El Puerto Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Pleasant Hill

We decided to give this place we see every so often on road trips, a try last night. So my family and grandkids - 7 total, were seated right away - plenty of room there. The hostess Alexia is a genuine sweetheart too. She seated us and then needed one of our chairs for someone else, and we could tell by how caring and thoughtfully she asked that she’s just a genuinely sweet spirit. And she’s a hard worker too - helped the bussers repeatedly between cashiering and seating guests. I had the chili verde and a chili relleno, and both were outstanding. It’s not often you find a restaurant that knows how to properly prepare a chili relleno.

We eat Mexican food (no, not authentic) fairly frequently, and my wife commented her shredded beef chimichanga was the best she’s every had, anywhere.

My three year old grandson who has a delayed speech issue, was sitting at the far end and snagged the owner’s attention as he walked by, and to my amazement, the owner interpreted what he was saying (what even I could not interpret) and stopped, grabbed him a bowl, poured some salsa and grabbed him another basket of chips, all in about 10 seconds. The kid was happy as a lark. Think about that... most people wouldn’t give a three year old trying to get their attention a second glance when they’re going 90 mph. This was the owner who stopped to make sure even this little customer was happy.

When I ordered, I asked my waiter if the chili verde was good, and he looked at me funny, then tapped me on the shoulder with his pen and asked me “What’s wrong with you?” (Like of course it’s good you moron.) So before we even ordered, I knew I had a new favorite restaurant. They asked several times how everything was, and throughout dinner, whenever our waiter passed by, he put his hand on my shoulder for a sec like saying we’re glad you’re here. The whole family was talking about it in the car on the way home and my 23 yr old daughter said the owner did that to her too. We all agreed they made us feel like family. And it was not awkward at all because their appreciation was all truly genuine.

I wish only that there was a six star rating I could give this otherwise, run of the mill family...

First off this place is a dance mom drinking stop! They say really nasty things idk if they think that people can't hear them?!? I wanted to try this place it was close to home and it was an god awful experience the food is terrible my kids food was burned maybe people don't check their kids food or don't think they would be brave enough to speak up. when ever a drink refill was needed the waitor would shake the glass in my sons face my husband let the waitor know he didn't appreciate that the waitor just smiled at him same response we got when we told them we weren't going back and can anyone tell me where the cleaning crew was they had stacked all the dishes on top of the counter the oldest of the dance crew was jumping over young children to get into her seat behind me that's a whole new drama in its self ha not my problem I won't be back! I like myself respect for my self and others lol 😂 this was supposed...

The place still seems like a work in progress. Wasn't very impressed. Margarita was nice size but tasted like mix with no tequila and for that I feel was over priced. My boyfriend liked his burrito as did I but I didn't like what I got. Beans and rice didn't taste good. My chicken enchilada was blah and my taco meat was ok... But wasn't a fan of the shell. Ordered cheese dip for chips, it wasn't hot and it was super runny like water. It was edible but didn't taste great. For what we received that meal I felt the ticket was a little high. Our server was nice. The bartender was nice also. The place was fairly empty and kind of had an erie ghost town feeling.... Oh and I forgot our table wouldn't stay still. Makes eating a meal a little frustrating. Based on this visit alone, we probably won't be back. Maybe down the road after its been open a while we may find ourselves back at el...