Taqueria Mexa is expanding beyond its Northeast Portland roots, opening a second location at 1921 SW 6th Ave in the heart of downtown Portland. The new spot will bring the taqueria's Mexico City-style cooking, including its cult-favorite machetes, to a stretch of the city dense with office workers, transit riders and Portland State University students.
Owner Salvador Salazar confirmed the expansion directly to WhatNow Portland, telling the outlet that Taqueria Mexa specializes in Mexico City-style Mexican food and that the new location will focus on that same culinary identity. Salazar said the company wants to grow its downtown presence and become better known citywide, a goal that lines up with the steady foot traffic the SW 6th Avenue address sees from downtown workers, transit riders and visitors passing through, per the same report.
The original Taqueria Mexa location sits at 3137 NE 82nd Ave, an address WhatNow's report initially identified as SE 82nd Avenue. The flagship's own website lists the NE 82nd Avenue address in the 97220 zip code, according to Taqueria Mexa.
What's on the Menu
The new downtown menu will include machetes, gorditas, tlacoyos and huaraches, the outlet's report notes. Salazar said machetes in particular draw extra attention from customers, describing them as oversized folded tortillas packed with fillings. Culinary background from the Portland Mercury traces machetes back to their roots as a Mexico City street food, where the hand-pressed corn masa is shaped like a blade and stuffed with stews or meats before folding.
Beyond the machetes highlighted in the original report, Taqueria Mexa's active menu at its flagship location includes specialty tacos such as huitlacoche, tripa, suadero and lengua, along with quesabirria, menudo stew and finger churros, according to listings on Uber Eats. The downtown location will also carry a drink menu inspired by Mexico City, though the timing of a full grand opening still hinges on the restaurant's liquor license.
Waiting on a Liquor License
Taqueria Mexa is waiting for its liquor license before fully promoting the downtown opening, WhatNow's report states. Securing a full or limited on-premises license through the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission requires an endorsement from the City of Portland and obligates the business to meet minimum food service standards, including offering at least five distinct prepared meals during operating hours, according to state licensing rules published by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
The 1921 SW 6th Ave storefront isn't new to the restaurant business. It previously housed Poblano Pepper Mexican Grill, a family-owned spot that served traditional Mexican dishes alongside plant-based options, according to listings on HappyCow. Multnomah County health inspection logs published in December 2025 recorded routine food safety inspections at that address under Poblano Pepper's tenancy, as reported by The Outlook, meaning Taqueria Mexa is inheriting an already-established commercial kitchen rather than building one from scratch.
A Campus-Adjacent Location
The address places the new taqueria within Portland State University's campus footprint, near PSU Parking Structure 1 and roughly two blocks from Cramer Hall. SW 6th Avenue also runs through Portland's transit mall, giving the location light rail and bus access that links the PSU district with the broader downtown core, per WhatNow's reporting.
The move fits into a broader wave of downtown Portland restaurant openings taking shape in 2026. Taqueria Mexa's arrival follows other recent downtown additions, including Cay Bar & Grill at RiverPlace Marina and Michael Mina's Bar Sprezzatura at the Heathman Hotel, part of a larger activation of the city's dining scene downtown.
The timing also tracks with a shift in what Portland diners are looking for. Local food coverage from Portland Monthly has documented growing demand for regional Chilango-style Mexico City street foods and specialized masa preparations, moving beyond the standard Tex-Mex fare that has long dominated the market. Taqueria Mexa's downtown bet leans directly into that appetite, betting that machetes and huaraches can find as loyal a following near PSU as they have in Northeast Portland.
