If you like the typical Americanized version of Mexican food, you'll like El Porton. It's nothing fancy and nothing to write home about. But it's good quality, consistent food at inexpensive prices. This particular location has a really nice patio, so I enjoy going late in the afternoon and meeting friends for Margarita drink specials and their very yummy White Cheese Dip.
(3)
Jennifer S.
My favorite place to get Mexican in Memphis. I love the beans, the rice, the salsa and the white cheese. The main dishes are pretty good here too. It is nothing fancy but I love it. My good friend and I go here every time he visits Memphis.
(4)
Shawn L.
The food is good. The service is always great. It is a great family place to eat.
(4)
Carter C.
I thought this place was great. It's not hard to get Mexican food right, so the atmosphere goes a long way. El Porton has a good patio though not one of Memphis' best in my opinion....it overlooks a strip mall parking lot. Nonetheless it was great in the nice weather. The service is par for the course. The hostess told us the basketball game was on at the bar...we got to the bar and the TV wasn't on at all. It actually worked out for the best since we ended up outside though. My fajitas were fantastic and as always, never-ending chips with good salsa make me smile about as much as anything in the world. I'll be back.
(4)
Bryan N.
I have a general rubric for Mexican restaurants. I always try their most basic offerings first. In general this means trying their tacos or burritos, as they are typically the simplest thing on their menu. If a restaurant can do a good job of the simple then they will usually have fairly good dishes that add a little more complication. El Porton on Highland has very decent food. On my most recent trip I ordered the tacos al carbon. The food was very good. It is by no means authentic Mexican food, but it tasted good and was filling. Their portion sizes are fairly impressive, but when you factor in the cost you realize why the portions are set to their current state. I also have tried their horchata in a recent visit and was surprised that it appeared to be the genuine article - minus the cinnamon in the drink. The horchata had rice particulate in it and was fairly sweet -- not as sweet as I generally like it but good for most. The service was exceptional, but the last time I went there the company I was with had a strange effect on the server so it may be that I am somewhat biased in my service assessment. The restaurant itself is very nice and the inside feels very comfortable. The dining area is very clean and is very reminiscent of a Chili's. It is a very good place for a friendly dinner but is not intimate by any means. Overall, the food is, acceptable quality and filling. The prices are a little high but are made acceptable when size is taken into consideration. I would recommend coming here when you and your friends are hungry and feel like going somewhere where you can talk in a comfortable conversation encouraging atmosphere.
(3)
Tanya T.
Another great Memphis patio spot, El Porton Authentic Mexican Restaurant serves up all kinds of spicy, saucy dishes smothered in cheese, and fried to your crispy satisfaction. Choose from a variety of combination meals featuring chalupas, tacos, burritos, tostadas and more or go for the whole enchilada with dinner entrees such as steak ranchero (rib eye steak in special ranchera sauce served with rice, beans and tortillas), pollo fundida (grilled chicken smothered with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and melted cheese) or shrimp a la mexicana (shrimp with onions, tomatoes and jalapeno peppers). El Porton's queso dip is of the white cheese variety so there's a little variation from your typical cheese dip. Also serving up some of the best margaritas in the city (try the peach!), El Porton waiters will keep the frozen pitchers coming as you work on your tan while relaxing on their spacious patio.
(3)
Cody H.
Everything here was just "okay". Nothing horrible, but nothing special.
(3)
Steve N.
I used to like this place because the service was exceptional and the food was good - - - and it was cheap. But it has gone down in recent years. If you eat outside, prepare to fight the very aggressive pigeons - not pleasant. The service has gone down a little, though there are still some great waiters there. The food is bland, but they are fast. My biggest problem is that this one is pretty dirty, and I just can't handle that. There are three or four other Mexican restaurants within a mile or less that I like better and are about the same price. The one thing I will say is that they make the best margharitas!
(2)
Steve O.
Very Bland, everything tastes the same. Ketchup tasting salsa. On the plus side, Authentic mexicans, so translation is somewhat difficult. Nicknamed "El Porta Potty" by visiting family members
Bravo to the service and food! It was Cinco de Mayo, and we were looking for a cool spot to have drinks and food. I knew all the places in Midtown/Downtown would we flooded with mobs, so tried to think of somewhere else. I've been to this location, but it was a couple of years ago (couldn't remember if I liked it or not). We pulled up and I was shocked to see the patio completely full, people waiting outside, and inside. The hostess informed us that it would be an hour wait. At this point, we really had no other choice, because every Mexican restaurant would be packed. Our wait time was cut really short, due to people leaving or not hearing their name called. The total wait time was about 20 minutes. Once we got seated, it took awhile for someone to come to our table. Salsa and chips were eventually placed on our table, and after that service started rolling pretty quickly. The salsa is really good...not too hot....I've had salsa that was too hot to enjoy. I ordered the peach magarita, which was just right! My husband ordered the Magarona (and of course Mikey liked it). I wasn't too hungry....the chips, salsa, & queso (very good queso) filled me up. When I say we ate it all...WE ATE IT ALL! For my not so entree I ordered 1 fish taco and 1 shrimp taco. Being that it was Cinco de Mayo, the staff handled the crowd extremely well, so 5 stars to their team. Professionally managed!
(4)
Dusty L.
Always pleased with my order. Service is super fast and very nice. This is the Mexican food chain you want to go to for typical chain type food. Very clean and a nice porch. The super chimichangas are top notch.
(4)
Jeannine S.
I've been to El Porton a few times and have tried several dishes. You know that saying that if the bread is good at a restaurant, the food will be good, too? Well, I follow the same concept for Mexican restaurants, but replace "bread" with "salsa" and/or "guacamole". Salsa was ok, guac was pretty good...and the food? Somewhere between OK and pretty good. I've had the salad with chicken, chicken/steak fajitas and the enchilada. Salad was small, enchilada was a good portion and pretty decent tasting, but the fajitas were the best out of all three dishes. A bit on the saucy and oily side, but good flavor. Atmosphere is pretty casual, with a nice outdoor space. I would definitely go back, but I'm still on the hunt for an awesome mexican restaurant in Memphis.
(3)
Cortez W.
This place has become one of my favorites this year. I prefer you visit this place during the weekdays. Although the food is very good and the alcohol beverages are the best, the waitress/waiter SUCK. They're slow and one waitress actually brought me salsa dip running over and didn't attempt to at least, wipe around the bowl. I prefer the nacho dip or the Chamichungas. Very delicious.
(4)
Autumn C.
Every time I visit Tennessee I absolutely have to go to this restaurant! Honestly it's for their queso dip alone! Their margaritas are tasty and I highly recommend the shrimp quesadilla with even more of that delicious queso. The service has always been very nice and fast even during busy hours. I always recommend them when I'm in town.
(5)
Hal R.
This place was great when I was younger. The food, service, and most of all salsa have fallen in quality. Still an ok place to go though.
(3)
Bailey P.
Meh. The vegetarian fajita was good, but it could have been better. Only green pepper, tomato, and onion??? Really??? For $12??? Feels a little cheap to me, can a girl get some mushrooms at least? Apparently not. The guacamole was not very flavorful. The chips and salsa were good. Margaritas are reasonable if you get a pitcher (pitcher=$18 regular marg=$5), and they are pretty good. It's not a place I'm itching to go back to, but I also wouldn't object if a friend wanted to go.
(3)
Cristina H.
Okay so maybe a five star is pushing it but seriously I'm just reviewing what I had. Soooooo they have added even more to their menu but the one thing that caught my eye (other than that margerona) were the street tacos! Yes they offer you tapas like that now and it was right on time! I got the carnitas and the steak taco and it was really good. I'm still thinking about them actually! Nowadays you can get street tacos on food trucks BUT you can't get a margerona too! It's a typical Mexican spot with regular service but I was quite impressed with the tacos. Oh but don't get the chicken tacos they weren't as juicy!!
(5)
Aaron C.
I love Mexican food and this was my first time at this location. It was very clean. The waiters were very friendly and knowledgeable. We sat outside on the patio and it was very plain, but quaint. The food was fast to get to the table. It was decent. The only complaint and reason I'm giving it 2 stars is the fact that I had a bone in my chicken. It grossed me out and couldn't finish.
(2)
Daniel M.
I come to El Porton a lot. Probably 6-7 times a month. In fact, I'm the Duke. I can honestly say, as much as I come here I have not had a bad experience. Ever. This place is consistently amazing and pretty easy on the wallet. The interior has gotten a facelift in the last few months, but the food remains the real star. Simply. Good. Mexican.
(5)
Joedinho M.
My wife and I loved this place in college. Good food on the cheap, super close to campus. Was a weekly date night, always good service, good food.
(4)
Chris G.
The margaritas are great and the location is convenient. However, the food is very mediocre. The burritos have way too much onion and bell pepper and too little actual meat in them.
(2)
Barry P.
One word to describe this restaurant: consistency. In the restaurant business, that's high praise. Nothing glamorous food-wise here--basic Mexican-American fare. But it's always good. I'm a regular and the staff quickly remembered me and what I order down to the detail. GREAT customer service. They also make fresh guacamole at the table which is always delicious and is an awesome experience to watch. El Porton is as good as it gets for this type of Mexican establishment!
(5)
Mandy H.
Is it fair to write a review for a place when you only had the margaritas?? I say yes, and so I shall! Can I just say that this place is in the PERFECT location? I mean, there is nothing as refreshing as leaving Comcast and going straight for a margarita...let's be honest. My visit there was a strange one...two of my friends were there waiting on me to deal with Comcast....they were drinking and eating chips. One of them came to 'relieve' me from my post (the one that was paying for all of this), and the staff didn't give him any issue at all. He even pre-ordered my margarita and they made it when I arrived. Awesome! I have never been here before, strangely enough. But I have to say, I was happy and impressed...their margarita was HUGE and just right and their salsa and guacamole were divine. I am obsessed with all things margarita and salsa....so I will have to come back here again soon! And thank you for offering stout margaritas to the unfortunate souls leaving Comcast! ;)
(5)
Adam H.
Very unimpressed by El Porton! I stopped in because I haven't ever been to one of their locations and they seem to be a Memphis oldie as far as I can remember. Upon arriving you note the typical Mexican place decor. It is slightly upscale compared to the holes in the walls kind of places but still very typical of what you would see. Chips were kind of odd... Kind of like the OTB chips you get from the grocery store. Strike 1 Salsa was terrible! Sweet, runny, and just a mess. I wasn't sure if it was even still good or had gone bad. Strike 2 I ordered tamale off the lunch menu with the standard rice and beans as a side. I was excited to try one of their tamales and assumed it would be served traditionally still wrapped in the corn husk with some sauce on the side. Instead it was covered in this shiny coagulated Orange/Red sauce ALL over it! The tamale itself was not that bad but that sauce just was everywhere! The beans were ok and the rice was dry so all in all not a good meal. Then, time for the check and guess who decides to go MIA? My server! I am sitting there with partially eating food just wanting to leave and he is just gone. Strike 3! After sitting for 5-8 minutes I get up to find him. Finally track him down doing side work and request my ticket. Calories and dollars wasted! Buyer Beware!
(2)
Denita W.
If a group of friends wanted to go here, I would go back. But it won't be on my personal list of places to return to. The service was just OK. Took a while to get our waters, and someone else had to check on us at one point, but she was really cool about splitting our checks (and the pitcher of margaritas) three ways. Pitcher of Margaritas: $18 = about 5.5 regular margs. Alone, they would be $5. They're pretty decent and strong enough as I left in my giggly tequila-induced state-of-mind. Chips and salsa: on point. Guacamole: Ugh. Literally just smashed avocado. No citrus or garlic anything. Disappointing. I ordered the Thursday Taco Night tacos. Tastes good. Very little meat on them (like less than a tablespoon) but they are $1.25 per taco so that's not bad. If you don't specify, they come with lettuce and lil bit of cheese instead of the cilantro & onion. I feel that they're regular priced tacos are overpriced (see photo). And mixing and matching them costs extra...which I've never heard of before. Got some taco night tacos to go for my boyfriend and it was awesome that they included chips and salsa in the to-go bag.
(3)
Miriam S.
I first started frequenting El Porton in college as a Spanish major living on a budget. Half of my friends had their faces creamed with "la crema" on their birthdays while sporting the giant house sombrero after being serenaded by the waitstaff. A decade later, I still enjoy brushing up on my Spanish while having a cheap but truly consistent meal close to home. I agree with a previous poster that you should go on a weekday to avoid the weekend onslaught (and service/quality of food drops off a bit when they get in a rush). When you show up close to closing on a Wednesday, you will find your taco more packed with tender chicken and peppers than when they are worried about running out during the Friday night rush. The Americanized Mexican queso is one of the things they do best--we like to dip tortillas in it in addition to the bottomless crispy chips. The salsa has started to vary in heat depending on who is making it, but it's always nicely laced with cilantro. You can't go wrong with the regular staples--tacos, burritos (I have found they are much better the next day so am more likely to order a combo that includes one and take it go), buttery quesadillas, and margaritas (or Dos Equis Amber grande for the beer lovers). The chile relleno is one of our favorites though it is quite distinct from the "typical" Mexican restaurant menu item. The tortilla soup is fantastic and is the only soup I have ever needed a KNIFE to cut up the pieces of chicken--garnished with limes and avocados, it is one of the best comfort foods you can find in town. We are quite fond of the staff, but admittedly are regulars and enjoy chatting in Spanish. One of my favorite bizarre things about many of our local Mexican restaurants is the fact that the bathroom entrance doors are as light as feathers, which always surprises me as I fling one open. The patio is also great on a nice day though there isn't much to see (though I have seen some epic fights amongst CiCi's Pizza and McAllisters employees on break in the parking lot from the patio).
(4)
Viet T.
No review for food (it's been forever since I've been here so I can't remember how it was) Really chill waiter $18 for a frozen pitcher is a tad high for me but the alcohol content was substantial Patio is a bit dirty with mixed match chairs but when the weather was like today you probably won't care too much. Go have a pint and enjoy the views Also fresh made salsa and guac from the same chill waiter
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Specialities
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 : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Jolynna M.
If you like the typical Americanized version of Mexican food, you'll like El Porton. It's nothing fancy and nothing to write home about. But it's good quality, consistent food at inexpensive prices. This particular location has a really nice patio, so I enjoy going late in the afternoon and meeting friends for Margarita drink specials and their very yummy White Cheese Dip.
(3)Jennifer S.
My favorite place to get Mexican in Memphis. I love the beans, the rice, the salsa and the white cheese. The main dishes are pretty good here too. It is nothing fancy but I love it. My good friend and I go here every time he visits Memphis.
(4)Shawn L.
The food is good. The service is always great. It is a great family place to eat.
(4)Carter C.
I thought this place was great. It's not hard to get Mexican food right, so the atmosphere goes a long way. El Porton has a good patio though not one of Memphis' best in my opinion....it overlooks a strip mall parking lot. Nonetheless it was great in the nice weather. The service is par for the course. The hostess told us the basketball game was on at the bar...we got to the bar and the TV wasn't on at all. It actually worked out for the best since we ended up outside though. My fajitas were fantastic and as always, never-ending chips with good salsa make me smile about as much as anything in the world. I'll be back.
(4)Bryan N.
I have a general rubric for Mexican restaurants. I always try their most basic offerings first. In general this means trying their tacos or burritos, as they are typically the simplest thing on their menu. If a restaurant can do a good job of the simple then they will usually have fairly good dishes that add a little more complication. El Porton on Highland has very decent food. On my most recent trip I ordered the tacos al carbon. The food was very good. It is by no means authentic Mexican food, but it tasted good and was filling. Their portion sizes are fairly impressive, but when you factor in the cost you realize why the portions are set to their current state. I also have tried their horchata in a recent visit and was surprised that it appeared to be the genuine article - minus the cinnamon in the drink. The horchata had rice particulate in it and was fairly sweet -- not as sweet as I generally like it but good for most. The service was exceptional, but the last time I went there the company I was with had a strange effect on the server so it may be that I am somewhat biased in my service assessment. The restaurant itself is very nice and the inside feels very comfortable. The dining area is very clean and is very reminiscent of a Chili's. It is a very good place for a friendly dinner but is not intimate by any means. Overall, the food is, acceptable quality and filling. The prices are a little high but are made acceptable when size is taken into consideration. I would recommend coming here when you and your friends are hungry and feel like going somewhere where you can talk in a comfortable conversation encouraging atmosphere.
(3)Tanya T.
Another great Memphis patio spot, El Porton Authentic Mexican Restaurant serves up all kinds of spicy, saucy dishes smothered in cheese, and fried to your crispy satisfaction. Choose from a variety of combination meals featuring chalupas, tacos, burritos, tostadas and more or go for the whole enchilada with dinner entrees such as steak ranchero (rib eye steak in special ranchera sauce served with rice, beans and tortillas), pollo fundida (grilled chicken smothered with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and melted cheese) or shrimp a la mexicana (shrimp with onions, tomatoes and jalapeno peppers). El Porton's queso dip is of the white cheese variety so there's a little variation from your typical cheese dip. Also serving up some of the best margaritas in the city (try the peach!), El Porton waiters will keep the frozen pitchers coming as you work on your tan while relaxing on their spacious patio.
(3)Cody H.
Everything here was just "okay". Nothing horrible, but nothing special.
(3)Steve N.
I used to like this place because the service was exceptional and the food was good - - - and it was cheap. But it has gone down in recent years. If you eat outside, prepare to fight the very aggressive pigeons - not pleasant. The service has gone down a little, though there are still some great waiters there. The food is bland, but they are fast. My biggest problem is that this one is pretty dirty, and I just can't handle that. There are three or four other Mexican restaurants within a mile or less that I like better and are about the same price. The one thing I will say is that they make the best margharitas!
(2)Steve O.
Very Bland, everything tastes the same. Ketchup tasting salsa. On the plus side, Authentic mexicans, so translation is somewhat difficult. Nicknamed "El Porta Potty" by visiting family members
(2)Ken T.
I know a lot about Mexican food and to sum things up I would have to say that this place is not trying hard enough. I ordered the deluxe bean nachos which came with cheese, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes. So what came out of the oven was super thin tortilla chips w soupy beans and out-of-a-can cheese poured on top which had the net effect of making a big mess. The lettuce was badly wilted and and there was only one slice of tomato. The sour cream was excellent (ha). I was surprised to learn that the jalapeños which I had to request were an extra charge. Now THATS not Mexican at all. I ate my nachos as if it were a bean dip. So the beans had a good flavor and I believe they were cooked fresh but they were puréed and too thin for my liking. Don't think I will come here again even though it's clean and the decor is nice.
(2)Ramona P.
Bravo to the service and food! It was Cinco de Mayo, and we were looking for a cool spot to have drinks and food. I knew all the places in Midtown/Downtown would we flooded with mobs, so tried to think of somewhere else. I've been to this location, but it was a couple of years ago (couldn't remember if I liked it or not). We pulled up and I was shocked to see the patio completely full, people waiting outside, and inside. The hostess informed us that it would be an hour wait. At this point, we really had no other choice, because every Mexican restaurant would be packed. Our wait time was cut really short, due to people leaving or not hearing their name called. The total wait time was about 20 minutes. Once we got seated, it took awhile for someone to come to our table. Salsa and chips were eventually placed on our table, and after that service started rolling pretty quickly. The salsa is really good...not too hot....I've had salsa that was too hot to enjoy. I ordered the peach magarita, which was just right! My husband ordered the Magarona (and of course Mikey liked it). I wasn't too hungry....the chips, salsa, & queso (very good queso) filled me up. When I say we ate it all...WE ATE IT ALL! For my not so entree I ordered 1 fish taco and 1 shrimp taco. Being that it was Cinco de Mayo, the staff handled the crowd extremely well, so 5 stars to their team. Professionally managed!
(4)Dusty L.
Always pleased with my order. Service is super fast and very nice. This is the Mexican food chain you want to go to for typical chain type food. Very clean and a nice porch. The super chimichangas are top notch.
(4)Jeannine S.
I've been to El Porton a few times and have tried several dishes. You know that saying that if the bread is good at a restaurant, the food will be good, too? Well, I follow the same concept for Mexican restaurants, but replace "bread" with "salsa" and/or "guacamole". Salsa was ok, guac was pretty good...and the food? Somewhere between OK and pretty good. I've had the salad with chicken, chicken/steak fajitas and the enchilada. Salad was small, enchilada was a good portion and pretty decent tasting, but the fajitas were the best out of all three dishes. A bit on the saucy and oily side, but good flavor. Atmosphere is pretty casual, with a nice outdoor space. I would definitely go back, but I'm still on the hunt for an awesome mexican restaurant in Memphis.
(3)Cortez W.
This place has become one of my favorites this year. I prefer you visit this place during the weekdays. Although the food is very good and the alcohol beverages are the best, the waitress/waiter SUCK. They're slow and one waitress actually brought me salsa dip running over and didn't attempt to at least, wipe around the bowl. I prefer the nacho dip or the Chamichungas. Very delicious.
(4)Autumn C.
Every time I visit Tennessee I absolutely have to go to this restaurant! Honestly it's for their queso dip alone! Their margaritas are tasty and I highly recommend the shrimp quesadilla with even more of that delicious queso. The service has always been very nice and fast even during busy hours. I always recommend them when I'm in town.
(5)Hal R.
This place was great when I was younger. The food, service, and most of all salsa have fallen in quality. Still an ok place to go though.
(3)Bailey P.
Meh. The vegetarian fajita was good, but it could have been better. Only green pepper, tomato, and onion??? Really??? For $12??? Feels a little cheap to me, can a girl get some mushrooms at least? Apparently not. The guacamole was not very flavorful. The chips and salsa were good. Margaritas are reasonable if you get a pitcher (pitcher=$18 regular marg=$5), and they are pretty good. It's not a place I'm itching to go back to, but I also wouldn't object if a friend wanted to go.
(3)Cristina H.
Okay so maybe a five star is pushing it but seriously I'm just reviewing what I had. Soooooo they have added even more to their menu but the one thing that caught my eye (other than that margerona) were the street tacos! Yes they offer you tapas like that now and it was right on time! I got the carnitas and the steak taco and it was really good. I'm still thinking about them actually! Nowadays you can get street tacos on food trucks BUT you can't get a margerona too! It's a typical Mexican spot with regular service but I was quite impressed with the tacos. Oh but don't get the chicken tacos they weren't as juicy!!
(5)Aaron C.
I love Mexican food and this was my first time at this location. It was very clean. The waiters were very friendly and knowledgeable. We sat outside on the patio and it was very plain, but quaint. The food was fast to get to the table. It was decent. The only complaint and reason I'm giving it 2 stars is the fact that I had a bone in my chicken. It grossed me out and couldn't finish.
(2)Daniel M.
I come to El Porton a lot. Probably 6-7 times a month. In fact, I'm the Duke. I can honestly say, as much as I come here I have not had a bad experience. Ever. This place is consistently amazing and pretty easy on the wallet. The interior has gotten a facelift in the last few months, but the food remains the real star. Simply. Good. Mexican.
(5)Joedinho M.
My wife and I loved this place in college. Good food on the cheap, super close to campus. Was a weekly date night, always good service, good food.
(4)Chris G.
The margaritas are great and the location is convenient. However, the food is very mediocre. The burritos have way too much onion and bell pepper and too little actual meat in them.
(2)Barry P.
One word to describe this restaurant: consistency. In the restaurant business, that's high praise. Nothing glamorous food-wise here--basic Mexican-American fare. But it's always good. I'm a regular and the staff quickly remembered me and what I order down to the detail. GREAT customer service. They also make fresh guacamole at the table which is always delicious and is an awesome experience to watch. El Porton is as good as it gets for this type of Mexican establishment!
(5)Mandy H.
Is it fair to write a review for a place when you only had the margaritas?? I say yes, and so I shall! Can I just say that this place is in the PERFECT location? I mean, there is nothing as refreshing as leaving Comcast and going straight for a margarita...let's be honest. My visit there was a strange one...two of my friends were there waiting on me to deal with Comcast....they were drinking and eating chips. One of them came to 'relieve' me from my post (the one that was paying for all of this), and the staff didn't give him any issue at all. He even pre-ordered my margarita and they made it when I arrived. Awesome! I have never been here before, strangely enough. But I have to say, I was happy and impressed...their margarita was HUGE and just right and their salsa and guacamole were divine. I am obsessed with all things margarita and salsa....so I will have to come back here again soon! And thank you for offering stout margaritas to the unfortunate souls leaving Comcast! ;)
(5)Adam H.
Very unimpressed by El Porton! I stopped in because I haven't ever been to one of their locations and they seem to be a Memphis oldie as far as I can remember. Upon arriving you note the typical Mexican place decor. It is slightly upscale compared to the holes in the walls kind of places but still very typical of what you would see. Chips were kind of odd... Kind of like the OTB chips you get from the grocery store. Strike 1 Salsa was terrible! Sweet, runny, and just a mess. I wasn't sure if it was even still good or had gone bad. Strike 2 I ordered tamale off the lunch menu with the standard rice and beans as a side. I was excited to try one of their tamales and assumed it would be served traditionally still wrapped in the corn husk with some sauce on the side. Instead it was covered in this shiny coagulated Orange/Red sauce ALL over it! The tamale itself was not that bad but that sauce just was everywhere! The beans were ok and the rice was dry so all in all not a good meal. Then, time for the check and guess who decides to go MIA? My server! I am sitting there with partially eating food just wanting to leave and he is just gone. Strike 3! After sitting for 5-8 minutes I get up to find him. Finally track him down doing side work and request my ticket. Calories and dollars wasted! Buyer Beware!
(2)Denita W.
If a group of friends wanted to go here, I would go back. But it won't be on my personal list of places to return to. The service was just OK. Took a while to get our waters, and someone else had to check on us at one point, but she was really cool about splitting our checks (and the pitcher of margaritas) three ways. Pitcher of Margaritas: $18 = about 5.5 regular margs. Alone, they would be $5. They're pretty decent and strong enough as I left in my giggly tequila-induced state-of-mind. Chips and salsa: on point. Guacamole: Ugh. Literally just smashed avocado. No citrus or garlic anything. Disappointing. I ordered the Thursday Taco Night tacos. Tastes good. Very little meat on them (like less than a tablespoon) but they are $1.25 per taco so that's not bad. If you don't specify, they come with lettuce and lil bit of cheese instead of the cilantro & onion. I feel that they're regular priced tacos are overpriced (see photo). And mixing and matching them costs extra...which I've never heard of before. Got some taco night tacos to go for my boyfriend and it was awesome that they included chips and salsa in the to-go bag.
(3)Miriam S.
I first started frequenting El Porton in college as a Spanish major living on a budget. Half of my friends had their faces creamed with "la crema" on their birthdays while sporting the giant house sombrero after being serenaded by the waitstaff. A decade later, I still enjoy brushing up on my Spanish while having a cheap but truly consistent meal close to home. I agree with a previous poster that you should go on a weekday to avoid the weekend onslaught (and service/quality of food drops off a bit when they get in a rush). When you show up close to closing on a Wednesday, you will find your taco more packed with tender chicken and peppers than when they are worried about running out during the Friday night rush. The Americanized Mexican queso is one of the things they do best--we like to dip tortillas in it in addition to the bottomless crispy chips. The salsa has started to vary in heat depending on who is making it, but it's always nicely laced with cilantro. You can't go wrong with the regular staples--tacos, burritos (I have found they are much better the next day so am more likely to order a combo that includes one and take it go), buttery quesadillas, and margaritas (or Dos Equis Amber grande for the beer lovers). The chile relleno is one of our favorites though it is quite distinct from the "typical" Mexican restaurant menu item. The tortilla soup is fantastic and is the only soup I have ever needed a KNIFE to cut up the pieces of chicken--garnished with limes and avocados, it is one of the best comfort foods you can find in town. We are quite fond of the staff, but admittedly are regulars and enjoy chatting in Spanish. One of my favorite bizarre things about many of our local Mexican restaurants is the fact that the bathroom entrance doors are as light as feathers, which always surprises me as I fling one open. The patio is also great on a nice day though there isn't much to see (though I have seen some epic fights amongst CiCi's Pizza and McAllisters employees on break in the parking lot from the patio).
(4)Viet T.
No review for food (it's been forever since I've been here so I can't remember how it was) Really chill waiter $18 for a frozen pitcher is a tad high for me but the alcohol content was substantial Patio is a bit dirty with mixed match chairs but when the weather was like today you probably won't care too much. Go have a pint and enjoy the views Also fresh made salsa and guac from the same chill waiter
(4)