EL JEFE MEXICAN GRILL (TIGARD) — Restaurant in Tigard

I think this restaurant has some serious kinks to work out when busy. 2 entrances on opposite sides of the building, coupled with a shallow counter ordering area means that people will need to work out a proper shuffle to be place orders in the correct order. Because of this I suspect that online order would be the way to go if busy. I honestly think they'd do just fine being an outdoor seating-only, takeout-only spot and just removing the indoor booths, freeing up space to line up properly and give air to the salsa bar.

Prices were good. Parking in the lot was a crapshoot due to the burger joint next door sharing space. Very cramped parking. Best to park on the street behind the restaurants. The bathrooms were accessible from outside, and were EXCELLENT in cleanliness and quality. I was very pleasantly surprised.

No clearly marked gluten free dishes. I think there's no way they could avoid minor cross contamination looking at the kitchen setup. As usual it seems to be safest to order street tacos which come on corn tortillas.

They were getting food out to the counter as fast as they could but it was obviously a bit chaotic. Our food came in reasonable time, I had to remind them about our drinks, and the food quality was such that it was a bit rushed. There were bits of bone in the chicken, for example. The quesabirria was covered in grease, which suggests that the flat top wasn't clean in between preps. The salsa station was right by one of the entrances, very little room to move. You almost had to fight to keep your place in the salsas line.

Every employee we dealt with was awesome and friendly.

I think that this will be a great restaurant once they work out the glaring flow issues on peak times and ensure quality on food prior to coming across the counter. Again, I'd suggest removing the indoor seating to free up air inside for order taking and salsa gathering!

Authentic taquerias are and have been in the area by the way- try Sanchez a couple miles down 99. An authentic taqueria/panaderia where they've really figured out the flow, even...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tigard’s Hidden Gem – Flavor, Value, and Consistency

I’ve been coming to El Jefe in Tigard for years, and I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to write a review. This place is truly one of the best little spots to grab a bite to eat. The food is consistently amazing, and the prices are incredibly affordable—making it a total five-star experience every time.

Let’s talk food: The Tacos Al Pastor are packed with juicy, perfectly seasoned meat and served just right. The rice and beans are fresh, flavorful, and never feel like filler. I’ve had the grilled chicken, which is tender and delicious, and their quesadillas—oh wow, they’re warm, cheesy, and full of flavor. The breakfast burritos? Total game-changer. Whether it’s morning or midday, everything on the menu hits.

One of the highlights that keeps me coming back is their homemade salsa bar. It’s packed with variety—each salsa bursting with freshness, spice, and flavor. You can really make every bite your own with the different heat levels and styles.

Plus, they’ve got a nice little outdoor seating area, which makes it super convenient if you want to eat on the go. It’s casual, easy, and adds to the relaxed, welcoming vibe of the place.

In a world full of overpriced, inconsistent food spots, El Jefe stands out for doing everything right. Great food, fair prices, and fast, friendly service. If you’re in the Tigard area,...

The food is amazing - we moved from So Cal last year and we've tried every Mexican place that has a decent rating, and nothing has come close in flavor to El Jefe. Is it as good as So Cal Mexican food? No. But, it's the best that we've had here and we're getting it again tonight to try more items from the menu.

I can understand some of the negative reviews around the service and incorrect orders. I ordered online through their website, and when I arrived to pick it up, there wasn't a separate line or sign for takeout orders. I noticed that there was a bag on the counter and checked it, and it was my order, so I grabbed it and left. But, otherwise, you would have to stand in line to pick up an online order which defeats the purpose.

I ordered 3 tacos for myself and the El Jefe bowl for my husband. His order was perfect, but we didn't make any changes to it. I noted no cilantro and no onions on my tacos (they have the option in the dropdown to mark specific ingredients "no"), and the receipt that was taped to the bag had the same notes called out. My tacos were packed with cilantro and onions. Thankfully, I was able to scrape them out and salvage the tacos, but if I was allergic to those ingredients, rather than just disliking them, they would have been inedible. Additionally, I almost ordered a burrito, and I wouldn't have been able to salvage that if the same...