El Portal

Nice little spot in downtown Phoenix. The rice was well seasoned. The beans had a smoky flavor to them which I enjoyed. The green chili was tender and had a nice amount of pepper, which gave it a different flavor than I have had before. I was hoping for better salsa, but it was not bad. The service was very good. The atmosphere was very welcoming and relaxed.

Small restaurant nestled on the corner. Very clean. Unfortunately when I walked in I wasn’t sure if I should wait to be seated or sit anywhere. After waiting for someone to acknowledge me I finally sat down but it wasn’t long before someone came to serve me. My server was a young lady, she was not rude or anything just seemed a little unhappy to be there today. She didn’t check on me but once after taking my order and serving my food. I was there for about an hour dining alone. However there was another gentleman that continued to check on me before she got around to her first visit after serving my food. The food was delicious and prepared fast. Higher prices than expected but for the amount of food it was worth it. Nice quiet vibe.

The food was not only tasted but also had good quality. Strong recommend.

Great, family owned, amazing food and the owners are always very friendly and involved with their community ❤️

They have the BEST beans and rice! And meat is soft, sauce is flavorful and amazing, service is incredibly awesome. I definitely come back when i visit Phoenix!!!!

The food was so good and the service top shelf. I had an opportunity to talk with Earl the owner great guy super sweet gentleman.

Horrible service , waitress had a horrible face all the time and very slow for everything , food was soggy yes plates were hot but not the food and my grandmothers pancakes were raw in the center and we didn’t realize until she was half way done . Never plan on coming back just hoping she doesn’t get sick from eating the raw food

Since newly arriving back in Arizona and living in a new city here, I am trying to establish new favorites. I do believe El Portal will be one of them. The menu isn’t extensive but the food looks to be prepared well when searching online. The location is convenient for me and the parking was free and there seemed to be plenty of parking for the daytime hours that I visited. The restaurant has seen its fair share of years and while not extremely clean or modern, it was not a dive nor a place I would be afraid to visit multiple times to pick up food. They have lovely murals on their walls showcasing mixed ethnic family and friends, which I appreciate as my giant family is multiethnic. The waitstaff, possibly family members?, were friendly and attentive. The checkout was efficient and the food service itself was fast. I ordered a Machaca Chicken Burrito and I am very pleased to report that it was DELICIOUS! I will definitely be a return customer and will order more items for a full experience in the near future.