El Porton

This place just sucks. Can’t get an order strait even after two tries it was just an order or chicken nachos with no sour cream. Two tries and still could not deliver. So sad! Save your money if you want to eat some decent food.

Great Mexican food! I’ve been here a couple of times, and the service is always fast! If you like shrimp tacos, you should definitely try theirs. The best shrimp tacos I’ve ever had. I love the slaw that’s on the tacos. gives it a little kick. The margaritas are pretty good as well. I think they have drink specials during certain hours.

We LOVE El Porton!!! We order the mixed fajitas each time without even looking at the menu. Our food is always loaded with meat and veggies and served sizzling. Delicious!!! My boys love the cheese dip as well. The store is clean and the service is quick. We always receive refills on our drinks without asking, and they are readily available for salsa and chip refills.

Two reviews in one!
*Decent food if you’ve never tried real Mexican foods. No greeting upon arriving. My chimichanga wasn’t shredded chicken. It felt like a whole dang chicken! I ate all of my foods… My stomach hurts. The cheese «dip» was melted cheese.
*hated it. Im almost positive the salsa is Pace (jarred salsa). I asked, the waitress laughed and said they made it. I’m also pretty positive the beans came from a can. My food was gross and I have a tummy ache. Didn’t eat much.
We were not impressed.

If I could give this 0 stars I would. We asked to be seated at a table instead of a booth because their booths were so small and there was 4 of us.
They first tried to seat us in a corner near the kitchen where it was so hot and stuffy. Then we were moved to a booth where we were crammed in and elbowing each other until my father got up and insisted that they seat us at a table that was set aside for 6 people. They were not busy at all so it seemed ridiculous that they gave us such a hard time about the seating. The wait staff was unprofessional. The first guy looked like he had an old dirty t-​shirt on and an old hat. When we finally ordered, I ordered the 3 taco plate with a fish taco, carnitas, and skirt steak with corn tortillas and charro beans. None of my tacos came out as they were described on the menu. I was confused and I got up and got a menu again to check and make sure that I was right. My fish taco had no poblano cole slaw and sauce as described on menu. It had lettuce and cheese… which is pretty gross on fish. None of the tacos were made as described. The only toppings that they had on them were lettuce and cheese… there were no cilantro and onions, no salsa… When I called the waiter over and politely told him that the food was different from what I ordered. He started arguing with me. I pulled out the menu and showed him how the food was described on the menu and he continued to argue with me. I said to him that I just wanted what was described on the menu and that was why I ordered it. He took my plate and then came back almost 10 minutes later and asked me if I wanted to change my order or have the chef «fix» my order. By that time, my family was halfway finished with their meals. I told him to forget it and just take the order off the check. He didn’t apologize once. My dad ordered combo fajitas that barely had any meat on them. My husband ordered a chimichanga and a tamale that tasted like they could have been from an Old El Paso frozen meal. My mom ordered the steak ranchero that was ok but nothing special. Mom and I had frozen margaritas that were just ok. Tasted like a little tequila with some mix. Dad ordered sangria that tasted like grape kool aid with a little wine and fruit cocktail at the bottom. We were so disappointed with our food, drinks, and rude, awful service that we asked to speak to the manager. We had to ask twice before he finally came over. Then when he did come over we started to explain to him politely about our experience, instead of apologizing or trying to make it right, he interrupted me and started to argue with me and said that his server told him that I was rude and sent my food back and that I didn’t want anything else. At that point, I told the manager that I was ending the conversation and there was no point in continuing to talk to him and that I would just be writing this review. I was nothing but polite. I never once raised my voice or cursed or said or did anything inappropriately. I have worked in the food service industry as a server for a number of years and so I never send food back. However, I have never had a manager and a server argue with me because I pointed out that what was brought to me was not what I ordered. It is like ordering tuna salad and someone bringing you a tuna melt. Yes, it’s tuna, but the two are made completely different. While they did not charge me for the meal that I never ate, I left the restaurant hungry having eaten no dinner. The things that bugs me the most is that NO ONE APOLOGIZED AT ALL! Had they said sorry we’ll fix this, it would have been no big deal. That did not happen.

Without a doubt, El Porton is the best Mexican restaurant in Memphis. I’ve been about four times, and each time has been completely positive. The service is outstanding, the food selection expansive, and meals delicious! There are so many things to try, which allows you to want to come back over and over. If you’re into it, there’s also a bar there as well. You will enjoy coming here.

It took a while to get waited on at the bar. The bartender was not sure if there were any drink specials. There was no dedicated bartenders just the waiters. Margaritas were on tap… just didnt seem right. The combo fajita was kinda bland. I dont think I will be back.

I didn’t care for the service or food. My food was salty and the margarita was not good at all. We where asked to pay early and did not get offered refills on our soft drinks. I will not be going back.

Recently had lunch and was very pleased with everything. Especially the HUGE cheese dip and margaritas

We have always had a good experience at this el Porton. Great service and great fajitas. You won’t be disappointed.

I love El Porton. I don’t understand all the negativity on Unilocal about the other locations.
Ok, so it’s pretty much just Mexican. Nothing fancy. No burrito with goat cheese foam and lettuce from Peru.
But isn’t there a place in our food loving hearts for a Mexican classic? This is comfort food at it’s finest. You get exactly what the menu says, and there are no surprises (unless they cook it wrong, in which case, by all means send it back and review it poorly.)
This place easily, hands down, has the best cheese dip I have ever tasted. I always order the bean burrito with a cheese enchilada, and I’ve never had better of either. The cheese enchiladas are so flavorful and ooey gooey that I can’t imagine even a steak lover being dissatisfied.
So if you’re looking for a fajita that comes to your table on fire, or a burrito with grilled swordfish in it, you’re barking up the wrong tree, but for classic, cheesy, gooey, beany, and occasionally spicy Mexican, El Porton is a solid bet every time, and I never get sick of it.