The food was great, first time coming in and was not disappointed, our server was very attentive but what stood out the most was the manager Frankie. Keep up the good work! He definitely made the difference in our dinning experience. Loved the Cadillac marg and the ribeye was on point. read more

Great buffet brunch. Mimosa included. Amazing service from Salvador. Food was on point. Will be back

Bottomless mimosas during brunch is good. Our waiter Jose provided excellent service!

Jose R. Was amazing and was attentive. He constantly checked on us, he was bringing my wife mimosas without asking. That's Plus in our books. read more

Today is my 62nd birthday. Made reservations for my family and I to go to lunch here to celebrate. I had requested the deep-fried ice cream for my birthday dessert. Today was 105 degrees in Northridge. We were hoping the inside of the restaurant would offer relief from the heat. Half way through our meal, we requested to have the AC adjusted since it just wasn't getting cool. I'll get to that in a minute. Service from start to finish was not that great. Our server took my birthday order (birria tacos, table side guacamole - free rewards on the app plus the ignited fajitas supremas) and the rest of my family ordered. The birria tacos were ok, we've had better. The rest of the dishes ordered were, again, just ok. A bit bland at times. We never got refills for water until we asked. My son's girlfriend ordered a peach cocktail and she said all she could taste was the tequila. We had to ask for extra napkins. The guacamole was ok, but needed a bit more flavor, a bit more salt perhaps. From the greeter to our waiter, they should have known this was a birthday celebration. Not once was I ever greeted with a "Happy Birthday"! This is the only Mexican restaurant that I've been to that didn't have the staff come out with a birthday song and some sort of dessert with a candle on it (by the way, I requested my birthday dessert to be the deep-fried ice cream - again, never acknowledged). Our server asked if we wanted dessert. So naturally, I ordered my deep-fried ice cream. Still no birthday acknowledgment. The deep-fried ice cream corn flakes shell seemed stale, soft, soggy! It should be fresh and crispy. Didn't come in a decorative tortilla shell either - which is how it's typically served! Nope! Not even close. Our server came and asked me for my phone number. I'm assuming this was to verify my rewards info and to finally acknowledge that this was actually a birthday celebration. But..nope. Never happened. The Ignited fajitas supremas never came! We had to remind our server and by that point, everyone was done eating and we just took it to go! When my husband went to go to pay, he told the lady ringing him up (in front of the restaurant) how disappointed we were because there was no mention of a birthday celebration. They made us feel like this was just another regular day to go out for lunch at some random Mexican restaurant. By the way, my son noticed the AC gauge (which happened to be near where we were seated) went from 81 to 82 degrees! All this after a staff member went to adjust it earlier to cool it down. Never cooled down. In short, we could have ordered from Door Dash and had been more satisfied. This was beyond disappointing! We won't be back. read more

The Bottom Line 3 stars: Not to sound cliché, but the food used to be better :D Venue is aging, ambiance not vibrant anymore, and the service is server-dependent. I also have a major issue with their recent surcharge practices (read on for details). Recommended with some reservations as noted below. Location 4 stars: On Tampa in Northridge across the street from Costco. Plenty of free parking on the lot. Venue 3 stars: Aging standalone building that has been an El Torito since the 80's! This location used to be a bustling watering hole for the locals. The bar and the restaurant used to be packed on Friday nights and the weekends and wait times were long. However, recently every time we go there the restaurant and the bar are not that busy and there is no wait. The ambiance is not vibrant and lively like it used to be. You can still make reservations on Open Table if you want. Service 3 stars: Absolutely server dependent. Billing and Management 1 star: They have just started adding a 5% SURCHARGE to all the checks. So in fact you get billed 5% more than what you thought you were going to pay when you ordered your food!!! I asked our server what this was for and he simply stated that it was mandated by corporate and I should contact them if I had an issue... My question is why not be upfront with your customers and add this to your prices rather than surprising them? Drinks 3.5 stars: Huge list of specialty drinks, full bar and soft drinks. Drinks taste OK but are quite reasonably priced. Food 3 stars: They used to have a much larger menu and food used to be better. It is just OK now. My favorite is the Carnitas Chile Verde style. They do have a brunch buffet on Sundays but I have not tried it. read more

The El Torito AYCE Easter Brunch sounded like a great idea when we planned it. We attended the sunrise service at church so the timing for breakfast/early brunch at 8am was perfect. Although we were seated immediately when we arrived at 8:15am, it was obvious that they were not fully set-up. The cold seafood, soup, salad, dessert and breakfast were ready, but we weren't really interested in those. We waited for the carving section to be ready and the warm meat dishes to come out. The taco section took the longest, fully setting up almost at the end of our time there. Our server Jose was fantastic -- attentive and courteous. He came around often to refill drinks, clear dirty plates and ask how everything was going. The highlights for us were the tacos (al pastor and carnitas), tri-tip, birria, Chile Colorado, flan and plantains. We both loved the cilantro pepita sauce -- it was perfect on almost everything! A couple lowlights -- the churros were stale and although the tri-tip was flavorful it was a bit hard to eat since it wasn't cut against the grain. Needless to say, we were quite full when we were done. AYCE brunch happens every weekend. If we do return, we will reserve for mid-morning to avoid waiting for full-set-up. Parking is very easy in the large lot. read more

See all

I ate here yesterday afternoon, the reservation was at 11 am. Mexican music plays through the speakers. Windows were a third of the size of the room I think. I ate a bunch of food. Papas rancheras were delicious because it was seasoned pretty well. I don't think I've had the machaca casera before yesterday. There are at least 7 TVs showing sports games. I loved the pozole which was at the soup station. You could add chili flakes to make it spicier or add onions or other toppings or ingredients. I got one taco from the taco station. The woman that worked there asked me what I wanted because I didn't tell her at first. I was deciding among chicken or carnitas or asada if I remember the options correctly. It was pretty good, I added cheese, onion, lettuce. The chicken was tender and juicy. The taco station was my favorite station. The waitress that served us was so attentive and polite. She asked us how we were doing every 10 or 15 minutes. She got us refills for our drinks, water and napkins. read more

See all

El toritos is always amazing! Their happy hour menu, Never disappointed me not once! It's good that all of their locations are very consistent in service, food and drinks. I loved the layout at this location. They have outside seating as well if you would like to people watch. Their cantina is very spacious and intimate. Plenty of seating at the bar as well. I will forever love el toritos. If I'm around thjs location again, I will definitely come back during happy hour. read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

Wow! Today was so much fun at el torito Northridge with Diana. I've been coming here since I was a kid celebrating birthdays and other key moments. Atmosphere at the bar was great; I met Diana and Evalisto. Can't wait to come back. By the way, they carry streaming service for the dodgers. read more

Good Service Good Atmosphere Food Is Delicious Mario Is A Good Bartender/Server A Good Vibe From Him!! read more

Food is always decent here . They get substitutions right and i never have to send anything back . The shrimp bacon was a bit overdone and service can be sketchy they don't staff enough people . It's not the servers fault . read more

See all

Came to El Torito in Northridge with a few friends for happy hour, and it ended up being a really good deal. The drinks were strong and tasty -- not watered down at all. Happy hour has good food and drink specials starting at $4, including draft beers, well drinks, and their signature margaritas. For food, there are options like $4 street corn and queso dip, up to about $8 for beef birria tacos and carne asada fries. I ordered a drink flight, carne asada fries, and a tamale and my total was around $47, which felt very reasonable for everything I got. The appetizers were inexpensive and hit the spot. Overall, the food was decent, but the real star here is the value during happy hour. If you're looking for a chill spot to grab affordable drinks and snacks with friends, the happy hour at this El Torito is definitely worth it. read more

El Torito - A Margarita flight - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

Me n the wife. Came in for happy hour every day. But it turns out this El Torito does not have happy hour everyday as listed on Yelp!. The food is great at most but at this one the food was ok. But we still like El Torito. Communication needs updating about Menu. And staff should communicate changes to their guest. read more

El Torito - Me n the wife. - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

We came here to celebrate my brother's birthday, and Sherie made the entire experience unforgettable. From the moment she introduced herself as our server, she greeted us with a genuine smile and such a warm, welcoming energy. Throughout the meal, she was attentive, constantly checking in on us, refilling our drinks before we even had to ask, and making sure everything was perfect. What truly stood out, though, was her attitude. Sherie made us feel like family. She seemed genuinely happy to be there and happy to serve others, and that kind of hospitality is rare these days. Her positive energy, kindness, and professionalism elevated our entire dining Thank you, Sherie, for helping make my brother's birthday so special. We will definitely be back! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

The best time to go to El Torito is right now. Been going for years but now feels like one of the best dining experiences you can have for a good price. Shootout to Jose and Eduardo! Great staff read more

El Torito - Sweet Corn - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

See all

If you haven't been here lately, it's time to give it a try. The new and improved El Torito is 3/4 restaurant and 1/4 sports bar with more than a few strategically placed flat screen TVs. My husband and I watched opening night of the Dodger's game and what fun! Happy hour is now daily from 3 pm - 9 pm! Margaritas start at $8, wings for $10 (small but you get 9), Mexican Caesar salad for $5. As always, chips and salsa are free. And our waitress, Kat, and the manager, Moises, kept them coming. There are new, on trend offerings on the menu such as beef birria tacos and ribeye tacos. My husband had ribeye tacos and liked them but didn't love them (not enough meat). I had my usual shrimp fajitas and enjoyed them. read more

El Torito - Chips and salsa! - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

Father's Day was so busy, had reservations for 11a they sat us at 11:20 not to bad. The food was cold, they need to use warmers. This was our 2nd time at the buffet. The buffet is really good but cold. They have a nice spread. Plenty of parking. They didn't think it was going to be as busy like mother's Day. They added extra white plastic folding tables and covered them with black table cloths. They also added tables outside in the front. read more

Sherie was wonderful at taking care of our big party! She was sweet, attentive and make our evening wonderful.

Great food and service! The food is always fresh and tasty. If you're lucky you will get to be served by Mario. He is attentive and always makes sure we have what we need. Try the grilled tostada salad it's so good! read more

El Torito - Grilled chicken tostada salad - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

Mario's service was perfect and his recommendations were great. The food and ambiance were amazing! We had a wonderful time. Thanks!

HAPPY HOUR IS CLUTCH 3-9 SUPER SIMPLE! Great Vibes inside. Calm. Food is GREAT! The Drinks can get you right too. All of the workers are attentive and friendly. Love the service. read more

El Torito - Happy Hour Menu Food Carne Asada Fries Wings Floutas - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

Juan was awesome!! He kept us topped off for our drinks and made sure we are set. Food was great and good deal for a Sunday brunch

I never thought I would leave an El Torito a 5-star review, but here I am. Parking was easy. Being seating was quick. Staff was amazing. Our guy was outgoing and fun. He remembered everything and was very attentive. The food was pretty good, and I felt it matched the level of pricing. I found it better than I remembered it being. I ordered a trio combo, with a chicken taco, cheese enchilada and chile relleno. My only complaint was that the chile relleno still had a lot of seeds and part of the stem inside. But flavor wise, it was good. I would come back again. Probably just get the taco and enchilada this time. read more

Maria is amazing super attentive she makes the dinning experience fun and enjoyable. My family and I come here often after work and on the weekends she makes the experience extra special read more

Do yourself a favor and go to the Sherman Oaks location instead. I went on a Saturday night and it was empty (red flag). I ordered the chicken flautas combo and the tortillas weren't crispy at all...almost as if they had been reheated in a microwave instead of fried when ordered. Also, the rice and beans were TERRIBLE. When the bill came, the server shorted me $30 and some coins in change. He ran off quickly and it took forever to flag him down. Luckily, I was seated in clear view of a security camera so there was no chance I could be accused of lying. The only good thing about the meal was dessert. I can say with confidence that I won't ever be returning to that location. read more

El Torito - Chicken flautas combo - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

The service was great. We got seated and served right away. The manager went around checking on the tables. The food was yummy and it's always consistent. They have a great happy hour (3-9pm). One of my favorite spots. read more

El Torito - My fav. - Mexican Near Me - Northridge, California

See all

We've been coming to El Torito Northridge for almost two decades now, and it's still one of our favorite comfort food places. We especially love the lunch and weekend brunch buffets--there's always a great variety so there's something for everyone, and everything is fresh and delicious. But what really makes this place extra special is Jose. He has been our server many times since my kids were very young, and he always makes our dining experience the best. He is kind and attentive, and truly goes above and beyond to make every visit special, even remembering our many preferences from previous visits. Thank you Jose for taking such great care of our family over the years! read more

Last night i take my wife for her birthday and the soonest I walk into the restaurant the hostess Nice and polite said hi welcome to el torito and take my party in , My waitress Castaly super nice, attentive and most importantly take our order correctly! Food was great and the manager always passing by and asking if something was needed! I think his name was Eduardo ! Thank you so much for everything i will definitely came back read more

Today we went in for lunch stsrted with a table side guacamole then had the fajitas. The steak and shrimp were fantastic. The service as always was amazing. We finished it with a flan. Ask for Jose hes the best. read more

Food was great Jose was our server he was very attentive and very sweet to my family n daughter great service overall definitely will come bk soon read more

Mario was a great server and bartender, great vibe and always so helpful and with a smile

Taco Tuesday was incredible! Food was great and service was outstanding! Eduardo rocks!!!!!

Food is delicious and our server Roberto is always the best, very attentive and always with happy positive attitude.

Great management now, Good bartender (Diana). Good service Only bad thing, AC doesn't work and it gets too hot. Hopefully corporate will fix this major issue to make this a great place to be at again. read more

Horrible. Not organized. Pushy folks with no reservation get helped first. Had a reservation for 12:45. Drive for an hour. Line does not move, waited for 20 minutes or more. Daughter goes to ask. Manager says to go to the guy with glasses to check in. He helps the two in front of her and one behind her. Completely ignores her. I told the manager. He does not care. Maxwell and him still did not take my name to check in. I said we were leaving. Does not care. Will not go to El Torito after decades of business. Went up the street. Welcomed us with open arms at Wood Ranch with no reservation. No organization whatsoever. read more

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to El Torrito restaurant and, especially, to our server, José. We have visited many restaurants, but we have never received service as exceptional as the service José provided. From the very first moment, he was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive, always wearing a big smile. He paid attention to every detail, anticipated our needs, and made us feel like special guests. José demonstrated a positive attitude, extensive knowledge of the menu, and a genuine commitment to providing an unforgettable experience. It is clear that he loves his job and truly cares about his customers. Thanks to him, our visit was much more than just a meal; it was an experience we will remember. People like José are hard to find and deserve to be recognized. We will certainly return to El Torrito, largely due to the extraordinary service we received from him. José, thank you so much for making our visit a five-star experience! El Torrito is very lucky to have such an exceptional employee. We recommend him 100%. read more

The food was good. Maria was an excellent waitress. We will be back for a happy hour margaritas. read more

Food and service were fantastic. Very quick and quiet for an easy weekday lunch. Jose is always an excellent server.

Dropped by for a happy hour and was pleasantly surprised! The $10 HH margarita flight was sweet, cute, and tasty - highly recommend drinking in order of least to most sweet (though they're all sweet enough for me to enjoy): classic, blackberry, and then mango. Honestly, they were all pretty good, but if I had to just pick one, I'd probably go with the mango. The chips and salsa they bring to the table are solid, and they did refill it for us. It did take a while for the HH crispy flautas we ordered to arrive, so we did have to ask a couple times to remind them that we hadn't gotten our order yet. We ended up just eating more of the chips and chatting while we waited. The flautas were ok - lightly crispy on the outside, but overall a bit thick with chicken on the inside. I'd opt to try something different next time, but it was alright. The vibe of the seating area around the bar, the noise level, the friendliness of the staff, and the HH menu made it a nice place to have happy hour, so I would definitely keep it in mind for the next one. My only note would be to not hesitate to ask and check on any orders that take a while. They're nice about it, but they just get pretty busy. Overall, I'm happy with this spot and would come back, particularly for the margaritas! read more

See all