El Portal

Ordered rolled tacos and the tortilla tasted old and there was NO MEAT! So disappointed! The guacamole had NO flavor neither. Gross! I also had the adobada burrito because everyone raved about it on Unilocal and it was small. Prices are ridiculous for the size and quality. I would NOT come here again :(disappointed

First time here and I am satisfied with the carne asada fries I got. For 8 dollars you get a huge portion of fries, meat, and even guac. The carne asada was very well done and the wait time to get the fries wasn’t that long :). I would recommend this place to anyone visiting chula vista if they’re craving Mexican food ⁵⁄₅

I had the spicy shrimp burrito! It’s wasn’t that spicy to me because I like my food to burn my tongue butttttt it was sooo good ! Great flavor and the shrimp was cooked perfectly !!

Their polls Asada fries and California burrito with pollaAsada is amazing. Everything I have tried has been great. The carnitas has amazing flavor and the burrito is huge, especially compared to Lolita’s which gives barely any meat now. Great little taco shop.

This place has the best breakfast burritos in this part of Chula Vista and at the most reasonable prices.

My son and i love their pollo asada fries! Why 3 star? Coz they don’t accept debit/​credit card.

food is ok, but please do not try the machaca and egg burrito is horrible !!!

This is my second time at this location and I’m impressed by the taste this little Shop offers. My first visit consisted of a California Pollo Asada Burrito and the chicken was tender with great flavor so i have no regrets! Today’s visit was for the recommended Burrito de Chile Verde. This burrito is made out of pork with green salsa and light beens for additional flavor. I recommend lime and carrots, you can go wrong! For closer, this place hits the spot!

I wish there was a word between crap and mediocre food.
I have lived in SD for over 13 years and tried many many taco shops. They are a lot alike in the area so I don’t expect them to be better than TJ tacos like Tacos El Gordo, they are just different. I didn’t expect much going into this place, it’s a whole in the wall, it’s close to my new home so I decided to check it out… I’m never eating here again!!! I’ll waste my gas driving elsewhere first! Here is why:
1) service was less than generic! I mean I get a smile from strangers walking in the street! When I placed my order and pulled out my credit card the guy behind the counter looked at me like I am an idiot and said «cash only» as if it was obvious… I was thinking… it’s 2015!!! We are now able to take credit card payments from a cell phone!!! GEEZZZ. So I had to go next door liquor store to take out money. I almost got on my car and drove home but I wanted to give place a try since its so close to my house. The guy again was very dry! Oh well! Not a surprise this time.
2) the first thing I tried driving off was the Orchata I got. Wow was this the worse!!! I don’t know how to make Orchata but I bet I can make it way better!!! I’ll just google the recipe. It tasted like they made Orchata then they tripled the water and sugar, I guess it was more like sugar water with a hint of Orchata??? Yuk!!!
3) I got a 3 rolled tacos with guacamole. So the rolled tacos where not hot like they should have been after been dipped in frying oil. The guacamole was the type that is diluted with either cream? Or something? It wasn’t fresh guac, it’s the type that goes in a blender. That to me is probably the worse cause I love Guac! But these guys ruined it! I couldn’t even taste any salt or lemon or anything on it, just tasted blend! Even with hot sauce I added it still tastes bad!!! Is that possible?
3) I also got a carne asada burrito, yeah I was hungry!!! It’s my preferred combo! So here again we have the infamous guac! Already I wanted to put it down!!! Needless to say I was again disappointed. No real taste of anything except the hot sauce I added! The meat was cooked but had no real seasoning of any type! I only ate half of it!
So why 2 stars? I don’t thrown up at least!!! The prices where not ridiculously high… I’m still alive? Jeje
Maybe at some point they had different cook? Owner? Or something because I would hate to think that all the great reviews came from the cook that is currently there… Or maybe these people got paid to write a good review? IDK but I’m never eating here again!!!
Too bad cause it’s so close to my house!!!

Ok, nothing special I’ve had better in Northen Cali. Seems like the farther south you get the worst the mexican food. I rather eat MXN mexican food than eat this imitation shit with the NASTY ass yellow corn tortillas. Can someone educate me as to why Socal eats this nasty tortilla? Why not the white corn tortilla? Taste better, stays fresher longer and you can actually eat it once it gets cold. This place is MEH.

After being horribly disappointed by the food and service at Asadas, I was looking for a new taco shop… I found El Portal and decided to try it. It’s a little hole in the wall that has great prices and great food!
The owner is always very friendly and helpful. I haven’t found anything on the menu that I don’t like :)
I would go out of my way to swing by this joint for good Mexican food! Well worth it.

Husbands loves this spot, and I have to agree…
Tortillas are warm, soft, and super fresh.
The meat is all flavorful, we love their adobada (burrito) and carne asada (chips).
And the chips… Are Made to order and super addicting… Not too thick, not too thin. Not too salty or greasy… Juuuust right.
Husband swears their adobada is the best… I usually order chicken. It’s super juicy and just a little bit spicy.
The portions are not gigantic like some places, but still pretty large satisfying portions. And the taste/​quality makes up for it…
Service is typical, we usually order to go, but there are several tables inside if you like… Interior is nothing fancy, but kept clean.
Cash only.

Good spot! everything made in front of you and food is more homemade than lets say Lolitas! Cheaper too! When calling in a order speak with owner, because the alternate guy that answers phone always gets orders wrong! Still worth going trust me!

Worst Mexican taco shop in SD sucks I live down the street remember cash only if you do decide to go here. 1^st I got the chorizo burrito it wasn’t even chorizo I decided to go again and there beans are burnt and carne asada is dry don’t go here

This is my «go-​to» spot when Im in the Southbay. The meat is marinated in crack so you know its good. I always get 3 items here (pollo asada fries, adobado burrito, and pollo asada burrito. I really did NOT want to write a review (for stingy reasons –secret spot) but I thought to myself… these guys give the gift of Mexican food and gifts were meant to be given to others. Highly recommend this place.

I stopped going ever since I found a toothpick in my carne asada burrito. I tell myself it was there to hold the meat together and not from the cooks mouth. Whatever the case I no longer go there.

I’ve been coming to this place and I think their carne Assad burritos are to the point. My only problem is that they close too early. 8 pm on a Saturday night. Really ?? Other than that I recommend this place. Always take it to go tho.

This place is conveniently located decently close to the now named, Sleep train Amphitheater.
to be honest… that’s about all that matteres. I was hungry, and was kind of in the mood for a cali burrito or carne asada fries… I ended up with the burrito…
I can definitely say as a mexican food buff, that this place can use some improvements… First and foremost… they’ve disgraced carne asada. The meat was cooked well, but not seasoned as much as it should be. Biting into the burrito was just so… boring and bland… even in spite of the accompanying salsa, cheese and beans… I was still left wondering where the rest of the flavor was hiding.
Secondly, the tables /​booths in the establishment itself weren’t very clean, which is an automatic turn off for me…
The service was good but the feel of the place was so drab and uninviting… I think If I had bought and consumed enough liquor next door, I may have enjoyed the experience a little more…
It’s just terribly unfortunate. El Portal has potential… I just hope the owners figure out how to capitalize on it before it’s too late.

A local mexican resturant that serves good food. It is quick and efficient. The staff is nice. It is couple of tables inside and a couple of tables out front.
The first time I came here, I did not notice the menu on the opposite wall so I thought they did not offer much. I was a little disappointed but the good food amde me try it second time. That is when I noticed the menu on the other wall.

Went down to SD for I Love This City Festival and we were really craving some Mexican food. Naturally I turned to Unilocal to give me some advice, and El Portal came up. It is in a small neighborhood down the street from Cricket Amphitheatre, the restaurant is pretty small, but there is a small seating area outside. All the employees were really nice, and the menu had great variety.
In order of preference I had the Chicken Asada Taco, Carnitas Taco, Fish Taco, Carne Asada Taco. The chicken asada was really good, I haven’t tried one seasoned like it before. The fish and carnitas was good and flavorful, pretty standard. As for the carne asada I thought it was pretty average, nothing too special. Overall I thought the quality and amount you get for the price was really worth it.