So so good! Amazing service. Growing up in Porterville El Tap is a local fav. Hadn't gone to the one in Terra Bella, but I am so glad that I did! So quick and the waitress was so sweet! read more

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The quality of food is terrible. We are talking free government cheese. The ambience has always been great. But the new owners/ leases provide horrendous service. It's a shame. read more

This local family run restaurant has been here for my entire life. It is close to my house and It has great food that my family and I go eat all the time. The servers even know my sister and my name (not true). Overall this is a really good place to eat with great food and a rich history. read more

Always a nice experience. Best drinks . Definitely don't disappoint. Chili verde is with beef not pork .

I've been a local for almost 60 years and by far ,anytime me and my family have any type of function it's asked (where do we meet up at and our family's same response is El Tap.)Because we know the El Tap family... The food is awesome, the customer sevice and professionalism is always top standard. To George and Felicia and all the great people that work there,Two big thumbs up. Warren Lozano read more

Great food and great service!! We are repeated customer for years. They know us on first name bases. We love this place!! Raul and Belinda We will add picture later read more

First off this place is the bomb, my first time Yelping it. Keep in mind the El Tapatio's there are several here in Porterville, they are all related, but different families...anyways their Ice Tea is glorious, the chips and salsa even MORE GLORIOUS!!! The salsa is nice and spicy and seems freshly made...if it's not, who cares!!! I ordered the Chicken tacos, rice and beans...their taco sauce is amazing. Before I took photos I accidentally started to eat, then realized the photos. So excuse the mess, but still, it was good. They have other great dishes, but I love their chicken tacos, they taste the same at all El Tapatio's, they are my "go too." But they have big burritos, nachos, and other awesome menu items. You should eat here, it's a Pville institution. read more

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Bomb! Love Sunday morning stops at this place. I call in a order on my way to work. Their Menudo & posole Is on point ! The staff that is there are friendly and attentive. Great food and as always consistent. read more

El Tapatio - Menudo - Mexican Near Me - Porterville, California

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This gem has the real authentic Mexican food. We stopped by on our way back home from Yosemite back in 2019. We stopped by again from Bass Lake. This restaurant is truly a gem in the area. We were a party of 11 and we all enjoyed our food. Service was awesome ! read more

I would always go to the El Tapatio on Orange street with family to go eat out, but unfortunately their prices have gone way up and the quality of food has gone way down. So, me and my mom decided to try the one off Main Street, and we were delighted with the food and service! We had placed a to-go order over the phone, but wasn't able to come pick it up until close to closing. Upon arrival, it seemed that either my mom had ordered from the other El Tap or they forgot about the order, but regardless they had zero problem still making the order, and even gave us free drinks for the complication! The staff is always super nice and the food is just as I remember it being growing up. The enchiladas and rice and beans always is very yummy! If you're looking for a new Mexican food spot to try I would highly recommend it! read more

It's not like I remembered. I used to come here all the time 20 years ago, either my taste buds changed or the menu/ingredients and recipe has changed. It was still good. read more

Love this place. I've been eating here for 25 years. The barbacoa beef is awesome! Cold beer, good service great food!

Terrible food without any flavor. "Chips" are stale friend whole tortillas with only the flavor of old frying oil. Gross. Ordered Chicken fajitas and it's like a crock pot made mix of dried out chicken and sad vegetables. Husband ordered steak fajitas and it's the same with his meal; absolutely no flavor. read more

Came back to Porterville cause I was from Porterville and had dinner with 15 of my family members. The price of our meals were reasonable until El Tapatio staff added the taxes on to our meals THEN they added the 18percent in EACH individual receipt. For one of the three family members that paid together it was over $100. ridiculous amount. Hope all the over charges will help remodel the bathroom which were disgusting! Bye read more

I absolutely love this restaurant. The enchiladas are super tasty. Their salads are super tasty. The service is always exceptional. Definitely a place we visit with company. read more

I'm sure a lot of people are going to come for me for this comment but this is the last place I would eat. The portions are the only positI've thing about this place. The flavor of the food is unsavory. read more

This is the sister location to the one in town. It's on the corner of Tea Pot Dome and Old 65. This used to be a gas station ages ago. It's pretty nasty inside and the food is not as good as the one in town. read more

"El Tap" as it is called by the locals, is the more rural, down-to-earth version of the larger El Tap in Porterville proper. I have eaten here a number of times, mostly because I love the food, but I like the atmosphere even better. It's pretty much a greasy spoon with jalapenos on the side. The decor is definitely, blue-collar, migrant farm farm worker chic with lots of Mexican beer posters featuring soccer clubs and Latinas in bikinis. It's not too big - just a counter in the front and a back room with eight booths and some tables. Nothing fancy. It's the kind of place you come to have lunch after spending the morning working in the orange groves. But the food is delicious, authentic Mexican. They have cold beer and the prices are right. If you are driving up State Highway 65 or visiting Porterville and want some Mexican, this is the place. The El Tap in town is okay, but the atmosphere here is much better (if you like the "greasy spoon" vibe). Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. Note: The restaurant is on the SW corner of Tea Pot Dome and S. Main St. (Old Hwy 65). The location is displayed incorrectly on the map. read more

I LOVE this place. I live nearby and eat here all the time. The food is great and the service is excellent. I've never had a bad meal or experience here. Mom and pop restaurant. read more

I had my birthday lunch there last week and the food was great. I always love going there.

I love this family business. Staff is always nice and food is always good. I visit this restaurant every time I'm in town.

Called in a order and specifically told them what kind of enchilada sauce I wanted and got the wrong sauce.i had to go on my lunch to return the plate and the waitress still charged me for the difference in price for the sauce. The location is 12miles round trip from my job and the waitress never apologized or showed any sympathy. She kept insisting that she took the order correctly. read more

I have been coming to this place since i was born, it's my absolute favorite mexican place EVER. they have great staff, amazing food, the iced tea is great. The salsa is so good. my go to is cheese enchiladas SO GOOD. it's a little hole in the wall place but the food is amazing read more

Love. Great service, great food. There other location on teapot dome is just as amazing.

OK so here is the deal I live in Stockton and my friend lives in Porterville. she is always telling me that there is not any good food in Porterville and I think she may be right. we came here and each had a combo plate. I never judge a place much on decor because it just doesn't matter that much but I do judge on the food and even though I think it was a little better than El Jacalito we have many taco trucks that serve better tasting food. the food was edible but not great and the price is to high for the food quality. I'm not sure if they take credit cards but I think they do, I paid cash. read more

Love their flavorful salsa, especially when it's a hot batch. Best barbacoa tacos around!

Their menudo has changed. It used to taste rich and homemade with a lot of hominy and now it's just a few pieces of tripe in watered down bland broth. I kept adding salt and more crushed chile flakes and oregano but you just can't fix bland broth. I'll have to go elsewhere for my menudo fix on Sundays now. read more

Great chips and salsa! Service was good but the food was ok. I didn't care for the chile rellano. It was shipped like a rectangle with sweet tomato sauce. Upon closer dissection of it I found that it was made by cooking a thin sheet of scambled egg and wrapping it around a chile. There was no cheese inside, only on top and the chile was too firm and barely able to be cut with a fork. The cheese enchilada had a very soft corn tortilla like it was made on site with Masa. It was good, like a cross between an enchilada and a tamale. I saw one of the cooks reheating the rice in a big bowl. Hubby found a piece of hard plastic, about half the size of a grain of rice, in his rice. The outside of the building looks rundown but that's ok. There are picnic tables to dine outside. I would return only for the chips and salsa, and maybe the cheese enchilada. read more

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Porterville. Its a hang out for the "local's". The food is great. There aren't many tables here, so you need to get there early for lunch. I had a #7 combination (chile relleno and two enchlladas, served with beans and rice) for lunch today. Very flavorful and filling. read more

This place has the best mexican food and margaritas in the valley. The owners and staff really make you feel at home.

Second time coming here. Just had the chilaquales they were amazing. Sauce was on point and tortillas are delicious. The super deluxe burrito is also to die for. Friendly and quick service. I will definitely be coming back. I'm Mexican and this place gets my approval, best Mexican food in town and around. read more

Great little hole in the wall. Great service and good food! I love the chili relleno and the tacos are awesome!

My one and only Favorite Mexican Resturant. I've been eating here for over 30 years and LOVE IT. My Favorite is the Chicken Enchiladas, Rice and Beans. Always tastey every time. Great Food & Nice people! read more

El Tap is what I use to bribe my husband into visiting my parents. I grew up in Porterville and this was a main stay. The food is authentic Mexican. The "chips" come in their whole fried tortilla state, then you can break them apart and add salt as you like. The salsa is yummy, and if they like you, they'll often give you more than you need for your to go orders. I used to order the Flautas, which you could order as a side or a whole meal. Now I'm tied to Huevos Rancheros, no matter the time of day. Their ranchero sauce in general is fabulous. It is perfectly chunky with the stewed tomatoes and onions, and you always have to watch out for those jalapeno seeds. Others in my family love the Steak Ranchero, and a newly discovered shrimp dish of a similar style. The rice and beans that accompany most meals is always yummy, especially with the salsa poured all over. I would think my love of El Tap comes from growing up with it, but as my siblings all get spouses of their own and bring them into town, it inevitably becomes everyone's new favorite. About the only bummer is it seems to have gotten much more pricey than I remember, but perhaps that just happens with the passage of time. read more

I wanted to like it, I really really wanted to like it. Husband works in Terra Bella, so always wanted to try this little place out. One bite of the sickening sweet enchilada sauce and I was done. Just yuck. read more

If there is such a thing as Mexican comfort food, this is it. Everything is fresh tasting.