Arepas. Arepas as far as the eye can see. If anyone has ever wondered what the gluten intolerant dream of... this is pretty much it. A Venzie friend dragged me out to lunch, promising to show me a place where all my arepa dreams could come true. Now. If you like arepas, I don't need to explain myself. But if you're not up on the arepa, please let me explain: It is warm. It is offered in countless varieties. It is not costly. It is not made with wheat flour. It's small but hearty. It can be eaten as a snack or a lunch or eaten in pairs to more-than-sate-you. El Porton's currently offers 12 kinds of arepas. Let me say this again. 12 fun-filled meat or veg flavors. And they are delicious. I had become accustomed to machine-made arepas, but these babies are handmade--- which means they're a little bit less doughy. Great! When I discovered this place also serves two kinds of plantains (sweet and green!) and yuca prepared in two styles, I had to check the address again. (I grew up around here; I know this used to be Dairy Queen territory). Me: But... It looks like I'm on Indian Creek Parkway. Shouldn't I be eating a chicken finger? No! I should not be eating a chicken finger because contrary popular opinion, chickens don't have digits like that. (But fish do have heads-- and that's how they're served at this place). Ok, ok. I'm getting carried away with myself. Back to the facts. This place is tucked away off of Roe in Overland Park and would be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for. (So, look for it, why don't ya!). The service was speedy enough to be called efficient but they didn't rush us, either. My friend and I went in for a 3pm lunch and found a respectable number of people in the joint enjoying their meals. We ordered small plates and we were satisfied with our wait time. If you live in the area and are wailing about wanting a new or different local spot, this is so worth your time.
(4)
C L.
I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars. Four stars won over because I can't hate on rare, culture-specific KC eateries that are clean and friendly. Four of us stopped in during our lunch hour, excited to try new fare. Many items were shared. Below lists what I tried: arepa (de guasacaca) - white cheese, guacamole: Maybe I waited too long to write this review. It's only been two days, but for some reason, I can't remember what else was in this stuffed sandwich. I think it was tomatoes. It was good, but I liked Amor Picante's arepa better. pabellon - shredded beef, Venezuelan national dish: Spiced nicely, but not my cup of tea. The consensus at my table was that it was "okay". ceviche - shrimp and scallops: This was also just okay. lechon asado - roasted pork: This was probably my favorite dish. It was flavorful and tender. tres leches cake: Sweet, just as you'd expect. It was good. My friend ordered the day's special, which was a chicken (thigh?) that was covered in a pork sauce. It came with rice and beans, like most of the other entrees, but it was also accompanied by some fried arepa pieces. Those were fantastic. I realize my review is quite boring, but that's how I felt about my experience - slightly disappointed. I'd had high expectations for this place, and thought I'd be wowed after reading reviews. But it hadn't been that long since I'd tried Amor Picante, and I'd felt the food there was much tastier. The arepa, ceviche, and "new to me" meat entrees were just tastier at AP. El Porton's pluses were that the servers were knowledgeable about menu items and their prices were reasonable. Though I'd try El Porton again, I don't feel I'm in a rush to go back.
(4)
Shana S.
I waited a couple of days to write this review because my experience was not the greatest, and I wanted to be more level-headed when I wrote about going there. Walking up to the restaurant, we saw that we would be one of a very select and small group deciding to eat there that night. That could be good, because the service should be good, or it could be bad because no one else wanted to eat there... We got there walked in, and weren't totally sure what to do. We stood there for a minute with no one helping us, looking for something that told us that we were supposed to seat ourselves, since no one was looking in our direction. After a minute someone came over and seated us. I had looked over the Yelp reviews and had some things in mind to order that people had seemed to like. Our server came over and started to tell us about the specials when her cell phone went off (somewhat loud). She apologized, and all was fine. Hey, it happens. We ordered the stuffed plantains. She asked us which filling we wanted, and so I asked her which she liked best. She hesitated for a minute, and then said "I guess the shredded beef." She didn't sound real enthusiastic about it, which made me a little nervous. Ok, whatever. I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic) and my husband got the Pabellon (Venezuelan shredded beef dish). Each came with plantains and rice and the Pabellon with black beans and the Shrimp with a side salad. A few minutes after her phone went off and she took our order, we heard her talking in broken Spanish to someone on the phone, and both my husband and I learned enough Spanish in high school to understand that she said she was at her other job right now, and that she would need the other server, who spoke better Spanish, to write down the directions that the person on the phone was giving her. Due to some sort of mix up, our meals came out without first giving us our appetizer. It came out after our plates did. My plate came with plantains. My husband's did not. The Pabellon tasted exactly like the appetizer did. Overall, the food was kind of bland, and I don't love spicy food, either. The garlic shrimp was okay, but didn't seem any different from a shrimp scampi I would get anywhere else (like Red Lobster). By this time, people had started streaming in more. We weren't interested in dessert because we were already annoyed with dinner. So now, we were just waiting for a check. Yeah, they filled up pretty quickly, but that doesn't mean you get to forget about us. It took us 14 minutes of just sitting for her to bring us the check after taking our plates and telling her we didn't want dessert. Then she dropped off the check and took awhile to pick it up again, once she had picked it up, it seemed to be taking a ridiculous amount of time. She came over to say that their credit card machine was getting a busy signal and that it would just be a few more minutes. We brought a groupon with us that basically made our meal $10 less expensive than it would have been normally. With $10 off, it still wasn't worth it, and we have no reason to return, and won't be.
(1)
Trecia M.
Food is super good. I've been here a few times and sampled three+ empanadas. The civiche lacks basic civiche flavor, but the others (vegetarian options) were good. The actual empanada bread was a bit tough to cut with a knife. I assume they are suppose to be that way, but I never had them like that before. I also had the shrimp in garlic sauce...OMG.. Orgasmic, well almost. Really yummy, like I could eat it everyday yummy. My biggest problem with this place is EVERY time I have been here there is a longer than necessary wait to order food and receive your food. Last time I was here no one even took our order until 20 minutes after we were seated and it seemed like they were ignoring us. Every time I tried to get someones' attention, they quickly looked away and then no one knew who was waiting on us. I don't mind keeping a chair warm, but I was hungry! All that being said, I'm over the tex mex thang and excited I don't have to drive to KCK to get authentic comida latina!
(4)
E R.
I was blown away by this hidden gem! I ordered the special which consisted of 3 boneless pork chops with a very nice salad, plantains, rice and beans and some beautifully grilled sliced eggplant. The chimchurra sauce was so good I asked them to bring a small side dish for dipping. The flan was a great way to cap the meal. I understand they have live music on Fridays - a very worth while experience.
(4)
Robin S.
Gluten free friendly - with a few minor areas for improvement. The plantains were fried in the same fryer with the empanada batter and then served atop the rice. If you are allergic to gluten, a good portion of your meal is served contaminated. That being said, the food was pretty good and the chef was very understanding. The majority of their menu is gluten-free. When you order, just be sure to emphasize to the server and/or chef that nothing can be fried (unless they get a designated fryer). Great lunch prices - for $12 I got "The Works" combo platter with 7 different things!
(3)
Marissa S.
The food was good, but overpriced. They only give you 2 plantains (which is what I really came there for), which I had to order an extra plate for $2. Which isn't bad, but not what I expected. The decor of the place looks like it is having an identity crisis. The table was wobbly. Besides that, the food was good. Probably going to order something more flavorful next time. I had the Lechon Asado. The pork tasted like it was in a crock pot all day. Tres leches was over priced. $4 for a small piece of cake.. Give me a break!
(3)
Steve V.
The food was good but nothing outstanding. Tried the Arepas with chicken salad and avocado, lacked salt and avocado, was like a blob of bland chicken salad on a really good arepas. The pork, rice, beans and plantains were good and the portion generous but for $12.00 it was lacking and left me wanting something more but not sure what.
(2)
Jen D.
2.5 stars... Not quite 3... I was really excited when I heard about El Porton, and doubly excited when I bought a group coupon for half price. I finally went a few weeks ago, and to summarize, it did not meet my expectations. Our group of 3 ordered several appetizers and shared a few entrees. We started with chicken empanadas which were good, and the ceviche which was lacking flavor. We had the reina pepiada arepa (chicken and avocado) and this too lacked seasoning and flavor, I was really excited to try the arepa, so this experience was disappointing. I put salt on nearly every item served, as most of the dishes were bland. We shared the Pabellon and this was my favorite dish. The beans and rice were great, and the shredded beef was tender. At the time we dined, El Porton had not obtained a liquor permit, so you could bring in your own bottle of wine. That would have been fun if I would have known ahead of time. One other note, service was very slow. I'm guessing all of the food was cooked to order, which is great, however, our food took a really long time. I probably won't go back unless I have a craving for beans and rice.
Very very slow service. We were ignored for at least half an hour. After we got the menus it took us another hour to get our food. When we tried to pay it was impossible to wave the waiter down. We left with cash on the table. The food was good but overpriced. The overall result: nice try but never again!
(1)
Richard B.
Very tasty meal with a very reasonable price. I have been twice now and enjoyed both trips. The pork and tomato arepa is probably my favorite; the grilled chicken salad is delicious as well.
(4)
Joel S.
It's both confounding and refreshing that a Venezuelan restaurant exists in Overland Park. But I'm very happy I found it. We had the plantain appetizers - they had three variations (avocado chicken, pork and marinated beef), and the server offered to split ours into all three so we could sample everything. I had two aripas, not knowing that one and the appetizer would do me. I assumed they were small since they were $4-$5 each. They're similar to a torta, but the bread is corn meal-based, so it tastes like a corn meal-y english muffin. I got the marinated beef and the pork and tomato. The seasonings were good; not at all hot like Mexican and some other Latin American cuisine, but very flavorful. The service was very friendly and helpful, and they're very proud of their menu (for good reason) and appreciate questions. It was my first sampling of Venezuelan food, and I'll definitely go back. Also, this kind of cuisine is very much meat-based, so vegetarians may have a hard time.
(4)
Demesha W.
We went to El Porton for a mission meeting as we thought it would be neat to eat at a restaurant serving similar food to that which we will have when our team goes on our mission trip to Guatemala. It is a rather small restaurant and with our party and one other large party, we nearly maxed out their dining area. The arepas were excellent! They are wheat free and a great alternative to bread for the gluten conscious. I had the domino arepa and avocado and it was delicious! The beans were perfectly seasoned and the side order was delicious on my rice. We also had the fried Yuca, which was similar to steak fries in texture and reminded me of a potato. My "picky eater" friend had their arepa with shredded beef and she LOVED it! The fried plantains were very tasty as well. My only complaint for this restaurant would be the service. We went on a Saturday evening at 5p and we had to ask for water twice from our waiter for the two in our party who showed up about 5 minutes later, but before anyone had placed their orders. When I asked our waiter what Yuca was, he responded as though it was a dumb question and said, "Yuca is yuca! You know this is a Venezuelan restaurant, right?" That was all the answer he had for me. As am American, I'd never heard of Yuca before so I didn't think my question too far fetched since this uncommon restaurant is here in Johnson County, Ks. After we finished our meal, we sat and waited a good 45 minutes after plates had been removed before finally going to the front and asking for our checks. At this point, they took an additional 10 minutes ringing up our totals (why wasn't this completed in advance? We informed our waiter that we'd be separate early on). After bringing checks to 1 of our 2 tables, we had to ask again for checks for the other table. At this point, the other large group had been gone for a good 30 minutes. When requesting the checks we were told, "We didn't want to interrupt you. You looked like you all were having a good time talking." "Well yes! But we also can't leave without paying. We're you just going to wait until we sat in silence staring at the walk!?!" Overall, I give this restaurant 4 stars, primarily based on quality food, NOT service. Out of the 16 people in our group, EVERYONE loved their selection from the shrimp, to the grilled chicken, the various arepas to the steak! There were no meal quality complaints.
(4)
Melissa R.
Mi esposo es muy picky when it comes to Latin American food. Perhaps it's because he is a Latin Prince and has been spoiled by his madre for way too many years with her fabulous Colombian cooking. Nonetheless, now that we've found El Porton, mama gets a night off. Though I can't say I've ever dropped $50 for a meal at Mama R's. . . . .
(4)
La Q.
Great little family owned south American restaurant. Don't let the strip mall location scare you away. They make great simple dishes of roasted meat and plantains. The empanadas are awesome. The pork hash with chorizo is a must try dish. I also love the pabellon. And for dessert the flan can't be beat. It's the owner's wife's recipe and blows away the tres leches cake. There is no liquor license. But you can bring your own beer or wine and I don't believe they charge a corking fee.
(5)
Nate S.
This place is awesome! I have backpacked in S. America twice. The first time through Peru. And the second in Colombia and Venezuela. I literally found out about this place a week after the latter trip and immediately visited for lunch. With all the flavors fresh on my palette still I can for sure say that they are on point here. The Arepas are very authentic and that means they are delicious. I had both the Reina Pepiada and the shredded beef with cheese. I always order fried yuca, because it is like fries on delicious steroids. It's one of my favorite things ever, and I can rarely find it in the States and if I do it's done poorly. Not here. Here it is scrumptious. Long story short, if you have never experienced these flavors and are feeling a little adventurous, I would highly recommend you start here. If you already have an appreciation, El Porton does it very well and very authentic. It is the only place I know of in the area to get this quality of regional cuisine.
(5)
Andrew D.
If you want a Cuban sandwich in KC it doesnt get any better than this.
(5)
Fatima G.
Arepitas!
(5)
Manuel D.
Great Rest., great atmosphere, and great music during Friday and Saturday. The steaks with onions are superb. Try their cafe, its outstanding. Starbucks would love to have that blend.
(5)
Hans N.
Great food - although the atmosphere is a bit lacking. Small place, and the night we were there they had live entertainment - authentic Latin American music, which was way too loud for the size of the space, and all the hard surfaces made it that much more difficult to even carry on a conversation. We had the beef and shredded chicken empanadas (the sauce it came with made it even more scrumtious) appetizer, then the pork hash and Pernil sandwich for the entree. All very flavorful and very authentic; also had fried plantains for the first time in my life - like a cross between a pineapple and a banana, but also quite good (my date thought not). I'm rating this solely on the food; the service was a bit lacking (we had two different individuals waiting on us, as it appeared our intended waitress was a bit off her mark this particular evening). At the end of the day, it's the food that matters...
(4)
Jack F.
Finally, a latin american restaurant that's close by. Love the food, especially the lechon.
(4)
Tim S.
I received a tip from my Puerto Rican friend about this tucked-away Venezuelan (essentially) restaurant. So when my family wanted to try something different for my wife's birthday dinner, we gave it a shot and it did not disappoint. We really enjoyed the experience and thought the food was quite good. We ordered two Arepas as an appetizer because it was unique and it was plenty for taste for four adults and a 18 month old. Don't laugh about the 18 month old because half of an Arepa was basically her dinner. Named for the bun, I think, they reminded me like a bigger, softer, chewier English muffin with various stuffing. [Celiac Note: it was said to be wheat free, but I'm not sure if it was gluten free. The news article said one of the owners is an accomplished chef so they may be able to accommodate] We had the Reina Pe Piada (shredded chicken with avocado) and the De Guasacaca (Venezuelan style guacamole with queso fresco) as they were recommended as more traditional flavors. The chicken was very subtle in flavor like creamy, chicken salad, but the guacamole arepa was very good. It was a fresh, chunky, avocado and pico de gallo type mix with a strong shot of lime (also the 18 month olds favorite...she is adventurous for a tot though). We would recommend all of the entrees that we ordered except the Lechon Asado (pork cooked with citrus juices). I was imagining the Cuban pork grilled with lime juice, but what was served were thin pork medallions that were quite dry and lacked taste. Other dishes ordered included Pabellon, Camarones al ajillo, and the special which was a smothered chicken and rice dish with a tomato, spiced sauce. I thought the waiter said it was a version of the Pollo Adobado dish. I had the special and thought that was the best dish of the four. The chicken breast was tender and ample and the sauce had almost a light curry hint to it. I like things very spicy so it was pretty mild to me, but had very good flavor. All in all, I thought it was a really good meal and we would definitely recommend it. I concur with Kev that we keep this fresh tasting type of food going in KC. All the cheese smothered things in my lifetime tend to become indistinguishable over time. [Parent's notes-I thought I saw a kids menu available, but rice, beans, and tostones served on the entrees and arepas were plenty good for us. Casual atmosphere]
(4)
Per J.
The lechon is to die for. I'd come back just for that.
(5)
Briana O.
I just ate lunch here today, and I am surprised at some of the reviews on there because I did not have poor service at all today! Perhaps thanks to all of our yelpy influence they have stepped up their game? My friend and I went with a groupon we'd bought months ago since this place sounded interesting, and was nearby our work. We both left full of delicious satisfaction. We had a beef and chicken empanada for appetizers, and then we got the Cubano sandwich and the shredded beef arepas lunch combo (came with black beans, white rice, plantains, and avocado). I'd never had arepas before and they were DELICIOUS! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive and quick at bringing water, the food, and our check. Hopefully this means they've taken efforts to better thier service due to some of the past reviews! If you loved the food and were iffy about the service in your last visit, I'd definitely give it another shot! We were impressed and will be going back. Yum!
(4)
Jeff N.
I was going to start writing this in the middle of eating, but then I never stopped feasting. Now that my plate is gone, I will begin. ;D Service is impeccable. Overly friendly staff and great with the kids. All of them. Craziness we've not ever found in a kid-purposes restaurant. The food--My Sweet Baby Jesus--delicioso! I got the Lomo Saltado, and it was fantastic. Flavor craving after each bite and suddenly the plate is barren. D; Quick off the grill and reasonably priced, this has been my favorite meal of the week, I believe. Encore! Bravo!
(5)
Gina M.
This is a bit of a hole in the wall place, so don't expect any frills there, but, the food was fantastic! I tried to look up my dish to post the name, but their website was down. I'll just say that the ingredients were fresh and the taste was delicious!! It was a grilled chicken breast with some salad and avocado with black beans (DELISH) and rice. We did have the ceviche as an appetizer. I'd never had it before so can't compare it to anything but it was excellent. Our waitress was very good, though we did have difficulty understanding her. I learned to ask for a menu, as it was easier to read. :) Great place!!
(4)
Steven P.
I really like South American food. It's sometimes hard to find, or when you do find it its frequently mixed with Mexican. Which makes sense- Mexican food is awesome, but it's also very different from South American food. This place sticks to their guns. It's unapologetically South American. It's not fusion cuisine. It's not at all derivative. It's great! The arepas are great- try the Reina Pepiada (Venezuelan chicken salad) and the Pabellon - roasted beef. And the empanadas? Absolutely perfect. The pastry is light and tasty, and the fillings are seasoned deliciously. Their black beans are the best I've ever tasted, outside of homemade.
(4)
Enrique C.
I went to this restaurant looking for some south american flavour after staying in Kansas for two weeks. It did not disappoint me, the menu was big enough to satisfy any palate, From small appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. I went for the Lomo Saltado (One of the most famous Peruvian dishes), an arepa filled with pork and a Papaya juice. The food was pretty good, the size of the portions were right and very tasty. My only bad comment is about the papaya juice, it was too "watery" and I couldn't feel the fruit at all. (I did not say anything because I was not it the mood of complaining) The restaurant was very clean, good volume of the music and the service was friendly and attentive. I will recommend this restaurant to all my friends.
(4)
Cara R.
I love El Portòn Cafè!!! Everything I have ever had from here has been fantastic, especially the empanadas and plantains!! The service is always great and everyone is so nice. I love the casual, relaxing atmosphere. I feel like it is great to just sit and have a nice meal and good wine without feeling rushed. I can't forget about the amazing tres leches cake, delicious!!
(5)
Ann W.
Chalk it up to getting to big for their britches? I dunno, but while their business has picked up a LOT since I first started going to El Porton, sadly their service and food quality have dropped off. Last night, the hubby and I visited for the first time since mid-summer last year. We hadn't been in a while because the last time we were there, the service was terrible. I recall that I asked twice for silverware for our table and it never arrived, so I finally got up and went to chase down silverware. Not ok. Also, drinks were not refilled and food was really slow to arrive. Fast forward to this weekend when we decided to check them out again since this was once one of our favorite restaurants. First, one of the servers put someone else's food in front of us and then got upset when we told her it wasn't ours: "This isn't what we ordered." "Are you sure?" "Yes, this is not what we ordered." "Are you really sure?!?" "Yes!" I'm doing mostly vegetarian, so I ordered the house salad and the De Guasacaca arepa. I was REALLY looking forward to the arepa as I had ordered it on at least a couple of occasions in the past and really enjoyed it. De Guasacaca is supposed to be mostly avocado, but instead of avocado, I got an arepa filled with under-ripe flavorless tomatoes. I hate to be that person who complains that the food was bad and the serving was tiny, but really, the arepas are too small to charge $6 each unless they're stunningly good, but my arepa was literally so bad that I only ate two bites. When I told our server how bad it was she just grabbed my plate and walked off. My husband ordered some sort of platter that had sausage, fried pork and skirt steak. He was unable to eat much of the pork because it was too chewy, but he loved the sausage. Otherwise, he was not impressed with his dish. We walked out of there with a relatively hefty bill considering we did not order alcohol and we definitely felt less than satisfied. Sadly, after two not-so-stellar experiences, we will be scratching El Porton off our list of favorite places.
(2)
Laura F.
I was in Overland Park, and was looking for an ethnic, inexpensive lunch. I had this place bookmarked for a while, so I decided it was a good opportunity to try it. This place is an unassuming little Cafe in a strip of restaurants. The sign is plain, and it is a bit hard to find. I walked in, and the inside had a decent amount of seating, but was not large. I was greeted right away and seated towards the back. I looked at the menu and was intrigued by the Arepas, which I had never had before. They were only around $6 and sounded interesting. The description reminded me of a sandwich and the ingredients sounded good in the Arepa De Pabellon (beans, beef, and cheese), so I ordered it. My lunch came out quickly, probably about 10 minutes. The Arepa was not huge, but not tiny either. I tried eating it like a sandwich, but found the vessel to be a bit greasy, so I instead cut it into pieces and ate with my fork and knife. The beef was tender and had a really good flavor, not like anything I had ever tasted before. The spices (whatever they were) were perfect and made the sandwich very flavorful. The beans and cheese complimented the sandwich as well. My server was very warm throughout my meal and quickly refilled my water as needed. He made me feel welcome without being overbearing. I think this is the first time I have ever eaten Venezuelan and I was very pleased! I will definitely be back.
(5)
Vanessa G.
Delicious. This cute little place, is an amazing Venezuelan restaurant. They have great deals for lunch that let you try some of the local favorites. The service and atmosphere were great, and luckily we beat the lunchtime rush. Definitely go here and you need to get a jugo de maracuya, and their lunch special. The empanadas are amazing, and the sandwhiches are filling. We also got fried plantains and yuca.
(5)
Frank C.
Highly recommend checking this out if you're looking for great, traditional South American food. Live music on the Friday we went and great atmosphere. Can't go wrong with any dish. Best chimichuri sauce I've ever had. Plantanes are a must: Heavy on the plantanes and light on the grease! Very clean and tidy restroom. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Zachary S.
I will start by saying two things, first I hate pickles, second I have never explored Caribbean or South American cuisine. With that said I think I've found a new heaven! This was my first time at El Porton and it will not be the last by a long, long stretch. After seeing a travel show talk about Cubano sandwiches I found myself craving one and after some quick research this place came up as one of the best Cubanos in Kansas City. Although this is my first time eating this kind of food everything was absolutely phenomenal! I got a Cubano and Yuca Fritas and they were worth every penny! I never thought I would find a sandwich that was so well rounded and delicious outside of my old fall back KC BBQ well I have and I would recommend this anyone and everyone in Kansas City, if they can make a believer out of me they can do the same for anyone!
(5)
Stephen L.
Loved this place! The owner suggested the paella, and man he was spot on. Best I've had outside of South America. This place is a surprising find for Kansas. Right next door is a packed BBQ place, and this place is always empty. If you're in the area give it a try! Pros 1) Pretty authentic (especially for the SKC area) 2) Delicious 3) Awesome paella....I mean AWESOME 4) Empanadas are spot on. Cons 1) Advertising. They seemed to drop the ball here. We were looking for this place and almost couldn't find it due to lack of signage. Don't let the small, quaint looking restaurant throw you off. This place rocks.
(5)
Vaughn E.
What a great little place! Unassuming location and plain decor certainly doesn't hint at all the quality and great taste of the food there! We tried several dishes...all were good. I had no idea what to expect from a Venezuelan restaurant, but it didn't disappoint. We tried the trio of double stuffed fried plantains. Yum. I enjoyed the spicy shredded beef...the traditional Venezuelan dinner. My wife had a salad with chicken and some extra fried plantains. Our friends had the special of the day and were all very impressed with the meals. We tried 3 of the 4 desserts (no flan). All were fantastic. The wait staff was also very pleasant. We will definitely go back. One note for anyone thinking of going, the only alcohol on the menu is beer. But you can bring your own wine... only a $5 corkage fee. Go and enjoy!
Closer to 3.5 stars.. quality, fresh ingredients, staff was absolutely attentive and friendly (my friend really enjoyed staring at them). two others and myself went on a.. Saturday? Sunday? night and enjoyed live music and so overall fun company. this place is a bit pricier and quantity-wise, on a lesser scale. for people watching their health, this place is a rather decent place to indulge just barely in a clean, casual setting. For dessert, their dulce de leche was so moist and rich.. absolutely delicious! Their rum and raisin cake was outstanding as well.
(4)
Brian K.
This place is gem. The beef empanadas and the Cuban sandwich were outstanding. Great for the family and the service was excellent.
(5)
Tommy T.
I have been to El Porton twice. The first time I did not review but would have given it 2 or 3 stars at the max. I remember ordering a few items from the appetizers to get a good sampling of some of the food. It was ok... nothing that really stood out to me. I really wanted to like it since I had heard so many good things about it... Almost a year passed and we went back last Saturday, this time with a group of friends who wanted to try something different. It was much better to say the least. Shamelessly, we all ordered the same plate... -_- why...? I don't know... we got the El Porton Bandeja which comes with a piece of thin steak, (very lightly seasoned and lacking a little flavor), Sausage Link, A side of Pork Fat/Rind (pretty good), 2 tostones, arepa, a fried egg, rice and beans. Alot of food. Good, but could be better. We ordered a side of Empanadas, one chicken and one beef. Flavor, in my opinion, was all in the beef empanada. I loved it as did both of my daughters. We also had a side of tostones with the garlic dip which was amazing. I really regret not ordering a few other things off the menu such as the Lomo Saltado which looked amazing when brought out to a neighboring table... next time. Bottom line.... first time was not so good... second time was much better but still room for improvement ... I WILL be back a third time and hope that will be the 5th star...
(4)
Daniel B.
We came for lunch. I had the Cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. We will be back.
(5)
Timothy H.
My wife and I have been here now a dozen times and continue to be amazed. The owner is a chef who formerly worked at a 5 star restaurant and his creations are incredible. Whatever I order is cooked to perfection and the seasoning is off the chart. And the prices for this quality could easily be double. I do recommend that if you eat here you MUST order either the chocolate layer dessert or the coconut tres leches cake. Both are beyond ecstasy. If you read my other reviews you can see I almost never give anyone 4 stars or above, but this place deserves it!
(5)
Walt P.
This hidden gem is one of the best places in town. The food was great, the service was great and the price was reasonable. It reminds me of Sol Food in Marin.
(5)
Eric T.
Had a delicious lunch. Highly recommend the carne muchaca arepa! Oh man, and the plantains are amazing. I could eat just plantains and be happy.
(5)
Marcia B.
Hello, delicious!!! We went based on a word of mouth recommendation & were blown away. I had the traditional arepas (1 pork, 1 chicken) & they were amazing. My husband had the carne asada and was blown away. We split the sampler appetizer, and it was fantastic as well. Our server was friendly, helpful when asked for a recommendation, and efficient. All that at a very reasonable price. The only thing keeping this place from a five-star rating is the ambiance. I feel like they need to dim the dining room lights a bit and add some curtains to make you forget you're in a strip mall. We will be back!!!
(4)
Tom R.
My meal was fresh and delicious. It was my first time there. The staff was friendly. overall I will probably visit there again
(4)
David Y.
Excellent service and food. Only had one dinner here but was very good. The restaurant is a little small was was busy the entire time. I ordered the Pabellon ($11) which was a rice and bean plate with very succulent shredded beef and a few small pieces of plantain. I did wish the pabellon plate had some type of vegetable on it. Our table also ordered the ceviche, fried yucca, and a few arepas. Everything I tried was very good. The make their own delicious hot sauce too.
(4)
Annabel M.
This place was wonderful! We had Arepas, platanos maduros, tostones appetizer, and the passion fruit drink. So delicious, even my 1-year-old enjoyed the meal. We recently moved to the area & we will definitely be regulars.
(5)
Melissa S.
Great food! Try it all, bring friends and a bottle of wine from home. I wish i could remember all the stuff we tried.
(4)
Steve W.
My wife, daughter and I continue to enjoy El Porton. The food is consistently very good and the service is excellent. We took some friends for their first time there and they enjoyed it very much. It is nice that the environment is plain but welcoming. We will continue to crave their empanadas and arepas but they have so many good entrees as well. The flan is so yummy as well! If you like Latin American food El Porton is a must try! Keep in mind that this isn't a Mexican restaurant so there are not any chips and salsa which is fine because the food here is worth the trip.
(5)
Brad J.
A wonderful find, I've never had South American food and had no idea what to expect. It appears to be family owned and run which was nice, the decor was colorful/ sophisticated. The menu was full of choices but easy to navigate and the staff was very helpful with making selections. I have been back multiple times brining new friends to this taste treat. I'm not a huge sweets guy but went out on a limb one day , asked about the Tres Leches, decided to try it, OMG, I have never had a more wonderful dessert! You Must try it! Their location is a little unfortunate, kind of an older strip mall, but don't let that dissuade you, I think it's only a matter of time that they will outgrow this location and move to more upscale Leawood or OP, because that's where they belong. the price is great, and the food is fantastic, give them a try!
(5)
Whitney K.
The owner chatted with us while we waited for our food. Loved hearing about his experiences, and to top it off, the food was great!
(4)
Jessica S.
Absolutely loved this place! I met up with a high school friend here for our annual reunion during the holidays and it was a great choice. Their empanadas were very tasty (we ordered one chicken and one beef) and came with a yummy sauce as well. I thought the shell was surprisingly, deliciously flaky (usually not the case). Their arepas were the real stars though - they have a wide selection of fillings and they're all really yummy. I had the shredded beef with mashed plantain - I'm dreaming about eating arepas now (were that I still lived in OP!). Their boiled yuca + sauce was also tasty and I thought their cafe con leche was decent. Service was also very good - our server was very attentive, polite, and happily gave us recommendations. Definitely planning to stop by again next time I'm in town.
(5)
Chris H.
This place is authentic. As a person who just moved here from Florida that grew up in a diverse neighborhood with many different types of food I know this genre and I feel safe saying that with the utmost confidence. I had the Cuban sandwich and also the stuffed potatoes and it was nothing short of delicious and well presented. The place was clean, service was awesome and friendly. I highly recommend this place to anyone that hasn't experienced true Latin American food. I'll be a regular here for sure.
(5)
Jack K.
What a great family run place. Nice people, clean environment and great food. Adding to my list of places to introduce friends and family to!
(5)
L P.
Amazing!!! Ok I am not kidding. You must come by and have the potatoe ball with meat. I also had the empanadas and with the white sauce they make from scratch. I am coming back tomorrow!!
(5)
Jeremy M.
They have an amazing variety of cuban and south American food. Don't leave with trying the tres Leche cake.
(5)
Sofia M.
Amazing Venezuelan restaurant. Delicious food and amazing attention. It's a must if you are in Kansas.
(5)
R E.
Fantastic little gem. The arepas are wonderful ( I had the Reina Pepiada, but want to go back and try each one of them), the empanadas were tasty, and the plantains were very good as well. We had the appetizer sampler, and I had an entree that had a little bit of everything else (El Porton Bandeja - steak, pork, sausage, and an egg). Everything was great. Wish I could have tried the pabellon, but that will happen on the next visit. Flan was wonderful as well.
(5)
Tony K.
I've tried coming twice before and it must have been on a Mon/Tues, between lunch/dinner or after close because both times they were closed. Bad luck on my part. Hey third times the charm right? Totally, Worth it. Started with the plantains. Came with sauce which was good and used a bit of the left overs with my entree. Arepas. Seems to be a big one on the menu with many options. The shredded beef was the same as in the plantains which was sad because I should have ordered another type. You really can't feel bad because it along with a glass of juice made a tasty meal. Looking for an excuse to head over that direction and pay a little more attention so I can get you guys a better review.
(5)
Marcos V.
The lechon, rice and beans were on point. Authentic Latin, comfort food! This is coming from a Puerto Rican!
(4)
Pete C.
El Porton truly serves a unique blend of Caribbean favorites like yuca, plantain rice and black beans and succulent meat sides as ropa vieja, carne asada, ceviche and so much more. Nothing bland served @ "El Porton", the meats are marinated with different secret blends that leave you wanting more and more of the juicy flavors. Tonight is my first experience dining here. I'm coming back for more. I highly recommend El Porton.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
This is a hidden jewel. The food is wonderful and the customer service is fantastic. It is a place where you walk on and feel welcomed. Thank you for making our trip to Kansas City so much better.
(5)
Dee B.
Great, great place. The shredded beef arepa is so very good. I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Robert A.
Really liked this place. Its hard to find a place that serves arepas unless you want to go to a very large city, or Miami, so was surprised to find this in Overland Park. Ordered an appetizer, which was fried plantain cups filled with 3 different fillings - good, but just a warm up for the main event. Ordered 3 arepas - one with pabellon (the best), one with guacamole/cheese (very good), and one which was effectively filled with chicken salad (don't recall the "official" name, but it was good chicken salad). The quality of the cakes was great - slightly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and held up under the weight of the fillings. And the fillings were plentiful; I shared the 3 arepas with my wife and we felt very full after leaving. One thing I noticed was the quality of the fillings - usually when you get shredded meats as fillings you'll get a fair amount of fat/gristle/tendons etc. None of that with their fillings - it was all good quality meat. Will definitely return.
(5)
Dan D.
Awesome across the board. I had the Cubano sandwich. Waiter brought out chimichurri, aioli & mango habanero dipping sauces that were amazing as well. Casual and unpretentious dining.
(5)
Daigle M.
I'm a Wednesday regular. The arepa special is amazing and priced at under 5 bucks! You get an arepa of your choice, white rice, black beans and plantains. Unbeatable price, delicious food and great service. Finally, good Latin American food that isn't just limited to Mexican. Enjoy!
(4)
jennifer b.
Yummy yummy yummy ......cannot wait to go back . We ordered empanadas and arepas ....they were so good . They come with real tasty sauces too. Haven't had pernil (slow cooked pork) that good since I was a teen . The tres leches cake was MMMmMMmmmmm heavenly ! Service was outstanding and are very friendly. Oh yes their fresh juices are fantastic !
(5)
Jake R.
Simply amazing! The food was superb, very authentic!!! Took my work team there for an outing on a recommendation and we were all blown away. The only thing to keep in mind is that is a small family run restaurant so service is a bit slower as there was only 1 waiter but it was well worth the wait!!
(5)
Jason P.
Been several times for lunch and dinner and enjoy the food and atmosphere. I really like when they have live music! The garlic sauce served with the empanadas is de-lish!! I would recommend calling/checking online to be sure they are open as I've shown up twice when they were closed. Also we brought ten people from work once and it took longer than we expected, so some were late getting back.
(4)
Jen H.
We truly enjoyed ourselves when we ate here. Great food and service.
(5)
Marie F.
This place was really super.... the waiter chatted with us for a few minutes and never let us feel unattended. The owner came by to ask about our experience and personally thanked us for coming in and invited us back. Did I mention the place was busy? Well, it was and they still made time to treat us like this. I didn't know this area even existed (I thought the world stopped around Blue Koi) and it is in a little strip mall place. It's small and very casual. They made enough room to put a guy playing Caribbean music on a steel drum though...that was exciting. Eating and playing "name that tune". He played a special request from the Little Mermaid for some kids... So we got one of the specials, which was a Brazilian seafood soup and came with a salad and mashed and fried plantains. The soup was like a coconut milk with rice and seafood and it was very tasty. The salad was a mixed green with a light, but tasty vinaigrette. We also ordered Camorones de Ajillo, which was shrimp in garlic butter sauce. It came with the same salad and rice (they allowed us to substitute black beans) and sweet plantains. We wanted to try an arepa while we were there and we went with the chicken and avocado. It was not delicious. It was more like a chicken salad panini. The chicken tasted canned. So bland and disappointing. Do not recommend. It was pricey for a small sandwich. However, the personal and friendly service made up for that one let down. I'm still going with 5 stars because the overall experience and food quality was impressive.
(5)
Lu J.
Excellent food!!!! Empanadas are wonderful. I had a chicken arepa. It was so good. The flan was anazing. I usually don't eat beans but the bkack beans have a very good flavor. A must try for everyone. Prices are very reasonable
(5)
Paul M.
Update: Have returned two more times and each has been a wonderful experience. It's on my short list. Upgraded a star based on consistency and charm!
(5)
Angela A.
I've been to this restaurant before for dinner and have had better experiences, but today I was invited to go for lunch and it was quite a different experience. Service was slow and they got my order for two chicken empanadas wrong (they gave me two hamburger empanadas). When I told the waitress, she actually threw major attitude and argued with me over the counter about it. Another waitress quickly took over and was more pleasant, but augh! What a miserable experience. After a few minutes I got my chicken empanadas and they were good. Certainly not worth the pain of putting up with the waitress' attitude. I would have to be really drunk and not very hungry to go back there. Just sayin.
(2)
Adi H.
Disappointed on first visit. We came during dinner time, it was busy, but they sit us almost right away. It was quite pricey, empanada was $3 each, and it was small and a bit soggy. Waiter was busy with other tables, we didn't get silverwares or napkins, even after food got on the table, I had to grab them from next empty table, and by the way, tables were sticky. The $16 Carne Asada was tough, wet and cooked to medium, the shredded beef rice platter was just alright, but the plantains were good! So was the live music. We were going to try the Chevice, and Tres Leches but the first three items we ordered failed to meet our expectation, so we decided to end it there.
(2)
Kerry P.
Oh El Porton, how I love you so. The food is great, I always order the arepas - specifically the shredded beef and chicken/avocado arepa with a side of their spicy mango sauce. SO GOOD! The best part about this place is that it's BYOB... not very many places in KC has that feature. The desserts are delish, love the flan and the tres leches cake. However, I have to give this place 4 stars because of the service. It's definitely a hit or miss - they'll either 1. provide you with the best service 2. forget you even came in... Overall, I do love this place and very rarely do I even care about the service just as long as the food's good... but if you're with a group of people wanting to enjoy the evening with a glass of wine..? it'd be nice to step up your game a little a pay attention to us...
(4)
Youshi P.
I had the pollo chicken dish and it had great flavor and just a great combination dinner plate. Would recommend going here.
(5)
Caroline L.
Came here with a bunch of my coworkers for lunch one Friday afternoon. Now I was a little bit skeptical about the quality of the food here - given that this place was suggested by the same coworker who suggested Blue Koi (hated it, see other reviews). Added to that as a Los Angeles, CA native I'm really picking regarding any form of Latin American food. Given that, I was definitely pleasantly surprised when we got here. It's a small unassuming restaurant with excellent food. Can't for the life of me remember what we ordered (it was a few weeks ago) but everything was truly amazing. Will definitely be back again!
(4)
John S.
Great food, South American I believe. Subtle flavoring, I'd eat here once a week if I lived closer. Warm hearty beef stew, unique and tasty chicken salad, I loved everything I ate. Best plantains I've ever had, they were perfectly carmelized, sweet with a hint of sour. You have to try this restaurant if you get the chance!
(5)
Doyle D.
What is with the 20.00 corkage fee? They didn't have wine glasses and brought us an opener for us to use. You would think they would open the wine for 20.00
Came in for a really late lunch, about an hour before closing. I was the only customer, so was leary I'd get bad service or leftovers. I received a pleasant greeting; service remained enthusiastic throughout. I was hungry, but looking for a simple lunch...I chose the Cubano although I was skeptical. I was going to try more, but was playing it safe, plus the lone sandwich was $8+. It didn't take long before I had a freshly made, crunchy, steamy sandwich. It was really quite good for an item difficult to find in this area. There was a little dollop of carrot salad(?) on the side that I loved. Needs better pickles on the sammy tho. Left happy!
(4)
Brian J.
I bought a restaurant.com coupon. $25 for $35 worth of food. We went there during lunch and the place was empty. The waitress had no idea what the coupon meant, so she took my phone to the back and brought out the owner. He said that it was for dinner only, but I showed him on the phone (displaying the coupon) that it did not list that as a restriction, but he said too bad. He then told us to leave! So I smiled and left. I told my friend we wouldn't go back. Later the next night, my friend told me we hadn't canceled the gift card, so we might as well go eat there while we are in town. He convinced me to go back despite the way we were treated earlier. I'm glad we did. When we first walked in there for dinner there was a band playing Venezuelan music. It was an electric atmosphere, much different than the empty lunchtime visit. The son of the owner waited on us. We ordered our meals and got some soda. He kept our glasses full. The food was amazing. I had the strip-steak. It came with a good portion of rice and black beans. My friend order the seafood rice meal that came with huge crab legs. Our other buddy had chicken adobo. It was a good portion. Even with the restaurant.com coupon it was on the expensive side, but the food quality was amazing. When I originally wrote this review after our horrible first visit, I gave them a 1 star, but after going back and having delicious food in a rich atmosphere, I upped it to 4. The only reason they did not gete a perfect 5 is because of the horrible way we were treated on our first visit. Nice place to visit and great food. Get the discount, though, and you'll enjoy it much more.
(4)
Chris R.
Lots to like about this place. We're don't often frequent South American/Caribbean cuisine, but had a certificate to use here (more on that later), so we decided to give it a shot for lunch. Started with the Stuffed Twice Cooked Plantains. We'd never had anything but sweet plantains before, so weren't sure how much we'd like these. But they were outstanding. Served with a tasty sauce that went very well with the plantains and shredded beef. For entrees, one of us had the Pabellon (white rice, black beans, shredded beef and sweet plantains), which was excellent. We also tried a chorizo arepe (kind of a small sandwich with a "bread" made of white corn flour), which was also very good. Both dishes came with a white rice that was seasoned very nicely. Decided to splurge with flan and tres leches for dessert. Again, excellent, with particular kudos for the tres leches. It was out of this world. The service was very good, too. I think we had a bit of a language barrier with one server (though she was very friendly), but were able to get lots of good information from another. Other reviewers have mentioned the service being somewhat slow, but we didn't get that feeling today. I did kind of hate for the experience to end the way that it did. The only reason we knew about this place was that someone gave us a restaurant.com certificate. But when it came time to settle the bill, it turns out that the certificate was only good for dinner. Not the restaurant's fault, from what I can tell-- the dinner stipulation wasn't printed on the certificate, but the owner very sternly let my wife know that the contract he signed did spell it out. But still, it was unfortunate that we had a very nice experience end on a bit of a sour note.
(3)
Carrie R.
LOVE this place. The food is delish and the staff is super friendly. My husband and I eat here on a weekly basis and are never disappointed. We even branch out from our "go tos" and every bite is scrumptious. My favorite is the Reina Pepiada arepa or the Pork Hash, my hudband goes for the De Pabellon, or the Pork Hash. Consistently good food. Anything you order, you can't go wrong. The only downside is that I crave this place on Sundays and some days when they aren't open for dinner (Monday and Tuesday).
(5)
Lannette G.
So after starting a rant on yelp talk, about not finding empanadas in Kansas City, I received a hot tip by some very insightful yelpers. Thanks guys! Here it goes a review about a Latin American Place from a Latina herself. It was 4 of us dining so we got some variety. We ordered, the carne asada, the lechon. the shredded beef which I refer to as Ropa vieja (cuban name for it) and Tilapia. All plates were nicely presented, and filling, but some lacked a bit of that latin explosion of flavors....but I really think they do it this, in order to cater to a broader audience. If you want more kick just add some salt or ask for some spicy habenero, chimichurri or the sauce they put with the empanadas. Other then that I ate everything on my plate so I cannot complain. The empanadas, though not my cuban pastelitos I was craving for, were spectacular and the sauce even better. I would of dunked rubber in this sauce and would of thought it was delicious. They have fresh juices, but are $3.50 so beware it could put a hole in your bugget. El Porton, if you read this review, come on your killing me, lower the juice prices. The staff,helpful, attentive & cordial The location? In the suburbs hidden from any signs of life. Thanks to your seclusion I discovered parts of Kansas City, I'd never knew existed. Restaurant was immaculately clean and had fresh roses and carnations on the table...a very chic touch, I thought. My fellow Gringos and exhausted Tortilla lovers, you guys should give "El Porton" a try, you won't be disappointed. p.s I uploaded pictures of the meals and menu on the yelp "el porton" page.
(4)
Jim S.
This is a great little place. Food was terrific, the empanadas are amazing. Good atmosphere, highly recommend.
(5)
matt h.
beef empanadas are amazing, as are the bollitos. this place is wonderfully authentic and unique. you really should give it a try.
(5)
Rob M.
We don't have tons of options for Latin American food in K.C. that aren't Mexican (or Tex-Mex, to be more accurate). El Portón is a nice change, especially out here on Planet Suburbia! The Venezuelan-style food is appealing and reasonably priced. I went with my folks, who split an order of camarones al ajillo (garlic shrimp) while I had the pabellón, Venezuela's national dish, which consists of shredded seasoned beef (similar to ropa vieja, a ubiquitous dish throughout Latin America, with a variety of different regional versions) accompanied by black beans and rice and fried plaintains. My folks' shrimp came with similar accompaniments, plus a nice salad with a sharp vinaigrette dressing. We ate everything and ordered a tres leches cake for dessert, with three spoons. Smart move, because it was a big piece of cake and quite rich. The menu also lists arepas with an extensive variety of fillings, starters like empanadas and ceviche, etc. The restaurant is in a small shopping center on the east side of Roe just south of the big nursery at 105th St. The restaurant isn't visible from Roe, you have to drive into the center to find it. The restaurant is small, but attractive, with comfortable chairs at the tables and bright Latin American paintings (for sale) on the walls. The owners are very friendly and check frequently to be sure everything is OK and you're enjoying your meal. The restaurant actually has a very pleasant view out towards the neighboring nursery and surrounding greenery -- you don't feel closed in at all. The food at El Portón is NOT highly spiced, but you can ask for hot sauce (made from habaneros) on the side to spike things to a higher level. If you enjoy Latin American cuisine and are looking for a change from the usual fare, El Portón is for you! Enjoy!
(4)
Wendy B.
I called about the corkage fee based on another review. It was $5 a bottle not $20 and they opened our bottle. No they didn't have glass wine glasses but it's a casual restaurant and for $5 I can drink out of a small glass.
(4)
Kev L.
This is # 500 for me on Yelp. (Kansas City's first 500!?!?) I wanted to pick a restaurant that required some attention and deserves praise. I picked El Porton simply because this is a genre of food that Kansas City is lacking. And considering the owner has tried multiple locales, who knows how many lives the cat has left. El Porton is simply Venezuelan food. However, if you are familiar with Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, or Colombian food, you will find Venezuelan food to be quite familiar. The dish that I tried was the national dish of Venezuela, the Pabelon. It's basically a side of rice and black beans cooked with sofrito served with a side of sweet fried plantains and shredded braised beef. The rice and beans were perfect for my taste, and the plantains couldn't be prepared any better. The shredded beef also for Pabelon was picture perfect. Also included was a small side of pickled carrots. Also nice was the opportunity to finally have fresh homemade passion fruit juice in water. To my knowledge they are the only restaurant in Kansas City to offer it (and if I'm wrong, please correct me!) at $3.99, I find the price to be a bit harsh. But the laws of supply & demand quickly quell my complaint there. Also of note is the fact that their menu has a whole section dedicated to Arepas. And if you haven't had an arepa before, then I suggest you go that route first. If you have an opportunity, please give this place a shot and add another ethnic group to your choice of ethnic joints locally. The owner is currently working on expanding his menu and according to his master plan is hoping to go from strictly Venezuelan to a full Caribbean menu.
(4)
Sofie C.
Delicious food. We were in the area, so decided to Yelp for something different. I've never had arepas before, but I loved the ones I had here. They were crispy and fresh and the flavors were not overwhelming. I had the chicken and avocado arepa and my girlfriend had the shredded beef. I liked the chicken and avocado better because the shredded beef was juicy which made the outside of the arepa a little soggy. We also ordered the works to share since it gave us a variety of options to taste. We did not enjoy their ceviche, but their beans and plantains were tasty. Also really enjoyed the sauce they had on the side to put on the food. We ordered tres leches for dessert and was also great! It was not too soggy nor too sweet. We definitely plan on going back. Service was great as well.
(5)
Brian K.
This place is awesome. A local gem. Very good food, good service. Large portions.
(5)
Sara T.
Food was DELICIOUS! I found this little gem of a restaurant on Yelp, liked what I saw in the reviews, and I was not disappointed. The waiter was super friendly, did a great job recommending and describing dishes. The atmosphere was clean and cozy, with a fresh yellow rose at each table. Would be great for a casual date, family dinner, or a small get-together with friends. Ordered the empinadas, one chicken and one beef. The salsa that it came with was out of this world. Not spicy, just tons of fresh flavor. Then my boyfriend and I split the roasted pork with citrus (not sure the exact name), the pabellon arepa (as per others' recommendations), and the chicken & avocado arepa. The roasted pork was juicy and tender, the rice and beans were simple and tasty, and the arepas were perfect little pockets of food. They are served in sort of a small, thick corn cake (similar to the masa in tamales), which is cooked on the grill so it is not greasy or doughy. Order the Passion Fruit juice (ummm FRESH), for the perfect tart and sweet accompaniment.
(5)
Dawn V.
I'm pretty sure that I could eat here for lunch and dinner every day and not get tired of it. And that's really saying something for me! The pabellon is to die for, whether you get it as a meal or as an arepa. Personally, I like the arepa more, only because you get pabellon, beans, cheese, and plantain, together as a sandwich. As others have mentioned, they are located in a weird little strip mall, but once you're inside, it's a nice space.
(5)
Amy S.
Delicious. And cheap. We brought our own wine and the happily provided a corkscrew and plastic cups. Good variety and well seasoned. Staff was very helpful explaining the various dishes.
(4)
Anne M.
Yay!!!! I found Jose Garcia. He used to own Cafe Venezuela. He's now opened this new restaurant. My fiance and I ate here today and the food is like how we remembered it. We started out with their chicken empanadas, which was yummers. For our main entree, we had the Pabellon.....omg, soooo good. For the finishing touch, I had the Flan and my fiance had the Pastelitos de Guayaba. We also had Cafe Con Leche, which is primo. The new restaurant is definitely spacious than the previous restaurant and Jose is as sweet as ever. If you are looking to try South American/Carribean food, stop by this place and say hello to Jose. What are you still doing reading this.....GO and ENJOY THE FOOD!!!
(5)
Dan J.
I knew there must be something to this place when it was full of customers still for lunch past 1:00. Great food and menu is why. Will definitely be back with friends and family.
(4)
Melisa V.
headed here for dinner with my husband and 13-month-old last night. since he has an earlier bedtime, we arrived a little before 6pm for dinner. the place was already pretty busy. a lot of tables with kids, so we know we were in a good place to bring our little guy. initially the hostess tried to seat us at a two person table. we had to explain to her that we needed a bigger table so our kid would also have somewhere to eat. she had no problem moving us to a bigger table. she was very sweet to our little guy throughout the meal. our server was very nice and accommodating to our son as well. we ordered our meal and decided to order a beans & rice side for our son (even though we brought something just in case). our server told us there was a better kid-friendly option, cheese wrapped in dough. he told us that his child loves it. why not? we decided to order it for him and it arrived pretty quickly. we tried it and didn't really care for it, but our son seemed to like it well enough. we ordered a pabellon arepa as our appetizer. the filling was really good! our son nibbled on that as well. then our main course arrived while we were finishing the arepa. I ordered the lomo saltado, which was flavored perfectly. my husband had a pork special, which he really enjoyed. my son, already sick of the cheesy bread, nibbled the tomato out of my salad. our server was kind enough to bring us another thin slice for him to enjoy. then our check arrived. it was a bit more than we were expecting, then we discovered that the cheese wrapped in dough was $8! considering that we were looking to order a $3 side for him, it was a little annoying. especially since the item wasn't on the menu. yes, we could have asked him how much it would be since he didn't offer the price but we were a little uncomfortable doing so. we assumed it would be around $4-$5, at most. that was really the only negative of the meal (which is why this isn't a 5-star review). we also really enjoyed the live music. a man was playing a steel drum in the corner of the restaurant. my son had a great view of him and was entertained the entire evening. I think he also entertained the musician! will definitely return - just probably NOT order the dough-wrapped cheese again.
(4)
Michael C.
Been to El Porton numerous times. Food always great! Service is great! A great place to sit, relax and enjoy a variety of food.
(5)
Steve H.
Went to El Porton last night for the first time and was not disappointed. My wife and I shared a chicken empanada, beef empanada and ceviche to start. The empanadas were great! Warm and great flavor - the dipping sauce that goes with them is perfect. The ceviche was very good as well with shrimp and scallops. For dessert we had the Tres Leches cake which is a favorite of ours. Once again we were not disappointed. It wasn't made exactly the way we like it, but it was very good. For dinner we both had the specials that night - one was a pork tamale and the other was grilled pork fillet. Once again, both of these wery very good! Great flavors, right size portion and looked great on the plate. El Porton does not have a liquor license, but you can carry in your own wine or beer and there is nor corking fee. We saw 3 different groups carry in their own wine. El Porton is a great place to try some S. American/Caribbean food! Suggest you give it a try sometime. Giving it 5 stars as I don't know where else you can find food like this in JoCo.
(5)
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Address :4671 Indian Creek Pkwy
Overland Park, KS, 66207
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
caitlin j.
Arepas. Arepas as far as the eye can see. If anyone has ever wondered what the gluten intolerant dream of... this is pretty much it. A Venzie friend dragged me out to lunch, promising to show me a place where all my arepa dreams could come true. Now. If you like arepas, I don't need to explain myself. But if you're not up on the arepa, please let me explain: It is warm. It is offered in countless varieties. It is not costly. It is not made with wheat flour. It's small but hearty. It can be eaten as a snack or a lunch or eaten in pairs to more-than-sate-you. El Porton's currently offers 12 kinds of arepas. Let me say this again. 12 fun-filled meat or veg flavors. And they are delicious. I had become accustomed to machine-made arepas, but these babies are handmade--- which means they're a little bit less doughy. Great! When I discovered this place also serves two kinds of plantains (sweet and green!) and yuca prepared in two styles, I had to check the address again. (I grew up around here; I know this used to be Dairy Queen territory). Me: But... It looks like I'm on Indian Creek Parkway. Shouldn't I be eating a chicken finger? No! I should not be eating a chicken finger because contrary popular opinion, chickens don't have digits like that. (But fish do have heads-- and that's how they're served at this place). Ok, ok. I'm getting carried away with myself. Back to the facts. This place is tucked away off of Roe in Overland Park and would be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for. (So, look for it, why don't ya!). The service was speedy enough to be called efficient but they didn't rush us, either. My friend and I went in for a 3pm lunch and found a respectable number of people in the joint enjoying their meals. We ordered small plates and we were satisfied with our wait time. If you live in the area and are wailing about wanting a new or different local spot, this is so worth your time.
(4)C L.
I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars. Four stars won over because I can't hate on rare, culture-specific KC eateries that are clean and friendly. Four of us stopped in during our lunch hour, excited to try new fare. Many items were shared. Below lists what I tried: arepa (de guasacaca) - white cheese, guacamole: Maybe I waited too long to write this review. It's only been two days, but for some reason, I can't remember what else was in this stuffed sandwich. I think it was tomatoes. It was good, but I liked Amor Picante's arepa better. pabellon - shredded beef, Venezuelan national dish: Spiced nicely, but not my cup of tea. The consensus at my table was that it was "okay". ceviche - shrimp and scallops: This was also just okay. lechon asado - roasted pork: This was probably my favorite dish. It was flavorful and tender. tres leches cake: Sweet, just as you'd expect. It was good. My friend ordered the day's special, which was a chicken (thigh?) that was covered in a pork sauce. It came with rice and beans, like most of the other entrees, but it was also accompanied by some fried arepa pieces. Those were fantastic. I realize my review is quite boring, but that's how I felt about my experience - slightly disappointed. I'd had high expectations for this place, and thought I'd be wowed after reading reviews. But it hadn't been that long since I'd tried Amor Picante, and I'd felt the food there was much tastier. The arepa, ceviche, and "new to me" meat entrees were just tastier at AP. El Porton's pluses were that the servers were knowledgeable about menu items and their prices were reasonable. Though I'd try El Porton again, I don't feel I'm in a rush to go back.
(4)Shana S.
I waited a couple of days to write this review because my experience was not the greatest, and I wanted to be more level-headed when I wrote about going there. Walking up to the restaurant, we saw that we would be one of a very select and small group deciding to eat there that night. That could be good, because the service should be good, or it could be bad because no one else wanted to eat there... We got there walked in, and weren't totally sure what to do. We stood there for a minute with no one helping us, looking for something that told us that we were supposed to seat ourselves, since no one was looking in our direction. After a minute someone came over and seated us. I had looked over the Yelp reviews and had some things in mind to order that people had seemed to like. Our server came over and started to tell us about the specials when her cell phone went off (somewhat loud). She apologized, and all was fine. Hey, it happens. We ordered the stuffed plantains. She asked us which filling we wanted, and so I asked her which she liked best. She hesitated for a minute, and then said "I guess the shredded beef." She didn't sound real enthusiastic about it, which made me a little nervous. Ok, whatever. I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic) and my husband got the Pabellon (Venezuelan shredded beef dish). Each came with plantains and rice and the Pabellon with black beans and the Shrimp with a side salad. A few minutes after her phone went off and she took our order, we heard her talking in broken Spanish to someone on the phone, and both my husband and I learned enough Spanish in high school to understand that she said she was at her other job right now, and that she would need the other server, who spoke better Spanish, to write down the directions that the person on the phone was giving her. Due to some sort of mix up, our meals came out without first giving us our appetizer. It came out after our plates did. My plate came with plantains. My husband's did not. The Pabellon tasted exactly like the appetizer did. Overall, the food was kind of bland, and I don't love spicy food, either. The garlic shrimp was okay, but didn't seem any different from a shrimp scampi I would get anywhere else (like Red Lobster). By this time, people had started streaming in more. We weren't interested in dessert because we were already annoyed with dinner. So now, we were just waiting for a check. Yeah, they filled up pretty quickly, but that doesn't mean you get to forget about us. It took us 14 minutes of just sitting for her to bring us the check after taking our plates and telling her we didn't want dessert. Then she dropped off the check and took awhile to pick it up again, once she had picked it up, it seemed to be taking a ridiculous amount of time. She came over to say that their credit card machine was getting a busy signal and that it would just be a few more minutes. We brought a groupon with us that basically made our meal $10 less expensive than it would have been normally. With $10 off, it still wasn't worth it, and we have no reason to return, and won't be.
(1)Trecia M.
Food is super good. I've been here a few times and sampled three+ empanadas. The civiche lacks basic civiche flavor, but the others (vegetarian options) were good. The actual empanada bread was a bit tough to cut with a knife. I assume they are suppose to be that way, but I never had them like that before. I also had the shrimp in garlic sauce...OMG.. Orgasmic, well almost. Really yummy, like I could eat it everyday yummy. My biggest problem with this place is EVERY time I have been here there is a longer than necessary wait to order food and receive your food. Last time I was here no one even took our order until 20 minutes after we were seated and it seemed like they were ignoring us. Every time I tried to get someones' attention, they quickly looked away and then no one knew who was waiting on us. I don't mind keeping a chair warm, but I was hungry! All that being said, I'm over the tex mex thang and excited I don't have to drive to KCK to get authentic comida latina!
(4)E R.
I was blown away by this hidden gem! I ordered the special which consisted of 3 boneless pork chops with a very nice salad, plantains, rice and beans and some beautifully grilled sliced eggplant. The chimchurra sauce was so good I asked them to bring a small side dish for dipping. The flan was a great way to cap the meal. I understand they have live music on Fridays - a very worth while experience.
(4)Robin S.
Gluten free friendly - with a few minor areas for improvement. The plantains were fried in the same fryer with the empanada batter and then served atop the rice. If you are allergic to gluten, a good portion of your meal is served contaminated. That being said, the food was pretty good and the chef was very understanding. The majority of their menu is gluten-free. When you order, just be sure to emphasize to the server and/or chef that nothing can be fried (unless they get a designated fryer). Great lunch prices - for $12 I got "The Works" combo platter with 7 different things!
(3)Marissa S.
The food was good, but overpriced. They only give you 2 plantains (which is what I really came there for), which I had to order an extra plate for $2. Which isn't bad, but not what I expected. The decor of the place looks like it is having an identity crisis. The table was wobbly. Besides that, the food was good. Probably going to order something more flavorful next time. I had the Lechon Asado. The pork tasted like it was in a crock pot all day. Tres leches was over priced. $4 for a small piece of cake.. Give me a break!
(3)Steve V.
The food was good but nothing outstanding. Tried the Arepas with chicken salad and avocado, lacked salt and avocado, was like a blob of bland chicken salad on a really good arepas. The pork, rice, beans and plantains were good and the portion generous but for $12.00 it was lacking and left me wanting something more but not sure what.
(2)Jen D.
2.5 stars... Not quite 3... I was really excited when I heard about El Porton, and doubly excited when I bought a group coupon for half price. I finally went a few weeks ago, and to summarize, it did not meet my expectations. Our group of 3 ordered several appetizers and shared a few entrees. We started with chicken empanadas which were good, and the ceviche which was lacking flavor. We had the reina pepiada arepa (chicken and avocado) and this too lacked seasoning and flavor, I was really excited to try the arepa, so this experience was disappointing. I put salt on nearly every item served, as most of the dishes were bland. We shared the Pabellon and this was my favorite dish. The beans and rice were great, and the shredded beef was tender. At the time we dined, El Porton had not obtained a liquor permit, so you could bring in your own bottle of wine. That would have been fun if I would have known ahead of time. One other note, service was very slow. I'm guessing all of the food was cooked to order, which is great, however, our food took a really long time. I probably won't go back unless I have a craving for beans and rice.
(3)Gary R.
Our first visit to El Portón Café: Been to many Cuban/Latin restaurants in Florida over years, most of which were more of the down home variety with large portions and cheap prices. El Portón Café is a bit upscale comparatively as far as the prices, food, and ambience is concerned. We had the specials offered which were polenta tostadas with chopped pork and ground beef with plaintains. Also had the Jugos Naturales passion fruit and soursop. Tres Leches for dessert. In all cases everything was excellent and service was perfect. For our vegetarian friends it would be nice to see a couple additional menu items for their tastes. We look forward to a return visit soon!
(5)Patrick R.
Very very slow service. We were ignored for at least half an hour. After we got the menus it took us another hour to get our food. When we tried to pay it was impossible to wave the waiter down. We left with cash on the table. The food was good but overpriced. The overall result: nice try but never again!
(1)Richard B.
Very tasty meal with a very reasonable price. I have been twice now and enjoyed both trips. The pork and tomato arepa is probably my favorite; the grilled chicken salad is delicious as well.
(4)Joel S.
It's both confounding and refreshing that a Venezuelan restaurant exists in Overland Park. But I'm very happy I found it. We had the plantain appetizers - they had three variations (avocado chicken, pork and marinated beef), and the server offered to split ours into all three so we could sample everything. I had two aripas, not knowing that one and the appetizer would do me. I assumed they were small since they were $4-$5 each. They're similar to a torta, but the bread is corn meal-based, so it tastes like a corn meal-y english muffin. I got the marinated beef and the pork and tomato. The seasonings were good; not at all hot like Mexican and some other Latin American cuisine, but very flavorful. The service was very friendly and helpful, and they're very proud of their menu (for good reason) and appreciate questions. It was my first sampling of Venezuelan food, and I'll definitely go back. Also, this kind of cuisine is very much meat-based, so vegetarians may have a hard time.
(4)Demesha W.
We went to El Porton for a mission meeting as we thought it would be neat to eat at a restaurant serving similar food to that which we will have when our team goes on our mission trip to Guatemala. It is a rather small restaurant and with our party and one other large party, we nearly maxed out their dining area. The arepas were excellent! They are wheat free and a great alternative to bread for the gluten conscious. I had the domino arepa and avocado and it was delicious! The beans were perfectly seasoned and the side order was delicious on my rice. We also had the fried Yuca, which was similar to steak fries in texture and reminded me of a potato. My "picky eater" friend had their arepa with shredded beef and she LOVED it! The fried plantains were very tasty as well. My only complaint for this restaurant would be the service. We went on a Saturday evening at 5p and we had to ask for water twice from our waiter for the two in our party who showed up about 5 minutes later, but before anyone had placed their orders. When I asked our waiter what Yuca was, he responded as though it was a dumb question and said, "Yuca is yuca! You know this is a Venezuelan restaurant, right?" That was all the answer he had for me. As am American, I'd never heard of Yuca before so I didn't think my question too far fetched since this uncommon restaurant is here in Johnson County, Ks. After we finished our meal, we sat and waited a good 45 minutes after plates had been removed before finally going to the front and asking for our checks. At this point, they took an additional 10 minutes ringing up our totals (why wasn't this completed in advance? We informed our waiter that we'd be separate early on). After bringing checks to 1 of our 2 tables, we had to ask again for checks for the other table. At this point, the other large group had been gone for a good 30 minutes. When requesting the checks we were told, "We didn't want to interrupt you. You looked like you all were having a good time talking." "Well yes! But we also can't leave without paying. We're you just going to wait until we sat in silence staring at the walk!?!" Overall, I give this restaurant 4 stars, primarily based on quality food, NOT service. Out of the 16 people in our group, EVERYONE loved their selection from the shrimp, to the grilled chicken, the various arepas to the steak! There were no meal quality complaints.
(4)Melissa R.
Mi esposo es muy picky when it comes to Latin American food. Perhaps it's because he is a Latin Prince and has been spoiled by his madre for way too many years with her fabulous Colombian cooking. Nonetheless, now that we've found El Porton, mama gets a night off. Though I can't say I've ever dropped $50 for a meal at Mama R's. . . . .
(4)La Q.
Great little family owned south American restaurant. Don't let the strip mall location scare you away. They make great simple dishes of roasted meat and plantains. The empanadas are awesome. The pork hash with chorizo is a must try dish. I also love the pabellon. And for dessert the flan can't be beat. It's the owner's wife's recipe and blows away the tres leches cake. There is no liquor license. But you can bring your own beer or wine and I don't believe they charge a corking fee.
(5)Nate S.
This place is awesome! I have backpacked in S. America twice. The first time through Peru. And the second in Colombia and Venezuela. I literally found out about this place a week after the latter trip and immediately visited for lunch. With all the flavors fresh on my palette still I can for sure say that they are on point here. The Arepas are very authentic and that means they are delicious. I had both the Reina Pepiada and the shredded beef with cheese. I always order fried yuca, because it is like fries on delicious steroids. It's one of my favorite things ever, and I can rarely find it in the States and if I do it's done poorly. Not here. Here it is scrumptious. Long story short, if you have never experienced these flavors and are feeling a little adventurous, I would highly recommend you start here. If you already have an appreciation, El Porton does it very well and very authentic. It is the only place I know of in the area to get this quality of regional cuisine.
(5)Andrew D.
If you want a Cuban sandwich in KC it doesnt get any better than this.
(5)Fatima G.
Arepitas!
(5)Manuel D.
Great Rest., great atmosphere, and great music during Friday and Saturday. The steaks with onions are superb. Try their cafe, its outstanding. Starbucks would love to have that blend.
(5)Hans N.
Great food - although the atmosphere is a bit lacking. Small place, and the night we were there they had live entertainment - authentic Latin American music, which was way too loud for the size of the space, and all the hard surfaces made it that much more difficult to even carry on a conversation. We had the beef and shredded chicken empanadas (the sauce it came with made it even more scrumtious) appetizer, then the pork hash and Pernil sandwich for the entree. All very flavorful and very authentic; also had fried plantains for the first time in my life - like a cross between a pineapple and a banana, but also quite good (my date thought not). I'm rating this solely on the food; the service was a bit lacking (we had two different individuals waiting on us, as it appeared our intended waitress was a bit off her mark this particular evening). At the end of the day, it's the food that matters...
(4)Jack F.
Finally, a latin american restaurant that's close by. Love the food, especially the lechon.
(4)Tim S.
I received a tip from my Puerto Rican friend about this tucked-away Venezuelan (essentially) restaurant. So when my family wanted to try something different for my wife's birthday dinner, we gave it a shot and it did not disappoint. We really enjoyed the experience and thought the food was quite good. We ordered two Arepas as an appetizer because it was unique and it was plenty for taste for four adults and a 18 month old. Don't laugh about the 18 month old because half of an Arepa was basically her dinner. Named for the bun, I think, they reminded me like a bigger, softer, chewier English muffin with various stuffing. [Celiac Note: it was said to be wheat free, but I'm not sure if it was gluten free. The news article said one of the owners is an accomplished chef so they may be able to accommodate] We had the Reina Pe Piada (shredded chicken with avocado) and the De Guasacaca (Venezuelan style guacamole with queso fresco) as they were recommended as more traditional flavors. The chicken was very subtle in flavor like creamy, chicken salad, but the guacamole arepa was very good. It was a fresh, chunky, avocado and pico de gallo type mix with a strong shot of lime (also the 18 month olds favorite...she is adventurous for a tot though). We would recommend all of the entrees that we ordered except the Lechon Asado (pork cooked with citrus juices). I was imagining the Cuban pork grilled with lime juice, but what was served were thin pork medallions that were quite dry and lacked taste. Other dishes ordered included Pabellon, Camarones al ajillo, and the special which was a smothered chicken and rice dish with a tomato, spiced sauce. I thought the waiter said it was a version of the Pollo Adobado dish. I had the special and thought that was the best dish of the four. The chicken breast was tender and ample and the sauce had almost a light curry hint to it. I like things very spicy so it was pretty mild to me, but had very good flavor. All in all, I thought it was a really good meal and we would definitely recommend it. I concur with Kev that we keep this fresh tasting type of food going in KC. All the cheese smothered things in my lifetime tend to become indistinguishable over time. [Parent's notes-I thought I saw a kids menu available, but rice, beans, and tostones served on the entrees and arepas were plenty good for us. Casual atmosphere]
(4)Per J.
The lechon is to die for. I'd come back just for that.
(5)Briana O.
I just ate lunch here today, and I am surprised at some of the reviews on there because I did not have poor service at all today! Perhaps thanks to all of our yelpy influence they have stepped up their game? My friend and I went with a groupon we'd bought months ago since this place sounded interesting, and was nearby our work. We both left full of delicious satisfaction. We had a beef and chicken empanada for appetizers, and then we got the Cubano sandwich and the shredded beef arepas lunch combo (came with black beans, white rice, plantains, and avocado). I'd never had arepas before and they were DELICIOUS! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive and quick at bringing water, the food, and our check. Hopefully this means they've taken efforts to better thier service due to some of the past reviews! If you loved the food and were iffy about the service in your last visit, I'd definitely give it another shot! We were impressed and will be going back. Yum!
(4)Jeff N.
I was going to start writing this in the middle of eating, but then I never stopped feasting. Now that my plate is gone, I will begin. ;D Service is impeccable. Overly friendly staff and great with the kids. All of them. Craziness we've not ever found in a kid-purposes restaurant. The food--My Sweet Baby Jesus--delicioso! I got the Lomo Saltado, and it was fantastic. Flavor craving after each bite and suddenly the plate is barren. D; Quick off the grill and reasonably priced, this has been my favorite meal of the week, I believe. Encore! Bravo!
(5)Gina M.
This is a bit of a hole in the wall place, so don't expect any frills there, but, the food was fantastic! I tried to look up my dish to post the name, but their website was down. I'll just say that the ingredients were fresh and the taste was delicious!! It was a grilled chicken breast with some salad and avocado with black beans (DELISH) and rice. We did have the ceviche as an appetizer. I'd never had it before so can't compare it to anything but it was excellent. Our waitress was very good, though we did have difficulty understanding her. I learned to ask for a menu, as it was easier to read. :) Great place!!
(4)Steven P.
I really like South American food. It's sometimes hard to find, or when you do find it its frequently mixed with Mexican. Which makes sense- Mexican food is awesome, but it's also very different from South American food. This place sticks to their guns. It's unapologetically South American. It's not fusion cuisine. It's not at all derivative. It's great! The arepas are great- try the Reina Pepiada (Venezuelan chicken salad) and the Pabellon - roasted beef. And the empanadas? Absolutely perfect. The pastry is light and tasty, and the fillings are seasoned deliciously. Their black beans are the best I've ever tasted, outside of homemade.
(4)Enrique C.
I went to this restaurant looking for some south american flavour after staying in Kansas for two weeks. It did not disappoint me, the menu was big enough to satisfy any palate, From small appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. I went for the Lomo Saltado (One of the most famous Peruvian dishes), an arepa filled with pork and a Papaya juice. The food was pretty good, the size of the portions were right and very tasty. My only bad comment is about the papaya juice, it was too "watery" and I couldn't feel the fruit at all. (I did not say anything because I was not it the mood of complaining) The restaurant was very clean, good volume of the music and the service was friendly and attentive. I will recommend this restaurant to all my friends.
(4)Cara R.
I love El Portòn Cafè!!! Everything I have ever had from here has been fantastic, especially the empanadas and plantains!! The service is always great and everyone is so nice. I love the casual, relaxing atmosphere. I feel like it is great to just sit and have a nice meal and good wine without feeling rushed. I can't forget about the amazing tres leches cake, delicious!!
(5)Ann W.
Chalk it up to getting to big for their britches? I dunno, but while their business has picked up a LOT since I first started going to El Porton, sadly their service and food quality have dropped off. Last night, the hubby and I visited for the first time since mid-summer last year. We hadn't been in a while because the last time we were there, the service was terrible. I recall that I asked twice for silverware for our table and it never arrived, so I finally got up and went to chase down silverware. Not ok. Also, drinks were not refilled and food was really slow to arrive. Fast forward to this weekend when we decided to check them out again since this was once one of our favorite restaurants. First, one of the servers put someone else's food in front of us and then got upset when we told her it wasn't ours: "This isn't what we ordered." "Are you sure?" "Yes, this is not what we ordered." "Are you really sure?!?" "Yes!" I'm doing mostly vegetarian, so I ordered the house salad and the De Guasacaca arepa. I was REALLY looking forward to the arepa as I had ordered it on at least a couple of occasions in the past and really enjoyed it. De Guasacaca is supposed to be mostly avocado, but instead of avocado, I got an arepa filled with under-ripe flavorless tomatoes. I hate to be that person who complains that the food was bad and the serving was tiny, but really, the arepas are too small to charge $6 each unless they're stunningly good, but my arepa was literally so bad that I only ate two bites. When I told our server how bad it was she just grabbed my plate and walked off. My husband ordered some sort of platter that had sausage, fried pork and skirt steak. He was unable to eat much of the pork because it was too chewy, but he loved the sausage. Otherwise, he was not impressed with his dish. We walked out of there with a relatively hefty bill considering we did not order alcohol and we definitely felt less than satisfied. Sadly, after two not-so-stellar experiences, we will be scratching El Porton off our list of favorite places.
(2)Laura F.
I was in Overland Park, and was looking for an ethnic, inexpensive lunch. I had this place bookmarked for a while, so I decided it was a good opportunity to try it. This place is an unassuming little Cafe in a strip of restaurants. The sign is plain, and it is a bit hard to find. I walked in, and the inside had a decent amount of seating, but was not large. I was greeted right away and seated towards the back. I looked at the menu and was intrigued by the Arepas, which I had never had before. They were only around $6 and sounded interesting. The description reminded me of a sandwich and the ingredients sounded good in the Arepa De Pabellon (beans, beef, and cheese), so I ordered it. My lunch came out quickly, probably about 10 minutes. The Arepa was not huge, but not tiny either. I tried eating it like a sandwich, but found the vessel to be a bit greasy, so I instead cut it into pieces and ate with my fork and knife. The beef was tender and had a really good flavor, not like anything I had ever tasted before. The spices (whatever they were) were perfect and made the sandwich very flavorful. The beans and cheese complimented the sandwich as well. My server was very warm throughout my meal and quickly refilled my water as needed. He made me feel welcome without being overbearing. I think this is the first time I have ever eaten Venezuelan and I was very pleased! I will definitely be back.
(5)Vanessa G.
Delicious. This cute little place, is an amazing Venezuelan restaurant. They have great deals for lunch that let you try some of the local favorites. The service and atmosphere were great, and luckily we beat the lunchtime rush. Definitely go here and you need to get a jugo de maracuya, and their lunch special. The empanadas are amazing, and the sandwhiches are filling. We also got fried plantains and yuca.
(5)Frank C.
Highly recommend checking this out if you're looking for great, traditional South American food. Live music on the Friday we went and great atmosphere. Can't go wrong with any dish. Best chimichuri sauce I've ever had. Plantanes are a must: Heavy on the plantanes and light on the grease! Very clean and tidy restroom. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Zachary S.
I will start by saying two things, first I hate pickles, second I have never explored Caribbean or South American cuisine. With that said I think I've found a new heaven! This was my first time at El Porton and it will not be the last by a long, long stretch. After seeing a travel show talk about Cubano sandwiches I found myself craving one and after some quick research this place came up as one of the best Cubanos in Kansas City. Although this is my first time eating this kind of food everything was absolutely phenomenal! I got a Cubano and Yuca Fritas and they were worth every penny! I never thought I would find a sandwich that was so well rounded and delicious outside of my old fall back KC BBQ well I have and I would recommend this anyone and everyone in Kansas City, if they can make a believer out of me they can do the same for anyone!
(5)Stephen L.
Loved this place! The owner suggested the paella, and man he was spot on. Best I've had outside of South America. This place is a surprising find for Kansas. Right next door is a packed BBQ place, and this place is always empty. If you're in the area give it a try! Pros 1) Pretty authentic (especially for the SKC area) 2) Delicious 3) Awesome paella....I mean AWESOME 4) Empanadas are spot on. Cons 1) Advertising. They seemed to drop the ball here. We were looking for this place and almost couldn't find it due to lack of signage. Don't let the small, quaint looking restaurant throw you off. This place rocks.
(5)Vaughn E.
What a great little place! Unassuming location and plain decor certainly doesn't hint at all the quality and great taste of the food there! We tried several dishes...all were good. I had no idea what to expect from a Venezuelan restaurant, but it didn't disappoint. We tried the trio of double stuffed fried plantains. Yum. I enjoyed the spicy shredded beef...the traditional Venezuelan dinner. My wife had a salad with chicken and some extra fried plantains. Our friends had the special of the day and were all very impressed with the meals. We tried 3 of the 4 desserts (no flan). All were fantastic. The wait staff was also very pleasant. We will definitely go back. One note for anyone thinking of going, the only alcohol on the menu is beer. But you can bring your own wine... only a $5 corkage fee. Go and enjoy!
(5)Joe G.
By far, this is THE BEST south and central American restaurant in Kansas City. Everything is prepared just right, and all the dishes are wonderfully good. A few to try would be the pabellon, Lechon Asado, or even the Bistec De Palomilla. Just about every dish is served with rice and beans, along with a fried plantain. One thing you do not want to miss here, and I mean DO NOT miss - the Pastel de Tres Leches. If you have had a Tres Leches cake, you understand how good they are. Its a cake made with three types of milk. Is it bad for you, probably, but it tastes just like heaven. Cinnamon is served on top, and its goes well with their coffee. One very important and unique quality about the restaurant is their connection to the artistic community. On the weekends, you will be able to enjoy a few good musicians playing traditional Latin American music. I've been impressed with the caliber of musicians they bring in to spotlight. It gives a nice addition to the venue. I highly recommend El Porton Café. Its a nice hidden nook, but I'm glad to speak praises of the place. The owner Jose works hard and it and its well deserved attention.
(5)Vicky T.
Closer to 3.5 stars.. quality, fresh ingredients, staff was absolutely attentive and friendly (my friend really enjoyed staring at them). two others and myself went on a.. Saturday? Sunday? night and enjoyed live music and so overall fun company. this place is a bit pricier and quantity-wise, on a lesser scale. for people watching their health, this place is a rather decent place to indulge just barely in a clean, casual setting. For dessert, their dulce de leche was so moist and rich.. absolutely delicious! Their rum and raisin cake was outstanding as well.
(4)Brian K.
This place is gem. The beef empanadas and the Cuban sandwich were outstanding. Great for the family and the service was excellent.
(5)Tommy T.
I have been to El Porton twice. The first time I did not review but would have given it 2 or 3 stars at the max. I remember ordering a few items from the appetizers to get a good sampling of some of the food. It was ok... nothing that really stood out to me. I really wanted to like it since I had heard so many good things about it... Almost a year passed and we went back last Saturday, this time with a group of friends who wanted to try something different. It was much better to say the least. Shamelessly, we all ordered the same plate... -_- why...? I don't know... we got the El Porton Bandeja which comes with a piece of thin steak, (very lightly seasoned and lacking a little flavor), Sausage Link, A side of Pork Fat/Rind (pretty good), 2 tostones, arepa, a fried egg, rice and beans. Alot of food. Good, but could be better. We ordered a side of Empanadas, one chicken and one beef. Flavor, in my opinion, was all in the beef empanada. I loved it as did both of my daughters. We also had a side of tostones with the garlic dip which was amazing. I really regret not ordering a few other things off the menu such as the Lomo Saltado which looked amazing when brought out to a neighboring table... next time. Bottom line.... first time was not so good... second time was much better but still room for improvement ... I WILL be back a third time and hope that will be the 5th star...
(4)Daniel B.
We came for lunch. I had the Cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. We will be back.
(5)Timothy H.
My wife and I have been here now a dozen times and continue to be amazed. The owner is a chef who formerly worked at a 5 star restaurant and his creations are incredible. Whatever I order is cooked to perfection and the seasoning is off the chart. And the prices for this quality could easily be double. I do recommend that if you eat here you MUST order either the chocolate layer dessert or the coconut tres leches cake. Both are beyond ecstasy. If you read my other reviews you can see I almost never give anyone 4 stars or above, but this place deserves it!
(5)Walt P.
This hidden gem is one of the best places in town. The food was great, the service was great and the price was reasonable. It reminds me of Sol Food in Marin.
(5)Eric T.
Had a delicious lunch. Highly recommend the carne muchaca arepa! Oh man, and the plantains are amazing. I could eat just plantains and be happy.
(5)Marcia B.
Hello, delicious!!! We went based on a word of mouth recommendation & were blown away. I had the traditional arepas (1 pork, 1 chicken) & they were amazing. My husband had the carne asada and was blown away. We split the sampler appetizer, and it was fantastic as well. Our server was friendly, helpful when asked for a recommendation, and efficient. All that at a very reasonable price. The only thing keeping this place from a five-star rating is the ambiance. I feel like they need to dim the dining room lights a bit and add some curtains to make you forget you're in a strip mall. We will be back!!!
(4)Tom R.
My meal was fresh and delicious. It was my first time there. The staff was friendly. overall I will probably visit there again
(4)David Y.
Excellent service and food. Only had one dinner here but was very good. The restaurant is a little small was was busy the entire time. I ordered the Pabellon ($11) which was a rice and bean plate with very succulent shredded beef and a few small pieces of plantain. I did wish the pabellon plate had some type of vegetable on it. Our table also ordered the ceviche, fried yucca, and a few arepas. Everything I tried was very good. The make their own delicious hot sauce too.
(4)Annabel M.
This place was wonderful! We had Arepas, platanos maduros, tostones appetizer, and the passion fruit drink. So delicious, even my 1-year-old enjoyed the meal. We recently moved to the area & we will definitely be regulars.
(5)Melissa S.
Great food! Try it all, bring friends and a bottle of wine from home. I wish i could remember all the stuff we tried.
(4)Steve W.
My wife, daughter and I continue to enjoy El Porton. The food is consistently very good and the service is excellent. We took some friends for their first time there and they enjoyed it very much. It is nice that the environment is plain but welcoming. We will continue to crave their empanadas and arepas but they have so many good entrees as well. The flan is so yummy as well! If you like Latin American food El Porton is a must try! Keep in mind that this isn't a Mexican restaurant so there are not any chips and salsa which is fine because the food here is worth the trip.
(5)Brad J.
A wonderful find, I've never had South American food and had no idea what to expect. It appears to be family owned and run which was nice, the decor was colorful/ sophisticated. The menu was full of choices but easy to navigate and the staff was very helpful with making selections. I have been back multiple times brining new friends to this taste treat. I'm not a huge sweets guy but went out on a limb one day , asked about the Tres Leches, decided to try it, OMG, I have never had a more wonderful dessert! You Must try it! Their location is a little unfortunate, kind of an older strip mall, but don't let that dissuade you, I think it's only a matter of time that they will outgrow this location and move to more upscale Leawood or OP, because that's where they belong. the price is great, and the food is fantastic, give them a try!
(5)Whitney K.
The owner chatted with us while we waited for our food. Loved hearing about his experiences, and to top it off, the food was great!
(4)Jessica S.
Absolutely loved this place! I met up with a high school friend here for our annual reunion during the holidays and it was a great choice. Their empanadas were very tasty (we ordered one chicken and one beef) and came with a yummy sauce as well. I thought the shell was surprisingly, deliciously flaky (usually not the case). Their arepas were the real stars though - they have a wide selection of fillings and they're all really yummy. I had the shredded beef with mashed plantain - I'm dreaming about eating arepas now (were that I still lived in OP!). Their boiled yuca + sauce was also tasty and I thought their cafe con leche was decent. Service was also very good - our server was very attentive, polite, and happily gave us recommendations. Definitely planning to stop by again next time I'm in town.
(5)Chris H.
This place is authentic. As a person who just moved here from Florida that grew up in a diverse neighborhood with many different types of food I know this genre and I feel safe saying that with the utmost confidence. I had the Cuban sandwich and also the stuffed potatoes and it was nothing short of delicious and well presented. The place was clean, service was awesome and friendly. I highly recommend this place to anyone that hasn't experienced true Latin American food. I'll be a regular here for sure.
(5)Jack K.
What a great family run place. Nice people, clean environment and great food. Adding to my list of places to introduce friends and family to!
(5)L P.
Amazing!!! Ok I am not kidding. You must come by and have the potatoe ball with meat. I also had the empanadas and with the white sauce they make from scratch. I am coming back tomorrow!!
(5)Jeremy M.
They have an amazing variety of cuban and south American food. Don't leave with trying the tres Leche cake.
(5)Sofia M.
Amazing Venezuelan restaurant. Delicious food and amazing attention. It's a must if you are in Kansas.
(5)R E.
Fantastic little gem. The arepas are wonderful ( I had the Reina Pepiada, but want to go back and try each one of them), the empanadas were tasty, and the plantains were very good as well. We had the appetizer sampler, and I had an entree that had a little bit of everything else (El Porton Bandeja - steak, pork, sausage, and an egg). Everything was great. Wish I could have tried the pabellon, but that will happen on the next visit. Flan was wonderful as well.
(5)Tony K.
I've tried coming twice before and it must have been on a Mon/Tues, between lunch/dinner or after close because both times they were closed. Bad luck on my part. Hey third times the charm right? Totally, Worth it. Started with the plantains. Came with sauce which was good and used a bit of the left overs with my entree. Arepas. Seems to be a big one on the menu with many options. The shredded beef was the same as in the plantains which was sad because I should have ordered another type. You really can't feel bad because it along with a glass of juice made a tasty meal. Looking for an excuse to head over that direction and pay a little more attention so I can get you guys a better review.
(5)Marcos V.
The lechon, rice and beans were on point. Authentic Latin, comfort food! This is coming from a Puerto Rican!
(4)Pete C.
El Porton truly serves a unique blend of Caribbean favorites like yuca, plantain rice and black beans and succulent meat sides as ropa vieja, carne asada, ceviche and so much more. Nothing bland served @ "El Porton", the meats are marinated with different secret blends that leave you wanting more and more of the juicy flavors. Tonight is my first experience dining here. I'm coming back for more. I highly recommend El Porton.
(5)Elizabeth S.
This is a hidden jewel. The food is wonderful and the customer service is fantastic. It is a place where you walk on and feel welcomed. Thank you for making our trip to Kansas City so much better.
(5)Dee B.
Great, great place. The shredded beef arepa is so very good. I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Robert A.
Really liked this place. Its hard to find a place that serves arepas unless you want to go to a very large city, or Miami, so was surprised to find this in Overland Park. Ordered an appetizer, which was fried plantain cups filled with 3 different fillings - good, but just a warm up for the main event. Ordered 3 arepas - one with pabellon (the best), one with guacamole/cheese (very good), and one which was effectively filled with chicken salad (don't recall the "official" name, but it was good chicken salad). The quality of the cakes was great - slightly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and held up under the weight of the fillings. And the fillings were plentiful; I shared the 3 arepas with my wife and we felt very full after leaving. One thing I noticed was the quality of the fillings - usually when you get shredded meats as fillings you'll get a fair amount of fat/gristle/tendons etc. None of that with their fillings - it was all good quality meat. Will definitely return.
(5)Dan D.
Awesome across the board. I had the Cubano sandwich. Waiter brought out chimichurri, aioli & mango habanero dipping sauces that were amazing as well. Casual and unpretentious dining.
(5)Daigle M.
I'm a Wednesday regular. The arepa special is amazing and priced at under 5 bucks! You get an arepa of your choice, white rice, black beans and plantains. Unbeatable price, delicious food and great service. Finally, good Latin American food that isn't just limited to Mexican. Enjoy!
(4)jennifer b.
Yummy yummy yummy ......cannot wait to go back . We ordered empanadas and arepas ....they were so good . They come with real tasty sauces too. Haven't had pernil (slow cooked pork) that good since I was a teen . The tres leches cake was MMMmMMmmmmm heavenly ! Service was outstanding and are very friendly. Oh yes their fresh juices are fantastic !
(5)Jake R.
Simply amazing! The food was superb, very authentic!!! Took my work team there for an outing on a recommendation and we were all blown away. The only thing to keep in mind is that is a small family run restaurant so service is a bit slower as there was only 1 waiter but it was well worth the wait!!
(5)Jason P.
Been several times for lunch and dinner and enjoy the food and atmosphere. I really like when they have live music! The garlic sauce served with the empanadas is de-lish!! I would recommend calling/checking online to be sure they are open as I've shown up twice when they were closed. Also we brought ten people from work once and it took longer than we expected, so some were late getting back.
(4)Jen H.
We truly enjoyed ourselves when we ate here. Great food and service.
(5)Marie F.
This place was really super.... the waiter chatted with us for a few minutes and never let us feel unattended. The owner came by to ask about our experience and personally thanked us for coming in and invited us back. Did I mention the place was busy? Well, it was and they still made time to treat us like this. I didn't know this area even existed (I thought the world stopped around Blue Koi) and it is in a little strip mall place. It's small and very casual. They made enough room to put a guy playing Caribbean music on a steel drum though...that was exciting. Eating and playing "name that tune". He played a special request from the Little Mermaid for some kids... So we got one of the specials, which was a Brazilian seafood soup and came with a salad and mashed and fried plantains. The soup was like a coconut milk with rice and seafood and it was very tasty. The salad was a mixed green with a light, but tasty vinaigrette. We also ordered Camorones de Ajillo, which was shrimp in garlic butter sauce. It came with the same salad and rice (they allowed us to substitute black beans) and sweet plantains. We wanted to try an arepa while we were there and we went with the chicken and avocado. It was not delicious. It was more like a chicken salad panini. The chicken tasted canned. So bland and disappointing. Do not recommend. It was pricey for a small sandwich. However, the personal and friendly service made up for that one let down. I'm still going with 5 stars because the overall experience and food quality was impressive.
(5)Lu J.
Excellent food!!!! Empanadas are wonderful. I had a chicken arepa. It was so good. The flan was anazing. I usually don't eat beans but the bkack beans have a very good flavor. A must try for everyone. Prices are very reasonable
(5)Paul M.
Update: Have returned two more times and each has been a wonderful experience. It's on my short list. Upgraded a star based on consistency and charm!
(5)Angela A.
I've been to this restaurant before for dinner and have had better experiences, but today I was invited to go for lunch and it was quite a different experience. Service was slow and they got my order for two chicken empanadas wrong (they gave me two hamburger empanadas). When I told the waitress, she actually threw major attitude and argued with me over the counter about it. Another waitress quickly took over and was more pleasant, but augh! What a miserable experience. After a few minutes I got my chicken empanadas and they were good. Certainly not worth the pain of putting up with the waitress' attitude. I would have to be really drunk and not very hungry to go back there. Just sayin.
(2)Adi H.
Disappointed on first visit. We came during dinner time, it was busy, but they sit us almost right away. It was quite pricey, empanada was $3 each, and it was small and a bit soggy. Waiter was busy with other tables, we didn't get silverwares or napkins, even after food got on the table, I had to grab them from next empty table, and by the way, tables were sticky. The $16 Carne Asada was tough, wet and cooked to medium, the shredded beef rice platter was just alright, but the plantains were good! So was the live music. We were going to try the Chevice, and Tres Leches but the first three items we ordered failed to meet our expectation, so we decided to end it there.
(2)Kerry P.
Oh El Porton, how I love you so. The food is great, I always order the arepas - specifically the shredded beef and chicken/avocado arepa with a side of their spicy mango sauce. SO GOOD! The best part about this place is that it's BYOB... not very many places in KC has that feature. The desserts are delish, love the flan and the tres leches cake. However, I have to give this place 4 stars because of the service. It's definitely a hit or miss - they'll either 1. provide you with the best service 2. forget you even came in... Overall, I do love this place and very rarely do I even care about the service just as long as the food's good... but if you're with a group of people wanting to enjoy the evening with a glass of wine..? it'd be nice to step up your game a little a pay attention to us...
(4)Youshi P.
I had the pollo chicken dish and it had great flavor and just a great combination dinner plate. Would recommend going here.
(5)Caroline L.
Came here with a bunch of my coworkers for lunch one Friday afternoon. Now I was a little bit skeptical about the quality of the food here - given that this place was suggested by the same coworker who suggested Blue Koi (hated it, see other reviews). Added to that as a Los Angeles, CA native I'm really picking regarding any form of Latin American food. Given that, I was definitely pleasantly surprised when we got here. It's a small unassuming restaurant with excellent food. Can't for the life of me remember what we ordered (it was a few weeks ago) but everything was truly amazing. Will definitely be back again!
(4)John S.
Great food, South American I believe. Subtle flavoring, I'd eat here once a week if I lived closer. Warm hearty beef stew, unique and tasty chicken salad, I loved everything I ate. Best plantains I've ever had, they were perfectly carmelized, sweet with a hint of sour. You have to try this restaurant if you get the chance!
(5)Doyle D.
What is with the 20.00 corkage fee? They didn't have wine glasses and brought us an opener for us to use. You would think they would open the wine for 20.00
(2)Rebecca R.
Wow! I never knew I would find a legitimate Latin American restaurant near KC and I am so happy that El Portón Café is around! Their food is delicious, affordable,... GREAT! By far one of my favorite restaurants in the KC metro area.
(5)Claudia S.
Came in for a really late lunch, about an hour before closing. I was the only customer, so was leary I'd get bad service or leftovers. I received a pleasant greeting; service remained enthusiastic throughout. I was hungry, but looking for a simple lunch...I chose the Cubano although I was skeptical. I was going to try more, but was playing it safe, plus the lone sandwich was $8+. It didn't take long before I had a freshly made, crunchy, steamy sandwich. It was really quite good for an item difficult to find in this area. There was a little dollop of carrot salad(?) on the side that I loved. Needs better pickles on the sammy tho. Left happy!
(4)Brian J.
I bought a restaurant.com coupon. $25 for $35 worth of food. We went there during lunch and the place was empty. The waitress had no idea what the coupon meant, so she took my phone to the back and brought out the owner. He said that it was for dinner only, but I showed him on the phone (displaying the coupon) that it did not list that as a restriction, but he said too bad. He then told us to leave! So I smiled and left. I told my friend we wouldn't go back. Later the next night, my friend told me we hadn't canceled the gift card, so we might as well go eat there while we are in town. He convinced me to go back despite the way we were treated earlier. I'm glad we did. When we first walked in there for dinner there was a band playing Venezuelan music. It was an electric atmosphere, much different than the empty lunchtime visit. The son of the owner waited on us. We ordered our meals and got some soda. He kept our glasses full. The food was amazing. I had the strip-steak. It came with a good portion of rice and black beans. My friend order the seafood rice meal that came with huge crab legs. Our other buddy had chicken adobo. It was a good portion. Even with the restaurant.com coupon it was on the expensive side, but the food quality was amazing. When I originally wrote this review after our horrible first visit, I gave them a 1 star, but after going back and having delicious food in a rich atmosphere, I upped it to 4. The only reason they did not gete a perfect 5 is because of the horrible way we were treated on our first visit. Nice place to visit and great food. Get the discount, though, and you'll enjoy it much more.
(4)Chris R.
Lots to like about this place. We're don't often frequent South American/Caribbean cuisine, but had a certificate to use here (more on that later), so we decided to give it a shot for lunch. Started with the Stuffed Twice Cooked Plantains. We'd never had anything but sweet plantains before, so weren't sure how much we'd like these. But they were outstanding. Served with a tasty sauce that went very well with the plantains and shredded beef. For entrees, one of us had the Pabellon (white rice, black beans, shredded beef and sweet plantains), which was excellent. We also tried a chorizo arepe (kind of a small sandwich with a "bread" made of white corn flour), which was also very good. Both dishes came with a white rice that was seasoned very nicely. Decided to splurge with flan and tres leches for dessert. Again, excellent, with particular kudos for the tres leches. It was out of this world. The service was very good, too. I think we had a bit of a language barrier with one server (though she was very friendly), but were able to get lots of good information from another. Other reviewers have mentioned the service being somewhat slow, but we didn't get that feeling today. I did kind of hate for the experience to end the way that it did. The only reason we knew about this place was that someone gave us a restaurant.com certificate. But when it came time to settle the bill, it turns out that the certificate was only good for dinner. Not the restaurant's fault, from what I can tell-- the dinner stipulation wasn't printed on the certificate, but the owner very sternly let my wife know that the contract he signed did spell it out. But still, it was unfortunate that we had a very nice experience end on a bit of a sour note.
(3)Carrie R.
LOVE this place. The food is delish and the staff is super friendly. My husband and I eat here on a weekly basis and are never disappointed. We even branch out from our "go tos" and every bite is scrumptious. My favorite is the Reina Pepiada arepa or the Pork Hash, my hudband goes for the De Pabellon, or the Pork Hash. Consistently good food. Anything you order, you can't go wrong. The only downside is that I crave this place on Sundays and some days when they aren't open for dinner (Monday and Tuesday).
(5)Lannette G.
So after starting a rant on yelp talk, about not finding empanadas in Kansas City, I received a hot tip by some very insightful yelpers. Thanks guys! Here it goes a review about a Latin American Place from a Latina herself. It was 4 of us dining so we got some variety. We ordered, the carne asada, the lechon. the shredded beef which I refer to as Ropa vieja (cuban name for it) and Tilapia. All plates were nicely presented, and filling, but some lacked a bit of that latin explosion of flavors....but I really think they do it this, in order to cater to a broader audience. If you want more kick just add some salt or ask for some spicy habenero, chimichurri or the sauce they put with the empanadas. Other then that I ate everything on my plate so I cannot complain. The empanadas, though not my cuban pastelitos I was craving for, were spectacular and the sauce even better. I would of dunked rubber in this sauce and would of thought it was delicious. They have fresh juices, but are $3.50 so beware it could put a hole in your bugget. El Porton, if you read this review, come on your killing me, lower the juice prices. The staff,helpful, attentive & cordial The location? In the suburbs hidden from any signs of life. Thanks to your seclusion I discovered parts of Kansas City, I'd never knew existed. Restaurant was immaculately clean and had fresh roses and carnations on the table...a very chic touch, I thought. My fellow Gringos and exhausted Tortilla lovers, you guys should give "El Porton" a try, you won't be disappointed. p.s I uploaded pictures of the meals and menu on the yelp "el porton" page.
(4)Jim S.
This is a great little place. Food was terrific, the empanadas are amazing. Good atmosphere, highly recommend.
(5)matt h.
beef empanadas are amazing, as are the bollitos. this place is wonderfully authentic and unique. you really should give it a try.
(5)Rob M.
We don't have tons of options for Latin American food in K.C. that aren't Mexican (or Tex-Mex, to be more accurate). El Portón is a nice change, especially out here on Planet Suburbia! The Venezuelan-style food is appealing and reasonably priced. I went with my folks, who split an order of camarones al ajillo (garlic shrimp) while I had the pabellón, Venezuela's national dish, which consists of shredded seasoned beef (similar to ropa vieja, a ubiquitous dish throughout Latin America, with a variety of different regional versions) accompanied by black beans and rice and fried plaintains. My folks' shrimp came with similar accompaniments, plus a nice salad with a sharp vinaigrette dressing. We ate everything and ordered a tres leches cake for dessert, with three spoons. Smart move, because it was a big piece of cake and quite rich. The menu also lists arepas with an extensive variety of fillings, starters like empanadas and ceviche, etc. The restaurant is in a small shopping center on the east side of Roe just south of the big nursery at 105th St. The restaurant isn't visible from Roe, you have to drive into the center to find it. The restaurant is small, but attractive, with comfortable chairs at the tables and bright Latin American paintings (for sale) on the walls. The owners are very friendly and check frequently to be sure everything is OK and you're enjoying your meal. The restaurant actually has a very pleasant view out towards the neighboring nursery and surrounding greenery -- you don't feel closed in at all. The food at El Portón is NOT highly spiced, but you can ask for hot sauce (made from habaneros) on the side to spike things to a higher level. If you enjoy Latin American cuisine and are looking for a change from the usual fare, El Portón is for you! Enjoy!
(4)Wendy B.
I called about the corkage fee based on another review. It was $5 a bottle not $20 and they opened our bottle. No they didn't have glass wine glasses but it's a casual restaurant and for $5 I can drink out of a small glass.
(4)Kev L.
This is # 500 for me on Yelp. (Kansas City's first 500!?!?) I wanted to pick a restaurant that required some attention and deserves praise. I picked El Porton simply because this is a genre of food that Kansas City is lacking. And considering the owner has tried multiple locales, who knows how many lives the cat has left. El Porton is simply Venezuelan food. However, if you are familiar with Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, or Colombian food, you will find Venezuelan food to be quite familiar. The dish that I tried was the national dish of Venezuela, the Pabelon. It's basically a side of rice and black beans cooked with sofrito served with a side of sweet fried plantains and shredded braised beef. The rice and beans were perfect for my taste, and the plantains couldn't be prepared any better. The shredded beef also for Pabelon was picture perfect. Also included was a small side of pickled carrots. Also nice was the opportunity to finally have fresh homemade passion fruit juice in water. To my knowledge they are the only restaurant in Kansas City to offer it (and if I'm wrong, please correct me!) at $3.99, I find the price to be a bit harsh. But the laws of supply & demand quickly quell my complaint there. Also of note is the fact that their menu has a whole section dedicated to Arepas. And if you haven't had an arepa before, then I suggest you go that route first. If you have an opportunity, please give this place a shot and add another ethnic group to your choice of ethnic joints locally. The owner is currently working on expanding his menu and according to his master plan is hoping to go from strictly Venezuelan to a full Caribbean menu.
(4)Sofie C.
Delicious food. We were in the area, so decided to Yelp for something different. I've never had arepas before, but I loved the ones I had here. They were crispy and fresh and the flavors were not overwhelming. I had the chicken and avocado arepa and my girlfriend had the shredded beef. I liked the chicken and avocado better because the shredded beef was juicy which made the outside of the arepa a little soggy. We also ordered the works to share since it gave us a variety of options to taste. We did not enjoy their ceviche, but their beans and plantains were tasty. Also really enjoyed the sauce they had on the side to put on the food. We ordered tres leches for dessert and was also great! It was not too soggy nor too sweet. We definitely plan on going back. Service was great as well.
(5)Brian K.
This place is awesome. A local gem. Very good food, good service. Large portions.
(5)Sara T.
Food was DELICIOUS! I found this little gem of a restaurant on Yelp, liked what I saw in the reviews, and I was not disappointed. The waiter was super friendly, did a great job recommending and describing dishes. The atmosphere was clean and cozy, with a fresh yellow rose at each table. Would be great for a casual date, family dinner, or a small get-together with friends. Ordered the empinadas, one chicken and one beef. The salsa that it came with was out of this world. Not spicy, just tons of fresh flavor. Then my boyfriend and I split the roasted pork with citrus (not sure the exact name), the pabellon arepa (as per others' recommendations), and the chicken & avocado arepa. The roasted pork was juicy and tender, the rice and beans were simple and tasty, and the arepas were perfect little pockets of food. They are served in sort of a small, thick corn cake (similar to the masa in tamales), which is cooked on the grill so it is not greasy or doughy. Order the Passion Fruit juice (ummm FRESH), for the perfect tart and sweet accompaniment.
(5)Dawn V.
I'm pretty sure that I could eat here for lunch and dinner every day and not get tired of it. And that's really saying something for me! The pabellon is to die for, whether you get it as a meal or as an arepa. Personally, I like the arepa more, only because you get pabellon, beans, cheese, and plantain, together as a sandwich. As others have mentioned, they are located in a weird little strip mall, but once you're inside, it's a nice space.
(5)Amy S.
Delicious. And cheap. We brought our own wine and the happily provided a corkscrew and plastic cups. Good variety and well seasoned. Staff was very helpful explaining the various dishes.
(4)Anne M.
Yay!!!! I found Jose Garcia. He used to own Cafe Venezuela. He's now opened this new restaurant. My fiance and I ate here today and the food is like how we remembered it. We started out with their chicken empanadas, which was yummers. For our main entree, we had the Pabellon.....omg, soooo good. For the finishing touch, I had the Flan and my fiance had the Pastelitos de Guayaba. We also had Cafe Con Leche, which is primo. The new restaurant is definitely spacious than the previous restaurant and Jose is as sweet as ever. If you are looking to try South American/Carribean food, stop by this place and say hello to Jose. What are you still doing reading this.....GO and ENJOY THE FOOD!!!
(5)Dan J.
I knew there must be something to this place when it was full of customers still for lunch past 1:00. Great food and menu is why. Will definitely be back with friends and family.
(4)Melisa V.
headed here for dinner with my husband and 13-month-old last night. since he has an earlier bedtime, we arrived a little before 6pm for dinner. the place was already pretty busy. a lot of tables with kids, so we know we were in a good place to bring our little guy. initially the hostess tried to seat us at a two person table. we had to explain to her that we needed a bigger table so our kid would also have somewhere to eat. she had no problem moving us to a bigger table. she was very sweet to our little guy throughout the meal. our server was very nice and accommodating to our son as well. we ordered our meal and decided to order a beans & rice side for our son (even though we brought something just in case). our server told us there was a better kid-friendly option, cheese wrapped in dough. he told us that his child loves it. why not? we decided to order it for him and it arrived pretty quickly. we tried it and didn't really care for it, but our son seemed to like it well enough. we ordered a pabellon arepa as our appetizer. the filling was really good! our son nibbled on that as well. then our main course arrived while we were finishing the arepa. I ordered the lomo saltado, which was flavored perfectly. my husband had a pork special, which he really enjoyed. my son, already sick of the cheesy bread, nibbled the tomato out of my salad. our server was kind enough to bring us another thin slice for him to enjoy. then our check arrived. it was a bit more than we were expecting, then we discovered that the cheese wrapped in dough was $8! considering that we were looking to order a $3 side for him, it was a little annoying. especially since the item wasn't on the menu. yes, we could have asked him how much it would be since he didn't offer the price but we were a little uncomfortable doing so. we assumed it would be around $4-$5, at most. that was really the only negative of the meal (which is why this isn't a 5-star review). we also really enjoyed the live music. a man was playing a steel drum in the corner of the restaurant. my son had a great view of him and was entertained the entire evening. I think he also entertained the musician! will definitely return - just probably NOT order the dough-wrapped cheese again.
(4)Michael C.
Been to El Porton numerous times. Food always great! Service is great! A great place to sit, relax and enjoy a variety of food.
(5)Steve H.
Went to El Porton last night for the first time and was not disappointed. My wife and I shared a chicken empanada, beef empanada and ceviche to start. The empanadas were great! Warm and great flavor - the dipping sauce that goes with them is perfect. The ceviche was very good as well with shrimp and scallops. For dessert we had the Tres Leches cake which is a favorite of ours. Once again we were not disappointed. It wasn't made exactly the way we like it, but it was very good. For dinner we both had the specials that night - one was a pork tamale and the other was grilled pork fillet. Once again, both of these wery very good! Great flavors, right size portion and looked great on the plate. El Porton does not have a liquor license, but you can carry in your own wine or beer and there is nor corking fee. We saw 3 different groups carry in their own wine. El Porton is a great place to try some S. American/Caribbean food! Suggest you give it a try sometime. Giving it 5 stars as I don't know where else you can find food like this in JoCo.
(5)