El Mariachi Mexican Grill is set to open at 6808 SE Milwaukie Ave in Portland’s Sellwood Moreland neighborhood, according to a liquor license application filed with the City of Portland. Owners Jesus Zacarias and his wife, Mariela, confirmed to What Now Portland that they are aiming to open sometime between mid-August.
Zacarias said the restaurant will center its menu on tacos made with fresh, handmade tortillas. The space is set up to seat around 45 people, with a handful of booths lining the dining room, along with an outdoor seating area for another 15. He and his wife are excited to bring good service and authentic Mexican food to the area.
This is not Zacarias first time in the restaurant business. He started cooking in 2009 and took on a management role at a Mexican restaurant chain in 2012, a job he held until the pandemic hit in 2020. That disruption pushed him to strike out on his own, leading to El Mariachi Mexican Grill.
The couple is taking over the space that was occupied by Stickers Asian Cafe, a pan Asian street food spot known for potstickers and satay that closed after more than a decade in the neighborhood.
