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El Torito

4.2 (2.6k reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order El Torito Takeout or Delivery

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EL TORITO ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - El Torito

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Reviews With Photos

Margarita Flight
E. C.

1 star for total rip off $12 tacos that are only worth $2. Sat at the Bar 8:30 pm. Lousy Beef Birria Tacos. Not worth $12. So Tiny, beef was very dry, hard and tasteless. Hardly any cheese, only like 4 pieces of chopped onion & cilantro. The Consommé was a tiny teaspoon amount in a tiny cup that the taco actually fit because itself was so tiny. Kind of a joke, right guys? Am I supposed to laugh? I'm being filmed to get my reaction, right? Taco was 3 inches long and a piece of my shell was missing. For a $6 taco, the missing shell was about 50 cents worth missing. You can see it in the picture. The top taco looks like someone bit off the shell. I was starving so I ate it. Wanted to ask for another consommé, but thought they'd charge me for it. Why couldn't they give it in the same size little dish as the Salsa? Wish I took a picture of both consommé cup and salsa dish so you can see how tiny. Just imagine 4 little white consommé cups sitting inside the salsa dish and there's still room to add another. The spoon in the taco picture is a tiny teaspoon like the kind you stir coffee with. It's not a big soup spoon, folks. You can see in the picture the amount of consommé would barely fill the teaspoon. 5 stars for drinks., but pissed off about the lousy tacos. I had the Margarita flight which was yummy. $10 for 3 small glasses: regular, mango, blackberry. All were delicious but amazingly surprised by how good blackberry was. The guy next to me had the same tacos. He said same thing I said, so tiny, not worth 12 bucks, but he was starving also, so he just ate it, like I did.

Happy hour menu
Sandi T.

Came in Mother's Day for brunch , we had our reservations for 9:45 . We arrived on time and were seated immediately. Even though it was busy the service was good. The server was attentive with our drinks and getting empty plates out of the way. The food at the buffet was good. I enjoyed some Tri Tip , Chile Relleno , Chile Colorado , Rice , Salad , etc. My daughter enjoyed the pancakes and sausages too. They also had Mac & cheese , chicken tenders and corn dogs for the little ones. Overall I was glad with the buffet experience and glad we came early !

Alice Q.

Went to a hosted meeting luncheon. We had a private room that held 30. Chios and salsa were delicious. I ordered a rootbeer. Lunch was buffet style right outside the room. I started with build my own salad. Then rice and beans, cheese enchiladas and steak or chicken fajitas. The meats seems overcooked and i think could be sliced cut smaller. There was a bowl of soft cornbread and salsas, sour cream, grated cheese, tomatoes. The dessert table had individual flan and basket of individual wrapped chocolate chip cookies. There was plenty leftover but we weren't allowed to take leftovers. I need to remeber that El Torito is good for large parties with plenty of free parking.

Maggie N.

I was craving Mexican food and I haven't been here besides for the breakfast buffet. It was good and it's been years since I've been back and we got to have it so dinner. I definitely like the vibe being inside the restaurant and it was nice it was during happy hour. Service was really quick and they were very attentive and always making sure we were good. I got the 3 piece combo which I chose 1crunchy taco and 2 enchiladas. It was so good and this was what I've been craving. The chips and salsa were very good and we got the guacamole and chip which was also good. And since it was happy hour we were able to get a margarita flight and a sangria which were both good! I'd definitely come back! That happy hour is worth!

Beef enchiladas, chicken flautas, and beef tacos
Kim B.

I really enjoy eating at El Torito! As soon as we arrived, the waiter gave us chips and salsa. Yum! I always look forward to this. We ordered birria tacos, ignited fajitas supreme which has beef, chicken and shrimp, and a three item combo, which we decided to choose a beef taco, chicken flauta, and a beef enchilada. You'll get rice, beans, guacamole, sweet corn cake, and different spicy sauces, too. You can always ask for more tortillas (corn or flour) when you need it. Everything was packed with flavor! I always come back to El Torito because we get good service, good food, serving size is just right, and the ambiance is nice. It brings me back to Mexico.

Mahi Mahi tacos
Jessica Y.

The restaurant is located in the Best Buy Plaza. Lots of parking. Came and tried the happy hour. Seating in the cantina. If you want to watch a game they have TV's around. They started us off with chips and salsa and we ordered the mini tacos, carne asada fries and mahi mahi tacos along with a Margarita flight. The salsa was delicious. The margaritas were beautiful and tasty. The menu has a good variety and all the food tasted great. The mahi mahi tacos were surprisingly juicy and tasty. Staff started off a delight...until they forgot about our mahi mahi tacos, which I didn't understand because the staff who brought the other 2 dishes said before leaving and one more dish mahi mahi tacos? Nothing ever came. Finally asked the waiter who then checked it was written down but was never made. Still don't understand this when the other person verified with us. Other than that the food was good.

Bar area
Viva S.

At El Torito Pasadena on Foothill, bartender Nestor couldn't be bester. He lifted despair into delight with his supportive spirit and masterful elixirs. His skills create such comfort and cheer you won't want to leave the "nest." Heartfelt hero behind the bar! Stellar Frederico also checked in attentively. Exceptional team!

Jon R.

Came on a Thursday night, went to the bar and ordered fajitas and happy hour items. Our last visit was horrible. Staff was slow or didn't care. This visit was great. Our waitress in the bar, was amazing. She took our ordered correctly, she refilled drinks quickly, and chips. Food came out hot and tasted really good. The mini tacos and sopes had good flavor a nice hot sauce. They were presented well. Bill was about $60 for two people. We shared a lot of plates. Restaurant was clean and the bar was bright with basketball games on tv. That waitress definitely wed be back for. Manager with pony tail, was helpful and seated guests. Tonight won us back.

Juan F.

Came here on a Sunday for their buffet. The buffet price also includes drinks such as Jamaica, Horchata, Agua Frescas, Hot Chocolate, Coffee and more importantly Mimosas. The variety of the buffet exceeded my expectations. They had mole, chilaquiles, tacos, taquitos, chille relleno, rice, beans, ceviche, aguachile, salad, menudo and a full on dessert bar and a kids section with chicken tenders and fries. Overall, great meal and we enjoyed it.

Berry martini
Ivy C.

We've always past by this El Torito but never tried it so decided to give it a go. Walking in, there wasn't anyone to take you to your seat and servers didn't say anything, there was no signs either. We noticed there was a DJ (mind you this was a Thursday early night I recall) so it was surprising that they had a DJ on a weekday night. The DJ was the person who told us we can sit wherever so ok, we found an empty seat and sit down. A server came by and took our drinks order and then food order. All the food was fresh and tasted good. I love the fact El Torito gives complimentary chips and salsa which is an absolute hit when it comes to dining at mexican restaurants. I was fine waiting on food but our drinks took forever to come out and I noticed the bartender forgot to make one of our drinks that even when our food came out, our drinks did not. Our servers and manager did notice this and I do appreciate the attention to detail as I did not say anything. I know they mentioned a small discount as we have to endure the long wait unexpectedly. In the end, we did not receive the discount on the bill as promised, but I was fine without it. I just want to point this out so this restaurant knows where to improve. Their fajitas was good and fresh. I wish I could have got more tortillas. The drinks were alright and not as flavorful or strong as I expected. Thw salsa was great and I love the complement of beans, rice, and onions on the entree which was cooked well. We also got their 4 pcs taco dish from the happy hour menu which was delicious. There was plenty of parking and seating. It is a nice location on the corner of Foothill and Sierra Madre in Pasadena.

Richard

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

Thank you Gabby you have made my sister and I feel right at home. The food was tasty ant service was fabulous, did I say "FABULOUS"!!!

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5 years ago

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8 years ago

So much great food and drinks here. I love the way they have the cantina and dinner sections. Great for family I will definitely come again!

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8 years ago

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Thank You we appreciate your visit and review , please come back soon

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8 years ago

Was expecting better (past visits were better). No smoked salmon - I thought that was in the Sunday brunch? Kinda made it not worth it.

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

Great food & service ! Ashley was great ... we will definitely come back .. The place was clean & people are friendly!

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8 years ago

Went to the bar in El Torito, the bartender, Ashley was amazing! Thanks for making the best drinks hands down!!

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Thank You Emerald , we appreciate you !!!!

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Had such great service from Serema on Saturday we returned for Sunday Brunch on her recommendation!! Great service as usual, thank you!

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Thank You Maria , we appreciated you , please come back soon

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Page 54 of 66

El Torito Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - 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

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Copa Vida

4.1
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I feel like it's rare nowadays to find a coffee shop that has actually good coffee + good seating…read more Copa Vida is a classic and for good reason! They have 2 units' worth of seating space so order at the counter and just find a space to sit. They'll call your name for you to pickup unless you order a food item. Americano ($4)-- Good espresso! It wasn't mine so not much to mention haha Latte ($5.5)-- Super smooth, good ratio of espresso to milk! It was just such a good classic latte. Not too milky and espresso was good not burnt/crazy acidic or anything. Mocha ($6.5)-- The mocha is real dark chocolate vs something like Hershey's syrup. You can definitely taste the difference! Good ratio of espresso and milk and I liked the dark chocolate! But if you're used to super sweet mochas then this isn't for you! Pretty reasonable prices for Pasadena no? Or am I just used to everything being expensive. But here the vibes are really nice. They have WiFi and outlets too so lots of people had a wfh set up. There's just so much seating and enough space in between where it doesn't feel cramped.

I met with a friend here on Thursday morning and enjoyed the food! Upon arrival, you order and take…read morea seat with an assigned number. The girl taking our order was very sweet, but I must have missed the part when she said the drinks are picked up at the counter. When we received our food, we asked about the beverages - the waiter mentioned those are picked up at the counter. The barista was kind enough to remake the espresso shot for my friend since it had been sitting out for over 10+ minutes :) The food is tasty! We sat outside (perfect weather - overcast) and we shared an order of the avocado toast and the French toast plate. Good coffee, great portions with aligned price points. The inside is quite large, but it felt like something was missing... warmth/ decoration. Aside from that, Definitely recommend stopping by - I'm surprised I hadn't popped in sooner!

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Nick's South Lake Avenue

Nick's South Lake Avenue

4.5
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Was in Pasadena the other day, and had not eaten yet, so decided to go by Nick's, since I had never…read morebeen, and try a few of the items that sounded tasty on the menu. Made a reservation about an hour before, so when we got there we were seated immediately. After a quick glance at the drink menu, had to get the Mai Tai with lilikoi foam on top. So delicious. Had my first lilikoi foam in Maui and I love that I'm starting to see it around Los Angeles now. Adds such a punch of flavor to an after we balanced drink. For food, we started with the bacon deviled eggs and shrimp taquitos. Those deviled eggs were lightly fried, which was different, then had apple wood smoked bacon on top, just a really tasty bite. The shrimp taquitos were also not what you would expect, nice and light but still very good. Entrees we went with the center cut fillet and the prime rib dip with swiss cheese on a brioche bun. That sandwich just melts if your mouth after dipping it in the jous, and the cheese was the perfect accompiament. The fillet was cooked perfect as well, coming out medium rare. Overall, great restaurant in Pasadena. Definitely get the Mai Tai, Devine eggs and prime rib dip. Taquitos were good and, if you're feeling like another hg er appetizer, definitely a way to go . The fillet, also great but I feel you can get it anywhere.

Nick's rigatoni absolutely blew me away. The sauce had the perfect balance of rich tomato flavor…read moreand garlic--every bite was packed with flavor without being overpowering. You can tell they really care about getting the little details right. The biggest surprise of the meal was the asparagus fries. They were unbelievably crispy, perfectly seasoned, and honestly addictive. I don't even like vegetables, but they were so good that I literally went to the grocery store the next day and bought asparagus just to try making something similar. That's how much they impressed me. I'm already looking forward to coming back because there are so many other dishes on the menu I want to try. I just wish I remembered our server's name because she was incredible. She made us feel genuinely welcomed, had fantastic recommendations, and her friendly energy made an already amazing meal even more memorable. Nick's definitely earned a spot on my list of go-to restaurants, and I can't wait for my next visit.

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Asparagus Fries | A Nick's Original
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The Reyn

The Reyn

4.2
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Great simple diner! Service is very friendly and fast, solid food all around, and a buzzing…read moreatmosphere. Putting into my rotation of local spots for breakfast. Get a side of banana bread to go.

The Reyn is a popular breakfast spot in Pasadena and a place I still visit from time to time,…read moreusually when meeting friends or colleagues. Despite its popularity, I find the food to be fairly average. Much of it tastes like it's made from standard commercial food-service ingredients rather than prepared fresh. On the positive side, the prices are reasonable, the dining room has a pleasant atmosphere, and the staff is generally attentive. Overall, it's a decent neighborhood breakfast restaurant - nothing particularly memorable, but nothing especially disappointing either. The Reyn Special - 3/5. A classic breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, hash browns, and banana bread. The eggs and bacon are fairly average, although the bacon tends to be overcooked and dry. The standout is the hash browns. They're cooked with a nicely browned, crispy crust while still remaining fairly moist inside. The real highlight, however, is the banana bread. It tastes homemade and is easily the best item on the plate. Crepes - 1/5. This dish comes as two separate plates: one with the ricotta-filled crepes and another with eggs, sausage, bacon, and your choice of fries or tater tots. Unfortunately, the crepes are the weakest part of the meal. The ricotta-filled crepes don't taste freshly made and instead resemble a pre-made food-service product that's simply reheated before serving. Both the crepe and ricotta filling have a generic flavor with noticeable artificial notes. You can choose either banana or strawberry topping, but both sauces taste overly processed and artificial. The accompanying breakfast plate is noticeably better. I chose the tater tots, which were well prepared - crispy on the outside while remaining soft inside. The bacon, however, was again overcooked and dry, making it tough to chew. The sausage was acceptable but unremarkable. Scrambled Supreme - 2.5/5. Despite the name, this is essentially an omelet. The eggs have a mild, neutral flavor, and the fillings are okay but don't stand out. Coffee - 2/5. The coffee is classic diner coffee in every sense. It's somewhat watery, heavily roasted, and finishes with a flat, slightly bitter aftertaste. It's neither particularly good nor particularly bad - just standard coffee that does the job. Overall, The Reyn succeeds as a comfortable, affordable breakfast spot with a pleasant atmosphere and friendly service. While the food is average, and several dishes rely on ingredients that taste commercially prepared rather than freshly made.

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Inside
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Bone Kettle

Bone Kettle

4.1
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3.9 mi
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Family-owned & operated
Happy hour specials

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Bone Kettle, reservations highly recommended, indoor and outdoor dining available
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El Torito - mexican - Updated July 2026

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