El Torito

Does this location do the Saturday buffet? if so, what is the price? And is it the same food as Sunday buffet?

No, they don't do Saturday brunch, only Sunday. I don't know the price exactly but I do know is about 30 dollars per person unlimited mimosas.

Is there a private space for 80 people ? what is the maximum for people and time limit for a private event?

Hello Deisi, yes, we do have space for a private event, even 100 we can accommodate you, please come and ask for any manager we will be happy to help you or call us 626 351 8995, Veronica or Karla

How are the tamales?

Good! Hot and tasty

How much is brunch buffet Saturday?

I think you meant Sunday. Around 40.00 per person including unlimited Champagne. Well worth the price

Do they still have sweet corn tamales at the brunch buffet?

Yes! And it is absolutely delicious

How much is the Sunday brunch?

Prices have changed since Covid. It used to be $24.99 per person. Call your local restaurant and they should be able to tell you the current price.

How much the Sunday brunch buffet?

Between $25-$30 per person. Not sure as this is not my go to breakfast spot. But thats what I remember paying.

When do kids eat free?

If they are the owners family, otherwise no.

What is the maximum number of people in a group that El Torito can accommodate outdoors?

I would call to get a number of people in a group for outside. I saw probably minimum of 6 people.

Do they have Time Warner Cable = Dodger games?

In the cantina. If it's not on you can ask them to put on the game.

Is there a buffet during the week?

Nooo only on Sunday for brunch, and that's over at a certain time (idk what times it stops):)

How much is brunch and what day is it on ? Are drinks included

Sunday’s and it was about 40$ That includes the drinks they offer in the brunch which is orange juice, horchata, apple juice, and coffee.

If I don't drink, is the sunday brunch still the same price?

Yes, the brunch still remains the same price. A non-alcoholic beverage is substituted

View All 18 Questions

You might also consider

Mercado - Pasadena

4.1(1.1k reviews)

2.9 mi•Downtown

Absolutely lovely place! We highly recommend this restaurant. Mercado is everything you want a…read moreCalifornia Mexican restaurant to be -- warm, vibrant, and seriously delicious. Fresh guac, salsa, amazing drink selection, and dishes that feel both authentic and elevated. We loved the guac, the tacos, and the enchiladas. We also loved their chocolate ice cream as an added bonus. Flavors are bright and perfectly balanced. We look forward to trying their other selections next time. Sterling, our server was all smiles from the time we walked in. Service was so friendly and attentive, and he continued to check in on us all throughout. He had the most lovely demeanor. He truly, was very kind, polite and knowledgeable. Glenn and the rest of the stuff were also incredibly welcoming. We appreciated the attention as first time customers. A Pasadena favorite for a reason -- we'll be back!

This place is always the best. The staff is so friendly. I…read morealso want to shout out the manager because I love to see when they support their staff. Every time we come we see him serving or wiping down tables and greeting customers. Tonight we got the branzino and it was a 10/10. Shout out to Prita who was our server tonight.

Bar Area

Camarones al Ajillo: Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice and Ciabtta

See all

Order of carnitas

Anayas

4.1(1.1k reviews)

3.2 mi•Downtown

My husband and I went for lunch during the week. Our server was very friendly but once he took our…read moredrink order we could not get his attention again. I ordered a rose pinot wine from the "Whites" section and apparently they did not have that wine so instead of letting me know he brought a pinot noir. It was impossible to get our server's attention so that I could ask about why I was brought that wine and to order a sauvignon blanc which was finally served just before our food arrived. Our meal was tasty and we enjoyed it. However, trying to get the bill to pay was another long wait. I was not happy with the service and so I gave the server a 15% tip. I received my bank statement yesterday and the restaurant added an additional $4 without my approval. For me service is an important part of dining and because it was mediocre I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon.

This Mexican restaurant is off E Colorado Blvd…read more My family decided to eat here, as we entered I was blown away with the authentic Mexican decorations, this restaurant is huge! It's super clean & their restrooms, highly organized, and attention to details. This restaurant is very friendly, war, chic, classy, and elegant! We were first greeted by Giovanny M. He took us to our table and gave us our menu, he ask if we had any questions . Which we did and he answered them all beautifully! Anayas has breakfast, Ensaladas "Salads" , appetizers,Sopes, Taco plates, Los Dorados, Flatus, Taquitos, Quesadillas, Burritos, enchiladas, chefs specials, Platots especiales, dulces alegrais "Desserts ",sides, drinks, tequila, premium tequila, mezcal, whiskey, gins, vodka, rums, cognac, dessert cocktails, white wine & rose, reds, sparkling, sweets, drag beer, Mexican beer, soft drinks, agua frescas. Before we order Giovanny gave us Chips and green salad, delicious! We ordered : pollo quesadillas 2 salmon negro, 1 pollo negro, 2 cokes, 2 ice teas, and 1 Doz XX Lager. Everything was super delicious, mouthwatering! Giovanny was so very sweet always making sure if we need anything & would go the extra Mile on getting us our refills on our drinks without asking! Their price points are spot on especially for the quality & quantity of food you get! Giovanny M. Was so super sweet, kind , caring, he is very knowledgeable, very genuine, super sincere & down to earth! Giovanny M. Has this super positive energy about himself that really radiates! He is your rarest Diamond! His shine can never fade! Please treasure him greatly!! I would love to Thank Giovanny M. For terrific, fantastic and memorable visit! I would also like to thank the Manger for also helping too! Thank you so much Anayas for our wonderful visit ! I'll tell all my Family & Friends to visit here !

Minority-owned & operated

Casamigos special! Flights and skinny margaritas!

Come Celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Live music and cocktails! Bring your friends and family for a day of celebration to make your day!

See all

Valentines at ANAYAS! Come by and enjoy a special night with a new menu and drinks!

Cabrera's Mexican Cuisine

We have been coming to Cabrera's for a number of years. I was surprised to recently find I had…read morenever posted a review. We discovered Cabrera's during the almost 2 year time span when our then go-to for Mexican, La Fiesta Grande in So. Pasadena, closed and their new location on Glenarm/Marengo opened. We tried a multitude of Pasadena places, including Mijares, Casa del Rey, Margaritas and El Torito (gringo!). Cabrera's was our fave, with a better location for us vs. La Fiesta. Their menu extended beyond the "ordinary", and I liked their plating/presentation. A slice of cucumber or orange adds a lot to a mound of shredded lettuce garnish. Mind you, our family fave for +40 years is still El Tepeyac in Boyle Heights, but that's quite a shlep. Cabrera's has also been around awhile (40 years) and now has 3 locations--Arcadia (the original), Pasadena and Duarte. All are owned/co-owned by 2 families, one named Cabrera. The Pasadena location is near the corner of Lake and Orange Grove, next to popular breakfast spot The Reyn, with which it shares a rear parking lot. All locations have a full bar. I have ordered off the regular menu, breakfast menu and Happy Hour bar menu. The breakfast menu is mostly offered on weekends when they open at 10 am, but you can ask for it weekdays at 11 am opening. My fave dish is the chilaquiles. As stated before, their all-day menu has some unique items, but I stick with the more gringo choices. Their chile rellenos used to be quite large, with the poblano chile clearly visible. They're a bit smaller and more generic now, but still fine. We order it as a 2 or 3-item combo or a la carte. Note their complimentary chips and salsa comes with 2 salsas, one red and one dark green (smoky and quite spicy). Lately we have been coming here for their Tuesday or Wednesday specials. Tuesdays is of course Taco Tuesday, and I love their crispy beef tacos. They have a special avocado salsa on Tuesdays. Every Wednesday, a certain dish is 50% off for the entire month if you order a soft drink, a great value. The most recent specials were fish tacos and steak or chicken fajitas, both delish. As AARP members, we usually arrive at 11 am opening. Inevitably either Christian and/or Guillermo, scions of the 2 founding families, are on duty then (Christian is the Pasadena manager)--shout outs to both of them! We are very comfy and happy with our newish go-to for Mexican food.

Went to this restaurant last night around 7PM. Only two…read morestaff helping customers, no usual waitresses. One waiter, i.e. helper, spoke no English and the other, very young, waiter barely spoke English. Both were dressed in street clothes. It was Tuesday and the availability of types of meat was very limited, we were told. We waited 15 minutes for help. While waiting, something was burning in the kitchen.....not a good sign. When we arrived there was a customer waiting by the door for takeout. After we were helped eventually, the customer who was waiting when we arrived returned with his takeout, and as it was appeared that the food and order was wrong. The customer was very unhappy. With no utensil, napkins, or food we waited patiently until it became apparent it was not good service and customers were not happy. Previously this was a nice restaurant, but now it is a very unpleasant experience. We left and went to another restaurant and were served immediately.

See all

El Matador Authentic Mexican Food

4.5(235 reviews)

2.2 mi

Our first time here, and we were beyond impressed! The service was exceptional from the moment we…read morewalked in. We asked if they could put on the Rams game, and they happily put it on without any complaints. Our server asked for our drink order right away and brought everything out promptly. The food was amazing, and the quality was excellent! Between the great service, delicious food, and welcoming atmosphere, this place exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend if you're in the Pasadena area! Whether you're looking for great food or a place to watch the game, this spot will not disappoint. We'll definitely be back!

hit and miss!…read more sometimes great. enchiladas on point. very good. sometimes asada on nachos is nauseating!!! order nachos with asada will be almost great sometimes. then sometimes it comes with nassty pieces of rubberery fatttt clusters!! was perfect for 3 orders straight, then i got an order that was nasty!! bunch of fat clusters, damnnnnnnn i love this place, wtf first 5 scooos of my asada pollo nachos was beef fat gross clusters that i had to remove from my mouth without throwing up. was trash gross horrific don't put fattt clusters on the nachos. thats a snack fusion that doesn't need rubbery fat attached to meet or full on fatt clusters. 22 dollars for chips beens and salsa with hit and miss asada. fatttt clusters not cool. please, i beg u, pay more attention to nachos. i was loving them till the last order saturday aug 8th was trash. i really liked the 1s b4 but damn, the 1 on saturday evening was fatyyyy on my snackyyy no bueno literally turns a good thing into trash. u must be consistent nacchhoosss. please. i had a gross experience on what i usually get. so gross, trying to get over it! please b more careful so i can remove this unfortunate review!!! fat on nachos not acceptable. we stopped ordering from don pillo because they always use nasty asada pieces and started ordering from u because asada was good. i couldn't eat the first three scoops of last asada nachos than threw it in the trash. nauseating was my last 5 bites. i hope this becomes constructive criticism because we are neighbors. best regards

Seating area/ interior

Flautas

See all

Front Entrance

Madre Maiz Taqueria

4.3(511 reviews)

0.1 mi•Chapman

Trifecta!! Amazing service, Great location and Amazing…read morefood. We Had Birria fries, Los Especiales tacos and tacos dorados (deep fried tacos) Wow! Wow!! W

Pro Tip: this restaurant does a pop up at Adam's Pack Station on select Friday nights. Check their…read moreinstagram for dates, but there's nothing better than fresh Mexican food, live music, and beautiful canyon vibes. I ordered an asada burrito (with guacamole) and Aqua Fresca. They absolutely hit the spot and I very much enjoyed the fresh avocado, though it was an expensive extra. My only regret was not ordering the flan, which looked extremely delicious. Next time! The food was prepared fast and the folks were extremely friendly.

Arrachera taco

Potato tacos

See all

Carnitas fries

Mijares Mexican Restaurant

3.5(1.1k reviews)

4.2 mi•South Arroyo

We been coming to Mijares for some years now. Came occasionally on Sundays. But in the last 2 years…read morewe here every Sunday. Food is good order of the menu, I've had the brunch is too. Just don't eat too much. Staff is great always greet us and attend to us. Place gets good on Sundays with the regulars or the Sunday crowd.

Authentic, Delicious, and Welcome. What more does one need? Well, it is even more perfect with…read morefriends and that is how I ended up here. The chicken enchiladas with rice and beans were so fresh. Plentiful plates. The chicken was juicy and without even little bones that sometimes end up there at other places. Shared the fried ice cream as I just couldn't pass up trying it. Happy that I did. The indoor seating is far more than it looks on the outside. We only had to wait a few minutes to be seated on a Friday night. There is limited outdoor seating from what I could see. The decor is just right for the place. The vibe is causal and we were not hurried, even on a very busy night.

Chandelier

Guacamole

See all

Bar seating

Cerveceria Del Pueblo

4.7(209 reviews)

4.2 mi•South Arroyo

Stopped by yesterday for the Que Chulas Plantas Plant Bingo event being held on the patio. I had…read moreso much fun doing plant bingo, it was fast paced and fun! The patio area is spacious and well shaded but the sun does move and it can get a little hot outside so they do recommend bringing a fan to cool off. I brought a fan but there was a nice breeze so I ended up not needing my fan! To drink I decided to try the seltzer. I taste tested the jaimaica seltzer and the passion fruit seltzer, both were delicious! It was hard to choose but I went with the passion fruit. It was refreshing and helped keep me cool during bingo. A food truck called Amor & Limon parks on the sidewalk right in front and they have delicious food if you get hungry!

An amazing brewery that offers lots of options for IPAs, seltzers, ale, and non-alcoholic drinks;…read morefor those who want to hang out and vibe but don't necessarily drink alcohol! My group of friends and I went during the World Cup craziness. We had just come from another bar after the game had concluded and with an hour left before closing the hospitality was still as great as ever! I can imagine how crazy busy they might have been before we arrived but I'm glad the quality of service we received was good. I didn't know what to try and the sweet lady at the register gave me some great recommendations. I went with a seltzer and it was amazing (especially coming from another bar I wanted something light haha & no I was not driving). I will definitely be returning and with a group of friends again because the space is very nice and the vibes were great! Perfect spot for game days or an outing with some buddies. As for parking, it's located in the busy area of Pasadena and centered around a residential area expect to park far or in a parking structure; that means walking! Although, that's not a deal breaker as the area offers plenty to do and all within walking distance.

"Serrania" Sour beer

Housemade Michelada

See all

"Patria" Hazy IPA

El Portal

3.7(1.1k reviews)

3.1 mi•Downtown

Had the chef special - Chili En Norgada. BEST mexican food dish I've ever had. Absolutely…read moreamazingly good. Shared a bite with 3 family members and they totally agreed.

A group of 8 of us came here before the Pasadena Playhouse show and ate outside, which was very…read morecomfortable. My wife ordered a grilled chicken salad and I had chicken fajitas, she liked her salad more than I liked my fajitas but all was good. Hugo was a good server but it did take forever to get our food, not sure if it was because he was really busy or the kitchen was overwhelmed with orders. We've been here before and will come again sometime in the future before a play as we are season seat holders.

Tacos callejeros

Blood orange margarita

See all

Watermelon margarita

Kalaveras

3.8(566 reviews)

1.1 mi

Love this place!! Our server, Genesis, was so attentive and…read morechecked in on us frequently. The staff always greets us with a warm smile and the best vibes. We come here for taco Tuesdays. Love that they have the salsa bar out so we can dress up our tacos however we want. If you can, come in for the happy hour asada fries basically my usual when I come here. 12/10 obvi coming again ‍

Lively atmosphere with great service!…read more Looking for pretty drinks? Loved the margarita flight with bits of fresh fruits and purées. The sizing was perfect for trying the different types of margaritas and it is so beautifully presented. The food is reasonably priced. There were many choices available on the combo plate. I enjoyed the enchilada de mole, potato (sweet potato) taquito and chile relleno. Will be back for Happy Hour and Margarita Monday for sure!

See all

Asada burrito and pepino margarita

Bodegon No 69

4.4(679 reviews)

3.9 mi•Downtown

Went here with a party of 5 and was immediately seated on a Wednesday night at 630. The decor is…read morecute, semi dimly lit with a good amount of seating available. We ordered family style and was really happy that we got to try so many things! Ceviche de pescado Lomo saltado Arroz con pollo** Bistec con tallarin verde *** Aji de gallina Everything was delicious but the best bite had to be the bistec con tallarin verde. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the sauce was seasoned well, and the steak was medium rare and so tender. They have quite an extensive menu so I will definitely be back some time to get my favorites and try some more of their food!

Amazing food and service! I would definitely go back…read moreAmbiance was perfect for the occasion

See more unrecommended reviews

Alpaka greeters!

Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)

See all

INKA COLA

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

903 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

MariaElena M.

1 year ago

On Sunday (5-4-25), after a very busy and stressful afternoon, we finished running important errands around 6:00 p.m. Throughout the whole day, I had only eaten 4 Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies and my sister had only eaten a donut. By the time 6:00 p.m. came, I was incredibly hungry, tired, and a little bit stressed. My Dad decided we would go have dinner at El Torrito in Pasadena, CA. From the moment that our host took us to our table, the one thing that we could not help but notice, was how loud the music was. We could not believe how loud the music was. I felt like my head and my ears were going to explode. We asked our host and also our waiter several times to please lower the music, but they did not lower it. After a stressful and busy day, we just wanted to sit down, relax, talk, and enjoy our food. We couldn't do none of that because the music was incredibly loud. This raised my stress and anxiety through the roof. We are in the middle of going through a very difficult time with my sister-She needs additional surgeries for two serious ankle fractures. When no one wanted to do anything about lowering the music, my Dad asked to speak to the manager. The manager was not very sympathetic. He completely shut off the music, but I don't believe he did it out of any respect towards us. I don't understand how you can put customers through that. I thought we were going to a restaurant, not a night club. If we want to hear music full blast, we'll go to a night club. I would have never expected this from a restaurant. Our dinner was beyond ruined because I was left with my head and ears ringing from the loud music, as was my Mom, Dad, and sister. Also, that whole situation flared up my stress and anxiety. My sister suffers from migraines and loud music can trigger her a migraine-You people have absolutely NO RESPECT for your customers. I am pretty positive that we are never going back to your El Torrito Pasadena, CA location. There is no way that we would be able to go up against that incredibly loud music. We are so disappointed with this awful, stressful, and uncomfortable dining experience. We NEVER, EVER would have expected this from you. I highly suggest that in your next meeting you discuss lowering the music at your restaurant to a level that will allow customers to be able to have a relaxing conversation and to be able to enjoy their dining experience. We were left beyond disgusted. I don't know how you can do this to your customers. You have no common sense and no respect for your customers. read more

Sandy R.

8 years ago

Just had the WORST experience. My husband and I went in expecting a delicious meal and a good margarita. We ordered one "double" margarita and fajitas. The service was slow. Server was ok pleasant. When we received the margarita it tasted like frozen ice. Both my husband and I took several sips and agreed it was terrible. We told the server and she took it back and replaced it with another margarita. It was a little better, had at least SOME flavor, but still was the worst margarita we had ever tasted. Our fajitas were served, however we had NO plates! After a few minutes our plates were delivered...but we had NO tortillas! We have never ever been to a Mexican restaurant where we had such poor service. The food was tolerable, but in comparison to other local Mexican restaurants it was much less tasteful. Basic substandard food. When we received our bill we were SHOCKED to be charged $7.99 for the margarita and $6.49 for the extra shot of tequila...because we ordered a "double". Honestly, the margarita tasted like water with just a little bit of flavor...and I mean a little bit! We asked our server about the charge and informed her we were VERY unhappy and had NO idea about the $6.49 charge for ONE shot of tequila. The manager came over and was extremely rude and showed NO customer service compassion, respect, or understanding. Unfortunately we did not get her name...but this happened at approximately 10pm on Saturday night, 5/11/2018. Our server was not friendly and showed no customer service courtesy. My husband and I had been shopping at the local stores and stopped in hoping for a relaxing dining experience and left this restaurant feeling unsatisfied, disturbed, and angry about the lack of courtesy displayed by the staff at this restaurant. We give this restaurant a big 0 rating. Do not dine here unless you don't care about the quality of service and food/drinks. read more

Christine E.

4 years ago

The bartender name Paul is the rudest person I've ever experienced. I sat at one the tables in the bar area with my son. Ordered a margarita. He slammed the glass on the table. It spilled over the glass and the table. He walked away. I called him to request napkins to clean up the mess. I thought he should do it and apologize, but all he did was slam a 2 inch stack of napkins on the table and walked away. I did not want to complain, because I just wanted to have an enjoyable lunch. We two ordered salads but only received one. I could not find Paul so I walked up to the bar and waited for him to come out of the kitchen. I told him we're still waiting for my son's salad. He said he never ordered it in a very argumentative way. I said forget it. We'll just share my salad. Then I told him I think he is very rude. He walked up to me in a threatening way. He was much taller than me. It was kind of scary espy since I'm a senior citizen. I turned around and walked to my table. He followed me there. Kept arguing with me. I told him to go away and he said no he is not, so I said well then have a seat with us. He kept arguing I told him to just go away and get the manager. I spoke to the manager. She is new there so I'm not sure what action she is going to take. I told her that we have come here several times in the past. Whenever we see him we know the service is going to be lousy with this angry server. I will never go back there again. The food is OK. Definitely not five star, though, yet the should service definitely should be five star. read more

Bobby A.

9 years ago

This past Sunday, on Easter my family and I decided to try this place out for brunch. My wife and I don't have small children, so there was no need for the egg hunt this year. We got there around 10 and got seated right away. The employees were all dressed in Easter color shirts and some of them had bunny ears on, it was a very upbeat environment. The food was amazing. I started with an omelette which was made by a talented young lady who could manage 4 omelette day a time! It was delicious. I have to admit that after that omelette, I was already starting to get full. But I had to try out more options. They had something for everyone from tacos, rice/beans, menudo, waffles, seafood, fresh fruit, and a carving station. Everyone in my family found something to satisfy their cravings. By the time we were done, I could've been rolled out. Our server Jonathan was very nice and attentive. Normally with buffets, it's easy for waiters to forget about you since you get up to get your own food but not him. Our drinks were always full and we never had to flag him down for anything. Even after it started to get busy, he still made sure to keep us in his rounds. A manager, Ralphie, even stopped by a couple times to make sure we were having a good time and to check if there was anything we needed. As we were leaving, he wished us a Happy Easter and invited us to come back soon which needless to say, we will be back. read more

Delilah V.

9 years ago

My boss and I stopped in here for lunch on the way to a meeting. He had been here before and said we have to stop and eat here. The place was very upbeat and everyone that I saw had a smile on their face. We were seated right away when we got there which was nice since we were on a tight timeline with the meeting we had to go to. Carlos was our waiter and he was very nice and helpful. I wasn't sure on what I wanted to get and he suggested I try the Mexican Caesar Salad since I wanted something light. I normally don't get excited for salad's but this one was delicious! The portion is enough to satisfy you without over stuffing you. The chicken was perfectly cooked, the dressing was delicious, and the pepino seeds give it crunch and texture. Besides the food being great, the service was amazing as well. Carlos made sure our drinks were refilled, and brought us new chips/salsa when we were running low. A manager Ralphie also stopped by a couple times just to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and asked if everything came out okay. We made sure to thank him as well as tell him about our great experience with Carlos. I told my boss we should come here more often for a working lunch. read more

Lynn V.

9 years ago

My friend and I were looking at Apartments at the Ellington which is right across the street from here. We we were finished, we decided to eat here for dinner. I absolutely loved the food here. I friend the Baja combo which is bacon wrapped shrimp, a shrimp enchilada, and a fish taco. The wrapped shrimp were big and juicy. Sometimes the bacon can be too crispy but this was cooked to perfection. The enchilada had a sauce on them with was so tasty but not overpowering. By the time I got to the mahi mahi taco I was stuffed but after one bite, I didn't want it to go to waste. If you are a seafood lover, this would be the dish I suggest. Trino and Ralphie were fantastic! Trino was our waiter and he really was on top of the service. Chips, napkins, refills, we never had to ask, it just showed up which was nice. More time to focus on my food! Haha Ralphie is a manager there and he stopped by once or twice just to make sure we were being taken care of which I though was pretty cool because you rarely see managers out and about at tables. He mentioned we should stop by on Tuesdays because they have a Taco Tuesday promo. I will keep everyone posted after I try it out. read more

Briella O.

9 years ago

This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant! I ended up here tonight by chance. I had a client appointment in Pasadena and decided to stop here for dinner to try and avoid heavy traffic. From the moment I walked into the restaurant I was greeted and sat right away. Since I had never been here before, I had some questions about some of the food and drinks. My waitress was Ramona and she was so helpful! She answered my questions and gave me some suggestions as well. I ended up choosing the steak fajitas which she recommended. The flavor of the spices used were so good. Normally I just eat the meat but the onions and bell peppers were too good to pass up. I ate the entire serving, which was huge, by myself! After I finished eating, a manager, Ralphie, stopped by my table. He heard it was my first time here and just wanted to make sure I was enjoying my experience. I wasn't drinking since I had to drive home but he told me I need to try one of their many margaritas next time I come. I work in an industry that is all about customer service and this restaurant really wow'd me. I have already told my friends we have to stop by next week. read more

Jorge J.

2 years ago

El Torito offers an exceptional Mexican brunch experience that shouldn't be missed! Their Sunday brunch menu perfectly balances the menu with traditional Mexican breakfast flavors with creative contemporary touches. The chilaquiles are absolutely outstanding - crispy house-made tortilla chips simmered in a vibrant tomatillo salsa that has just the right amount of heat, and cheese to balance it out. Each bite delivers the perfect combination of textures and flavors. For something sweeter, the churro French toast is a revelation - thick-pancake qcoated in cinnamon-sugar, perfectly crisp on the outside while remaining custardy inside, served with fresh berries. The brunch cocktail shines with Serena aA. with her take on mimosas, featuring a traditional orange, tangy, and exotic Jamaica juice that put this brunch staple over the edge. The bright, colorful space features traditional Mexican setting and comfortable seating, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Service is attentive and knowledgeable without being intrusive, making El Torito for the perfect spot for a leisurely Sunday brunch! read more

Raffi A.

2 years ago

I visited this place for Sunday brunch, and it was absolutely fantastic! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was simply amazing. The space had a warm and inviting vibe, with beautiful decor and just the right balance of lively energy and comfort. Whether it was the soft background music, the cozy seating, or the natural lighting, everything came together to create the perfect setting for a relaxing meal. The food was absolutely delicious--every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I especially loved [insert favorite dish, if applicable], which was a true standout. What truly made the experience unforgettable, though, was the exceptional service from our server, Maria S. She was incredibly friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she had such a welcoming demeanor that made us feel truly special. Between the amazing food, impeccable service, and stunning ambiance, this brunch was one for the books. I can't wait to come back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience! read more

David C.

Elite 26

254

242

2 months ago

SUNDAY MIMOSA BRUNCH -- SO MUCH FOOD! Came here for the Sunday Mimosa Brunch Buffet and honestly, it was AMAZING! We decided to come early to beat the crowd, and I'd definitely recommend doing the same because it starts getting pretty busy after 12 PM. For $39.99, there was an impressive variety of food and something for pretty much everyone! The buffet had an omelet station, taco station, ceviche, ribs, pasta, tamales, shrimp, desserts, conchas, a chocolate fountain, and so much more. There was definitely no shortage of options, and I loved being able to try a little bit of everything. The service was great as well -- friendly, attentive, and kept everything running smoothly despite the crowd. Another huge plus is the large parking lot right outside, so parking was easy and convenient. Overall, this is a great spot for a Sunday brunch, especially if you're looking for a buffet with a ton of variety without breaking the bank. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Azul P.

9 years ago

Was there last Saturday and man the wait was worth it!!!! I noticed that everyone was working fast. As soon as I got seated the busboy came right away with chips and salsa, as i ordered i was noticing that the busboy was running around cleaning tables one after another and that was very impressing because i had noticed that the other busboy was just taking his time on cleaning one table when the other one was done with 5 tables. I had ordered a table side Guacamole and the it was very delicious! I even tipped the busboy because it was very well made and it was made fast as he left i asked him his name very well mannered he answered "JR" and off he went to clean a table that had just gotten up. Now thats a hard working young man. My waiter was the nicest person every she served us really well and she was getting us everything we order. I want to thank El Torito for such an amazing service keep it up and i will always be coming back !!!!!!! read more

Brittney A.

9 years ago

This place is great! My anniversary is on Valentine's Day and most times we celebrate before or after yo avoid all the people who are celebrating Valentine's Day. This year, since it fell on a Wednesday, we thought why not try dinner, it might not be too crazy. We ended up going to this restaurant to celebrate. I've personally had El Torito Grill before but never El Torito. The manager Ralphie stopped by the table to ask how everything was and started chatting. At some point, we talked about the fact that it was our anniversary. Shortly after, Duet singers stopped by our table and serenaded us. It was beautiful! The food here was delicious of course, I fell in love with the Mexican chicken Caesar salad (I could put that dressing on everything!). But was put our dinner over the top was the experience. Ralphie was amazing and took the time to listen and be attentive. My husband and I will be coming back here again regularly. read more

Karen H.

9 years ago

I just want to let everyone know that when you head to this location, you have to ask for Ralphie. My friend and I meet for lunch every week and I mentioned craving Mexican food so she suggested El Torito. I have eaten at this restaurant many times before and absolutely love their food. The chicken mexican caesar salad is my favorite hands down! I would love to have a never ending supply of that dressing. Aside from the great food (per usual), the service was outstanding. Ralphie we so cheerful and attentive. Our chips and drinks were always refilled without us having to ask or catch his attention. Even though he was busy, he made sure that we didn't feel rushed or like our business didn't matter. More often than not, most waiters do not take the time to make you feel welcome anymore and this was quite the opposite. Please share with Ralphie that he now has another regular guest! read more

Brad S.

7 months ago

This restaurant has consistently been the worst. I have ever experienced when it comes to takeout orders. An example of what happened often happen was tonight when I ordered online a half an hour later than their current take out time. I asked for curbside service because I have a daughter with a disability who gets distressed if I leave the car for very long. We called we waited, and eventually, I went into the restaurant and hopes of finding someone there to get my takeout order. There was no host or hostess there to help. I waited and waited. There was absolutely no one available so I went back to my car and I called again and we waited until someone finally came on the phone and said they would send somebody out with the order. It was already 10 minutes later than the time due, yeah, we waited another five minutes beyond that to get our order. So take out customers beware. read more

Nina A.

9 years ago

It's been awhile since I've eaten here so it was a treat when my sister offered to take me out to dinner. I have been craving their chicken flautas and a Cadillac margarita. I have tried chicken flautas at every Mexican restaurant I have ever been to and nothing compares! Luckily I'm off tomorrow so I got to enjoy the margaritas more than usual haha Besides the food, you can always count on the service being great here. Ashley was our server tonight and I will be asking for her by name next time. She put up with my sisters indecisiveness on drinks and food, always had a smile on her face and was in such a cheerful mood. One of the managers, Ralphie, even stopped by a couple times just to make sure we were doing okay and asked if we needed anything. We made sure to let him know that Ashley was taking care of us. Its always delicious food and great service here. read more

Maria R.

10 years ago

Today my friend and I went in to grab some appetizers and drinks and sat in the bar area. Normally I don't write any reviews as I have never experienced exceptional service or terrible service. However, today was different. Ralphie was such a pleasant server to have help us. We were laughing and smiling the entire time. It was much more than just the "standard" service. He made us feel like friends/family as if we were regulars when in reality, we rarely visit this location. It was a breath of fresh air to know that there are still people out there who have a genuinely positive attitude. The food was great of course as well as this delicious margarita he told us about, I believe it was called a dueno. Overall today's experience was great and would definitely come back to visit him again, possibly this weekend when I have family in town. read more

Ray F.

11 months ago

Our recent visit with a party of 15+ was severely impacted by the inappropriate conduct of our server. Our Hispanic server was relentlessly leering and staring down the young female guests in our party, which immediately created an environment of intense discomfort --a fact noticed by our entire table. When I immediately reported this serious concern to the manager on duty, I was met with shocking indifference. I requested the server be removed from our table, but the manager was dismissive and rude, flatly stating, 'He HAS to stay there' and even remarked, 'Oh well I'm on my lunch.' This complete refusal to address a severe behavioral issue and the manager's unprofessional attitude are unacceptable. The management clearly fails to prioritize customer comfort and safety. We will not be returning and I strongly advise caution to other patrons. read more

Nancy S.

Elite 23

178

4 years ago

I recently had lunch at El Torito, and I was impressed by the fast and friendly service. The moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile from the hostess, who quickly seated me at a table. The server was equally friendly, taking my order promptly and providing some great recommendations from the menu. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly my food arrived, and it was clear that the kitchen was working efficiently to get meals out to customers. Throughout my meal, the server checked in on me regularly to ensure that I had everything I needed and that my food was to my liking. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the service at El Torito. The staff were all incredibly friendly and efficient, making for a great dining experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for fast and friendly service. read more

Stephanie V.

9 years ago

Absolutely love this place! My family and I moved to the area a few months ago and were on the lookout for a good Mexican food place. We used to live in the Fresno area and had tried the El Torito up there a few times and we're excited to find out there was one here too. The food is amazing, especially the flautas and jalapeño jelly. I could eat those every day and still keep coming back for more. The waiters and managers are all so friendly and helpful. When my husband and I came for drinks, one of the managers Ralphie, came by to see how everything was going and suggested a spicy mango mojito. They were delicious! I appreciated the suggestion to try something new as well as just ask how things were. We will be coming back here for future date nights and family nights. Our next visit will be taco Tuesday! read more

Bog D.

12 years ago

My friends from overseas are visiting and asked to take them to a mexican restaurant, so I brought them to El torito, a nice place with very reasonable prices, delicious food and great service. It took us a long time to order food, because we tried to figure out what each one of them (7 people besides me) wants and the waiter was very patient, explained all the foods and specialties. drinks, appetizers came right away, which was great. And the delicious food came right after. No waiting like in some places. The food was lovely, tried several different dishes (hard to remember all the names though) liked all of them. The portions are big and make u full. Even though the wait time was about 20 minutes, it was ok, since I was waiting for my guests anyway. Would like to recommend this restaurant to anybody. read more

El Torito - mexican - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Pasadena, California Parking near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Restaurants near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Coffee near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Things to Do near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Desserts near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Tacos near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Breakfast near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Burrito near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Smoke Shop near El Torito

BEST of Pasadena, California Shopping near El Torito

Best of Pasadena

Things to do in Pasadena

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed El Torito also viewed

Islands Restaurant

3.6

(736 reviews)

After a very long day driving back and forth between Pasadena and Irvine, I decided to stop for a…read morelate lunch before the final trip back to Orange County. I hadn't been to an Islands in quite a while, so I was looking forward to a good burger! The Maui Burger on a wheat bun was excellent, and the Cherry Coke hit the spot after a long day on the road. Unfortunately, the side salad wasn't very fresh, which was disappointing. I'd happily order the burger again, but I'd skip the salad next time. I know...never order a salad at a burger-and-fries joint! But I really didn't want fries. Oh well... Burger: #EXCELLENT Salad: Not so much.

My husband and I like the Islands Restaurants, even though we don't go there on a regular basis…read more He had fasted for a blood test at Kaiser and when he was done, decided Islands was the place to go. His meal (with a signature Mai Tai) was fine. I had to pick something on the lower range of the calorie spectrum, saw the Pacific Rim Bowl, and decided all those fresh healthy ingredients sounded good. I managed to eat most of it but didn't realize until after we left that the pineapple that was advertised in the listing as one of the ingredients was completely missing. Islands is known for its fresh pineapple and it was the missing ingredient that would have taken this dish from blah to exciting.

Yard House

3.6

(2.5k reviews)

Fast service, happy hour food and drinks always hit. Around 530pm on a Thursday, it was a 5 minute…read morewait or so. - Brussel Sprouts $7 HH: slightly sweet, but a bit too salty towards the end. Still good though and a big portion for the price. Not very crispy - Poke Nachos $9 HH: lacking on the poke and avocado. it was good, but def could be better. Parking is validated for 90 minutes

Happy Hour + 18 Hungry People = Let's Goooo! We came to…read moreYard House for Happy Hour to celebrate a colleague's company anniversary, and let's just say... celebrating is always better when there are HH deals involved! Great prices on select appetizers and drinks, so naturally, this was the perfect place. Parking is also a win! There's a designated Yard House parking area with 90 minutes free with validation, which made getting here one less thing to worry about. Ambiance is dark... perfect spot for vampires to hangout at. I got my usual Piña Colada, which was just okay, but then I tried the Woodchuck Blueberry and WOW! I don't even drink beer, but this one was surprisingly delicious and VERY drinkable. Apparently, I have a beer alter ego. But the real star of the show was the Truffle Mushroom Pizza!!!! This was my first time trying it and OMG... I wanted another one! The truffle gave the pizza that rich, earthy, savory, slightly garlicky flavor with that unmistakable "fancy forest" aroma. Combined with the mushrooms and melty cheese, it was absolutely YUMMMM! And a HUGE shoutout to Ashley, who took care of our party of 18!!!! That is no small task when you have 18 people ordering, talking, eating and probably changing their minds every five minutes. She provided excellent service and kept everything running smoothly. Overall, a fun HH celebration with good food, good drinks and great service!

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena

3.8

(760 reviews)

Food is good. Servers are very polite and attentive. They do charge 3% for credit card use.read more

My boyfriend was craving pasta so we decided to try Maria's Italian kitchen. We ordered their…read more - Calamari Fritti with Marinara - Zucchini Fritti with Ranch - Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken Breast - Medium Boulevard Pizza The food was delicious. We really enjoyed the Zucchini Fritti and the Boulevard Pizza. The calamari and the chicken Alfredo was good as well. Although I would like to have a little bit more sauce with the chicken Alfredo. The only thing that bothered us was that we put in half orders for calamari and zucchini and repeated it multiple times but when we picked up the food, they charge us for the whole. Also, we're not sure what the surcharge of $2.31 was for, so be aware of that. Other than that, we would like to come back to try other items as well.

Baja Cali Fish & Tacos

4.3

(325 reviews)

Food was very good especially the aguachiles. Service was good and very friendly. Not too busy for…read morea Saturday. Pedro was very friendly and even gave us cups of ice for our drinks since it was really hot

Pedro was super friend and fast. the tacos were out of this world. The Mexican co was perfectly…read morechilled. This place is next level

Gaucho Grill Argentine Steakhouse

4.6

(2.8k reviews)

We were staying in the area & Gaucho Grill caught our eye since we were craving a steak meal and…read morethe reviews were impeccable! Gaucho Grill did not disappoint from the service to the food. The hostess welcomed us and although last call was approaching & a huge party was being hosted that evening, she sat us promptly and Diana, our server never made us feel rushed at all. Also, thank you to hostess for being flexible with seating us in their outside patio that had a cute ambiance. Diana and Sandra were so welcoming with their energy. Diana was very thorough when explaining the menu, which I appreciated since it was my first time dining. Although there was a large party, the food came out pretty quickly considering how busy they were. We got the skirt steak - gaucho style with ceasar salad, gaucho rice & veggies. Everything tasted amazing! I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back!!!

Very enjoyable and pleasant. The food was very good! The service was prompt! The ambience was…read morerelaxing.

Hawg Heaven BBQ & Gastro Pub

3.8

(173 reviews)

We came here with another couple to see a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Neither couple heard of this…read morerestaurant but said let's find it and see what both the band and restaurant is like. Each couple bought seats separately and the man who looked up our reservations was able to put two small tables together so we could sit together. All tables were near the band with chairs facing the stage, which was really nice. Three chicken dishes and one salmon dish was ordered and we all really enjoyed our meals. Arley is an excellent server. She appeared to have a few tables around the restaurant but kept coming back to make sure all was good, if we needed anything else and getting our water and sodas refilled (for some reason none of us had any alcohol. The dinners we ordered, chicken and salmon, were delicious. The two members of the band representing Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were excellent singing both their and Fleetwood Mac songs. There are many of these "candlelight" dinners on the Fever app with tributes to lots of artists from the Beatles, Elvis, Rod Stewart and more. If you are looking for a place to eat in Pasadena before a play or anything else, check out Hawg Heaven.

Stumbled across this place as we were in Pasadena looking to find somewhere to watch the soccer…read moregame & honestly so glad we found this place. We immediately got greeted and waited about 5 min to be seated. It was such a great vibe today with DJ playing the best music. We ordered the two meat combo that came with two sides, we had pulled pork and brisket with Mac and cheese, bbq beans & mashed potatoes. 10/10!! Meat was Smokey and had the perfect amount of bbq. The bbq beans were cooked and seasoned perfectly. Truly enjoyed our meal today & kept us full almost all day, I couldn't believe it lol. Blueberry mimosas were also very yummy. Definitely would return!

Deluxe 1717

4.8

(146 reviews)

Great small local restaurant with a varied and interesting menu. They have Asian flavors like…read moreadobo, along with Peruvian, Jamaican, Cuban and tacos (mexican?). Somehow everything came iut great tasting and would come back to try other dishes! For 5 people, we ordered and had perfect amoint of food: -free crisps with mediterranean seasoning (not sure what they're called), very tasty -Hamachi crudo - interesting but good texture, as they cure it with beet juice. Has a peruvian flavor to it with the sourness of the sauce, but also comes with olives? Like I said, interesting menu -peruvian chow mien with added steak - well cooked tender steak, noodles were nice and springy as well - pork chop - very well cooked and delicious -brussel sprouts and pork belly - pork belly pieces were very small, definitely more brussel sprouts, also tasty - side of Maduros, which are sweet fried plantains, but not too sweet as they can sometimes be All in all a great meal! Neighborhood or street parking. Patio allows dogs. Fast and friendly service. Also on inkind

Deluxe 1717 is located in north Pasadena near the Hastings Ranch/Altadena area. The restaurant is…read moreon the small side and is cute. It has a small neighborhood restaurant vibe. We got the Cubano and it was good. I realized I am not a huge fan of Cubanos even though this one was pretty decent, I find all Cubanos on the greasy side. We also got the hamburger and it was solid. Service was excellent. There is street parking and there is a parking lot in the back.

foothill

4.2

(1.4k reviews)

Came here for dinner tonight & the Sea Bass special w/ coos coos and arugula salad was so tastey…read moreand fresh! Sat out in the patio area and caught the Rams / 49ers game on the screen. They say they do a live music on Thursdays nights but not sure what time that starts? Thank you Foothill staff for great service every time we've been here & getting bit by the mosquitoes tonight was worth it! Lol

Modern chic atmosphere with a great vibe, but the service was terrible. The Ahi Tuna Salad ($28)…read morewas delicious at first, and I even considered returning--until I experienced explosive diarrhea and violent vomiting afterward. DO NOT EAT THE TUNA!

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

4.1

(1.6k reviews)

•$$$

My Honey and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. We ordered Sweet Chili Calamari for appetizer and…read moreenjoyed the bread and fresh butter, Ice Tea, Orange Juice, 8oz Filet Mignon one with Lobster Tail and one with Crab, Macaroni Cheese with Lobster, Chocolate Lava Cake and a Cappuccino. Our server Sarah Y. and the entire restaurant staff all treated us warmly and were all very attentive to our needs. The ambiance was low-key and relaxing!

Service 5/5. Afive stars for Emily, our very perceptive server who made sure my moms 88th birthday…read moredinner was a happily one....with friendly fast service; she noticed my moms hands and arms were Ktaped, so she offered to extract the lobster from its shell, she offered glasses of complimentary brut champagne...and she noticed my youngest nephew didn't get a glass of wine, so she proactively brought him one when his two older brothers said yes to the complimentary wine but didn't let their kid brother have any as a joke. Kudos to the very observant concierge staff who noticed our booth was a tight fit for 3 boys all over 6 feet...so the offered to move us to a table which was more spacious. Service is exceptiona and the meal was well paced. l 5/5. Food. 3/5 My party of five ordered from the two- course prix fixe menu...two got the petitfilet with lobster, two got the short ribs with risotto, and one ordered a large filet with bone and lobster. All the lobsters were overcooked. The steaks were supposed to be medium rare or mediuim,, but they were all medium well done. The meal came with a generous salad, three of us had the Caesar and two of us had the house salad. 5/5 The house had nuts and cranberries, it was great. Our server came around with a pepper mill, also a hunk of parm for anyone who wanted it sprinkled on the salad. Nice touches. We ordered four sides, which were a la carte...Brussel sprouts..asparagus. .Fleming potatoes basically scalloped potatoes with cheese...and the mack and cheese. Great roasted al dented sprouts and asparagus...5/5...everyone enjoyed the other two but I found them too salty, and the cheese a bit overwhelming. Birthday girl loved the Fleming potatoes though. We enjoyed the warm loaf of bread but it was small and visually depressing and ungenerous. We had a table of big guys and each guy could have eaten a loaf all by themselves ......1/5 for the portion size for a table of 5.. the pumpkin butter and the brie was delicious 5/5....a nice departure from just a pat of butter. Yay for the inventive choice of bread spreads. 5/5 Parking. We parked in the structure behind the restaurant. Normally it costs 15.50 but Flemings validates. However, even though I used the QR validation code, it didn't register at the exit gate. Had to call for help, with the line of cars piling five deep behind me. Happily, an attendant answered the call and gave us our discount so parking with validation was 5.50. I noticed other patrons before and after me seemed to have a si.ilar issue. Fix the QR code please. 2/5 Ambiance. 4,/5. It was an expensive meal, but in an upscale modern spacious setting with an open kitch at the rear..., the lighting is too dim and we had to use cell phone flashlights inorder to read and study the menu...suggestion, table andles or pendant lighting...its not romantic to have to use a flashlight in order to read the menu. It was nice to try this place for our special occasion...while the food was not a wow, the service was. Wait staff and concierge staff were all bright lights in a dinly-lit albeit beautful restaurant. Place was packed and too noisy for conversation at 7 pm on a Friday nite. A nice place for special occasions.

Bobby's Place

4.2

(358 reviews)