Review El Toro - Durban

Fun, thematically decorated Tequilaria with a generous selection of Mexican faves on the menu. Nachos portion is huge so makes a great sharing dish to complement individual taco orders. Busy, so best to make a reservation on weekends.

Food was very nice. Nice spices. Friendly staff. Moderately priced. When we were there, the barman did not pitch for work so the manager and staff was busy making cocktails, which were unfortunately a bit below standard. Overall good experience.

Oh my hat! The rump nachos are my new favourite thing ever. Treated to lunch here by my sister in law who was raving about the nachos and we were not let down. The tacos were also good but the nachos really are the show. The venue is vibrant with a chilled vibe, parking out front is a but restricted but plenty along the stripe. Gin cocktails seem all the rage right now and elderflower bitters cocktail was delicious. Anyone that wants Mexican/Latino food in Durban North should have this place one their radar.

Great service and amazing food. Our waiter was great with suggesting dishes to try. Always enjoy going here.

Excellent! The tequila is guaranteed to make you face disappeare! ♡ I wanted to cry at the end of my meal - the food was só good. Best Mexican I've had. Must visit.

What a great little restaurant with authentic Mexican food. Go for the food, stay for the delicious generous cocktails.

My first time visiting this place. Had supper here on a Wednesday and was very busy. Food was great and options are plentiful for both vegetarians and non veg eaters. Pork, chicken and lamb are served here. Meals and drinks are great. Mojito was strong but not very good tasting. Reservations are needed here.

Wow this was an amazing Mexican taste experience. Flavours are out of this world. Will definitely be coming back to try the rest of the menu

Exceptional food for a reasonable price and super friendly staff!

Good food. Amazing waitress... Zama. lovely family evening.

Worth a visit....and return visits. Great decor, good food portions & delicious. Love the vibe. Will definitely be back.

Great drinking atmosphere. The food is alright. There aren't great Mexican places in Durban. Cocktails: don't get the frozen margarita is gross! The tequila is very good Love the decor! Staff are fun - they just want you to have a good time /get drunk

Went there on Tequila Tuesday. Was a little disappointed with how quiet it was. Have been there before few times and it was an absolute jol. Students pulled in around 10 and the place turned from a quiet restaurant to a club vibe. Service is always great as well as the food. With the right company can be 👌

Excellent service. Waiter was very attentive with a personal touch. The cocktails were served chilled and lovely. Food was abundant of seafood as the menu stated. Love to go back.

Great little spot for Mexican food and if you enjoy tequila.... Well be sure to have a few options available here. Service is always pretty good and I have never had a bad meal. All in all a wonderful venue to enjoy a few drinks and party with friends

Great Mexican restaurant. Staff was friendly and service was good. Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Restaurant is quite small so booking a table is recommended. Good venue for groups and can get quite festive. Would recommend.

I’ve been here a couple of times and really enjoy the vibe even during the day. The ambiance of the place is very Mexican, love it. Their nachos are really goood. Yesterday I had the Pancho Wings and they were so good, flame grilled and smothered in a salsa sauce . Had it with a mojito...great spot 👌🏽

We went for a quick bite over lunch time. Arrived at 12.30 and placed our order immediately - we were first to order as the restaurant opens at 12. Waited an hour for prawn tacos and they were terrible. Basically the most tasteless cardboard taco (not soft and not crunchy), jampacked with coleslaw - so much mayo it was sickening and a couple of ice cold baby shrimps the size of a 10c piece. We tried but we couldn’t eat it. Paid and left downhearted and late back to work...

If you’re a Mexican Foodie like I am then El Toro is the place to be. This restaurant is situated in 5 – 7 Mackeurtan Avenue. Durban North, Durban, South Africa.                                                                           El Toro

A great Sunday lunch with friends, the food was awesome and service really good. The only downfall was that they had no draughts available or some food ingredients that were advertised on the menu. It can be pricey but the food is really good, I recommend it.

Seafood Paella is a must try! Best I've ever tasted! The tacos are extremely filling. The shredded braised lamb is slow-cooked and tender. There is either a choice of hard shell or soft shell tortillas. I'd recommend the hard shell as it adds a nice crunch to the meal. Overall, one of the best Mexican restaurants to visit with reasonable prices for quality food.

Great atmosphere,the service was top notch and the bartender was such a cool guy.very clean and we'll maintained.I've actually been at El'Toro on a few occasions,each better than the other..I recommend

The cutest Mexican place I’ve ever seen. I love how it’s not too big, super casual vibe and the decor well the overall feel of the place is super cute. I’d really recommend it for a mid-week girls night out. They have really good food and drink specials during the week so look out for those! The service is also very good and accomodating. I had the nachos which I loved and tried one of their signature cocktails ( it was ginormous)

Well firstly, the decor here is amazing, almost identical to Four 15 (which happens to be a couple of restaurants away from El Toro). <br/><br/>We went here with a group of friends. One of my friends and I ordered the Empanadas with chorizo, spinach, paneer and mozzarella for starters. These had potential to be amazing but they were waaay too rich so they needed some chili to cut through the richness from both the cheeses. Ohh, maybe a spicier chorizo? <br/><br/>Then we ordered the Costillios Paella, with lamb short rib and crumbled paneer. This was delicious omg. All it needed was a bit more salt but definitely a satisfying and moreish dish. <br/><br/>I tried the lamb and paneer nachos that the others ordered, again, tasty but needed more salt- and some fresh chili. Or maybe the lamb should have been spicier- Mexican food is spicy, guys. <br/><br/>Evidently I like trying everyone else’s food but I couldn’t even try my friend’s pork tacos because the portion was so small- two Empanadas as a starter was more filling than the tacos as a main. <br/><br/>I’d recommend El Toro, especially since they have some decent deals on the Entertainer app, but don’t forget to order a side of fresh chili.<br/><br/>Oh and, just for the record- El Toro > Four15.

This place really has a great vibe! If you're looking for some great mexican food and a couple delicious cocktails, then this is the place for you! Be sure to book though as it is usually quite busy!

Visited this buzzing place with a great atmosphere for a snack. We ordered churros and waited about 45 minutes. Expected more as churros should not take as long. Not a place to visit again

Both lamb and fish burritos were seriously delicious! The atmosphere was good but the music was a bit too loud. The helado (ice-cream) was good. We also had churros. Two years ago, these were mindblowingly delicious. This time, there were too many churros per portion and they were too plain.<br/><br/>P.S. Our waitress (Amber) wasn't hospitable to us at all and shortchanged me by R9. Note that upon confronting her, she apologized and returned R10.

The food was great and the atmosphere was welcoming and delightful, very interesting decor and amazing cocktails, I enjoyed myself and I will be visiting soon

The nachos, burrito and tacos were awesome. Service was average... and the ambiance was very chilled... the music sucked but we went for good food and things what we got.

If i had to be honest the food never really blew me away but to be fair once you get to this place you just want to start downing the tequilas and you will not regret it. The cocktails are also awesome, the ones topped up with the ciders that it... perfect place fir a chill session and plenty drinks

Food: 3<br/>Ambiance: 3<br/>Service: 3<br/><br/>Ok the drinks are really good. Like I mean they know how to make you a cocktail that ain't watered down aaaaaaaand the food is on point. I'm not much of a Mexican fan but I do love my chilli and their jalapeño poppers kick ass... Literally!!!

We had the lamb nachos (best nachos dish Ive eaten - the nachos were made from scratch❤️) and the poppers, which were too spicy for me and my fiancé ended up having to eat all four of them. Great caipirinha too 🙌🏽Justin Blanchard

Over 30 different tequilas I was floored ....only partook in one ;) <br/>Sublime pork belly and the only queso fundido I have found in South Africa so far. (Pictures of both). <br/>Really celebrating authentic Latino and Mexican culture in this loud raucous venue, not for the faint hearted but if you like well cooked wholesome food in a our drive by , strip mall culture then have a crack at "the bull" worth every penny and I will be back. <br/><br/>Oh and try the cocktails really really awesome.

The food here is lacking, not authentic Mexican or even Spanish. Some over cooked some under done. The chef is of the opinion that's how we do it ... feedback is not welcomed. <br/><br/>Basically it's really a cocktail bar with snacks, they should not be pitching as a Mexican place rather a more fancy cocktail bar.<br/>

Had my surprise birthday dindin at El Toro last year and it was a blast. As far as Mexican food goes, this was a first for me but definitely not the last! First things first.... Burritos > Tacos. The churros are served with chocolate sauce only if you order said sauce, so don't forget to order it with same to avoid longingly looking at others dipping their churros in the chocolate sauce they ordered. I had my dessert with a side of red wine and felt classy AF. Also, a shot of tequila is mandatory in Mexican culture so I encourage you to also have a few so as not to be disrespectful. Very vibey and eclectic place and great food overall! Would 10/10 love to go there again!

Perfect place for after work drinks, small but vibey with a large selection of cocktails (even gin ones). Need more time to sample though - didn't find my fav. Lamb toco was good - so was the roast chicken one. Fish taco was average - not my fav. Do try the ice cream - homemade and creamy - now that was my fav.

Arrrrriiiba! Abajo! Adeeeentro! Another girls night with my best friend, hand me a sombrero & bring forth the maracas cause El Toro is a vibe. GIN cocktails (faints) every kind you can imagine. Tonight I was in Mexican heaven & after every cocktail more & more people started looking like a chihuahua. Also, I'm drunk. Adiós!

Just because you put some some ingredients into a taco, doesn't automatically make you a Mexican restaurant. I really think they have missed the boat here and after trying this twice and multiple plates, I can say for certain there isn't a Mexican flavour to be seen, smelt or tasted. We won't be going trying a third time.

Great atmosphere, even on a weekday. Food tasted great. We had tacos and a burrito, and shared a plain nachos. Would have loved some fresh guacamole with the nachos, and I found the margaritas on the sweet side. Definitely a trendy spot to go out with friends.

This is a small sized restaurant that has everything you are looking for in a Mexican restaurant. From its unique drinks menu which I had a coriander and jalapeno frozen margarita. To its main meals which have all the trimmings of a great Mexican restaurant. I decided to have the nachos, tacos and a salad which I shared with my better half and we were not left disappointed. So that sums up the food which I must mention is in a highly reasonable price range! The vibe, look and feel of the place is top notch with a nice little feature of demisters positioned in the roof which release the finest mist when you are working up a sweat from the meals. All in all, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Had churros here for the first time (man-sized portion) - very impressionable first meeting...Good cocktails and great location. Quite vibey with very friendly service.

El Toro!!!<br/>A mexican Restaurant a lively atmosphere quick service and good food.<br/><br/>I had ordered a chips which was spicy and tasty as well my moms favorite nachos.

This place comes highly recommended and I've been meaning to visit for a while. Finally got there. It's got an authentic Mexican feel and decor setting. The classic frozen margaritas are awesome. Had both the plain & chicken nachos which were very flavourful and are highly recommended. Also had the tacos...crispy taco shells, one with the chicken and one with the pulled pork...didn't really enjoy either cos the meat was mixed with too much veg, in my opinion. For dessert we tried the chocolate brownies with a lime syrup thing...was ok.

I had lunch with my sons in the Durban North branch today. The decor is fun & our waitress was good. The food in general was rather disappointing. My one son & I had the charcoal burritos. Mine was shredded lamb & the other the spicey mince. I think I expected more in the flavours, & it was rather bland & a bit dry. Also no help yourself salsa etc like at Four 15.I like the fact that the meal.comes as 2 separate burritos instead of one large one like at the other Mexican restaurant in the same street. Other than that I prefer the whole vibe & the meals at the other restaurant. My son had the beef tacos & commented that the meat had no flavour. He's had a similar dish at Four15 & said there was no comparison. It was a fun afternoon, but Four15 will definately be first choice.

Trendy little Mexican restaurant to try out. Definitely one of the better Mexican restaurants I have been to. <br/><br/>Cocktails and food are delicious, you can't go wrong with a classic frozen margarita. Somewhere to go to share the tapas rather than eating one main meal item yourself. <br/><br/>The restaurant itself is very hot (even with fans) and the acoustics are not great so it's quite difficult to hear but otherwise a fun new place to try in the Durban North area.

You would think because it's a weekday it would be pretty chilled but damn it was busy at El Toro tonight for pre birthday drinks.<br/><br/>Ordered a classic mojitos aswell as blueberry mojito. My fav was the blueberry. Tastes like jelly tots.<br/>Tacos and nachos as a traditional choice at a Mexican restaurant. Was not to flavourful and as exciting as explained by the waiter which was their specials for the night.<br/><br/>Friendly staff, really helpful in choosing from a wide range of menu choice.<br/><br/>Food needs a bit more spunk, also was looking forward to the churrios but kitchen closed at 9 which we was not made aware of.<br/><br/>Definitely be back for round 2.

Fantastic Mexican food with a great chilled vibe. Tapas were a great choice. Empanadas were extemely tasty. Tacos were juicy. The cocktails are a must try

Mexican Fiesta! Definitely a favourite. Excellent service, amazing cocktails and delicious food. Love their tacos and the Flamingo cocktail is a MUST try. Their churros were good- make sure to order the chilli chocolate sauce and tequila infused ice cream. Lovely atmosphere and the decor makes it feel authentic mexican.

The food was quite good especially the chef's specials! 🍖 the drinks on the other hand 😍 <br/>The setting is cute but a little squishy and it gets noisy. Service is excellent! ✨

Pull pork taco again and again and again they are juicy, they are crunchy, they are spicy and I just can't stop!!!<br/>Such a chilled spot to hang out, get some awesome grub and get that muxh needed drink ...I'll be back

Best Mexican restaurant in Durban by far! Had the shredded lamb tacos and a strawberry and mint daiquiri which was absolutely yummy! Service was a bit slow but you would expect that due to the amount of people flocking in.. Also not forgetting dessert which was the churro bites with Helado, not my favorite but I'll definitely be back for the tacos!

Great vibe, great look, great staff...<br/>And the BEST tequila cocktails I've had in a loooong time!( El Toro Bulldog is a must)<br/>Problems...the various tacos we had (fish/lamb/pulled pork) were not the tastiest or best that I've had.<br/>Good effort but some tweaking is needed...maybe it's my inexperienced South African palate and I don't know what real Mecixan is...

We absolutely loved the vibe, the service, the decor and the weird & wonderful ingredient combinations on their huge menu. Best beer battered jalapeño poppers in Durban, and you gotta try the pulled lamb tostado or the smoked paprika & red chipotle pulled pork tacos. Then wet your throat with a sxollie cider or a whaletaleale craft beer. Only reason I didn't rate 5, was the tuna and salmon ceviche was lacking a sweet element to balance out the sour and there was a little too much lettuce in everything. Check out my Instagram profile Lauren_joshua_miles or my blog myinsatiableappetite.net for the full review and photos.

Fantastic fun! Superb food with a great vibe! The staff are friendly and extremely helpful! Highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a Mexican experience in Durban