El Puerto Argentinean Grill

El Italiano and I continue to come back here again an again. The owner, Nelson always comes out to greet us and check on the food. The food is AMAZINGLY! Best baby churrasco — way too much food for one person!

El Puerto lover gone hater.
From all of my previous experiences, the food outshines the service. I can live with that because I really come for the food. I have recommended this place to at least two dozen people in the last few years.
Tonight, we ordered one dish for the two of us. I watched a group of 12+ get their food. It was really only 5 or 6 dishes as there was a lot of kids and the parents were sharing.
Fair enough; they ordered before us. Then I watched the rest of the tables (three) get their food even though we ordered before these tables even showed up. After being in the place for over 1:20, I asked a waitress if she could check on our food. After checking with the kitchen, She said it would be out shortly. After waiting another 10 minutes, I got up and ask for our check. We had been in the restaurant for over an hour and a half and we had yet to see food. Another waitress explained it as a «mistake». I totally I understand mistakes if they are communicated and not left to the patron to mention that we’ve been sitting for 90 min with no food.
Starving and upset, we cashed out our drink check when a waitress brought out the 8 min skirt steak we had been waiting for. She offered to box up the meal. Who wants a salad, steak and rice in the same box for future consumption?
We are so hungry and upset about the service we received, we will never come back.

The food.
Free warm bread with butter
Ceviche mixto — fresh with lots of fish.
Mini parrillada w maduros and fried yucca. All the meats were delicious and we’ll cooked, especially the sausage, steak and pork… lol.
Empanada Argentina, decent, the sauces offered adds to it well.
Atmosphere
Surpinsingly Nice with pretty décor inside. clean and cool. Gets busy around noon.
The bad
The only thing is the service is slow so don’t come in a hurry.
Overall a good experience.

The food was awesome … Amazing. This is definitely Tampa’s little secret… The churrasco steak is just perfect probably the best I’ve had.

Yeah I love this place and it is a good mix of great food, great prices and casual atmosphere. Great go to place for all occassions without needing to dress up and pay over the top prices.
Positives — all the food is great and huge portions, prices are reasonable, good sangria and wine selection
Negatives — Food is prepared fresh and to order so meals can take longer than 15 mins to come out on weekends.

Without a doubt enjoyed this place greatly! This is a spot to go to before you hit a parade or festivity near Ybor. We ordered the 22 ounce steak, morcilla (blood sausage), and fried yuca! Everything like EVERYTHING was amazing. For everything we got as well, it was a good price for excellent quality.
We love the décor, the set up of the tables was comfortable, and our server was great! This was a perfect dinner for us.
Considering they have some outside space in the back, they should put some tables and chairs out there. That would make it even more perfect perfect!

This is by far the best kept lunch secret in Tampa! Get the steak salad and load it up with chimichurri and go to work. So so so phenomenal

I’ve been to this restaurant twice. The first time a friend of ours introduced us to the place so there was a large group. Since then we brought our kids and God alone for date night. Every time I try something new and every time they knock it out of the park. They have a soup that’s on the appetizer menu that is awesome and you must try the skirt steak. Their yucca fries and plantains are side dishes and are also quite fabulous. The plan tames have just the right amount of sweetness to them. I’ve also tried their sangria while it’s not standing out as the best sangria ever it’s still quite tasty. My husband has ordered their ceviche where the lime juice basically cooks the shrimp and other seafood on the plate. That’s not my favorite dish personally but I did taste it and it was quite good. This restaurant is off the beaten path of Ybor city but definitely worth a try!

Typically I balance ambiance, service, and food when writing reviews. I have noticed that most four and five star resturants are very good in all 3 categories. Not this restaurant, the food is exceptional but the service was poor, and the musty smell of mold does not help the dated ambiance.
I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and was expecting a conventional possibly boring entrée. However, the chicken surpassed my expectations and was perfectly grilled and juicy. In addition to the flavorful chicken the bread was baked perfectly, fries were served extra crispy, and the homemade hot sauce was addicting.

What a hidden gem. For people that like having new experiences I would definitely suggest you visit El Puerto Argentinean. The prices are not attractive at first, but when you see the portions of food that you get for your money there is no reason to complain. I had a «Parrillada Argentina» and it was perfect. The flavor was on point, and their sauces were delicious. Their Chimichurri complemented their steak to perfection. One of the tastiest and most flavor rich meals I’ve had in Tampa.
The staff was friendly and proficient.
Although I must say that the appearance of the restaurant both in and out could use a better presentation. Not quite the setting I’m expecting of a $ 15-​$ 20 per plate. I would not hesitate to recommend this place, but not suggested for romantic dinners or dates. Looking forward to dine here again.

Sorry to say this was one of the more disappointing dinners we have had recently. We were looking for Cuban or similar cuisine in Ybor City and ended up here after Columbia was a 2 ½ hour wait.
The steaks we ordered were very good — as was the Chimichurri sauce they serve along side. The service however was awful — we waited over an hour for our appetizers, which were only served after I complained and one that was served after half our table received their main course.
We also were not asked about additional drinks /​refills and had to grab the servers as they walked by to get anything.
Overall a frustrating experience — I would give the food a 4* but the service a 1*. Better management and training is needed to improve diners’ experience.

Eating cow is against my religion and my physicians’ advice. These aren’t mutually exclusive categories, I come from a family of Buddhist doctors. But we were on vacation miles away from relatives, and I needed cheering up after a humiliating Wildcats loss to an underrated Tennessee team with lots to prove (and they did) which led to Unilocal with this subconscious memory evoked by searching for «steak tampa.» Even though I grew up in Chicago, live in Milwaukee, been to Kansas City, Austin Texas, and Kobe Japan; the best steaks I’ve ever had were in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am so grateful for Unilocal, which has completely taken over for the helpful advice from cab drivers and hotel workers travelers used to get in the 20^th century. When we asked a couple of Lyft drivers and Aloft hotel workers about local restaurants, they could only suggest chain restaurants and tourist traps.
Hidden off the main downtown Ybor City cluster of bars-​live music-​tourist restaurants, following the advice of some Tampa Elite Unilocalers, we came upon this wonderful cheerful Argentinian grill. It’s filled with regulars, nearby this young woman exclaimed loudly in Spanish to her group that had also just sat down «We are going to eat so much!» She was so palpably happy and excited, we felt the same way. The Chief of Staff was hungry, she ordered the full Churrasco, which is described as a 22 oz. steak. I think that’s an underestimate, it looks more like a whole side of beef. It’s suicide by steak. I ordered the allegedly 8 oz. «baby» Churrasco, which is also an underestimate and beside the steak is a whole lot of other food, adding up to an enormous serving. «Baby,» has got to be one of the most inaccurate descriptions I’ve ever seen on a menu. Across an open area you can peer into the kitchen from the pretty and neat dining area. While only two servers cover the whole dining area (more or less adequately, this is Argentinian no-​rush enjoy life paced dining), there’s a small army of chefs. The Churrasco steaks are marinated for who-​knows-​how-​long first, but then they are beaten to tenderness and grilled in some sort of magical process that results in a very tasty gut-​busting dinner.
We have a rule when traveling to not eat at the same restaurant twice, because we’re on an adventure to explore. But we had an empirical question when sitting over-​sated drinking café con leche considering my heartfelt exclamation that we just finished the best steaks we’ve ever eaten. Maybe it’s because I don’t eat steak very often any more? Dinner time the next night, Sunday, we decided it was time to break the rule, this restaurant is just too good. Even a second night in a row, this is the best steak in memory. It’s not the best cut of steak ever, it has to do with the process, and of course the ambiance adds too.
They offer a much touted sangria, which is pretty good, but these steaks go better with any one of the three Argentinian Malbecs they offer. Don’t be distracted by the fresh baked hot Cuban bread they bring out with butter, those are appetite killers. I have no idea about dessert, there’s just no room left. Two blocks, maybe three from the TECO number 2 streetcar station, it’s easy to get here from Downtown Tampa without driving. Walking from the streetcar station if you come during the day you might meet some free range chickens. If you’re ever anywhere within 100 miles of the Tampa Bay Area, you should make the time to come eat here once or twice or more. Don’t bring any vegetarians, or good Hindus or Buddhists here, it would make no sense.

The food is as close to being authentic argentine as anything I’ve had in the states!
Really phenomenal food. The authenticity of the taste of everything on the menu is unparalleled. Also, the chimichuri is just ridiculous (get ready to have some serious garlic breath for at least 48hrs… Ok if you’re married, bad if you’re on a first date).
The only reason this place gets 4 stars as opposed to 5 is the service. The waitresses all seem just inconvenienced by your presence. I’m argentine and tried to speak Spanish with them and they were less than amused.
Don’t be afraid to be adventurous… You really can’t go wrong with any item on the menu.
I’ll call it one of Tampa’s hidden gems!

When we walked in we were not greeted. We actually walked up to a server and asked to be seated. After we were seated the service wasn’t any better but the food itself was good. I wouldn’t recommend this as a lunch option. Lunch for 2 people after tax and tip was $ 50.

This spot is off the strip. Street parking is tricky but you can find. If that fails you can always park right across for $ 7 and then just walk to the bars or cigar lounges. I had the baby churrasco which came with fries, fried egg, white rice, platano maduro and a salad– wow! It was very good. The portion of food is very generous. I came here very hungry and couldn’t finish it all in one sitting.
The staff there is very nice, the place is cozy but not prohibitive. There are TVs around playing Spanish music videos but the staff is bilingual.
I’d highly recommend you give this place a try– just remember to bring your appetite!

Off the beaten path and well worth the find! Deliciously grilled meats in a clean dining room and home-​cooked plates make you feel like you’ve entered your Argentinean aunt’s house … until you look at the prices and you’re reminded you are in Ybor.
Some dinners are upwards of $ 20 plus, but it is justified by the cut and how great it tastes in my opinion. I had a reasonably-​priced and undoubtedly the best grilled chicken I’ve ever had. White meat is typically drenched in sauce for it to taste good. This flattened, seasoned and grilled chicken breast was perfectly tender, juicy, and flavorful with sweet and charred flavors. I had the yellow rice and house salad as my sides and they were great accompaniments to my perfect protein.
My friend loved her beef fried rice and my husband really liked his short rib and sauce platter but thought the short rib was a little on the tough side. We all loved the sauces they bring to the table. Beware, the hot sauce is pretty hot. It looks like just a sprinkle of red flakes are in the bottle, but you’ll be hit with jalapeño. The chimichurri is garlicky good and great on everything. Even the butter they serve with the complimentary bread was exceptionally tasty — soft, sweet and salty.
Another excellent ethnic restaurant in Tampa. Wait for food can be long, but it’s worth it.

Regardless of what you may hear from the media this place has the BEST skirt steak in Florida. I’ve eaten all over the state, extensively in Miami and haven’t found a place to rival the flavor and tenderness you will savor once you taste theirs. If you feel I’m wrong please feel free to express your discontent but I’m confident you won’t find better without traveling outside the state line.

If you’d like an affordable, gigantic plate of meat with all the fixings, this is one of the sure places to make it happen! Off the beaten path, those in the know do know it is here!
Steak, sausage, chicharron, pork chops, fried egg, rice, beans, extra garlic (just ask!), plus chimichurri sauce! Your arteries may never forgive you but your tastebuds will be happy!

Small place but BIG tastes!!! I fell in love with this place over the weekend! My roommate had the Baby Churrasco, the portion sizes are HUGE. Her dish consisted a delicious 8 oz skirt steak, served with rice, plantains, a fried egg, French fries and salad. I chose the Arroz Chaufa de Pollo, it consisted of chicken fried rice with spring onions and scrambled eggs.
We were stuffed and still attempted to finish these meals, we did not succeed. It left us wishing we had a similar place here in Jacksonville. I will definitely be going here again the next time I am in Tampa. If you are in Tampa it is a MUST!

Today the YBOR City have the 3^rd annual snow parrade. We decided for dinner before the parade.
This restaurant is kind of away from the center attraction of the YBOR. It located at the 5^th Ave and 17^th Street. Two Avenue from central YBOR.
This is Argentina restaurant. They must have done their churrasco correctly. I have order a baby churrasco and my wife have Mar Y Tierra (surf and turf). While we waiting for the food, we can see across building with the kitchen that pounding the steak.
Mar Y Tierra came with three grill shrimp, grill skirt steak low grade with a lot of tender. It also has side rice and side salad. The shrimp is marinated and grill with perfection. The skirt steak also marinate and grill. This dish is yummy for the shrimp and the steak is tasty. No complain for the price of this dish $ 18.
The baby churrasco is 8 oz compare to the full churrasco 22oz. The price different is $ 10. Since I just want to taste the strip cut of the churrasco, I order a baby. When the steak came out, it is a whole piece like my wife dish not like the strip size cut. This is incorrect. It have a lot tendon. I did not say anything because I think this may be the way they have prepare it. So I have finish it. Then my neighbor table order the full portion and I can see there is different of the meat — strip size churrasco not like the flat piece. The correct churrasco should a strip cut no tendon. They should not use the word «churrasco» if they not serve you the Falda cut in Spanish. I am agree the seasoning for the taste is there but the meat material quality is not there. Argentine should know their meat.
The other thing is the waiter did not ask me how is my steak to be prepared and they came out well done. It was too late to change. The waiter also not attentive. My glass of the water was empty for long time and not come to refill. This restaurant waiter need to be trained.
With the above experience, I have to give them 2 star.