S B

This place is always poppin! Good food, good atmosphere & live music! I went this past weekend to pick up a order that I called in. I was disappointed this visit. At the front desk, I waited without being acknowledged for about three minutes while two staff men were having a heated conversation back & forth in ffont of me, about a customer who sat down at a table without reservations. I finally interrupted & announced I was there to pick up an order. They went right back to their discussion as I patiently waited. Another staff person joined the conversation. I'm still waiting. I say again, I there for a phone pick up order. A staff man replied "yeah, yeah yeah!" Proceeds to continue in his conversation!! I interject again & say, the purpose in a phone order is to have the food ready when one arrives. One man say oh, ok let me check. he brings my food rings me up as he is still engaged in a full conversation with the men. I get my order get to the car to check it , it was wrong!! Come on!!! El Portal your customer service is slipping!! For this, I rate them low! Good food & service go hand in hand. The left hand was slipping on the right hand here!

Joshua

Visited El Portal Restaurant in Pasadena, and it turned out to be a solid spot for Mexican food. We had a table of seven, and I was impressed with how generous they were with the chips and salsa. Honestly, I filled up on them a little too much — probably more a reflection of my own lack of self-control than anything else. The salsa was fresh, flavorful, and hard to stop eating. They also had live music, which created a lively atmosphere. It was great to see locals dancing and enjoying themselves, even if the music style wasn’t exactly my personal favorite. We sat outside on the patio, and while the entertainment might not have been my taste, it definitely added to the restaurant’s vibrant energy. When it comes to the food, the enchiladas were a standout, packed with flavor and served with rice and beans that were just right. I paired my meal with a Modelo, which hit the spot perfectly. Overall, good food, lively vibes, and a place I’d definitely recommend if you’re in Pasadena and craving authentic Mexican flavors.

Eli T

First time. Decided to try for lunch since the tempura restaurant waitlist was too long and we were hungry. This restaurant is large and had plenty of seating, and it was recommended previously by two friends. I wanted to try Yucatán Trio but ended up getting the holiday special of seafood enchiladas with crab and shrimp, which I enjoyed very much. Came with rice and salad that was ok as a complement to the enchiladas but otherwise could’ve been more flavorful or interesting. My older kids got the chicken mole which was pretty good and a chicken tamale and taco meal thet was ok. Horchata was pricey for $6 and did not come with free refills. Waitress asked my son if he wanted guacamole to go with the chips which he did because he probably thought it was complementary, but I had to clarify the cost ($10 for a small bowl), so I had to decline. Thought food was a bit overpriced (about $30 per person). It was good but not the best value. However we did have leftovers since portions large. To be fair I’m in general having a hard time adjusting to the higher costs of eating out these days. Part of cost is likely location and I would go back to try in dinner atmosphere that probably is more lively. I would suggest that they offer a more budget friendly lunch special menu with smaller portions to get more customers during slower periods.

LeeLee

The service was good but I don’t think the food was all that great. The soft tacos of carne asada- corn tortillas were great but the pork filling had a weird spongy texture and was too salty for my preference. The chicken avocado salad was great, that’s the one exception. The ambiance is lovely with dining outdoors and live performance by a mariachi band. We asked for separate checks and it all came in one bill. Server was very busy running around.

Eletta Bonfanti

El Portal has long been a go-to spot for authentic and flavorful Mexican cuisine. Their outdoor seating and refreshing margaritas create a delightful ambiance. It's rare to find a dish that disappoints. However, our recent visit was a departure from the usual high standards. While the atmosphere remained charming, the food fell short of our expectations. We hope this was an isolated incident and that El Portal will soon return to its former glory.

Rich AMeN Gill

Location:Good, Parking: Okay, Service: Decent, Price for food received: Average for the area. Overall: First time try and it was nice, not very busy so getting a seat was quick. The meal came hot and in a decent time to table. The servers did check on us, which I did like . I would go back and try another dish to get a better idea. But right now. 3.5 stars...

+5

ailene ramirez

Restaurant was truly charming, it’s set in an out of the way alley, has parking available. There is inside & outside seating, decor is very nice. The food on the other hand was not charming nor was it delicious. The presentation on the plates was deceiving, I was so excited about it. All Mexican restaurants have rice & beans, that should not be a problem… but theirs was! Rice had no flavor, beans were heaped with way too much cheese. My Steak picado had a tomato sauce taste, no spices to add any excitement. All in all, 2 dinners orders, 1 guacamole & 2 ice teas = $96.00. Not returning this year.

Jen Sanchez

This place had a lot of potential. Great atmosphere, perfect location (right across from Pasadena Playhouse), and a diverse menu of foods from Mexico and the Yucatán. The food was just a little bland, and the margaritas tasted like juice. Nice staff tho, and it is a visually appealing location in a nice area.

+1

Miss HD

Atphomshere is the only thing going for this restaurant. Outdoor patio is cute and inviting. However, food is so mediocre. Seasoning to me tasted like frozen food defrosted. Ceviche was minced way too much. I can barely taste the shrimp. Let's talk about the service. The food came out pretty fast... probably because it was pre-made and defrosted. The check took FOREVER to come. Server either went on break without saying anything, or she just simply forgot. We eventually went to the front to pay for our check.

Sean Mark

This place used to be a gem 20 years ago, but a lot has changed. They’ve expanded from just a few small outdoor tables to what looks like seating for nearly a hundred people outside, and somewhere along the way the quality disappeared. We ordered a margarita that never arrived. The asada was requested well-done and came out completely pink inside; they took it back, but it shouldn’t have been served that way to begin with. The garlic shrimp plate was awful – it tasted off and looked like it had been microwaved. My spouse asked for salt and pepper, and even that never showed up. Sadly, the food and service have hit rock bottom. It’s safe to say this was our last visit. Thank you for the good years in the past, but we won’t be returning.

Adam T

I received a terrible service in this restaurant. The waitress was a rude Hispanic and barely could speak English. Their salsa is served in tiny cups and when asked for another salsa I noticed a behavioral misconduct by the waitress. The manager was even more terrible. Never recommend this place to anyone. This is by far the worst restaurant in the entire US.