Don Ladis Taco Shop, the Gresham institution that has been feeding the eastern Portland metro with San Diego-style Mexican food since opening on NW Eastman Parkway, is expanding to Damascus with a second location at 19850 SE Hwy 212. The owner, Sonia Lopez, confirmed to What Now Portland that they are expected to open in August.
The restaurant is a family project. It was Sonia’s husband, Chuy, who first dreamed of owning a taco shop, having worked at taco spots in California as a teenager. Sonia, who grew up in the Brawley and Imperial Valley area of Southern California, says she didn’t even realize how distinct their cooking style was until customers kept telling her the food tasted like home.
“I always call our food San Diego-style Mexican food,” Lopez said. “A lot of customers come in for the first time and then come back up to the employees after their meals and say the food reminded them of back home.”
The menu at Don Ladis is the kind that rewards regulars. Think carne asada burritos the size of your forearm, breakfast tacos, and burritos served from 8 am, crispy rolled tacos, a salsa bar that customers rave about, shrimp tacos, al pastor, and weekend menudo. The standout item is the Cali Love Burrito, in memory of Tupac’s California Love, essentially carne asada fries wrapped in a burrito, loaded with French fries, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.
