El Torito — Restaurant in La Mesa

Where Mouthwatering Mexican Delights and Bottomless Mimosas Await!

When my large family decided to celebrate my mom's birthday at El Torito, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. It was a hidden gem that one of my sisters stumbled upon, and boy, were we in for a treat! With promises of a Mexican brunch buffet and bottomless mimosas, our expectations were set high. Let me tell you, El Torito did not disappoint!

Now, let's start with the parking situation. The spaces were a tad small, but fear not! We parked a bit further away, which was a great excuse to stretch our legs and build up an appetite. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a welcoming committee of multiple hostesses, ready to guide us to our table. Our party of 14 was promptly seated, and the waiter wasted no time in bringing us an array of refreshing mimosas, coffee, water, and even milk for the kiddos. They had us at "bottomless mimosas"!

Once the tantalizing aromas of Mexican goodness hit our noses, we made a beeline for the buffet. Tacos, glorious tacos! El Torito had us covered with an impressive selection of steak, chicken, pastor, and carnitas. And let me tell you, the carnitas took home the gold medal, closely followed by the juicy steak. What made it even more magical was that they made the tortillas right in front of our eyes, ensuring a truly authentic experience. We also indulged in the fantastic fajitas, which took a little time to prepare, but trust me, every minute of that wait was worth it.

Now, let's talk about the ambiance. El Torito knows how to accommodate parties of any size. They have small square tables for intimate gatherings and long hosting tables for those unforgettable fiestas. The restaurant is beautifully adorned with authentic Mexican decor, transporting you to the heart of Mexico. The staff, oh, the staff! They were a delight to interact with, always attentive and ready to make our experience extra special.

And here's the cherry on top of this already fantastic meal—the price! El Torito goes above and beyond by offering all of these mouthwatering delights at a fraction of the cost you'd find at other restaurants. It's like they're saying, "Hey, let's treat you to an unforgettable feast without breaking the bank!" And don't get me started on their bottomless mimosas. Bravo, El Torito, bravo!

Salvador, the manager, deserves a special mention. He graced our table with his presence, ensuring everything was going smoothly. But he didn't stop there. He regaled us with the story of how he came to work for El Torito, and let me tell you, it was an entertaining tale that had us chuckling between bites of deliciousness.

So, if you're looking for outstanding Mexican cuisine, an engaging and friendly staff, and an experience that won't drain your wallet, El Torito is the place to be. It's a hidden gem that deserves to be shared and celebrated. Book your reservation, bring your appetite, and prepare for a fiesta like no other. El Torito, you have won our hearts and our taste buds!

Oh, and how could I forget the pièce de résistance of my mom's birthday celebration at El Torito? It was truly unforgettable! As we were enjoying our meal, the staff surprised my mom with a grand entrance, singing and clapping, bearing a little cake adorned with flickering candles. The joy on her face was priceless, and we all joined in to sing along. It was a moment that captured the essence of El Torito—a place where celebrations come alive, and memories are made.

My mom's birthday at El Torito will forever hold a special place in our hearts. The outstanding food, engaging staff, and the delightful birthday surprise made it a day she'll cherish forever. So, if you're looking to make your loved one's special day truly extraordinary, head to El Torito. They know how to turn any occasion into a fiesta!

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Mom, and gracias, El Torito, for creating memories that will...

A sign perhaps of evolving tastes for Mexican cuisine in the United States, this chain that once had 250 locations around the country is now down to 31 restaurants, with this location in La Mesa being the only El Torito left in all of San Diego County.

I was recently in for Taco Tuesday. As usual, sub-par complimentary corn tortilla chips and salsa were provided, both of which have been salted aggressively. The salsa suffers from too much lime juice making it too sour, just another feature meant to provoke thirst.

Taco Tuesday at El Torito is a "taco bar" concept where you order a number of tacos from your server, who then gives you a "receipt" that you give to a cook in the Taco Tuesday area who then shapes ground nixtamal into tortillas and puts them on a griddle to cook. The cook then lays the finished tortillas into a basket and scoops whatever meats you ask for into them. From there, you can dress your tacos however you'd with fajita toppings, beans, onions, chopped cilantro, pico de gallo, and even potatoes.

My meat selections for my three tacos were carnitas, chorizo, and beef barbacoa. The little browned cubes of chorizo held so much promise but were not particularly flavorful as much as they were very salty. The carnitas were fried until crispy, but there was no textural variance beyond that. The best carnitas have interesting contrasts in texture, but this rendition was only about crunchy pork. The beef barbacoa is, by far, the best meat filler -- it consisted of braised chunks of beef chuck that has been stewed in a piquant beef gravy spiked with chilies.

My waitress was pleasant but service in the "taco bar" area was awful -- I was ignored for 2 minutes while the 3 ladies working were speaking in Spanish to each other about stuff that had nothing to do with their job. I needed to interrupt their casual conversation to get served. When I asked how Taco Tuesday works and which toppings go with which meats, I got short, unhelpful responses.

Overall, I was not terribly impressed with this El Torito location, though I've never been too impressed with...

Extremely Disappointed – Worst Holiday Dining Experience

I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience at El Torito in La Mesa for Easter brunch was incredibly frustrating and disappointing. I personally called ahead to make reservations for a large party (over 10 people) specifically to avoid any issues with the online system. Despite this, when we arrived, they had no record of our reservation.

Instead of taking accountability or trying to resolve the situation professionally, the staff at check-in acted as if I had never made a reservation at all. They challenged me on it and made it seem like they were doing us a favor by “trying” to seat our party—something that should have already been guaranteed.

After over 40 minutes of waiting outside, we were finally seated—but not even together. They split our family into two separate tables, completely defeating the purpose of bringing everyone together for a holiday meal.

We were seated with the clear expectation that we’d be enjoying the Easter brunch buffet—only to be told we had five minutes before it ended. There were no plates available, and as we tried to see what we could get, we watched staff clearing the buffet and throwing untouched food into garbage bags right in front of guests. Rather than allowing us to eat what we came for, they rushed to shut everything down as if we were an inconvenience.

Eventually, the manager came out and tried to blame Corporate for the mix-up, saying they had set up the reservation. But I had called this exact location directly—it was the local team who took the reservation. Then, a second manager came out and went as far as to accuse us of being rude, instead of taking responsibility for their own mishandling of the situation.

This has truly been the worst dining experience I’ve had, especially on a day meant for family celebration.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere if you’re planning something special. This location showed a complete lack of organization, professionalism, and respect for its guests. We will not...