Into the Portal of Elena's
Located on West Portal in the foggiest party of the city: Elena's Mexican Restaurant
There are few instances in which I’ll pass on a Spicy Margarita, the first being for a Pornstar Martini, which was not on the menu.
Whether the drink is infused with wasabi, jalapeño, or Tajín — you name it, I’ve had it. So I can confidently say theirs was not the spiciest Spicy Margarita I've had, and in the comparison to the salsa the tang was extremely subtle. Instead it was lime-forward, juicy and fresh.
Alright let's dig in!
As all great restaurants do, they start you off with Salsa for the Table. Between you and me, it’s reminiscent of my personal favorite brand that can be found in most grocery stores. But that doesn’t take away from the addictive properties of the roasted tomato, garlic, and peppers that give it the perfect kick.
I was not a fan of pickled onions before but after having the House-made Guacamole here, I definitely see the vision. The texture was equally creamy, smooth and chunky. The grated cheese added the just the right amount of saltiness to make it better than any other guac I’ve had before.
The Calamari Fritos were perfect! If there's one thing Elena's and their sister restaurants are going to do well, it's fry some calamari. You can even reheat them without losing the integrity of the crunch or them swimming in a pool of oil; they’re just as tasty cold too.
Unless you have a shellfish allergy, there's no reason to skip the Dungeness Crab Enchiladas. Full stop.
If you’re like me, I tend to skip on the additional dairy components of certain dishes so I must warn you, there is sour cream in tomatillo sauce but it’s worth it. In fact, I recommend asking for extra sauce on the side to sop up with the tortilla and crab.
For the picky eaters - Gracie's Crispy Tacos, aka "Black People Tacos"1, are what you should order. They’re made with better shells that don't crack or fall apart with each bite. The cheddar cheese, sour cream (not crema), shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes are tucked neatly away in each one.
The biggest green flag was everything was served on warm plates. As a Jamaican, I absolutely can not eat hot food on a cold plate — like omg, take it back. The food came out so hot I could see the steam rising from all angles of the dish.
They bagged and labeled my many leftovers for me, which I appreciated as someone who doesn’t like to open containers of cold food for fun.
I ordered the Tres Leches to-go so I could pair it with the heavy glass of Daou’s Cab Sauv I poured prior to leaving out, which ended up being a perfect combination. Adorned with black cherry, it was denser than I expected and topped with a cream cheese whip.
Ambiance and aesthetics play a role in my selection process when dining out, and I found Elena’s did not overstimulate me. It’s a super chill spot during the day for those wind-down conversations, and moderately lively in the evenings with Bad Bunny in the mix. Suavemente also came on and it took everything in me not to sing the whole song, but when the food and service is that good you might as well show a little appreciation and entertain the staff.
If I'm being honest, I've already gone a second time since I began writing this post. For those who have family coming into town or don't plan on celebrating the holidays much this season, Elena's is great spot to pop into for something other than turkey or ham.
There’s probably a two week grace period between this post going live and me setting my next reservation at Elena’s, and once you go you’ll understand why. Maybe I’ll see you there?
What I'm ordering next:
Coconut Margarita
Taquitos
Caesar Salad
Steak + Shrimp Fajitas
Chocoflan
Thanks for reading, happy eating!
ELENA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - SAN FRANCISCO
255 W PORTAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127
OPEN: MONDAY-THURSDAY 11:30AM-10PM, FRIDAY 11:30AM-11PM, SATURDAY 10:30AM-11PM, & SUNDAY 10:30AM-10PM
Disclaimer: Only Black people refer to “Black People” tacos as “Black People Tacos”. All opinions are my own.