One of the beautiful things about dining in Banff is the variety of International cuisine that can be found around every corner. Another is the rich history of this place and the people who have built it. At El Toro in Irwin’s Mountain Inn at 429 Banff Ave., you find both!
Serving the Bow Valley for nearly 45 years, this restaurant has become known for its Mexican and Spanish-influenced cuisine with a special flair for tapas. A local favourite, Bow Valley residents regularly visit this Banff classic for delicious small bites at reasonable prices - especially for the beer-and-wings specials.
It was with this spirit we set out on our culinary adventure at El Toro. We began with two soups: red pepper and cauliflower curry, both of which were simple, flavourful and a great way to begin a meal. Next up were the tacos, which were everything you’d want in this Mexican classic: delicious, messy and the perfect balance of chewy, crispy, crunchy and creamy.
Next up were the plantain chips with guacamole, which had a fantastic mouthfeel and were on the addictive side - so we had to exercise some restraint.
We love fresh ceviche and El Toro’s salmon, prawns and scallops marinated in lime juice, tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro and onions did not disappoint! The house-made salsa was sweet, tangy and really tasty served with tortilla chips and the goat-cheese croquettes with blueberry and cassis sauce were also a standout on our tapas platter.
Speaking of platters, if charcuterie is your go-to, El Toro’s version features marinated olives, thinly sliced prosciutto, calamari, guacamole & plantain chips, Valbella gourmet paté and shiraz jelly, assorted cheeses and crackers.
We also had to try El Toro’s AAA certified Canadian beef steak, medium rare, of course, which arrived grilled to perfection - delicious! If you’re a little hungrier, do try the signature Châteaubriand for two with Béarnaise sauce and seasonal vegetables - an El Toro favourite.
El Toro also caters small meals and large events from birthday parties to conferences and hosts tour groups from around the globe throughout the summer months.
Whether you’re in for breakfast, dinner or tapas, the El Toro menu will have something to satisfy any craving and keep you coming back to try something new every time you visit.
Stop by for breakfast 7-11 a.m. Mon-Fri (7-11:30 Sat.and Sun.) or for dinner/tapas 5-10 p.m. daily.
