El Porton cafe is tucked  back from Roe, in the Indian Creek Parkway Center just north of I-435.  It’s in the same shopping center as Brobeck’s BBQ,  which has also been on my go-try list. But I was in the mood for a cuban sandwich, so I stuck with my plan to head over to El Porton.

Billed as South American and Caribbean fare, El Porton’s menu is a collection of  classic dishes ranging from arepas to Picadillo (ground beef with potatoes, capers, olives, peppers and tomato sauce), both of which are considered  quintessential comfort food.

Since the list of arepas was so long, and clearly a specialty, we ordered one to start. Arepas resemble a sandwich made with white corn flour. They come with any number of fillings, including beans, beef, chicken and chorizo. Our server recommended the Arepa de Guasacaca, which was essentially a chunky guacamole with diced tomatoes and a slice of queso fresco. I enjoyed the filling, but the “bread” was a bit dry for my taste. I let my husband finish it so I could save up for the Cuban sandwich, which I had been anxious to try since reading so many raves about it online.

The Cuban had all the essential elements— pork, ham, swiss, mustard and pickles–and it was pressed thin on baguette style bread. I enjoyed the crunch of the pickles and the bite of the mustard, but the sandwich could have used more meat in it.

The black bean soup that came with the half sandwich was rich and flavorful, though it wasn’t hot. It had a nice kick to it, so that made up for the lack tepid temperature.

The best dish we had was the Pork Hash, lots of shredded pork served with peppers, yuca, onions, peppers and chorizo. Black beans and rice came on the side. When I asked for hot sauce, I expected the server to bring me a commercial bottle of some red stuff, so I was pleasantly surprised when she brought out a vibrant yellow, obviously homemade, Habanero sauce. I used it to pep up the rice and beans, but the pork hash didn’t need a thing. I loved all the flavors; it was a very satisfying and substantial dish.

Other menu items include roast chicken with adobo sauce, skirt steak with chimichurri vinaigrette, shrimp with garlic sauce, several sandwiches, empanadas and ceviche. The menu is the same at lunch and dinner, and they don’t have a liquor license.

The decor is pretty basic, though they’ve added some colorful touches on the walls.  It’s not a place to linger; it’s all about the food, which is solid. And it fills a niche on the Kansas City food scene, where South American and Caribbean restaurant options are pretty scarce.