El Portal Mexican Restaurant

Chips and salsa as soon as you sit down, what's not to like? I got the Carne Asada this time. All the fixings were great but the carve asada itself didn't have a ton of flavor. Husband got the churros with ice cream and he loved it. They do have lunch specials which is always nice.

Fantastic food and friendly staff! Had a wonderful dinner and will be back for sure! The mango margaritas are a must!

Surprisingly yummy with friendly, attentive service. We often come here when in town visiting family. Enjoy!

Nothing like the one in Glenwood! Staff extremely lazy. Server sat down with customers in a booth and completely forgot about other customers. Food was over cooked ( burnt). Will try never to go back.

I think this was the restaurant that had the Cherry Coke tasting like Skittles years ago.

I'm from New Mexico and this was the worst Mexican food I have ever consumed !!! Absolutely no flavor in the beef or sauce for that matter, tasted like warmed up tomato soup!!! Taco johns has them beat hands down!! (And yes I know what good Mexican food should taste like)

What a difference a couple years makes! I had been sorely disappointed with some of the other locations of El Portal ( El Porton) I had visited in SW Iowa and SE Nebraska but surely, the old standby in Shenandoah was doing it right. Right? WRONG!!!! I ordered Beef Enchiladas and Refried Beans, pretty hard to screw up right? WRONG AGAIN!!!! At first bite, even though the waitress warned me about a hot plate, the tortilla was COLD! The marginally seasoned ground beef was lukewarm, but the tortilla was COLD! I know microwave ovens can heat unevenly so I tried a bite closer to the center of the enchilada with the same result. I hesitated trying the beans as Lukewarm Refrieds gave me bad thoughts. I should have heeded that inner voice. They were warm, runny and simply awful. It makes me sad to write this because it's becoming an all-too-familiar song and dance. Small scale "mom & pop" food operation has some success, sees visions of limousines and their own show on Food TV, and allows what made them a success to go right out the window! The problem is that people like me that made them a success in the first place only have to get burned a couple or three times and we never come back! Adios, El Portal....if I want crap like I got served today I'll get it at some fast food joint for a third the price.

Great service. Good food. We eat here regularly and have tried almost everything. It's also our birthday spot, gotta wear that sombrero!!

First of all, Iowa State Police frequent here after scraping bodies off the treacherous roads of SW Iowa. That's saying something. Who has an appetite after that? Unless the food is good. And it is good here. There are not too many choice in Shenandoah... this is not a big town. But even with the lack of competition, El Portal is not mailing it in. They serve ample portions of all menu items. I usually go with pork items like chile verdes or carnitas... even fajitas sometimes. I hold off on the tortillas as that is usually too much food.Another tip is to ask for red or green Yucteca sauce. they have it, but it is not on the tables. Your server will love you for asking for it... it proves you love flavor. Yucateca habenero sauces make everything better! : )

Really just ok. Fajitas are pretty good. Beers on draft really sucks, bud light and Coors light. Beef seasoning in tacos, enchiladas, etc Have almost zero seasoning. Blandest I've ever had in any Mexican restaurant. Service is fine. Haven't tried everything but I'm not going back.