Despite ‘doing it better than most in Boise,’ this local restaurant just closed

A Boise restaurant with history that stretches to Garden City has closed.

Taqueria El Torito, 4628 W. State St., shuttered this weekend in northwest Boise after a run of nearly five years. The Mexican restaurant informed customers with messages in English and Spanish. “Thank you for your patronage,” a sign on a window reads. “Taqueria El Torito will officially retire on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.”

Opened in December of 2016, Taqueria El Torito was the brick-and-mortar evolution of a longtime Garden City food truck. Located near the corner of State and Collister streets in Boise — next door to New Garden Chinese Restaurant — Taqueria El Torito specialized in authentic and affordable tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas and more. Orders were taken at the counter and delivered to customers’ tables. A significant portion of the business involved takeout.

Taqueria El Torito was rated four out of five stars on Yelp.

“This place is head and shoulders above most Mexican places in Boise,” a reviewer wrote last year. “... Do yourself a favor and stop looking, you found your food. I come from So Cal and this place does it better than most in Boise.”