Cancel

Open app

Search

El Torito

4.2 (1.6k reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Order El Torito Takeout or Delivery

El Torito Photos

Business Info

EL TORITO ATMOSPHERE

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

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - El Torito

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Al Pastor Tacos, Rice and Beans
Vivian

This review reflects their Sunday Brunch. For $45 per person, you get to experience El Torito's Sunday buffet brunch from 9AM to 2PM. We got there around 10AM. Upon walking in, we kind of played eye tag with a male host or manager who didn't acknowledge us right away. It wasn't until a female host, who was clearly busy running around, came over and found us a table. The layout of this place honestly feels like a maze. There are ramps, stairs, arches. It almost felt like a fever dream walking through it. There's a ton of seating though. Booths, tables, patio seating, bar seating, and it definitely looks like they can host large parties or corporate events. The brunch is all you can eat buffet style with different sections throughout the restaurant. In the main middle area, there's a taco station with meats like birria, carnitas, pastor, and pollo. There are trays of breakfast items like waffles and bacon. Lunch options like mole, chile relleno, enchiladas, and more. In the back of that section is dessert with flan, ice cream, a chocolate fountain, rice pudding, and other sweets. There's also an omelette station where a chef makes it fresh based on your ingredient choices. That area gets crowded fast. There isn't really a clear place to stand and wait, so you end up kind of being in someone's way. Near the entrance, there are three additional tables. One is more kid friendly with mini corn dogs, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, cereal, milk, and yogurt. Another has drink dispensers with horchata, jamaica, and another agua fresca. The third has coffee and hot chocolate. On the left side near the bar, there are three more tables. One with pozole and menudo. One salad station with pre made salads and build your own options. The last one features seafood like shrimp ceviche, aguachile, seafood soup, chilled shrimp, and more. Drinks are included with the brunch. Our server was very kind and attentive. He cleared plates quickly and checked in throughout the meal. Most of what I ate was actually really good. Standouts for me were the carnitas. Super flavorful and not dry. I made tacos with fresh onions, cilantro, and this orange crema based salsa that paired really well. The sweet cornbread was also a hit. Moist with real corn baked in. I went back for that. The salad station impressed me too. Their green, maybe cilantro lime salsa tasted so fresh I genuinely wondered if it was made in house. The waffle with honey butter was also a solid choice. Things that didn't hit the mark for me were the menudo, which felt bland and lacked depth. The chocolate fountain was fun but the chocolate itself wasn't great. The horchata tasted like sugar water. The al pastor meat was a little too salty for me. Overall, I think $45 is a bit steep for what you get. There's a lot of food and a good amount of variety, but the selection doesn't rotate much, so I could see getting tired of it. I might come back occasionally, but not often.

Maya H.

Our waiter, Sergio, is amazing!! He's so attentive and give great recommendations!! We went during Happy Hour and the menu is great! We got a couple of drinks and some snacks!! I'm also addicted to their corn bread. I've been a fan for over 20 years!! I've taken my kids here since they are small and now they can drink. I haven't been to the weekend brunch in a while and need to come back to try it again. The place still looks the same with lively music. It's such a chill and fun place to go with your friends and family. Great happy hour prices and delicious margarita . Will come back again with my friends and family. I hope Sergio will be our server. He's the best server!! Great attitude and vibe!! Give him a raise, El Torito

Chips, salsa and Fresh Guacamole
Christopher C.

Came here on a Sunday evening and was seated right away. The vibe was cool and I liked the music but it was a little on the loud side. The salsa, guacamole and chips were on point. My main course was tasty but the crispy flautas weren't crispy.

Steak
Hanafi M.

Always delicious, try the sweet corn, it's sure to put a smile on your face. Plenty of terrific parking. On Sunday, May 3rd, they are having an all-you-can-eat for Cinco de Mayo

Mexican food for dinner!!!
Alice M.

Haven't been here for a while we came here for the dinner service around 6:30pm and surprisingly there was no wait in line with many parkings outside right in front on Sunday evening. The music was pretty good and loud. I used my Shazam a lot and saved it to my mexican playlist. Very good place for celebration. The decor was also nice. You can tell they are about to get ready for Cinco de Mayo. The restaurant was a little too cold for my liking. The presentation was cool for the flaming fajitas. The flames went up really high. The food portion here is very generous and it tasted freshly grilled. Our server was nice and since it was my birthday she removed the dessert from our bill. Thank you for the special evening El Torito!

Fernanda M.

This place had us skeptical walking in. It looked like a ghost town, not many people and then a waiter dropped a bunch of things on the floor and well we were regretting our choice. Then none of the beers my husband wanted they had since they ran out. At that point we were second guessing eating there at all but we chose to do the family fajitas and queso quemado and all the food was good! Really good! And service was really good too! The waiter was super nice. They had good music playing too!

Dining room area.
Simeko O.

Wow! what a surprise! El Torito's in La Mesa was going off tonight. We showed up for dinner not expecting too much, and to our shock, happy hour was running from 3 PM to 9 PM. So of course, I had to start with a margarita flight and follow it up with a draft beer. So good. My chicken enchiladas with sour cream were delicious, and the music and ambience were upbeat and fun. Our server was super friendly, and the food came out hot, fresh, and honestly way better than my last visit. Huge difference this time around. I'm giving this place five stars for the lively atmosphere, friendly service from JORGE, excellent food, and great prices. If you're in the area and want something fun and a little different, definitely stop by El Torito's in La Mesa.

Steak and chorizo tacos, queso, and nachos supremes
Jordyn S.

The happy hour menu had a great selection of items for reasonable prices. Got the steak and chorizo tacos and queso from the happy hour menu and then some nachos off the main menu. The service was great and they kept our free chips and salsa flowing. The free starter salsa was fresh, almost like a pico. They allow in kind for payments which is a win in my book. The food was your standard chain restaurant Mexican food, but great value overall.

Margaritas
Melanie M.

My friend and I came here for the first time the other day. Happy hour is 3-9pm M-F. Everything is $10 or less & the food portions are huge. The chips & salsa are complimentary. The queso was good. I liked the mango & blackberry marg from the flight but the regular one was watered down. The jalapeño cucumber marg was strong but really delicious. The chicken flautas were good with the different sauces. One was a creamy chipotle sauce & the other was a sweet one. I had leftovers after eating lots of chips & dip. Service was ok.

Post demolish soup. Hearty with veggies.
K B.

El Torito Review (update 10/25) - solid 3.7 Although El Torito isn't traditional Mexican food, there's still a lot to like when you dine here. This visit, I came in for a light meal--chicken tortilla soup, bottomless chips and salsa, and of course, their signature margarita. I decided to switch things up and tried the Raspberry Lemon Drop, which was part of the happy hour special. Great choice! Heads up on the tortilla soup: It's actually a vegetable tortilla soup. The bowl includes potatoes, zucchini, and squash, giving it a thicker, more filling texture than I expected. The broth itself was rich and flavorful, though if you're not a fan of cheese, I recommend asking them to go easy. I arrived around 7:30 PM on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised, no wait time for bar or table seating. Overall, El Torito delivers solid flavors, generous portions, and good vibes for casual dining, especially if you catch happy hour.

Watermelon mimosa
vadis m.

Gilberto was absolutely AMAZING. Great attitude and made the experience wonderful. Food was good and the champagne was flowing. Will be back!

Carne asada fries, elote
Michaela I.

We came for happy hour and only got the food from that menu. The restaurant wasn't busy by any means but it took longer than we would've liked for us to get our food. It felt like they only had one server working for the entire restaurant. When our food got here, the chicken wings were micro sized, maybe one bite off each wing. I got a horchata, carne asada fries, and elote. The horchata was the best part, the fries were kind of sad compared to other Mexican fast food places. Fries not crispy, and the topping relatively bland. The elote was incredibly oily, flavor was alright. My favorite part was the chips and salsa/guac. The guacamole tasted fresh and was very flavorful as was the salsa, chips perfectly crisp and salty. Restaurant itself is very cute and decorated nicely, however when we went the lights kept flickering, which was mildly annoying.

Matthew M.

I can't say enough good things about this place. The all you can eat brunch is absolutely amazing. If you are lucky enough to have Gilberto as your waiter you are in for an absolute treat, he is super attentive and a pleasure to be around 10/10 recommend brunch with Gilberto!

Interior

See all

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Gilberto our waiter was awesome. He had fast service and continued to check on our party and make sure we were taken care of.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 3
Photo of Renee M.
123
134
112

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Margarita F.

Margarita F.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Lynn H.
11
71
430

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kim S.
2
22
3

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Karolina T.

Karolina T.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Janelle O.

Janelle O.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ms H.
0
13
2

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Gilberto at El Toritos is the best server in the restaurant. Very hospitable, friendly and fast service. Ask to be seated in he's area.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Karolina T.

Karolina T.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Margarita F.

Margarita F.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Gio G.
4
19
13

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Jessica S.

Jessica S.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

The buffet was delicious - highly recommend! Made reservations and showed up a little early and I was seated right away.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Brenda D.
11
18
19

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

Page 3 of 42

El Torito Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - El Torito

What is the 2026 Sunday Brunch price?

39.50 for the full brunch sunday

Sunday brunch price?

We went on Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 and the brunch price was $37.50 for adults and I think it was $13.00 for kids.

Does the staff still serve the food for the all-you-can-eat brunch or are patrons able to serve themselves now? Last time I went, the staff served the food for brunch but that was not long after COVID dine-in restrictions were implemented.

You serve yourself. Go It's a good brunch. You'll like it

Has the La Mesa CA location closed permanently?😳?

It was open as of last week so it should be!

Is the Buffet only on the Weekend or is it on Fridays too?

Only on Sundays

Do you allow dogs in the outdoor area?

Yes

Can reservations be made for the Sunday brunch or first come first serve? Is there a bottomless…

Yes. Reservations. Yes Bottomless mimosas

Is Brunch on Sat and Sun?

Yes, both brunch are on the weekend. The only thing about Sunday's brunch is that it's all you can eat.

Do they have a bar? Or place for dancing?

tHE BAR IS TO THE LEFT OF THE ENTRANCE. hOWEVER, THERE IS NO DANCING.

How much is the Sunday Brunch Buffet?

As of March 2022, about $30.

Do you serve menudo?

Hi Fred. We do have Menudo available on our Sunday Brunch.

Is the Brunch open?

Yes

Is one in la Puente california?

No, this one is in La Mesa California (East San Diego area) There is one at 3133 E Garvey Ave N,… Read more

Is there happy hour? Also, I'm disappoinment to see the Plaza Bonita location closed. Even though it's been years, I still miss it. It was so near my house😕

Yes they have happy hour. And when I went a couple months ago they had happy hour on Sunday as well, 3-7 I believe. But of course call to check for current deals.

View All 22 Questions

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Mexican 190,372 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Toasted La Mesa

Toasted La Mesa

4.0(615 reviews)
1.0 mi
$$

We have been to Toasted probably 5 or so times since moving to La Mesa and love it! We definitely…read morerecommend it. AMBIANCE: The ambiance is very nice. The restaurant is cute and not too noisy. There is an indoor and outdoor area. SERVICE: We have never had a bad service experience at Toasted. Our waitress today in particular was great. My niece wanted a mimosa without alcohol, and she happily accommodated and even suggested adding some soda water to make it more like a mimosa. FOOD & DRINKS: In the many times we have been there, we have had the following; DRINKS: -Mimosa Flight: Too be honest, I did not love the flight. The Prickly Pear was my favorite, but I tend to prefer sweeter drinks, and I would say overall, the cocktails are not super sweet there, which for many people is a plus (just not me). -Lavender Cocktail - Good but also not super sweet -Chai Latte - I have had it hot and iced and liked it both ways FOOD: -Santa Fe Scramble - My favorite dish I have tried to date. Our waitress compared it to tortilla soup in an egg dish, and I would say that's a new perfect description except I think this is way better than tortilla soup -Denver Scramble - Very good and would order again -Breakfast Sammy - Good. A typical breakfast sandwich, so if that's what you're in the mood for, get this. That being said, I wouldn't say there is anything that sets this breakfast sandwich apart from others. -Stuffed French Toast - Good but not my favorite. Would not order again. -Fried Chicken Benny - Good but not a standout that I would order again -Breakfast Quesadilla - Just okay. Nothing was wrong with it, but I would not get it again and would do the Santa Fe Scramble over this. -Sliders - My favorite lunch item. They are the same as the old Sammy's sliders (this location used to be a Sammy's) -Red Velvet Pancakes - Good but very rich -Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Great and very fluffy with excellent texture Overall, even though not every food item or drink is a hit for me personally, that's the case at pretty much any restaurant, and there are some great items and the food, service, and ambiance are great

Great bottomless service, our waitress filled up my glass as I drank which was amazing lol. I…read moreordered the chicken and pancakes which all together I rate a 6.5/10. - Comes with 3 THICK pancakes and three southern fried chicken tender with "hot" syrup. - Syrup tasted like regular syrup mixed with hot sauce which I wasn't really feelin. I think it would've been better with hot honey and syrup on the side? - Again these pancakes are THICK and flavor was "meh" so you prolly won't even finish them all and you might need to ask for extra syrup (like myself) I honestly think the chicken and French toast would've been a better option and I might ask for that accommodation next time if I order the same thing (I prolly won't, I like to try new tings hehe). Overall pretty restaurant with great natural Lighting but it still needs to prove itself in the flavor department.

Photos
Toasted La Mesa
Toasted La Mesa
Toasted La Mesa

See all

Curbside Eatery & Drinkery

Curbside Eatery & Drinkery

3.9(459 reviews)
0.6 mi
$$

Loved getting a lil brunchies here! I got the basic breakfast and it was perfect. Everything you…read morewant in a breakfast plate. The over easy eggs were prepared just the way they should be. Non runny yolk lovers look away! The space is a perfect set up for you to sit by the open windows and enjoy brunch and a little people watching. Staying cool from the heat and enjoyin ya lil treats. Ashley was my server and was so sweet! She continually checked on me and made sure I had everything I needed. Def will be coming again! :)

After a day of thrifting we wanted a dog friendly lunch and found this gem. It's got a wonderful…read moreoutdoor patio that you can bring dogs on, as well as an indoor packed with TVs and a bar. The menu is really fresh, creative, and all made from scratch which was a HUGE selling point for me. We came and got a kebab sandwich with chicken, fish and fries which we got their house made chips instead, and pooch patty. Let's start off with the pooch patty. I took a nibble to test before I gave to my dog and it was unseasoned and delicious for a dog patty. Great quality meat and she was elated to scarf down the three patties included. The kebab sandwich for me was amazing. Every single thing in that wrap/sandwich was seasoned and fresh. The chicken had a perfect char while still beong flavorful and juicy. It was sooo good. The pita chips that came with it were also house made and amazing. My fiancee said her fish and fries/chips were really good. Not over battered, not greasy, but crispy light and flakey. I would agree, the batter was not weighing down the light fish at all. Their tartar sauce was house made with mustard and we both fell in love with it. Their chips are also super delicious. We did not leave a singular crumb. We love the location of this place right in downtown La Mesa and we will for sure be back with our puppy in tow.

Photos
Curbside Eatery & Drinkery - Super clean restroom

Super clean restroom

Curbside Eatery & Drinkery
Curbside Eatery & Drinkery

See all

Black Bear Diner El Cajon

Black Bear Diner El Cajon

3.8(1.4k reviews)
3.9 mi
$$

Big bear Burgar & onion rings are great. Just fries was to salty…read more warm . Not Hot fresh I would go back. nice place for FAMILY

Food: Well, okay... we came here once and my daughter got chicken and waffles. It was SO good…read morethat she begged us to come back. The rest of our food was okay, nothing amazing, but solid. So we got back a second time and sit down to order, "Chicken and waffles please" - they are out of chicken. Oof! Strike 1. That sucks. She was disappointed but she got something else and we shrugged it off. Then about 2 weeks back we came in again... this time I asked first, "Do you have chicken for the chicken and waffles?" They are out of waffles. Oof! Strike 2! And isn't it just batter? I don't get it. We didn't stay that time because my daughter was visibly sad this time. So I think we are done trying or else this just becomes a running gag we try to get out of, like Groundhogs Day or something... Atmosphere: It's cozy inside. I love all of the details, like the wood carvings and all of the bear stuff. It's like you're in a log cabin. And I like that they have paper menus and throw them away (because plastic reusable menus are germ magnets). The newspaper-esque theme is pretty cool too. Price: It's no more expensive than say, Dennys or Ihop. Middle of the road and they have lots of options. A decent meal for two - 50$. Service: Each time we have been, the servers have been great. Nice servers and even when the guy had to tell us they were out of chicken, he was super apologetic. No complaints on the service. Overall: It's a nice place... when they have the advertised food. So I honestly don't know if we will be back or not. Maybe we will give it a shot but I don't want my daughter to be disappointed again. I get it, if it was something they only made 50 of a day, I'd understand. But... chicken and waffles? Hmmm...

Photos
Black Bear Diner El Cajon
Black Bear Diner El Cajon
Black Bear Diner El Cajon

See all

El Torito - mexican - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...