Portales Taqueria

Staff recommended asada and pollo asado for their most popular meats and I couldn't agree more for their asada. Nice and crispy with deep beef flavor. I would personally recommend definitely getting their chips and salsa, as chips were golden colored and crunchy. I would give a shoutout to the Al pastor tacos, as that is what I'm getting exclusively next time.

I love their burritos and their chips are the best! Love her hospitality as well. This is definitely my go to spot in CV when I'm craving a delicious Mexican meal

Rosa is always so welcoming. I can actually say I've never had a bad meal here. She's catered a few church functions and always a joy. Her only focus is caring for the customer like family. Food is tasty and authentic. I highly recommend this cozy little gem. We've been eating here for years.

One of my fav taco spots! $3.50 for a taco. I always get one steak, one chicken, and one carnitas. They have these super yummy 'special' chips that they only cook on certain days. I was disappointed one day as I thought they had them every day but they said to just call next time to find out if they're selling them that day! The lady who takes your order is so nice and friendly. And I love the color and decorations inside, especially being a Raiders fan :) Be sure to check them out when you're in CV!

This is my daughter and I first time here. The foods are great, friendly service. Family own. Yes we will be back.

I've been coming here for many years now. The owner is super friendly and helpful. The food is pleasant and comfortable. My favorite part of the restaurant is the setting and ambiance. I especially love the outdoor seating. On a nice day, it's really lovely. It's a wonderful contribution to the civic life of Castro Valley.

They do Birria every Friday-Sunday and it is delicious! I always enjoy their food and the owners are so friendly. Great neighborhood spot.

I've been working in the general area now for a few months and ventured off to what seemed to me was downtown Castro Valley. Initially, I saw a deli and figured to give it a try but once I walked in they were slammed (which is a good thing) but I had a small window to grab lunch so I stumbled upon this place. They to were fairly busy but I managed to walk in with no one in line. The lady that greeted me at the counter was extremely nice promptly taking my order, about 5 min later she walked my food over to me and I started to indulge and ended up finishing the whole thing which for means it was really good. When you put good service together with good food you'll almost never go wrong. I highly suggest to give this place a shot cause i know I'll be visiting again soon!!

A Mexican restaurant with a truly vegetarian burrito!! It's rare to find a place whose rice is vegetarian (they're often made with chicken stock). Add on great service by a super kind woman taking orders and a different special each week? Definitely the top Mexican restaurant in Castro Valley.

This is a great neighborhood mom and pop option with the tasty Mexican offerings most taquerias have, plus daily specials. Very friendly and reasonable prices, too.

Always a good Mexican spot right in the middle of Castro Valley you can't go wrong. the lady up front is always so nice good spot never fails

We love the street tacos! Can't go wrong with any of the meats! The nachos are also pretty tasty!

Food is delicious, generous portions , authentic Mexican cuisine! very pleasant service! clean place!, nice outside dining!

Best service, we had a large party today and the service was amazing. They gave us special things for a birthday. The food is kind of small, especially the tacos but is amazing. There's tons of meat and fish options. The family meal comes with rice and beans.

The ground beef Moyahua ("Moe-Yah-Wah) is my new fav. Crispy outside with yummy soft meaty cheesy inside. It's kind of a combination of quesadillas and burrito.

Rosa and her family are the absolute best! We eat here at least once a week and the food is always delicious, affordable, and served with love. Of all the Mexican restaurants in Castro Valley. This is the one that I will go to on a regular basis. Do yourself a favor and check them out and support this amazing family.

Food is amazing it takes you back to abuelitas house their food is so full of flavor. The authentic menu selection they are guaranteed to have something for everyone in your family. I highly recommend las enchiladas and you can never go wrong with a Carne Asada burrito.

Food always hot, I only get the chicken taco plate with rice and beans!!! I wish they gave more chips because I've been to places where they supply plenty of chips but it's all good. The owner I believe is a sweet lady very humble and they are so sweet! A true gem. Glad they're still open.

My kids insisted on writing a five star review because the whole family loves their food. In addition the owner and all the staff are always so friendly and helpful.

If you know anything about me, you will know that I absolutely love love love tacos. When I found out that Portales serves Birria tacos on the weekends, I had to stop by and give it a try. I was not very hungry, but there is nothing wrong with ordering an al a cart taco and enjoying a meal with friends. My Hubs ordered the Birria taco platter and he cleaned his plate. The platter came with rice and beans and there are chips available to munch on while you wait for your meal. The salsa was fresh and the customer service was so personable and you could definitely taste the love and care put into making the food. My brother and sister in law swear by this place and will rarely eat Mexican food anywhere else. I would agree with them that this truly is a Castro Valley Gem to be explored. See you soon Portales.

Portales is the best Mexican food in Castro valley! My daughters love the tortas & enchiladas. My husband is a fan of the pozole & I like the bean and cheese burritos! The pastor tacos are also delish. Shrimp cocktail is another fam fav! Rosa the owner is such a sweetheart, always very welcoming & inviting. Support this local family owner business! :-)

I came with mission to try out the fish tacos. I order three fish tacos and one shrimp tacos to satisfy my curiosity and my cravings. The fish tacos were not what I expected. I was expected tilapia fish shredded meat with some hot spicy salsa and sauce with lime wedges. It came as deep fried fish with lettuce, tomatoes, and sauce. The sauce was kicking my tongue pretty good. It went very well with the fish itself. My first fish taco bite had warm tortilla but second and third ones were cold like it just came out from refrigerator. That was my only complaint. The service was always great. Here are pics for your curiosity as well.

Great place it's a mom and pop restaurant clean restaurant love the chili verde wet burrito

Stopped by after my son's music lesson. I had the vegetarian taco -- which was delicious. Loved the guacamole. And they gave us free chips and salsa for our first order. Recommend!

This is one of my favorite local places to go and it's not just because it's within walking distance from my house! It's because their food is delicious, well their chicken taco salad is, it's my favorite! They are always very nice and their prices are reasonable.

Love the place! The lady in the front is very welcoming and always has a smile. She reminds me of a my grandma! Great tasting food and a lot of drinks options

We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. The food was great and service was good. We ordered chicken fajitas plate and tacos plate. Both were fresh and flavorful! There were also free chips and salsa

Sweetest women in the qorld works here, food is yummy and tastes authentic.

Rosa is the best! Tacos are amazing, filled just right and seasoned right. Prices are great for what you get

Just 1 chili relleno is a full meal for me, in this cozy place! Delicious! I'll be back!

its all good

Excellent food, great service, and a cozy atmosphere. This place has quickly become one of my favorites. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a delicious meal.

Came in late afternoon when it was quiet. Got two crunchy tacos loaded with chorizo. Place feels like it’s part of the community. Just what I wanted after an afternoon hike. Parking lot accessible from San Miguel street.

Authentic & delicious Mexican/ Latino food. Feels like home!

I had the chicken fajitas + they give you free chips and salsa with your order. . It was great, good prices, one of the better serving restaurants in Castro Valley. Congenial atmosphere, all that's missing is some Mexican music .

My husband and I stopped by here for lunch. Food was really good! My husband had a few tacos and I had a burrito with carnitas. The carnitas was cooked to perfection! So much flavor! They offer free chips and salsa with your meal. I also tried their esquites. I’ve never been asked if I wanted it cold or warm before. But they serve it cold or warm. It was really good! Next time I’ll ask for the lime on the side tho. There were lots of people coming in for pick up orders. Seems to be a pretty busy establishment. I’d definitely come back.

The nicest owner lady who always greets you with a smile! Burrito is huge and enough for 2 servings.

Fui con mi pareja para probar El sabor Mexicano, nos atendieron exelente y son muy amables, la comida es una maravilla, sin duda la mejor opcion 😍🥰

We just returned from a trip to have our first meal back with Rosa and Gustavo at Portales. About time I rate them after loving their food for 10 years. Gustavo prepares everything with great care and attention. He thinks about the best combinations, quality, and tastes. Rosa takes wonderful care of all of their customers. I only rated restaurants when I am truly impressed with them. Thank you Rosa and Gustavo from Matilda and Neil.

Love the tacos - pollo asada !

Buen sabor y atención rápida

Portales Taqueria is a charming mom-and-pop shop that brings authentic Mexican flavors to the local scene. The restaurant has a cozy, welcoming vibe, and there's the added convenience of parking in the back. I ordered the taco plate, which comes with three tacos, beans, and rice. The food was absolutely delicious—served hot and packed with flavor. Plus, they throw in chips and salsa, which was a nice touch. The best part? The whole meal was very affordable at just $15, including tax. If you're looking for great Mexican food at a reasonable price, Portales Taqueria is definitely worth a visit!

Delicious and nostalgic food! Amazing

Just moved to the area and decided to try this place. It's so good. They have a taco plate that comes with 3 tacos rice and beans for about 14$. It's really good definitely recommend this place.