Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. East County
  5. La Mesa
El Torito - El Torito - La Mesa, La Mesa, CA

El Torito - La Mesa

4.3
4.3
462 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a booking

2 people
20:30
Booked 21 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for brunch
The authority in great Mexican food for more than 65 years. Offering a memorable experience to make each guest feel like family.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–22:00 Fri 11:00–23:00 Sat 09:00–23:00 Sun 09:00–22:00
  • 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! 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 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/

What 462 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
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • East County

    Great for brunch

  • East County

    Good for groups

  • East County

    Healthy

  • East County

    Hot spot

  • East County

    Neighbourhood gem

  • East County

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
El Torito - La Mesa delights with its "amazing brunch" featuring bottomless mimosas and a "variety of delicious food choices." Despite occasional service delays, the staff is "friendly" and "attentive," ensuring a pleasant dining experience. The festive atmosphere is perfect for family gatherings, with standout dishes like flaming fajitas and a "fabulous buffet."

462 Reviews
  1. Liliana

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Comida deliciosa y muy atento el mesero, atención excelente!!
    El Torito - La MesaResponded today
    Hola Liliana, Muchas gracias por dar nos 5 estrellas en nuestro restaurante. Nos da mucho gusto que el mesero estuvo a tento a usted y su familia. Esperamos verlos de regreso pronto.

    Is this helpful?

  2. tanya

    VIP

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The service was awful. They also tacked on a five dollar service fee for a party of four and nobody could explain what it was for. My recommendation is to make sure you check your receipt. It is not uncommon for them to try and overcharge you for the breakfast buffet.
    El Torito - La MesaResponded today
    HI, Tanya, thank you for the review if you could please give me a call at (619)698-7404 so I can get a little more info on the service fee that you are talking about that would be great. Thank you - Maggie

    Is this helpful?

  3. john

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    1. Received chips and salsa 15 minutes after placing appetizer and dinner order 2. Drinks came out but forgot my water. I had to ask 3 times and waited 15 minutes to get it 3. Received kids size soups for dinner 20 minutes later 4. appetizer corn, guacamole and chips, and flautas came out. The flautas were supposed to be without sour cream and had to be sent back to kitchen. The flautas came out 10 minutes late 5 The dinners then came out 45 minutes after ordering. We ordered the fajitas and bean burrito with no cheese. 1 fajita dinner only had 1/2 cup of beans. We asked why only a 1/2 cup and we were told they ran out and was then asked if we wanted refried beans instead and told them no. We told them no and 10 minutes they brought out refried beans. I just gave my beans to my wife and ate her refried bean. We also did not receive our flour and corn tortillas when the dinner were brought out . We had to ask twice and by the time they came out our fajitas were cold. 4. My daughter requested her dinner bean burrito without cheese and they had to take back and remake . This was the worst valentines 15 year anniversary dinner We have ever had . We have been here for dinner many times and this is by far the worst experience we have ever had. I normally tip over 20% but not this time John Candelaria

    Is this helpful?

  4. Emily

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    We had reservations on Valentines Day. We expecting service would be spotty and slow, but it was below par for a busy day.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Linda

    VIP

    San Diego

    32 reviews

    3.0

    32 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Dined at the La Mesa restaurant. Service was prompt. Fajita combo was a big disappointment. Beef was tough. Vegetables were too pepper hot to eat. Chicken enchilada sauce was blah. Cesare salad was quite good, as was the flan dessert. Had to wear jackets as really cold indoors.
    El Torito - La MesaResponded 4 days ago
    Linda, thank you for telling us about your recent experience and Thank You for your honest feedback. I'm so sorry we let you down and hope to get the chance to serve you again soon so we can regain your confidence in our restaurant again.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Catherine

    San Diego

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 7 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server is amazing! Food is just okay for me, taste not as I expected compared to other Mexican restaurants.

    Is this helpful?

  7. bryan

    VIP

    San Diego

    80 reviews

    3.0

    80 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    We were greater at our table in a timely fashion and gave our food order right away. “To be fair, I don’t believe the restaurant had enough servers to give guests the service that was needed.” Our server was polite and welcoming. Our food came out quickly which was 2 Fajita entrees, but it was only served with 4 flour tortillas. When the server dropped off more chips and salsa from our prior request, he dropped it off without asking how our food tasted and walked away fast. Had he asked, we would have requested Salt & Pepper shakers (which weren’t on any of the tables); more flour tortillas; and napkins. After we used up the 4 tortillas, I kept looking for our server but we hadn’t seen him for about 10 minutes. We had to flag down the hostess to get our Salt/Pepper Shakers, napkins and tortillas which she got for us. The server never asked how our food was. Everything tasted great except for the rice which was cold so I just made room on the fajita skillet to heat up the rice. The next time we saw our server was about 10-15 minutes after we finished our entrees to ask about dessert choices in which we just asked for the check. It was an odd experience but they were very busy and I noticed only 3 maybe 4 servers for the whole restaurant.
    El Torito - La MesaResponded on 1 February 2025
    Bryan! ,Thank you for telling us about your recent experience and Thank You for your honest feedback. I'm so sorry we let you down and hope to get the chance to serve you again soon so we can regain your confidence in our restaurant again.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Luis

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 29 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server Gilberto always does a fabulous job serving my group and I
    El Torito - La MesaResponded on 1 February 2025
    Luis!, Thank you so much for letting us know about your recent experience at El Torito - La Mesa, and for taking the time to write such a kind review. I will personally thank Gilberto for making your visit a memorable one. we hope to see you again soon!!

    Is this helpful?

  9. cristina

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 12 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service good food. Always love coming to this place
    El Torito - La MesaResponded on 14 January 2025
    Hi Cristina, thank you so much for your 5 star review! We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and we look forward to serving you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  10. William

    VIP

    San Diego

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 12 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    On a date night with my wife enjoying our favorite drink and flaming fajitas. Steak was perfect, chicken was tender, shrimp was delicious. My wife enjoyed the veggies of onions bell peppers and potatoes. Beans were delicious
    El Torito - La MesaResponded on 13 January 2025
    Hi William, I am glad you and your wife enjoyed dining in with us for your date night. We hope to see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

El Torito - La Mesa offers delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. El Torito - La Mesa also offers takeaway which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 698-7404.

El Torito - La Mesa is rated 4.3 stars by 462 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
20:30
Booked 21 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for El Torito - La Mesa

5024 Baltimore Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    La Mesa
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–22:00 Fri 11:00–23:00 Sat 09:00–23:00 Sun 09:00–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • 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! 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 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/
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo