When Kevin Orona and his husband German Olivas moved from Odessa, Texas to Portland in 2020, they soon realized something was missing in their kitchens. Growing up Mexican American meant handmade tortillas were staples in their homes, and while they had plenty of access to fresh corn tortillas in Portland—Three Sisters Nixtamal being a favorite—they couldn’t find the flour versions they wanted without a road trip. 

“We started feeling homesick over the lack of access to fresh flour tortillas,” Orona says. 

But things are about to change for those who are homesick for flour tortillas. On September 15, which is Mexican Independence Day, Orona and Olivas will open Hecho de Mano Tortilleria in Sellwood, selling flour tortillas made by hand, as the shop’s name suggests. 

Orona says he wants to keep things as affordable as possible so that people can drop in and grab something easy to make for lunch or dinner and feel good about what they’re eating. The market will also serve grab-and-go items to accompany the tortillas, like shredded beef, beans, rice, and potatoes with chiles. At opening, a family meal pack comes with tortillas, beans, rice, papas con chile, carne desebrada, and four agua frescas for $55. Along with the regular and taco-sized tortillas, they plan on adding red and green chile tortillas down the line, as well as specials like a very non-vegan beef tallow version.

Before opening their own tortilleria, Olivas and Orona simply made their own. “Being Mexican kids from Texas, we throw a lot of parties and have always been very social, community-focused people,” Orona says. The couple would make tortillas for Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day parties for family, friends, and neighbors, anywhere between a few dozen to hundreds at a time. When people started asking where they could get them “on the black market,” Orona and Olivas decided it would be best to offer them on the “regular market” instead.

Like any independent purveyor with an exciting food idea in Portland, they took it to the farmers market. Starting in May of 2026, they started selling their vegan, preservative-free tortillas at the Sellwood and Woodstock Farmers markets. Ingredients are simple enough: whole wheat flour from Bob’s Red Mill, water, salt, and cane shortening. Soon they were looking for a permanent space, and found a shop across the street from where Orona worked at Away Days Brewing in the Sellwood-Moreland area. 

Down the line, Olivas and Orona plan on adding hot, ready to eat food. Bean and cheese burritos for $1 are on the table, but Orona jokes that the concept has been a hot debate between him and his business-minded husband. 

The pair also plan to expand their reach beyond the store itself. They’ve been talking with local markets about carrying the tortillas, which last for a week or more on the shelf, up to a month in the fridge, and even longer frozen, despite the lack of preservatives. They’re also hoping to show up on menus at barbecue spots and Mexican restaurants. 

Hecho De Mano will open at 4270 SE Milwaukie on Sept 15. Hours are Thursdays and Fridays noon-7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-6 pm; for more info, check out hechodemanotortillas.com or @hechodemano.pdx.