We celebrated my grandma's birthday at El Torito and it was such a wonderful experience! The service and food were both amazing. Our party kept growing throughout the meal as more family members joined, and the staff was incredibly accommodating and kind about adjusting our table each time. The brunch options were fantastic with both sweet and savory choices. My personal favorite was the omelet bar it was fresh, delicious, and made exactly how I wanted it. They also had great kid-friendly options like fries and mac and cheese, which made the little ones very happy. The service really stood out. The staff kept our champagne glasses filled and were attentive without being intrusive. I also loved that they had aguas frescas available for guests to serve themselves, which meant no waiting around for refills. And the sweet bread selection was a perfect touch to round out the meal along with their chocolate strawberry fountain and ice cream. Overall, it was a great place to celebrate a special occasion. The ambiance of mariachi singing and dancing in the back also added special element. Excellent food, wonderful service, and a very accommodating team. We'll definitely be back! read more

Stopped by El Torito for the first time recently and had a really great experience, largely thanks to our server, Victor Perez. Victor was attentive from the start and checked in with us often throughout the visit. He made sure our drink was never empty, kept a great attitude the entire time, and was genuinely friendly and welcoming. It's always nice when a server takes pride in what they do, and Victor definitely does. Since it was my first time there, he also took the time to recommend a few things to try, which I really appreciated. His suggestions were great and helped make the experience even better. Victor was professional, personable, and truly made the visit more enjoyable. Great service like that really stands out. Huge shoutout to Victor Perez, keep up the great work! read more

Zero stats, third time in a row. Place used to be decent but now this place is horrible. 30 minutes in, barely got our drink order in and I guess they no longer have kids menus. Had to go to the bar to ask for chips and salsa because it wasn't offered by our waitress. Was told they've been out of salsa all day, it's barely being made and ready. Funny, the other tables had salsa and chips. Never got it anyways 30 minutes in, drinks aren't even being made. How do we know this? We are sitting at a table in the bar. Hey but the bartender is chilling. 35 minutes in and we just left. No drinks made, no water, no chips, no salsa. Third time the service has not only been horrible but it down right sucks. Skip this place, go somewhere else. I love their el dueno margaritas but that's not worth the poopy service. No, they were not busy. read more

I am going to change my review as this visit was TER-RIF-IC. Seating at the bar was immediately and Cassandra & Brooklyn took very good care of us. Food was delish, drinks were tasty and reasonably priced (happy hour is 3pm til9pm daily) So happy El Torito has redeemed themselves. Sports on the Telly, good drinks, good food read more

Great happy hour daily from 3-9pm. Great options for their happy hour. The food was great, the servers were very attentive. It was a bit busy but the staff managed it well. Recommend coming here for their happy hour, had a great time. Despite being busy, the restaurant was clean throughout the visit. read more

El Torito - QUESO DIP Sopes Classic margarita - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Came for Sunday brunch with a friend. We made reservations through OpenTable and paid using the inKind app, which offers cashback. While brunch is on the pricier side, it was absolutely worth it. The selection was excellent, and everything we tried was delicious. Despite arriving a few minutes late, we were seated right away. Our server was friendly, attentive to keeping the table clean, and respectful of our conversation. The only minor downside was a delay in getting the check, but overall it was a great experience. I'll definitely be returning. read more

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We have gone to El Torito many times and had good experiences, but the Father's Day buffet was the worst ever. We had a large group, so we thought the buffet would work out best so that everyone could try whatever they liked and we could eat basically at the same time. Unfortunately, a lot of the food was lukewarm, dry, crusty, burnt, and rice in the desserts was hard/not fully cooked. Everyone was disappointed at a premium price for this special buffet. The server was wonderful for drinks and clean up. Our reservation was 2 hours before the end of the buffet time so we were surprised by the condition of the food presentation, somebody dropped the ball with food prep and presentation. Our Father still had a good time, but we would never do a buffet at this location again. read more

A group of us came for breakfast on a Saturday with a reservation. Now they have a breakfast buffet on Saturday and it looked really good!! A couple of our group tried it and were pleased. I got the Breakfast Burrito with ham and the beans inside and it was delicious. My hubby had the Breakfast Combo with bacon and he said it was good. Everyone else liked the Monterey Omelette & Huevos Rancheros. The staff was friendly and let us stay to chat for quite a while. read more

El Torito - Chilaquiles with scrambled eggs - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Kassandra our waitress!! Wow! She just redeemed this location for me. My husband and I had not had good interactions in the past. So much so that we stopped coming to El Torito at Riverside Plaza. Sure driving to other locations was a pain in the rear but we did not want to chance bad service. Well tonight was redemption day for this location! Kassandra and Ruben made our night amazing!! UNFORGETTABLE!!! These two staff members truly define customer service at its BEST!! Ruben is very thoughtful and acknowledges customers the second we sat at the table , I was even taken off guard as I expected to not be acknowledge until 25 minutes after , like before. Then Kassandra with her sense of humor had me laughing all the time I was there. This was whole heartedly the BEST! Dinning experience I've had at this location. P.S. to the manager ... both Kassandra and Ruben could be leaders on customer service training to all employees ! read more

El Torito - Happy hour great - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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El Torito used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but this last visit was so bad I will never go back to this location again. The service was rude, the food was unsafe, and honestly the whole experience made me question their kitchen practices. First problem: the chips they served were STALE and RANCID. Rancid oil is not just gross, it can actually make people sick. We told our waitress politely and she acted like we were annoying her. She said she would bring another basket and if those were bad too, she would ask the kitchen for a fresh batch. When she FINALLY brought the second basket, it was even worse. The oil still tasted spoiled and old. That means they are either reusing oil way too long or storing chips in a disgusting way. Then she drops off our so-called "table side guacamole" which was already mixed, and tasted like straight lime juice. Not fresh at all and definitely not worth $17.50. When we tried to tell her about the chips again, she snapped at us and said she was "still handing out food" at another table. She could have just said she'd be back. Instead she chose attitude... acting like we're inconveniencing her. She came back five minutes later, we repeated the issue again, and she reluctantly said she would "see if the kitchen will make a fresh batch." So why didn't she do that the first time? But, we gave her the benefit of the doubt. "Big mistake....BIG. HUGE." Finally we get a basket of fresh chips that were actually good. Then a second waitress comes over, asks us if we needed boxes (yes). And I ask for more of the fresh chips so I take it to go. I told her they made us fresh chips because our first chips were stale. She hesitates, like I asked for my meal for free. So, she brings back a basket and guess what? It was the original nasty chips we had sent back!!!!! The broken basket and the tips of the chips being gone (as I was trying to see if they were all stale) gave it away. This means they are reusing chips that were already on someone else's table. That is disgusting and a major food safety issue. I was livid and was ready to leave...they didn't care. One more thing. When my husband asked the first waitress if she had tasted the chips, she said, "I don't even like our chips." So she knew they were bad but served them anyway. That says everything. The soup was bland and the only good thing we had was the salad. The salad was REALLY good and the crispy tortilla shell it comes with was fresh. But none of that matters when you are dealing with rude staff, rancid food, and possible cross-contamination. We did not leave a tip because bad service does not deserve a reward. They charge a 4% service fee without letting you know anyways.... I should have asked for a manager but honestly I do not trust this place anymore. People deserve to know how they run this location. Reusing chips and serving rancid oil is not just lazy, it is a health risk. Eat at your own risk!!! read more

El Torito - "Tableside Guacamole" and rancid chips! Yuck! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Great food super awesome service came in for a late lunch, and the whole atmosphere was great! Just had to add some more pictures of the food they have! read more

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Fernanda was great. I got the mahi mahi tacos and they were dry and not very good. We asked for the birria tacos instead. She was able to get the uneaten dish removed. She was pleasant and friendly. read more

Toritos is conveniently located in Riverside Plaza, and after coming here a few times over the years, I finally decided to leave a review. We visited on a Friday at 1:35pm to catch their lunch specials before 2pm. Despite only three patio tables being occupied, we were told there'd be a 15-20 minute wait. At 1:55pm, I confirmed with the hostess that we'd still qualify for lunch specials, which she assured. Unfortunately, service was the low point. After being seated, we had to actively flag down our server, who had ignored more subtle cues. We ordered two El Dueno Margaritas ($17.75 each) which come with a mini bottle of Grand Marnier. While the price was fair, the drink was disappointing--overly sweet with a low-quality mix that didn't let the premium ingredients shine. The food didn't impress either. The Fajitas Chiquitas looked nothing like the menu photo--pale and a bit dry. The Chicken & Sour Cream Enchilada was equally underwhelming and lacked flavor. Ironically, the salsa may have been the highlight of the meal. With so many great Mexican restaurants in the area, it's hard to understand why this place draws such crowds. read more

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The food was great! Definitely recommend the birria tacos. They are very attentive, but the only disappointing thing I can say was, we went when there was a special taco bar and the waitress didn't let us know about it. Since we did get tacos and probably could've been cheaper. We did hear other waiters/waitresses tell other people about it after we had already ordered. And the ambience is very nice and they play Spanish music which is nice and nostalgic. read more

El Torito - BEEF BIRRIA TACOS - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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We came here about two hours before they close. The service was great, food was good and we like the ambiance. We enjoyed our meals but the competition for Mexican food is fierce out here. Overall, this is good place and I recommend it. read more

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We love to order the chicken Caesar salad from El Torito. The salads were always fresh, healthy and delicious. Last night I ordered several salads and the ingredients have changed! The salads were filled with boring iceberg lettuce instead of romaine, a much smaller amount of chicken slices and the chips were stale. I'm so disappointed and am hoping this isn't a permanent change. If so, I won't be ordering again. read more

I had the new torta sandwich and it was not good. There was very little meat and it was stringy. Prices have gone way up, quality gone way down. I ate there again and the beans were like flavorless soup. Not going to return. read more

Great food, service Given by Brooklyn. We were seated outdoors on a hot day and she made sure we had ice cold water and drinks coming! read more

We had the best brunch today and excellent service from Victor P! Can't wait to visit again!

I recommend this place. This is the only El Torito we go to because the service is immaculate. So many servers here are great! Especially Victor Perez. Hands down, best server I have ever seen. Very detailed and is always asking what we need. I recommend to come here and ask for Victor. You won't be disappointed. read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Food was great! Victor P was amazing. We have had him several times. Every time he is very accommodating and attentive. He's our favorite. We always ask for him to be our server. Please give him a raise. read more

Ordered takeout from this restaurant and, unfortunately, they got one of my items completely wrong. We had ordered the chicken fajitas and the skirt steak salad. The chicken itself was white meat, juicy, and flavorful, though the portion size felt pretty small for the price point. The salsa was a highlight--clearly house made, with just the right amount of spice and a fresh, chunky texture that stood out. While the quality of the food was solid in parts, the combination of the order mix-up, small portions, and very high prices makes it hard to justify ordering from here again. read more

El Torito - chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I've been coming to El Torito for 15+ years. The service from Fernanda was great, the food was good, but the 4% dining fee is extremely annoying. It's not a credit card processing fee, it's another charge for merely visiting a beloved restaurant. read more

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Went for the Sunday Brunch and all of the food was delicious! They had an immense variety of food; from seafood to tacos, sopes, quesadillas, enchiladas, chilaquiles, omelets, soups, esquites & a handful of desserts! Our server Erika was quick to take our drink order and brought coffee to the table right away! She was very friendly and quick to take the plates away from the table, making sure we weren't needing anything! Will be back! :) read more

Food was great. We drove from Menifee to come and eat El Toritos chile relleno. My dad's fav. Our waitress Pascuala was professional, and was going over and beyond to make our experience great. Only minus from this experience was that the food took a long time to come out. Turns out they have a change in shift and there was only one cook back there. By the time we got our food we had filled up on chips and salsa. Which are amazing by the way. I miss their vegetarian enchiladas which were removed from the menu I came to find out. Ambiance was chill. read more

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Amazing service! Good vibes all around, and good was very yummy!! Definitely one of my favorite food spots to frequent :)

We took our big family to dinner Sunday evening. Bella was our server. She was efficient, patient, an incredibly kind. She made our experience fantastic as she was serving us. I looked around the table and and saw my family with big smiles on their face as they interacted with her. We're very thankful for such service. read more

Hey El Torito, your happy hour menu says "draft pints for $4" but when the beer came it was filled to the first line, which is 12 oz. It is not possible to put 16 oz. in a plastic cup that only holds 14 oz. to the brim. Wonder what you pour is on your mixed drinks. When we asked the waitress at the bar she said "yes it's 16 oz., everything is measured." Hmmmm, I think she doesn't know her measurements. Tortilla soup was not what it used to be, broth was watery, no depth of flavor. Chips tasted like they were fried in stale grease. Tacos were just ok. So disappointed! Loved our server. read more

El Torito - Empty beet cup - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Went in to buy just chips and salsa. Took the longest time and then gave me stale chips. If you are going to have chips and salsa, have them while you're there eating a meal. read more

Amazing service Classy Polite Professional Ms Fernanda was great Taco station: great Will be back. read more

Went shopping at Nordstrom Rack and stopped here for happy hour. Kassandra helped us out in the cantina and she was absolutely the best and even managed to keep us laughing. The happy hour order was really tasty and the prices were even better. Definitely give them a try. read more

Victor, took care of us!! Made our Christmas morning brunch feel special, Thank you Victor ! read more

Rolled into El Torito in Riverside looking for a margarita and a moment--and kinda got both. Ordered the house marg, which leaned more "vacation juice" than "kick in the pants," so I had to back it up with a shot of tequila to level things out. Crisis averted. The real MVP of the night? The Mexican Caesar salad. Honestly, shockingly good. Crunchy, flavorful, and way more satisfying than I expected from a salad. I'd go back just for that. Service was... let's call it "leisurely." The bartender was clearly doing the job of two people, bless them, but it meant a bit of a wait for drinks. If management reads this: hire that person a co-pilot behind the bar. They've earned it. All in all, solid night, great food, and with just one more bartender, this place would be firing on all cylinders. read more

Amazing brunch. Best deal in town plus unlimited mimosas. Staff was great Christian (female) was our server. She checked on us and made sure everything was refilled. Food was great especially taco bar. Unlimited for $40 what a deal read more

$39.95 Thanksgiving Day buffet for adults with unlimited mimosa! The carving station served the Thanksgiving must-haves--ham and turkey. The made-to-order Taco station had six different tacos to choose from, two soups, tamale plates, holiday veggies, and giant cut sweet yam. The kids' section had mini dogs, chicken fingers, cookies, fresh juices, and horchta. It was such a great deal for the holiday meal, and all the staff were friendly. You can feel the restaurant management really wants to create a happy holiday meal experience for their guests! Thank you for having us today :) read more

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We went to El Torito for Easter Bruch we had a party of 12 had reservations got in with in 5 minutes, our server Victor P was awesome continuous mimosas yummy omelette, bar, fresh tortillas, and tacos cleaned up the table right away our food was good Everyone was very friendly. The restaurant was very clean:) read more

Be prepared to wait!! Our server was kind and helpful, but it was hard to flag him down when we wanted to order and when we wanted to get our check. The food was good and flavorful. Our favorite was the sizzling chicken which had a unique smoky flavor and the table side guacamole. The restaurant seemed clean and lively! read more

El Torito - SIZZLING ENCHILADAS - GRILLED CHICKEN MACHO COMBO - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I love their Sizzling Enchiladas. Last time I came they only had 1 server. The poor lady was working so hard to keep up. I gave her a good tip. Today I went for dinner, they told me it was 5 to 10 min wait. I waited 30min. They were short staffed again Many customers walked out and the manager turned away a large party saying it would be a 2 hr wait. If they don't make it, it will be their own doing. Such consistent bad costumer service is not OK. read more

I just gotta say...Jazmin at the bar was amazing! We came for Sunday brunch and sat at the bar, which was wide open. She kept our mimosas and margaritas full the entire time. The food is great...the service is great...the drinks are great! read more

El Torito - Mimosas and margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Our server Cynthia is Rock star caliber. She bar tends too. So she does it all and it shows. Ask for the hot brown chili to mix with the mild. Everything was outstanding ! read more

El Torito - Dous taco lunch special - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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