On the heels of closures in Dana Point and Orange, El Torito plans to shutter its long-standing Westminster location on May 3, according to employees at the Orange County location. The fast-casual Mexican chain’s restaurant has served the community for nearly five decades at the corner of Goldenwest Street and Bolsa Avenue.
Xperience Restaurant Group, which owns the Mexican casual dining chain, didn’t provide comment on the closure of its Westminster eatery. “I don’t have specific details on this so I can’t confirm or deny anything,” said a spokesperson for the company. Three employees at the Westminster location confirmed the restaurant’s upcoming closure and final day of operation.
The Westminster stalwart, which opened in 1975, underwent a gentle remodel in November 2019 as part of its growth strategy, sporting a brand-new look that replaced its old signage with a bull (El Torito is Spanish for “the little bull”) and added turquoise accents to the facade.
SEE ALSO: Iva Lee’s in San Clemente closing — Detroit-style pizza restaurant to take over space
No word yet what, if any, tenant will move into the circa-1975 building following El Torito’s departure. According to records with the city of Westminster, no plans are currently in the works.
Related Articles
Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (March 21-28)
Iva Lee’s in San Clemente closing — Detroit-style pizza restaurant to take over space
Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (March 14-21)
In-N-Out Burger’s restaurant closure, called the chain’s first, looms this weekend
Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (March 6-14)
El Torito, founded by Larry Cano in 1954, helped popularize not only Mexican-American fare in the United States, but also Taco Tuesdays, the margarita-fueled day of the week when guests purchase discounted tacos from the taco bar, and all-you-can-eat Sunday brunches. The brand went through a handful of acquisitions and name changes over the years, with Xperience Restaurant Group being its current parent company.
Xperience Restaurant Group, one of the largest operators of full-service Mexican restaurants in the nation, whose portfolio includes Chevys Fresh Mex, Sol Mexican Cocina, Acapulco and Las Brisas, closed two long-standing El Torito restaurants in Orange and Dana Point after 33 years and 39 years in business, respectively. The Laguna Hills location, which served the community for more than 40 years, closed in November.
Two additional El Torito closures happened recently, one in Santa Monica on March 10 and another in Long Beach on March 14.
Leave a Reply