this place was attached to irwin's moutain inn so it was an easy place for breakfast for us to go into from the lobby. it was pretty good but honestly had more expensive price point and i probably wouldn't go again. breakfast burrito: 7/10 - it was an extra $3 for my sausage but it was one tiny sausage that only took up half my burrito so i was done w the sausage in 2 bites and the rest was just the burrito. the burrito was just okay. chocolate pancakes: 10/10 - the combo of the flavors blended so well. sweetness was amazing and such a great flavor after the burrito. the service was very friendly and let us join for breakfast even if we came late. the ambiance was very cozy because it was snowing outside and we sat by the window. it was nice for breakfast. read more

El Toro Restaurant - breakfast burrito, banana chocolate pancakes - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Interesting. Located right on Banff avenue. This spanish/ mexican restaurant is a place to consider when eating out. Located inside of a hotel, the decor is old school and a bit run-down. The service was prompt but spotty at times. The servers seemed more interested in cleaning up for the next day. We started with the nachos, El toro salad and the calamari. The nachos were salty. The dipping sauce were very generic, like store bought, 2/5. El toro salad was pretty good but not a lot of beetroot, 4/5. The calamari was rubbery and too salty, 2/5. Main we got the veg fajitas. They come in a sizzling skillet. The vegetables used were clearly frozen, it had beans, zucchini, carrots, baby corn, and peas. It was spicy but also very salty. For 27 bucks quite underwhelming. Overall, not a place I wouod go back to. read more

El Toro Restaurant - Veg fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

See all

The service was very slow. The servers were kind, but communication was challenging at times, and there seemed to be some language barriers. I'm understanding of that, but it became frustrating when orders came out incorrectly- especially combined with how long the food took. Our fajitas took nearly an hour to arrive and didn't taste like restaurant quality Mexican food. Additionally, the entrance through the hotel was awkward and had a very strong chlorine smell from the pool. I would pass on this one. read more

Wow! If you're in Banff, you must come here! We were walking down the Main Street and saw a sign El Toro. I thought great Mexican food. Nope, it's fine cuisine. The rib eye steak was perfect. It broiled mini potatoes were perfect. It came with an appetizer of calamari and a mousse for dessert. The staff was caring and attentive. It's truly a little gem and reasonably priced. read more

Great food, service, & atmosphere!!! Would highly recommend it for a stay in Banff any time of the year!!

Came here for breakfast! The service was fast and the food was amazing! I had the burrito which was so filling! It was filled with scrambled eggs,peppers and onions! So so good! My hubby had scrambled eggs with ham and cheese! He put on their chili lime hot sauce on it, tasted so good! The ambiance was very relaxing! We will come back again! read more

Definitely not a Mexican restaurant, I'd say it's more of a pub. Their Mexican food takes up like 10% of their menu. Staff is friendly but didn't have much menu knowledge. We received 15% off our takeout order by checking in on Yelp. I asked how big the chicken enchiladas were and the bartender said it's a decent size with 3 pieces. When I opened my takeout box i was wondering why they called this dish enchiladas. They looked more like frozen taquitos that were microwaved and thrown under a bed of shredded lettuce. The "enchiladas" comes with salsa, sour cream, guac, Spanish rice & refried beans. I'd say the sides are more edible than the main. We were here on Wing Wednesday and ordered their special: 1lb wings + draft beer for $10.99. They advertised 13 flavours but couldn't tell us which flavours they had and didn't have it written on their wing menu so we went with our fave: honey garlic. The wings were actually not bad. It was a decent size and came with a side salad (lettuce, red onion, yellow pepper). I would not come here again, but if you must dine here, DO NOT order any of the dishes under their "Mexican Corner." read more

See all

Very tasty, reasonably priced, great service. I ordered chicken and cheese quesadillas and they did not disappoint.

Conveniently located dining option for my party as we stayed at the Red Carpet Inn, and it is right next door to it. We got their breakfast on day one there. We noticed that the portions were smaller and the food was less flavorful than the other places that we ended up getting breakfast at throughout our trip. read more

Had dinner on a Monday. Service was horrendously slow and chaotic. Waited 20 minutes just for chips and salsa; when it came had only a dozen chips for $10! 3 of our 4 entrees were also tiny with little meat in the tacos. Very disappointing read more

We loved the food, the drinks, great service, and the dessert was delicious! We had the ice cream trio and the ice cream nachos. read more

El Toro Restaurant - Ice cream nachos - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

My favorite breakfast in Banff, just because of the ham - bone in ham steak from a local supplier is not overly salty and super tender. Worth a trip! read more

El Toro Restaurant - Traditional - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Delicious meal. I'd recommend it. I had the bison chorizo sausage and hubby had the pasta. The sausage was a bit dry, given its bison, but came with a lovely spiced mayo on the side. Both dishes were well sized and service attentive. Easy place to find and good inside ambiance. Another table was raving about their Mexican dishes. 5-star. read more

Reasonably costed and pretty tasty. Enjoyed and would eat there again but didn't have anything so special that would make me seek it out.

The wait staff are absolutely terrific. Friendly, professional and welcoming. Wife and I came for breakfast. Had the Combo which was good. Wife had a blueberry pancake and yogurt. Recommend. read more

Unfortunately our party of five was seated in the midst of a much larger party. We arrived first, then they did - and when told we had a reservation, they looked around as if it was unexpected and there were no tables available. Water glasses had been pre-filled before we were seated - unusual. Unlike every Mexican themed restaurant I've ever been in, the chips and salsa were not gratis', and costly for what we got. Service was slow and despite the name, Mexican dishes were somewhat limited. My fajitas were reasonably good, but the refried beans were minuscule and good for garnish only. Overall, if you're in the mood for Mexican, skip this place. read more

Very poor service - nobody came for the first 20 mins. The food came in very late. The server took our orders but forgot to put in the order in the system. read more

Like any restaurants that we go to, the crowd usually follows us. We entered with just one couple inside but soon after us it got crowded. The drinks/ cocktails menu was decent and the service was pretty fast. The bartender gave us good suggestions on margaritas & lager beer. The plantains chips & guacamole was the highlight of the night. Novelty of an appetizer idea. Butternut squash ravioli and cheese quesadilla were simply yummy . Must visit for anyone in Banff, whether you are in a mood for Mexican food or not. Am sure going back next time I am around. read more

See all

Food had nice presentation & was reasonably priced. Pramod, our server, was personable, knowledgeable and provided prompt service.

We came to El Toro during a Canadian Rockies road trip. We had a steak dinner, fajitas, as well as a few appetizers. Everything was delicious, fresh, and well prepared! Excellent customer service as well (Thanks to our server Shaggy)! We highly recommend El Toro. read more

Hearty breakfast options with the typical egg dishes ($9-$12) Also offered breakfast burritos and fruit crepes ($12-$14CAD) Service friendly read more

El Toro Restaurant - Sat AM - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

See all

Tried El Toros' for dinner on 07-14-22, very disappointed. I ordered the chicken enchiladas...what came out of the kitchen was NOT the traditional chicken enchiladas one expects from a "Mexican" menu. I'd recommend skipping El Toros, very pricey, small qty of food, Service was OK..... Go to another restaurant if looking for a nice dinner is my recommendation ! read more

Had the breakfast here following taxi mike's guide. Ordered Californian Benedict and EI Toro scramble. Recommendation is true, homemade breakfast tastes delicious but not greasy. We all like it more than another well reviewed local breakfast provider melissasmis steak due to personal preference. The services from the waitress are also excellent. read more

El Toro Restaurant - Californian Benedict - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

See all

Definitely left something to be desired. I came on a Sunday morning between Christmas and New Years. Most would consider this one of the peak times of year, most hotels were sold out, yet for some reason El Toro only staffed their breakfast shift with 2 servers. Overall long wait times and subpar food. 3 stars as they were both trying very hard. But I had to wait 10 minutes to put in a to go order. Then was told in ~15 minutes it would be ready. I came back 20 minutes later and neither waitstaff approached to say anything. They clearly saw me waiting and recognized me. After waiting 3-4 minutes one said, it's on its way. So I went back to the hotel lobby to wait. Ultimately one waitress brought it out and apologized for the wait. Hence the 3 stars. Food: meh, I've made better food at home. I ordered the eggs benedict which comes with a 'fruit bowl' and potatoes. The potatoes weren't greasy which was great. But the fruit bowl consisted of 2 small melon slivers, one orange slice, and a raspberry. A single raspberry. The English muffin wasn't toasted, the hollendaise was minimal, and there was a large piece of egg shell in the meal. Larger than my thumbnail sized. That is what pushed me over the edge to write this review. How do you miss that large a piece of shell??? read more

On this particular evening, I was hungry but seeking something different than what seems to be the standard fare in Banff - hamburgers, poutine, steak, etc. I knew after wandering around the town core that I was going to have to venture a bit further away from things to get to the good stuff. I didn't have anywhere particular in mind, I just had some mandates - I wanted somewhere reasonably quiet so I could read and enjoy some tasty food. I'd heard of El Toro but hadn't been before. It's located in one of the hotels along Banff Avenue but not hidden by any means. It has its own door to the outside. They also had a menu posted outside that door, so I looked over it to help with my decision (after noticing that it wasn't too busy). Fortunately, Wednesday nights the wine is $5/glass. I'm always up for a deal. It applies to any wine on the menu that they usually serve in a glass but not to anything only sold by the bottle. That still leaves a reasonable selection of reds and whites - even a rose for the indecisive. I settled on a Malbec from Chile called Carmen. I was pleased that I had a choice of seats when greeted at the door and selected a spot with a comfortable bench seat along the wall. There were about three other tables occupied by mid-sized groups. The loudest group was in the process of leaving as I settled in. I glanced at the TV over the bar on my way to my table and noticed there was a Flames game on. No one seemed to care. I ordered the stuffed chicken and pulled my book out of my backpack and began to read. The hostess brought me a basket with a generous piece of french bread and some butter in a small bowl. It smelled really good and I was quite hungry. I'd skipped ordering an appetizer knowing that would be too expensive and extensive. I read a chapter before deciding to eat the bread. As she cleared the basket, I asked if there was soy in the bread. The waitress returned and said "processed in a facility that also uses soy." I'd prepared in advance by ensuring to have antihistamines with me. Turned out I didn't need them. I was completely engrossed in my book and sipping my wine. I looked up for a bit when I heard some people in the corner talking about Monsanto and what they've done to soy. That caught my interest. The waitress apologized that my chicken was taking so long. To be honest, I wasn't really timing it and was happy that I did have the bread to tide me over. When my meal did arrive, it was very nicely presented. There was some sort of salsa with chopped zucchini in it. I'm not a fan of that vegetable but could barely taste it. I was amazed. The chicken was cooked perfectly with goat cheese and I think spinach stuffing. There was a large piece of grilled red pepper and some nicely roasted potatoes on the side. Overall it was a remarkable and deliciously tasty meal. I ordered a beer while I contemplated the dessert menu. I was really tempted to try the banana flambee but it indicated it was meant for two. I sent the boyfriend a text but didn't get a reply so after reading a chapter of my book decided against it - this time. Maybe he can take me there just for dessert sometime. My overall impression was very positive. I'd go back in a heartbeat. The staff were friendly, the place was clean, the food was delicious, and the prices were not outrageous. read more

A variety of dishes are served here, from American to Italian to Spanish. The menu is a bit over priced for some of the dishes and appetizers. The spinach quesadilla was kinda gross and uninspired. It was over stuffed with spinach and all the other quesadilla ingredients were provided on the side. I would not return or particularly recommend it because of the price and boring dishes, but I would recommend the goat cheese and coulis appetizer if you do go here, and the banana flambé for a dessert show. Oh and ps MAKE A RESERVATION A FEW DAYS AHEAD! See my pics n vids. read more

See all

Quality of food was not great. Server could not understand that he had given me the wrong omelette, and argued that it was whatever the menu stated. We figured out ourselves that he had swapped 2 of our plates. Pancakes and french toast were OK, but very small. Side of fruit was just a slice of melon, a slice of orange, and a sliver of a strawberry. read more

If you are looking for Mexican food...keep looking. Your first clue is the El Toro menu, which has a "Mexican Corner." Seriously. Their stated cuisine occupies a "corner" of the menu. We ordered nachos (a small bag of chips dumped in a bowl with some shredded mozzarella (yes, really) and nuked until the cheese annealed itself to the bowl, accompanied by a side dish of sour cream, cubed canned tomatoes (not salsa), very odd guacamole and black beans. Chicken fajitas were bland but edible. Chicken enchiladas were served unseasoned and dry, with the same sour cream, cubed tomatoes, beans and guac on the side. The most bland enchiladas I've ever put in my mouth. We asked if they had some jalapeños they could bring us. "No, I'm sorry," was the answer. Yes, folks, a "Mexican" restaurant whose kitchen doesn't have any jalapeños. Let that sink in. Keep moving, keep moving. read more

Good food, great service! If you are in a mood for Mexican food then you should check out El Toro! If the place is busy, wait. It's worth while to wait. They have good vegetarian options also. read more

Absolutely amazing service, amazing food. Very accommodating. Will recommend El Toro to all my family and friends.

Good. The salmon with the Eggs Benedict was especially tasty. Nice that it comes with fruit too. read more

El Toro Restaurant - Eggs Benny - Mexican Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Meh... wasn't amazing. Service was wonderful but food was mediocre at best. Not really a Mexican restaurant either and played off music.

Came here on a Saturday because all the other restaurants in town were packed, this place was near empty. The staff was friendly but this place is definitely NOT a Mexican restaurant, there were a few "mexican" dishes. Overpriced tapas were the main menu item which tiny because they are not meant to be an entree but there were few other options. I tried the chicken enchiladas but only because they did not have chicken or beef tacos, only pork. On the menu it stated chicken, salsa verde and cheese. The salsa verde was no where to be found and the enchilada was 90% onions, gross. Couldn't even finish it. They deliver a tiny thing of bread before your meal (really? What mexican restaurant does not have chips and salsa?). The service was horrible. When we arrived, there were maybe 2 other small tables. 2 more small tables came in AFTER we ordered and got served BEFORE us. Had to repeatedly ask for the check after waiting about an hour for the food and 30 minutes after they cleared the table before we actually got the checks. The staff was just hanging around at this point because the restaurant was dead. Save your money for the plenty of good restaurants in Banff. read more

Staff was friendly but food was not good. Nachos were a basket of chips with microwaved burnt cheese, with a side plate of sour cream, salsa, guacamole and refried beans - tasted store bought and not prepared in the kitchen. Ceviche did not taste fresh and served with same nacho chips. Butternut squash ravioli was ok. The stuffed mushroom arrived 15 min after the last of our food came, after reminding the staff about our order. Save your money and go somewhere else in town. read more

Overpriced for the quality of food and drink and the restaurant lacks ambiance. The main meals were relatively solid but the appetizers were expensive and 2 orders barely was enough for my husband and two daughters. We ordered the asparagus crostini and the manchego flambé. There was so little cheese, we were only able to each have a small taste. There were two pieces of prosciutto wrapped around thin asparagus atop bread (2 pieces) for over $12.00. My daughters ordered lime margaritas. The waitress who was brand new said she hoped they liked them because it was the first time she had ever made a margarita. They looked bright green and once they tasted it, they immediately realized it had been made with a premixed packaged drink. In this scenario, a bartender should be making drinks not the newly hired waitress. We simply asked for a bottle of wine instead since we didn't want them to waste any more alcohol and we were concerned that any other drink we ordered would be our waitress's first attempt. The one thing that was a bit frustrating was that when we received our bill, the waitress included the two margaritas that literally had been returned after one sip and seemed puzzled as to why I would question this. Understand that I find it annoying and unacceptable when people drink or eat 1/2 their meal and then expect a refund. In this case, the waitress literally took two FULL glasses of margarita back. She did take the drinks off the bill but it was embarrassing for us that we had to ask. read more

We were excited to find a Mexican restaurant with a wide variety of items on the menu. We were surprised though when we were given a basket with two tiny pieces of white bread, rather than tortilla chips and salsa. I ordered the El Toro salad, but when it came, it was a salmon salad instead. The waiter apologized, and returned with the correct salad quite promptly. But then when the bill came, I was still billed for the salmon salad. Fortunately we noticed, and between the waiter and the manager, they were able to make the correction. It seemed there definitely was a bit of a language problem. The prices were a little on the high side and the food was okay. read more

Damn! How have I not known about this place before? Fantastic! Came here for my cousin's birthday dinner. And they do gluten free! I had the Tostadas and they were to die for. Real chunks of beef, lots of cheese and yummy. Nice inside decor, dark woods and reds, not very busy so was easy to have a conversation. We had a great server, put up with our relatively loud group and made sure the birthday girl was happy. And they even split up our bills. I will be back for sure! read more

Came to Banff for a friends stagette- on our last day after a night of partying we were extremely hung over and you would think any food would be good enough, however we heard good things about El Toro but were pretty disappointed. Us 5 girls ordered pretty simple dishes like fruit salad, eggs and toast and two Benny's. The waitress first over poured a glass of coffee which ended up all over the table that I wiped up for my friend. It took over an hour before our food came and two of the orders had errors. We ordered white bread instead of whole grain and another girl asked for crispy bacon and it looked like the bacon was thrown on the grill for 20 seconds a side. From what I did eat, most tasted good and fairly reasonably priced but while we were slightly crunched for time this morning while checking out from our hotel - there is no way eggs and toast and a fruit salad should take more than 15 mins to prepare and serve. Lastly I can respect a busy food establishment but there was maybe 3 tables in this very empty place and most tables were still stacked high with glassware and food while the girls were drying cups behind the counter. Will probably not be back unfortunately. read more

Worst restaurant that we ate at during our time in Banff. This is not a Mexican restaurant, though they have a few Mexican dishes on the menu. Everything seems microwaved or pre-made. My husband had the enchiladas, which were tiny (like the size of frozen taquitos, but not as good), didn't have a lot of chicken, and were flavorless. I had the butternut squash ravioli, which was okay, but definitely not made fresh at the restaurant. read more

The food here is really good. Its very flavorful and creative. The service is excellent. Its a few steps to Best Western inn plus where we stayed. We ordered chicken enchiladas, seared salmon, guacamole and plantain chips and curry coconut soup. Yummy. read more