Esparza's Tex Mex Cafe, or simply Esparza's, was a Tex-Mex restaurant in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Opened by Martha and Joe Esparza in 1990, the restaurant operated for more than 24 years before closing in January 2014. Its unusual menu included buffalo tostadas, ground ostrich and nopalitos, several varieties of tongue, beef brisket, and more traditional options such as enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos and tamales. Esparza's was one of Portland's most popular restaurants during the 1990s and was named "Restaurant of the Year" by The Oregonian in 1992.Description and historyEsparza's, located at the intersection of SE 28th Avenue and SE Ankeny Street in Portland's Buckman neighborhood, served Tex-Mex cuisine. Opening in 1990, it became one of Portland's most popular restaurants. The Portland Mercury described Esparza's as a "quaint little cafe" with "interesting" menu options, including buffalo tostadas, ground ostrich and nopalitos (cactus deep-fried in cornmeal batter). It served several varieties of tongue, including beef, buffalo, calf, lamb, pork and venison. The menu also included beef brisket ("Smiley Burnette") and more traditional options such as enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos and tamales, with most entrees ranging from $9–11. The most expensive entree on the menu cost $12.95, making Esparza's known for its reasonable pricing.
