El Portal Restaurant

It was my first time there and definitely worth the trip from Mexicali BC Mexico and the food was delicious and the staff was nice and helpful also plenty of options on food and beverages.

And we’ve eaten here before. The place was not that busy. Waited forever to get our food. The torta was good until we found it….moldy!! My posole wasn’t all that, lacking flavor, probably last week’s. Come on guys Simple Torta and Posole. The waitress never returned to ask if we were doing okay. Positives? Nope. Will not. Do not recommend. So they did not charge for the torta and still the ticket came out to over $33 for Posole and 2 fountain drinks. Did we tip? NOPE. Waitress didn’t do her job and waited forever for the check after asking twice…

You better come on an empty stomach. Most of the buffet food was fresh. Salad super fresh with delicious dressing. Tasted Asian but maybe not. All the Mexican fixings: rice, beans, etc. The pico and green salsa was fresh and good! Included with the buffet are fried chicken, buffalo wings, and bbq ribs. Chicken was just ok. The ribs were tender, juicy and fire. Pozole soup was fire too. Birria soup wasn’t my thing. The kids fries and nuggets were hard and over heated. They did manage to put some fresh ones out though. Fried shrimp the norm. The shrimp ceviche was good with the green sauce. I topped everything with onions and cilantro which made the food much better. Didn’t like they had only cheese enchiladas. But you can partner all of the proteins with it such as their carnitas and carne asada. Asada was dry but you can tell they marinate for a while and the flavor was tasty. Carnitas the norm. The bonus here is the hot cocoa. Not too sweet, warm - removes lingering taste from the food. Stupendous finish to a great meal. Is it worth the money? I think not but everything is so expensive nowadays. Come hungry. Will return to try the menu items.

Great buffet . Delicious food come here with the family and enjoy.

The flavors are genuinely home made to the taste. Had the caldo de res - huge portions. The combo plates are on the large side too ! A Tex Mex favorite is available on the menu - potato fried tacos. Recommended !!!

Fire Fire Fire. This food was some of the best Mexican cuisine I’ve ever had. The Enchiladas and sauce were amazing. The carnitas were over cooked but still good, I’ll definitely be going back. Also my waitress was very attentive

Had great tasting food, fresh, and nice portions. We came here because of the positive reviews and photos of food looked great! The parking lot was empty at 8pm on Saturday night. Yet could see 2 families eating. Looks more like a diner, but the food is deserving of high quality restaurant. Had molcajetes. Cold mariscos and Hot Mariscos with Flan dessert. There was no music playing and the staff just stared at us when we walked in. After a few minutes we asked do we have to order at the counter but they brought us menus. The bathroom was outside which was kinda weird but clean except for a little graffiti. No one ever asked or came to refill our drinks which is the only reason i'm not putting 5 stars. They just need to up the service and get some music playing. The restaurant 2 miles down the road had a full parking lot and their food reviews and pictures looked horrible was why we choose this place to eat. Not at all disappointed.

first and foremost, let me say, the food is really good. They offer buffet, and if you don't want a buffet, you can order from the menu. I went the for the buffet. Even though the food is pretty good, I don't see myself coming on a regular basis. It's pretty expensive. I paid $90 bucks for two buffets, an orange juice, and a Jamaica water. The service was just okay for us. I only saw my waiter when he took out drinks order , and in the end, when I asked for my check.

Since The Mexican in Hayward has gone downhill with their non authentic over priced small portion Mexican food, I have been searching for a another place. I have been here a couple of times for dinner, both times the service was excellent. 1st, I like to say they still offer free chips and salsas unlike some other Mexican restaurants. The salsa is very good and fresh!! We had: Tostada agua chile verde with shrimps, tasted so fresh and good with prefect spices. Caldo De Res (Beef Soup) is one of my favorites here. Good amount of tender beef. Garlic Shrimps with wine sauce was excellent. The drinks here are just as good. The michelada was made perfectly and very tasty.

The food was fresh and delicious. I ordered a two enchilada plate with grilled chicken thru grub hub and it was very yummy. The little salad was also very good . Give this place a try you will be glad you did Bon appétit

Another one of my childhood favorites. I remember summers where I would come down to El Portal with some friends and order what I could with my allowance money. I'm glad to see that the restaurant has not changed and the food is still delicious like always. I ordered the chicken fajitas and it came with three corn tortillas, guacamole, sour cream, rice, beans, and some lettuce. It was smokey and seasoned really well, my only gripe is that it was really salty. The horchata I ordered really helped with that. The horchata was creamy and sweet. The birria tacos were delicious, the meat was tender and really juicy. I loved the consume that came with it. It is lacking in the spice department, I wish it had more oomf to it.

This hidden gem is lovely! Great family ambiance. Breakfast buffet on Sundays. Authentic and delicious dishes. The staff is super friendly. Would go again.

Great ambiance Excellent food Extensive seafood menu list Menudo was rich and very tasty! Salsa Fresca was unforgettable :-) with complimentary corn chips. Yumm! Waiters were very attentive and ensured we were attended to. Overall excellent. Would love to come back and have their menudo as a regular. Also to try their under $15 tortas. We were really tempted to try out more seafood items they are known for but we were so stuffed. Saving our appetite for our future visits!

I'm not lying when I say everything on their menu is good. I have tried several things on their menu and it's been 10/10 every time! My favorite item right now is the Tostada Especial. If you like savory seafood, please give it a try. My boyfriend tried their tacos - loved them. He also tried their wet burrito, LOVED it. I recommend this place to everyone and I'm happy to see a Mexican business thriving! The owner Raudel is a respectable man whose really hardworking and loves what he does. Best Mexican food in the area, hands down. You won't be disappointed.

I'm leaving 3 stars . Let me explain why ! Customer service is 5 stars ! They're always nice and welcoming and accommodating when it comes to making sure you get what you want ! 3 stars is just for quality . I've been here a few times before making this review so I can be honest . So I'll say this . Portions are kinda on the off and on side . It depends what you order : example their shrimp salad is plentiful and I'm satisfied but actual shrimp plate comes with less with the rice and beans . Also just flavor too . Nothing was nasty to say but the red sauce they use for the burritos or anything to make it " wet " is so flavorless I had to drown mines with lime juice and pepper . As well as my beans . Over all they're decent . Again nothing is nasty and the employees are nice . I guess this is just a flavor thing for me . I will always stick to the basics if I come here or maybe I need to try something else again

This is my favorite Hispanic eatery in the area, and they are definitely 5 star food & service wise. I stumbled across this place last year and it's pretty tucked away in San Leandro. The location is great and they always have a steady flow of customers without being packed. I enjoy a lot of the items on the menu, but my favorite is the mango shrimp ceviche for sure. I'm a fan of all kinds of ceviche, fish or shrimp but this is one of the best I've had so far. Their drinks are good, the service is good and the food is great! I couldn't ask for more other than an island location. Cheers!

Truly authentic food, warm service and an extensive menu. They have a nice covered outdoor area with a fountain that'a very peaceful and relaxing. This appears to be the sort of place that everything on the menu is insanely good. They have pictures of much of the food on the menu and it appears they serve breakfast all day. My lunch was amazingly yummy and I'd definitely return anytime I'm near San Leandro. I'd love to try their Sunday buffet. They have a number of classic dishes that most Mexican food restaurants don't serve, or haven't since I was very young. There was about 15 things I wanted to order on the menu. They also have tortas, for instance. I was so hungry and so impressed I never took photos, which is rare and the sign of a place that's truly great. It's really more like a nice restaurant in Mexico near the beach. The seafood menu is extensive.

Obsessed, the food is fresh and delicious. I love the enchilada, sauce is a delight. I love the friendly service. My favorite place to go on Sunday after a walk at the Marina.

Called ahead of time to order and food came out a couple of minutes after we got there. My husband and I really like the Steak Ranchero. I like that it's open until 10 PM.

Has it been 5 years since our last visit? Maybe or maybe not but the service and food are still as good as before the pandemic. Portions are generous as we came here with friends for hubby's birthday. We ordered the 2 tacos dinner, as well as 3 - 2 enchilada dinners, one with mole, one with green sauce and one with red sauce. There was so much to eat that we all had to take home our leftovers.

The food is definitely authentic Mexican food and delicious. Service is fantastic and usually during lunch and dinner they are very busy no matter what day. Highly recommend!!!

Excellent food Friendly staff Great place for both brunch Or dinner. I highly recommend it.

Came To El Portal For a Breakfast Meal At Lunch Time! Keep In Mind I've Been Here Before But Years Ago! I Walked In & Wrote Down My Name On The Waiting List Since It Was Right At The Door As Usual. It Was Not Busy Since It Is a Week Day & 1pm. As I Stood There The Current Waitress Made Eye Contact With Me & Walked Passed Me Like She Didn't See Me. It Was Odd Since I've Always Been Greeted When I Come Here. Anyway, Another Waitress Walks In To The Restaurant & Automatically Acknowledges Me & Let's Me Know That I Can Sit Anywhere. As I Walk To The Booth I Chose To Sit At. The Waitress That Made Eye Contact With Me Earlier Comes Over & Gives Her Sincere Apology For The Lack Of Attention As I Stood There Waiting To Be Seated. She Explained That She Thought I Was a Doordash Pickup Person. I Smiled & Let Her Know Not To Worry. We All Have Bad Days. I Proceeded To Ordering My Meal. Chilaquiles Verdes (Green) No Egg Or Cheese With A Side Of Rice, Beans & Salad. Ps. Waitress Apologies Again. :) Food Was Good, Service Was Great After The Little Misunderstanding At The Beginning.

Frankly the only times I'm ever at this strip mall are when I reach the halfway point in my long walks from either Marina Park by way of Heron Bay or from the Hayward Regional Shoreline. I sometimes treat myself to a meal, and I veered to the sautéed eggplant at Pho T&T out of good conscience (review: https://bit.ly/3FkpIsS). It's good but then I discovered this larger Mexican restaurant. They serve a $21.99 bowl of Menudo (photo: https://bit.ly/3PkJr0b). It definitely struck me as being on the high side price-wise, but it was quite a big bowl with quite a load of tripe. No knuckle bones and consequently no tendon meat, but if you love tripe, this is definitely the place to get it along with freshly grilled flour tortillas (photo: https://bit.ly/3FLTDf2). Plus they offer it every day, not just the weekends. No complaints about that, for sure, and they're pretty friendly, too. FOOD - 4 stars...big bowls of menudo every day are rare AMBIANCE - 4 stars...pretty spacious and it attracts lots of families SERVICE - 3.5 stars...pretty friendly, not particularly fast TOTAL - 4 stars...here's a good reason to visit San Leandro on a weekday RELATED - Exploring San Leandro? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2UOvM6X

Okay, at first we got a lot of attention by our hostess prior to getting our food. Then we got our meals. I chose the T-bone steak, which was very delicious. The veggies were steamed and were also tasty. I did not try the potatoes because honestly, it was a lot of food. And I had to take it home. The reason for the 3 stars, we were totally ignored by our hostess afterward. We watched her pass four times after we were done eating. No eye contact at all. Yes, I attempted to call her, but she just didn't hear us or was preoccupied. I told just my hubby to go to the cashier up front for our check.

Friendly staff; always busy. But if you check the prices against what you are being charged you may find "differences"...food is good

El Portal is the absolute best Mexican restaurant here in San Leandro! I order from them so often that I have their number saved in my phone. My go to is the wet burrito/burrito mojado, and the combo meal with an enchilada and crispy taco. They also have great micheladas. The staff is always extremely friendly and attentive, and they always make sure that you are satisfied with your order. They have lots of room for indoor seating but I always prefer to sit outside. They have a fenced off patio surrounded by beautiful real plants with lots of tables that seat 4 and one large table to fit 12. At night they have beautiful ambient lighting and heat lamps if it gets cold.

The food is good here but their prices are outrageous! Also, you don't get a breakdown unless you ask for it on to go orders. I would recommend this place only if you don't care for the cost! Otherwise, you can get the same if not better at a taco truck!

I had a good time here. My food was good. I got a crispy taco combo. The refried beans were my favorite.

This is hands down my favorite mexican restaurant in the bayarea. I have never had one single bad meal here . There Chile relleno is amazing as is most things . The people who work here are always so nice and treat you well

Horrible service. Worst service I've had in the Bay Area. The waiter checked in on my table once, and that was only at the end of the meal. Three members of my party had issues with their food and barely touched it. A proper waiter would have noticed that and asked what was wrong. To make matters worse, they auto tipped since we were a party of 6 (4 adults, 2 kids). Due to the horrible service, I was intending on leaving no tip. Imagine my surprise when the tip was $30. I have no issues tipping if the service deserves it, but to give a $30 tip on horrible non existent service is unreal. Lastly, when I asked to speak to a manager about the service, they stated that there was no manager working. What business has no manager on a Sunday afternoon? Save your money and cherish your time and just go to El Torito a couple blocks away or even La Piñata. This place is not worth it.

HORRIBLE service! RACIST/ DISCRIMINATION employees to customers at this restaurant towards non-Hispanic customers Supposedly there's also no manager on duty.....soo who will take responsibility if something happens? First of all, I would never write a review on negative service but after tonight this is the first! My family (family of 3) and I decided to try this restaurant out and we got a cold shoulder from the waiter right when we arrived We waited 30-40mins on our food to arrived We asked for chips and water and never received it until I asked multiple times (why would I need to beg for service since we are paying customers) Don't wanna get into too much detail but I hope the OWNER of this restaurant can READ this review ****Just beware of racism/discrimination at this restaurant! Definitely will spread the word on Nextdoor and fellow San Leandro/San Lorenzo neighbors!

We will be regulars here! Loved the mole', Chile' relleno and frozen margaritas! It's great traditional Mexican food and perfect to go with family. My only qualm is that it's sort of hard to figure out what things are cooked with lard, the staff was very helpful with that though.

Food is so tasty. Very authentic mexican food. Staff are very polite. I love this place.

This place is so good. The food is always fresh and piping hot. I love coming here when I have time.

I had their breakfast chilaquiles and they were just okay. I expected them to have eggs. I didn't realize you would have to add that as an addition. It was simply chips in green sauce. The side rice and beans were pretty bland. I might give it a try and order something else next time.

The food here is delicious. I always get either the nacho fries with steak or the super shrimp burrito wet. I've ate here a handful of times (always been pickup order so I can't speak on the service) and never been disappointed. It is a little pricy in my opinion but the food is no doubt great and I will definitely come here again

This place has been a regular for a long time. I have always enjoyed the food and the service. A while ago we went and the service was terrible. The food was also not what we were accustomed to. This week we brought friends with us, assuming the last time was a fluke. We opted to not go with the brunch, and instead ordered off the menu. That was the last we saw of any wait staff. When we finally were able to get someone's attention and ask for a bill, we notified the gentleman of the situation. He said nothing and walked away. We had to find someone else for our check. When we received it they had added an 18% gratuity. There were four adults and two children who ordered off the kids menu. This was nothing short of theft. I hope they enjoyed it. It is the last they will receive from me.

I always enjoy dining here. My go to is the carne asada plate. I love the they they make the steak and the tortilla are nice and hot. I've been eating here for the past 4 years and they never disappoint me. The service is always on point even when it was pandemic time. The never change. Come and check them out!

Brunch here is really good a lot of options to eat everything for everyone. Kid-friendly options too. Go early to get the best.

I Love their Food it is excellent. I keep coming back for more! It is so convenient from Sandev Mobile Home Park

Had great tasting food, fresh, and nice portions. We came here because of the positive reviews and photos of food looked great! The parking lot was empty at 8pm on Saturday night. Yet could see 2 families eating. Looks more like a diner, but the food is deserving of high quality restaurant. Had molcajetes. Cold mariscos and Hot Mariscos with Flan dessert. There was no music playing and the staff just stared at us when we walked in. After a few minutes we asked do we have to order at the counter but they brought us menus. The bathroom was outside which was kinda weird but clean except for a little graffiti. No one ever asked or came to refill our drinks which is the only reason i'm not putting 5 stars. They just need to up the service and get some music playing. The restaurant 2 miles down the road had a full parking lot and their food reviews and pictures looked horrible was why we choose this place to eat. Not at all disappointed.

Best Mexican food in San Leandro. If you are looking for a nice ambiance definitely dine in or if you want a quick meal togo food is amazing. The chili verde is a must have

Best Mexican restaurant in town, when it comes close to a home cooked meal. MY GO TO PLATES: Breakfast- nopales and eggs Soup- pozole, caldo de res, menudo, and chicken tortilla soup, are ALL AMAZING and packing flavor, really big portion too Plates: -steak Milanesa -chicken or steak enchiladas -chicken enchiladas -steak fries -chicken or steak sopes -steak torta -crispy steak tacos/shredded chicken -shrimp cocktail/ and mixed campechana -child relleno

Nice, pleasant environment with delicious food and great drinks from the bar. The chicken soup is a great starter. No losers on the menu at all. Families are welcome too!

The food is very authentic and delicious. Service was short handed give post Pandemic issues facing all restaurants. I enjoy my group birthday party. The fried fish was amazing. I just wished they apply some garlic sauce a deep frying. That would have earned them a five star.

I ordered super nachos and there was hardly any cheese and chicken. You can hardly find the chicken pieces. I also ordered super nachos with ground beef, hardly any nacho cheese or ground beef. I would give this 0 stars but had to choose 1 star to post this review.

Another great review for this restaurant I see a must try is the "mole chicken plate" or "mole chicken enchiladas"Molé sauce is amazing! The first time i tasted mole sauce. It's rich and very flavorful this one isn't spicy, but, the sauce has flavorful spice that is well noted.

El portal to good food and nice setting. We sat outside during a warriors game and it was nice to have the theater all to ourselves (with few other guests). Met expectation for Mexican food flautas, nothing earth shattering. Price feels a lil steep for what you get. Appreciate the transparent covers between tables to protect from covid ~

Great food and service...this neighborhood eatery is better than better known chain Mexican restaurants

This hole in the wall spot is my go to when I'm craving Mexican food. I usually always order the camarones a la diabla but decided to go with caldo de pollo (chicken soup) this time around to help bring my hangover to an end. The caldo taste just right with plenty of vegetables and big chunks of chicken in it, it definitely is a comfort food. There's a fully stocked bar if you're looking to have a stiff drink or three. They also have an option of fresh squeezed juices, my personal favorite is the carrot and orange juice, it's always freshly made. If you're looking for delicious Mexican comfort food, check this place out!

Pozole was bomb AND it has pata. It was a big serving too, the chips were delicious. They aren't skimpy with anything!

Great place with great food. Home style Mexican food that tastes great and friendly service. This is my go to.

Pretty decent spot for a traditional Mexican meal. Very good chips and salsa and excellent service. My chicken fajitas lunch had huge portions and lots of chicken. The chicken was pretty fairly dry but serviceable. Lots of peppers all served piping hot on the skillet. Flour tortillas, rice, beans, small bit of guacamole and sour cream. Good stuff.

Very good burritos and the combo enchilada and taco with rice and beans is very tasty. Family style dining but can order to go.

Went for lunch on dia de los muertos. I had a wet burrito with shrimp. It was huge and had a lot of large shrimp in it. We also had margaritas on the rocks. Great service and large portions. Everything tasted fresh and was well seasoned. We ate inside but they also have a nice outdoor area. It is located close to the SL marina so it was very convenient to walk along the water and try and walk off some of the calories.... Delicious authentic Mexican food.

Service wasn't as slow as some of the reviews. Our waitress was friendly and my shrimp taco was pretty food. Would definitely come back to try happy hour!

Was in search of a good plate of Chille Rellenos, I looked around Mexican Restaurants in San Leandro and was fortunate to have visited El Portal Restaurant. Walked in with my beautiful bratty daughter and was treated like we were family. Our server was extremely kind and super attentive. I am so glad we visited El Portal. Ordered a plate of Chille Rellenos, with flour tortillas. My daughter ordered two tacos de Asada (plain with cilantro only) And let me tell you... The rice and beans that accompanied my Chilles were to die for; they almost reminded me of my grandmothers back in Mexico, The size of my daughters tacos were huge. She honestly would have been perfect with one, I definitely enjoyed our meal and our service I can not wait to return and also recommend.