Toronado

It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I can see they have grown but in the process they seem to have lost touch with what made them great… CUSTOMER SERVICE. I have been a beer enthusiast for many years, Never have I been charged for a sample of a craft beer. Wouldn’t you want to know if you will like it or not before you order a full order??? When I asked to sample a beer I was told it’s a $ 1.00 per sample. When she saw my look of disappointment she simply replied «were not a brewery we don’t give free samples» WTF? I’m not trying to drink for free!!! I just wanted to know if the beer was any good 1^st. That was 1^st warning sign. Final straw was when I asked for a water I was told «sure there is a water station there go ahead and help yourself.» This place used to be great but now I think it’s lame and they don’t care about their patrons. I will not be back. This is San Diego and spots like this are a dime a dozen. You have no secret formula and this place is NOT special at all. Good luck but I refuse to give away my money to a place that could care less about my business and wants to nickel and dime me on beer lmfao!

They had Pliny Elder this past weekend. Thank you! Loved the atmosphere and the choices of beer.

Honestly was not a big fan of the place.
Didn’t like the way the menu was set up. And was a bit too rowdy for me. Better places nearby.

Stopped by here for a quick beer.
It is really crowded on a saturday night.
I like that they have soooooo many different brands of craft beer to choose from.
I basically just requested for their most popular IPA beer.
Don’t remember the name, but it was light at first with a slight bitter aftertaste, and definitely gave me a good buzz.
Overall, super chill place.

Good place for craft beers in North Park. They usually have a bunch of local and not-​as-​local beers to choose from, some rare, some not as rare. They annually have the sought after Pliny the Younger, and of course it’s mate Elder can be seen throughout the year. The décor is less than desired, but it’s a bar, so it doesn’t matter that it’s not too fancy. I’ve only been here a handful of times, and was usually able to find a seat in the «extra» room that has recently been added on. It is entirely self-​serve (no cocktail waitresses), so during busy times, it can be somewhat hard to nab a beer… nothing out of the usual bar wait times though. Definitely a bar for beer-​lovers.

The bartenders were competing over who took the orders and gave me serious attitude when I didn’t order from the other bartender. When I expressed the ridiculousness they got even more upset. Great selection but terrible service

As an individual that has been a part of almost every step in the beer making, filtering, packaging, and cleaning process that is the brewing industry, I find this establishment’s shared snooty and rude customer service to be an absolute insult to the very breweries that they hold on tap.
When coming in recently to try a certain Bay area brewery’s offerings my enthusiasm was halted by a blunt and unwelcoming beer-​tender due to low amounts left on hand for each beer. It’s certainly understandable that tasters can’t be dished out left and right to the masses with little on hand to go around, but can’t a nicer approach be carried out when declining a customer’s request?
After a beverage or two had been consumed and par-​rated wings had been stomached, it was time to close out. As stated before I am in the beer industry and have nothing but respect, admiration, and passion for what I do and what I’m a part of. In connection to my respect for the industry I rarely ask the establishments that I visit if they participate in a discount offering for those that work in the industry, but with Toronado I felt it would be recognized and welcomed as they are a popular craft beer bar in San Diego.
Needless to say though, when I inquired if they had a discount for industry members the response I received was «what do you own?». As before I could’ve been fine with a polite decline, but once again I’m left feeling unwelcomed and even belittled in this case.
Plain and simple if you come here for the great beer selection you’ll find it, but don’t expect any sort of good customer service to accompany it.

Great little hangout if you are in the area, nice ambience and friendly staff with nice selection of beer. I haven’t tried their food yet but I definitely will next time I come here.

If you’re looking for a phenomenal selection of craft beers, you absolutely must go to Toronado. Hands down one of the best locations in San Diego to get something unique or hard to find. I’m only giving 4 stars though for 2 reasons: I haven’t tried their food (yet!), and the layout of the beer menu is a bit confusing. Aside from that, Toronado is just perfect for beer fans.

Laura for some reason made a point to insult me in front of my friends. I have never been here before and my simple asking her about the menu prompted her to be hostile. The bar is gorgeous and is in a prime area. I hope they grow and cut ties with workers who are holding them back and are so disrespectful.

Toronado is unabashedly a dive bar. Wait, don’t go anywhere, I promise it’s worth it. This bar often has Pliny the Elder on tap. This beer which I don’t personally much care for, is almost consistently rated the best beer in the world year after year. It is also fairly rare and I only know I don’t much care for it because I paid $ 50 for a glass of it in New York once. Toronado carries it if that floats your boat.
The rest of the beer menu is staggeringly good. I had a brief moment of total panic when I couldn’t decide which awesome beer to order. Instead of one of the many ones I knew I liked, I tried something new. Let that be a lesson to you. The inside is a bit dark and drab, but there is an outdoor patio deck in the back. Sadly it’s often swimming in cigarette smoke, so you may have to make an exception to the outside rule here.

Went here on a Thursday. The guy behind the bar wasn’t very helpful when we asked if they’ve stouts or Belgian beers. He seemed annoyed and made the answer as short as possible. Minus point here.
We ordered food too, first the waiter came with the wrong order and didn’t say a word. We noticed it and told him, he just took it away and left without saying a word. He came back 10 minutes later with the right order. No word again.
The food was mediocre at best. Chicken wings flavorless. Thai sandwich meh.
2 stars for the good beer selection.
Service needs to get improved. Food quality also. Overall a bad experience, won’t come back

Been drinking (and eating) here for eight years or so.
The kitchen switched all up in the last year so I can’t really comment on that. We have had the best of wings and the not-​so-​best of wings here…
The burger has always been good (I mean not Rocky’s good but good by other standards)
The staff has always been great. However, I must say that I won’t set foot in this place on a Friday or Saturday night or any time that it’s full of bro’s.
Lunch is the best!
Anyway, I love their beer selection, nice staff, the fact they let you taste everything and have good food when you are hungry.
The only minus is if you sit under the beer board and then lean your seat too far back trying to read it while you decide what to have for your third beer.

Toronado SD just doesn’t have that same home-​y feel that Toronado SF has. But I’m not here to explicitly compare the two. I really appreciate that Toronado SD accepts credit cards though!
Great beer selection. All grouped by brewery — which can get a little confusing as the style isn’t listed. I like taking a leap of faith though and choosing by name. I check the style on Untappd later anyway.
Toronado is also one of the stops on the Drinkabout! Last time I was there for the Drinkabout, they had some special taps available for around $ 3/​$ 4.
I didn’t even know there was food here until I read some reviews and saw some pictures today on Unilocal… Where is the menu?! Why haven’t I ever come across it or seen people eating in the bar?! I guess I just always happen to be here when no one orders food. :(Looks really good though, I’ll probably get something in the future.
I’ve noticed in some reviews that the service has been terrible… I haven’t experienced that, thankfully. Although, I have noticed that it’s often understaffed and so the servers try to help you as quick as they can and move on right away. There was also one time I completely missed the bouncer at the doorway and he magically appeared a few seconds after I was in the door. Where was he before?! Definitely not in the doorway… I see that another reviewer had a similar experience…
The few times I’ve been here it hasn’t been too busy. Always had a spot to sit. The area behind the bar is usually the emptiest (as bartenders don’t make it around back there often, or at all) so I’ve sat there mostly.
Definitely come here for the beer selection! Food review to come in the future, maybe…

The beer selection is as great if not better than the one in San Francisco. I went last week, missed the Pliny the Younger tapping by a couple of hours, but was able to get Pliny the Elder, Vietnamese Speedway, and saw that they also had Hawaiian Speedway. People back East would kill for these beers. If I had to criticize one thing it would be that it does not have the intimate feel and character of the one in San Francisco.

Great dive bar. We came here on a Wednesday and there wasn’t many people. The beer selection was great. They had Pliny and .364. The food wasn’t the greatest. We had chicken skewers. The bartenders were helpful if you had any questions about anything. As the night progressed more people began showing up.

Best first date in the history of first dates. This place was comical; the rage of music was awesome and a bit weird at times (but I’m all about that wired life lol). I loved the mirrors on the wall opposite of the bar because I could read the drink menu and didn’t even have to turn around. I started with the apricot cider & thought it was delicious nice subtle sour bite and not too sweet. My sexy date ended up with some dark brew which I didn’t remember to ask him about because I was too entranced. They were out of lumpia which was a super bummed because I was craving some lumps. Anyway we settled on sharing wings, BahnMi & potato pancakes (latkees or however they are spelled). The wings were aight not too magical but cooked well; we got the hot sauce and it was not hot enough but I’m crazy when it comes to my spices. The sirloin BahnMi was freaking delicious; not soggy at all the veggies were fresh and the meat was tender and juicy. What woman doesn’t love juicy tender meat. We ended with the Ballast point grapefruit sculpin and I’ve had it before I still don’t like it lmao but my date was a trooper and split it with me since it was his surprise pick for me. He had some other beer which I wish I would have asked what it was but it was lighter in color and body and it was delicious. The crowd wasn’t heavy at all which is expected for a week night. Service was fast and it was a totally casual place to enjoy the nervousness of an awesome

I came here at lunch on Saturday to celebrate a friend’s birthday. It was the first stop of the day to his bar crawl. I’ve never been here so being the first person to show up, I had to ask the bartender for a few tips. The set up was there was 1 bartender, no servers. So everything, no matter where you sat, had to be ordered at the bar. There beer list is up on the wall above the bar. Their menu only has the food listed. According to the bartender, the menu has just been changed and they are still tweaking it to get it right.
I ordered a Firestone Walker stout, with a Cobb Salad and a side of Gouda Mac and Cheese. The cobb salad was your typical salad. I wouldn’t say it was a gourmet salad, but it was a hefty size. The Gouda Mac and Cheese I could’ve passed on. It wasn’t cheesey at all and was watery. So it was like eating plain macaroni with parmesan on top. The bartender asked me about it and I did tell him. He said he appreciated the tip since they are still fixing the menu.
It’s a big place, lots of space and even a back patio. A good place for a group. Although at lunch time, most patrons were just sitting at the bar. Nice bartender, good service.

What was I smoking that I only gave them 4 stars before?!
Toronado: hands down best beer bar in San Diego. Nate, my favorite beertender, is a G. He is super informative and honest about the beer they are slangin’ here.
If you’re a beer head, you need to come here, that’s all there is to it.
The beets skewers with goat cheese… So good I want to cry.
They have been putting on some amazing brunch & dinner beer pairings. They sell out quick so be on the lookout when they get announced.

It’s kind of ironic that the first Toronado that I go to is the San Diego location, not the SF location! From what I heard, the SF location is way smaller than this place which was very spacious with a long bar and plenty of seating at tables along the wall.
The beer list was above the board and even a tall guy like myself had to arch my head up to read and discern the choices being offered that day. Keep in mind that I was already three drinks in and walked a mile just to get here so I was most likely dehydrated as well.
Since I wanted to keep moving down 30^th Street, I decided on the Peach de Brettaville by Almanac. It was a sour that was 10 ounces and just enough for me to taste and not dig me too much of a deeper hole.
The ladies next to me had the pork belly skewers appetizer, grilled pork belly too so it looked very crispy and delicious. Against my better judgement, I ordered my own pork belly skewers and it was indeed that great. So good. Damn you pork belly for being so tasty.
Amazing that the bartenders behind the bar know where all the different beers on tap are when they don’t have handles or the labels are so small in such a darkly lit bar. I don’t even know if I can remember where 56 different beers are located even after a week working there.
I’m looking forward to seeing the SF location now so I can compare my experience there versus here.

Toronado was one of the first stops I ever made in North Park about 3 years ago. Great selection of beers and good social atmosphere.
With so many new places to eat and drink I hadn’t been back in a while. I was going to meet an old friend for lunch and nothing was open so we thought we’d try Toronado. Turns out their kitchen is insanely good and vegan friendly! Also, extremely meat friendly but I went with a vegan brat!
I’ll be stopping off here more often for eats.

Great beer back on the busy 30^th Street. The draft beer list is encompassing and will have something for everyone (they have Pliny the Elder for around $ 6.50 plus a good mix of sours as well). The bottle list is also extensive and not overly priced.
The space is large and there is plenty of seating around the wraparound bar. They do have a food menu but I didn’t eat there so I can’t so much about it.
Overall, good vibe and good drink options. It’s basically a less divey version of Hamilton’s Tavern in SD.

Nice spot to grab some food and drinks. Food wise, I’ve only had their burger. It was okay, nothing amazing but decent. They have an AWESOME selection on craft beer. For the IPA lovers, they tend to have Pliny the Elder on tap many many times. Haven’t had Pliny the elder? Drop by and taste it! You’re welcome. This is also one of the few places I know that have Pliny the younger for when Russian River brewing brings it out like once a year. (February ish) I’ve still yet to try it cause it taps out every time I’ve tried to go!
The inside is spacious. Till it gets busy. They have an outside patio seating but I believe it closes at a certain time? I remember a guy telling us that the noise level tends to go up so they close the patio.
Food not too bad. Beer? Yes, would recommend! Huge, great selection of craft beer

This location has a great variety of local beers and great deals. The ambience is laid-​back and they have a nice open air patio.
However, I have come to this bar on several occasions, and each time I feel less than enchanted with the service. It seems the bartenders have a low tolerance for new customers with questions. In addition, one of the bartenders billed me $ 5 for a $ 4 beer and never returned my change. I never said «Keep the change.» Now, I do not consider myself cheap, as I’ve worked in the service industry and know the value of tipping for great service. And yes, that dollar was well earned. But it is simply the principle that leaves me somewhat appalled.
There was no indication of the tip being included. I repeat, the meager 1 dollar tip was well earned, it simply strikes me as unprofessional that it was expected. Even at Tijuana dive bars ive been given $.50 in change for a beer as if it’s of much value. I leave it at that.

This place looks chill enough, walked in kinda hungry, looked for a place to sit. Middle of the day on labor day and the place is only half full. Walked to the back to check out their patio–
The people were so happy I opened the door! Apperantly they were locked out. I dont know for how long but they were relieved when I came. Obviosly i didnt go to the patio.
Ordered at the bar and sat with my beer and waited and waited. How is your kitchen backed up?! Seriously? Why didnt you anticipate to staff appropiately? 1 hr to get appetizers is kinda a ridiculous wait. Its your special! $ 6 for wings… btw Im still waiting… will update this later.
Update: from 1 star to 2
The haanero mango chicken wings were pretty good. It was cooked and seasoned well. It had a nice building heat which I appreciated and the tanginess of the mango gave it a little extra flare. It tried to keep an open mind as I ate, trying to forget the long wait. Id probably order it again. Worth the $ 6 but not worth the wait

Well if you don’t mind no AC and loud music then this is your place .
Lots of beer to choose and lots of food too .
Same as all the other bars or restaurants in North Park it’s street parking only so good luck .
The staff are efficient and friendly .
I recommend not to go on the Hottest day ever in San Diego. I stress that they don’t have AC :-/​
All around my food and coco-​cola were delicious !!

Few quick things:
1. Craving burgers and beer — go on Wednesday for a great deal: $ 12 for burger and draft.
2. Indecisive about selecting a beer? Ask the staff. Everyone is pretty friendly and will have great recommendations!
3. Late night happy hour (Thursday — Saturday) from 11pm-​1am for drink and snack deals.
4. Outside patio seating options (perfect for a warm summer night)
5. Board games available to play.
With all the above mentioned, it is very difficult to dislike this place. It should be warned that it can fill up pretty quickly on a busy night so watch out! Other than that, it’s a great place to bring friends and hang out.

We get to stop number four of the birthday pub crawl. We started at 1) Tiger! Tiger! then moved along to 2) Belching Beaver, then 3) Rip Current. The latter places I’ve reviewed, so there’s no value with an update.
Tornado has been around, for as long as I could remember, as one of the bars on 30^th to get the latest and greatest releases, before the craze of tasting rooms, microbreweries, and nanos opened up for business. The bar area can get pretty crowded at times, but the ebb and flow of roaming citizens find their way to Toronado.
Take a peek at the menu of rotating taps high above the bar and check out the weekday kitchen specials if you’re looking for some snacks to pair with your crafty beverage.
On to the next bar on the birthday crawl ;)

This is probably one of my favorites pubs in north park to go to. They always have a wide selection of craft beer, from dark, light, and even sweet for every type of beer drinker. They have a chill patio area in the back, and inside it’s pretty roomy and nice. Especially since they just made a hole in the wall, and expanded to the next room. The juke box has some great music too.
It’s a good thing, because by 8pm or so this place starts to get packed. So if you don’t like standing then I recommend you show up just a bit early. The bartenders are very knowledgeable in the beer they’re serving, so if you need help they are more than helpful to help you pick a beer you will enjoy!