Taqueria El Portal

I’ve been on the lookout for tacos that resemble the ones I used to enjoy back in California, and I have to say, this place comes the closest! It’s located inside a gas station, which is usually a sign of great food! On my second visit, the dining area was packed, and the crowd was predominantly Mexican—if that doesn’t speak volumes, I don’t know what does!

Delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine! The staff is incredibly friendly.

A friend suggested this restaurant, so we decided to check it out for lunch. We ordered two sopes al pastor, two barbacoa tacos, and a gordita asada (even though we actually requested a burrito, we ended up with the gordita). The sopes and tacos were decent—definitely not the best I've had in the area, but still enjoyable. The gordita, however, was a bit too rich for my taste, and the meat was tough. Overall, I appreciate the simplicity of the place and their focus on the food. I would definitely come back, but I think I'll skip the asada next time.

Hidden gem; amazing food at such a great price point for the quality and taste. The real deal in all aspects.

The best in NC