El Portal

Came here after looking for food in the area during a rain storm…read more We were able to go right to a table even though the restaurant was busy at the moment. The service was great very attentive, food tasted so fresh and authentic! Wish i knew they also served alcohol, i will definitely be adding a drink to my next visit.

This place was so fun and cool love the vibe love the energy. The food was delicious. We had tacos…read moreand we had salad. It was. It was really great great for families. Definitely cool. The service was really great. They checked on us all the time!

Beef taco

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Inside of restaurant

Gran Sabor Mexicano

4.8(6 reviews)

0.1 mi

This is NOT A DRILL. When I tell you these tacos are so delicious!!!! This place is clearly well…read moreauthentic and the service was quite well. But the tacos! Absolutely incredible. I ordered tacos al pastor, AND OMG, they come in 5, and they pack these tacos UP!! I mean, they do NOT go cheap on the meat, and they add the average add ons, cilantro, onion, and radish. They also come with 2 sauces, very delicious. The meat was well cooked, juicy, and VERY flavorful. The cooks did a grand job, and for the price too it was great. $14 for 5, and 5 VERY WELL MADE tacos. I cannot recommend this any more than I can, they have indoor seating as well. I will be coming back for more, I will be a regular. Thanks SO MUCH for the great food.

I'm rarely in Elizabeth, but I was here with my cousin and we stopped in for lunch yesterday…read more Pretty darn authentic Mexican for sure! We ordered a few items and split everything. The food was really fresh and well made. We had the Mariachi and soft chicken tacos. Guac and chips were spot on. We also had a chirozo dish and I can't remember what it was called, but it was delicious.

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El Nacho's Tequila Cantina

3.2(208 reviews)

1.1 mi

I came for a Plant Bingo event and had a great time. Valet parking was $5 plus tip, but getting in…read morewas a little slow because of the rush of cars arriving for the event. Plant Bingo was a blast! Because of the weather, the event had to be moved from the outdoor space into the main dining room. The acoustics weren't ideal, but the energy was high and everyone still had a great time. IT GETS WILD AT PLANT BINGO! (check my videos LOL) Menus are on tablets, which was a nice modern touch. The chicken quesadilla was an easy 5 stars. No complaints at all. My ticket included a complimentary house margarita, and it was delicious. The decor is a fun mix of Día de Muertos and '80s vibes, with colorful artwork, TVs throughout, and a large bar. Service was fast, although the bus staff was a little too attentive... they cleared my drink before I had finished it. All-in-all positive experience... I'd be open to coming back for dinner on a regular night.

Attended one of their Themed Weekend Brunch as a group and we had a blast..!! Great party vibes…read morewith live music and dance, and one the entertainers was simply amazing. She had a wonderful attitude and made all of us feel involved. Drinks and Food all tasted good and the service was quick. Bachelorette Night was the Theme, so you can imagine how the Drinks and Food was shaped

Plant Bingo loading...

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Passion fruit margarita

Taqueria Brenda Lee

4.1(33 reviews)

1.5 mi

So looking forward to ordering from Brenda Lee's again!…read more My husband and I looked online for a good Mexican restaurant to order from and we stumbled upon this establishment. We ordered a Torta de milanesa de res and the steak tostadas. Boy was it the absolute best tostada I think I ever had in my life. The meat was super flavorful and the green sauce was delicious! My husband absolutely loved his Torta so much that he ordered another. We wish they were much bigger. All in all we highly recommend Brenda Lee's and we can't wait to be able to visit in person.

This place might look like a total hole in the wall, but the tacos are seriously on another level…read more Every bite was flavorful and fresh -- the kind that makes you immediately plan your next visit. Orders come in sets of four, so come hungry (or be ready to share if you're feeling nice). The staff were great too -- super accommodating about my no-cilantro request and made sure everything came out exactly right. I'm giving it four stars only because it's more of a quick bite spot than somewhere you hang out, but honestly, the food alone makes it worth the stop

Lengua

Salsa

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El Rey Mexican Restaurant

4.4(54 reviews)

4.4 mi

El Rey is a fabulous hole in the wall outside of Maplewood downtown, and is very much worth the…read moredrive over! The inside of the restaurant is colorful and clean but modest, with a few tvs hanging on the wall showing soccer games. The food is exceptional - it was clearly made fresh to order. Everything was hot and flavorful. The beans are vegetarian which I was thrilled about, and it opened up many vegetarian options on the menu as a result. Will be back!

First time visit via best lunch near me Yelp search. The place was empty as we arrived after 2pm…read more The dishes we tried were all fresh and tasty. It is not as authentic as Southern California, Arizona or Texas, but they served us delicious food with a smile.

Interior

Chicken Fajitaas del Chingon steak Quesadillas de Bistec La Vegana

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Quinoa Croquettes

Mexology

3.5(44 reviews)

0.9 mi

One of the best Bar and Grill Restaurants in Elizabeth. They have a rocking vibe with plenty of…read moreseating, both indoor and outdoor. Decor looks trendy with plenty of Insta-friendly backgrounds. We were a party of six, and the service was quick enough considering how packed they were. Staff were friendly and polite. The music can get a bit loud though. We ordered a variety of Cocktails and some Mocktails too and everything tasted great. Appetizers and Entrées were yummy and were presented well. Definitely recommend.

Glad we came on a Thursday. I could imagine how pack this must get…read more They had a DJ mixing with large screen music videos. It's large inside and tables were perfectly placed. Staff were very attentive and friendly. Our food was super fresh. I loved everything. Empanada was delicious right amount of meat and cheese ratio. It wasn't cheddar cheese it was Mexican cheese. Tacos were my favorite as the meat was pulled and juicy . The guacamole with beef tips on top was the best we all agreed it was epic! We will definitely come back.

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Spicy Burro

3.5(66 reviews)

1.6 mi

Went to Spicy Burro on March 8, 2026 for brunch. This was my second time here, and I'd say I'd…read morerecommend it depending on what you're looking for. If you want unlimited sangria or mimosas, great music, and decent food, this is definitely your place. The DJs they bring in are always on point and really set the vibe. That being said, if you're going for top tier food or a lot of variety, this might not be it. Nothing I've tried has been bad, but nothing has really stood out as amazing either. One thing they do not play about is the drinks. Your mimosa or sangria will never be close to empty , the second your glass drops a little, someone is right there to top you off. Overall, it's a fun brunch spot if you're going for the energy, music, and bottomless drinks.

We visited Spicy Burrito on a Saturday night and had a really good experience…read more It's a great place if you want to eat well, enjoy cocktails, and stay out without having to go to a club. For drinks, we ordered the Don Chente and the Tour of Mexico, both were very good and perfect to start the night. We shared a few dishes, including the guacamole with chicharrón and fried sweet plantains, birria tacos, and the corn desgranado with bacon and chicken -- everything tasted great. My favorite dish by far was the BBQ rib bao buns. So good and definitely something you should try if you come here. The vibe gets better as the night goes on, and with live DJs on the weekends, it's an ideal spot for a birthday celebration or a night out. I'd definitely come back.

Quesadilla de Birria

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Trío de Fajitas

Johnny Tequila's

4.0(781 reviews)

2.5 mi

Every bite of food is brag worthy! The vibes are here to stay. Make sure to bring your friends for…read morea celebration or just a night out on the town! They have the best dj's mixing on the weekends. I highly recommended the tacos, specifically the Al pastor and the chicken tinga. And don't sleep on the Latin Caesar salad and add the carne asada (trust me). The drinks are amazing. I love me a good spicy margarita. They definitely emphasize on the spicy and I'm here for it. They even offer pitchers of margaritas. Any occasion whether it's a girls night, date night or a birthday celebration, Johnny tequila's is the place you wanna be.

Love Johnnys! They're perfect for an after work hang out. Third time here and their food is always…read moreon point with the flavor and portions. Drinks are great as well you can order from their bar or at a regular table. I also love that they have vegan options which is perfect for anyone!

Food, Drinks, Music, Sports

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Jimadors

Tequila Bistro

3.9(41 reviews)

0.8 mi

Surprisingly delicious food and drink at a nondescript storefront in Elizabeth…read more Quiet dining room, friendly service, and thoughtfully prepared dishes and cocktails. I specifically loved the Anejo-based take on a Manhattan. Will recommend and return!

WOW. What a nice surpsie!…read more Hole in the wall, in the middle of nowhere that packs a mean punch! The menu items are vast and freakin delicious. I enjoyedddddd the pepercorn ribeye a lot! On a side not, the prices do match the items... for a hole in the wall, you are paying a hefty price.

Interior

Peppercorn Ribeye Special

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San Isidro

4.5(55 reviews)

2.3 mi

I come from Colorado and I woke up this morning just looking for homemade fresh authentic Mexican…read morefood but all I was seeing on the map was more "upscale" Mexican places that I'm not used to. thankfully I stumbled upon San Isidro and it was just what I needed, my boyfriend had the mole chicken enchiladas which were amazing loved all the onion on there too so delicious and I had the chorizo tacos. They were so juicy and paired well with the salsa that were given out. The service was excellent, quick and lovely. The restaurant was very colorful, and had nice music playing it felt very lively. Also it was very cool to know that it is a family run business!!

Absolutely authentic Mexican food! Fantastic! We went to San Isidro on a Friday evening. Few other…read moretables were eating. Service was friendly and quick! Food was super fresh, especially the guacamole. Everything was soooo tasty. The bright and colorful decor transported me out of NJ. A bonus was they had karaoke on Friday night so we dined listening to music. The restaurant is BYOB but they have delicious looking agua frescos - I can't wait to go back!

Namesake vibes

Birria Tacos

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Chicken Wings. Excellent!

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Yaya S.

9 years ago

I always order the flautas for take out and they are always on point and the customer service is good too. I need to try something else, mayb I'll try the enchiladas next . read more

Danny M.

4 years ago

Hands down, best tacos al pastor in town! It's always a good experience, the fold and the service is great

Yahaira T.

10 years ago

Comida deliciosa !!!! El mejor guacamole !!!!! Servicio excelente , los mejores tacos árabes !! Gracias

Maya B.

7 years ago

The tacos are soooooo good and everyone working was so pleasant.

Carlos V.

8 years ago

I love to order food in this place best tacos in Elizabeth

Jose N.

9 years ago

Loved the Tacos! Definetley a fan will be back soon

El Portal - mexican - Updated October 2026

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