El Torito - Pasadena

Name: El Torito - Pasadena
Address: 3333 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA, United States, 91107
Telephone: (626) 351-8995
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.2

4.2

148 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

Top Tags:

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

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 21, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(626) 351-8995

Delivery

Order online

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
(626) 351-8995
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!
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.

Location
3333 East Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107
Neighborhood
Pasadena
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

Fresh Tableside Guacamole$10.99
Prepared just the way you like it - with fresh avocados, spicy serrano chiles and a special blend of herbs and spices
Crispy Flautas$9.49
Four crispy flour tortillas filled with grilled chicken and jack cheese. Topped with cotija cheese, crema fresca, pico de gallo. With jalapeño jelly and red pepper dip
Cheese Quesadilla$10.99
Grilled with a hint of jalapeño butter until crisp and golden brown with pico de gallo, salsa picante, guacamole and sour cream
Mexican Buffalo Wings$9.99
10 wings with our Mexican twist on a classic favorite served buffalo-style with ranch dip
Nachos Supremos$10.99
Chicken on a mound of warm chips, melted cheese, refried beans and guajillo chile sauce topped with fresh jalapeños, tomatoes, green onions and guacamole
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp$12.99
Four large grilled shrimp wrapped in roasted pasilla chiles, manchego cheese and bacon
Grande Fiesta Platter$16.99
Buffalo Tenders or Wings, Crispy Flautas, Nachos Supremos, Cheese Quesadilla. Served with guacamole and dipping sauces
Queso Dip$7.99
Two cheese blend, pico de gallo, roasted pasilla peppers and cilantro. Served with warm tortilla chips

Soup & Salads

House-Made Tortilla Soup$7.99
Our original recipe made fresh throughout the day! Chicken broth, tender chicken, garden-fresh vegetables, jack cheese and fresh avocado
Tableside Fajitas Salad$14.99
Grilled chicken breast, romaine lettuce, cotija cheese, fresh avocado, roasted pepitas, fresh pico de gallo, crisp tortilla strips. Tossed tableside with serrano-grape vinaigrette
Grilled Chicken Mexican Caesar$13.99
Romaine lettuce, cotija cheese, tomatoes, roasted pepitas and crisp tortilla strips tossed in our Cilantro-Pepita Dressing™
Grilled Chicken Taco Salad$14.99
Homemade tostada taco shell filled with romaine lettuce, refried beans, pico be gallo, cotija and jack cheese. Topped with grilled chicken, roasted pepitas, sour cream, guacamole and your choice of dressing

Flame-Grilled Fajitas

All fajitas are drizzled with guajillo butter sauce. Served with rice, frijoles de la olla, guacamole, sweet corn cake and choice of flour or corn tortillas

Ignited Fajitas Supremas$21.99
Our premium fajitas with citrus-chile ancho marinated grilled steak*, chicken breast and sautéed shrimp, sizzling together and flamed right at your table with 1800 Silver Tequila
Grilled Chicken Fajitas$17.99
Citrus-chipotle marinated chicken
Shrimp Fajitas$20.99
Tender shrimp sautéed in jalapeño-garlic butter and guajillo chile sauce
Seafood Fajitas$20.99
Succulent sautéed shrimp and mahi-mahi
Grilled Steak* Fajitas$19.99
Citrus-chile ancho marinated steak*
Fajitas Combo$19.99
Grilled chicken breast fajitas, grilled steak* fajitas and a cheese enchilada
Veggie Fajitas$17.99
Fresh vegetables, rosemary and mint leaves with a grilled chile relleno

Fajitas Duo

$19.99. Select two of your favorites!

Grilled Chicken Breast
Grilled Steak*
Sautéed Shrimp

El Torito Presents Family Style Fajitas

Serves up to 4! Sides are endless, just ask for more!

Family Style Fajitas$59.99
Steak*, Large Shrimp, Chicken and Carnitas Fajitas, served with rice, refried beans, guacamole, sweet corn cake and choice of tortillas

Create Your Own Combo

All combos include refried beans, rice and our signature sweet corn cake. Pick Two $13.99, Pick Three $14.99

Tacos
Chicken Machaca, Crispy Taco, Beef Barbacoa, Crispy Taco
Enchiladas
Cheese Enchilada, Beef Barbacoa Enchilada, Chicken Machaca Enchilada
Classics
Chicken Tamale, Chile Relleno, Crispy Chicken Flautas

Combo Classics

Macho Combo$15.99
Four of our most popular items on one platter: a fire-roasted pasilla chile relleno, a chicken and sour cream enchilada, a beef barbacoa crispy taco and a hand-made chicken tamale. Served with refried beans and rice
Sizzling Combo$17.99
Shrimp sautéed with fajita vegetables and a grilled chicken enchilada served on a sizzling skillet with a grilled steak* soft taco, frijoles de la olla, rice and warm tortillas
Baja Combo$17.99
Two bacon-wrapped shrimp, a mahi-mahi fish taco and a shrimp Mazatlán enchilada. Served with rice

Specialties

Our Favorite Meals Plated Just for You!

Carne Asada and Cheese Enchilada$19.99
Tender grilled skirt steak* marinated in chile de árbol adobo, topped with nopalitos salsa, with a cheese enchilada and tomato-jalapeño sauce. Served with rice, frijoles de la olla, fresh guacamole and warm tortillas
Slow-Roasted Carnitas$17.99
Slowly simmered in garlic, oranges and spices, our tender pork is served with fresh avocado, frijoles de la olla, rice, pico de gallo, marinated cabbage and warm tortillas. Make your Carnitas Chile Verde or Chile Colorado Style
Pollo Fresco en Adobo$15.99
Chicken breast marinated with chile de árbol adobo, grilled and served atop sautéed fresh spinach. Served with a grilled stuffed pasilla chile and rice
Carne Asada and Shrimp$21.99
Skirt steak* and sautéed shrimp topped with nopalitos salsa. Served with frijoles de la olla, rice, fresh guacamole and warm tortillas
Salmon Veracruz$17.99
Grilled filet of salmon in jalapeño butter with salsa Veracruz, served atop fresh spinach and sautéed vegetables. Served with rice and pico de gallo

Enchiladas

Chicken & Sour Cream Enchiladas$14.99
Tender chicken simmered and smothered in a savory sour cream sauce topped with jack cheese. Served with refried beans and rice
Shrimp Mazatlán Enchiladas$15.99
Sautéed with tomatoes, pasilla chiles, onions and jack cheese with fire-roasted tomatillo and tomato-jalapeño sauces. Served with frijoles de la olla and rice
Spinach Enchiladas$12.99
Sautéed fresh spinach, pasilla chiles, onions, pico de gallo, melted jack cheese and fire-roasted tomatillo sauce. Served with frijoles de la olla and rice
Sizzling Enchiladas$13.99
Served sizzling on a skillet! Grilled chicken with fire-roasted tomatillo sauce and jack cheese. Served with frijoles de la olla, rice and fresh guacamole
Enchiladas Rancheras$12.99
Melted jack cheese with ranchera sauce served with guacamole, refried beans and rice

Tacos & Burritos

Make any Burrito a Chimichanga add $1

Street Taco Trio$12.99
Three chicken or carnitas street tacos served with frijoles de la olla and rice
Seafood Taco Trio$15.99
Three grilled or Dos Equis beer battered mahi-mahi or shrimp tacos served with frijoles de la olla and rice
Tacos al Pastor$13.49
Three guajillo-citrus marinated pork tacos served with frijoles de la olla and rice. Served in a cast iron pan
Burrito Especial$13.99
Chicken machaca or beef barbacoa, jack cheese and ranchera sauce. Served with refried beans and rice
Grilled BBQ Burrito$14.99
Shredded BBQ carnitas, rice, frijoles de la olla, roasted pasilla chiles and corn. Topped with BBQ sauce and grilled onions
Carne Asada Burrito$14.99
Grilled steak* rubbed with chile de árbol adobo, roasted pasilla chiles, onions, frijoles de la olla, guacamole, jack cheese and salsa picante. Served with refried beans and rice

Daily Dining Deals

Mondays - Fajita Fiesta$13.99
Choose chicken or steak* fajitas for only. Served with frijoles de la olla, rice & warm tortillas
Tuesdays - Taco Tuesdays$13.99
All-You-Can-Eat Tacos. Choose steak*, chicken or carnitas. Served with frijoles de la olla and rice
Wednesdays - Kids Eat For $1
Get a kid's meal from the kid's menu for $1 with the purchase of an adult entrée. Offer applies to kids 12 and under
Thursdays - All-You-Can-Eat Enchiladas$13.99
Choose from chicken machaca, cheese or beef barbacoa only. Served with refried beans and rice
Fridays - All-You-Can-Eat Dos Equis Beer Battered Tacos$14.99
Mahi-mahi or shrimp. Served with frijoles de la olla and rice

Desserts

Home-Style Flan$5.99
A traditional house-made favorite. Rich vanilla custard topped with decadent golden caramel sauce and cinnamon whipped cream
Sopapillas$5.99
Mexican pastry tossed in caramel sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon whipped cream
Chocolate Volcano Cake$8.99
Rich chocolate cake served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, chipotle-chocolate sauce and cinnamon whipped cream
Deep-Fried Ice Cream$6.99
Vanilla ice cream in a cinnamon-sugar coating with chipotle-chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and cinnamon whipped cream

Refreshing Sips

These flavorful non-alcoholic beverages are refreshing!

Agua de Jamaica
Strawberry-Cilantro Soda
Cucumber Cooler

What 148 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.1Food
4.1Service
4.1Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Pasadena / San Gabriel
Great for Brunch
Pasadena / San Gabriel
Good for Groups

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AD
ADRENAS
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall1food1service1ambience3
Our experience had a few minor issues from the start but we were willing to make the best of it but it wasn’t until we had ordered our food and received our order minus one plate and it was about 10 min later that another waitress came and said they were out of that item what else did we want ? Then we had to wait another 10 min for the new plate, mind you we were not going to eat unless we were all together . We finally decided to talk to a manager which took him another 10 min to get to us and his response was not understanding or customer friendly he said “so what do u want?” It’s not what do we want ? We wanted a good experience . He said he’s be back with a resolution which we still had not Touched our food and he did not come Back we had to tell our waitress and he basically didn’t believe us and didn’t want to deal with our issues. Our waitress was really friendly and understanding but the manager and the lack of communication here is terrible. It’s really unfortunate our experience was not better .
e
evelyn
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
For such a busy night it was excellent. Food is always great!
MU
MargieU
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Hands down the best place we've gone to on Mothers Day! The Server was outstanding too.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
My family and I decided to celebrate my mothers birthday here. upon arrival we immediately got a table. Our waiter was very nice and carrying and never once we felt like the waiter was angry or in a rush to get us out which unfortunately happens in other restaurants. We mention to our waiter that it was my mothers birthday, he and some of his co workers came to our table with a dessert for my mother and sang Happy birthday to her, it had made my Mother’s Day. Over all, I love this restaurant and definitely would go back and recommend to my family and friends.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience4
Chicken Flautas aas a suprise delight
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was great .
j
jillg
Los Angeles
16 reviews
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Nice way to start a Sunday! Yummy food and good service. I would suggest going early as they get very busy!
j
jks125
Indiana
22 reviews
2.0
22 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall2food2service1ambience3
House margaritas were overly sweet and watery. Long wait after ordering for food to arrive. Food was mediocre.
KS
KayS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 25, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
Overall good experience. Appetizer quesadilla with chicken had very little cheese. Others in party enjoyed their food. Had to ask waitress to lower the noise level so we could speak to each other during our lunch.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server, Randy was fantastic. Thank you for allowing us to order off the regular menu early. Everyone went above and beyond. We live 30 miles away but look forward to returning to your location soon ☺️
EF
ElendaF
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went for happy hour & taco Tuesday. The food, drinks and dessert were all delicious. Also the server was great, the entire atmosphere was perfect.
AL
AnhL
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I’m always pleased when I visit El Torito in Pasadena. I’ve never had an experience where I didn’t feel the staff didn’t try as hard as they could.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 13, 2022
overall4food3service3ambience1
There was a table about 8 people they were drunk one women from that table try to trip my wife when she was passing by, after that she was trying to start a fight with her , they had to many drinks mimosa after mimosa !!
BP
BruceP
Los Angeles
5 reviews
1.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2022
overall1food1service3ambience3
We went there to try their breakfast, the food was cold, tasteless and looked like it was prepared earlier and kept under heat lamps that did not work. It took the server 10 minutes to bring us our bill after cleaning off the table. El Torito has drastically declined and not worth going to anymore
W
Willie
Phoenix
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 27, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
they need help in this restaurant. my server only seen us about 3 times over the span of a hour and a half and one of those was to give us the bill. i asked for bottomless mimosas and only got 2. the initial one and a refill. so this restaurant needs help.
MG
MiguelG
Los Angeles
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
Busy day for Valentines. Food was ok. Service on the other hand was good. Greeted immediately, walked over to our table with in a few minutes. Welcomed by a supervisor/manager, then waiter was hustling to get things going.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience4
It was Valentine's day. Of course they were busy. Our appetizer (queso) was lukewarm at best and a bit grainy compared to what we usually get when we order it. Our food was also lukewarm. Since it was busier than normal we ate what we could then left. We know this isn't the norm. We're chalking it up to the holiday. Normally they're excellent! Service was still good.
e
evelyn
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Torito was a treat. The service was exceptional even thought they're under staff.
WR
WilburR
Los Angeles
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great Mexican food and good drinks!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Food is awesome!
DG
DaraG
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience2
Not sure if this location is struggling to find workers but our server was not attentive at all. He NEVER checked to see if we liked our food or drinks. I literally didn't have a chance to speak to our server for an hour. He totally ignored us for that long. We had to flag him down to get our second drink which was water after we finished our food. We were there to have a few cocktails but only got one because the server never returned to our table after he delivered our first drinks which took 20 minutes and our food was served by the kitchen staff or a runner. I won't be returning for a while.
l
love2lunch
Los Angeles
37 reviews
vip
2.0
37 reviews
Dined on January 10, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience1
This place needs some updating! It is dark, noisy and not inviting. Food is not great, service was good. Will not go back.
CR
CherylR
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 27, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
No complaints - enjoyed an evening out!
CW
CindyW
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on December 25, 2021
overall3food2service4ambience4
Prime rib was fatty it was a very last piece and it was cold
l
lickinggood
Los Angeles
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Spacious restaurant which allows for maximum spacing between tables. We chose the smaller room facing the parking lot which was very quiet and intimate. Many excellent menu choices, the fajitas for a family of 4 was an excellent choice and a good value at $59.99. We also had the guacamole custom made at our table to our liking. Very good. The Sopapillas which is similar to a churro cut in pieces and served with ice cream was an excellent choice for dessert. Perfect restaurant choice if you want Mexican food in the Pasadena area, highly recommended.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 12, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
We got there on time and got seated right away. Our server was outstanding.would definitely come back again.
y
youkendoit
Los Angeles
26 reviews
vip
3.0
26 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2021
overall3food3service3ambience3
When I made reservations, I wanted to eat earlier but there were no earlier times available. Yet when arriving at my reservation time, there were plenty of tables available and I wasn't even asked if I had a reservation. After being seated and given menus to view, our waiter didn't return to take our orders for 13 minutes because he was too busy attending people who came in after us. As far as the food is concerned, it was served lukewarm. The fish and the shrimp in the fish and tacos were dry and the cotija cheese sprinkled over the top was unappetizing. The shrimp enchiladas were average at best of it was served hot. Our waiter did come by 3 times asking how the food was, but I felt too guilty to be honest, so I just nodded. Because I had a better experience at El Torito at a previous time, it's 50/50 if I would give this restaurant a 3rd try.
SG
ShawnG
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 6, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Their food is spicy so order not spicy if you go there
y
yntbom
Los Angeles
152 reviews
vip
3.0
152 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2021
overall3food4service3ambience4
Delicious food. Slow service even on a quiet weekday. Had to ask for utensils and missed items from Our order. Server sweet but not sure if he had too many tables.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 26, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food. Great service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 25, 2021
overall5food4service5ambience5
Thanksgiving
CA
CindyA
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a great time! Love the renovation and the food was wonderful. Great kids menu, lots of options for everyone at the table. We will be back!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2021
overall5food5service3ambience5
Our server had many tables inside and outside the cantina, while a couple of other servers seemed to have more free time on their hands, our server was running around in a hurry. I asked for 2 margaritas for myself and my Sister (2 each) since I had a feeling it was going to take a while to get another drink. He only brought us 1 each and I had to flag him down after him passing by us 3 times in a hurry for another margarita. Our chips and salsa ran out before even getting another drink and we were never asked if we would like more. I ordered fajitas and had to flag the sever down again after a while to ask for my tortillas. Then dessert came along and the sever wouldn't brings us a menu so we described what we wanted and it was totally different.
DM
DMontiel
Orange County
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2021
overall3food3service5ambience5
Service was great. My carne asada was cold and overcooked. Rice was overcooked.
MH
MHenry
Los Angeles
33 reviews
vip
2.0
33 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2021
overall2food2service1ambience2
Very disappointing experience. The food was cold, nothing came out together, and the service was absolutely horrible! Will never go back.
WR
WilburR
Los Angeles
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on October 16, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience3
Great enchiladas, good server, cold Margaritas!
LM
LauraM
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a pleasurable dining/drinking experience! Try to order something different each time and we are never disappointed.
A
Arcadia
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 28, 2021
overall3food3service2ambience4
Bad service. Not impressed. Gave us stale chips. Not on their game anymore.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 26, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, outstanding meal and attention by our server
KB
KelliB
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 26, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was good. The service was great!!

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from El Torito - Pasadena using the Order Online button. El Torito - Pasadena also offers delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. El Torito - Pasadena also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (626) 351-8995.

El Torito - Pasadena is rated 4.2 stars by 148 OpenTable diners.

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