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    The Matador

    3.6 (95 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    THE MATADOR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Matador

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    Burrito with soup and salad
    Gail S.

    Stopped at Matador for lunch. First time there. Very impressive decor and Staff. We were greeted instantly and seated in a booth. Service was fast and Welcoming. Salsa was thick and spicy accompanied by a Cadillac & Skinny margarita, which were well made. The carnita verde enchiladas were filled with pork and cheese along with Mex rice and refried beans all served hot and Excellent. The lunch combo came with chicken tortillas soup which was slightly spicy but tasty there was also a choice of salad and we got the Romano and the main entree was a huge chicken filled burrito. All served hot and fresh. Highly recommend Matador Mexican!

    Chop Salad with ground beef. So good!!
    Keeley M.

    What a cute Mexican spot! The decor inside is so cute and cozy with a firepit in the bar. The chips and salsa were good and I got the chop salad with ground beef. It was absolutely a delicious salad. I'm still craving it. Overall the food was great and service was too. I would definitely go back here for this salad, chips, and scenery!

    Stacy E.

    I came here for lunch with my sister and it was pretty dead. Our food order was out in a timely manner. The food was hot and fresh. We ordered margaritas they were salted to perfection. Lots of parking spaces available.

    Chips
    Kylie F.

    Had a great time here! Very nice inside and out waiter was great. I ordered the braised pork and carne asada tacos. The portion size was more than enough and the meat was so flavorful and tender! I was impressed. The rice was surprisingly spicy- a bit too much for my taste. I also was not the biggest fan of the salsa that came with the chips. Didn't get to try their other dips but their happy hour looks like a great deal. If I was local I would be back!

    Shrimp Familia Street Tacos for 2
    Emmanuella M.

    I wanted to gatekeep this place for happy hour but have to share the wealth. The food was 10/10! That salsa with the chips was . The vibe is very cozy which was nice when it's cold outside. I was pleasantly surprised by the portions per pricing, especially in Charlotte. Our server, Jordan was attentive and gave awesome recommendations. Don't walk, RUN here but leave a seat for me cuz I will be back!

    Cynthia R.

    Came here and met a couple of gfs. I arrived first and sat at the bar, make bartender who was right there when I sat down didn't even speak. Just looked at me then put his head down. He finally acknowledged me after a few minutes and I decided on a sparkling strawberry sangria. It was horrible. I expected it to be sweet, fruity and most importantly sparkling. It was completely flat and just not very flavorful to me. My friends arrived and ordered margaritas and they said they were the worst they ever had. Parking lot is very small so if u come during busy hrs have no clue where you would park. Also the booths are not made for "larger" bodies. The tables are mounted to the wall so can't adjust them. However a plus side for the place was it's beautiful inside and the bathrooms were clean, but after the terrible drink and service, I don't see a reason to go back.

    Lowanda J.

    It's funny how I end up dining at some restaurants here in Charlotte before trying the one's back in Charleston where I live. I was visiting my son and we came for an early dinner. The major drawback of this location is the lack of parking. Their lot can only hold about 20 cars and there is no street parking. There is a church lot behind the establishment that you can pay for parking, but that was also filled. After driving the block several times and waiting to see if anyone was leaving (about 20 minutes at this point), we decided to leave and from the corner of my eye I saw a flickering of light. I made my son back up and lo and behold, someone was coming out. This location is within an old fire station Nice and roomy with an edgy vibe. We were seated near the bar which was huge. It extended the length of the place. The booth areas were large as well and made for good private dining. They have a great happy hour menu. We ordered Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Vegan Grande Nachos (Beyond Meat), and some Street Tacos. We were disappointed with the brussel sprouts they were a little burnt in some areas and just didn't taste right. The tacos and nachos were great! I had a margarita with my meal and it was good. The service was good and our waitress was very friendly.

    Hania A.

    Beautiful place, delicious food / drinks, and service was excellent! Tuna tostadas were my fav, but that habanero burrito was pretty good too. Mexican paella had lots of flavor, just needed a little more crispness for the rice...but it was probably just the type of pan that was used. The margaritas were great. I will definitely be back to try the fish and shrimp tacos next time. Also, our server was fantastic (but forgot his name), which has been hard to find lately in Charlotte.

    Carne Asada Sandwich baja fish taco
    Givon H.

    Restaurant looks very nice inside and the service was not too bad. Server gave a lot of recommendations and was also not hovering over us too much but made sure to refill water and everything. The food was good and served in a good time I would give it a 7/10. Definitely a good date spot.

    Elizabeth D.

    My friend and I had a great time at The Matador celebrating her birthday last night! Our server was super friendly, and the vibe of the space is great. We each got a glass of wine (was pleased to see the wine prices were actually reasonable - $10 for a good glass of Malbec). They brought us chips and salsa (the chips were a bit thick for my taste but the salsa was perfect) and we started off with the dip trio (the queso and black bean dip were both a bit spicy but SO flavorful, and the guac was fresh and tasty). I ordered the Chilean Shrimp Tacos and my friend got the Verde Chicken Burrito - both were fantastic! They each came with a lot of black beans, rice, pico, etc. too which was nice. We had to finish with a special birthday dessert of course, and our server recommended the warm brownie with ice cream - it was fabulous!!! I could have done without the berry sauce on top of the whipped cream personally, but the brownie and the ice cream were absolute perfection. I've seen reviews that call out the tight parking situation here, which I would agree with (though you are in SouthEnd so in my mind that just comes with the territory). My only other qualm with this place would be the booths - they are completely wood with no cushion on the bottom and get pretty uncomfortable after an hour or so. Still, great experience overall - would definitely come back!

    Carnitas
    Zoe G.

    Overall 3.5, maybe 4 star rating. 0/5 stars for parking. Got there and small parking lot they have was completely full. We even waited and turned around and lot was still full. Had to park by the church which was park mobile $10. Asked the host where we should park since the lot was full. Her response- "I really don't know...." So we had to pay $10 to park and they won't comp. 3/5 stars for service. Very busy and definitely lacked servers. Took a while to get waters and order any drinks. Only brought 2 water glasses for 3 of us, server went to get another glass, around 10 minutes later came back over without the water and we had to ask for a 3rd water, again. Didn't see our server for most of the night except ordering and one other time. They only brought us two forks, had to wait 5+ minutes to flag down anyone who worked there to ask for another fork, since our main meals had arrived. 2.5/5 Drinks were meh. If a drink has "spices" on it, listen to it, there's spices and overpowering. Chips and salsa 5/5 really good. Brussel sprouts were super good 5/5. Carnitas entree is enough for two people! A little dry, but overall pretty good. My friend said the carne asada tacos were not that good. 0/5 for churros. Do not order the churros, they are super soft inside almost mushy and not crispy on the outside. Went for charlotte restaurant week and $35 definitely was the right price, I would not have paid more for it. Cute place, might not go back.

    Ashley U.

    If you are a tequila and taco lover then you need to check out the matador! First, the vibe: it's a modern rustic cowboy themed resin an old firehouse. It has so much charm and ever has a bar top fire place. Patron is spacious and covered. I love the fish tacos and chicken and rice bowl. They have unique refreshing margaritas and the largest selection of tequila in the area. They offer various tequila flights including mezcal flights and on Tuesdays all tequila is half off!! Crazy deal.

    Alexis P.

    Went here on a week night and it wasn't too busy with no wait. Loved the decor and atmosphere in the restaurant. Our server was friendly and attentive. I ordered the passion fruit margarita, made strong but tasteful. We received chips and salsa, given at the start. I wasn't a fan of the chips but I love the salsa. It is in between chunky but not too thin. It also has a nice spice to it. For an app, we got the chorizo queso dip. It is more of a fondue type queso than a creamy dip so keep that in mind. I ordered the crispy carnitas tacos (pictured at bottom), while my friend ordered the ribeye tacos (pictured top). The tacos had flavor and there was an abundance of rice and beans, which was nice considering the price. The slaw on the tacos are chunky and prefer to be smaller. Overall, we had a good experience.

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    23 days ago

    Food and service were good. Parking wasn't terrible during the time we came. Expect to spend $30-50 per person

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    Thanks for the great feedback, Basaree! Please join us again soon. 

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    We love the 5-star feedback, Chanel! Thanks for your review. 

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    Ask the Community - The Matador

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    Dos Caminos

    Dos Caminos

    3.8(259 reviews)
    0.5 miUptown
    $$

    Stopped in after an event for drinks and a bite -- great call. Even with the place buzzing, we…read moresnagged two seats at the bar without a wait. My friend and I both went with the margarita cocktail with a sugar rim and it did not disappoint. For food, I ordered the beef empanadas (three count) and they were juicy and satisfying. The dipping sauce was simple but it worked. My friend got the pollo ranchero and loved it -- we both left with leftovers, which says a lot. Oh, and the bathrooms were clean with multiple stalls. Always a win. Solid spot for a post-event wind down. Would definitely return.

    Native Texan here, so yes--I'm biased when it comes to Mexican food. Unfortunately, this place was…read moremediocre at best and overpriced for what you get. I ordered the carne asada and was genuinely excited, but it was a letdown from the start. They never asked how I wanted the steak cooked, which is a huge mistake. Then they covered the steak in cheese--why? That completely overpowered everything. I couldn't even taste the chimichurri. A suggestion: grill the steak properly and serve it simply. If you need cast iron, use a skillet--not a cast iron bowl. Don't drown it in cheese, and please don't cut my steak for me. I'm a grown adult and can handle that myself. On the positive side, the service was on point--our waitress was amazing. The inside was clean and had a kind‑of Mexican vibe going on.

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    Que Onda Tacos + Tequila - Combination of Tacos

    Que Onda Tacos + Tequila

    4.1(689 reviews)
    0.9 miUptown
    $$

    Orhan was absolutely fantastic and made our dining experience so enjoyable from the moment we sat…read moredown. He was attentive, friendly, and always made sure we had everything we needed without us even having to ask. His service was quick, professional, and welcoming, which really stood out and made us feel taken care of the whole time. It is rare to have a server who brings such a positive energy to the table, and Orhan definitely did that. I ordered the Burrito Basico with steak, and it was amazing. The steak was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly, and the burrito itself was packed with fresh ingredients that all blended together so well. Every bite was full of flavor, and the portion size was more than worth it. Between the delicious food and Orhan's outstanding service, this was an excellent experience overall. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend asking for Orhan.

    We sat on the second floor rooftop Terrace outside. Great views of the surrounding neighborhood…read more The service was outstanding! Our server did everything we asked and Moore to make sure we had an excellent experience. Now for the food. We started with a trio, appetizer of queso, guacamole, salsa. All absolutely outstanding. Then my wife and I split the chicken enchiladas with the green sauce. One of the best we've ever had. What was really outstanding? Was this cheesy rice side dish. Unexpected and absolutely delicious.

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    Que Onda - Plaza Midwood - Pollo Guajillo

    Que Onda - Plaza Midwood

    4.5(143 reviews)
    2.2 miPlaza Midwood

    Decent brunch in the heart of plaza Midwood, but room for improvement…read more My friends and I Came for the $1 mimosas they are running for the last two saturdays of the year. We arrived around 130p and sat downstairs even though it was nice out and there's an upstairs bar, they said it was not available... They were advertising $1 mimosas for the holidays which is a steal, but to be honest, it was very OJ heavy which I guess is what you would expect. They are normally $3 so still a great price. There is a dedicated parking lot and street spots as well. It's a bright and colorful space with vibrant decor. We ordered an assortment of breakfast and birria tacos. I enjoyed my tacos especially being able to order à la carte, but the service was a bit slow even though it wasn't too busy or crowded. I would give it another chance for lunch or dinner. Or a taco Tuesday! They have daily specials so I think it's worth another shot. @azfitfoodfun

    Great spot in plaza! Small rooftop/outdoor patio and some indoor seating upstairs and downstairs…read more I've tried a few things on the menu and have really enjoyed them all. Fajitas, tacos, and flautas have all been great. The trio is pretty good. Not the best guac or queso I've had, but certainly does the job. The salsa is restaurant style and slightly smoky - really enjoyed it. The tacos are also a little on the pricy side ($20 to mix and match 3 tacos), but still tasty. They also have good specials - $6 jumbo marg on Fridays. Definitely a spot I will continue to come back!

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    Superica - Cheese  enchiladas

    Superica

    4.1(858 reviews)
    0.6 miSouth End, Dilworth
    $$

    I fell in love with Superica when I first moved to Charlotte nearly three years ago, and it quickly…read morebecame one of my go-to spots for reliable, flavorful Tex-Mex. But I have to start with a small heartbreak: my beloved puffy taco is gone. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where the puffy taco was created, and it's deeply nostalgic for me. It's not a sope, not a tostada--it's a true puffy taco, light, airy, and unlike anything else. For a long time, Superica made one that came remarkably close to what I grew up with. Unfortunately, after changes in leadership and kitchen management, it quietly disappeared from the menu. That was a real disappointment. That said, I still come back--because the food here is consistently good. The crispy tacos with picadillo are my current favorite. Picadillo (P-I-C-A-D-I-L-L-O) is a traditional Latin dish with many regional variations, and this version reminds me of the one my grandmother used to make in San Antonio. The portions are generous, the flavors are balanced, and the menu offers something for everyone--from enchiladas and chile rellenos to steaks and fresh tableside guacamole. Speaking of guacamole, I'm a purist. I like it simple: avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, lime, garlic--chunky and clean. Superica delivers on that. The chips and salsa are bottomless, the salsa has great depth of flavor, and for those who like heat, they offer a tiny dropper of hot sauce that is smoky, bold, and absolutely not for the faint of heart. The ginger margarita is another standout. It comes with a generous piece of crystallized ginger and has a bright, balanced flavor that makes it easy to order a second one. And if you have room for dessert, do not skip the tres leches cake--rich, decadent, and a perfect way to end the meal. I also appreciate the little touches here: * Friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff * A lively bar area that's great for happy hour * A beautiful outdoor patio that makes al fresco dining feel special * And a fun tradition of sending you home with a packaged Texas praline This South End location is my personal favorite. It feels more adult and relaxed, while the Strawberry Hill location tends to be more family-heavy. Both are good, but the vibe here suits me better. Yes, prices have crept up a bit--as they have everywhere--but the quality, consistency, and atmosphere keep me coming back. And as someone who travels frequently for work across multiple states, I appreciate that Superica maintains a dependable standard wherever I encounter it. Bottom line: Even without the puffy taco, Superica remains one of my favorite Tex-Mex spots in Charlotte. Come hungry, bring friends, share plates--and as always, travel safe and eat well.

    If you're looking for a spot with a high-energy vibe and a killer aesthetic, Superica in South End…read moredefinitely delivers. I visited with a friend on Cinco de Mayo, so as you can imagine, the scene was absolutely chaotic. The wait was a staggering hour and a half, but Superica handles crowds like a pro. They have an outdoor bar and a grill setup serving: * A limited taco menu * Chips and Queso This was a total game-changer. It's a genius move that keeps the "hangry" at bay while you soak up the South End atmosphere. Once we finally scored two seats at the bar, the service remained impressively steady despite the holiday madness. * The Vibe: 10/10. The restaurant is beautiful and definitely fits the trendy Charlotte mold. * The Food: To be honest, I wasn't blown away. Given the hype and the stunning decor, my expectations were sky-high. The flavors were "decent" and felt like a solid performance, but they didn't quite hit that "must-return" level of deliciousness. * Portion Sizes: Huge! I couldn't finish my meal in one sitting. Here's the interesting part: The food actually tasted better the next day. It traveled well and the flavors seemed to settle in overnight. If you can't finish your plate, definitely take it home. Is it worth the South End gas and the hour-plus wait? For me, I'll probably stick to my "old faithful" spot up in the University area for my routine taco fix. However, I'm willing to give Superica the benefit of the doubt. It's hard for any kitchen to be at its absolute peak on Cinco de Mayo. If I find myself back in the neighborhood on a quieter Tuesday, I'd give it another shot just to see if the food can live up to that gorgeous interior.

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    The Matador - mexican - Updated May 2026

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