Madrina Cocina Mexicana: refined Mexican dining in downtown Portland with vibrant flavors and thoughtful service.
Madrina Cocina Mexicana, located at 1235 SW Jefferson St in downtown Portland, offers a vibrant, refined Mexican dining experience. A sister to La Patroncita, it features warm, elevated decor and a welcoming bar. Dishes like enchiladas, carne asada, mole con pollo, quesabirria, and cochinita pibil showcase rich flavors, with handmade tortillas and house-made chips. Attentive service and flavorful margaritas make it a standout near Providence Park.
1235 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97201, USA
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Enjoy dishes like Mole Con Pollo, Quesabirria, and Carne Asada, made with fresh ingredients and traditional recipes.
Sip on creative margaritas and other specialty drinks, expertly mixed with quality tequila and fresh flavors.
Start with house-made chips, guacamole, elote, and other shareable plates to enhance your meal.
Experience a vibrant, cozy setting with beautiful decor, perfect for dates, groups, or bar seating.
Host private gatherings or order catering for events, featuring our signature Mexican dishes and drinks.
Overall rating
Enrico and Nancy Alcaire
Beautiful place for date nights. Food and drinks was delicious. However, be aware that you’ll have to pay for chips and salsa. Service the day we went was great no complaints, we also went a few days before new years, so during the weekday. I will go back.
Josh Lyman
Lovely visit last night to Mardrina. We had already been to La Patroncita (their sister restaurant) and were excited to see how this new establishment compared. Generally I think they offer very similar experiences with a few differences. Atmosphere wise I would say Mardrina feels like a more formal option. If La Patroncita is where you go for date night, this is where you might want to take your parents. The decor is slightly more elevated and a little less casual with the seating choice and just general better light throughout the restaurant. I say this not as a knock, as the decor is lovely and warm, it just creates a different atmosphere. I would say it’s a great option for small groups or folks looking to sit at the bar. Everything I had tasted fresh and had rich flavor. Started the meal with two flavored margaritas which were both delicious. Just the right amount of flavoring that still allowed you to taste the tequila but actually tasted like the fruit in question. For mains we wound up with the enchiladas and the carne asada. Both were delicious and had a bunch of flavor. Portions were solid, not quite the huge platters you see from a classic tex-mex spot but still solid. Everything felt like it was made with love and I liked the plate selection as well. Service was also great and our host was warm and personable. All in this feels like a great addition to the neighborhood and a nice counterpart to La Patroncita.
Amy Casselman
Madrina Cocina is new to the neighborhood and a vibrant, fresh and very cool addition for Mexican inspired dining. The space is colorful, has cool lighting and space in between tables for an intimate dining experience. The bar space has a sexy curve and a great spot for dining too. We started with an appetizer of fresh crunchy chips, salsa and avocado. The chips must be made in house because they were light, airy and the perfect crunch. We ordered the Mole Con Pollo, Quesabirria and Cochinita Pibil. Each dish had its own flavor profile...the Mole was rich and delicious and the handmade tortillas were the perfect compliment. The Quesabirria was stuffed with moist and tender shredded beef with a crispy fried tortilla and a side of consume. A really nice addition for the dish. We all had a margarita - spicy with just the right amount of spicy salt on the rim. A great addition to downtown dining! A special shout-out to Our server Belen!! She was personable, attentive and improved our dining experience!
joshua lane
Was very excited to try this new spot out. The exterior mural is beautiful and the inside is GORGEOUS!! Was a little empty but it is super new so that makes sense. The service was great very kind and friendly and attentive never an empty water cup which shows they are paying attention. We got guac which was good nothing mind blowing the chips were nice and thick and house made. Elote was next which was again good but nothing amazing it wasn't very hot temperature wise and needed some char and also maybe some hot sauce it was kinda basic just mayo tajin and a little cotija. For entree two of us ordered the quesabirria which was very tasty but a little soggy and greasy. And I ordered the carne asada plate which was very underwhelming the steak was a tinyyyy portion and overcooked. There honestly should have been double the amount of meat for what they have it priced at. Then the tiny almost sauce cup portion of beans were basic and the tiny scoop of rice had little overcooked crunchy bits in it and wasn't very tasty either. The tortillas were delicious and homemade. And lastly usually a carne plate priced over $30 would come with sour cream or guac or salsa something to complete the little tacos but they were just bland and dry steak, green onion, and grilled jalapeño and then nothing else to put on it. Just seemed kinda incomplete. Also just a tip for the business you guys need a sign that stands out more because it's kind of hard to see the restaurant name within the mural and you also need some brighter decals on the windows and more of an obvious open appearance whenever I drive by during the daytime the curtains are drawn and it's hard to tell that the place is even open. I work in the neighborhood and I'm very excited to see this spot open up and with just a little bit of adjusting I think this could be a great place to eat.
Paldi Homes (Merin Paldi)
Well this is a fantastic experience all around! Atmosphere is on point with decor and ambiance that is inviting. Customer service is top notch with knowledgeable and thoughtful servers. The bar is great and drinks were fabulous. Chips and guac to start and the chips are delicious and a meal in and of themselves. Now I love a good chip and dip but these chips are amazing! Next came the food and WOW! The taste and the flavors are amazing and exciting! Not overwhelming but enjoyable and wanting people to take the next bite! We loved our evening and we know you will too. Close to Providence Park for a meal before a game or while walking in the park blocks. Don’t miss Madrina!!
