Opening hours
Closed · opens 11:00 AM
| Monday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM |
Local time in Portland: 10:02 AM (EST). Holiday hours may differ – call (207) 780-8226 to confirm.
About El Rayo Taqueria
Looking for a Mexican restaurant in Portland? El Rayo Taqueria is at 26 Free St, Portland, Maine. It's part of our guide to 195 restaurants, cafes and bars in Portland. Expect moderate prices, around $15–30 per person.
El Rayo Taqueria is open 7 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
El Rayo Taqueria's menu features 176 dishes and drinks across 15 sections, including Brunch, Bowls, Chips &, Starters, and Quesadillas. Listed prices range from $0.50 to $19.95, with a typical item around $7.95. Dishes worth a look include Papas Fritas, Pollo Bowl, and Taqueria Salsa.
You can visit for outdoor seating, curbside pickup, no-contact delivery, delivery, onsite services, and takeout. Visitors describe the atmosphere as casual and trendy, and it is a good fit for college students, groups, and tourists. It is especially popular for lunch, dinner, and solo dining. Offerings include alcohol, beer, cocktails, comfort food, and happy hour drinks.
Accessibility features: wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible restroom, and wheelchair accessible seating. Payment methods accepted: credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Parking: paid parking garage, paid street parking, and parking. Reservations are accepted; call (207) 780-8226 to book a table.
Quick facts
- Category
- Mexican Restaurant · Burrito, Nachos
- Address
- 26 Free St, Portland, ME 04101
- Phone
- (207) 780-8226
- Price range
- $$ per person
- Hours
- Open 7 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Menu
- 176 items · $0.50–$19.95
- Listing updated
- · Suggest an edit
Popular times
Usually busiest around 7 PM on Fridays; one of the quieter times is around 2 PM on weekdays.
Based on typical visit patterns for Mexican restaurants and this venue’s opening hours.
How the hours compare
We compared El Rayo Taqueria’s weekday schedule with 27 other Mexican restaurants in Maine. On a typical weekday it opens at 11:00 AM, later than most (the typical opening time is 10:30 AM) and closes at 9:00 PM, earlier than most (typical closing time: 10:00 PM).
In total it is open about 68.5 hours a week, 12 hours fewer than the local median of 81. 89% of Mexican restaurants in Maine open on Sundays, and El Rayo Taqueria is one of them.
Compared with 27 other Mexican restaurants in Maine that list their hours in our guide.
Typical prices for Mexican restaurants in Maine
Based on 5 menus with 797 priced items from Mexican restaurants in Maine, the median menu item costs $13.50, and half of all items are priced between $7.00 and $16.85.
At El Rayo Taqueria the median listed price is $7.95, lower than the typical $13.50 for Mexican restaurants in Maine.
| Item | On menus | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Taco Salad | 80% | $15.85 |
| Bean Dip | 60% | $10.50 |
| Guacamole Dip | 60% | $9.50 |
Calculated from 5 menus in our guide. Prices vary by location and change over time.
Photos
All photos (5)
Features & amenities
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Curbside pickup
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Comfort food
- Happy hour drinks
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Organic dishes
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Seating
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- College students
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Paid parking garage
- Paid street parking
- Parking
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
The neighborhood
Within a 10-minute walk (half a mile) of El Rayo Taqueria there are 87 other places to eat and drink in our guide, and 122 within one mile. By type, the places within a mile include Cafes & Coffee (20), Bars & Pubs (14), Bakeries & Desserts (10), and Seafood (10).
Competition is healthy: 5 other Mexican restaurants are within a mile and 6 within three miles. The closest is Taco Escobarr, 0.2 mi away.
22 places within a mile stay open until 10 PM or later on at least one night a week.
Nearest places of other kinds
- EuropeanSur Lie< 0.1 mi
- Bakeries & DessertsEighty8 Donuts< 0.1 mi
- Cafes & CoffeeThe Works Cafe0.1 mi
- ItalianThe Corner Room Italian Kitchen & Bar0.1 mi
- ThaiCrispy Gai0.1 mi
What to expect at a Mexican restaurant
Mexican food is one of the most widely loved cuisines in the US, and it ranges from the taqueria with a handful of tables and a salsa bar to sit-down restaurants focused on a single region such as Oaxaca, Jalisco, Puebla or the Yucatán. Tex-Mex – with its combination plates, yellow cheese, fajitas and chili con carne – is its own distinct tradition born in Texas.
What to order
- Tacos al pastor or carne asada – the taqueria benchmark, usually on small corn tortillas
- Enchiladas or a mole dish – a good way to taste the kitchen’s sauces
- Burrito – a meal in itself, especially in California-style shops
- Tamales – often made in batches and sold out early
Good to know
- Chips and salsa are free at many sit-down restaurants but not at most taquerias.
- Weekend specials such as menudo, pozole or birria often sell out before evening.
- Ask how spicy a salsa is – heat levels vary hugely from one kitchen to the next.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What are El Rayo Taqueria's opening hours?
Open 7 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM.
Is El Rayo Taqueria open on Sunday?
Yes, El Rayo Taqueria is open on Sundays: 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM.
Where is El Rayo Taqueria located?
El Rayo Taqueria is located at 26 Free St, Portland, ME 04101.
What is the phone number of El Rayo Taqueria?
You can call El Rayo Taqueria at (207) 780-8226.
Does El Rayo Taqueria offer delivery or takeout?
Yes, El Rayo Taqueria offers delivery, and takeout is available. Listed service options: outdoor seating, curbside pickup, no-contact delivery, delivery, onsite services, takeout, and dine-in.
How much does it cost to eat at El Rayo Taqueria?
The typical price range at El Rayo Taqueria is $$ per person. Menu prices range from $0.50 to $19.95.
Does El Rayo Taqueria take reservations?
Yes, El Rayo Taqueria accepts reservations.
Is El Rayo Taqueria wheelchair accessible?
Listed accessibility features: wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible restroom, and wheelchair accessible seating.
Is El Rayo Taqueria open late?
No, El Rayo Taqueria usually closes before 10 PM.
What else is near El Rayo Taqueria?
There are 122 other places to eat and drink within a mile of El Rayo Taqueria. Nearby options include Sur Lie (< 0.1 mi), Eighty8 Donuts (< 0.1 mi), and The Works Cafe (0.1 mi).
Are there other Mexican restaurants near El Rayo Taqueria?
5 other Mexican restaurants within a mile. The closest is Taco Escobarr, 0.2 mi away.
How much do Mexican restaurants in Maine cost?
Based on 5 menus with 797 priced items from Mexican restaurants in Maine, the median menu item costs $13.50, and half of all items are priced between $7.00 and $16.85.
