Local mama tia place in Bloomfield. Capable Mexican dishes served, we've had most them through multiple visits. Tacos are good, ceviche was fresh and generous (we get it every time). Even mom who doesn't like Mexican was enchanted with the tamales. BYOB, decent amount of tables, back yard for summer and parties. Support your local businesses, especially during this darned stagflation. read more

Great food. Reasonably priced. Always prepared quickly. Friendly service and restaurant is clean. read more

My husband and I are both chefs but sometimes we just want to relax and order in. This place is AMAZING. Authentic. The flavors were on point. My husband got tinga tostadas with rice and beans. The tinga was absolutely perfect. I had the shrimp taco. The shrimp were big and the flavor was amazing. Now.. the one thing that's usually ehhhh.. The salsa.. tomatillo salsa and it was the best salsa I have ever had. The acid and the heat were perfectly done.. we will make this place a staple. read more

Love coming to El Matador when I'm in town! Their rice and beans are so good! My go to dishes are the adobada de cerdo and the tiger shrimp tacos! I normally get take out but when I do dine in the service is great and fast! And I love the decor of the restaurant read more

So, is it possible to be both extremely satisfied and mildly disappointed at the same time? I know this is an oddly sensationalized explanation of my current state of mind, but it's accurate. I'm a massive Taco fan and have been for years. But, I live in a rather rural part of NY up by the Finger Lakes and only get to satisfy my cravings from time to time when I find a good Tacoria during my visits to Mexico or whenever I travel. When I travel I search YELP for a good Tacoria as well make inquiries of locals. Today's visit to El Matador was a Yelp find and it was another Yelp success story.... Bottom line is that my son devoured his Tiger Prong Tacos, my Sister In-Law truly enjoyed her veggie Tacos and my wife was a massive fan on the Tacos de Birria con Consume as was I up to a point. (It's a trivial and petty point at that.) When I say I'm extremely satisfied and mildly dissatisfied it's tied to that trivial and petty point. I absolutely loved the tender juicy birria meat and deeply rich soup, both simply delicious. My one and only issue (trivial and petty) is that they were a little heavy handed with the cheese for my liking. But, my wife loved the level of cheese. Like I said....trivia and petty. Now, with that sole minor blemish fully beat to death let me say this..... This restaurant is very good in all aspects & a total Friends and Family recommendation. But, try it for yourself and you tell me. read more

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Excellent food and service. We ordered enchiladas, tamales, tostadas and several side items. The food was uniformly well-presented, fresh and well-prepared. I have also order online here many times as well. Highly recommended! read more

Horrible service and wait time. Overpriced menu, rude waitress. They seem focused on take out.

This place has killer burritos. Authentic Mexican. I'm addicted to it. Get the pulled pork!

El Matador looks small from the outside, but wait until you get in - the restaurant is lengthy and can hold a decent amount of people. During COVID-19 they opened tented outdoor seating which is perfect for just about any weather. Side note - This restaurant is also BYOB! So don't forget to pick up your favorite bottle before you head over! My husband and I popped in late one night, maybe an hour before closing and there were only 2 other tables that were filled. The waitstaff here is amazing, they took the time to answer our questions and make some yummy recommendations. Since they were closing shop soon, they gave us some free guacamole with chips (#SCORE). The one thing that I wish would change about this establishment is parking - right now it's street parking, so you all know how tricky that can be. read more

Moved to area from Arizona 2 yo and haven't found an authentic Mexican place until now! The service was great. The food was muy deliciosa and sabrosa. Will definitely be coming back again and again. read more

El Matador is a gem! They currently have tented outdoor seating which is perfect for any weather & the current times. Details to know before arriving: They are BYOB so grab your favorite bottle of wine before you go! There's only metered parking. Download the ParkMobile app to pay the toll with a card if you're like me and never have loose change! The service here is amazing! Our servers were attentive and asked us how everything was throughout the meal. The food blew me away! The flavor and the portions were perfect! I would definitely recommend the Shrimp a la Mexica if you like shrimp and a little spice! I can't wait to visit El Matador again to try another dish! read more

El Matador - Shrimp a la mexicana! So good! - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

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Really great food for good prices. Burrito was particularly delicious as were the chips. Easy to order online for pick up.

One of my favorite Mexican spots, always tasty and service is usually very fast.. my go to spot in Essex county

Steak burrito is so good, caldo res is a nice spicy soup. The food is always consistent

The decor in this place is unmatched. The food however is eh. The chips were so hard, we could barely eat them. Meanwhile chips and dip are usually my go to. The rest of the food wasn't terrible but I can't seem to figure out why the ratings are so high. If u live in the Bloomfield area, ratings are misleading. read more

Only tried takeout so far, but serving sizes were huge! I ordered the carne asada and it was seasoned deliciously. You could take the smokeyness from the grill. Decor was great and Peking was easy. I would come back for a sit down meal for sure. read more

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Good food and taste authentic. My recommendation is the tamales with stuff chicken. It's perfect and a classic coke would complement your meal. read more

Super cute and authentic. We had great service and good food. Recommend the tamales and huevos rancheros.

Really good food. Affordable and fast service. Decor was very fun and it was a nice meal for the whole family.

Ordered delivery arrived about 10 minutes after allotted time but food was fresh. Large portions and tasty. read more

El Matador - Steak Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

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Love coming here for taco Tuesday. Tacos are $1 and delicious. They even come with their delicious green verde sauce, cucumbers, and fresh limes on the side. My favorite are the pork and chicken tacos. The Guac is also nice and fresh. Staff is always friendly. Can't beat the amazing value for yummy food! read more

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Was in the area looking for a new place to try, and came across this location. Walked inside to a colorful interior and a wonderful scent of food. We were greeted by William, who provided awesome service and excellent food recommendations. The food was flavorful and some of the best I've had. Appetizer: Steak Nachos - Amazing. Heavy with cheese, queso, beans, guacamole, pico, and steak. Every bit was savory and the chips never got soft. Entrees: 3 Chicken Tacos - Simple, yet tasty. Shrimp a la Mexicana - Definitely my favorite on the menu. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, with the onions and jalapenos adding just the right amount of taste and spice. Served with rice, beans, and warm tortillas, making a perfect combination. Steak Enchilada with Green Sauce - Another phenomenal dish. This was recommended by William, and did not disappoint. The taste was subtle, but absolutely addictive. It was hard to not want to have another bite. Would highly recommend this. Dessert: Unfortunately, we were too full to try on this visit, but will undoubtedly get some on my next trip here. Overall, a fantastic place to relax, enjoy the décor, and savor a delicious meal. read more

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Mole enchiladas with short rib were very good. The restaurant expanded since I've last been there with outdoor seating in the back.

Very good Mexican restaurant with large portions of well-prepared staples. We came as a large group after making reservations. Upon arrival we were promptly seated and brought some homemade chips, a cilantro-lime-oil dipping sauce and a avocado crema (which was excellent). I went with the taco platter and selected one pastor, one chorizo and one Cecina along with extra beans instead of rice. The tacos were medium size on a mixed corn and flour tortilla and had plenty of filling. They were served with limes, radishes and cucumbers on the side along with a large plate of pinto beans that had been partly mashed and were nice and creamy. The tacos were very good with the Cecina and pastor being excellent. I often don't see Cecina on the menu of other places so it's a treat for me to find this Mexican staple when out. After the meal, despite being full, we all tried the sopapillas, tres leches and impossible cake. I found the impossible cake to be my favorite as the goat cheese flan on the top was rich and delicious. Prices and service were both great. read more

El Matador - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

Absolutely fantastic. Little hole in the wall, but the food is out of this world. Thw Tiger Shrimp tacos are outstanding. As are the chilaquiles! With nice weather here, go and sit outside on their back patio. Awesome service and just an all around great spot. read more

We have a number of local chains for Mexican food. Each of the good. This is I think is the best Mexican food. They usually not very crowded so you get place it sit. They do a big takeout business. The food was is great. I want to go again just to try different foods. Their prices are also very reasonable. read more

So came here on a Saturday evening with two other friends and it was pretty empty, which was surprising to me. We were seated right away and I liked how the waitress was attentive to us. But at the time it was only us and one other table. They gave us complimentary chips with a green sauce (maybe their salsa verde. I didn't ask). They also gave us some free pico de gallo for the chips in a small container which was nice and they also gave a spicy sauce for us to try which is in the picture on the top right. It had a slight lemon taste to me and then came the punch of spice. (Also, it is extra if you order extra chips and salsa.) I ordered the tacos dorados, which I felt like had more potatoes than chicken. I also thought it would come with more avocados but it came with one slice of it. The tacos dorados were okay and it came with a side of rice and beans. The rice was pretty dry but when mixed with the beans it tasted good. One friend had the chicken enchiladas with the red sauce. She thought the chicken was tasty and moist. Another friend had the pulled pork enchiladas with the mole sauce which she enjoyed too. So maybe is was just my dish that lacked the meat. I'm not sure if I would go again because it didn't blow me away. We also ended up passing the restaurant an hour later and it was still completely empty. read more

El Matador - Tacos Dorados Platter - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

It's "Taco Tuesday" & we've got another great place for yous! This weekend we were in the mood for some Mexican food & wanted to try a new place. In fact, we actually turned to Instagram & browsed a couple places. Thankfully that we did because we found a really great authentic spot with food that was incredibly delicious. We were beyond satisfied & our tastebuds were happy too. Not to mention, the decor inside the place was really fun to look at. This place was El Matador in Bloomfield, New Jersey. It is truly a place where you can get some really good Mexican cuisine. The food is so good that you will be licking your fingers. They have a nice menu with some good options plus the place is BYOB, so that's fun too. It's cozy, colorful, & great for small parties. We were able to try a few things but one of the many options that rocked our socks were most definitely their tacos. They have the option of soft tacos but we opted to go with crunchy, which they make in house themselves. It was "Crunchy Chicken Tacos" for us & they were mouth watering. The star of the taco was the chicken! It was marinaded & seasoned so well with a hint of spicy. The second we bit into the taco the first thing that we both highlighted was how incredible the chicken tasted. Plus, paired with the crunch of the taco it was a match made in heaven. This also came with a nice little side of yellow rice & frijoles that was also very good & cooked well. Besides chicken, they also have other options to have in your taco. We're sure that there is something for all. "El Matador" is really a great place. Authenticity is really their special & the owners are very nice. Awesome atmosphere, awesome service, & awesome food! That's something that you can't beat. So, today on "Taco Tuesday" don't go somewhere generic. Go somewhere real like "El Matador" because what you put in your tummy should matter & this place will do right by you. Waste no time, the second you can get to this place & start enjoying some really good tacos plus other menu items. For more content, you can also follow us on Instagram at @LittleLocaltaste. read more

El Matador - Chicken Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

My fiancé and I have order from this restaurant 4-5 times already , and the first time we were extremely hungry so we bought 2 burritos ( chicken and Al pastor) 1horchata and it was delicious and fresh! We got it today and honestly it was better than the first time, they got our business, the food was fresh, the restaurant is beautiful with great decor, the staff is extremely very friendly. Everything was amazing! Definitely recommending this place to all my friends. read more

El Matador - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

Ordered through DoorDash and the crispy shrimp tacos were amazing. I also ordered a side of pico de gallo and the tres leches cake. Let's just say I'll be happy to dine in soon. The tacos didn't travel well but the ingredients were fresh so I could still appreciate what they were supposed to taste like fresh out of the kitchen! The tres leches cake was delectable and I was even able to save some of the pico de gallo for my homemade turkey nachos the next day. Win-win read more

El Matador - Crispy Breaded tiger shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

We really enjoyed eating here. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive and was very familiar with each item on the menu. We had the whole fried red snapper which was cooked excellently, and we also had vegetarian enchiladas with homemade mole sauce made by the server's uncle. The horchata drink was refreshing and not too sweet, while the dessert was a unique combination of flan on top of chocolate cake. We plan to return soon. read more

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Quite possibly one of the worst meals I've ever had. Ordered delivery via Door Dash. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this certainly is not it. I'm not sure how this place has so many good reviews. I got chicken nachos. First off, the "chicken" looks awful and tastes even worse. Had more of a pork consistency. Instead of cheese, it's a velveeta kinda of sauce. Soggy and disgusting. My husband's torta was dry with old, brown avocados. read more

El Matador - The garbage pile of "nachos" that I received. - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

Excellent upgrade from the previous management. The Birria tacos are fantastic as well as the Chimichanga! read more

El Matador - Jarito Heaven - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

Always great to order from here ! Love everything in the menu but the birria tacos take my breath away every time ! Kudos to keep up w food standards read more

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Fast and friendly service always. Had the red sauce Chilaquiles today. As good as I've had in Mexico City! Ambience is creative and festive. Will be back. read more

Hot damn, El Matador. Your chilaquiles rocked my world. Walking into this hole in the wall, you know the food is going to be good, but this good? DAYUM. The menu isn't a small novel. You have the Mexican staples and they do them well, you know why? They care and everything is made fresh daily. No frozen food here and no canned beans or sauces for that matter. I had a carnitas taco to start and I literally asked if the carnitas was smothered in butter. It was so damn juicy and buttery and smooth. Wrap that perfectly cooked and spiced meat in a freshly made tortilla, hot sauce, cheese or any topping wasn't even needed. I moved on to the chilaquiles. This dish was just about as big as the table and although half way through I wanted to quit, I couldn't. Momma didn't raise no quitter. These chilaquiles may have been the best my taste buds have ever feasted on. Home made tortillas freshly fried smothered in a thick, creamy yet spiced verde sauce topped with deliciously buttery chicken, a lb of Mexican cheese and avocado. Not for the faint at heart, this dish will put you on your ass and you will think of it for days. This dish easily 2 meals rings in at $8ish. Ya, cheap as hell. The owner is delightful and loves to chat it up. I didn't try, but I hear the tres leches cake and the mole are INSANE. They usually have some sort of crazy homemade special during the weekend which basically means get here early. read more

El Matador - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

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Much like everyone else, I have to say my meal was good.. But the tres leches is what keeps me coming back!!!! Also, I got the chorizo which was a bit spicy for me, but it was flavorful nonetheless. DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THE TRES LECHES! read more

El Matador - Sopes with chorizo! Yummy and you NEED to order the tres leches too. Phenomenal!! - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

My second time here, after a fantastic Elite event weeks ago. Brought my husband on a quiet Monday. We both agreed: this Mexican food tastes delicious and different from any other NJ Mexican we have ever eaten. Started with two tamales wrapped in corn husks. $2 bucks each and delicious comfort food like we never had before. Next we over ordered, planning left overs. All corn-based foundations. You know tacos, yes. How about sopas? And another starting with h-- more bready and chewy! One with short ribs and cilantro, pretty good. One with pulled pork, fantastic. One with enchilada carne sauce, red and really tasty. You can try the meat toppings and sauces on the various bases including tostadas. Which we did not try tonight. They serve huevos rancheros and some Mexican sandwiches too. Most menu items cost $8-12. Our bill with tip came to $60, but we have lunch for tomorrow. Honestly! We ordered double what we actually ate. Left over boxes for the rest. Got the tres leches cake as take out, just had it at home two hours later. Really fine! I have had Mexican food in Cali, Colorado, Mass, NYC, NJ, FL, TX. And Mexico! This place serves very different Mexican from what I have had that is absolutely delicious. Prices good. Try it. Nice decor for a little place. Owner and staff friendly and attentive. Owner is using family recipes. My husband agrees El Matador hits the home run. read more

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Honestly? Seemed like nothing special. I was underwhelmed. I got some steak tacos to go and it only came with steak and cilantro (I said no to onions). That is not enough taco filling to me. I don't know if that's authentic or not, but I'd rather have tacos that taste good from Chipotle than authentic tacos with no ingredients. It came with some radishes and cucumbers which neither seemed appropriate to go in the taco nor appropriate as a side dish. The restaurant is small and crowded. There is really no ambience just a bunch of tables crammed into a small space. I'm not done sure why they have deli on their sign when nothing resembled a deli. The saving grace? The tres leches cake was so moist and delicious I'd love to have it again. The rest of it was unimpressive. The workers seemed nice though. read more

El Matador - Steak tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

i am SO so happy to say that i have finally found a legitimate mexican place in New Jersey. THIS PLACE IS AWESOME. I couldn't have asked for a better divey place to get my mexican fix. I ordered a tamale, chips & guac, a torta, and tres leches cake to go because I have no self control! The tamale was delicious and they give you a bunch of sauces to put on top. It was nice and moist, not crumbly either. The chips are home made!! and soo crunchy. Their guacamole is amazingly creamy and they will adjust the spiciness for you. I got my torta with al pastor (so happy they had it) and it was a nice mix of the rich avocado and cheese with sweet and spicy port on top. The bread tasted really fresh, sometimes tortas seem like theyre made on bricks! One of the workers recommended the tres leches cake and I finally ate it today. It is literally one of the best desserts i've ever eaten! Sweet and creamy with a nice spongy texture and the icing isn't too sweet. The place doesn't have a lot of frills inside but it doesn't matter because their food is the most authentic mexican I've found in NJ. read more

El Matador - Yummy tamale :) - Mexican Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey