El Torero Restaurant

Well this is a classic! Started in the 50s and run by the fourth generation of the same family. Large menu. Large portions. Working class neighborhood. We went for lunch. Had the tamale pie and a cheese crisp! Both very good! No idea what was all in the pie. A multitude of textures and flavors. Very fun. Lots of flavors on the crisps too. I’d give it a try. We r visiting Tucson for the first time and have gone out a lot but I’d put this near the top

Don't let the looks from the outside fool you.... Food here is off the hook amazing. Definitely have to try the green corn tamale and the calabacita cheese crisp. Super casual. Super authentic. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Sometimes you really get lucky with the neighborhood you move into and have the opportunity to have an awesome place within walking distance to enjoy over and over again. One of the biggest things I appreciate and admire about El Torero is their dedication to creating delicious tinctures and hot sauces. Chef Mikey and Jon behind the bar are constantly creating, fermenting and playing with different flavor combinations and if you are lucky enough to get to know them well enough, they will shower you with all these delicious creations. If you don't get that opportunity, just ask your server and they will gladly hook you up as well. Do not sleep on the bar program here either. Jon is one of the most seasoned and talented bartenders in the city. Truly, he's maybe the only bartender where I can comfortably say "dealer's choice" and I'm guaranteed something creative and delicious. This place is deeply rooted in family tradition as well as looking forward to future, and right now they are perfectly straddling that line. The more traditional fare and original menu items from 1956 can still be found on the main menu, while an accompanying rotating specials menu of Asian inspired and a delicious nod to an In n Out classic can be found alongside some of the best vegan food I've had in Tucson so far. Personally, I find myself going back to the seafood items again and again, but I have not been disappointed once by anything I have tried or experienced here. I will add that if you are in any kind of hurry or are not the kind of person who can slow down and enjoy living in the moment, then this is not the restaurant for you. The service has always been attentive, warm and kind but you should never expect to get in and out in a rush, it's just not their style. Please come give these guys the support and love they deserve. You will be charmed by their humility, hospitality and sense of humor and who knows you might even become as obsessive as the regular crowd here currently is.

2nd time here. Back for the plant based vegan menu. The tofu tacos were incredible! Slightly chard, had Elote and pickled veggies. So so good. The server knew to confirm which beans I wanted since the refried have lard. The black beans are vegan. Drinks were fantastic. The bartender made me something since what I wanted wasn’t vegan. He was great! Knew so much. Very attentive and skilled.

My very first stop after getting off the plane. THE SONORAN STYLE CARNE ASADA?!?! AMAZING. Kind of a hole in the wall but as soon as I walked in I was greeted and seated, the place was quiet and cool and clean. They had really nice NA drink options.

Absolutely the best green corn tamales. This is the place locals go to get homemade Mexican food.

The food was good but not something to rave about. Owner and staff were Really nice! But the flavors were really bland.

A Shadow of its Former Glory: El Torero Restaurant For decades, El Torero Restaurant has been a Tucson institution, fondly remembered for its vibrant salsas and genuinely authentic Mexican flavors. Walking in, the nostalgic memorabilia certainly evokes that cherished past, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Sadly, that's where the delight ended for our recent visit. The food we were served was, with the exception of their okay carne con chile colorado, an absolute train wreck. The enchiladas arrived drowning in what could only be described as oily cheese, completely obscuring any sign of the promised corn tortillas beneath. Each bite was heavy and frankly, inedible. Similarly, the tacos and tostadas suffered from soggy tortillas, overwhelmed by a bland, utterly flavorless ground beef. It was a far cry from the unique and authentic tastes El Torero was once celebrated for. Adding to our disappointment was the mediocre service. While our server offered a brief apology when we shared our concerns about the food, no further effort was made to rectify the situation, even after management was apparently informed. This experience was particularly disheartening as we were treating our father, visiting from out of town, to what we hoped would be a showcase of Tucson's Mexican culinary heritage. Instead, he was left speechless – and frankly, insulted – by the quality of the food. El Torero Restaurant, as we experienced it, is sadly no longer the gem it once was. While the nostalgia remains, the current culinary offerings fail to deliver, resulting in a truly disappointing and memorable (for all the wrong reasons) experience. It's a genuine shame to see such a beloved establishment fall so short of its former glory.

I had no idea this place existed, but I'm glad I found it now. A total hidden gem. Great menu options - traditional and options for vegans and vegetarians. There's so much to try. Service was great and she didn't get annoyed by our questions about some of the menu items. The portions are ridiculously big. The burritos were the size of a newborn baby! It was probably the equivalent to 3 meals. Prices were reasonable given the portion sizes. Drinks were very good and cocktails were not watered down - generous on the alcohol. Can't wait to try the tacos next time - so many varieties. We will definitely be back. Glad we got there a little early. By the time we left, it was packed! Highly recommend.

This place made me like Tucson We are talking full spectrum of Mexican food in a nice cozy desert feel with tasty dishes you'll love and service that enjoys what they do. Just look at my photos for the bomb feel.

Elevated Sonoran food, all assembled immaculately, but something seemed missing from putting it over the top. While ahi tuna agua chile was excellent and fresh, and shrimp culichi was cooked perfectly, I found the sauces to be a bit too creamy to complement seafood, and the squash (calabacitas) weren't as fresh as the seafood. The tortilla for the carnitas taco was griddled perfectly and the carnitas were well-seasoned, but the texture was missing that last bit of crispiness. Definitely a more upscale option for Tucson-Sonoran classics, and solid preparations all around, just not totally mind-bending.

OMG IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ! If you haven't stopped here , you're missing out ! Local spot . I had a house made horchata complete with a lit cinnamon stick , BEST I've ever had . The vegan menu & specials rotate every 2 weeks . My habanero cauliflower tacos were delicious. I'll be back !

I swear I have never been here but will definitely be back ! A family run, staple Tucson Mexican restaurant, definitely part of the "23 miles of Mexican food " and a hidden gem for sure. Everything was absolutely delicious! Portions are huge! House salsas, giant burritos stuffed with seasoned meat.. we split the elote crisp and patty tacos.. and it was perfect. I definitely recommend the carafe of margaritas, especially if it's a big table. Service was great considering how busy they were. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.. they definitely work as a team. The building is cool, it's kind of tucked in a neighborhood a little bit but still on the south side. Lots of street parking.. small parking lot with handicap spots in front tho. They are closed Sundays and Mondays just so you know ;) Definitely worth the drive to the south side, I'll be back soon !

Soups! I absolutely love their soups. My favorite was their vegan Albondigas soup. the albondigas, made with corn masa, had the perfect texture and that soup was sooo delicious. I hope they make it again. I also really love their calabacitas soup made vegan off the regular menu and the flour tortilla that comes with it. I love putting the corn chips that come with the meal in the calabacitas soup. I want to to try their tortilla soup and the elote salad soon.

Good was lovely! 2x2 was the way to go for my hunger! Enjoyed the service, waiter was very nice. Margaritas were tasty and not light! This is a hole in the wall place, if you know about it then great, but bring your friends to keep it alive and thriving!

Nice ambience inside. Good service. Food was very large portioned. Tasted pretty good and was slightly expensive.

This visit to El Torero was sadly, disappointing. Friend and had not been El Torero in months. We thought we'd go back, now that all schools are out and snow birds are gone. The place looks the same, the chips and salsa were the same (good). I was looking forward to a Topopo salad. The menu has changed; no more Topopo Salad. In its place in an Elote salad. I ordered the Elote salad, friend ordered the shrimp tacos. Both orders came with a heavy dusting of fried (almost burned) onions. I pulled around a cup of the onions off my salad; they were all I could taste. And the taste was not pleasant; too strong and too many. Friend said her tacos had too much sauce and the taco shells were hard, so hard it was a chore to cut through them. Neither of us could finish our meals. There wasn't much corn in the salad; I couldn't taste the corn, the avocado, the pickled onions or much of anything in the salad due to the fried onions. We'll probably go back (we like to support local businesses) but not for awhile.

We got there on a Saturday shortly after they opened and the service was super slow. We ordered a cheese crisp that was enough for an entire meal as well as a couple of tacos each. Everything was on par with good Mexican restaurant in the area with the unique item being the cheese crisp. I had previously only had that locally at Barrio, nearby. The place filled up and lots of families showed up for a weekend meal together. The ambiance was nice and inviting and once we ordered the food came out quickly. They have fountain sodas for those who are picky about that sort of thing. I found the place to be clean and parking was plentiful when we got there, despite not looking like a real parking lot. As everyone has said, don't be put off by the exterior. Once inside all is well.

My boyfriend and I recently dined at El Torero for the very first time. We were staying at the nearby Hotel McCoy and I did a Yelp search for recommended restaurants. El Torero came up and we decided to give it a try. Pro tip: Do not try to find this restaurant when it's dark outside! It's nearly impossible to find, even with our GPS. Once we did find it, we weren't sure where to park or where to enter the building. We parked under a light, since the lot was very dark. We found the small entrance and in we went. Once we entered, we went in a small entryway that opened up into a large, brightly lit and decorated dining room. I think we both said, "Wow!" The dining room and bar area were busy and there was an excited buzz to the atmosphere. The menu was large. Some of the Yelp reviews had mentioned the huge cheese crisps that they offered. We went with the calabacitas cheese crisp, which has veggie toppings. We dug into the complimentary chips and salsas. There were two salsas, mild and spicy. We stuck to the mild, which was fresh and delicious. The chips were amazing. They were definitely homemade. Our server was fantastic and our cheese crisp was out before we knew it. It was indeed huge and amazing! We couldn't quite finish the last piece, and both of us have large appetites. I would definitely order the calabacitas cheese crisp again. The toppings were so delicious. On our way out, we talked to the bartenders about the history of the restaurant. They had so much information and were passionate about El Torero. We were impressed that it has been in existence since the 1950's!

Kimchee double double. Fuck around and find out. Best cheese burger in Arizona right now. And they have one of the best bartenders in the state of Arizona.

First time here and will definitely be coming back! A hidden gem that we found through the hundreds of great reviews. Food was INCREDIBLE and portions are huge! The staff were all so kind and personable, totally added to the experience. We went on a Saturday and it got a bit busy around 6:30 but they did not hesitate to get us seated as quickly as possible. The restaurant itself is very nice and seats a lot, lots of groups with reservations. Overall such a nice experience will amazing food, 10/10 would recommend and we will definitely be

What an amazing restaurant experience! On our trip to Tucson to visit our son and his wife, Chris and Zoe, we went to El Torero for supper. We had reservations, which are recommended, and we were seated quickly. Our servers were all friendly and attentive. I say "servers " since we had several. I think it is mostly a family business, so everyone chips in with the service. The restaurant was established in 1956, and the decoration vibe emulates that time period, which I personally love. They have many delicious options, some vegan, on their menu, and all sound delicious. We started with a cheese crisp appetizer and a pitcher of their guava margarita. The cheese crisp is huge though! About the size of a large pizza, and it's served like that, and it was delicious. The guava margarita was superb, too! (We ordered two pitchers). If you like mezcal, try this brand (see picture) straight and neat: it tastes like a good, smooth scotch with a light smokey flavor. All our entrees were excellent, but I will focus on my entree. I ordered the Mahi tacos. You get two open faced tacos with large portions of Mahi with multiple ingredients that combine for an amazing dish. I did not try to pick up the tacos, so I just cut them up and ate them with a fork. I ordered the side of rice and beans, but I wish I hadn't because of the appetizer size and the size of the tacos, but, if you're HONGRY, get the side. We thoroughly enjoyed El Torero, and can't wait to return!

Great Mexican infused dishes! The chef defiantly puts his creativity and spin to the dishes. But stays true to Mexican food and yes, I am Hispanic. (Mom is from Hermosillo) . Portions are big and me of all people actually leave with a to-go box! Always my go to spot. It's a hidden gem noticeable by the "Danny Martin" mural. Highly recommend the "tamale pie"

We absolutely love El Torero. They have excellent food and they are our go to place for tamales. Their green chili and beef tamales are the best we've found in Tucson. We buy them in frozen 12 packs and steam them for 35 minutes to eat with anything.

My go-tos are 1) Carnitas Cheese Crisp - it has delicious pork, avocado and a magical sauce, 2) 1x1 - cheese enchilada, beef patty taco and beans. So good. This past time we tried the wings - piping hot fries & wings, the perfect blend of spicy and sweet. My spouse & teen can't stop ravings about them. A great little hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot you've been searching for. I've never had a bad meal.

Expensive, I'll just keep taking the drive with family and friends to Nogales Mexico and pay half the price for authentic Mexican cuisine

Stopped here on the way to Mexico with my family for lunch. They are vegetarian and thanks to menu photos on Yelp we saw they have wide variety of options. We ate flautas, burritos, and salad. Food: Well seasoned; big portions; served hot straight off the grill; complimentary chips and salsa Service: Friendly, attentive staff willing to accommodate vegan and vegetarian needs Ambience: Casual; large bar top; low music; Mexican art

Service was good. Food not so good at all. Nor the salsa. Not authentic food. Canned veggies for salsa don't cut it.

Born and raised in Tucson for half my life, this is my fav Mexican Restaurant ever. I do not live there any more, but whenever I go home to visit friends and family still in Tucson, I always stop in there. They never disappoint.

This is my 2nd visit and the food is amazing. Both my wife and I had the carnitas tacos and they are so good. Chef Mike takes the pork and cooks it in Cidre. They are something you can't miss in Tucson.

Came the first night we were in town for a conference at the recommendation of locals on Yelp and Reddit. It was great! Looks a little "hole in the wall"-ish which is exactly what we were looking for - we were immediately greeted and seated, ordering a spicy margarita and a regular margarita. Our waitress and the bartender were super friendly; we opted for carne asada fries and a veggie cheese crisp. When I tell you this cheese crisp is huge, I mean it's HUGE!! I was not ready, haha! But it was tasty, loved the salsas, and would absolutely recommend!

Another amazing dinner! Gem show and Super Bowl weekend so the place was packed but definitely worth the wait. I ordered the Carne Asada tacos which were very well seasoned and delicious. Both my wife and her best friend loved there dishes especially the tamale pie. Definitely call and make a reservation there is no online reservations available.

I wanted to try El Torero and did last night. We were seated immediately by friendly staff. Most customers already seated appeared to be long time customers so it looked promising. The dining room is a basic, no frills type place but clean, sanitary, and orderly. Our order was taken promptly with food and drinks arriving fast. Most customers were ordering beer and cheese crisps which looked great. Our $12 margaritas were a disappointment so order beer. Our house special tacos were good not great and the blue corn tamales are fabulous. If you're in the area give it a try.

Food was as advertised! Enchilada sauce was best ever and the horchata is homemade on site and served with a burning cinnamon stick. Haley was our server and she did a great job handling a number of tables in a full dining room. We will be back!

Food and service was great. So good my co-worker in from Las Vegas went back on his next visit to Tucson!

Quite good. We walked in and were informed they were short staffed that day so we would have to wait a bit but if I wouldn't have known I would have never noticed. The service was excellent as was the food. We tried a pizza style thing I think they called it a crisp with pork and it was amazing!!! So delicious everything got different things. I ordered chicken tacos and I can't believe how big they were. Portions are def generous! I def recommend

El Torero just catered my niece's graduation party last eve. Talk about absolutely incredible. The food was amazing. They had chicken, pork and beef taco bar, with rice and beans, the best tortillas and salsa as well as guacamole. It was amazing and I would highly recommend to anyone that wants to have the best taco bar catered ever!!

Our neighbors have been coming here for years, and they took us here for the first time. It felt like a classic Mexican food restaurant from the 70s and 80s, but with a modern edge. The food was great. We split the tamale pie and it was more than enough. The service was very friendly. We will definitely go back.

Gotta be my favorite old school Mexican restaurant. Cheese enchiladas like I had growing up - cheddar cheese inside. Broiled so edges are crispy even with the additional Chili Con Carne on top. The latter was chunks of very tender beef in a deep chili gravy. I had a flashback to my old days in Tucson.

El Torero Restaurant. Just ate the most delicious green Chile beef burrito at this amazing place. It was humongous. The green chile sauce was delicious. The service was so friendly (and they read my mind). The decor -- everything from a marlin on the wall, arroqueño mezcal, statues of angels, bears drinking bear, great neon beer signs, and, of course torero paintings. Complemented the cooking on the way out, and one of the Hultquists --the owner? pointed out the chef, "my son."

This is one of my favorite mexican restaurants. The owners of the old midtown Lueras are running the place. This means you get the friendly service from Mike and the classic green corn tamales we all love. The menu is classic Mexican food. The combination plates will give you a sampling of many favorite dishes. There is also a special menu that includes vegan dishes and interesting spins on Mexican food. Also, don't pass on the wings.

Best Mexican food in Tucson/Oro Valley. We drive an hour round trip just to have a meal at El Torero. I'm from L.A. and have not had a better meal of Mexican food since I moved to Oro Valley. Such a joy. And they have vegan options too!

A Tucson Staple! How have I not been here before? It was my first time dining in! Parking is somewhat limited. Doesn't seem like much upon walking up but it's very spacious inside with lots of seating. The staff is super friendly. The chips & salsa are absolutely amazing! Rule of thumb, of the chips & salsa are good, that means the food's gonna be good. I ordered the 2x2 which is 2 tacos and 2 enchiladas and a Cherry limeade! Everything was so delicious and I can't wait to bring my family!

Food was pretty good for them being out of items as well as a broken fryer, the service was not great and neither was the carafe of margaritas which for $30 should not have ice in it, pretty ridiculous! Don't waste your money or time!

Food was delicious as always. One of the best family owned Mexican restaurants still around.

Not worth the wait. The carne asada tacos were burnt black. Cheese was actually rock hard and pitxh black. When I brought it to their attention they wanted to know if I just wanted the cheese melted. Really? I watched my friends have dinner as I waited for them to burn the just tortilla on the second try. Never again. Don't waste your time or money.

Best meal in Tucson! Please add this to your list of "must do's" if you're visiting Tucson, or if you live here, you're SUPER lucky. My meal was a blend of heat, spice and a palette delight. Nicest staff around town.

honestly the food wasnt good. overcooked meat, no flaver except for onion and the frescas were bitter. overly priced. not worth it. we got take out but the ambiance was like their food: boring.

For my daughter's birthday dinner she specifically requested Mexican food and she wanted "a tamale with rice and beans." So, we made plans to go eat at the restaurant where the best tamales in Tucson are made. Lerua's has always been our go-to place for tamales for Christmas and this tradition continues today despite their location on Broadway having been taken by the City for the Broadway expansion project. Now, the only place you can get Lerua's tamales is at El Torero so that's where we went for dinner. This was my first time dining-in at El Torero (usually we just get our tamales from them to-go) and we were not disappointed! The portions were generous and the flavors were outstanding! I ordered the albondigas soup which was rich and hearty! I love that they put rice in the soup (the way it should be!) and also appreciated that the veggies were all bite-sized instead of being a giant slab of carrot or potato. My daughter got her birthday wish - a Lerua's tamale with rice & beans - and she cleared her plate... but she was the only one. The rest of us were stuffed before our plates were finished so we had the best leftovers for breakfast in the morning! I just headed up the leftovers in a pan and tossed a couple eggs on it to make one of the best breakfasts I've had in a while! El Torero is a sleeper but well worth the trip. It's another perfect example of a locally owned independent business that adds to legendary culinary culture we have in our City of Gastronomy! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu - it's as authentic as it comes - and it's the ONLY place we get our Christmas tamales from... and birthday tamales apparently too! Don't think twice - make the trip to South Tucson for a fantastic meal with amazing service and delicious margaritas.

I love their veggie options! Expansive non meat selections that are artfully created. Servings are almost always oversized. Homemade, totally legit! Owner is so welcoming and friendly. Family owned. Chips and salsa need an upgrade. Full bar plus plus if you're into alcohol. Non alcohol frescas are skillfully created. Located in south Tucson in little back corner. A Tucson treasure for sure!

The food, service and atmosphere were wonderful. The service was awesome and the food was amazing. I ordered the Mahi Mahi fish tacos for dinner. I love fish tacos but these were the best I had ever! I would definitely recommend them. I'm definitely going back to sample more of the food!

Friendly, local and consistently delicious! The carnitas crisp and refried beans are heavenly. One of the best places in Tucson for an authentic Mexican food experience. The fusion and specials are also mind blowingly fantastic.

Great classic Mexican menu as well as interesting and modern specials. We started with the cheese crisp which id as large as an 18" Italian pizza, and very generous with the cheese and green chile peppers. Two in our party had burritos which are also very generous sized and packed with fillings. In one case packed with carne seca! I had carne seca tacos with side of rice and beans. If you've never been before the entrance may be hard to see from the street so keep an eye out. Another great meal in Tucson!

Last time I was here was 1999; yeah I never get to this side of town much. As then and now, this place has outstanding food; the chili relleno, made with poblano chilies are to die for. Since I grew up with this style of home cooking, I'm a bit partial to their way of cooking. Service is impeccable; the staff is always a glance away If you don't try this place, you're missing out on something special.

Excellent visionary cuisine and incredible flavors... Chef Mike takes his famous menu of tried and true favorites (the Hank, the Tatum) and adds his incredible rotating special menu of deliciousness fit for Royalty! It's as authentic as it gets for being a tasty Tucson original, locally family owned and operated. Oh yes the staff is solidly confident and super nice! And It's an older building with unique character!,,

the most delicious creative flavorful takes on traditional mexican food we have had in all of tucson - no comparison- what they do with tamales, tacos, fish, albondagas soup and churros! can't wait to bring friends and family, what a great discovery!

A quaint old Tucson restaurant. This restaurant is easy to miss even if you're looking for it. The food is good and the service is friendly. Supposedly, they have a special menu with that day's additional dishes. The restaurant has been around since the late 50s, so it's not the most updated restaurant. I had the poke and enjoyed the dish. It was a good price for the portion.