Cha Cha Cha (restaurant) explained

Cha Cha Cha
Current-Owner:Javier Hurtado
Chef:Javier Hurtado
Food-Type:Mexican
City:Portland
County:Multnomah
State:Oregon
Zip:-->
Country:United States
Other-Label:-->

Cha Cha Cha Mexican Taqueria (often simply Cha Cha Cha, or sometimes Cha! Cha! Cha!) is a chain of Mexican restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Chef and owner Javier Hurtado opened the first restaurant in 2001. There were nine locations, as of 2014. The menu includes traditional Mexican food such as burritos, enchilada, tacos, tamales, and margaritas. Cha Cha Cha is family-friendly and has garnered a positive reception.

Description

Cha Cha Cha is a chain of Mexican restaurants in Portland, Oregon. The menu includes burritos, tacos, tamales,[1] tortas, and salads with carne asada, chicken, fish, and pork carnitas. The "wet" version of a burrito includes red enchilada sauce, guacamole, pico de Gallo, and sour cream.[2] The machada burrito has shredded beef, scrambled eggs, Spanish rice, and vegetables,[3] and Cha Cha Cha also serves a breakfast burrito.[4] The restaurant has enchiladas with Dungeness crab and a sauce of garlic and white wine; another variety has mole. The menu has also included poblanos stuffed with seafood, as well as margaritas.

History and locations

Javier Hurtado is the chef and owner.[5] [6] He opened the first Cha Cha Cha restaurant in 2001.[7] In 2003, there were three locations in downtown Portland and another planned for Southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.[8]

In 2013, the business announced plans to operate in a 1,700-square-foot space in South Waterfront's Emery building.[9] There were nine locations, as of 2014. A woman sued the business for gender discrimination in 2018.[10]

Cha Cha Cha has operated in the following neighborhoods:

Cha Cha Cha also operates at Portland International Airport, as of 2024.[12]

Hurtado converted a Cha Cha Cha restaurants he opened in 2011 into the Cintli Cantina in 2022.[13] He also operated Cha Taqueria Bar on 21st Avenue in Northwest Portland.[14] Eater Portland described Cha Taqueria Bar as "the slightly more upscale property of the Cha! Cha! Cha! local chainlet".[15]

Reception

Cha Cha Cha has garnered a positive reception and is a perennial favorite in Willamette Week annual readers' poll. The business won in the Best Burrito category in 2005,[16] 2006,[17] and 2007,[18] and received honorable mention in the Best Mexican Food category in 2015.[19] One guide book by Moon Publications recommended Cha Cha Cha for families with children.[20] Julie Lee included the chain in 1859 Oregon's Magazine 2015 list of Portland's best family restaurants and 2016 list of the city's best burritos.[21] [22] In a 2022 list of Portland's highest-rated Mexican restaurants based on Tripadvisor, Cha Cha Cha had an overall rating of 4 out of 5, based on 90 reviews. The chain scored the same in the atmosphere, food, service, and value categories.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wolf, Laurie . Food Lovers' Guide to® Portland, Oregon: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings . 2014-01-14 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1-4930-0670-0 . en.
  2. Book: Gottberg, John . Best Places: Portland, 8th Edition . Lopeman . Elizabeth . 2010-06-01 . Sasquatch Books . 978-1-57061-699-0 . en.
  3. Book: Portland - Fodor's . 2010 . Fodor's Travel Publications . 978-1-4000-0454-6 . en.
  4. Web site: 2009-03-11 . Hot Chefs, Cheap Eats . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en.
  5. Web site: Giegerich . Andy . October 8, 2013 . Cha Cha Cha's new farm, conservation measures help restaurants go all in on sustainability . 2024-07-10 . Portland Business Journal.
  6. Web site: DeJesus . Erin . 2014-05-08 . Eater Tracking . 2024-07-10 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-11-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130103936/https://pdx.eater.com/2014/5/8/6227767/eater-tracking . live .
  7. Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2022-07-12 . Chapulines and Huitlacoche Arrive in North Portland at This New Modern Mexican Cantina . 2024-07-10 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223143854/https://pdx.eater.com/2022/7/12/23205403/cintli-north-portland-mexican-restaurant-bar . live .
  8. Web site: CHA CHA CHA MEXICAN TAQUERIA . 2024-07-10 . Portland Mercury . en . 2024-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240710022947/https://www.portlandmercury.com/articles/2003/11/13/30197/cha-cha-cha--mexican-taqueria . live .
  9. Web site: Russell . Michael . 2013-11-06 . Cha Cha Cha, Greenleaf Juicing Co. opening S.W. Portland locations . 2024-07-10 . The Oregonian . en . 2022-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513212422/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2013/11/cha_cha_cha_greenleaf_juicing.html . live .
  10. Web site: 2018-11-14 . A Portland Woman Sues Cha Cha Cha Taqueria For Gender Discrimination, Alleging Years of Sexualized Taunts . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en . 2023-06-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601025529/https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2018/11/14/a-portland-woman-sues-cha-cha-cha-taqueria-for-gender-discrimination-alleging-years-of-sexualized-taunts/ . live .
  11. Web site: 2003-03-05 . Hot Chefs, Cheap Eats . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en . 2024-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240710022910/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-1807-hot-chefs-cheap-eats.html . live .
  12. Web site: Baillargeon . Zoe . 2023-07-27 . Where to Eat and Drink at Portland International Airport . 2024-07-10 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620021604/https://pdx.eater.com/23810747/best-portlandinternationalairport-pdx-food-restaurant-guide . live .
  13. Web site: Russell . Michael . 2022-07-12 . 22 new Portland restaurants to know for summer 2022 . 2024-07-10 . The Oregonian . en . 2022-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807053001/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2022/07/22-new-portland-restaurants-to-know-for-summer-2022.html . live .
  14. Web site: Russell . Michael . 2013-11-01 . Northwest Portland's Cha restaurant to become Mexico City-inspired taqueria . 2024-07-10 . The Oregonian . en . 2021-12-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207140416/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2013/11/northwest_portlands_cha_restau.html . live .
  15. Web site: DeJesus . Erin . 2013-11-01 . Revamps . 2024-07-10 . Eater Portland . en . 2024-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227031826/https://pdx.eater.com/2013/11/1/6337897/revamps . live .
  16. Web site: 2005-08-10 . READER'S POLL - YOU VOTED. WE TALLIED. . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en . 2019-07-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190718234718/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-4703-readers-poll-you-voted-we-tallied.html . live .
  17. Web site: 2006-08-09 . Best of Portland: READER'S POLL . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en . 2023-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230818160221/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-5927-best-of-portland-readers-poll.html . live .
  18. Web site: 2007-07-25 . Readers Poll . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en . 2020-11-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201113044610/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-7333-readers-poll.html . live .
  19. Web site: 2015-07-15 . Best of Portland Readers' Poll . 2024-07-10 . Willamette Week . en . 2019-01-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190106055602/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-25089-best-of-portland-readers-poll.html . live .
  20. Book: Morris, Elizabeth . Moon Oregon . Morris . Mark . Jewell . Judy . McRae . W. C. . 2007-02-26 . Avalon Publishing . 978-1-56691-930-2 . en . 2024-07-09 . 2024-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240710022909/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Moon_Oregon/-xEA_1nkxcAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Cha%20Cha%20Cha%22%20portland%20restaurant . live .
  21. Web site: 2015-11-23 . Best Family Restaurants in Portland - 1859 Magazine . 2024-07-10 . 1859 Oregon's Magazine . en-US . 2024-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240710022914/https://1859oregonmagazine.com/live/food-drink/portland-oregon-family-restaurants/ . live .
  22. Web site: 2016-01-19 . Best Burritos in Portland - 1859 Magazine . 2024-07-10 . 1859 Oregon's Magazine . en-US . 2023-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002151818/https://1859oregonmagazine.com/explore-oregon/recreation/portland-best-burritos/ . live .
  23. News: May 5, 2022 . Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Portland, Oregon, according to Tripadvisor . KOIN . July 10, 2024 . May 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517151044/https://www.koin.com/news/food/highest-rated-mexican-restaurants-in-portland-oregon-according-to-tripadvisor/ . live .

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