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What great food this place has. The simple ambience of being somewhere else in this low-key restaurant that delivers sumptuous food from the Yucca fries, the fried rice, and the beef Saltado. The waitress was staffed and you can order in Spanish or English and the menu is provided in Spanish in English. Has this common in Peru it's a mix of Asian and Peruvian cuisine and there are a lot of items to choose from. It may seem a little bit different, but the flavors are unique the food, fresh and well worth the trip to this oasis of Peruvian excellence.
Eventhough the flavor is okay, be aware of high prices and small plate size. I order a pasta ($27). It was supposed to be a seafood pasta, Instead, the plate was full of onions and tomatoes. 2 tiny octopus, 2 shrimp and two oysters and a few ring calamares is what you will get alone with the noddles. The to go contianer was not even fill half way, about s third of the container was full of mainly tomate, noddles and onions. I liked this place, but, plates size have gone significantly down and prices are way to high for what is being served. Won't order form it again.
I have been craving Peruvian food, and I have had this place in mind for a while. Finally got the chance to try it today with my family, and it was delicious! The Lomo Saltado was delectable and the beef was cooked perfectly, along with the onions. The Tallarin Verde was great as well, especially if you're craving pasta with some fresh grilled protein. Yuca fries were perfect, if you want something similar to potato fries but also want to try something different this is the side dish for you. Arguably, I like Yuca over potatoes hehe. Super yummy, 100% would recommend to all! Also I recommend ordering in person or dining in for an easier experience with deciding what to get as staff is mostly Spanish speaking but as long as you share the same kindness and patience as they do it'll make the trip to give this place a try worthwhile!
Stopped by with some friends for dinner on a Saturday night! Parking was pretty hard to find around this area. There's so much on the menu; we asked our server for some popular dishes and she gave us a lot of recommendations! We ended up ordering the lomo saltado, arroz con mariscos, anticuchos, and chicken empanadas. Came in with no expectations and everything was delicious. The lomo saltado was a classic and what we originally came here for. My friends thought the anticuchos were a bit tough, but I thought they were fine. Our favorite dish was the arroz con mariscos. Super, super flavorful and they don't skimp on the seafood!
I was hankering for Peruvian and decided to try El Porteno. It was easy to order through GrubHub and my food arrived earlier than the estimated time. Lomo Saltado ($22.98) This dish was tasty, yet a bit disappointing due to the tough & overcooked beef. I also felt there wasn't much beef in the dish. The fries were on the soggy side. Otherwise, the flavor of this dish was very good. Yuca Frita ($9.98) These Yuca fries come with a huancaina sauce. The fries are good with or without the dip. Ceviche Mixto ($19.98) Decent size portion of ceviche mixto ; I've had smaller servings at other restaurants. So this is good bang for your buck. It contained a good variety of seafood. I would order this again. Arroz con Mariscos ($22.98) This dish is full of flavor, and maybe a tad on the salty side, but it was delicious. I would order this dish again. My first experience with this restaurant was positive. I would not hesitate ordering from here again, so I can try some other items on their menu.
While in San Francisco for a conference, I took a walk along the Embarcadero to stretch my legs. I found the local market with many different food and gift options. I stumbled upon this place and saw how busy it was (long line of people). Everyone seemed to order the same 2 things: lamb empanada and banana empanada. So I did the same. The lamb one was so so so tasty and delicious! I wanted to go back for another one because of how good it tasted, but couldn't do it after eating the banana empanada (was very rich and sweet). Both were great. It's a cute little place in the market across from the Hyatt. Highly recommended.
Ah, so this is the original El Porteño. I don't find myself in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood very often, but I randomly took the M line all the way to the end at Balboa Park and found myself sauntering up Geneva to Mission. When I saw the red candy stripe front and the name emblazoned right next to the Billiard Palacade, I decided to peek inside to see if it was empty enough to brave dining inside. Since this was just before omicron exploded, I threw caution to the wind just a smidge when I concluded it was safe enough with the only other diners a father and his son. I was here on Sunday, so I lucked out with the availability of their weekend special, the $18.98 Pollo a la Brasa, which is basically Peru's national dish, a half-rotisserie chicken blackened to a nice char and presented with a steak knife to avoid manual gnawing. I think the chicken was surely brined in some type of lime juice because the meat was impossibly tender with a hint of citrus tartness. I even finished the white meat which is such a rare occurrence for me. The large platter came with a creamy mustard dipping sauce, a pile of crispy fries, and a house salad slathered in a creamy dressing (photo: https://bit.ly/3KbPVeR). I'm definitely coming back once the next variant is under control, whenever that happens. OK, maybe I'll do delivery. FOOD - 5 stars...a pollo a la brasa to love AMBIANCE - 4 stars...pretty spartan but clean and well spaced SERVICE - 5 stars...very friendly and attentive TOTAL - 5 stars...still dreaming of that chicken RELATED - Exploring the Outer Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37B1acE
This is a review for food ordered via a delivery service. I love ceviche and lomo saltado, and was really looking forward to these dishes at this place. Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by the portion size of the meat in the lomo saltado--there were only 5 thin/small pieces in a sea of rice, fries, and onions (see photos). Horrible value for a $24 entree. The ceviche mixto was decent though, but not the best I've had. Never going to order the lomo saltado on DoorDash again. I'm willing to give their lomo saltado another chance in person though.
Food was okay. We ordered the Lomo saltado and the salt n jalapeño pepper pork chops. Portions were not as large as before. Prices were moderate to high. Server was pleasant. Flavors were good.
Stumbled upon this spot. Love me some good Peruvian food so I was excited to check it out. My friend and I ordered: Papa a la huancaína-was under seasoned and the potatoes were raw. Would not order again. Lomo Saltado-had fantastic flavor! The meat, however, was tough and chewy. Would order again just for the sauce. Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Parrilla was the star! The chicken was seasoned perfectly and was so juicy and tender. The pasta was delicate, but had so much flavor. Recommend with gusto! Service was meh. They were also out ( or didn't feel like brewing) any coffee....meh meh. They also have a massive menu so there is something for everyone. Go support this local business!
I just ordered a chicken soup from this place for the first time to my surprise there's was a fly swimming in the soup. I don't even want to imagine how disgusting their kitchen is. On top of that there was something in the soup that tasted nothing like chicken, my stomach literally tumbled. NEVER ORDERING FROM THIS PLACE, EVER AGAIN! Will definitely report it to the health department, this is just disgusting!
5 months ago
This Porteño location is the best. Fresh tasty food . Good service. Not busy and the noise level is fine. read more
Pretty solid spot! Ordered the picante de Mariscos which was basically like a seafood stew with a side of white rice. Dish was loaded with calamari, some shrimp, and mussels. Quite flavorful! Rice was a little unevenly cooked, but tasted fine soaked in the sauce. We also ordered the fried fish filet which was good and still tender but a little over salted for my preference. Tried their chicha morada, which was good but a little bit too sweet. Definitely want to come back to try some of their steak dishes and ceviche next time! read more
What great food this place has. The simple ambience of being somewhere else in this low-key restaurant that delivers sumptuous food from the Yucca fries, the fried rice, and the beef Saltado. The waitress was staffed and you can order in Spanish or English and the menu is provided in Spanish in English. Has this common in Peru it's a mix of Asian and Peruvian cuisine and there are a lot of items to choose from. It may seem a little bit different, but the flavors are unique the food, fresh and well worth the trip to this oasis of Peruvian excellence. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
Eventhough the flavor is okay, be aware of high prices and small plate size. I order a pasta ($27). It was supposed to be a seafood pasta, Instead, the plate was full of onions and tomatoes. 2 tiny octopus, 2 shrimp and two oysters and a few ring calamares is what you will get alone with the noddles. The to go contianer was not even fill half way, about s third of the container was full of mainly tomate, noddles and onions. I liked this place, but, plates size have gone significantly down and prices are way to high for what is being served. Won't order form it again. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
I have been craving Peruvian food, and I have had this place in mind for a while. Finally got the chance to try it today with my family, and it was delicious! The Lomo Saltado was delectable and the beef was cooked perfectly, along with the onions. The Tallarin Verde was great as well, especially if you're craving pasta with some fresh grilled protein. Yuca fries were perfect, if you want something similar to potato fries but also want to try something different this is the side dish for you. Arguably, I like Yuca over potatoes hehe. Super yummy, 100% would recommend to all! Also I recommend ordering in person or dining in for an easier experience with deciding what to get as staff is mostly Spanish speaking but as long as you share the same kindness and patience as they do it'll make the trip to give this place a try worthwhile! read more
Stopped by with some friends for dinner on a Saturday night! Parking was pretty hard to find around this area. There's so much on the menu; we asked our server for some popular dishes and she gave us a lot of recommendations! We ended up ordering the lomo saltado, arroz con mariscos, anticuchos, and chicken empanadas. Came in with no expectations and everything was delicious. The lomo saltado was a classic and what we originally came here for. My friends thought the anticuchos were a bit tough, but I thought they were fine. Our favorite dish was the arroz con mariscos. Super, super flavorful and they don't skimp on the seafood! read more
I was hankering for Peruvian and decided to try El Porteno. It was easy to order through GrubHub and my food arrived earlier than the estimated time. Lomo Saltado ($22.98) This dish was tasty, yet a bit disappointing due to the tough & overcooked beef. I also felt there wasn't much beef in the dish. The fries were on the soggy side. Otherwise, the flavor of this dish was very good. Yuca Frita ($9.98) These Yuca fries come with a huancaina sauce. The fries are good with or without the dip. Ceviche Mixto ($19.98) Decent size portion of ceviche mixto ; I've had smaller servings at other restaurants. So this is good bang for your buck. It contained a good variety of seafood. I would order this again. Arroz con Mariscos ($22.98) This dish is full of flavor, and maybe a tad on the salty side, but it was delicious. I would order this dish again. My first experience with this restaurant was positive. I would not hesitate ordering from here again, so I can try some other items on their menu. read more
2 years ago
While in San Francisco for a conference, I took a walk along the Embarcadero to stretch my legs. I found the local market with many different food and gift options. I stumbled upon this place and saw how busy it was (long line of people). Everyone seemed to order the same 2 things: lamb empanada and banana empanada. So I did the same. The lamb one was so so so tasty and delicious! I wanted to go back for another one because of how good it tasted, but couldn't do it after eating the banana empanada (was very rich and sweet). Both were great. It's a cute little place in the market across from the Hyatt. Highly recommended. read more
Ah, so this is the original El Porteño. I don't find myself in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood very often, but I randomly took the M line all the way to the end at Balboa Park and found myself sauntering up Geneva to Mission. When I saw the red candy stripe front and the name emblazoned right next to the Billiard Palacade, I decided to peek inside to see if it was empty enough to brave dining inside. Since this was just before omicron exploded, I threw caution to the wind just a smidge when I concluded it was safe enough with the only other diners a father and his son. I was here on Sunday, so I lucked out with the availability of their weekend special, the $18.98 Pollo a la Brasa, which is basically Peru's national dish, a half-rotisserie chicken blackened to a nice char and presented with a steak knife to avoid manual gnawing. I think the chicken was surely brined in some type of lime juice because the meat was impossibly tender with a hint of citrus tartness. I even finished the white meat which is such a rare occurrence for me. The large platter came with a creamy mustard dipping sauce, a pile of crispy fries, and a house salad slathered in a creamy dressing (photo: https://bit.ly/3KbPVeR). I'm definitely coming back once the next variant is under control, whenever that happens. OK, maybe I'll do delivery. FOOD - 5 stars...a pollo a la brasa to love AMBIANCE - 4 stars...pretty spartan but clean and well spaced SERVICE - 5 stars...very friendly and attentive TOTAL - 5 stars...still dreaming of that chicken RELATED - Exploring the Outer Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37B1acE read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
This is a review for food ordered via a delivery service. I love ceviche and lomo saltado, and was really looking forward to these dishes at this place. Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by the portion size of the meat in the lomo saltado--there were only 5 thin/small pieces in a sea of rice, fries, and onions (see photos). Horrible value for a $24 entree. The ceviche mixto was decent though, but not the best I've had. Never going to order the lomo saltado on DoorDash again. I'm willing to give their lomo saltado another chance in person though. read more
3 years ago
Food was okay. We ordered the Lomo saltado and the salt n jalapeño pepper pork chops. Portions were not as large as before. Prices were moderate to high. Server was pleasant. Flavors were good. read more
1 year ago
Stumbled upon this spot. Love me some good Peruvian food so I was excited to check it out. My friend and I ordered: Papa a la huancaína-was under seasoned and the potatoes were raw. Would not order again. Lomo Saltado-had fantastic flavor! The meat, however, was tough and chewy. Would order again just for the sauce. Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Parrilla was the star! The chicken was seasoned perfectly and was so juicy and tender. The pasta was delicate, but had so much flavor. Recommend with gusto! Service was meh. They were also out ( or didn't feel like brewing) any coffee....meh meh. They also have a massive menu so there is something for everyone. Go support this local business! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I just ordered a chicken soup from this place for the first time to my surprise there's was a fly swimming in the soup. I don't even want to imagine how disgusting their kitchen is. On top of that there was something in the soup that tasted nothing like chicken, my stomach literally tumbled. NEVER ORDERING FROM THIS PLACE, EVER AGAIN! Will definitely report it to the health department, this is just disgusting! read more
4 years ago
Their food is soooo good. You can never go wrong with the fried rice - it just taste like a little bit of Peru. Please pay the extra 5$ or whatever they charge and get the fried rice. You will not be disappointed. The food is oh so good here. I have also tried the pesto w the steak, yum! Which is a Peruvian staple. I know the restaurant doesn't seem like much, but quiet honestly, it is the best Peruvian food you'll have around the city. Highly recommend. read more
5 years ago
What a hidden gem in the SF neighborhood. I don't remember the last time I had Peruvian cuisine because they're pretty rare in the city, but I know where to go for authentic Peruvian food now. Got the Paella and it was AMAZING...and at a very reasonable price! Food was prepared pretty quickly and it was piping hot when it arrived. Beware that street parking can be hard to find in the area though. read more
3 years ago
I really loved this place but was so disappointed when I ordered food for pick up. I ordered the honey walnut shrimp and for almost $18 I received the smallest portion ever. When I asked to speak with the manager the owner came out of the kitchen and said "what do you expect shrimp is expensive" in the most condescending voice. I asked for a refund and he said he couldn't do it. I was honestly baffled. I understand food prices are higher now but I don't think that's a reason to take advantage of customers. See pictures for reference. I wouldn't recommend paying these outrageous prices with such small portions. read more
Quite possibly the most amazing empanadas we've ever eaten. Totally worth the visit. The carne and pollo empanadas were savory and delicious, and for a vegetarian option (because I am in love with mushrooms) we got the champinones empanada. First time ever having an empanada with mushrooms, but it worked so well! Delicious. read more
5 years ago
Great authentic Peruvian cuisine. What more can you say? You want some real Peruvian food? Come here. The ceviche is great, the jalea is perfect, the pisco is on point. Very great flavors and always hits the spot whenever we get a craving for Peruvian food. This place is the place to get good Peruvian food. There is an El Porteño 2 down the road in Mission district which is equally good. Definitely a hidden gem in the city. read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
I am Peruvian-born and the authenticity of the food served by Peruvian restaurants is very important to me. El Porteño is one of the most authentic I have found so far in SF. Usually Peruvian restaurants around here will dilute the menu with items that cater to those that order dishes based on their familiarity with other cuisines (e.g. mac and cheese at Limón, or the instances of Mexican influence in terms of ingredients, menu items, and flavors at other Peruvian restaurants). Not so at El Porteño. When you open the physical menu, you might as well be sitting down at a restaurant in Perú. I have ordered delivery from here many times, but recently I went in person for the first time. We had: ají de gallina, anticucho de corazón, arroz con mariscos, and yuca frita con salsa huancaína. They were all excellent and of authentic Peruvian flavor. I will be returning and ordering from them again and again. This place is now my Peruvian joint in SF. The outdoor patio was unexpectedly nice, with a gas heater. read more
4 years ago
We just walk by pass due to heavy rains and ran across El Porteño, the food was delicious. Loma Saltado, empanada, fried platanos. Everything was so good I will come back read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
9 years ago
This place is actually one of my favorite places to get Peruvian food in SF. Their food is so delicious, it is reasonably priced, and the servers are very friendly. The appetizer we ordered were the anticuchos. They give you about 3-4 pieces of beef heart on a skewer with some deliciously crispy and soft potatoes and a sauce that has a little kick to it. It is my favorite appetizer at any Peruvian restaurant and they make it so well here. The beef heart is not too chewy or tough at all. Whenever I come here, I always order the Tallarin Saltado with beef or chicken. It's just a noodle version of Lomo Saltado and let me tell you, the sauce just makes it that much better. We also order food to go, which is when I order the Lomo Saltado. It's definitely my favorite Peruvian dish. I really like the way they make it here. This restaurant is just good authentic Peruvian food. Please give this place a shot! read more
4 years ago
We had a horrible experience. They charged us for the hot sauce and for using a credit card without asking us first. Then when we left they did not even bother to say goodbye or thank you. The waiter was inattentive, even though I tipped anyways. The overall feel was disregard for tables of 2 people. I will not be coming back here ever again. read more
3 years ago
My boyfriend's friends wanted to get Peruvian food and the first thought that went through my head when my boyfriend told me that was, "Uh, What's that?" Uh, bomb ass food, that's what it is. Located on Mission St., parking could be kind of tough depending on when you come here. My boyfriend and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night I think and we lucky to have found parking at the next block over. And since it was after 6pm, we didn't have to feed the meter. The inside of this place doesn't look like much, but trust me- it's good. The lady working that night was super friendly and patient with us as we took our time with the menu and even switched out our empty water jugs when it ran out. That's service. And she was the only one working that night servicing (from what I could see) so props to her for working so quick. Their menu actually has a good amount of options if you're not sure what you're craving exactly. They even have fried rice on the menu which is insane and I'll probably go for it next time I'm here just to try it out. What I did end up ordering from here was their seafood pesto pasta and holy shit, it was bomb. Their pesto sauce is definitely homemade and fresh. Like you can just taste it in each bite. What a difference from my usual pesto sauce from Costco, lol. Prices are somewhat high, but I get that it's the area you're in and I'm down to come back and splurge a little again when I can. read more
2 years ago
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More info about El Porteño
5173 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94112
Crocker-Amazon
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(415) 586-1206
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