El Torero Restaurant

I had such an amazing experience, the service was truly outstanding! The food was absolutely divine; I can honestly say it was so good you'd slap your mama. I'm still dreaming about those flavors! Definitely a must-try for any foodie out there. You won't be disappointed with this culinary delight. I can't wait to go back! 😋 #FoodieHeaven #AmazingService #MustTry #Delicious

Upon entering, I noticed the vast majority of the patrons were tourists/non-locals. While not an immediate deal breaker, it’s rarely a promising sign for authenticity. The food was just 'okay'—the beans felt dry and lacked freshness, as if they were leftovers from the night before. While the albondigas had a nice flavor, the soup was overwhelmingly filled with rice, which overshadowed the meat. I went in with an open mind, but ultimately, the experience didn't live up to the hype.

Even though I grew up in Tucson, this was my first time here. The visit did not start off great. Waited over 15 minutes to be seated during what seemed to be a slow lunch rush. After waiting finally sat down and the rest of the time went smoothly. Food was just like homemade. I had the 2 taco lunch plate and it was delicious. I would come again for sure but hopefully the service will be better

I didn't know what a tamale pie was and I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist outside of this restaurant. But that doesn't matter. What matters is I got it and it was phenomenal. Basically a fresh, hot tamale with a surprisingly sweet masa, covered in melted queso, the best damn frijoles, dries onions that are just the right amount of sweet and mild, and idek what else. It's hard to describe but easy to enjoy. Just be prepared to eat a lot because portion size is massive. We split one between two people and it was more than enough food.

This is a hidden gem. Went for lunch. Food is outstanding. Skeptical when I originally walked in, but they won my appetite. Once I started eating their generous portions with tons of flavor. Multiple fantastic salsas to choose from. Value is quite good. Staff is very attentive and great personalities!!!!! Will definitely be back.

This spot is by far one of our best finds in Tucson!!! You’re looking for a big, fabulous menu with so many choices you almost cannot pick something (because it ALL sounds amazing)?! CHECK! Delicious big filling entrees? CHECK! Tastes like you are eating dinner freshly prepared just for you by your super talented Chef Friend? CHECK! And oh yeah, you also want to sip on creative, perfectly curated cocktails?! Yep - you got it! This is your place! We loved every bite and every sip! Highly recommend! 10/10 experience!

3.5 stars rounded up for my review. Dined here today at off hours. It was only us 3 and another couple in the restaurant. Ordered chips/salsa and a chili crisp to start. Both were forgotten about and brought out after we got our entrees. The crisp was missing the hatch chilis. I ordered a margarita which was also forgotten about for 20+ minutes. The food and drinks were good overall! I’d come back for the food and hope I get a different server.

This place looked promising, a hole in the wall with bad parking, a good looking menu, the reviews. I got the ground beef patty taco combo plate, but it doesn't come with salsa and was a bit salty. Chips and salsa come with the meal, which is nice. But Little Mexico does this exact plate AND serves chips and salsa with crema for $2.00 less, and they're excellent. Someone else mentioned the tourist ratio, and I'd have to agree. I've been to too many really good Mexican places and food trucks I guess, this was good, just not as good as all the hype.

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.

Prices seem high for basic standard Mexican offerings. Several specials @ lunch. Servers friendly. Arrived before the lunch crowd with a mostly empty restaurant. Half an hour later no food. Staff seemed perturbed when asked to make it to go. Horchata was good.

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 !

Amazing food, nice atmosphere, great prices...we loved having dinner here. It was very popular & busy. But service was fast. We didn't bring huge appetites, so stuck to apps. The elote dip was amazing & the chili Serrano Wings were delicious . Especially loved the still crispy fries soaking it up for such a perfect bite. Can't wait to return for entrees!

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.

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!

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.

Our new friend Fritz recommended this restaurant. It was amazing! We shared a Simple Salad (leftovers will be tonight's dinner!), cauliflower tacos and carne asada tacos. These were delicious, but there were so many wonderful dishes on the menu it was difficult to choose.

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.

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!

I believe this is the best Mexican food in Tucson!!! The last 4 parties/events I have planned have been catered by El Torero. Most definitely THE BEST green corn tamales in Arizona- probably the country- but everyone in Tucson knows that. For one of our big events we had the Casadilla Bar- crazy good. Over the past two weeks I had a party for 80 and a party for 40. Both had mini chimis, mini tamales, rice, beans, salsa, chips, tortillas, guacamole and carne. Let Mike do the work and you enjoy the party!!!!

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.

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

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!

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.

Simply THE BEST!!! Our server Heather could not be better! So attentive and personable. The food is wonderful! Huge portions and delicious! Gotta try the Elote and Bacon Crisp!!!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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."

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!

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!