En Vida PDX

Delicious food, uplifting and colorful tropical decor, and friendly staff in a cute neighborhood. I enjoyed everything about my experience at En Vida. I walked over from the Airbnb I was staying and because I was there in an in-between lunch and dinner time, I had the place to myself. I started with an arepa and maduros and a very pretty and delicious mocktail. The arepa was one of the best I ever had. The maduros were cooked perfectly though I wish they were a little more ripe to render more sweetness. I also got the pulpo special (it was the last day this dish was going to be on the menu) and it was one leg of an octopus grilled perfectly, accompanied by a salsa verde and fried puffed potatoes that all paired beautifully together. I also got a medianoche to go so I could enjoy it for breakfast the next two days. You know it's an amazing medianoche when the grilled bread is still crispy, the meat is utterly tender and flavorful - even eating it cold a day and two later. If I can make it back to En Vida again before I go back home, I absolutely will. You should, too!

E A T. H E R E .if you're like me and maybe live nearby and have driven by or scrolled passed thinking "looks cute but I'm in 'X' or 'Y' mood right now and I'm not all that familiar with South American or Cuban etc so you put it off another day... STOP. Come here IMMEDIATELY.I popped in for brunch on a Sunday, no wait, Sat right at the bar. Vibrant bright sun filling the place, upbeat tunes playing. Handful of tables occupied.The vibes were 10/10I pulled up a barstool and the menu had a lot of solid, tempting options. I went with a pressed Cuban sandwich topped with fried egg, bacon strips, hollandaise and sliced avocado.Had a beer and a shit, tasty.It was PERFECT. I'm coming back again, frequently, before this place POPS OFF. Gotta be a regular for me going forward. It is just GREAT!!!

We came late as a table of 8 on a Saturday night. It was my first time eating here and we all were impressed! The server was very friendly and the food was delicious. I had the vegetarian bowl and we also had the steak and the kids had their giant hamburgers.Will definitely be back .

Really good food & great service. I'm not Colombian and I don't know if it's authentic, but the food was fresh and delicious. It's a small restaurant but it gives very cozy vibes. We happened to come during happy hour and we ordered a Colombian hotdog and some Tostones. Everything was delicious as well as the non-alcoholic drinks that we ordered. For our main dish, my friend and I shared the Bandeja paisa. It was really good and we wanted to try a little bit of everything so I would definitely recommend that if you want a variety of food. Check this place out if you're in Portland or near Fremont Street. Also follow me on TikTok for more Portland recommendations!

Everything I've had so far it's been 10 out of 10, their amazing approach to traditional South American dishes will blow your mind and taste buds with top quality ingredients you can appreciate. Amazing service and great ambience, nice music and all glass dining room. One of the best bandeja paisa I ever had, perfectly crafted, only missing the chorizo.

My good God!!!! II'm hesitant to write such an obsessive review bc NOT ONLY will I look like that crazy girl from the YOU Netflix show, but now everyone will know about this FREAKING DELICOUS CAFE. I won't gatekeep! My Mom and I walked in within a half hour of them opening for the day, and there was one other table filled. The place is vibrant, colorful! Full of healthy plants! (you can judge a restaurant by how well they take care of their plants! ). The bartender/server came over and greeted us, and she asked us if it was our first time. My Mom hasn't had much of an opportunity to eat Latin food, and she dabbles meatless sometimes. The server gave her a rundown on which items might interest her and fit her flavor profile. She went above and beyond really because it is VERY EASY to become overwhelmed when trying new cuisines... I ordered rhe Gallito de Roca drink and omg it was delicious! It was an adult juice - not too sweet, very fresh and very refreshing! My Tampa Cubano sando was great! The tostones made my heart sing! Next time I'll order their ropa vieja bc not many places in PDX offer ropa vieja. You know it HAS to be good if it's on their limited menu!! I can't wait to go back.

Oh my gosh I cannot speak more highly of this restaurant. I'm so blown away by how good the food was. I ordered the arepa con queso and then also the Medianoche sandwich with a side salad. Portions are big enough to share for sure. Everything is cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and you can taste the love that goes into this food! The atmosphere in very casual and comfortable. It's bright and colorful and feels full of life. You can go on your own and just have a self date or got with several friends and grab some cocktails. Service was great, everyone was so friendly and kind and I got great recommendations on what to order.

Not sure how this place is not full all the time, the food is amazing and the indoor space is so well done with the art on the walls and the colors. Me and my wife have traveled around many countries and the food here is fantastic with a Colombian and Brazilian twist as well as as others. Great staff and chef Mauricio was very pleasant with a great story on how he started this restaurant.If you're looking for something different, maybe thinking out of the box this is the place to go. Will definitely surprise you with all the great food on the menu.

Enticed by all the good reviews for this place and a hankering for Latin American food, I needed to check them out. They're quiet on a Friday afternoon. Their space is very colorful and has a lot of fun energy. Their menu is pretty focused but the items all sound very tasty.We went with an Empanada of the day, The Cubano, and the Bandeja. Their focused menu certainly paid off when you see how fresh and well-executed their dishes were. The empanada of the day was a mushroom and cheese. It's made fresh so the cheese was nice and gooey. Their crust is different from what I'm used to. It seems to be a mix of maize and cornmeal rather than flour. I think it gave a nice crunchy crust and slightly chewy inside. A bit small for the price though.The Cubano was again made fresh. Bread was nice and crispy. Inside was filled with hearty meat and cheese. A solid sandwich, especially when paired with their pico de gallo. The start of the meal was easily the Bandeja. You can choose between chicken and flat iron steak for the Bandeja; we went with the steak and we weren't disappointed. It's cooked medium-rare, making the steak super tender. The outside crust was well-seasoned and flavorful. The Plato came with a lot of other tasty things like a perfect over-easy egg, rice and beans, avocado, and the best chicharron I've had. It's small but packed a punch. The outside was crispy all around while the fat layer was still melt-in-your-mouth soft. This dish had everything, perfect for sharing.The staff were attentive and friendly. Happy hour is from 3-5PM on weekdays. All in all, we had an amazing meal and will be spreading the word of their goodness for sure.

En Vida quietly took over the former Acadia space and is delivering some of the best Latin American food in the neighborhood. The restaurant is spacious and is done up in a bright and cheerful murals and décor . There is both indoor and outdoor seating and has plenty of colors to lift up spirits even on a dark cloudy Portland day . We came for lunch on a Sunday and even though they were almost empty it took them a little time to seat us . We had walked in dreaming of Arepas but were told that they were out of it which was a bummer however by the end of our meal they brought some out and boy am I glad for that . The food took a long time to come out but the drinks kept us engaged . My husband is a big fan of chichamorada which is a purple corn drink . Its traditionally N/A but he asked for his to be made boozy and the bartender chose Pisco for him . I on the other hand stuck to a ginger soda which was such a great choice with the food we ordered .We got Tostones , Bandeja paisa and the Arepas . Food was fabulous and very generously portioned . The Bandeja Paisa is a Colombian dish from the Andean region of the country. It is a delicious recipe that contains beans, rice, plantain, chicharrón, avocado ,egg and beef/chicken .Service was friendly albeit slow . I would hundred percent recommend them if you are looking for some good colombian/Cuban food .