El Portón Mexican Restaurant McAllen — Restaurant in McAllen

Lovely location. It’s scenic the decor is lovely and the coffee is delicious. First time at this location and I fell in love w the place UNTIL waitress came to hurry us for a drink order followed by a lot of I don’t speak Spanish and rolling her eyes at my mother who understands English and responded every question cafe, el primer desayuno BIEN COSIDOS, more eye rolling. When food arrived I mentioned I had order was incorrect. I ordered in English… there was a lot of back and forth of keep the plate and I’ll bring you the correct plate.when I was just there to sit with my mom and enjoy sunday family conversation. El portón is a gem of a place I was fortunate to happen upon this year and have frequent since. Loved the original location with a lot of “different themed decor” followed by the new one next to it on university. even when it opened and it smelled like sewer, the food was great I was there grateful for the delicious food good prices. At some point waitresses would assume my co worker was my partner and well that was uncomfortable but not like the whole eye rolling, speak to me in English experienced today. I truly kept my cool but the power of a review will probably even reach the owner. Love your place, consistency and food but please train your waitstaff manners, perhaps to write down EVERY ORDER, and note patrons don’t go to make their own tacos. It’s okay to make mistake but this waitress even wanted to force me to pay on credit and be the one to charge me. Even made a scene to the cashier who was comping the tacos I canceled. Still love the place scared to go back and have to deal with the wildly rude server whose name I rather not disclose… I have been a server and worked many lines of work, but always known my place and not forking all kinds of negativity on patrons. At some point she mention the manager would come talk to me because I refused to transfer tortillas myself and canceled the damn order I no longer had an appetite for given her interruptions and bad attitude. I get it some hispanice servers don’t KNOW or want to speak Spanish but some customers don’t come to restaurants to accommodate the waitress who SHOULD HAVE written the order down …. I pointed out the order was wrong since it was being introduced… and if you’re having a bad day ask for a break and if you’re in the weeds work a buddy system. Again. Love the place, if you don’t speak English patrons , Google translate but don’t let a waitress ruin your day. Negativity loves company …. I enjoy good food and el...

I been eyeing this locale for a few months now. I live literally 2-3 minutes away and on my way home today from my office I opted to stop by here and give El Porton a try. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by this amazing rustic furniture and old school wooden stoves that gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Their bar menu is short but sweet with just the right selection of domestic and import beer and their claim to fame are their mixed drinks...the Paloma being one. My server right off the bat treated us with chips and salsa and black bean dip...this was delicious. So much so...I ordered more of this. I immediately ordered a mexican import beer, Indio...one of my faves and started off with the fish tacos as a shareable appetizer and a fideo with beans and beef...incredible flavor! After this I was well into my 2nd Indio beer when I decided to order the chicken tostadas and a side of Spanish rice and black beans. The tostadas were freshly made, and the chicken tender and flavorful. Truthfully, the rice and black beans are a meal in of itself(like some of you...I grew up on rice and beans). My entire meal experience was fantastic. Conveniently located on north 10th street in mcallen, past Trenton, next to Verizon. Come by for a beer or margarita and support this wonderful...

First time going after passing by it a ton of times and it looking very nice but was highly disappointed. My fiancé and I are not picky eaters at all but the food we had today was horrible.

For what they charge, they serve very little. For example, I ordered Tacos de Fajita in flower tortillas with avocado and fresh cheese. It all filled less than half of the tiny tortillas and on the side they bring a lime and “fresh” cilantro with chopped up onion to top off the taco. Both the cilantro and limes were super dry and brown and the fajita was so tough I had to drench it in salsa to pass it through.

My fiancé ordered shrimp wrapped in bacon and only ate one after having waited 15 minutes after my food had come out. I tried it too and all I could taste was burnt oil that has been used for way too long on both the fries and shrimp. You couldn’t taste anything else.

Like I said, we are not picky eaters at all but the food / service we had today was terrible. There are way better places that charge way less and bring out the food fresh and together so everyone can eat at the same time.

Oh also, the chips they bring in the beginning while you are waiting are 100% reused from different customers because one had dried guac or...