El Potro Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Winter Park

El Porto Mexican Restaurant is a fantastic find for anyone craving delicious, authentic Mexican food. I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and I can confidently say it has become my new favorite spot whenever I’m in the area. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed with the warm and welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and, most importantly, the incredible food.

One of the standout aspects of my visit was the service. The staff at El Porto were incredibly kind and attentive. From the moment I was seated, they made sure I felt comfortable and taken care of. My server was quick to greet me with a smile, provide recommendations, and ensure my dining experience was pleasant. The service was not only polite but also very efficient. My food arrived swiftly, which was a pleasant surprise, considering how fresh and well-prepared everything was. It’s clear that the kitchen staff knows what they’re doing, as they manage to serve high-quality meals without long wait times.

Speaking of the food, the authenticity and flavor were truly exceptional. Every bite tasted like it was made with fresh ingredients and traditional recipes. I ordered a classic dish, and it exceeded my expectations. The seasoning was spot-on, the texture was perfect, and the portion sizes were generous. I also had the opportunity to try one of their house-made salsas, which added the perfect amount of spice and zest to my meal. It’s evident that the chefs at El Porto take great pride in crafting flavorful dishes that stay true to Mexican cuisine.

Another great thing about this restaurant is the affordability. Many of the menu items are reasonably priced, making it an excellent choice for a casual lunch or dinner without breaking the bank. I was also pleased to see that they offer a lunch menu with even more budget-friendly options before 4:00 PM. This is a fantastic deal for those who want a delicious meal at a lower price. It’s refreshing to find a place that balances quality with affordability, and El Porto does this exceptionally well.

For those who enjoy dining outdoors, El Porto also offers outdoor seating. This is a great option, especially on a nice day, as it allows you to enjoy your meal in a relaxed, open-air setting. The patio area is well-maintained, providing a pleasant ambiance for those who prefer dining outside.

While my experience at El Porto was nearly perfect, I am giving it a four-star rating rather than five simply because I believe there is always room for slight improvement. Perhaps adding a few more drink options or enhancing the dessert selection would elevate the experience even further. That being said, these are minor details, and they don’t take away from the overall quality of the food and service.

In conclusion, El Porto Mexican Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone who loves authentic Mexican food. The combination of excellent service, delicious food, fast preparation, and reasonable prices makes this restaurant stand out. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick lunch or enjoying a leisurely dinner, you’re bound to have a great experience. I will definitely be returning in the future, and I highly recommend it to anyone...

I normally try my best to be positive when leaving reviews because for the most part, however, my experience at this place was awful food wise. I went with my husband and we both ordered a decent amount. I ordered a $20 Carne asada plate and a la carte quesadilla and he ordered a dinner combo plate that included a Chile relleno, a tostada and chalupa. He also purchased 3 carne asada tacos a la carte. We also ordered 2 large horchatas.

The drinks were delicious, the free chips and salsa were amazing. The salsa had great flavor. We were offered guacamole and we got it but it was flavorless, like it was missing lemon and salt.

Onto my entree. As I mentioned, I ordered a $20 plate of food and the steak itself came with onions and peppers. The main course had NO flavor. The meat had no seasoning whatsoever and it was mostly gristle and fat as well as greasy. I genuinely thought maybe they just forgot to season the meat? I thought the juices it was resting on was its own juices since I ordered it medium but it was actually sitting in a puddle of grease, it was extremely unpleasant. The peppers and onions also had no flavor. The meal came with rice and beans. The rice was delicious, but the beans had way too much salt.

My quesadilla was good.

The dinner combination plate was also atrocious. A traditional Chile relleno usually has pieces of melted cheese inside but we think they used a queso sauce? Because the whole thing was sopping wet inside with "cheese" and smothered in red sauce on the outside, so the only flavor my husband got was the red sauce itself and we just saw the queso leak out of the chile. His chalupa was also smothered in sauce and just tasted like red sauce.

His tacos were decent but only had one Tortilla each, so they fell apart really easily.

Unfortunately, this experience was extremely terrible. I never have the heart to tell a waitress that the food was not good and quite frankly this has been the only place I've ever been to where I wanted to just not pay for some of my items because it felt like a waste of money. We boxed up most of our food but we immediately tossed it when we left. Would...

Very disappointing and surprisingly not seemingly authentic Mexican. The burrito, enchilada and tamale off the a la carte menu were all served on the same plate and drown in a nondescript red sauce with a melted cheese topping. Therefore, all the food items tasted the same. Even without the red sauce, the beef and chicken within the individual items were bland, bland, bland. Luckily, the bottle of Tapatios hot sauce was readily available - but really, should I need to drown my food in hot sauce if it’s truly “Real Mexican Food.” Doubtful. We also tried the shrimp, steak and chicken fajitas -also, aside from the shrimp, extremely bland. The meats were certainly not marinated or well-seasoned. On top of that, in a large tortilla container provided with the meal a mere THREE small tortillas were provided. Um? When finished, we asked for more and guess what? We got a very generous THREE more. They are parceling tortillas out as if they are going out of style or made of gold. And, of course to complete the picture, imagine a small plate topped with shredded lettuce upon which is sad dollops of sour cream and guacamole-barely enough for the first three tortillas. There was shredded cheese on the plate as well, which was the most, say, generous portion of toppings received. I mean the portion of meats for the fajitas was a small ton, but lord, how to eat it with the provided tortillas and toppings (the waiter actually looked shocked that most our food was there, uneaten, and yet we opted not to get to-go boxes - no way). The best part of the meal was the horchata, which was delicious, but I didn’t go for drinks but rather dinner. Oh, and regarding the buffet, it didn’t look appetizing so we skipped it (why are butterflied coconut shrimp even offered? Scary.). Our dining companions had the buffet and one immediately stated that the tamales from there didn’t taste right, and she quickly stopped eating it. She ate more coconut shrimp (at the Mexican restaurant) than other items...