Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Porteño

    3.8 (224 reviews)
    ModeratePeruvian, Chinese
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order El Porteño Takeout or Delivery

    El Porteño Peruvian Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    EL PORTEÑO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - El Porteño

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Julie A.

    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.

    Lomo Saltado de Carne
    Crystal H.

    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!

    Neville S.

    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.

    Anticuchos
    Emily L.

    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!

    El Porteno - Lomo Saltado , has great flavor
    Stella K.

    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.

    Lomo saltado

    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.

    Montage of images from El Porteño
    Ed U.

    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

    Lomo saltado and salt n pepper pork chops.
    Leanne Y.

    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.

    Lomo Saltado and Tallarin Verde con Pollo a La Parrilla
    David G.

    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!

    Honey walnut shrimp. 17.99
    Emily G.

    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.

    Lomo Saltado con arroz chaufa (fried rice)
    Stephanie D.

    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.

    See all

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 4
    Love this 16
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Kim M.
    0
    22
    17

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 16
    Thanks 1
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leanne Y.
    2
    178
    266

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tuky S.
    10
    23
    6

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 4

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Taryn M.
    168
    98
    27

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jackie M.
    15
    120
    82

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Igor S.
    88
    13
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    I asked for napkins like 3 times. They never brought them. I didn't like the service. However. The waiting time was reasonable

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jae B.
    0
    75
    66

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    El Porteño Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Porteño

    You might also consider

    Mariposas

    Mariposas

    4.5(211 reviews)
    5.1 miSoMa
    Locally owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Fantastic! Staying…read moreat the Marriott Marquis so this was about 2 blocks away! Super convenient. I went with the shrimp pasta and it was VERY good. Large, meaty shrimp, good portion of noodles and vegetables, and creamy pasta sauce. I also got the chips, guac, and salsa. Honestly didn't care for the guac too much - was kind of flavorless. But it was some of the best salsa I've ever had. If I was far away I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come back here. Mostly because there's so many other great options in the bay area. But if I was reasonably close then I would certainly swing by again!

    Great food, excellent environment, friendly and accommodating staff! The shrimp pasta was delicious…read morewith a great peppery taste, and the empanada sampler was tasty, made with flour for a perfectly crunchy and flaky experience. It was my first time ever having beef heart on a skewer; I'd rate it as okay, keeping in mind I don't have another reference point, but it was a bit tough in my opinion. There was a bit of a lull between our drinks and actually ordering, which stalled the momentum, but it did remind me of the importance of being in the moment and not feeling hurried to dine and leave. Overall, it actually made for a good experience. The drinks were great, there was excellent latin music selection and the floor to ceiling windows make for great people-watching!

    Photos
    Mariposas
    Mariposas
    Mariposas

    See all

    Mochica - Platano Maduro Frito with reduced tamarind sauce yum

    Mochica

    4.1(903 reviews)
    4.0 miPotrero Hill
    $$

    Ordered the Costillas, Pulpo and wish I had space for more food but was stuffed. Service was great,…read morealways refilling water and asking if we need anything more. We had a booth and our view was the curb, wasnt anything fancy but the place was vibin'. Would i come back? Definitely, ive already reserved a time for next week. The flavors on the food was exceptionally good, and price for value was on point.

    I have always been looking to try this Peruvian place from the reviews. Reservations are free on…read moreOpentable, and even if the place may be booked on that website, you can always call to ask for availability. We were promptly seated on a Saturday night dinner around 6:15PM even though they were booked online until 7:45. Service was pretty quick and friendly, but you could tell they were trying to push us on selling drinks/appetizers. I felt like the service staff's mood might've changed a little after we were fine with only water (shocker I know, we usually don't order $17 cocktails...). Other appetizer menu items were similar in pricing if not more expensive than entrees themselves. I ordered an Arroz con Mariscos and a Pollo a la Brasa, and was pleasantly surprised with the portion sizes given the upscale restaurant vibe. I was expecting a lot less food, but turns out they gave regular portions, and boy were they GOOD. The paella is a standard paella, and it was very flavorful. Although it came with only a couple shrimp and other seafoods, the portion was still fulfilling for 1 person. To be fair, it's not really portioned to share unless you order a ton of other dishes. The half chicken was one of the best chickens I've had. The seasoning on the skin and the crispiness from the oven perfectly compliments each other, and my mouth is watering as I'm typing this. It's pretty savory, and the flavors soak through into the breast, so you know it's been marinating for a while. The fries reminded me of McDonald's fries cuts, and the salad was sweet and sour. An appetizer wasn't necessary for us, but if you're hungry, then definitely consider ordering one. The vibe was very cozy, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that since we ordered only 2 dishes, the service team kinda rushed us after ~45min of sitting and dining. To be fair, other tables had at least one cocktail per person, but at close to $20 per drink, we could not justify the price. A solid 4 stars!

    Photos
    Mochica - Bar and kitchen area

    Bar and kitchen area

    Mochica - Lomo saltado

    Lomo saltado

    Mochica - Salchipapas & Eggs

    See all

    Salchipapas & Eggs

    Lomo Libre Cantina - Chicharrón de Pollo (delicious!)

    Lomo Libre Cantina

    4.4(207 reviews)
    3.9 miOuter Sunset
    $$

    Craved Peruvian Food for dinner. Been here for brunch, first time for dinner…read more Started with the Yuquitas a la Huancaina - garlicky yucca and love the huancaina. Kiddo kept the leftover sauce to pour over his rice. Kiddo ordered the Lomo Saltado, additional $4 to make it a la pobre. He ate it all up. I went with the Pescado a lo Macho. The presentation was great and the fish was nice and crispy - yum! Service was great in that she was friendly and checked on us often.

    I have been meaning to stop by here ever since they opened up. Well I finally got the chance. A…read morebright restaurant with bar area in front and dining seating in back serving Peruvian food like lomo saltado and fresh seafood like ceviches. Wonderful, helpful staff and friendly service from all. This place was amazing. I was so happy to try out Lomo Libre. We started with the Cesar salad with shrimp. Great flavor, very fresh, avocado, and shrimp added for some nice crunch and seafood. Next the Oysters with the leche de Tigre and ceviche clasico. Both were briny, salty, citrusy,and plump. Next came the Lomo saltado and tallarin saltado. The sauce was just enough for both and not overpoweringly salty, sweet, or anything. Lastly was the chaufa. Not my favorite, a little over seasoned to my liking, but great still. My favorite from the night was the ceviche clasico and Lomo saltado. Everything from the night was amazing though and I will definitely be back for more!

    Photos
    Lomo Libre Cantina - Lomo Libre on top of the bar.

    Lomo Libre on top of the bar.

    Lomo Libre Cantina - LOMO SALTADO

    LOMO SALTADO

    Lomo Libre Cantina - At the bar

    See all

    At the bar

    Mi Lindo Perú - Mi Lindo Peru - Lomo Saltado

    Mi Lindo Perú

    4.1(834 reviews)
    2.3 miBernal Heights, Mission
    $$

    The Lomo saltado here is the best. Large portion and filled with flavor. Service here is really…read morenice and restaurant is conveniently located along mission street a few blocks up from 24th street bart. Restaurant is pretty large and airy too.

    My good friend, Ana, aka Smitty, invited me to dinner at Mi Lindo Peru on Wednesday, February 18,…read more2026, and without blinking, I was so totally down - I love me some Peruvian food! Offering a rich array of traditional Peruvian dishes, Mi Lindo Peru is a celebrated restaurant known for its vibrant flavours and generous portions. The establishment has become a favourite of go-to spots among locals and visitors alike for an authentic taste of Peru in San Francisco. Located in Bernal Heights, parking can be challenging in this bustling area. Luckily, we arrived around 6:30 PM, so I was able to find a space across the street, less than a block away. Truth be told, though - I did drive around the neighbourhood about 1.5 times before scoring a spot. The brightly lit dining room's ambiance is casual, unfussy and welcoming. Only one table was occupied and no other customers arrived to dine in during our visit. We sat at the half booth table at the very front, adjacent to the entrance. On this evening, the spacious venue was clean; however, a small stack of empty white plastic buckets at the foyer floor stuck out to me like an eye sore. Along with our menus, we were served a complimentary basket of two slices of soft, white bread, a ramekin each of a single ball of soft butter and a non-spicy red salsa. Below are what we ordered: Chicha Morada (Glass, $4.95) - Ana ordered this beverage for me, insisting that I try a Peruvian drink. She described this sweet purple corn juice as a Peruvian Kool-Aid. Her description was pretty spot on. Just a bit too sweet for me, but nonetheless refreshing. Aji de Gallina ($22.95) - I have always been curious about this classic Peruvian creamy stew, so was stoked that Smitty said that she was ordering it. YUM!! I need to order this next time! Lomo a lo Pobre ($28.95) - "A lo pobre" translates to "poor man's style" in Spanish and refers to the simple addition of a fried egg, fried plantains and/or rice and french fries to traditional Peruvian dishes to add another level of tastiness. I'm a big fan of Lomo Saltado, but jumped on this option with the added plaintain and perfectly fried egg. I was conservative and had the egg yolk ooze over the white rice (I could tell that the rice was steaming hot because the yolk began to cook once I sat the egg atop it). I immediately regretted that move, kicking myself for missing out on exploring the added flavour from breaking the egg over the meat, veggies and french fries medley. Next time, for sure! Despite the slight tough texture of the lean strips of meat, my meal was still delicious and enjoyable. Service was friendly and fast. I was taken aback when the check was delivered sans asking us if we were interested in dessert, though,...especially because I was so looking forward to a sweet finale with Alfajores. We inquired, but, sadly, they were out of the dulce de leche cookies due to their popularity during Valentine's Day weekend. The cookie monster in me was SUPER bummed. I initially thought that they had no inventory of postres (dessert) since they didn't offer any at first, but turned out that they did, indeed, still had offerings. We decided to pass on the sweet course. So delighted I was to be introduced to Mi Lindo Peru by mi querida amiga. I would happily return to continue the delectable culinary journey here that highlights the essence of Peru.

    Photos
    Mi Lindo Perú
    Mi Lindo Perú - Fish ceviche and fried plantains... both quite good!

    Fish ceviche and fried plantains... both quite good!

    Mi Lindo Perú - Chicha Morada

    See all

    Chicha Morada

    Kaiyo Rooftop

    Kaiyo Rooftop

    3.8(1.1k reviews)
    5.1 miSouth Beach

    Brunched at Kaiyo Rooftop with a group of friends and it lived up to the hype. I've been up there a…read morefew times in the evening but never during the day, and we got lucky with a sunny one. The wind shields they have set up are a brilliant touch. They block the gusts without killing the view, which makes a huge difference up there. I was with a big enough group that we ordered across the menu and got to try a bit of everything. The Lomo Saltado Roll was a standout. Easily one of the more interesting rolls I've had recently. The A5 Wagyu Burger is my go to here and it didn't disappoint. The Tokyo Matcha French Toast is the move for "dessert". Order it at the end and pass it around the table. Matcha custard, peanut butter mousse, matcha and mate syrup. Honestly unreal. Service is what pushed this from good to great. Everyone was attentive without being intrusive and clearly knew the menu inside and out. Felt genuinely taken care of from start to finish. Will be back.

    Our waiter Alejandro was great, helpful, friendly and quick…read more Love the views and the rooftop setting but it was cold and windy the day we went - recommend going in the summer. The food was tasty but the portions were small in comparison to the price. But hey, that's SF for you. I could skip the beef empanadas next time. It tasted fine but nothing epic about it. I think I have a slight addiction to their plantain chips- they're thin and light and tasty with the cevice or guac - edamame dip. Yummy The drinks were pretty good too! I wouldn't mind coming back to celebrate or experience the rooftop again with friends. But I likely wouldn't come back for a monthly or weekly dinner date.

    Photos
    Kaiyo Rooftop - The inside

    The inside

    Kaiyo Rooftop - Nikkei wings

    Nikkei wings

    Kaiyo Rooftop - Red Dragon Roll

    See all

    Red Dragon Roll

    El Porteño - peruvian - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...