Illustration by artist and former cook, Donyel Ivy-Royal
GUERO IS A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT OFFERING TORTAS, MEZCALES, AND MORE.
LOCATED ON 28TH AVE - ITS HOME OF OVER A DECADE - IN THE KERNS NEIGHBORHOOD OF PORTLAND.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH AND DINNER, WITH GARDEN SEATING AND SERVICE IN THE SUMMER.
COME ONE, COME ALL. NO RESERVATIONS. ONE MILLION TORTAS SERVED AND COUNTING!
A HISTORY OF GÜERO
AS REMEMBERED BY AUDREY CERCHIERRA:
“LET ME TELL YOU A STORY. IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH FEEDING OUR FRIENDS. THIS WHOLE THING BEGAN BACK EAST WHERE MEG AND AL USED TO PRESS TORTILLAS TO ORDER AND DELIVER BY BIKE UNTIL 3AM OR SELLOUT ... BUT WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT TACOS ANYMORE. THE THRILL WAS IN THE IMPROVISATION, IN THE FEVER OF DEMAND, IN THE PLEASURE OF PROVIDING A WHOLE NEW LAYER TO SOMEONE'S NIGHT. THE SCENE CUTS TO PORTLAND AND A VINTAGE ALUMINUM TRAILER WHERE THE GÜERO TORTA IS THE TALK OF THE TOWN. WE'VE GOT THE FRESHEST BREAD FROM OUR BAKER FELIPE, WE'VE GOT A CAMP STOVE UNDERNEATH A POT OF BUBBLING CARNITAS, WE'VE GOT A PA SYSTEM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE'VE GOT A NEIGHBORHOOD OF GOOD PEOPLE COMING THROUGH AND DEMANDING MORE TASTY TORTAS. WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO OBLIGE AND TURN UP THE HOT TRACKS. IN 2017, WHEN WE LITERALLY EXPLODED OUT OF THE FOOD CART AND LANDED IN A BIG RESTAURANT IT MADE SENSE THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY ONLY THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THAT OG TRAILER. WE LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE LOVE OUR PEOPLE. YOU PEOPLE! THE PEOPLE SINGING RANCHEROS WHILE TOASTING GOLDEN TELERAS AND THE PEOPLE CLINKING COPITAS IN CELEBRATION OF ANOTHER YEAR WELL LIVED. THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US ~ HERE'S TO ALL THE BREAD WE'VE BROKEN.”