El Torito — Restaurant in Yorba Linda

I've been coming to El Torito's for years, even worked at one back in the day. Have had some minor issues at this location, but this one deserves a bad review.

Hubby and I came for a late dinner on August 10, 2025 around 7:00pm. Upon entering, the african american host didn't greet us whatsoever - no smile, no welcome, nada. Is he racist? We decided to dine in the bar. Not busy. After sitting for 15 minutes and nobody coming around to acknowledge us, we had to clean our own table. After what seemed like an eternity, "Destiny" finally came to the table after she had obviously seen us sitting there. We told her we are Xperience Rewards members and wanted the Rams Nachos. We needed menus to decide what we wanted after the nachos. She never brought the menus! I wanted the regular iced tea which Destiny said they were out of. We ordered sodas instead. Never was asked if we wanted refills, but Destiny was talking flirting with other staff instead of paying attention to us. We had to flag her down to get more salsa. When she brought it, was with attitude. Never saw a smile on this girls face. When she brought the sodas she said "so you're good?"....No were not good - we wanted menus! When the Rams Nachos came out - WOW - what a difference! We've had these before, and boy did it look different from the picture (pictures attached). And El Torito normally charges $14.00 for this tiny plate of chips with hardly any fixings?? We we so upset with everything, and since she never brought the menus we decided to eat elsewhere for dinner. We had to flag her down for the check and she neglected to add my points to my account. When we got our change back we realized Destiny shorted us .65 cents and she never mentioned that. We called her on it and her reply was "we don't have change". This is a restaurant with a working cash register at the bar and you don't have change?! There are no signs that say it is a cashless establishment. So by servers short changing every customer who pays cash, well, that is theft.

This was a HORRIBLE experience all around and servers like Destiny shouldn't be working in customer service.

It would take some major convincing for us to...

Sunday the 15th December my Family and I met at the restaurant for dinner we sat outside at the patio tables it was nice. Our waiter finally came out to ask us what we would like to drink after bringing chips and salsa, while he served the drinks I asked him quietly for more chips and salsa he told me like a child speaking out of turn you will have to wait until I finish serving the drinks, I thought that was very distasteful. I didn't say anything. Finally placed our food order and I have never waited so long to get served the food took so long mine was barely warm I said something to another server who came to our table and they brought me another plate that was hot. The food was so so it was not that good something has changed in this restaurant, it took so long just to order and the wait was excessive like they had not enough people and the waiter. My daughter ordered a bar drink they forgot and she had to reorder after 20 minutes and they never returned to refill iced tea and sodas my daughter had to go into the building and ask. Several others sitting at my table noticed the mood of our service and we all agreed something must have happened to set the tone it was not pleasant. I also noticed something that I would not bring up normally but it was too obvious our waiter has something bad going on with the back of his neck it really looked raw and very bad and I think unsanitary, it should have been covered from view it really looks bad and this guy is handling food. My dinner experience here will be my last. Iam dissapointed and this restaurant in the past was one of my favorites. Iam sorry to share negative but I can't just let this one go...

Horrible service I went with my family Sunday night. There were a bunch of open seating but we were told to wait 15 minutes. I didn't really see why would have to wait since there were so many open tables and booths. But we waited over an hour and saw several people leaving and still we weren't seated. All this waiting and nowhere to sit no seating at all in there waiting area. And the fact that we stood for over an hour while the female greeter in the front played with her cellphone. After over an hour of waiting and watching other patrons leave. I couldn't wait any longer after my children were complaining of being tired and hungry. After We finally left we went to El Cholo and my son told me why didn't we come here in the first place since we usually do because they are fast and courteous to their customers even though they are actually busy. Now I can see why I don't really see El toritos around like I use to. The bigger some of theses businesses get the quality of management and employees go down. I use to really enjoy El torito the one in long beach town center use to be really nice and customer friendly. But that was years ago. A little advice to the owner or franchisee. Spend some money on better management and training for your employees. Especially whoever is going to be the first person your customer see the greeter should be the friendliest and be on top of the what's going on not playing with her phone. A side note a manager is responsible for hiring so whoever hired the greeter should be fired along with the manager! Also the bathroom was disgusting overflowing urinals and overflowing trash cans paper towels all...