Tamale Boy is heading to 2323 N. Williams Ave with a new full-service restaurant and bar. Owner Jaime Soltero Jr. confirmed to What Now Portland that the opening date has been pushed to July due to a subcontractor delay, and the construction is nearly complete. The new location will serve as the brand’s permanent headquarters, replacing the existing commissary kitchen on North Russell Street, which has since closed.
The concept focuses on regional Mexican cuisine, including tamales, a Latin dish that inspired the brand’s name. In addition to the full restaurant, the space will feature a bar program with aguas frescas and market-style cocktails. Soltero also plans to bring back fan favorites like the Burrito del Mar and the Ribeye Aguachile, alongside rotating specials that mirror the approach at his sister restaurant Colibri by Tamale Boy in the Pearl District.
In addition to serving as a commissary kitchen supporting Tamale Boy’s existing locations in Northeast Portland and Happy Valley, the Williams Avenue property will operate as a full-time restaurant and bar. Founded as a catering company in 2008, Tamale Boy opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2014 and has since become a recognizable name in Portland’s Mexican food scene.
The project represents one of the company’s largest investments since launching as a catering business nearly two decades ago. The 3,600-square-foot building, formerly occupied by bicycle manufacturer Breadwinner Cycles, was purchased by Soltero for $975,000, according to the Portland Business Journal. The building is undergoing a substantial renovation that includes a new commercial kitchen and customer-facing dining space.
