El Portal Mexican Grill - Lake Isabella

Tried to eat here this evening at 7:45. Sign said open and hours posted were to 8:30 pm. They had all tables put up and said they couldn't serve us. I know this is a small town but then turn off your Open neon sign! Very disappointed as we made a special trip just to try it. Boo.

Amazing salsa!! Plates are pricey. $12.95+ We had to leave before we could actually order.. They had no vegetable entrees available .. Not even fajita veggies at a place with a slogan got fajitas? On a Friday Afternoon .. At a restaurant, in the parking lot, of a major chain grocery store lol We drove down the street to Chef Sarape just a few blocks down.. Where their veggie plate was FULL: broccoli cauliflower carrot all sautéed deliciously

Ali and I are riding our motorcycles throughout the area and stop for the night in Lake Isabella. Asking the host at the motel where to eat she recommends El Portal Mexican right down the street. Sounds good. Lets try it. We walk a couple of blocks and find a small, quaint little building painted in a strange orange/red color. Big front door. As we walk in there is nobody there to greet us, but it is a small place so we quickly decide to seat ourselves. As we are starting to sit down, a sweet young lady, wearing pearls, comes out of the back room with chips and salsa. She saw us coming and already had things ready to go. I assume that it is normal to seat yourself here... I was pleasantly suprised at the prompt service. I asked for here recommendations and she had a ready response to our questions. All done with a pleasant smile. Very helpful. I had carna asada taco and tortilla soup. Ali had fajitas, both chicken and carna asada. The food was hot and delivered quickly. I burned my tongue with the soup it was so hot. The taco was done well. The asada was flavorful. The fajitas came out sizziling but had only chicken. The waitress said the the cook did not make the beef and she had already ask him to make a side for the fajitas. Ali said that it was not needed, that just chicken was ok, she said ok then went back to the kitchen. Moments later she came back with the beef, the cook had already made them. Mind you, this was wednesday evening. There were 3 other tables in use. Not real busy but a continual flow of people. Over all I really like this place. I recommend it. Of course this is my first time here, but I think that with the flow of people it speaks volumes for El Portal Mexican. Good job.

I was very pleasantly surprised at the food, given that a lot of food in this valley is pretty bland.

Great place for your Mexican fix. Authentic local Mexican food. Good service- Only wine-margaritas right now but I am sure they will be getting a full liquor license in the near future. They have to right??