El Puerto Mexican Restaurant

Has it rained recently?

I only asked because it looks like another strip mall Mexican restaurant has popped up.

We all know the places. The joints where the chips and salsa are right behind you as you walk to your table and the food comes out about 90 seconds after you order it.

El Puerto is a similar establishment and features decent enough fare. For about their first year in business, they offered 34-ounce draft beers for 99 cents. Wow. A small Mexican restaurant could suddenly double as a bar. I think those beers are now $2.99 or $3.49. Still a decent deal, but not the 1960s-era prices previously featured.

The food is OK. The salsa is pretty good and better than other restaurants in the immediate area. The other dishes taste about the same as similar establishments and the prices are about equal.

The staff is friendly and fast.

Now get me that time machine so I can enjoy more of those giant beers for less than a buck!

The service is great here! We were served by 3 different people in the first 2 minutes (one person seated us, one brought chips and salsa, and then our server came to take our drink orders).

We didn't have to wait long for our food to come out, either. Just enough time to much on the chips and salsa -- very good, by the way!

The portion sizes are NOT too small in my opinion. I ordered a combo meal of 1 taco, 1 enchilada, rice and beans for less than $8.00.  I didn't finish everything on my plate, but I was stuffed when I left.

One small piece of criticism: I wouldn't go here for anything but a really casual dinner because the decor is tacky.

A pretty standard Mexican restaurant but everything is just a little bit better than other Mexican places. The service is great, I always get seated immediately and the food is brought out pronto. Try the arroz con pollo, it is goooood.