El Gallo Taqueria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids El Gallo Taqueria |
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The restaurant's exterior in 2021
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2009 |
| Closed | July 23, 2022 |
| Current owner(s) | Jake Brown |
| Chef | Jake Brown |
| Food type | Mexican |
| Street address | 4422 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard |
| City | Portland |
| County | Multnomah |
| State | Oregon |
| Postal/ZIP code | 97206 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 45°28′44″N 122°37′01″W / 45.4790°N 122.6169°W |
El Gallo Taqueria was a popular Mexican restaurant located in Portland, Oregon. It was started by owner and chef Jake Brown. The business began as a food cart in 2009. It was located in the Woodstock neighborhood of southeast Portland. In 2015, El Gallo moved and became a full brick and mortar restaurant. The restaurant served its last meals in 2022.
What Kind of Food Did El Gallo Taqueria Serve?
El Gallo Taqueria offered many tasty Mexican dishes. You could find different kinds of tacos on the menu. They also had breakfast burritos filled with eggs and chorizo sausage. Other burritos came with pinto beans and fresh cabbage.
A special dish was the Nevada tostada. This had meat, beans, cabbage, and cheese on frybread. Taco choices included "al pastor" with grilled pineapple and cilantro. There was also the "gringo" taco, which was a hard-shell taco. The Mexican blackbird burrito was packed with black beans and vegetables.
The restaurant made its own tortillas by hand. They also prepared fresh chips and salsa. Their "Melt Yer Face" salsa was made with spicy habanero peppers. For drinks, El Gallo offered Mexican bottled beers and sodas. They also had local beers on tap.
How El Gallo Taqueria Started and Grew
From 2009 to 2014, El Gallo Taqueria was a food cart. Chef Jake Brown ran it from a parking lot on Woodstock Boulevard. It was the first food cart in the Woodstock area. Many people thought it was one of the most eco-friendly food carts in Portland.
The cart used energy efficient appliances. It also got fresh food daily from nearby farms and farmers' markets. This helped them be very sustainable.
In 2014, Jake Brown decided to open a full restaurant. He started fixing up a small space next to an Ace Hardware store. He made sure the new restaurant met high green building standards. These standards focused on being sustainable and saving energy.
Moving to a restaurant meant more space and longer hours. It also allowed for a bigger menu. The restaurant officially opened in February 2015.
Why El Gallo Taqueria Closed
El Gallo Taqueria closed its doors on July 23, 2022. Jake Brown shared that it was a tough choice. However, he felt it was the best decision for himself and the business. He said it was an honor to cook for the Woodstock community for 13 years. Another restaurant called Viking Soul Food later took its place.
