El Portal - Marshalltown

Food and service all ways good, Thank you Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $10–20 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Chile Verde Parking space: Plenty of parking

I have been eating here for as long as the restaurant has been open--about ten years. The servers are always friendly, the food is always fast and fresh, and it is very tasty! They opened a new party room, so there is lots of space available. Their chips and salsa are wonderful. It has a very family friendly atmosphere and is a local favorite, unlike Mexico Antiguo. (I can understand why someone would not think highly of El Portal when they thought so highly of Mexico Antiguo, although the decor there is perhaps better. Ten thumbs up!

Great food. Great service. Not authentic. But honestly it's the closest I found in Iowa Service: Dine in Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $10–20 Food: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Recommended dishes: Street Tacos Meal, Taco Verde w Rice Refried Beans

Great food and great service Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

This was my first time here and I wasn't impressed with anything really. The Spanish music was too loud the atmosphere was glum, we got sat in a booth that was placed where all the servers had to walk back fourth by us to get to where they filled water, got the silverware, napkins, whatever else walk back by us to deliver it elsewhere. Our meals were cold when we got them and the presentation of the food looked like they threw up on it. It really did. We had the taco Verena dinner, which included 3 soft tacos w/3 different fillings. We couldn't even see the tacos because they smothered them with so much lettuce a big blob of sour cream it was ridicules! I never do this, but I asked them to take it back remove all the lettuce sour cream, then heat it up (this time) please. They remade the whole plate, leaving off what I asked returned it piping hot lol. They apologized so did I. My dad isn't one to speak up insisted his was ok. We both only finished about half our plate had enough. Neither of us cared for the taste of anything but the $2.50 margaritas that were on special this night. I had a strawberry daiquiri it was $6,50 I couldn't taste any alcohol. Dad said there was enough in his for both of us. He likes to have a drink (two) when I pick him up from the VA Home take him out for dinner! So, I'm not a big fan of this restaurant, but maybe its just me. I'm not picky though, usually! The meal for two of us was only like $24 with drinks it about $36.