Visit Portland Mercado for Delicious Latin Cuisine

The food carts at Portland Mercado are not to be missed, so to ensure a great experience I’m sharing some of my favorite entrees that you should try on your next visit to Portland Mercado.

Located in the Foster-Powell neighborhood, you will find Portland Mercado, a thriving hub of Latin American culture featuring a food cart pod, bars and a grocery market that celebrate our community’s Latino heritage. The food carts represent five regions of Mexico, as well as Colombia, Peru and Cuba. Over the past couple years I’ve visited Portland Mercado several times and the following is a breakdown of what I’ve ordered.

What to Order on your Visit to Portland Mercado

Havana Station: Cuban Food

This Cubano is by far my favorite thing to order at Portland Mercado. I can’t recommend this sandwich enough. It is as good, or even better than the Cuban sandwiches we had in Miami, Florida! If you’ve never had a Cubano, you will love the combination of slow-cooked pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard stacked between two layers of toasted buttery bread. The owner of Havana Station came to Portland from Havana, Cuba in 2011, so it’s no surprise that his Cubano is rated one of the best. As with their other menu selections, the Cubano comes with a side of fried plantains and a cute Cuban flag!

This Paella was ordered by a friend who raved about and let me try a bite. This was a flavorful dish that any seafood lover would enjoy.

Tierra del Sol: Oaxacan Food

I had heard great things about the Mole Coloradito, so I had to give it a try. The mole was delicious and the chicken was very tender. My only complaint was it was hard to eat (remove from the bone) with a plastic fork.

The Tacos were good, but not my favorite. I think it was more the blue corn tortilla that I didn’t care for. The meat and toppings were great!

One of my favorite drinks to order in Mexico is Agua de Jamaica and I was excited to see it on the menu at Tierra del Sol! So refreshing on a warm day! The recipe to make this drink at home can be found on this post.

You can also order agua de jamaica in a can from the indoor market just to the left of the food carts.

Alecocina: Argentiniean Food

Sadly, Alecocina is no longer located at Portland Mercado but is now offering their food through catering services.

This was my first time ordering fresh Empanadas, so I ordered both beef and chicken to share. They were both really good, but I would give the chicken a slight edge.

The Cañoncito Dulce de Leche was delicious, but I was thankful we split it three ways because it was very sweet!

(Due to a fire in January 2024, this building and the Market Hall is temporarily closed)

Inside the Market Hall is a small tienda where you can purchase grocery items. I was thrilled to find my favorite Mexican coconut candy, Rollo de Coco (dulce de coco).