Matador is a popular place especially during happy hour! I came on a Sunday at 5pm; we were a group of 3 and was able to take one of the last two open tables at that time. The host was very nice and let us choose indoor or outdoor seating and of course we went for outdoors! While they were seating us, I noticed that there were already 3 parties lined up behind me! Many people rave about their happy hour menu and now I finally know why! It's a simple $5 and $6 menu with a variety of options. For the 3 of us, we got 3 things. Awesome quantity and quality food for the price. We were SO satisfied. DEFINITELY get those GRANDE NACHOS. They really mean it when they named it "grande" - it was a grand mountain of nachos and you can choose to add protein to it as well for a small amount (we did ground beef). It's a glorious mess to eat, just like nachos should be. It felt like comfort food and they top it with pico, guac, black beans, sour cream. Also DEFINITELY get those crispy brussels sprouts. They are crispy which and I think they flavor it with honey and balsamic...whatever it is, the flavor is fantastic and the crisp makes it easy and fun to eat! Delicious and also a favorite as well! We got the 3 for $5 tacos and I think its awesome how they allow you to choose a different protein for each one. I thought the amount of meat and filling they give you for the taco is a little more on the lesser end and wasn't as impressed with this as the other dishes we got. Overall, was so happy with the service, noms-ness of the food, and the fantastic price you pay for it. Will definitely come back again and is a great spot for happy hour and catching up with friends! read more

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I see some really average reviews for this place but I'm glad we tried it out. Our experience was actually super nice. We loved the food, they have plenty of vegetarian options on the menu. The drinks (tamarind margaritas) and desert (flan) were excellent. Our server was super nice. A great experience overall! read more

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Honestly I'm giving 4 stars because they have a Saturday happy hour which is mostly unheard of. We went for happy hour on a Saturday because I was craving margaritas. They have a lot of $5 specials, $1.25 street tacos and we had some amazing stuffed jalapeños. We sat at the bar and honestly didn't get the best service considering it wasn't that busy, but the cheap eats made up for it. I do wish there were drink happy hour specials though, but I'd definitely go back for happy hour again. read more

Matador Ballard - Stuffed jalapeños for happy hour - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The experience and the food were just very good! I prefer this location over the one in Redmond. I had the Rib Eye Steak Fajitas and Chicken Nachos. They also have some really good Mocktails. Service was very good. Ambiance is dim with soft lighting. Depending on the time of the day, you may go there for any occasion. read more

I never write reviews on restaurants, but I was appalled at the lack of respect from the employees that I felt obligated to say something. I visited Matador with my boyfriend and asked if we were able to get two tables for 4 people each. The host responded to me with such a sassy "nope" that I thought she was joking at first. I realized later that she was being serious. I asked again if I could get a table for just me and my boyfriend since we were already there and haven't even physically interacted with the others at this point, and yet again she responded with the same attitude. I can understand if the restaurant doesn't want to serve a group of more than 5 individuals due to COVID, but I don't understand why I couldn't get a table for just me and my boyfriend nor do I understand why the host had to give us an attitude when I was only trying to be polite and figure out what our options were. I honestly don't believe I would be coming back to this location and I definitely won't be encouraging anyone else to do so either. read more

I've been to the Redmond location and this one and like this one better imo, food + service is usually much more consistent. My wife and I came here recently and had Fernando as our server. He was super funny and quick. Wife got the nachos and I got an agave chicken wrap with a side of the habanero salsa. It was really really good and we'll definitely be back :) read more

Holy Shlamoley that was some pile o nachos! That's all I had so that's all I can talk about. I'm actually not much of a nachos person, but that was some impressive pile. Every seemed to like their drinks, though unfortunately they were not discounted as apparently their HH does not include reduced price alcohol, which makes them the first I've ever seen. They were mega crowded on a Friday night, a little too cozy, but I liked the dim lighting and all. I don't really see making it back here any time soon, being on the Eastside and all, but now might go for Redmond Matador's HH sometime. read more

Matador Ballard - Holy shlamoley!!! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So happy that Matador has a delivery option during our current social distancing, Covid-19 issue. The only suggestion would be to make sure that the delivery people understand that dropping at the door is great, but ringing the door bell would help tremendously! We were waiting once we were texted delivery update, but the door bell was not rung to alert us of the delivery. Good thing I checked before our food got cold. We really enjoy Matador's enchilada's and chili relleno's and I love their salsa, guacamole and chips. I don't think we've ever had a bad meal from this restaurant!! read more

Delicious! Accommodated outside seating for COVID. Friendly staff, fast service! Well worth it. I got the carnitas poblano burrito and I ate the entire thing. So much flavor. read more

Matador Ballard - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came to the Matador on our third stop in Ballard with my guy and his friend. Anthony gets major props for introducing this place to us, especially since I cannot stop thinking about the spiciness of food and drinks. I checked out the cocktail menu and asked the Bartender if he had any spicy Margaritas. I cannot resist a spicy cocktail. He made me this Habanero Lime Margarita that was soooo great using a house made syrup. Even thinking about it makes my mouth water. We decided on a couple appetizers for dinner, I picked the Spicy Habanero Shrimp (can't get enough at this point) and my guy went with the ceviche. Everything was really good, espcially with the sauce, chips, etc. It was "Heat Heaven". After enjoying two very fine spicy cocktails and one really hot app, we decided to get out there and hit up one more place before the night was over. I had a little more Seattle to fit in before we had to go... read more

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Awesome Mexican place. Chips and salsa are free and very fresh. The vegan Beyond Burrito is nut free and very large. The habanero-blackberry margarita was very unique and delicious. Service was good. Only knock is the slightly high prices. read more

Great couple of takeout experiences here. Big fan of the Chile Relleno and the crispy brussel sprouts app. The burrito is also quite good. I appreciate their myriad of veg options and plant based meat substitutes. Want to dine in and try those outrageously good looking happy hour nachos. read more

Matador Ballard - Brussels. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent service. Great happy hour selection and prices. And delicious drinks. Standouts were the black bean dip, grapefruit rosemary margarita. read more

Delicious Mexican food, numerous margaritas, and great vibes! I was nervous when you couldn't make a reservation, but the wait was quick even on the weekend and there are a ton of great bars to grab a drink nearby. I got the ribeye tacos and my husband got the fish tacos - both were exceptional. If you're looking to splurge with an appetizer, I would also recommend the stuffed jalapeños. read more

Moved from Portland to Seattle this year and was stoked to see Matador has locations here as well! I've always had a great experience at Matador. Our server, Paige, at the Ballard location was lovely and the food was delish as expected. read more

I freaking love the Matador. I know there are two successful locations and I still wish there was another one on the Hill. I love the hand crafted margaritas, the delicious romaine salad and the shrimp quesadilla. The ambiance is a hip, cool, cozy feel and I love bringing friends who are visiting from out of town here. They love it and that the food is not typical. My wife usually (ambitiously) attempts the steak nachos and leaves half on the plate or is remorseful the next day. The food is just so good its hard to push away. The prices do reflect the quality but it's worth it. Happy Hour helps quite a bit. My favorite, giving me a drink that I can feel and taste! That's a wonderful skill that should be applauded. read more

Matador Ballard - Steak Nachos and Calamari - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Fernando was amazing! He was super friendly and got all our big groups orders super fast and had some great jokes for us! The food and drinks tasted great and came fast! read more

Fernando was an amazing and attentive server for our large party of 15! The food was delish and Fernando went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend this place! read more

I love this place but warning about ordering take-out directly through their website: Last order: Take and bake nachos and they forgot to provide the CHIPS. I live far enough away that it was easier to go to the grocery store to buy some than go back to Matador. Time before that: I paid the extra $4.50 to add steak to my take and bake nachos and they forgot the meat. Time before that: We ordered the bacon wrapped jalapenos and received brussels sprouts. Obviously, I love this place so I'm going to keep ordering, but it's veering into ridiculous territory now with the errors. No chips for NACHOS?! Come on. I'm never going to stop with the #NachoLife but I am going to start being *that person* who diligently checks the bag before leaving from now on. read more

So good, and we had excellent service. We were super lucky to have gotten in without reservations, but we had a small party and it was late enough that the dinners were starting to lazily roll out. My friend & I really loved the ambiance, and the staff was super attentive and extremely nice. It was our first time and we had many questions. Our wait staff diva was Aiden, and she couldn't have been more lovely. She was apparently still in training, but we had to be told this because she absolutely spoiled us and was generous with the information that helped us make decisions from drinks and appetizers to desert. We had chips, guac and salsa to start and I must say the generous menu made it quite a challenge to narrow down what to choose for dinner. My date chose chicken quesadillas and was so pleased that she opted to pace herself so she could eat it all rather than to take leftovers home. During the excellent appetizer, I asked for a small side of mole to help make my difficult decision of entree. The chips were good, salsas were delectable, and better than the pico. The guacamole is the real deal, none of that pre-fab crap from a tube. But blessed bovine was I blown away by the mole! They brought it out warm and we were both amazed by the complexity while we ate it w the chips. It begins as a mildly sweet mocha kiss on the tongue which warms to a smoky but mild heat, leaving a very pleasing flavour until you go back in for another round. Wow! So many tastes in one sauce. In the end, I selected two chicken enchiladas and sampled both the green and rojas sauces. I liked them both, but enjoyed the green more. To be fair, you CAN order THREE and experience the red, green, AND mole, but I was smart enough to know that would leave no room for dessert! Next time though, I'm going for one green and one mole. I took the rice & beans home for leftover lunch. There is so much more to explore here, and we're looking forward to working our way through both the drink & dinner menus. However, I must say the flan was so freaking amazing that I could easily eat it every time I go back. It truly is a smooth & rich custard and there's no strange eggy portions that stand out against a creamier base. I've had flan elsewhere, and tried mole at other places but Matador seems to make them both an elevated art form. I shared the flan with my dinner date who I respect and is a good friend. But next time, she can get her own. I'm eating the whole thing myself. read more

We stopped in for pre-dinner drinks on a Saturday afternoon and it was not busy. Luckily it was still sunny and not cold, so we grabbed seats on the patio. Our drinks were perfectly punchy and lovely for the easy Saturday afternoon. Service was very attentive even though we were only there for drinks. read more

Came here with some friends for the first time and really loved it! Lots of really tasty drinks and super friendly staff as well! Fernando was our server and he gave us some great recommendations. I really liked the vibe here and will definitely be coming back for a date with my hubby sometime soon! read more

First visit during covid that finally started to feel more normal- will we ever be normal again?? Happy hour is our favorite at this place! Hubby wanted to try the Brussels sprouts this time & y'all these are SO good! A little spicy, little sweet, SO much flavor. Everything tasted so good! The last time I had the shrimp quesadillas they didn't taste like they used to, but this time they did. We will be back soon! read more

Matador Ballard - Happy hour nachos with steak, shrimp quesadillas & Brussels sprouts!! So damn good - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First of all the service was great for how busy it was and our server was awesome. However when arriving this place literally was playing system of the down loudly over the speaker system, which I would safely venture a guess is still not the majority of universes ideal dinner music. The food was over done, mahi mahi dish was bone dry, I ordered the paella and there was so much fat grease in it that I had to try to strain it by scooping it out of the cast-iron and there was almost a cup and a half of grease and it was still so greasy I could not eat the rest of the dish. when giving feedback, the restaurant was only willing to give me 50% off an inedible dish that wasn't properly made. Also the carnitas was extremely bone dry as well and tasted like it had been reheated multiple times. Drinks were fine. But seriously system of the down? I guess maybe a "lies from the tablecloth" pun? Who plays that in dinner restaurant? The only reason why it got 3 stars was air conditioning and the server was solid at her job and very professional. read more

This place is very popular and really yummy. The decor is moody and eclectic; there is always something to stare at no matter where you look. There's 2 bars that are open seating, one as soon as you walk in, and one right up the stairs. The wait on a busy Saturday night was only around 25 minutes! Definitely not bad compared to other places. They moved their tables quickly and efficiently. There are loads of vegetarian options and they are all DELICIOUS! The burrito is huge. And the beyond picadillo is a little spicy, and full of flavor. I would highly recommend the sessional tamarind angus Fresca and the black bean dip- it's a 10/10 for me. read more

Great happy hour with not so happy staff But Tbh one of the better happy hours I've been. $5 huge plate of nachos and a whole bunch of other stuff. $6 calamari rings and such. The drinks, on the other hand, ranged $9 and up. Unfortunately, I wasn't too please with the staff. I understand that we were a big group but we just didn't feel very welcomed and were rushed a lot. Great happy hour tho. read more

Matador Ballard - $5 nachos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This has become our "go to" Mex place in Ballard. Great food (generous portions) and service, a killer happy hour, and very tasty Cadillac margaritas. A special shout out to Jessica S., who took great care of us on our last visit. Worth the drive, even if you don't live in the neighborhood (like our son and daughter-in-law do, who could probably be called "regulars"!) Highly recommended. read more

Best Mexican food!! Great service Great environment to have lunch Loved the taco salad Quantity is enough for 2 people Best thing is free nachos with salsa for starters Would definitely visit again read more

Matador Ballard - Taco salad (vegetarian) - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The decor was great. The drinks were tasty. The Mexican food was yummy. But our server Lori was a bit not happy (we did not know why). Dining experience, to me, is a whole of many details. And when you miss one, it is no longer a complete one. But we really didnt care for the server who had a bad hair day. We heard of their tacos, so we tried them. The 5-choice Street Tacos, Baja Fish Tacos, and the Veggie Tacos were all delicious. The Street Corns with cojita were also excellent. read more

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Had great food, great ambiance, and great service from Karen!! Will definitely return. Also the Brussel sprouts were awesome.

I was first mesmerized by the amount of attractive people they have on staff here at Matador. Everyone is fit, dressed head-to-toe in black, and very nice to look at. I guess this can be expected at a place like Matador-- GREAT happy hour food and a lot of tequila selection. I had a margarita, which didn't taste very tequila-y, so that was slightly disappointing. Our server didn't seem very happy or have much of a personality, but she was pretty, prompt, relatively attentive, and everything was out so quickly I can hardly harp about that. We ordered nachos to share, two steak taco plates, a fish taco plate, and a quesadilla. Nachos were very, very worth 4 bucks. HUGE plate of chips, tons of cheese, beans, green chilies, and a nice dollop of guac and sour cream, which thankfully for me, didn't adulterate too much of the plate. Everyone seemed happy with their taco plates, which were not only pretty, but very decent serving sizes for the measly 4-5 dollars each. I will definitely be back here for happy hour again. read more

Nice to come back to Matador after a few years. New location is great especially with the outdoor seating. Drinks were yummy and the nachos was tasty. Karen, our server, has a charming southern accent and was very attentive and responsive. Looking forward to the fajitas during our next visit. read more

Went on a recent very busy Friday night, and really enjoyed the food. This place is a 5 star on the food alone (I really recommend the Braised Carnitas - it was very delicious), and everything we had was fresh, flavorful & wonderful dining experience. But the evening we were there was one of the strangest service experiences I've ever had. It took about a 30-40 minute wait before we were seated, which was fine - we just roamed the neighborhood until they texted us that our table would be ready. We got back and were seated, but ended up waiting for at least 15-20 minutes before the hostess returned with water glasses and told us our waitress would be by soon. Another 10-15 minutes later, and our waitress appears asking for our drink orders, which we give her, but then we ask if it's all right that we put in our order for food as we know what we want (we've had a half hour to review the menu). She takes our orders for appetizers as well as entrees, and disappears. About 15-20 minutes go by, no drinks come to the table, but the appetizers do, followed shortly by the entrees. So now we have a table full of food, and just waters to drink. Pretty much as we were wrapping up eating (and I'll repeat myself - the food was excellent), the waitress showed up with our drinks, which included a bottle of wine. So we finally get the drinks for our table at the end of the evening, and we sit at the table, drinking our wine & beers. One of the most mixed up dining experiences I've ever experienced. On our next visit - we'll begin by ordering the drinks, and when the waitperson brings us the drinks, we'll order the appetizers. And once we have those, then we'll place our orders for the main meals. Apparently, if you try to put your complete order in at one time, their "system" just starts spewing out whatever it wants. Still - we will go back - but we'll try to be more patient. read more

I cannot express how great my experience was! My server was Zane & he might have been the funnest servers I've had! Great service, great food as always and great atmosphere! Can't wait to come back! read more

My husband and I were visiting, we are from out of state so with limited knowledge of go to places, we stumbled upon this spot on Yelp and so glad we did! Fernando was AMAZING! Super helpful with the menu and excellent recommendations. Very helpful, great to converse with and made our experience visiting for the first time an absolute memorable one! Thank you Fernando for the hospitality! We will definitely be back on our next visit. read more

Karen is amazing! Best server, always so nice and friendly. Great margs and HH! Lots of seating and a separate event space

Stopped by for dinner and was pleasantly surprised by the drinks they offer here! Jess S was our server and was awesome!. She was very lovely and provided us with impeccable service! Definitely coming back! read more

Since moving from their old location, to Ballard Avenue, I feel as though the pivot rekindled some passion and flare. The ambiance, the food, the atmosphere! Zane topped it all off with his incredible service, knowledge and smile. Kudos team Matador!! read more

Happy this was a to go order so I could add some cheese to my quesadilla. Super overpriced for basically a tortilla and a few pieces of meat read more

Matador Ballard - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Every single experience I've had has been such a great one! From the greeting at the door to the 'see you next time!' The food has been 10/10, every single time. Even a single quesadilla - so tasty! Fern is a fave, so kind, welcoming and genuinely interested in the guests. The interactions make the moments. Can't wait to come back for the great food and mouth watering margaritas! No pics because I eat it alllllll! read more