El Torito - Torrance

4.2 (343)

$30 and under

Mexican

23225 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505

Make a reservation

El Torito - Torrance

4.2

$30 and under

Mexican

Torrance / Carson

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 7, 2026

10:30 PM

Booked 21 times today

About this restaurant

Great for brunch
Good for special occasions
Lively

The authority in great Mexican food for more than 65 years. Offering a memorable experience to make each guest feel like family.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(310) 378-0331
Website
https://www.eltorito.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Catering
Bring the flavor of El Torito to your office or off-site event! We can accommodate groups from 10 to 10,000 and everything in between! Enjoy Taco Bars, Fajita Bars, Enchilada Bars & much more. Order online or call 1-888-TORTILLA. https://www.eltorito.com/catering/
Private party facilities
Show your friends, family, and co-workers how to throw a real party. Book one of our private rooms, patios, or semi-private dining areas for your next celebration, event, or meeting. Choose from Plated Menus, Buffet Menus or Mix & Match your favorite individual Trays. Inquire online or call 1-888-TORTILLA. https://www.eltorito.com/private-events/
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
23225 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505
Neighborhood
Torrance / Carson
Cross street
lomita and hawthorne
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at El Torito - Torrance.

4.2

(343)

4.1Food
4.3Service
3.9Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Beach Cities
Great for brunch
Beach Cities
Mexican
Beach Cities
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

El Torito in Torrance offers a vibrant atmosphere perfect for celebrations. Guests appreciate the "fresh and delicious" salsa, "tasty" margaritas, and "friendly" staff. The Sunday brunch buffet is highly recommended for its variety. While some reviews note issues with temperature and service, the accommodating staff and standout moments with servers like Ernesto shine.

343 Reviews

E
Eric Gold
Los Angeles64 reviews
2.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
It’s been a while since I last went to El Torito. Now I remember why. You are greeted at the host station with a sign that says they tack on 4.99% to your bill because it’s a family business. This is a chain and yes it may be independently owned, it’s still a chain. Instant turn off. The place also smelled like something was burning. The chips were stale. I ordered the steak fajitas which came with mostly undercooked onions and few peppers. The steak itself was generously portioned but under seasoned. I asked for no beans, and they served it with beans. The server was friendly but not detailed oriented. I also spent most of my meal with an empty water glass. I don’t think I’ll be going back.
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N
Neal
Los Angeles2 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 18, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
We celebrated our Mother's 93rd Birthday and we had a really good time, The food was prepared amazingly well, seasoned and fresh. The air inside the restaurant was extremely warm and for a 90+ year old it started to get uncomfortable. She still enjoyed herself and so did the entire family. I did not like paying for Mimosa's and the waiter failed to refill the glass a few times. It was busy, I do understand that, however, paying for something and not being able to even get 3 servings while, it supposed to be unlimited was not cool. We received plates to serve cake, and they were all wet still and some not clean. No napkins on the table to dry them off.
El Torito - TorranceResponded on October 20, 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, we are delighted to hear that you celebrated your mother's 93rd birthday at our restaurant. We appreciate your kind words about the food and the overall enjoyment of your family gathering. However, we sincerely apologize for the discomfort caused by the warm air inside the restaurant and the issues you encountered with the service, particularly regarding the mimosa refills and the cleanliness of the plates. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will certainly address these concerns with our team to ensure a more enjoyable experience for all our guests in the future. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable occasion.
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L
Lisa Gold
Los Angeles15 reviews
2.0
Dined on October 16, 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Wanted to escape the heat and went for the Happy Hour but unfortunately the AC was non existent. It was very warm at the bar area. Margaritas were good but it was just too hot to really enjoy it.
El Torito - TorranceResponded on October 20, 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We sincerely apologize for the discomfort you experienced due to the inadequate air conditioning during your visit. We strive to create a pleasant environment for all our guests, and we regret that we fell short in this instance. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the margaritas, but we understand that the heat detracted from your overall experience. Your comments are invaluable to us, and we will address this issue to ensure a more comfortable atmosphere in the future. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again under more favorable conditions.
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JT
JamesT
San Francisco4 reviews
2.0
Dined on October 11, 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
We came to this El Torito to celebrate my 86 year old uncle’s birthday. Unfortunately, we were sadly disappointed with the margaritas (we ordered pitchers) that were flavorless and the food was mid at best. The best thing we had here was the salsa, which was fresh and delicious. My crab and shrimp enchiladas were barely warm and the birria tacos were tasteless. We spent a lot of money for this celebration and were not satisfied with the food. I’m sad to say that we will not be returning. I will take my business to the El Torito Grill next time, which is much better.
El Torito - TorranceResponded on October 13, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We sincerely apologize that your visit did not meet your expectations, particularly during such a special occasion as your uncle's birthday. It is disheartening to hear that the margaritas and food fell short of our usual standards, though we are pleased to know that you enjoyed the salsa. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will certainly address these concerns with our team to ensure improvements are made. We appreciate your patronage and hope you might consider giving us another chance in the future.
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P
Patrice
Los Angeles2 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 3, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The manager and servers were very nice and accommodating to our party. We had our own area and everything was perfect!
El Torito - TorranceResponded on October 6, 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We are delighted to hear that you and your party had a wonderful experience with us. Our team strives to create a welcoming atmosphere, and it is gratifying to know that you felt well taken care of. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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C
Claudia
Los Angeles1 review
3.0
Dined on August 30, 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
I had an issue with the waiter. It was my mom’s birthday and she didn’t like the experience. Her coffee wasn’t filled up, no extra orange juice for the mimosas, no napkins (mom had to get up and get some), she noticed the same waiter treating a bigger table better. The staff did say happy birthday but called my mom a different name. I appreciate it but they should have said the correct one.
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S
Sylvia Gold
Los Angeles13 reviews
4.0
Dined on August 22, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I personally love their tacos. And go to El Torito to eat tacos.
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S
Susan Gold
Los Angeles11 reviews
4.0
Dined on July 31, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Our server was very pleasant, the margaritas were tasty, and the appetizer platter was good. As a note of warning, the bar area close to the windows facing Hawthorne is uncomfortably warm during this heat spell.
El Torito - TorranceResponded on August 4, 2026
Thank you for your feedback regarding your recent experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the service, margaritas, and appetizer platter. Your observation about the warmth in the bar area near the windows is greatly appreciated, and we will certainly take this into consideration as we strive to enhance our guests' comfort during this heat spell. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another enjoyable visit.
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S
Spencer
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
Dined on July 19, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the omlette and taco bar as well as brunch buffet items such as the delicious Colorado chili.
El Torito - TorranceResponded on July 29, 2026
Thank you so much for your feedback. We hope to see you again soon!
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M
Michael Gold
Los Angeles59 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 21, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was fresh, and the staff were friendly. I highly recommend this Sunday brunch buffet for a variety of options.
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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(310) 378-0331
Website
https://www.eltorito.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Catering
Bring the flavor of El Torito to your office or off-site event! We can accommodate groups from 10 to 10,000 and everything in between! Enjoy Taco Bars, Fajita Bars, Enchilada Bars & much more. Order online or call 1-888-TORTILLA. https://www.eltorito.com/catering/
Private party facilities
Show your friends, family, and co-workers how to throw a real party. Book one of our private rooms, patios, or semi-private dining areas for your next celebration, event, or meeting. Choose from Plated Menus, Buffet Menus or Mix & Match your favorite individual Trays. Inquire online or call 1-888-TORTILLA. https://www.eltorito.com/private-events/
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
23225 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505
Neighborhood
Torrance / Carson
Cross street
lomita and hawthorne
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Sunday, the Sunday brunch buffet is a clear guest favorite, with an all-you-can-eat spread and bottomless mimosas noted by reviewers.

Yes, several guests recommend El Torito Torrance for date night, praising the food, margaritas and attentive service that made date nights and special celebrations memorable.

Sunday brunch is the sweet spot, guests repeatedly praise El Torito - Torrance’s AYCE Sunday brunch with bottomless mimosas and plentiful stations, making late-morning weekends a favorite.

Yes, El Torito - Torrance is family-friendly: the weekend brunch includes a dedicated kiddie station and child pricing, and guests frequently visit with children and three-generation family tables.

El Torito - Torrance feels warm and festive, a bright north-side dining room with lots of windows, a lively bar with music (and occasional mariachi), and a genuinely welcoming staff.

Casual dress, comfortable, everyday clothing is appropriate; nothing formal is required.

El Torito - Torrance gets very busy for its Sunday and holiday brunches (Easter, Mother’s Day) and during lively bar/happy-hour moments, while some Saturday nights can be quiet.

El Torito - Torrance offers a main dining room (including a bright north-side room with windows), a lively bar area, and outdoor patio seating.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a reservation

El Torito - Torrance

4.2

$30 and under

Mexican

Torrance / Carson

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 7, 2026

10:30 PM

Booked 21 times today

El Torito - Torrance

Make a reservation

El Torito - Torrance

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

Reviews

Loved For

Review summary

Additional information

FAQs

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Is this a good pick for date night?

When is the best time to go to El Torito - Torrance?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

What is the dress code for El Torito - Torrance?

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Make a reservation

El Torito - Torrance

Make a reservation