We had an excellent dining experience at El Toreador. The food was fresh, flavorful, & beautifully presented, & the service was warm & attentive. The atmosphere was clean, welcoming, & perfect for enjoying a meal with family or friends. They also have an amazing spicy mango margarita called "The Tania" with jalapeños & fresh lime juice that is one of the best drinks I've had - delicious! A special thank you to the owner, Sheldon, for creating such a fun dining experience. His dedication to quality, excellent service, & customer satisfaction is evident throughout the restaurant. It's clear that he truly cares about his guests & takes pride in what he does. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for fantastic food & a memorable time. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Worst Mexican food of our lives. Chips thin, stale. Margarita from mix, not freshly made. Guacamole not homemade, but that awful packaged stuff with odd green color and chemical taste--small bowl, $17!? Outrageous. Dinner plates uninspired, bland, very low-quality meat & ingredients, $23-25 each. We're shocked by the good reviews! Nothing tasted good. Server lazy, begrudgingly doing bare minimum, though there were few diners. A lovely woman who seemed to be the owner stopped by to chat, and decor is fun and colorful, but we will never come back. read more

-Cute little restaurant and very Mexico vibe with all their decorations. -Service was ok, typical take your order and joke a little, nothing special. Food was not that good. We had the Grandes Mexicanos # 13 enchilada, taco, and relleno Can't find the Relleno pepper, mostly cheese, the rest was mediocre. #31 Fajita taco salad with steak The bowl was small with a few slices of bell pepper. The steaks were over marinated, too salty and chewy. Felt like they are hiding poor qualities steaks. Overall, this experience was not authentic or tasty and overpriced. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Fajita steak taco salad - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped in for lunch. Food wasn't as good as before. Chips were generous, salsa too salty. Beef Enchilada was OK. We both agreed the lettuce was off, almost a gas like taste to it. Black beans were good. read more

This is a classic San Francisco Mexican restaurant. We arrived early for dinner on a Thursday night and were seated immediately at a nice table near the window. I ordered a mango margarita, as did my daughter, and we loved them. I ordered a standard bean and cheese burrito (lol), and it was exactly what I wanted. My daughter ordered a chicken quesadilla, and our two companions ordered enchiladas. Service can be a little slow but it's kinda what you expect. Place is colorfully decorated and very pretty inside. We love this place and will be back. read more

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I've been going to El Toreador for over a decade. Prices keep going up, but the quality has only been sacrificed once (I ordered the bean soup that used to come free with meals. There is a heavy scent of powdered/granulated garlic, which it didn't used to have. It makes the soup taste canned). You cannot go wrong if you order a dish with the Monterey Jack cheese. It's luscious. It's beautiful. Get the two cheese enchilada platter if you want to double down. They have the best salsa in SF, maybe even the world. If I could drink it, I would. Service is fast and efficient. There's a single stall bathroom in the back. Seating is tight, but generally doable. Parking is usually available, timing depending. read more

Classic Mexican restaurant with a homey feel! We had a party of four and walked in for dinner around 5 PM. We were seated immediately and greeted with chips and salsa. First off, the salsa was fantastic--smoky, spicy, and savory--served with house-made chips. My dad, who rarely eats salsa, couldn't get enough of it, so that's saying something! I ordered a three-item combo (~$25), which included an enchilada, chile relleno, and taco. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The meat was flavorful and saucy, and everything was prepared fresh, complete with melted cheese. My wife ordered a burrito especial combo (I can't remember the exact item name) that included a burrito and a choice of a taco, enchilada, or chile relleno. She chose the enchilada, and it was fantastic. Even my 9-month-old son loved the rice and beans! The restaurant offers outdoor seating and accepts credit cards, which is super convenient. However, as with most businesses in West Portal, parking can be a challenge--plan accordingly. Overall, we were thrilled with our experience and look forward to visiting again. Yummy Certified! read more

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The worst Mexican food in San Francisco. We got there 30 mins. before closing on a Saturday night. The chicken enchiladas were dry, super bland, there was no seasoning on anything! The tortilla shells that they rolled up the chicken enchiladas in, were so hard on the edges, almost as if they kept it in the microwave too long. I was so hungry that's why I ate cardboard cuz that's exactly what their food tasted like! Hospital food is better than that! Customer service was good !!! Beautiful decoration !!! But, the green sauce on top had a nasty fresh out if the can taste! It actually tasted like it came straight out of a can and they just dumped it on top! The child size portion of rice had no flavor at all. The best thing on the plate was the child size portion of refried beans and the little tiny salad in the middle of the plate. The tortilla chips and the salsa dip they give you while you wait for your food, was better that the entire meal. However, the sause could be a little milder for folks or children who have sensitivity to hot or spicy foods. Honestly, the only reason we ended up here was because my favorite restaurant Elena's down the street was packed and we were not going to get a table until 2 hours later. So, my associate recommended we go to this restaurant. I WILL NEVER IN LIFE TAKE HER WORD ON ANYTHING! NEVER LISTEN TO A DRUNK, LOLTHEY EAT ANYTHING ! It was horrible the enchiladas weren't even hot and they were not even soft the sauce on top was crapy and NASTY! PLEASE, do yourself a big favor and skip this place all together. They must have friends and family members writing the good reviews. It is worth the wait at Elena's. Honestly I could have took a hot dog from a street vendor on Mission Street & been more satisfied than what I ate there! I could have eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and that would have been better, than what I ate there! Elena's food is a big difference. If I could give them no stars that's exactly what I would give them. Never coming back here! #Yuck #nastyfood read more

El Toreador Restaurant - This was that driest and tasteless chicken enchiladas I've ever had in my entire life tasted like cardboard box and the sauce was horrible - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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El Toreador is a combination of authentic Mexican food, excellent service and and an exceptional ambiance featuring an unusual decor derived from Mexican folklore. On top of that, the prices are lower than San Francisco seems to be charging in today's market. This is a family owned and run business that has been on West Portal Ave for decades. My favorite is the Dark or Chocolate Mole and the Huevos Rancheros. Bring a friend, this is a fun place. If you like beer they have a variety. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - El Toreador Restaurant decor - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a nice place to go if it's not crowded. Service is great and the food is good. The staff is friendly. If it's busier, there's an understandable wait and some tables get ignored more than others. It's as if the staff isn't expecting a crowd and there just aren't enough hands to handle all of the tables. I've had the best luck here during off hours, like between lunch and dinner. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Margarita on the rocks, Margarita blended, chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

The vibes are busy/fun but quiet in there which was nice for a casual dinner. The food was delicious, really enjoyed the una enchilada with chicken and spinach enchilada. We both were stuffed after. My only complaint is that they need to update their menu! The una enchilada on the menu said $15.95 but when we got the bill it was $17.95. Not a big deal, but would be good to have accurate prices! read more

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The son of the owner is incredibly rude, the one vegan burrito consistently is frozen in the middle when I've ordered it, and the meals are expensive. They also charge $18 for guacamole read more

We're been coming here for decades... Never disappoints! I always get my standard two cheese, enchiladas, rice, and beans with a side of flour tortillas and butter. read more

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I haven't felt compelled to write a review in years, but the experience today merits one. We were a group of 9 adults and 2 babies stopping by for Saturday lunch (we had been on a long walk from Fort Funston and had no reservation). We chose this place because it was completely -- and I mean completely -- empty and so we knew we wouldn't bother anyone with the size of our group. From the minute we walked in the waiter -- I think he's the son of the female owner -- was incredibly rude and unwelcoming. He genuinely seemed like he didn't want us there and never said hello, not a single friendly word, and made us feel like we were in his way as he pulled 3 tables together. Zero hustle and he exhibited true malice, it was beyond bizarre. Then no one brought us menus and he and his mom stared at us from the kitchen. I finally approached the female owner and asked her whether she didn't want us there or whether it was a bad time for us to be there. She acted surprised, so I explained the male waiter had been really unfriendly, and she said it was because we had been in his way as he set up the tables. Ultimately we did stay, the female owner took our orders and spoke to us the rest of the time - the male waiter never came out again - and things improved in terms of service, and the food was OK. But overall the vibes were sooooo strange and I would definitely not go back or recommend this spot. It makes me sad because they were empty on a Saturday and clearly needed patrons, and we wanted to support them, but the welcome was nonexistent and beyond that, actively hostile from the male waiter. read more

One fantastic place to eat! Ive been coming here off and on for 30 years. The menu is the same and the quality of food and service superb Will recommend this restaurant to everyone! Thank you to the owners and staff! read more

We had an early dinner. The atmosphere is total fun, colorful and joyful. The service outstanding and the food delicious. Every aspect of our meal was fantastic!! read more

The food was very tasty and authentic. Big selection of beers. The menu offered a variety of Mexican food. Everything was fresh including the salsa that came with the chips. Service as great as well. Very colorful decor read more

El Toreador Restaurant - El toredor decor - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food was colorful and very tasty! Service was fast, efficient, friendly. Ambiance was so cool and festive. I felt like I was in another country with the background music and interior made the experience even more fun to be at! read more

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Came by for dinner on a Friday evening and was seated right away. The restaurant has very colorful decor and is quite festive. Chips and salsa are complimentary and almost all the dishes come with a side of rice and beans. Imo, the food here is pretty average. I don't think it'd be a place I'd be rushing back to but the portions, decor, and service are great. Peanut allergies: if you have a peanut allergy, make sure to tell your waiter. They put peanut butter in their sauces, not just the mole. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been going to this place over the years, and have to say it's been slowly going downhill. I get the sense that they may be understaffed, as most busy times it's a bit frenzied. Also, quality of the food is down - both in terms of overall taste and quality of ingredients. With an upscale option (Elena's) and a great burrito place (Burrito Loco) nearby, there are just better options in the immediate area. read more

Worst customer service. I ordered the "Famous Bean Soup" and there were zero beans in the soup. I asked about this and the waiter said it was a bean broth soup, and that then menu doesnt say there are beans in it. He was rude and we won't be going back! The bean broth was simple bean water the cooked the beans in, with a few croutons thrown on top. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent food. Very friendly staff. Unbelievable decor, makes you feel very welcome.

This place has a very special place in my heart. When my wife and I were first married and moved to SF this place was on our MUNI ride home from the Financial District It became a favorite. Today it is run by a new generation of the same family and almost nothing has changed. You go in and write your name on a clipboard, no reservations, just wait your turn. Food is great and they don't skimp on portions. I believe the food is from the Durango Province. read more

Five of us came here for dinner. We were lucky to get outdoor seating. They have a lot of offer on the menu. We started with a pitcher of sangria. Very good and flavorful. There was also tortilla chips and salsa on the table. I enjoyed the chips because they were thin and salsa not too hot. We got everything to share. So the five of us shared fish tacos, chimichangas, tamales and quesadillas. Most everything came with refried beans and rice and sour cream. I wished the fish in The tacos was crispy. Also the chimichangas and tamales were small in size. And I thought the quesadilla would at least be pan fried to have a crispy shell. Overall, the food was good but by the end of the meal everything was tasting the same with the beans and rice. read more

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We have been enjoying El Toreador for more than 30 years. This is a small, family owned and operated restaurant with so many delicious items on their menu. Their father was a big part of the restaurant for many years until his passing at which time their sons have really worked hard to keep their restaurant a great experience for all that visit. On the menu, the guacamole is freshly made and delicious. Everything from tacos to enchiladas, delicious flautas, hand made tamales, fajitas you can make yourself as well as homemade flan and who could pass up a Mexican Coke to wash this all down. Plus if you want a cold beer instead, I think they have more than 30. Wait times are usually relatively short on Friday nights, maybe 10 minutes. Aaron, one of the son's is usually always there and is really friendly. After patronizing this restaurant almost weekly for over 30 years, I have seen him and his family really grow up and I enjoy having conversations with them when I'm there. If you are looking for a great restaurant, enjoy Mexican food and want a nice night in our great West Portal, please try El Toreador, you won't regret this! read more

What a colorful hole-in-the-wall. We came for lunch around 12pm, and within 20 minutes they got pretty packed my buddy and I had to start speaking really loud just to be able to hear each other. The food was good - I got their fish tacos, and he got the enchiladas. Server was ok but did not have any interaction with him after ordering/receiving our food. Overall, we would come back for a quick lunch. read more

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Great food, loved the mango relleno. So delicious. Can't wait to go back and try other things. I appreciated that they offered the standard fair (which worked great for my kids) and had some unique dishes as well. Worked great for me as a vegetarian as well. The Ambiance was fun, had some great historic photos and all the decor kept kids distracted and aided in initiating fun conversations with them. Service was highly accommodating for our party of 8. Definitely recommend a reservation for parties over 4. And they are likely to be busy on Friday and Saturday nights (we went on a Wednesday and early in the evening). read more

I love this place and my family and I have been coming here for over 30 years. Genuine local family business with great food.

It gives me no pleasure writing this kind of review, but I think it's something other customers should know about. I'd been eating at El Toreador Mexican restaurant since I was a kid and loved the colorful decor, the placemats that remind you of a Wikipedia page of cool information, and the good food. Unfortunately, since the original owners' two sons took over, the customer service has gone from very good to terrible. Last week I called in a takeout order using the menu on their website--not a third party--as my reference. After my mom picked up the food, I realized they'd overcharged me. I called and informed the son, who had also taken my order. He became very defensive and kept interrupting me, so I couldn't get out more than a few words at a time. He scolded me for assuming the prices on their website were accurate, and that I should've used Door Dash or Grub Hub as a price reference. He eventually admitted that they hadn't updated the website to reflect the current prices. He refused to honor the posted prices, even after I told him that California law requires him to. Ironically, I saw after this incident that GrubHub prices are cheaper than what I was charged. (He continued speaking to me angrily and disrespectfully, accused me of threatening him--for bringing up California law--and repeatedly refused to take any responsibility for anything. I finally hung up after concluding there was no point in trying to reason with someone who's being completely unreasonable. And to top it off, they screwed up the order and the quality of food isn't as good as it used to be. I would hope the owners would be open to taking some constructive criticism, especially considering other customer's reviews reflect similar sentiments. read more

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Love this spot for a number of reasons - because my teen boys love it, and the colorful decor/fun atmosphere. Another reason is they've been in business in SF since 1957 I believe. Always see lots of families and friends eating here. The staff take their time seating parties which encourages the chill factor, helps with feeling like you aren't rushed in and out. They are attentive but also quite chill and the waiter will give u shit - some old school fun. I miss the complimentary tomato soup with crouton we used to get. It was one of my favorite parts about visiting this resto and I'm bummed we didn't have it last night. Love the enchiladas, free chips n salsa. Not a big fan of the chile relleno but maybe that's just me. Worth a visit for the chill vibes, food, and to support a long time family biz. read more

This place has definitely gone downhill! The chips were greasy, the salsa and our vegan burrito had a strange soapy after taste. Extremely overpriced! The vegan burrito was almost $18 and half of it was plain nasty rice. I can see why it only had a couple customers on a Saturday. Not going back again! read more

This is a solid consistent Mexican restaurant in west portal. It reminds me of the California Mexican places that are common in LA. I'd recommend it for a casual lunch or dinner. read more

This is an iconic family owned Mexican restaurant with authentic interior decorations. It is run by a wonderful young man and his mother. The service and food are consistently great! The prices are reasonable. It is a quaint, darling little cafe in West Portal. Please support them! You will not be disappointed! read more

I went to El Toreador restaurant with my friend recently. Just back from a two week holiday in Costa Rica. My friend recommended this place to me so we decided to check it out. I love the colorful decor that apparently the owner's father decorated in a single night. She is from Columbia. Friendly staff and love the colorful creative energy of the space. My friend went with the vegetarian burrito and I went with the vegan burrito adding avacado. Both came with a salad. The burrito was just fine. Steamed veggies, beans, rice, salsa, and avocado I had added. My friend enjoyed his meal. The veggie burrito was just fine. I enjoyed it. It might not be my favorite in the City yet was a good change of pace. Even better than the food was the service and the experience. Mucho Gracias! read more

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My spouse and I've been going to this restaurant for over twenty years. Nothing has really changed other than the 40% price increase on menu items since the pandemic. That's what has happened to a majority of restaurants due to '"nflation". . .no fault, no foul. Tonight I called in an order of two enchiladas , two root beers, and extra chips. When I went in to pick up my order the bill came to over $74. I looked in the bag in the restaurant and found two large quarts of salsa and two huge bags of chips and an alcoholic beer. When I questioned the bill to the young lady who took my order over the phone she said that I had ordered extra salsa and chips. When I explained that I ordered extra chips, no quarts of salsa, and two non-alcoholic root beers , she became upset/flustered and had an English speaking server listen to verify that the order was misinterpreted. The young lady who had taken my order over the phone continued to be upset and seemed to be embarrassed/indignant/in denial that she was wrong. I guess my point is if El Toreador is going to have someone answer the phone and take orders, the person probably should be able to understand the customer's order and perhaps repeat back to prevent this type of akward situation. Her indignation at making a mistake still baffles me but has convinced me to NEVER return to El Toreador. That's what's great about capitalism . . .we can choose to go to a competitor such as Elena's Mexican Restaurant down the street in West Portal. I know I'll pay more but, hopefully, will be treated as a customer by their staff. Adios El Toreador . . .it was a great run until it wasn't. Lesson: If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, don't take it personal since we all make mistakes. Iinstead of trying to convince yourself that the customer/client is wrong, give the benefit of the doubt to the customer and assume the customer knows what he/she ordered instead of letting your ego drive the customer permanently away. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food: 4/5 Service: 2.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Overall: Food was decent but the service and wait time was a little snooty and slow. The extended review... Food: Chicken Quesadilla - 4/5 - So I have to say that of the quesadillas these have beaten the quality and taste of all others I have had. There was something about it that didn't make it taste so basic so hats off. Service: 2.5/5 - The unfortunate thing is the owner is a bit rude seating us and had a bit of an attitude. The server overall was very nice but just know you will sit there for a while waiting for your food. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - The place hasn't changed since I came here as a kid. It's a very vibrant and kitschy environment which does make it different from all other restaurants. read more

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This has been a favorite for a long time. Excellent food and extensive beer selection. The dining room is an amazing collection of photos, kick knacks and mementos to keep you fascinate while you dine. read more

Such a fun little place!! The owner was so friendly, quick service and big portions!! The chicken enchiladas & margaritas were great! We had a great time at lunch with the fam!! read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've never had mole poblano before, so take this review with a grain of salt. Tasty, I'd get it again. 5/5 Sangria: This tastes just like when we get a bottle of costco sangria and add apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Not bad, but I wouldn't get it again, just cuz I make it at home so easily. Strawberry daiquiri: ice was very chunky, straw was unusable. Strawberry flavor was very light, and it didn't have enough alcohol. 2/5 The salsa which came with the chips and salsa was the thinnest, most "sauce"-like salsa I've ever had. I definitely prefer the normal chunky stuff. Service was ok, not great, not terrible. read more

El Toreador Restaurant - Receipt - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Never again I used to like only one particular dish here and would not come here for anything else. Ordered it tonight and of course the good for nothing owner can't listen and comprehend. He brought the wrong order and while I should have sent it back , I've made the decision never to return. read more