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El Torito - El Torito - La Mesa, La Mesa, CA

El Torito - La Mesa

4.3
4.3
278 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
The authority in great Mexican food for more than 65 years. Offering a memorable experience to make each guest feel like family.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 4 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Other options

  • Order online
  • Logo image for Postmates
  • Logo image for Uber Eats

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Mexican

  • Hours of operation

    Brunch: Sunday: 9:00am - 2:00pm; Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:00am - 3:00pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 3:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 3:00pm - 11:00pm, Sunday: 2:00pm-10:00pm

  • Phone number

    (619) 698-7404

  • 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!

  • Private party facilities

    Show your friends, family, and co-workers how to throw a real party with El Torito. Book one of our rooms, patios, or semi-private dining areas for your next celebration, event, or meeting.

  • Neighborhood

    La Mesa

  • 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

Popular dishes

What 278 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • East County

    Good for groups

  • East County

    Lively

Sort by

Filters

  1. everetted

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food4service4ambience4
    Always a good time! Had a small family celebration service was good and food was even better!
  2. LindaF

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Sunday brunch was so good. Our server Alejandro was awesome such great service .
  3. DominickT

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    Place was very busy. Even tho I had a reservation it was after 15 minutes that I asked how much longer. Many people were seated while I was waiting. Once seated everything was fine except for salad area. There was nobody ( servers) handling the items like the other stations. We did enjoy the rest of the food and service.
  4. GregD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was excellent, just as I remembered from years back. Went there for Sunday brunch and was pleased with the service and appearance of the restaurant.
  5. WilliamA

    San Diego

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Arrived early for my reservation and was able to get seated. Waiter was attentive to us checking in to his assigned area
  6. TimS

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I went to le Mesa and apparently we ca no longer take 1 soda home all because of this new gm well soda is such a cheap commodity it seems this gm is going overboard at stoping it and wrighting the staff up not fair. I can understand alcohol not being taken out but soda and paying 33.00 bucks
  7. ChrisE

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on March 11, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience4
    The place was busy for a rainy night. Had reservations and was seated right away. Our waiter was extremely busy, he was serving quite a few tables. Wife's steak fajitas was missing potato pieces. Talked to manager and he found that the cook forgot to add them to all the orders. Manager apologized but no compensation for it Otherwise good.
  8. MAP54

    Las Vegas

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Dry nice attentive waiter and great food!
  9. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 5, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    First time there since Covid. The omelette / eggs system was slow, the buffet area was slow and congested with too many customers and just two employees serving food. The food was cold. Won’t return there unless or until there is a better buffet set up.
  10. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 3, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience3
    The food was rather mediocre. The service excellent
  11. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall2food3service3ambience3
    The lobby and entry way were in complete disarray. Nowhere to sit and wait for your table. The reservations were not on schedule. Customers (including my family) had to keep going to the hostess to check the reservation status. I had to go to the manager to complain about my wait. He instructed the hostess to get us seated right away and mysteriously our table became available.
  12. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience1
    The price was not worth the food for Sunday brunch.
  13. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Good good, service sub par. Staff inattentive.

    El Torito - La MesaResponded on February 25, 2023Guest, thank you for telling us about your recent experience and Thank You for your honest feedback. I'm so sorry we let you down. We hope to get the chance to serve you again soon so we can earn more stars.

  14. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience4
    Unfortunately, we went on Valentine’s Day which I can understand is completely busy however, we had reservations and it took us 45 minutes just to get our drinks which mind you were non-alcoholic and our food an hour and again I can understand it was Valentine’s Day however, I feel that they should have offered my kiddos to get tacos or something while waiting, since they had a taco bar and they were so hungry. But overall, I do love this place I just feel they were extremely understaffed and I was hoping since we had reservations, the flow would be a little less time waiting.
  15. SandraS

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 30, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience3
    Good food, the ambiance was good too. However, the server seemed rushed
  16. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on January 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always good food and service
  17. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Love there Sunday Brunch. Great food options and the whole team was just so nice. Definitely will be back!
  18. Freda

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very good customer service! 😊 Food was nice and fresh. Nice selection of food to choose from. Love the omelette that I ordered and brought to my table.
  19. FrankR

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Food was ok at best. The ceviche had more vegetables than shrimp, the aguachile was moderate, the menudo was too salty, the pozole was ok. The service was bad as they only one 1 person per station until management helped for a short while. Tacos were ok at best. Everything else was not worth $35 per person. The only positive experience was our waiter.
  20. Foodielove

    San Diego

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The brunch buffet had a little bit of everything. The waiter was attentive and engaging. Overall, a good time!!
  21. lajollaone

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I loved every aspect of the restaurant ... food.. service .. ambiance was super .. just great !!! Thank you, El Torito made it a fun day for the 5 of us. Thank you very much .. Nancy Diaz 🙏
  22. ScottB

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall3food4service3ambience3
    We were seated over 30 minutes past our reservation time and the food was running out early.
  23. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went to the buffet, they definitely need more servers. One server, for the desserts, posole, ceviche line was horrible. At least put two servers there!! Line was crazy! The other lines for food, also need more servers, I don’t understand why they would not have enough people serving, at a buffet. Otherwise, the food was excellent!!
  24. bettyboop2

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Food! Great Service! Make sure you go hungry!
  25. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 24, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    I ordered tacos and they were not good. The tortilla was corn and soggy. They had too much cabbage. The bathroom and restaurant seems a bit old, dingy, and forgotten. Not the Toronto’s I remember six years ago :(
  26. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    1.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 18, 2022

    overall1food2service1ambience2
    Waiter was horrible and barley checked on us for drinks. I ordered a orange juice and got lemonade. The brunch was not good at all and there was foil in our food. Paid way too much for trash food
  27. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful as always!
  28. Royalty

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 14, 2022

    overall5food3service5ambience5
    Everything was grate just wishing the taco Tuesday had rice to the menu and fish and shrimp tacos not everyone eats meat 🫶🏾
  29. DeborahW

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 11, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    The carnitas were great, so were the enchiladas. Friendly, great service the carpet was tired looking and decor was a little worn but we enjoyed it anyway.
  30. LisaF

    San Diego

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Gilberto was a very nice waiter. We will come back again Taco Tuesday it was good food.
  31. Blairski

    San Diego

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 4, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    great tasting food. lots of good stations. attentive service with free mimosa refills!

    El Torito - La MesaResponded on December 6, 2022Blairski, thank you so much for telling us about your recent experience at El Torito - La Mesa, and taking the time to write such a kind review. We hope to see you again soon!!

  32. AnthonyA

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food and great service. Our new favorite place.
  33. Gitana

    San Diego

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall3food1service5ambience3
    We had reservations for 3 people at 6:30 and El Torito was opened until 8:00. They ran out of turkey just as we approached the buffet line, they ran out of champagne, and they ran out of pumpkin pie. At $36 per person the meal was maybe worth $10 each. The evening manager didn't charge us for one meal but $72 was excessive considering the limited food available. They did have some Mexican dishes available, but I had wanted a traditional Thanksgiving dinner...not tacos or tamales. The daytime manager should not have accepted walk-in customers without reservations, if the end result was running out of food for guests with reservations. We made reservations in advance and then did not get the meal service that was advertised. Frankly, I believe we are due an additional refund and the person in charge should be fired. You don't run a business like this or so poorly take care of customers. Just for the record, we have been regulars at El Torito since the restaurant opened. Not sure I will ever return...it was pretty bad!
  34. blingmomma

    San Diego

    24 reviews

    4.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall4food2service4ambience3
    I usually enjoy El Torritos. The food on Thanksgiving was tasteless, or so much red pepper, we didn't enjoy it. The carnitas tacos meat dry, there was no green beans, the salad bar was lacking. The advertisement said green beans, yams, didn't find them. The best thing was the corn cake.
  35. Pammy

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    It was ok, not sure what we expected since we have never gone out on Thanksgiving. Seems they had a little trouble keeping up with the food. Had to wait a bit for salad. Not very impressed with the dessert. But the champagne was plentiful. Ha!

    El Torito - La MesaResponded on November 29, 2022Pammy, thank you for telling us about your recent experience and Thank You for your honest feedback. I'm so sorry we let you down. We hope to get the chance to serve you again soon so we can earn more stars.

  36. MarisolT

    San Diego

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall1food1service2ambience1
    Highly disappointed for Thanksgiving Dinner. No variety of food, and the food that was out was gone with wait times of 10-15 min for the food item to be replenished. Extremely understaffed. For the amount I payed, it was definitely not worth it. I wish I could post pictures because I have a lot.
  37. Nikole

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience4
    On Thanksgiving day our server didn't gives us a option on buffet or order from menu he just told us order from a menu half way through the day a family came in and gave then a option on both I think it's kind of messed specially us spending 300 for the tab I couldn't of just order from the menu instead of standing in line for the buffet with other and people coughing behind you
  38. Naria

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Definitely will recommend El Toronto to friends. Great selection of food.
  39. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Came here for thanksgiving and their customer service was top notch! Gilberto was such an amazing server and took care of us!
  40. EricH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was very nice and the atmosphere was great.

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from El Torito - La Mesa using the Order Online button. El Torito - La Mesa also offers delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. El Torito - La Mesa also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 698-7404.

El Torito - La Mesa is rated 4.3 stars by 278 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 4 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Other options

  • Order online
  • Logo image for Postmates
  • Logo image for Uber Eats
Google Map for El Torito - La Mesa

5024 Baltimore Drive, La Mesa, CA 92041

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood

    La Mesa

  • Hours of operation

    Brunch: Sunday: 9:00am - 2:00pm; Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:00am - 3:00pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 3:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 3:00pm - 11:00pm, Sunday: 2:00pm-10:00pm

  • Cuisines

    Mexican

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Public Lot

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (619) 698-7404

  • 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!

  • Private party facilities

    Show your friends, family, and co-workers how to throw a real party with El Torito. Book one of our rooms, patios, or semi-private dining areas for your next celebration, event, or meeting.

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