We were in town for the evening and decided to check out The Matador. We ordered the Verde Carnitas Enchiladas and The Matador Bowl. The flavor on both were amazing! All of the ingredients tasted very fresh. The ambiance was also great and we loved the decorations. read more

Really fun tacos! I came on a Monday night so it was pretty empty and easy to get a seat. I ordered the coconut shrimp mango tacos, and they were a great portion and such a unique and well-prepared dish. I would definitely order them again. I tried a bite of the steak tacos too - also great, but the coconut shrimp was the fan favorite. I'd love to go back and try their cocktails! read more

I've been wanting to check this place out and glad I finally did. We went for lunch on a Saturday around 1pm. We had a reservation but definitely wasn't needed. It was pretty dead for lunch service, it seems to be more of a night time spot. The service was great and our group was checked on frequently. The food recommendations were great! The portion sizes are also huge for the price- worth it! I want to go back for happy hour soon and try that! It looks like a great deal. read more

The Matador - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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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! read more

The Matador - Burrito with soup and salad - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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! read more

The Matador - Chop Salad with ground beef. So good!! - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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. read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Great food, atmosphere, and service! Everyone was professional yet friendly. We were checked on multiple times and our requests were fulfilled in a timely manner. I got the habanero steak burrito and my partner got the street tacos. Both were excellent. Great gem! read more

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! read more

The Matador - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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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. read more

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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. read more

The Matador - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This is a great place if you enjoy tequila and spirits. The food menu is limited but the service is great. The restaurant itself is clean and comfortable. They were able to accommodate our party of 10 and we had plenty of room. read more

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. read more

The Matador - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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

My friend and I went during happy hour and the whole experience was top tier! I tried the passion fruit margaritas & they were so good I got 2 of them! The fish tacos were 10/10, and the shrimp tacos were 9/10. I highly recommend the prawn appetizer dish! The service was wonderful as well and I believe our waiter's name was Chris and he was awesome! It's definitely worth a try and enjoy the happy hour vibes. read more

The Matador - Prawn appetizer - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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We stopped in for drinks on a Wednesday evening and were happy with our experience. We ordered black bean dip to snack on, which I really enjoyed, though they also provided chips and salsa. I thought the chips and salsa were okay, nothing special, but decent. The black bean dip, however, I much preferred. We also ordered drinks - they have a tequila menu, as well as a list of cocktails (all tequila). I would think of this as a tequila bar, which is pretty cool! Especially for south end! Not sure if they have any other liquors available, that's not why you choose to come here. Drinks were good, I really liked. I think they could play up the tequila flights as a tasting experience, as I tend to doubt people in Charlotte are overly knowledgeable about the different kinds. But anyway if you want something nicer to sip on, this is the spot. And if you want to pick a few to try, so that you know what you like when you're out and about, this is also your spot. Our waiter was friendly, and the location is pretty good. There's a parking lot (modest in size) at the restaurant and also it is close to the Carson St light rail stop. Would guess about a 5 min walk. If you insist on driving, and cannot find a spot, I'd recommend parking on a Dilworth side street vs south end if you can. Happy with our evening there and I'm excited to see the place grow over time! read more

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The service here was so bad. We went for my friend's birthday on a Tuesday and were sat in a booth. 15 minutes later the hostess came over and brought us waters, noticing our server never came. 10 minutes later a server came and got our drink orders. When we finally ordered our food it took over an hour for 2 quesadillas and tacos. We had to wait multiple times for napkins, cutlery, water, and chips. Food was average for the high price. Our server was very kind, I believe it is the establishments fault for not staffing properly. read more

Came in for a special Valentine's Day dinner with my boyfriend! The ambiance was gorgeous and gave elevated desert chic. As soon as we were sat at the table, our waitress complimented me and told me how pretty I looked - I know this had nothing to do with the restaurant itself but it was endearing immediately! She was so helpful and attentive with assisting my bf in finding a vegetarian meal for him. I also asked for her opinion between the coconut shrimp tacos and the cornflake breaded mahi mahi. She was straight up with me and told me she much preferred the tacos as this is what Matador is known for. I went ahead with the coconut shrimp tacos and they were DELICIOUS with generous portions. I also ordered the house margarita with a very salty rim and they delivered. It was very strong and when I asked if they had a smaller size for the margarita, the server asked if I wanted fewer calories. This was not the case, I instead was hoping for the margarita flavors without more of the buzz. I was brought a menu of nonalcoholic beverages, so if that's what you're looking for, be sure to ask! I got the nonalcoholic scratch margarita and it was delicious. All in all, a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner thanks to Matador! read more

The service here has declined a lot since the last time I visited. Today, it took 30 minutes for our food to arrive to the table. My friend said her food tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp and the crispy onions and rice from her dish was stale. We had to go find the server for our bill. The table next to us asked that they bring their paid dessert to us since it took so long for them to bring it out. It was just ice cream and a brownie. The ice cream had melted. I won't return. read more

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Now let's talk about a vibe! The staff was great! Caleb the bartender and Raven the manager were so lovely! They provided excellent service and great conversation. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. Loved the vibe of the fire pit at the bar! This is definitely a place you want to visit. They have two happy hours, 4-6 and 10-12. read more

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Came in on a Wednesday for happy hour. We were seated quickly on the patio. Love that it's fully shaded and there were fans going. We started off with some guacamole, grilled stuff jalapeños and margaritas. The margarita was ok, completely full of ice and not even a full glass. Didn't order another one just because it wasn't worth $12 to me. Guacamole comes with two salsas, we all liked the verde one but the other was too hot to enjoy and I like some heat. Grilled jalapeños were a hit. I liked that the bacon was well done and not fatty. I ordered three happy hour tacos for $7: chicken, carnitas and chorizo. All there ok, I added some salsa from the table. Our server was great! very attentive and nice. Overall, I wouldn't be back if it wasn't for a happy hour. The food for me, is overly priced and so are the drinks. read more

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Wow! What a time we had here. Definitely one of the best restaurants Charlotte has to offer. Sat at the bar area where we were treated the same as if you sat at a traditional table. We order wine along with our meal. Very pleased with the whole experience and can't wait to get back there! read more

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We came for a late lunch on a Sunday around 2pm. It wasn't packed but there was a steady stream of customers who came in while we were there. We sat at the bar and enjoyed margaritas, (free) chips and salsa, ceviche, and the birria enchiladas. Everything was good and had flavor. I definitely want to go back for their happy hour food specials. It's every day 4-6pm and after 10pm. They also have specials on tequila on Tuesdays. Finding parking in South End gives me anxiety so it's awesome that there's a small parking lot next to the building. read more

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Very enchanting. I came for a Happy Hour experience and enjoyed myself. I wanted a quick bite before getting a massage. I settled on a Passionfruit Margarita with House Tequila, Steak Tacos, and Queso con Chorizo. The drink was delectable. It was strong. They have a vast selection of libations but that house tequila was more like a mansion! I was feeling it halfway through my drink. It helped relax me. The Steak Tacos were so tasty. I love spice and they had a donkey kick to them. I laughed because I know some people would loose it due yo the kick but I like Korean food so... The Queso was my least favorite. It wasn't good at all. It didn't taste like cheese, American or Mexican. There was absolutely No meat in there and it had a funky processed after taste. I'm a Midwesterner so I know cheese. This was definitely powdered and processed. All-in-all it was a good experience. The restaurant is small as are the booths but it's ultra sexy. I would definitely go back as there were other non-Happy Hour menu items that looked phenomenal. read more

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This is the best Happy Hour hands down . I've been to Matadors on the West Coast and here in Charlotte and both are great . This location house an outdoor sitting area too . Definitely have to come back in the summer and party it up. Lots of cute girls in here too read more

The Matador - Bomb salsa and crunchy tasty chips - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Greeted upon entering by friendly staff. Dining area & bathroom were both clean . First time ordering coconut shrimp tacos & loved them . Sparkling strawberry sangria was refreshing. read more

The Matador - Sparkling strawberry sangria - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Went to the Matador with a friend and had a good experience. We sat at the bar and had drinks (red sangria and strawberry sangria) and an app. The drinks were good but nothing special. The dip flight was a great concept, but the execution left more to be desired. We wished the guacamole had more flavor and the salsa and bean dip had a spice that wasn't as described on the menu. The ambiance of the restaurant was great and the service was excellent. I would return but maybe just stick to drinks next time. read more

The Matador - Strawberry sangria - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The nachos weren't the best I've ever had but they were good. Besides, you can't beat the value you get at Happy Hour. Nice ambiance and service as well with a parking lot on site. read more

Visited here while traveling from Texas. Love the look and decor of restaurant. Ended up going during happy hour and was able to order a few things off the menu. The food was good. I love Brussels!!! read more

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First off I think it is awesome that this restaurant is located in the historic Charlotte Fire Station on South Boulevard. I enjoy seeing history buildings preserved, revitalized, and repurposed, instead of just knocked down to make way for stale modern buildings, so when I saw that a restaurant was moving in I was intrigued and knew I'd have to pay a visit. I came in on an early Wednesday evening, so it wasn't especially busy. The atmosphere was relaxed and elegant, and what immediately drew my eye was their gorgeous bar! I wasn't in much of a drinking mood that evening, but my eye definitely caught their massive tequila selection so I will have to return when I have my party hat on. Upon being seated we were promptly served fresh chips and salsa. I always make an effort not to fill up on chips before I eat, but it's hard when the salsa is this tasty. Despite the beautiful decor, I wouldn't categorize their menu as fancy or high end. While they do offer steaks, surf and turn, and a crusted mahi mahi, their most popular items seem to be the classics like their quesadilla, their burritos, or the quesabirria. I decided on three tacos which came served with generous portions of rice and black beans. They were hefty portions for sure. Overall my initial impression of the food here is that it is solid and above average but it may not be anything that will blow your mind. I think what will bring me back is the bar and the atmosphere as this seems like a very fun place to throw back some drinks on a Friday night! read more

The Matador - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Service was questionable, everyone's entrees came out at drastically different times which was frustrating. The drinks while good, were inconsistent. Food was nothing too special but good overall. Great outdoor and indoor seating. read more

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This place has its ups and downs. First off, parking is a hassle--you have to go around back to the church and use ParkMobile, which is inconvenient. The place is quite small, so it gets pretty loud with the echoes bouncing off the walls, though the music is good overall. The service was great; our waitress was extremely nice and attentive. The fish tacos and mango steak tacos were delicious, but the rice and black beans were pretty bland and disappointing. The place made a comeback with their drinks, though--the margaritas and ranch water were excellent. All in all, The Matador has some standout items and good service, but there are areas that could use improvement. read more

The Matador - Dip Flight - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Only giving this place two stars because of their impressive tequila collection. As a native San Diegan I did not expect great Mexican food in Charlotte. But I expected edible food. We tried three of the street tacos, the matador guacamole and the quesadilla. We will never come back here. Most inauthentic Mexican food flavor I've ever eaten, and I've traveled all over the country for over a decade for work. read more

The Matador - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Service: LJ was amazing and makes great Drinks. The review mostly is based on the food. The guacamole - seems like the avocados used were not ripped, it was very bland. The ceviche was bad, seems like it was made with frozen precooked shrimp, no flavor at all. The fajitas - the steak was good, nicely seasoned. Also, the salsa that they give is delicious, yet the chips are extremely greasy. The restaurant is beautiful- the decor is very nice. The place has potential if they get the food right. read more

Matador has a nice vibe to it. There is an indoor table top fire at the bar and the lights are dim with nice decor. The service was pretty slow and it took a long time to get our drinks and food. They brought us chips out by themselves and later told us that they were out of salsa... So just chips alone is what we got. We then ordered guac for the chips and it was very fresh and good. We did the queens feast meal so I had an app, entree, & churros for $35. I got the chicken quesadilla for an app and it was huge and pretty good, nothing special. I got the mango steak tacos for an entree and honestly they were just alright. They lacked in flavor and had quite a bit of spice to them. The churros were amazing as they were soft and came with a delicious chocolate dipping sauce. I need to come again and eat off of the regular menu to give this place a fair rating but for now I am very mildly impressed. read more

The Matador - Mango Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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