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El Toro Bravo is a family owned and operated Mexican restaurant, and has been dishing out all of your Mexican favorites at the same location since 1988. This fine restaurant is located in historic, downtown Truckee, CA, and it dishes up delicious Mexican lunch and dinner, every day of the week. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's around 17:30 in the late afternoon, Monday, September 14, 2026 and I've arrived at El Toro Bravo to enjoy a delicious Mexican dinner. This fine restaurant is located on Donner Pass Road in historic downtown Truckee, CA.
Photo: The town of Truckee is situated on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains at an elevation of about 5800 feet, and has an alpine climate, with warm summers and heavy snow in the winter. On this late summer day in mid-September, summer was still in the air, as the temperature was a balmy 75 degrees, so the indoor dining room wasn't even open, as dinner was being served on the patio, and the patio bar was open. What a patio! For starters, a full-service bar with a few television monitors that were tuned to Monday night NFL Football, with mixed drinks flowing and many beers on tap. Awnings provided shade from the sun, and the decorations lent a cheery color to the patio. I loved the live plants and flowers. The patio at El Toro Bravo is truly the place to enjoy a fine dinner!
Photo: The bar was lively on this late Monday afternoon, and the full bar kept the cheerful bartender busy. He seemed to be in his element, as he had a smile on his face and was laughing and joking with the patrons as he was tending the bar. In my case, I had to settle for ice water, as I had to drive back to camp after dinner.
Photo: The "Mexican Dinners" of the menu lists all of your Mexican favorites. This is only a small section of the menu, as there is much more, including a large selection of seafood dishes.
Photo: Immediately after I placed my order, my server brought a large basket of fresh tortilla chips, along with a small bowl of in-house made salsa. The large pitcher of ice water added a nice touch. The salsa was delicious, as it was tangy, and on the chunky side, with lots of chopped white onion and diced mild jalapeņo chili pepper which gave it a great flavor and a robust texture. The salsa was flavorful with just enough "kick" to know that were enjoying a great appetizer, but not enough to offend your great Aunt Dorothy's sensitive taste buds.
Photo: Fresh corn tortilla chips, dipped into the savory, slightly chunky salsa, made for a great appetizer.
Photo: Meet Nikko, my super friendly server who brought my dinner to me with a smile. He was the only server working the patio, but he provided friendly and efficient service, and treated me like a rock star.
Photo: I'm a happy guy as I toast Nikko, and the talented staff behind the scene with a glass of ice water. Yes, I would have preferred a pitcher of Pacifico Mexican beer to quench my thirst, but I had to drive back to camp, and I didn't want to take any risks.
Photo: From the "Mexican Dinners" section of the menu, I went with "No. 7 - El Toro's Carnitas," with a stack of three corn tortillas as my tortillas of choice. The menu describes this delicious dinner as, "Tender roasted pork prepared from an old family recipe," and I describe it as DELICIOUS! The carnitas were marinated, savory roast pork, shredded, and roasted for hours until mouth-watering tender. As in all fine carnitas plates, the pork was a combination of tender, succulent pieces, with a few burnt ends to add character, crunch and a very different and delicious taste sensation. I was amazed at how much pork was piled on this plate, as it was a LOT... El Toro Bravo gives you your money's worth, and a lot more. You won't go away hungry! The refried beans were perfect, as they were a mixture of creamy beans with a few chunks, just the way I like them. The beans were topped with a thick layer of very melted Mexican cheese, which gave the beans the appearance of a casserole. As I dipped my fork into the beans, I was rewarded with delicious beans, along with lots of cheesy goodness. The rice was a good, solid side of Mexican rice, perfect in every way, but unremarkable, as rice usually isn't the main attraction. It made a great addition to the dinner and a great side. But, the beans stole my taste buds... Three warm, slightly moist corn tortillas rounded out the dinner, and made it a breeze to clean up every scrap of food. I love to eat every bite of delicious food, and it makes the dishwasher's job easier. My server Nikko mentioned all the menu selections were family recipes, and after enjoying this fine dinner, I truly felt like I'd enjoyed a delicious, authentic Mexican dinner. The food was expertly prepared and simply delicious. The portions were HUGE, so if you have the appetite of a NFL linebacker or a lumberjack, you'll leave with a full stomach and smile on your face.
Photo: I dipped my fork into the bowl of fresh salsa, along with bit of carnitas... it was love at first bite! Notice the warm, rich look of the delicious roasted pork, and the amazing contrast from the burnt ends. The carnitas were simply delicious! You'll love the authentic Mexican cuisine, served by the super friendly staff, and you'll love the patio with the outdoor bar, and the festive atmosphere feels almost like being in a cantina at a resort in Mexico. Enjoy fine Mexican cuisine, with a view of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the fun things that happen in downtown Truckee... at El Toro Bravo, located in historic downtown Truckee, CA. El Toro Bravo Copyright(c) 2026 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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