Driving home from Indianapolis, we stopped for lunch at El Toro in Dayton. It turned out to be one of the best meals of my Midwest trip. We started off with some chips and salsa, and let me tell you, the salsa was tremendous. Lots of flavor, not too bad heat, just excellent. I ordered the Fajitas Texanas with Shrimp, steak and chicken ($15.95). I was pretty surprised when that order translated to three plates of food, actually it was kind of embarrassing. Plate # 1 was a big pile of fresh and warm corn tortillas. Plate # 2 was a dish of sauteed shrimp, steak, chicken, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. The seasoning was terrific and the dish was absolutely superb. Plate # 3 was fixings to top off your fajitas -a big plate of rice and beans and lettuce and pico with a scoop of guacamole. Unbelievable. The dining room is colorful an inviting with yellow walls and colorful banners hanging from the ceiling. Lots of Mexican kitsch all over gives the place a fun vibe. My epic fajita and a chicken quesadilla ran just over nineteen bucks. Excellent food at an excellent value. read more

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I thought it was in need of decor update. The restrooms were okay and the urinal was closed. The stalls had missing screws in the mounting to the wall. The salsa lacked any kind of flavor. I had the chicken chimichanga and it was just okay and it also really lacked any flavor. I glad I ordered the lunch portion. My wife got the chicken fajita and the same problem, it really lacked flavor. The guacamole appears not to have been made fresh. Honestly, I won't stop here again. The staff spoke English to us but all other communication was in Spanish which in my paranoid mind meant they were talking about us. Just had a conversation with our waiter and we expressed our problem with meal and he apologized and said he would check into it. That was comforting. I would note that I observed that all condiment bottles at table were almost empty so maybe others need ed more flavor with their meal also? Again the waiter was super apologetic and pleasant to have at the table. read more

El Toro - Almost empty hot sauce bottles. - Mexican Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Terrible service, the place wasn't busy at all. Saw my server playing one of those crane stuffed animal games while my beer is empty. She didn't even know how certain things on the menu translated to English and she spoke perfectly good English. Tacos were good. read more

my fiance, son, and I came in about 4:30 on a Friday. we ordered our drinks, and everything was normal. about 10 minutes later a guy, a blonde woman, and a brunette walked in and immediately got served their drinks, before ours were even made. and then they received their food before we did and when mine came 20 minutes after it was ice cold. Then the owner came over and lied straight to my face about the reason. My fiance and I have been coming here for 5 years and I will now never be coming back. Absolutely ridiculous. read more

Thought we would try again but big mistake! Went on Friday at 5 and sat at booth in bar area. Maybe 3 tables being served in whole place. Bar top was covered in dirty dishes and ceiling was leaking. Saw server putting a bucket down and wiping floor with same hands that was going to serve our food. Place looks dirty. Got a beer and looked at menu but waiter disappeared for 10 minutes and saw him talking to hostess while we were being ignored. Finished beer quickly and got out before ordering, will never return. Too many other restaurants in area to deal with this dump. read more

Best Mexican I've had in a awhile! I got the fajita burrito and hubby got fajita quesadillas. Both were phenomenal!!

It was a horrible experience today food was very disappointing service was the same I would not recommend this place

The past two times we've been here so within 2 weeks 9/22/25 our sever so seems to speak and understand very little English. If you been to el toro you know your greeted to a seat with menu asked for drinks and come back with chips and salsa. It wasn't until after we received our food that we had to ask for chips. My father ordered something simple I can't remember and he had to ask about 3x what it was he wanted and had to bring back the menu and be physically shown what he said. This time today 9/22 we had to ask for chips and salsa, this guy doesn't understand that's " tradition " for el toro. My dad got nachos as his entree and we ordered jalapeño peppers and mozzarella sticks and he gave us the sampler and he came back over tried to understand and get it right went back to the manger and told him. So he came to our table and talked it over and he mis understood us again. The manger understood us clear as day. And he rushed back to the kitchen to make that right. So we finally got nachos that was only chips cheese and meat with no lettuce sauce onions nun of that very plain, and our poppers that weren't good at all and our sticks. The manger was great nice top tier, this table just sat down and the kid went over and even they were mumbling about how he wasn't understanding. I'm not sure how old he is maybe 15-18. But he needs more training and English skills. Fails to ask the Important question like any appetizers refills is everything tasting good any box's. He even messed up our bill and charged for what he took back, which is what we didn't order. Do better with your hiring process. read more

Usually has decent food, but for some reason an eyelash was in the queso when brought to our table... definitely a health problem & makes ya wonder how clean the kitchen is back there & if they're following food service rules (gloves, hairnets, etc.) as someone who works with food myself & is Servsafe Certified, stuff like that don't just randomly fall into food unless rules aren't being applied and followed. read more

This place was okay. I didn't like the fact that they only offer ground beef for a chili pod. There's a wide variety of food on the menu. My michilada was too overpowered by the tomato juice and thought I was drinking a V8. The service on a Friday night was horrible and to be expected with the lack of workers needed. I ordered flan , it was mediocre. Sadly I just didn't care for the food. The restaurant itself is really nice inside. I did notice they charge for mints as you pay when you leave. Prices are expensive. read more

The food here is great. I have absolutely no problem with it. However, I recently wanted to place an order for some tacos at 9:30pm, and come to find out they close their kitchen at 9, which wouldn't be a big deal of the restaurant closed at that time. And they do lock their doors at 9, even though their hours listed says 10pm. For people wanting to enjoy their food, be sure you order before 9pm. For the management, you need to update your hours or keep your kitchen and lobby open until your stated closing time. read more

Save your money, go to Taco Bell. Food was horrible. I ordered Tacos, I wanted hard tacos but got soft taco's it only had very little ingrediance. Lettuce, cilantro and beef. I had to pay extra for tomatoes, sour cream, avocados, to make it edible. The beef tasted like canned meat it had a foreign taste, kind of like liver. Horrible. Everything was bland and had no seasoning. The Salsa was watery and too hot. I asked waitress for mild sauce and she brought out diluted tomatoe sauce. All the sauces were too hot. My Mother and I were the only customers. The music was extremely loud. We requested the music be turned down but waitress didn't know how. My Mother is 86 years old and we felt like we were at a fiesta party but not having fun. We spent $56.00 plus $10.00 tip. We will never ever return. read more

Not bad...not Taco hell either Thirsty Thursday is a great promotion everyone has Taco Tuesday they want you back on Thursday go there you won't be disappointed read more

Service was fast a friendly during the Sunday lunch hustle. Our server did a great job checking in on us and the food was out in a flash. The monster burrito texana was delicious and a huge portion. All around a solid meal. read more

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The staff was actually super nice. It's a pretty big place.....big bar too. Food came out fast. Bathrooms could use some extra care/cleaning. Beef enchiladas meat tasted like it came out of a can, lol. Chicken taco was ok, everything else was fine. Not necessarily quality/fresh ingredients but overall, ok. We didn't have any alcohol but we saw others with drinks and they looked kind of cool. read more

Our service was really quick and I thought our waitress was attentive! We liked what we ordered, and our server got the food exactly right. It wasn't very crowded and we were seated immediately. Fun local place which is super convenient for folks who live in Springboro! The chips and salsa were fantastic as well we thought. read more

El Toro - Chimichanga, enchilada, rice - Mexican Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

I will not go back there. Ordered the Fajita dinner for 2 and there was hardly any meat in the dish and all peppers. We showered the waiter the plate of all green peppers and he said sorry and did nothing about it. I gave my husband what little meat there was in the fajita and I ate just some of the peppers. It took a least 10 minutes for a waiter to come to our table and the place wasn't even busy. I have been to other El Toro and they were great. We will never go back to the one in Englewood. read more

Thursday is a must. Can't beat the beer price and get the queso fundido with it. Great happy hour deal.

We came here during on our way back from Indianapolis. We shared their appetizer wings and a monster burrito. The wings were very fried and huge. They tasted okay but not what I was expecting. The burrito was huge and came smothered in cheese, but the filling was quite mediocre. I liked the nachos but my wife didn't care for them. The service was decent and the food wasn't bad but overall below average, so I think 2-3 stars would be appropriate here. read more

Just moved to Ohio. I was recommended El Toros taco Tuesday by my sister in-law. I love it! Fun upbeat atmosphere. The portion size of the tacos are pretty BIG. read more

Stopped in after freezing rain on I-70 off exit 29 Englewood ohio looked for HOT food on yelp what I find Good margarita lime Asked for hot salsa pronto Enjoyed food price and service Only thing they can change is lighting Too bright like pizza parlor read more

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The margarita's are strong, and the people behind the bar are attentive, and dare I say caring! After a particularly bad day, I stopped in for a little happy action and left happier than I intended to. My first visit, I ordered a burrito (don't remember what kind) but that was delicious. Honestly, I come for the salsa, it's my favorite salsa consistency and brimming with fresh cilantro! read more

El Toro - Large Marg - Mexican Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

My family and I stopped here to take a break from our long road trip. We were immediately greeted by a very kind, young gentlemen, who placed us into our seats. For this being our first time at El Toro, the service was already making a great first impression. Our waiter was amazing and was able to accommodate to our requests per order. Everything from the beginning to the end of our stay was comforting and all staff was so friendly. Definitely recommend!!! read more

My husband came across a piece of wood while eating his fajita dinner. Thankfully he didn't choke on it!! Called to speak with management and the person over the phone said to call back. I called back and this time I was laughed at and then eventually they hung the phone up. The employees are very unprofessional and no customer service skills whatsoever!! My husband and I went up to the restaurant to speak with the manager in person, with food and the piece of wood in tow and needless to say he wasn't any help either! His response was nonchalant and non-apologetic!! We should have been given a full refund after coming across this sharp piece of wood!! I'm very disappointed!! Do not eat here!! Employees have no customer service etiquette and neither does the management! The manager had the audacity to give $16 back and I guess he thought that was supposed to help with the situation. It's sad! We should have been given a whole refund with no questions asked. Especially after coming across we came across! read more

El Toro - The piece of wood that was in my husband's fajita dinner! - Mexican Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

I absolutely loved the food and the rice done right the refried beans had great flavor and the carne asada was absolutely delicious.. I went to El Torro in Clayton on main Street. read more

This is a well-run Mexican food chain. Expect a clean, well-lit restaurant, very good food, fast seating, polite hostess, attentive wait staff, reasonable wait times for food, food that comes out together for the whole party, and *some* TVs without having that take over the entire atmosphere. We don't drink so I can't speak to the bar atmosphere or drink quality, but everything else has been great, so I expect they know what they're doing there, too. read more

Ok so in general the food was good. We drove up to this location to meet some friends. However, as my wife finished her drink a large shard of glass was in the bottom of her drink! We reported this to the waiter and he went to speak to the manager. He returned and basically informed us that that the manager was happy nothing bad happened and asked if we wanted another drink! WTF this could have been serious! In my humble opinion I suggest that you AVOiD this restaurant because who knows what's in your food and drink! read more

In the top 5 or even the worst restaurant experience I have had. Service was painfully slow and inattentive. The awful muzak style rap/Spanish pop music was blaring so loud we had to talk really loudly in order to hear each other. The food was ultra salty and processed. They do obviously make some things from scratch but not any better than anyone else. My order was more like a pile of crummy nachos than an entree. The food did not resemble the description in the menu. My wife had the chicken soup and ended up not eating it because of the ginormous half cooked frozen vegetables that were piled on top. The salsa is good but I didn't like the chips. The place was not busy and yet we waited and waited for our server to cash us out. She didn't bother to question why we declined boxes for two un-eaten entrees. On our way out there were several staff at the host station chatting in Spanish and not one of them thanked us or said anything to us. No manager ever checked in at our table. Basically I won't visit El Toro again. read more

Good food and a lot of it. I have a huge appetite and even I couldn't finish it all. The service was so fast. The server barely had time to put our order in and she was bringing the food out. Wonderful experience. This was my first time here, but it won't be my last. read more

We absolutely love it there. Elizabeth is one of the best servers we've ever had anywhere. Down to earth, sweet with our babies, and all around just wonderful! read more

The food was very tasty!! Exceptional flavor. We have eaten at many Mexican restaurant and this was one of the best we've eaten. Really yummy rice and beans!! Service was excellent. Our server was very pleasant, fast, and knowledgeable about the dishes. The portion sizes were very generous. read more

I have been here a couple of times now and each time, the service is phenomenal. The food is good and the staff is very friendly. I am amazed at how quickly they can get orders out of the kitchen when the restaurant is full on a Friday night. read more

Sat for 15 mins without being waited on while 3 other tables after us came.in and got service. We did get some super stale chips!

We are not local, but were in the mood for a good margarita & our hotel desk clerk told us about this place. It obviously just opened because the inside is impeccably clean & super nice! It looks brand new & so much room. I got the margarita I came for, but so much more. The food was phenomenal. We ordered bean & cheese nachos as an appetizer and they were so close to what we eat in south Texas, I was stunned we are in the middle of Ohio! For my entree I had the fish tacos. They were spot on and the cream sauce they were served with was awesome. The whole "mixed veggie" side dish threw me off a little, but maybe that's how things are done here? I dunno. I nixed it and ordered beans in place of them. Everything was great. Literally. Great. Service was also amazing! Our drinks never made it to half empty, dirty dishes were cleared away promptly & it was obvious that the servers worked as a team... Just because we weren't "their table" made no difference in all of the staff being so attentive. Overall, it was a fabulous dining experience. I hope that this time next year, when we return, that they've not slacked off on any of the things I've talked about. This restaurant is a diamond in the rough! STAY THAT WAY!!! read more

I was in the area on business and this nice little area just South of I-70 had sprung up since the last time I had been here. Several restaurants that I had not visited previously included El Toro, which I decided to try instead of my normal El Cazador visit. I was very glad I did. The El Toro has a very large bar / cantina area and an even larger restaurant containing many tables and booths. I took a booth by one of the windows and ordered a 24 oz beer to go along with the chips and salsa as I looked through the extensive menu. The menu included everything you would expect from a Mexican restaurant and it was hard to narrow things down. The chips were great and the salsa was well above average for my taste. I chose the pollo boracho (or something like that) as it seemed to be closest to the arroz con pollo I was hoping to have. The chicken breast was pounded very thin and cooked with some wonderful spices and was very tasty. It was covered in a sauce with mushrooms and onions and served with rice, lettuce, and tomato. The food was great and quite possibly in the top 10 of all time for me. I will go back for this meal again and again when I return to the area. The server was very friendly and service was quick and efficient. The only downside was that the draft beer was not cold enough and I would probably ask for a cold bottle or frosted mug next time. The restaurant was very clean, easy to get to, plenty of parking . . . a top notch experience. read more

Came with a group of friends last night (May 29, 2018) for taco Tuesday. I personally ordered 3 chicken tacos & a margarita. They were both very good. That said, I had plans to order fried ice cream for dessert but I didn't because two of my friends ordered it as their meals and the waiter told them they were out of ice cream. Well 1/2 way through our meal an interesting thing happened 2 tables over. I spotted three people sharing fried ice cream. When we queried our waiter about how they had ice cream he claimed "they brought it in from home and the restaurant held it for them in their freezer,"...really?!? One of our party members went over to the table and asked them what they had and sure enough they said fried ice cream. We were pretty disgusted over something so stupid to lie about. Doubt I'll be back. read more

Oh boy this was bad. Many dishes have "cheese sauce" as an ingredient. When we asked what kind of cheese they have, they cannot answer. We tasted a bit-- it seems like a processed cheese-- not a real Monterrey jack like you would expect. Rib eye steak was awful. Probably frozen as texture was off and no flavor. French fries tasted off probably due to old oil. Salad was ok but the beef "steak" strips were very tough. Check was forgiven. read more

Did an online order at Vandalia Ohio location. Could not order a quesadilla (not on the online menu) so I ordered a steak meal. The steak was char cooked (cats wouldn't even eat it) and the vegetables were dry. The shrimp that came with the steak was over cooked (like chewing on the bottom of a shoe). The quality of food has gone downhill over the past couple of years. We used to eat there frequently before covid hit and the food and service was excellent, not so much now a days. read more

The bartender was good not great but good same with the food it was ok no real complaints except my tacos came with flour tortillas if I want a flour tortilla I will go to Taco Bell the bartender brought me some corn tortillas though my drink a big margarita was amazing until I seen the dead flipping fly in u wanna talk about gross I told the bartender he looked at me like so what do I didn't finish it I paid and left I will not be back and I hate that because it's across from my hotel and now it's margarita Monday there is another location on Miller lane though read more

Good local mex place. Nothing spectacular but no unpleasant surprises. Friendly service and average flavors as expected from a plaza mex restaurant. read more