Visiting from Phoenix and stumbled upon this gem looking for some good food and a place to watch a World Cup game. Can't say enough good things! The food was amazing! My Cuban Sandwich was superb and my husband had the Chicken Mole Chilaquiles which was also amazing. Drinks were fabulous as well. I had the La Diabla because I love Mezcal and this drink did not disappoint. Bonus...the La Diabla presentation is literally on fire! My husband had the Picchu and a margarita which were also tasty and beautifully presented. Staff was all super friendly and welcoming. Loved the ambiance and style/vibe of the place. If we lived closer we would frequent this place a lot! read more

El Matatan - La Diabla - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Great food and drinks as well as incredible service from Omar. Will definitely be back!

Saw this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try on a Friday night. We were a group of 9 and I was able to call the day before and block a table. Crazy parking as usual in Laguna beach but finally reached El Matatan and our table was all set up by Omar and Alfredo and Rene. I had mentioned that we had some vegetarians in the group and Omar/Rene gave us all the options (and they have a few). Great drinks - the La Diabla, La Roma and passion fruit martini were all excellent. Had guac, hummus and squash flower enchiladas for apps- tasty but quantity was small. For mains the vegetarians had baby corn tacos, al pastor (it's oyster mushrooms) and mole enchilada. The rest of us had short rib tacos, rib eye tacos, El Matatan burger and chicken Saltado. Everything was great, though I'd skip the burger next time. They only have a gluten free churro as dessert which wasn't too good . Around 10, live music starts which gives the place an even better vibe! All the servers (esp Rene) were excellent and answered our questions (multiple times!) and accommodated all our requests. Will be back for sure to try their biggest espresso machine! read more

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There is no shortage of coffee shops and high end Mexican restaurants in Laguna, and up next at the proverbial bat is El Matatan. This place sits in the former...actually I'm not sure what was there before because it's one of those cursed locations that turns over a new restaurant every year or so. Not totally the restaurants' faults mind you -- Ocean Ave on that end is largely ignored by both locals and tourists because the city rarely cleans it and doesn't care about lighting it at night. At any rate, the food at El Matatan is very good. Might have been an off night but it was dead. Brooms were strewn about, neither the restaurant nor the tables were lit, and once we were done, I sat there for 15 minutes watching our waiter talk to the chef. He was extremely nice, but one job... A couple of oddities: No chips and salsa, not even as a paid option (they have chips, but only as part of the guacamole upsell). Weird, right? No desserts either although we were told they are "coming soon" (despite already being open a month). A dark restaurant on a dark street is not going to do well long term. Management - take a trip over to South of Nicks to see how it's done. Note the atmosphere. Nite the light. Note that they have free, homemade chips and salsa! read more

Food is good. Small portions which is par for the course in Laguna. We had the potato taquitos, tacos dorado de papa, which were excellent but $14 for two pieces. We split their house specialty chicken, pollo a la brasa. . It had the smallest portions which of rice in a flat ramekin. Tortillas are extra but are homemade and very tasty. Service was solid. Many gentleman servicing the table with water, etc. read more

El Matatan - Potato taquitos. - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Since we were in the area of Laguna Beach and are big fans already of their location in Orange , we decided to come and check out their new location. We arrived around 11:30am and we sat outside. First impression is that it has a nice big bar area and lots of seating space inside and in the patio area. We started off with some cocktails, you really can't go wrong with any of their drinks. I can't remember which ones I had. We ordered some appetizers, the ceviche mixto and the queso fundido. The ceviche mixto comes with plantain chips and is so refreshing and flavorful. I love the acidity and the spiciness of the dish. The queso fundido is served with small flour tortillas and the cheese is delicious, it's topped with some seasoned mushrooms that to me taste like meat. The waiter and the bartender were both very attentive and made us feel welcomed. The bartender even treated us to a tequila shot "on the house" and that tequila or holy water as he called it was nice and smooth! This was definitely a great lunch place for us. We will definitely be back. read more

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We stopped in for a drink with an our pups earlier this week and sat on the patio. I had the most delicious tequila expresso martini and palomas. Honestly, I've never felt so welcomed into a restaurant the moment I stepped in. They were incredibly funny, engaging and wanted to make sure we were having a great time. Also, the place was perfectly set up for watching the World Cup games or just hanging out like we were on the patio. But what surprised me the most was the prices. To be a stones throw from the beach and to find affordable food and drinks of super high quality, I know that this place is going to be a super success. HIGHLY recommend stopping in and enjoying!! read more

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We head into Laguna every year for Pageant of the Masters. And every year I look for a new dining spot. This year I had AI help me by doing a deep dive in searching up and coming restaurants in Laguna. El Matatan was recommended & what a win indeed. Good job AI...drinks, appetizers & main course were excellent. Definitely will come back. Hope the restaurant will be around for a long time. read more

This is a new restaurant in Laguna Beach and it did not disappoint. We were greeted by Omar, one of the owners and we picked a table on the patio since we had our puppy with us. I found out later that dogs are allowed inside the restaurant as well but we like to watch people and dogs walk by as we dine. Water was brought out and drink orders were taken. I chose a pineapple daiquiri mocktail and later had a La Diablita mocktail. Both of the mocktails were delicious and the price was fair. My husband had a passion star martini, which he said was very tart but tasty. For an appetizer, we had the ceviche. It had fish, shrimp and octopus along with onions, peppers and plantain chips. We were treated with a variety of sauces and homemade tortilla chips to try. For an entree, I ordered the half portion of the grilled Bronzino which came with rice and beans and my husband had the grilled octopus that came with potatoes and spinach. My Bronzino was cooked to perfection. It was delicate, flakey and moist with a nice light marinade on it. The octopus was tender and delicious. My husband would have preferred that it be grilled just a little bit longer but he ate the whole thing so it must have been pretty tasty as well. We were treated with a light dessert that consisted of a cinnamon churro with a strawberry glaze and homemade whipped cream. We thoroughly enjoyed talking to the owners, Omar and Flacco and hope that more people give the restaurant a try... you won't be disappointed. read more

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Great food, great service, and a beautiful atmosphere. The restaurant is modern, clean, and has a welcoming vibe. Everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Great food and worth the wait, they make everything from scratch so grab a cocktail and enjoy the vibe. Omar is the best and provided fab service! We can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu. We are so lucky to have them in Laguna! read more

We just finished eating here while a day out in Laguna. The food was fantastic. We were originally gonna eat at Carmelita's however while we were walking around, we stumbled upon this place. The host was so nice and we decided to give it a try and and I'm so happy we did. I got the A5 steak tacos, which were phenomenal. My mother got the Seabass half portion and it was fantastic! My son ordered from the child's menu. He got the steak and fries and the steak was amazing! I am so happy we came to this place and I'm gonna tell all my friends and family to come here. I hope that they are here to stay.. read more

Amazing restaurant! Their Ropa Vieja was the bomb. Great ambiance & super friendly staff. 5 stars all the way

We've been looking forward to Matatan's new Newport location, and it was worth the wait. The new spot takes everything we already loved about the food and hospitality and elevates it even more with an incredible beachside setting. A special thank you to Oscar, the owner, for making us feel so welcome. As always, the ambiance, food, and service were outstanding and never disappoint. We're excited to be back again soon! read more

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What a great addition to the downtown area, I am quite impressed with the variety of foods and flavors on the menu. From the chilaquiles, to the pozole, the ceviche, and the mole, everything is so delicious! Omar makes one the best margaritas I've ever had! This place is a must!!!! read more

El Matatan - Amazing margaritas by Omar - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

If you're looking for incredible Latin food in Laguna Beach, this place is a must-visit. Everything is made fresh, and you can truly taste the quality in every dish. The cocktails are consistently delicious and surprisingly well-priced compared to many other restaurants in Laguna. My favorite place to sit is at the bar. Omar and Flaco make the experience even better with their great service, friendly personalities, and fun banter. They create such a welcoming atmosphere that you'll want to come back again and again. Highly recommend checking this spot out, you won't be disappointed! read more

El Matatan - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This was our first time at El Matatan and boy we were not disappointed. A must go if you are in Laguna, the food is absolutely amazing, their cocktail list is super impressive and service is outstanding !!! Thanks Omar for the incredible work and welcome to Laguna. Looking forward to go back. read more

Food was just amazing. Service was so great and so fun! This is my first time in the city and this restaurant made the experience of my WHOLE ENTIRE STAY memorable. The staff strives to make the food and service the best experience you will have in LAGUNA BEACH. Highly recommend try the corazon roto. So good. 100/10. Coming again. Flako and omar no more flowers please. read more

El Matatan - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The food and ambience was excellent. Large portions reasonable prices. very clean and the waiters were very friendly.

Loved the A5 tacos, incredible chicken tortilla soup, and the best guacamole ever! On top of that, amazing customer service! I'll definitely be back soon... read more

Got the Apollo à la Brasa and the Wild Yellowtail à la Veracruzana. Food was very delicious. My fiancé and are visiting from out of town, but would definitely come back if we lived near! read more

El Matatan - Wild Yellowtail A La Veracruzana - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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This is a beautifully appointed new latin restaurant in the heart of Laguna Beach. The owners clearly did a wonderful job on lighting, decor and furnishings. And the service was efficient. However, the food and drink left alot to be desired. We waited a couple of weeks so that this new place could get issues ironed out. In short, save your money. We ordered a drink, the $15 guacamole, an entree and a salad. The La Cunada cocktail wasn't delicious and that's a problem. If you don't have a good bartender, you're less inclined to order more from the bar menu and that's what happened here. Although the server said the skirt steak saltado was popular, it wasn't with us. But the shocker was the salad. It was room temperature. Salads should be cold and crisp and this wasn't. Even with a protein upgrade, the greens all over the plate were limp and warm--not at all what we were expecting. We hope you'll have better luck than we did but we won't be back. It's expensive to eat out anywhere in a sit down restaurant in Southern California these days. For the prices, everything should have been great. read more

As a local, it's rare to find a place that gets everything right, but this restaurant truly does. The food is incredible, the service is genuine, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you've been coming here for years. Everyone treats you like family, and you can tell they truly care about every guest who walks through the door. The prices are honestly hard to believe for the quality you're getting. They serve wild-caught seafood, free-range chicken, and all of their beef is Wagyu. Every dish is made fresh to order with high-quality ingredients, and you can absolutely taste the difference. Just remember that great food takes time. Everything is prepared fresh when you order, so be patient--it is 100% worth the wait. It's refreshing to find a restaurant that doesn't cut corners and takes pride in every plate they serve. This has quickly become one of my favorite local spots, and I'll be bringing my friends and family back again and again. read more

The food is delicious, and fresh, make from scratch to order, the ox tail is a must, the salsas are very flavorful. read more

El Matatan - Yellow tail, octopus, cuban sandwich, ox tail - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Really yummy food! Loved the lomo saltado and the surf and turf tacos. The green sauce and green salsa were soooo good! The surf and turf tacos comes with 2 plantains and sour cream to dip in and it was sooo good too!! So glad we have this in Laguna beach now!! read more

Great service! Good food! Omar was our server and he could not have been more friendly and helpful with our food choices! We will be back! read more

The best food in Laguna . Every dish was amazing Service was really personal. Omar was very hospitable. So excited to have them in town . read more

I recall this location from seven years ago when it was Laguna Beach Brewery. We walked in for lunch and was treated very warmly by the staff who made several recommendations. The ceviche was refreshing and paired well with the fried plantains. The Lomo Saltado was good with generous portions. This restaurant is an excellent addition to Laguna Beach with their authentic Latin cuisine. read more

Best food and experience I have had in a long time. Staff is amazing and friendly as well as the locals. Amazing drinks and food and great service. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing friendly staff, Flacco and Omar were friendly knowledgeable and gave us great suggestions on what to order and superior service. Our delicious abundant dishes with reasonable prices were outstanding. We had the Paloma and mojito cocktails which were great and not too sweet, the elote which is conveniently served off the cob and perfectly spiced, and the loma saltado which is now one of our favorites. We're definitely planning on returning. read more

So delicious the service was amazing and food was great. The ropa vieja was to die for. Also would recommend the carajillo. Definitely will go back. read more

Fantastic service and great rib eye tacos. maybe the best tacos i have ever had. we will be back!

Both the food and the service was amazing. They have the best ribeye steak tacos ever. A 1/4 inch slice of steak, charcoal grilled, set on homemade guacamole, and all on a scratch make corn tortilla. I also love the yucca fries and the seafood enchilada. Someone at our table was raving about the chicken mole, too. And Flaco and Omar are super at customer service. It's my favorite place now!! Everything I get is spot on. read more

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Best Ceviche in my life since it includes yellowtail fish and octopus. The Taco tastes so different because they have some unique charcoal. Highly recommend. read more

I came here on a whim and ended up having the best margarita of my life. I love the fact that they served the Grand Marnier on side, it made it delicious being able to add it. I never done that before and the waiters were the real attraction. Their personalities were amazing. I'm definitely gonna come back just to say hi to them and you should too! read more

Service was excellent, drinks on point and food authentic Cehcviche, tacos de ribeye and enfrijoladas read more

Amazing customer service, delicious food and drinks! A new favorite! Very convenient and easy. Patio is chill (: Fav so far is mole. Breakfast is awesome I'm told so can't wait to try! read more

Catch a first class, incredibly reasonably priced meal here before its tough to get a table- brand new and ticking every single box, delicious twists on classic Latin American food- every dish and cocktail is gourmet, fresh ingredients and served up with such pride you can't help wanting to be a regular- Locals!!! You'll LOVE this place - Let's Support!! read more

Omg! The food and drinks are amazing. I heard people asking if they have happy hour and honestly their prices are already reasonable and it's gonna be our new favorite local spot. The staff is great food is great. I'm so excited to have a great restaurant at this location finally! read more

Food 10/10. Drinks 10/10. Service 11/10!!! We stumbled upon this restaurant while we were visiting Laguna with some guests from out of town and it did not disappoint. We went on a day the UFC fights were on, and we tried multiple bars and restaurants to see if they played the fights on the screens and had no luck, until we walked past El Matatan! Omar greeted us with such grace and enthusiasm, it really felt like being welcomed home after being gone for so long. The food is made-to-order so it's guaranteed to be fresh, and the drink selection was impeccable! But it was really the service that made the experience unforgettable. They were so accommodating, and constantly checked on us & made sure we were taken care of! I had such a great time being in the moment that I forgot to take pictures of everything we ate and drank (which was a lot). But here's a photo of the surf and turf tacos which were DELISH. Already planning the next trip out here! Shout out to Omar and the rest of the staff! read more

El Matatan - Surf and turf tacos which - Latin American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California