Porto Taco — Restaurant in Port Alberni

We did not enjoy & would never go back. I didn’t know from their website that it’s not authentic Mexican or even Canadian Mexican but the owners interpretation of ??. Sadly, it’s not even relatable to modern Mexico - I went 4 times to different regions this year alone and didn’t see anything anywhere even remotely like it. Oh well, niw we know. Each bite tasted the same, looked like a mess of slop rolled in a thin dough with a ridiculously outta place beet swirl on top. The guacamole is a frothed sauce that we had to pay extra for along with the cheese but there was zero trace of either in the roll. They explained it dissolves in bcs of the heat but it was barely luke warm?? So I guess our extra money we paid disappeared too. One member of our party was famished but only are half with a shrug. Depending on what you ordered is how it’s served. Some were given nice plates and others had to eat from plastic hotdog baskets. When a plate & fork & knife were asked for… only a tiny side plate was provided :(- First thing I asked about was the hot sauces because I like it spicy - she assured me they had a wonderful selection of homemade. After, she brought two bottles and mistakenly told us the spicy was the mild and the mild was the spicy. We questioned to be sure bcs one member of our party is super sensitive to heat & the other likes to eat fire :0 sooo of course, the first to try found out the hard way she had mixed up the descriptions. The homemade hot sauces were both green, both a disappointment but neither v spicy. The chicken was dry, the shrimp almost non existent and although I mentioned twice I didn’t like corn and asked if corn was in the Pico de gala or anywhere I found it in my dinner…sigh & yuck. The only member of our party to eat the mystery orange sauce served on the plate in a tiny bowl & ate the homemade salsa had an immediate trip to the restroom within minutes of leaving. This person never has digestive issues and felt strongly it was said food related. The waitress told us she was new and it showed: no concept of a personal bubble, touched me three different times on my back & shoulders in a too familiar way when speaking with me, didn’t know the names of items and kept answering our question in what seemed like unrelated gibberish - a strange experience indeed. Bad enough it was cold inside but every time the door opened a chill would rush in brrrr. It certainly wasn’t a warm port on...

This place is somewhere I always made sure to stop when I'm visiting Port Alberni. But likely not after today.

I walked in, no one in front or behind me, promptly ordered and paid. I watched a steady roll of customers order, eat/take out, and leave after me, while I sat and waited and left people waiting in the car.

With what seemed to be a pretty good staffing set up in the kitchen, they told me "only a few more minutes" each time I asked about my order, wondering to myself what the heck was taking so long - the restaurant was empty, and the kitchen staff were visiting amongst themselves and had starting cleaning up in the back.

After 30 minutes of sitting there, not one employee asked me what I was waiting for so they could find out what was up. Instead, I was offered a margarita while I waited.... for another 15 minutes. Finally I walked up to the kitchen myself - I could see no one was working on assembling a very uncomplicated, $48 order of only three beef burritos to be told "oh sorry, we lost your order."

After scrambling to pull it together, the only way they offered to 'make it right' were with endless apologies thrown in with some complimentary churros, and chips and salsa that we didn't want in the first place.

The cherry on top: there was a hair found in one of our burritos - they all ended up in the garbage.

To end on a positive note, the margarita was delicious. But I can't say I will be rushing back or talking this place up to my friends and family in the area anymore after this...

We have been in a few times since moving here in April. Great food, that is for sure. Now to the wait staff. The 4 times we have gone in, the waitress forgot the chips and salsa, and we had to be asked to bring them. Do not offer something you continually forget. The drink menu is Mexican. 3 out of the 4 times the waitress brought the wrong drinks. This last time today, July 18/2025, we came in. Granted, it was busy. It was 6:30. At first, the waitress was frustrated because of food constraints from a child. Asking many questions. When we got up, the frustration was they were going to be there past 8. They close at 7:30. We ordered and sat our group of 8 down. We GOT THE CHIPS! (First time not having to ask)They brought out food to the people sitting along the long table with us. The waitress set down food in front of my husband and said, "Here is your beef chimichanga." He started to eat. Had about 3 bites before this crast frazzled old waitress came and TOOK the food out of his hand. To say I front of a packed restaurant, this is not yours. Did I say the woman took the food right out of this man's hands! The gentleman beside us ordered a chicken one. It was clearly beef! I have worked in this industry. So I get it. But geez, she is the worst. We got our money back. We will not be going back. Sad very sad it had this outcome. My first review 2 months ago was giving you guys the best credit. It took 5 visits for us to never go back. Thanks...