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Get the Arroz Con Pollo- and nothing else. It's chicken, mushrooms, and rice with a lovely tomato spicy sauce. I ask for it to come out spicy and I usually add a side order of beans. It is sooo yummy!
This place doesn't look so great on the outside but do not let that bother you. It's nice on the inside and the food is well worth it!!!
Sal is dope and his special is pretty good too!
My company came here for our holiday lunch before Thanksgiving and enjoyed a nice half day at work and then were off to lunch at Los Portales.
For being such a small restaurant, I was shocked that they were able to accommodate all 32 of us! We had a preset menu with 4 different options - I got Sal's Special which consisted of An enchilada, a Chile Relleno and Carne Asada with beans, rice and tortillas.
Enchilada - stuffed with chicken but could have used a little more cheese. They served it with a red sauce but I am more of a Verde type of guy.
Chile Relleno - very good! Soft but not too mushy. Not overly breaded. This one had plenty of cheese.
Carne Asada - just very standard. I love grilling Carne at home so maybe I am being a little extra picky.
The food was decent but nothing to write home about. It was good enough to make me want to go back on try some other stuff on the menu.
The service is was solidifies this place at a minimum of three stars. Everyone was super polite and friendly. Sal, himself, [yeah - the guy who has the special!] came out to say hi and get us some extra tortillas. HOLLA... or in this case HOLA
I've never been here for lunch during week days, only in evenings or on weekends.
The food is good and the family that runs this place is very friendly but service can be very slow when their daughter is not there to help out. (That's the only down fall).
They have one of the best chips and salsa around!! I like the Enchiladas and Chile Relleno here, and when I'm super hungry I'd order Sal's Special (Carne Asada, enchiladas & chile relleno) but then I couldn't finish it.
Sara's Enchiladas are good too, it has 3 sauces, red, green and mole. All the names on the menu are of the family members, how cute and personal is that!
The portions are really big here and they are served on large hot plates! The plates are so hot that even when I'm done eating, they are still warm. Margaritas are also very good here, sometimes a little strong (but I will never use the word TOO strong!) They also do a good job when you order food to go, they are packed nicely and well contained!
Los Portales is definitely one of the places that you'll see me eating at.
Love the salsa, nice and spicy. I had the torta and it was great. Nice and tender carne asada steak with avocado, lettuce, onions, and mayo. Our office gang comes here on occasion for lunch and we always get friendly service.
I LOVE this restaurant. The owners are fantastic and very friendly. They go the extra mile every time I eat here.
I love the super burrito and chile verde. Request the green salsa as it is by request only but delicious. The rice and beans are perfect and the cabbage is tangy and crunchy.
I have eaten here hundreds of times, even back when they were in Palo Alto when I was a kid. Give it a try. Its good, filling food that is reasonably priced.
This place is 'homey'. Family owned and operated, been happing in here for the last 10 or so years.
Ya it's a lil pricey on some things.. but for the most part their food is pretty good. Like anywhere, have my preference over other items. Burritos are great. Homemade salsa very nice. And if you have that other person with ya that just is not feeling Mexican food totally.. they do have some American'ized options. Steaks, steak sandwiches, hamburgers. And folks on the burgers, you can have the American version or they have one that is grilled with freshly chopped chiles and oohhhhhhhh soooooo damn good!
I LOVE this place....the food....the margaritas....Sal makes an awesome margarita! Family owned, friendly, good food, great relaxing atmosphere.
This place is great...for lunch...dinner or just because.
You can't go wrong here, and tell them all...Carla said hello.
This place looks uninviting from the outside but it's actually not bad.
I had huevos con chorizo. The actual huevos con chorizo was pretty good. The refried beans tasted like refried beans should. The rice was a bit bland (this is not plain rice).
I ordered carry-out and on the way back to the office a motorcyclist made a rather boneheaded traffic maneuver in the rain. I hit the brakes pretty hard and the food went rocketing off of my passenger seat down into the passenger compartment. Thanks to the good job they did wrapping the food (they used two plates facing one another and wrapped the whole thing in aluminum foil), everything was fine.
As a bonus, the foil kept the food hot during the trip.
Pros:
* Family run, nice people
* Food is good
* Large portions
* Location isn't too bad; plenty of parking
Cons:
* A little pricey ($12+ for huevos con chorizo); $3.75 for Bud Light
* Corn tortillas were stuck together so I had to eat two at a time
* Not enough tortillas with my meal (3 small tortillas for a large serving of huevos con chorizo)
* Parking lot is a little tight
Why do work lunches with my team always suck? Because people are cheap. OK, OK, I guess that's a bit harsh. They all have kids and families to support so lunch over $10 ruins their budgets... but lunch under $10 really limits our options in Mountain View, especially when you need seating for 10 or more. So we usually end up eating bad Chinese. We tried out Los Portales for a little variety. Only a few grumbled about the cost.
I ordered the veggie burrioto as part of my quest to rate veggie burritos everywhere. I'm not talking about a burrito with just beans and cheese. I'm talking about lots of vegetables: squash, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, broccoli etc. At Los Portales the veggie burrito was long and skinny and good but not great. The veggies were cut very small (therefore easily overcooked) and didn't seem to be spiced with anything but grease and maybe some salt. I still took home the leftover half and had it for second lunch but I wouldn't order it again.
The place is a nice, sit down joint that is family owned and the service was decent. I'll check it out again, but I'll go for one of their house specialties.
Disappointing.
The margaritas were tasty enough to quench our Cinco De Mayo thirsts, but a three star deduction is in order due to:
1) Hot plates that are TOO hot. I ordered hard-shell tacos and because their plates were so effing hot, I ended up eating half hard-shell, half soggy-shell tacos.
2) Slow/poor service. It was hard to catch the attention of our server and when we finally did, she later forgot what we asked for. And then when we asked again, she was super slow.
3) They charge an extra $1.75 for pico de gallo. WHAAAT!
Why oh why didn't I just go to Los Charros?
I went here for lunch with my mom who works in the area. The place was very cute and the staff was great. My mom goes here frequently with her coworkers so she's a fan.
I ordered the enchilada and chili relleno. These are my 2 favorite things! The enchilada was good, I liked that it wasn't swimming in sauce as is sometimes the case at places like this. The chili relleno was good but not as flavorful as I would have liked. The breading was more of a thin wrap type thing and not a real breading which was slightly disappointing.
They were accommodating and gave me whole beans instead of re fried (which I hate). Over all it was good but not great. I liked it though and would probably go back.
Maybe my tastebuds have changed? I dunno. This place has never really done it for us even when we lived in Mt View. We thought we'd give it another go, but nope, I think living in southern California and being so close to the border has really really done it for us.
I really don't think the food here is all that authentic. Portions are generous and service is friendly, but the food is just okay. I've had far better. Camarones al diablo -- hmmm -- better at Taqueria Los Charros, but make sure you tell them you want less ketchup and more spice, otherwise they'll gringo-fy it and then that dish is ruined.
I'm not a big enchilada fan, but hubby likes it. Meh, it's okay.
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate this place. I mean the atmosphere is really friendly, you feel comfortable in here, but if I was basing solely on the food, it's only an average for me. Prices are also higher than say, um, Taqueria Los Charros.
Have had better, have had worse.
My co-workers and I go this place at least once a week and the food is always delicious. The staff cares about the customers and make sure that you always leave satisfied.
I am not Mexican but I can tell you that restaurant is the best Mexican restaurant you'll find out there.
The owner, Don Salvador is very friendly and walks around the tables to ask customers how they liked the food. Great place to go and have a margarita.
i always get the same thing: beef chimichanga, no coleslaw, extra rice & beans. i am consistently satisfied with my meal. service is always great and you feel instantly "at home" when you're there. i'm holding back on a star because they don't consistently have horchata, which i love love love and they know how disappointed i am whenever they don't have it so this comment should come as no surprise ;)
BTW, the crew i roll with loves the super burritos and enchiladas and Sarah is the best server!
and the people who are saying "the hot plates are too hot" deserve to be burned. these are probably the same people who continue to touch the plate even though the server has just finished warning them to be careful because the plate is too hot. you know who you are. haha
the best food , best food and the best cooks
This is hands down, the best Mexican food I have been to. Or at least the best cheese enchiladas. This place really has a lot going for it. Full bar, Big TV, great service, spicy salsa delivered as soon as you sit down...
A lot of mexican places that I have been to either seem to have an uncomfortable atmosphere (wood chairs, cold draft, bad acoustics) or put too much effort into creating a good atmosphere that seems phony(mariachi bands, tables too close, overly enthusiastic white waitresses) but this place is the perfect authentic balance.
Tucked away in a quaint little strip mall, I would never have found this if it were not for a co-worker who took us here for many lunches. I have been back with my boyfriend now many more times and we both love it.
I really must emphasize the greatness of the enchiladas here, just for all the other places I have knocked here on yelp. This is my standard for enchiladas and no other place has come close. Full five stars!
I love Mexican food and this place does it right. I wouldn't say it's exatly the most authentic, but it has a wonderful simplicity that you seldom find anymore.
The enchiladas are the highlights. Of everything I've had off the menu, the three enchiladas that comprise Sara's Enchiladas are probably the best. The enchilada with egg is OK too, and that's saying something because I usually dislike eggs.
The various forms of burrito are good, but the carnitas versions tend to be the best.
It can be very crowded around lunch time, but the service even during busy periods tends to be fast and courteous.
3.5ish--maybe even 3.75-- but going on the high side to give it some oomph to stand out among other Mexican places around here. I really like this place. My friend introduced me to it last year and we meet here every once in a while for lunch. Had lunch here today. :-)
Simple, basic, taste home-made Mexican food. No complex flavors or bells and whistles: they aren't trying to make it anything different than it is.
Highlights:
- Staff: friendly and helpful, they really seem happy to have you at their restaurant
- Tostada: few crispy corn tortillas on topped with beans, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and your choice of meat served on a large oblong plate. I go for the picadillo (shredded beef). Everything tastes fresh and not too heavy: even the refried beans.
- Random menu items: from enchiladas topped with fried egg to stuffed cactus and other things on the bottom of the menu that I've never heard of
- Post-eating feeling: even though you may be full--I usually am stuffed cause I can't stop eating--you don't have that ugh why did I have Mexican food today feeling in your stomach. I attribute that to the food quality.
Lowlights (my flip side to highlights):
- Chips: can be a bit greasy
- Food can be a bit bland (I just pepper it up a bit)
I'll definitely keep coming back here. :-)
All right, so there is bright yellow walls. It is not a five star hotel so get over it.
I am officially loyal to this mexican joint, good food, good drinks, great taste in baseball (Go Oakland!) which is playing on a big screen in the front of the restraunt.
The capper though was we came here for Cinco De Mayo and they were holding some raffle for a top notch tequila. They announced the winner, and bless this man, he said shots for everyone, around the house waving his arm in a circle. The waitress handed everyone a green necklace shot glass and poured everyone a shot equally to everyone in the joint and she took a shot with all the tables!
Any place where the waitress takes a shot with you and you can have a burrito the size of your head, and a decent mole sauce is my new home.
Very good salsa. The chicken enchiladas are good, solid, very standard. Margaritas are good.
Service is good. Nothing stands out about this place. It's your typical Mexican restaurant that you would visit regularly if you lived nearby. I would go out of my way to go here, but overall the food and the place is good.
I always tend to judge a restaurant by their chips and salsa and it's a pretty good way to preview what their mains are going to turn out.
This place's chips and salsa were decent, but nothing really stood out for me. They offer ground beef which I jump on only because I think ground beef holds seasoning and flavors more than carne asada (I know how horrible that sounds but it's my review, so leave me alone!) The entree was decent just like the chips. So really, this place is nothing special and nothing really to go out of your way for. If you want good Mexican food, I'd recommend just going to a taqueria local to you.
This is one of those hole in the wall places that you might miss while driving around. We found this place based on a referral from a co-worker. As opposed to the more glamorous and well-known Fiesta del Mar I/II, Los Portales is just south of Central Expswy on Moffett, so it's not in the chic downtown Castro area.
The place is rather small and feels a little run down, but that actually adds to the authenticity of it. FDM feels a wee bit upscale, and the prices reflect that. Portales just feels more authentic and has cheaper prices. Sure, there aren't chipotle rotisserie chicken burritos, but for $6 you can't get a better Grande Burrito with everything in the South Bay.
The chintzy decorations and the plasticy plates are icing on the cake.
This is a pretty standard family style Mexican place. The food is good and generous. the margaritas are generous and a top shelf grande will make you really darn happy.
i wasn't that hungry and was hoping to just order a taco but they don't have an ala cart menu. i was too tired and hungry to ask though.
we had quesadillas and sal's special.
They were able to sit our group of 9 easily, on a Friday night in October.
Service is good, as the waiter was attentive, and explained to me what the vegetarian options are.
It's on par with sit-down restaurant prices. I think my meal was ~$10 for two medium-size vegetarian burritos without cheese nor sour cream, which fit on a large plate. It filled me up.
Best sit-down Mexican, if you ask me.
Nothing exotic on the menu, but that's ok 'cause they make some mean enchiladas. You must go for their enchiladas. Try an enchilada especial with a fried egg on top--amazing. Their mole and green sauces are also nice. The staff is always friendly, their beer and margaritas are good too (warning, I had a margarita at lunch after a difficult meeting and I was mighty tipsy after!) Chips and salsa, as many as you want.
Their dining room best handles smaller parties, more than 6 is a squeeze. Their booths are comfy and friendly.
I grabbed some take out from here while I was in town for a business trip and looking for some dinner. The sweet woman who helped me was very welcoming! Veg nachos and sopapillas are great! I'd give it another star if they used the traditional white mexican cheese rather than a yellow mix- reminds me too much of tex-mex. I would go again!
Real mexican food that you crave! The Pollo con Arroz (chicken w/ rice) or Camarones al Diablo (shrimp mild or hot) are yummy! And I really liked the Mole...
We haven't met the owner but he seems friendly and sits with his guests to offer a drink and enjoy. The staff are OK. The place could use a bit of a makeover, it's not impressice, and ithe food is a tad pricey, but it's not bad... it's worth the great food! I don't think you can leave disappointed.
My ex-coworkers and I try to go to this place all the time! The atmosphere is cozy and friendly, the portions are pretty huge, the cheese is always nice and warm, and Sal is a great pal and makes a pretty tasty margarita.
Neighborhood restaurant with friendly staff, questionable decor.
Good, hearty, large portions. I could eat there every week for the home cooked taste of their specials. Good draft beers and the margaritas tasted refreshing. Our business seems genuinely appreciated by the friendly staff and management. Good place.
Authentic mexican done right. Very good place to satisfy your cravings for good enchiladas. That is what I get. The chips and salsa are always good here also. Oh yeah and if your here but you crave a burger try their chipoltle burger. They put their pepper into the burger patty. I think they put ancho and chipoltle peppers. Very spicy yet not overwhelmingly hot. Very Tasty. Alot of people dont know about the burger cause... well people dont go there for a burger but its well worth ordering.
It was time for margaritas. Two of my colleagues and I were driving around Mountain View, and I suggested we use Yelp to find a Mexican restaurant nearby. Neither of them had heard of Yelp before, but one quick entry into a Blackberry and up popped Los Portales. We shared a pitcher of margaritas and a plate of steak fajita nachos, both of which were highly enjoyable. I'm definitely looking forward to going back, having more margaritas, and trying more of their food.
I really didn't care for their food at all. I admit that I ordered something not on the menu, but the food was bland. I had them make an enchilada with shrimp; it was lackluster at best. The rice wasn't to my liking, but it was very authentic. One plus was that they had extremely large portions. The sangria, on the other hand, was delicious! My friend and I polished off the entire liter carafe. If I ever go back it will be for the sangria.
the food is really good - my favorite is the chicken tostada, which comes with freshly sliced avocados.
four stars only because everything is overpriced compared to other similar mexican restaurants. also, they don't have aguas frescas as many mexican restaurants do.
like this place the food is good and also a great place to have a margarita, its convinient for mountain view workers who love mexican food.
I just tried this unassuming place and loved it. Here you will find no trendiness or pretentions of "nouvelle-Mexican cousine" on the menu. The chef sticks to the basics and executes them perfectly. I had a chile relleno that just melted in my mouth and an excellent chicken enchilada. I literally cleaned my plate. I also loved the Mexican (non-creamy) cole slaw side dish that accompanies most meals -- a welcome change from the generic iceberg lettuce salad that is served in most Mexican restaurants.
Another big plus was the warm and engaging attitude of the staff, particularly the owner, Salvador. I enjoyed practicing my rusty Spanish with him.
I'll have to say that the service here is great. The owner is extremely friendly and polite, and he has hung pictures of his hometown in Mexico all over the place. Another pretty cool hole-in-the-wall place with a mom & pop atmosphere which is why they get the extra star, BUT, the food is overpriced for what it is. The quality is that of a mediocre taqueria, except they charge twice as much. I think I ordered an enchilada/taco plate for something like $14? The taco/enchilada was... eh... The beans were really runny, and the rice had no flavor. I'm used to my $5 tasty taco plates from Tres Hermanos across the street.
Family owned and run restaurant with very friendly staff. Dcor is a bit run down or authentic. They go out of their way to make you comfortable. Have never had to wait to be seated. Large portions. Has a full bar with excellent draft beers. Staff very personable, service is always with a smile. A good place to go for food and drinks before going to Shoreline for a concert.
Great place for a fast lunch. Service is great and friendly. Try the super burrito or enchiladas.
we go here about once a month. it's walking distance for us and that's important because their margaritas are strong & tasty! family-owned, casual mexican dining at a fair price. salsa is great, medium spice. i always have a tostada with the shredded beef, plenty of food & super yummy!
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Mountain View, CA
Category: Mexican
Mountain View, CA
Category: Mexican
Mountain View, CA
Category: Mexican
Mountain View, CA
Category: Mexican
Mountain View, CA
Category: Mexican
I'm on a quest to find the best veggie burritos…
