Service and drinks were great! Poncho the bartender was spot on with drinks and very personable!

Great service from Daniel! Food was good and drinks were delicious. Traditional Mexican restaurant feel. Would go back.

Excellent chicken flautas! March 9th, 2019 was visit and review.. never finished posting. read more

The view of the ocean is beautiful if you get the window seat. There is nothing else you would visit this place for. Mexican food was good as usual. Nothing extraordinary. Avocado toast was the best dish amongst the ones we ordered. Service was very slow, our order took more than 30minutes to arrive, when only 4-5 tables were occupied. The server could not answer basic questions about the menu - saying he was new there and did not bother to find the answers. Would consider coming back if service was improved. read more

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Came here for happy hour, 3PM. We were disappointed with the service we received. We asked for a specific dessert and our waitress said she wasn't sure if they had any but never came back to inform us, nor provided a suggested alternative. We also also asked for a chip refill and she never provided it. Unfortunately, She wasn't very nice either. She stated to a customer that her coworker called in, so I'm sure she was in a bad mood and overwhelmed, but that's not an excuse. Our drinks were good. Thank you bartender! read more

El Torito - Fried ice cream - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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The hostess was very friendly! There was a bad smell (wet mop?) when entering. They have a happy hour, but it's only at the bar, which no one wants to sit at. The server asked if we were ready to order before he even brought out our water or drink. I hate feeling rushed! The chips tasted as if they have been in old oil. The Spicy margarita was slightly weak. Although they gave a large private free parking lot & great views, I was not overly impressed. The bacon-wrapped shrimp was decent. The Birria tacos were good, but definitely small and could use some more cheese. The Spanish rice was good. They have the potential to do so much better especially with this space! Add a roofftop& better drinks! read more

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Came for happy hour. First and foremost, the location is breathtaking. The restaurant itself is spacious and the views and unbeatable. Giving panoramic views of the Monterey bay, it really is worth the visit just for the view alone. We saw sea otters swimming by while we ate- so cute! The food is also amazing, i got steak tacos and they were juicy, tender and flavorful- YUM! Full transparency, we did not have good service. It seemed the staff was honestly bothered by us inquiring about happy hour prices and afterwards really did not make an effort to check in on us at all after we ordered our food. We never received refills on our waters and when we asked for the check it was flippantly handed to us ... i never like to call out bad service was its the only thing that brought this 5 star experience down to a 3 star experience. read more

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I've been to El Torito a couple of times, and since I love Mexican food, it's become one of my favorite spots in Monterey. One of the things I enjoy the most is the location, the view of the beach is beautiful and makes the whole experience even better. My go-to dish is always the Trio Fajitas, which come with steak, chicken, and shrimp. They arrive sizzling at the table and are packed with flavor. The portion is also very generous, we ordered them for two people and still couldn't finish everything. Honestly, they could easily be shared by three people. For this visit, we also ordered guacamole and swapped the traditional beans and rice for mixed veggies. The service has always been good, although this place gets pretty busy. This time we waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, but honestly, it was worth it. Great food, beautiful ocean views, and a fun atmosphere. If you're in Monterey and craving Mexican food, enjoying some sizzling fajitas while overlooking the beach is a pretty great way to spend the afternoon. read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Went here on a Saturday for lunch. We were seated at one of their large window tables with an ocean view. They have colorful art around the place with an old-time charm to it. The service at the restaurant is not up to the mark. Our server was not helpful and got a lot of our orders wrong. We ordered the Bloody Maria with 3 toppings, but only got one of them. It was also missing the olives and celery, which are not add ons and part of the original drink. Because we had difficulty placing the order in the first place, we did not send this back because we weren't sure they'd be able to fix it. The small plates at the table were not clean; they had some sticky spots on them. We got the chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and avocado toast. The food was average-tasting. The prices are below average for that area. I would not recommend this place considering there are much better options available very close to it. read more

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Pretty restaurant right on the bay. It's nice that it has a parking lot and you can get your parking vouched. The restaurant can be loud Food is pretty decent - got a hibiscus guava margarita Service can be good depending on who you get. It can be pretty slow depending on how busy it is! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Great margarita. Get the plain signature one, the flavors are too much. Didn't like blackberry at all. The mango was decent. The plain signature one was the best. The jalapeño poppers were okay. The cheese quesadilla was decent. The biggest negative was that their rice and beans are not vegetarian. This is an easy fix and I hope they become more inclusive in future. Because of this issue couldn't try any main course out here. Pity, since this place has beautiful views. This is the only place I have seen that serves green salsa that is boiling hot!! read more

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Great happy hour, great view! You can't beat the view. Our sever Debbie, was top notch, fantastic- worked so hard and was so friendly. Food was decent, and it was nice to see an El Torino thriving. read more

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If there were ever a restaurant in need of a Gordon Ramsay intervention, this would be it. The food was drenched in sauce to the point where any actual flavor seemed to have surrendered. The rice was passable, but the beans came with an unexpected sour note that no one asked for. The restaurant itself had a noticeable odor, which it seemed to combat by simply propping the door open--an ambitious but ineffective strategy. Unfortunately, the issues didn't stop there. The floors were dirty, the furniture showed signs of rust, and the windows (at least the ones within reach) were decorated with bird droppings. To top it off, I witnessed a homeless man decline food offered by two patrons leaving the restaurant. In hindsight, that might have been the most reliable review of all. Given the location, the experience was especially disappointing. read more

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Was looking forward to trying this place because my parents LOVE it. Unfortunately, when we came today on Mother's Day, the manager completely mishandled the entire day. Not only did we have to wait an entire HOUR WITH RESERVATIONS, but a car BLOCKED US INTO OUR SPOT in their parking lot. When I called a tow truck company they said the restaurant needed to call on my behalf. I tell the manager this and what does he do? He gives me attitude and tells me no, he is not calling them because it's bad for business, and says he will find someone to move from in front of us to let us out (because the car blocking us in was from behind). Instead of apologizing (e.g. a simple, "So sorry this happened, let me see what I can do!) and agreeing with me that the car was in the wrong, he gave me attitude and excuses! Wtf? Why would you give me attitude? That set me off and is, guess what? Bad for business. You completely mishandled that. Luckily someone who worked there moved from in front of us to let us out, but nothing of sincerity came from the manager and even after I told him several times, "My attitude isn't with you! I'm not upset with you!" (he wasn't being polite and I didn't want there to be a misunderstanding), he still proceeded to give me attitude and excuses! Okay well NOW I do have an attitude with you. Are you for real? You're gonna give me attitude after making us wait an hour for our RESERVATION?! Instead he says, "Well we had 1200 reservations today." Okay and? That's my problem how? You're gonna give me attitude because someone blocked me in why? Make it make sense. Here's the thing, if you have reservations, your customers shouldn't be waiting AN HOUR. That's on YOU. That means you have poor time management because there are signs saying each party has 1.5 hours. So kick them out after an hour and half. That's on you! Manage their time! Don't accept parties without reservations on holidays! It was a sh** show today. If you have good time management you could've avoided this mess. And then the cherry on top was your attitude when I was blocked the F in! Are you kidding me? Never coming back. Doesn't matter if the view and food is great; this was an awful experience (other than our wonderful server and bartender) and the manager's attitude was the last straw. Enjoy this video of the inconsiderate dumbass blocking my car in (which I only took because of the manager's attitude towards me). Could have easily been kind and I would've been writing a different review (was going to give 3 stars due to ridiculousness of wait). All you had to do was be professional; so the video I posted (that's now viral) is straight up on you Mr. Manager for being rude AF to me for no reason. Guess in the end I was worse for business than you just calling the tow truck. read more

This review is based on a DoorDash experience. I ordered the Mucho Combo which includes a chili rellano, chicken and sour cream enchilada, tamale, taco, beans and rice. When my order arrived half was missing. I called the restaurant and was told it was still there sitting on the order up tray cooling off. The portion of the order I did receive was very good. All three items were full of flavor. However, they had cooled off fast. In conclusion, I would consider eating here someday. Just don't order through DoorDash. read more

El Torito - The half of my Mucho Combo that was delivered - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Before leaving for the airport stopped in again + had lunch. There was three of us so we had Grande Fiesta Platter appetizer, Buffalo tenders,crispy Flautas, Nachos Supremos + cheese Quesadilla. Just enough to get us home. Pretty sure it was the same waitress as before. She's a sweetheart + efficient. Skipped the bloody Mary, but mom had one + my sister had a Pina Colda. The views from the restaurant are outstanding. read more

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Dinner with a view!!! The food came out fast & flavorful! The portions were generous, and the service was very attentive. The atmosphere was very warm and welcoming! I'd definitely come back again for both the food and the overall experience! read more

El Torito - Plate 1: CARNE ASADA & SHRIMP Plate 2: 2 ITEM COMBO (Cheese Enchilada & Chicken Tamale) - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

The absolute best Mexican food with a beautiful ocean view! Weekends can be busy, it's best to make a reservation beforehand. They have a private paid parking lot. Staff is great, this restaurant is family friendly and can be loud. Bathrooms are clean. They have a buffet on weekends as well. Definitely try them out if you are in the area!!! read more

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The food, service, ambiance and waiting time could be improved. It took nearly an hour to receive food that didn't meet my expectations. The cleanliness and upkeep of bathroom/tables should be taken into consideration. I think this place with the right management has the potential to be a great restaurant. read more

The food was "ok". But the busboy was exceptional. When our soup was served, we were given plasticware, which is not what we expected. We had to ask our waitress to bring us real spoons. The busboy got them quickly; he worked very hard, bussing the tables near us as well as running around to get our spoons, water, etc. The waitress never asked if we would like additional margaritas when we were done. Oh well. read more

Service is super slow . With some waiters . Chicken tacos. When I received them they were cold. The food sucked . Service sucked . Don't recommend this place . A homeless man would love it but a food connoisseur thinks it's shit . read more

Isabel Greeting was with a big smile very nice was always on it to serve ya and still with a big smile read more

The only good thing about this restaurant is the view. Service was awful and everything took forever. I had ordered fajitas and my food was cold before I was finally able to get my tortillas to eat it. I also ordered guacamole as an appetizer and they only brought it to me after I got my food. I have been here before and we got told they had plenty of space over the phone, and then when we got there, they told us we had to wait half an hour for a table even though the restaurant was empty. Don't go here there are better options across the street. read more

Went for a family birthday here. I'm not sure if this place is understaffed, but a lot of our food was not delivered to us, or was delivered incorrectly. We had a big party and were in a room with 2 other big parties, while the rest of the restaurant was also quite full, so I have a feeling there was just a lot going on for everyone working there. I never got my water, my husband got a Diet Coke instead of a regular coke, my brother in law was given enchiladas instead of a quesadilla, and my sister in law was given an incorrect drink order and had to order another one. Just a lot of little mistakes that were odd. Food was decent, but we probably won't be back. read more

We had high hopes for El Torito in Monterey, but unfortunately our visit didn't go as planned. We made a reservation 1.5 hours ahead, confirmed it over the phone, and specifically requested a booth by the window (since my wife is pregnant and can't sit at high tops for long). We arrived on time but still had to wait another 15 minutes, and despite the request, we were not given a window booth. The host didn't communicate very well -- perhaps just tired by that time of day -- but it set a rough tone for the evening. From the outside, the restaurant wasn't very welcoming. The building had bird droppings all over the roof, which immediately gave off a neglected vibe. We were drawn in by the online photos showing nice views, but once inside, the atmosphere felt more chaotic and run-down. Guests were yelling and cursing loudly with kids around, which made it uncomfortable to settle in. Food was another disappointment. What we ordered was either too oily or lacked flavor, and we couldn't even finish our meals. It really felt like we failed our dinner that night. The frustrating part is that this place has so much potential -- the location is prime, the building is large with its own parking, and it could easily be elevated into a polished, destination restaurant. Instead, it feels cheap and run down, which is a shame given the setting. read more

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We cane in just for drinks. Took a minute to be seated but the bartender made up for it with the drinks. Strong and well made. I had my usual tequila( reposado) don julio with ginger beer. Wife and brother/ sister guava margaritas. Good service at the bar read more

This place is not worth it. Very poor quality mexican food for high prices. The waitress working the 2 tables next to us said a very rude comment to me as well about the way I was biting into my food - maybe the fajita steak was overdone and chewy? I had the margarita flight which tasted like juice and had zero alcohol in it. We then ordered the queso dip and it tasted like microwaved velveeta cheese with some tomatoes thrown on it. The chips are NOT FRESH. Very stale and probably store bought. We then had the carne asada burrito as a chimichanga. It was very soggy. Stuffed with pinto beans. Tasted more like a soggy bean burrito with few pieces of meat. I had the steak fajitas - sour cream was $2 extra and didn't come with cheese. The steak was over cooked and chewy. Bell peppers weren't fully cooked. The plate wasn't even steaming when coming out. We then had the fried ice cream which was still frozen solid in the center we had to wait for it to soften more. It was covered in nasty corn flakes instead of graham cracker crust. Kids quesadilla was just a tortilla with cheese and zero flavor. Paid $136 for horrible food. read more

4.5 stars An extra star for the watermelon candy shot Salsa is flavorful. Service was extremely slow, so we had to cancel one of the main courses. Vegeterian fajita was good! Our server tried her best in spite of how busy they were. Dedicated parking is super handy. read more

El Torito - Watermelon candy shot - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Pretty disappointing experience overall. The food was overly salty and not very enjoyable. Service was also lacking servers (Wendy T) seemed annoyed and unprofessional. We were told we couldn't split the bill, but apparently that has to be requested at the beginning, which no one told us. There was also a random surcharge on the receipt that wasn't explained. The biggest issue was cleanliness. The restroom had no soap, and we had to ask staff and wait for it to be refilled just so I could wash my hands. The only positive was the person who brought out our food, they were kind and polite. Overall, I wouldn't return or recommend this place. read more

El Torito - Surcharge - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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Had the most amazing lunch at El Torito in Monterey! Great views, amazing service by Aliana, and super tasty on fire fajitas! The strawberry margarita was just what I needed! Such a great place to come and have a nice business lunch! Lesly the assistant manager, was checking on all the tables and offering amazing customer service also! Looking forward to coming back soon! read more

El Torito - FAJITAS COMBO - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Cres did a great job and the service was excellent and genuine. Easter brunch was quite the spread. read more

Amazing experience and ThE BEST VALUE in Monterey. My husband used to eat here long time ago and had happy memories of his time at El Torito. So on a recent trip he wondered whether the restaurant was still there. We looked online and we headed over. The restaurant has oceanfront dining and free validated parking on their lot right in front of the restaurant. On Sunday we had a wonderful and great value brunch for $40 per person that included all you can eat AND endless mimosas!!!!! The buffet had a very large selection of Mexican food, that included pozole, menudo, chilaquiles, tacos, gorditas, quesadillas fritas, flan, arroz, con leche, pastel de piña, pastel de zanahoria, enchiladas, verdes, rojas, machaca, mole, arroz, frijoles, agua, chile, cóctel de camarón, frutas, ensaladas, omelette, huevos, revueltos, pan francés, Waffles, café de olla, coffee, tea, and many more choices. We waited for 30 minutes to get seated. Regarding accessibility, the entrance to the restaurant is accessible, and they have an accesible bathroom by the entrance to the restaurant. Monday through Friday they also have happy hour and in their advertisement they showed 4 dollars for a glass of wine!!!! plus some very inexpensive appetizers. read more

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We went for a Sunday brunch. The food was delicious. There were so many options. Mimosas are included in the price. There are reviews saying the food wasn't good but I wad pleasantly surprised at the food being flavorful and well seasoned. I would absolutely go back when I am in Monterey. read more

I came here for dinner on a Saturday night and it was SO busy. We were told it would be a 45-minute wait for 2 people around 7pm, however the bar area was available first come, first serve if space was open. Luckily, we snagged two stools and enjoyed our meal there. The bartender was excellent- very attentive and quick to wait on us. He warned us there was going to be a wait for food. It ended up taking an hour to get our meal. We finally asked about our food and by some miracle, the bartender went to check and returned about 10 minutes later with our meal. It felt like our food had been forgotten about. The food was excellent, though. I loved their spicy skinny margaritas. The chips and salsa were great. My only complaint is how long our food took without any update while waiting. This is an established restaurant- they should have their rush times figured out with the kitchen to avoid further delays. Great location on the water and parking available right on site. read more

El Torito - SIZZLING ENCHILADAS - GRILLED CHICKEN - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

Isabel the server very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about her duties and the food was good will definitely return her as our server read more

What an amazing find!!! A local treasure! We've been coming to Monterey for years and finally decided to try this restaurant!!! From the minute we were seated to finishing the meal - everything went so well! Our server was quite hospitable offering drinks, appetizer and anything else we needed! So accommodating! After being served the salsa and chips - We went straight to the meals ! Two meals - the 3 meat fajita dish ( steak, shrimp and chicken) and the 3 steak soft tacos! The meat were cooked right, tasty, well sautéed! The bowl of beans and the corn cake were so delicious - I ate both orders of these side dishes! The tortillas were soft and warm - perfect for wrapping the meat with! Then we were served ice cream for our birthday celebration! This has now become an easy winner for Monterey dinners! read more

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Do not come here during holidays/events. Gets very messy, people waiting outside in parking lot for hrs. Peoples reservations being cancelled or pushed back by an hr plus. Unorganized, poorly managed. Food is good (7/10) but definitely not worth the wait. read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Monterey, California

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We sat at the bar on a Friday night for happy hour. They have great drink and food specials. The service was very slow. They give you free chips and salsa. We ordered the steak tacos and the MAHI tacos. The steak tacos are 4 mini hard shell tacos. The MAHI are three soft shell tacos with slaw with a heavy mayo flavor sauce. Many tables have window views. Happy hour is only in the cantina, which does include some high top bar tables and the bar. You get a ticket when you enter parking lot. They validate 2 hours of parking. read more

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This was the first time we visited El Torito... we made a reservation beforehand through opentable, and the pictures there were quite compelling. But as soon as we got there, we understood that it was not what we imagined... unfortunately, we did not like ANYTHING in this place ... First of all, we requested a specific seating when we made a reservation and even called once again to confirm that we would get that seating, but upon arrival we were told we should wait.. and after waiting they put us in a wrong place.. The inside was old and worn out.. it was very noisy as well. The food was not impressive at all. It was quite greasy... overall, we had bad experience and even left without finishing our food. read more

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So sad this restaurant seems to be getting worse every year... Servers are not trained in hospitality nor customer service. Don't expect good service when eating there. read more