Matador Reviews

Was looking forward to the meal after reading the great reviews. Was rather disappointed as food we ordered very bland and no kick and insufficient. Was planning to go twice but my stomach would not let me return again.

Good location close to Union Square, menu had good choices and the food was delivered quickly and was very tasty. You will probably need to book a table if you are in group as it was very busy.

Very inviting small restaurant with all the food and drink you could want. And the vintage photographs hanging on the walls are fun to look at.

Booked a table by phone at 3 pm for 3, confirmed and when arrived at 6:30, no record of this reservation. I have been immediately put on a standby list and waited 30 minutes before cancelling because of no excuse, no search for the reservation, no progress in the list but have had the time to see many like me showing up with expectations and leaving with only the taste of deception. If you want to enjoy the place, book online ? Calling is apparently no longer enough.

I went here for a networking event and had a margarita, chips and lots of other delicious things, including chips and salsa, chicken and mushroom empanadas, carnitas, shrimp cocktail, and a corn dish with sour cream. Everything was incredibly delicious, but the corn dish and the empanadas probably surprised me the most. The shrimp cocktail was good but not wow.

The restaurant was great! Service was attentive, food was tasty and drinks were cold! They have a small variety of Mexican food (check the menu before you go) with a modern twist. The chef was very accommodating to my wife’s allergies and we had a lovely time!

A casual restaurant with delicious fresh tacos and mean frozen margaritas. The guac was great, the nachos not so much. Overall a big tick.

Was right next to our hotel . . . . very good service and very good eats . . . especially liked guacamole. Had quesadilla with chicken . . . would definitely order it again.

Very nice place with variety of Mexican dishes - tastes good, served well. Located in city center easy to access. Tacos full of flavor.

Went here for a quick bites with some colleagues after a day of business meetings. Place has a nice atmosphere, is reasonably priced and had some great food. Definitely recommended. It is a fairly small place and the staff was very friendly.

Excellent nachos, other Mexican dishes average. Sangria is not worth the Peña. Small place and friendly staff. If you love Mexican food I don't recommend it.

Drinks fine. Food pretty bland. Supermarket taco seasoning more taste!! Service fine. Ok but not great. House wine pretty good.

The food was very good but the service was exceptional. All of the dips were delicious, the tacos and enchiladas were great, and it was nice having an authentic flan for a change. The servers worked together masterfully to keep on top of our group. Very impressive.

Family dinner. Place is modestly decorated. Staff were attentive. Food was good and reasonable sized portions. As with all SF restaurants it ended up being expensive.

We had an early lunch here but even at 11.45am, it was super busy and crowded. We took two seats at the bar. The service wasn't slow, even though they were really busy. We had two tacos each (prawn and chicken) and they were really excellent - so fresh and full of flavour. The atmosphere here was really good. It isn't too far from the Union Square shops.

Convenient location in central SF located on Sutter St. Decent menu selection, decent prices and great friendly service. We had tacos and a carne burrito. We had Mexican Coca Cola….similar to regular cola but since it’s bottled in Mexico it’s with cane sugar. The churros were delicious as was the home made flan.

It was our first night in San Francisco, we stumbled upon this place and the moment we entered I knew we wouldn't be disappointed. We actually only intended on having a margarita, but saw others ordering burritos and decided to grab one too. The food and drinks were fantastic, the music and decor created a great atmosphere and the bartender was nice. It was a shame as we ran out of time to come back, will definitely keep this place in mind whenever I am back in San Francisco.

Cool vibe and tasty tacos. Guacamole was good too. Churros were delicious. Our server was a little unfriendly. Nice and close to our hotel, the Wyndham Canterbury. Overall highly recommended.

Very nice food. You can choose a from a range of appetizers, they are big portions, very suited for sharing. Nice concept to choose from a variety of tacos, all of them very tasty and well prepared. The first time I had an agave beer, this was a real treat.

Excellent Mexican in the Union Square area, it was recommended to us by the concierge of the Donatello hotel where we stayed and it was a great success. Guacamole, tacos, enchilada, shrimp,... all exquisite, and a very good margaritas. Highly recommended, we ate and drank very well and cost €65 per person.

loved the food, great location and friendly staff. Was good value for money and Cocktails were great too!

Really excellent food and margaritas! I especially enjoyed tamales, which I can't find at home in London. We sat at the bar and the staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely add this to our list of places we return to!

We stumbled across this place near our hotel and were lucky to secure a table on a busy Thursday evening. Really wonderful food - we had warm homemade tortilla chips & guac, enchiladas and fajitas, along with several margaritas. The only let down for this place was the service - absolutely terrible - our waiter was unfriendly unsmiling and couldn’t answer questions on the menu. We would have visited again but the service or lack thereof meant we didn’t bother. Worth a visit for the margaritas and food but don’t expect service with a smile or any enthusiasm!

We decided to try this place at 9pm, for a light evening meal. Service was prompt and friendly. We shared the guacamole with tortilla chips as appetizer. We each had three tacos as they are small, but have a lot on them! Wow! Best tacos we’ve ever had! We tried the signature “Tacos De Matador” and they are simply amazing! We also tried “Tacos Al Pastor”, which were also delicious! We will be back for sure :-)

This is the best margarita ever. We tried spicy margarita and I’m in love. Their fish tacos are wonderful. Great atmosphere and close to where we stayed. If you like Mexican food you’ll love this place

We were here for happy hour and it was a great deal. Tacos were very good. Our only negative was it didn’t seem very clean. Marks on wall, etc.

Amazing experience at Matador! Searching for good eats and drinks on a Sunday evening and found this wonderful restaurant close to our hotel. Brian and Fernando provided exceptional customer service! Cocktails were tastefully made and the food was phenomenal. Everything from the guac and chips, Esquite (street corn appetizer), barbacoa and al pastor tacos…everything contributed to this mouth holiday. Grateful for Brian’s tips on his favorite sipping tequilas! From start to finish, just a great night.

Been here for dinner. Super friendly staff, easy going environment great food and cocktails (they have happy hour between 4 and 6pm) Highly recommended

Had a dinner with a bunch of friends and overall the food was delicious. The waiter was very friendly and helpful and took extra time to translate and explain the menu. I ordered the chicken fajita and it was more than good. The only downside is space is limited. We were a group and were squeezed on three small tables. However, a thumbs up!

Went for dinner on a Friday night and restaurant was busy but no line. Tacos were good but had better in other parts of S.F. Nachos had nacho cheese on them which I personally am not a fan of, rather real cheese. Overall pretty good for downtown.

I actually did takeout, but would definitely come back and eat here. Tacos al Pastor were very tasty with a great mix of flavors. I went with the bacon wrapped pork and fish versions and both were good. Service was fast and friendly

We stumbled across this restaurant near our hotel and ate there with our two children. We had nachos to start and tacos for our mains. The tacos were amazing and every bit eaten even by our slightly fussy 😁 daughter. Great service and made to feel very welcome.

Odd, not typical Mexican, but absolutely delicious! Try anything on the menu, it’ll really be good. We ordered tacos and queso flamenco. Fabulous!! Service top notch. Small place, get there early.

Standard mexican fare all served with a smile. easy to find near plenty of hotels. casual dining with fast service and a good beer choice.

Excellent authentic Mexican food, kind and super friendly people. Thanks Matador!! A pleasure to have met you and enjoyed your delicious food!

Just arriving from Virginia, tired and ready for bed, I wanted something near the Hotel Diva, where I could get a Margarita, and nice meal. The Matador met this. Happy Hour had just started. I had my Margarita with a creamy passion fruit, a hot beans salsa, and a cold shrimp cucumber salad served with chips.

My friend and I had the most atrocious experience at this restaurant this evening. We frequent restaurants almost everyday, and this seemed almost like a childhood playground moment. When we first arrived at the restaurant we were approached by a gentlemen (white guy with a shaved head, didn't get a chance to get his name due to all that you'll read about so let's call him B) whom I have never seen before even though we are essentially regulars at the place. The restaurant wasn't full so we requested to sit outside where there was a table available that simply needed to be cleaned off. We waited 5-6 minutes outside before B came up and said, "so you wanted sit inside or outside?" We finally get seated after B quickly grabs things off the table. Then we sit patiently for about 8 minutes with no service, let alone acknowledgement. We sat watching B serve drinks and clean off tables while ignoring our existence (again nothing on our table). Even an offering of water when we were seated would have been nice. In past experiences there, the person we deal with has always brought water as a cursory/pleasant way to start the experience. After waiting out the 8 minutes of nothingness, we had to call out for B to come over as he walked back inside. When B walked over as if we were burdening him, we said to B that we hadn't had any service yet and asked if there was a waiter available. B went into a diatribe about how busy he is (we mostly saw him cleaning off other tables between bringing drinks to other folks so I guess we were secondary to cleaning off tables). B also mentioned that it would be another server or him that will get to us. We patiently listened to his "busy-ness" explanation which ended with this lovely finish: B: I will get to guys when I can, but you can scan the code over there and order online, then the food will magically appear". (This seemed so condescending, and like the service would have magically appeared if scanned that QR code.) Us: We already scanned the code, know what we want, we can order now. B: Well, I'm busy and if I didn't have to explain how busy how I am I could be taking care of all that other stuff and then either me or the other guy can get to you to take the order. Me: Okay we're done here. We'll eat somewhere else. B: Okay bye. At this point, I walk into the restaurant to talk to a gentlemen (who is great) at the bar whom I know from my many experiences at the restaurant, say hi, which he welcomed with his usual handshake, and begin to tell him about what went on outside. I was in the middle of letting him know why we were leaving when all of the sudden B runs out of the kitchen and says "lets you and I talk outside." I said to B that I was telling the story of what happened and I wasn't concerned with talking with him outside. B then says he's going to call the cops if I don't leave with which I responded call the cops let me finish talking to the other gentlemen. At this point my friend and I walk outside, we're still taken aback about this situation considering we come here all the time for brunch, lunch and dinner service, and no other restaurant has treated us this way. We are eventually off property limits (on the public sidewalk) when B is nearby. I ask B to call the cops now that I am off what is considered "the property". B's response is, "if you want to wait an hour, wait here and I'll kick your f******' a**". This is an amazing response considering not only was service non-existent, when I tried to voice my displeasure I got threatened with the cops, and finally I get threatened with violence in front of other patrons. I love the rest of the staff at this restaurant, so this is not a reflection on them. But, based on this experience with B, we'll not be going to Matador again in the near future. We have always experienced delightful service from the rest of the staff, with them even knowing our typical orders, going above and beyond with service and pleasantries each time. It is unfortunate that simply asking if there was a waiter available would turn into such a dramatic and threatening experience at one of our neighborhood staples.

Tired after long trip and decided to order take-out to be picked up at 5:15. It seemed as if it was prepared at 4:30 as both dishes were cold and dried out. We ordered quesadillas that had they been warm might’ve tasted good but the 3 tacos looked like 3 small piles of dried out beef jerky. Would not recommend.

Had walked by night before in way back to our hotel after dinner, place was packed, so thought it would be a good choice for next night. And we were right. Out food was excellent. Great flavours. I had shrimp tacos, my husband had fish tacos. Lots of flavours. Great service. Music was bit loud, so little bit hard to talk but otherwise it was well worth it. And great price Definitely would recommend

Went here on our trip to SF since they had space for reservations day of. We walked up and it was packed! I’m glad we made a resy. Mediocre wine but the cocktails were great. My partner and I got quesadillas. He loved his, I asked for sour cream on the side and beans mixed in and they did the opposite so that threw me off but other than that it was fine. Not the best Mexican I’ve had and not the worst. Worth a shot if you’re in SF downtown and want a fun atmosphere with tasty food.

We stumbled upon Matador by accident and ended up returning for a second time! The food is incredible, wonderful service and a happy hour menu that is hard to pass up. Definitely recommend!!

We found this place randomly on our first night in San Francisco. Great little restaurant serving up some tasty tacos and excellent margaritas! The fish taco was definitely my favourite. We didn’t have a reservation and the restaurant was quite full but managed to get in. We sat at the bar like area and had dinner there. Buzzing little place with friendly service. Would definitely return and would highly recommend going here for some tasty Mexican.

This is a nice looking small restaurant close to Union. We ordered burritos which were huge - definitely for two people. Sadly they were fairly bland. The order was mixed up and I was given ground beef while my daughter was given my chicken one - actually we only noticed half way through. I didn't feel the waitress was apologetic - mistakes happen I guess. It was expensive and the avocado that came with the chips was small.

Was here for the week on business and my co-workers left early. That left me alone to find a place to eat. Tripadvisor said there was a good Mexican place up and around the corner so off I went. Sat at the bar and enjoyed a great Margarita and then had the Enchiladas En Molada. I immediately fixate on any Mole dish on a menu so gave it a try. It was amazing and a nice treat.

I was here by the recommendation of Tripadvisor. It's a beautiful place with friendly and kind staff. They have a good choice of food, and I can highly recommend Tacos.

We found this little gem when we stayed in San Francisco for a few days in late June. First off, we loved the atmosphere. Service was prompt and attentive, and our server answered questions about items on the menu and made recommendations. He brought out a sauce we weren't familiar with just so my husband could try it before ordering. My husband ordered a 'spicy margarita' (a must-try) and the Enchiladas En Molada (chicken) - they did not disappoint. I ordered the Cauliflower Adobo tacos and they were filling and delicious! Presentation on all the meals was perfect - I only wish I had taken pictures to share. We would definitely dine here again!

We spotted this once morning while walking down to Union Square. The menu looked good, so we had a walk back down that evening and we weren't disappointed. The restaurant is small, so there is not much space but the food is very good. We could have eaten our body weight in nachos and I'm sure they would have kept filling them. We had the tacos which were really good. The only downside is because it's so small, it's very tightly packed, it was uncomfortable to get out to visit the restroom and the guy on the next table clearly loved the sound of his own voice and it was hard to detach from his conversation.

Ok food but definitely not above average. Terrible service from a lazy bartender. She couldn't be bothered to clean the bar counters or serve guests and was too busy doing prep work. Wouldn't go back for any reason.

We were here with two families. The service seemed overwhelmed. Multiple items were forgotten or came late. We had to ask several times. The food was good, however the portions were incredibly small (for the tacos - fajitas and burritos were good). In the end we were surprised to see a 15% surcharge for a "large party" because we were 9 people. We did jot see this mentioned anywhere upfront.

Trendy restaurant serving mexican/tex-mex style food. Great food quality with tasty options. Slow service but friendly staff.

Solid and very good. Both the tacos and enchiladas are recommended, and the size of the tequila/mezcal menu is an attraction in itself. It is also always a bonus whenever a restaurant has negra modelo.

Matador is a good restaurant with good food at a reasonable price in a nice ambiance. Relaxed and friendly waiters. Worth considering for dinner!

Visited Matador since it was close to our hotel in the Nob Hill area. The location was very busy. I’m allowing that this was one of the first nights of dining back in restaurants and there were some issues. We were seated inside and shown the QR code for the menu. We were not informed that you were required to order thru the QR code menu which was specific to your table. Luckily we figured it out, but our items did not come out in the right order. We needed to pull wait staff aside and check on them. We noticed other patrons very confused as well, scanning the GR code then waiting and waiting for a server to stop by and take their order, some giving up and walking out. The food was actually pretty good. I was able to mix 3 taco options, all very good...smaller street taco size though. We also ordered a veggie/mushroom quesadilla which was much larger than expected, 3 nice wedges about 3/4” thick...very filling. Finished evening with the churro desert, sweet and crunchy! The food was very good, but they need to just take orders by pen.

The matador tacos were AMAZING as was the sangria. The service wasn't awesome but not awful. We had the chips and salsa. Not overly impressive so I'd skip in the future.

Quick service and a menu dominated by numerous types of tacos. Very flavourful fillings. Three is probably the right number.

Went here first night in SF on recommendation from concierge at hotel, always wary about that but couldn’t have been better. Small taco place with authentic food and service, really enjoyed it and went back a second stone with my daughter a few days later as enjoyed it so much. The fried shrimp taco is to die for and I could eat it for every meal!

This restaurant is run by Mexican Americans and make the most unbelieveable marquirtas and I ordered a specially made prawn enchilada. The barman said they used to have it on the menu, so he was surprised I ordered it and I was surprised they would make whatever you wanted. It was just fabulous and I told the owner so. I wish I had discovered it sooner.

We headed here after a long flight from London, and really liked the ambiance of this compact bar & restaurant. The food was very nice, well presented, and I'd definitely recommend the Al Pastor tacos with black cod. The cocktail selection and service was also good. The guacamole could've done with a little more punch, but that's my only criticism. Overall, a very pleasant experience - would recommend.

We read positive reviews of the Matador and decided to try it. The place was packed which we took as a good sign. But once we were seated, we were assaulted by an appalling noise level. The restaurant was playing some god-awful drumming "music" and all the people in the restaurant were having to scream at each other to try to hold a conversation. We should have left right away, but felt bad about having taken the last table available. We ordered a pitcher of red sangria, but what the waiter brought had so much ice in it that we could hardly get any wine out of it. The food was OK, but certainly nothing special, and the portions are minuscule. This was the only unpleasant dining experience we had in San Francisco,

We were super excited to eat here. We love Mexican food and had researched Matador before arriving in SF. It was the first place we ate when we arrived. Honestly, it was kind of disappointing. The decor isn’t nearly as fun looking as the pictures indicate. Some of it is the same and some of it is not. Our server was not very friendly. She did a good job of the basics in terms of bringing our food and drinks, etc but she was not friendly or warm and welcoming. And our drinks were terrible. In the 20 years I’ve known my husband, I’ve never seen him not finish a drink, but neither one of us could finish them. They both had Mescal Tequila in them, which has a really smokey flavor. Both of us thought the smokey flavor completely overpowered the drinks which is surprising because we normally love very flavorful, unique foods and drinks. With that said, the tacos were excellent! We tried 6 different ones and they were all really good.

Discovered this place purely by accident. Great atmosphere and super friendly staff. The happy hour prices are amazing and the food and cocktails are superb value. We had an amazing time and really enjoyed our first experience to Matador. We will definitely be returning and can honestly highly recommend this place. Special mention to our server Harrison who was outstanding.

6 friends in need of some Mexican food close to our hotel in union square , we called a couple of places that were too busy to take our booking , were we glad of that by the end of the night , as we would have never experienced the wonderful service and food provided to us at Matador .Lois our server guided us through the cocktail, wine and food menu like a true professional advising and giving guidance where required. The food was stunning , my wife not the biggest Taco fan is still raving about this place to friends and family, the prices were amazing for the quality of food , this is a must visit the next time you are in San Fran

Good Mexican with a twist Service standard American Casual and not large Good location post Cable Car ride

My son and I were staying at The Canterbury and decided to try this nearby restaurant. What a great choice. Our cocktails: Matador Barrel Margarita and Prickly Pear were outstanding. Both had the Chili Relleno dinner which were DELICIOUS. The place has a very cool vibe and bar area. I would highly recommend this place for a great dinner and experience. Our waiter, Selby, was very courteous and helpful.

I had just arrived and needed something simple and quick. I sat at the bar and had a good talk with the bartender. The food was simple but good.

I found this place near where I was staying, it is such a nice family atmosphere and food is so good. I had the guac and chips, had to come back and they packed them for me for my flight. The tacos are so good too I had fish tacos and carnitas, definitely recommend.

It's a nice little restaurant with friendly staff, although the service is somewhat hit & miss when they're busy. The menu is nicely varied & the food is good, but lacks a little in spice & flavour to be exceptional. Drink selection is good & cocktails are well made.

Nice restaurant with nice Mexican food and not far from union square. I went there on a saturday evening with 2 friends and we got a table straight away. There is a good choice of tacos that could please everyone (even vegetarian) Cocktails are nice too. The only down side was the the waiter was rushing us other than that all good! I would go back if I am in SF again.

Pretty good tacos and an extensive list of available drinks. Small table settings, quite close together. Service was fine. Enjoyed the tacos but I’ve had better. The fish was my favourite!

Were in San Francisco a few times a year...we found Matador on this trip and loved it. Food is excellent.....service is only ok, but food and atmosphere make up for it. Happy hour prices are decent. Overall great choice for dinner.

Warm welcome. While taking our order, new guests arrived and waiter immediately left our table for them. That happened all the time. Were without drinks for quite some time during dinner. Several beers from menu not available. Food was good though!

We were looking to change things up and try a Mexican meal for supper, shot of tequila and a margarita or two! Well we certainly happened upon the right place. We called to see if we needed a reservation and was told if we were there by 6 it should be a problem, we’ll we just made it by the skin of our teeth. This is obviously a happening spot where a lot of Millennials like to hang out and eat and enjoy the atmosphere. The music is loud but if you don’t mind that you’ll captivated by the comings and goings of everyone. It has a modern slant on a Mexican theme which creates a exciting ambiance. We both had the tacos, me the fish/shrimp and my husband had the beef/pork combination......we both agreed they were the best we’ve both ever tasted. If your looking for Mexican this is it!

Very nice and very tasety food .. the chicken tacos were great and the chicken soup was fantastic. The restairant is cost and friendly staff.

Delicious burritos and friendly but efficient service. Good value. We came back the next day after our initial visit for the same meal again! Nice Michelada.

Service was non existent. Food was very bland. The place looks cool but that’s the only positive from my experience. Surprised this place is as high as it is on tripadvisor.

Oily and heavy food. It was an Americanized Mexican cuisine. The only good thing was the margaritas. Unbelievable we had to pay $70, plus tax and tip, because we were a large group. I would definitely not recommend it

Myself into friends went here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and we were not disappointed. The restaurant isn't too big but there was enough seating for everybody and it was quite full when we got there. They had some great selections of some Mexican beer and we have the guacamole to start which was great. We shared some tacos as well as some chilaquiles and had a great afternoon. The service was good and I would highly recommend going here for a bite to eat.

Nice Mexican place close to Union Square. The plates were not that big but the food tasted good. The place had a nice atmosphere and decoration and the staff was friendly.

Thought the quality of the vegetarian food at Matador was very good. Good portions & service. Habanero sauce is very tasty. Very busy place so advisable to book in advance.

Mexican food, like Chinese, Italian and other ethnic cuisines are all subjective, especially what we have experienced from our home country and countries we've lived and visited. We love the tacos and other dishes here and to their margaritas and choices of tequilas! We are ever so gracious as we dine here and other parts of the world now as Covid has changed everything, especially for the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Everything was perfect and celebratory. Great service, drinks and dinner. Sidewalk dining made it perfect. Cool lights.

We went on the 4th of July holiday, when many restaurants were closed. Friendly house, with indoor and outdoor tables. The menu had many options, but we opted for the traditional: tacos, quesadillas and chile relleno. Everything very good, fast service and reasonable prices.

The service has a lot to be desired. The wait staff was extremely slow. The food however was great. The flautas is a must. I would come back just for the food but maybe do take-out

Excellent and reasonably priced Mexican dinner. Intimate restaurant,attractive décor and attentive server. Excellent house Margarita. Delicious tacos, enchilada verde and main-course salad with chicken and avocado. Good value. Convenient for pre-concert dinner near Marine's Memorial. Definitely recommend! .

Went there alone on Thursday evening around 9pm. I ordered a Prickly Summer margarita (finally i found my favorite prickly pear margarita in San Fran!) and Mole Enchiladas. Ah, both the drink and the food were excellent! And the service was friendly and quick.

We made a reservation online and the greeting was friendly. The order was taken quickly and the drinks were brought quickly. The selection of dishes was decent and the food we ordered came quickly and was prepared beautifully. The portion size was not quite what we expected - they were too small. However, the taste was excellent and authentic.

Visited on game night. We sat at the bar, lemonade was delicious, had 5 different types of tacos, apart from a small lack of seasoning, everything tasted very good. I would highly recommend eating here. Not cheap but worth it.

Came here with my wife our first night in San Francisco. Food was fantastic, everything arrived as ordered and was hot! I had the verde enchiladas and my wife had the soup and tacos. The atmosphere here is very casual and it was great for a mid week dinner.

Today we went to Matador and what a great discision! The staff was super friendly, all the food was fresh an delicious. A great Mexican diner in San Fransisco. For us the 'best Mexican Taco's ever'! Thanks Pablo and other staff members for the great service and food.

Our first night jn SF and we were looking for dinner near our hotel. It was delicious and wait staff was very friendly! I enjoyed my margaritas.

My daughter and I went to this restaurant after reading the reviews on Trip Advisor. It was a Wednesday night and we had not booked. We were seated straight away at a small table for two by the door and just behind the service desk. Within seconds a group of 4 Americans came in and from that point we were virtually ignored. They got water before us then were served with chips and guacamole. We had water then our order taken. We had nachos and two tacos each, we got our nachos which were tasty, then very quickly our tacos. The food was okay, but every table around us - including next door - seemed to have chips and various dips that we were not offered. We stayed no more than 45 minutes, an expensive meal for the time we sat in there. Not impressed with the service at all.

Fantastic Mexican food. The tacos and nachos are to die for. Wide selection of tequilas and the bartenders make tasty signature drinks.

If you are looking for Mexican food in San Francisco, this is the place. Tasty, quality, quantity, service and excellent place! Highly recommend

Average Mexican food. Tacos were great but small. Chips and salsa are NOT worth it. They also bring them without asking if you want them and then charge them for you. The burrito at the table next to us looked amazing. Sangria was average. Over all: a 3 experience.

The good news: Matador’s food is good, and there are many vegetarian options. My mezcal margarita was good too. The bad news: Service was almost comically bad. It took 10 minutes for my waiter to take my order, and he literally never returned. The result is that my food arrived before my drink-or even a glass of water-and I only got those after heading to the hostess desk twice to seek assistance. One final note: I ate outdoors. It is a charmless seating area on a busy street, and not especially pleasant. I will not be back.

Was just here last week and the tacos were great, as was the service. Do note, we don't look at service during or after Covid as ALL restaurants are struggling to survive with less than a 35% profit margin and why over 100 thousand of U.S. restaurants (from a documentary) went out of business during Covid. Some, great family owned across the country we've dined in. So, net is, we're much more forgiving dining in the U.S. and globally. Our tacos we had here last week were great! And so was our service. A local favorite and will be back. DO note, prices are higher here as it's a major U.S. city versus getting a taco or other ethnic restaurant food outside of a major city.

Loved the décor of this tiny spot off the busy shopping area. We started off with excellent white sangria and a margarita for my partner. Drinks were kind of pricy but great. Chips and salsa trio were very good and the waiter quickly brought chip refills. Highly recommend the queso fundido app. After filling up on chips we shared some excellent pollo tacos and beans.

Tasty tacos and chips and trio of salsas. Shrimp tacos spicy but excellent, matador beef tacos excellent and healthy proportioned. Smallish table so not a ton of room for additional plates on the tables for sharing. Pricey is the only reason it isn't 5 stars.

After a full day seeing the sights in San Francisco we wanted something relaxed and fresh. Matador was perfect! The restaurant has a cool environment and the wait staff very friendly. We had corn chips with guacamole and salsa as a starter, some of the best guacamole I’ve ever had, really fresh flavours. For mains we each had 3 tacos, and boy they were excellent- I highly recommend the pork and the shrimp. My son also had the nacho chips, he demolished the plate full so must have been good. The relaxed and cool environment made for a lovely dinner. Highly recommend.

We had a fantastic time at Matador. They were busy but so helpful. We were happy to sit outside as it was a lovely night. My husband got a beer and of course I ordered a margarita. we started with corn chips and guacamole. We also ordered tacos with shredded chicken and beef. The service was friendly and the food tasted delicious. The restaurant has a cool vibe. A great find as we were staying just down the road.

We were visiting San Fran and wanted a super authentic Mexican super tasty and super easy! That’s just what we got ..full of flavor with a relaxed environment and great service ... we made the most of it and probably spent too much but 3 cocktails, 3 beers, 5 dishes in total $100 ... worth every penny

I just bumped in this place looking for something fresh, light and comfy, to eat after a 12hour flight and a huge time difference. Eficiente service not so much as friendly but very professional and fast. The food was delicious, the salsas as entries and the mix match tacos fantastic. The crowd in this place it’s also a must. It was hot inside actually very hot with no AC, but they opened the big wall window and the freshness of the outside wind was better then an AC. An experience to repeat.

We had dinner there twice. The first time with family and the second time with friends. The food and cocktails were good the service was OK. The first time we dined inside and the second time we sat outside. I enjoyed sitting outside better.

Excellent Mexican food in sensible sized portions. Lovely cocktails and a central location near Union Square. Had a quesedilla which was modified to be child friendly without spice, and enchiladas. Veggie friendly, has high chairs and a spotless baby change.

Dropped in for late night tacos and happy hour. I was a little disappointed to realize late happy hour doesn’t start until late August. Oh well! I had three different tacos - each with its own twist. The carnitas was the most traditional - and tastiest. The “al pastor” taco was okay but nothing to rave about. The “barbacoa” taco was dry but had a refreshing Korean kimchi-like cabbage topping. Service was pleasant enough. The price was high for tacos but I expected that going in. Overall the ambiance was lively. Matador is a good place to bring friends or a date. Definitely not a family spot.

Matador has that perfect mix of unassuming, yet unique experience. The service is down to earth and friendly and the food is very good! I’d recommend the empanadas and the enchiladas rojas that were both very flavorful. Cocktails are well-mixed. I’ll probably be back tomorrow for tacos, that looked delicious!

Great place for a quick quiet lunch. Great tacos and margaritas, truly Mexican with a great tequila and mezcal list.

I think this may be the best Mexican food we’ve ever had! WOW. Service was exceptional and we couldn’t be happier. Definitely going back!

First time to San Francisco, this place was close to our hotel. Defiantly lucky to get a table as it was jumping busy. Sampled a selection of their tacos and it was outstanding. Spicy Margarita lived up to the name.

We had Great Mezcal Margaritas, chips & salsas with guacamole, and variety of tacos. So fresh. Plenty of outdoor seating and friendly staff. Brian really took great care of us.

The food was very good (we had enchillada and nachos) and the service was great. However, the place is busy and too loud.

Went as a group for happy hour drinks. Food looked good. We had a fantastic time and wished we had time during our stay to revisit for food. The guy serving us was brilliant and efficient. Recommend.

Members of my family had the tacos and enchiladas and said they were really tasty. The tacos are on the small side, so 3 is probably best for a more filling option. The casera salad with shrimp that I had was delicious and thoroughly recommended.

The food was good and came quickly but the service around that was poor at best. Wanted a second drink but they never were there to ask. They even forgot to bring out our neighbors tacos. With the cost of the food I expected more and they could have sold us more drinks if we would have seen our server.

Nachos where so full and loaded, tacos where amazing but beef was a little dry pork was the best, so kind and nice staff. Would love to go again.

Really nice food. Nachos and enchiladas were great. Good selection of drinks and nice staff. Not the cheapest but worth it for great food

To be truthful, I must say it was the charming decor that really made this worth it. The food was good, it won't knock your socks off, but enjoyable enough. I was not left really wanting. It was ultimately the atmosphere that I really took delight in. The servers were attentive and pleasant and I had a good time. A great place to catch up with friends over lunch! I may return again.

So, on a Wednesday night a few weeks ago, our party of three were heading out to a Giants game and wanted to eat something quick before the game. Our hotel was only a few doors down from the Matador on Sutter Street so we thought we'd stop in, have a few bites, and get on a Lyft for Oracle Park. To our surprise, though, this place was more than a mere pitstop. The service was excellent and the food was better than any Mexican/Spanish place we have at home. We congratulated ourselves for such an auspicious beginning to the evening. Unfortunately the Giants got mugged by the Braves and so our memories of that night will remain on the very nice dinner we had at the Matador on Sutter Street.

Holy Moley what a lovely tacos we had here! The place itself is not super big, even though there’s a nice atmosfere inside. The tacos were fresh and super tasty. The staff has been super friendly to us. Definitely coming back when I’ll be next in SFO. Thank you!

Too tired to plan a dinner on last night in sf, walked up 3 blocks and gave this place a try. Fantastic, classic margaritas, no sweet and sour mix, just tequila, fresh lime juice and orange. Great tacos, I had carnitas. Small but really awesome quality and flavor.

Great food, drinks and service. Simple delicious menu, small setting, and friendly vibe. The variety of tacos was excellent and the waiter Fernando recommended some great choices. Margaritas were small but delicious and priced really reasonably.

Food was excellent. We had guacamole and I got the surf and turf burrito. It was excellent but very filling/big. My boyfriend loved his tacos!

Wife and I, 2 drinks each and 2 mains. Great food. $83. Went there twice and would go back tomorrow.

Wonderfull Ambience, extraordinary food for very reasonable prices. The Staff was friendly, ab overall great experience.

Ordered tacos to go a few times recently while in the city for work. The service was so friendly and I enjoyed the seating near the bar while I waited. The tacos were delicious. Well done!

We had dinner here and really enjoyed the ambiente. It's a rather small venue, so reservations are recommended.

This restaurant is not at all close to authentic Spanish taste. The enchiladas were very disappointing. Other dishes like the quesadillas were average and very cheesy. Guacamole with Nachos were ok and bearable. I’m never coming here again!

The food was OK, the female waitress was excellent but the male waiter was so sarcastic and rude. If you order the 2 tacos they are tiny so get something else if hungry.

We stopped here for dinner around 8:15 on a Friday night when we passed it on the way to another restaurant. It was busy, but not packed, and got good reviews on Yelp. Great choice. It's an upscale taco shop with interesting art and furnishings. Indoor and outdoor seating. My husband ordered a flight of mezcal, which we both enjoyed, and I had a locally brewed beer. We ordered guacamole, esquite and a few different tacos. Everything was delicious. We especially liked the esquite, a cheesy corn dish, and the shrimp taco borracho. Service was good and prices reasonable for a big city. In fact, it would have been downright economical without the mezcal flight, but that was part of the fun. We would definitely go back.

Adorable little place with outdoor seating. Great selection on the menu and the prices are very reasonable. The drinks were delicious and the tacos were spot on.

Came here twice in a week - the first time by myself on business and was served an excellent margherita by a very friendly barkeep. Taco's were many, varied and quite tasty. Later in the week I took along a friend after telling them about the margherita - but a different barkeep and a much poorer experience. Food only ok this time. Would give it 3.5 if I could but 3 as I was disappointed with consistency. Place was busy both nights - so what do I know!

Lovely tacos, guacamole and margaritas. What more could you want from a Mexican?! Staff were friendly and helpful.

This restaurant was just around the corner from where we stayed, so we ended up going there twice. The first night the tacos were the best that we've ever had, with a very generous portion of meat. The second night was good too, but portions of protein were less generous. An excellent spot for Mexican food, which was a convenient find for us. Great service, tasty food and Margaritas, how can you go wrong?

I went into this restaurant from a bartender the night before recommendation. The food and drinks here is out of this world! I had a spicy skinny margarita and the tacos. But the server, Kristy, was incredible! She was super attentive and kind. I will definitely be back when I’m town! Definitely a must try.

Cute place, friendly waiter, good food, and reasonably priced. We enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere. Would definitely go back.

We had delicious burritos, it was HUGE, took some home for tomorrow!the nachos were good too. delicious margarita - result!!

Great margaritas and good food, especially enjoyed the corn tortillas. I had a mescal margarita which was great and fajitas. It’s a cute little bistro type of Mexican restaurant as you can see in the photos.

It can be a challenge finding great vegan food. I prefer restaurants with a full-range menu so that I can eat out easily with non-vegans. Matador had fabulous veggie tacos. They were loaded with vegetables and tofu. Very yummy!

We were in SF for weekend , we found this place close to our hotel , nice ambience friendly staff and prompt service , food was good but margarita was very average and small for the price . We were a party of 7 everyone liked the food . No free chips or salsa like most other Mexican restaurants .

Good place for drinks and appetizers, but also for meals. My 10-years old son loved the one with rice and beans. Tacos are fresh and come to the table right from the oven. If you are looking for something Latin to eat and drink, this is an interesting option in San Francisco.

We visited Matador during a city break to San Francisco. It is small inside but has a nice, relaxed atmosphere. The food was all very fresh. I loved the guacamole they bring with the chips. For our mains we had the chicken enchiladas and tacos. Both were very good. We also had the churros for desert which were amazing.

We certainly lucked out with our unplanned meal out to Matador. We hadn't booked and walked in around 9pm. The restaurant was busy but we were lucky enough to be seated straight away. The service was fantastic and we were extremely well looked after. The tacos were to die for and there was a great selection of cocktails too. When we told our waiter it was the last night on our honeymoon he even threw in a free dessert and made sure our drinks were always topped up. A great unplanned experience overall and would certainly recommend if you are in the area and craving some Mexican.

The food and drinks were excellent especially the carnitas taco and the matador taco. Food was very fresh and came to table hot. This restaurant is a must try!!!

You can’t book Matador but take your chance as you will love it. Had a delicious meal with great service. It is popular with a lively buzz. The Mexican wild shrimps cerviche style are to be recommended.

Tried based on TripAdvisor rating and was not disappointed. Sat at the bar, and the bartender was very friendly even though I wasn’t drinking. Ordered the Chicken Mole, first special on the menu. Took a few while for it to come out and bartender went back into the kitchen unprompted to check on my food, which came out shortly thereafter. Served on a plastic plate with three compartments, like a camping trip, one for meat, one for rice, one for beans. I loved the presentation, it was a perfect match for the meal. I started with knife and fork to assemble mini tacos, but soon devolved to eating the meat right off the bone, so good. Definitely not a first date meal, but definitely a recommended restaurant to visit when your hungry. I have a hunch the bartender makes a solid margarita.

Good chips and salsa. Loved the selection and combinations of tacos. Everything was prepared well. Good service.

Really nice mexican tacos. Super service and a really friendly atmosphäre. We ate many different tacos and everyone enjoyded it. Are you visiting SF, go there. You will appriciate IT as we did. Thank you, Matador stuff.

I was at Matadors a year ago and loved it. This time around, not so much. Most of the experience revolves around the poor service. The wait time was long and there was no feeling of being welcome. To top it off, the food did not merit either the wait time or service. The tacos were not as tasty. The Matador taco meat was even a little dry and tough. However, their tostadas were a nice crunchy treat. Not sure whether I’d return. Maybe it’s time to venture somewhere new for tacos.

We visited twice during our four night stay although mainly as it was close by and we were suffering from jet lag. It had a good atmosphere, was busy on both occasions and served good tacos (but not the best we’ve had on our road trip). Service was hit and miss.

We had dinner with a group of 6. Arranged in the afternoon and still possible. The restaurant is relatively small, and definitely worth a visit. The food is pretty authentic Mexican and the personnel is very friendly and forthcoming. Wine list is not very good, but the tequila flight made up for it.

The service was OK, not much chat or friendly smiles but 'waited' fine. The food itself was really delicious, so much so we decided to order a pudding. Churros were probably the worst weve had, they were extremely chewy...disappointing end to a nice meal.

Nove atmosphere and liked the taco’s. Recommended when you stay nearby.! Loved the pastor and camRones taco’s. Also the Fish pastor

While out touring the city of San Francisco we were hungry and all wanted Mexican food. We searched in our phone and saw that we were really close to the Matador. This place was so amazing and the atmosphere was great. We were treated so well by Fernando. Great food! Great service. Wish we had places like this back home.

My husband could eat Mexican food almost every day. The prices were quite a bit cheaper for happy hour. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas for $27. We all thought the margaritas were great. Here's where we start to disagree. We ordered mini nachos with carnitas, barbacoa (shredded beef tacos), and carnitas. My husband and daughter thought the food was delicious and I was disappointed in the taste. Chips and salsa were not complimentary but only a $1. The salsa was adequate but the chips tasted like they had been heated and reheated one too many times. A definite mixed review and didn't factor in my less than average rating. The restaurant was quite small.

We just had drinks and apps but both were exceptional. The salsa trio, guacamole and camarones with jicama was superb. Definitely a return visit needed.

I picked up a chicken quesadilla to take home and it was really really delicious. The service was great and the restaurant looked nice.

Small restaurant on Sutter Street (= cozy seating). Amazingly tasty food -- queso fundido, tacos (my boyfriend said that Matador served the best tacos al pastor he's ever had -- high praise coming from a native Texan)

Matador is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in San Francisco. Everything we've had on their menu has been delicious. And we've been there quite a few times, especially for Happy Hour! The guacamole, salsas and chips, chicken tinga and carnitas tacos, potato flautas are among our favorites, but seriously try everything. The Margaritas are very good, if not a bit sweet, but tasty. The staff especially Maira, Tom, Fernando and Anastacia are all very helpful and friendly. Kudos to Leo and Jamie. The ambience has always had a chill fun vibe. I definitely would recommend Matador and look forward to our next visit.

This was the first restaurant I went to on my solo trip to San Francisco, the enchiladas and margaritas were delicious!! I was well looked after and did not feel as awkward as I anticipated eating and drinking alone in a big city!

We dropped into Matador on our first night in San Fran to pick up a quick bite. We were greeted by a lovely lady who gave us loads of tips about the area and she served us with speed and a smile. The food was very tasty, the cocktails went down very quickly (!) and we would visit again.

I know there are a zillion tacos in SF, these were great! We stayed at Hotel Emblem, they recommended Matador, walking distance. We sat outside for lunch. The tacos and drinks (spicy margarita) were excellent!

The vibe of the restaurant is very nice and I love that they have a large selection of tequila and reasonable prices. Be warned that they do charge for chips and salsa. They bring you 3 different types of salsa if you order the chips & salsa for $4. The green one was my favorite. The Matador flavored margarita is really good! They used a good amount of tequila and it’s very flavorful. Not too sweet. I love tacos so I tried three different kinds: Tacos al Pastor (fish), Camarones a la diabla, and Tacos de Matador. The Camarones weren’t very spicy which I expected from the La Diabla in the title. The Al Pastor was lacking in flavor, maybe the pork would have been better. The Tacos de Matador were by far my favorite! Excellent and unique flavors. Probably one of the best tacos that I’ve had (and I’m from LA) . I would for sure recommend trying that taco.

This was exactly what we wanted. A Mexican place that was more about quality than quantity. Intimate, which includes hearing the conversations of the people next to you, kind of amusing in our case. Great service, food cooked to perfection. Margarita was a little too sweet and the beer menu included a Mexican beer that was new to me

Venue is very inviting and clean. We tried the chicken tacos and posole. The Posole came with a rib in it which was a different twist, but the meat easily came off the bone. It also wasn't too tomatoey like I've tasted before. Both were very good with great flavor. The chipotle salsa was my favorite....amazing smokiness. Margaritas were a nice complement to the experience; had a regular one and a spicy one...spicy one was definitely a winner with cucumber and jalapeño flavors...very refreshing. Look forward to returning. One word of caution: the chalkboard sign outside of the entrance says Happy Hour everyday...but it's really only offered during the weekday from 3 to 6 p.m.

The MATADOR, was recommended by our hotel (EMBLEM) and did not dissapoint ! These are tacos of the "street" variety and stuffed with all the elements each is described with ! If you can only choose two, go with the Bisteka el Matador and the el Pastor - wash it down with the Mezcal margarita - you will NOT be disappointed !!