amazing food and wonderful staff! our favorite Mexican restaurant ever! we had such a nice evening for Cinco de Mayo! the music was great! read more

I remember coming here years ago when I first moved out here.. was the best. Came tonight for cinco de mayo.. this place has hit the floor. Absolute worst food. The shredded beef tacos they use to have,, juicy real beef.. ya, not anymore. Both chicken and beef tacos were like paste meat on an over cooked shell that has been sitting for 8 hours. Such a disappointment. read more

Just recently moved out to this area and I am way too excited to try all the restaurants around here. I stopped by El Matador on a Sunday afternoon for some enchiladas and I was so glad I tried this place first. There are two entrances. One for the bar and then one for regular dining. We decided to sit in the bar area. Plenty of seating on either side. It was not so busy either. I am pretty sure we were before the dinner rush. Our server was the bartender and he was somewhat attentive. He seemed a little distracted, but other than that, he did get us everything we needed as requested. I ordered the number two combo which is two cheese enchiladas and oh man, they were so delicious. The red sauce that they use is pretty tasty. You gotta get that red sauce on point or else you don't have good enchiladas. It was enough for me to save as leftovers and they were still amazing. Can't wait to come back here and try a cocktail next time! read more

El Matador - Combo 2. Cheese Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My husband and I tried a New Mexican restaurant on date night and I can't rave enough about every aspect of our dining experience!!! From being greeted warmly and seated quickly, to feeling like our server, Juan, was excited to see us and that we were the most important customers there (even though it was 2/3 full. From immediately taking our drink order and being happy to answer questions I had at that time, checking on us throughout our dinner, all the way to offering to box up our leftovers and simply being just a genuinely really good human being, Juan is the definition of an exceptional server! The food was an authentic Mexican flavor surprise to my tastebuds. My compliments to the chef and whomever wrote the recipes all of our food was superb! We look forward to coming back many times and trying many different menu items. With the phenomenal service, wonderful environment and exquisite food, El Matador has 2 new soon to be "regulars". So happy we tried it! So excited for next time!!!!! :) read more

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THE BEST FAJITAS EVER. I can't stop thinking about them haha going back again for the second time this week

El Matador -- A Solid Pinch Hitter Taco Tuesday brought me to El Matador, and honestly? It delivered exactly what the occasion promises: reasonably priced tacos and no major disasters. Hard shells at $3.50 and soft at $4.50... not a steal, not a crime, just a deal. Walking in, the vibe is classic casual dive; think worn-in charm rather than Instagram bait. It's a tighter space, but it works in its favor. The room stays warm and unpretentious, and the noise level was refreshingly manageable. No shouting over a blaring playlist to ask someone to pass the salsa. Conversation was actually possible, a rare luxury these days. It's a great spot for families or a small group, though I'd cap it at four before things start feeling cozy in the wrong direction. I went all in on the food: potato tacos, shredded beef, chicken, and fish. The potato and shredded beef tacos were the quiet workhorses of the plate, nothing flashy, but they showed up. The chicken was solid too. The fish tacos, however, had a little too much personality... they tasted like the ocean called and wanted its fish back. If you're sensitive to a strong fish flavor, maybe let someone else be the hero on that one. The hard shells were on the oilier side, and across the board, from the chips to the tacos, everything was quietly begging for just a little more salt. Not a dealbreaker, just a gentle nudge to whoever's running the seasoning station. Service was quick and no-fuss; food came out fast, waters stayed full, and nobody hovered. Exactly what you want when you're just trying to get your Tuesday taco fix. Parking didn't make me question my life choices either, which around here counts as a win. Bottom line: El Matador is a warm, low-key neighborhood spot that punches at its weight class. Great for families, easy on small groups, and perfectly fine for a casual weeknight out. I wouldn't rearrange my schedule or brave the 405 for it, but if you're already in Costa Mesa and your stomach is making demands... it'll absolutely get the job done. read more

El Matador - Potato tacos (left), Fish tacos (middle), Shredded beef and chicken tacos (right) - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We were in the area for a work meeting and had lunch at El Matador. It was the first time here for all of us. Fortunately, it was still early enough, and we were able to find a parking spot in the limited spaces up front. There's also parking behind the building or near the gym or behind the doggy daycare per the owners who messaged me after this review. Thank you. It seemed a little dark inside, giving it an outdated atmosphere. It was probably because the lights were not turned on during the day and low ceilings. We were seated in a booth and the cushion felt a little worn down, and it felt a little snug with the four of us. Chips and salsa were brought out right away, and our waitress was friendly with smiles. The salsa was pretty spicy but very good. There's a variety of items to choose from on the lunch special menu. I had the shredded beef taco and it came with rice and beans. I wasn't a big fan of the rice and beans. They were just okay. The beans were not very flavorful. My taco hardshell was a little on the burnt side. The amount of food is not great for the price point. It would be so much better if it was two tacos as opposed to one. I was still slightly hungry afterwards, and my boss offered to share her food with me. She ordered off the regular menu which was the better decision. My other coworker ordered the enchilada lunch special. It comes with just one enchilada. I've seen kids meals at other places that are even larger than this and cost less. My other coworker ordered the chicken salad which came with a generous portion of sliced avocado and chicken. I think this was the best of the three lunch specials that we ordered. read more

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Cute restaurant with a charming atmosphere! The food was delicious, and the staff were outstanding. Everyone was attentive, friendly, and provided excellent service--something that seems harder to find at many restaurants these days. read more

El Matador - Chips and salsa, hand-crafted chimichanga, and a cheese enchilada and shredded cheese taco. - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

El Matador was amazing! The restaurant was very clean and the service was great from start to finish. The food was the highlight though everything tasted super fresh and full of flavor. You can really tell they use quality ingredients. Definitely a great spot and I'll be coming back! read more

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We had great service great drinks and great food. We frequent quite often and the food is always great.

Came here with some friends who enjoy coming here. We were greeted and seated quickly. The restaurant has a nice ambiance but the seating can leave you a bit claustrophobic. I'm short and I felt like I was constantly kicking my friend underneath the table. My husband is 6'3 and a 4 person booth is really only comfortable for 2. The chips and salsa were delicious as were the shrimp tacos and taco salad. Would definitely come back. read more

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The food is absolutely amazing and always consistent! Our bar servers take wonderful care of us. Place has been here forever and the quality of of everything shows why. read more

El Matador - Best tequila bar in Newport! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Excellent service for a larger party. Everyone raved about how flavorful everything tasted. Best of all, we stumbled across this restaurant on Yelp after a harbor cruise in Newport! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Cheer's read more

El Matador - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ok ok I love this place.. I was there for the first time on taco Tuesday and all I can say is a great place. Great food great tacos big ones, great portions love love the chips and salsa. actually good salsa & spicy. My only but about this place and it's very silly, but they do not serve beer on draft.. besides that I will go there again great service shout out to Yeni our waitress , She was amazing and so polite. read more

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Thank u so much for making my birthday gathering a great experience ! We had separate room area that seemed to be like a refurbished garage and it was like being outside but not fully . The service was good even with ppl arriving some different times and a friend cancelling last minute and another friend chiming in last minute too .the food was good & anyway it was a Lovely great time with my friends that could join up . We had fun ! I appreciate all Alex and Rene did and all staff to make this a reality for my bday gathering. U rock ! read more

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First time here for my boyfriend and I, and it couldn't have come at a better time. We've been going through a lot lately and really needed a proper date night and this place delivered exactly that. Chris, our server, struck the perfect balance: friendly and attentive without hovering. He got our cocktails out quickly (which we definitely needed!) and made sure everything flowed smoothly from there. Our food came out hot and delicious, and he was super knowledgeable about both the menu and the tequila selection. Thanks to his recommendation, we ended the night with some Fortaleza Reposado on the rocks, which was the perfect nightcap to an already great evening. Overall, such a comforting and enjoyable experience, we'll definitely be back! read more

I've been wanting to try this place for years. The staff was friendly, but there weren't enough people working to handle the crowd. Drinks were great and my enchilada suiza was fantastic. I will be back now that we have family living in the area read more

Great Mexican food and great vibe all around. Stopped in here while visiting friends in Newport Beach.

We cane for Taco Tuesday. The chip and salsa was excellent, along with the hard shell tacos and margaritas. We had great service and loved the ambiance. read more

This place is awesome, I was looking for a quick place to grab a little bit of food and came across this place on yelp. Ordered a bowl Albondigas soup and it was very good. Had some enchiladas and they were good as well. Service was excellent and it was very nice on the inside. I will definitely be back read more

Long-time Costa Mesa establishment. Their homemade tortilla chips and salsa are fantastic (and dangerous-- easy to fill up on these). I wasn't a big fan of the hard tacos-- they are deep fried -more like taquitos if you like that style then definitely order them. H the eir 6.00 margaritas on Tuesday lunch menu are worth it. read more

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As a big hard-shell taco fan, I gave Matador Mexican Restaurant in Newport Beach a try, and taco-bout delicious! I got a beef crispy taco to go, and it was perfectly golden, super fresh, and had me crunching happily in my car. Their salsa is top-notch, too. Definitely five stars, and I can't wait to come back for more! read more

El Matador - Hard shell beef - chef kiss - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is excellent! The food was so fresh, delicious and authentic! The salsa was nice and spicy and the margarita was made perfectly! The service was so attentive and the staff clearly cared about their customers! The ambiance is Mexican casual. I can't wait to eat here again very soon! read more

I went here for a catered birthday party, and have no complaints. We just had fajitas, guacamole, cheesy beans, warm tortillas, and chips and salsa. Everything was good, but they kept running out of tortillas. The venue was great for about 70 people. Options included beer, wine, or margaritas. The margaritas were really good, and they had different types they could muster up. This was a fun and friendly place that I look forward to revisiting where the entire menu is available to peruse. read more

Always passed by this place and finally gave it a try. House margarita - too overly sweet, skip it steak taco - the meat was pretty good. ground beef taco - skip it. Wasn't a fan of the meat or the crunchy shell. Rice and beans were just ok. Chips and salsa - pretty solid. read more

Love El Matador and Taco Tuesday. They never disappoint. We made a reservation and were seated right away. Food is authentic and spicy. Thanks to all of your excellent staff. read more

Food, staff, ambience- doesn't get any better. Our favorite Mexican restaurant by far. I cannot overexaggerate the consistent quality of the staff, acknowledging that it's not just your waiter, but everyone works as a team and cares about your table. They are truly happy to be there and it shows. read more

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I liked the scramble eggs and how they were cooked. the beans and rice are really good and flavorful. not a fan of the Horchata cause its not house made- which im sure why. Service was good on point and quick. Nice! Ambience is nice as well. It matches up. I could just eat beans rice and eggs and sauce. Im good and filled! read more

Food was good and environment was great! Would visit again. Went to have dinner with friends and watch a soccer game. Did it's job and was enjoyable. read more

The Monday chef is awesome!!Good food, good vibes and good servers!! The Monday night chef is the best!! read more

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Beto the waiter just added three extra adult meals to our bill that we did not order. He overcharged us and when I brought it to his attention, he said oh sorry. It seems he was just trying to get a bigger tip and overcharge us Horrible read more

Lets start with the positive: food is fabulous and the carnitas tacos for Taco Tuesday are incredible. The problem: The house margarita on the Taco Tuesday menu is $6. I ordered one and the waiter asked if I would like a large one. I said yes, assuming it should be around double the price. My partner ordered the same when he arrived. When the bill arrived, we were charged $34 for two margaritas!! When I questioned the waiter (Santos, I believe was his name) he informed me that the large ones are the "ultimate margarita" which he NEVER informed us that they were so much more because "they have premium tequila and orange liquor". Who cares! They still tasted very watered down and too sweet. This was NEVER mentioned when we placed the order. So our very economical Taco Tuesday cost us over $51, without a tip! So....customer beware...... you will get screwed unless you ask specifically what the large margarita will cost. I've been coming here since the early 90's and today will probably be my last visit. Such a shame read more

Carnitas nothing better. Prove me wrong . Modelo Negro. Epstein Epstein Epstein Epstein read more

Authentic Mexican food without being fancy. Descent portions and good services. Restaurant is a little outdated and random but that's part of the charm. read more

El Matador is definitely one of my local favorites! Their Taco Tuesday menu is great, and the atmosphere is always fun. While it might not be the top Mexican food in town, for the price and vibe, it's solid. On Taco Tuesday, I love their crunchy chicken taco, and I definitely recommend the shrimp and fish tacos with soft tortillas--they're awesome. The service is super friendly, and they keep the chips and salsa flowing. They'll bring you anything you need, like limes or extra hot sauce. It's a great Taco Tuesday spot, but I've also been on other nights with friends or family. I really enjoy their arroz con pollo--super satisfying. I definitely recommend checking it out! read more

A local staple for over 40 years that is an institution. Always has delicious and large portions. We love this place!

This is one of the coolest and best tasting Mexican restaurants in all of California! I came with some friends because I have heard about this place being good, and was honestly blown away. Great staff, prices, food, location. I'll be back very soon, maybe even tomorrow! O I almost forgot, they have the craziest tequila collection I have ever seen! read more

Great fun at El Matador last night! We celebrated two family birthdays and it really was perfect! Great food( Taco Tuesday), great prices and excellent service! We had 12 people and 6 were young kids so service needed to be quick which is exactly what we received! Honestly we haven't been to El Matador in awhile but it's back on my list. Very kid friendly! Super fun! Just arrive a little early because parking is limited and I suggest reservations! read more

El Matador - Celebrating at El Matador last night! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We had a large party of 20 for Taco Tuesday and it was a blast!. The wait staff was so accommodating. read more

El Matador - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is amazing. It's amazing they've managed to keep their doors open. Well hell. I just hate to crap all over a place, but El Matador really let their culinary mediocrity show through, so let the crappings begin. Let us assess the damage. First off, this place has been around for donkey years, and in the beginning had pretty decent food. What happened? Went there the other night (hadn't been for awhile). I had cheese & beef enchilada with a taco. My wife had the fajitas. Guess what? El Matador doesn't believe in seasoning their food...at all! They are the seasons challanged. They are bereft and barren of seasonings. They are herb and spices poor. They must take their meat and throw into a pot of boiling water and call it a day. Gordon Ramsay would take one bite, curse out the entire staff and then leave in a huff, kicking over bowls of salsa on his way out. This is a place for people whose flavor sensors were dulled, or no longer existing due to COVID burn out. In which case, El Matador profited from the virus. If they opened a restaurant in Mexico, they would all be tarred and feathered, and then run out of town on a rail. How dare they charge for this. I felt like they should have paid me! Sorry El Matador, but maybe you should just stick to Margaritas and bull fighting, cuz', food ain't you. I gave it two stars because I'm not completely heartless. read more