I couldn’t wait to try the birria tacos ($10) at Papi Chulo’s Taqueria after it opened in The Box Factory in early September.
When I first visited the taqueria shop, the beef tacos met every expectation. They were crispy on the outside, satisfyingly juicy on the inside and were made even more flavorful by a small bowl of Mexican beef broth for dipping. But there was something missing.
It took a little over a month for Papi Chulo’s liquor license to come through. In the meantime, it allowed customers to order drinks from The River Pig, but it wasn’t able to serve its lime, passionfruit, strawberry or spicy margaritas.
Papi Chulo’s now has its liquor license and is serving its own cocktails, beer, tequila and mezcal. Upon my second visit, I ordered Papi’s margarita ($10), on the rocks with Pueblo Viejo Blanco, triple sec and lime. Instead of a salted rim, I opted for Tajín seasoning. Not only did the Tajín lend a beautiful touch of color to the drink, it gave the classic margarita a delightful tangy flavor.
For lunch, I ordered several of the most popular tacos: the cochinita ($3.75), the verduras ($3.50) and the camarones ($4). The verduras and cochinita tacos were prepared to perfection. The melted cheese in the verduras tacos followed the thin line of being chewy without being overcooked. The layer of cheese revealed wild mushrooms, chopped slightly spicy sautéed poblano pepper and corn underneath.
The slow-cooked pork was the star of the delectable cochinita taco. The tender pork was dripping with juice the spice lingered. The pickled onions added a crunch and the habanero sauce was faintly sweet.
The camarones tacos didn’t beg for another bite in the same way as the other two tacos, but the cold shrimp was appropriately seasoned, and the Mexican coleslaw offered a crunch. All of the tacos were wrapped in a stone-ground, organic corn tortilla made by the Three Sisters Nixtamal in Portland.
For those that can’t get enough of the birria tacos, Papi Chulo’s makes a “quesabirria quesadilla” ($12) and a birria burrito ($12).
Service
Papi Chulo’s is set up to order at the counter. As I placed my order, the server happily answered my questions about the menu, making an effort to offer suggestions.
Atmosphere
Even with snow on the ground, dining inside Papi Chulo’s gave the impression of eating at a restaurant in a warmer climate. The furniture was every color of the rainbow and an awe-inspiring mural by artist Katie Daisy made the space feel warm as music blared over the speakers.
More info
Location: The Box Factory, 555 NW Arizona Ave., #60, Bend
Contact: 541-323-0497
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Price Range: $3.50-$15
Cuisine: Taco shop
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Popular this week with our readers
Articles
- For three hours, Shiloh Binder's arm was stuck in a meat grinder. He emerged stronger than ever.
- Editorial: Why is Bend aiming to buy 51 acres in the Deschutes National Forest?
- New proposed development near Box Factory could revitalize old railroad property
- Central Oregon deep freeze has pipes bursting around Bend
- Kotek homebuilding target is ambitious, potentially costly and politically fraught, experts say
- Redmond man arrested for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from former employer
- Mt Bachelor ski area partially closes Sunday due to high winds, power outage
- Despite repeated driving violations - including killing someone - Bend man got his license back. Then he crashed again.
- Merkley applauds new efforts to expand journalism in Oregon
- Local entrepreneurs tap everyday expenses to generate money for charities, nonprofits
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.