There are countless Mexican restaurants in the San Fernando Valley, but Los Toros in Chatsworth stands out with its friendly atmosphere, authentic Mexican food and the best margaritas in town.

For someone who is not a fan of Mexican dishes, I give Los Toros 9.2 stars.  The Los Toros Sampler is perfect for a group of four people or more. The sampler comes with taquitos, nachos, quesadillas, flauntas and carnitas served with sour cream, guacamole and their own special sauce. The sampler comes with two serving sizes, small for $10 and large for $16.50.

The Azada Fries ($7.50) is the second best appetizer. It’s the alternative to nachos. Everything that you want on your nachos is in this platter, except for the chips. Instead, it comes with golden, crispy French fries.

For the main dish, I highly recommend the Mary Tierra ($15.50). It’s a combination of jumbo shrimp and charbroiled Angus beef, served either grilled or mojo de ajo style (garlic sauce). The beef is very juicy, not dry and tough. Although the crustacean was a bit greasy, the succulent and savory taste of the shrimp overpowers it. For those of you who don’t prefer to eat meat, you can order Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo ($13.75). It’s the same as Mary Tierra, but without the Angus beef.

The chicken and beef fajitas are also a great choice of entrée. They cook it sizzling with big chunks of bell peppers and tomatoes, served with a side of Mexican rice, beans and salad.

You may also want to try the Los Toros specialty, Enchilada De Jaiba, a mix of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, onions and fresh crab sautéed and stuffed inside two flour tortillas. The dish also comes with Mexican rice and beans. Add sour cream and guacamole and you are good to go.

Stuffed yet? Make room for their decadent homemade flan or fried ice cream. The flan is served with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Simple, yet mouth-watering.

Now it’s time for the good stuff…Margaritas! Los Toros is known to have the best margaritas in the Valley. They offer a variety and other alcoholic drinks as well. My recommendations: Papa Nick’s Margarita, Purple Cadillac, Green Iguana, Pomegranate Margarita, Cabo Wabo Rita and Lynchburg Lemonade.

The staff members at Los Toros are very accommodating and friendly. Even though they are busy all the time, they still manage to provide excellent service.

Los Toros has seven different rooms and two bars, each with its own unique style, but all with a fiesta vibe. The La Fuente (Fountain) Patio has red, green and white flags running across the ceiling that gives you an idea of a homey, Mexican setting and the Castle Room is filled with colorful murals. Stained glass and hand-painted art adorn the walls of the restaurant.

A jukebox is available at the bar so you can choose your own songs for entertainment.  The jukebox includes all types of genres from hip hop to alternative, Latin to pop. You will hear songs from Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, Ricky Martin and a Mariachi band all in one night.

The crowd is very diverse. People of all ages and ethnicity come here to enjoy the warm ambiance and good food. You can also choose Los Toros for weekend brunch, or celebrate your birthday, graduation party and any other occasion at the restaurant.

They have private banquet rooms that accommodate up to 60 guests and also offer catering services for your home and business.