Baja-style taco spot on the menu for Portland's Canal Plaza

Peter Van Allen Taco A Go Go is slated to open this summer on Canal Plaza in a spot formerly occupied by Copper Branch.

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By Ann Fisher

A margarita toast may be in order following the news that a new Baja-style restaurant is coming to Canal Plaza in Portland this summer.

Taco A Go Go has signed a 10-year lease with East Brown Cow to move into the 1,350-square-foot space formerly occupied by vegan eatery Copper Branch. The deal was originally reported in the March 23 Mainebiz Real Estate Insider.

The lease was brokered by Joe Malone and Jennifer Small of Malone Commercial Brokers.

East Brown Cow has owned and managed Zero Canal Plaza since it was completed in 2017, and developers say the latest addition is in keeping with the larger vision for revitalizing the Canal Plaza block.

The opening of Taco A Go Go goes hand in glove with the recent announcement that East Brown Cow and Malone Commercial Brokers are also looking to lease ground-floor retail space in adjacent One Canal Plaza. One Canal is now under development through a $10 million-plus capital improvement investment and the work of internationally renowned architect, Moshe Safdie.

Taco A Go Go is the newest restaurant from the owners of several of Portland’s other culinary establishments, including Nosh, CBG, Bramhall, Paper Tiger, Roma, and the upcoming Continental Restaurant.

Inspired by the coastal cuisine of the Baja California peninsula, Taco A Go Go promises to offer "a fresh dining experience" with locally sourced ingredients. The fast-casual taco spot will have a tequila-focused cocktail program alongside its menu of tacos, tortas and rotating specials.

"Taco A Go Go combines distinctive recipes from the West Coast with local ingredients from the East Coast,” said Mike Fraser, owner of Taco A Go Go. “Our surfer-inspired restaurant will offer a fun, vibrant twist on the city's culinary scene.

The new downtown eatery is scheduled to open this summer from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and menus and additional information will be made available in the coming weeks.

Taco A Go Go is moving into a unique building with an eye-catching exterior where Copper Branch opened in December 2019 and closed in November 2022.

The building was designed with restaurant or retail tenants in mind, with an open-concept interior and floor-to-ceiling windows. Ideally situated in a high-traffic, high-visibility area between Portland’s downtown and the historic Old Port, Zero Canal Plaza leverages its proximity to and foot traffic from the busy office buildings in Canal Plaza.

"We are thrilled to welcome Taco A Go Go to Zero Canal Plaza," said Tim Soley, president and CEO of East Brown Cow. "Since the enhancement of the Canal Plaza Block, East Brown Cow has worked to curate an active, dynamic destination through the careful selection of our tenants. We believe Taco A Go Go’s presence will add to the vibrancy of the Canal Plaza block and will soon become a popular dining destination for locals and visitors alike."

East Brown Cow and its affiliates comprise a real estate management, investment, and development firm based in Portland's historic Old Port district. Since its establishment over 30 years ago, East Brown Cow’s portfolio has grown to more than 20 assets in the greater Portland area, including over a million square feet of mixed-use office, retail, garage, and hospitality assets.