Matador Charleston

Very cute and well decorated Mexican restaurant! We went for the happy hour and we weren’t disappointed. They have great food deals and the portion sizes are good! They have an impressive selection of margaritas too! Service was good and fast. The atmosphere is nice and they have big windows that open up to the street. Def a good spot to drop in for a bite to eat and enjoy the weather! Brownie points for the super clean and cute bathroom!

We ate here after Sumter and Walking the city all day and let me tell you I was cranky and it was still awesome! Food was a TEN! I will go back for sure and the kid waiting our table and then this other girl who came over, probably a manager were GREAT! Largest wall of Toquilla in Charleston I guess, but its a classy looking fair priced place! Free nachos with salsa first was incredibly needed lol. Please go, I'm telling you now its great if you like Mexican food & it was NOT over priced! I took a friend visiting from the west coast, as he stayed with me in Myrtle Beach and we drove down. Cant wait to go back! Serious, I don't know a soul at this place! Some pics from inside and places relatively close. Great spot!

Good food. The service was a little slow but we found out later that the restaurant was experiencing technical difficulties with the cashiers operating system, so I’ll chop the slow service up to that. The food was great. Large helpings and fairly priced in my opinion. The bar down stairs is huge. Upstairs is set up perfect for a venue for wedding receptions or other like activities.

This was my first time, and it was not bad nor great it was a little pricey for what I ordered. The service was very good. The young black lady was very nice and helpful in my ordering. This was very helpful, being that I really didn't know the menu. For that reason, I might give this place another try. I did very much enjoy my desert and last my drink Margarito was not for me!!!

Their food really amazed me, it was like discovering a treasure in Charleston. I have been to many countries, If I have to pick one for the BEST in US, this one should be. They were very generous with the portion sizes and the rich and tasty food filled me up with energy and happiness.

Matador is truly wonderful. Came here with my companion Reagan and had the time of our lives. The food and atmosphere was phenomenal, but I do have to say, the true star of the show was their hostess Abigail Nicole Jones. Yes! I do know her middle name because of how kind and genuine she was towards me and Reagan which fostered a brilliant conversation about the ebbs and flows of life. I would recommend this spot to anyone looking for a fun and flirty night! Request Abby to be your hostess!

Bar hopped a few places while visiting Charleston. Overall between the food and drinks everything was better than most of the other places I went to while there. Stayed in town for the week and ended up returning multiple times over. Sebastian and the rest of the Bar staff is great and very friendly too! Great location in downtown Charleston, close to everything. Would definitely return next time in town!

Came here last night to get dinner. The atmosphere was very nice and such a vibe. The staff and waitress was very friendly and welcoming to their restaurant. Food was average Mexican food, nothing better than uncle Julio’s and not as authentic as a typical Mexican restaurant. Beans and corn tasted like they came out of a can, but, food was decent. Recommend!!

Outstanding food!Steak with beans,corn,rice impressed me.Im not into spanish/mex food,but now I'm in! Burger and French fries was too good to left after we pay our bill.We got it in the box and finished it home with a good appetite. We are going to visit this cool restaurant/bar much often now.Next time I'll choose the best tequila cocktail for sure! The interior design is so antique and remind me Excalibur era.

Great ambiance and a unique menu. The coconut shrimp is *MESSY*. Not a good messy. It was overstuffed so much with the mango pineapple salsa and sour cream that you couldn't pick it up with your hands. I wasted most of one taco because it fell apart. The shrimp was breaded and a bit sweet, but it was not my favorite. I would not order this again. The Baja fish tacos, on the other hand, made up for the other fish. Super crispy with slaw and radishes, very tasty. Both meals came with black beans and Spanish rice. The beans are very good. Our server was very good with checking in occasionally. We had a great booth right next to the bar. The bar was very fun to look at, the stained glass and lighting is amazing. The prices were really good here also.

What a great spot! Started with margaritas - all top-shelf tequila and ingredients, with a 'good pour' ! Chips and Salsa were brought to the table immediately. Our table did not get any starters or snacks. We had had a couple of cocktails already and we needed to get food into us. I believe we all got the Crispy Carnitas Tacos, which was huge. Love Mexican leftovers for breakfast the next day!!! The tacos, rice, and beans were all delicious and I know we'll go again. A great option when downtown!!!

Matador was the choice of a college student we were visiting, and while we would not have thought to go to a Mexican restaurant in Charleston, we were not disappointed. The kid knew of what he spoke! His dish of choice was the chili relleno with chicken, evidently his go-to meal, and it looked very good indeed. I had the jalapeno steak burrito, which was delicious - it had just the right amount of kick for me, but apparently it has made some people cry, so perhaps it is not for the faint of heart. My partner had the fish tacos which got the thumbs up. I was the only drinker in the group, and can attest to the cadillac margarita and sauvignon blanc. There is an extensive tequila list, which for the right group could be quite an adventure! This may have been our best meal in Charleston, so do go when you are ready for a break from low country fare.

I was only here for cocktails so my review is solely on the drinks. They were fantastic and even after having my table taken over while using the restroom the staff was very accommodating in making the mishap right. Next time I am in town I will check out the food and hopefully half off tequila Tuesday still is happening. Cheers

Stopped in for a bite before heading out of town and the food was so good. Left my credit card and they were kind enough to mail it to me. Great customer service! So glad that they were honest and willing to do that. Speaks volumes.

I've been to this place 3x and the first two experiences were NOT good. So I wanted to wait and give it one more chance. The first time I walked in and sat at the bar, it was busy but I sat next to a couple guys who were about to leave. No joke, I sat there for 20 mins. One of the bartenders made eye contact with my several times and didn't even acknowledge me. The other one was stuck on the well making drinks and the guys next to me, who I didn't know had to ask him if he could please get me a drink. At this point I left very disappointed. The second time I came in with a colleague after work and we showed up right at 11:30 to grab a quick bite and drink after a long shift. We sat at the bar and the first thing the bartenders said was "you can have ONE drink and our kitchen is closed". Wow what a friendly greet. Y'all are still full AND open. No hi, hello, or any type of hospitality but wanna tell me I can only have one drink? AND ur kitchen closes at 12 if I'm not mistaken. So... we left. My friends wanted to go a different time after work and I had made up my mind I never wanted to go back let alone a third time. I manage a freaking restaurant and have never experienced this bad of service multiple times. So off I went, sat at the bar and didn't have high hopes. But thankfully, a nice and friendly guy named Sebastian was there. He acknowledged me AND let me order food. So thank you Sebastian. I got a marg and Habas shrimp off the HH menu. Holy crap they're spicy and I LIKE spice. But the flavors were so delicious, and it reminded me almost like an Indian butter chicken. So I caution anyone eating this, be careful if you can't handle spice. But I loved it. Thanks Sebastian for saving my past poor experiences.

The birria was fire. If you're from the south the heat on the deck won't bother you. There is plenty of seating inside too but we came during a busy time. Service was excellent.

It's Charleston, it's a place of food and drink and good times. This is one of the many places I would recommend if you're visiting the city. For seating, on the interior there are two floors (first floor gets busy), as well as second floor patio seating. If the weather is enjoyable, I definitely recommend outdoor seating. Staff was very friendly throughout the dining experience. Partook in a couple margaritas, the Bean Dip Flight, and the carnitas tacos w/ rice and beans. All of it was delicious!

Walking around Charleston, there are so many places to try. The vibe led me to a seat and I was really happy. So much to select from. I had the steak habanero burrito. A tad hot and spicy, just fine for me. Service rocked.

This is a legit tough review to write. The food was really a knockout. I had the mango shrimp salad, shared the grilled stuffed jalapeños with the party, girlfriend had the braised carnitas. Everyone loved the food! So how do we end up at three stars? Service. The place was fairly empty on Sunday afternoon. No wait for a table, lots of open tables, and things were calm enough that I spotted our server - multiple times - having enough downtime to chat with co-workers, sip a drink, have some food to eat, etc. I can't recall the last time I saw that at a restaurant! So I can't blame "understaffed" or "too many patrons" on the problems. And the problems with service went far beyond our server, so I can't say "it was just a bad server". Food took FOREVER. We spent nearly 2 hours in lunch and didn't exactly dawdle. Drinks took a while to come out. We asked for some sweetener for one of the drinks and waited 15+ minutes to get a shot glass of simple syrup (after waiting a VERY long time to get the drink in the first place); the server said that the bartender was running behind. Again, food took forever. The server almost completely overlooked me when we placed orders and I had to raise my voice to get attention before she walked away. She was confused when my girlfriend and her friend said they would split their order. I asked for our jalapeños to not hold up our food because we were hungry and it was very clear that this happened. I asked for my salad to have the dressing on the side, and of course it was put all over the salad. They asked if I wanted to have a new one made but after waiting that long for food and seeing my whole party eating I wasn't going to do that. The freshly grilled shrimp on my salad were nearly room temperature by the time it got to our table. And myself and another person at the table asked to split the bill and after we paid it, it turns out we had been given another table's bill and everything had to be voided and re-paid for. I've never had this happen before in my life, it's just sloppy, but everything about the service here was sloppy. These are all signs of gross mismanagement. As I have to frequently point out in the rather disappointing Charleston food scene, "price sets expectations" and when I spend this much on fancied up Tex-Mex (this is really not Mexican food, I have had high end Mexican up and down CA and this is NOT it) it creates expectations of a much more upscale experience. I have had far better service in truly authentic Mexican places at a literal fraction of the price. The Matador can - and should be! - a five star place, but they can't get there like this. Someone with experience in the restaurant industry needs to take this bull by the horns (terrible joke) and get this place to act like an actual restaurant. Which I really want to see happen because the food was terrific! J.Ja

I've visited The Matador in Boise a few times so I was pleasantly surprised to see The Matador next to my hotel in Charleston. This is the only east coast version of this restaurant, for the time being. Very cool vibes inside the restaurant although it's pretty dim with the lights inside and hastd to even read a menu. They have a good happy hour menu (food only) from 3-6pm. On Tuesdays there is a 1/2 price tequila special as well. I love the salsa they make for the chips here. It's always been a favorite of mine. I tried the dip trio this time. The bean dip is pretty good and has the consistency of a queso cheese dip. The steak tacos on happy hour menu were good and the steak was very tender. Good service and a good place to enjoy a meal.

Locally sourced and fresh ingredients are a part of the kitchen at The Matador-- this establishment offers carne, pollo, carnitas and seafood and can be the main ingredient in your tacos, enchiladas and burritos. In addition, the entrees include Braised Carnitas, Skillet Seared Fajitas and Surf and Turf, just to name a few of the items on the menu here. Service was superficially friendly and marginal, but that's ok I was more interested in getting to the tastes and experiencing the quality of the food and when the brussel sprouts arrived I was pleasantly surprised. Contained in a hot skillet I was happy to see the sprouts were not burned to a crisp. There were some crispy pieces so it was nicely balanced. and I'm glad ordered it to start. Next came my Caesar Salad and I had just gotten done telling g the server about how good the Brussels Sprouts were. The grilled chicken that I had topped on the salad had "charcoal" tips making them uneditable ( in my opinion) so I had to return. They produced a replacement but not much better and at this point I had lost my appetite ~ didn't help that I had eaten most of my Brussels Sprouts! So I wouldn't order the grilled chicken unless you like that charcoal taste- but bear in mind-- it would be classified as a carcinogenic--so beware! Also it's a tough aftertaste to deal with! Ambience is rustic and historic feel; you will like the sizable bar complete with flat screen TV's-- so good for football Sunday, Monday and Thursday. A steady flow of folks came and went so the restaurant seems to be holding its own. Located at 235 Meeting Street, corner of Hasell Street. Enjoy!

Amazing service and ambiance! Had their street tacos for $10 while we went through their humongous selection of tequila. I stayed in Charleston for two nights and added a stop in the Matador each time. From the Barria tacos, huge tequila selection, very upscale and clean place to amazing service. Will return anytime and would recommend. I would like to try some more of their food selection in the future!

We enjoyed our last day in Charleston SC by grabbing a few drinks before our flight. We learned this place opened up a few months ago and it's beautiful inside. The bar top is designed with detail and the staff that fill this place are very nice. The bar can seat 15-20 people pretty easily with a fire area in one corner. The cocktails were mixed perfectly by a very nice bartender that deserves much praise. We ended up having 3 cocktails each because they were that good. We enjoyed great company and shared vacation tips to others. The chips & salsa were salty and the savory. 10/10

I have been wanting to try this place and finally got to tonight! We were seated right away. We ordered a few margaritas, which took a long time to get to the table. Once the margaritas arrived they were pretty good, just didn't have much tequila in them. We started with the Grande Nachos. They were huge and plenty for 4 of us to split. The cilantro-lime sour cream was amazing! I had the habanera steak burrito - cali style. The steak was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. It was alittle dark in the restaurant, which made reading the menu a little difficult.

This new Tex-Max concept in Charleston is worth the visit. Let me begin by saying the cocktails, margaritas and tequila selections are 5 stars as well as the incredibly engaging and knowledgeable staff. They know the menu inside and out. With a reasonably sized menu and specials, there are options for all your needs. The food was good but we thought the Queso was a little thick and the sweet red peppers on the Brussels may not be the best combo. That is one person's opinion. This is definitely a go to spot!!!

No minors. Right there on the door it states this, so the reviewers who are mad about this, well, whatever. We appreciate a place where adults can dine without other people's children screaming and running around. I know not all parents allow this, but a lot do and it can ruin an evening. The ambiance is nice and the service was good. The food servings are ridiculously large! The salsa was delicious. We weren't impressed with the margarita though. We ordered the classic and it tasted like a mix.

First time coming and on a Saturday night. We had a group of 10 and they were able to seat us quickly, the service was super quick and she was awesome dealing with our loud group. Cups were always full and plates were getting cleared as we talked all night and everyone enjoyed their food. I'm pretty sure no one took left overs home ! The ambiance at night is so pretty , dark with lighted candles everywhere. I will definitely be back !

Came to have a few drinks and apps on a Saturday afternoon. When you walk in there is a large bar with plenty of seating. They have a great beer and spirit selection. I will say looking at the menu most of there offering have some sort of a spicy pepper as an ingredient so beware if you're sensitive to spice. I had the Haba Prawns and yes they were good but very spicy. One of the things that caught my attention was their happy hour, everyday from 4-6. As we lol as doing a late happy hour starting at 10p. I will definitely be coming back to take advantage of the happy hour!

We took our daughter here for her birthday and there was ZERO complaint from our party of 10! Everything we order from drinks, starters, dinners and deserts were all amazing. The ambience of the restaurant is beautiful and I love the fire place at the entrance. So different from any other Spanish restaurant I've been too. Great fit for Charleston.

From the moment I was greeted by the host, I knew this experience was going to be great. I was escorted upstairs to the new Mezcaleria (mezcal bar + patio). While I'm not a fan of mezcal, I wasn't disappointed because the bartender was able to make me a French 75 (photo included). My friends ordered the blackberry habanero margarita and the fall fresca (non alcoholic, very fall!). Alexandria was our host and she was incredibly attentive and friendly. The patio is gorgeous, the music isn't too loud, and there's lots of seating. Would definitely recommend making a visit!

Good food and service. Friendly staff. Nice place to cool off if you're out shopping in Charleston.

The food was just ok. There was nothing special about it. However, the wait staff was nice and friendly and the place had a cool vibe. I

This is a great spot to hang if you go down town. Foods is delish and lots of fun drinks. They even have a tequila flight so you know we will be heading back. Queso is TOP notch. Did get a pic since we ate it so quick. Salsa is tasty with a little kick. Nachos are very good and you get a lot. Fajitas are sizzling.

This place has a straight up sexy vibe. Low lit. Was playing 90s hip hop/pop. Stopped in for a drink and a couple appetizers. The stuffed jalapeños are well worth the order.

Read a couple reviews that made this place worthy to try. We were not disappointed! Had no reservations but the wait time was only 15 minutes. The staff was excellent. From the hostesses to our server. Attentive and very informative about the menu. One in our party has to be gluten free and the chef was very accommodating! The food was delicious! There was a bit of p-zazz to the meats, and along with some mild jalapeños it made our mouths happy! Not huge tequila fans as they have an enormous selection, but my Cadillac margarita was just right! We stayed local so it was an easy walk from our hotel. If you're looking for good Mexican food in a restaurant with a great vibe and lovely decor, don't miss this the opportunity to go here.

Services was impressive . The waiter was superfriendly and gave great food and beer recommendations We went on a week day between X mas and new years so it was not too crowded

Came upon The Matador walking by, after 1st place had an hour wait. The Matador has a darker ambience: red brick, smaller light fixtures but plentiful artwork/ decor holding lit votive candles. It has a very cozy feeling but you can still safely walk around! People were sitting at the bar intently watching football. I was impressed when the greeter thoughtfully asked, "Are you here to watch the game or for food?" to help determine where to seat us. Our server Josh was very pleasant, professional and attentive with our needs/ comfort. I enjoyed a classic margarita, my friend had a spicy one. I enjoyed the Matador Bowl, as I love bowl entrees and/ or chopped salads when you can use corn chips to scoop up your bites. The corn chips were light but crispy and held up to their fabulous addictive salsa- in the middle for chunky or thin. My friends had a smaller salad plus shared an appetizer of different salsas, guacamole, etc. The place was rather quiet for a big NFL game on, but not many patrons either. Nonetheless, I highly recommend you come and try the Matador for delicious food with good portions and affordable prices, welcoming staff and great ambience.

Came here with friends on a Saturday evening and really enjoyed the vibes inside. It's dimly lit and atmosphere is lively. I have to commend the service, as our waiters were very attentive and kind, even though we were sat in a booth all the way in the back and the restaurant was packed. They start you off with endless chips and salsa, which were addicting. I ordered a Dos Equis, which came in a large cold mug, and the rib eye tacos. The dish I think is a bit overpriced for tacos, but the 2 tacos were larger than a normal taco and stuffed with meat and condiments. It also came with rice and beans so I was definitely satiated. This is a great place to come with friends.

Nachos were basic with mostly black beans ( extreme amount ) very little of anything else including the up charge for steak . Host not welcoming , server was good . Would not go back .

We enjoyed an transporting date at the bar. Our bartender was friendly and recommended drinks based on our flavor preferences. The bar itself was like a work of art. And if tequila is your thing- they have an enormous range. Food was flavorful and well portioned for sharing. The grilled jalapeños with goat cheese and Brussels were stand outs- both available discounted but w full portions at happy hour. Can't wait to go back.

Beautiful 21+ Mexican restaurant on Meeting St. The watermelon cocktails (and every other cocktail we had) are divine. My husband said his tacos were the best he's had in a long time. I ordered the habanero shrimp and while it was a stunning plate, it tasted only of habanero. Not bad, but I would order a different meal next time.

Happy hour 4-6 & 10pm-close was incredible!! We got the ground beef tacos, chicken quesadilla, & brussel sprouts all for 24$ which is insane for around here! You'd think for happy hour they'd get skimpy but I assure you everything was incredible! Best chips & salsa! Our server Christian was friendly, fast, & kept our drinks/chips full! Drinks were also 13$ for happy hour. The only recommendation I have is that the brussel sprout be less greasy.

Delicious food. Great service! I had the chili relenos and never only was it delicious it was also gluten free. They had many gf options. We had queso with our chips. Best queso I have ever had.

First, the service was great which is why they get stars. Friendly and attentive. Christian was my server and he was cool. The hostesses were friendly and nice. So yeah... food. The chips were stale. The salsa was okay. I suspect it came from a jar, but it wasn't bad. The rice was okay - probably the best thing. The beans were okay, but cold. The tacos were trash. I suspect that the cook (not chef) has never had a taco before. The bigger problem is whoever was trimming the meat did an ass job. Half of what was in these should have been in the trash or given to someone's family pet. Since dogs like to chew on meat for hours, the contents of these "tacos" would have been perfect! The meat was cold with the consistency of new rubber bands - yum! I appreciated the jaw exercises, but eventually had to give up and put most of it back on the plate. I tried to do surgery to see if there were any pieces of steak fit for human consumption, but this was sadly beyond my capabilities. With all of the amazing restaurants in Charleston, I somehow found this one instead. I was warned by a local friend (in the industry) to avoid, but it was late and this place was open. I have paid the price for my avarice. I should listen to my friends more. That all said, so yeah, the food is total ass, however the buildout is beautiful and the ambiance is great. If you're looking just to get drinks, this place is probably great, but don't get too drunk and order food. Now one thing I just noticed that explains a bit is that my bill was under $20. I would have paid double or triple this amount for great food. I could have done better at a popular fast casual for $20. This place should raise their prices and their food game accordingly. If the owners of this place found a great chef, this place could easily pull five stars. Seems like they invested a lot, so it would be worth it. They get two stars for the great ambiance and the great staff.

If you love tequila and spicy goodness this is the place for you. The service was amazing- Alex answered all the questions I had about the extensive cocktail list and suggested the perfect drink for me! The food came out promptly and was delicious and fulfilling. The decor and atmosphere was also a plus for me. 5 stars for amazing, quick service and delicious food. Make sure to come in a request Alex as your server or bartender and I highly suggest ordering the mangonada paired with the carne salad as an entree.

We wandered into the matador 3 minutes before 6:00 p.m., and were seated quickly enough to order from the happy hour menu (daily 4 to 6:00, and a fantastic value). Kudos to staff for accommodating us, we had a lovely meal. My first order was a tamarind ginger margarita, garnished with cinnamon. This is probably the most memorable cocktail I have had in years, quite delicious well balanced with reposado and ginger forward. My second cocktail, the blackberry habanero, was not nearly as unique. We ordered beef tacos, nachos with chicken, and brussel sprouts from the happy hour menu. Someone must have ordered two fried fish tacos and one beef taco because we got their order. Husband ate the fish tacos because he isn't worried about the breading and gluten. I ate the beef taco and it was excellent. We did not complain or return them! The nachos were okay, but loaded with way too many black beans (which I would have ordered on the side had I taken the time to notice they were included). The brussel sprouts were fantastic, wish I could have finished them! If you get to Charleston, they also have late night happy hour!

Their Happy Hour is awesome!!! Great food, drinks and atmosphere! The staff is friendly and prompt with serving!

Spicy cucumber margarita was really good. First bartender was good too. Second was not. Bald white guy with glasses made everybody really uncomfortable. Seemed psychotic. Maybe just having a bad day, but he was upset with himself and throwing things. Very unprofessional.

Happened upon this place walking around downtown. The ambiance was great inside and out! Service was top notch. The bartender upstairs as well as our server were great (sorry, didn't get their names). We were just planning on having a drink, but the smell of the food got us, so we ordered the nachos. It was a huge serving and we tore into it so fast I never got a picture. Highly recommend!

I absolutely loved this spot - probably my fave Mexican in Charleston so far. The ambiance is moody, the place is so well decorated and the space itself is MASSIVE with an upstairs room + outdoor patio. I got a Matador bowl which had all the fixings -- the tortilla crisps really were the perfect touch to make this bowl complete. They have hundreds of tequila + mezcal options and some amazing happy hour specials. Service was memorable and great. Go check them out!

Loved their happy hour tacos and margarita specials! Cool environment and design too!

Visited The Matador and I had a great experience. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas with grilled vegetables. The chicken was grilled, blacked and tender. It came in a skillet like fajitas topically do. Then chicken come on a bed of vegetables. I'm a veggie lover so I appreciate the ample vegetables they serve you. It also came with a fajita salad with black beans, pico de galla, lettuce and cheese. I also ordered the mahi tuna tostadas and they were delicious. The order comes with two tostadas. I definitely would order them again. Our server Aly was wonder, very friendly and helpful with suggestions. The ambiance of the restaurant is great. I think it could be great for a romantic date or a casual hangout. The lights are dim and set that romantic fell. Nobody under 21 is allowed. I personally I'm okay with that.

Get the ribeye tacos with onion fries on the side! You won't be disappointed. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. Charlie took good care of me & the boys on our recent visit!

Great New Mexican spot in DT CHS! This was a needed addition to the DT restaurant scene. We ordered chips & salsa, bean dip, and a mix match of the enchiladas. All exceptional. I'd opt for a regular margarita next time over the skinny.

Not a big tequila drinkers but those margaritas were on point. The food is unreal. I highly recommend the paella. Our bartender was very personable and attentive.

The food and the attention were terrible, I will never return and I do not recommend this restaurant

Went here during happy hour- excellent food deals ($8 grande nachos which were HUGE) and $11 street tacos (5 tacos), all of which were delicious. The margaritas were also very good and fresh tasting (they didn't taste like added sugar/syrup) and they have unique flavors to try! The service was great, our waiter made sure our needs were taken care of but wasn't overly intrusive either! I would come back!

The carnitas enchiladas were delicious and the rice might be some of the best I've ever had. I can't wait to go back.