Walking by, the atmosphere caught my attention. It's inviting. I got the steak and mango tacos and just like other reviews, I must say these were very good. Great flavor and cooked perfectly. Liked the service too. I'd come again. read more

Matador Charleston - Steak and mango tacos - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Matador was an interesting place, and a bit different than your average Mexican place! It was dimly lit, so it might be best for a low-key, or perhaps a romantic night out. It's not my favorite type of Mexican restaurant, as it's a little more upscale than I *personally* prefer, but if upscale Mexican is your vibe, then this'll be the perfect restaurant for you! They had an alright selection of beers, to include a couple of IPAs, but my friends and I didn't really enjoy their cocktails. They were expensive, but lacking in much flavor or zest. Besides looking cool, the taste didn't really match the aesthetic. Furthermore, the food was solid, but not that much better than your basic Mexican restaurant. As for the service, our waiter was nice enough, but he always seemed to be in a hurry, and was walking away while we were still trying to give our order. All-in-all, I'm probably making Matador sound worse than it was, but it was merely a slightly above-average Mexican experience, not a transcendental dining experience that I'll never forget. I'll give it 3/5 stars, and would recommend it based on your personal preference. read more

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Difficult for me to rate. I loved my dish. I got a veggie bowl and the flavor was great. It was a 5. That being said, as a vegetarian who avoids as much cross contamination as possible, the tortilla chips share a fryer with fish (if you have an allergy, good to know). Many vegetarian and vegan dishes have a fried component. If you are t picky like me, then there are options. Service was fine. read more

Matador Charleston - Matador Bowl- veggies - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I mean, if you have to sit at a bar and drink a bunch of margaritas and wolf down some nachos during a late afternoon, this is the place to do it. What kind of margaritas? A cucumber jalapeño, a Cadillac, a blood orange, a blackberry habanero and two smokies to be exact. Yes there were only two of us, but they were all soooo good. read more

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Solid food options in this perfect spot on Meeting. It's was my second visit...after spending our evening out and about enjoying Holiday Decor, we popped in for a nibble. My husband got the delicious shrimp tacos and I had the carnitas quesadilla, also delicious. Of course your table starts with chips and salsa. Their salsa was smoky and a tad bit of heat, but just the greatest flavor!!! We really enjoyed ending our holiday date night at Matador! read more

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I love a good tequila bar. Not that this one was not good but it wasn't great. On first impressions, I was disappointed. I ordered a margarita specifically with nothing on the rim and the bartender made with a salt/sugar rim. She changes glasses but all I tasted was the salt which I hate with a margarita. After that first, it seemed like every other drink wasn't being made to fill the glass. I ordered their Dip Flight app which was very tasty but for how congested it is to drive and park in the area, this wouldn't be my first choice for tequila bar. The service was good. The bartenders were nice but I had to pay to park and it wasn't cheap. It's a nice looking place and I could be spoiled from other much superior places but this would be the place I'd go to if my other 5 choices didn't work out. read more

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What a cool spot! We popped in after a full day's adventure to grab one more drink and a few small plates to snack on. Everything came out super quickly and the service was excellent. We were all pleasantly surprised by the food - I don't think there was a single bite left after we devoured these dishes. Even if it was late in the evening, it was all well cooked, seasoned and nice and hot. The bar was really nice and they had a great selection. I'd definitely come back for a full dinner. Cheers! read more

Matador Charleston - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Excellent bartender and food. Mahi mahi was perfect. Definitely recommend for drinks and dinner. Nice fire at bar read more

Matador Charleston - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Went on a week night for happy hour. Not terrible. Brussels and cheese dip were on the happy hour food list. Both very good. Margs were not on the list. Drink specials were something about expensive tequila was half priced. Didn't love the margaritas but we are picky marg drinkers. Bar tenders were average. We are choosy about our bar tenders too. Not sure we would ever go back. read more

I am very particular about my Mexican food and I can confirm this Mexican Food was amazing!!!

I met a friend here in the middle of the week at 5pm for Happy Hour. While we had great cocktails (Hugo Spritz for me and Paloma for her) they were not part of the Happy Hour. Our server told us they have two "food" happy hours but no alcohol happy hours. We got steak nachos which were great. All in all it was a fun spot in the middle of touristy downtown- a great place to catch up with a friend! read more

Matador Charleston - Food Happy Hour Menu - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Had to celebrate National Margarita Day the right way--at Matador! It was packed, but luckily, the wait wasn't too long. Of course, we couldn't wait to try the special Margaritas, and let me tell you--the Strawberry Pomegranate was next level! When I say good, I mean GOOOOOOD!! I had to force myself to sip water just so I could fully enjoy it with my meal. For appetizers, I went with the Chicken Quesadillas while my friend had the Haba Prawns--both were flavorful and perfectly cooked. Then came the main dish: I had the Habanero Steak Burrito, and my friend went with the Habanero Chicken Enchiladas. Let's just say every bite was packed with heat and yummy deliciousness! I must add we did order another round of drinks. This time, I went with the Classic Margarita and my friend order another Strawberry Pomegranate. Matador definitely delivered, and I'd 100% do it all over again. read more

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What a greatly decorated new restaurant in Charleston! Stopped in for happy hour and got a Cadillac margarita which was very good and it was a great size for happy hour. I also got the dip trio. The salsa was delicious. I could've just had that, because the salsa was so good fresh and spiced just right. The dip trail consisted of black bean bean dip, which was good. I didn't care for the sour cream or salsa Verde swirl on the top as the sour cream kind of took away from the rest of the flavor. The queso was fair was a little thick and could've used a little more flavor in the guacamole was very good fresh. I love the cilantro and crumble cheese on top. The restaurant itself is really cool inside lots of fun decorations huge big bar area nice booth in a very large restaurant. If you're in the area I wish I had more room to try the tacos, but maybe on another visit. read more

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1st time visiting this restaurant. Nice atmosphere. We were there for dinner and before happy hour on a Sunday. Wasn't crowded initially, but more people came in as we sat. Everyone was nice and helpful with questions about the menu. Chips and salsa were tasty, with a little kick to the salsa. Ordered the Habanero Steak Burrito, which consisted of Grilled marinated steak, and picante habanero sauce. All burrito meals come with flour tortilla filled with Mexican black beans & rice, Jack and cheddar cheeses, and sides of serrano slaw, pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro-lime sour cream, garlic crema. My cocktail was a Passion Fruit Margarita that was light and refreshing. read more

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A Bold and Unique Mexican Experience in Charleston Charleston is no stranger to great food, but Matador sets itself apart with an up-flair, modern take on Mexican cuisine that's as bold as its name suggests. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere is electric--dim lighting, rustic brick accents, and a lively bar showcasing an impressive lineup of over 200 tequilas. If you're a tequila enthusiast, this is the place to be; their selection is unmatched in the city, offering everything from smooth, aged añejos to smoky mezcals. The vibrant atmosphere and expert staff make it a must-visit for tequila lovers and foodies alike. Whether you're here for a craft margarita or a full dining experience, Matador delivers elevated Mexican flavors in a lively, stylish setting. read more

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Just came for a drink while waiting for the restaurant across the street to open. The strawberry mangonada was delicious! read more

Matador Charleston - Drink menu - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I've been here a handful of times now. It never disappoints. The ambience is fantastic, the service is great. The food and drinks are delicious. I like that they have a lot of vegan options and mocktails for me. I wish they had a really good vegan dessert, that would be my only gripe. All the non-vegans that I have come here with have also been thoroughly satisfied. It's definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area thus far. read more

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This is my late night go-to when I visit town. Normally I go with their signature Habanero steak burrito, but this time I went with the ribeye carne asada medium. It was absolutely delicious when combined with warm corn tortillas and sour cream and guacamole. I like the rice, black beans and grilled corn served with it as well. The rib-eye steak was tender and flavorful. I'm not sure I can go back to traditional carne asada. The bartender Katie was attentive and a delight. I enjoyed their top shelf margarita as well. The ambiance is really cool here with rustic lighting, brick work, a tequila bar as well as a gas fire pit in the corner of the bar if you want to warm up or have extra ambience. Highly recommended Charleston! read more

Matador Charleston - Covered gas fire pit and tequila bar - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Oh how I've missed The Matador, growing up in Washington this was the happy hour spot with all my besties so I was so delighted to see they've moved a new location to South Carolina. Just my husband and I came on a Saturday around 2 for a late lunch. There was like a 10-15 minute wait but we got to just hang at the bar until we were called. Service was pleasant and this matador captured the aesthetic I've come to love with the matador. Also I saw all my favs on the menu it was really hard to only order one thing. For drinks I went with a strawberry chamoy margarita and my husband went with the ginger margarita both 10/10. And I had to get my bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers for old time sake- they're stuffed with goat cheese and come with a side of ranch and omg just so good! They also brought us out some complimentary chips with salsa. Now for my main meal normally I get the nachos with steak but wanted to switch it up. I got the habanero steak burrito Cali style and my husband got the steak sandwich aka a torta. The food was delicious! We left with so much leftover food. Our server was truly great and I have to say this matador passed the vibe check on every level from taste to service and of course the ambiance. Now I know when I'm homesick and in the Charleston area I have a little piece of home oh and to make things even better if you've visited a matador in Washington it's 21+ but here you can bring the whole family. read more

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When glob trotting, one must try a variety of cuisines. On this night it was Mexican dining and this place did not disappoint everything served was fresh, well presented and full of that take me home flavor. The service was outstanding. Immediately upon arrival we were seated and offered menus and water. Food came quickly and the attendant was nothing less than customer focused. The ambiance was light hearted with conversations ongoing throughout. The bar was very well stocked amd of course plenty of top shelf tequila. Now, parking can be a challenge. There are a couple of paid parking lots nearby...but street parking was a challenge. read more

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Walk past this place after lunch seeing that they had a happy hour after 10:00 and decided to come back and give it a try the street tacos were on a special five for 11:00 did to carnitas to chorizo and one chicken the chorizo was a three out of five two salty the chicken was also a three out of five to dry the Carnitas was a three out of five it liked flavor the chorizo quesadilla was also too salty the salsa that came with the chips good flavor nice crunch on the chip great service the sangria itself had really good flavor but unfortunately overall the experience was just a three out of five great portion sizes but not enough flavor to back it up read more

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This Mexican restaurant is beautifully decorated. I went in for a meal and was not disappointed. They have fantastic food deals, and the portion sizes are generous. I tried the Mexican Street Corn and had three chicken tacos, both of which were absolutely delicious. Def a good spot to drop in for a bite to eat. read more

Matador Charleston - Mexican Street Corn - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We ate lunch here Saturday. Stopped in by chance. Awesome lunch at great prices. 4 meals and drinks under $100.00. A must try when in Charleston SC Every meal fresh and hot. read more

Matador Charleston - Wagyu beef burger and fries. - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Nice clean modern atmosphere. Dimly lite. Not too loud. Large booths with small candle lights. Complementary chips and salsa. Salsa is chunky and not too spicy. Ribeye tacos were excellent. Only complaint is rice was too spicy. Husband liked his burger. Daughter liked the nachos. Service very friendly and attentive. read more

Excellent spiced margarita made by Elizabeth! Aquachiles was amazing and a bit spicey. Very nice decor and staff so friendly! read more

Matador Charleston - Ceviche Aquachiles - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Good drinks and food. Service was good and nice atmosphere. I enjoyed a taco salad with chicken and feel the chicken was minimal and would have been bette to fit was grilled strips. My mom and cousin liked their chicken quesadilla and coconut shrimp taco. read more

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Good food, fast service, reasonable prices. I'd definitely go back here again! Very flavorful food that was clean & a fun atmosphere! read more

Matador Charleston - Trio Dip Flight with 3 veggie tacos - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Matador is a Mexican chain restaurant that has a handful of locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Best thing about Matador is the consistency. I have never gone to a Matador restaurant and been disappointed. The Matador in Charleston is a decent sized location with the typical fun aesthetic that the restaurant is known for. What sets Matador apart from most Mexican chain restaurants is its excellent tequila selection. If you ever wanted to try tequila that you can sip, come during Top Shelf Tuesdays when you can try great tequilas at half the cost. I came here with a group of people and had a great time. Our server was wonderful - he matched the energy of our group, meeting our irreverent humor, and joining in with our mock exasperation with each other. Lots of laughter was had. I had the haberno enchiladas and found them to be flavorful with a nice heat. My waiter warned that some found it too spicy but I didn't experience any discomfort having enjoyed hot foods. I thought it was a great portion size. All in all, Matador is a great restaurant from coast to coast. read more

We order Chicken Fajitas which were not sizzling but big enough to split. Cadillac Margaritas were very good. Flour Tortillas tasted store bought. Service was good. Salsa was okay but kinda bland. Probably wouldn't come back. read more

Matador Charleston - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We stopped in on a walkabout the city and decided to try out a drink at the bar (so this review is only of the bar). The bartender was friendly and helpful in my decision amongst the many cool sounding margaritas. While my husband opted for wine, I had the Tamarind-Ginger margarita, marked by lovely spicy notes of cinnamon, lime, orange and (of course) Tamarind and Ginger. It was a unique, tasty and refreshing combination of flavors. My husband enjoyed his wine, but missed out on excellent margaritas. The bar decor was very cool, with a huge brick wall of alcohol (MANY tequilas) and a beautiful huge stain glass pic of a bull in the middle of the wall. The food menu looked great, but we were still pretty full after a good tour of the city. Very cool place that I highly recommend checking out. read more

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Awesome happy hour here for food quality and prices. Quick stroll from the Lindy. Margaritas were yummy, bar service timely. Complimentary delicious salsa with light crispy chips. Ironically, the brussel sprouts were amazing, go figure! Hope to return for a full meal next time. read more

Some friends and I were talking about visiting this restaurant for a minute and on a "4 Seasons" Saturday we decided to go. We walked in around 5/530 and were offered seating right away. We saw the huge round table with a fire at the end of the bar and opted to sit here. I think the bartender's name was Jacob and a young lady from Colorado, who were both top tier with their guidance and service. The chips and salsa were very good. I was impressed, as a lot of the Mexican themed local restaurants have heavy chips, while these were light and flavorful. We all started with drinks. Two off tap and the Bartender's Margarita. The Bartender's Margarita was delish!! One of my new faves, as it was a first having a splash of cranberry in a margarita and I love all things cranberry. We ordered the Crispy Brussels Sprouts to share and were all impressed with the texture and flavor. They were amazing and I will be back to get more. For entrees I chose the Ribeye Tacos after Mrs. Colorado (hate that I can't remember her name as she was so nice and pretty) suggested they were good. The black beans and rice was very good. The ribeye was tender and full of flavor, even still the next day (leftovers). The couple I was with chose to split a burrito with half steak and veggie and the chef obliged, which was pretty cool. We enjoyed meeting people at the front table as well as the warmth the fire provided, as the temperature that day was plummeting quickly. We definitely all agreed to go back soon, as we were impressed with the food, staff and liquor selection. Great spot that was definitely needed downtown. read more

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My spouse and I visited The Matador for happy hour on weeknight evening. We arrived around 5 pm and a table was readily available. The service was good--friendly, prompt and knowledgeable. The Matador has an outstanding and extensive tequila and mezcal list. The current Happy Hour menu has some solid food specials, but no drink specials. We shared guacamole and five of the street tacos. The street tacos were fantastic. Guacamole was good as well, but I'd probably skip this next time because their regular house salsa is so tasty. We also each tried a different margarita. We found the drinks to be strong and fresh. The only drawback was that they were out of some items for the first two margaritas my spouse ordered, so he had to sub in his third choice. I liked the ambiance of The Matador. It was quieter than expected and cozy without being cramped or small. Overall we were happy with our visit and I'd visit again in the future. read more

This was our second time to The Matador. The positives are the location and ambiance are great. The service is solid. Unfortunately the food is lackluster. My wife had chicken quesadillas and it was very greasy. I had the vegan burrito, admittedly I don't like very spicy food but this was not advertised as spicy and was too spicy to enjoy. I only ate half. Good opportunity here but the food needs to be taken to the next level if they're going to compete downtown. read more

Great portion sizes and salsa had great smoky flavor! We were seated quickly and staff was attentive! read more

Matador Charleston - Great local IPAs on tap! :) - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We had lunch at Matador on Christmas Eve and everything was excellent. The food was outstanding, and the service was just as great. They were very accommodating for our party of 8, which made the experience even better. Highly recommend! read more

Great ambiance and a unique menu. The coconut shrimp is *MESSY*. Not a good messy. It was overstuffed so much with the mango pineapple salsa and sour cream that you couldn't pick it up with your hands. I wasted most of one taco because it fell apart. The shrimp was breaded and a bit sweet, but it was not my favorite. I would not order this again. The Baja fish tacos, on the other hand, made up for the other fish. Super crispy with slaw and radishes, very tasty. Both meals came with black beans and Spanish rice. The beans are very good. Our server was very good with checking in occasionally. We had a great booth right next to the bar. The bar was very fun to look at, the stained glass and lighting is amazing. The prices were really good here also. read more

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AWFUL EVERYTHING. 1 hour wait for a table. When the table was finally ready - Walked in and was greeted by waiter that was condescending that we had kids with us and an unwelcoming personality. No smile or enthusiasm. Just simply some speech that they don't offer kids cups and glass only. Then we were given stale chips. Salsa was watery. When we finally ordered - it took over 40 minutes to get our food. Over 20 minutes for this waiter to come tell me one of the dishes I ordered was out. Shouldn't you have known that after I placed the order or shortly after?? Manager wasn't even there bc he had to leave the restaurant to buy more ingredients. Bad communication and lack or preparation on their part. It's Memorial Day weekend and you were not prepared. Had to get our food to-go and even still the order was not correct. When the male manager came back - he came by with no introduction. Didn't even get his name. All he did was make up excuses as to why the service was crappy and tried to justify the long wait time for food. Don't go here. Just because it's in the city and "highly rated". Bad service, mediocre food, and horrific management/staffing. And to top it all off - we paid for parking to only leave hungry and a bad experience. read more

I have only been here once, but the experience was great. Food was hot and delicious, service was great even though they were busy, and the place itself was very cool inside. I sat at a bar spot with my boyfriend and we shared nachos. The nacho plate was massive. Definitely 3 or so people could have shared this. They were delicious and very fresh. The drinks were good as well - I had a margarita and my boyfriend had a standard vodka soda. I would go back here, and plan to sometime when I'm hungry and hanging out downtown! We came in on a busy weekend night, but it may be an even better experience with table service as opposed to bar service. Nice spot with delicious food. read more

After dining on seafood for a few nights we decided to to go back to our Colorado roots and try some Charleston Mexican food and the Matador did not disappoint. The Mango Steak Tacos, the Chorizo Queso, salsa and excellent Blood Orange Margaritas were top notch . Throw in fast friendly service service in a great atmosphere and you get 5 stars read more