Yucatán-style dishes are on the menu, along with a wide selection of tequilas at this comfy spot.
F.W. M.
I’m very surprised that this restaurant only has a 4.3 rating. I went there on Saturday (11/1/25) and had an absolutely awesome experience. Rodolfo was our server and he was excellent—SO personable, and also funny. All the other staff who interacted with us were great, too. When we walked up, I believe it was the chef who showed us the daily specials (actually dishes on display!) and seemed sooo excited to tell us about them. 🙂
We all had delicious food. My family has enchiladas and I had some of their seasonal pumpkin soup since I wasn’t too hungry.
I highly recommend El Portal and will definitely be going there next time I’m in Pasadena!
… moreSean Mark
This place used to be a gem 20 years ago, but a lot has changed. They’ve expanded from just a few small outdoor tables to what looks like seating for nearly a hundred people outside, and somewhere along the way the quality disappeared.
We ordered a margarita that never arrived. The asada was requested well-done and came out completely pink inside; they took it back, but it shouldn’t have been served that way to begin with. The garlic shrimp plate was awful – it tasted off and looked like it had been microwaved. My spouse asked for salt and pepper, and even that never showed up.
Sadly, the food and service have hit rock bottom. It’s safe to say this was our last visit. Thank you for the good years in the past, but we won’t be returning.
… moreJen Sanchez
This place had a lot of potential. Great atmosphere, perfect location (right across from Pasadena Playhouse), and a diverse menu of foods from Mexico and the Yucatán. The food was just a little bland, and the margaritas tasted like juice. Nice staff tho, and it is a visually appealing location in a nice area.
… moreJ Co.
The New York Steak was cooked to perfection, and the food was very tasty. The restaurant offers an ample menu, and everyone in our 12 people party tried something different. We all had compliments towards the food, the restaurant and the service. Even the owner passed by our table to ask if we found everything alright. I will recommend this place and definitely return to this cozy, beautiful and gem of a restaurant.
… moreEletta Bonfanti
El Portal has long been a go-to spot for authentic and flavorful Mexican cuisine. Their outdoor seating and refreshing margaritas create a delightful ambiance. It’s rare to find a dish that disappoints. However, our recent visit was a departure from the usual high standards. While the atmosphere remained charming, the food fell short of our expectations. We hope this was an isolated incident and that El Portal will soon return to its former glory.
… moreCatarina Gamboa
Loved this Mexican restaurant
The food was amazing as well as the atmosphere!
We went to dinner and got a table for 7 people on the outside patio. The food was super fast to arrive and it was delicious I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a cool vibe and some amazing food
… moreLeeLee
The service was good but I don’t think the food was all that great. The soft tacos of carne asada- corn tortillas were great but the pork filling had a weird spongy texture and was too salty for my preference. The chicken avocado salad was great, that’s the one exception. The ambiance is lovely with dining outdoors and live performance by a mariachi band. We asked for separate checks and it all came in one bill. Server was very busy running around.
… moreailene ramirez
Restaurant was truly charming, it’s set in an out of the way alley, has parking available. There is inside & outside seating, decor is very nice. The food on the other hand was not charming nor was it delicious. The presentation on the plates was deceiving, I was so excited about it. All Mexican restaurants have rice & beans, that should not be a problem… but theirs was! Rice had no flavor, beans were heaped with way too much cheese. My Steak picado had a tomato sauce taste, no spices to add any excitement. All in all, 2 dinners orders, 1 guacamole & 2 ice teas = $96.00. Not returning this year.
… moreRich AMeN Gill
Location:Good, Parking: Okay, Service: Decent, Price for food received: Average for the area. Overall: First time try and it was nice, not very busy so getting a seat was quick. The meal came hot and in a decent time to table. The servers did check on us, which I did like . I would go back and try another dish to get a better idea. But right now. 3.5 stars…
… moreOriol Nieto
Delicious Mexican food in the heart of Pasadena! The Salmon Garlic Special was absolutely incredible
… more