El Portal

I loved this place when I lived in Marshalltown, but now that I’ve experienced REAL Mexican food and restaurants, this place is a disappointment. The chips and salsa are probably the highlight, everything else is bland and leaves me feeling crummy. I wish Maria’s Tacos would open a restaurant, they would get all of my business when I’m visiting.

El Portal is, and has been for a long time, a solid choice to eat in Marshalltown. Let’s get something out of the way first, El Portal does not sell authentic Mexican food. If that’s what you are looking for, then look elsewhere. What this restaurant offers is their own take on a lot of different Mexican dishes. I personally don’t like the majority of the options, but there are a few that I really enjoy. The menu is huge and there is bound to be something that everyone can enjoy.
Where El Portal shines is in their service. The staff will go above and beyond to make sure you have a great time. At no point have I ever left dissatisfied. I’ve never heard anyone complain that El Portal service is slow, or that the food taste is inconsistent. The owners have had years to perfect how to run the place and it shows. I hear that’s why they have restaurants in other cities in Central Iowa.
I personally recommend Tacos de Carne Azada, and the Chicken Chimicanga. Also, the cheese dip goes amazingly well with their chips, and the frozen Margaritas are superb.

Wow our last visit will probably be our last. Inconsistency is prevalent at El Portal. Nothing tasted fresh and the chips were burned and stale. C’mon you used to be a good place to eat. Too much competition for us to patronize a so so place. Our friends echo this and won’t be back either.

I don’t understand the good reviews for thi place either? The food was bland without flavor. The salsa was cheaply made out of tomato sauce. The rice had a plain taste to it. The guacamole was the instant type you mix up in a bowl. The cheese had an odd taste to it. Everything about this place reminded me of hurry up and make it and serve? Someone needs to learn how to prepare food their.

Probably the worst service I have had at a restaurant. Our waitress just disappeared on us, sorta like her tip. I had to as another waiter to find her and get our bill. The food was bland and I was unsure whether to even eat it. This was all a shock because the place seemed fairly busy. I think this is one I will mot return too.

Good food and the prices aren’t bad
Good place to go if your craving Mexican the service is friendly, but a little slow

Wow, the only good I can say about this place is that you get a cold frosty glass for your beer. This is the most bland tasteless mexi food I have ever eaten and the salsa even is tasteless like tomatoe sauce. But then again, this is marshal /​mexi town Iowa and I guess most people here don’t know any better as the place was busy. Save your money or just go to Taco Bell.

I don’t understand the positive reviews on this restaurant. This was some of the most mediocre Mexican food I’ve had in years. I went because A-​1 Thai Cuisine was closed. I would have done better at a chain restaurant. Bland salsa, enchiladas that tasted fresh out of a can, lackadaisical service. The place was packed, though, so perhaps the locals have a different opinion of what constitutes good Mexican food. I’ve had great Mexican food in Marshalltown — but not here.

I know locals seem to love this place, but I could really take it or leave it. The service is generally friendly. The owner is a hoot. However, the food is bland. The salsa is not at all spicy and is runny. The food really leaves something to be desired.

Middle of the road Americanized Mexican food.
Okay for what it is, but definitely not an authentic taqueria. And I’ve had far far better tex mex.
My first test of a restaurant is its clientele. This place was bumping for lunch. All white people. I’m white too, but the only Latinos in this place were servers. Not a good sign. The food agreed with my initial gut instinct — decent but boring and way too white-​ified.
For real Mexican, go to Zamora, Villachuato, Maria’s Tacos, or Tacos y Mariscos Maravillos.

This restaurant is in a very awkward building next to the K-​mart. They have awesome service and helpful staff! We got our food fast which was nice because we were super hungry. The food was okay. Not the best Mexican food I’ve had. I ordered the #3 combo, which was one enchilada and one tamale. The enchilada sauce was too tomatoey and not enough spicy. If you are looking for some standard Mexican food this is your place.

Delicious! Had the flautas dinner, includes a chicken, steak and beef~the beef was like a crock pot roast, so tender! Washed down with a peach frozen margarita followed by the fried ice cream. All the staff were very friendly. And super cheap! Loved it!

We always have fabulous service here and the food is excellent. I recommend the lunch fajitas and definitely get the pico de gallo as a side. This is the best Mexican restaurant in town, I think they are all owned by the same, but this is the best!

Was definitely NOT authentic Mexican food. It was Americanized Mexican food like you would find at most «Mexican» chain restaurants, like la fuente or how chi chi’s used to be. huge disappointment food-​wise.
Service was great and the employees were all very friendly.

Excellent food. Those that think it’s crap only know the flavor of half-​assed tex-​mex food. This is as authentic as it can be North of the border. This is a great restaurant.

Excellent food! I had the # 1 with a taco and 2 enchiladas. The meat is seasoned right. The salsa has the right amount of cilantro. Good job Estaban!

The taco & enchilada combination dinner was quite good. The enchilada sauce was some of the best I have tasted. The white cheese in the taco was very good. The only negative item for me was the salsa served with the chips at the beginning of the meal. It had the consistency and taste of a bad ketchup. I suspect they could do much better with fresh tomatoes and peppers.

Good AUTHENTIC Mexican food. Great value and attentive service.

Despite being owned by the same group that owns La Carreta, El Portal’s food was actually pretty good. Still the same mix of Mexican, Tex-​Mex, and New Mexican, but with a few menu item differences. Key difference: their salsa actually had flavor and a little spice to it.
The El Portal Special was delicious, as it was 4 mini-​chimichangas (2 beef, 2 chicken) served with guacamole, lettuce, sour cream and enchilada sauce. I ate the whole thing, and was very satisfied. You can’t get this at La Carreta, otherwise I might have there too.
Avoid La Carreta, and come to El Portal instead.

My brother and his wife and myself and my lady were traveling through Marshalltown at our hungry time of the evening and stopped without too much expectation.
Well we got satisfaction. I have been to Mexico a few times and have made my own salsas, so what a surprise to taste such great food here. If not as spicy hot as some might like, it is good to have it so in deepest Iowa, as the hot sauces are available to sprinkle on, or I am sure you could ask for spicier. As it is for me, my wife has a tender mouth, and if it was all spicy I could not go with her.
Ingredients all tasted fresh and tasty. All four of us were raving about the place as we left. The Owner or Manager visited our table to be sure we were well served. Our waiter was excellent, and the food arrived quickly and at the right temperature. Hope to be back the next time I visit my brother.