There's loads parking for this location. You can be seated in the cantina or the dinning area. The staff are really nice and helpful. I did like the hidden piñata decor. The inside is welcoming for group meals. I got the Dine LA menu. The guacamole and chips were good. The chips were warm and crunchy. There's a lot of guacamole and you can easily share. The enchiladas were resl tasty. The sauce had a small kick that wasn't too spicy but left you wanting more. The bean and rice were just as good and expected. This was also a large plate is expect leftovers. The deep fried ice cream was great although a bit too sweet. It can be simplified with less syrup and whipped cream. The buñuelo being used as a bowl for the ice cream is amazing! Overall it's worth a shot to try out all the food here. I still want to try more on the menu. read more

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Great restaurant that has ample space to eat and drink. Beautiful inside and hadn't been to El Torito in years. Came out here to hang out with a buddy, who I hadn't seen in twenty years. The service was great, prices super affordable for happy hour. read more

El Torito - Coors light - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Met up with some girlfriends for lunch. It wasn't busy- we were seated in the cantina. Our waitress, Maria, came and asked us if we wanted any drinks. We ordered some drinks and then I told her I had the free tableside guacamole and showed her my phone. She said just a minute I need to get the drinks first. She came back with the drinks and asked if we were ready to order we said no she said no worries should be back. Then another waiter showed up making the tableside guacamole and we were eating the chips, salsa and guac and talking because we hadn't seen each other in a while. Maria came back and took our orders and never checked on us again, until she came to start taking some plates. My one friend ordered the bottomless soup and salad off the lunch menu, but all she got was one salad and soup. When Maria came to clear the table, my friend asked if she could have more salad because she ordered the bottomless and Maria looked at her like she had three heads. So then we were worried that she was gonna charge her for an extra salad, which she did not, however, she did charge us for the tableside guac, which should've been free and unfortunately, I did not notice until I got home. Service wasn't very good. The fact that she charged us for the free guac ($15!) was not good at all. The food was good but the company was the Best! Forgot to take pictures. read more

3.5 - Server Will is awesome . Skimpy on steak on my tacos . My plate was not cheap and to only get a few cubes of steak was absurd! It is a franchise so I didn't expect too much . Very busy but great service. Really liked the decor. Huge location. It was very busy as it was graduation time. Dad wanted to go elsewhere as he wanted actual authentic Mexican food but since we no longer have El Torito back home , nostalgia got the best of me. He was not happy with my choice. Haha! Sorry Apá, I owe ya dinner! Glad I tried it again but if ever in this area, I'd only go for drinks and chips/salsa. read more

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Oh my! What a change! The husb and I had not been to this location in years due to the bad service we received years prior. What a difference years make, we would hope, right? Food as usual was great, I got the fajitas both times we went, the husb got the steak and shrimp and the macho combo the second time. We enjoyed our dishes. I'm very picky, so I get refried beans instead of frijoles de la olla because they're spicy. I can't handle spicy foods. I usually get the corn tortillas and I make tacos with the meats and green peppers and onions. Oh yes, and the beans. They're very nice with the chips as well, we had two bowls of chips. The employees are very friendly and outgoing as well as serviceable. The restaurant was very lively and full of energy, parking was easy, the restaurant was extremely clean. We will be back since it's so close to home! read more

El Torito - FAJITAS DUO - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We are very happy that we decided to eat dinner at this restaurant. The food was great! We ordered the family fajitas for four people, and it was less than $80--an excellent value for the amount of food we received. The portions were generous, and we left with very happy, full stomachs. Our waiter, Sebastian, was amazing and very attentive. There is plenty of parking, and the restaurant was clean and well kept. read more

Been wanting to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint at all. First off the interior is absolutely massive, so many tables in two sections. The food is incredible with large portions and very tasty. They serve free chips and salsa which is a sign of a great Mexican restaurant. The guacamole was made tableside and super fresh. Everything tasted great and the staff were super friendly and helpful. read more

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Try karaoke happy hour, it's the shit! Great beer specials and appetizers. Awesome staff

The food was great and the service from Jackson was friendly and attentive. The staff and manager Karla made us feel welcomed from the moment we walked in. I recommend this restaurant and will definitely be coming back. read more

Really needed to go to happy hour for a margarita, some eats and to catch some of the Eagles v Chargers game. We come every month or so. The vibe is always good. This year has been rough for all of us in the area since the fire, its been 11 long months. Not to mention the daily stress from our country falling apart. I was really stoked when we walked in and saw the decorations. Its like it took some of the stress away and felt really inviting. I commented to the guy in front how great it was. He said that the mgr would love to hear it. Before we left Christopher came by the table I complimented him on all the work and that we really needed it. I took some shots to share on yelp. He introduced us to another manager and she told me about the decorations. So thank you all that helped, its so appreciated. Happy holidays to all the staff. read more

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Sat for 20 minutes and no service. Wont be returning ever. What would be the point? Got a lot of very earnest looks from the staff but thats all they could manage. read more

I wanted to reach out and say thank you Beto for being so attentive during our meal. This is one of my favorite brunch places, and I truly appreciated the great service and delicious food! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Came here on Father's Day and our server Randy is one cool dude, amazing service! It was busy and he always had a smile on his face. : )

Open Mic Karaoke during Friyay Happy Hour was the BESTEST! Service was slow but I had a great time! The fajitas platter was DELICIOUS and the drinks were strong. It was jammed pack and I can't wait to be back! 9/10! read more

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Showed up with my friend to eat and the service was amazing. The food was delicious, and the staff were friendly. Shout out to Maria S for being great. read more

Great food, friendly service, and generous portions. Maria S. Was great! Everything was fresh and flavorful. I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend! read more

We are celebrating a Birthday and came to our favorite Restaurant, the ambiance, Service and most important, the food, Are excellent!!! There is so much variety is hard to choose. Thanks go out to Carlos, he is Great! read more

Good Mexican brunch! Lots of options .... Enchiladas, chilaquiles, chiles rellenos etc. Great, friendly environment. Clean and comfortable. Carlos also provided great service! Definitely recommend! read more

Very disappointed I've been coming here for over 15 years I always order the tableside chicken fajita salad this time it came with the chicken. I guess you put it on yourself. It's not even table side anymore and the waiter said they changed everything on Monday ‍I also know that it comes with Romain lettuce grilled peppers, and onions this was served with just iceberg lettuce. I was so hungry. I still decided to eat and I was on my lunch break. I didn't have much time to order anything else so I continued with my mail paid full prize tipped regular 18% just wanted to share my horrible experience. read more

El Torito - Is some of the iceberg lettuce that was left behind I got grossed out. I didn't get the waiters name but today is Tuesday 1:47 PM. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We have been coming to El Torito for a few years, it's our go to for family brunch. We always the atmosphere and food choices. While I never wrote a review, I wanted to take the time to share the great service we received from Beto. He is very attentive and friendly. He made us feel welcome. I definitely recommend you come check it out. Great vibes with chill atmosphere. read more

Great atmosphere, great happy, great bartender. Came here on a Friday and was pleasantly surprised at how much fun I had. Highly recommend if you want to decompress with some drinks and laughs with friends. read more

Maria did good job keeping going she will do well on the future food is great restaurant is professional environment

Finally, after many, many years of bad everything, they got right! The cantina (bar) was neat, clean, and bright. My server was Richard who was friendly and very attentive. I had happy hour drinks and appetizers. The happy hour corn tacos made to order were generous and lots of choices to add on. A lady came to my table, as well as other tables, asking how everything was and willing to take my empty plate. Guessing she is the manager. Really appreciated having someone ask how things were! Corporate finally got right with the current management and staff. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here a couple of nights ago. The food was great and our waiter Mona was awesome! Thank you Mona for your kindness and professionalism! read more

Great food, great environment, loved the marchi. Beto was a great server and great vibes!

Delicious food, the service is fantastic we have been coming for sometimes the server was on top of it with the service and food buffet for brunch was always full the restaurant is clean and they have mariachi on Sundays so that is fun great for a Sunday brunch of celebration and our servers name is Kenia she is so great read more

El Torito - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Sofia y Jorge were very attentive and hospitable. Sofia made sure to keep checking in to see if the food and drinks were good. The ambiance was fascinating watching the Mexico game was such a great experience! We will be coming back to visit again!! Attentive service and great atmosphere is what it's all about. Let's go Mexico!! read more

Great happy hour great love this place Love the wings with abanero Karaoke love it morena the bartender is super % freely read more

El Torito - Bar - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

El Torito in Pasadena offers a vibrant atmosphere with a variety of engaging events and specials. Their Taco Tuesday, starting at 4 PM, features $3 tacos with choices like Steak, Chicken, Carnitas, and Al Pastor. Additionally, their Friday night karaoke from 9 to 11 PM adds to the lively ambiance. The service is commendable, with patrons highlighting the attentiveness of staff members like Nestor, the bartender, and Veronica, who is noted for her sweetness. The ample space.El Torito also offers daily happy hour specials from 3 PM to 9 PM in the Cantina, providing a range of food and drink options at attractive prices. Their Sunday brunch is another highlight, featuring an all-you-can-eat spread that has been perfected over the years. Overall, El Torito in Pasadena combines excellent service, engaging events, and a diverse menu, making it a top choice for those seeking a memorable dining experience. I has a great time . read more

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Had a great experience and our waiter Sebastian was amazing! He was super attentive and the food he recommended was delicious! They had fun music and we were able to watch the Dodger games too. read more

We celebrated my mom's birthday at El Torito with a group of 13 and had a great experience. The host was very welcoming when we arrived, and our server Will gave us excellent service the entire time. My girlfriend and I got there a little early, so we sat at the bar and had a beer with some complimentary chips and salsa while we waited for the rest of our party. Everyone ended up arriving late because of the L.A Marathon, but the staff was very understanding and still held our table for us, which we really appreciated. It also wasn't too packed since we arrived after the brunch rush, which made it easier for our big group to enjoy the meal. We brought my mom a birthday cake from Porto's Bakery & Cafe, and the staff kindly held it for us until the end of dinner. They even brought out a knife and plates for us at no charge--some places charge a cake fee, so that was a really nice gesture. We even shared some of the cake with the kitchen staff. For food, we ordered three family packs of fajitas--chicken, shrimp, steak, and carnitas--and everything was really good. The beans and rice were delicious, and the Mexican cornbread is always a favorite. Overall, it was a great place to celebrate my mom's birthday with family. Good food, great service, and a very accommodating staff. We'll definitely be back! read more

First time having the buffet and we really enjoyed it. The food, music and atmosphere was great!Our server hector took care of us and he was amazing! We will come back again. read more

Good food and great service! Our church group met here and had an awesome time! We recommend groups to check this place out!

Thank you to the amazing staff at the bar, morena & the bar manager! Amazing drinks and ambiance! read more

El Torito - Thank you to the amazing staff!! Amazing experience! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Maria S was amazing! The Pasadena location is lucky to have her! She is very professional and helpful! If it want for her we would not come back here! Her service was great!! Go Maria S!! read more

El Torito - Food with Maria serving - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

No taco Tuesday, but definitely happy hour time! This is our go to restaurant after our medical appointment at Kaiser. First time here for a happy hour and we loved it! We enjoyed good food with a flight of margaritas! read more

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Food is great quality all the time me and my friends come here. The wait time isn't bad either. The vibes are nice and the lighting is somewhat dim but when it is sunny the light shines through all the windows. Sunday Buffet is always good. They have a taco station, omelette station and a crepe station. read more

I picked an online order on July 4th to find an item missing when arrived at home. i called the restaurant to let the lady know I'm missing an item and she assured me I would get a refund for the missing item. But the charge remained. read more

Salvador was a great server - very attentive, and served our food with a very pleasant attitude!!! We had a very awesome experience! The food and drinks were fire !! The place was clean - the music wasn't so loud - loved it ! read more

Our server was Maria S. and she's was informative about our brunch options, mimosas are included with our brunch, so we didn't want to miss out on that. Maria has been very attentive with all her tables. There are so many food options. All Mexican themed food options along with your traditional breakfast omelettes, waffle, bacon and pancakes. All very delicious and worth the brunch cost. There is also live mariachi. I would consider coming here again with family. read more

El Torito - This is the taco station the al pastor so delicious with the fresh grilled onions - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California