La Calaca Comelona

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2304 SE Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214

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(503) 239-9675
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La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
La Calaca Comelona - Portland, OR
Reviews
( 11 )
( 15 )
( 6 )
( 6 )
( 4 )

Best

If you have never eaten south of the boarder,stay home and don't write reviews on what you have no clue about. I was born in East L.A. and raised in the LBC, I've spent most my ad...

Worst

Disappointed to say the least? We were immediately seated as we walked in the door and which is typically a good sign. In this case it was the last good sign. We then sat at ou...

This place makes Taco Bell sound good 2/2/2007

I read a review in Portland Monthly about this restaurant and was excited to try this restaurant. Upon reviewing the menu I felt a huge urge to leave before even sampling the fare. Instead of using my best judgement I stuck around to endure a complete dissappointment. I now know that Portland Monthly can not be trusted. The ceviche was the worst that I have ever had and tasted like it was fished out of the willamette river and left in the sun for a few days. I could have opened a can of chicken of the sea added some cilantro and thrown some lime on it and it would have been better than the fish served here. My stepdad who had a brain anurism and can no longer taste or smell would not even be able to stomach this cusine. The drinks here are so watered down that I would feel comfortable giving them to my two year old son. The prices here are not only outrageous but down right offensive, I literally fell off of my chair after I received the bill for food that I could have made in my kitchen and called authentic.I wouldn't recommend this place even I was starving for six days and it was the only place left to feed my hunger. If you are looking to get ripped off and enjoy food that tastes like it was pulled out of a dumpster and thrown on a plate with some salsa then I highly recommend it. Otherwise anyone with a tastey palate be extremely aware. They should spend less time lighting the food 4 less candle and more time preparing the food. Pros: The bathroom was cute Cons: Price,Ceviche, Margaritas, kid friendly, guacamole salad more
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Hungry skeletons for company 11/18/2006

What a great find on Belmont! Good food and good service amongst a bunch of funky skeletons. The super-size veggie quesadilla was bursting with flavor, the taquitos were served hot and cripsy, and the papitas with the coriander sauce on it was simply delicious! The strawberry margarita was good, but small in size. But this eatery has great menu to please both the meat-eaters and the meat-freers alike. During the warmer months, you can take advantage their outside patio, which I think is one of the best outdoor spots in Portland. The regular prices are a little expensive, but their portions are big. Even the Hispanic friend I had gone with, agreed that this was truly reminiscent of her days back home. Pros: Great food, great service, great atmosphere Cons: Small drinks more
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Expect small volume margaritas 9/10/2006

Food was very good....chicken was tender and delicious. Service was ok but they weren't busy at the time. Margaritas were very small. You can get a regular one servied in a small wine glass or the Cadillac Margarita for a $1 more in a wiskey glass. Don't expect the big margarita glasses or 2 for 1 deals like you get in Mexico. Fun atmosphere..... back patio is awesome but no dogs aloud:( Check it out for yourself at least. Kind of pricey. Pros: Fun atmosphere, good food, lots of interesting decor Cons: Margaritas are tiny and it's a bit pricey more
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Great food's not worth putting up with this kind of treatment. 8/28/2006

La Calaca has great food, but the service is subpar at best. We've put up with it in the past as a mild irritation worth the experience of great authentic Mexican food. Pros: Outdoor Dining, Great Food and Drinks Cons: Service more
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Worst Birthday Dinner Ever 7/25/2006

Uh, this place has gone WAAAAAAAY downhill. Worst service I have EVER had. Last night was my birthday and we had a party of 7 for dinner. I don't even know where to begin....was it the waiter's complete disgust when we asked for a highchair? The 2 hour wait for our food? The fact that when it arrived it was ice cold? The fact that they brought the food back 30 seconds later after a turn in the microwave? The disgusting clogged toilet in the bathroom? I could go on...it was just terrible. I have never in my life been made to feel that I was putting the wait staff out by ordering a second cocktail, but last night when my husband requested a second drink, he was told, ""okay, but its gonna be a while, I'm really busy"". When we tried to order our original drinks, we were answered with, ""do you want a highchair or do you want drinks?""....unbelievable. Pros: decent patio Cons: everything else more
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Fantastic Food! 7/16/2006

I went here with a group of people and, although we did miss happy hour, still had a great time. The food was fantastic and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I've been looking for an opportunity to go back there and enjoy the eclectic, authentic dishes. Pros: Great Food Cons: Missed Happy Hour more
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Delicious cocktails, unique patio with funky art, yummy tacos 6/20/2006

This is a great Portland restaurant that does not get enough recognition. I usually get their tacos just because they are so delicious and affordable as well. Their sangria is to die for...with an extra kick of vodka in it not found elsewhere. The patio is very relaxing and interesting to look at with all of the unique art and sculptures. Pros: cool atmosphere, fresh ingredients, authentic Cons: entrees are a bit pricey more
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Pambaso and a Pabst 6/5/2006

I went to this place off a recommendation from extramsg and the pambaso was all it could be. The bread got a little too soft from the chile oil it was dipped in but it was delicious. If you can sit outdoors, they have a weird look to the outside and with the outdoor bar, this place can't be beat on hot days with a pambaso and a pabst. There is a bit of a price disparity though between the pambaso for $6.95 to the $20 moles which was a bit strange. They should have probably had more in between. The tacos were very average. Friendly service, just wish there were more stuff to look at across the street. Pros: pambaso Cons: tacos, price jumps more
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I TRULY know sAUTHENTIC mexican food! 4/22/2006

The owner and chef of La Calaca knows truly authentic mexican - fabulous food!!! Everything is fresh, executeley prepared and the service is wonderlul.... as a person who was raised around excellent and authentic mexcian food - I find everyone who is whinging about it to just to go to TACO BELL - it's cheap, since that is what want, it 's obviouly what you expect, and honestly it what you deserve!! more
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Good patio for drinks...only? 9/4/2005

Small, cute chairs add to the patio ambience but not the most comfortable place. Great drinks, ok service tho certainly not friendly. Food was not great, altho some other people's fare looked better than mine. Maybe I just don't like authentic Mexican, but I guarantee that it's too expensive for most. (Especially since it's located in less than special South East Portland.) I like to see restaurants do well and it seems that if they lowered the pricing and gave more food, it would be much more popular? Pros: Patio, Drinks Cons: Food prices, Food choices more
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Beautiful but way over priced 6/30/2004

La Calaca is a beautiful space with a wonderful patio and very fun drinks- the comidas/small appetizers are great- everything is homemade. HOWEVER- main entrees are extremely over priced for what you get. I recommend for drinks and appetizers only. Pros: Fun space more
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authenticity alone is not enough 11/30/2003

I was so excited to eat here. What a let down. nothing at all to munch on while waiting. A serious lack of hospitallity. My empanada was cold and the fish inside it was raw. Portions were way too small for the price. In this town of so many great places to eat, there is no excuse for overpriced, underserved and undercooked food. Pros: authentic food Cons: poorly prepared food more
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Best Mexican food in town 2/7/2003

I grew up in California, all places with a heavy Hispanic population. Thus I was spoiled when it came to Mexican food. My fiancee lived in Austin for years and hence knows good Mexican too. Portland lacks sorely in this deparment. FOr some reason most places are horrible. With a few exceptions like La Calaca. Very authentic, not changed for the gringo palate at all. We do enjoy eating here, but agree the prices are a bit high. Worth it when you need a fix of great Mexican food. more
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No Comparison 2/1/2003

No Comparison if you are looking for a meal that has a sense identity, surroundings that are compatable, service without pretension and value, this would be the spot. No Burritos but be not a Frida. Pros: easy parking, great value, ambient-not flashy more
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Wonderful Food and Ambience 10/24/2002

Being of Mexican descent, I find myself being very picky with Mexican food (especially with the lack of authenticity in the Northwest). However I was very pleased with my visit to La Calaca. Some prices were a bit high.. but worth it for the food and the enviroment. It is for those who will appreciate the artistic value of the mexican culture... which is a contrast to people who seem to think that to be mexican all you need is sombreros and / or Aztec interior decorations. Pros: Food, Interior Design, cozy Cons: price more
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best in the west 9/18/2002

This is the best Mexican restaurant in Portland and probably the west coast. The food is clean, creative, and always fresh. No heavy refried beans and no burritos. The owner is a treasure. more
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La Gringa Comelona 9/8/2002

WHAT IS UP with a small plate of meat costing 14 freakin bucks?! There wasn't even a sprig of cilantro to compliment it, much less rice and beans (a four dollar addition)! Although it was served cold, it was tasty with homemade tortillas. I'll give it one more try, but for that kinda money, it better be served PERFECTLY. Proprietors: consider throwing on a small portion of rice/beans for that price... you'll get more repeat customers. Psychologically, nobody wants a stark plate with meat and nothing else. Pros: tasty food, nice staff, good tortillas Cons: overpriced, stark presentation, overpriced more
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Delicioso! 8/6/2002

The food here is the closest you can get to Mexico, and best of all the atmosphere cant be beat! Try the superquesadilla for a mouth-watering treat! Pros: Good prices, great food, friendly people more
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small/expensive 7/2/2002

Not sure how anyone can say it is cheap - three of us spent nearly $50 on 4 tacos, a quesadilla and 3 beers and the portions ARE small. The pork taco was as close to authentic as I have tasted in Portland (when compared to the food I have eaten from small stands in the CA and NE run by migrant workers). Slow roasted, tender, full of flavor...but it was the tiniest taco I have ever seen and it is the only reason the food didn't get a 2. The chicken was nothing to write home about - bland, bland, bland. The 'mexican sausage' filling tasted like the logs of cheap breakfast sausage you get at Safeway. I am more than willing to spend $50 on dinner but only if I get more than an appetizer size portion. Cons: expensive, small portions more
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Great Flavors!!! 6/20/2002

My boyfriend and I came here for the first time last night and enjoyed everything about it. The server was nice when I aked if it wasn't a 'chips-n-salsa' type of place. The mixture of flavors was incredible. I had to force myself to stop shoveling the food down my throat. I can't believe the people who complain about 'not leaving stuffed' for the money they spent. The money spent is on the quality of the food and as for 'not leaving stuffed', I was perfectly satisfied with my portions. I left pleasantly full, not wanting to expel what I had just so much enjoyed. There is something to be said for not overloading a plate! Pros: Authenic, Reasonably priced, Tasty more
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Menu for La Calaca Comelona


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Voted Best Mexican Restaurant In Portland By Citysearch Users!

Owner Message

  • If you go to La Calaca Comelona expecting rebozos, pinatas, and Mariachi music, you won't find them. Instead, customers are greeted by intense colors, unusual skeletons of all scriptions, a wall devoted to the art of Frida Kahlo, and an eclectic, highly personal selection of jazz, percussion, and rock music by musicians from all over the world. Patricia (owner), comes out of the kitchen when she can, greeting customers, answering questions about the decor and food, and discussing art, music, and politics. Come enjoy the unique cuisine, drinks, and atmosphere of this fabulous restaurant!

Editorial

  • In Short
    This Belmont favorite makes up for its drab exterior with punchy colored walls, a host of Day of the Dead art and a wall dedicated to Frida Kahlo. The bouncy Latin music and stiff cocktails enhance the pricey menu which features authentic fare. Try the popular seviche or one of the moles, including the chicken with blackberries. Lower-priced tacos and quesadillas stuffed with carnitas, chicken, carne asada, house-made smoked jalapenos or chorizo also are offered.

  • 6/15/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10pm
  • Payments: Visa, Discover, American Express, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Buckman, Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program
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