On our favorite spot with my little one. We love this place and the customers services is amazing Today it was Carlos our helpers he is always smiling and ready to assist you. Really love our place highly recommended Sunday Brunch are the best!!! read more

El Torito - Is two - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Christopher was such a great server i had the best time ! Great Happy Hour ! The food here was superb ! Excellent street corn

Perfect spot for an after work happy hour! Christopher was very helpful and attentive to our group!

For my first time here hands down amazing restaurant and amazing service!! My server name was Jackson and omg I enjoyed his company he recommended us some of his favorite food / drinks and we gave it a try we loved it I'm glad I came to this restaurant will be coming back again! Hopefully Jackson can be our server again read more

Don't come here if your hungry and want to eat a decent time after you order! My rev is one star- so bummed bc I loved it here. Have been coming here for a long time. So on this hot sweltering day in Cali we decided to take the plunge and left or ac'd house to come to el Torito. What we ordered: Table side guacamole- it was ok ... the portion is much smaller than what it used to be. Fajita salads - we ordered 3 salads - The first plate to come out was my daughters corn dogs. My daughter ate her whole meal and our 3 salads never arrived- sort of disappointed. When I was about to get up and ask about our salads they waiter came out and said it's gonna be more time since I am waiting on the chicken? Wth how is there no chicken. We ended up cancelling our order bc our youngest finished her meal and we were done waiting. So annoyed not coming back! Kids corn dogs and fries - was the first plate to come out. My daughter said it was good and it was a good portion. All in all I come for this salad and it's great but the service was poor today. I need to find a new el torito. So sad. read more

El Torito - Front check in area - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We had a 45 year anniversary brunch for my aunt and uncle at El Torito. Huge THANK YOU to Martha our server who made it a special, smooth, and extra kind experience for our big group! She went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and all accommodations were made. Thank you for always keeping our glasses full!! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Loved this place! Christopher was so nice--seriously one of the best servers I've had in a long time. He was on it with the mimosas too--I don't think I ever saw the bottom of my glass! It's like he had a sixth sense for when we needed a top-up. The whole experience felt super welcoming and relaxed, and the service just made it that much better. Can't wait to come back! read more

Christopher was an amazing server, he kept the mimosas coming! The food was amazing and I loved the mariachi, such a fun time.

Enjoyed a quick lunch. Service was fine. Nice atmosphere. Large spaces indoor and outdoor. Ordered the Mahi Mahi street tacos. Plenty of heat, marinated fish. Flavorful read more

El Torito - Mahi Mahi Street Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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chili is over cooked. Don't forget to order water. Salsa is fresca and peppers may choke; it's so good I drink the juice at the end of the dish almost empty! read more

El Torito - Chili Rellano and house margarita, chips & salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food and service here is unmatched! Our server beto was on point from start to finish and the pancake dessert is just wow!! Thank you el torito for such an amazing brunch. read more

Came here for breakfast buffet and omg! Let me tell you the food is amazing we went on a Sunday the food was amazing the churros pancakes were so delicious!! Our waitress Maria was amazing she was so kind and attentive she never miss out refill for our mimosas she was on top of everything, excellent waitresses! Good job Maria thanks for everything! read more

Came to El Torito to celebrate my Birthday Lunch. I was impressed by Beto's service and ability to keep our orders coming quickly. He made the Guac on front of us and was definitely a table favorite! read more

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El Torito offers a vast menu of Americanized versions of Mexican culinary 'takes' on the dishes most loved and asked for by foreign Tourists visiting Mexico. So "Authenticity" is 'out the window' here, in favor of some more-familiar and very well prepared "Gringo" Favorites. These include 'Margaritas, (traditional, strawberry, etc.),' 'Chips & Salsa,' 'Guacamole,' 'Nachos,' 'Queso Fundido,' 'Burritos Suisso (Lit. "Swiss Burrito" covered in salsa-verde & melted cheese),' 'a three-Taco platter (crispy or soft-shell) served with Rice & Beans,' 'Enchiladas Suisso (chicken, beef, or pork, covered in sauce & melted cheese),' 'Carne Asada (sirloin cut thin and grilled on a plancha),' 'Carne Tompequeno (a large pounded and grilled Skirt-Steak served with an Enchilada),' 'Gambas Ajio (Shrimps grilled with Oil & Garlic),' and 'Fajitas (a make-your-own Tacos tray of all the ingredients with the meat on a sizzling plate),' - and this is just to name a few. read more

Hello my old pal! I haven't been in an El Torito in yearrrs. But man did I frequent this place. Located less than 10 minutes from my old workplace in Pasadena on Lake, it was a quick drive over for food and drinks. This was the spot for once a week happy hours, good bye parties, brunch with the girls, a place to watch the games, and the occasional liquid lunch with the boss (sshhh). I had been craving El To lately but have been skeptical about dining in due to Covid precautions. I had a couple friends describe their most recent experience and I decided to give it a chance. Last night, my fiance' and I had a long awaited date night of dining in and I don't regret it. The changes to the bar area was impressive. The bar is new, huge TVs everywhere, tables are well spaced, and the opening up of the wall leading to the outside patio looks great. The new torches outside gave off a subtle glow that added to the inside ambiance. We ordered drinks while waiting for our food. I had a Cadillac Margarita, he had the House Margarita. Our food came out fairly quickly. I may or may not have done a little happy dance wiggle in my seat while having the first bite of my fave... the Carne Asada and Cheese Enchilada plate. I cannot duplicate the sauce on that carne asada for the life of me and I crave it from time to time. No one else's carne asada ever comes close to El To's. My fiance' had the Shrimp Mazatlan Enchiladas and was pleased with his meal as well. The only con to last night's experience was that we had to make quite the effort and several times to flag down our waitress for the check. Other than that, we had a great time, enjoyed our meal, and the opportunity to finally have a date night OUT. We may make this a regular thing. If you are hesitant to dine in like I was, don't be. There are tons of outdoor seating options available. They have really maximized their spaces: the outdoor patio to the side of the bar, the open space running along the front walkway, plus two huge tents available in the parking lot. Lots of options for properly distancing. The staff all wear gloves, masks, and face shields. Thank you for always hitting the spot El To! read more

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Went to the one in Pasadena yesterday and it was horrible. The two bowls of salsa they placed on the table was fizzy and tasted old. The tortilla chips they brought with them were stale and you could tell they had been left out all night. If it's a tiny bit stale, you may be able to work your way through it, but these were so stale you had to spit them out. We asked for different salsa and chips and these were edible. Not good, but just edible. I ordered the birria tacos and they looked dry and like they had been sitting out forever (we went at 2pm and they were not busy at all.) I ended up sending the tacos back and after that, had to look around to see if it was still El Torito or if it was some very low budget take over - it was El Torito. I ordered a margarita and after the waiter left the table, there was something red on the lip of glass and a piece of food in the drink. It was a horrible experience. I will NOT be going to this one again and can understand why the parking lot isn't full like it used to be. Go to the one in Pasadena, CA at your own risk. read more

Today, I came with my mom to the Sunday Brunch! OMG Beto was the waiter he treated us as queens , excellent environment, neat place, amazing food! If you are looking for an amazing place to eat, you should come to El torito! read more

Had a craving for Mexican food today. Haven't been here in awhile. The street taco were delicious. Accompanied with delicious beans, Mexican rice and sweet corn cake. The plate presentation was excellent. We sat in a quiet area that made you feel like you were in some far away place and enjoying this wonderful meal. Ample parking and the service was good read more

El Torito - Street taco trio - 2 chicken and 1 steak - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My server Beto provided my family of 14, excellent service during the Sunday morning brunch. The service was as good as the food. And the food quality is amazing from menudo to omelette bar to pandulce. We will be back soon. My family's go to for Sunday brunch. read more

Came for the food, and am definitely coming back for the service! Oscar Coto is an amazing server and had excellent recommendations for both food and drinks. read more

Great Happy Hour great service from bartender Sopes were very delicious and delivered promptly. Would recommend this restaurant and come back again for sure. read more

El Torito - Great service from Enrique - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Amazing Service ,Food !!! Beto the server was very attentive and caring with us. He was always on top of all of our necessities and was very approachable. The ambiance was very warm and comforting read more

Our Servier Maria S. Was fantastic! Food was great, service was amazing, it was a bit loud for my liking, probably because there was lots of large parties but overall great! read more

The food was good and the service was excellent. Caridad was our server. She was friendly and attentive.

We came with a party of 20 and Ernesto has been nothing but polite and attentive! We appreciate you, Ernesto!

Delicious food, great service and such a great vibe. Friendly staff keeps me coming back. Beto was very helpful and attentive.

Food, service, music DJ it was a great night with my mom , we will be back soon. I love the HH prices .margaritas flight read more

Beto provides impeccable service, complemented by delicious cuisine. Their breakfast options are particularly noteworthy, offering a delightful start to the day. read more

El Torito - Breakfast Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've been to several El Torito's, and decided to try this location. Food quality has definately gone down. I have several reasons for my 1 star rating... Husband and I ordered the Grande Fiesta Platter for our appetizer. I noticed an odd, fowl smell as soon as the server brought the dish to the table. It was the sauce on the buffalo wings. They tasted as awful as they smelled. I've had buffalo sauce many times in my life and no other sauce smelled or tasted like this. Absolutely disgusting. Couldn't eat most of the nachos on the plate as the horrid buffalo sauce was all over the bottom of the plate. The flautas tasted frozen and gross. I took one bite and that was enough. I only wound up eating the little quesadilla pieces. We ordered the Mexican Pizza for the main dish. It was supposed to have chorizo. It did, but had to search to find the few tiny pieces that it had, and it tasted burnt. We had sat in the bar area. To our surprise there were many screaming babies. I assumed being in the bar area, that would give us some adult time to enjoy our meal...but no. Felt like I was dining at Chuckee Cheese! But here's the worst part. A party came in with their pet dog and were seated in the bar area INSIDE. THIS WAS NOT A SERVICE ANIMAL. Per Los Angeles county public health department, people with animals should be seated OUTSIDE on a patio. There was a patio right behind the bar area but not one employee or manager asked them to be seated outside. We witnessed employees petting the dog, then going about their business touching silverware etc. after they touched the animal and without washing their hands! This is a health violation! There were enough issues in this negative experience that have made us decide not to return. Very, very disappointing. read more

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Good service with Beto! Me eats so much the food! Go and get stuffed with all the yummy meats and ceviche and delicious. read more

El Torito - Sunday brunch - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

First visit here and it was a great experience. We were late for our reservations but they were able to accommodate me and my group so I was thankful. The workers were amazing and sufficient. The food was sooooo good! And even our server Bobby was amazing. Made sure everything was okay and made sure to remove everything from our table when our plates were done being used as well as made sure to check in on us for our other rounds of bottomless mimosas. He was super friendly and we hope we get him again cause he provided us with food service. Will definitely come back for another round of brunch and bottomless mimosas. read more

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

Amazing food, no waiting time. We were seated right away. Served enough chips & salsa. Service was quick. Will surely return to try new item. read more

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I went to celebrate my birthday and the service and food was amazing as always. My waitress Maria O was so patient and kind. I rate her a 100/100 . read more

So many options to pick from Our service attendant Carlos was very polite and offered great customer service. We'll definitely be back !!!! Gracias Carlos !!!! read more

El Torito - Complementary Churro Pancakes - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We have came to el Torito for the first time this year to celebrate a birthday back in April. It has become one of our favorite restaurants to come and not only enjoy great food but also Amazing customer service. Olga was amazing attended us with great service and was very lovely. Def recommend coming to El Torito in Pasadena ! Ask for Olga! :) read more

El Torito - Happy hour , jalapeño cucumber margarita is a must try! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I feel bad writing this review, but I have to let y'all know. My experience there was meh but the food was so icky I am in full-blown regret mode. I found myself looking around at the other people and wondering why they were there. Do they not know what good food tastes like? The black and white couple, well what do they know? But the big Mexican family: are they getting the "good food" that I'm not worthy of because I look like a white girl? The service: the server was nice enough, but with a mostly empty bar at 1:30 on a Monday it should have been way better. She only checked on me once and I had to walk to the front after waiting for more water and to ask for my check. The food: * Beans: fine * Pico de gallo/table salsa: not good, it was sweet and leaning towards pasta sauce tasting * Hard beef taco: abysmal! I confirmed that the hard taco had shredded beef before I ordered it. What it really was was tiny chunks of fatty, rubbery meat that tasted like it was seasoned with Chinese five spice. It may have slightly resembled Birria, but it certainly did not taste like it and is not what I would call shredded beef in any way shape or form. * The enchilada: barely edible. I know they are premade so I get that they have to be heated up, but the cheese on top was still cold, while the plate they put it on was scalding hot. Next time they should put it under the heater and not just on a thermonuclear plate. Honestly I should have known better but I thought I'd be safe to get a quick lunch. I'll not be going back. Bummer. read more

El Torito was a restaurant I visited many years back. I was a regular then because of the freshly made tortillas and my favorite dish grilled chicken tostada. I came upon this restaurant again because I was hungry after the doctor's appointment, and El Torito was just a block away. Chips and salsa are complementary, they tasted fresh. I ordered the grilled chicken salad, aka grilled chicken tostada. Waiter Mr. Mario was kind and attentive, brought drinks and food very quickly. The ambiance of the restaurant was appropriate and inviting. Loved it. Of course, the food was delicious and plentiful. This is definitely a restaurant that I would come back to. read more

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It breaks my heart to post this review because El Torito was a place I ventured to when I wanted a quick-almost-kind-of-but-not-really Mexican food. I have been to this location a few times and went for convenience. The restaurant setup is a bit awkward - you have the dining/bar area that is lively and the rest of the seating areas are literally dead. You almost feel like you've been placed in timeout if you are seated at a table in this section. However, this is beside the point. I have my go-to dish that I always order and will never ever again, eat it. Having been in food service for a very long time, I understand mistakes happen but it is the manner in how it is resolved that determines my dining experience regardless of what happens. Let's get straight to the point - as I was chewing my food, I felt an object in my mouth that obviously was NOT edible. People, it was a piece of plastic. Immediately, my appetite was gone. I flagged down the waiter and showed him the foreign object. Upon seeing it, he simply replied, "It is paper. Sorry." I told him that it wasn't paper and he literally walked off annoyed. That's it. A simple dialogue would have sufficed but nothing. Since I really don't like wasting food, I tried eating it but utterly failed. For the next 20 minutes, we tried to ask for our check and a to-go box. Again, attitude. NEVER GOING BACK. read more

El Torito - The plastic piece of wrap was in the white enchilada :( - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Brunch was delicious ! Angel provided great service! Omelette and taco bar was awesome. I will come back again.

So Beto is my guy! My mom had thee best experience when he serves us. He's super attentive and on it. Makes the brunch experience worth it! read more

El Torito - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California