Contact
If you have questions about our menu or would like to comment about your dining experience, we'd love to hear from you. Or, if you'd like to join our monthly email newsletter mailing list and be among the first to learn of new menu items, special events, discounts and other items of interest, please send us your first name and email address. Thank you.
Coming Events
El Palenque Restaurant regularly hosts music, dance and other events that celebrate Central American art and culture.
Please visit this page regularly for details of upcoming events.
Please visit this page regularly for details of upcoming events.
Other Details
Private Parties
El Palenque Restaurant would be honored to host your next party or special event. You can reserve our restaurant with one week advance notice. We offer a number of dining options, including Buffet Style Service as well as Set Menus, that can be planned to accommodate your group size and budget. Please contact our Manager at luzjcubias@msn.com with any questions. Or phone (503) 231-5140
El Palenque Restaurant takes its name from the ancient Mayan ruin near the Usumacinta River in Chitapas.The Mayan translation for Palenque is "Big River," which reflects the way we view our valued customers, from whom our success flows.
What a few of our customers are saying...
Awesome Food and Service!!! By Phil O at Citysearch
I've lived in El Salvador before... And these guys have the best Salvadorian food... The pupusas are the best!!! We also had their Guatemalan enchiladas... Wow. Best I've ever had. My kids enjoyed the food as well, Cheese Pupusas and mexican tacos... everything about this place is great. We're ready to go again!!! I recommend it to all my friends. If you haven't been to El Palenque, it's time!
03/13/09 Wonderful Food by JimKanoff at Citysearch
We sampled a couple of the guacamoles - very good. Try the Special for two - a fantastic assortment of close to a dozen items - fresh, spicy, and large portions - lots of great leftovers! Give this local family business a try.
09/03/08 Best Salad ever by CindyEs at Citysearch
I have no idea what they use for their dressing - but it is fantastic. Hard to try other items on the menu because the salad is so good, the pork just melts in your mouth. We don't go often enough.
08/24/08 Great service, food and experience by SPDX at Citysearch
I stumbled upon this restaurant when looking for take out. I loved it! It smelled terrific inside and the owner was very helpful and pleasant. The owner is clearly very proud of his heritage and food. I got three entrees (the pork with verde sauce, chicken flautas and carne asada) and they were all delicious, as was the mint and onion guacamole and pupusas. While I waited, the owner Joseph (he was my waiter, but I assume he was the owner) treated me to a special corn bread and I tried a really good horchata. I had a lot of fun learning about Salvadoran food and being delighted by these new tastes. I have traveled a lot and this felt like a quick trip to Salvador. Enjoy!
01/14/08 Best Mexican & Peruvian Food in Town! by kk11smile at Citysearch
Excellent food and service every visit! Great place to go for a business lunch or dinner with family!! My favs are the the Cheese & Loroco Pupusa or the Palenque Burrito. YUM!
07/03/07 Fantastic, Friendly, by kailuakoanna at Citysearch
My husband and I have been going to El Palenque since it opened and every time the food has been fantastic! The owners and staff are always friendly and remember our favorites dishes. The Carnitas Pork is a must have! Whatever the occasion, party, romantic dinner, or just lunch, they are prompt and the food is perfect. For my Husbands' birthday dinner party they even surprised him with a special birthday cake, and made sure all of our guests were treated like family. And I must mention, El Palenque has the best chips and salsa in town. We love this place!
11/21/06 Dreaming of Pupusa by houseofpearl at Citysearch
God bless the soul that created the Pupusa. I have been to this place 3 times and I still can't bring myself to order anything else. Don't get me wrong, the menu is amazing. They have an entire page of guac dips and a world of other great sounding dishes but the Pupusas, oh the pupusa and all its cheesy black-beany goodness!!! Our server never mentioned, luckily the kitchen staff clued us in: put the cole-slaw stuff on top if the papusa...don't eat it on the side. Oh, and the house margarita is great!
06/23/06 Salvadoran and Mexican dishes that are the real McCoy. By Contributor at Citysearch
This low-ceilinged, cozy restaurant has green walls contrasting with a red carpet and small, similarly colored tables. Familiar Mexican dishes are on the menu, but the Salvadoran fare turns the experience into an adventure. Salvadoran pupusas--deep-fried tortillas filled with cheese and meat or black beans--are complemented by tart-vinegar cabbage salad. Mexican dishes include mildly sweet, rich and smoky red chicken mole. Don't miss the sweet fried plantains served with black beans and cream.
We'd like to thank these guests for taking the time to share their El Palenque dining experience with others.
I've lived in El Salvador before... And these guys have the best Salvadorian food... The pupusas are the best!!! We also had their Guatemalan enchiladas... Wow. Best I've ever had. My kids enjoyed the food as well, Cheese Pupusas and mexican tacos... everything about this place is great. We're ready to go again!!! I recommend it to all my friends. If you haven't been to El Palenque, it's time!
03/13/09 Wonderful Food by JimKanoff at Citysearch
We sampled a couple of the guacamoles - very good. Try the Special for two - a fantastic assortment of close to a dozen items - fresh, spicy, and large portions - lots of great leftovers! Give this local family business a try.
09/03/08 Best Salad ever by CindyEs at Citysearch
I have no idea what they use for their dressing - but it is fantastic. Hard to try other items on the menu because the salad is so good, the pork just melts in your mouth. We don't go often enough.
08/24/08 Great service, food and experience by SPDX at Citysearch
I stumbled upon this restaurant when looking for take out. I loved it! It smelled terrific inside and the owner was very helpful and pleasant. The owner is clearly very proud of his heritage and food. I got three entrees (the pork with verde sauce, chicken flautas and carne asada) and they were all delicious, as was the mint and onion guacamole and pupusas. While I waited, the owner Joseph (he was my waiter, but I assume he was the owner) treated me to a special corn bread and I tried a really good horchata. I had a lot of fun learning about Salvadoran food and being delighted by these new tastes. I have traveled a lot and this felt like a quick trip to Salvador. Enjoy!
01/14/08 Best Mexican & Peruvian Food in Town! by kk11smile at Citysearch
Excellent food and service every visit! Great place to go for a business lunch or dinner with family!! My favs are the the Cheese & Loroco Pupusa or the Palenque Burrito. YUM!
07/03/07 Fantastic, Friendly, by kailuakoanna at Citysearch
My husband and I have been going to El Palenque since it opened and every time the food has been fantastic! The owners and staff are always friendly and remember our favorites dishes. The Carnitas Pork is a must have! Whatever the occasion, party, romantic dinner, or just lunch, they are prompt and the food is perfect. For my Husbands' birthday dinner party they even surprised him with a special birthday cake, and made sure all of our guests were treated like family. And I must mention, El Palenque has the best chips and salsa in town. We love this place!
11/21/06 Dreaming of Pupusa by houseofpearl at Citysearch
God bless the soul that created the Pupusa. I have been to this place 3 times and I still can't bring myself to order anything else. Don't get me wrong, the menu is amazing. They have an entire page of guac dips and a world of other great sounding dishes but the Pupusas, oh the pupusa and all its cheesy black-beany goodness!!! Our server never mentioned, luckily the kitchen staff clued us in: put the cole-slaw stuff on top if the papusa...don't eat it on the side. Oh, and the house margarita is great!
06/23/06 Salvadoran and Mexican dishes that are the real McCoy. By Contributor at Citysearch
This low-ceilinged, cozy restaurant has green walls contrasting with a red carpet and small, similarly colored tables. Familiar Mexican dishes are on the menu, but the Salvadoran fare turns the experience into an adventure. Salvadoran pupusas--deep-fried tortillas filled with cheese and meat or black beans--are complemented by tart-vinegar cabbage salad. Mexican dishes include mildly sweet, rich and smoky red chicken mole. Don't miss the sweet fried plantains served with black beans and cream.
We'd like to thank these guests for taking the time to share their El Palenque dining experience with others.
Our Neighborhood
El Palenque Restaurant has been a proud part of the Sellwood neighborhood for over 20 years. Here are a few of our neighbors that we'd like to recommend.
Sellwood Dog Supply
Click here for their website.
Sellwood Dog Supply
Click here for their website.