There is street parking and a parking lot next to this location. I was seated within 2 to 3 minutes of arriving. The food was served within minutes. The only downside of the street tacos was that the tortilla was breaking and soggy. Reasons for Rating: +1 Excellent location and parking +0.75 Food taste really good +1 Customer service +1 Interior/atmosphere +1 Would return/recommend others read more

Matador Ballard - Street Tacos For 2 - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We loved our visit to the Matador at their new location. The new Ballard digs are beautiful! We started with the Grande Nachos with chicken. OMG, maybe the best nachos ever. The nachos are stacked high and topped with everything (pico, black beans, guac, and gooey cheese to pull it all together). Delicious and enough to feed plenty. Four of us shared as an appetizer and we didn't come close to finishing (and we were hungry). I ordered the fish tacos and was slightly disappointed. The tacos were put together well, but the fry batter had that greasy fish taste that sometimes happens when the grease is old. If not for that I think the fish has potential of being really good. I tried one of my wife's shrimp taco and it was amazing. Service was outstanding. Our waitress did a great job. We were dining with an old friend and appreciated not feeling rushed. read more

Matador Ballard - Sweet Tea Old Fashioned- wonderful!! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It's been a few years and a friend of mine and I accidentally found ourselves in the neighborhood. It wasn't planned so figured should give Matador another chance and I'm glad I did! I was surprised to see the restaurant in a new location and another patron confirmed that. I really love the ambiance. My eyes drank in everything because no matter where I looked there was something to see. The metal divider between the bar and dining room was intricately detailed as was the same metal arch over the bar. The light fixtures were captivating from delicate pendants to colorful lanterns. The bar was captivating. It had a great atmosphere. My only complaint was in regards to the bar seating. They elevated the seating and put a metal bar acting as a footrest on the raised floor of the booth. The distance between the table and seat is narrow and I am short. The booth seating was too high for me to jump into, the area too narrow for me to swing myself into, and with the bar on the floor I couldn't find a strategic foothold to anchor myself and pull myself up. The hostess had to assist pushing me into the booth. Once there I was super comfortable but decided I wasn't leaving the booth until I was leaving the restaurant. The hostess was so sweet to help me and I found everyone to be great. The bartender acted as our waiter and he had his hands full! The Seahawks were beating the Jaguars, the Sunday market was going on, and there's this one bartender taking care of the entire bar. He was hustling! And he made stellar drinks. The food runners filled in the gaps with great precision. We never were left wanting. The ribeye tacos were fantastic. Big tender cuts of meats, flavorful, and delicious. The black beans were great too! I also appreciated they offered me extra cheese. I really liked that. I am glad I tried this place again. read more

Matador Ballard - Cute cup! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came in around 5:30p on a Wednesday night. First time we've been here - the food smelled good while walking by, and the restaurant looked inviting so we decided to stop in. Sadly, we experienced the worst service I've had in a long time. The hostess and whoever sat us down were nice - then our server came and everything went downhill from there. Definitely a busy night, despite that I don't expect to wait 45 mins for our server to address us after we ordered nachos, or to have to ask for tableware/napkins so we can eat said appetizer. The nachos weren't good either - burnt, excessively oily, and way too salty. Never even got a chance to order food. Finally, when our server made her way back to our table 45 mins later - she asked if we wanted a box for our burnt nachos. Yes, that's correct - no ask of whether we want to order drinks or food after waiting 45 mins. Apparently she thought we just wanted nachos for dinner? No apology for the long wait time. No ask of whether we would like anything else - which I feel should have been obvious? We obviously said no and told her we'd like our check so we could go to one of the many other restaurants close by. She then sat there with a smug look on her face, standing there silently at our table, while we paid. Finally - I asked her how her night was going to try to remove the awkward silence to which she mumbled something about debating whether she should have come in to work today. First impressions are everything and can't say I'd go out of my way to go back. read more

Came back here because my sister in law loves this place. I wasn't happy with food or service. The waitress kept saying Yo, Bro and My friend. Our order got mixed up with another table's order. My shrimp ceviche had maybe a shrimp and a half total. With lots of jalapeños. Beer was good at least. Their vibe is really fun but don't come here for food. read more

Got here at 12:35 after an event on a recommendation, and they're supposed to take food orders until 1245am. We were very obviously - on purpose - ignored until 12:50 *after being seated* and THEN told "it's drinks only." Only ever had bad experiences here and this one takes the cake. Told to go to McDonalds and food luck. Wow. Never coming back. read more

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the Seattle area! Located in downtown Ballard, it's often crowded and has a wait but we were seated within 30 minutes on a Saturday night. The service is fast and the food is great! I love the complimentary chips and salsa -- the best in the area -- and my steak fajitas were perfectly cooked. The portion was big too, so I took almost half of it home. The total with drinks, tax, and tip was about $90 for two people. read more

Matador Ballard - Steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Enjoyed the outdoor sidewalk dining. One of out dishes was super salty and we left it uneaten w/o complaining. The mgr apparently noticed when the server brought the dish back in and came out to ask why. Asked us to order another dish. Great customer service. read more

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Drinks here are awesome & service is always quick even if we don't have a reservation! Also in a great location

My second time at Matador for happy hour and it does not disappoint. Both times I've gotten the nachos and they are so big for around $7 in the HH menu. Definitely sharable for 2 or even 3. The Brussel sprouts were incredible! I definitely recommend. The drinks were also good. We ordered a mango margarita (not in the HH menu) and the vodka mule which was in the HH menu and it was very good. Recommend Matador for happy hour for sure. read more

Matador Ballard - Mango Margarita and vodka mule - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I'm first generation Mexican and I ADORE this place!!! Everyone who works there is so nice and engaging, food is impeccable, service is so quick, insane happy hour w huge portions, beautiful inside -- what more could a girl want? read more

This is my go-to for happy hour! It starts at 9pm and has the best price for drinks and food that I've been to. Everything is around $6-7 for drinks and food, and there are also rotating seasonal cocktails. My favorite thing to order is the nachos--they pile the plate up high with guac and your choice of meat. I've literally ordered nachos at other restaurants before for three times the price and half the amount of nachos. The brussels sprouts are also really delicious, very buttery and flavorful. Any order also comes with complimentary tortilla chips and salsa, so you can definitely get a fulfilling meal for cheap. I haven't come here outside of happy hour because the quality of food and the prices just can't be beat! read more

Matador Ballard - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you want to see-and-be-seen in the local fast growing neighborhood in Ballard this is the perfect spot! Whether it's a date, business meeting, or Taco Tuesdays with your girlfriends come here for some tasty Mexican-inspired street tacos, happy hour cocktail, and great service. This cute place is center of all the local business in Ballard. Start off with the Matador Guacamole:Tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo, queso fresco, cilantro. Freshly made and served with some fresh warm tortilla chips on a trio board. Their drinks are all so great and strong and refreshing. If you want to share something- try the Grande Nachos that is tall as Mt Rainer with a dollop of their signature cilantro-lime sour cream and guacamole. You can customize it by adding the protein of choice like Marinated Steak* or Beyond Picadillo for the vegan friends. The Chicken Matador Quesadilla is a sharrable staple -juicy tender chicken meat with monterey Jack cheese between a toasted flour tortilla served with guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro-lime sour cream. Can't go wrong with their cilantro-lime sour cream. If I can get that togo, most definitely! read more

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We came here during their happy hour, and wow, wow, such reasonable prices at such a high quality. We got a few Mescal tastings and the Habanero Shrimp app (which was EXTREMELY spicy, beware) but paired well with the Mescal tastings. We also had a few other apps, but the shrimp stood out. We loved some of the tastings we had so much we ordered a few bottles (from an online store) for our household, haha. We went in the evening, and the ambiance is gorgeous here. We loved the authentic Spanish-style decor throughout. I can easily see this place being a cute date spot but suitable for groups, families, and most occasions. The service was also excellent; even though they were busy, we had great convos with our server and were very happy with our first time going to this place. We'll be back for date night! read more

Date night with the wife Great atmosphere and great music at this place! We were seated immediately and served our drinks and appetizers fairly quick. The server and support staff was very kind and checked on us often. This place gives complimentary chips and salsa to all their guests. The salsa is amazing so my wife and I had 2 lol For our appetizer we ordered the grande nachos (they are actually grande so please order with caution). We ate as much as we could and the rest we to go with us. I ordered a red sangria- this was unique because they had a touch of cinnamon in their sangria which I really liked. Since we were already pretty full we went with Street tacos and a quesabirria quesadilla. The tacos had the traditional street ingredients. The tortilla was soggy and the chicken which we requested to be shredded came in pieces. (-1 star) The quesabirria quesadilla was a bit disappointing. It didn't taste so good and it did not have the meat broth like they normally do. (-1 star) To end our night we chose to go with the fried ice cream as our dessert. It tasted really good. They had a large scoop of ice cream fried sitting in the center of the plate surrounded by whipped cream. Garnish with caramel and fried coconut. My wife and I really enjoyed it. Overall, it is a good place to go on a date. The drinks were good and so were the grande nachos. The dessert (fried ice cream) was a perfect dish to end our date night. For our next visit my wife and I will just stay away from the tacos and quesabirria quesadilla. I would suggest first timers to do the same. I hope you find this review useful and if so please like and follow for more. Cheers! read more

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We love the happy hour at the Matador! The nachos are my favorite!! But the tacos are a close second. We get the nachos with steak. Try them, you will not be disappointed! The service is quick and friendly, and I love the vibe. It's fun and they have TVs to watch the game if it's on! read more

Matador Ballard - Nachos with Steak - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I have to tell you what I just witnessed . I'm at the bar and I'm having a drink and then I hear this male customer berating a waitstaff member. He was obviously drunk. The wait staff and the bartender all stood behind the waitstaff member to show solidarity . The bartender ( Bailey ) intervened and some how got the customer to leave the wait staff alone and concentrate on her. She told him to have a seat, drink some water and bright him some chip and salsa and said if he sobered up in and hour she would help him with a drink. Needless to say she deescalated a situation that could have gotten out of hand . She brought the man a glass of water and kept an eye on him. After a few minutes she went back and noticed that he was falling asleep and asked again if he wanted to order some food and he calmly said no and said he was going to leave the Resturant . To me this lady deserves a standing ovation . I have never seen a bartender be so nice and so aware of what could have happen and saved everyone's evening. It's to bad that tonight is her last night and she is moving on to a new job. Again the food , staff and ambiance is so amazing. That is why we keep coming back . read more

Matador Ballard - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a regular spot for my partner and I. We love the happy hour drinks and food, the tacos specifically they're 10/10 for the price. Their service really pleasantly surprised me. We went in an hour before close one time and the waitress that took about 20 minutes to come to our table was so apologetic and gave us a free dessert for the inconvenience! It was the brownie with the ice cream-delicious. The music could be better, it ranges from rap to stuff like Taylor Swift which is a VERY weird choice of music for a Latin restaurant. read more

I absolutely love this place!! I go for happy hour occasionally and also went for my birthday recently which was a great experience. Their happy hour menu is great - so many good food options for so cheap! The nacho plate is huge and I believe right around $5-7 The last time I went I got the rosé sangria which is amazing and so refreshing in the summer. I also always get the verde enchiladas; I think they're some of the best I've had anywhere. The vibe is also super cute and it's awesome that they're open late. My servers have always been super friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Overall this is a great casual-ish spot in Ballard that is great for so many occasions. read more

Matador Ballard - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Can't say enough good things about happy hour deals at Matador! The options and food/drink are delicious. The happy hour nachos are massive and the best deal around! Sangria is refreshing and also large. This next bit, I might blame to re-opening pains, but we did sit at our table for 15 minutes before getting our order taken. The staff was so friendly though, so a quick reminder was all they needed - and they apologized for the wait. After that, service was prompt and attentive. So if you do visit during COVID era, just be patient with the staff! I'll leave at 4 stars for now since I haven't had a proper meal here, but I'm impressed from what I have seen! read more

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After inadvertently fasting for a whole day after a horrible experience at Hattie's Hat - our group ended up at Matador hoping to fill our grumbling stomachs. To start with we shared chips and salsa and the dip flight. Honestly, it was pretty solid - the bean queso was a highlight for sure. For entrees , my girlfriend and I opted for some of their vegetarian options. I got the beyond beef burrito Cali Style and my girlfriend got the beyond picadillo tacos. ... my girlfriend said she didn't trust Mexican food outside of California (and Texas) and in this case I'm afraid she was right. The burrito I got was more of a wet burrito which smelled super good but lacked a little flavor and the consistency was kind of mushy. The tacos my girlfriend got had a funky aftertaste in the picadillo. For sides on her dish , the black beans were really good (and she normally doesn't like black beans) and the rice was a little sweet. Food aside, service wise I have a small complaint. One of the members of our group had left his wallet at home as he met us after a soccer game. When we arrived at the restaurant he was forced to leave as he didn't have his ID. He then proceeded to go home, grab his wallet, and rejoin. His ID was never checked ... so effectively the restaurant wasted 30 minutes of his time Some final thoughts - if you are looking for Mexican food in Seattle I think you can find better spots for sure. But if you're in a pinch , this place will get the job done. Definitely not a highlight of the trip, but it filled my stomach when I needed it the most. 2/5 read more

We came here on Saturday 10/4 around 4pm for the 'everyday happy hour'. The hostess was less than friendly. Leading us outside, instead of holding the door open for us as would be standard, she opened it for herself and let it swing open for us to get hit with/push open. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We had asked to sit outside, and there were not many occupants outside, yet she wanted to sit us back-to-back in a squeezed spot with the guests at the table behind us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I asked if we could move to an empty table (mind you, it's chilly in October so most of the outdoor seating was open) & she had a perceptible attitude and proceeded to count the tables on her fingers in front of us, THEN sat us at the table I asked for. We sat for about 15 minutes unattended by a server before we were able to place our drink and food order. (Some other server walked by us and was bussing a table and even dumped unused waters into the trees... leaving us feeling ignored). These initial touchpoints were lending to a highly disappointing experience & I wanted to leave, but admittedly the service did improve as we were eventually served our food and drinks by a separate server for our table, who was nice. A gentleman who I saw at the host stand was also very friendly in bringing us extra salsa & hot sauce. The fish tacos were really tasty, the nachos are huge. There is no 'happy hour' on the actual drinks, just the food, but the food is very good. The most disappointing aspect of our visit was the initial interaction with the hostess and some slow service, but overall we would consider visiting again if we want some cheap nachos and tacos. read more

Great food, cool ambiance, and good service! LOCATION - Located in the center of Ballard, the Matador is easy to find, with plenty of parking close by. They have a super cool fireplace in the middle that adds to the decor. FOOD - Come for the service and price, stay for the food! We had the Grande Nachos, the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Shrimp Quesadilla, and The Bean Dip. They were all delicious AND all on the happy hour menu! The seasonal watermelon margarita was also very good! TIP: Careful not to get too full on the free chips and salsa, the food is worth the wait, trust me! SERVICE - Extra points for the Matador for cleanliness and COVID safety! When you arrive, the hostess asks that you clean your hands with antibacterial and asks if you want to give a name and number to help with contact tracing. The staff are friendly and attentive. OVERALL - I give it a 4.5- thought the food and service was very good, and their happy hour prices made it an excellent value! read more

Matador Ballard - Grande Nachos - With Steak - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I've been to another locations and I'm pretty sure the food is about on par across the board. I love the decor of this restaurant, and the overall vibe. It's a bit pricey for the portions, and there's no drinks on the happy hour menu. At this location you are more than likely to have to pay for parking. read more

Matador Ballard - Shredded beef Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went here for a short hour with a large party. Service was sweet, friendly, and fast. Food was so delicious and great prices!! Second time here and I will continue coming back! We had HH items fried tacos, bean dip, nachos with carnitas, and stuffed bacon wrapped jalapeños! So flavorful!! read more

You can't really go wrong going to the Matador in terms of food. Pretty typical Mexican restaurant with classic favorites but they have a great selection of margaritas. We got their nachos and it was nice and loaded. Their fajitas has a good charred flavored. The mangonada margarita was delicious and would definitely get more. Our server was really attentive which we really liked and appreciated. read more

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The Matador happy hour is hard to beat. Pictured are the nachos, which are huge and only $6 during happy hour!! They're really tasty and enough to split between 3-4 people. I also got the shrimp tacos for HH, and was a bit dissapointed as the filling was mostly cabbage and sour cream, rather than shrimp. Would not recommend getting these. Still leaving 4/5 stars because the price is unbeatable, and I think my friends chicken & carnitas tacos tasted better. You can literally get dinner here for under $10 if you go before 6pm on a weekday!! Steal! Their cocktails are also really delicious. My boyfriend is a big fan of the tamarind margarita - he gets it every time. read more

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This place is amazing!!! We are here right now, the food is excellent (order the Rib Eye Tacos) and the drinks are off the charts too! But what sets them apart from everywhere else is their friendly awesome service. Louisa is our server and she is awesome, but so is everyone who came to our table! Come here, you won't regret it. Ask for Louisa to be your server and the ambiance is great too! read more

Matador Ballard - Rib Eye Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The ambience was nice. I had a vegetarian burrito that was amazing (a bit spicy) my only gripe is the chips use the same fryer as the fish and chicken so stay away from anything fried if that's a deal breaker for your as a vegetarian or vegan. read more

There's a few things I enjoy about this restaurant . - Lively and fun ambience - The happy hour. Its nacho menu is great every time. - Location. It's at the main restaurant street, so you can grab a bite here and hop over to another spot easily after. It's a fun casual spot to come every now and then. read more

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Came in with my sister on a Friday night and we were sat outside within ten minutes of arriving. The service was pretty quick and our server was super friendly. Can't say this is the best Mexican I've ever had, but it's a fun vibe, the drinks are good, and it's in a great location. We weren't there for their happy hour this time but I've been before and it's a great deal, so definitely worth checking that out. read more

Came here for the first time. I like the decorations inside the restaurant. The server was very friendly and served our food in timely manner. However, the food was okay for me. I had their seasonal items al pastor tacos which the meat was dry and the taco shell fell apart the moment I picked it up. I ordered the dip flight which the guacamole needed more salt and the queso thickened up so quick. The chips were very crispy and hard, but very unevenly seasoned as some were super bland and some filled with salt. The price for food was affordable but overall taste was okay. read more

Matador Ballard - Dip Flight - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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YUM! The Baja fish tacos were so delicious, thank you to Gabby for the recommendation. Gabby was very attentive and friendly. First time going to matador, I was impressed with their tequila selection, and even more impressed when I found out that their top shelf tequilas are half off on Tuesday. I'll be sure to be back on a Tuesday ;-) thanks to Gabby and the rest of the staff. read more

Nachos,nachos,nachos and great mixed drinks like margaritas happy hour! Really great service, too! read more

I love the matador. I especially love their nachos so much I have dreams about it. I do think their happy hour nachos are the most amazing bang for your buck but their regular menu, drinks, and to-go items are such as amazing. Today's review will be focused on their nachos (to-go; non happy hour) because that's what I have a photo of. Seriously it does not disappoint. I was so worried that by doing takeout, my nachos would be soggy and near inedible but they really took some care in packaging and layering the nachos just like they do in the skillet. It's so good that I nearly ate the entire box in one sitting. I've had their nachos during happy hour thinking it will be subpar to their standard menu. But my friends, I am happy to report it is just as lovely if not lovelier because you're probably enjoying it with some happy hour drinks. Don't walk but run to matador for any time of day when that nacho cravings hit. Seriously. It's that good. So good that I dedicated a whole review on it. read more

Matador Ballard - Togo nachos with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I used to have this place so much. For years and years and yours. However, the last five times I've been here. The food has been so salty I can't eat it. Such a bummer.... But drinks and service still works! read more

Great ambience, decor, and large space inside great for small or large groups. Big selection of margaritas! Also love coming here for happy hour 4-6pm or late night 10pm-close, their food selection is super affordable and lots to choose from. Portion sizes are huge. Definitely would recommend this place! read more

Great spot with good food. You can eat outside on a warm day. Wife approves of the Bartenders Margarita. Really, they had me with the frosted beer mugs. They have a good happy hour menu. read more

Excellent food and service! The location provides street parking! I always start with the nachos.

Once again, a flawless performance from Karen. My girlfriend had the audacity to go into labor while we were out to drink (water) with friends, and Karen didn't skip a beat. After delivering the table's tacos and spirits, Karen pulled on her sterile gloves and delivered our new twins: Margo and Rita. After baptizing our new kiddos with Jose Cuervo, Karen gave us her best lessons for young parents, and offered to be our babies' godmother. Of course, we accepted, and she now lives at our home in Beverly Hills. Come to Matador. Be served by Karen. Have you life changed forever by this Saint of a human. Muchas Gracias. read more