El Camino Real

Service is hit or miss. More miss than hit. Ate there tonight… Or rather my family did. As I watched. I never received my order. Some of those that did receive their meals had beef instead of chicken (they ordered chicken). After reminding our server and then another server and still not receiving my meal, we called the owner over. By this time, my family was finished with their meals. After being informed about the no show and that it was no longer desired, the owner walked away without so much as an apology. No apology from anyone. Every time we have eaten there, the orders have been incorrect and the service lousy. Can be good food… If you get it. Not a place I’d recommend.

There are many choices of EATERIES in Portland. I picked this one, because of the Trip Advisor REVIEWS, and they proved to be correct. Easy to find, next DG & MARSH, but back off of the «Main Drag.» The atmosphere is quite friendly, DECOR interesting, servers CORDIAL, & plenty of friendly servers. Multiple rooms provide space for privacy, or groups. FOOD was VERY GOOD !!

Authentic Mexican dishes served hot and fresh. Quality and quantity above average. Try their Mexican Buffet. Their selection off the menu is also very good. Skip Taco Bell and try some real traditional Mexican style foods.

The Smell of that Smell
We ate at El Camino Real in Portland, IN. Walking into the restaurant, we were greeted by the overwhelming smell of mothballs, or some similar smell, perhaps cleaning chemicals. It was not the appetite-​stimulating smell one expects at an eating establishment. We were seated at a nice booth, given menus, and left to figure out what we wanted to eat and drink.
We could hear the pleasant cantina music, but then realized that it was being drowned out by a TV above our heads showing something on the Disney Channel with a really irritating sound to it. We asked the waiter if he could turn it down, and he did, but he didn’t seem too happy about doing it. It didn’t appear that anyone was watching it, and I didn’t see any kids in the room. It was kind of weird that they had music and a TV on at the same time, and that it was on the Disney Channel. I could understand if it was on sports or something. I think I did everyone in the room a favor.
We got a pitcher of margaritas on the rocks, and it was quite good. We were all happy with that. I ordered a cheese enchilada, bean tostada, rice, and beans from the Vegetarian section. It was good, basic, but good. My husband ordered chicken chili verde, rice, and beans, which he liked. Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well.
The service was somewhat lackluster. Our waiter seemed to have no personality and did the absolute minimal in serving us, including barely greeting us. We don’t want to become best friends with servers, but a little interaction and friendliness go a long way toward having happy, repeat customers.
We were here one year ago, and then it smelled like mold, or dirty dishes, or something somewhat foul. Interesting that this year it smelled bad, but in whole different way. I don’t know if something needs to be cleaned, their food handling practices need to be improved, or what, but something needs to be done, and not just covering it up with cheap perfumed products, to improve the smell of El Camino Real. I will definitely come back again, but mostly because there are not many restaurants besides pizza parlors and fast food restaurants in Portland.

While the service was not terribly personable, they were incredibly efficient. If you’re hungry and you go to El Camino Real, you won’t have to wait for long. The food was pretty good. I had some chips and salsa followed by a chicken fajita. The chips were slightly stale, but their deliciously spicy salsa made up for it. My fajita was enormous. I would suggest splitting it with another person unless you are massively hungry. Typically, a fajita comes out sizzling and bursting with flavor. This fajita came out warm in need of a little salt. Overall I was pleased with the service and the food.

This place is great, for Portland. The food comes quick. The staff is typically very helpful, professional and quick. I’ve been here many times and can’t really complain about anything.

Best Mexican restaurant I’ve been to in Indiana. Cheap food. Great taste. Easy laughter. And my kids enjoy it too (bonus!).

How many El Camino Reals could there be just in Indiana? Are they all the same owners with the same menus?
This one doesn’t seem to be quite like the others — but I don’t frequent Camino Reals enough to know for certain.
Nachos Especial — half order if you’re hungry $ 5. Full order if you’re stupid starving — $ 8! And they’re wonderful. Our party of 5 selected other standards (fajitas, chimichangas, the herbo got bean nachos and a cheese enchilada)
I believe that they make the salsa onsite from an easy blender recipe using mostly canned ingredients but it’s good. Acidic enough to seem fresh. Enjoyed the Butler Tourney game on the large flat screen (squeaker!!).
Everything came out from the kitchen promptly w/​hot plates.
As I destroyed my special nachos w/​vigor I fielded plenty of oohs and aahhs and «I think I’ll get that the next time» and «that was only $ 5!?» They rated my order an A++, and while they liked theirs I foresee subsequent orders of nachos on return.

El Camino is your normal, run-​of-​the-​mill Mexican Restaurant. Nothing flashy, nothing special. Chips & salsa from a jar w/​metallic taste start off every meal.
Several friends have said their steaks are great but I’ve had several different Mexican dishes & I always ask the same question when I leave…“Why did I come back again?“
If anything on the Menu is made fresh than I can’t taste it… everything seems to have been processed in Geneva @ Red Gold, stored in a wharehouse for a few years & than served here… sadly its one of Portland’s better Restaurants but that doesn’t mean this place is good… its not.

Greatest Mexican food from east to west coast. Well played el Camino

Excellent food. Fast service. One of the best restaurants in town.

About a million years ago I went to high school in Portland. About once a year I come back to that county. I only know one non-​relative that still lives in the area and we always seem to eat here. It’s a pleasant surprise. It’s everything that good Mexican/​dinner food should be. Fast, hot, cheap, and fairly tasty. I was surprised again by it. I guess my first instincts where to write it off before I had tried it. Give it a shot it’s a nice place, and as good a meal as you could get anyplace else in Portland.