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El Porteño

3.8 (224 reviews)
ModeratePeruvian, Chinese
Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Order El Porteño Takeout or Delivery

El Porteño Photos

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EL PORTEÑO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Julie A.

Eventhough the flavor is okay, be aware of high prices and small plate size. I order a pasta ($27). It was supposed to be a seafood pasta, Instead, the plate was full of onions and tomatoes. 2 tiny octopus, 2 shrimp and two oysters and a few ring calamares is what you will get alone with the noddles. The to go contianer was not even fill half way, about s third of the container was full of mainly tomate, noddles and onions. I liked this place, but, plates size have gone significantly down and prices are way to high for what is being served. Won't order form it again.

Lomo Saltado de Carne
Crystal H.

I have been craving Peruvian food, and I have had this place in mind for a while. Finally got the chance to try it today with my family, and it was delicious! The Lomo Saltado was delectable and the beef was cooked perfectly, along with the onions. The Tallarin Verde was great as well, especially if you're craving pasta with some fresh grilled protein. Yuca fries were perfect, if you want something similar to potato fries but also want to try something different this is the side dish for you. Arguably, I like Yuca over potatoes hehe. Super yummy, 100% would recommend to all! Also I recommend ordering in person or dining in for an easier experience with deciding what to get as staff is mostly Spanish speaking but as long as you share the same kindness and patience as they do it'll make the trip to give this place a try worthwhile!

Anticuchos
Emily L.

Stopped by with some friends for dinner on a Saturday night! Parking was pretty hard to find around this area. There's so much on the menu; we asked our server for some popular dishes and she gave us a lot of recommendations! We ended up ordering the lomo saltado, arroz con mariscos, anticuchos, and chicken empanadas. Came in with no expectations and everything was delicious. The lomo saltado was a classic and what we originally came here for. My friends thought the anticuchos were a bit tough, but I thought they were fine. Our favorite dish was the arroz con mariscos. Super, super flavorful and they don't skimp on the seafood!

El Porteno - Lomo Saltado , has great flavor
Stella K.

I was hankering for Peruvian and decided to try El Porteno. It was easy to order through GrubHub and my food arrived earlier than the estimated time. Lomo Saltado ($22.98) This dish was tasty, yet a bit disappointing due to the tough & overcooked beef. I also felt there wasn't much beef in the dish. The fries were on the soggy side. Otherwise, the flavor of this dish was very good. Yuca Frita ($9.98) These Yuca fries come with a huancaina sauce. The fries are good with or without the dip. Ceviche Mixto ($19.98) Decent size portion of ceviche mixto ; I've had smaller servings at other restaurants. So this is good bang for your buck. It contained a good variety of seafood. I would order this again. Arroz con Mariscos ($22.98) This dish is full of flavor, and maybe a tad on the salty side, but it was delicious. I would order this dish again. My first experience with this restaurant was positive. I would not hesitate ordering from here again, so I can try some other items on their menu.

Neville S.

While in San Francisco for a conference, I took a walk along the Embarcadero to stretch my legs. I found the local market with many different food and gift options. I stumbled upon this place and saw how busy it was (long line of people). Everyone seemed to order the same 2 things: lamb empanada and banana empanada. So I did the same. The lamb one was so so so tasty and delicious! I wanted to go back for another one because of how good it tasted, but couldn't do it after eating the banana empanada (was very rich and sweet). Both were great. It's a cute little place in the market across from the Hyatt. Highly recommended.

Lomo saltado

This is a review for food ordered via a delivery service. I love ceviche and lomo saltado, and was really looking forward to these dishes at this place. Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by the portion size of the meat in the lomo saltado--there were only 5 thin/small pieces in a sea of rice, fries, and onions (see photos). Horrible value for a $24 entree. The ceviche mixto was decent though, but not the best I've had. Never going to order the lomo saltado on DoorDash again. I'm willing to give their lomo saltado another chance in person though.

Montage of images from El Porteño
Ed U.

Ah, so this is the original El Porteño. I don't find myself in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood very often, but I randomly took the M line all the way to the end at Balboa Park and found myself sauntering up Geneva to Mission. When I saw the red candy stripe front and the name emblazoned right next to the Billiard Palacade, I decided to peek inside to see if it was empty enough to brave dining inside. Since this was just before omicron exploded, I threw caution to the wind just a smidge when I concluded it was safe enough with the only other diners a father and his son. I was here on Sunday, so I lucked out with the availability of their weekend special, the $18.98 Pollo a la Brasa, which is basically Peru's national dish, a half-rotisserie chicken blackened to a nice char and presented with a steak knife to avoid manual gnawing. I think the chicken was surely brined in some type of lime juice because the meat was impossibly tender with a hint of citrus tartness. I even finished the white meat which is such a rare occurrence for me. The large platter came with a creamy mustard dipping sauce, a pile of crispy fries, and a house salad slathered in a creamy dressing (photo: https://bit.ly/3KbPVeR). I'm definitely coming back once the next variant is under control, whenever that happens. OK, maybe I'll do delivery. FOOD - 5 stars...a pollo a la brasa to love AMBIANCE - 4 stars...pretty spartan but clean and well spaced SERVICE - 5 stars...very friendly and attentive TOTAL - 5 stars...still dreaming of that chicken RELATED - Exploring the Outer Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37B1acE

Lomo saltado and salt n pepper pork chops.
Leanne Y.

Food was okay. We ordered the Lomo saltado and the salt n jalapeño pepper pork chops. Portions were not as large as before. Prices were moderate to high. Server was pleasant. Flavors were good.

Lomo Saltado and Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Parrilla
David G.

Stumbled upon this spot. Love me some good Peruvian food so I was excited to check it out. My friend and I ordered: Papa a la huancaína-was under seasoned and the potatoes were raw. Would not order again. Lomo Saltado-had fantastic flavor! The meat, however, was tough and chewy. Would order again just for the sauce. Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Parrilla was the star! The chicken was seasoned perfectly and was so juicy and tender. The pasta was delicate, but had so much flavor. Recommend with gusto! Service was meh. They were also out ( or didn't feel like brewing) any coffee....meh meh. They also have a massive menu so there is something for everyone. Go support this local business!

Honey walnut shrimp. 17.99
Emily G.

I really loved this place but was so disappointed when I ordered food for pick up. I ordered the honey walnut shrimp and for almost $18 I received the smallest portion ever. When I asked to speak with the manager the owner came out of the kitchen and said "what do you expect shrimp is expensive" in the most condescending voice. I asked for a refund and he said he couldn't do it. I was honestly baffled. I understand food prices are higher now but I don't think that's a reason to take advantage of customers. See pictures for reference. I wouldn't recommend paying these outrageous prices with such small portions.

Tuky S.

I just ordered a chicken soup from this place for the first time to my surprise there's was a fly swimming in the soup. I don't even want to imagine how disgusting their kitchen is. On top of that there was something in the soup that tasted nothing like chicken, my stomach literally tumbled. NEVER ORDERING FROM THIS PLACE, EVER AGAIN! Will definitely report it to the health department, this is just disgusting!

Lomo Saltado con arroz chaufa (fried rice)

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2 years ago

I asked for napkins like 3 times. They never brought them. I didn't like the service. However. The waiting time was reasonable

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Four Kings 四大天王

Four Kings 四大天王

4.2
(447 reviews)
5.7 mi
$$$

UGH I LOVE CANTONESE FOOD…read more we waited in line before opening at 5pm on a saturday and was able to sit within 90 minutes! wait this was my first time trying escargot and why did it taste so good...if i had to describe it it tasted like clams which i did not expect. the xo sauce was amazing with it. the milk bread that came with it was so fluffy and soft too lapmei bo zai fan was so good too i love the soy sauce they used. the lap yuk was a little fatty but the lap cheong was perfect. so much fan ziu too the fried squab lowkeyy tasted like hot dog tbh LOL i like siu ap a lot more. also just get the small squab (it's $10 cheaper and the waitress said she can't rly tell the size diff) there wasn't really that much meat tho... and then guys u cannot skip the red bean shaved ice oh my god. i didn't even know there was gonna be boba and ice cream inside but this was sooo good. i loveeee red bean the complimentary cucumber and peanuts were yum too a very nicely decorated interior and our waitress was so sweet!

I've been wanting to come here for a minute! It's been a tough reservation for me but love that…read morethey're poppin after all this time. They're known for their squab. The rabbit was SO good. I normally don't love hainanese chicken (their cold chicken small bite) but there's is fire. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE JELLFYFISH WITH HOT MUSTARD. Or the escargot for that matter. Dip that milk bread in that buttery garlic chili oil goodness. I'm literally getting hungry writing this as we speak. Everyone was so friendly, Jane was super helpful and nice when we asked questions about menu items. Wish I caught everyone else's name too, very welcoming spot. Heads up; not a huge spot, so I wouldn't recommend for a group bigger than 4. Come here, it's a must! Definitely grab a Rez if you can.

Photos
View of kitchen
View of kitchen
Sichuan cabbage
Sichuan cabbage
Fish fragrant eggplant

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Fish fragrant eggplant
Chong Qing Xiao Mian

Chong Qing Xiao Mian

4.1
(1.4k reviews)
5.9 mi
$$

For the portion size, price, and flavor, this place is absolutely worth it. The meat was incredibly…read moretender and fell right off the bone. The Guilin noodle soup was packed with flavor and quickly became my favorite dish here. I especially loved the pickled vegetables, they complemented the broth so well. The first time I visited, I tried the spicy beef soup, which was just ok for me. I'm glad I came back and gave the Guilin noodle soup a try because it completely changed my impression. The meat portions are generous and offer great value for the price. On top of the great food, the service is fast, and the restaurant is clean and well-maintained. I'll definitely be coming back soon.

Not sure how but decided to try having it delivered given the great reviews on Yelp AND on Doordash…read morebut boy it was a huge disappointment. For 2 person we ordered the following: Beef in Pickled Mustard Green Noodle Soup老坛酸菜牛肉面 - the portion is huge for the price, but besides that there isn't much taste to it, it was rather bland. Chicken with with Explosive Chili Pepper Rice 重庆辣子鸡饭 - the chicken was so dry and chewy, took one bite and gave up. Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs糖醋小排 - this is a love hate for me, I actually love the seasoning and the sauce, but the spare ribs are impossible to eat!! It was so overcooked, hard and dark like charcoal, I feel like I was chewing rubber or something. It was not a cheap order either, and we had to throw it out after only a few bites and ordered something else for dinner. Maybe it was an off day? I don't know but given how bad it was we most likely won't be giving it another try.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Beanjello in red chili sauce
Beanjello in red chili sauce
Single Cooked Noodle Soup

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Single Cooked Noodle Soup
Palette Tea House

Palette Tea House

4.1
(2k reviews)
6.3 mi
$$$
Locally owned & operated
Speaks Mandarin

A beautiful Michelin-recognized tea house experience with amazing service, flavorful food, and a…read morereally unique atmosphere. Stopped by Palette Tea House with The Kid after FoodieLand thinking we were just coming for tea... and ended up having a full experience. We sat at the communal high-top table in the center of the restaurant, which has a small pond built into it with little goldfish and even a tiny rubber duck sitting on the rock formation -- such a cute detail and definitely adds to the ambiance. Our server Ken was fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He recommended the Iron Goddess tea, which ended up being excellent. The Kid ordered the Milk Aroma Oolong, which surprisingly tasted almost like milk tea even though it's just brewed tea. Each tea comes with its own kettle, and Ken even came back to refill the hot water for us. For food, we ordered the Wagyu Beef Fried Rice, which was a huge portion and easily shareable. Very flavorful and well prepared. We also tried the Sichuan Seafood Dumplings and the Iberico Pork Dumplings, both of which were delicious. One order is definitely enough to share. The dumplings come with several dipping sauces including soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, hot mustard, and a cilantro-based sauce that had a slightly sweet, horseradish-like flavor that really stood out. Service throughout the meal was amazing. Even without a reservation, we were seated immediately. As a Michelin-recognized restaurant for 2025, it definitely felt like a special treat and lived up to the experience.

Out to a new place for dinner with family…read more Palette Tea House Server - Westley, was so good in helping us pick the best dishes and drinks. Jordan Chardonnay, 2022 Russian River CA Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 Alexander Valley, CA Fort Point Villager IPA Dinner Chinese Olive Fried Rice Cumin Spicy Lamb "Longevity" Noodle Palette Soup Dumpling "XLB" Sampler (5 Pieces) Chicken Soup Dumpling "XLB" (3 Pieces) Black Swan Tara Puff (2 Pieces) Lotus Wrap Abaline Sticky Rice Wok Fried Gai LAN and Shitake Mushroom Desert Steamed Custard Dumpling Durian Custard Bao Wow, I could not say which one was my favorite dish. Every dish was great. In addition to the deserts. The deco was real nice and colorful. The had Peking Ducks all set for roasting on display. Must visit.

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Palette Tea House
Palette Tea House
Palette Tea House

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Hon's Wun-Tun House

Hon's Wun-Tun House

4.1
(677 reviews)
5.8 mi
$$

It really feels like being in Hong Kong when I visit this place. The brusque but efficient…read moreservice, the noise, and of course the food. It's pretty good and authentic. A really busy place so be prepared to wait for your table, Sometimes they have to cut off the line at night so they can close off their business, so don't cut it close! Recommendations to order: Yin Yan (M2) - a Hong Kong special of milk tea mixed with coffee. Nothing get more HKish than this. Wonton Noodles (E1) - this is Cantonese style wonton, with really thin wrappers, along with thin egg noodles that has a firm and toothsome texture. Curry Beef with Rice (G12) - Just like back in Hong Kong! The beef tendon in there is so melty good! You can order the curry beef with noodles too but rice is better to soak up all the curry sauce. Hokkien Fried Rice (G10) - a luscious gravy on top of a fried rice filled with seafood and meat. You'll lick the bowl clean Rice Rolls (B) - their rice rolls are pretty solid too, smooth and slurpy. Just do yourself a flavor, don't order the Xiao Lung Bao Soup Dumplings here. It's not Cantonese, and there are definitely better places to get them. So just focus on Cantonese food here, that's what they excel at.

Pretty good place for gatherings…read more Yummy food, but too much salt. I need to drink too much water afterwards. Too many people in line. Better with reservations. Noisy place but it's normal bc it's a Chinese restaurant.

Photos
Interior, there's more seating behind that partition.
Interior, there's more seating behind that partition.
Braised Tofu + Seafood in Clay Pot
Braised Tofu + Seafood in Clay Pot
E3 柱侯牛腩雲吞麵 Beef Brisket Wonton Noodle Soup | $14.95

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E3 柱侯牛腩雲吞麵 Beef Brisket Wonton Noodle Soup | $14.95

El Porteño - peruvian - Updated June 2026

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