Colibri by Tamale Boy — Restaurant in Portland

This new spot caught my eye as I work in the Pearl and am very happy to see a new spot going in. The bartender is the waiter, busboy, food runner, and cashier all-in-one so be patient!

We ordered one cochinita pibil tamal(pork in banana leaf) and one of the rajas con queso (peppers and cheese in corn husk). They’re huge and one was plenty for each of us. Their prices were incredibly affordable for The Pearl and for that reason alone I will make this a go-to for a cheaper lunch option. In addition to the tamales being delicious. 😋 we ordered the guacamole and chips too which were very expensive for the amount and the chips are poor quality—I’d skip that next time.

My only other cons is that the set-up of the restaurant is a bit strange and we were tucked in a weird table under the tv in the back of the restaurant—the front bar is much nicer. And it’s very loud inside. I asked for them to turn down the music because between the tv with its Latin@ news channel updates, other diners, the music really loud, and the kitchen moving and stacking the plates, it was a bit overwhelming.

For two people, we each had a tamal, with the guac and chips and one Coke, it was an affordable $32 with tip. We also arrived at 1:30pm and I’m glad we...

This place is a hidden gem. A popular food cart turned brick and mortar restaurant, the food is the main attraction here. The happy hour menu is generous and lasts 3 - 6 PM Monday to Friday week days. The cocktails are low priced and creative. I had a Fiesta Americana cocktail with añejo tequila, apricot, lime and pineapple 🍍 that was delicious 😋 The food portions are generous! I'm a big carnivor by nature, and I can say they do not skimp on the meat at Colibri! I was prepared to order 5 entrées to get enough food when the server warned me the portions were big. So, I ordered three different tamales 🫔 a chili Verde (pork) a tinga de pollo (chicken) and an Amarillo (shredded beef) wrapped in a banana leaf! I was teased by the waitstaff, who were making side bets on if could finish or not. Someone lost, because I finished every bite! It was too good to let go to waste. However, I'll admit to you, I could have easily stopped at just 2. Don't tell anyone 🤫 Go see for yourself, and make sure to bring your appetite. The food and drinks are a great value, extremely high quality and very authentic....

I grew up near a Tamale Boy location in NE and after moving to NW, I always missed getting their food. I was delighted when the owners of Tamale Boy decided to move into a location on the west side, and they have done a perfect job making it feel unique to the neighborhood.

The list of food options is great and different, meaning there is going to be at least one thing here that will satisfy your craving. The design of the restaurant is amazing, I really love the bar and the wooden tables.

One thing I found really unique is that the kitchen is in view of the seating which is awesome! It's really fun seeing the cooks make and prep dishes, I wish it was something more restaurants had designed within their layout.

All in all, I'm happy I finally came around to Colibri. The service was welcoming and nice, the food was amazing, and I left excited to come back again. Not much else you could ask for,...