Rate-A-Restaurant, #138 in a series

Restaurant: El Toro Cantina

Location: 5368 Wilshire Blvd. (Mid-Wilshire)

Type of restaurant: Tacos



We stipulated: The strip of Mid-Wilshire close to my Variety office remains a vast wasteland for food options -- unless you're big into Marie Callender's and IHOP. Wanting to try something different, my colleague Joe and I decided to try El Toro. The first time, it was because I misread the sign that said "50 Tacos." I assumed they meant to say "50 cent Tacos." Nope, they literally meant they had a variety of over 50 tacos.

They stipulated: Order at least 3 -- these are small tacos.



What we ordered: I've been back several times; these are some of the ones I've sampled: Jalapeno Terriyaki Chicken ($2.50) -- Japanese cucumber salad, jalapenos; Tandoori Chicken ($2.50) -- green chutney, cucumber mint riata; Chinese BBQ Chicken ($3.50) -- 5 spice powder, lettuce, bean sprouts; Kobe Flat Iron ($5) -- chipotle bean puree, onion, cilantro, house salsa; Baby Back Ribs ($3.50) -- bbq beans, coleslaw; Yukon Gold Potato ($2.50) -- lettuce, tomato, crema, house salsa in a crisp corn tortilla; Tuna Tartar ($4.50) -- seaweed salad, soy dressing, jalapeno, shallots, in a crisp wonton shell; Coconut Crispy Shrimp ($3.50) --lettuce, guacamole, ancho aioli; Black Cod Miso ($4.00) -- shredded cucumber salad, miso sauce, in a fresh lettuce cup; Yucatan Shrimp ($4.50) -- shredded lettuce, tomtato, avocado)



High point: Some of the tacos are different and ocassionally daring. The baby back ribs taco is excellent; and the cheapest item -- the Yukon Gold Potato taco -- is one of the best.

Low point: It's still kinda hard to justify paying those kind of prices for such small tacos.

Overall impression: El Toro is part of the new Busby's Sports Bar on Wilshire, taking over the spot vacated by Teh Conga Room. Like I said, the prices are questionable -- but El Toro continues to experiment with its menus and has enacted more specials, including a lunchtime three-tacos for $11 deal (which includes a salad). That's an especially good deal if you order the most expensive tacos you can.

Chance we will go back: As one of the few restaurant choices within walking distance at work, it's still part of the rotation.

Pics via El Toro's website.

(For our complete list of nearly 140 restaurant reviews, visit our companion Rate-A-Restaurant website.)