El Grillo is a Mexican restaurant located in downtown Portland. Ever since middle school, people have been telling me that I need to check this place out. I finally wandered in a few weeks back. Unlike your average Muchos Gracias, this one has a legendary strip club attached at the hip. Is it any wonder that this is my new favorite restaurant?

Coke is served in a can, the prices are reasonable, lengua (AKA tongue) is on the menu and mural of a grasshopper in a rowboat hangs over '70s paneling. If you need to use the bathroom, you'll have to go through Mary's Club, the bar next door. A red door separates the two and every time it opens, a heavy cloud of cigarette smoke and throbbing Z100 beats pour into the room. MC carries the Benecio del Toro seal of approval, which automatically carries over to El Grillo. During the filming of The Hunted, he allegedly spent a good deal of time and $$$ there. Panchos could never brag about that.

Last month, I went to New York. On my first visit to El Grillo, I was hit up for change more times than I was during a week of wandering around Manhattan. Sure, it was all by the same guy, but that should count for something. Once at the door, once while eating and once on the way out. I think this is neat. ¿Soy americano blanco estúpido? Estoy sí.