Smart Donkey

Delicious, hearty burritos. Plenty of hot sauce varieties. Friendly service and didn't wait long for food to be prepared. The fire pit outside would be great with friends gathering around. Only downside is cold weather if you're eating outside. They do have some patio heaters though. Also can be noisy if they are hosting parties. I enjoyed my fish burrito though, it was tasty. Did I mention the 14 Trimet stops in front? So convenient.

I heard about this place when I got invited to a birthday celebration there. They said there would be Latin-oriented dj music and dancing on an outdoor, covered patio! That sounded great. Unfortunately I missed the party. But I went by a few days later to check out the place and get a burrito.The place is even cooler than I imagined! Tropical feel, laidback staff, nice outdoor covered dance floor. And regular dj music, occasional live music! What a hip and happening burrito place.So why only three stars? Well, I wasn't so thrilled with the burrito. I know it's a celebrity chef, and I've heard good things about the food here (even before I knew it was also a music venue), and I love Mexican food. But yeah, disappointing. I ordered the chile rojo (pork, rice, beans, cheese, spices), which several Yelpers had praised. But it needed a hefty dose of hot sauce to have much flavor. Not at all like the red chile burritos I remember from hole-in-the-wall eateries in Tucson and Phoenix, where the flavor was already there, cooked in. The one at Smart Donkey was nothing like those, and not even as good as my local Portland burreria, Saint Burrito. So -- I will try this place again, when I go to hear music and dance, and order something different. But for now it's just a solid 3.

The first time I came, I think I was dazzled by the awesome location and structure. It really is festive in Smart Donkey! If you want a burrito or bowl, they've got you covered. If you want anything else, go elsewhere. I get it, not everyone needs to serve everything! Smart Donkey is the Seinfeld soup place of Portland Mexican food. No substitutions! No additions! Don't you dare ask for a quesadilla, taco, side of the meat, or anything off the menu. The music pumping loud enough to feel in your chest. The margs are pretty good - I had the Donkey Cadillac and the Mean Margarita ($12 each). Ive had better, but I have had much worse! I've had my order taken by different front of house people, all nice enough. I have to say, I saw a band in the back space last time I was here, and that was fun. They do have lots of outside seating.

Really delicious fish burrito! The guac, chips, & salsa are also really good, very fresh & flavorful. The guac is very lemon-y which I loveeee & the habanero salsa is rich but bright & spicy but not too spicy. I wish the veg burritos were a little more robust, especially for the price. The pobre rico (bean & cheese) is great though, the beans are well seasoned! Solid spot for a burrito!

We were recommended this place to get burritos by a friend. First thing you need to know is no substitutions. There are multiple signs everywhere that say you can't change or modify anything on the menu so read carefully if you have food allergies or aversions. They wouldn't even cut our burrito in half. We went with a basic burrito and it was good enough. Plenty of meat, beans and rice. My friend was happy with her bowl version of a burrito. The salsas offered are spicier than advertised on the label indicating each kind. Good burritos but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.

First off, happy cinco de mayo! This is the coolest little spot to grab some good Mexican food! I grabbed the El Grodo and it was so so SO GOOD. The vibe is really cool here. Indoor and outdoor seating with heaters. The staff is very nice. If you're looking for a bite come get it!

Deliciously satisfying. The burritos on Happy Hour (not all of them) are a deal for $7. And choice of three margaritas for $5 on Mondays and Thursdays means get me two.Tip: even if you like Mexican rice I always skip it in burritos, just my thing.Enjoyed the Adovo Verde. Super friendly window gal taking orders. I look forward to returning.

Their burritos are top notch. A little spendy, but you see where the extra money goes. A lot of burritos just rely on salsa, but these are really well-made burritos inside. Good draft beer selection, and a delicious margarita, which was tangy & not overly sweet. Check out Monday's $5 margarita happy hour! A great place for outdoor and patio dining this summer. During the winter, they close the doors and fire up heaters.There's a parking lot and back. A note to yelp they are indeed open on Monday

This place is worth the calories. If they have Cochinita Pibil as a special, get it! 3x in a row this has been really good. I've also tried the Uruapan, and other standards. I love that they have 1-2 specials per week to mix things up. All the meats have flavors with depth like they've been slow cooked. The burrito ingredients are always really well balanced/blended. They also have a taco night that my burrito hating wife loves. My only nit pick is they don't let you mix and match tacos, and that they don't have more taco meat options. But I won't let perfect be the enemy of the damn tasty!

I visited Smart Donkey for dinner. The parking situation was good. They had a lot in the back and there was street parking. I came for a burrito. It was a little pricey so if I visit again, I'll come during happy hour. I got the cochinita special burrito. The pork was a little on the saltier side but I style liked it. I felt that the burrito was pretty balanced with the other components. There were four different salsas to pick from to add to your burrito. The salsas were in little to go containers. I got one of the green ones and it added some great flavor to the burrito. The restaurant is a little out of the way for me but I wouldn't hesitate to visit again.