The margaritas are premixed and must have little to no tequila because I can drink 5 jumbos here at $8 a pop and still not even have a buzz where as if I were at Señor Tequila or someplace 2 is usually all I need. Aside from the weak margaritas on my last visit I tried their chicken quesadilla and my first thought was (did they microwave this thing?) because it was awful but that wasn't the worst part. After a few bites in I bit down on something hard and at first I thought it was a bone but instead it was a piece of GLASS about 1 inch long and the thickness of a pencil. My server said he'd inquire about it in the kitchen but couldn't understand how it got there. No charge on the quesadilla he said and that was it. No compensation, no your next meal is on us or anything. I probably should have kept the glass and hired an attorney but instead I'll just leave my review here to warn others to be careful while eating there.
(2)
Dana T.
Outstanding, affordable, casual, friendly with killer margaritas...what more can you ask for?! Guacamole is made table side and is truly excellent. Service was good and I definitely recommend to anyone. They don't take reservations, so there can be a wait, but just prepare for it and you'll be fine. They have a drink called a 'margarona' which is very unique...a must-try Mexican restaurant.
(5)
joey r.
This is the only place we will go to eat "Mexican" food in Little Rock. There's always a wait, but the service has always been great. The setup is a little cramped. The beer list could be better and the menu is hit or miss as far as authenticity. Wes loves the Tortilla Soup.
(4)
Azazello T.
Yeah, I guess all the alcohol destroyed some of the idiots' palettes, because this restaurant is great! YUMYUMINTHETUMTUM!!
(5)
Lisa N.
The wait can be pretty long, but the service is pretty good. The food is very very mediocre Tex-Mex. I don't know why this place is so popular...maybe I just keep on ordering the wrong thing? Ahh!
(3)
bryon m.
As far as mexican restaurants go this is one of the best in the area. The food is good, especially the chili relano and chicken tortilla soup. Service is usually great.
(4)
Debbie B.
CHIPS & SALSA: Chips were served warm and above average. Salsa was smooth and just a nice amount of bite. BEEF CHIMICHANGA: Nothing special. More on the good side than bad. REFRIED BEANS: I am not a fan of refried beans, but I must admit, these were the best I've had and I finished the whole portion. I always like to try flan for desert when at Mexican and Cuban restaurants. Unfortunately, the waitress tallied up our bill without asking if we wanted anything else. Would rather try the many other Mexican restaurants in the area before returning here.
(3)
RS S.
I'm from Texas and compare all Mexican and Texmex to that. This place can't compete. Won't return. Bland, blah, nothing fresh. Tasted all processed. Go to Taco Bell and spend a 5th the price.
(1)
John B.
Not bad at all for a Tex-Mex joint. They have patio seating for lunch on fair weather days, but it overlooks the parking lot, so don't expect much of a view. The service is great; the beer and Margaritas are cold; the food is predictable if you're in the mood for Tex-Mex on the Westside. Look for coupons or Groupon deals before you go.
(3)
Amy P.
AJ's Picks at El Porton: Hit up the Choriqueso (AMAZING) and get yourself a Margarona! It's a margarita with a tiny corona in it - its fun to order and everyone always wants to know what the party is at your table. I've tried both and I can firmly say the frozen is better. Sometimes service on the patio is lacking, but I'd recommend sitting out there before indoors.
(4)
Noah H.
There is one, and only one, Tex Mex. Mexican food in name, but spiced up, beefed up, full of "'MURICA!" and sauce on steaming mountains of delicious, scrumptious morsels! Now, I just moved from California, and the simple fact is that California has great Mexican food - great Mexican food! - but what they don't have is good and proper Tex Mex. I was reminded of that when a friend visited from the Golden State and told me the one thing he wanted to make absolutely sure he had before going home was a good ol' face-stuffing of Tex Mex. Specifically, he wanted an El Porton dinner. I'd never been, so I happily came to check it out, and I'll be darned if I wasn't blown away. That food was *so* good! Portions were huge - huge - prices were reasonable, the service was excellent, and the space itself was nice. And the food... I personally tried the seafood fajitas, the beef fajitas, the chips and salsa, the margarita, the cheese dip (white, btw), and a "small" chicken soup. Absolutely everything was bigger, cheaper, and much tastier than expected. Definitely going to be back, and back hungry!
(5)
Sheryl N.
Ok ~ I LOVE El Porton but lately the service has been terrible ~ last night on the patio we were seated & our server came out FINALLY & acted like he didn't want to be anywhere near us! We were the ONLY table out there so it wasn't that busy! My friend asked the size of the soup bowl & he acted like she was stupid! His attitude, body language & just the way he disrespected us was inappropriate! He either hates us or hates his job...he doesn't know us SO it must be he hates his job! This is NOT the first time I've had a server treat me badly so I'm writing this review ~ Patti is the sweetest manager ~ always makes us feel SO welcomed with a smile on her face ~ honestly that's all it takes is just being polite! Not sure what's going on but EL Porton just lost a good customer! I hope they can get some nice servers that want to be polite & have fun! We were just out for a fun evening with friends & he made us feel so uncomfortable! Sorry!!!!
(2)
Lucy S.
We've tried El Porton a couple of times and were disappointed both times. The service is so slow, don't expect to get out of there under and hour, two if it's a weekend. The frozen margaritas are way over priced and taste like they have zero alcohol. The food is ok, but not worth it for the terrible service. With all of the great Mexican restaurants in town I do not at all recommend this place. We will not be returning.
(2)
Lake P.
This is my favorite restaurant. Always delicious and consistent. Paty is a great manager which always makes the experience even better.
(5)
Greg W.
If you plan on being in and out of the restaurant in under two hours, don't go. On two separate occasions, service for a table of 2 and 3 accordingly was over 2 hours while the restaurant was almost empty. The waiters do not regularly check on tables. They are extremely stingy on salsa. Drinks are very over priced. The only reason the review is getting a 2 star is because the food was actually decent and hot, unlike their service. But the food came out an hour after we arrived at the restaurant.
(2)
Julie N.
The menu is decent but run-of-the-mill Americanized Mexican food. However, I recommend the chilaquiles - tortilla chips fried in sauce. They're great.
(3)
Tanya H.
El Porton has been my favorite restaurant for over 10 years. Sky, Surf & Turf dip and Guacomole Mexicano are absolutely fantastic! Chicken Soup is so yummy. It is my go-to food when I'm sick. The Grilled Chicken Salad is one of my favorites. Quesadilla Mexicana, beef tacos, carnitas tacos, and fajitas are always delicious. Well, I've never had anything that I didn't like!
(5)
Laura S.
Mediocre food and way terrible service. The waiter was boring and gave off the impression that he'd rather not be there. There was loud background noise from all the workers sitting/standing around talking and laughing. The restaurant was not busy and the food was brought out quickly. Other than that it was overall a bad experience. Will not be coming back.
(2)
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Address :12111 W Markham St,Ste 450
Little Rock, AR, 72211
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
John O.
The margaritas are premixed and must have little to no tequila because I can drink 5 jumbos here at $8 a pop and still not even have a buzz where as if I were at Señor Tequila or someplace 2 is usually all I need. Aside from the weak margaritas on my last visit I tried their chicken quesadilla and my first thought was (did they microwave this thing?) because it was awful but that wasn't the worst part. After a few bites in I bit down on something hard and at first I thought it was a bone but instead it was a piece of GLASS about 1 inch long and the thickness of a pencil. My server said he'd inquire about it in the kitchen but couldn't understand how it got there. No charge on the quesadilla he said and that was it. No compensation, no your next meal is on us or anything. I probably should have kept the glass and hired an attorney but instead I'll just leave my review here to warn others to be careful while eating there.
(2)Dana T.
Outstanding, affordable, casual, friendly with killer margaritas...what more can you ask for?! Guacamole is made table side and is truly excellent. Service was good and I definitely recommend to anyone. They don't take reservations, so there can be a wait, but just prepare for it and you'll be fine. They have a drink called a 'margarona' which is very unique...a must-try Mexican restaurant.
(5)joey r.
This is the only place we will go to eat "Mexican" food in Little Rock. There's always a wait, but the service has always been great. The setup is a little cramped. The beer list could be better and the menu is hit or miss as far as authenticity. Wes loves the Tortilla Soup.
(4)Azazello T.
Yeah, I guess all the alcohol destroyed some of the idiots' palettes, because this restaurant is great! YUMYUMINTHETUMTUM!!
(5)Lisa N.
The wait can be pretty long, but the service is pretty good. The food is very very mediocre Tex-Mex. I don't know why this place is so popular...maybe I just keep on ordering the wrong thing? Ahh!
(3)bryon m.
As far as mexican restaurants go this is one of the best in the area. The food is good, especially the chili relano and chicken tortilla soup. Service is usually great.
(4)Debbie B.
CHIPS & SALSA: Chips were served warm and above average. Salsa was smooth and just a nice amount of bite. BEEF CHIMICHANGA: Nothing special. More on the good side than bad. REFRIED BEANS: I am not a fan of refried beans, but I must admit, these were the best I've had and I finished the whole portion. I always like to try flan for desert when at Mexican and Cuban restaurants. Unfortunately, the waitress tallied up our bill without asking if we wanted anything else. Would rather try the many other Mexican restaurants in the area before returning here.
(3)RS S.
I'm from Texas and compare all Mexican and Texmex to that. This place can't compete. Won't return. Bland, blah, nothing fresh. Tasted all processed. Go to Taco Bell and spend a 5th the price.
(1)John B.
Not bad at all for a Tex-Mex joint. They have patio seating for lunch on fair weather days, but it overlooks the parking lot, so don't expect much of a view. The service is great; the beer and Margaritas are cold; the food is predictable if you're in the mood for Tex-Mex on the Westside. Look for coupons or Groupon deals before you go.
(3)Amy P.
AJ's Picks at El Porton: Hit up the Choriqueso (AMAZING) and get yourself a Margarona! It's a margarita with a tiny corona in it - its fun to order and everyone always wants to know what the party is at your table. I've tried both and I can firmly say the frozen is better. Sometimes service on the patio is lacking, but I'd recommend sitting out there before indoors.
(4)Noah H.
There is one, and only one, Tex Mex. Mexican food in name, but spiced up, beefed up, full of "'MURICA!" and sauce on steaming mountains of delicious, scrumptious morsels! Now, I just moved from California, and the simple fact is that California has great Mexican food - great Mexican food! - but what they don't have is good and proper Tex Mex. I was reminded of that when a friend visited from the Golden State and told me the one thing he wanted to make absolutely sure he had before going home was a good ol' face-stuffing of Tex Mex. Specifically, he wanted an El Porton dinner. I'd never been, so I happily came to check it out, and I'll be darned if I wasn't blown away. That food was *so* good! Portions were huge - huge - prices were reasonable, the service was excellent, and the space itself was nice. And the food... I personally tried the seafood fajitas, the beef fajitas, the chips and salsa, the margarita, the cheese dip (white, btw), and a "small" chicken soup. Absolutely everything was bigger, cheaper, and much tastier than expected. Definitely going to be back, and back hungry!
(5)Sheryl N.
Ok ~ I LOVE El Porton but lately the service has been terrible ~ last night on the patio we were seated & our server came out FINALLY & acted like he didn't want to be anywhere near us! We were the ONLY table out there so it wasn't that busy! My friend asked the size of the soup bowl & he acted like she was stupid! His attitude, body language & just the way he disrespected us was inappropriate! He either hates us or hates his job...he doesn't know us SO it must be he hates his job! This is NOT the first time I've had a server treat me badly so I'm writing this review ~ Patti is the sweetest manager ~ always makes us feel SO welcomed with a smile on her face ~ honestly that's all it takes is just being polite! Not sure what's going on but EL Porton just lost a good customer! I hope they can get some nice servers that want to be polite & have fun! We were just out for a fun evening with friends & he made us feel so uncomfortable! Sorry!!!!
(2)Lucy S.
We've tried El Porton a couple of times and were disappointed both times. The service is so slow, don't expect to get out of there under and hour, two if it's a weekend. The frozen margaritas are way over priced and taste like they have zero alcohol. The food is ok, but not worth it for the terrible service. With all of the great Mexican restaurants in town I do not at all recommend this place. We will not be returning.
(2)Lake P.
This is my favorite restaurant. Always delicious and consistent. Paty is a great manager which always makes the experience even better.
(5)Greg W.
If you plan on being in and out of the restaurant in under two hours, don't go. On two separate occasions, service for a table of 2 and 3 accordingly was over 2 hours while the restaurant was almost empty. The waiters do not regularly check on tables. They are extremely stingy on salsa. Drinks are very over priced. The only reason the review is getting a 2 star is because the food was actually decent and hot, unlike their service. But the food came out an hour after we arrived at the restaurant.
(2)Julie N.
The menu is decent but run-of-the-mill Americanized Mexican food. However, I recommend the chilaquiles - tortilla chips fried in sauce. They're great.
(3)Tanya H.
El Porton has been my favorite restaurant for over 10 years. Sky, Surf & Turf dip and Guacomole Mexicano are absolutely fantastic! Chicken Soup is so yummy. It is my go-to food when I'm sick. The Grilled Chicken Salad is one of my favorites. Quesadilla Mexicana, beef tacos, carnitas tacos, and fajitas are always delicious. Well, I've never had anything that I didn't like!
(5)Laura S.
Mediocre food and way terrible service. The waiter was boring and gave off the impression that he'd rather not be there. There was loud background noise from all the workers sitting/standing around talking and laughing. The restaurant was not busy and the food was brought out quickly. Other than that it was overall a bad experience. Will not be coming back.
(2)