El Portal
1716 S Center St, Marshalltown, IA, 50158
El Portal Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Marshalltown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Marshalltown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Marshalltown for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1716 S Center St
Marshalltown, IA, 50158 - Phone (641) 752-0011
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Jeff K.
Middle of the road Americanized Mexican food. Okay for what it is, but definitely not an authentic taqueria. And I've had far far better tex mex. My first test of a restaurant is its clientele. This place was bumping for lunch. All white people. I'm white too, but the only Latinos in this place were servers. Not a good sign. The food agreed with my initial gut instinct - decent but boring and way too white-ified. For real Mexican, go to Zamora, Villachuato, Maria's Tacos, or Tacos y Mariscos Maravillos.
(2)Sonya K.
Good food and the prices aren't bad Good place to go if your craving Mexican the service is friendly, but a little slow
(4)Jeff D.
I don't understand the positive reviews on this restaurant. This was some of the most mediocre Mexican food I've had in years. I went because A-1 Thai Cuisine was closed. I would have done better at a chain restaurant. Bland salsa, enchiladas that tasted fresh out of a can, lackadaisical service. The place was packed, though, so perhaps the locals have a different opinion of what constitutes good Mexican food. I've had great Mexican food in Marshalltown - but not here.
(1)Cassidy B.
This restaurant is in a very awkward building next to the K-mart. They have awesome service and helpful staff! We got our food fast which was nice because we were super hungry. The food was okay.. Not the best Mexican food I've had. I ordered the #3 combo, which was one enchilada and one tamale. The enchilada sauce was too tomatoey and not enough spicy.. If you are looking for some standard Mexican food this is your place.
(3)Bruce M.
Probably the worst service I have had at a restaurant. Our waitress just disappeared on us, sorta like her tip. I had to as another waiter to find her and get our bill. The food was bland and I was unsure whether to even eat it. This was all a shock because the place seemed fairly busy. I think this is one I will mot return too.
(1)C F.
Wow, the only good I can say about this place is that you get a cold frosty glass for your beer. This is the most bland tasteless mexi food I have ever eaten and the salsa even is tasteless like tomatoe sauce. But then again, this is marshal / mexi town Iowa and I guess most people here don't know any better as the place was busy. Save your money or just go to Taco Bell.
(1)Kate C.
Delicious! Had the flautas dinner, includes a chicken, steak and beef~the beef was like a crock pot roast, so tender! Washed down with a peach frozen margarita followed by the fried ice cream. All the staff were very friendly. And super cheap! Loved it!
(5)Sandy C.
Was definitely NOT authentic Mexican food. It was Americanized Mexican food like you would find at most "Mexican" chain restaurants, like la fuente or how chi chi's used to be. huge disappointment food-wise. Service was great and the employees were all very friendly.
(2)Michael B.
Despite being owned by the same group that owns La Carreta, El Portal's food was actually pretty good. Still the same mix of Mexican, Tex-Mex, and New Mexican, but with a few menu item differences. Key difference: their salsa actually had flavor and a little spice to it. The El Portal Special was delicious, as it was 4 mini-chimichangas (2 beef, 2 chicken) served with guacamole, lettuce, sour cream and enchilada sauce. I ate the whole thing, and was very satisfied. You can't get this at La Carreta, otherwise I might have there too. Avoid La Carreta, and come to El Portal instead.
(4)James H.
I don't understand the good reviews for thi place either? The food was bland without flavor. The salsa was cheaply made out of tomato sauce. The rice had a plain taste to it. The guacamole was the instant type you mix up in a bowl. The cheese had an odd taste to it. Everything about this place reminded me of hurry up and make it and serve? Someone needs to learn how to prepare food their.
(1)James Z.
Wow our last visit will probably be our last. Inconsistency is prevalent at El Portal. Nothing tasted fresh and the chips were burned and stale. C'mon you used to be a good place to eat. Too much competition for us to patronize a so so place. Our friends echo this and won't be back either.
(1)Lisa O.
I know locals seem to love this place, but I could really take it or leave it. The service is generally friendly. The owner is a hoot. However, the food is bland. The salsa is not at all spicy and is runny. The food really leaves something to be desired.
(3)Lindsay E.
We always have fabulous service here and the food is excellent. I recommend the lunch fajitas and definitely get the pico de gallo as a side. This is the best Mexican restaurant in town, I think they are all owned by the same, but this is the best!
(5)Stevo H.
Excellent food. Those that think it's crap only know the flavor of half-assed tex-mex food. This is as authentic as it can be North of the border. This is a great restaurant.
(4)Steyr A.
El Craphole... If you love Tex Mex, avoid this place. They have genuine Mexican food, the same crap poor people eat south of the border. For some reason the locals think it is awesome. I've had better "fast food" Mexican, in fact skip this place and go to Taco Johns. Better, cheaper and it won't give you the runs.
(1)David H.
Excellent food! I had the # 1 with a taco and 2 enchiladas. The meat is seasoned right. The salsa has the right amount of cilantro. Good job Estaban!
(5)Ronaldo P.
My brother and his wife and myself and my lady were traveling through Marshalltown at our hungry time of the evening and stopped without too much expectation. Well we got satisfaction. I have been to Mexico a few times and have made my own salsas, so what a surprise to taste such great food here. If not as spicy hot as some might like, it is good to have it so in deepest Iowa, as the hot sauces are available to sprinkle on, or I am sure you could ask for spicier. As it is for me, my wife has a tender mouth, and if it was all spicy I could not go with her. Ingredients all tasted fresh and tasty. All four of us were raving about the place as we left. The Owner or Manager visited our table to be sure we were well served. Our waiter was excellent, and the food arrived quickly and at the right temperature. Hope to be back the next time I visit my brother.
(5)Jeff R.
Good AUTHENTIC Mexican food. Great value and attentive service.
(4)Jim H.
The taco & enchilada combination dinner was quite good. The enchilada sauce was some of the best I have tasted. The white cheese in the taco was very good. The only negative item for me was the salsa served with the chips at the beginning of the meal. It had the consistency and taste of a bad ketchup. I suspect they could do much better with fresh tomatoes and peppers.
(4)Rachel K.
I went here for some margaritas with a friend as we had supper at La Carreta, but left as soon as we had eaten since we couldn't hear ourselves over the marchai singer. El Portal is owned by the same owners as La Carreta; however, El Portal decor is brighter and cheerier. El Portal seems like the better option is you have a large group. One word of caution, when you order the margarita make sure you state the size that you want otherwise you will get the 28 oz margarita. Normally, this would not have been problem except I needed to drive home. Needless to say, I need to leave some behind.
(4)Dave F.
This place wasn't very clean and the decor is a bit rough. I almost didn't eat here because of that. The food on the other hand was surprisingly good for the price with one very notable exception. The salsa was watery and had a bitter taste. I'm pretty sure salsa should not be bitter so lord knows what they did with it.
(3)Garrett G.
I've eaten at El Portal probably 30 times over the past 4-5 years they have been open. Truely one of the best Mexican resturants around Marshalltown and the area, which is saying alot as there are so many in Marshalltown. Not my favorite in town but still amazing. I always order the Quesadilla Cancun. This quesadilla is loaded with cheese, shrimp, crab and lots of flavor. A seafood must! Service is always very friendly and speedy. Try the Quesadilla Fajita or Burrito Fajita if your are not a fan of seafood.
(4)Clarke J.
I have to consider where this restaurant is, which is smack dab in the middle of Iowa. Ergo, the customer base isn't going to want smoking hot food. These are farm folks here, kinda new to Mexican food. Thus, the salsa is super mild, and their hot sauce was a bit weird, dark and different, not so fresh. That being said, the menu is huge, with all kinds of offerings. Many good looking choices to be had. The food came quickly, and was composed of fresh and hot ingredients. While the chicken was a bit bland, and the plate presentation was decidedly messy, the portion was huge, more than I could eat at one sitting. A real value for the money. So what it lacked in seasoning it more than made up for in quantity and polite service. A great place to take the kids on a budget. Fast service, massive portions, and friendly staff. I predict that within just a few years, this restaurant will be moving out of their current strip mall location into either an abandoned Applebees or Denny's; or else opening into a new location. Going the way they're doing, they will need to expand into larger digs, for sure. Give them time, they're on the right track. Keep right on you guys, you're doing just fine!
(4)Ruth P.
Excellent. My family visits the resturant at least 2-3 times a month. The staff is always friendly and prompt. The food arrives very quickly and is always good. I have never had a bad experience here. In my opinion, the chips and salsa are the best in town.
(5)