIRE. CONS - Not enough parking space and now that I think about it, those Balls of Fire looked WAY too innocent. POINTERS - If you are going to try them ballz of fiyah, I suggest you enjoy your meal first (cushion your stomach) instead of eating them ballz on an empty-I-just-hiked-5-miles-and-I'm-starving-oh-I-­guess-I-will-have-some-balls-of-fire-no-big-deal-­type of mindset. No food pics cuz I was too busy dying, sorry friends.

    (4)

  • TaNiki P.

    I tried the jambalaya and didn't like it, the rice was mushy and it had no spice to it. But the Tiki Cooler was excellent not skimpy on the alcohol.... Should have stuck with my first mind and went to Olive Garden

    (2)

  • Aaron W.

    Frankly, this was a long overdue revisit. Nothing to sear my taste buds today. Just a good ol' game of "let's dine in, look at the menu, and pick something that really sounds awesome." I arrived just before opening time (11:30 a.m.) and a few people were already waiting for a seat or a takeout order. I didn't notice changes on the menu from my last visit, but a few sandwiches caught my eye. Each description made my mouth water. I also saw they had an "El Jefe" burrito, their version of a monster burrito. I haven't seen one in person, but I'd reckon it uses a 14" giant flour tortilla to encase the rice, beans, meat, cheese, etc. I got a bowl of peanuts to start. Woohoo! I opted for the Savannah Shrimp Sandwich ($9.50): shrimp, sweet peppers, and onions simmered in a house-made African peanut-ginger sauce. That's all placed inside an onion bun and topped with sweet-heat mango slaw. There are some sweet potato fries, chile-lime peanuts, and "chow chow" on the side. I'm still not sure what "chow chow" is, but it seems to be the side dish with diced zucchini or squash. This sandwich was very good. The sweetness of the shrimp and the peppers came out when combined with that peanut-ginger sauce. Perhaps if the bun was toasted a bit more, I would think of picking the entire sandwich up without fear. Then again (and I have absolutely no idea why), but the dainty panda emerged and decided a fork was the way to go. Huh? The sweet potato fries, while good, were flimsy and only the slightest bit crispy. It didn't appear the fryer had gotten up to the proper temperature yet. For those wondering, I've already done the Great Balls of Fire challenge twice when I was only a mildly crazy panda. Since then, I've graduated to doing weird stunts that make me take a long look at my life. Salvador Molly's is an OK spot. Nice that one can get a tour of worldly cuisine in one spot.

    (3)

  • Bradley T.

    I've eaten here so many times I am now a member of the "Molly's Mob" and have been given T-Shirts, free drinks and free meals - more perks than your average establishment. Most of the time the food is incredibly satisfying, especially recently as it seemed they strengthened the recipes and overall quality control in the kitchen; for a while there each dish was hit or miss depending on who was cooking, but when it hit it really hit! They also just installed a new bar and remodeled - really opened the bar room up considerably. Their happy hour is great with each tasty item for $2.50, and their entrees range from Caribbean and Cajun street food to stuff you never heard of, but all very tasty and accessible. Just watch yourself with the balls of fire, they are no joke. After coming here a while the people there know me and treat me with familiarity and I always feel at home, and lately I get regular hankerings for their tsunami tacos with jerk chicken. Mmmm. Definitely check this place out.

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    I would give Salvador Molly's a 3.5 star rating. The food is fine. It's good enough to go back, but nothing exciting, or great. There really is not much else in the area, so its been my go to place for meeting my West Hills friends when they don't want to make the trek into the city or across the river. The patio is really very nice. They have some fun drink options, and its fabulous that they offer quite a few drink options in pitchers!

    (3)

  • Tyson H.

    Very meh. I'm having trouble starting this review and keeping my thoughts about this place positive. I've always wanted to go here since i saw it on Man vs Food. Their menu looks and sounds pretty good! And i rarely give bad reviews. The only reason they get the third star is because they really hold true with the Great Balls of FIRE. I was really convinced it wasn't going to be as bad as I'd heard, so without prep and threw one in. One bite in, I knew i was in trouble. Impressively spicy. The food on the other hand was way less than impressive. The cheese poofs weren't very cheesy, nor poofy. Just like dense, fried mashed potato-y goodness. The jerk chicken sandwich was a grilled chicken patty and the mango was like that out of a fruit cup. The calamari and onion rings looked great! But were only on par with your local pub's order. The garlic fries weren't garlic. The positives were the sauce that came with the onion rings and the sweet mashed potatoes that came with the chicken sandwich. They did not disappoint. I suppose the wait staff was also pretty friendly. For being so notable as to be on Man vs Food, i was expecting way, way better and was sadly disappointed. Sorry guys.

    (3)

  • Jeff R.

    Decided to give this place a try with my wife and we both enjoyed it and will be back . Great atmosphere, albeit a bit cramped. The host and servers were very attentive, efficient and friendly. Being a lover of all things hot, I couldn't resist trying the Balls O Fire hushpuppies. I had 3 of them and thought they were great....and hot. Next time maybe I'll do 5 and get my picture taken. :) My wife started with the cheesy puffs and they were just okay. Kind of a weird texture and color. They also need some more creative sauce, the sour cream and salsa was a bit boring for a menu loaded with options from around the globe. For my main course I had the Jerk Chicken. This is a lot of food. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the spices were great, the slaw was great as was the sweet potato mash. My wife tried the "Hot Tamale" dish and its rated about a 6/10. It was huge and the masa wasn't dry, but flavor-wise a tad bland. Overall it was a nice place but just fell a bit short of that 4th star. I think the 3.5 star overall rating is correct and not a bad thing at all. Oh yea, I had the Fire'Rita margarita. It's infused with cilantro and jalapeno. I was surprised at the heat level on it. I might try it again but I don't recommend using it to wash down your Balls'O Fire hushpuppies, like I did.

    (3)

  • Andy K.

    When we asked the bartender if our group of three should get three balls of fire or five he said three would be ok. Three would be ok is NOT appropriate for this type of food, there needs to be a legal disclaimer. I was in extreme pain and up all night from ONE of these things. Do not order unless you have an iron stomach. It ruined me on both ends for a full 24 hrs, I thought I was having apendiscitis and was ready to go to the ER a few times. The Jumbalaya was ho hum, mushy small shrimp. The tamales were ho hum as well, no outstanding flavor. Fish tacos, ho hum. If you want good mexican I am sure there are dozens of other better places in the area...

    (2)

  • Nicole M.

    Very exotic place. Their tamales are amazing, as well and their chimichurri. They have these amazing little fire ball things filled with cheese and wow! They are But very cool how they have pictures of people who have eaten a certain amount of the fire balls. Very cool place. You will not regret going here!

    (4)

  • Kristen M.

    3.5 STARS Salvador Molly's is known for their "global" like menu and their GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! This small restaurant (also a chain) is decorated quite eclectically and a tad divey. Expect to be in cozy corners with some unclean utensils/glassware at your table (so take a double-look at your place setting!) [devour] GREAT BALLS OF FIRE ($7.95 for 5 pieces, **3 STARS**) Lo and behold there have been many who have visited the place to test their fate on the challenge! Some have failed, while others have succeeded. The "Great Balls of Fire" are their famous HABANERO cheese fritters. You must consume all five fritters (including the sauce) within 5 minutes to complete the challenge. Those who complete the challenge will be given a t-shirt and a photo on their "Wall of Flame". We had the honor to watch a couple of college boys tackle the challenge and they were successful! (A glass of milk was provided after finishing). I am not into that much spicy food, but I've always wanted to try one of them! Our table shared the five pieces to test the fiery fury of the habanero fritter. Once you take a bite of these, you'll immediately feel the tingly sensation all over your mouth. Upon swallowing, the heat will impact your esophagus and your stomach. Expect that feeling to last for about 20-30 minutes. Milk can be provided upon request, but it will be $1.95 per glass. The heat was kinda exhilarating, but at the same time torture to my taste buds! Not sure if I would do this again, but I'm glad I was able to see what the fuss was all about. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/salv… ) CHEESY POOFS ($5.95, **3.5 STARS**) were cheese ball fritters, made with chipotle chilies and mashed potatoes. It came with two dipping sauces (salsa and some type of Ranch-like dressing). Overall, these cheesy poofs were decent to share! They kinda reminded me of malasadas that you'd find from Hawaii, but the inside is not about fried bread, but cheese! Would I order this dish again? Probably so! ( yelp.com/biz_photos/salv… ) CUSH CUSH WITH LAMB ($14.95, **4 STARS**) is an Ethiopian inspired dish. This one is very flavorful! Flavors were quite smoky with a tantalizing aroma. Full of spices, veggies, a savory sauce and the tender lamb, you can't go wrong with this dish! On the side are three pieces of African-style cornmeal, which are seared (looks like a pineapple) and placed upon the simmered stew-like dish. I wouldn't mind ordering this dish again! 1. Full plate view: ( yelp.com/biz_photos/salv… ) 2. Close up: ( yelp.com/biz_photos/salv… ) [imbibe] MOJITO was a nice way to start my weekend! Woo hoo! It was quite refreshing in my book! I loved that there was a bunch of mint! ( yelp.com/biz_photos/salv… ) [service] Our waiter was quite patient with us since there was a few of us that joined dinner kinda late. In addition, he was able to tend to every request we had and was able to split our checks up individually! (PERK!) No complaints and very happy on the service! FYI: -FOOD CHALLENGE JUNKIES: consume 5 "Great Balls of Fire" habanero cheese fritters within 5 minutes and win a T-Shirt and your photograph on their "Wall of Flame" -Featured on Adam Richman's Man vs. Food (Portland episode) -Parking: either on street or their limited parking lot -They sell their tamales (yum!) at Portland State University (PSU) Farmer's Market! If I were to visit Salvador Molly's again, I would like to check out their HH and possibly watch someone I know do the challenge! =) Yelp 2013 100 for 100 Challenge - Review #60

    (3)

  • Ryan T.

    The first thing that might enter your mind when you walk in is, wow this place looks fun! And that it is, with their eclectic mixture of dishes from around the world, great happy deals (you can fill up on the Pork Sliders for $3), and bar drinks. And be sure to eat outside on the patio if the weather is nice. This is also the only restaurant where I actually belong to the loyalty program. And I recommend this one, they don't spam your email or call or mail you advertisements. The surprise complementary appetizer once a month is a cool touch for sure. Always impressed with the dining/bar service, and I've never had to do a double take upon getting the receipt.

    (5)

  • Pausha W.

    Awful!!! The food here was disgusting! Our cheese poofs were completely burnt and tasted like ashes. Our cocktails were watered down, almost as if there was no liquor in them and had been sitting on the bar for an hour before being served to us. The service was terrible! It was not a busy night for them (most tables were empty), yet we waited a LONG time for our order to be taken and for our food to be brought out. We will never again go back to this place! I don't understand how this place is still open!!

    (1)

  • Ashley G.

    I've heard great things about this place and its right by my bus stop, so I thought I'd stop in. I was pretty disappointed to come in, sit down at the bar (dinner crowd hadn't began yet), made eye contact and smiled at 2 servers, and it took 5 minutes for someone to even acknowledge they'd "be right with me." Might sound trivial to some, but had I been acknowledged right when I say down and noticed, I probably would've ordered more drinks and some food.

    (2)

  • Kasandra H.

    I just ate here for the first time last night, it was amazing! The food was delicious and the drinks were great too. Not to mention the service, it was prompt and the server was personable and funny. I will definitely be returning. :)

    (5)

  • Hannah J.

    the flavor in all the dishes is ridiculous. I loved the Ethiopian dish that I tried. Also the atmosphere is just really awesome

    (5)

  • Jenn W.

    So I have to dock them down some starts for the horrendous experience we had there today. We got to the restaurant, it was a little busy but not crazy. We were seated and it took 15 minutes to be noticed and get menus. Then another 15 minutes to get out order taken. Then we got our passport appetizer pretty quickly. Then waited an hour to get our food. In this time the waitor never came over to our table to explain what happened. And everyone who got there after us got their food before us! I love this restaurant, and the food was good when we got it. But by that time our child was done and wanted to go home so we had to pack it all up. Then he tried to charge us for the free appetizer. It is such a shame.

    (2)

  • Shay F.

    I ADORE this place. I can't help myself from going! Their food and customer service is amazing all around. I even went there for my Birthday dinner. I highly recommend their cheese/mashed potato balls! NOM NOM NOM :-P

    (5)

  • Steve H.

    'Meh' is spot on for this place. I've been here probably half a dozen times. I really like the place conceptually, and I really, really want to like it in the flesh, But dang it, the food is just plain mediocre, as are the houe cocktails. Service quality is erratic, swaying from very good to just plain awful. I've done the Great Balls of Fire, which is what the place is famous for since appearing on Man v. Food. If you're in training this is a super easy challenge. Not nearly has hot as, say, the El Jefe wings at Fire on the Mountain. They're just corn fritters spiked with raw habenero, sitting a pool of habenere sauce. I ate them at my leisure with no problem. However, let me warn you, the "afterburn" is worse than with dishes much hotter than this. I few hours after eating them it felt as though I'd swallowed a tiny star, which burned with a vicious incandescence in my gut. And by this time there was no getting rid of it. It was too far gone to throw up, and not far enough to...well, you know. So I suffered a sleepless night curled in the fetal position. I don't know why they burn the guts so bad. Maybe because, unlike wings, they're mostly carbs. I don't know. But I digress... All in all it's a mediocre restaurant. The jerk chicken is a disappointment, as is most of the other pseudo-Caribbean fare. I love me some pirates, but I just can't recommend it.

    (2)

  • Leilani R.

    When we were on our way to Portland my son told me WE HAVE TO GO TO SALVADOR MOLLY'S. He loves spicy fiery food and had heard about the Great Balls of Fire challenge. After seeing him eat a bowl of the #2 at Orochon Ramen in LA (which is insane spicy), I wanted to see how he would do. I started the evening with a classic house margarita, which was pretty damn good. Like a traditional margarita, but with a slight jalapeno kick. I liked the sweet & peppery flavor. My son ordered the 3 Balls of Fire dish. I'm no slouch in the heat department but damn I couldn't finish one cheese ball. I could literally feel the fire going down my throat into my stomach. Wow, that was some serious fire! With my scalp burning I told my son to finish the rest. He managed to eat another one and a half but even he had to admit defeat. With that aside, Salvador Molly's was pretty good. I ordered the Tamarind Mint Shrimp Curry, medium hot. The service was great and the waiters were helpful and friendly. Atmosphere is fun and a great place to hang out with friends for drinks and good conversation. Parking could be better, on a busy night it would be impossible to park in the small lot. I would definitely return to Salvador Molly's to try their other dishes (especially their tamales and their chicken jerk sandwich). Not bad!

    (3)

  • Laura R.

    Awesome food option to suit a variety of moods and palates. My favorite thing on the menu is the garlic lime chicken soup (with a mini pork slider or two on the side!). If I'm looking for something more filling, the artichoke tamales are quite good, and their jambalaya is yummy, if a little bit on the pricey side. The staff are always friendly and the service is good, even when they're busy.. and they're pretty much ALWAYS busy. Definitely come by during happy hour, and DEFINITELY sign up for Molly's Mob. It gets you $5 off your first purchase, points for everything you buy (which do eventually get you free stuff!!) and a free appetizer of the month on each visit. They're constantly trying out new menu options, so the line-up, especially for appetizers, changes pretty regularly.

    (4)

  • Ben K.

    I came for a quick bite to eat. The food was ok and it was highly recommended by the staff. The service was slow and they are more into being on their phone then letting me pay. It is taking forever and not planning on coming back.

    (2)

  • Tim K.

    The portion was mucho fulfilling. The guacamole tasted fresh! The water was chilled to perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal but it made me sleepy. The environment is neat here. No shortage of things to look at.

    (4)

  • Claudia P.

    Food was bland and overpriced. Good menu selection and ambiance though. I only tried one item, maybe other plates might be better but I'm not motivated enough to try again.

    (2)

  • Tasha H.

    This place is awesome. First of all, they have a parking lot, which is always a plus for me. The food is awesome, I haven't found anything I don't like. It's my goal to try everything on the menu. Jambalaya was the last one I tried and it was delicious. The tacos are amazing. The pork is fantastic. Everything! The staff is super friendly and efficient. The drinks, appetizers, and main dishes come out with great timing. I don't think there's anything bad I can say about this place! Yum!

    (5)

  • Ken C.

    The service was fine; however, the food was terrible! The Jamaican Jerk Chicken was cold. I asked the Manager on the chicken was prepared. He said they bake the chicken. I asked how often. He said every other day then they reheat it when it's ordered. Never we go back. I have one star because the waitress was really nice. Will never oh back!

    (1)

  • Holly C.

    I've been here twice since I have lived in the Portland Metro. The first time was last year. The food was really great. My husband and I ate a lot and vowed to come back. Fast forward in time... We went with his family, who are picky eaters. The menu was vastly different and all of the things we wanted to try were no longer offered. Sad face. Most of the food we got was okay. My sandwich was great. The balls of fire were undercooked. Our other appetizer was so so. I might return in the future but I would appreciate it if they updated their online menu more often.

    (3)

  • Fox M.

    Salvador Molly's has great food and delicious drinks. An extremely affordable price for such an exotic taste (especially during happy hour). I ordered the veggie burrito "boracho style" (enchilada sauce and melted cheese on top) and the bollitos. Both vegetarian and delicious. I drank the fire-ita, spicy goodness. I will return!

    (5)

  • Zoe Z.

    We had a great time here. The fish tacos are sooo good!! Also the chicken tortilla soup was perfect on a rainy day. Service was fast and the cocktails were strong!

    (4)

  • Jessie P.

    The staff is fast and friendly. The peanuts to start are very authentic. The food is quick and well made. The consistency is amazing. The food is amazing. The drinks are poured well. Come check out the amazing happy hour deals! Go and try the kahlua pork, sssoooo amazing!!!!!

    (5)

  • Steve W.

    Ok...this place gets hyped due to the whole "Man v. Food" dealio that happened with the Great Balls of Fire. And... ...not worth it. The food menu is simply scattered all over the place. Jambalaya on the same menu as Hawaiian BBQ? Huh? Okey...well, that won't stop me from ordering, but it does raise the proverbial red flag. And I should have heeded it. So we start with the cheese balls. These are like hush puppies with a cheesy mixture of stuff inside. When they came out with a very dark brown exterior but a someone cool interior, that should have clued me in to the kitchen. Clearly, the oil needs to be changed, and it is running too cold. We should have stopped there, paid our bill, and left. Instead, my wife got the "Sheppard pie", but with a seafood twist, and I got the Jambalaya. Both were a fail. Here is a tip: Jambalaya should be eaten with a fork. The rice should be flavored with the spicy tomato base, but the tomato base should be fully cooked out. You then add sausage and shrimp, and call it good. This was a thick soup, with rice, onions, bay shrimp, bell peppers, chicken, and sausage. Um...no. That would be a bisque or soup with...I guess stuff in it. NOT Jambalaya. What my wife had is just a big bowl of numpty. I don't get it...maybe if we sucked down a few drinks first we would care less, and perhaps that is what people are doing. Or people are just going on the name alone. Not sure, but I would not recommend it.

    (2)

  • Tamara S.

    Update! Happy to report that I returned and enjoyed my experience much more this time around. I made sure to note to my server my specific spice preference and everything was great! I'm thankful that I came back and tried it again. The sangria (on drink special when we went) was good as my husband enjoyed his pineapple margarita. I strongly recommend the Cesar salad on the happy hour menu.

    (4)

  • Paige Z.

    One of my favorite restaurants. I love the giant bowl of lemon heads. The smoothies are delicious. Be prepared for your dish to be spicy!!! The guacamole is a delicious appetizer.

    (5)

  • Jeanne Z.

    THis place is off the radar a little bit, it's nice to go there have a bowl off peanuts and get some good "pirate" (Caribbean) food. THey have a good deal on happy hour if you can make it, and their drinks are fun and really good. ALl their food is really good, and they have good Vegetarian options. IF you are BRAVE try the "Great Balls of Fire" and after dinner, enjoy a complimentary Fireball or Lemon Head. This place is fun, good fun, and the service is great.

    (4)

  • Cameron B.

    The service was impeccable, friendly and fun. In fact the whole experience is fun....and let's not forget the spicy ball challenge! You can find my buddy Seth's face immortalized on the wall. I love the fact that the menu doesn't take it's self seriously. In a city filled with micro this, pop-up that and people stealing herbs out of abandoned parking lots, it's nice to come somewhere for tasty food and a good, unpretentious time! Bring the Pepto and hit the spicy ball challenge!!

    (4)

  • Dave C.

    My wife and I needed to stay about a month in SW Portland, living out of a hotel, and we were getting bored with conventional lunches, looked on-line for something different and fun. Remembered seeing a Food Network show featuring Salvadore Molly's, looked it up, and gave it a try. Since the offerings had so many unusual sounding combinations of flavors, we wanted to try several smaller items rather than pick just one or two that we might not like. Often we've found that a restaurant will have either one really poor offering and a lot of far better ones, or one really great item and the rest fairly blah. So, if we pick something we just don't like, or if the service isn't quite up to expectations, we generally reserve judgement until it happens again with other choices and other servers before saying anything too bad about it. There are exceptions where service, atmosphere or quality of food is just too bad for a second chance. That didn't happen! The experience was outstanding. We'd go back in a heartbeat. The food we ordered was unusual, excellent taste, and good value, people were very friendly and helpful. The decor was a wild mix of tropical themes for folks with a sense of humor. You walk right in to an L-shape bar, and to the right are booths, to the left tables and a life-size welded bronze/iron sculpture of "Molly" guaranteed to scare a toddler! But no toddlers need apply...it's for folks with some sense of adventure not looking for elegant dining or standard Tex-Mex, or even just normal Cuban fare. There are colorful umbrellas, a mix of Hawaiian and Carribean, Mexican and European themes, in that packed-to-the-rafters assortment that would drive an interior decorator insane. It's just... well, fun. My wife ordered a sampling of items, such as the Namibian braii chicken, tiki tiki shrimp from the kid's menu, and a BBQ pork slider. I got the Drum Pan Jerk Chicken sandwich. The Namibian Braii chicken was outstanding in flavor, not dry like chicken cooked on a stick usually turns out. Three good sized spears with a great sauce, for $6.75. Superb taste, excellent value. The port slider was as big as many regular entree sandwiches, only $2.50 (it's listed as an appetizer). The shrimp sticks were really for kids, fairly bland, but kids don't usually like exotic spices so we just said we should have known. But it came with a lot of what looked like saffron rice and raw baby carrots, healthy stuff. Rice was good enough to take home and use with dinner. The jerk chicken with spicy mango was $9.75, which is edging toward the higher end for a sandwich but it was so good there's no complaint. It was tender, spicy, the sauces and such on it were interesting and flavorful. We'll go back again and try other offerings. Didn't need to prove anything with "Balls of Fire" but I'd gladly watch someone else do it! After dining at all sorts of venues around the world for the past 70 years, I'd have to give this place a hearty recommendation just for the novelty of their menu. Doesn't hurt that it tastes great, too.

    (5)

  • Basia B.

    I am not sure what the hype is about this place. I heard about it from Man vs. Food and I was really excited to try it. The only things that were amazing were the appetizers. We had the Rasta rings (onion rings) and the Memphis Blues Smothered Fries. They were both very good. But for the main course the food really wasn't anything special. We had the Hawaiian meat tacos and tamales and I've had much better. I did try the great balls of fire and they were super spicy. That would be a hard challenge to finish!

    (3)

  • Michele R.

    My husband's and my introduction to Salvador Molly's was via their Hot Tamale booth at the Hillsdale Farmers Market this weekend. The artichoke and cojita tamale was calling to us. So we ordered one to split with hot salsa (hold the sour cream). It was definitely big enough for two as breakfast (perfect breakfast food in our book) and at only six bucks we thought it was a bargain. Perfectly cooked and seasoned masa generously filled with tender artichoke hearts and just the right amount of cojita. And the salsa....yeeow and yum! Had I a bowl of that, I could eat it with a spoon. Seriously. (As note to omnivore and vegan friends, other options were Yucatan chicken or vegan veggie. Something for everyone. Cool.) Such a nice guy was working at the tamale booth. Are the people at the bricks and mortar Salvador Molly's as friendly, we wondered? Thumbs up for welcome here. Sitting outside, in the sun, on a miserably hot morning at a market that was as crowded as Times Square on New Years' Eve (this I say from experience at both places) this was still a great tamale (this I say from experience of having eaten many - many). It was the reviews for the Salvador Molly's bricks and mortar restaurant written by Yelp friends whose opinions I value that led me to line up at the tamale booth at the Hillsdale Market when those tamales smelled so good. So thanks Sandra, Christine and Elizabeth for your recommendations! In the meantime, anyone looking for a great tamale on a Sunday morning should seriously consider braving the parking bumper cars and crowds at the Hillsdale Farmers Market to eat one from at Salvador Molly's booth. We think you'll be glad you did.

    (4)

  • Molly B.

    *Update* We've been back several times. The service, food quality and atmosphere remain top notch. Can't get enough of that guacamole! We've tried the kahlua pork tacos and the jambalaya. The fish tacos are still my favorite. But...we're still too chicken to try the balls of fire.

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    This is a place where the whole family can enjoy an authentic and delicious meal. Whether your picky or on a certain diet, Salvador Molly's has it all. I am a vegan and there were several delicious looking options. I went with a mixed vegetable dish with some sort of pita wrap on the side that was filled with garlic. It was delicious. The fun and lively atmosphere would also fit well for a date.

    (5)

  • Kara G.

    I've never had anything I disliked here. Usually I order the fish tacos, which I think are the best in town, but yesterday I branched out and tried the dosas (delicious) and fried steak bites (heart attack, but delicious). Their gin cocktail is quite tasty (and stronger than all their other drinks). My date, who has quite the international palette, thought the food was awesome. We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Benjamin G.

    I've always been a fan of Salvador Molly's and even though I no longer live in Portland, I still like to swing by when I'm in town for a visit. I noticed a change from the "pre-Man Vs. Food" days, but it hasn't stopped me from stopping by for seasonal samplings and old standards. Oh, and to keep it real... I have climbed the mountain know as, "Great Balls of Fire" and I have lived to tell the tale!

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    Probably my favorite casual dining restaurant in Portland. The usual favorite dish is the Jambalya (be careful on the spice, you can get a range from 1 to 20 on the pseudo Scoville hotness scale). If you get anywhere near the 10 range you're asking for it. Last night, I went with the Surfer Taco Plate with the pulled Pork and it was fantastic. Also, in the spirit of Portland's own Brew Festival, I tried the Brazilian Black Beer, Xingu which was pretty darn good. Bottom line is this place has affordable, delicious food, fun casual atmosphere (with outdoor seating if the weather is nice) and a unique beer selection that is decent.

    (4)

  • Evan R.

    Ok we had not been back for a while but it stuck in the kids minds for some reason or another and we went back. Every time we have gone we have enjoyed the cocktails and the food (though the past few times the food has not enjoyed us) and the service has been pretty good even at busy times. This time however the service was dreadful. Slow and inattentive, he would forget to check on us, took 30 minutes to bring our drinks chips and guacamole. then when our meals arrived nearly an hour later, kids were very patient by the way, he dropped off the plates and didnt even check to see if we wanted another round of drinks (which we did) had to get another waiter to take our order and then bring us the drinks. Our server only appeared when we had finished (and we flagged him down) to get our bill. We certainly don't mind spending 3 hours for a good meal but at Salvador Molly's?!? Prices were not that great either. We could have had a really nice meal some place else (Three Square Grill, Alba, heck even Occonors would have been better. The next day both of us had very upset digestive systems, again! We are not going to go back EVER!

    (1)

  • Kaylynn F.

    Meh....I guess I'm not hip enough to enjoy this place. Service sucks to say the least & the food is mediocre at best.

    (1)

  • Ajia T.

    I instantly feel like a pirate when I walk into Sal Molly's. Arghh... Happy hour here is great...free peanuts, yummy garlic fries, fried tofu, macho nachos, and kick-ass drinks like the Painkiller and the Mojarita. The bartenders and servers are very friendly, too. I like to sit outside, whenever possible, and the deck is quite pleasant. For lunch, we always get the big, delicious burritos and smoothies. Yum! I love those sweet pickled onions, too. Everything on the menu here rocks, but beware those Great Balls of Fire. It seems you'll be safe if you only have one or two, but go easy on the sauce. Don't try to be a crazy-pants about it or you'll hate yourself the next day...trust me. Pissing razors and pooping fire, for reals. I know a few people who have eaten all 5, smothering them in hot sauce, like they were super tough and all, then couldn't walk for 2 days. So have fun and get your photo on the Wall of Flame, just note: You were warned.

    (4)

  • Leah P.

    Bomb! An oral taste explosion! Fun atmosphere, good prices, delicious mojhitos! A for sure must eat when ever I am in Portland.

    (4)

  • Chris E.

    I'm also surprised that this restaurant hasn't received higher ratings and praise. Great cuban influenced menu. Fun atmosphere and decor. Good service. Can be crowded, small space with small parking lot. Vegetarian and Vegan options. Full bar with peanuts in the shell. The spicy fire balls are definitely HOT! If you don't like Habanero level of hot, you probably won't like them. For those of us who like it spicy...awesome!!

    (4)

  • Well-Traveled I.

    I would've given this place four stars but we got seated right near the kitchen and while it was busy that night, they could've sat us at another table or even the bar. Ordered the Volcano, while it was not hot, was very delicious. Loved the garlic fries but wish they provided more.

    (3)

  • Lou M.

    Read great things about Salvador Molly's online, so my better half & I decided to try it out. Knew we may be in for a bit of a wait as we went on a Friday night. To our surprise we were seated rather quickly, but only to be put in a very awkward table shoved in the corner. The bowl of peanuts were fabulous...I mean who doesn't love shelling peanuts & not worrying about where it all goes. But I have to say that this may have been the best thing we ate. Ordered the guacamole for an appetizer, it was just bland. Almost as if a little salt & pepper would help. And our entrees, tacos & shrimp, were not any better. Interesting atmosphere but not such fabulous food....

    (2)

  • Joy M.

    We went here on Sunday when they opened so my husband and his cousin could try the Great Balls of Fire challenge. They both completed it and got their picture on the wall-mission accomplished. The peanuts on the table are a good way to start a meal; especially if you come hungry. I came for the cuban sandwich, it had been a few years since I had it there and it was still really yummy. They have a great drink menu. My husband had a chicken burrito and ate the whole thing so it must have been good! We will definitely go back as we seem to a few times a year.

    (4)

  • Mirina Y.

    I had been wanting to eat here for some time, so the other day I finally got my chance. I have got mixed feelings about this place. I don't know... Frankly I really expected the food to be tasting much better. So a little disappointed. For example dishes might have been tasting really good if they would have arrived hot and not cold or lukewarm. I tried few different fried dishes, and some of them I agree with others that should have been way more crispy, yes, not crunchy enough. And overall, some dishes were not well done. The Habanero fritters were OK but I think they could have been a bit less spicy in order to taste better, but the cheese balls were not so bad. So... But then I have to say that there are lots good reasons for me to come back: first the prices are reasonable, then you have the advantage of taste the cuisine from different parts of the world in one place!! There is a nice outside patio seating, there is a good variety of vegetarian dishes and a fun variety of drinks, so I would give it 3 stars!

    (3)

  • K B.

    Always have had consistent yummy food! Servers are friendly. Fun atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Matt R.

    I could eat here 10 meals a week for a year and not bat an eye. Their food is incredible, Molly's Mob is the model of great marketing/customer rewarding and the variety is impossible to beat for larger groups. I now default to the Chimichurri steak, but the cuban sandwich and the Namibian chicken caesar salad are also highlights of the menu. The place can get crowded, but that's for good reason.

    (5)

  • Julia T.

    The ambiance is well done. The menu is well put together given the variety of influences. Good, "different food" with lots of flavor!

    (4)

  • Daniel L.

    We were turned on to this place because of its feature on Man vs Food. Since that led to a good result in Jackson, Mississippi (Hal & Mal's) I let the Man vs Food hat tip set the course for the evening - and it delivered again. It's a festive looking place set amid a strip mall. I did not really know what to expect given pulling up to that situation, especially after leaving downtown. But it was definitely worth it and worth a drive to check it out. The happy hour started at 8pm so it was good we walked in two minutes before the top of the hour so we did not need to wait long for Uncle's cough syrup. It was $3 for a vodka soda with mango. Never ordered anything like that, but for a first time it was pretty good and colorful so I have no complaints. Mango and vodka, write that down self, it works. And they had peanuts on the table to snack on while we decided what to do for food. I ended up with the buffalo fries ($2) and due to a bad service screw up I ended up with the shrimp salad, even though I ordered the tofu. But whatever - my boss would have been done eating if I sent it back. While I am not a big shrimp fan, it was still nice to have some green stuff thrown my way in the salad. And the shrimp was heavily seasoned on the skewer, like it left behind a puddle of seasoning on the lettuce it was so much. $2 for a salad and some shrimp was more than fair. And the fries were just amazeballs - Frank's red hot, a ton of blue cheese crumbles, some other kind of cheese sauce on there = delicious. And it was a huge bowl of fries for $2. You can not beat that. If you got that at a baseball it would be like $50 to go along with your $20 beer. This place is definitely worth checking out, and another mark on the scorecard that Man vs Food has done well picking out places for me when I travel.

    (4)

  • Shadman S.

    It was a great scene and good drinks. However, the food quality was disappointing and the price is on the steep end for the taste and quality.

    (2)

  • Molly S.

    I will never go here again. The table next to us (empty) had visible dirt on it even though it was set for a new group to sit down. The cheese poofs were listed as a 'fritter'. It had a nice crunchy outside and a doughy gray/brown inside that led me to believe they were not cooked all the way since they listed it as a fritter. The dipping sauce was really good though. My husband ordered the chimichurri steak and took one bite and could not eat anymore. I tasted it also and the meat had a weird squishy texture and had an spoiled taste to it. The artichoke tamale was pretty good. I did have to remove the wrapper on it which is fine except they had put the sauce and cheese on top of it so it was a mess and I lost a good portion of the sauce and cheese. The pico de gallo tasted like the smell of a refridgerator. The black beans were decent...until the pico de gallo got into it and ruined it. Our server was very nice but it took awhile to have our order taken and our tab closed out. It was pretty busy that night though. I was really disappointed as we don't get a chance to get out often alone and to go somewhere that provided a decent menu of mixed culture and vegetarian meals was nice. Even if they gave me a free meal I would not return.

    (1)

  • Andrea M.

    Holy mother of god great balls of fire! Came here because we saw it on Man Vs Food so we had to try to great balls of fire. It was hot as hell but so fun to try. Yes, I said fun. I know. LoL. The food was OK. Nothing special. The Jerk chicken and roti. TERRIBLE. I have to judge that hard because I am an islander and I know how roti and jerk chicken is supposed to taste. It was all gummy and just ugh! Not even close. Someone in our group had cheesy puffs and it was delicious. I had a big goblet drink and that was pretty good. Overall, it's good to go just once for the experience.

    (3)

  • lisa k.

    Pros-prices, variety, outdoor seating, HH (4-6 only in the bar I think), kid friendly. GF veggie/vegan options. Cons-slow service, out of menu items (sangria ???), lukewarm food, tiny crunched tables that are dinged up, dirty/sticky menus. Avg at the least

    (3)

  • Ashley G.

    Awesome service! Very unique combination of themes to create it's own awesome atmosphere. And great selection of food from all over the world! I loved it

    (5)

  • Aaron C.

    So I came in on a Saturday evening and surprisingly I didn't have to wait for a table for two even though the place was packed! I sat down as I was waiting for my friend and ordered a margarita while I waited. Margarita was excellent as well as the service. We ordered the great balls of fire for an appetizer, they were amazingly hot not to my surprise. If there are only two of you, you shouldn't order more than three of them unless you've just burnt your entire mouth with a hot spoon. The Thai Talapia that I ordered was excellent as well. I have no reason at all to not give them five stars other than my bill was $88 with a couple margaritas each. I'll be back to try those fireballs again!

    (5)

  • Robert S.

    Eclectic menu, well prepared. The service was also great. I recommend the jerk chicken tacos. The drinks were also unusual and tasty.

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    My favorite thing about Salvadore Molly's is that it is a great place to mindlessly ingest 500 cal worth of peanuts before starting your meal. This is a place that I keep trying to love, but keep failing. Service is slow, yes. The food is hit and miss. The decor is basically a variety of sale items from World Market. Cheesy poofs are tasty. The Namibian chicken small plate was awesome - perfect if you are not too hungry. The rice that came with it was ok. The guacamole was made from underripe avocados, I mean these chunks of avocado were firm. I was almost worried about cracking one of my molars overfilled with mercury fillings from the aggressive dentistry of the 80s. To summarize, if you are in the neighborhood, the dishes that they have are unique enough to stop for, but I would not go out of my way to get here.

    (2)

  • Ben K.

    Pros: Unique environment, unique food Cons: Service is slow, the fire balls are hot! My friend and I wrapped up our guys weekend in Portland at Salvador Molly's. I wanted to go here after seeing it on Man vs Food and seeing how unique of a place it was. It definitely is unique. It's not quite the "pirate themed" restaurant that it seems it would be on MvF, but it does have a theme of Caribbean/Seafood/International fusion. The place has unique decorations all throughout. The food choices are seafood related with a twist. My friend got the BBQ sliders and shrimp skewers while I went with the beer battered fish tacos. Both of us enjoyed our meals, though the slow service at times was annoying. We also tried one of the spicy fritters. We each took a small bite with the salsa and that was enough for us. We felt it for the rest of the night. Hot!!! We got to eat at some unique restaurants and Salvador Molly's was a great conclusion to our weekend together.

    (4)

  • Angelina M.

    So I took my son here for his birthday to try what I hear is the buns blsitering heat of the hobenero bombers- Wholly gawds! They are right- I only got through 1 of these bad boys! I had the Kalhu Pork and it was perfect, moist and flaverful. Oh and the Huricane garlic fries YUM! The Barbodas Mac Pie their verision of mac & cheese in a bannna leaf, prefect chessiness. My daughter had ther Tamales, was very good too, I will defently try here again- only down side is the closness you will feel with all over other neighbor patrons eating.

    (4)

  • Erica S.

    I hardly ever eat tamales so I decided to wait 10 long minutes at their Portland Farmer's Market booth to try their chicken tamale, but by the time it was my turn to order, they had run out so I tried the Artichoke Hearts & Cotija cheese with spicy sauce instead. With chips, it was $7. It was a pretty hefty portion tamale that I was full after I ate half of it. The flavors were good with the spicy sauce, but I would have much preferred the chicken one instead. I need my meat!

    (3)

  • Allen N.

    Excellent meals, all around. Portions seemed to be large enough. The baja saba fish tacos I ordered could have been larger but it was extraordinary nonetheless. Everything was tasty and unique. Service was prompt but can get slow during regular dinner hours.

    (5)

  • Ben W.

    Cheesy proofs are awesome. Get your own order because these cheesey fritters are way too goo to share. What is worth sharing is a Fish bowl of the blue cocktail on their menu. I forget the name (yeap that good) it was an excellent compliment to the fritters and delicious pulled pork sliders. Service was just ok. Admittedly it was Sunday afternoon so it was on par with what I expected.

    (4)

  • LaNae L.

    I had purchased a Groupon for the Salvador Molly's bar and grill off of McLoughlin a while back. It is only a few blocks from our house. They then closed for repairs. So we ended up going to the one off of Sunset Boulevard. I had been once before and was not impressed but having the Groupon we decided to go. when I got there I realized the Groupon had expired. I asked if it could be extended, it had only been expired for a week. they were not able to do that. I can sort of understand. We ordered the cheesy poof. I had them one other time at the other restaurant and they were good. These on the other hand, were undercooked and over fried. The fryer must have been on high and we were one of the first orders for lunch. We did speak with the server Ian, who didn't seem too concerned. We had also asked him a few questions about the menu and he seemed rushed and not terribly helpful. Our food was fine, nothing to write home about, I got the chicken and mango sandwich which was good my friend got the Cuban sandwich which she said was bland and could have used a little more pickle and mustard. When the check came we asked him to split it so I could use my Groupon and he seemed to not be able to do that. Which was frustrating. Our experience there was not worth repeating. Food was mediocre and service was poor.

    (2)

  • Dustin S.

    We've eaten here about 4 times now and most of the experiences have been very good. The last time we ate here I had the fish tacos and the Rasta steak bites. Both were wonderful. The tacos were some of the best fish tacos I have ever had. I can't remember what my wife ordered but I remember her saying that it was delicious! There was one trip with my parents that wasn't the best experience, but hey, everybody has an off day. For the most part, the food has been excellent and the service has been very good as well.

    (4)

  • Christine D.

    This was a fun treat. A friend sent me a link to tozmoz.com which was sponsoring a buy a half price coupon and get twice the price. So, we paid $15 for a $30 coupon. It's good on all items and oh yeah, we spent way more than $30 heehee. I know they count on that when they get you to use a coupon. The food was very tasty and we ate in the bar as it looked more interesting that the actual dining room. We went on Monday night, which is movie night. Our movie of the evening was Backdraft, which, I haven't seen but heard great things about was playing in the background. Remind me to place that in the Netflix queue. We had the coconut shrimp as an appetizer which was really tasty. There are only three prawns so be prepared to fight over them if there is two of you. I got the jerk chicken tacos and there were oh so tasty. I haven't had jerk chicken since I left Jamaica and it was just as good as I remembered. There are two tacos on the plate as well as beans and rice. With the appetizer and the margaritas (did I mention they were very tasty and they know how to pour). I was unable to eat the beans and rice but my dining companion was able to finish that off as well as his meal too. I'll definitely be back with or without the coupon.

    (4)

  • John L.

    What a great menu. The staff is engaging and attentive. The balls of Fire! Great! Peanuts are a great touch. If you live on the east side come to the west side for some serious yum!

    (4)

  • Erick B.

    We went there for a quick bite, and I ended up getting the steak with chimichurri and it was excellent. It came out on a platter, thrown on a pile of garlic mashed potatoes like it was the first kill of the hunting trip. I asked for medium rare, and that is what I got (schwing!). It was seasoned well and the chimichurri sauce added the perfect punch. We had the cheesy poof appetizer, and I made the choice to try one of their Flaming Balls of Fire. This little monster is a cheese fritter from what they tell me, and it's laced with a ton of Habanero peppers. To top it off, it comes out lounging in a small pool of their mango/habanero salsa (as if it wasn't hot enough already). I looked over to see some other poor bastage crying like his wife just took his favorite car and wrecked it. Alas, I was wrong.... he had just finished with the full salvo of 5 Balls of Fire. I can only imagine how many Tucks Medicated Pads he was shoving down the back of his jockey shorts the next day. As for me, one ball was enough to fry most of my taste buds, my nostrils, and make my stomach pressure go up by about 2000psi. Either way, I can say I had one, but 5? Not in a million.... In any event, the dinner as a whole was excellent, and the service was above par. We will definitely return for more culinary delights...

    (5)

  • Savannah K.

    Met some new friends for dinner here. Great atmosphere, creative flavors. Totally enjoyed my food the Great Balls of Fire were too hot for me to enjoy... And my friends thought so too. But it was worth the fun of us running through two pitchers of water and the tears lol. We bonded over the pain haha. Our waiter was super nice and we felt welcome and taken care of. I would definitely eat there again and recommend it. Meals are around $10 a pop, very reasonable.

    (4)

  • Lisa B.

    They have a world record and for a good reason. This place is unique and amazing! Service is solid. Food is consistent, well flavored. Sustainable goodness in SW!

    (5)

  • Jordan V.

    We found this place after looking at the Man vs Food episode for Portland... thinking that everything they go to seems like something worth trying. And wow was this place ever worth it! A creative menu, funky space, and keen staff all contributed to our great experience. The food ideas are thoughtful - an insane amount of unique flavours in each bite, lots of spice, and a nice balance of rich and fresh. The bulgogi tacos are simply outstanding. The draft beer selection is short but different and diverse. Your server will help you find something you will love. I will need to come here more often when visiting Portland.

    (5)

  • Conor K.

    I will never understand all of the good reviews for this place. Got the Cheese fritters, they were bland and cold inside. Jambalaya was so salty I legitimately couldn't eat it. I ate my cornbread, and got drive through on the way home. My wife got fish tacos. They weren't any better than Taco del Mar would serve. They were pretty cold as well. I just don't get the draw to this place. It was an all out terrible experience.

    (1)

  • Kirk T.

    I would classify the type of food served here as fusion - a mix of Jamaican, Mexican and island influences, mostly Mexican. The two dishes we had, Jerked Tacos and an El Jefe burrito were both on the bland side, but were loaded with onions, peppers, and rice. There was very little jerked chicken in my burrito, but loaded with lots of the other items. There was Sriracha and a bottled habanero hot sauce available, and that that kicked the flavors up a couple of notches. I would award more stars but the hype does not as of yet match the food. But, I have yet to indulge in the hype. All the way, anyway. Our server Ian was great, making several trips to our table for refills and to make sure all was well. A special order for our daughter was met with a smile and "No problem". Just what we wanted to hear. Great service. The place seems a lot smaller than I had imagined it to be from television. The "Man versus Food" episode may have been shot at the other location, but I expected a larger place. Lots of tables both inside and a few outside though keep the place jumping. I like the west side room that gets lots of sun in the PM. I am a man whom likes his heat. I was not going to subject myself to the Great Balls of Fire challenge today as I had my family in-tow, but it is on my list. To that end, Ian was nice enough to share a taste of the habanero salsa that accompanies the "Balls". It was very tasty and plenty hot. I poured it over my El Jefe and was able to feel some of the treachery that awaits those who dare to accept the challenge. I was warned by Ian that the 5 little unassuming bites of Hell are extremely hot, and I could tell that the heat from the sauce becomes cumulative after the first few bites. Being a man with an ego that every once in a while needs a good dose of capsaicin, I will be indulging soon. I will update upon liftoff.

    (3)

  • Robert P.

    This place has been on my list to try for some time. I finally stopped in recently for dinner. I had Pele's Volcano, a really good pulled Pork dish. I also tried the Great Balls of Fire. Yes they are insanely hot but I did manage to finish them. The relish that comes with them has the true heat in the dish so if you want to lower it down a notch ask for ranch or blue cheese for diping. Overall i loved the atmosphere and the food was really good. Bewared that parking is very limited and not suited for large vehicles.

    (3)

  • Faith G.

    Love the unique food here! My husband and I come here often for happy hour and just for dinner. We love trying new dishes and appreciate that their menu does change often! We came here last night for my birthday with my family (which was their first time.) we all got different meals to try one another's and nothing disappointed! My mom's steak was not cooked the way she hoped, they server took it back and when it came back it was re-plated beautifully once again and the server took it off the tab! We were impressed by the service and my parents will be back as well!

    (5)

  • Alison P.

    Fabulous food, great service (Darrell) and fun decor! Don't be fooled, small plates are not small! Full dinner plates full of fried calamari, beef slices the most amazing spicy aioli sauce and chimmichuri. Husband & I shared and we still couldn't finish. Husband also had the chicken tamal which he loved and kept telling me to have another bite. It came with beans, rice, salad and guacamole. Tamal had a red sauce and Mexican fresco. Delish! We would definitely come vac when we are in town! Almost forgot to mention the Ginger brew! Nice & refreshing!

    (4)

  • Diane C.

    Every one like a good 'local' place. Salvador Molly's is in Hillsdale and that's my neighborhood. There aren't enough good restaurants here, but I'm hoping for more. That said, Salvador Molly's is a solid neighborhood restaurant. The food is very good. I had the Sunshine Bowl (with chicken)...full of rice, beans, cheese, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and other goodies. I felt like this was not only a healthy choice but a delicious one. I also love their fish tacos. Many of their dishes are spicy...my husband has yet to figure out what spice level will really work for him when he orders their jumbalaya. Last night he had the pot pie (with chicken) and liked it but thought it was a bit spicy. This IS a Caribbean restaurant, though, so one should expect spice. They also have a pretty nice happy hour, with lots of choices and $4 well drinks (different special drink for every night of the week). They are also big supporters of the local schools. We used a $10 discount card that we purchased from our daughter who is on the Wilson Basketball Team. Thanks for supporting the community, SM!

    (4)

  • Jasmine H.

    The fish tacos.... um, YUM and the onion rings were some of the best I've had. I was diggin' the atmosphere and spunky staff.

    (5)

  • Tabatha P.

    I love going here to eat. I still crave the way they make their sweet potatoes. I used to live right down the street and visited often, I can't wait to go again. A lot of foods are pretty spicy, I always go with the more mild (plates. They have a little bit of outdoor seating which I enjoy. Nice service and beer and happy hour specials.

    (5)

  • Chris O.

    An interesting mix of food styles here served in generous portions. Mostly leaning to a Caribbean, Mexican african side of things, kind of hard to explain really but they offer lots of interesting stuff. The "balls of fire" are tasty and kinda fun as is the milder version. Overall most of the food is good, nothing amazing but pretty decent and I'd go back again especially if I can find the slower hours as it gets crowded here for dinner even on weekdays. They have some fun tropical style drinks that they serve up nice and strong, you won't likely need a second unless you want to be here awhile.

    (4)

  • Jennifer D.

    This place was so much fun. The decorations were wonderful ranging from African to asian. The multicultural menu options ensured that there was something for everyone in my family, even the most picky. Would defiantly recommend this to my friends. If you are ever in portland, you have to try this place.

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    my wife and I went recently and I ordered the Great Balls of Fire challenge. The waiver was funny until I ate them. They were amazing. Hot but amazing. I managed them all with the salsa in around 3 min 47 sec ( my own time limit was 5 min they don't seem to have one). The mouth burn was high but the gut burn later hit me hard. I bought a t-shirt ( great balls of fire survivor $15) which was ok but many places with a challenge give you a free one upon completion. I will say each habanero batch is different so some people may not experience this the same. They ruined spicy food for me. I keep searching for the heat everywhere I go but nothing has touched the level of my gbof from Salvador Molly's.

    (5)

  • Smaly K.

    Had planned a day trip to Portland, so decided to buy a Groupon to try this place out for dinner. Had read some reviews and looked at the menu, so decided to try this place out because it sounded different and interesting. Of course, I read about the Great Balls of Fire, so I had to try it since I love spicy food. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do the challenge and fill myself up on five of them, and who knows how long my ride will feel like (to my stomach) driving back up to Seattle after dinner. So, I decided to try one the habanero cheese balls, just to see how spicy it really was. I would say it was pretty spicy, compared to what other restaurants call spicy. I needed a few minutes for my mouth to cool down after this. I ordered the Seoul Chap Chee, and it was pretty good. The Pampas Chimichurri Steak was cooked perfectly and was delicous. And the Jamma Jamma Greens salad that came with the steak had a tasty dressing and was also delicious. We also ordered a side of sweet potato fries, and they were crispy shoestring fries and were of perfect texture. May be the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. I mixed my ketchup with whatever left over habanero sauce I had that I couldn't scrape up with my Great Ball of Fire, and dipped my sweet potato fries in it...yummy. The staff was very friendly. As we waited to be seated, not one staff member walked by and ignored us; everyone greeted us and told us the hostess was on her way. Great service except that I had to ask for more water after we were done eating, as my cup sat there empty through half my meal. But other than that, I still really enjoyed the place.

    (4)

  • Katie D.

    I got the groupon for this place and drove in from Washington to check it out. The service was slowwwwww. The drinks here are terrible. I tried to order the spicy margarita, which they were out of. Waiter didn't give a shit, didn't have any suggestions otherwise. Husband ordered an old fashioned, which came and instead was some kind of mystery pink drink? The food isn't good. Overpriced bar food for sure. We shared the chicken tamale, pork smothered spuds, and cheesy poofs. Wouldn't come back.

    (1)

  • M. C.

    Came here because we found a Groupon and we're glad we did! We enjoy trying out new spots. The staff was nice, helpful, and accommodating. Portions were good, and flavors were interesting, yet still as expected based on the descriptions on the menu. I enjoy spicy food, but find food that just has a high Scoville Scale with no depth in flavors annoying. The Great Balls of Fire were delicious, while spicy, I wasn't left with the impression I was only eating fire. This is definitely not just a "Groupon only" joint.

    (4)

  • Chinmay G.

    I managed to scrape through half habanero balls. no wonder anyone gulping down 5 is put up on the hall of fame. The drinks are decent and the hot tamale I ordered was good as well. The ambiance is casual and there is ample seating.

    (4)

  • Scott F.

    Awesome menu, a wide selection of ethnic inspired food. The staff is friendly and professional. I have been very satisfied every time I come here.

    (4)

  • Ed C.

    The drinks were excellent the service good. Fish tacos were flavorful but could've been spicier or more seasoned. The black beans were the best- I will go back for sure.

    (3)

  • Eric B.

    During my most recent trip to Portland, my Son was very intent on sharing places with me that he enjoys. That started with Foster Burger (SE) on Friday for Lunch and continuing on to Salvador Molly's for a midday Saturday meal. It's Hillsdale location is also close to his Portland home and I'm told a local family favorite. Salvador Molly's is certainly colorful and in the Kid's opinion - tropical. Maybe Caribbean is a better term, but like Portland itself the place is probably a mash up of several cultures. When you walk in, the restaurant is to the left and the bar is too the right. Since both members of our party were not 21, izquierda it was. As it was early afternoon, the place wasn't crowded and it was nice to hang out with my Son. I wasn't terribly hungry, so along with a Red Ale, I chose 3 pork sliders off the "Small Plates w/Big Bites" section of the menu. It was delicious, with a nice kick, and with generous portions. I was "stuffed", as Gayle sometimes mocks me as saying. My Son ordered his favorites - Cheesy Poofs (crispy fritters of mashed potatoes, chipotle chiles, and cheese, topped with salsa Mo'cajete and crema) and a Curry Dahl Cup (Richly seasoned red lentils with house-blended curry, a dollop of sweet potato & a drizzle of cool crema). That was plenty for him to eat as well. And if I lived in this area of town, I might turn out to be a regular here.

    (4)

  • Wes S.

    I went to this place after watching Man vs. Food. I really enjoyed the great balls of fire. They were spicy but not so hot that you couldn't enjoy the great mixture of flavors and textures. My picture is straight across the hallway from Adam Richman's framed one. Fun atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Seth F.

    amazing food. went in for lunch and everyone there is very friendly. tried one of the great balls of fire and really liked it. i love spicy food and i think next time im going to try to do the challenge and eat all 5. i also enjoyed the Shanghai Cowboy Rolls and a tamale was amazing. also got the orange chessecake. i wish i knew about this place when i lived in southwest portland but i will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Nicole Y.

    Great food! Decent service, could be better, could be worse! So many yummy items on the menu!!

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    This place is very hit or miss - tonight was a miss. I used to like it but it feels like they have changed some things, including food (Shanghai Cowboy Rolls), which I find not as good. I know they opened a location on the Eastside (which I went to twice) that closed (a couple months ago maybe) and ever since then our experiences haven't been as good at the Hillsdale location. I noticed that they added video lottery (or maybe now it's just front and center in the bar?)...I feel it attracts some different customers. I'm a bit concerned for this place - I actually won't be coming back as I have never felt so uncomfortable here before because of the weird patrons. If I want bad service and mediocre food I will just go to McMenamins next door because at least there you expect it and there is not a video lottery crowd. Not sure what has happened.

    (3)

  • David C.

    The food was excellent. I'm looking forward to going back.

    (4)

  • Lucy G.

    I used to love this place but it has recently gone down hill - last evening we went there for dinner, sat outside as we often do during the summer. The speaker blared music so loud we had to yell at each other. We asked our waiter to turn it down....nothing happened. Another waiter came by to fill water glasses, we asked him to see about turning it down....we got agreement that it was really loud. Then for a third time after not being able to carry on a conversation we asked our waiter again to turn it down...he gave us a lame excuse that they couldn't control the volume, presets, etc....When our food arrived we gave up and asked them to move us inside - it was ruining our dinner. We were seated at the bar - the bartender was quite surprised why we were there as she stated that no one had asked her to turn down the speaker outside. So the waiters were lying to us! The steak chimichuri I ordered - usually my favorite - was just edible, not good. The quality of the meat was as if it had been frozen for a long time, it had the awful film on it and the sauce was not garlicky at all. The evening was terrible - I probably wont' go back.....a big disappointment.

    (2)

  • Maya R.

    My boyfriend and I absolutely love this place! The food is brilliant, the drinks are mixed by professionals, and the staff is incredible. We moved to the Hillsdale neighborhood from Arizona and needed to find "our bar" again. This was definitely it. Daryl, Bladin, Emily... The list goes on of the staff that we learned to love. They know what we drink and eat by heart. They quickly became our new bar family!! Fish tacos!!!!

    (5)

  • Tyler D.

    I posted a prior review and now want to update. The owner Rick contacted me and made things right. His first concern was customer satisfaction, and he was very quick to contact me. We will be back time and again. This is how customer service is done. I highly recommend that if you are not satisfied that you bring it up to them and allow them the chance to make it right for you within reason.

    (5)

  • Deanna N.

    This is a great place to come for happy hour. First of all, they have many items for 2.95 for three mini (albeit large) spicy pork sandwhiches which I fell in love with. I like that there are items from many parts of the world - Cuban, Mexican, Thai and they are identified as such on the menu so you can experiment regionally. At happy hour, there is a $1 off draft beers and they had some good one's including GoodLife's Descender IPA. They also have one specialty drink and that night it was a very sweet sangria. Our waiter was so kind, (Shout out to Jad) he served us on the house three large servings of gauc and chips. My little co-op from Puerto Rico was so happy to take the guac home by the lb as leftovers to feed her for the rest of the week. I also loved the fries as they had so much fresh garlic diced on top. They are opening in the old Yummy Garden, a 4 block walk from my house. Hopeful for dog welcoming patio so I can enjoy the summer on a budget happy hour with some spicy goodness.

    (4)

  • Carrie W.

    Updated review! Owner was awesome. So responsive to my previous negative review. He investigated issue with my dish immediately and resolved AND he had me come back for a new meal and it was much better. Talk about someone who really cares about his customers. Thank you Salvador Molly's!!!!

    (4)

  • Duoshun P.

    Tonight we dined at Salvador Molly's. I ordered the jerk chicken while my wife had the tamales. The customer service was amazing, our server was welcoming, attentive, & patient. The atmosphere was less than great, the dining space was compact and it felt more like a bar than a restaurant. The food was ok, not bad just not amazing. The menu is full of exotic cuisine from all across the world but lacked the execution needed to provide a food experience that would make a native long for home. I give Salvador Molly's a 6.5/10

    (3)

  • Jesica F.

    I lived close to this restaurant but Nope, not for me. not a big fan even though the server was nice and stuff. The taste of their food was so so..kinda plain to me. Tried their famous ball and yep it was really spicy. I guess that's the only thing that's good other than that it's ok.

    (2)

  • Nyki N.

    It was ok. Nothing spectacular. We had the Shanghai cowboy rolls, they were delicious! The fish cakes were decent, as was the tamale. The chips and salsa were not great and they charged us $6. The curry lime chicken soup was pretty bad, and it took an awful long time for the server to check on us. She did end up comping the soup, however, which was nice. And she was a nice person as well.

    (2)

  • Chris D.

    salvador molly's is a kick in the mouth. the best kind of kick in the mouth. such uniqueness and powerful flavor dish-to-dish. the ONLY reason they get a 4 of 5 (because really, deep in my heart, they deserve the 5), is because they removed my FAVORITE dishes. apparently they were not high sellers and hard to make. makes sense, but they were insane-o delicious. sweet, mild spice, chunky chutney sauce shoved in a veggie or chicken dense wrap which has been oiled and grilled? anyway. great atmosphere, great people. don't go, so i don't have to wait in line outside behind you :) :)

    (4)

  • Faye F.

    they have great tasting food and lots to choose from. i had the pulled pork sandwich and it was massive and packed with flavor. this order is big enough for 2 meals! great service, fun atmosphere. they have lots of drink options too.

    (4)

  • Lindsey M.

    My husband and I have been coming here for years and it's our favorite! I love the variety they have and everything is uber flavorful! My personal fav is the island iced tea, cheesy poofs and jambalaya. The fish tacos are also great. You really can't go wrong with this place-great prices, happy hour and food! Bonus- there are usually groupon's offered although we have maxed them out :)

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    Great vibe! Great drinks! Great food! Very very small place but so yummy! We all jad something different. I had fish tacos...awesome. the calamari was crispy and tasty . The fishbowl is a great drink for two for $13!

    (5)

  • Todd H.

    This place is multi cultural multi flavors. Drinks are exotic and flavorful. I guess that sums the whole place. I have always favored the tacos and the mango chicken sandwhich. The atmosphere is very casual and very open and friendly. I have never tried the great balls of fire however I have heard many stories. Its not that I wouldnt try its just that I have never been here just to drink large amounts of beer till I felt the need to eat something really hot and spicy. Judging from the stories I have heard it is worth it. Its just a good place for lunch with good drinks. Take the time to discover Salvadore Mollys

    (4)

  • Valerie B.

    Oh MY... I hesitate to leave such a good review for fear but it will get even busier than it already is. This place is so delicious and everyone that works there seems so friendly and pleasant. But husband had an open-faced pulled pork sandwich, the name of which escapes me. The quality of all the ingredients, even the curly fries, was impeccable. I could not make up my mind, so the waiter offered to surprise me after I told him a handful of things that were standing out to me. I will end up with the Thai inspired shrimp curry. It was tangier than a Thai curry and absolutely incredible, with plenty of shrimp. We will definitely be going back soon, and will definitely request the same waiter sections.

    (5)

  • Anna E.

    What a fun place!! Super fun decor and vibe. Very eclectic. They will let you order just one great ball of fire if you dare to light your mouth (and later pants) on fire. It's basically a habanero popper. I managed to choke it down, but in very small bites with other food in between. And despite it being very hot, it actually had good flavor too. We also had the egg roll app, which was basically like a rolled taco, but with an egg roll wrapper in place of a tortilla. They were tasty as well. For my main I had the kalua pork with garlic and it was SO juicy and flavorful. I would highly recommend this place and go again on my next trip!

    (4)

  • Karthik R.

    Nothing great and special. Decently priced food. I have had better international cuisine. Probably will go back again to try other items on the menu. For now its just decent food.

    (3)

  • Sheressa D.

    Salvador Molly's is one of our go to places in our neighborhood. The food is an interesting mix of Caribbean, soul and north African. Always delicious and the drinks are fabulous. Good wait staff, fun interior decor. Can be crowded during dinner but they will sit you at the bar if you don't want to wait for a table.

    (4)

  • Pyt P.

    Vacation trip to Portland. ..decided to try this place cause of Man vs. Food... Fire balls were ok...nothing special. . Food was ok... drinks were not great ...very pricey. .. confusions with decors. .12 hours later all 6 of us are sick and running to the bathrooms...the only things we ate in common was here...

    (1)

  • Ophelia M.

    I have a love/hate relationship with Salvador Molly's, having lived in the neighborhood for about three years now. We come here often enough -- once a month at most, although it used to be more. The issue with the restaurant is that it is incredibly hit or miss. It's almost surreal. Example: I am writing this review after having waited 39 minutes for food, after our order was taken roughly 20 minutes after we were seated. It is obvious that there are not enough employees on the floor so I do not blame the bartender, who apparently needs to be waitressing the entire establishment at the same time. Update: my food arrived and it was the wrong food. A+, guys. I'm super impressed. Forty minutes for the wrong food. You know what? I was gonna talk about how sometimes the service here is great and the food is good, but I'm too frustrated at this point. Please get your shit together, Salvador Molly's. Amending my review: I appreciate that (I can only assume the management) was certain to call the employees while on the job to tell them about my review so they could discuss it loudly in confusion and shock while I was still in the restaurant. I would like to clarify a few things, given my initial annoyance with my wait time and my eagerness to eat food left my submitted review lacking in detail. I was brought the wrong food due to a mix-up, which is completely understandable. I was brought the correct food very quickly afterward. I've no ill feelings toward our server; she honestly seemed immensely stressed by the lack of help on the floor, which I can only assume is a management issue exacerbated by real-time-on-the-clock updates about 1-star Yelp reviews. In the future, it is probably in management's best interest to have another server working the floor. I understand that it is a Sunday, so perhaps not entirely a viable option; it is also likely that we just landed in between shifts and our timing was unfortunate. (I do legitimately appreciate that my reviews are read, and I will amend my stars).

    (2)

  • Santiago N.

    Yum yum! Loved the jumbulaya... Spicy! And the Memphis Blues Smothered Fries were yummy yummy! Definitely coming back!

    (4)

  • Cheryl T.

    If you are ever in Portland, this is a must try place!!! This place has it all from excellent service to mouthwatering fresh food. Oh and don't forget to try their Aardvark Sauce!!! I had tried it for breakfast at another place and found out it was created here. I can't wait to plan another trip to Portland and this place will definitely be on my to eat list!!!

    (5)

  • Kristy W.

    We went in wanting to try the great balls of fire among other fare. We were going to go to a nice steak dinner with our friends after this experience but the great balls of fire were no joke! Everyone I was with could handle the heat except for me. MILK please!!! Put out the dragon flames coming out of my mouth! I used to be able to handle heat, my family makes spicy food! But this is above and beyond!! I went home with a terrible stomach ache, and my mouth was on fire! I was looking forward to eating a nice steak dinner but we didn't get to go because it ruined dinner for me! I would probably go back and try the other food on the menu as long as it was on the one star meaning milder side of things! At least we tried just like Adam!

    (3)

  • Brian I.

    I don't give a shit that Adam Richman has been here OR give a shit about the Great Balls of Fire challenge. Do. Not. Care. There, now that's out of the way, I can admit that after a handful of visits (recent, anyway, as I'd been here a few times years and years ago) I've finally found something that's consistently good: Pele's Volcano. I think it's rather oddly named, since you'd expect anything with "Volcano" in the name from the home of the habanero fritters to be utterly incendiary. It's not. Not in the least. The tamarind BBQ sauce is sublime, and the textures work in the sandwich to make it worth ordering again. Misses: Cheesy Poofs - Cheese and potato fritters. I couldn't finish them. Absolutely scorched on the outside (burned, literally) and a disgusting, slimy interior. Never again. Rasta Steak Bites - Battered (inexplicably) and fried steak bites. Comes with two sauces that are delightful, but the battering and frying seems completely unnecessary. I know SM's menu is eclectic, and this is probably some regional delight in a distant land. I would prefer they skip the batter altogether and serve the steak bites "naked", as it were. Shanghai Cowboy Rolls - Fried spring rolls (essentially) with pulled pork and veggies. Not bad, lots of potential. I hated the mint raita dipping sauce but found the teriyaki tolerable (alliteration ftw). Afro-Carribean Bollitos - falafel, for all intents and purposes. Vegan wife loved them. I found a single one tolerable. There just wasn't anything in the way of a component of taste I enjoyed. Speaking of vegan wife, she really, really likes the vegan tamales. That alone comprises two whole stars of my review. The other goes for a combination of the aforementioned Pele's Volcano and their decent, cold, beer selection. That's all I can award. Service has ranged from pleasant to aloof. I will say the food has come out lightning fast on each visit, so that's positive. I've got my eye on their chimichurri steak, too. So, yeah, three stars it is. For now.

    (3)

  • Cezary W.

    We have been pleasantly surprised. Great food for good prices. Always crowded. Fast service, nice decor, good vibe. When requesting spicy food they really mean "spicy" when they call it that way! Minus is the rather poor wine selection, they are really all over mixed drinks.

    (4)

  • Gavin C.

    My co workers told me about this place about 3 years ago. They had done the great balls of fire challenge. (Habanero fritters) I finally was able to join them and for dinner and drinks. Well let me tell you. The full bar and tapped beer was awesome. The local IPA was a great start. The Louisiana style jambalaya was some of the best I've eaten. After dinner, the challenge awaited me. The great balls of fire challenge was next. Oh boy these babies were hot. You really don't think much of it until the waiver comes into play. These things are flavorful and packed with a punch. After completing this challenge I was hung ho for the ghost chili fritter. To my relief, they were out of the ghost chili fritters. As I'm writing this review, I'm pretty happy with where I am. The only down side was I didn't get my picture taken and I had to buy my own shirt. Other than that, this place is pretty cool and chill atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Anastasia J.

    Great little place here. So fresh, great bright island inspired ambience. Very happy vibes and delicious food. Have yet to try anything here I didn't like. The Cuban sandwich is delicious and so are the drinks. Great place for any occasion

    (4)

  • Richard G.

    My girlfriend and I came here on our Portland trip, solely because of watching Man vs. Food. I ordered something that I think was calleds "Pele's Volcano" and my girlfriend ordered the Memphis Smothered Fries. I think the big mistake we made was ordering two dishes with pulled pork. While the pulled pork was decent, it wasn't anything spectacular. The sauce on the "Pele's Volcano" was kind of weird too. It was odd seeing a restaurant juggle so many different culinary influences at once (American, Cajun, Jamaican, Mexican, Indian, etc). While its an interesting concept, Salvador Molly's does not pull it off. The food was middle of the road - it wasn't gross, but it definitely isn't something we would go back for. I docked a star for service. The servers were not attentive at all...I think it took a good 8 minutes for us to get seated and served while there was ample seating and ample staff.

    (2)

  • April C.

    *Review for the Portland Farmer's Market tent* Every single time I come to the farmer's market, I get one of the artichoke hearts and cotija cheese tamales. I always wander and consider trying something else at the market but I know that I will always go back over and grab a tamale. They are made with the perfect ratio of filling to masa and have some great salsa.

    (4)

  • Kieley R.

    Oh boy I really love this place. Its got a very cool vibe with it's decor and super friendly staff.. oh my amd the food. Went there with a group of people and all were very happy with their food picks once we could FINALLY decide on what to get as it all sounded so darn good. Service was so good and fast! First off we shared the calimari, which we all thought was so good. Lightly breaded with two yummy dipping sauces. For drinks, margaritas where tonights choice which where very good, and pretty stiff ;) And on to the best part...the FISH TACOS!! So darn good! In fact they were some of the best restaurant fish tacos I've ever had... served with beans (I recommend the black beans) and really good rice. Two others in my group tried steak with this yummy green sauce on top (sorry can't remember the name) and they were really happy with their choice, and I was happy with the bites I tried! The two picky kiddos in tow got shrimp and a burrito off the kids mean. Shrimp wasn't the big hit cause it was served chilled but the super picky kiddo really liked her burrito and it was a pretty generous size from the kids menu. Afterwards we somehom found the room to shared a piece of chocolate cake, as it was my bday afterall and it was good- very rich and dark, glad we shared as it woulda been too much (and I've got a pretty healthy sweet tooth). Overall really love this place, I admit I wish it was closer to my house... if it where I'd definitely become a S.M regular!

    (5)

  • Christina N.

    this place is cool the environment is cool like i said, super cool staff that give you space and just the whole setting of the interior is awesome! FOOD? the food was okay nothing too exciting but not bad either. my boyfriend and i ordered three things: 2 baha fish tacos and a calamri.. fish tacos are alright my boyfriend enjoyed them more than i did and the calamari was alright as well it tasted too deep fried almost like fried chicken would same batter type but not bad either lol you have to try it maybe im being picky a bit but a lot of people like this place pricing was great as well!

    (4)

  • Vida D.

    The atmosphere was very upbeat and every single person we encountered was nice as could be, but that is where the good points end. (hence the 2 stars) I was severely disappointed with everything I tried. I had the jambalaya, if anyone there reads this, there are NO raw ingredients in a jambalaya. So the raw onions, and raw red and green peppers turned me off immediately. The andouille sausage, shrimp and chicken are supposed to be cooked IN the jambalaya not thrown in. Someone dumped in cayenne and black pepper. These do not cause the heat needed for a jambalaya. It's a very distinct peppery taste that takes away from the meal. If you want to offer levels of heat you cannot just add black pepper before you serve the meal. Someone needs to look into a pepper class, and learn about adding real heat with different types of chilies and peppers. I think the intentions of the restaurant are real, but then the food comes out and it tastes like no one has actually tried the food that they are attempting to duplicate.

    (2)

  • Shauna F.

    Yum!!! Go there for the $2.50 happy hour bites from 4-6pm. So many great flavors in this place...dishes are inspired from all over the world.

    (5)

  • Justin T.

    The menu is vast. We only had the breaded steak bites, cesar salads, some fried bean fritter thingy and drinks. The food we ordered was great. I had an enormous bowel movement within 24 hours of eating the bean fritters. Soft serve! My wife was disappointed with her salad but I thought mine was excellent. The lettuce was crisp. The dressing was lightly applied yet garlicy. I could tell the next day, believe me! The steak bites were great, but very rich. Don't order them unless you are very hungry. The drinks were otherworldly. I ordered an Angry Pineapple, laced with jalepeno pepper, which not only added heat, but a rich, warm, complex organic flavor that balanced out the high sugar content. It lit like an oil lamp in my belly, not burning but illuminating the dark enteric passages that lead all the way to the bean fritters. Amazing in there! Simply amazing! I ordered an Amazombie, a blue-tinged beast like something out of an old Star Trek episode about Romulan Ale. I ordered it strictly to get my buzz on, and with three different kinds of rum in it, it did that. It was crazy busy on the rainy Saturday eve that we went. The clouds poured out a torrential libation upon the face of Mother Earth. Many a lost soul had stumbled into this culturally confusing establishment, at once reminiscent of a tiki bar/sports bar/fiber crafts museum/modern art gallery/hipster club/family dining establishment and Central American eatery. Despite the crush, the service was prompt, courteous, friendly and efficient with multiple levels of failsafe waiting built in to the system. It felt as though we had a "primary" waiter, an optimistic young gentleman with a shaggy mane and a nice set of wide-gauge plugs, and several secondary waiters and waitressess--all of whom answered our every rude demand, unrealistic expectation and reckless whim with the wisdom of elders and the energy of unsullied youth. I tip my hat to all of you upstanding lads and lasses and I say, make ready our table for, WE SHALL RETURN!

    (4)

  • Kristina B.

    Met a friend visiting from New Jersey at Salvador Molly's for dinner on a Thursday night. It was busy! I was greeted immediately. Our waiter was friendly and helpful. My guest was "spice adverse" and most everything on the menu had some kind of heat to it yet the waiter helped her navigate through it to order something delicious. I couldn't decide between two items on the menu and he told me he would surprise me. I had the Curry Shrimp and it was choked full of spices and flavor. I want to go back soon just to have the same thing! The atmosphere was lively and loud - but not so much that we couldn't have a conversation from across the table. Since there aren't many options in SW Portland, this is a good one if you want to host someone from out of town but don't want to navigate the rush hour traffic to make it to SE or North Portland where so many of the new hot spots are.

    (5)

  • Lindy C.

    The food is just delicious! Not sure there is anything on the menu that is not good. We had the tamarind mint curry shrimp dish and the kolua mojo pork. Both were excellent. The place gets really busy and there is not much parking or seating for that matter. I love that they have an outdoor seating option. It's not a quick in and out but you get a bowl of peanuts to enjoy while you wait and the food is worth savoring abit anyway.

    (4)

  • Karena S.

    AMAZING food here and fun atmosphere. My favorite is the Yucatan Sunshine Bowl and my husband always gets the fish tacos. They also have delicious sweet potatoes. The servers are always friendly. You also get peanuts in the beginning for free. The tropical smoothie are also delicious. We always find them on Groupon for a great deal. Not sure that I would pay full price on the regular. But still great.

    (4)

  • Tamela C.

    Been here twice in two weeks! Yummy fish tacos, cute boys and great food and drinks. Daryl makes a mean faux rita!

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    This place is strange. The menu is all over the place just like the look and decor. Service is hit and miss. Sometimes you luck out and get a great server other times you find an aloof prick seemingly inconvenienced by your choice to patronize his place of employment begrudgingly taking your order. However, the food is pretty darn good. The fish tacos could stand toe to toe with So. Cal. fish tacos and not look as silly as most other Portland style 'Mexican' food does in comparison. My wife LOVES the Cuban sandwich and she's not usually a fan of pork. The hurricane fries are solid too. Steer clear of the cheesy poofs though. They sound much better than they actually are. No substance to them at all. Basically a tasteless mush barely held together long enough to fry. Gross. If nothing else, the place is worth checking out just to take your picture next to Adam Richman's Polaroid on the wall.

    (3)

  • Natalie G.

    Came here with a Groupon that I found after a coworker recommended it. Really glad we did, it was fantastic! Not only is the food great, but also the tea. I love the Passion Fruit tea, which I haven't been able to find since moving to Portland. The staff is very friendly and the place has a great ambiance. We plan to come back here again soon.

    (4)

  • Jesse L.

    Great Vegetarian, Gluten Free and Paleo-friendly options with multiple dishes to choose from. You can eat dishes from around the world with a large variety and giant food portions. I've had the Cush Cush, Drum Pan Jerk Chicken and Kula Mojo Pork just to name a few. Everything has been fantastic and their Happy Hour menu flies under the radar for a great way to sample a large variety for under $3/plate. Food has always been prepared VERY quickly too even when the place has been packed. Their Great Balls of Fire is typically the talking point for this restaurant, and received many negative reviews, and I can admit I have not tried these. If you're interested in eating the hottest thing possible on the menu that's what you will want to try, otherwise everything else is seasoned mild to moderately spicy.

    (5)

  • Selena N.

    Went here last night for dinner and had their tamale. It was yummy! The margarita was kind of weak, so-so, but the service was excellent and the food good, so I'd go back. :)

    (4)

  • Lisie A.

    This has been my favorite for over 15 years! My husband & I had our wedding catered by Salvador Molly's and it is still our go-to for spicy comfort food!

    (5)

  • J V.

    After purchasing a group-on for the east side location not telling the patrons that it was closed, I'm not sure I will bother going to this one. The first employee I spoke to gave me an email to contact the owner. It was returned as invalid. The second time I called, the manager corrected the email and was understanding enough of the situation to try to remedy it by purchasing back my group on. Sadly, when I tried to contact the owner again via email, the second email addresses were returned also. No ability to contact the owner. Something is not right here...and I was so looking forward to trying out the east side location.

    (1)

  • Brittanie M.

    Cool theme going on and the place itself is neat looking. I could see this place being a good place to bring guests from out of town, or at least stopping in for happy hour. What keeps me coming back is the mojito rita thing. Don't bother with a standard margarita here. I like that they have a variety of cuisine here and they label what country each dish represents. However, in my opinion that's where they fall a little short. From what I have tried, the dishes are not well executed and come off fairly "cookie cutter." I tried the mac pie from the "Caribbean" I believe, and it was served on a banana leaf. But nothing notable and I could have made it better myself. They do a solid guacamole though and have a good looking appetizer list. So essentially what I'm saying is this place is not worth sacrificing a whole meal for ; ) But it has it's strengths.

    (3)

  • Erin B.

    Good food, great variety. My hubby and have been twice with so so experiences. The wait is ALWAYS crazy, with no real waiting area, so arrive just before the dinner hour or after 8, or you'll wait 45 min or longer. Service is very rushed and passive. The waiters are ok, but really only bring your food and then never come back to see how you are .my hubby ate the great balls of fire( got so sick lol) but they NEVER put him on the wall of fire( or whatever it is) we waited... And waited.. And nothing. Then left. So, to sum it up. Good food, rushed service. I wouldn't hurry to go back though.

    (3)

  • Kelli W.

    Just got back from an excellent date with my husband at Salvador Molly's. To be honest I had gone in without great expectations. I had read a few poor reviews, and worried that it be a Chili's/Applebee's kind of a place. Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. We were impressed with everything there; the food, the decor, the drinks, the service, the music. We had a ten minute wait (I would have waited for far longer than that!) until we were seated at a cozy booth in the bar. The server was clearly busy, but he was able to check in with us almost immediately to let us know that he'd be over momentarily to get us started. We were totally impressed with the menu. We wanted one of everything, but decided to go with the chimichuri steak and the cat fish entree. Both were outstanding. My steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the cat fish was crispy, tasty, and not greasy in the slightest. The sides were to die for! The peasrice is wonderful, the sweet potato is heaven, black beans, 'dirty potatoes' and roasted tomato all were scrumptious! Loved the cajun martini, loved the peanuts at the table, LOVED that they gave us a pitcher of water. Fast, friendly service matched with fun, tasty food in a relaxed environment. We'll go back again and again!

    (5)

  • Tom W.

    went for happy hour. it's just ok - tried various things on the cheap menu, none of which were at all special. mediocre on everything. and it left me feeling slightly ill.

    (2)

  • Yvonne C.

    So like most people I saw Salvador Mollys on Man vs. Food, it is a very small place but the inside is like a giant scrapbook of travel memorabilia with lots of things to see such as real postcards, maps, and ticket stubs decoupaged on the table. My boyfriend and I don't go down to Portland very often so we decided to go for the happy hour and try each of the Happy bites which were only $2 each BTW it was a great deal! So of course the first thing we tried were the great balls of fire which was the main competition on Man vs. Food they were habanero cheese fritters and they definitely lived up to there name! Since we tried each of the appetizers and they were all delicious and presented beautifully I will just narrow it down to my favorite: The Kerala Apples, apples dusted in curried tempura and golden fried; with a mustard crema for dipping. It had the perfect combination of sweet and spice. I would have definitely given this place a 5 but my only complaint was that the staff was kind of cold and not very energetic. I don't know if it was because it was 3pm on a Sunday but I will definitely come here again the next time I go down to Portland in hopes that maybe it was just a bad day for the servers and to try some actual entrees.

    (4)

  • Anthony R.

    Pirate foood! A bit cheesy (eyepatches on the table) but loads of fun, Salvador Molly's is a theme restaurant in every respect but the food. It's actually excellent--much more than you'd expect from a Pirate Restaurant. The standout here is one the Mojo Pork, which ranks up with the best BBQ pork shoulder I've ever eaten, and I've eaten a lot. Great Balls of Fire are a habanero-spiked novelty--eating five of them will get your polaroid on the wall with a bunch of other idiots who probably needed skin grafts. A good place for good food and fun times. Just stay away from the Great Balls.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    My husband and I had our first date here. We enjoy coming back for the tasty, filling and very yummy food! The service is wonderful, the vibes are happy and we always leave smiling.We now bring our son back with us to what we call "the scene of the crime".. where Daddy stole Mommy's heart.

    (5)

  • Steven L.

    In a word.....Horrible. One of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. Had it not been for the delightful waitress name Aurora, I would have walked out. My food was tasteless (except for the eggplant part of the appetizer tray which was fizzing on my lips and tongue...unfortunately I swallowed it before realizing the fizz and paid for it for three consecutive days). I called Aurora's attention to the problem and she took it to the kitchen where she was informed, "it was from the bottom of the container" and brought us a new ramekin filled with the same ingredient minus the fizz. My entree was tasteless, the hush puppies as hard as rocks and when brought to the attention of a male server, he informed us that they have been having a problem because the fryer was too small to handle the demand, and they would prepare many in advance which accounted for the fossil like state. I asked then "why put them on a plate". My advice....avoid this place like the plague. It is very noisy, the food is terrible, and the parking is terrible.

    (1)

  • Varena V.

    I simply loved it! The variety of foods blew my mind. Southern food, Hawaiian food, Mexican style, Ethiopian? My friend and I both had a few drinks, shared an appetizer, very large entrees, and we shared a desert. The total came out to $64.00 which I didn't think was so bad. I had the fish tacos which were absolutely amazing. The sauce they put on there gave it an extra ZIP that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. The fish was flakey and the outside was fried crispy. I don't normally like Spanish rice but I made sure to take my left overs home because it was so good. Nothing is overpriced that I saw. Drinks were strong enough and pretty cheap. The service was good, not showing up every 2 minutes and asking us if we were ok but they didn't vanish into the ether either.(say that 10 times fast) I loved all the stuff on the walls reflecting the different parts of the world. I say it's rad so you should go check it out.. next time maybe I'll try for the wall of flame!

    (5)

  • Rob P.

    A great variety of fun food! The balls of fire are great!

    (4)

  • Justin N.

    I love this place. The only problem is that I like the la cubana so much that I never try anything else. Great mixed drink selection as well, oh and I can't forget the banana ketchup! I liked the belmont location more for the convenience, but this place is worth the drive.

    (5)

  • Richard R.

    Too many restaurants I go into have a few items I find interesting and the rest I can make at home. Salvador Molly's is one of the exceptions that had a menu full of dishes with some character that made me look, re-look, re-look, and re-look again to decide which one to go with on my first visit. Our meal was great and was followed some of the best flawn I've ever tasted. Who would have thought that flawn and and Salvador Molly's Pirate IPA go together? We also took home a 6 pack of the frozen chicken tamales home with us (the ones they sell @ the PSU Farmers Market on Saturday mornings) - yummy. No crowds on a Wednesday night by the way...

    (4)

  • Brooke F.

    The "feel" of the place is really fun, great environment with decor from around the world. Staff seemed friendly, our waitress was okay. We ordered dished from 4 different countries. The Ethiopian dish did not seem to be authentic Ethiopian fare. If your looking for Ethiopian food I wouldn't recommend it here. We also had a vegetarian tamale which was good, nothing beyond good though. The salad was a salad, good. The Hawaiian dish was okay to good. I think the concept of this restaurant great. The food was ok to good.

    (3)

  • Megan G.

    I went here because I had a groupon and the ratings were good. The food was almost as bad as a chain restaurant. I don't know if there is a lack of good food in the suburbs so people don't have anything truly good to compare it to, but I think I will stay to my east side culinary snobbery. Everything was terrible. Mind you the presentation of the food was great but all the ethnic food had been Americanized with ranch dressing, GROSS!

    (1)

  • Kel L.

    What's not to like about "pirate food"? Seriously, when ever we come, I can't help but go into my pirate accent (mostly to make the Brit laugh). The food is great, different and fun. If you like it HOT, get the sunshine in pain sauce on the side. A few drops will warm your mouth right up. I think we've ordered most dishes on the menu, our favorites are the originals (kaluaha pork, flank steak, burritos at lunch, salads, starters). It's all good. And if you like funky cocktails, they do a few great ones! Enjoy mateys!

    (4)

  • Mike R.

    Lunch outside today with wife, son and dog. It was good. I had the catfish po' boy which was huge and tasty...got it with fries that were good too, curly fry style. My wife had fish taco's, also very good. Peanuts to eat at every table and being outside when it is in the 70's in Portland can't be bad.

    (4)

  • Suzanne O.

    I loved this place! Good food, great prices, nice people. It felt like my own personal discovery--don't you love that? When you find a place in the middle of nowhere and it turns out to be good. Uh--this place was featured on Food TV? Oh. Well, even if I wasn't the only one to discover it, I enjoyed the food immensely. My hubby had the lunch plate ($5) of chicken tacos--the beans and rice were awesome and the tacos pretty darn good, too. I had the caesar salad with hearts of palm. Well, I'm not sure they put any hearts of palm in it, but it was tasty. Saved by the shrimp appetizer that came with an eggplant dip. Excellent. We had to try the great balls of fire. I thought they were inedible--way too hot. And, I like my spices. Anyone who says these aren't hot must not have any taste buds left. Trust me they're VERY hot, even without the sauce.

    (4)

  • Ali H.

    surfer taco's!

    (5)

  • Ashley S.

    We passed Salvador Molly's for my birthday dinner in November because my boyfriend was a little put off by the decor, location, and size. We decided to give it a try and wished we had come here! The food was great, the Great Balls were delicious! We had spicy mango ribs and a huge plate of pulled pork. Our only complaint was the service, our water pitcher was empty after eating the Great Balls and we were dying for more, but our waitress kept walking by our table and not paying any attention to us. We will defiantly be going back and can't wait to try everything else on the menu!

    (4)

  • Ian W.

    Poor service. Lackluster food. All around Tacky. If you sit inside, sit at the Bar. Or at the very least not a booth. Our server never seemed to even come near us. The entire place was dark and tacky with way too much shit on the walls and hanging over my head (a little tall). Food was all a pretty standard mix of food from around the globe but with some odd twist that just seemed off. The food itself was a pretty major letdown. If you want to get drunk and eat spicy fritters it'd probably be a pretty cool place. If you want a good meal, head elsewhere. They did have good stuff on TV at least.

    (2)

  • Aaron M.

    Great food, Great Service, Great Atmosphere. Awesome drinks too. The only thing I didn't like was how noisy it was. Hard to hear the conversation at the table.

    (4)

  • A C.

    This used to be my favorite place to eat. The food is still great, but just doesn't seem to have the magic it once did. Great drinks. You can throw your peanut shells on the floor.

    (4)

  • Crystal B.

    When I read the description "pirate food" I couldn't help but check it out to what that meant. It was a pleasant surprise I must say! I love the free peanuts and I tried the "Ken-Coction" drink which was excellent! My husband and I were both very impressed with our entrees, I had the short ribs with coral rice and it was great! To top it off we shared the "Bottomless Almond Cheesecake" which was very rich and creamy, more like a pudding than a cheesecake but that is certainly not a bad thing! Very affordable and casual, great for friends or families.

    (4)

  • chelley L.

    i like how they serve salted peanuts when you sit down. i like even better how i can crack it open and toss the shells on the floor like no big deal. have had eggplant cuban sandwich. eh. had chile relleno cuban sandwich. eh. brother likes tofu jerk nachos, and quesadilla. i like how they have lots of variety for the vegetarians. Had tahitian tohu or something like that, it was pretty good. onion rings were plentiful, loved the cheesey poofs and of course.... we underestimated the great balls of fire. our first time here we thought it would faze us... it totally owned us up the arse! 2nd time we had a strategy... swallow really fast. nope. we sat there like fools waiting for the burning senesation to go away. how the hell can people eat those evil things like nothing?! anyways, i try to bring people here just because its different. it's pirate food for crying out loud!

    (3)

  • G W.

    I wanted to kick that guy on Man v Food in the crotch after my trip to Salvador Mollys. My sole objective for the visit was to get on the wall of fame, and I sat down and ordered the GBOF and a a Red Stripe. They arrived quickly and looked delicious. ..kinda like hush puppies sitting in a "yummy" innocent looking salsa. I threw 2 of them back quickly and the delayed afterburner effect was a serious creeper effect that I didnt fully anticipate....so lets go ahead and slather some of this salsa on them and see if they go down easier....NOPE.... I can sense the feeling of toxic rejection that my stomach was trying to assert on me....at this point it finally dons on me that this is A COMPLETELY BAD IDEA.... for the record. This experience is the digestive equivalent of swallowing 5 hand grenades containing hot lava & battery acid. I don't eat fried foods ordinarily.... So these little culinary IEDs sit slowly in my gut burning the whole time. I literally felt where this meal was in my digestive tract because they maintain their heat in your guts 2+ hours AFTER your dental fillings drizzle out of your molars. The thought of vomiting to save myself from the inevitable crossed my mind until i imagined how dreadful and painful vomit mixed with magma would be. Now I am no stranger to hot peppers.... I have been to Jamaica and consumed "scotch bonnets", also been to Mexico and tried "bird peppers" and these Balls Of Fire are designed to make you redefine the term 'regret'. On a happier note... I do have my sense of taste back! On a more somber note.... the morning after was like sitting on the sun. Food otherwise was mediocre, and I wont be back.

    (3)

  • Christina R.

    The hostess and staff seemed to be in the middle of a rush when we arrived (7pm) and it took several minutes before anyone greeted us at the door. Mind you, this place is small - very small, and a brief "we'll be right with you", would have been nice. We decided to take a place at the bar. The bartender was pleasant and courteous. We had the Cheesy Poofs as an app. The flavor was good, but they came out very greasy. For my dinner, I order the GINGER PEANUT CHICKEN BREAST. The chicken was overcooked and dry. The yellow rice, coleslaw and sweet potatoes were decent, but nothing to write home about. The cornbread was very tasty, but that seemed to be the only thing on my plate made with any "love" so to speak. My friend had LA CUBANA sandwich, which although I did not try looked a bit sad. He told me that overall the sandwich was okay, but he wouldn't go out of his way to have it again. Our food came in a decent amount of time, but I would have waited longer for better quality. For the price, I'd say go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Michael B.

    This is one of those rare situations when it's okay to believe the hype. Go on, believe it. Why? Because this place IS that good. Really. Global fare is hardly a new concept, but Salvador Molly's actually gets it right. This isn't about simply having a plate of food with an entree from Africa, a side from Australia, and a garnish from South America. . .the offerings are the obvious result of meticulous consideration, and it shows. Great balls of fire. . .okay, whatever, a somewhat gimmicky appetizer, but so what? I have yet to try anything from this place that hasn't completely blown me away, and that is really saying a lot. Salvador Mollys is a great establishment because it's not only great food, it challenges the person who's eating to maybe go beyond what they would normal eat; a culinary leap of faith that rarely, if ever disappoints. Also, the waitstaff is helpful, and the drinks are awesome.

    (5)

  • Chuck H.

    Under staffed on a national holiday. The young man behind the bar almost killed himself trying to take care of everyone. The Afro-Caribbe Bollitoes were fried to the point of petrification. The $4.95 fish tacos were worth no more than that. The coconut rice and black beans were GREAT!

    (2)

  • Joel S.

    I've never been here before... And I guess it's my fault for going to a place based on its theme. Coming from Hillsboro, and $60 for three entrees one appetizer and two beers.. I am highly unsatisfied. We ordered the smothered fries for app and they just tasted weird. I got the Ethiopian Djibouti platter, which again, tasted just wrong somehow. I've had Ethiopian food before, even Djibouti, but this was truly disappointing. My wife got their pathetic "Cuban" take on the Hawaiian classic, Kahlua pork. Which was honestly awkward in every aspect. Finally, my son ordered the pirate shrimp stix. Unfortunately, I believe this was the best item available on the menu....alas only the kids menu. Why this place was as crowded as it was only tells me something about the residents of the Hillsdale area, either they are more culinarily adventurous than I (not likely), or they have a retarded sense of taste. Sorry if I offend. Just an observation.

    (1)

  • Juliette S.

    We went here for my husband's birthday and we had a great time. My husband loved the Balls of Fire, but his butt hated him the next day. They were way to hot for me. I had a crumb of them and my mouth was on fire! The drinks were great, the food was yummy. Lots of great selections. By friend has a crab stuffed avacado and she wouldn't even let me have a bite! My husband said the jumbalaya was great. Our waiter was very on the ball until our last plate was cleared. We sat there for 45 minutes with out even being able to get eye contact let alone a drink or a check. It was really kind of weird. I thought everything was wonderufl though and I will definately go back, I will even take the kids next time.

    (4)

  • Amber T.

    This place was hard to find as out-of-towners but boy was the circling the block a few times worth it! The food here is definitely "infusion cooking". Featured on "Man VS. Food" on the travel channel we came looking for the habenaro fritter challenge and found excellent entrees as well. After watching the boyfriend do the fritter challenge without a sweat we had Caribbean pulled pork sandwiches and an excellent "taco" (for lack of a better descriptive) salad. The establishment itself is adorned with a smoker in the parking lot and funky worldwide decor, the service is pleasant and the food is worth a second trip to Portland. If you're in town and you're hungry, give Salvador Molly's a chance (just look for a small sign indicating their location across from the liquor store). From one who often thinks "infusion cooking" is just another way of saying "we don't really know what we're doing" I'd give this place an A++ on their take of it.

    (4)

  • Carol W.

    Business partner & I had lunch there today. I ordered the tandoori lamb sandwich. It came with a brown substance whose origin I could not determine. Whether it was meat or someone's brown leather belt finely sliced, I'll never know. The brown substance was heavily crusted in salt & crunchy to further obscure the taste. The menu said it came with raita but all I had was some mayo with about 10 tiny pieces of cucumber thrown in. The spinach 'salad' the waitress said came in the sandwich consisted of three small spinach leaves. Hmm. Not a salad in my book! Ice teas came sans ice & luke warm. Further more, the tables & booth felt sticky & grimy. It was as though it had been so long since they were seriously cleaned, it would virtually be impossible to get things up to par. Gotta wonder about the kitchen when they set the cleanliness bar so low. I imagine when you've had a few after work at happy hour, you wouldn't notice. But who needs to pay $25 for such bad food. I think these folks have an aversion to any vegetables because there is nothing on the menu that comes with a salad or vegetable.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    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 : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Salvador Molly’s

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