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    El Torito

    4.2 (1.7k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    Business Info

    EL TORITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Alberto C.

    My overall experience was okay. The reason why I give the 3 stars was mainly because of the amazing service of Stephanie. Stephanie was able to serve us and she did a GREAT job. She was super nice and helpful. Stephanie provided a comfortable service without constantly coming over to the table. She made sure our drinks were always topped off. Despite her being busy, she took care of us and did a great job! As for the food... it was very mediocre. The food was pricey for quality... the food was also SWEET! They have no spicy salsa its all relatively sweet. The tortillas all either have no taste or overly sweet. Also the food taste like its all been pre-made and in a oven rather than made to order. It was disappointing to get this quality of food when the restaurant overall was not busy. It seems to be ok in there not super clean/up kept or modern. Overall, I was not satisfied with our meals. But the customer service was great from Stephanie! Thank you...

    FAJITAS DUO steak and shrimp
    Cara H.

    Would like to compliment my server today Juan! Went in for lunch and that man was single handedly running the front of the house! The section was full and he was the only server, in between orders he was checking on everyone repeatedly, between that bussing the tables, between that checking in the kitchen and between that was bartending on the other side! He also went down and worked the host stand when he saw guest's enter as the hostess wasn't there. Even in doing all of this he was the most polite, sincere friendliest person with all of the guests...never too busy to check on you or see what you needed immediately. The servers at El Torito have always been exceptional in my opinion. Also my food was delicious.

    Good food. A little bit on the sweet side.
    Richie M.

    El Torito was an interesting experience. The restaurant its self is an old Mexican architecture that was cool to look at. The food was overall sweet I don't think I'll be back here again. The food was not horrible but too sweet for my liking to be honest. Our server Stephanie was awesome. Stephanie is a great server she was not overwhelming nice and she was very kind. The overall service was fast and good. The food in the other hand I would say way too sweet!

    Birria taco and chicken enchilada combo
    Karen N.

    I'm happy that we still have the 1 location left in San Diego, because after that I think the closest one is Irvine. I'm not here that often, I usually come when they offer me something. My favorite thing is the corn pudding that comes with some of the entrees. It's like cornbread that wasn't cooked the whole way. I remember they came out with a bagged mix you could get at grocery stores, and we used to get that. This time I ordered the queso for $4 on happy hour, and a 2 item combo with a barbacoa taco and a chicken enchilada. It was really good, and I ended up taking half of it home. I ate it a few days later, and it still tasted good. Service was pretty fast, and Rachel my waitress was nice. They weren't super busy because it was a little before 5 on a Friday.

    Al Pastor Tacos, Rice and Beans
    Vivian T.

    This review reflects their Sunday Brunch. For $45 per person, you get to experience El Torito's Sunday buffet brunch from 9AM to 2PM. We got there around 10AM. Upon walking in, we kind of played eye tag with a male host or manager who didn't acknowledge us right away. It wasn't until a female host, who was clearly busy running around, came over and found us a table. The layout of this place honestly feels like a maze. There are ramps, stairs, arches. It almost felt like a fever dream walking through it. There's a ton of seating though. Booths, tables, patio seating, bar seating, and it definitely looks like they can host large parties or corporate events. The brunch is all you can eat buffet style with different sections throughout the restaurant. In the main middle area, there's a taco station with meats like birria, carnitas, pastor, and pollo. There are trays of breakfast items like waffles and bacon. Lunch options like mole, chile relleno, enchiladas, and more. In the back of that section is dessert with flan, ice cream, a chocolate fountain, rice pudding, and other sweets. There's also an omelette station where a chef makes it fresh based on your ingredient choices. That area gets crowded fast. There isn't really a clear place to stand and wait, so you end up kind of being in someone's way. Near the entrance, there are three additional tables. One is more kid friendly with mini corn dogs, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, cereal, milk, and yogurt. Another has drink dispensers with horchata, jamaica, and another agua fresca. The third has coffee and hot chocolate. On the left side near the bar, there are three more tables. One with pozole and menudo. One salad station with pre made salads and build your own options. The last one features seafood like shrimp ceviche, aguachile, seafood soup, chilled shrimp, and more. Drinks are included with the brunch. Our server was very kind and attentive. He cleared plates quickly and checked in throughout the meal. Most of what I ate was actually really good. Standouts for me were the carnitas. Super flavorful and not dry. I made tacos with fresh onions, cilantro, and this orange crema based salsa that paired really well. The sweet cornbread was also a hit. Moist with real corn baked in. I went back for that. The salad station impressed me too. Their green, maybe cilantro lime salsa tasted so fresh I genuinely wondered if it was made in house. The waffle with honey butter was also a solid choice. Things that didn't hit the mark for me were the menudo, which felt bland and lacked depth. The chocolate fountain was fun but the chocolate itself wasn't great. The horchata tasted like sugar water. The al pastor meat was a little too salty for me. Overall, I think $45 is a bit steep for what you get. There's a lot of food and a good amount of variety, but the selection doesn't rotate much, so I could see getting tired of it. I might come back occasionally, but not often.

    Harley L.

    Sergio's the man behind the bar! Hit him up for happy hours. Best margaritas in San Diego.

    Mexican food for dinner!!!
    Alice M.

    Haven't been here for a while we came here for the dinner service around 6:30pm and surprisingly there was no wait in line with many parkings outside right in front on Sunday evening. The music was pretty good and loud. I used my Shazam a lot and saved it to my mexican playlist. Very good place for celebration. The decor was also nice. You can tell they are about to get ready for Cinco de Mayo. The restaurant was a little too cold for my liking. The presentation was cool for the flaming fajitas. The flames went up really high. The food portion here is very generous and it tasted freshly grilled. Our server was nice and since it was my birthday she removed the dessert from our bill. Thank you for the special evening El Torito!

    Chips, salsa and Fresh Guacamole
    Christopher C.

    Came here on a Sunday evening and was seated right away. The vibe was cool and I liked the music but it was a little on the loud side. The salsa, guacamole and chips were on point. My main course was tasty but the crispy flautas weren't crispy.

    Maya H.

    Our waiter, Sergio, is amazing!! He's so attentive and give great recommendations!! We went during Happy Hour and the menu is great! We got a couple of drinks and some snacks!! I'm also addicted to their corn bread. I've been a fan for over 20 years!! I've taken my kids here since they are small and now they can drink. I haven't been to the weekend brunch in a while and need to come back to try it again. The place still looks the same with lively music. It's such a chill and fun place to go with your friends and family. Great happy hour prices and delicious margarita . Will come back again with my friends and family. I hope Sergio will be our server. He's the best server!! Great attitude and vibe!! Give him a raise, El Torito

    Dining room area.
    Simeko O.

    Wow! what a surprise! El Torito's in La Mesa was going off tonight. We showed up for dinner not expecting too much, and to our shock, happy hour was running from 3 PM to 9 PM. So of course, I had to start with a margarita flight and follow it up with a draft beer. So good. My chicken enchiladas with sour cream were delicious, and the music and ambience were upbeat and fun. Our server was super friendly, and the food came out hot, fresh, and honestly way better than my last visit. Huge difference this time around. I'm giving this place five stars for the lively atmosphere, friendly service from JORGE, excellent food, and great prices. If you're in the area and want something fun and a little different, definitely stop by El Torito's in La Mesa.

    Steak
    Hanafi M.

    Always delicious, try the sweet corn, it's sure to put a smile on your face. Plenty of terrific parking. On Sunday, May 3rd, they are having an all-you-can-eat for Cinco de Mayo

    Nestor L.

    Sergio in the bar always takes great care of us. Always has a great attitude and this is why this spot is my spot to hang out with my coworkers.

    Post demolish soup. Hearty with veggies.

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    1 year ago

    Had a great dinner with friends and a wonderful waiter, Gilberto took excellent care of us. He was very attentive and making us laugh.

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    1 year ago

    I love this restaurant! I've been eating here all my life. Gilberto is our favorite waiter!

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Wonderful place for happy hour, phenomenal prices on drinks and food is awesome. Rolling now.

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    Karolina T.

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    Janelle O.

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    10 months ago

    Loved the Sunday brunch! Gilberto was our waiter and he was so great and full of energy!

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    10 months ago

    Gilberto was AMAZING ..BEST server ever! He was on the mimosa refill! Food was great!

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    Jessica S.

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    10 months ago

    We made reservations for a party of five. We get there I just felt they were understaffed they didn't care we waited we left.

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    2 years ago

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    Karolina T.

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    1 year ago

    Came in on a Tuesday. Our server, Gilberto was incredible and attentive. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

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    Karolina T.

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    1 year ago

    Pedro and Jacky were very nice. Food was Great. Service was good. Will go back again.

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    Page 6 of 43

    El Torito Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Torito

    What is the 2026 Sunday Brunch price?

    39.50 for the full brunch sunday

    Sunday brunch price?

    We went on Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 and the brunch price was $37.50 for adults and I think it was $13.00 for kids.

    Does the staff still serve the food for the all-you-can-eat brunch or are patrons able to serve themselves now? Last time I went, the staff served the food for brunch but that was not long after COVID dine-in restrictions were implemented.

    You serve yourself. Go It's a good brunch. You'll like it

    Has the La Mesa CA location closed permanently?😳?

    It was open as of last week so it should be!

    Is the Buffet only on the Weekend or is it on Fridays too?

    Only on Sundays

    Do you allow dogs in the outdoor area?

    Yes

    Can reservations be made for the Sunday brunch or first come first serve? Is there a bottomless…

    Yes. Reservations. Yes Bottomless mimosas

    Is Brunch on Sat and Sun?

    Yes, both brunch are on the weekend. The only thing about Sunday's brunch is that it's all you can eat.

    Do they have a bar? Or place for dancing?

    tHE BAR IS TO THE LEFT OF THE ENTRANCE. hOWEVER, THERE IS NO DANCING.

    How much is the Sunday Brunch Buffet?

    As of March 2022, about $30.

    Do you serve menudo?

    Hi Fred. We do have Menudo available on our Sunday Brunch.

    Is the Brunch open?

    Yes

    Is one in la Puente california?

    No, this one is in La Mesa California (East San Diego area) There is one at 3133 E Garvey Ave N,… 

    Is there happy hour? Also, I'm disappoinment to see the Plaza Bonita location closed. Even though it's been years, I still miss it. It was so near my house😕

    Yes they have happy hour. And when I went a couple months ago they had happy hour on Sunday as well, 3-7 I believe. But of course call to check for current deals.

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    Lemon City Taphouse

    Lemon City Taphouse

    4.9(24 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    The old Good Guys tavern was sold and morphed into this new place. Let's just say I miss Good Guys…read moregreatly. When they first opened under the new name, the place had super bright lighting. Really it was weird, like medical operating room brightness...They ended up shading the lights and painted the walls dark?? Better, appropriate ambience. It's a lot more modern and cleaner than ever though. Well, so they call it a taphouse now. Which means they are a craft beer bar. With less than average beer selection on tap for a taphouse in my opinion. They do have a large can selection that pushes them up a star. Many one-off beers and smoothie styles which can be difficult to obtain. There's only one person working the bar, which has always been a friendly female. Which is appropriate for the 90% male clientele. You gotta figure this works everywhere. Take it from someone who knows, as I worked as a bartender and barback for many years. Serving beer is one thing, but it's tough getting a male bartending job in general. The selection could be better. However, the problem I have with this place is the exorbitant prices of the draft beers. This is considering the area, which is on Broadway in Lemon Grove. I mean we are talking 9 and 10$ beers here. For example, Frank the Dank- a double IPA is 10$ here. And I know where I can get these for $5 a pint... and I'm not telling where either! Actually if you do really read my reviews, this information will be eventually leaked out if it already hasn't been.. But yeah I'm sorry, but this why you are empty 80% of the time. Who can afford this in this permanently depressed area/neighborhood? The working men of course, who aren't ready to go home and deal with that nagging significant other..

    I've been to Lemon City Taphouse three times now and it's just fine. The selection is the best…read morepart, by far. There is definitely something for everyone, including non-alcoholic options. My biggest complaint would be the prices. I paid $10 for a pint of Two Towns cider, and $15 for a 19oz can of Boochcraft. The staff is always very friendly, and happy to help with beverage selection. With this being the only real craft beer option in Lemon Grove, it's a good stop, it's just going to cost you a little more.

    Photos
    Lemon City Taphouse
    Lemon City Taphouse - The bar.

    The bar.

    Lemon City Taphouse

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    Clem’s Station - Pizaahhh! Just a tad over, but I did enjoy the crunch on the bottom.

    Clem’s Station

    4.8(111 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    This is a popular Talmadge neighborhood hangout. They have a huge beer selection and a full bar…read more The food is fresh, well prepared with large portions. The staff is very friendly, accommodating and well trained. Taco Tues specials are popular. A great place to catch the World Cup or a Padres game.

    Now that's what I'm talking about! 4.5/5!…read more Ended up coming back out to Clem's to give it another shot. Although my last visit wasn't bad, it was just middle of the road and left me wanting more-especially in regards to the Wagyu burger and the bacon. This time around, I decided to switch it up a bit. As we arrived, I ordered my current favorite beer on tap, Coco Ono, from Bay City Brewing. It's a piña coloda IPA that's not too sweet, and has great coconut flavor. Moments later I realized that there was a Taco Tuesday special that was $15 for 2 tacos a draft beer of your choosing. Since the Coco Ono is $9 alone (ouch!), I realized it was a better deal to get the Taco Tuesday special. I asked Karina if I could turn that draft I ordered into the special, and they kindly obliged...nice! The last time I was here, I noticed some wings coming out of the kitchen and they looked awesome. So this time I knew I had to get the wings, $16. I ordered a 9 piece of Buffalo wings, per staff recommendation, and they did not disappoint. We actually got 10 piping hot wings served with stacks of baby carrots, fresh cut celery, and both ranch and blue cheese. I'd love to see them do a homemade ranch because it would better compliment the wings than that Hidden Valley stuff. Wings were a 5/5!!! I forgot to even mention the tacos. That's probably because I forgot about them...lol. While the small TJ tacos had some solid carne with onions and cilantro, they were a bit plain. Served on two tortillas with 2 salsas, and 2 limes, a little bit of guac would have livened them up. I probably wouldn't order them on their own at $3 each, but as part of the $15 deal, it was all good. 4/5 for the deal. Lastlly, we ordered the BBQ chicken pizza, which was a HITT!. I had previously tried a few slices of pepperoni pizza last time, and it was a good snack to have with some brews, but nothing memorable. However this time, the BBQ Chicken pizza was up there with my favorite one in town. It was covered with loads of chicken, which they stated was cooked in-house, cilantro and BBQ sauce. The crust did look like it was a little over baked, but it ended up having a perfect under crust with zero burnt flavor. Only the outer crust was ultimately effected and got a bit crackery. All in all it was a really delicious pie. All the while Karina and Emma were answering my many questions, tapping off our drinks, and providing pretty much anything we asked for. The food presentation was great, the restaurant was immaculate, and the service was friendly, all giving an overall 5 stars. Thanks to Emma, Karina, Paul, and the kitchen staff for making this a delicious evening. I'll definitely be back for the pizza and the wings.

    Photos
    Clem’s Station
    Clem’s Station - Bon appetit baby

    Bon appetit baby

    Clem’s Station - Chicken wings are juicy

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    Chicken wings are juicy

    Deano’s Pub - View of bar from back corner.

    Deano’s Pub

    4.4(66 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    First time visiting, looking to try something new. Something more than just drinks. I give this a 5…read morestar review and I will tell you why. 1. They have a calendar of events, like open mic, karaoke, country social, trivia night, live music and more fun stuff. They also had two pool tables and TVs for watching sports. 2. The drinks are pretty well priced. While they do not offer food, they do welcome outside food. Which is cool if you have a specific craving that wouldn't normally be at a bar/pub. 3. Tonight was live music and the band had a really chill vibe and had good musicians. (Lunar conspiracy ) 4. It's not a huge place but it had plenty of seating, a dance floor and outdoor seating. 5. Last but not least they have friendly service. I wasn't in the mood for alcohol, and they were accommodating. I plan to go back and check out some of the other events. Tonight was not a packed night, but I'll have to compare it to other event nights in the future. If you are in the area you might already know about them but if you don't, I say give it a shot.

    Good: No cover, but some bands have one. Good: there are excellent tacos sold on their patio. I've…read moreheard playing dirt bingo is a lot of fun here, but I haven't played. The night we visited, there was a heavy medal band playing, so we left early. I would visit again, but I'd make sure the band plays the type of music I enjoy listening to. The service was okay.

    Photos
    Deano’s Pub
    Deano’s Pub
    Deano’s Pub

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    Key & Cleaver - Tvs!

    Key & Cleaver

    4.8(279 reviews)
    4.1 miCity Heights
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    Best burger I've had in a looong time, maybe ever?! I got…read morethe mushroom Swiss burger because I really couldn't decide, so I asked the nice server over the phone what his favorite was. Great recommendation! Absolutely delicious!!! I felt reallly good after eating it, and I am sensitive to certain breads and cheese. Knowing me I'll probably make the 35 min drive sometime again this week. And I got a Shirley temple to go from the bar and they don't use regular grenadine, but some other delicious syrup that is so much more flavorful and not full of red dye 40. Only thing I would suggest for anyone coming is to know the sign on the building is hard to see, so you will see the Chinese restaurant sign, that is basically where you are looking to go. The sign is flat against the building and I didn't see it while driving.

    We recently tried Key & Cleaver and had a pretty good experience overall. We ordered the Greek…read moreburger, BBQ bacon burger, and two kids' basic cheeseburgers. The BBQ bacon burger was good, but the bacon wasn't crispy--it was very thick and more like a slice of ham. It was okay, but I would have preferred traditional crispy bacon. The Greek burger was also good, but not quite great. However, the boys' basic cheeseburgers were amazing! We would definitely come back just for a basic burger. The fries were also amazing--definitely a highlight of the meal. They have a great selection of beer and alcohol, and I tried the watermelon drink, which had a spicy kick and was absolutely delicious. Overall, a solid spot with great fries, drinks, and burgers. We'll definitely be back for those basic cheeseburgers!

    Photos
    Key & Cleaver - Best burger in San Diego

    Best burger in San Diego

    Key & Cleaver
    Key & Cleaver - Inside view of tables & bar

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    Inside view of tables & bar

    El Torito - mexican - Updated September 2026

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