PORTLAND, Ore. — Francisca and Anselmo De Leon were long-standing figures in Portland’s restaurant scene.
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The couple served Portlanders at their restaurant Salsa Locas for over two decades. Their youngest daughter, Lucy De Leon, now operates their business and her own.
La Patroncita opened its doors on Southeast Belmont Street a month ago. The restaurant has quickly gained popularity because of its authentic Mexican dishes and pink interior.
“With La Patroncita, it’s a different vibe,” De Leon said. “The looks are different. It’s not your regular taqueria.”
De Leon started working at her parents’ restaurant in college. Her goal back then is the same today – to bring her family’s food to more people.
While working at her parents’ restaurant, she would go to farmers’ markets and sell her family’s food. She did this every Saturday for eight years to “get our food known out there.”
Eventually, Portland Public Schools started serving her family’s cooking for lunch. For De Leon, this is an opportunity to expand children’s palettes, and most importantly, give Latino children a taste of home.
“That kind of food was never served when I went to school,” she said.
Now, she uses her platform as a Latina business owner to inspire young women.
“It’s possible for all of us,” she said.
Even her restaurant promotes a positive message. In English, La Patroncita translates to “the little girl boss.”
“My mother was the patrona, which means the big boss,” she said. “So, I’m the younger version of her. My parents are no longer in the business, and so this to keep going with the recipes and our traditions.”
La Patroncita boasts a menu of ceviche, enchiladas, tacos, cocktails and so much more.
De Leon still has one more surprise: “We make our tortillas fresh by hand and they’re pink,” she said. “We also have our logo on it, which is pretty cute.”
De Leon has infused every aspect of herself into La Patroncita. Her feminine and chic personal style mixed with the care she puts into her cooking leads to a reimagined way of enjoying Mexican cuisine. It’s safe to say La Patroncita is well on its way to becoming a Portland staple.
Visit La Patroncita at 2832 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR 97214 from Tuesday to Saturday between 4 p.m.-10 p.m.
