I've been here multiple times over the last few months and their carne asada tacos are amazing! My nephew loves their tortas and everything we've had has always been good. Highly recommend! read more

I've had this place bookmarked when I was going through a Mexican soup phase. The restaurant is situated in a small strip mall. There was no one in the restaurant when I came, but it quickly filled up after I ordered. The chef was very nice and helped me order a bunch of things to get for takeout. I came on Tuesday and got their taco Tuesday special: carne asada, al pastor, and pollo. I also got a carnitas burrito, a bean and cheese burrito, picadita, birria plate, caldo de pollo, and pozole. Big portions. Food wasn't too salty here. Tacos filled with meat. Average tacos. No salsa bar. They gave me a good amount of salsa for the food I got. Green salsa was good. Red salsa was bitter. Picadita tasted like a sope. Masa was good. Carnitas burrito came with rice, salsa and a ton of meat. Bean and cheese was a good size and less than $4. That's a value for this economy. Each burrito was customized to my liking. They also have specials for $10. Wow the rib meat in the pozole was so tender, juicy, and fell off the bones. There was a good amount of hominy. Soup was oily, a bit spicy, and not too salty. It came with cabbage, onions, cilantro, and lime wedges. The chicken soup lacked flavor, but it was the healthiest item on the menu. Not oily. It came with two chicken drumsticks, carrots, potatoes, and zucchinis. Soups came with corn tortillas. Birria plate came with rice, beans, corn tortillas, and so much meat. You get a choice of goat or beef. This place knows how to tenderize their meats. It was very tasty. If you want big portions, fair prices, okay food not overly salted, cool chef, big menu, and variety, try this place. read more

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I really like this place. The food is authentic and delicious. The portion size is good and the service is great.. The ambience is comfortable and cozy . read more

HORRIBLE food and even worse customer service. Idk if they changed ownership but I used to love it. Salsa bar is gone. I begged multiple times for limes. Meanwhile the owners daughters flirted with all the single male customers and delivered chips, salsa and water to their table. Basic service is all I ask. $15.99 for menudo that I trashed after 3 bites. Beans - flavorless. Salsa - flavorless. read more

Went to try the menudo, a Sunday tradition in our culture. First to my surprise they were offering a lamb menudo! I sampled it and it was pretty darn good. The broth was deeply rich the tripe was delicious. The pieces of lamb meat were a bit strong. Lamb is like this when we'll done. When I eat lamb I like it medium rare- medium max. The beef menudo was great, flavorful and hearty with plenty of tripe. Served with tortillas, cilantro, onion, lime, oregano and salsa macha. The salsa was a great alternative to dry red pepper flakes. The only reason I did not give a five star was because of excess grease on top and no hominy. Gotta have hominy in my menudo. Again it was a full bowl of meat so it was still worth it. Service was great and menudos were piping hot. read more

We've passed this place many times and what always grabbed my attention was the sign outside the store. I always love to go to places that specialize primarily in one thing and do things well. Zankou chicken, Pho places, In & Out Burger, etc. So this is what I thought this place was. I thought they specialized in Rotissere Chicken. I have never seen the word Rostiseria and got all excited about this. Maybe this was a whole new type of food only the Hispanic people were privy to and I was going to discover it and let the whole world know about it. Never mind that it says in small signage "pizzeria" & "neveria" underneath it. Their specialty MUST be Mexican Rotisserie chicken because its in the big letters. I was planning on discovering the Hispanic Zankou! Looking around I see a serving line with all kinds of meat. Menudo on a Monday (you usually only see it on the weekends), another soup, some kind of carmalized bananas, grilled peppers and jalepenos, some sort of potatoes, Rotiserie chicken, some kind of dark sauces, beans rice. There is a full on ice cream counter, A juice station and then all of these Mexican pastries like in a bakery! There are huge pinatas all over the ceiling. I am talking big ass pinatas. Huh, what's going on here? There is no menu, no prices listed anywhere. I can't even figure out how to order. I see specials and there are so many varied things on there that I can't figure out what regional cuisine this is. There are pictures of various things that are the standard items as well. I am totally lost. You have your basics, Tacos, burritos, tortas, but then you have things like pupusas, carintas stuffed in Pablanos, cuban sandwhiches, pambazo, Enchiladas and all kinds of things with combinations you don't typically see. I ask the counter girl (thank God she speaks great English), How do I order? She's confused though by my question. I ask her about the Rotisserie chicken and she says I can get a whole one or 1/2 with beans and rice. I say OK. We order pupusas. . "What kind?". Oh please oh please stop.... We had no idea. She said you can get cheese, carnitas, beans and some other things we couldn't understand. We stood there like deer caught in headlights. You have to remember there is no menu or signage that you can mull over to make your decision. Then she says "or I can make a combination".. Bingo! We'll take that. We also order a Bean and Cheese burrito. I ask her if they have Tacos Dorados as I have been fixated on Titos Tacos lately. She says "yes" even though they are not on any of the pictures. I get a Mexican Lime Soda . Total comes to $19.75 First the pupusa. Incredible. Perfectly cooked. Nice soft yet with a thin thin layer of crispness. Creme Fresh made it awesome. The filling of beans, meat, and cheese all worked in harmony. Mild corn flavor. I just loved the texture of this whole thing. But the BEST THING I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME was the slaw that comes with it. Its a vinegary cabbage slaw but with a spiciness to it. Not a hard hitting spiciness, but a flavorful, slow to come on spiciness. It was so unique and seriously delicious! The chicken was awesome as well. So incredibly tender. Nice firery roasted taste with Mexican mystery spices. Totally different than something like Zankou, but similar in its wow factor. Not like El Pollo Loco either. More of a red chili kind of taste. Skin is soft rather than crispy. Throw it in a corn tortilla and you are there. When you put the sauce on it, the flavor totally changes. The sauces doesn't accent the chicken in its original state. It totally changes it. But its a good thing. I can taste hints of honey in the sauce and its kinda spicy. Hard to describe. The beans were a little bland, but good. They are the runny kind with the Mexican White Cheese. The rice was awesome. Such a great firery red flavor. Is red a flavor? Too often Mexican rice is bland and lacks complexity. This rice is one of the best. The bean and cheese burrito was "OK". A little bland. It was huge though. With all the choices on the signs and pictures. Finally the Tacos Dorados came out. Its nothing like a fried taco like I pictured it. Its more of a taquito. I thought Mexican places called these "rolled tacos" Anyway it was excellent as well. I think they make the meat differently for these. It was beef, but it was very stringy. It was also very dry. Like it was fried for a long time. But it was perfect this way. It made it less greasy and the whole thing crispy. The corn tortilla had a strong corn taste. It was perfect in how it worked with the stringy beef. The sauces on it were great as well. Watery guacamole and more Creme Fresh. I think if you asked them to make anything and just described it to them they would make it for you and it would be insanely good. A lot of Mexican places fall under certain categories "Americanized" "Taquerias" "Seafood" "Baja style". This place can not be categorized and I was so taken a back by its uniqueness read more

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I went to pick up a order from doordash restaurant emptyyyyy empty and lady told me there is no order from doordash she ask me if i confirmed i told her you have a tablet or computer where you get the orders , i told her go check that then she told me that they have the order bur never was accepted so i have to wait for the kitchen to make the order when there is no orders on line restaurant is empty you need to teach your employees to confirm the orders asap and not make other peoples waste theirs time i would understand if the restaurant was crowded but there was no one it was empty smh. read more

Wow !!! I attended a luncheon that was catered by this restaurant. The food was outright delicious. I'm a vegetarian so the fact that the ingredients were authentic just added to the experience. Photos attached. I'm definitely calling them to cater my next event. Ps the salsas, guacamole etc were fresh and flavorful. Well done!!!!!! I know they also offer non-veg items. Will have to take my husband to the restaurant as he lives chicken and Carne Asada. read more

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Had them make me a plate of pork spare ribs in salsa roja. Comes with rice and beans corn or flour tortillas. Pinta media chicharon en salsa verde, wow! They add strips of jalepeno to the mix, equals nice and spicy. Everything is very tasty but wish I had more. The restaurant is in an un-assuming unit of a small strip mall attached to the neighborhood Albertsons. Mexican music wafting thru the high ceiling industrial look. I get a "times gone by" feel here. It was empty while I was here with just a few stragglers. They might do a busier breakfast or dinner? Date night? No Good for children? Seems okay Attire? Casual View? Parking lot thru plate glass Would try again? Yes, breakfast, Siete Mares. read more

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Muy delicioso! Great food and good service. The asada quesadilla was robust. The rolled tacos were beefy. Barbacoa and Carnitas dorado tacos were fantastic. Our kid had a bean and cheese burrito and we loved the flavor of the beans. Salsa is pretty tasty too. One draw back, and it costs a star, is the Guacamole. It's a green purée and while they are mildly generous with it, it isn't a robust guac. Will definitely be back. read more

The food is very Mediocre, for a Mexican food place you can't really go wrong especially for someone who doesn't really know Mexican Food they wouldn't mind this place. As for me there's no flavor an quality is Meh the only thing good here is there Menudo and Maybe Torta but any home cook can make better food. read more

DELICIOUS. As a veggie they have been very accommodating to my taco orders. Meat eaters also claim this place is great.

Never again will I eat here!!!!! I called and asked for a bowl of pezole and was told they only had a 32oz and i asked if they can make a smaller order since it was just me and they said sure we can do a 16oz. I then asked does it come with hominy and was told yes. So excited to eat my pozole and i get home to open a 16oz cup full of juice and only 3 pieces I REPEAT 3 PIECES of meat and I kid you not 1 PEICE of hominy no lie! I was so disappointed I paid $9 for this crap! NEVER AGAIN! You are better off getting a $3 can of Junitas from your local grocery store. read more

Posole was okay. Carnitas were dry. The Posole had more bones than meat. Wasn't that great to be honest.

The portions for a taco place is small--very disappointing. the cola at the soda fountain was flat. there are plenty of other taco places in the area that you should go to. this is not a good time for poor dining experience. read more

If you're looking for good mom and pop Mexican food spot, this is the place! I think the ownership may have changed recently and the food has gotten even better. I always get the carne asada burrito, wet (green sauce). Delish! It's a large portion and always serves as 2 meals for me. I also recently tried their cucumber juice too and it was really good. Will be back soon! read more

El Portal de Veracruz - Carne Asada Burrito, Wet (green sauce) - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Love this place so much! Their food is amazing - even down to the rice and salsas. The owners and staff are so friendly and welcoming, it creates a really great experience. Highly recommended! read more

Awesome food, great service, low prices, and great location. I had the Carne Asada burrito and was not disappointed. Flavorful meats and packed full of ingredients. I couldn't even finish the whole thing. Definitely give this spot a chance if you are feeling hungry read more

Came here for dinner and the food was excellent. Good service and friendly staff. Had the Molcajete and Barbacoa tacos, the taste was amazing. Definitely will be returning with the family. read more

If you feel like waiting 30 minutes for your food then this is the place for you! Ordered 3:05. Got food 3:35 There's maybe 10 people in this restaurant. It's ok food. Not amazing but not bad. Just above meh. I get the Enchiladas, chicken with verde. Also, definitely overpriced for this kind of hole-in-the-wall Mexican food. read more

My entire family walked in looking forward to a Mexican meal. The teenager at the register ignored us until we talked to her. She did not know the menu or ingredients. It became difficult to order. We decided to leave for a friendlier place. read more

Wasn't a good experience which may have made the food of basic. Took 30min to get my food turns out that they lost my ticket. My order was also wrong. I will try again because it looks like they make good food. I'll give it one more try before I never come back. read more

From the front, you would never guess the gem that is inside. Clear and organized menus with more than the usual offerings. Yummy!! read more

This place is super bomb TRULY AUTHENTIC Mexican food that doesn't really have a menu. Just order what you want, and they've got it! Potato tacos, bean tacos, hard shell tacos, sopes, tamales...they've got you covered!! read more

I had not been here since my pre-Yelp era. Most of the cuisine is from Veracruz. So there are some dishes here that you can't get at most Mexican restaurants. The ribs in red sauce were incredible (these are available at other Mexican restaurants). Really savory. The fish a la Veracruzana was also great. The sauce is peppers, onions and tomatoes. Really good. We also had tocs filled with scrambled eggs and zucchini. A great change of pace Mexican restaurant. They also have a Mexican Ice cream bar. read more

What don't they sell here? The food is delicious. Is there better, yes but this is worth a visit for something new.

This is my favorite Mexican food place in the world. Homemade tortillas are to die for, good salsa, made to order authentic deliciousness. read more

El Portal de Veracruz - Large tacos with homemade tortillas. So good - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Kit the owner is the Man! The food here is great and you can tell Kit (owner) has a passion for food and his customers. Highly recommend!

Their 7 seas soup is AMAZING. Hubby and I usually get that, pozole, carne asada or fish tacos. Everything we've had here has been great. Our go-to spot for mexican food. read more

This place is amazing and their salsa verde is the best I've ever had. They have great food at great prices. I've tried their enchiladas, tacos, and so much more! I have never been disappointed. read more

El Portal de Veracruz - Amazing chicken Milanese torta. Soo good! Always fast and great service! - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

They have it all here. Tasty real Mexican food and great customer service. Also good for adventurous eaters considering they have around 15 different types of meats and preparation styles. They have pork stomach tacos for example. Awesome spot! read more

El Portal de Veracruz - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

I was super hungover so naturally a burrito sounded great. I was in the area randomly for work & this was really the only place nearby. I kinda doubted it but I didn't really have another option. So I get a carne asada burrito with guacamole & a coke to go. POSSIBLY THE BEST BURRITO I'VE EVER HAD. plus they got my order together really fast. Unfortunately I don't live in the area so this might be the only time I get to experience this deliciousness. But I would definitely love to come back & eat another one. Highly recommended. read more

Called to purchase tacos today for taco tuesday. Purchased 5 tacos and asked what the total was, I was told it was $7. I proceeded to ask three times this is the Taco Tuesday pricing, correct? she said yes. I thought to myself maybe taxes amount up to $7. When I get there she said my total was $10 and some change, I asked isn't it Taco Tuesday for $1 she said yes but it doesn't include Carne asada. carne asada is $1 more per Taco, cashier proceeds to tell me there's a sign posted inside stating that. I checked the outside poster promoting the Tacos. NO WHERE DOES IT STATE THAT! So if I'm placing a phone order am I supposed to know that carne is not included in the promotion? I don't think so. What would have been nice is being told over the phone instead of lying. No apology was given just the cashier pointing at the dumb paper posted inside the restaurant. They should post this notice on their ordering site. On top of that the meat was so dry, it smelt and tasted like liver. I believe they are cooking meat that has been left out for some time.I used to go to this restaurant all the time but with this experience will never be returning. read more

Amazing place!!! Absolutely love the food and the service. The best salsa bar in the area too.

Every Sunday, I would pray that there would be people selling home made Mexican food after church (which would be a hit or miss depending on if they had to raise money for their group), but after finding this little restaurant, I no longer have to hold my breath through mass. This place is truly a hidden gem. On the corner of Chapman and Hewes, this hole in the wall serves damn good Mexican food. You know it's authentic when you can get potato tacos, tostadas, and tamales-3 items that a regularly hard to find at a Mexican joint. Let's start with the chicken tamale. It was served on top of a banana leaf and smuthered in chile verde salsa. Rather large, the tamale was soft and moist inside and out-very fresh and fatty, just the way I like it! The chicken inside was not forgotten about either. It seemed to be perfectly marinated with just the right amount of spices and was tender as well. The potato taco and tostada were beautifully presented with crema (I guess it's just sour cream, but it's a lot more fluid and tastier than regular sour cream) and cotija cheese-hallmarks of home made food. The wet burrito was humongous and satisfying. The salsa was perfectly hot. Also got the Limon Pepino drink (the green one) to top off our meal. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. If you like home made Mexican food, go here. They're open from 4am-10pm. They don't speak much English, but the food won't let you down. This is my new favorite spot for when I crave Mexican. Not a fancy place at all, but just serves its purpose for selling home made goodness. Oh and customer service was excellent regardless of the language barrier; the lady was very nice and generous in her servings upon asking for extra sauces, cheese and salsa. read more

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I checked out this place, over the weekend, since I was visiting my hometown. Apparently, they are under new ownership. The food was great, and the prices were even better. Think of it as hole in the wall goodness, without the hole in the wall ambiance. Anyway, I'll make sure to eat here again in the near future! read more

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food WITH catering service, you must give El Portal de Veracruz a try! The ceviche is to die for!

This hole in the wall Mexican restaurant is authentically good. They have a large selection and reasonable prices. I highly recommend the lengua, barbacoa and asada tacos with home made tortillas- very good! Oh and they have this red sauce- good but very spicy. read more

El Portal de Veracruz - Tacos and and an order or chicken mole - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Hidden gem! Great food! We've gone for breakfast lunch and dinner and have loved it all.

Love the authenticity of this place! As a vegan, I had many questions and they were more than happy to answer. I was able to get delicious veggie tacos with black beans. Their homemade corn tortillas are super tasty! Also their selection of authentic Mexican Aguas Frescas are amazing. Thank you for the excellent service! read more