Oscar was a great server--super kind, attentive, and polite, which hasn't always been our experience here with other servers. The food was delicious, and the music was good. read more

Amazing food, the server Jackson was excellent and very kind to us also helpful. Always checked on us for drinks and other things

We always have a great experience at El Torito, and a big part of that is thanks to Gilberto, the bartender. He is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and genuinely makes you feel taken care of from the moment you sit down at the bar. Gilberto goes above and beyond with service--he remembers regulars, is attentive without being overbearing, and always keeps a positive attitude even when it gets busy. It's rare to find someone who consistently brings that kind of energy and kindness. Honestly, one of the main reasons we keep coming back is because of him. He really makes the whole visit feel more personal and enjoyable every time. read more

My husband and I were near the Pasadena area for the day and literally drove by El Torito and since I have never been, I was excited to try dinning in for the first time. I had heard they had some good food and tasty chips and salsa. We made a reservation for 7 PM. Walked in a little earlier, but was seated right away. Our waitress was ELVIRA. She seemed off, very antsy was literally dropping all her tip money on the floor as she opened her notebook to take out order. My husband and I even joked with her, and said making it rain, and she was just standing there, no expression, like, ok.. She never once greeted us or anything. Luckily for her, we knew exactly what we wanted. We made it easy. An order of queso w chips, the fajita trip (steak, shrimp and chicken) and a couple of Sodas. It took a while for the chips and beverages to arrive. She made a comment, saying "ohh no one has brought you chips and salsa?" I said, no but its ok, take your time. We are ok. Finally, the chips arrived and the beverages. The chips and salsa were delicious. The chips are warm and salsa was tasty. When the food arrived, it was a different server. He couldn't light up the fajitas w his lighter, but that was ok. My husband and I dipped our chips into the queso, and it was COLD! I waived out waitress Elvira over and I told her about the queso and she just looked at me and took it. I wasn't sure if she was going to warm it up, offer an alternative item or what. She just grabbed it and left. The fajitas were delicious and the rest of the experience was ok, but our waitress never returned. Our beverages were out, no refills offered. I wanted dessert, but by then I was so turned off by her customer service, I just wanted to waive her back to give us the check. When she finally came, she just took the check and not a word. I spoke to and said, I am not mad about the queso, I was just curious is it supposed to be cold? You never came back. She said, rudely, I don't know i just serve it, and I was like, oh ok. And that was it. No expressions, no i am sorry, or how was the rest of your food! As a person who works in CUSTOMER SERVICE, It is hard to process the lack of personality this waitress had. I was so excited to try this restaurant, and she turned me off from ever returning. I leave this review in hopes that a manager can better improve and retain this waitress. read more

Good food and service. The happy hour is excellent. Worth coming to with friends! Also love the fried ice cream. Food: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Experience: 4/5 read more

El Torito - IGNITED FAJITAS SUPREMAS + CRISPY FLAUTAS - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came in Mother's Day for brunch , we had our reservations for 9:45 . We arrived on time and were seated immediately. Even though it was busy the service was good. The server was attentive with our drinks and getting empty plates out of the way. The food at the buffet was good. I enjoyed some Tri Tip , Chile Relleno , Chile Colorado , Rice , Salad , etc. My daughter enjoyed the pancakes and sausages too. They also had Mac & cheese , chicken tenders and corn dogs for the little ones. Overall I was glad with the buffet experience and glad we came early ! read more

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I really enjoy eating at El Torito! As soon as we arrived, the waiter gave us chips and salsa. Yum! I always look forward to this. We ordered birria tacos, ignited fajitas supreme which has beef, chicken and shrimp, and a three item combo, which we decided to choose a beef taco, chicken flauta, and a beef enchilada. You'll get rice, beans, guacamole, sweet corn cake, and different spicy sauces, too. You can always ask for more tortillas (corn or flour) when you need it. Everything was packed with flavor! I always come back to El Torito because we get good service, good food, serving size is just right, and the ambiance is nice. It brings me back to Mexico. read more

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Came on a Thursday night, went to the bar and ordered fajitas and happy hour items. Our last visit was horrible. Staff was slow or didn't care. This visit was great. Our waitress in the bar, was amazing. She took our ordered correctly, she refilled drinks quickly, and chips. Food came out hot and tasted really good. The mini tacos and sopes had good flavor a nice hot sauce. They were presented well. Bill was about $60 for two people. We shared a lot of plates. Restaurant was clean and the bar was bright with basketball games on tv. That waitress definitely wed be back for. Manager with pony tail, was helpful and seated guests. Tonight won us back. read more

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The restaurant is located in the Best Buy Plaza. Lots of parking. Came and tried the happy hour. Seating in the cantina. If you want to watch a game they have TV's around. They started us off with chips and salsa and we ordered the mini tacos, carne asada fries and mahi mahi tacos along with a Margarita flight. The salsa was delicious. The margaritas were beautiful and tasty. The menu has a good variety and all the food tasted great. The mahi mahi tacos were surprisingly juicy and tasty. Staff started off a delight...until they forgot about our mahi mahi tacos, which I didn't understand because the staff who brought the other 2 dishes said before leaving and one more dish mahi mahi tacos? Nothing ever came. Finally asked the waiter who then checked it was written down but was never made. Still don't understand this when the other person verified with us. Other than that the food was good. read more

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Came here on a Sunday for their buffet. The buffet price also includes drinks such as Jamaica, Horchata, Agua Frescas, Hot Chocolate, Coffee and more importantly Mimosas. The variety of the buffet exceeded my expectations. They had mole, chilaquiles, tacos, taquitos, chille relleno, rice, beans, ceviche, aguachile, salad, menudo and a full on dessert bar and a kids section with chicken tenders and fries. Overall, great meal and we enjoyed it. read more

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On " Cinco de Mayo" afternoon, the place.was full, great ambiance, even greater service provided by staff which was all accomodating in our wait. I want to highlight the treatment and service provided by Jaxson. The food is always good here. read more

El Torito - Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

First time having the buffet and we really enjoyed it. The food, music and atmosphere was great!Our server hector took care of us and he was amazing! We will come back again. read more

September 2025 Service/Ambiance - Worst service we have ever experienced in the years of coming here. In order to get anything from more water and even the bill, was such a chore. Our waiter had checked in with us once and appeared to avoid our table after that. Imagine having to march all the way across the restaurant to the bar area in order to find someone to pay our bill. Well that's what we had to do. We won't be coming back. read more

Met up with some girlfriends for lunch. It wasn't busy- we were seated in the cantina. Our waitress, Maria, came and asked us if we wanted any drinks. We ordered some drinks and then I told her I had the free tableside guacamole and showed her my phone. She said just a minute I need to get the drinks first. She came back with the drinks and asked if we were ready to order we said no she said no worries should be back. Then another waiter showed up making the tableside guacamole and we were eating the chips, salsa and guac and talking because we hadn't seen each other in a while. Maria came back and took our orders and never checked on us again, until she came to start taking some plates. My one friend ordered the bottomless soup and salad off the lunch menu, but all she got was one salad and soup. When Maria came to clear the table, my friend asked if she could have more salad because she ordered the bottomless and Maria looked at her like she had three heads. So then we were worried that she was gonna charge her for an extra salad, which she did not, however, she did charge us for the tableside guac, which should've been free and unfortunately, I did not notice until I got home. Service wasn't very good. The fact that she charged us for the free guac ($15!) was not good at all. The food was good but the company was the Best! Forgot to take pictures. read more

We've always past by this El Torito but never tried it so decided to give it a go. Walking in, there wasn't anyone to take you to your seat and servers didn't say anything, there was no signs either. We noticed there was a DJ (mind you this was a Thursday early night I recall) so it was surprising that they had a DJ on a weekday night. The DJ was the person who told us we can sit wherever so ok, we found an empty seat and sit down. A server came by and took our drinks order and then food order. All the food was fresh and tasted good. I love the fact El Torito gives complimentary chips and salsa which is an absolute hit when it comes to dining at mexican restaurants. I was fine waiting on food but our drinks took forever to come out and I noticed the bartender forgot to make one of our drinks that even when our food came out, our drinks did not. Our servers and manager did notice this and I do appreciate the attention to detail as I did not say anything. I know they mentioned a small discount as we have to endure the long wait unexpectedly. In the end, we did not receive the discount on the bill as promised, but I was fine without it. I just want to point this out so this restaurant knows where to improve. Their fajitas was good and fresh. I wish I could have got more tortillas. The drinks were alright and not as flavorful or strong as I expected. Thw salsa was great and I love the complement of beans, rice, and onions on the entree which was cooked well. We also got their 4 pcs taco dish from the happy hour menu which was delicious. There was plenty of parking and seating. It is a nice location on the corner of Foothill and Sierra Madre in Pasadena. read more

El Torito - Berry martini - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We came on a Saturday and didnt expect them to have a brunch buffet! They have a parking lot that is NOT connected to the plaza! You must enter either on Foothill or the other cross street, I think its Madre St. We were greeted right away and was told of their special. On Saturdays, its a mini buffet. On Sundays, they have the full buffet with live music from a mariachi band. We could also order off of the regular menu too if we liked. They have an omelet station, waffle station, and menudo! So many options and they did not cheap out on the bacon! The bacon slices were thick and plentiful. We will be back for a Sunday brunch in the near future! read more

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I wanted to reach out and say thank you Beto for being so attentive during our meal. This is one of my favorite brunch places, and I truly appreciated the great service and delicious food! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Elvira was our server and wow she was so attentive and was great! Her service made our experience such a great one. The food was great as well so much flavor, literally MEXICAN food. Went for my birthday to celebrate. They sang happy birthday and with a flan. So delicious everything was a 10/10. read more

Oh my! What a change! The husb and I had not been to this location in years due to the bad service we received years prior. What a difference years make, we would hope, right? Food as usual was great, I got the fajitas both times we went, the husb got the steak and shrimp and the macho combo the second time. We enjoyed our dishes. I'm very picky, so I get refried beans instead of frijoles de la olla because they're spicy. I can't handle spicy foods. I usually get the corn tortillas and I make tacos with the meats and green peppers and onions. Oh yes, and the beans. They're very nice with the chips as well, we had two bowls of chips. The employees are very friendly and outgoing as well as serviceable. The restaurant was very lively and full of energy, parking was easy, the restaurant was extremely clean. We will be back since it's so close to home! read more

El Torito - FAJITAS DUO - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My husband and I had a delightful time tonight at dinner, mostly because Elvira A. was a super server who helped us with a smile and very cordially. And the food was delicious. read more

WOW... talk about a solid Friday night experience. My wife and I had a doctor's appointment at Kaiser in Pasadena around 4 PM and afterwards we were starving, so we decided to walk over to El Torito across the street. First off, our server, Marco's also known as "El Guero" was absolutely ON POINT. Super charismatic, attentive, professional, and genuinely caring. The type of server that treats you like family instead of just another table number. That kind of customer service is rare nowadays and deserves recognition. My wife originally ordered a raspberry iced tea that taste it off, almost like alcohol had somehow gone mixed in. Marcos handled it immediately with zero attitude and quickly swapped it out for a root beer. Problem solved professionally and respectfully. We started with fresh guacamole, and it was legit fresh and flavorful. My wife ordered the chicken fajitas, sizzling hot, and I had the sizzling chicken enchiladas. Both were packed with flavor and hit the spot perfectly. The overall vibe, food, quality, and hospitality, and customer service were outstanding. If you ever find yourself at El Torito in PASADENA on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday anytime after 4 PM do yourself a favor and ask for Marco's "El Guero" he will absolutely make your dining experience worthwhile. Excellent service, great atmosphere, reasonable prices, and delicious Mexican food, with top-tier hospitality. We'll definitely be back. read more

Stopped by on Friday, 08/01/25 for Dine LA Restaurant Week. We ended up ordering drinks and food from the Happy Hour Menu (3pm-9pm everyday!!!) Ordered the following: - 1 street corn = $4 - 1 guacamole and chips = $6 - 1 carne asada fries = $8 - 1 draft beef = $4 - 1 margarita flight = $10 (amazing!!!!) OVERALL TOTAL WITH TAX = $41.37 We ended up having to take our food to go due to last-minute errands. We chugged our drinks - amazing and for a good price too!!! Overall this place has the best Happy Hour menu. read more

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We stopped at El Torito for Dine LA Week and had a great time! It was our first time visiting, so we weren't quite sure what to expect. The meal was definitely at a slower pace than I'm used to, but this may have just been because we visited at a weird time and they're not fully staffed at 3pm. There was so much food, at such a good price! I feel that the flavors were very Americanized Mexican food, you can definitely get more authentic flavors in the area, but it was all very savory and delicious. We'll be back next time we need a space for a larger group of people. read more

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We are very happy that we decided to eat dinner at this restaurant. The food was great! We ordered the family fajitas for four people, and it was less than $80--an excellent value for the amount of food we received. The portions were generous, and we left with very happy, full stomachs. Our waiter, Sebastian, was amazing and very attentive. There is plenty of parking, and the restaurant was clean and well kept. read more

There's loads parking for this location. You can be seated in the cantina or the dinning area. The staff are really nice and helpful. I did like the hidden piñata decor. The inside is welcoming for group meals. I got the Dine LA menu. The guacamole and chips were good. The chips were warm and crunchy. There's a lot of guacamole and you can easily share. The enchiladas were resl tasty. The sauce had a small kick that wasn't too spicy but left you wanting more. The bean and rice were just as good and expected. This was also a large plate is expect leftovers. The deep fried ice cream was great although a bit too sweet. It can be simplified with less syrup and whipped cream. The buñuelo being used as a bowl for the ice cream is amazing! Overall it's worth a shot to try out all the food here. I still want to try more on the menu. read more

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Been wanting to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint at all. First off the interior is absolutely massive, so many tables in two sections. The food is incredible with large portions and very tasty. They serve free chips and salsa which is a sign of a great Mexican restaurant. The guacamole was made tableside and super fresh. Everything tasted great and the staff were super friendly and helpful. read more

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3.5 - Server Will is awesome . Skimpy on steak on my tacos . My plate was not cheap and to only get a few cubes of steak was absurd! It is a franchise so I didn't expect too much . Very busy but great service. Really liked the decor. Huge location. It was very busy as it was graduation time. Dad wanted to go elsewhere as he wanted actual authentic Mexican food but since we no longer have El Torito back home , nostalgia got the best of me. He was not happy with my choice. Haha! Sorry Apá, I owe ya dinner! Glad I tried it again but if ever in this area, I'd only go for drinks and chips/salsa. read more

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Delicious food, the service is fantastic we have been coming for sometimes the server was on top of it with the service and food buffet for brunch was always full the restaurant is clean and they have mariachi on Sundays so that is fun great for a Sunday brunch of celebration and our servers name is Kenia she is so great read more

El Torito - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Really needed to go to happy hour for a margarita, some eats and to catch some of the Eagles v Chargers game. We come every month or so. The vibe is always good. This year has been rough for all of us in the area since the fire, its been 11 long months. Not to mention the daily stress from our country falling apart. I was really stoked when we walked in and saw the decorations. Its like it took some of the stress away and felt really inviting. I commented to the guy in front how great it was. He said that the mgr would love to hear it. Before we left Christopher came by the table I complimented him on all the work and that we really needed it. I took some shots to share on yelp. He introduced us to another manager and she told me about the decorations. So thank you all that helped, its so appreciated. Happy holidays to all the staff. read more

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Food is great quality all the time me and my friends come here. The wait time isn't bad either. The vibes are nice and the lighting is somewhat dim but when it is sunny the light shines through all the windows. Sunday Buffet is always good. They have a taco station, omelette station and a crepe station. read more

We celebrated my mom's birthday at El Torito with a group of 13 and had a great experience. The host was very welcoming when we arrived, and our server Will gave us excellent service the entire time. My girlfriend and I got there a little early, so we sat at the bar and had a beer with some complimentary chips and salsa while we waited for the rest of our party. Everyone ended up arriving late because of the L.A Marathon, but the staff was very understanding and still held our table for us, which we really appreciated. It also wasn't too packed since we arrived after the brunch rush, which made it easier for our big group to enjoy the meal. We brought my mom a birthday cake from Porto's Bakery & Cafe, and the staff kindly held it for us until the end of dinner. They even brought out a knife and plates for us at no charge--some places charge a cake fee, so that was a really nice gesture. We even shared some of the cake with the kitchen staff. For food, we ordered three family packs of fajitas--chicken, shrimp, steak, and carnitas--and everything was really good. The beans and rice were delicious, and the Mexican cornbread is always a favorite. Overall, it was a great place to celebrate my mom's birthday with family. Good food, great service, and a very accommodating staff. We'll definitely be back! read more

Alberto Gonzales thank u for everything !! I loved it all and thank u for the good food.! Great server

Open Mic Karaoke during Friyay Happy Hour was the BESTEST! Service was slow but I had a great time! The fajitas platter was DELICIOUS and the drinks were strong. It was jammed pack and I can't wait to be back! 9/10! read more

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My family and I have come to this local restaurant for YEARS, specifically for Mother's Day brunch. It's buffet style and we used to go all the time. Unfortunately, they've really lost the plot. They rush you to come and go, the amount of people they cram in is not for us anymore. It's borderline unforgivable as there's no room to move around. I feel bad, it had a charm to it before. Now it's not the same. My mom and dad recently went for dinner right before the rush.. my stepdad didn't want to say anything about the plate he received but my mom did speak up. These were their fajitas, she asked for more veggies and they tried to charge her for extra bell pepper.. which again, crazy. In the end they brought them peppers at no charge but, perhaps this is a recession indicator. read more

El Torito - Steak "fajitas" - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great Sunday brunch. Excellent service, a big thanks to our server Maria! Will be back.

Randy was great! He's so friendly and creates a fun ambiance to enjoy your brunch time with friends. A great variety of brunch food selections. Highly recommend coming during their bottomless mimosas brunch on sundays! They heavily pour here and are quick to top you off. Fun times at El Torito read more

El Torito - Bottomless mimosas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Finally, after many, many years of bad everything, they got right! The cantina (bar) was neat, clean, and bright. My server was Richard who was friendly and very attentive. I had happy hour drinks and appetizers. The happy hour corn tacos made to order were generous and lots of choices to add on. A lady came to my table, as well as other tables, asking how everything was and willing to take my empty plate. Guessing she is the manager. Really appreciated having someone ask how things were! Corporate finally got right with the current management and staff. read more

Salvador was a great server - very attentive, and served our food with a very pleasant attitude!!! We had a very awesome experience! The food and drinks were fire !! The place was clean - the music wasn't so loud - loved it ! read more

Our server Carlos was amazing! I had crepes with condensed milk and loved it. The tacos were fresh and no wait

Really great time, food, and especially great service from our server Carlos! A really good variety of food.