Sandoval’s Cafe & Cantina

My family loves this place. The tacos are good. My daughter loves burrito and son loves popcorn shrimp and wings. Service is friendly and fast. Food is hot. This is now a regular dinner spot for us.

Bummed the prices have gone up since the remodel. We previously ate there weekly but now maybe once a month or so just out of convenience.

Started out with the salsa being too spicy by my taste. The waitress suggested guacamole since that was a no spice option.
The chicken fajita was so so.
The big surprise came when we got our bill and saw we were charged $ 8.95 for the guacamole. I wished the waitress said the charge would be $ 8.95 first.
I was disappointed that they didn’t have a mild salsa for the chips, then to offer guacamole as an only option for the chips.
I won’t be going back, since I don’t like spicy salsa and I feel I should have been told how much the guacamole option would cost.

When I went here, I wasn’t really that hungry. I knew I needed to feed my son, though, before we went on a two hour flight. I know I should’ve fed him better, but nachos sounded amazing. I wasn’t disappointed. For nachos purchased at a quick service location in the airport, they were very generous with the nachos, and they tasted good — cheese, beans, jalapeños, sour cream, and salsa. It was very affordable, too. I think I paid like $ 6, and it was a lot of food. If ever I need food at this airport again, I would be willing to eat here again.

I’ve been going to Sandoval’s on Miller & Barnes at least once a month for 8 years now (would have given it a solid 4 stars every time), but my last three visits have been quite disappointing. The «skinny margarita» now is watery and tasteless. Worse, the salsa the veggie enchilada green sauce — both of which used to be nice and spicy — are now completely bland and forgettable. And I agree with the other reviewers — the remodel was a big mistake — it went from being a friendly, zero-​ambience, hole-​in-​the-​wall with good food and a friendly wait-​staff to being a somewhat tacky, faux-​Mexican, more-​expensive place with mediocre food and very forgettable wait-​staff. I may give it one more try, but after that I doubt I’ll go back again. Too bad…

Although the food is still generally good, The recent remodel was, well, a bad choice in retrospect. The prices seem high now, high enough that we don’t go as often.

After reading the recent reviews I feel the need to throw in my 2 cents. I like this place.
I went a few years ago before the remodel, and although the food was good, the atmosphere was horrible (I seem to remember terrible lighting and a door dinger going off every 10 seconds), so I never went back. Recently I thought I’d try it again and WOW, great interior! Bright, open, cool decorations, and nice outdoor seating. I can’t comment on the bar area, I always sit in the dining room.
The food is really good, nothing ground breaking, but solid. Although, the Taco Dorado is something you don’t see everyday, a pan fried taco, pretty tasty. The margaritas are pretty good too. I’ve been here 3 times in 2 months, so that’s telling.
Some reviews complain about the prices, seem pretty normal to me compared to other Portland places (except their $ 12 Cadillac margaritas don’t seem worth it, they taste $ 7). And if they did go up because of the remodel, it was worth it.

Everything about this place has gone downhill since the remodel– except for the prices, those went up. I’m sorry, but $ 10 for a disgrace of a margarita and $ 9 for guac?!
The bar is now a tiny hidden little windowless box, and not welcoming at all. Not somewhere I would want to go for a drink– even if it wasnt way overpriced. And what is with the owner’s self-​portraits all over the walls? Your mug is already on the menus– we get it, you own the place. I would be embarassed.
Then there is the wait staff… where to start. I can understand if they are short-​handed and drinks are taking longer than they should, but at least acknowledge it! It is as if they avoid their customers completely because they know we are unhappy. They don’t ask questions if they don’t understand something– instead they will just get it wrong and then have to take it back. Almost every order is incorrect, everything takes 3x longer than it should, and the food is sub-​par. I miss Randy.
There is another place down the road called Si Señor with better food, drinks, and prices. In fact, I see the manager from Sandoval’s getting take out from there regularly. That should tell you something.

Food and service was great! Love the new remodel and the outdoor seating area is a perfect way to enjoy summer nights! Portions are big enough to share and so delicious. Always have to start with the chorizo con queso. YUM!!!

Used to be a regular but after the remodel all of their menu prices went up, a lot! Happy hour used to be a killer deal but now not so much.
Randy isn’t working the bar any more :(my take-​out orders are wrong almost EVERY time, no matter which server takes the order. No recourse because you’re already home and they don’t make up for it next time around, even if you tell them about it. Oh, and styrofoam take-​out containers are bad.
The bar is now a tiny box and not very inviting to hang out.
Turnover in any business usually means something is wrong with working conditions. The only saving grace is Jesse on the Home Field side, she’s pretty awesome!

A friend recommended this place to me & I am so glad she did. Our normal Mexican cantina is off the rotation & this will be our new spot. Great chips & salsa, fantastic drinks & top notch food.
They have a great outdoor patio & an open airy feeling inside.
I’m only giving 4 stars because they charged me 9 bucks for a side of guacamole — that’s a complete rip off in my book. Also our server was not overly happy to be at his job. Sure everyone has an off day but this guy was completely out off at out request for more chips & silverware.

I visit here twice a month, they always have the best service and awesome food. My aunt told me about this place and I had never heard about it before but now I come here so often! The food is delicious and the salsa is homemade. Sometimes it has more spice than others but that’s what happens when vegetables are fresh. Every item is suuuuper fresh, yum. If your in the area go, it’s a great price and taco is seriously the nicest server

Disappointing… Was a regular before the remodel, just went in for first time since reopening. sat in bar for 7 min. While 3 employees were behind the bar. No acknowledgements. I know 2 were making drinks one was wiping down counter. It doesn’t take anything to say hi. I left, think they lost me as a customer.

Both of Sandoval’s locations are superb. The people are always smiling, I have lived in area for a few years and see the same staff members, this means they are doing something right. Great, fresh ingredients and Alex the bartender was very friendly and helpful regardless of his disclaiming his newness to location, he was quite helpful. My only gripe is I can’t order Mexican in the connected sports bar and vise versa, they share the same name? What happened to customers being right.

Went back since remodel and the food should have been remodeled as well. The biggest issue and main reason we went was for the service from Randy. Seems he does not work on the Mexican side any longer. Well I guess me and the wife will not be retuning as the service made up for the nothing but ordinary food with too much pepper to try to compensate for flavor.

My wife and I went to Happy Hour on a busy Friday afternoon. Great Nachos with Shredded Beef, and the house margarita was outstanding and served on the rocks in a PINT glass, and they take great care to ask you if you want the rim salted. The choices of tequila are extensive, and the owner Danny is quite knowledgeable.

The WORST, most unprofessional takeout experienced in Portland. Online menu prices are lower than the in-​restaurant menu. When asked, the employee said they «hadn’t gotten around to updating the website menu.» I then gave her the opportunity to discount my bill to match what was advertised on their website, but she instead just ran off…
Locally owned Portland restaurants are an awesome brand and have a great reputation. However, this restaurant did not come close to making me a happy Portland customer. I’m new to this area and will be telling everyone to not come here.

As others… I have given this place many tries.
It’s close to home, privately owned and looks to have a pretty good following.
Chips and salsa are ok/​good
I really liked my first pass at the tortilla soup but next visits left me feeling like I had a salt lick for dinner.
I’ve tried a diablo dish, an enchilada and fajitas– always a miss.
Drinks? A LOT of mix and DOUBLE the ice.
Service hasn’t been memorable. Neither great or bad.
Prices, way over the top for what Ive gotten.
I agree with one review on lots of ‘stuffing’ rice/​beans. And another review another when he says Chipotle will give him better and more for less. Chipotle is MUCH MUCH more flavorful.
Isn’t it interesting when it comes to Mexican food people are so greatly split. Really good or really bad. Although– many of these bad reviews contain quite a lot re service.

Great local spot, decent food and drinks. You’ll experience better if you are willing to drive but it hits the spot if you want something local and quick. The food and drinks are just boring, that’s all.

We’ve been eating here for years, great food and excellent service. Pollo Taco Plato is just the way I like it, simple in its presentation with cilantro, onions and fresh daily corn tortillas, allowing me to doctor it up.
Also give the Prawn and Salmon tacos a go, excellent!