The Matador Reviews

I love Tequila, so I of course had to go to the Tequila Bar. I tried many Tequila's, as their flights were reasonable; however, this is really a Texas Nacho Bar after 10. For five dollars, you can get a huge nachos platter that is full of every ingredient of nachos that you can imagine. My wife and I actually went back there just for their nachos (of course had to have some shots since we were there). The service is excellent and the crowd was friendly, both times. Wish they would have had more specialty mixed drinks.

We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the food more than I had ever expected. We were in my old haunt, Ballard, looking for a great place for a fresh and interesting salad...we certainly had one, then ordered a side of grilled asparagus finished with garlic butter, fine crunchy breadcrumbs and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. They were sweet slightly smoky and earthy, really fine, especially for the fall season. The polenta soup was fantastic as well, a variation on tortilla soup...and I can't forget the chips and salsa, the chips were warm and fresh and the salsa, deliciously spicy. The waitstaff was very knowlegable and proffessional in their cool, efficient service. I'll be back!

We were out riding bicycles exploring Ballard when we stumbled upon The Matador in Seattle. What a find! We will most certainly be back. We ate lunch at the bar while sipping on some superb Anejo tequilas and had an Awesome experience. The bar tender was friendly and helpful in assisting us with tequilas to sample. The a Matador had a great vibe and we appreciated the indoor fire pit, as we were soaked from riding in a typical Seattle rain shower. The food overall was very good, but the Black Bean Queso was over the top delicious.

From 4-6 and 10pm-1am this is the happy hour you should not be missing! With several items heavily discounted and nachos that you will think about often, this is a great place to go after work or meet up with friends. Do not skip the stuffed jalapeños or nachos - some of the best we have had and we are Texans. Tip: Go early - the patio tables fill up fast so we got there right at 4 & had a wonderful view on a gorgeous sunny day!

Drinks and service are excellent. The food is pretty good. If you are looking for someone to go late night and have some drinks and food this is a great spot.

It out of the way from downtown Seattle but every time we visit we go to The Matador. This time we sat at the bar and the bartenders were great and the food was spectacular.

visited for lunch and had the street tacos...which were a selection of 5 different flavours. All were delicious. The food is a good price and they have a great selection of tequila and mezcal

I liked everything about this restaurant. The food, the atmosphere, and the service were all excellent. It had a little twist on the traditional Mexican flavors which I'm used to eating, but it just added to the experience. The bacon wrapped jalapeños were excellent as was the Matador Burrito. I'd definitely eat there again.

After exploring the Ballard locks, salmon run and the lovely gardens, we were hungry for anything. The Matador was a great find for two very hungry people. Authentic Tex Mex in Seattle, some of the best since El Paso, TX. and Messilla, N.M. The large bar and the large selection was a wonder.

Having had many opportunities to have lunch, happy hour and dinner here, I've never been disappointed in the quality of the food or the service. The grilled stuffed jalapenos are the best I've ever had, but we've enjoyed every dish. Happy hour is a real bargain, and a great way to introduce yourself to this Ballard gem.

This place has such a fun ambiance. It's great for dates or dinner with friends. The food never disappoints. It's consistently good and you get big portions without the newly inflated Seattle prices. I highly recommend when you want to a fun dinner experience. Happy hour is also good. The nachos are huge and only $5!

We came here late on a Saturday night, after a play at Ghost Light Theatricals just down the street. The place was packed, we got to wait for a table at the bar around the firepit, which was pretty cool. They have happy hour food late, I think they said after 10 p.m. We enjoyed four selections, nachos, spring rolls, quesadillas, and some shrimp, which fed all of us for a very reasonable price. Service was good, and the atmosphere was fun - good choice!

Enjoyed vino and pizza. Had a fine time. Pizza was hot and tasty. We recommend. Hope to be back soon.

We were in the area and decided to try The Matador. The location is unique and has a lot of potential. There is a fireplace feature near the front that is unique. The place is old and needs to be deep cleaned. We were greeted enthusiastically but it was from another set of guests sitting near the front... The staff was less so. The service was not bad but it was not attentive, especially since it was lunch time and not especially busy in the restaurant. The food was okay, but the street tacos and tortilla soup were way overloaded with chopped jalapenos. If you like super spicy, then it will work for you. We needed refills for our drinks and it was a challenge to get our server to come over and it was the same when we wanted the check. I really can't find a reason to recommend this place.

Went during Happy Hour. Good drinks -- House Margarita. Anejo Tequila Flight. Also had some happy hour food -- if the happy hour food is indicative of what dinner would taste like, go somewhere else for dinner. Worst salsa I ever ate -- Pace Picante mild is better. Chili's does the grilled jalapenos much better. Guacamole OK. Bean queso was best dish. Braised beef and al pastor street tacos OK.

The matador was the perfect spot for drinks and dinner on a nice night in Ballard. Delicious tacos and unbeatable margs!

One of the best happy hours around! Great atmosphere and wonderful service!

Found this place while walking the area. It was a toss up between Matador and a couple other places nearby. We chose Matador due to the posted menu options. Went in, ordered nachos, black bean dip, and a couple other items. Everything was great. The nachos were our favorite. We had the asparagus too, but it was okay. Not bad/not fantastic. Just average. The black been dip and nachos were outstanding. Big portions and great flavors. The service was excellent too. Nice waitresses that were friendly, attentive, while being very busy. We recommend this place for young and older couples. I think families would be okay here, but it is limited with space, so an order to go would probably be the better option if you have kiddos. They'd be welcomed, I'm sure, with no problem.... just don't go at the busy hour times.

Food is tasty. A good spot for lunch in summer. Service is rather slow from staffs; I'd return for food, not the service.

My wife and I took our granddaughter out for lunch after doing some shopping. She recommended The Matador and we were very pleased she did. The restaurant has a circular bar with a fire pit in the middle that provides an very nice ambience. Our server was excellent and all our meals properly prepared. Great experience and we will definitely return.

I had the skirt steak and shrimp delivered and everything was perfect. The steak was medium rare, the shrimp were succulent and not overcooked. The dish comes with several sides and I couldn’t finish everything. Already looking forward to delicious leftovers tomorrow. I have lower expectations when I have food delivered but everything was exactly as ordered and traveled wonderfully. I need to get there for dinner in person.

This was a local of mine when I lived in Seattle and I still miss the Matador! Fantastic food and happy hour specials. Really great atmosphere. Beautiful decor and attentive staff. A great spot in a vibrant district of Seattle.

What a great meal! Went here for dinner and it was so so good. I had a Blood Orange Margarita that blew my mind - not to sweet or sour. I also had the Street Taco special which had a sampling of five different tacos with this amazing green sauce that looks like a tomatillo sauce with the consistency of pesto, but its slightly sweet. It was like a whole plate of amuse-bouche but still filling. Great service, nice ambiance, cool location.

Everything was great! The food, the service, the pricing, the atmosphere, THE FOOD! I highly recommend this place!!!!

Food was quality for the price although alcohol was pretty steep. If the wait staff was better and more attentive, probably give 5 stars. Think our waitress came to the table 5 times in total for the 3+ hours we were there

The bar and restaurant has a nice feel and the service is always good. Tasty chips and salsa! My go to and my wife's go to menu item are the fajitas. I get the chicken and she gets the shrimp, both are excellent. I've had other menu items like their nachos and wings both of which are very tasty. Great place to grab dinner n drinks, good craft draft selection.

This place is awesome! I've only been here once and I (still) can't stop thinking or talking about it... -It's the braised beef tacos!- ;-D A handful of family & friends have visited Seattle since my fiancee and I went, and I ALWAYS recommend El Matador to them! -It's the braised beef tacos!- ;-D WHEN I do head back to Seattle, it will be to come back here, and YES, you guessed it! For the BRAISED BEEF TACOS!!! Yummm!!!

Even at 11:00pm on a Tuesday this place was hopping. Fun energetic crowd, friendly service and super happy hour! They have a late night happy hour with $1.50 street tacos that were delicious and one of the best margaritas I've had.

The food and drink are consistently good. It gets crowded and is a bit noisy. Fun for the younger crowd.

I love the Matador!! They have the best Happy Hour deals and the portions are a good size also. The steak tacos are AMAZING!! My husband and I crave them at least once a week!! You also have to try their Sangria!!

We go to the Matador at least once a month for their excellent lunch or their impressive happy hour. Food is consistently good and the service is always attentive and pleasant. I like the venue — it’s very comfortable, and unlike so many new restaurants now, most of their seating choices are 4-tops. Amazing stuffed jalapeños, great soups, and excellent appetizers.

Best nachos ever. And the best butternut squash tacos! They were delicious! Cool atmosphere and very fun

There are many restaurants/cafes on Old Ballard Avenue to choose from but this restaurant is IMO a cool looking place. The restaurant has moved from their original spot and are just now down the same block next to the bell tower. I think this new location and their interior is more visible and just has a cool vibe. We took an out of town friend here for dinner and the warm sienna walls and artsy black ironwork is really impressive especially in the evening. When you see this place it looks fun. The food that we had was good and it came with complimentary basket of tortilla chips and salsa. Who doesn't love that! The service was friendly and attentive. They make good cocktails. There is outdoor seating but we sat inside to take in the cool ambiance.

This restaurant is 21 and older so if you're with your family, do not mistake Matador as a casual Mexican restaurant. However- for those who don't have children this place is great. The vibe at night is really fun. I have never been into Matador and not seen at least 3 people I know. Make sure to go during happy hour because they have their famous Texas-size nachos for $5 and their stuffed and grilled jalapeños for $6. Que disfruten!

You can appreciate a good steak here! Good food, and good portion size! Worth the money, and guaranteed to please your taste buds, and leave full w/ some left-overs!

On my recent trip to Seattle, I went with some friends to the small area of Ballard to check out the restaurants and bars. We had a party of 5, we were able to get a corner booth that sat exactly 5 people. The restaurant itself wasn't large, but the design itself was themed appropriately to a dark Mexican cantina. One table had a high bar design with a fire pit in front. Really cool spot if you're able to grab it. The service was excellent, the staff was very nice an accommodating, and food and drinks came out in a timely manner. I ordered a Bartenders Margarita and the Street Tacos. The margarita was great, strong and a little sour, served in a larger cup than some of the other options. And the Street Tacos were outstanding! Honestly, some of the best Tacos I've ever had, each taco had an incredibly different taste, and each bite was packed with flavor! All in all, if I come back to Ballard, this is def nicely one of my "To Go" places, I highly recommend the Matador!

Located in Ballard, this is one of our favorite restaurants. We arrived at 7 pm on a Sunday night and there was a 25 minute wait. We headed up to the bar, where my fiance and I sat down. He had a beer and a shot of tequila and I had a bartender's margarita. Both were great as usual. Before we were called for our table, he finished his drinks and ordered a bartender's margarita as well. When it was our turn, we were given the option to sit outside or in--we chose inside as it gets cool in Seattle in the evenings (although our table was located right by the big open window). We paid for our drinks and moved to our table. Our server was new (we are regulars and have never seen her before), and seemed pretty busy and rushed. My fiance and I both work in the restaurant industry, we certainly can understand that! We immediately ordered 2 more drinks, some chips, salsa and large sides of sour cream and guacamole. Delicious! My only request would be that they stop bringing the salsa and chips out with the salsa bowl IN the chips. They have done this the last 2 times we have been there, and the salsa both times has spilled over into the bowl and gotten a lot of the chips soggy. We LOVE the ambiance here. Dark with lots of candles everywhere. When it's colder, they have a huge fire pit/fireplace in the middle of the bar, with a round bar area surrounding it. The tables are set up so that there is plenty of space and privacy between tables and you don't feel like you are on top of each other. For sports lovers, they also have 2 tvs up on the walls above the bar, with the sound turned off (they had spanish(?) music playing in the background). After enjoying our drinks for a while, we orderd our food. He ordered the chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce (comes with rice and black beans) and I ordered the Surf&Turf steak, sans the surf(prawns) (comes with a corn salsa and mashed potatos). My fiance specifically asked for the pica de gallo on the side, and the server assured us that it comes on the side automatically (he can't digest anything that spicy). I ordered my steak rare-medium rare. I prefer medium rare, but three times there I have had my steak come back medium well (only sent it back once because I really hate doing that). The times that it has been cooked correctly, it's so fantastic, and I was really craving it so I decided I would give it one more chance. (By the way, in the past we have also ordered the mexican pork potroast, which is AMAZING--we always have a hard time deciding what to eat!). Upon ordering, my fiance ordered another margarita and some more chips with another side of sour cream and guacamole while we waited for our entrees. The server brought the chips out quickly, soon followed by his margarita. No sour cream and guac, though, and we figured she must have not heard him or forgot. We tried to get her attention but she kept rushing by us, so we just let it go. Our food arrived very quickly, (which was a good sign, as that meant my steak was not overcooked), along with the sour cream and guacomole we had ordered to go with our chips. I cut into my steak immediately, and it was perfect. My fiance was a bit less than pleased, though, as the pico de gallo was poured all over the top of his enchiladas--NOT on the side as he asked for or as the server had said automatically comes on the side. We HATE sending food back, so he just pushed it off as much as possible. He was able to remove most of it, and so it was fine (although he did tell me this morning that what he did ingest kept him from being able to sleep through the night), and it tasted *delicious*. The food, as usual, was DELICIOUS. As I said, my steak was cooked perfectly, and I love the combination of the corn salsa with it. They have great mashed potatos as well. My fiances food was just as great (we always share). The tomatillo sauce they use for their enchildas is to die for. The only we don't like is that they use black beans, which neither of us really cares for. We really like those horribly fat and bad for you refried beans, lol. But black beans are what tend to be used in the more upscale mexican restaurants, which this place definitely is. We ate *everything,* and the server instantly brought our check without asking if we wanted anything else, which did kind of bother me. When she came by to see if we were ready to pay, we ordered to more drinks (double bailey's on the rocks). She brought our drinks and then a new check again right away, at which point we told her we wanted dessert. I don't know the name of it, but it's this chocolate cake/torte that is warmed with vanilla ice cream that sits in a pool of sauce that tastes like a combination of caramel and honey---SO good! Even though we were so full from our meals, we devoured the dessert. All in all everything was great. Our server was very new, so we were not really bothered by anything that was off--I'm only including them now to give a full and honest review. Our bar bill (2 bartender's margaritas, 1 draft beer and 1 shot of tequila) was ~$28 and our dinner bill (3 more margaritas, 2 large sides of sour cream, 2 large sides of guacamole, tomatillo chicken enchiladas, skirt steak, 2 double bailey's on the rocks (no discount for a double shot drink, by the way--charged for 4 shots) and the chocolate torte dessert) was ~$94. We consider this place a great deal since we eat and drink a lot when we go out, although I think tripadvisor's $ rating of 1 $ is low--should be $$, especially since the Matador has recently raised their prices. We definitely recommend going there, and always take friends to eat there when they are visiting from out of town!

Renting a condo nearby for a few days and this was our first night. Good authentic food and good service in a well designed restaurant really popular with younger people (suddenly felt very old amongst the 20 and 30 year olds. Only downside they don't do frozen ritas.

Great Tex/Mex food at good prices. Menu specials are always worth checking out. The only thing we don't like about Matador is that it tends to get WAY TOO LOUD at certain times (the kind of times when crowds of people drink too much and start yelling instead of conversing) But that doesn't stop us from returning again and again ...

Chicken enchiladas were very good not too spicy just enough heat rice was cold and dried out could have been much better beans with the dish were excellent

Like Tequila you will love this place. wonderful selection. Good bar food. Can get expensive so I encourge people to go at happy hour.

My husband and I visited the Ballard Locks and then walked a few blocks to find this little gem! We had a heaping portion of nachos which could have fed 6 people, and pulled pork tacos with pineapple salsa. Everything was so delicious and the atmosphere was great with seating inside and outside. This location has a view from just about every table looking out to a small patio and city street. Even being inside we felt like we were a little outside too--in a very nice way! We liked it so much that on our last night in Seattle we went again. This time we ordered the spicy burrito and marinated pork shoulder tacos. They were both excellent! Lots to do and see around this location--enjoy ;)

Waiting for a car battery to be installed at dinner time, I decided to try Matador in the heart of Ballard. What a bustling, happy place. Fortunately, I found a spot at the end of a beautifully inlaid wood curved bar surroundng a cozy firepit. Immediately a lovely server came with the menu and offered a suggestion for a non-spicy entree. The Braised Grape Salad with added Grilled Chicken was quickly delivered, attractively presented and delicious with especially tender, moist chicken. Friendly, superb service included filling my water glass three times. Happily, I hit the bull's-eye with my choice to eat at Matador. Next time I'll come with a friend.

Love the chili, and spicy shrimp, especially when followed by the molten cake and ice cream. MM MM good

Great ambience, especially the seating around the warm fireplace which was nice on a cold and rainy day. Service was also very good. But we weren’t crazy about the food. We learned to like Mexican food in Arizona, suffered through “Tex-Mex” in Texas, and always looking for something we like in Wa and Ca. This wasn’t it. Starting with chips and salsa, the chips were unbearably salty, so much we couldn’t finish half the bowl. Salsa was good. As an appetizer we got the Queso Fundido (I think that’s its name), which we’ve always enjoyed at many other Mexican restaurants, but this was nothing like that. Usually this dish is a creamy texture with a lot of flavor but here it is essentially very thick melted cheese with some big chunks of onion and maybe a few peppers. Not very tasty and frankly too thick to even enjoy. I got a shredded chicken burrito with red sauce and the sauce was a bit too bitter tasting to me and the burrito had more rice than beans. I’ve never even heard of rice in a burrito but maybe it’s a thing? My wife had the tortilla soup and couldn’t eat more than half. She was used to and hoping for something much lighter and more “brothy” vs. this which just had too many things in it (lots of chicken and other vegetables and not as much broth). I tasted it a couple times and it seemed like it was more like or trying to be a stew. Others might enjoy this but she was hoping for more traditional tasting tortilla soup and I have to admit this was different than what I’ve had at other places, even though this is not typically my kind of dish. I wouldn’t call this place bad, just not our kind of Mexican food.

Been to The Matador a number of times with family and friends. Nice ambiance, great tequila drinks, tasty entrees and happy hour sides. Food is always consistently good. The service has always been solid but last night was a little off. We always enjoy ourselves at The Matador.

Food tasted good (west coast mexican). Service was good, and the Margaritas and selection of tequila was great. Food is slightly overpriced for mexican, but not much choice in the seattle area for decent mexican at a decent price, unless its from the back of a truck (not my style). We come here 1-2 times per month. We havent found better mexican in the area, but continue to look.

Great décor, great service, food was okay, drink was great, price was high. What more can I say? Trip Advisor is making me write at least 50 characters. I had taco trio and a Cadillac margarita. Okay?

The staff is very nice. The vibe is upbeat and the restaurant is usually filled with a younger crowd. We are MUCH older but are very comfortable there. There is some sidewalk seating in the summer and the happy hour menu has good choices at a reasonable price. It is on our shortlist for happy hour.

The "feel" of this restaurant was very neat. When we arrived for lunch to this little restaurant in West Seattle, the doors were open to the outside and the inside decor was beautiful. You must be 21 or older to eat here. We sat in a booth with very high seat backs, so it felt very cozy! I am a picky Mexican food eater, so I am happy to report that the food here was delicious!! I wasn't crazy about the rice, but other than that, the food was great and the service was also wonderful! Highly recommended!

We purchased two tickets for the all you can eat tacos from The Matador, with two margaritas per ticket. Served from 5-8pm. We waited in line for one hour to place an order, then another 15-20 minutes in a different line to pick it up. All you can eat? No way. The Matador sold so many tickets to this "event" that there was no possible way to get back in line for the supposed all you can eat. 300 people in line, ONE order taker. We got three small cold tacos, and two cups of margarita mix, tequila? not detectable. All for the low all you can eat price of about $50. Horrible. No way should they have allowed so many tickets to be purchased. We feel very cheated.

I enjoy the atmosphere at The Matador, and their chorizo burrito keeps me returning. Their chips and salsa are a great way to start.

The menu is extensive and the food preparation is exquisite. Prices are higher than most Mexican places but the food is better and not out of a can or freezer. The seasonal Mexican corn on the cob is crave worthy! The service started out attentive but she seemed ton lose interest after the order came to the table. Getting water refills seemed painful and she wished away the guacamole before we were done with it. The capper was when she tried to pocket my credit card and brushed it off as having slipped into her pocket.

I love their food and it has a 'kick' to it with the Southwest / Tex Mex spices. You can get a great assortment of appetizers to share with a great Margarita for Happy Hour - the Matador salad, spring rolls,soup and a few other Happy Hour menu items and it's a meal!

Unfortunate dinner experience. First the wrong order of tacos was delivered, was whisked away and replaced by the correct order-but the food was cool to the touch. The other order brought to the table was luke-warm. Ugh, chilly enchiladas are disgusting. The third server to come to the table insistsed that the food was “just made”; if that was the case either the server left it sitting for awhile or it was plated onto chilled plates. Either way, not what we expected. Perhaps they should stick to the happy hour offerings and not try to serve full meals.

Typical trendy Mexican spot. You can do better in Ballard. Try La Carta di Oaxaca (which is doors down).

The food was good, but the drinks were better!!!!

We were in the area looking to get some Mexican food We found this place from the time we got into the restaurant the server told us to take any seat we like Service was fast, efficient Very good food Our server Angela was very friendly and attentive We highly recommend this place They have a huge selection of tequilas available

Great for hanging out with friends and grabbing a drink

Great margaritas

Visited the Ballard location and while parking is an issue the happy hour plates will make it all worth the frustration of finding a parking spot close by. The restaurant layout promotes group seatings and the centerpiece is the patron bar surronding the firepit in the middle of the room. Great embiance, but also very busy, especially Thursday through Saturday. The staff is very helpful and attentive to the needs of the diner. I would recommend the carne asada tacos and the jalapeno poppers to start and your choice from there. The menu is pretty much bar food but everything is made from scratch so the flavors are over the top. Large selection at the bar and great bar staff. Will be going back for happy hour and more.........definitely recommend!

AWESOME happy hour!

Good place for hispanic-influenced dishes. Good prices, good service, nice bar, fireplace, etc. Entry at the corner of Ballard Avenue and Market Street is weird -- there are dark curtains to limit heat loss, but from the outside they make it look as though the place is closed.

good launge place! very good food.

This has become once a week lunch hangout for me and my office friends. The food is great, quantities generous, prices very reasonable and great service. Definitely keep it in your back pocket if you are in Ballard and want some great Mexican options (and try their spicy chicken sandwich too)

The Matador is located in a fabulous old building with great Ballard character. We enjoyed sitting outside. Service was average. Pleasant enough place, but the food was nothing great. Steak was tough and without flavor. Pricey to boot. Can find better options for a carnivore meal.

Went with some co-workers. Some interesting margaritas on the menu, and a very extensive tequila selection. The plate of nachos they brought us could have fed 6 people. My shrimp tacos were very good. Would go back.

Matador was the trendsetter in Ballard. This place was hip before Ballard was hip. Pretty good food, really cool ambiance, awesome happy hour.

It has a great late night happy hour, fun crowd & inexpensive food!

My Wife and I had a great Sunday evening at the Matador in Ballard. Margaritas were great on a hot evening! Chips and Salsa - habit forming! Avocado Egg Rolls - can you order seconds? The Carne Asada Fajitas were outstanding. One thing I noticed is that the staff works very much as a team. Refiling waters, prebussing, checking to see how things are at table. Well trained and happy staff means happy customers that not only will return, but will tell others to check this place out!

I've frequented both the Ballard and West Seattle locations for years. Now that I live in West Seattle I only find myself going to that one. It's more low key than the Ballard one but I personally prefer that. Still offers the fantastic happy hour deals which are 4-6 and 10-1am daily. I have to say I believe the nachos to be the best value for food on the happy hour menu. You get a huge plate of them and they truly are delicious. Other favorites are the shrimp (any of the flavor options) and the strawberry salad with goat cheese.

this bar is evil and will pad their tip when given the chance

Stopped in on a visit to our son. Very friendly atmosphere, superb service and good food at affordable pricing.

This restaurant and bar - while small - is always packed...and for a very good reason! I have been here many times and have never had anything but a wonderful experience! All the servers are super friendly and seem to be having a great time, which makes my time there more fun as well. I love the nachos and the bacon wrapped jalapeño appetizer. My favorite drink is the Bartenders Margarita w/salt. A super fun Ballard spot!

We found this place randomly and absolutely fell in love with the place. The ambiance, the food, and the service are all amazing!!

They have really great happy hour specials for food. Awesome tequila selection. We had nachos and enchiladas and they were easily the best I've ever had. I'll definitely be going back the next time I'm in town. And the server was really nice, but not fake nice which I always enjoy.

The Matador is one of our "go to" places. The Carnitas plate is one of our favorites. Reasonably priced and plenty to split for 2. maybe with leftovers for lunch too; this is a lot of food. The carnitas also arrive at your table FAST, if you're in a hurry. This fall the seasonal menu includes Brussel sprouts, caramelized and served in a mini cast-iron skillet -- super tasty and super-cute. Plus, while brussel sprouts can be pricey, these are a great value. (I'd tell you the price, but..... they might run out the next time I go) Oh yes, and it's 21 and over, which is getting hard to find in a full service restaurant.

Our group decided to give Matador Ballard a try this past weekend. Things started out well... but I lost my appetite after visiting the women's restroom. It reeked of urine and was not clean. This unpleasant experience made me wonder just how well the food is handled in the kitchen... I hope the management considers this and makes necessary adjustments.

We visited right at opening and they were already on the ball. The server was great; very attentive and sweet. The burrito was large and very tasty! The pork sandwich was incredible! Both somewhat spicy but just right. The margarita was excellent--I had to have 2!! The decor was understated but we'll done.

A place to see and been seen with good to great sangria (depending on the day) and decent food. Sometime the service is below average.

Very loud, tough to get a seat. Poor tv local. I go for the appetizers and the outdoor seating on a fair night.

Lunch with the guys is a hard one to please us all. This place did just that, The nachos were great with Chorizo. The salads and soups were just right for lunch on a cold Seattle day.

This is no Taco Bell. The Matador is one fine Mexican restaurant. They have a huge bar and wonderful menu, and fine service. The ambiance is wonderful.

Every time I visit Ballard (twice a year, give or take), I make sure I pay a visit to this restaurant. Great food, and the Margaritas are even better!!! Much fun!!

We needed a late dinner. My sons took me to The Matador, where we shared two orders of black bean nachos. They were delicious, and I will return before I leave this area. I appreciated an atmosphere that allowed us to talk and hear each other.

This place does draw a crowd. I like it better than the West Seattle location, as it has a better vibe. The Happy Hour food is a pretty good deal - cost wise and it is tasty. Throw in the cold beer and margaritas and you can have a good time there. Be careful e where you lay your umbrella - mine disappeared from beneath my chair in the bar. Next time i will tie it to something!

We had 45 minutes to eat while waiting for a concert at the nearby Sunset Tavern and were attracted to the ambience of this place but fearful of not having time. The restaurant was classy, great atmosphere but full - fortunately the staff found us the last two places at the bar. Really friendly bar staff, great selection of drinks. The food was up market tex-mex and we had wonderful corn followed by chicken tacos. The service was so good that we managed to get out in time for the concert but felt we had a great time and unrushed. Unsurprisingly our seats were taken by the next couple within 2 minutes.

I was walking around the Ballard area of Seattle, exploring the many different shops in this area and walked into The Matador for Lunch. My wife and I ate outside in a well-shaded area and proceeded to have a very nice lunch. The service was excellent and the fish tacos I ordered were good. The Server allowed me to substitute the rice and beans for a side salad which was also quite good. One particular thing stands out for me. The chips and salsa they served while your meal was being prepared should have been illegal. They were that good. I know this doesn't seem like a big deal, but it kind of lets you know that they care about the food they are making.

Truly wonderful restaurant in Ballard. The food was spicy and the drinks were great. Our entire group loved the place and will definitely return!

pretty good happy hour

Safe choice. Good food/drinks...nothing great.

Having gone to the Matador since they first opened up on Ballard Ave & Market, I must say they are consistent in food & service, being very good. It is sort a nice blend of old school Ballard with truly the new trendier side, sort of Ballard meets Belltown in Seattle terms The staff is very good and customer friendly, even amidst some of the late evening crowds revelry ...... did I mention they have a very nice selection of tequila. The food is an interesting mix of what I guess I would call NW-Mex.... I guess(?). Sort of a Tex-Mex style with NW flare, a very nice mix on the menu. My favorite appetizer hands down is their Seared Ahi served on an apple slaw, usually very fresh and bright. They also put out some nice specials as well large portions, at a reasonable price ..... for Seattle. I would say it's a comfortable social atmosphere and crowd, and is a bar so no kids (under 21). They have a very good bar staff in general, and very good bartenders which is nice. Seems to be some pissy attitudes as I see in some of the newer Ballard places. They take care of their customers and are very pleasant, and they pour an honest drink..... although there is the tequila factor. They have a nice selection and seem to have some for every wallet size. So here's my take on the food. If you're looking for Mexican food is very good, but in more of a Sea-Tex-Mex fashion, it ain't Mamacita style cooking. The only thing I was disappointed with in the past was the calamari .... this is Seattle perhaps the standards are little high. My all time favorite was discontinued, a sad night, steamed Manila Clams in a red pepper garlic butter sauce ....OMG, A Lipitor moment in a bowl. Anyway, it's worth a try and think you'll like it. They have became a little Northwest Chain now yet still seem to maintain their focus. I haven't tried any of the other locations but have met the owners a couple times, and known a couple of their managers who all are very people oriented people ..... I am sure they maintain the level of quality throughout their chain.

Fun place. Great service. Good food and great drinks. Loves the mango chili margarita and the jalapeno cucumber margarita. Good place to stop at for racp Tuesday.

My wife and I were visiting our son and daughter in Seattle and we asked for a place with good margaritas. Our son recommended The Matador and it was a great choice. The atmosphere was fun, the good was delicious and the margaritas were wonderful. We all had a great time. It does get loud during happy hour but still a great spot.

We were in town for another visit to one of our fave cities, Seattle of course!, and had to hit one of our fave spots. We walked around the seafood festival and made it to The Matador. We sat at the bar right next to the service station and the bartender was busy but not too busy to acknowledge us which is super cool. His name was Daniel and he ended up making our night super fun. He was very personable, kept busy and made great margaritas for us all night. I'm usually not into froofy margaritas but his suggestion to me to try the watermelon margarita was spot on. I had a few to say the least and we made some new pals at the bar. Even the waitstaff was super cool and chatted with us while Daniel was making drinks for their table. We took a quesadilla to go and it was great. Thanks for taking good care of a couple of chatty Californians again! See you next time we're back in town!! Daniel keep rockin' it!!!

How not to like this place. The decor is welcoming, modern yet warm with a beautiful fireplace dominating the scene. The food is on par with the rest of the place, simply take the homemade salsa: deliciously but not overwhelming spicy, with a perfect balance of tastes. The skirt steak was excellent, tender and juicy, the appetisers also very good. Only the ceviche missed some vibe, but overall a very good dinner with an attendance time service,.

This is neither the best Mexican Food ever nor the cheapest but it is certainly reliably good. The service has always been great. Their best feature is the margaritas. Always very, very good. It has kind of become our old standby and that's OK with us. Just watch out for weekend nights, it gets very busy.

Good quality and portion for price. House made salsa different from standard fare at many Mexican restaurants.

This bar / restaurant is beautiful. The bar sits off to the right and dining to the left with very cool decor surrounding the entire place. Amazing selection of tequila. Bartender was super cool and helpful. We didn't get to eat but food coming out looked great. I'll be back here for sure.

A bit of a meat market and the food isn't as good as either La Isla or La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard

The drinks, appetizers and people watching are good, the entrees ordinary. One refreshing thing about Matador is that they offer some truly spicy food - the habanero sauce is particularly good.

Great, really great, margaritas! Great party atmosphere. We have made going to the Matador a Halloween tradition. Leave those little urchins begging at our door. Pah! We're gone: To El Matador! It is hot, it is hip and the food does not disappoint. Get your cape on.

Since there was a wait for the table, our table of 5 waited in the bar. My boyfriend ordered a beer and then we were seated right after. The waiteress took our drinks at the table, and brought back everyones but my boyfriends. After talking to the waitress about the beer situation, he still had to wait another 10 minutes. We ordered our food and it came out in a timely manner. However, the food was SO overspiced that it a) the food itself (steak and fish) was wayyy overpowered by the spice and b) was too hot and not worth eating! I like spice and flavor and have a good tolerance, but this was ridiculous. Additionally,we ordered a second margarita during the meal... and it still did not come...even when we got the check... so we asked the waitress to take the 2nd margarita off the check.... Food was not worth the price or the service...

Bad service; every time! So-so food. Great fireplace.

We go to Matador mainly for happy hour. Their margaritas are reall good and the food is very good as well. It can be very cold and drafty from the entrance on that side of the bar. Habanero prawns are amazing.

This is a favorite hangout of the up-and-coming Amazonian hipsters. The drinks are strong and the food is excellent!! Check it out!!!

One of the best happy hours in town! The nachos are huge and very filling! Noisy but it's not a dressy place, it's a meeting place!

Nice place, near the locks. Best blood orange margaritas ever! Good food not expensive compared to downtown Seattle. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Food was good, nice size portions. Fresh! If we were to come to the area again we would certainly come here. Jalapeño poppers great!!!! Chicken burrito wonderful.

I have been on a squash kick lately and their butternut squash enchilada hit the spot! The avocado was a great addition lately too. And it felt healthy and not too large.

Good food and ambience with friendly and efficient service- nice decor and noise level allows for actual conversation

After a day of hiking at Discovery park we were hungry and it was getting to late to go home and cook. The kids were really hungry for some Mexican food as they had moved from Austin and had not found a good place in Seattle to go. We were seated by a friendly waitress and ordered our drinks , The menu is very good and when we all got our food we were very pleased with the portions and quality. Fish Tacos were excellent and tons of flavour. Very pleased we stopped here and the food was so fresh and tasty...Had leftovers which was nice.

Good food, so-so service. Ordered chicken tinga tacos and got shredded chicken instead. Big difference. Server didn’t come back to see how it was, so didn’t tell her it was wrong. We waited for a little bit, but we were there on lunch break and had to get back. Went ahead and ate them, and they were fine. Had to go to the counter to pay because she never did come back.

It's a bit loud inside, but a happy hour experience on the deck is FANTASTIC. The quality of food far surpasses the $4 and $5 tapa prices. We'll be back soon...

Fireplace, good drinks. Hip atmosphere. Crowded.

ever dish has some sort of chile. great chips. odd wine list for spicy food.

I love this restaurant but just want visitors to know that you can't take anyone under 21 there. They don't tell you if you have teenagers that look close to 21 and then once you are at the table they ask for ID's if there is a question. Annoying to look at the menu and they get kicked out. They are nice about it, but rules are rules and there's no getting around it. So best not to try.

The Steak Tacos are fantastic

I'm rating the Redmond location. It's all hype and glitz;

Dleicious food, great margaritas!