Came in to El Torito for a last minute date night! We knew there was happy hour, but we didn't know about the $2.99 margaritas!! Hubby was so happy. Food 9.5/10 - Queso Dip 9.5/10 (i like my queso a little thicker) - Birria Tacos 10/10 (sooooo good! Especially for the happy hour price) - Guac 10/10 (I love me so guac, and this one was bomb!) - Carne Asada fries 10/10 - 3 margaritas 10/10 Everything was so good. We both hadn't been here for quite a few years and we were really blown away by the great food, great drinks, and great service! Our servers Memo and Brian were so attentive and really made us feel welcome. We will definitely be back for an other date night! read more

El Torito - $2.99 Margs all day on Monday! - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

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Came to this location yesterday by myself as I was having one of those days where I felt I needed to treat myself. The staff from the moment I walked in lifted my spirits and made me feel welcome everybody was so nice and very thoughtful I can say they actually care about their guests. From the host down to my server and as well as the manager. I ordered the sizzling fajitas , flautas , and I ordered some stuff to go and everything was delicious and well portioned. I asked to be seated somewhere I could enjoy my food without feeling the weight of everyone else around me and they exceeded my expectations . I also want to thank the gentleman who made my night (I believe the manager), "no such thing as a bad day" it brought tears to my eyes because you are right ! Thank you to everyone as well as my server Higinio. I'll be back :) read more

El Torito Torrance is a great place to enjoy a leisurely Sunday Brunch! It's AYCE with bottomless mimosas, coffee, iced tea, orange juice, and soft drinks. There's a fantastic selection of Mexican entrees, a salad station, soup station, omelette bar, dessert station, kiddie station (has small boxed cereals, milk, fries, chicken nuggets), and drinks like cucumber melon, horchata, and jamaica. The price is $36.99 for each adult and $13.50 for each child. Be aware that there is an additional 4.99% surcharge added to your bill before tax. This surcharge is generally a fee charged by the credit card companies, which the restaurant passes on to the customer. As we were celebrating a birthday, we had a party of eight people and we paid in cash. We pointed this out to our server, but he insisted that the purpose of the change was "to keep (us) from having to increase prices". It's not the server's fault, so we just shrugged it off. I do want to note that we had a party for the AYCE Sunday Brunch the week before this at the El Torito Lakewood. They removed the fee from the bill. This is a fairly small location. It's definitely not as big as the El Torito Lakewood but the selection of food is just as good. The mariachis do not perform at this location. I still think the Sunday Brunch is a pretty good deal. read more

El Torito - A birthday dessert - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Stopped in for a quickie bite! The service here was fantastic. Everyone we encountered was so nice and accommodating. It was so refreshing to encounter people working in the restaurant industry and just being so nice. Shoutout to ANGEL!!!! he was sooo nice and he sat us at our table! Food was delicious and drinks were top tier!! Will definitely come back!! read more

El Torito - Citrus - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

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The shrimp enchiladas are sooooooo good, 10/10! Shoutout to our amazing server, Juan Carlos on his recommendations, friendliness, attentiveness and drink suggestions! Mexican candy shots are a must! Would come again read more

El Torito - Mexican candy shot - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Are go to place for brunch food is always so good. Juan Carlos did an amazing job, very attentive to our needs and ensuring that our experience was enjoyable. The menu offered a delightful variety of dishes, each more tempting than the last. read more

El Torito - Menudo - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Had a great Birthday celebration, Service is great and food is good. Toribio, Edgar and Juan Carlos made us feel special, thank you! read more

We came here with a big party for my niece. We had the best service with yusmely. She was wonderful. Kept the champagne glasses full. Amazing smile and great service read more

Sunday Brunch at its best...The service is excellent and the food is so delicious. The staff surprised my Daughters and sang Happy Birthday with delicious Flan and a candle. I will bring my family back for Mother's Day to enjoy the Mariachis. read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

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Memo was great! Awesome service! Food delicious. Thank you to the manager, Brian, for making sure our drinks were to perfection! read more

El Torito - Birria Tacos, Macho Combo, blackberry margarita - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Excellent service!!! The best el torito ever!!! The food is amazing and our server higinio is the best!!! Definitely will be coming back!!

So many choices! We made a reservation for 7 for Sunday brunch, this is the second time visiting and first time during brunch, area is very clean and organized, personnel friendly, the restaurant has a welcome vibe, prices are fair considering there are dozens of choices, food is fresh and has a homemade taste. Will definitely be back read more

El Torito - Menudo - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

This El Torito has been around a long time. I realized how valuable this location is to the area. The staff have always friendly and helpful. Service is on par and the wait for food is minimal. I came here recently to redeem my birthday entree Reward (with sign up for their reward program). We opted for the bar area to access their happy hour menu. Here you can order both happy hour items and regular menu items, the best of both worlds. I ordered the Sea Taco Trio with Shrimp. It was great and the shrimp was delicious, however I preferred the salsa to add extra flavor vs. the sauce it came with! The chips and salsa are delicious! The chips are nice and warm and I couldn't get enough of the salsa. It has a little kick/spiciness but very very good. I loved it so much, I couldn't finish my main meal. My son picked the chicken tenders with a side of fruit for his kid's meal. This had a good seasoning. Although this is not a specialty of theirs, it was a really good deal: choice of kids entree, side dish and a sundae for a really good price. Happy Hour for the margaritas is a must! Such a great deal especially in today's economy. The happy hour mini tacos is filling as this comes with 4 mini tacos, however seems to have a bit more refried bean and chorizo filling than the actual steak pieces. Great for $6! Overall we had a great experience. read more

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I really want to give this place more stars but the reason why is the portions for lunch is so tiny! I have my hand out for a comparison. This fajitas is for a small child portion size who's maybe be under 6 yrs old.even for my child who is 9 yrs old is not enough food for her. The fajitas is actually pretty good tasting for a chain. The service here is very friendly and on top of it. Ambiance is casual and simple. Hopefully after they read this and maybe other people's comment they will modify to a bit bigger portion to match their prices. read more

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It's been years since I've visited El Torito and so when I saw they were part of dineLA this year I knew it was time for another visit. I have fond memories of visiting El Torito with my parents during their Sunday brunch. For this dineLA, I got to experience dineLA in different way - for dinner! Their dineLA dinner offering is $35 for a 3 course dinner. The first course was the appetizer. I chose to get their Crispy Flautas, while my friend chose to get their Tortilla Soup. The Crispy Flautas appetizer consisted of four grilled chicken and cheese flautas topped with cotija cheese and crema fresca. It was served with jalapeño jelly and red pepper dip. Though this dish was called "Crispy Flautas," I did feel that the "crispy" was by name only. It was not as crisp as I would have liked. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this appetizer. It was packed with ingredients and flavors. The dipping sauces were good but not necessarily needed because the flautas with the crema fresca were already rich and tasty. The only thing lacking was the crispness. I tried a bit of my friend's Chicken Tortilla Soup and enjoyed the warm broth with chunks of chicken, avocado and tortilla strips. This was a good, light starter. For our main courses, we opted to get the Fajitas Duo with grilled chicken and skirt steak and the Carne Asada and Shrimp plate. When the Fajitas Duo came, I was surprised that it wasn't served sizzling. I'm used to having restaurants serve fajitas sizzling and smoking hot (the kind of sizzling where your clothes end up smelling like food at the end of the meal). The fajita dish was warm but definitely not sizzling. It was a little bit of a bummer but the most disappointing thing was the meat was dry. I felt both the chicken and skirt steak lacked juiciness. The side guacamole (which they initially forgot to give), definitely helped with this. The grilled vegetables also gave it a bit more flavor. I would honestly pass on fajitas next time. My friend's Carne Asada and Shrimp seemed to be the better entree. Even though this plate also consisted skirt steak, the steak for this dish was more tender and flavorful. It perhaps could be the pico de gallo that it came with. The third course was dessert. I got the Deep Fried Ice Cream and my friend got the Flan. The Deep Fried Ice Cream was a winner! I loved the crisp outer shell and the vanilla ice cream that was topped with cinnamon sugar coating. This dessert was delightful and delicious! The flan was also really enjoyable. The rich vanilla custard was smooth and sweet. I can without a doubt say dessert was the best course because of this flan and the ice cream. Overall it was nice to be back at El Torrito after so many years. dineLA definitely gave a nice opportunity to try out a variety of their offerings. I did feel like there were a few misses but nothing too bad. (The fajitas were too dry for me. I also noticed their chips were not that crisp). Nevertheless there were also some memorable and tasty dishes. (Don't skip on the dessert). For $35, I definitely left happy and full. read more

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I had the street tacos, again, probably for the fifth time. I love the ingredients and the provided salsa. The blend makes for great flavor. For the appetizer we had the "fresh tableside guacamole." Not our first time ordering this item but it not prepared at our table. Frankly we enjoy the show and it was a bit disappointing for it to be brought of the kitchen in a bowl. But it will tasted goof, although a bit on the warm side. The waiter asked if we wanted more chips since there were only a few on the plate. The place was busy and the chips didn't come to our table for over 5 minutes. Not a big deal. We felt a bit rushed as the main courses were brought out by the server well before we finished the appraiser. That's why I dropped a star considering the waiters and servers are usually very attentive. Hopefully next time will be better. Parking till good in their big parking lot. It's a nice location read more

El Torito - Create your own. - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Always a excellent choice. I used to frequent this location before making it out to Chargers Games at Sofi. Reasonably priced brunch with all you can drink mimosas. You can never go wrong by dining here. Service is on point and their dining area is clean, comfy and welcoming. Be back again soon. read more

My mom and I decided we wanted Mexican food while we were out shopping so we chose El Torito on Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance. The restaurant was clean and we were immediately greeted with friendly, fast service. Once seated our waiter came to greet us. He was very nice and attentive. He always gave us updates on when our food would be ready and even asked us if we had any food allergies as we were ordering. I got a small bowl of chicken tortilla soup. The avocado had several dark areas like it had been sitting out too long. Our waiter immediately apologized and brought me a fresh cup with perfect slices of avocado. My mom ordered a chicken taco and chicken enchilada with rice and beans. I ordered the lemon rosemary chicken fajitas with rice and beans. Our food was hot, fresh and seasoned well. Of course I ate too many chips with that delicious and a little spicy salsa and had to take my food home. My mom too! The next day we both warmed up our food and it was delicious. I even shared my fajitas with my husband who also said everything tasted good. I totally forgot to take pics of our meals!!! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Diego was nothing short of amazing. Great service, very accommodating. I'm definitely asking to be in a section next time.We come back! read more

We had an awful meal on 12/22/25 with slow service. The food tasted like salt was the only seasoning left in the kitchen and had it not been so expensive, we would have left without eating. Our server kept disappearing for quite a while and the other was too busy rolling napkins to help in any way. read more

El Torito - All salty and not good. - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Excellent customer service with higinio..love his service always so attentive helpul polite everytime we come hes always giving his best with every customer..sometimes the only reason we come here its because of him.. lily!!!! read more

Today we had a Great brunch for Mother's Day! Food as always was great but the service was even better!!!

There was no wait time and we were seated promptly. The food was fresh and really good. The cooks were friendly and our waiter Juan Carlos was very attentive, polite and friendly. The ambiance was perfect and allowed for good conversation with my companion. read more

We had such a great experience at El Torito on Hawthorne Blvd! The food came out fresh and flavorful, the drinks were amazing, and the portions were generous. The staff was super friendly and attentive the entire time, and the atmosphere was fun and welcoming. Everything from the chips and salsa to the entrées was really good. Definitely one of the better spots for Mexican food in the area -- we'll absolutely be coming back! Gino is an amazing server! read more

Excellent service. We were able to walk right. Our server Juan Carlos was absolutely the best.

Not awful, but not great. Nice warm chips with salsa to start. The $15 guava margarita was all syrupy- way too sweet. The fajitas had about 4 thin strips of bell pepper and the onions and peppers were burned-black. There may have been a whole tablespoon of guac (that's probably generous). Sour cream was $2 more! The steak was tough and overcooked. Just not great. Portions were OK, except for the guac. Expected better for $30. The server was nice, but did he need to circle the tip amounts on the receipt (starting at 18%)? read more

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Came for the Sunday brunch and our server was Ernesto! I nicknamed him "Ernesto the Besto!" because he was LITERALLY the BEST! The food was excellent, so many options and something for everyone. Ernesto was soooooo attentive and the bus crew were on it with clearing the plates! Such a wonderful time celebrating our girls birthday! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

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Isabel took care of my mom and I at our table. It was my mom's birthday and she created such a lovely environment! 10/10 thank you for making my moms day great. read more

Memo was awesome, came for the fajitas and left with an amazing experience. 5 stars. Place is a staple. read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

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Our food was fantastic, fresh, and hot. Our server Gerardo checked on us often and made sure our drinks were never empty. Brian the manager also checked on us. I'd come back again. read more

Had a great experience at El Torito thanks to Ernesto! From the moment we sat down, he was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal. Our drinks stayed full, the food was delicious , and he checked in just the right amount to make sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. Ernesto's positive attitude and professionalism really stood out. It's clear he takes pride in providing great service and making guests feel welcome. Because of him, our whole dining experience was smooth and enjoyable. If you visit El Torito, definitely ask for Ernesto -- he'll take great care of you. Highly recommend! read more

Our wait went above na beyond for his service , very attentive food came out quickly I would go back.

Service at El Torito was 10/10--chill, laid-back vibe. I ordered the two chicken enchiladas, and Carla was outstanding--so kind and sweet. The house salsa is amazing!. read more

El Torito - 2 CHICKEN AND SOUR CREAM ENCHILADAS - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Had a great experience at el torito! The salsa has a really nice flavor and a nice medium heat. The waiter was very nice and quick! I always had a full water and was being checked on frequently! The food came out fast and fresh. I would have liked a little more sauce on my enchilada. The steak was juicy and tender and the chicken was seasoned well. My beans were wrong but they fixed it quickly. The rice needed a bit more seasoning. All in all it was tasty and I recommend it, read more

El Torito - Fajita combo and SIZZLING ENCHILADAS - GRILLED CHICKEN - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

OMG! The service was excellent and the food was wonderful too. Isabella was my server and she took care of me and my party as if we were family. She was kind, welcoming, warm, and friendly to us. Our food was hot, fresh, delicious with nice size portions. Isabella came over several times to make sure we were happy and satisfied. She is very passionate about the customers she serves which is a characteristic that isn't shared with those who work in the customer service industry. Only the special people have this trait and Isabella is the "Real Deal!" Thank you so much Isabella for your kindness and for taking great care of us. We will definitely be back. read more

Came in for a quiet Taco Tuesday about 5pm in the bar. We had Daniel as our server and met Karla behind the taco bar who served us. She had a very friendly personality and excellent customer service skills. She welcomes you with a smile while she fills your plate. She was even courteous enough to ask if I wanted all my sides on the same plate, as some prefer a separate plate. The excellent service and the yummy tacos will have us coming back for more!! HIGHLY recommend the potatoes btw they're delicious!! Daniel also provided excellent service as we've had him multiple times and always look forward to his hospitality. read more

El Torito - Taco Tuesday - Carnitas, corn cake, potatoes - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California

Isabel, thanks for making our lunch a good time! El Torito is an OG restaurant, and this location didn't disappoint. The Strawberry Cilantro mocktail is good. Enchiladas, chips and salsa all good. Service from Isabel was fantastic! Thx read more

Haven't been here in years. I remember the guacamole being very good...and it did not disappoint. Still the best. From the get go, the host was very friendly, asking how our day was and wishing us a Happy New Year. Memo is an excellent server. Having been in the restaurant business for many years, I recognize a good server, and Memo is among the best. More often than not, service is not notable, but Memo was very attentive and a very good up-seller ( something only those in the business recognize). My wife ordered a margarita and he asked, "large or small" but with a Jedi Mind trick to get us to order the large. His table-side preparation on the guac was on par. He was always around and could read the table when we needed something, not that we needed anything, but he was there. Thanks for the great service Memo! read more

Amazing service! Thank you Guillermo, Rafa, and Edgar! Food was amazing..drinks were amazing. You guys are amazing.

I can only speak for the nachos and they were just okay. Nothing about was amazing or bad, but it felt a little lackluster and texture became interesting after 5 mins. What i do like about el torito, is their salsa and chips, despite the nachos having many of it lol. The vibe/design at this spot is much like the other locations. It feels welcoming and the staff are friendly. Definitely a good spot for big parties. read more

El Torito - Rams Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Torrance, California