Great customer service, Alejandro is a great 😊 thank you so much all.

Soo much food! Well worth the price. Cres our server was great! Definitely will be back.

The food was absolutely delicious! Our waitress, Maria Cruz, was very friendly and attentive towards my family and me. She was welcoming and had friendly conversations throughout the time we were there. The view was an added bonus to the warm atmosphere. I would highly recommend eating at El Torito.

Food was excellent and the view is gorgeous. They validate parking for paid customers.

Cres was amazing! Very nice, attentive and helpful. The food was all delicious! I wish I had a second stomach so I could have eaten more.

Taco Tuesday isn't complete without a visit to El Torito! Quite a few Mexican restaurants are closed on Tuesdays, so this is our go-to for Taco Tuesday! Sometimes, we sit in the bar for Happy Hour, and other Tuesdays we opt to get the full service menu. Both are excellent. You can't beat the views! Almost every single table has a full 180-degree view of the water and marine life. The drinks are great, flavorful, and priced right. The food is superb, with lots of flavor and great portions. The staff has always been polite and considerate, even when they are swamped with tables. I tried the chimichanga burrito for the first time and absolutely loved the flavor and crunch. Definitely getting that again!

We came in on a Saturday morning and was seated immediately with the help of the host. Our waiter, Cres was great. Staff was friendly and kept the place very clean. The food came out fast and did not disappoint. I ordered the breakfast combo with churro pancakes and couldn’t finish it even though everything tasted amazing and was so fresh. Can’t wait for Sunday brunch!

We went for Taco Tuesday and it was delicious! Great atmosphere and location. Service was very good. They have a parking lot which makes things easy.

Ordered the matcho combo and everything was excellent. Jessica was our server and did a was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Free chips and salsa was a plus and the view was beautiful!

**Overview:** El Torito, nestled in the heart of Monterey's Cannery Row, offers a delightful dining experience with a spectacular ocean view. 🌅 With a private parking lot 🚗, convenience is key. The ambiance is casual and affordable, perfect for a relaxed meal with family or friends. 👫👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 **Food:** The menu at El Torito is extensive, featuring a variety of Mexican dishes that cater to different tastes. 🌮🍹 From sizzling fajitas to mouth-watering enchiladas, there's something for everyone. The restaurant also offers a happy hour with special deals on drinks and appetizers, making it a great spot to unwind after a long day. 🕒🍸 **Service:** Service at El Torito can be a hit or miss. 🎯 Some reviewers praise the friendly and attentive staff, while others have experienced slow service and poor customer care. It's worth noting that the restaurant can get quite busy, which might affect the service quality. 🕰️ **Ambiance:** One of the standout features of El Torito is its beautiful ocean view. 🌊 Diners can enjoy their meals while watching dolphins and sea otters play in the water. 🐬 The restaurant's casual and welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. 😌 **Parking:** El Torito offers a private parking lot, which is a huge plus for visitors. 🅿️ The restaurant also validates parking, making it even more convenient for those who are not staying nearby. 🪪 **Conclusion:** El Torito in Monterey's Cannery Row is a great choice for those looking to enjoy delicious Mexican food with a stunning ocean view. While the service can be inconsistent, the overall experience is enjoyable, especially during happy hour. With its convenient parking and beautiful location, El Torito is worth a visit. 🌟

+6

Adrianna was a fantastic waitress, she worked so hard to get us everything we needed! Food was delicious, view was amazing. The kids felt like they were watching tv with the birds, otters, dolphins, and boats. Great experience.

Maria Cruz is the best person to ever exist. Let’s go back real quick. Entering El Torito, you are met with endless smiles and warm hospitality. We were seated immediately despite the immense crowd. Our server MARIA CRUZ walks out with a plate full of the most yummy pancakes I have ever eaten. Sundays are for buffet style brunch so she explained the entire food area and where to find things we like specifically. She kept our drinks full and always checked on us, even when it became packed to the brim. I appreciate Maria and all she gave in the first time experience. I will definitely be making this 3 hour trip again just to eat the amazing food and hopefully see Maria again. Thank you El Torito for your amazing hospitality, delicious food, and sweet staff. I recommend this place 100%. Ask me any questions and I will answer them. Also please acknowledge Maria in any and every way you can. I am a regional manager for customer service in a company. And I have learned so much from Maria and how she naturally delivers 5 star service.

Went in for drinks at the bar the vibe was amazing the service and drinks were amazing and we had the most amazing bar tender Debby! She was the sweetest and most welcoming! Overall amazing! 🥰

After scouring for reasonable places to eat on Thanksgiving we took a chance and booked our reservation for Thanksgiving dinner at El Torito in Monterey through the OpenTable app. First impression when pulling up was, wow, this place is packed. Bonus and almost unheard of - parking was easy and secure. We waited approximately 30 minutes to be seated, which was not bad considering it was Thanksgiving dinner. We were sat, our waiter was prompt and took our drink order. Because we opted for the buffet dinner, we were given the run down and made our way towards the buffet set up. WOW! The spread and variety of food was impressive. Cuisine ranging from your traditional thanksgiving dinner, to some of the tastiest Mexican food, to kid favorites like chicken strips, French fries and Corn Dogs. Rows of delicious food and desserts! My top favorite - the stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams and the ham! Followed by the shrimp macaroni salad and the tamales! I also discovered my new favorite drink, Jamaica juice! The cost was also unbeatable - adults ran around $45/person. Great food, great, kind service and a great time!

The food was amazing and my server Jordyn was very kind. She was quick and even helped me with my order. Jordyn definitely made my trip to El Torito better!

I live in the area of El Torito. 0n Christmas night, the whole neighborhood was dark because of the power outages due to the storms. I thought I would go there and try and get my screens charged while having a meal. The place was totally packed. I made my way to the reservation podium and explained my situation to Paris. She was so nice. She got me set up with my iPad and my iPhone with the cables I brought with me. She said I could probably get a place at the bar pretty quickly, which was true. I sat down at the bar and saw that there was only one bartender. He was running around like a crazy person getting everybody at the bar, their drinks and servicing the wait staff without delay…very efficient! I was very impressed. I ordered and my food got there very quickly considering how busy the place was. I settled and enjoyed my dinner watching some football, and the bartender, I think his name was Carlos, was very attentive when he had time to be. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening. Got my screens charged and I will be back soon. Thank you for a merry Christmas, El Torito, Paris, and Carlos!

Came here for the first time for lunch. Had such a great experience! Great food and great view! We even got to see some otters in the water!

I visited again tonight, and as always, the food did not disappoint. But what really stood out this time was the exceptional service from our waiter, Alfredo. He was incredibly attentive and kind, but what truly made the difference was how thoughtful he was with my daughter, who has a peanut and gluten allergy. For the first time, someone actually asked us about food allergies before we ordered and that small gesture made a huge difference. As a mom, I felt genuinely cared for, and that inspired me to share this wonderful experience. It was a lovely evening, and I will definitely be coming back especially because of Alfredo. He was not only professional, but also warm, cheerful, and truly considerate. Thank you for making our visit so special!

Great service by Jessica! Chips, salsa, guacamole and amazing shrimp enchilada … along with the view and super attentive bus boys! Fun atmosphere! Definitely worth a visit.

The views from this place are simply amazing! I highly recommend making a reservation on OpenTable and requesting a table by the windows to enjoy the stunning ocean view while dining. The food? Easily some of the best Mexican cuisine in town—no small feat considering the many great Mexican restaurants in the area. It’s a fantastic spot for families and kids, making it a perfect choice for any occasion.

+3

This is an old gem with the most spectacular view of Monterey Bay. Food was delicious and portions were huge. Really enjoyed it.

Beautiful views of the bay with a good menu and great service. We made a reservation and it was great timing. The restaurant is right on the bay. Even saw a sea otter swimming from the window by our table. The kids menu was great with an ice cream sunday included, and enjoyed trying the different flavors of the flight of margaritas. Bathrooms are upstairs just so you know.

+1

Went for the Sunday all you can eat buffet from 9-2. Had so much variety and good flavor profiles. María Cruz was great because she explained the whole process for people in our party who had never dined here before. She was attentive to our needs. Would definitely come back again!

Great service, lovely coastal view and we loved our lunch here. Clean and beautiful restaurant.

Our server, Cres, was super. He met all our needs with excellence. The food was so good, we ordered the same thing thaw we had two days ago. It did not disappoint us. With Cres’ service and the quality of food, we will be back. And we will tell others.

We've walked past this place for years, never peaking inside because we assumed it would be too crowded for our little one with ASD. We finally had a huge craving for Mexican food yesterday, and wow! We're so glad we went in. The staff were so sweet, kind, and understanding of kids with special needs. They sat us at a window with a beautiful view of the bay, but with lots of open space for baby bear to feel safe. The food was amazing! We ordered birria tacos, shrimp enchiladas, the two item combo, and the "autism special" aka "chicken nuggets asap." Everyone loved their food, especially dad. The green sauce on the enchiladas is to die for! We would like to thank our server, and the hostesses especially, for going the extra mile and really taking care of us. Definitely coming back. This place is one hundred percent good vibes in every possible way.

The food was excellent and such a huge selection of hot fresh sunday brunch. The view was beautiful. Our server Maria Cruz was so sweet and so helpful!! We were a big party of 10. Definitely coming back!

Cres was our server today and he was so kind and attentive. He made sure we were well taken care of. He let us know where everything was and his service was very quick. Will definitely be back again!! The view is really nice especially when sitting by the ocean. The music and lighting is also really nice inside the restaurant.

We had a wonderful meal at the Sunday brunch. Cres was amazing and took wonderful care of us! What a kind man!

Special thanks to El Torito Grill for hosting our 2026 Installation of Officers & Directors. We truly appreciate the outstanding hospitality, excellent food, and exceptional service provided by your entire team. A special thank you to the manager and staff for going above and beyond to help facilitate a wonderful evening and ensure that all of our guests had an amazing experience. Thank you again for your professionalism, support, and warm welcome. We look forward to partnering with you again in the future. With sincere appreciation, CABREP 💜

My husband and I came to El Torito, Monterey for brunch 1/16/26 Sunday. We sat at the bar waiting for our table have a Martini and beer. The bar keep told us to pay in full at that time including the Buffet fee, paid $135.00 tip included…..Then, our table was ready. We were seated all the way to the back end. I noticed the server in the area was just ignoring us. So, I asked her for some water and napkins. She told me that all my services should come from the bar….Now, this does not make any sense, we should be serviced where we are seated. The bar is such a long way were we were. We are both seniors who have some mobility issues….The way I look at it, we are all in this together. We should give the services we deserve no matter where we are seated inside the same restaurant. I would not mind at all giving another tip, but please something needs to be done! I love going to this restaurant and I want to continue my patronage….

Best margarita i’ve ever had!!! Great birria tacos also, and nice view of the Monterey bay, highly recommend!

El Torito is always a good choice, but our recent visit was made truly special thanks to our amazing hostess, Adriana! From the moment we walked in, she was incredibly friendly and efficient. Even though it was busy, she got us seated quickly with a smile. Throughout the meal, Adriana's service was top-notch – fast, attentive, and always with a great sense of humor. She went above and beyond to make my friend's birthday feel extra special, even bringing out a surprise dessert. Her energy was infectious and really added to the celebratory atmosphere. Thanks to Adriana, our night at El Torito was fantastic! We'll definitely be back, and we hope to see Adriana there again!

Maria cruz did a great job. Giving us an excellent job. Food is delicious I truly recommend. It was my friend birthday. The staff sang a happy birthday for her.

Maria Cruz was the most attentive and kind server. Be sure to ask for her when you are being seated. She will make sure we always had what we needed. The food was fresh and delicious. 10/10 would recommend! The monitor flight is yummy and fun.

Everything was amazing. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and the service was fantastic. Our waitress, Maria Cruz, she was very welcoming and friendly.

The brunch was above and beyond what we expected! Being from New Mexico, We were really expressed with the flavors. Everything was fresh! All the staff was top notch. Definitely a reflection of the management! Jenny our server was on point. Very Sweet and attentive. We enjoyed this time as a family eating such great food. The accommodated us quickly! We definitely recommend the brunch 👌 😊 Top Notch!

+6

El Torito is one of those locations that I find myself constantly coming back to for the environment. The food, while good, isn’t exceptional; You can probably find yourself enjoying atleast something on the menu. With that being said, the view, location, and staff make El Torito the perfect place to “hang out”. There’s a great ocean view, you can walk around cannery row or just enjoy the beach, and the staff are always friendly no matter what day I find myself in here. Aliana specifically is a great conversationalist and curious person which makes it easy to spark a conversation whether solo or with a group. In short, if you’re not sure what to do, find some time to walk into here and try it out—don’t be shy and give yourself the time of day to meet one of the El Torito staff. Grab a beer while you’re at it. Cheers!

While going through my gallery, I came across this video that reminded me of the great experience I had at this restaurant. I would like to highlight the outstanding service provided by Mr. Alfredo, who consistently showed excellent attention to detail, genuine empathy, and a warm attitude that truly makes you feel at home. Despite it being a very busy day, he stood out for his speed, efficiency, and constant kindness, always with a sincere smile and anticipating every need. Without a doubt, exceptional service that deserves recognition. I highly recommend requesting Mr. Alfredo when you visit; his service is reliable, professional, and truly top notch...Happy New Year guys. :)❤️ #GoodVives

Pros: 😊 Friendly Staff: Warm and welcoming service. 🍽️ Diverse Menu: The variety of dishes available caters to different tastes. 🌟 Excellent Ambiance: The cozy and inviting atmosphere is highly praised. Cons: 🕒 Long Wait Times: Occasional slow service. 💲 Pricey: The prices are a bit high for the portion sizes. 🔊 Noisy: During peak hours, the noise level can be somewhat distracting.

+4

Ordered the fajitas which were delicious. They set it on fire for you which was cool. They made the guac fresh at table side which was also fun. All while sitting by a beautiful ocean view. 10/10 would recommend.

I had such a great experience here, and a big part of that was our server, Cres! From the moment we sat down, they were incredibly welcoming, attentive, and genuinely kind. At buffets it can sometimes feel like service is minimal, but our server went above and beyond the entire time!

we dined here for my daughter’s first birthday for sunday brunch. This was not our first visit to El Torito in Monterey Bay, and we continue to have amazing experiences here. the food is always great, The seafood is fresh, They are very accommodating for our large family. our server this time was Maria Cruz, she was amazing. She Went the extra mile while serving us.

Our waiter, Alfredo, was awesome! We had a table of 9 with kids and a birthday and the service was amazing. Everyone at the table loved the food, and a kids peanut allergy was taken as seriously as his reaction could have been if it hadn’t. This place is great!

AL TT

We love eating at El Toritos when visiting Monterey. The food was fresh and tasty. Cali, our server, was fantastic. The various other staff were attentive and helpful. We had several folks coming to our table to ensure we had everything we needed. When coming in, it was fairly busy, but was able to sit at a window seat as requested. We sat within 5 min. Thanks El Toritos! Also, great parking! Have them validate your restaurant parking

JAY MAC

I had an absolutely perfect dining experience here! While the current 4.3 rating is good, this place is easily a 5-star gem that far exceeded all my expectations. The food was incredible—every single dish was flawless, but the grilled meat was truly the star of the show. It was cooked to perfection, incredibly flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. What really set this night apart was the service. It honestly felt like the staff could read my mind; every detail was attended to before I even had to ask. Everyone was 100% friendly and made me feel so welcome. A huge, special thank you to Stephanie! You were absolutely perfect and made my night truly special. Your attention to detail and kindness are unmatched. Thank you for providing such a perfect evening. I will definitely be back!

Stacie Smeltzer

Maria Cruz served us during our delicious brunch. Service was fast and very friendly. We got to chat with Maria while we ate and enjoyed each other’s company. Will definitely be back!

Kate Greeves

Had a great meal here, both the chicken and shrimp fajitas were absolutely delicious. We were seated and served really quickly, even without a reservation and with the place being really busy, which was a lovely surprise. The service was friendly throughout, and the cocktails were delicious too. I was so keen to tuck into the fajitas that I completely forgot to get a photo, but trust me, they were good. A great spot for tasty food, quick service, and a relaxed, welcoming vibe. I’d happily come back.

T p

I stopped in for a simple lunch with my kiddos on our way back to Sacramento and ended up being pleasantly surprised by the buffet style meal. They offered bottomless mimosas and an endless spread of foods. There was traditional Spanish food, soups, desserts, breakfast options, and so much more. We ate more here than we did on Thanksgiving, this has been the best restaurant experience we’ve had here in Monterey!

+5

Ken Shilling

Amazing dinner !!! My wife and I have been to Monterey El Torito’s many times over the past 35 years for the good food and an amazing view. On this visit (11-29-25), we had more than a good meal, we had an amazing dinner. We started with a large bowl of Fresh Tableside Guacomole, a fairly new item on the menu. Prepared at the table with fresh ingredients by Daniel G, our excellent server, it was delicious with their freshly made chips and salsa, with plenty left to have with dinner. Their salsa is also the best! We then ordered Ignited Fajitas Supremas to share, also a newer item on the menu. Daniel poured tequila on the meal, Ignited it, and served it to us. With fresh tortillas, the slightly charred grilled steak, chicken, and sautéed shrimp was delicious. The sides of grilled onions, peppers and beans were also amazing. Generous portions, but we ate it all, plenty for both of us. We even saw a couple of otters playing in the water. Hands-down, the BEST MEXICAN FOOD we have had in years. We will be coming back soon.

Amber Gentry

Incredible food, unbeatable views, and the best salsa I’ve ever had — seriously! El Torito in Monterey blew me away. The oceanfront setting is gorgeous, the service was warm and attentive, and everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful. But let’s talk about that salsa — I ate seven bowls and could’ve easily kept going! It’s that perfect balance of spice, flavor, and freshness that keeps you dipping nonstop. Between the food, the friendly vibe, and the view, this place is a Monterey must. I’ll absolutely be back!

Victoria Kuhn

Huevos rancheros and chilaquiles! Delish! Easy walk from our hotel for an early breakfast! View was beautiful! #Amazing It was cool inside so much so the hostess and waiter wore puffies.

Jose Cabrera

Absolutely outstanding experience at El Torito! 🌅 The breakfast was delicious, the service was next-level, and the atmosphere couldn’t be more perfect. Huge shoutout to our waiter Cres, who went above and beyond with amazing hospitality (and those peppers 🔥👌). Nothing beats sipping coffee with a fresh ocean breeze and a view like this in the morning. A must-visit spot for anyone in town.

Jamie Plevney

This El Torito is so much nicer than the other locations I’ve been too. The brunch buffet was amazing and our table right by the water was awesome. Our server Cres provided exceptional service and was so nice and friendly! Will definitely be coming back here in the future!

Edgar Nieto

The restaurant is on the side of the coast every window has a beautiful view where waves crash next to you by the rocks. The food came out fast, fresh and sizzling. We ordered some bacon wrapped shrimp, the sampler plate fajitas, and shrimp tacos. Which I would recommend all three of these dishes for your first time. And for dessert we ordered the flan 🍮, it was very soft and the syrup was perfectly runny. Will be coming back and recommending the place to friends and family.

This place has its own parking lot, the place is spacious with a nice view of the sea, the shrimp with bacon were a little raw for my taste which is just my personal opinion, the mojitos that you see in the photo are very delicious I recommend them, I also tried the watermelon margarita which was terrible, it was very strong and without ice it tasted very bad the margarita was small and cost 14 dollars, for everything else the food was good.

+6

this place was so much better than I thought it was going to be. we ordered the tacos vampiros and the fish/shrimp tacos. everything had great flavor! service was a bit slow but not bad. overall, i would come back!

El Torito is a solid Mexican dinner option. If having Mexican is what you want after a few days of expensive seaside dining, this is the place. It's got amazing views, friendly seagulls, wildlife viewing, and pretty good food. The night we went there was a huge party happening and they seemed understaffed. We got our appetizers at the same time as our food and heard others nearby complain of the same. The beverages were very good, and the happy hour pricing can't be beat especially no right smack dab in the middle of a tourist trap like Cannery Row. The waiters were nice, but clearly overwhelmed. The food was good, but not amazing. It was nice to go to a place that I kind of knew whar to expect. Try the Margaritas Flight! 🍹

+1

I went for Taco Tuesday. There's a $3 Taco bar. I had beef and chicken tacos. They were great tasting. The views are phenomenal. The service was great. The only disappointment was with the outside waiting area because there's a lot of flies. If you have elderly people in your party, they may want wait in the car until it's time to be seated. Other than that, I would definitely recommend it. They will validate parking for their lot.

+1

Excellent location and view, decent food. Located at the east end of cannery row, this ocean front Mexican restaurant has unbeatable ocean view, we can see otters and whales right from our dinning table next to the window. The food was good, though not the greatest Tex-Mex that I have had. We had the family fajita, shrimp was excellent, pork and chicken was good, but the shirt steak was disappointing. The corn pudding was surprising good. They do provide good unlimited chips and the guacamole was good, though the table side guac was not actually prepared table side unlike my previous visit 20 years ago. Service was attentive, they have a decent kids menu and desert was decent. Parking is free for dinners.

I recently dined in, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. I must say though that you have to pay a parking fee for $30! Which I think is a bit crazy, due to having to pay $40 per person! When you go to a restaurant you expect to have free parking due to them being a RESTAURANT, if I would’ve known, I would have payed the parking on the road. Other than that The ambiance was cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxing morning. The highlight of the meal was the Tacos; it was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The service was attentive and friendly, making us feel right at home. I also appreciated our waitress, Maria, she was charming and a wonderful lady, she made us feel comfortable and made our experience here enjoyable. The wonderful view of the ocean paired wonderfully with our meal. Overall, El Torito is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Mexican food in a charming setting.

We had a large gathering for about 20 people for a late lunch on Saturday. Finding a parking spot was tough. The restaurant has it is own parking lot and gets filled up. When we were leaving and exiting the parking lot the charge was $20 but the machine was not taking our payment and then one attendant came by allowed us to leave without paying. I think the parking there should be free for guests. All the dishes were plentiful and delicious. I even liked their rice a lot. So tasty even by itself. Guacamole was fantastic! The servers were confused and did not know who ordered what and they kept running around asking who ordered a certain dish. Dishes came out at a very different time. Some got their dishes by the time others were finishing. All the cocktails look really good.

+6

Cassandra Benavidez

My parents and I ordered the family platter and the family fajitas. The platter was a nice big size. Unfortunately they ran out of carnitas but they asked what we would like double of and picked steak. The chicken was a bit dry but the steak and shrimp were amazing. Wish they gave some more shrimp and that the plates would be more sizzling hot like fajitas usually are in restaurants.

Vanessa Crane

El Torito has always been a family favorite for years!! I am visiting from Utah and I requested we stop here for lunch and it didn’t disappoint. We didn’t wait very long(less than 5 mins). My kids ordered the Bean and Cheese burrito and chicken tenders, both with apple sauce. They ate everything!!! I ordered the Chicken and Sour Cream Enchiladas, they were delicious!! My grandma ordered Sizzling Chicken Enchiladas and she said they were okay. She thought they were with red sauce but still liked them. The only odd thing while eating was the lights kept flickering(not horrible but noticeable). Our waitress Lucero was amazing and very attentive. She kept checking on us and made sure everything was to our liking.

+1

Cera Brown

The flautas appetizer had no business being as delicious as they were! Oh my gosh every bite had us in denial that this was real. They came with a mango salsa that was fresh and had some sweetness to it. They were served with a sweet/sour sauce and red pepper dressing that complimented so well. Fajitas were good. Veggies were cooked yet still had some crunch! Rice was pretty basic. But the beans....those were delicious! Kids meals were decently priced. Kids bean burrito was huge! They were a tad busy when we went, so getting drinks ordered/refilled, and time from ordering food to delivery were a little slow. But with how good everything tasted, it was worth the wait,n Overall great experience!

Rose Thomas

Nice restaurant with a great view of the water. The staff were friendly and attentive. The food was good and plenty of parking available.

+3

SLF 509

Had the fuatas, very good!! Then I wanted the sizzling enchiladas with a side os skirt steak but there was a language barrier and it was left off. I was asked to sit at the bar for dinner since I was solo. I hate trying to eat a meal at the bar. I asked for a table but was directed to the bar. I could have said no but was uncomfortable. The enchiladas were not good.

Benedict Pedro

A lovely, clear day for a visit to one of the food places I really enjoy visiting on Cannery Row. We made reservations through Open Table and were seated within about 10 minutes of our reserved time. The window seat provided unobstructed views of Monterey Bay, boats, and birds. Our server, Jorge, was attentive and bright chips & salsa promptly when taking our drink orders, and refilled them without prompting…a very professional touch. The food arrived and was both hot and delicious. As a special treat on a special day for us we chose to share the Mexican Flan adorned with a scoop of ice cream. It too was delicious and perfectly sized for sharing. Another job well done by the team. We’ll be back again 🙂

+1

fernando perez varela

This place has beautiful views of the sea. The food is good. Considering it was a Tuesday, there weren't many people sitting, and the service was slow if you were really hungry. The advantage is that you can eat comfortably, and there's no charge for parking.

+6

The wait can be long, especially on the weekends. Use Open Table to make reservations to avoid the wait. Great place for drinks. The food and service could have been better. The seating at the ocean window views are awesome.

+2

The location and views here are amazing, but we unfortunately had HORRIBLE service. We were seated in a corner booth which we were excited about because the views of otters were incredible- but we were totally forgotten by our server. We never got water or plates for appetizers, despite asking for them two times. We finally got water when my husband waved down our server for the bill. Upon walking in the vibe was great and I thought we found a gem to bring visitors to, but the service really killed the experience for us. The food was okay, we really loved our margarita flights. Really great flavor for the drinks.

Stopped by for Thanksgiving buffet. Needed a quick bite to eat. Food was mid. We got carne asada tacos, and some other stuff from the buffet. Pancakes for the table were an interesting choice. Service was decent. Multiple people stopped by the table.

Had dinner at this location. The parking lot is closed off so it's a walk through huge parking lot to get to restaurant. We ordered the margaritas and they were watered down and frozen was full of chunky ice. No flavor. The sour cream chicken enchiladas were okay. My girlfriend ordered a combo plate and everything was just okay. They serve chicken and shredded beef as meat choices. The table side guacamole came to the table with no table side. Now the chips and guacamole were okay. The chips were small broken crumbs. We came 2 hours before closing time so not sure why the service and quality of items was so poor but for that I have to give them a 3. It's hard to find good food in Monterey. I'm starting to believe that most places feel you simply have to eat and they just need to be the place you select and that's where it stops.

+1

The food is very good, shrimp enchiladas and tacos are phenomenal. The drinks were decent, but nothing to write home about. There's plenty of seating by windows that look out into the bay. My biggest complaint is service. Our server didn't come off as very friendly, then accidentally filled our cups with soda water instead of sprite. Not a big deal, but it took reminding him twice before he corrected it. Given that it was a slow day during slow season, that's just disappointing.

Food is decent, price is moderate, service was the big miss. Plates brought out at different times, forgot some entries, forgot 2 drinks, and they couldn't split the check for our party which is ridiculous. They need to enhance their service and adjust the paying system.

+5

This is a good review. There are some better restaurants and there are some worst restaurants. The claim to fame is that the restaurant has a nice view of the ocean. It is a Mexican restaurant. The prices though. Not sure if I would recommend…well, maybe one visit.

+6

The food was kind of lacking flavor. I have eaten Mexican food my entire life and I was kind of disappointed. I really hoped it would be better. My wife and I shared some fajitas and a bowl of guacamole. The guacamole was good and salsa was ok. The service was good. Our waiter was attentive. One other thing that was odd to me was the single unisex restroom. Atleast have two unisex restrooms. Thats kind of weird. The restroom wasn’t very clean either. The thing I’ve always heard is that if the restroom for the customers isn’t clean the and place everyone can see then the kitchen which no one sees is probably even dirtier. Accountability is everything

+6

Brenda Marchetti

I want to give a higher rating, however the food while good was room temperature exceot for the actual sizzling fajita meet. The view is spectacular and worth the ok food. Overall not a bad lunch at all, but not in a hurry to return soon.

I ordered the tacos Vampiros (steak) and the wife ordered Birria tacos and 2 steak tacos for our dog. PROS: Vampiros steak tacos were decent, the CONS: Mexican rice had no flavor and the beans were not good. The limes they gave for the tacos were old and when squeezed had no juice whatsoever. Wife ordered Birria tacos barely had any meat (almost like a taco bell taco with barely any meat) and they were so greasy. Flavor was just ok. The regular steak tacos were dry and barely had any seasoning. To be honest the best part of this meal was the free Chips and salsa.

Walking around cannery this past Friday and stopped for lunch. Sat at the bar. Bartender informed (repeatedly) us it was her day off, she sure was drinking like it was. Several drink orders were forgotten, food order was entered incorrectly. The food received was subpar, carne asada well past well done. Barely any meat in the Asada burrito. Drinks we did get were strong though and the view was sublime. So not a total waste. Avoid the food and have some drinks looking out at the bay.

The staff were really nice. But the food was not great. All of the food we ordered was not good. Even ordered a mixed shot and it did not taste good at all. Diet soda tasted like the machine ran out of syrup. I honestly dont think its was worth the money at all.

Not the kind of Mexican food I am used to, so it was ok. The tortillas were half warm and pieces were missing. We all got our food and my daughter’s order was wrong. By the time she got her food right we had finished eating, that’s how long it took the waiter to get it fixed. He checked on us twice the whole 1 hour we were there.

Overall not a great experience for the high price and not lived upto its reviews. Great location and nice views of the water. We got seat right by the window and enjoyed the great views of surfs. Service was subpar, it was hard to find server, didn’t speak much English making it difficult to place order. Food was definitely not worth it. Salsa was very mild, table side guacamole had no flavor or spices.

We’ve been coming to this place anytime we come to Monterey. The food is good and we love the ocean view. Today’s experience was disappointing. The restaurant advertises a child free meal with the purchase of an adult meal. We ask at the front desk and he said that the promotion is only for Wednesdays. Their advertising says starting July 1 everyday from 3pm until close. See pictures attached. We proceed to order the fajitas family meal, but still asked our waitress at the end is the promotion was real since they had it on their advertisement at the table. She seems unsure but said it was only with one entree (we had ordered a big full entree that was $75.00. But we mainly wanted to find out If they were promoting false advertisement and in this case that turned out to the case.

Got a burger it was honestly not good. Missing flavor and had one tiny slice of lettuce. We were a party of 6 and the server mixed our checks 2 times, after explaining them to her and even writing it down for her. She stated she would correct it came back and they were not corrected and wrong again.

Dadise A.

El Torritos used to be a place my family and I enjoyed. It has greatly fallen from what it used to be. We had to wait SO long for everything. So long that my son fell asleep at the table and I finally just got up to pay at the front and leave. Our waiter was kind, but not available as he was tending to a large party. They should've had someone else tend to us. The food looked nothing like the menu picture and the strawberry lemonade just tasted like syrup.

Honestly this restaurant needs so much work! The food took over an hour to get to our table not including the 30 minutes we waited to get our table. The food was not good and did not look as advertised. We had a waitress named Adriana COMPLETELY IGNORE US after we asked her two questions. Rayna a waitress that works here was the sweetest and super attentive to our table even when Adriana had initially ignored us. I hope whoever reads this walks in with caution! It also super hot in here and seems like they have no ac!

Disappointed!!!! Once we were seated, it took more than 20 minutes for a waiter to come take our order, and then another 30 minutes for our food to arrive. I own a transportation business and regularly bring many clients to this restaurant—until today. I visited with my wife for the first time and was extremely disappointed. The customer service was beyond unacceptable. When the appetizers finally arrived, we even had to ask for silverware. The wait staff acted as though we were inconveniencing them just by asking for basic service. We spent nearly $100 on a meal for two, and I was honestly shocked at how poor the overall experience was. I can’t believe I’ve been recommending this place to my city tour clients all this time. I’m actually glad I came personally and saw the service for myself. I sell customer service for a living, and this restaurant is far from meeting even the basic standards of effectiveness or excellence. Truly disappointed.

If I can give zero stars I would, I am so disappointed. We went two parties a 5 people party and a 14 people party. The party of 5 the food was just terrible, this is not authentic Mexican food, we had two return two items as they were just thrown in the microwave as that was what it seemed. For the party of 14 the server who was very overwhelmed by the amount of people, took our orders, 1 hour after waiting for our food orders started to come out wrong, some got their food others didn’t. Once 1.5 passed we asked where the food was for half of the party? They never put in the order, food was disgusting im so sorry but there is no other words to describe it. Fajitas are dry, and only had a couple bell peppers, price was so high and food quality terrible. Would not recommend stepping foot in this establishment.

DONT COME HERE! First time going with my boyfriend. Ordered 3 Chicken tacos , it came with rice and beans. I eat a taco then look down and see a full size MAGGOT on my fork. Took a video and picture, told the serve, he took the plate away and said he will tell his manager. Manager came out saying our server threw away the food without showing him. He did apologize when he seen the video and paid for our food, and we left. Manager was nice, But I absolutely don’t recommend ever going here.