Unexpected place an unfamiliar shopping strip. Aroma as soon…read moreas you walk in. Surprised they don't use lard and instead vegetable oil. The flavors still going. Chips and salsa fresh and crisp. Quesadilla bomb before the guacamole and sour cream bomb. Got the number 15. Eddie good looking out on the recommendation. You were spot on with the service too. Also Gilbert thank you as well. I will be back

I was in the area with an hour to kill. I browsed the local eateries and noticed this spot had…read morepretty high reviews. I decide to give it a try and I'm glad I did. Sometimes a place makes you feel welcomed and comfortable as soon as you walk in. This is one of those places. The server and the owner are both friendly and genuinely hoping you have a great experience. The Asada plate was pretty good. The crunchy taco wasn't as crunchy as it should've been. The gobernador's shrimp was a bit too mushy for my taste. Overall, the food was good and I'll will be back if I'm in the area.

Of all the times I've been here, it's alway been great. The service was amazing and the experience…read morewas all great. This visit, we stopped by during happy hour. It's normally taco Tuesday or dinner. It wasn't busy when we arrived. Mainly everyone was seated outside which we wanted a table as well. There was one that we were interested in and asked if we could have it which the waitress working was ok with. But it needed clearing up. It took a while for someone to come out and clear and clean the table up. It was fine waiting but it was like did someone forget about us. Anyways. We got seated and then the waiting continued. It could be that they were short staff but it seemed like there was only one person working. It took a while for someone to finally come back and acknowledge us and take our order. After that the chips and salsa were brought out. Once we ordered the drinks it was easier to place everything together. Menu for happy hour is pretty limited. A few drinks and beer on drafts and for food, maybe 6 items on the menu. Went with an order of the street corn which was quite tasty. An order of the mole chicken nachos and the queso dip with barria. Out of the three, the queso dips and the street corn were great. Nachos were good but nothing really major. The flavors of everything were quite tasty. Dishes were 12.00 an item. For happy hour, it was decent and what we had was good. The service was pretty slow at the beginning. Only the front patio and inside seating was available as the back patio wasn't open. We did start to see other staff walking in so maybe there was only one staff during the time.

The restaurant was decorated very nicely. Outdoor seating as well as indoor. The service was…read morefriendly and on point. Parking was pretty easy, street metered - but very walkable if you are from the neighborhood. The food was outstanding. Salsa yum , chips hot & crispy My salad was so fresh and tasty, my husbands mole was perfectly done

Tried Madre again. The food is amazing and authentic. I ordered the Tétela which is made with corn,…read moreepazote, mushrooms, quesillo, a fried egg, chorizo and queso fresco. I could've eaten 3 more! The chicharrón tacos was spicy and made with a handmade tortilla. Be ready for real spice! The service is friendly and the ambiance is relaxed. Can't wait to go back!

We went to Madre on a Sunday. It wasn't really planned, but we were walking in Old Torrance, saw…read morethe place and decided to go in and try it out. We weren't really starving, just wanted to check the vibes, try the food and see how it was. Unfortunately, things just weren't how we were expecting. We love mexican food and we are used to the food trucks that we can find everywhere in LA. I used to have tacos from the taco truck across the street from me when I lived in San Pedro and they were just perfect, simple and on point. I think I had that idea when I ordered the taco, but it wasn't really what I expected. It was bigger and looked beautiful, but the amount of spice was extremely high, which didn't even let me taste the flavor. And on top of it, the salt felt off too. Too much spice, not enough salt. My fiance ordered tamales, and the mole was more on the chocolate side than anything. The flavors just didn't match. Service wise we have nothing to complain about. They were nice and helpful! It's just the food that wasn't good for us.

I met my son for drinks and appetizers here, and let me tell you--the service was amazing. The…read moreambiance was nice, the drinks were great... but the appetizers just didn't quite hit the mark. One of those places where everything starts off strong--you just wish the food matched the rest of the experience.

I visited Frida at Del Amo Mall for a birthday celebration. We were seated at a round table with…read moreplenty of space between us, which made for a comfortable setup. I've been to other Frida locations, such as the one in Glendale, and the food here is decent. Think of it as a slightly pricier, upscale El Torito. The guac is served in a clay pot, though they don't make it tableside like El Torito does. Overall, the food is okay, though not particularly memorable - I probably wouldn't come this location again, given the many Mexican restaurants nearby. That said, it's a fun place for celebrations (beside some safety concerns, keep reading); they do offer a free slice of cake with a candle that shoots fireworks, which is a nice touch for birthdays. The main issue for me, and the reason I cannot give a higher rating, was the customer service and safety. While we were comfortably seated, a server accidentally burned my fingers while carrying a hot plate of sizzling fajitas. I understand serving hot dishes can be challenging, but he was carrying one plate in each hand, and one of them was a cast-iron sizzling plate with hot oil. The oil splashed on my hand, causing a burn that immediately turned my skin pink. What concerned me most was how the situation was handled. I had to track down the floor manager to report the incident, and the response was not proactive or apologetic. The manager even made a sarcastic comment about whether he should call an ambulance. This left me feeling that proper training on handling hot plates and customer service may be lacking. As I mentioned, it is a competitive market and neighborhood for good Mexican restaurants, and given their poor quality in service and safety, you can be sure I will never return to eat here. I share this not to be harsh, but as constructive feedback. The food itself is fine, and the setting works for celebrations, but safety and respectful, professional service should come first, especially in a busy restaurant environment.

Came in to El Torito for a last minute date night! We knew there was happy hour, but we didn't know…read moreabout 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!

Came to this location yesterday by myself as I was having one of those days where I felt I needed…read moreto 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 :)

My sister was actually the first one to visit Darrow's, and after she told us about it, we knew we…read morehad to come try it for ourselves. From the moment we walked in, it felt like we were at home with family. Uncle Darrow greets everyone like you belong there, he remembers you, makes you feel seen, and creates such a warm, welcoming atmosphere that you instantly relax. And the food? Absolutely delicious. Every bite was full of flavor and clearly made with love. I highly, highly recommend this restaurant if you want great food and an experience that feels like community. We loved it so much, we're already planning to come back next month to celebrate my birthday there!

I ordered the soft shell crab po boy with red beans and rice on the side,…read more The po boy was the star. The soft shell crab was crispy, flavorful, and packed into fresh bread that held everything together without getting soggy. Messy in the best way and exactly what you hope for when you order one. The red beans and rice were comforting and well seasoned, a perfect side to go. The place has a laid back, welcoming feel, and the staff was friendly and attentive. The owner was super friendly and very hospitable. Definitely living up to the southern hospitality. Food came out hot and fresh. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm craving New Orleans style comfort food.

The food was fresh, flavorful, and came out fast. Every taco had a lot of flavor, the ingredients…read moretasted high quality, and the portions were satisfying without feeling too heavy. Definitely the kind of spot you keep craving after you leave. The ambiance was also really enjoyable. Perfect spot to grab food with friends or just stop by for a quick meal. Service was excellent too. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made the experience smooth from beginning to end. Overall, great food, great atmosphere, and great customer service. Would definitely come back again.

Located in a strip mall. Lots of parking…read more I've walked by and didn't even realize it was here. The only reason I came is because the owner was in a POV husband video. Takes credit card. Sell bottle beer and seltzer They have a condiment bar available. Taco $3.25- feels like a steep price. But the tortilla are hand made and have a nice chew. They are thick, but not too fluffy. Carnitas taco- the meat was really tasty. It was soft but still crispy with texture. A little excess oil. But was really good. Could be seasoned more. Asada- meat was soft. Has a nice grilled taste Al pastor- soft. The flavor is average. Nice texture to the meat grilled. Top shelf fries $16- was super super good. I would get this again. Great to share. Fries has your choice meat, topped with sour cream and guac. The fries are seasoned shoe string fries

Service was excellent. Food was fantastic…read more Atmosphere was loud, (which was fine). And prices are reasonable. Especially considering the quality of the food. Was a very nice evening.

I have lived in Torrance for over 20 years and when I was a kid, people would rave about La…read moreCapilla. So one night I decided to try it with my husband. We were sorely disappointed. He ordered a wet burrito. His reaction was it was okay. That's his way of saying it was edible. I ordered a fish taco and a shrimp taco a la carte. The fish taco was so soggy I couldn't pick up the taco, it kept falling apart. Absolutely no flavor or salsa or anything on it. So it begs the question why was it soggy? The fish was off and it look like it had been boiled instead of grilled. The shrimp taco also contained fish that were boiled not grilled or pan fried, less soggy because shrimp doesn't retain water like white fish does. Yet again zero flavor, sauce, salsa or anything. I had to put the table salsa on it to get any flavor. Worst of all, I am 99% confident I got food poisoning. Service was okay. People were nice but food was a huge disappointment.

Still delicious after all these year! We stopped by the bakery on Easter Morning. Got a selection…read moreof baked goods and tamales. Employees are helpful. When I was lost and confused since a lot of tags were missing and I didnt recognize all the pastries they helped us identify a bunch of them. Lol, I realized later their website also lists a lot of them. The slice of cheese cake was delicious, great texture and flavor. I also love the mexican biscuits, Bought one to make breakfast sandwiches. It's savory and delicious (also huge). We got mexican tamales but next time I must get the guatemalan ones! Definitely Will be going back for more. Highly recommend La Esperanza.

Sunday morning I picked up a few assorted conchas for breakfast, and this place definitely…read moredelivered. The bakery is tucked into a small strip mall, and while it was buzzing with people inside, I'll admit I felt a bit intimidated approaching--there were two men outside staring, and I wasn't sure if they were customers or just loitering. Once inside though, it was a completely different vibe. The place was busy, with lots of people grabbing pastries, and the energy felt lively and welcoming. The conchas were fresh, soft, and had just the right amount of sweetness--you can tell they're made with care. Prices were very affordable, which made it even better. Even with the crowd, the service moved pretty efficiently. Overall, great pastries and worth the stop--just wish the outside experience felt a bit more comfortable. Next time I'll come earlier to hopefully grab conchas fresh out of the oven, and maybe give the tamales or chilaquiles a try.

Went with my friend for a monthly catch up. Loved it…read more Drinks were soooo delicious and honestly pretty strong. Happy hours not to badly priced. I liked the seating too. It has booths that made it nice for me and her to catch up on private issues too and the waiter wasn't too much. Would do again. 10/10. It also had parking.

Whenever I'm sick I really enjoy their caldos. Their rice is the star of the show sooo much flavor…read more The tortillas and salsa provided are delicious as well. The chicken of the soup could definitely use more flavor but it still hits the spot. Will buy again. Ordered for pick up and it was ready in 15 minutes so speedy service. Prices are on the high side. They have street parking but also a parking lot across the street.