Nelson's Taqueria Brings Birria, Margaritas and a Warm Welcome to the Whiteaker
At the corner of 4th and Blair, Nelson's Taqueria is serving up street tacos, cocktails and a philosophy built on treating every guest like a friend.
A Corner Spot That Feels Like Home
Nelson's Taqueria sits at the corner of 4th and Blair in Eugene's Whiteaker neighborhood, operating as a restaurant, bar and food truck all at once. The business was built around a straightforward idea: that the people who walk through the door aren't customers so much as friends, and that a good meal tastes better when the person serving it actually wants to know how your day is going.
Tacos, Cocktails and the Space Between
The menu centers on birria tacos and street tacos, with a cocktail list that stretches to more than 19 varieties of margaritas. The goal, as the team puts it, is to stay rooted in authentic Mexican drinks while making the menu feel relevant to the Whiteaker and the broader Eugene community. Current specials have included a cucumber jalapeño margarita and a cucumber mojito.
“For me, it's not a customer, it's a friend. I want to know how your day is going.”
Nelson Lopez, Nelson's Taqueria
Why Eugene, Why the Whiteaker
Nelson Lopez speaks about Eugene with genuine affection. Hendricks Park comes up as a favorite spot, a place he visits for hiking with his dogs, and he describes the city itself as friendly, a little goofy and entirely his kind of place. That feeling of belonging seems to have shaped what Nelson's Taqueria became.