In May we went to Matador in Charleston, SC. We as a family love Happy Hours and we try and find different places to go and experience. This restaurant was not disappointing at all. They had a nice selection of drinks and food to choose from. Our server was very nice and she always came back to check on us. The atmosphere was cool. Nice restaurant with a nice bar area. The food was very good. Different but very tasty. The drinks were also very good. read more

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Not sure what was right with this place besides the tap water and the amazing hostess. The drinks were decent, and the service was good, so I'll give them credit for that. But the seating? I'm not even sure I'd call those booths. Somehow, they managed to make them less comfortable than the stools at the bar. We ordered three different tacos, and every single one was overwhelmingly spicy. Not the kind of heat that complements the flavor, but the kind that completely destroys it. At that point, I couldn't tell whether the spice was masking the flavor or hiding the fact that there wasn't any to begin with. Oddly enough, everything seemed to be missing salt, except the chips and salsa, which had plenty. Unfortunately, the chips were burnt, so even that was a disappointment. Three stars for the friendly service, decent drinks, and especially the fantastic hostess. As for the food, I'd rather taste what I'm eating than have my taste buds assaulted into submission. read more

I ate here midday on a Thursday during happy hour. The salsa with the chips was great! The queso I ordered wasn't the best, I prefer the white queso that's creamy and rich. This was a bland yellow queso that was like pre packaged cheese dip.. I also ordered the flank steak it came with rice and beans, corn & tortillas. I ordered the steak medium and it came out rare. I didn't eat the steak and told my server yet he still left it on my check and didn't comp anything else (like a cheaper item on the bill such as a drink or the queso) or discount anything. As a server myself I do have high expectations but my guy was a big letdown. The other server working was more attentive and personable! They also did not have any high chairs. It was a beautiful restaurant but I will not be back. read more

We had lunch here after doing some shopping in the area. The restaurant was nice and definitely a vibe. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The salsa was fantastic and by far the best part of the meal. I ordered the shredded beef enchiladas, it came with beans & rice. The tortillas had a weird texture to them, the beans were clumpy and dry. Maybe it was just an off day in the kitchen. read more

Matador Charleston - Shredded Beef Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Came in late night that the bartender was amazing. The tuesday drink special was worth the trip alone but the appetizers were the icing on the cake. The candles make everything feel like you're in a castle. read more

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Cute Mexican spot in Charleston. I think it may be underrated. Maybe because it isn't on that main street. We were welcomed in and seated right away. The margaritas were DELICIOUS. We shared the nachos and several different taco options including the birria- all delicious. read more

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One of the few Mexican restaurants downtown. I stopped by for happy hour and they have several food specials to choose from. The quesadilla was pretty solid, sprouts were amazing and the steak tacos were very flavorful. Oddly no drink specials, I tried a couple of their cocktails and they were a bit sweet for my taste. read more

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Al pastor tacos were amazing.... Make sure you ask for cilantro!!!! Drinks were also on point. Bartender was very attentive, don't remember her name just that she had been struck by a car recently. Definitely try if you're in the area. (All of the food I saw go by looked fantastic!) read more

Shortly after my group was seated we were brought complimentary chips and salsa which really hit the spot. Looking over the menu, as a vegetarian I appreciated that they offered a variety of veg friendly items. I ended up ordering the Beyond Burrito which wasn't bad. I wish the beyond meat product that they had used was more of a ground beef texture versus clumps. The texture made me think it belonged in biscuits and gravy and not a burrito. What really brought this experience down was the service. Our server was really struggling despite it not being super busy while we were there. When we did see him, we would have to ask for the same thing multiple times at points and there were some issues when it came time to close all our bills with the cards being mixed up and charged on the incorrect receipts. read more

Not sure what happened here but this was my favorite place and today I was so disappointed. My cucumber jalapeno marg was horrible. No cucumber and no jalapeño. For the price, I will prob not be back. read more

Went today. This was typically a good marg and nachos go-to for happy hour. Margs are $13.50 each (relatively expensive) which we knew but today's margs were average at best. Did not even stay after having one. We normally have 3-4 margs each and the HH nachos. Our normal bar people were not there and that was probably the issue....not good read more

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

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

Amazing food and service! Chips and dip are great served was nice and we all ordered this bowl and it was delicious. Shrimp chicken and steak options were all delicious. Would come Back again! read more

Matador Charleston - Gaucho bowl - 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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As Portlanders, we are very familiar with Matador and were pleasantly surprised to see one in Charleston. If you like Mezcal, the smokey cocktail is a must! The homemade charred pineapple syrup is delicious and pairs so well with the smokey mezcal. Happy hour is every day 4-6pm. The bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños are sooo good, stuffed with goat cheese they are a great combo! read more

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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AMAZING cheese dip, food was pretty good, a little pricey but that's just charleston. Very pretty restaurant and they were able to fit five of us in immediately at 7pm on Saturday in July with tourist season. Would recommend if you're looking for "Mexican"food with a more upscale feel in the area. 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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Amazing tequila bar. House salsa is delectable I could eat it for days. Bar staff incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Had quite a few margaritas. read more

Matador Charleston - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I live in the neighborhood and have ordered the veggie fajitas many times, especially for take out. Last night I asked for extra veggies because the last time I didn't have enough to fill all of the tortillas. I understand that the restaurant doesn't have a ton of veggies, but they have corn and red and green peppers and cactus. I come home to find the styrofoam filled with the same small amount of those veggies, but filled with tons of plain onions. I don't think the chef could've done this if it wasn't take out, but how lousy. They were veggies, not meat. How cheap and classless. I stupidly left a tip for the take out too. read more

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

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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We had lunch their and I left a 20% tip, when I received my credit card bill it had been padded another $15.00. it appears that they are ripping off tourists, consumer be aware! It is a shame as the food and drinks were good. read more

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

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 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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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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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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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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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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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

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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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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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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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

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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The queso was delicious! The sangria was very tasty. A lot of the food was a tad too spicy. Not enough to be inedible but definitely noticeable. We still had a great lunch and enjoyed our time there. read more