Robo Taco, the tiny SE Morrison taqueria that kept Portland’s late-night crowd fed on crispy al pastor, is about to serve its final tacos. The shop will close after service next Sunday, ending roughly 15 years of post-midnight runs and leaving regulars with only a few more chances to squeeze in one last order. Longtime fans of the spit-roasted pastor and cheap tacos are already plotting farewell visits.
Owner Steps Off the Line After Years at the Grill
Owner Jason Price announced the closure on Instagram, saying he needs “freedom from running the shop” and apologizing for how quickly the news dropped. He wrote that he plans to step away from the daily grind of prep and service for a while and hinted that he hopes to return at some point. According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the restaurant’s last service is scheduled for next Sunday.
Fifteen Years of Late-Night Tacos
Robo Taco opened around 2011 and over the last 15 years carved out a loyal late-night crowd with its charred, pineapple-topped al pastor and budget-friendly tacos. Early coverage zeroed in on the tiny, robot-lined dining room and the glowing rotisserie spit that made its pastor stand out in a crowded late-night scene. Portland Monthly highlighted those details when the shop was new, and they helped cement Robo Taco’s place as a reliable after-hours stop.
Uncertain Future for the Morrison Corner
No one has publicly claimed the small SE Morrison storefront yet, and it is not clear whether the owners will look for a buyer or a new tenant. The proprietors have experimented with nearby projects before, and Willamette Week reported on an arcade-and-beer concept in 2018, suggesting they have already explored alternatives to running a single taqueria. The restaurant’s official site lists the Morrison location and hours but does not lay out a detailed plan beyond Price’s Instagram note. Robo Taco still shows the Morrison storefront.
Fans Scramble for One Last Taco Run
Regulars have started sharing memories and organizing final visits on neighborhood forums and social media, with multiple threads collecting quick tributes to the late-night fixture. A community Reddit thread shows longtime customers mourning the loss of a dependable after-hours taco stop and wondering who, if anyone, will step in if the closure sticks. For now, fans have a short window to squeeze in their last runs and say goodbye to a small but steady piece of Portland’s late-night dining scene.
