Restaurante Porteño — Restaurant in Alicante

We arrived at the new, modern and beautiful Alicante Marina today, looking for a casual spot to grab a bite—and what a lovely surprise we found in Restaurante Porteño. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted warmly and were offered our choice of table.

Curious and a bit nostalgic, we decided to try a few traditional comfort foods that reminded us of home in the States. We started with the pulled pork sandwich—and wow. It was absolutely perfect. Tender, flavorful meat, classic coleslaw, and pickles sliced just the way we’d expect back home. Even though we’re in Spain (and truly love the local cuisine), we were so curious to see how these familiar flavors would translate here. They nailed it.

We tried a few other dishes as well, and each one was delicious. But dessert really sealed the deal. We spotted carrot cake and lemon (meringue) pie on the menu—written in English, which caught our attention. When we asked about them, one of the servers (who we later learned was one of the co-owners) came over to chat. We shared how much we had enjoyed the pulled pork and asked to pass along our compliments to the chef—her husband and co-owner.

The desserts? Simply unforgettable. The carrot cake and lemon pie were both outstanding—we honestly couldn’t remember the last time we had a better dessert, even back home. It felt like such a personal, heartfelt experience to connect with the people behind the food, and it added so much to the overall joy of the meal.

Another thoughtful touch was the restaurant's online menu, which included clear, appetizing photos of the dishes—super helpful and inviting. The service throughout was impeccable—friendly, attentive, and truly welcoming.

We even learned that the pastrami sandwich, another house specialty, takes three weeks to prepare! We’re already planning to return tomorrow to try it.

Though we didn’t catch everyone’s names, we all agreed that the team’s hospitality and customer service were absolutely top-notch. Restaurante Porteño isn’t just a great place to eat—it’s a place that makes you feel genuinely cared for....

Husband and I ordered the burger and Kentucky sandwich. The burger was inedibly raw. Server was very kind, but did return with same burger, inside was more cooked, almost raw with the outside seared, bun was much soggier. The Kentucky sandwich fell apart immediately, very messy, not a thought out meal, lettuce was soaked, sauce was liquid, bread broke apart immediately, chicken was tough and in thick pieces. The regular fries were well seasoned and delicious. Both the burger and Kentucky sandwich had good flavors however extremely poorly executed. I am personally not a fan of the QR menus. Very loud music from the bar next to the restaurant. The view of the pier was beautiful, especially at sunset. Very upsetting, we had high hopes as the google reviews were at 4.7. I’ve worked and head chef at a gourmet restaurant and as a restaurant manager in a high popular tourist area serving about 500+ people a day. Would not recommend, just in Alicante for the weekend and wish we had not wasted our time or money. Lots of potential,...

Wonderful place to sit and enjoy their dishes. The entire menu offers a wide variety of delectable selections. I got a salad and it was just fantastic.

This restaurant is esteemed for its wonderful ambiance and capacity to make you feel like the most valued guest.

They made me feel really comfortable, welcome, while taking care of my plate and...