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    El Torito

    4.1 (2.2k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    EL TORITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - El Torito

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    Happy hour buffalo wings
    Liz B.

    A casual restaurant with good happy hour deals for shareable apps! We tried many small dishes during happy hour, with my favorite being the chicken flautas. They were very crispy and came with an addicting sauce. I would definitely skip the street corn next time, it was way too sour and almost inedible. The new chicken wings were also not my favorite, the wings were on the smaller side and they were also too tangy for my taste. I went on a Saturday afternoon for happy hour, and it was pretty empty. Our waiter was great and came around frequently to refill our chips and salsa.

    Menu
    Sam C.

    I came here with my son for Taco Tuesday -- $3 for any taco. Choice of meats were beef, chicken, carnitas, and pork with pineapple. The taco bar looked pretty good. A server warms up the tortillas and fills them up with your choice of meat. You can add your toppings. One disappointment was that they don't offer rice as an option for topping. While it looked good I thought everything was a bit dry and salty -- it makes some sense since the meat is on heating dishes for the whole evening. The carnitas weren't dry, of course, but they were pretty salty ... Again, that makes sense, since they're simmering for hours, though it doesn't change the fact they're salty. There are a lot of servers and they're friendly. But service was still pretty slow. Maybe I'll try something from the menu next time. But I'm not doing tacos ... Even though they were cheap.

    Pepita salad
    Miguel S.

    Very nice location the food is was amazing. And the service Roberto gave us was top notch! He was very attentive, polite and helpful. He went above and beyond, we came for my sister's birthday brunch and Roberto kept making sure everyone was comfortable especially the birthday girl. We had a large party and Roberto made a special accommodations for us to sit all together with plenty of space. The mariachi group was great, plenty of options in the all you can eat brunch, there was something for everyone. Parking is plentiful, and the rest of the staff was also very attentive.

    Thanksgiving Buffet omelette station
    Cheyenne P.

    Came here for Thanksgiving brunch and was really happy with our choice. At $43.99 per person for the holiday buffet, it's one of the more affordable options we found - especially for a holiday. The buffet had plenty of variety, so everyone in our group found things they liked. Service was good and the staff was pleasant throughout our meal. Perfect spot if you want to skip the cooking and cleanup but don't want to break the bank. Would definitely consider coming back for future holidays.

    Signature Margarita
    Alan S.

    El Torito is located off MacArthur Blvd and Michelson Drive across the street from John Wayne Airport. It's a good spot to stop at if you're hungry, you want to avoid the premium prices restaurants inside the airport charge, and you have time for a sit down meal before catching your flight. If half stars were an option, I'd rate them a solid 3.5. I recommend visiting on a Tuesday between 4-9 pm so you can take advantage of both their happy hour menu and Taco Tuesday. At the time of this review, El Torito is serving up street tacos with your choice of chicken, carnitas, al pastor and/or steak for only $3 each! I wouldn't expect the highest quality Mexican food but I will say their food is consistent. They also offer great buffets during the holidays you'll def need to make a reservation ahead of time for. Buen provecho!

    Lina K.

    I drove past this place on the way home so made it a point to stop in for a lunch date. I loved that they had table side guacamole so we decided to share that along with a taco platter. The guy brought over the cart to make us the guacamole but will say I was a bit underwhelmed with the flavor. The tacos were okay but the meat was a bit dry so had to add a decent amount of salsa to each of my tacos. Lunch was okay but I don't know if I'd go out of my way to return.

    Bday brunch
    Derek H.

    Always a vibe love the service and food. Roberto was very attentive and made sure we were all taken care of. Great brunch spot for groups

    Happy hour food menu

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    1 year ago

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    Judith V.

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    2 months ago

    Great restaurant with prompt service! Gerry did a great job with service! Super attentive and a great personality!

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    Karolina T.

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Great food and great environment. We were taken care of by Roberto Martinez. He did a great job being our server. Will be coming again!

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Thank you Roberto for the great service! The food was awesome and Roberto was very attentive towards us. Will definitely come again

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    Karolina T.

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    3 months ago

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    Karolina T.

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Excellent service from Roberto at El Torito--so welcoming! The vibe was great! Roberto was great, so attentive and kind.

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    Karolina T.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    Judith V.

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    3 months ago

    Gerardo was very kind and attentive to us! Made our experience so memorable! Can't wait to come back!

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    Karolina T.

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Judith V.

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    3 months ago

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    Karolina T.

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    Judith V.

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    3 months ago

    Gerardo was the best server !!!!! I would give 10 stars if I could. He was very kind and very attentive

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    1 year ago

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    Page 4 of 56

    El Torito Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Torito

    Reservations for may 10th?

    Hello. Yes, they accept reservations. https://www.eltorito.com/specials/mothers-day-2026/

    How much is Sunday Brunch?

    Hello, Sunday brunch now is $37.50 per adult and $13.50 per child

    Is this place not all you can eat lunch buffet on the weekdays because it's not listed on the website as participating locations in Orange County?

    Buffet is only available Sunday until 200 pm

    Do you offer buffet on Saturdays?

    Dear Jorge, On Saturdays we offer great plated Breakfast dishes as early as 8:00 am. with great items… Read more

    Is your Sunday buffet style?

    Yes, a brunch until mid afternoon.

    Do you have happy hour every day including the weekend?

    The great thing about El Torito is that they have happy hour every day. Yes, even on the weekends. So anytime you're in the area or you can locate one pop in for happy hour and the prices are reasonable the food is good and you'll be glad that you… Read more

    What hours is happy hour available?

    Happy hour is 3pm-9pm .

    Do u have outdoor dinning?

    Yes, they do.

    Are they still doing a buffet?

    While I can't give a 100% accurate answer, I have been to El Torito on holidays, and they have had the buffet going, although it's not a "you grab 'em" thing; You are standing on the other side of a clear plastic protective barrier and telling a… Read more

    Has this restaurantpermanently closed?

    I would call ahead just in case. But I was there 2 fridays ago. And a month before that as well. And although it was pretty late, I feel like compared to other locations I don't feel like they were getting many customers and I wouldn't be surprised… Read more

    Is there Taco Tuesday? A while back it unlimited tacos for $12-13?

    I believe there is now

    Do you have the brunch buffet tomorrow (Monday-labor day)? If so, what time do you start?

    Hello, Brunch is only offered on Sundays from 9-2pm. We do have other locations with a lunch buffet however Irvine is not one of them. In the surrounding area we have Tustin,… Read more

    What time does happy hour start?

    Hi Carolina, our happy hour begins at 3PM. See you soon!!!

    Will there be happy this Friday for Cinco De Mayo?

    I asked the bartender and she said she was not sure, but last year they did not have happy hour for cinco de mayo. She did however say that they would have a mechanical bull to ride and other cool stuff too! :)

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    Poached Kitchen

    Poached Kitchen

    4.3(1.5k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Locally sourced ingredients

    This is a great spot! We were welcomed right when we walked in. The place is nice and bright with…read morebig windows, high ceilings and open seating. You order your food and then find your seat. There were so many yummy sounding items that it was tough to decide what to order. I'm not a traditional pancake person but they had a tropical one that sounded amazing. And I really want to try their chicken sandwich and breakfast burritos. I ended up getting the churro waffles with a side of the mango that went on those tropical pancakes and it was so dang good! We also ordered Birria Short Rib Eggs Benedict - with perfectly flavored meat and the best poached eggs on top, a macadamia nut milk latte - loved it so much, and a delicious Bloody Mary. The service was great, the place is nice, neat, and clean throughout, and we can't wait to go back and try more of their menu!

    We go at least once weekly. Our favorite place for breakfast…read more Food is always good - pasture-raised eggs done perfectly. Service is always excellent - at the counter and on the floor. Ambiance is surprisingly quiet even though it's usually full - we go typically at 830am. Last two times we've had to ask for water.. the guys are standing ready but don't seem to notice we sat down and are ready for water and silver and more napkins. If you have your barrista visit tables who got coffee drinks and offer more you would generally get more paid business - they just have to take the portable CC machine.

    Photos
    Poached Kitchen
    Poached Kitchen
    Poached Kitchen

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    Everyday Eatery - Market Scramble with Toast and side Turkey Sausage!

    Everyday Eatery

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Hipster vibe

    I have been wanting to try this place for the longest time and finally came here to celebrate the…read morebelated Mother's Day for my girls "day" out. The place is located in a food court strip mall that is surrounded by businesses. As a result, this strip mall gets very busy around lunch time. The place has healthy options. I ordered the Turkey Pesto Sandwich with a side of salad since it was a brunch gathering. The portion was perfect and filling too. Taste was spot on. After I finished my lunch, I didn't feel super stuffed at all. Seeing they have breakfast options, a few days later I brought my daughter over for early breakfast. We ordered the French Toast Forever and Espresso Mascarpone Waffle. They were delicious and beautifully presented. My daughter and I came around 7:30 am on a Sunday morning. There was no crowd at all. Service was quick and the staff were very friendly and helpful. My daughter approved of the place and we'll be coming back again.

    I came here for the first time over the weekend and loved the food here…read more The essentials: the standard, typical American breakfast with eggs, breakfast potatoes, choice between bacon/sausage, and toast or salad. The breakfast potatoes were good and flavorful. We picked sausage, but unfortunately they offer turkey sausage here instead of pork (so it's a little dry and bland). It's what you can expect from an American breakfast and a solid breakfast option Lemon ricotta hotcakes: The portion size is HUGE! I definitely recommend sharing with another person unless you have a large pancake appetite, haha. The honeycomb butter is sooooo delicious. I didn't even feel like I needed syrup for the pancakes after spreading the butter :) Nice lemon flavor, but I definitely wished it was a little more prominent Even though the line looks long, it does move quickly and I like that they had an employee managing the line inside and outside :) There's only a limited amount of seating inside, but plenty of tables outdoors. Considering how crowded it was, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Plenty of parking in the lot. I would definitely come back!

    Photos
    Everyday Eatery - Inside

    Inside

    Everyday Eatery - The Essentials Plate

    The Essentials Plate

    Everyday Eatery - Bacon Breakfast Burrito

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    Bacon Breakfast Burrito

    Maldon’s Brasserie - Delicious latte

    Maldon’s Brasserie

    4.5(387 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    You wouldn't guess it by looking at the broad selection of delicious dishes on the menu, but this…read moreplace is entirely gluten-free (& celiac friendly). The brunch was excellent and I highly recommend the chilaquiles (add the pulled pork!) and the cinnamon bun. The service and ambiance were top notch. It feels like you're in a European cafe or in someone's home, it's just that relaxed and cozy. We were able to enjoy a very leisurely meal and were attentively taken care of the entire time. A real welcome change of pace from the fast-turn mantra of other concepts.

    They closed Feb 15…read more We came here Feb 13. They had a paper on a podium written about their closure. And I truly believe that they are not really made out to be a full-service restaurant as much as I like their dedication and drive. I had a reservation at 7 pm. I checked in at 6:45 pm. At 7:25 pm, they brought us in and did not have a table ready for us. They made a table then after a table left 15 minutes later, they rearranged us. I do not understand why you offer reservations if you will not actually honor the system. Around 8 pm, we asked if we could order as they had only brought water. Listen I understand. You're closing soon. You only had 1 server for the entire restaurant the weekend of Valentines. You have to go lean on the busiest last weekend ..? I don't actually understand. When all came to, they were not offering dessert because "they were saving it for Valentine's Day". No notification about when their kitchen closed and no asks if anybody wanted to order for to-go. On top of that, everyone did not have free parking and had to pay upon exit even with validation. You will do great as a ghost kitchen since the food was good and everyone enjoyed it. If you come back as a full service, I would seriously reconsider how you do business.

    Photos
    Maldon’s Brasserie - Braised short rib sandwich

    Braised short rib sandwich

    Maldon’s Brasserie - Menu (1/2)

    Menu (1/2)

    Maldon’s Brasserie - Menu (2/2)

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    Menu (2/2)

    Rooster Café - Veggie Scramble

    Rooster Café

    3.9(2.1k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for a good local place, I mean a real neighborhood place with honest good food…read moreand great service, you need to come here. Places like this deserve our support. It's not just the food, it's the people who work here. Honest, kind human beings... doesn't seem like too much to ask but rare these days. I'm talking about Dallas who takes care of front of the house, and Sacramento who commands back of the house. I stopped by to kill time because they're located behind the tire place where I was going to get a new tire. Knew nothing about this place. Since I only had 50 mins to kill and not hungry, just wanted a coffee and something tiny. There's nothing on the menu that's small. Dallas understood what I needed and put in an order for 1 pancake. Most places wouldn't bother to accommodate outside of what's offered. Then I noticed they have a special of chorizo tacos with fixings that sounds great but I was not hungry enough or have the time. Dallas spoke to chef Sacramento discreetly and before you know it, there's one single chorizo taco on my table on the house. Who does that? They DO! Really, who is that sweet? Love them! These guys...

    I had a great experience at Rooster Cafe. I ordered the omelets with rice and they were really…read moresatisfying and simple, fresh, and flavorful. The iced coffee was also really good and refreshing. The staff was friendly and welcoming, especially one of the young guys who was very kind and attentive, which made the visit feel even better. Overall, a comfortable spot with good food and nice service. I'd definitely come back again.

    Photos
    Rooster Café - Counter

    Counter

    Rooster Café - St Clair Waffle combo and Mimosa

    St Clair Waffle combo and Mimosa

    Rooster Café - St. Clair Waffle Combo

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    St. Clair Waffle Combo

    Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters - Breakfast Burrito

    Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters

    4.6(978 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $

    Whoever is leaving a 1 start review is either never happy with anything or thoroughly finding…read moresomething negative to say in whatever they experience (at least on Yelp). Hands down some of the best coffee in OC. If you don't like sweet, don't get a drink with flavoring. Or ask them to adjust. Simple! If you want something yummy and different, try their seasonal menu. I have never once felt like staff was rude. Every interaction has been authentic and genuine. The best. Lastly, long lines happen because this place has grown A TON post-COVID. They're also in the same building as a church, so get there early on the weekend or sit in line and enjoy the atmosphere. There's a friendly crowd there. Thank you Lion & Lamb for being a consistent go-to since Covid. You guys rock.

    We stopped by on a Sunday at 11 -- it was very busy, as it's also connected to a church. The line…read morewent by fairly quickly with very friendly staff. For our drinks, we got two signature drinks: *lucky matcha* and *cookie butter latte* They're both on the sweeter side but still good. They live up to the name and description. You're able to taste the marshmallow in the matcha and the biscoff and cinnamon on the latte. For food, we got *avocado toast* The bread was very fresh, thick and moist. My favorite part was the pickled onions. I'd definitely get it again. And the *breakfast burrito* is okay. Nothing outstanding - they did tell us they get them made a day before and they warm up upon order.

    Photos
    Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters - Inside Counter

    Inside Counter

    Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters - AVO TOAST W/MARINATED EGGS! - Love this!!!  and a SALTED TOFFEE LATTE

    AVO TOAST W/MARINATED EGGS! - Love this!!! and a SALTED TOFFEE LATTE

    Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters - SALTED TOFFEE LATTE, with a little extra love from the barista - Perfect!

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    SALTED TOFFEE LATTE, with a little extra love from the barista - Perfect!

    El Torito - mexican - Updated May 2026

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