Elena's Mexican Restaurant

Against our better judgment, we decided to give Elena's a second chance. 3:30pm last Thursday we thought a margarita and small plates at the bar would be nice. Reception pointed us to the bar and said 2 seats were available at the end. There was 1 seat on that end. On the near end, near reception, a couple had "removed" 4 seats by taking the two seats in the middle of the four. And there were at least 3 people at the bar working on their laptops!!!! What is this, Starbucks redux??? We left. If they can't manage the bar area...all hope is lost for this place.

Elena's is leading the pack for amazing dining in West Portal. My wife and I happened upon a night sans kiddos and we ended up in our West Portal hood to buy dog food at West Pawtal - which is awesome btw!

We had been trying to get a resi at Elena's for weeks and had zero luck. This joint is always jumping and packed to the gunnels. I walked in to see if the bar had a spot, lo and behold we got two spots at the bar.

This leveled up Mexican Restaurant recently opened after a long renovation and it is reaaaaaally good. The vibe is chic and fun. The staff are super attentive without hovering. We had beers and tequila shots with chips and amazing guacamole to start. They had our favorite - Don Julio Setenta - for sipping you heathens!

Chips and Guacamole - appetite aroused! Salty, Creamy, and crunchy.
Fish Tacos - delicious and hefty! Share it.
Quesabirria - so delicious, cheesy, melty, and meaty! Share it. Appetite bedded down.

Last minute head to the bar. Reservations are tricky day of so plan for a special night and gooo. So good.

I visited on a Saturday around 1 pm with a friend, the restaurant was full, so added our name to the wait-list, hostess estimated it would be a 45 min wait. Decided to hang out around the bar area which is first come first serve and snagged a spot after a 15 min wait.

Drinks: frozen aperol margarita - pretty good, fairly sweet, a more complex take on a frozen margarita with a slight sweet floral note

Elena's margarita - a solid margarita, well balanced and refreshing

Food: Chips and salsa - love a complimentary snack, chips were hot and fresh, salsas was mild but well balanced.

Crispy taquitos with potatoes and poblanos - a great starter, taquitos were perfectly fried crispy but not greasy topped with shredded lettuce, avocado salad, radish and cotija cheese, a bit heavy on the potato for the filling but otherwise delicious

Shredded beef enchiladas - came piping hot, beef was tender and lightly spiced, refried beans were good but could have used a bit more salt and seasoning, mexican rice was nice and fluffy

Service was good, fairly prompt and welcoming.

Overall really enjoyed lunch at Elena's, the crispy taquitos were a highlight and the cocktails were great. Beautiful airy space, definitely worth a visit!

This generous property was previously a gold exchange. It's unbelievable how the proprietors of Original Joe's have transformed this space into an airy, modern dining room, with high vaulted ceilings and a garden feel, embellished with nods to Mexican culture. The center ficus tree is breathtaking.

The food is decent (for authentic food, try the Mission), and the service is really friendly and accommodating as busy times allow. Set your expectations right: this is a more modern spin of Tia Margarita, and priced for the setting.

5 stars for ambiance with a casual date or group of friends (it can get loud), and for bringing a new and beautiful dining experience to West Portal. Make a reservation ahead of time, enjoy the bar, or go during off-peak hours to avoid a wait.

Enjoyed my lunch. Just not worth the wait or price tag.

Got here about 10 minutes before the restaurant opened for lunch and was second in line. Line got much longer shortly after that. Upon opening, a customer went straight to the front of the line and told the hostess she wanted to sit at the bar. Apparently, if you're planning to sit at the bar, you can cut the people who were waiting. Ridiculous. I'm sure there were people in line who were also waiting for the bar or would've preferred to sit at the bar, if that was the only option available.

Food was pretty good. Loved their unlimited chips and salsa to start. Chips were light and crispy. Also enjoyed their watermelon lime agua fresca. Steak tacos were nothing exciting. Esquites were a bit heavy with the lime and aioli.

This is a beautiful restaurant! Prices are fairand the food is delicious. I had 3 cruncy tacos and a tamale a la carte. We also had the chilled cut veggies to start. All of the staff was courteous & friendly.

Best advice: get here early to avoid a really long wait. We got here right before 5pm on a Friday and were seated in about 30 minutes (table of 2). The service was good. Our server wasn't super friendly and seemed a little annoyed at times, but possibly because he was overwhelmed...it was extremely busy!
The ambiance is beautiful! They did a great job with the remodel. It's large, spacious, with a beautiful bar area and plants alongside the tables.
The food was good. I ordered the carne asada & fish tacos. Overpriced for what it was, but tasted good. My friend liked her Chile Rellano. She said it tasted great. The frozen margaritas were delicious! I would definitely come back especially for the drinks and would probably try a different entree or appetizer.

Came here on a Wednesday. The portions are large the food is great. The crudo was some of the best I've ever had.

However I did not have the most pleasant experience with the hostesses. I had a reservation at 7pm. I had called at 545 to let them know I was running late since I got delayed from work. The person on the phone said it would be fine and she would notate that. I got in around 7:15 and the host fumbled around saying she couldn't see my reservation then said she had marked me as a no show. I let the hostess know I was told something different over the phone and she did not acknowledge it at all. It honestly made me want to leave if I didn't wait 3 weeks for this reservation. The food is great and the waiters are amazing but the host needs to work on her attitude and demeanor.

The 7 of us came for lunch on a Wednesday. Since they do not take reservations yet, 3 of us stood in line for 45 minutes before Elena's opened at 11:30am. Our group was second in line. We got the Large booth by the door which actually seats 7 people comfortably.

The tortilla chips were thin, warm and crispy. Went so well with the salsa. Most of us ordered the aperol frozen margarita. It was strong and delicious. They did not skimp on the tequila!

The calamari was cooked to perfection with shishito peppers. Lots of tentacles which I love and the batter was thin. The guacamole wasn't very big for the price tag but still enjoyed by everyone.

Elena's chopped salad was delicious. It had some crispy tortilla toppings, greens, and a variety of corn, beans avocados and tomatoes. Just delicious!

The tacos, enchiladas and chili rellenos was for me just your general Mexican food. I did like the green sauce on the enchiladas. I was not impressed with the mission burrito bowl.

I think what stole the show for this restaurant were the desserts. We shared an icebox limon cake and a Zanze cheesecake. Both were genuinely delicious. The icebox was tart and really flavorful. The cheesecake was light and I loved the chocolate curls. A perfect way to end a meal. Although it doesn't come cheap $14 per slice.

The restaurant itself was beautiful with a lot of light and an airy feeling. There are no private rooms and it seats maybe a 100+ people. It would be a beautiful venue to have a party.

Beyond excited for Elena's arrival here in West Portal. They opened back in February and this place is a hidden gem. But not so hidden, because they have been crazy packed from the jump! Be prepared to wait a while for a table. You can go to the bar for their delicious drinks. The Aperol Frozen Margarita is a must try!!! Or you can go to Que Sera across the street or Un Wined down the street while waiting for a table. Trust me, the turn around time is a bit long, but it's worth the wait!

When you walk into the restaurant, you can't help but be in awe of the architecture with high ceilings, esthetic and the interior decor of this beautiful establishment!

The menu is phenomenal! The chips are light and crispy and they serve their guacamole in a cold stone grinder bowl which is genius! The salsa is right on the money. We kept asking for more! But be careful, because don't get full off the chips and dips! Save room for the entrees and dessert! lol

Had to try the birria tacos on my first visit. It was a great choice. The consomme was out of this world! My partner and I went pescatarian, so in the following visits we tried their crab enchiladas which was deliciously creamy on the inside. The shrimp a la diabla had a perfect kick for those who are into spicy food. The crudos are nice little amuse-bouches. Gotta get the tres leches and churros for dessert. The tres leches is a not too sweet but decadently rich in flavor. I can eat the whole piece to myself, but of course I shared with my other half. The churros had a perfect church on the exterior.

The servings are substantial. You get your money's worth for the portions and the food is just absolutely delicious all around.

We had the pleasure of meeting Elena and she is just the sweetest person ever. Congratulations to her! I keep thinking about my next visit every time we are ready to leave the place. 10s across the board for this gem!