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    El Torero

    4.4 (221 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    El Torero Photos

    Business Info

    EL TORERO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Torero

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    Brian D.

    This place made me like Tucson We are talking full spectrum of Mexican food in a nice cozy desert feel with tasty dishes you'll love and service that enjoys what they do. Just look at my photos for the bomb feel.

    Chile con carne with red sauce

    The place, the food, and the service were very good. The food was excellent, and the portions are huge--we really enjoyed our dinner.

    JP P.

    OMG IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ! If you haven't stopped here , you're missing out ! Local spot . I had a house made horchata complete with a lit cinnamon stick , BEST I've ever had . The vegan menu & specials rotate every 2 weeks . My habanero cauliflower tacos were delicious. I'll be back !

    So good! Highly recommend!

    Absolutely fantastic! Best salsa ever! Service was excellent! Dinner was delicious! We had yummy margaritas!

    3 Patty tacos
    Kathryn W.

    I swear I have never been here but will definitely be back ! A family run, staple Tucson Mexican restaurant, definitely part of the "23 miles of Mexican food " and a hidden gem for sure. Everything was absolutely delicious! Portions are huge! House salsas, giant burritos stuffed with seasoned meat.. we split the elote crisp and patty tacos.. and it was perfect. I definitely recommend the carafe of margaritas, especially if it's a big table. Service was great considering how busy they were. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.. they definitely work as a team. The building is cool, it's kind of tucked in a neighborhood a little bit but still on the south side. Lots of street parking.. small parking lot with handicap spots in front tho. They are closed Sundays and Mondays just so you know ;) Definitely worth the drive to the south side, I'll be back soon !

    Calabacitas soup (asked for vegetarian and no cheese), flour tortilla comes with soup and corn chips come with meal.
    Evie S.

    Soups! I absolutely love their soups. My favorite was their vegan Albondigas soup. the albondigas, made with corn masa, had the perfect texture and that soup was sooo delicious. I hope they make it again. I also really love their calabacitas soup made vegan off the regular menu and the flour tortilla that comes with it. I love putting the corn chips that come with the meal in the calabacitas soup. I want to to try their tortilla soup and the elote salad soon.

    Sign in parking lot - very hard to find in the dark!
    Beth B.

    My boyfriend and I recently dined at El Torero for the very first time. We were staying at the nearby Hotel McCoy and I did a Yelp search for recommended restaurants. El Torero came up and we decided to give it a try. Pro tip: Do not try to find this restaurant when it's dark outside! It's nearly impossible to find, even with our GPS. Once we did find it, we weren't sure where to park or where to enter the building. We parked under a light, since the lot was very dark. We found the small entrance and in we went. Once we entered, we went in a small entryway that opened up into a large, brightly lit and decorated dining room. I think we both said, "Wow!" The dining room and bar area were busy and there was an excited buzz to the atmosphere. The menu was large. Some of the Yelp reviews had mentioned the huge cheese crisps that they offered. We went with the calabacitas cheese crisp, which has veggie toppings. We dug into the complimentary chips and salsas. There were two salsas, mild and spicy. We stuck to the mild, which was fresh and delicious. The chips were amazing. They were definitely homemade. Our server was fantastic and our cheese crisp was out before we knew it. It was indeed huge and amazing! We couldn't quite finish the last piece, and both of us have large appetites. I would definitely order the calabacitas cheese crisp again. The toppings were so delicious. On our way out, we talked to the bartenders about the history of the restaurant. They had so much information and were passionate about El Torero. We were impressed that it has been in existence since the 1950's!

    Deb P.

    Prices seem high for basic standard Mexican offerings. Several specials @ lunch. Servers friendly. Arrived before the lunch crowd with a mostly empty restaurant. Half an hour later no food. Staff seemed perturbed when asked to make it to go. Horchata was good.

    Elote Dip
    CG L.

    Amazing food, nice atmosphere, great prices...we loved having dinner here. It was very popular & busy. But service was fast. We didn't bring huge appetites, so stuck to apps. The elote dip was amazing & the chili Serrano Wings were delicious . Especially loved the still crispy fries soaking it up for such a perfect bite. Can't wait to return for entrees!

    Alex L.

    Good was lovely! 2x2 was the way to go for my hunger! Enjoyed the service, waiter was very nice. Margaritas were tasty and not light! This is a hole in the wall place, if you know about it then great, but bring your friends to keep it alive and thriving!

    Nom nom nom - A large cheeseburger featuring multiple beef patties topped with melted cheddar cheese, slices of tomato, and shredded lettuce. The burger is assembled in a bun with a slightly toasted top, and the bottom bun is visible. The burger is partially wrapped in aluminum foil, placed on a white plate, with some lettuce peeking out from underneath.
    Jesse S.

    Kimchee double double. Fuck around and find out. Best cheese burger in Arizona right now. And they have one of the best bartenders in the state of Arizona.

    Amazing Mezcal!

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    4 months ago

    The food was amazing!!! My Danny Martin burro was HUUUUUGE!!! So was our carnitas cheese crip!!

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    9 months ago

    Nice ambience inside. Good service. Food was very large portioned. Tasted pretty good and was slightly expensive.

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    1 year ago

    Service was good. Food not so good at all. Nor the salsa. Not authentic food. Canned veggies for salsa don't cut it.

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    6 months ago

    Very sizable portion and very delicious. Service was pleasant and attentive. Every portion was enough for 3 people.

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    Ask the Community - El Torero

    Is it still open? I went by the before Christmas and it looked closed.

    There is a dumpster in the parking area today .... clearly under construction 3/2/2019

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