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    El Puerto Restaurant

    3.7 (166 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

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    EL PUERTO RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Combination enchilada and crispy taco plate

    Solid basic Mexican fare with very generous portions and friendly service. The free salsa with chips had a good bite to it. Don't expect anything fancy inside. It is clean.

    Natanya G.

    We ordered take out. I ordered Coctel De Camarones. So flavorful!! Wow! I was impressed. We also ordered the fajitas. Very tasty. Can't wait to go back and eat inside. Small and cozy! Friendly staff.

    Chicken chimichanga
    Betty P.

    Talk about a hole in the wall spot with excellent food. My team decided to have an early spur of the moment holiday lunch after working in the office and someone suggested here. We called ahead to see if they could accommodate a party of 7 and they stated their back room was closed but we could come anyways. There was only one server so we tried to make it easy on her. The chips and salsa were so good. The salsa had a kick but it wasn't unbearable. I went with a chicken chimichanga and it wa delicious and fairly priced. Will definitely be back.

    Main entrance and signage of the building
    Donovan H.

    1983. That's the year when "Return of the Jedi" was the #1 movie while "Every Breath You Take" was the #1 hit song. It was also the year when "El Puerto Restaurant" was born in the heart of Rancho Cordova. If you're truly looking for nostalgia while taking a time capsule back to the early-80's, this is just the place that is truly a blast to the past. Considering I have been a resident of Sacramento since 2001, it only took me 22 years to check this place out for myself. I arrived here during the afternoon of Saturday 05/06/2023 at around 1:00pm and met here with a bunch of friends for lunch. The inside of this place is as no-frills as you would expect. But back in 1983, it was as cutting-edge as you would find. The dining area has wood-paneled walls complete with wooden chairs complete with the vinyl cushioned seats. Not to mention, a colorful display of sombreros, artwork, and streamers just to liven the place up. There is also a whole other rear dining area on those nights when it can get super busy. The menu itself offers your typical Mexican staple items; tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and fajitas. You will also find some seafood items as well as salads, breakfast (served all day), a kids menu, and even a dessert menu. They also have a small wine and beer selection. I ended up going with a one-item plate while I ended up choosing their chicken taco complete with Mexican rice and refried beans. To wash it down, I chose a Mexican staple, a Horchata. My friends ordered several different items including Chile Rellano, a taco salad, Chorizo, and an enchilada. They also served us complimentary tortilla chips and red salsa. All of our meals rolled out over the course of 10 minutes; fairly quickly as there actually wasn't any other customers dining here except us. As far as my taco... it was just average at-best for me. The taco shell was quite greasy and hard to pick up with my bare hands. Not to mention, there was too much lettuce and only a few small bits of chicken. Furthermore, even with Tapatio, this taco didn't have any real flavor. The rice was your typical flavor (no surprises) while the beans were actually the highlight of this dish; perfectly cooked with the right amount of saltiness and cheese sprinkled on top. All in all, "El Puerto Restaurant" is just okay in my book. Not a great meal but by no means a lousy meal. With so many options in and around the greater Sacramento area, this place will always be a fan favorite of locals that have been coming here for decades. With that said and done, I am giving them just an average three-star Yelp rating.

    Dining Area
    Bruce O.

    Food here's always very tasty. Friendly service, nice cozy atmosphere, good food and drinks, and reasonable prices.

    El Puerto Mexican Restaurant is located in a small strip mall, on busy Folsom Blvd., in Rancho Cordova.
    Eric R.

    El Puerto Mexican Restaurant is a fun, family-friendly restaurant, that's been dishing out authentic Mexican cuisine since 1983. It's a favorite of the Rancho Cordova locals, who love the comfortable decor, friendly service, and most of all, the delicious Mexican food the restaurant is known for... The dining room, as you enter, with the counter, and the window to the kitchen in the rear. We arrived a little after the 11:00 morning opening time, and the restaurant is beginning to fill up with Rancho Cordova locals, who appreciate the great food, friendly, and lightning-fast service. The restaurant has been in the same location since 1983, and the dining room is definitely decorated like 1983, which adds to the charm. It's clean, comfortable, and a friendly place to enjoy an excellent meal. We opened the menu to the first page, which lists the "Lunch Specials," and we never bothered looking at the rest of the menu, as this looked exactly like what we were looking for. The menu is a little misleading, as it lists "meat choices" as cheese, beef, chicken, carnitas, chilie verde or carne asada, at extra cost. When it came to placing our order, we were offered the choice of beef, cheese or chicken in our enchiladas, and I was offered the choice of beef or chicken in my soft taco. A basket of fresh tortilla chips, along with a bowl of in-house made fresh salsa makes a great appetizer, and is included in the price of your meal. Nothing like trying to carry on a conversation with a friend when you're stuffing your mouth with chips and salsa! From the "Lunch Specials" section of the menu, I ordered a "Two Item Combination," and my "choices" were a beef enchilada and a soft, beef taco. All combination lunches come with rice and beans. Kim ordered an identical lunch, except she only ordered one "choice," which was a beef enchilada. For starters, both my dining companion and I were simply amazed at the LIGHTNING FAST service, as Brenda placed our orders on our table, in less than five minutes after placing our order! That's "faster" than "fast food," and El Puerto Mexican Restaurant is a full-service, sit down restaurant. For the enchiladas, you get your choice of beef or chicken - the lunch menu is misleading, as it implies there are many more choices - we both chose beef for the enchiladas, and I chose beef for my taco. The beef in the enchiladas and the taco are ground beef, lightly seasoned and perfectly cooked. The enchiladas were stuffed with lots of red sauce, onion, and the rolled corn tortilla was covered in sauce and shredded cheese, which worked out great. My soft taco was stuffed with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, along with shredded Mexican cheese. My dining companion and I agreed our main entrees were delicious! All lunch combination plates include a helping of rice and beans, no matter what your main entree is. The rice was your typical Mexican rice, good, tasty, but not particularly distinctive or noteworthy. The refried beans were also very good, covered with shredded, Mexican cheese, and were also not particularly noteworthy. The refried beans and rice made excellent side dishes, and made our lunches complete. The lunches aren't huge, as the portions are on the average size, but they're really good, and they'll fill you up. For me, my lunch was just the right size, and Kim couldn't quite finish hers, so I gave her a helping fork. We were satisfied with our lunches, in quality, quantity and price. Great lunch, good value, and the fastest service I've ever seen make this fine restaurant a staple in the Rancho Dining scene, and give it a solid 4-star rating.

    Hair found in my food.

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    4 months ago

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    24 days ago

    Delicious. Burritos are amazing and prices are great! Chicken avocado salad is also fantastic!

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Classic, been coming here for years and the food is always delicious. Very calm and it was nice for a casual dinner date!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    amazing food and outstanding service. I would recommend this place to anyone that's in the area

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I ordered a chicken burrito with beans and rice and it tasted amazing the chicken was so flavorful and the beans were so delicious.

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Very prompt and good enjoyed. Before Covid coworkers used go go eat in. Now we are all working from home so I am glad it could be delivered

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    El Favorito Taqueria

    El Favorito Taqueria

    3.9
    (379 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I've been coming here for years, and yet, I have never written a review. I came in to grab lunch…read moretoday, and I was very satisfied. It's a nice restaurant, with seating on the inside and the outside. That's good, because they can. get busy. The employees are very friendly It's a very large menu, ranging from things such as your standard tacos, tortas, and burritos, to things such as seafood cocktails, molcajete, which is a Mexican stew, to posole. They have Menudo on the weekend, and also on the weekend, they have a person right in the dining room, making fresh, hot , tortillas on the spot. There is a small chips and salsa bar. The chips are very good, as are the salsas. My favorite has always been the avocado salsa, creamy with just a little bit of a kick to it. Today, I decided to go simple. I had a shredded chicken, super nachos, and a cheese quesadilla. The quesadilla didn't look like much, but it was very big. There was a lot of delicious Monterey Jack cheese in it. They were very generous with the cheese. The nachos didn't look very big, but they were. The chicken was tender. And delicious, and I loved the guacamole and the sour cream. The salsa had a nice little kick to it And as I mentioned before, the chips were fantastic, not greasy at all. For all I got, the price was very reasonable. I will continue to come back. Thank you.

    Very disappointing tonight. Chimichanga wasn't fried to a crisp, taco salad bowl tasted like stale…read moreoil. Carnitas was dry. Unusual for this place.

    Photos
    El Favorito Taqueria
    The salsa and chips
    The salsa and chips
    El Favorito Taqueria

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    Casa Ramos

    Casa Ramos

    3.4
    (369 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    I didn't think 3 tacos were going to be so filling, but they were! I had three fish tacos with a…read moreside of breaded peppers. The fish tacos tasted good enough that I didn't need taco sauce. It was fine with just the lemon and the fish was mild. The breaded pepper poppers are really good. I think they are filled with cream cheese. I had to wait a few hours before I could eat them. The main course was so filling. You can tell that this is a family oriented place. As I waited for my food, I looked on the wall and saw all the photos of the family posing for a post soccer game photo. That's nice. And the man that served me was really catering. Maybe he was the owner. He really took pride I his restaurant and it left me feeling well taken cared of.

    We were staying at the Best Western for the weekend, since my fiancé had some work to do in Sac…read morearea, and we were looking for a bite that was walking distance. Initially we had hesitated because the reviews weren't the best but we decided to try it. Our experience was very pleasant and we were surprised at how good the food was and their drinks! The moment we walked in we were greeted and sat right away. They took our orders and brought us chips and salsa. Surprised the salsa was actually good and it at a kick to it. That's always a plus because we're used to spicy salsa. My fiancé had the taquitos dorados and he ate everything in his place! He's very picky about his food, but since the first bite he said it was delicious! I had the nachos with carne asada, because I wanted something lighter, which ended up being the same as a man entree but thy were really good! The meat had a good flavor and texture. And nothing tasted old or stale. The ingredients were all fresh. I normally don't drink margaritas because tequila and I don't really get along but this blackberry margarita looked so good in the picture, I decided to give it a shot. Oh my! I'd never had a margarita this god before!! It was perfect, I finished it all. Something I always have trouble with. Not this time though Overall we enjoyed the food and drinks. And the staff were very friendly and the server checked on us frequently, which is always a plus. We were surprised that this place didn't have more people on a Saturday night, but I suppose it's because of the location. It's in a business area and there are mainly hotels and a few restaurants. We would definitely return if we're ever in this area again.

    Photos
    Dining Area with bar in far back corner -  Casa Romos, Rancho Cordova, CA - February 27, 2025
    Dining Area with bar in far back corner - Casa Romos, Rancho Cordova, CA - February 27, 2025
    Homemade albondigas soup! Perfect for the rainy weather!.
    Homemade albondigas soup! Perfect for the rainy weather!.
    Casa Ramos

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    Los Burritos Express

    Los Burritos Express

    4.4
    (63 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    I've been wanting to try this place out for months. I thought it was new; however, the owner…read moreinformed me how they have been there for several years. The place is located, almost hidden away off of sunrise Boulevard. But the food is incredible! We ordered a Carne Asada quesadilla. The Carne Asada was fresh, juicy, and the tortilla was grilled to perfection! I wish the quesadilla came with either sour cream and/or guacamole. That is probably my only critique. We also ordered a super burrito with adobada, which was very delicious. All of the flavors from the meat to the rice, and all of the other goodies in it were great. My only critique with the burrito, I wish that the tortilla was grilled to add some extra crispy aspects. Highly recommend.

    Phew, save the eyeliner and mascara for another time because I was tearing up from the "spicy hot"…read moresalsa at the salsa bar lol one of the most spiciest fresh salsas that I've had. Still pretty tasty though. :p Aside from that, just an alright Mexican food spot. Gas-station-tier in terms of greasiness (IYKYK). Well-seasoned carne asada but still missing the char taste (had even a boiled-meat texture). Over-fried carnitas (some blackened bits). Large meat portions (especially for the super nachos!). Not much turnover on the tortilla chips at the salsa bar so the chips were a little stale. Wished there was pico de gallo at the salsa bar as well. Overall not a bad spot if you're driving down this part of Sunrise Blvd. and you have a hankering for some Mexican grub.

    Photos
    Los Burritos Express
    YOUR CHOICE POLLO OR STEAK, BELL PEPPER, ONIONS, TOMATO, CHEESE, GUACAMOLE, SOUR CREAM, PICO DE GALLO, RICE, BEANS, CORN OR FLOUR TORTILLAS
    YOUR CHOICE POLLO OR STEAK, BELL PEPPER, ONIONS, TOMATO, CHEESE, GUACAMOLE, SOUR CREAM, PICO DE GALLO, RICE, BEANS, CORN OR FLOUR TORTILLAS
    GRILL CHICKEN , AVOCADO, LETTUCE, TOMATO, BELL PEPPER, CARROT, CUCUMBER & CHEESE.

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    GRILL CHICKEN , AVOCADO, LETTUCE, TOMATO, BELL PEPPER, CARROT, CUCUMBER & CHEESE.
    Taqueria Los Compadres

    Taqueria Los Compadres

    3.3
    (148 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This place is in the old "La Bou", at Mather Field and Rockingham. I drive past it all the time on…read moremy way to the VA, yet I've never noticed that it was here. Call me "Captain obvious." Today, as I was turning onto Rockingham, I finally noticed the place. I like to try new Mexican places so I decided to stop in. I'm glad I did. The place is not fancy on the inside, but it's bright and clean, and everybody was friendly and helpful. They do have Mexican decorations on the wall, and also a TV playing Mexican TV. They have a large menu. I decided to have the Barbacoa off of the lunch specials menu. It came with the Barbacoa, tortillas, (I chose flour) rice, beans, *AND* a soda as well. In addition to the meal, they also have a chips and salsa bar. The chips were crunchy and delicious, not greasy at all, and they had a large selection of salsa. I chose the avocado salsa,, and also the jalapeño and sour cream. The jalapeño in sour cream was spicy, but it was within the limits of what I care for in spicy. The sour cream helps cut down the spiciness of the jalapeños. It was delicious. As was The avocado salsa. The food comes, and for a lunch special, there was a lot of food. The Barbacoa was tender and delicious. The meat was beyond, tender, and it had a little bit of a tangy and spicy flavor to it, but not overly spicy. I added a little bit of the avocado salsa on top, and it just made it even more delicious. The rice and beans were also very delicious. I thought they were a both a little bit soft, for my personal taste, but I know everybody is different. The tortillas were a decent sized, they were delicious, and they gave me. *4* of them. I had plenty of food to take home for a second meal. For a lunch special, they were extremely generous, the food was amazing, and the price was very reasonable, especially since I got two meals out of it. I want to come back and try more things on the menu. Thank you for a great lunch.

    Worst service n food ever. Meat was tough n chewy. Cashier rude n does not greet or smile. Ask a…read morequestion and she mumbles. Food is inconsistent and my entire famiky of 30 will never go there again. If u wanta get drunk eat. Food might taste better.

    Photos
    The beautiful salsa bar
    The beautiful salsa bar
    Molcajete
    Molcajete
    Cerveza Taqueria los compadres lager

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    Cerveza Taqueria los compadres lager
    La Jalisco Taqueria

    La Jalisco Taqueria

    4.0
    (58 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $

    I absolutely love this little tiendita/taqueria in Rancho Cordova! I go here all the time for my…read moreauthentic mexicana needs, hehe. It is never super busy or crowded. I have also become obsessed with their carnitas... I have been there at least 3 different times just for their carnitas. I highly recommend this little Mexican store, the staff is also so sweet, professional and welcoming and they speak español! Muchas Gracias, La Jalisco!

    Two points upfront - as far as I can tell, this is not in any way connected to the Jalisco Grill…read morerestaurants found elsewhere in the area. I thought maybe it was and that's why I dropped by... nope. Second point - it definitely reminded me of eating in Mexico, so I guess points for being authentic? I genuinely mean that... not trying to crack a joke or anything. Wobbly table and chair, Mexican game show on the TV, random flatware, decorations, extensive almost prison-like gating and fencing built around the building... it seriously reminded me of several of the places I've eaten at in Mexico. Anyway, on to the food! I was hoping to get a Birria plate, but the hostess informed me that they were out of that, so I chose the Chile Verde plate as a Plan B. The verde sauce had good favor... nice little bite to it. The rice was pretty much perfect, and the beans were very good too. Unfortunately, what should have been the star of the show... wasn't. I'm talking about the meat itself... a good Chile Verde should be nice and tender no matter what cut of pork was used since it's slow cooked for a good bit of time. Pork shoulder is commonly used... but Mexican food in general is designed to be flexible - making cheap cuts taste awesome is the whole magic behind Mexican cooking in the first place! The meat used in this case was rib meat. Short ribs. Was some sort of law broken? This was the first time I remembered having bones in Chile Verde - certainly THIS many bones. No rule broken, though... remember what I said about flexibility. Unfortunately, the meat was dry and tough too. I seriously doubt it had been simmered for any period of time... probably didn't spend much time in the verde sauce either. I really don't like writing a review like this, but honesty is honesty. I can and have made much better Chile Verde myself. I'm hoping this was just a bad day, and I hate to judge a restaurant... someone's business and livelihood too harshly based on a single visit on possibly a bad day... but it is what it is. I see that there are some good reviews here, so there's hope! I'm not writing off another visit. I would love nothing more than to give this review a significant upgrade!

    Photos
    Menu and hours
    Menu and hours
    Billboard menu
    Billboard menu
    Carne asada burrito - 5 stars

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    Carne asada burrito - 5 stars

    El Puerto Restaurant - mexican - Updated July 2026

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