Portal Cafe

We did not stay here but we did stop by for dinner. It’s very close to all the trail heads along Portal Rd. Staff was very friendly, the food was very tasty and the price is very reasonable. Definitely would go back

We stopped there for dinner after driving 30 miles of dirt road. The staff was friendly and food was good. We enjoyed it and sat outside with our little dog. Would easily eat there again.

+1

We dined at the Portal Peak Cafe and it was simply a cut above. It’s in a very remote location, but the food is an absolute delight. They even serve impossible burgers! The backdrop against the Chiricahua mountains is beautiful, especially during sunset. A must stop for delicious, fresh food in a beautiful area.

If you want the Marriott, stay home. If you want clean, convenient, and friendly, stay here! With Wi-Fi, ice, and groceries, it's a great place to make camp when exploring Cave Creek Canyon. We had a large group on the beautiful patio and enjoyed tasty sandwiches and Mexican food. The staff members were very accommodating. Best endorsement: this is where the locals choose to have special gatherings. I've stayed here twice. I'll be back!

Food at the cafe is varied, fresh, and delicious. Highly recommended. The staff is amazing and very attentive. They have bird feeders at the outdoor seating, which is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The lodge is clean but a bit dilapidated and could use some renovation.

Food is great. The menu includes a large variety and the fresh cobbler (made daily in limited quantities) is awesome, especially when you get it a-la mod. Staff is fantastic.they help you with extras quickly. They were very helpful answering questions about the area. The restaurant was busy, but had tables available and is able to serve you in a timely manner. Eat here Support local Mom and Pops. You won't regret it. Enjoy.

We didn't go to the mountains to watch TV but it is nice to fall asleep to at night since the restaurant closes early. The food was amazing and good quality. Everybody was extremely nice as well. We had javelina outside our door in the morning. It was awesome...

My wife and I came in for a lunch right after discovering I’d punctured a tire. Not only was the food very tasty and filling and exactly what we needed after a morning of hiking and off-roading, but everyone was so nice and helpful. A local, Mose(spelling?)/Mohawk helped me plug the hole, they all told me where to head to next, they refilled the tire with air, and generally it was such a pleasant experience. My wife and I will be back there for a weekend adventure instead of just passing through and we cant wait. What a great friendly and helpful place. Can’t recommend enough. The chicken cheese green Chile burrito was phenomenal, by the way.

Not a ton of space, but its quaint and county. The food was absolutely delicious. Perfect pit stop for our day adventure. We only stopped at the restaurant and store, not the lodges.

The food is great in the entertainment is off the charts for a small town. I went to a concert here to see AC DC. It was fantastic and the people who work at the small store are the nicest folks I've ever met especially Steve they take care of all my needs. The stores that's at the beginning of rustlers Canyon. Very picturesque place with Canyons was very tall walls beautiful out Rock outcroppings and a small rain-fed Creek that is just beautiful two to three months out of the year and the nature lovers would love this place with many deer, Fox and birds. Here it is another 2 years later I went to portal had a meal out on the patio and watched a fantastic Blues Band ate and drank some of the best food had the best company dancing it was really nice there all the people in that town are just fantastic the kind of people you want to call family not the kind you fight with the kind you have fun with LOL just a bunch of great folks it doesn't get any better everything from your friends to the Views the food lodging it's all great portals the ultimate and Uncle Steve was there again took care of me he did very likable guy well if you ever want to go to a place that's just down home and makes you feel comfortable a little community of portal is where you want to go thank you portal for the welcome I get when I come to town I appreciate you thank you again

We came in right around the time the kitchen was closing, but they let us order to go! I don't know the name of the woman who helped us (black hair in a braid with a hat on). She was great and very personable as she was cleaning up for the evening. She's got great wit! There's also a mini store with lots of goodies! If you're in the area, stop by for an enjoyable experience!

One of my friends and I went on a day trip up in the Chiricahua mountains on the paved road. We left the mountains on a dirt road with this place being our next destination for food. We were not disappointed.

This cute store is the only game in town - LITERALLY! Great coffee, wonderful staff who shared their terrific birding map.

Another road trip venture at the Portal Lodge, I will return to this beautiful side of Arizona, so much beautiful scenery.

We were pleased and surprised by the meal. Wife's mushroom Swiss burger was very large and well cooked. My Rueben was also tasty with excellent corned beef. Fries were hot and good. As the only game in town, we were not expecting much. Would definitely return.

Dang good Gyros!!! Sweet and friendly service, cute restaurant & good food. Was a great experience! 10/10 would come again!

Cory Shaw

This cute store is the only game in town - LITERALLY! Great coffee, wonderful staff who shared their terrific birding map.

Pat Carver

We were pleased and surprised by the meal. Wife's mushroom Swiss burger was very large and well cooked. My Rueben was also tasty with excellent corned beef. Fries were hot and good. As the only game in town, we were not expecting much. Would definitely return.

Adeline Robinson Bihlmaier

Dang good Gyros!!! Sweet and friendly service, cute restaurant & good food. Was a great experience! 10/10 would come again!

Freddy L

Another road trip venture at the Portal Lodge, I will return to this beautiful side of Arizona, so much beautiful scenery.

This is a very nice place. The room was way better than I had expected. They were very clean and well maintained. The staff was absolutely delightful, friendly, and ready to make sure you had a most pleasant stay. The food at the cafe was great. The store was nice and charming, stocked with essentials. The people of Portal make it so warm and friendly, like small-town America of yesteryear.

Super friendly and great vibe to Portal. Had a good burger and the woman running the store / serving even brought my dog a bowl of water and a treat. If you're coming this direction throw them some business. Great to have out here.

Beautiful location. Wonderful owners/workers that took care of us even though it was a holiday for them. The room was a little strange with the mini fridge in the bathroom. We were surprised with only one bed, but it was very large, so we managed. We had the handicapped room and the bathroom door would have been a problem for someone in a wheelchair.

Absolutely the greatest customer service. Best Gyro I’ve had in the United States

Great area for birding. Food at restaurant was delicious and had a great assortment even after spending 3 days here for 7 meals.

Portal Finding a delicious, healthy restaurant in the outback is always an unexpected treat. Good food, good music, great service. Huevos rancheros from their brunch menu, trout perfectly cooked and a Greek salad with fresh greens at dinner. Authentic latte from their Italian espresso machine. Friendly servers who check back often and bring extra salsa on request and who had no problem loaning us two of their mugs to use in our room for morning coffee. When we expressed our appreciation of the musical selections playing on their sound system, the owner explained that it was a random mix of “stations“ selected by various employees over the last 16 years! This was our second visit while on a road trip in two successive years. Will we be back again? What do you think?

Beautiful restaurant and lodge! In the heart of Portal, I consider this place the Yosemite of Arizona. Great views, great food and great service. The rooms at the lodge are very well taken care of and everything is very reasonably priced. Will definitely be staying here every trip year round for the long run!!

Remarkable Surprise! Cheerful Service! Excellent Menu Choices! Fresh, Delightful Food! (served with good humor, even as we arrived only moments before closing) We Will RETURN! Thank You!

This place is absolutely fantastic! What a quaint little spot in the middle of one of the most beautiful places in Arizona! It's not just adorable, either. The food was surprisingly good, the room was comfortable, the little general store is equal parts super-convenient and nostalgia-inducing, and the people are about the nicest and hardest-working on Earth. We will definitely be back!

The food and drinks are very good, especially for an "out of the way" place. The owner and staff are very nice, service was excellent. We have eaten here 5 or 6 times, different dishes every time, all excellent!

This place is so charming! See wildlife all around you. Amazing views, clean, and quiet. This is a great value, and the people there are so warm and friendly, answered all of our questions.

We had lunch and it was unexpectedly delicious. I don't mean you wouldn't expect delicious food, I mean it so far surpassed my imagination that I'm astounded. French fries that taste so good salt would only ruin them? Who knew! And the service was 5 star, as in Zagat 5 star service. Astounded.

Great little cafe in the middle of nowhere. Highly recommended!! The Hatch green chili cheeseburgers are to die for!!

I stopped into the cafe with a couple of friends to get lunch. What a great surprise. We had a variety of sandwiches, and a hamburger. All of them were great. The service was friendly, and the whole place was very clean and well kept. I'll definitely be back when I am in the area!

Excellent service, my friend had an accident and they opened the lodge to let us stay there. Owners were super helpful and friendly.

It's a great place in the middle of nowhere. Great food, great atmosphere and great people working there! I highly recommend. They even have live music sometimes. You can't beat it!

A wonderful stay! There was music and it was full of people, most live in Portal, eating and drinking and having a good time. They were so welcoming to "outsiders"! Nice folks in the area. Will go back!

Goldie Wonder

This place is so charming! See wildlife all around you. Amazing views, clean, and quiet. This is a great value, and the people there are so warm and friendly, answered all of our questions.

G H

Remarkable Surprise! Cheerful Service! Excellent Menu Choices! Fresh, Delightful Food! (served with good humor, even as we arrived only moments before closing) We Will RETURN! Thank You!

Matt Greenwade

Beautiful restaurant and lodge! In the heart of Portal, I consider this place the Yosemite of Arizona. Great views, great food and great service. The rooms at the lodge are very well taken care of and everything is very reasonably priced. Will definitely be staying here every trip year round for the long run!!

Tami Haya

Excellent service, my friend had an accident and they opened the lodge to let us stay there. Owners were super helpful and friendly.

Kim Pierce

Absolutely the greatest customer service. Best Gyro I’ve had in the United States

Walter Finn

The food and drinks are very good, especially for an "out of the way" place. The owner and staff are very nice, service was excellent. We have eaten here 5 or 6 times, different dishes every time, all excellent!

Jen Ault

This place is absolutely fantastic! What a quaint little spot in the middle of one of the most beautiful places in Arizona! It's not just adorable, either. The food was surprisingly good, the room was comfortable, the little general store is equal parts super-convenient and nostalgia-inducing, and the people are about the nicest and hardest-working on Earth. We will definitely be back!

Belle Moss

We had lunch and it was unexpectedly delicious. I don't mean you wouldn't expect delicious food, I mean it so far surpassed my imagination that I'm astounded. French fries that taste so good salt would only ruin them? Who knew! And the service was 5 star, as in Zagat 5 star service. Astounded.

Richard C Bull Jr. “Rick” NBD Safety Division

It's really the only local or closest place to go out and eat. They have a Band every now and then. Staff is friendly and cool.

Corinne Farinsky

It's a great place in the middle of nowhere. Great food, great atmosphere and great people working there! I highly recommend. They even have live music sometimes. You can't beat it!

AuntBabs99

Great area for birding. Food at restaurant was delicious and had a great assortment even after spending 3 days here for 7 meals.

D S.

I stopped into the cafe with a couple of friends to get lunch. What a great surprise. We had a variety of sandwiches, and a hamburger. All of them were great. The service was friendly, and the whole place was very clean and well kept. I'll definitely be back when I am in the area!

sonny rubey

A wonderful stay! There was music and it was full of people, most live in Portal, eating and drinking and having a good time. They were so welcoming to "outsiders"! Nice folks in the area. Will go back!

Letha Hansen

Beautiful location. Wonderful owners/workers that took care of us even though it was a holiday for them. The room was a little strange with the mini fridge in the bathroom. We were surprised with only one bed, but it was very large, so we managed. We had the handicapped room and the bathroom door would have been a problem for someone in a wheelchair.

Stopped here for some quick snacks while traveling. The girl at the cashier's post was super friendly and answered all of our questions. She recommended we try these blueberry or cherry cobblers that they make on site. Got the blueberry one and it was really good. They didn't have a lot of snack options at the time I was there but maybe they were waiting for a shipment to come (this is the only reason I gave 4 stars). There is an attached small dinner. So if wanting something more than snacks there is that option.

This area doesn't have many choices when it comes to dining, but the food was actually good. Their onion rings were super good, and I can see myself ordering it alone for an afternoon snack! 🤤

Portal Peak Cafe was very busy for lunch when we stopped in, I think every table was full in both the front and the back dining rooms. The waitress was very efficient. The food was much better than I expected for a store cafe. I had the chicken wrap with a very small portion of sweet potato fries for an extra $2.50, my boyfriend had the Reuben, both were ok.

+2

Having worked in kitchens in one form or another most my life I have to say I appreciate a place that gets the simple things right. Today, like every day I've visited your restaurant, I had one of the best bacon cheeseburgers I've ever had. Everything else I've been able to try has been of the same value and quality. The only small gripe is fountain drink prices, but I will miss your bacon cheeseburgers.

Enjoyed my two night stay while hiking in the area. Rooms are simple but get the job done. Nice having the cafe on site. The young lady that was running the place was pleasant and competent. Excellent location if ur visiting the canyon..

We stayed here for a wedding that was located at the Painted Pony Resort. It was great for the essentials......sleeping and showering. No TV, iron, or hair dryer so definitely need to bring those if needed. The view was great, Cafe had good food but didn't open til 10a.

Great hang out for locals and tourists coming to hike, bird, or camp. It’s actually the only and closest place to the Cave Creek area. They have both outdoor and indoor seating with music and other venues on the weekends. We had the pizza and trout which was reasonably priced and tasty.

Maria Thi Mai

Great hang out for locals and tourists coming to hike, bird, or camp. It’s actually the only and closest place to the Cave Creek area. They have both outdoor and indoor seating with music and other venues on the weekends. We had the pizza and trout which was reasonably priced and tasty.

They forgot the coffee pot in the room, just the coffee maker was present. So we were very sad not to have coffee and the restaurant didn’t open until 10am. Plus no WiFi password in the room, so we were not able to talk to our son or the friend watching him that night, but all worked out well for a romantic date night.

While we did not stay at the lodge, we did shop at the store and ate a meal at the cafe. The store has a decent selection of stuff you'd need when camping and the food and service at the cafe were excellent. We appreciated the free WiFi. Friendly staff.

Recently camped for several days at Sunny Flat and we decided to have lunch here after walking our dogs. I had the carne asada burrito and my wife had the BLT. Both good choices. My wife said the BLT and fries were not up to their usual high standards. My burrito was very good. However, we have eaten here before and lunch was great. Staff was friendly and courteous. Location is pure awesomeness.

Scott Grunder

Recently camped for several days at Sunny Flat and we decided to have lunch here after walking our dogs. I had the carne asada burrito and my wife had the BLT. Both good choices. My wife said the BLT and fries were not up to their usual high standards. My burrito was very good. However, we have eaten here before and lunch was great. Staff was friendly and courteous. Location is pure awesomeness.

The area itself is gorgeous, but the lodge itself needs an update. Rooms are $85 to $95 a night and there is no cell reception unless you're on Verizon. The bathroom doesn't have a sink, so after doing your business you must walk outside of the room to wash your hands. During covid they don't clean or take out the trash or provide anything, so if you're lucky you might be able to wave someone down, but be warned because they don't open until 10:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM. Because of covid again they stock nothing or clean the rooms. The lamp between our beds didn't work and there was an exposed outlet which wasn't exactly safe. Plus the lock for the door was questionable and you had a chain to feel secure. We went there for the wildlife and were super excited to see the Lesser Long-nosed Bats eating from the Hummingbird feeders, but that was short-lived because they "go through 12lbs of sugar a week" so they didn't refill the feeders. Okay great. You'll fill them in the day so we can see the hummers right?! Wrong. They never refilled the feeders so we never saw any hummingbirds and had to go elsewhere if we wanted to. Go to Bob Chapman's place in Paradise to see them if that's your thing. 25yrs ago hummingbirds were everywhere. All different types and it was an amazing experience. Today, not so much. The food is pretty good at the Restaurant next door, but very expensive. All in all it was a fair experience, but there are other lodges and cottages in the area. Go there instead.

When we wanted to take a break from camp food we loved grabbing a burger at Portal Peak Lodge Store & Cafe! The waitress was super friendly and helpful, and the burger itself was delicious. It was the perfect place to refuel after a morning of bird watching – so convenient to have both indoor and outdoor seating, letting you enjoy the views while you eat. Plus if you are a birder there are a few areas near by that you can sit and watch birds. Highly recommend!

We normally love this place but there’s no way 4 meals and with a couple drinks would come out to be $250 (a tip would have made it $300). Even at full exaggerated price for everything I only get $170. I believe we were ripped off so BEWARE OF THIS PLACE !

Trying not to be negative but I can't really recommend this place. I was told my food would take about 5 minutes. When I got my burger, it was cold and the bottom bun was falling apart. I mentioned that we had waited about 30 minutes at the counter and I was told 'no, it's still hot, I can feel it'. I asked for a new bottom bun, which I was provided. The cashier didn't seem particularly interested in apologizing for the food being cold or old. The burger wasn't that great anyway.

This place was so awful I cannot understand how it’s still in business except that there’s literally no other alternative. It took over an hour for us to get a standard burger and burrito, no special requests whatsoever, and nobody else in front of us in line - nobody else was sitting when we got there. Once the food got to us it was freezing cold. I am wondering if the waitress took a nap or something? What could possibly cause this kind of service, no idea besides maybe she was the cook, the waitress, and the front of the hotel all at once? No idea. But it sucked big time and the food sucked. I’ll be packing in my food for any future trips. This place sucks. Edit: I forgot to mention that the food, once reheated in the microwave of course, was awful. Bland and unseasoned, not really edible although to be fair - my dog did eat it but she also eats random animal poops so, that isn’t a huge compliment from her.