Central Oregon is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers, but it also home to some incredibly tasty happy hours, to the tune of delicious tacos, drinks, and vibrant flavors. Here are a few of our favorite spots in Central Oregon to grab a taco and kick back after a long afternoon.
Barrio (Downtown Bend)
Tucked away on Minnesota Avenue in downtown Bend, this Latin-inspired restaurant offers truly delicious tapas and cocktails for great prices during their Happy Hour (3-5 pm, Monday through Friday). I personally love the green chile Caesar salad, which elevates the traditional salad with a much welcome addition of spice. They also serve a wide variety of tacos, ranging from pork carnitas to spicy mushroom and corn, made with corn tortillas and packed with delectable fillings. As for the cocktails, you cannot go wrong with their signature margarita but unlike many other happy hours in town, they also offer both red and white sangrias, and both sangrias are super flavorful. My personal preference is the red sangria, which is not overly sweet, but is instead fruity and refreshing. The best part is that all of the mixed drinks are only $5 each, making for a very happy hour indeed.
Parrilla Grill (Westside Bend)
After hitting the slopes in the winter or climbing at Smith Rock in the blazing summer, Parrilla Grill serves as a hub for locals and visitors alike who are in the mood for good food and a laid-back atmosphere. They’re known for their wraps, burritos, and stir-fry bowls, but they also serve killer tacos. Their standard tacos range from juicy steak to vegetarian, and are priced at $2.25 each or $6.50 for three. The tacos you absolutely must sample, however, are Hefe’s Fish Tacos. Lightly breaded fish fillets sit in a flour tortilla along with fresh spinach, shredded cabbage, their creamy fish sauce and a vibrant corn salsa. The crispy fish and tangy sauce combine to create complex flavors that elevate the ordinarily humble taco. Parrilla’s happy hour runs from 4-5 pm Monday through Friday, and features select $5 burritos, along with discounted quesadillas as well as chips and dip. Simply put, it’s delicious food at delicious prices.
Hola! (Locations in Downtown Bend, The Old Mill, and Sunriver)
A staple in Central Oregon for creative Mexican and Peruvian food, Hola! also serves a mean happy hour. Monday through Friday from 3-6pm, you can get $2 off of their delectable margaritas and mojitos, $3 off of appetizers, $3 beers and $5 glasses of wine. Their appetizers include rich Nachos Cubano, Sopa de Pollo, Ceviche (two different varieties) and Empanadas Camaron. These empanadas, stuffed with shrimp, cheese, tomatoes and cilantro are served alongside sour cream, fresh guacamole and house made tomatillo sauce. Decadent and light at the same time, crispy and tender, they are the gold standard for empanadas. And did I mention they go great with a Red Cactus margarita?
