Authentic Mexican cuisine
Tacho’s DJ stocks variety of music styles, videos & more

by KT

Tacho’s Mexican Restaurant, 18901 E. Burnside in Gresham, houses a family-style dining room, a comfortable full-service lounge with a lunch and dinner menu. An upstairs area is provided for various multi-language events, such as Caribbean Nights. Tacho’s features authentic Mexican dishes, prepared and served to you hot; this is no fast-food place!

DJ/KJ Leo de la Cerda
(Photo by KT)

Be careful when you order the Mexican salad. If you want a dinner salad, be specific, because the Mexican salad is a whole meal! Heaped on the plate will be a bed of lettuce, avocados, olives, tomatoes, green onions, jack cheese, egg, bacon, all overlaid with thick chunks of grilled chicken.

The Carne Azada you might recognize: It’s a slice of skirt steak cooked over charcoal and served with guacamole, pico de gallo, broiled green onions and tortillas. The Chili Colorado (red sauce) is made with beef; and the Chili Verde (green sauce) is made with pork.

Daily lunch specials are available Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., as well as appetizers, wines, “after-dinner coffees” and postres (desserts) including deep fried ice-cream.

One thing you rarely see is the back page of the menu. All the Mexican names of dishes are explained in English, so you can make your best decisions.

One interesting menu item is the Tacho’s special crab burrito, topped with mushroom sauce, avocados, tomatoes and sour cream, served with rice and beans. Another Mexican dish you may not have yet encountered is Tacho’s tamale. It’s seasoned meat and sauce, wrapped in corn meal, steamed in a corn husk and topped with chili sauce.

The lounge is decorated with murals of Mexican scenes, traditional flowers and more. The Karaoke and dance floor are located at one end of the room, with black lights and a digital light show.

KJ Leo de la Cerda plays various popular music videos between Karaoke songs. He’s worked as a DJ for 25 years, with the latest six months at Tacho’s. He is personable, professional and hip. He stocks a variety of music styles, English and Spanish languages. The Karaoke song collection tends to feature more pop than hard rock and some country tunes as well. De la Cerda moves around the room, talks to people, finds out what they like and makes a point of playing music that the people “seem to be most interested in.”

This writer, PE&D Editor Bonnie Carter and friend Geraldine felt very well-tended by the service staff. The food was excellent with generous portions.

After that, this writer had time to sing one song and vouch for the quality of the sound system. De la Cerda and his set-up make it easy for singers and listeners.

While some people might like to sit closer to the bar than the Karaoke stage, Geraldine stayed on after dinner to watch a video that told a beautiful story of a young woman who has a new baby, an upbeat theme. Feel free to request a video from De la Cerda if you know of a certain one you might like.

Tacho’s is consistently clean, secure, well-attended and attractive. Both the dining room and the lounge feature beautiful water fountains that reach almost to the ceiling. Various vending machines are available at the entrance. In another language, Tacho’s has bastante food, entertainment and comfort, mas de que ustedes requiren. In any language, come and see! (See ad this issue for more information.)