The Best Mexican Food In Hood River!

With handmade tortillas, authentically grilled carne asada, fish, and carnitas, our homemade salsas, adobos, and marinades, there’s absolutely no reason not to get your favorite tacos; at El Cuate!

Authentic Food

Every dish at El Cuate is made fresh and with authentic Mexican traditions!

Visit Our Food Truck

Our taco and burger truck, El Cuate Taqueria! Located at 419 State St, Hood River, OR 97031

Hamburgers

The first burger-famous restaurant in Hood River! Including something to eat for everyone.

El Cuate Mexican Restaurant Offers Up The Best Authentic Mexican Tacos... and Burgers?

When owner Ricardo Lopez came to the USA in 2002, he worked on a farm and washed dishes in an American restaurant famous for its burgers. Eventually, he worked his way up. After a few years, Ricardo began creating his unique, flavorful Mexican dishes, and at the urging of his boss, he opened his food truck, El Cuate Taqueria. He and his wife have always run the taco and burger truck, working together every day.

Our Favorite Menu

Ricky’s Hamburger

Homemade ground beef, cheddar cheese, chipotle mayo, organic greens, onion, tomato, topped with a sesame seed bun

Tacos

Handmade tortillas with your choice of meat, topped with onions and cilantro.

Torta Cubana

Beans, jack cheese, chorizo, asada, bacon, sausage, ham, tomato onion, organic greens, jalapenos

So, what’s with the burgers now?

Because Ricardo learned everything he knows about restaurant cooking and the restaurant business at that first burger-famous restaurant, he chose to honor his beginnings and include something for everyone. Featuring the best burgers made with all fresh, never frozen ingredients plus carne asada and adobada tacos, there’s something for everyone at El Cuate. We’ve earned a 5-star rating on Yelp! And have been featured in numerous publications. After all this, we are proud to announce the opening of El Cuate Mexican Restaurant!

Best Food Truck in Hood River, OR

Thrillist once wrote of our authentic Mexican food, “Widely considered to possess the best Mexican in the Gorge, you’ve gotta make a pitstop at Taqueria El Cuate. Handmade tortillas mean original, hearty tacos with generous servings of meat. This is Hood River’s most resonating response to the drunchies. Sidenote: They even make a superb hamburger for $7, which is cheaper than what you will find at any of the local breweries.”

The Awkward Traveller also did a write-up of the Best Taco Spots In Hood River and placed us at the top of the list! She writes, “I love their salsa verde sauce, and honestly, I’ve ONLY ever gotten their carne asada tacos because they are just THAT GOOD.”

Authentic Tacos, Always Fresh Ingredients

Every dish at El Cuate is made fresh and with authentic Mexican traditions. Did you know that many restaurants don’t grill their carne asada, despite standard practice calling for it? Grilling adds so much flavor and texture that can get neglected when a kitchen tries to rush their food. We prep early every single day to ensure the absolute best tasting, authentic Mexican food in the area!

Our Food Gallery

Fish Taco

Rock fish, chipotle mayo, cabbage, onion, cilantro, cotija cheese

Marylins’s Quesadilla

Choice the meat, flour tortilla, jack and cheddar cheese, cabbage, onion, cilantro, topped with fresh pico de gallo

Alex’s Burrito

Flour tortilla, rice, and whole pinto beans, feta cheese, jack cheddar cheese blend, and fresh pico de gallo

Torta Cubana

Beans, jack cheese, chorizo, asada, bacon, sausage, ham, tomato onion, organic greens, jalapenos

Kid's Burrito

Choice of meat, monterey jack and cheddar cheese blend, onion, and cilantro

Ricky's Hamburger

Sesame seed bun, homemade ground beef, cheddar cheese, chipotle mayo, organic greens, onion, and tomato

What People Say

Stopped for a quick lunch and it definitely did not disappoint. We got 2 fish tacos, veggie taco and spicy pork burrito. Everything was super flavorful and very reasonably priced. Super friendly staff and fast service. Highly recommend!

Stopped by for Friday lunch. Very short queue and tacos were served up in minutes. Ordered two fish tacos and two carne asada tacos with salsa verde. Outstanding tacos. Tortillas are fresh and tasty to boot. Definitely will be coming back to try more during this trip.

So good and great customer service. We order mainly Plant Based Burritos there and they’re fantastic. My niece also says they have the best burgers in town! Can’t miss!

Excellent food! Hands down, my favorite burrito stop in Hood River. My favorite is the veggie burrito; it’s not just beans and rice, it is stuffed with sautéed vegetables! The owner is friendly and appreciative; always smiling! I am often recommending this food truck to people.