There were approximately 60,000 people of Hispanic or Latino origin in Portland, Oregon, as of 2020; about 10 percent of the city's population. [1]
There were approximately 60,000 people of Hispanic or Latino origin in Portland, Oregon, as of 2020; about 10 percent of the city's population. [1]
The Portland metropolitan area has Oregon's largest Latino population. In 2022, Jamie Goldberg of The Oregonian wrote, "More than half of Oregon's Latino population lives in Multnomah, Washington and Marion counties. All three saw their Latino populations grow by at least 25% in the last decade. Washington County has the largest Latino population, 107,000 ... In Clackamas County, the Latino population grew by 38.5% in the last decade to more than 40,000 residents." [2]
In 2024, Eater Portland said, "A self-reported study on Statistical Atlas showed just over 1,100 Salvadorans living in Portland, which makes up less than 1 percent of the Hispanic population of the city." [3]
| Ancestry by origin [4] | Number |
|---|---|
 Mexican | 39,181 |
 Puerto Rican | 1,729 |
 Cuban | 2,172 |
 Dominican | 138 |
 Costa Rican | 144 |
 Guatemalan | 1,894 |
 Honduran | 423 |
 Nicaraguan | 284 |
 Panamanian | 137 |
 Salvadoran | 1,027 |
 Argentine | 381 |
 Bolivian | 83 |
 Chilean | 307 |
 Colombian | 446 |
 Ecuadorian | 215 |
 Paraguayan | 20 |
 Peruvian | 537 |
 Uruguayan | 33 |
 Venezuelan | 161 |
Parts of 39th Avenue were named Cesar Chavez Boulevard in honor of Latino labor activist Cesar Chavez.
Milagro is the only Hispanic theater production company in the Pacific Northwest.
Annual events include the Cinco de Mayo festival [5] [6] [7] and the Latin American Film Festival. [8] Makers de Mayo "showcases and celebrates Latin American culture through art, makers, music, food and more", according to KPTV's Ayo Elise. [9] PDX Latinx Pride (formerly Portland Latino Gay Pride) hosts the Latinx Pride Festival. [10]
Notable restaurants and bars known for serving Latin American cuisine have included:
The Portland Mercado is a collection of food carts in southeast Portland, focused on Latin American cuisine. [11]
KPDX is a television station licensed to Vancouver, Washington, United States, serving the Portland, Oregon, area as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. It is the only major commercial station in Portland that is licensed to the Washington side of the market.
¿Por Qué No? Taqueria, commonly referred to as Por Que No and sometimes stylized as ¿Por Que No?, is a small chain of taquerias owned by Bryan Steelman with two locations in Portland, Oregon, United States. The restaurant is known for its Mexican-style tacos, but also serves a variety of entrées such as enchiladas, quesadillas, rice bowls, salads, and tamales. The restaurant has garnered a positive reception.
Nuestra Cocina is a Mexican restaurant in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood of southeast Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Benjamin Gonzales and Shannon Dooley-Gonzales are the restaurant's co-owners.
The city of Portland, Oregon, United States, has experienced a boom in the number of food carts due to relatively low regulation compared to other North American cities.
Portland Mercado is a collection of food carts in Portland, Oregon, United States. The carts are located in Southeast Portland's Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, at the border of Foster-Powell.
Papi Chulo's is a restaurant with two locations in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The original taqueria in the Pearl District was opened by restaurateur Ramzy Hattar in December 2019, with Antonio Javier Palma Caceres as the chef and Davide Bricca overseeing cocktails. The trio had previously worked together at River Pig Saloon and Two Wrongs, two neighboring establishments also owned by Hattar. A second location opened in northeast Portland in 2023. Papi Chulo's serves Mexican cuisine, such as tacos, burritos, nachos, birria, margaritas, and micheladas.
Güero is a restaurant serving Mexican cuisine in Portland, Oregon's Kerns neighborhood, in the United States. The restaurant specializes in tortas.
DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid is an American DJ duo, formed in 2000 in Portland, Oregon. The duo consists of Anjali Hursh and Stephen Strausbaugh. In addition to appearing at various venues in Portland's nightclub scene, the act has performed in numerous music festivals and resident nights including Sasquatch! Music Festival and Basement Bhangra and is credited with helping to bring South Asian and Latin dance music to the club scene in Portland and the greater Pacific Northwest. Together they host Tropitaal, a "Desi-Latino Soundclash" and Andaz, the longest-running Bhangra and Bollywood dance party in the United States. The duo was awarded first place in the "Best DJ" category of "Best of Portland" by Willamette Week readers in 2016 and 2017.
Cart Blocks is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon's Ankeny Square, in the United States. It is operated by Friends of the Green Loop.
Never Look Away is a mural in Portland, Oregon.
El Gallo Taqueria was a Mexican restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. Owner and chef Jake Brown established the business as a food cart in 2009, in southeast Portland's Woodstock neighborhood. In 2015, El Gallo relocated and began operating as a brick and mortar restaurant in 2015. The business closed in 2022.
Mi Mero Mole was a Mexican restaurant with two locations in Portland, Oregon, United States.
Birrieria La Plaza is a Mexican restaurant in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Initially operating from a food cart in southeast Portland, the business has opened a brick and mortar location and plans to open a stall at Block 216.
Taqueria Los Puñales is a queer-owned and operated Mexican restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Opened by Brian Aster and David Madrigal in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant has garnered a generally positive reception.
Prost Marketplace is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon.
Mis Tacones is a Chicano and queer-owned vegan taquería in Portland, Oregon.
Bar Cala is a Latin American cocktail bar and restaurant in northeast Portland, Oregon's Concordia neighborhood, in the United States. Established in 2022, the business operates from the Northwestern Electric Company – Alberta Substation, a former electrical substation listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cha Cha Cha Mexican Taqueria is a chain of Mexican restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Chef and owner Javier Hurtado opened the first restaurant in 2001. There were nine locations, as of 2014. The menu includes traditional Mexican food such as burritos, enchilada, tacos, tamales, and margaritas. Cha Cha Cha is family-friendly and has garnered a positive reception.
Los Gorditos is a small chain of Mexican restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2006, the business has operated as many as six locations, as food trucks and brick and mortar shops. The vegan- and vegetarian-friendly menu includes burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, and tacos, with fillings such as pinto beans, soy curls, soy chorizo, and tofu. The business has garnered a positive reception.
