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    El Matador

    4.0 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order El Matador Takeout or Delivery

    El Matador Photos

    Business Info

    EL MATADOR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - El Matador

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    Combo 2. Cheese Enchilada
    Brenda P.

    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!

    I can't eat salsa so I asked for beans with cheese to dip my chips in.... Wow... these were better than expected...can you tell?
    Julli C.

    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!!!!! :)

    Diana R.

    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.

    Potato tacos (left), Fish tacos (middle), Shredded beef and chicken tacos (right)
    Morgan S.

    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.

    Huevos Rancheros
    Linnea D.

    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!

    Melissa A.

    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.

    Scott C.

    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

    Fish tacos, and shredded beef taco
    Cindy T.

    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.

    Gianna B.

    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 !

    Menu
    Joseph C.

    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.

    Hard shell beef - chef kiss

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    18 days ago

    Great food, customer service, and always good ambiance. A staple for my family and I.

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    7 months ago

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    Greg and Jana M.

    Thank you for great review and your Business.

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    24 days ago

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    1 month ago

    No wonder it's been here for 60 years! Authentic, delicious food! Marvin takes care of us! We keep coming back!

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    29 days ago

    Six of us were there for a birthday & had a new server. He was outstanding & had a great personality. Thank you for a fun celebration.

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    3 months ago

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

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    5 months ago

    Great food and the service is friendly and fast. It's always a pleasure going there. Good prices too.

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    Page 1 of 29

    El Matador Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Matador

    Are reservations only for 8 or more?

    Do you take reservation's?

    Yes, for 8 or more our # 949-645-0324

    Do you have happy hour?

    Yes we do from 11 to 6 mon thru fri!!!

    How can we contact the owners?

    Is there a taco Tuesday?

    Yes $3.50 tacos and house margaritas are five dollars all day

    Open Easter Sunday?

    El Matador will be closed on Easter Sunday

    View All 7 Questions

    Playa Mesa - A house favorite: Taco Combination with our Spicy Cucmber Margarita

    Playa Mesa

    4.4(3.4k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Happy hour specials

    OMG!!! What an amazing experience from the time we came in the door till the time we left! Friendly…read moreand inviting atmosphere! We were in from out of town and celebrating 31yrs of marriage. We sat at the Bar and really enjoyed our time with Mario! He was great and really took care of us, not to mention the food was amazing!

    What a great find. I had not eaten at this place before, but it came highly recommended from a…read morefriend of mine so I thought hey I'm going to check this out. I am so glad I did, especially since it was happy hour. The place definitely has a great vibe to it. Plenty of seating throughout the restaurant. I recommend sitting at the bar as that's where all the action happens. You definitely want to make sure you get there for happy hour and Taco Tuesday especially, $10 Margaritas $4 tacos and these are not cheap tacos. These are like serious tacos that will fill you up. Their salsa is great, not super spicy and makes great for munching while you're talking with friends. The margaritas are definitely strong, which is nice, as some places tend to water them down for happy hour. I would say that this is a great choice to go check out and have a taco or two or three or four. I had the carne asada, the carnitas, and the pastor, every single one of them was perfect and the salsa that they came with was out of this world. Bottom line? This is a great place for Taco Tuesday as well as just a hangout and have a drink after work. Whenever I am in Costa Mesa. I am definitely coming here again.

    Photos
    Playa Mesa - Margarita flights!

    Margarita flights!

    Playa Mesa
    Playa Mesa - Weekend Brunch served Sat - Sun, 9am-2pm.

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    Weekend Brunch served Sat - Sun, 9am-2pm.

    Mercado Gonzalez - Carne Asada Burrito and Tortilla Chips

    Mercado Gonzalez

    4.3(1k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    The Menudo from the Birrieria La Menuderia place inside Mercado Gonzalez is so good!…read more They always sell out before noon, so come early in the morning! They offer the rojo (red) and blanco (white) versions of Menudo. I love that it comes with a lot of meat and fresh tortillas to eat it with. There is so much flavor in the soup. They went up in price ($17.99) as of 2026, and although I think it's pretty pricey, if you're already shopping here and have a craving for menudo, I think it's worth splurging. People who work here are always super nice and friendly - I just love coming to this place for my menudo fix!

    Our building had a catered event from them, and it was well received overall with a successful…read moreconclusion after some initial challenges. I will use mostly my names for what I tried: "ELEPHANT EAR" BREAD: -- light beige color -- very sweet -- honey taste very pronounced and sticky texture -- great with hot Mexican chocolate or hot coffee with no sugar to offset the sweet RATING = A- "PINKIE LA RUE" (aka Polvorone Rojas): -- semi-crumbly texture -- buttery shortbread -- large size -- dusted w/white table sugar on top which I scraped off to reduce the sweet -- medium sweet or tad more -- not dry nor moist -- very nice tasting, especially w/milk or hot coffee RATING = A "RHINO HORN" bread: -- has some color variance with light brown -- semi-firm texture -- lightly sweet -- best for dipping in hot Mexican chocolate or hot coffee; not ideal to eat plain -- not buttery -- I am not a big "dipper" of cookies or bread into coffee so this is not of much interest to me -- it's okay RATING = B- CUCUMBER/LIME AQUA FRESCA: -- I poured into my water bottle and added half water to get the sweet down. Way too sweet for my palate but nice once I got the ratio right. -- up to medium sweet initially RATING = A- PINEAPPLE/SPINACH AQUA FRESCA: -- above medium sweet but expected for pineapple -- the pineapple defeated anything rough about the spinach for me which was a good thing...not chalky tongue syndrome RATING = B+ WATERMELON AQUA FRESCA: -- medium towards high sweet -- I did 50/50 with water again to get it right -- tasted pretty close to fresh watermelon juice when I did that RATING = A

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    Mercado Gonzalez - Great packaged foods, snacks and Mexican candy.

    Great packaged foods, snacks and Mexican candy.

    Mercado Gonzalez - Time to eat churros

    Time to eat churros

    Mercado Gonzalez - Menu As of 6/8/25

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    Menu As of 6/8/25

    Descanso - Lobster Enchiladas

    Descanso

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    We LOVED our Mother's Day brunch at Descanso. We made reservations and were seated quickly. They…read morehad bottomless mimosas and a special Mother's Day menu. Food- 10/10. We ordered the bottomless mimosas, watermelon spicy marg, churro pancakes, and the shredded beef chilaquiles. All were amazing! The churro pancakes were soooooooo yummy. Crispy and fluffy. Service- 10000/10. Manny was amazinggg! He was working so hard serving so many tables at once and he did a great job. He was so kind, positive, and had great recommendations. He always made sure we had everything we needed. The gals at the front were also so kind and helpful. Everyone there was great! Environment- 10/10. It was a beautiful day so we sat out on the patio. They had table umbrellas which were super nice to block the sun. They also had a DJ's (I think there were 3 taking turns) that were all great! The inside is very clean and nicely decorated! Next time we wanna try sitting at the grill :) Extras- Lots of parking as it's in a shopping center. The prices for us were a little on the higher end, but the food and service are fantastic! Perfect place for celebrations and authentic food :)

    How did I not know about Descanso's taco game sooner?…read more Came here on a Tuesday during lunch and got the mahi mahi taco and birria taco. Both were amazing! The mahi mahi taco was so innovative. I loved the slaw on top and the surprise of the peanuts. The birria taco is on another level. The short rib was melting in my mouth, and paired with the consume... chefs kiss. On Tuesdays they also have an amazing Taco Tuesday deal with 6 street tacos for $22. That's a steal! Definitely need to come back more hungry to try that out.

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    Descanso - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Descanso - Carne Asada Skillet

    Carne Asada Skillet

    Descanso - Short Rib Estofado

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    Short Rib Estofado

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    4.4(2.2k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    This is my favorite Mexican Restaurant. Our server Roberto provided awesome service. We live in the…read moreInland Empire but we make sure we have lunch at Acapulco every time we are in Orange County. Great food and great service.

    LOVE this place for GREAT, FRESH, Coastal, Mexican food!…read moreThis location in Costa Mesa in particular, has been updated (new paint, new chairs, new lighting, etc.) and they have updated their menu with even MORE, Seafood items! They make GREAT Guacamole, customized at table side to your specs and their FRESH Chips, Tortillas and Salsa's are homemade in the restaurant. Husband LOVES their Pomegranate Margherita's and I can't get enough of their Enchilada's (Cheese, Chicken) and their Crunchy Taco's (Shredded Beef is my Fave!). Add in that their FRESH, Side Salads are AMAZING along with their new menu items - including Seafood combo's and there is no where else to go in OC for better Mexican food! Our INCREDIBLE Server, Hector (He IS the Acapulco restaurant - always upbeat and advising us about their new menu items!) and their FANTASTIC Chef Hector and all of the other Servers and Cooks there, make this a casual, yet special date-night restaurant! P.S. We've also tried their EXCEPTIONAL, Sunday Buffet and literally had to almost be wheeled out of there, there were SO MANY DIFFERENT, AUTHENTIC foods to choose from and sample! VERY nice to find this level of a PERFECT MEXICAN restaurant - with HIGH QUALITY FOOD INGREDIENTS, nearby! Can't wait to go back!

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    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina
    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina
    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina - Make your own omelette. Veggies and chorizo.

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    Make your own omelette. Veggies and chorizo.

    El Matador - mexican - Updated May 2026

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