SMALL BITE MEXICAN FARE REFLECTS REGION.

Byline: Larry Lipson

In much the same way Il Fornaio does its regional dishes of Italy, El Torito is launching its Regional Flavors of Mexico program.

While Il Fornaio varies its offerings monthly, El Torito has bi-monthly dishes. The first area honored is Sonora, and six special Sonora-style items are currently available (through March 11) at 69 El Toritos in California, Arizona and Oregon.

At local outlets in Burbank, Encino, Granada Hills, Northridge, Sherman Oaks, Simi Valley, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Valencia and Woodland Hills, diners can choose executive chef Pepe Lopez's version of rolled, grilled Sonoran tacos (two chicken, two steak, two vegetable-cheese) with rice, beans, red pepper dip and corn cake ($9.99).

And more: a Sonoran-style steak with nopalitos (marinated cactus) called sabana steak Magdalena ($13.99), a Sonoran roll ($10.49), carnitas fajitas ($10.99), and at market price both fresh fish tacos and fresh fish fajitas.

MORE NEWCOMERS: Joining the already hot Cheesecake Factory, both P.F. Chang's (Chinese) and Prego (Italian) have opened to strong crowds in the remodeled Sherman Oaks Galleria at 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. For information and reservations, call P.F. Chang's at [phone] and Prego at [phone].

Also open here for the upscale burger set is a Fuddrucker's. Information: [phone].

A FEW KUDOS: Congrats to Andreas Nieto, exec chef, and Thomas Henzi, pastry chef, of the Century Plaza Hotel and its new Breeze restaurant, who were named chef of the year and pastry chef of the year, respectively, by Les Toques Blanches International; and to Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, aka the Two Hot Tamales, co-owners of the Border Grill and Ciudad restaurants, who picked up the Innovation Award for Creative Partnership at UCLA's sixth annual California Restaurant Industry Conference at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on Tuesday.

NAPKIN NOTES: Looking for a weekend lunch downtown? McCormick & Schmick's, 633 W. Fifth St., now serves lunch Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations: [phone]. ... Three-course prix-fixe dinner for $24.95 is now available Monday through Thursday at Reign, Keyshawn Johnson's hip Southern restaurant at 180 N. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills. Bonus: 50 percent off certain wines. Information and reservations: [phone]. ... Pradeep, an Indian restaurant at 1405 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, claims its food has ``80 percent less fat and 100 percent more taste.''... Chef John Sedlar's famous tamales can now be consumed at the new tamale bar at El Dorado, 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, a Mexican cantina that even has a tequila sommelier. Reservations: [phone].