El Torito — Restaurant in Tustin

HORRIBLE RETALIATION FROM THE BARTENDER AND LADY MANAGER.

I have been going to El Torito for many years since my childhood. I used to frequent the El Torito in Orange - The Block, but it was closed a few years ago, yet I was happy to see some of the same staff had moved there, and they welcomed me at this Tustin location and I was happy to be welcomed by them.

I am vegetarian for ethical reasons, and am deeply opposed to animals being KILLED NEEDLESSLY when we have other food choices. For Taco Tuesdays, I usually pay the price for a taco and just get a plain tortilla, and I add extra condiments on it to make up for NOT getting ANY MEAT AT ALL.

In January, I came for Taco Tuesday, and my server was a lady named ISABEL. She was very SLOPPILY DRESSED and NOT ATTENTIVE and SHE WAS CHEWING GUM FOR THE ENTIRE TIME SHE INTERACTED with me.

I did not get my beverages at all, and did not get the dressing I wanted on the side. She was also NOT ACCOMODATING to letting me get Jack cheese instead of Cojita cheese, as cojita cheese does not suit me well, and I was paying for a full taco and getting NO MEAT.

Finally, when my meal was barely even eaten, my meal was cleared from my table when I went to use the restroom.

I was so DISTURBED that I spoke with a lady manager there, who was very apologetic and recommended some more professional servers for my future visits there.

While I was speaking to this lady manager, the bartender (man who has long hair which he ties to the back of his head with a rubber band) came to hear my complaint, and stood there the whole time.

My next visit was on 2/4/2025 and as soon as this male bartender saw me, he rushed to complain about me to the other lady manager in charge, who was a different lady manager than I had talked to in January.

This other lady manager then went to the Taco Tuesday station, and moved all of the large bowls to the back counter so I could NOT use them for my food. Then she RUDELY AND LOUDLY told me that this was NOT A BUFFET and I was taking TOO MUCH VEGETABLES.

I told her I know it's not a buffet, and I was taking more vegetables because I'm vegetarian and I had to eat something but NOT ANY MEAT. She told me that she didn't care that I was a vegetarian, and that I was NOT ALLOWED to take more food.

This was complete RETALIATION to my complaint about ISABEL in January by the MALE BARTENDER AND THIS OTHER LADY MANAGER.

I really used to enjoy the servers, ambiance and food at El Torito, but I have not gone back since this very BAD INTERACTION with this OTHER LADY MANAGER AND THE MALE BARTENDER WHO TIES HIS LONG HAIR...

We had been here a week earlier and had the worst experience. They quoted us 15 minutes when we arrived, even though the was no one else waiting and the restaurant was practically empty. There was a manager walking around doing nothing. After fifteen minutes they seated us in a wide open area. Took ten more minutes for the server to arrive. We ordered everything right away. We ran out of chips and nobody came by. Food took over half an hour and our 6yo's chicken fajitas weren't ready. Drinks came after that. When the kid's chicken fajitas finally arrived, it was just a cut up steak and zucchini. Our son cried because he had been looking forward to chicken fajitas. We left a nice tip because the server said it was the kitchen that messed up (it was correct on the receipt) and it was clear that the place was just either mismanaged or having a rough night. We made macaroni at home.

So we went back a few evenings ago on new years day. That's really on us. It's a good location and the kids really wanted enchiladas, so we thought we would give them a second chance. Again the place was nearly empty. We got seated right away but sat for 15 minutes while employees walked past us and nobody stopped or acknowledged us. The same manager was sitting at a booth right near us. After a while he got up. When we'd been there for 15 minutes, I got up and tried to find a server. I went in the back and found the manager and just asked if there was a server assigned to us and he was short with me. Server came out and was very nice and brought our food very fast this time. We skipped the drinks. We didn't have enough silverware but we shared. The fajitas were pretty flavorless but not terrible. Husband's salad was good. BUT THEN my son and I got terrible food poisoning. We will never be back. Do what everyone else seems to be doing and avoid this place. You'll have a better experience...

This place used to be great. I think there’s been a change in ownership or something. I live nearby and have probably eaten at this El Torito 50 times. I would consider myself a regular.

Recently it feels like a different restaurant. The last two times I’ve tried to order pickup, the front hostess has no clue what they’re talking about - they don’t know where menu items are, so they have to call a manager - you’re put on hold for 5-10 minutes while they try to find the items for your order. They straight hung up on me last time I called.

The menu has recently completely changed. They no longer have Tacos Al Pastor or Pollo en Adobo on the menu anymore. Every time I call they tell me something like “tacos al pastor are on available on Taco Tuesday”. So I show up on Taco Tuesday at 5pm and they tell me it’s an hour wait. The hostess told me they were short-staffed.

Not worth it. Go spend your money at Avila’s El Ranchito, Jalapeños, or Maruca’s Mexican Kitchen (all nearby).

Update 09/27/21: Against my better judgement, I ordered from here because my wife and I really like the chips and salsa and WE WERE LET DOWN, AGAIN. We used Doordash. Food arrived cold, and the restaurant is less than a mile from my house. Most of the order was wrong; we ordered Chicken Fajitas and we got a few ounces of cold, sliced, chicken on top of a sea of rice and about 3 strips of overcooked, yet somehow shriveled, green peppers. No tortillas to speak of. This was an $80 dollar meal. The food was awful, and I had to request Doordash to reimburse me me for the food items in my order that never even arrived. Avoid this place at all costs....