El Porton Restaurant Menu: A Complete Guide to Dishes, Prices, and Categories
Mexican comfort food has a way of turning a Tuesday night into an occasion, and that’s exactly the reputation El Porton has built across its locations in Washington, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. If you’re planning a visit or just curious about what to order, the el porton restaurant menu covers a lot of ground — lunch specials, sizzling fajitas, seafood platters, vegetarian plates, and a kids’ section that keeps younger diners happy without watering down the flavor. This guide breaks the whole menu down category by category, with real prices and dish descriptions, so you know exactly what to expect before you sit down or place an online order.
What Makes the El Porton Restaurant Menu Different
El Porton isn’t a single centrally-run chain the way a national fast-food brand is. It’s a family of independently operated Mexican restaurants that share the same name, the same home-style approach to cooking, and a similar core lineup of dishes, but each location — whether it’s in Yakima, McAllen, Little Rock, or Germantown — adjusts its offerings and pricing to fit its own community. That’s worth knowing going in, because it means the el porton restaurant menu you see online for one branch may list a slightly different price or a regional specialty that another location doesn’t carry. What stays consistent across nearly every location is the emphasis on large portions, made-to-order sauces, and a mix of classic Mexican dishes alongside a handful of American comfort-food options for less adventurous eaters.
The version of the menu detailed below reflects the structure used at several of the chain’s locations, drawing on published pricing to give you an accurate sense of what a typical visit costs. Prices can shift with inflation and regional cost differences, so always check with your local restaurant or its online ordering page for the most current figures before you go.
How the Menu Is Organized
Most El Porton locations break their offerings into a dozen or so sections: lunch specials (available only during a specific window on weekdays), appetizers, combination plates, burritos, fajitas, seafood entrees (“Platos Del Mar”), chicken dishes (“Pollo”), beef and pork dishes (“Carnes”), vegetarian and lighter fare, salads, a kids’ menu for children under ten, and a drinks list that includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Nearly every entree comes standard with rice and a choice of refried or “rancho” beans, which are prepared without lard for a lighter, cholesterol-free option. Diners also get to choose between corn or flour tortillas on most plates, which is a small detail but one that regulars appreciate because it means the same dish can be ordered two different ways depending on preference.
Menu List: El Porton Menu Categories at a Glance
Before getting into pricing specifics, it helps to see the whole lineup laid out section by section. The table below works as a quick-reference menu list for anyone scanning on their phone before they order.
| Menu Section | What You’ll Find There |
|---|---|
| Egg Dishes (Breakfast) | Huevos Rancheros, Huevos con Chorizo, Huevos con Machaca |
| Lunch Specials | Discounted versions of popular entrees, weekdays only |
| Appetizers | Quesadillas, super nachos, mushroom “Hongos,” taquitos |
| Plato Chico / Combination Plates | Mix-and-match tacos, tamales, enchiladas, tostadas |
| Burritos | Guapo, Fuerte, Sano, Super, Poblano, and Ranchero styles |
| Fajitas | Steak, chicken, combo, asada, seafood, and the Ultimate Fajitas |
| Platos Del Mar (Seafood) | Camarones Con Tocino, fish tacos, Enchiladas de Jaiba, Siete Mares soup |
| Pollo (Chicken) | Pollo Asado, Chicken Mole, chipotle chicken, stir-fry |
| Carnes (Beef & Pork) | Carne Asada, Chile Verde, Chile Colorado, surf-and-turf combos |
| Vegetarian & Healthier Dishes | Spinach enchiladas, veggie quesadilla, vegetable fajitas |
| Salads | Taco Salad, Fajita Salad, Prawn Salad, Pollo Asado Salad |
| All-American Dishes | Ribeye steak, burgers, grilled cheese sandwich |
| Kids Menu | Tacos, cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, Mexican pizza |
| Sides & Extras | Rice, beans, guacamole, tortillas, salsa |
| Beverages | Margaritas, virgin margaritas, sodas, Tio Pepe mocktail |
Not every category shows up at every branch — “Egg Dishes” and “All-American Dishes,” in particular, are more common at the Texas and Zillah, Washington locations than elsewhere — but this list covers what a diner is likely to run into somewhere on the menu no matter which location they walk into.
Breakfast Hours and the Breakfast Menu
Breakfast isn’t a universal feature the way lunch specials are. It shows up mainly at the Texas locations in McAllen and Edinburg, plus the Zillah, Washington branch, all of which keep egg dishes on the menu as a standing category rather than a strict morning-only window. That’s a meaningful difference from lunch specials, which cut off at a fixed time — breakfast items at the locations that carry them are generally available for as long as the restaurant is open, not just during the first hour or two of the day.
| Location | Opening Time | Breakfast-Style Items Available |
|---|---|---|
| McAllen, TX | 8:00 AM daily | Yes — huevos rancheros and breakfast tacos, served all day |
| Edinburg, TX | 10:00 AM daily | Yes — huevos rancheros, omelettes, and egg dishes |
| Zillah, WA | Standard opening hours | Yes — egg dishes listed as a regular menu section |
| Yakima, WA / East Wenatchee, WA / Little Rock, AR / Germantown, TN | 10:30 AM–11:00 AM | No dedicated breakfast menu |
If breakfast is the priority, calling ahead or checking your specific location’s listing is worth it — a branch without a breakfast menu simply starts the day with lunch specials once the doors open.
Breakfast / Egg Dishes Menu
| Dish | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Huevos Rancheros | Three over-easy eggs on a soft corn tortilla, topped with red tomato sauce, served with rice and a choice of beans | $13.99 |
| Huevos con Chorizo | Three scrambled eggs with Mexican sausage, tomatoes, and onions, served with rice and beans | $13.99 |
| Huevos con Machaca | Three scrambled eggs with shredded beef, tomatoes, and onions, served with rice and beans | $13.99 |
| Breakfast Tacos (McAllen, TX) | Soft tortillas filled with egg and a choice of fajita-style meat | Varies by location |
| Omelette al Gusto (Edinburg, TX) | Custom omelette with a choice of fillings | Varies by location |
All three standard egg dishes come with a choice of flour or corn tortilla and a choice of refried or rancho beans, following the same format as the dinner menu — so even the breakfast plates fit the restaurant’s overall style of hearty, fully-loaded entrees rather than a lighter continental spread.
Appetizers and Starters
Appetizers at El Porton lean hearty rather than dainty — this isn’t a menu built around small plates meant to be shared sparingly. A classic cheese-and-meat quesadilla runs around $13.49 and comes topped with onions, tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream, with a $5.50 upcharge if you want carne asada folded in instead of the standard filling. Super nachos, piled with beans, cheese, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, and sour cream, sit at a similar price point, with meat available as an add-on for roughly $3.50.
For something baked rather than fried, the mushroom appetizer known as “Hongos” — fresh mushrooms roasted in butter, garlic, and spices — comes in around $13.49 and works well as a lighter starter before a heavier entree. Combo appetizer platters that mix nachos, a quesadilla, and chicken taquitos are priced higher, generally in the low $20s, and are sized for sharing among two or three people. Spinach and artichoke taquitos, rolled in a flour tortilla and deep-fried, are one of the more unusual starters on the list and typically run around $17.99, served with a garlic chipotle dipping sauce.
Lunch Specials: The Best Value on the Menu
If you’re eating between 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on a weekday, the lunch specials section is where the real value lives. Nearly every lunch plate comes bundled with rice and beans and lands in the $15–17 range, which is noticeably cheaper than ordering the same dish off the dinner menu later in the day.
| Location Type | Lunch Special Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, Arkansas, and Tennessee locations | 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Monday–Friday | Discounted pricing applies to select entrees only |
| McAllen & Edinburg, TX locations | No separate lunch window | Full menu, including breakfast items, served all day |
Arroz Con Pollo — boneless chicken breast sautéed with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers over rice with melted cheese — is a lunchtime staple around $15.79. Carne Asada at lunch, served with lettuce and guacamole, comes in slightly higher around $16.99, still a discount compared to the dinner portion.
Shrimp dishes make an appearance even at lunch: Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (prawns sautéed in garlic butter) and Camarones a la Diabla (a spicier, tomato-based prawn dish) are both priced at $15.79, which is a good deal given that seafood usually commands a premium on Mexican menus. Vegetarian eaters aren’t an afterthought either — a lunch-sized Mexican Stir Fry loaded with sautéed vegetables and melted cheese is available at the same $15.79 price point as the meat dishes. Lunchtime margaritas are also discounted, with regular margaritas around $5.25 and flavored versions around $5.75, only available during the lunch window.
Lunch Specials Menu List
| Lunch Dish | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Arroz Con Pollo | Chicken breast sautéed with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers over rice with melted cheese | $15.79 |
| Carne Asada (Lunch) | Charbroiled skirt steak served with lettuce and guacamole | $16.99 |
| Camarones al Mojo de Ajo | Prawns sautéed in garlic butter with mushrooms and spices | $15.79 |
| Camarones a la Diabla | Prawns simmered in a spicier tomato-based diablo sauce | $15.79 |
| Mexican Stir Fry (Vegetarian) | Sautéed seasonal vegetables over rice with melted cheese | $15.79 |
| Regular Margarita (Lunch) | Discounted lunch-hour pricing | $5.25 |
| Flavored Margarita (Lunch) | Mango, strawberry, or watermelon, discounted lunch pricing | $5.75 |
Combination Plates
The “Combinaciones” section is built for people who can’t commit to just one dish. Instead of ordering a full entree, you pick two or three smaller items — a taco, an enchilada, a tostada, a tamale — and build your own plate. A basic taco-and-enchilada combo starts around $11.49, while combinations with three items, like a chalupa, chile relleno, or a single burrito paired with rice and beans, climb into the $13.99 range. This part of the combination-plates lineup is popular with diners who want variety without ordering multiple full-sized entrees, and it’s also one of the more budget-friendly ways to sample several styles of Mexican cooking in one sitting.
The chile relleno, a roasted pasilla pepper stuffed with mozzarella, dipped in egg, and served with a light tomato sauce and guacamole, stands out as one of the more distinctive options in this section — it’s not something every Mexican restaurant menu includes, and it’s a good test of whether a location’s kitchen handles delicate preparations well. Flautas, deep-fried corn tortillas rolled around chicken or picadillo, round out the combination plates and are typically priced the same as the chile relleno.
Burritos
Burritos at El Porton fall into two camps: the straightforward, meat-and-cheese versions, and the more elaborate “specialty” burritos that come loaded with extra sauces and toppings. The Guapo Burrito, filled with your choice of meat and covered in sauce, melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and guacamole, is one of the most popular orders and typically costs around $13.49 to $16.49 depending on location. The Sano Burrito is the vegetarian option — rice, beans, cheese, and lettuce topped with enchilada sauce and parmesan — and is priced similarly.
For something more substantial, the Fuerte Burrito swaps in chile verde (slow-cooked pork in green sauce) as the base filling, then adds rice, beans, enchilada sauce, and a sprinkle of parmesan on top; this one usually runs a few dollars more than the basic burritos, closer to $15.99. The Burrito Ranchero, built around charbroiled skirt steak, pico de gallo, and rice and beans wrapped in a large flour tortilla, sits at the higher end of the burrito section, generally in the $20–22 range at dinner. Seafood lovers can also find a “Burrito Costeño,” stuffed with shrimp, scallops, crab, and vegetables in a tomatillo cream sauce — one of the pricier burritos on the list, often exceeding $25.
Fajitas: Sizzling Plates for Sharing or Solo
Fajitas are arguably the centerpiece of the entire lineup, delivered tableside on a sizzling skillet with peppers, onions, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, rice, and a choice of beans. Steak and chicken fajitas typically start around $22.49, while a combo plate mixing both proteins costs about the same. Upgrading to carne asada fajitas or seafood fajitas (prawns or scallops sautéed with mushrooms) pushes the price closer to $25.
For groups, the “Ultimate Fajitas” platter combines chicken, steak, prawns, and scallops in one large sizzling pan meant for sharing, and it’s priced accordingly — often near $50. This dish alone tends to be a deciding factor for larger parties choosing where to eat, since few competing Mexican restaurants offer a single combined seafood-and-meat fajita platter at that scale.
Platos Del Mar: Seafood Entrees
The seafood section, labeled “Platos Del Mar,” is more extensive than what you’ll find at most casual Mexican restaurants, and it’s a genuine strength of the El Porton Mexican restaurant lineup. Camarones Con Tocino wraps large prawns in bacon, sautés them with peppers, onions, and mushrooms, then finishes the dish under melted jack cheese — a rich plate that usually costs around $26–27. Enchiladas de Jaiba, made with Dungeness crab sautéed with tomato and onion, rolled into corn tortillas, and topped with tomatillo sauce, sour cream, and avocado, runs closer to $24.
Fish tacos, served three to an order on soft corn or flour tortillas with cabbage, pico de gallo, and either tartar sauce or a creamy chipotle sauce, are priced around $20–21 and are one of the lighter seafood options. For something more dramatic, the Siete Mares soup — a Mexican seafood stew combining prawns, fish, clams, scallops, bay shrimp, mussels, and crab in a mildly spicy broth — is one of the most expensive single items on the entire menu, often priced above $30, but it’s also sized as a full meal rather than a starter.
Pollo and Carnes: Chicken, Beef, and Pork Dishes
The dinner-hour chicken section overlaps with several lunch specials but at higher prices, generally in the $24–27 range. Pollo Asado (marinated, grilled chicken breast served with guacamole) and Chicken Mole (chicken pan-fried in a traditional sweet mole sauce) are two of the most-ordered plates here, while Pollo Al Cilantro — chicken breaded in a cilantro seasoning, grilled, and served with pico de gallo — commands a slight premium, often closer to $27, because of the extra preparation involved.
On the beef and pork side, Carne Asada remains the signature dish, with thinly sliced, charbroiled skirt steak served alongside guacamole for around $26. Chile Verde and Chile Colorado, two color-coded pork and beef stews respectively, sit a bit lower at roughly $24. The “Cielo Mar y Tierra” combines carne asada, grilled chicken, and six prawns on one plate for diners who want a taste of everything, and given the amount of protein involved, it’s priced near $41 — one of the highest single-plate prices on the menu, alongside the similarly composed “Mar y Tierra” surf-and-turf option closer to $37.
Vegetarian and Healthier Options
Vegetarian diners aren’t limited to ordering around the meat dishes — El Porton dedicates a full section to plant-based and lighter fare. Cheese and Spinach Enchiladas, made with two corn tortillas stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, and cottage cheese and topped with tomatillo sauce, are priced around $14–17 depending on location. The Beans and Spinach Burrito uses a whole wheat tortilla filled with black beans, rice, mushrooms, and baby corn, topped with burrito sauce and queso fresco — a solid option for vegetarians who still want a filling, sauce-heavy dish rather than a plain salad.
Arroz Con Vegetales, a mix of sautéed seasonal vegetables served over rice with melted cheese, and the Veggie Quesadilla, stuffed with mushrooms, spinach, and cottage cheese, round out this section. Both are priced in a similar range to the meat-based versions of the same dishes, generally between $15 and $21 depending on the specific location’s pricing. This section also doubles as the “Healthier Dishes” category at some locations, which groups these plates alongside spinach tamales and vegetarian fajitas for diners watching cholesterol or looking for lighter fare without giving up flavor.
Salads
The salad section trades some of the heavier sauces for fresh greens without sacrificing portion size. The Deluxe Taco Salad, served in a crisp fried tortilla shell with your choice of ground beef, shredded beef, chicken, pork, or carne asada (add $3), comes topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream for around $14. The Pollo Asado Salad and Prawn Salad both swap the fried shell for a bed of lettuce, carrots, broccoli, cheese, tomatoes, and croutons, priced around $15–20 depending on the protein.
The Fajita Salad deserves a special mention because it’s served in an edible tortilla bowl rather than a shell or a plain bowl — steak, chicken, or prawns are sautéed with peppers and onions, then piled onto lettuce with sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Combo versions with two proteins or premium options like asada or seafood push the price up toward $22.
Kids Menu
Every location reserves a dedicated kids’ menu for children under ten, and pricing here is deliberately kept low and consistent — most items are a flat $7.25 regardless of what’s ordered. Options include a simple enchilada, taco, tostada, or burrito with rice and beans; a grilled cheese sandwich with fries; a cheeseburger with fries; chicken nuggets; and even a kid-sized taco salad. A “Mexican Pizza” — a deep-fried flour tortilla topped with refried beans, meat, melted cheese, and sour cream — is one of the more unusual kids’ items and tends to be a hit with pickier eaters who still want something recognizably “Mexican” without the spice.
Beverages and Margaritas
No discussion of El Porton’s food and drink lineup is complete without mentioning the bar. Regular margaritas typically run around $6.75, with flavored versions (mango, strawberry, watermelon, and similar options) slightly higher. During the lunch window, both are discounted to $5.25 and $5.75 respectively. Non-alcoholic options include virgin margaritas in a dozen flavors for around $5.25, a Tio Pepe (a 7up, orange juice, and grenadine mocktail) for under $4, and standard sodas for kids at roughly $2.55.
El Porton Restaurant Menu Prices at a Glance
The table below summarizes typical price ranges by category, based on published dinner and lunch pricing. Use it as a general guide — always confirm current prices with your specific location before ordering, since figures can vary by a few dollars from one branch to the next.
| Menu Category | Example Dish | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch Specials (11am–2:30pm) | Arroz Con Pollo, Carne Asada | $15.79 – $16.99 |
| Appetizers | Quesadilla, Super Nachos | $13.49 – $23.99 |
| Combination Plates | Taco & Enchilada, Chalupa | $11.49 – $13.99 |
| Burritos | Guapo Burrito, Fuerte Burrito | $13.49 – $25.49 |
| Fajitas | Steak/Chicken, Ultimate Fajitas | $22.49 – $49.99 |
| Platos Del Mar (Seafood) | Camarones Con Tocino, Siete Mares Soup | $20.99 – $31.99 |
| Pollo (Chicken) | Pollo Asado, Chicken Mole | $24.49 – $26.99 |
| Carnes (Beef & Pork) | Carne Asada, Chile Verde | $23.99 – $41.49 |
| Vegetarian & Healthier Dishes | Cheese & Spinach Enchiladas, Veggie Quesadilla | $14.49 – $22.49 |
| Salads | Taco Salad, Fajita Salad | $13.99 – $22.49 |
| Kids Menu (under 10) | Taco, Cheeseburger, Nuggets | $7.25 flat |
| Beverages | Margaritas, Virgin Margaritas | $2.55 – $6.99 |
Tips for Ordering from the El Porton Restaurant Menu
A few habits make ordering easier once you understand how the menu is structured. First, check the time — if you’re arriving before 2:30 p.m. on a weekday, the lunch specials section will save you several dollars on nearly identical portions of the same dishes served at dinner. Second, pay attention to which items note “no beans” or “no rice” in their description, since a handful of vegetable- and cheese-heavy dishes swap out the standard sides for something else, and you don’t want to be surprised. Third, if you’re ordering for a group, the combination plates and the Ultimate Fajitas platter tend to offer better value per person than ordering several full-sized individual entrees.
It’s also worth asking your server about daily specials, since some locations rotate seasonal seafood or regional dishes that don’t always make it onto the printed or online menu. Online ordering pages are useful for checking current pricing before you go, but phone confirmation is still the most reliable way to verify whether a specific dish is available that day, especially for seafood items that depend on fresh delivery.
Dietary and Allergy Considerations
El Porton locations generally fry with corn and canola oil rather than lard, and the “rancho” bean option is prepared without animal fat, which makes it a better fit for vegetarians and diners avoiding cholesterol. That said, several locations note that their enchilada sauce is made with peanut products, which is an important detail for anyone with nut allergies — always mention allergy concerns to staff before ordering rather than relying solely on the printed menu description. Vegan diners have fewer options but aren’t entirely left out; vegan nachos, made without cheese and loaded with black beans and sautéed vegetables, appear on several locations’ appetizer lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the El Porton restaurant menu the same at every location? No. El Porton restaurants are independently operated, so while the core dishes and categories stay fairly consistent — fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, seafood, and a kids’ menu — specific prices and a handful of specialty items vary from one location to the next. Checking the online menu for your specific branch is the most reliable way to confirm current offerings.
Does El Porton serve breakfast? Only at select locations. The McAllen and Edinburg, Texas branches, along with the Zillah, Washington location, keep egg dishes like huevos rancheros on the menu, generally available anytime the restaurant is open rather than during a set morning window. Most other locations don’t offer a breakfast menu and open straight into lunch specials.
What time do lunch specials end? Most locations serve lunch specials from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After that window closes, the same dishes are typically available at full dinner pricing.
Does El Porton have vegetarian and vegan options? Yes. The vegetarian section includes cheese and spinach enchiladas, a beans and spinach burrito, veggie quesadillas, and vegetable fajitas. A few locations also offer vegan nachos made without cheese, and rancho beans (prepared without lard) are available as a substitute for refried beans on nearly any dish.
How much does an average meal cost? A single dinner entree typically falls between $20 and $27, while lunch specials during the discounted window run closer to $15 to $17. Appetizers, combination plates, and drinks can add another $10 to $20 per person depending on what you order.
Are there gluten-free options on the menu? Corn tortillas are offered as an alternative to flour tortillas on most entrees, which helps diners avoiding gluten, though sauces and seasonings aren’t guaranteed to be gluten-free across the board. It’s best to confirm specific ingredients with staff if you have a gluten sensitivity.
Can large groups order the Ultimate Fajitas platter to share? Yes. The Ultimate Fajitas combines chicken, steak, prawns, and scallops on one large sizzling platter and is specifically portioned for sharing among several diners, making it one of the better value options for group dining.
Does the menu include options for kids with different tastes? Yes. The kids’ menu covers both Mexican-style dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas, and American comfort food like cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, and chicken nuggets, all priced at a flat rate for children under ten.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re drawn in by the sizzle of a fajita platter, the richness of a seafood enchilada, or the simplicity of a lunch special that comes in under $17, the el porton restaurant menu is built to cover a wide range of appetites and budgets in one sitting. The category breakdown above, along with the pricing table, should give you a solid starting point for deciding what to order — but because each location sets its own prices and occasionally rotates specials, it’s always worth a quick check of your local restaurant’s current listings or a call ahead before you go. With rice, beans, and a choice of tortilla built into most entrees, and a genuinely deep seafood and vegetarian selection alongside the standard combination plates, there’s enough variety here that returning diners rarely order the same thing twice.
Looking for Sushi Instead? Try Omakase in Rockford, IL
Not every great regional food story is happening in the South. In downtown Rockford, Illinois, Omakase has built a loyal following as the city’s dedicated sushi bar and ramen restaurant, located at 223 E State St on the corner of State and Madison. The menu covers fresh sushi, handcrafted ramen, chef-selected omakase, and a deep list of premium Japanese sake — the kind of variety that’s hard to find elsewhere in the region.
Seating at the sushi bar puts you close to the rollers at work, and the atmosphere skips formality without skipping polish — comfortable enough for a weeknight dinner, dressed-up enough for a celebration. Full hours, reservations, and the current menu are available at omakaserockford.com
