El Portal Restaurant

(626) 795-8553

695 E Green St
Pasadena, CA 91101 34.14451 -118.136128

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Neighborhood: South Pasadena

ELPORTALRESTAURANT.COM

Hours:

Monday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Price:

$

Last updated 10.14.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Outdoor Dining, Theater District Dining, Group Dining, Live Music, Dine At The Bar

Cuisine:

Mexican

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About El Portal Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Natural light and exposed-brick walls dotted with vibrant paintings create a cozy, unpretentious atmosphere. Complement the potent Cadillac margaritas with the indulgent appetizer platter--an assortment of chicken and pork taquitos and flautas, quesadillas and nachos. Rich achiote-based sauces and marinades break from the chili heat of most Mexican menus. Soft flour tortillas accompany marinated pork cochinita pibil, and enchiladas de Jaiba are stuffed with crab and enveloped in cream sauce.

Editor's Tips

Parking:
Two-hour parking is available in the main lot, with validation. In the Green Street lot across the road, there's additional free, unlimited parking, Thursday through Sunday evenings.
The Extras:
Just in front of the main restaurant is Yahaira's Cafe, offering a menu of tortas, salads, soups, quesadillas and other light Mexican breakfast and lunch fare.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “There are a lot of places that have great food but this place also provides the atmosphere and service.”
  2. “It was a good experience of location and decor inside a courtyard, but not too fond of the food.”
  3. “With a romantic patio - covered with umbrella's during the day and with heat lamps at night to keep you nice and toasty - it makes a Friday night or any night memorable.”
  4. “lovely patio and yummy food that's not too pricey if you factor in the relaxing atmosphere.”
  5. “Come on in here and have a drink or two along with some fun with the friendly people that work there.”
  6. “Inside, there's a fireplace that makes the restaurant a good place to huddle over a cozy meal when the wind blows and rain falls.”
  7. “Excellent taquilla selection fun environment on the weekends!”
  8. “Greatest hideaway in the city and picture perfect ambience for what it is.”
drinks
81.4799976348877% positive
  1. “The food (and drinks) are a little pricey, but the patio is a great place to have lunch and soak up a margarita or two.”
  2. “The "old" restaurant had good food a very good drinks.”
  3. “The food is great and the drinks and not watered down, their just right.”
  4. “The drinks there are good too.”
  5. “The drinks are tasty and the service is awsome.”
  6. “The waitstaff was attentive and kept our drinks and chips filled.”
  7. “The Margarita's are proably one of the best drinks they have there, and the food is good Mexican cuisine.”
  8. “Come on in here and have a drink or two along with some fun with the friendly people that work there.”
  9. “Food is not very good and the drinks are even worse, cheap alcohol and not very much of it.”
food quality
94.04999732971191% positive
  1. “The best MEXICAN food in Pasadena”
  2. “The drinks are tasty and the service is awsome.”
  3. “The food (and drinks) are a little pricey, but the patio is a great place to have lunch and soak up a margarita or two.”
  4. “It was a good experience of location and decor inside a courtyard, but not too fond of the food.”
  5. “El Portal can always be counted on for great Mexican food and wonderful service!”
  6. “But the food is good and the margaritas are tasty.”
  7. “The chicken burrito is a good choice if you're really hungry, and the service has been good each time I've eaten there.”
  8. “Great food, great people, and a wide selection of tequila.”
  9. “They always had great service and good food.”
  10. “The salsa is fresh and the service is a 9.”
  11. “The way the paintings on the walls are displayed and the smell of good tasting mexican food fresh off the grill.”
  12. “The slas is great and the chips are nice and fresh.”
  13. “the food is great.”
  14. “The Pork Quesadillas are the best in the world and try there beef or fish tacos amazingly great!”
  15. “also like the snapper a la Huachinango (sauteed with fresh tomatoes and onions) and the shrimp in pumpkin sauce.”
  16. “If anything this is a restaurant to take people who don't like spicy mexican food.”
  17. “If you like mexican food it should be a good experience.”
  18. “My favorite dish is the cochinita pibil.”
  19. “The food is great and "Don Ramon", the bartender - knows how to make a vicious Margarita”
  20. “The food is great and the drinks and not watered down, their just right.”
  21. “Great Mexican food w/ a South American flair.”
  22. “lovely patio and yummy food that's not too pricey if you factor in the relaxing atmosphere.”
  23. “The Margarita's are proably one of the best drinks they have there, and the food is good Mexican cuisine.”
  24. “You can sit inside or out and enjoy the food as well as the Mariachi that plays there.”
  25. “The "old" restaurant had good food a very good drinks.”
  26. “Really good food, Prices a little high but fast service so it is worth it”
  27. “Inside, there's a fireplace that makes the restaurant a good place to huddle over a cozy meal when the wind blows and rain falls.”
  28. “There are a lot of places that have great food but this place also provides the atmosphere and service.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Excellent taquilla selection fun environment on the weekends!”
  2. “Great variety of tequilas.”
  3. “Great food, great people, and a wide selection of tequila.”
  4. “The menu is great.”
overall
90.4800033569336% positive
  1. “El Portal is a nice place to have dinner.”
  2. “There are a lot of places that have great food but this place also provides the atmosphere and service.”
  3. “it is the best mexican restaurant you could ever go to.”
  4. “The food (and drinks) are a little pricey, but the patio is a great place to have lunch and soak up a margarita or two.”
  5. “It's a great place to have lunch with friends of fellow office workers.”
  6. “Another nice restaurant in Pasadena.”
  7. “Inside, there's a fireplace that makes the restaurant a good place to huddle over a cozy meal when the wind blows and rain falls.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “The great service and personable staff makes each return pleasant.”
service
89.46999549865723% positive
  1. “The service was quite pleasant”
  2. “There are a lot of places that have great food but this place also provides the atmosphere and service.”
  3. “The chicken burrito is a good choice if you're really hungry, and the service has been good each time I've eaten there.”
  4. “The staff is extremely friendly, the main dining room can get a little noisy when crowded but there's always the patio for some quiet.”
  5. “If anything this is a restaurant to take people who don't like spicy mexican food.”
  6. “They always had great service and good food.”
  7. “The salsa is fresh and the service is a 9.”
  8. “The drinks are tasty and the service is awsome.”
  9. “Really good food, Prices a little high but fast service so it is worth it”
  10. “The great service and personable staff makes each return pleasant.”
  11. “Great food, great people, and a wide selection of tequila.”
  12. “The food is great and "Don Ramon", the bartender - knows how to make a vicious Margarita”
  13. “They take care off you and give you great service.”
  14. “El Portal can always be counted on for great Mexican food and wonderful service!”
  15. “Not to say that the service is slow, but once you've had one you'll want to stay for two.”
  16. “have eaten (and drank) here a number of times and the staff is quite friendly.”
  17. “Come on in here and have a drink or two along with some fun with the friendly people that work there.”
  18. “The waitstaff was attentive and kept our drinks and chips filled.”
  19. “I've always had great service at El Portal, the waitstaff is friendly and attentative.”
value
58.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Food is not very good and the drinks are even worse, cheap alcohol and not very much of it.”
  2. “lovely patio and yummy food that's not too pricey if you factor in the relaxing atmosphere.”
  3. “The food (and drinks) are a little pricey, but the patio is a great place to have lunch and soak up a margarita or two.”
  4. “Really good food, Prices a little high but fast service so it is worth it”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Not to say that the service is slow, but once you've had one you'll want to stay for two.”
  2. “Too bad our office moved--this was one of the best places for a quick lunch or a giant margarita after work.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/07/09

Amazing Tacos and quesadillas!

by Sociable at Citysearch

The Pork Quesadillas are the best in the world and try there beef or fish tacos amazingly great! Excellent taquilla selection fun environment on the weekends!

  • Pros: Great Eviroment, Service & Food
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/03/08

A good restaurant gone bad

by flytba at Citysearch

Very dissapointed in the new owners. The "old" restaurant had good food a very good drinks. The new owners changed the menu, increased the prices, fired the cooks and bartenders and now have a very low class, low quality restaurant. Food is not very good and the drinks are even worse, cheap alcohol and not very much of it. The worst fruit maragita I have ever had - I had to put in 6 packets of sugar in it just to make it drinkable. We really felt sorry for our waiter - he continually was apologizing for the food drinks, chips & salsa, etc. He even told us that it is not the restaurant it used to be.

  • Pros: Still a pretty place
  • Cons: Very poor quality food & drinks
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/01/07

Good Food, Reasonable Prices

by michmill813 at Citysearch

Another nice restaurant in Pasadena. I ordered the Chile Verde burrito, asked for extra cheese, and was very happy with the results. The waitstaff was attentive and kept our drinks and chips filled. Lunch was served quickly, and the portions were exactly what i expected for the price. A reasonable choice for lunch, and definitely one I will try again soon.

  • Pros: Food, Ambience
  • Cons: Location is tricky to find
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/06/05

Sweet and mild on a sunny day

by ulycies at Citysearch

The service was quite pleasant . The location is quiet and there is lovely outdoor seating - shaded and sunny - for nature lovers. The servings were adequate, but the flavors were not particularly interesting. If anything this is a restaurant to take people who don't like spicy mexican food. The prices are a bit high considering the lack of imagination coming from the kitchen, and the food took a long time to arrive.

  • Pros: Quiet, Outdoor seating, Great service
  • Cons: so-so food, slow kitchen
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/24/05

Good solid standby

by anekab at Citysearch

El Portal is not the greatest Mexican food I've ever had, but it's very good. It's a great place to have lunch with friends of fellow office workers. It's a great setting for an after-work margarita celebration. The staff is extremely friendly, the main dining room can get a little noisy when crowded but there's always the patio for some quiet.

  • Pros: Good parking, friendly staff

The Details on El Portal Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great yummy food
  • great place
  • great service
  • pricey drinks
  • great mexican food
  • great lovely patio
  • good dining experience
  • attentative waitstaff
  • great people
  • great personable staff
  • not very good spicy mexican food
  • nice mexican restaurant
  • nice chips
  • great margaritas
  • love chilaquiles
  • excellent cadillac margarita
  • fresh salsa
  • warm summer evening
  • like tamales
  • enjoy mariachi
  • pretty good huevos rancheros
  • perfect greatest hideaway
  • consistently good yucatecan restaurant
  • like feels
  • good el portal restaurant
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