El Sombrero Tapatio Archives - Bridgetown Bites

June 8, 2026June 7, 2026

El Sombrero Tapatio: A Family Affair in East Portland

A version of this article about Mama Elvira and El Sombrero Tapatio entitled, “Mama Elvira’ builds loyal following” was printed in the Hollywood Star News in June 2026.

I’ve been eating at El Sombrero Tapatio since I moved to East Portland in 2019. Opened originally in 2002, it’s a mainstay of the restaurant scene in Parkrose. Mama Elvira, the matriarch of the family behind El Sombrero, is the heart and soul of the kitchen, but this restaurant is truly a team effort—relatives and close family friends all contribute to its success.

October 29, 2025January 4, 2026

SNAP Meals: Where To Eat, No Questions Asked, During the Suspension of SNAP

SNAP Meals: A cornucopia of food — Food is a human right.

Note: We are in the process of updating this SNAP meals list with the most updated offers. some restaurants have decided to pause the program since SNAP was started up again, but you never know if it’s gonna stick…

A number of restaurants, cafes, and food carts in the Portland area are providing what we are calling “SNAP Meals”: They’re stepping up and helping feed folks who will lose their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, AKA food stamps) benefits starting in November. It is heartening to see this community effort and the generosity in our local food scene. We’ve put together a list of places—50 businesses making up 84 locations, at the writing of this roundup—where people can access food to eat while SNAP benefits are unfunded starting next month.

October 7, 2025January 4, 2026

Halloween 2025 in Portland: Food and Drink

Halloween 2025 in Portland is just three and a half weeks away and our fair city is already in the swing of things as far as spooky season food and drink. Here’s our roundup for the year—we will update it throughout the month of October with new things that pop up.

June 23, 2025June 30, 2025

Fourth of July 2025 in Portland and Nearby Communities

Fourth of July 2025 is almost here! Also known as Independence Day, the Fourth of July is one of the biggest holidays of the summer, if not the year. And while it’s a major grilling, parade, and fireworks day—and a chance to relax with friends, families, and neighbors—it also commemorates something pretty significant: On this day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

March 27, 2025January 1, 2026

Easter 2025 in Portland

A vintage Easter scene with a rabbit and what looks like a gnome with the words, Sincere Easter Wishes for Easter 2025.

This year, both Easter and Orthodox Easter fall on Sunday, April 20, with Holy Week starting Sunday, April 13. It is very uncommon for the two to land on the same day. But regardless of your level of religiosity, Easter can be a sweet time: Brunch, holiday candy, wine, and feeling grateful for spring are All Good Things. After all, Easter’s spring placement has origins in Oestre/Eostre, who is goddess of spring and fertility.

Here is where you can enjoy Easter’s tasty charms in Portland