Matador NW Portland

I've been a patron of Matador for many years, it never disappoints. My go-to margarita is the tamarind-ginger one, but they are all good. This time we tried the seasonal orange creamcicle margarita and it was a delightful combo of vanilla and orange. We ordered from the seasonal menu the taquitos and the mole enchiladas, both were above reproach. The taquitos were delightfully crispy and served with avacado creme. The enchiladas were phenomenal, mande with chicken thighs and served with rice. I have to order a dip flight when I go, you should do the same. I also can't leave without having the brussel sprouts. All in all, this place slaps. We had excellent service and overall an excellent time. Highly recommend.

First time, walking in atmosphere was nice, as well as decorations. Loved the fire in bar area. Food was ok, chips and salsa were really good.

Late night drinks and dinner with a friend and this place hits the spot! I suggested this place on reddit and now I visited it. The nachos are HUGE and the drinks are tasty. The ambience is there, but could be more. Should have more choices on the menu for vegans!

What a beautiful place to take a date or wife for a birthday maybe or anniversary. My girl and i only had chips and salsa plus tried the passion fruit margaritas. Very good.

Awesome place! Great food.... might be the best steak I have ever had. Very well prepared, so tender it melted! Tasty dip flight, the Nachos rocked! Huge portion! The drinkz were so yummy and perfectly mixed. Our server, Eddie (hopefully spelling right) fun, happy, and great attentiveness! Go during happy Hour for great food prices and to try new flavors! The atmosphere was relaxing, the walls sliding back and indoor-outdoor feel is something I love! Even though it's in PDX, it didn't feel noisy! We will definitely be back for more!

Great food and a very cool and unique atmosphere. Everyone was friendly, food came reasonably quick but we did wait a long time to get service back so we could pay, get a few boxes.

When I tell you… this is the best food I have had in a long time. Girl. The hostesses were so cute and friendly, the taco salad was amazing, the meat was perfectly cooked, I loved the cilantro lime sour cream and the dressing, and—this is a big deal for me—I liked the lettuce, none of that iceberg crap. 😂 The chips were well salted and not greasy, the salsa was delicious and spicy (not JUST spicy). The burrito my husband got, he loved as well. We will be regulars here for date night!

This was our first time dining at the NW location as we live closer to Burnsides location. While they are both different in some ways they both have the same delicious food, great service, and a good atmosphere. It was nice and sunny so they had the large windows open so the fresh air coming in was great. We had the carnita nacho, chicken nachos, street tacos, and romaine salad. All fantastic choices and the charred lemonade was very refreshing.

Atmosphere: Dark, open space with a few TV's at the bar Food: I usually get the happy hour food. The tacos I've had have all been tasty. Still trying some of the other items Price: Not the cheapest and drinks aren't cheap but the happy hour food prices are excellent Service: Service is good overall Parking: Street parking

Good food and good drinks, but service has been a miss on multiple occasions. These misses have been isolated at the bar, though. The service in the dining area is typically top-notch. I don't typically write negative reviews, so here's a rare one for ya. Every time I sit at the bar, I have to prompt the bartender to provide me service, such as, just acknowledging the fact that I'm there by just saying "hi" and/or provide me water and a menu. Mind you, these are not busy days when these events occur. These are days when it's half busy, and they think it's more important to put glasses away and chit chat with friends at the bar than to acknowledge a paying customer until prompted. I was also not sitting down the bar, but right in front of him. The bartender proceeded to forget to bring my silverware and the standard chips and salsa. There was only one time that another bartender stopped by to fill my empty glass of water unprompted during my latest visit. Just seems very unwelcoming at the bar unless you're a friend. Such a disappointment at such a known establishment in Portland where I once used to enjoy.

Great service! I tried the street tacos and it wasn't that good. The ambience is okay.

Fred and the guys came to the madras or for birthday drinks and nachos! They were so yummy and the old fashion was top tier! The vibe was chill and relaxed! The perfect spot to kick it with some friends! 10/0

I've been coming here for years ever since my 21st birthday and the nachos are insanely good #MatadorRocks

Stopped by Matador for quick drinks. Luckily stopped by during their Top Shelf Tuesday, so we got shots for half off! Ended up getting two shots of Don Julio for $16! Staff was friendly and ambiance is comfortable. Next time I'm in town, will try their food out! Street parking only.

5/5 if you come here for happy hour -- non happy hour: 4/5 as it is on the pricier end. I've been here millions of times for the 4-6 or the late night HH. No discount on drinks, but food is beyond cheap and so good. We always get the nacho which is honestly more than enough for two people but we also typically get a mix of street tacos, quesadilla and Brussels. We always have left overs. The food is so delicious and the nachos are some of the best I've had. Guac, crema, black beans, cheese, pico, add carnitas for $3.50. The margs are tasty and the vibe inside is super cute. If you can nab a place by the fire in the winter it's so cozy and intimate. In the summer, they open the windows so it's an indoor/outdoor feel. The staff are all good here. Hot tip: get the Thanx app, and you'll earn rewards and get $20 off for every $200 spend. One time we got a choco taco for the birthday dessert reward and I still think about it. I also like that they do events with specials for things like Día de Los Muertos, Cinco De Mayo, and other fun holidays.

I absolutely love this Matador location. It always feels so alive. I love sitting by the windows to look out at people passing by on NW 23rd, especially on a rainy day, but my favorite seat is right in front of the fire pit! It's not too hot, and gives it a very nice ambience. We only come during Happy Hour, to get a good deal, and it never disappoints. The food here has always been delicious. Full of flavor and decent sized portions. During Happy Hour, their prices are pretty good, and you get the opportunity to try different things. I glanced over their regular menu though, and I think I'll have to try something from there next time. There seems to be a lot of good options. We've only been here 4 times since we don't live in Portland, but we try to pay them a visit when we can. The service has always been pretty friendly and attentive. I don't believe we've had any negative experiences here with the food or the staff. Everything has always been pretty good. I do know they get busy, and one time, we had to go elsewhere because their wait was too long for us. Please keep in mind that parking can be a biiitch in that area, so give yourself some time and go with a little bit of patience if you are driving over there. Also, I am pretty sure they are 21+ ONLY. So call and verify if you have any minors. This is a really good place to try different Tequilas. It's actually what they're known for, aside from their food. I do recommend this place. It's good, dim, cozy, intimate, but lively with upbeat music at the same time. Not a place to go if you're looking for a quiet dinner. At least, not the times I've gone. Great for a date or meeting up with friends or family for some food and drinks.

Matador on NW 23rd is more of a bar vibe, the music is louder and its a darker setting but the food is really great! The carne asada fries were crunchy, and the pork belly tacos had a slight kick from the jalapeños. The staff was very nice and the food came out quickly.

Being from Los Angeles, it's hard to give out stars/reviews because I'm so spoiled with the options. However, for the Portland area, I was surprised on some of the items ordered. Our server Jeff was good. I was a bit shocked they charged me $3.50 for a different kind of salsa that came late. Definitely get the paloma and a tequila flight. For food, I would go with the carne asada sandwich w/ a side a fries lol. Super tender cuts of steak on a well built ciabatta bread. The next best option is the birria enchiladas. The rice needs more flavor/seasoning and I usually prefer refried beans over black beans. I wouldn't recommend the fish tacos but again, whole different comparison.

The service here was amazing and quick. The drinks and food were all really good. Me and my friend tried the best rum and coke here and for that alone, I would come back. What a great place to catch up with friends and grab a quick bite to eat and drink!

Came in with a group and totally enjoyed the ambiance, food, and drinks. The margaritas were perfect. The paella was wonderful. The heaping mound of nachos was just what we needed. I detracted one star due to the service. They had staff upfront but she looked unsure whether she had room for our party. Instead of sitting us at a table (and there were tables available) she sat us on the higher bar stools by the window area. They were not the most comfortable, and hard to get in and out of, for those not gifted with height. They also totally missed the mark on giving us flatware, and a serving spoon for the paella. We ended up flagging the manager to get us some.

As far as chain Mexican restaurants go, Matador is definitely solid! The fish tacos are great, and the happy hour food menu has some of the best HH deals in town. I do wish they offered drink discounts during happy hour, and during my last visit my margarita was rather watery and weak, but overall Matador is a solid place to gather with friends and family. The ambience is also great, especially on nice days when they open the huge windows out onto NW 23rd!

Service was ok. The ambiance is was super cool. The food on the other hand was not good. We all got super sick. Let the waitress know and she said she was just gonna "keep track" of anymore reports

WHAT HAPPENED? Went to this location a few months ago and had a great meal. So good that I decided to buy $200 in gift certificates. They closed to "remodel" and are now back open. The only thing the remodel did was make the food worse, service poor and chips inedible. We were delivered cold, oily chips and I asked our waitress to bring some fresh ones (we sat down at 8:30pm). She informed me that none of the chips are fresh. WHAT????. My girlfriend's tortilla bowl was also stale and oily. My burrito was cold on the inside and her meal was just so so. Good luck finding someone to refill your water, take another drink order or check on your food. I spoke to the Manager on duty who stated that they make all their chips in the morning and then serve them all day and night long. CHIPS SIT AROUND FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS OR MORE! Even Taco Bell makes fresh chips throughout the day. So, $80 later I am unhappy and wish I did not have to ever go back but I still have about $170 in gift cards. We decided we will just go there and drink a the bar because the chips, food and service all SUCK. WHAT HAPPENED?

Normally I'm team taqueria/taco truck over a Mexican restaurant but was I prove wrong! Ordered 5 street tacos and a margarita for happy hour. The tacos were so flavorful (carnitas and chicken) and amazing portions. Marg was good and the salsa that came with the chips was unreal! This place blew my mind and the price was fair. When I'm back in town this is a place I'd want to go and check out again! Its moody on the inside which I think is great for a date night. Yum!

Wanted to add that the Chile Shrimp Cobb Salad and Taco Salad is AMAZING. I also tried the Mexican Mule and was obsessed. The cocktails here are reasonably priced and I have been here like three times the past two weeks lol. They are also very accommodating with modifications to their dishes which I like. The one thing is that the past few times it's taken a while to get our food. Luckily they serve complimentary chips and salsa, however we've had over 30-40 min wait times on busy nights. The food has always tasted amazing so usually we don't mind having to wait, but just something to keep in mind if you're in a hurry! Highly recommend the house margarita, Paloma, or Mexican mule. I have genuinely enjoyed all the dishes and drinks here and it remains a go to spot to meet up with friends for happy hour!

This is their 'shredded' chicken taco. Lol. Drinks were horrible and watered down. The host was really nice tho!

Great atmosphere even better chips and salsa!! All that and then some darn good happy hour tacos ... It's definitely our go to spot in the neighborhood. Bartenders always have a good vibe also.

This review if for Liza, our server. She was awesome. Very helpful and always made sure we had everything we needed. 5 A Thursday night. It's nice this place stays open late. We were a little early, but the have a late night happy hour starting at 10pm. We came for a snack and drinks with friends. Place was not busy so we had our pick of seats. Which was nice because more friends then we thought showed up and had to move tables. No problem. Servers were very nice. This is a good place for groups or couples. My husband and I got a few drinks and the dip plater. Spent about $40. Drinks were good and dips were tasty. Love that they serve free chips and salsa right when you sit down. And ask about the free nachos. Atmosphere reminded me a lot of Tijuana, but nicer and cleaner. Will be coming back.

2 words: Happy Hour 2 things you MUST GET if you come here: Blood Orange Margarita and Crispy Brussels Sprouts! This place has such a welcoming vibe with its expansive bar selection, spacious booth seating, clean bar high top seats, and this cool fireplace where you can sit around for more cozy vibes. Service was attentive from start to finish even with our big group! Chips and salsa when you get to your table - the chips were warm and crispy plus the salsa was very flavorful with a little tiny spicy kick. Now, the real star - their Happy Hour menu is AMAZING! EVERYDAY from 4pm-6pm I mean come on! What a great deal! My Blood Orange Margarita was superb and I was recommending it to everyone at my table!! Their HH food pricing were all around $5-10 which were super reasonable and with generous helpings. We pretty much got almost everything on the HH menu to share but OMG THE CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS!! What is your secret because this was seriously so delicious! Perfectly roasted in a cast iron pan with some onions, a lime, sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and some kind of sweet element I just couldn't figure out. Honestly you cannot go wrong with drinks and Happy Hour deals here!

Came here for the first time ever and was here just in time for happy hour. This restaurant is conveniently located on the corner making it a really nice spot for foot traffic. They have really good happy hour prices and served chips and salsa for free! For three street tacos, two quesadillas, and a margarita the total came out to about $28 which I thought was so reasonably priced! The food was pretty good for the price, I was expecting a lot from this place because I had heard such good things and everything was very flavorful; however, the tortillas from the street tacos were very soggy and the quesadillas were too greasy for my friends. Super fun place overall and good for a date night or pregaming with friends!

Interesting service but food is amazing. i've been coming here for the past 2 years, me and my sister love this place for the atmosphere and vibes all around. But there is every once and awhile we're either the hostess and servers have had a bit of an attitude. Have been working in a restaurant before I know what it's like and how busy it can get but, it dose really effect the overall experience and some times leaves us with a bitter taste in our mouth when the staff is not presenting there best self. Last time we were here they did not check my sisters ID and one we got seated kicked her out due it. To me that was overall unprofessional because that should have been at the door not once we both were seated.

Always a good spot. Happy hour food has massive portions. Always get the stuffed jalapeños. They're not spicy for those that don't like the heat.

Spotted this location during a Lyft ride and saw the "voted best margarita" sign so added them to the list of spots to explore. We popped in and grabbed some guac, wings and tacos. The guac could've used some seasoning so that was disappointing. I got the beyond tacos and they were DELICIOUS. Filling and had a little heat to it. Is definitely grab them again. My friends enjoyed the wings.

Being from San Diego we did not expect that the Mexican food would be that good in Portland, but were we ever pleasantly surprised! Food was very tasty and I always rate Mexican restaurants by their chips and salsa. The chips were warm, crisp with just the perfect amount of salt. The salsa was obviously made at the restaurant and was very flavorful with just the right amount of bite! Service was prompted and attentive. Ambiance was welcoming and it wasn't to noisy. I will definitely be returning to the Matador the next time we are in Portland.

Great Smokey margarita, terrific service and awesome atmosphere! Secondly bd time here and will keep returning. Complimentary chips n salsa too.

Service was great. The street tacos are not the best choice. Can get better options at a food truck. The corrizo taco, don't do it. Enchiladas are good.

This is one of those restaurants where your experience is going to depend on what you order. The first time I came here for lunch I ordered the scallop & bacon tacos (I think it was a special). They lacked flavor and the tortilla seemed stale. Not terrible, but I wouldn't recommend them. The second time coming here for lunch I tried the chicken quesadilla and braised carnitas. Both were very good, a lot more flavor than your average chicken quesadilla and carnitas. The braised carnitas is a huge portion and they're a perfect leftover food. I also thought the complimentary chips and salsa were better this time, specifically the salsa; it had the perfect amount of spice and a nice smoky flavor. The kind of salsa you want to drink. TL;DR Order the braised carnitas and chicken quesadilla.

Holy guacamole! I love this place! The food is amazing! We got seated right away. They were pretty quiet (which is surprising as the my are so good!). We started with an appetizer of the grilled stuffed jalapeños. I could have stopped there... so good! I did do the habanero steak burrito. It had just the right amount of heat to satisfy. It was a lot of food, so I ended up getting a second meal out of that one the next day. Great food, great service! I can't wait to get back!

Delicious paella. And it is surrounded by tasting rooms. I wasn't impressed with the bowl that my husband got, it wasn't flavorful. But the paella.....mmm. I did burn the crap out of my tongue because it was so hot! The service wasn't spectacular, which caused me to drink less, and isn't necessarily a bad thing.

First thing you notice about Matador is the ambience and huge bull skull by the bar! Makes it a place I would go to for a date :) We were welcomed with free chips and salsa for the table. We ordered Mango Margarita which was spicy and flavorful though a bit on the bitter side. Carnitas tacos were really good, would order again, was blown by the portion size of Enchilada they are shareable and enough for two. Finished up with some fried coconut ice cream which was on point as well! Would definitely visit again :)

I haven't been here since 2007. That's a mighty long time to stay away. I didn't notice any changes. Same decor. Same wonderful fireplace in the center of the establishment. Not sure if there were any changes to the menu during this time period, I imagine there were. We were lucky enough to secure a seat at the fireplace where I finally felt warm enough to take off my scarf and parka. This really is the best seat in the house. Someone attended to us right away. Bringing water, chips and salsa and took our drink orders. I went with the classic house margarita and my friend had a spicy margarita that came out with a cucumber as a garnish but it went well with the spiciness of the drink. We decided to share a burrito which was a good call because their burritos are too big for one person to finish. When it came out they had it separated on two plates for us as we asked for. We ordered the chicken burrito. I asked for no guacamole because there are onions in it. Instead they brought me just plain avocado at my request. The burrito was spicy but just perfectly spicy. Even though it was really good it was also really filling. I could only eat half of the half. I'm not sure I would come here for dinner again because it's a little out of my way. But it's possible that I might give it a try for happy hour. 2022 - Review # 17

Even though we're not wild about Mexican food our meal here was very good and better than we recently had during an 18 day tour of Mexico. It's a little noisy as most places seem to be, but we were able to have a conversation. Our server was good. The ambience is also good. As is typical of Mexican restaurants the servings are large. Parking is on the street.

Nice experience. My daughter and I ordered a flight of tequila during Happy Hour, and we found a new favorite. Service was good. We were concerned that we'd have difficulty hearing each other due to the background music. It was wasn't an issue. Our appetizers were tasty. Would return.

The Matador is another example of why Portland is so amazing in the gastronomic scene. This place is fantastic! This visit, my friend and I decided to sit at the bar and share some drinks and nachos. Firstly, the Sangria is absolutely amazing! They use top quality ingredients from the wine, to the spices to the shaved cucumber in the glass. Wow! Now, the nachos were off the hook! We chose to have chorizo on ours and between it, the guacamole, fresh sour cream and lots of cheese and spice it was awesome! You should definitely check out the Matador! Great food, drinks, service and beautiful atmosphere!

Food is fine, and service was a bit slow. Ambience is on the dark side, but may be ok for those who prefer a darker environment

One of my favorite bars located in northwest Portland. Visiting on Tuesday is a MUST!!! You get 50% all drinks $16 and up. Bring a friend a try out different tequilas that you have always seen but never tried. Their happy hour menu is a great deal. 5 tacos for $10 is generous. The bartenders are also very welcoming and inviting. Always clean and friendly.

Came here for Happy Hour with a group of 4. This is one of our "go-to" locations in NW Portland as the atmosphere is chill and the Cadillac margaritas are to die for!!! Service is always on point.

If you are looking for a solid dine in option after 10 pm, this is it. Their HH food menu is vast and for a good price. You can get nachos, tacos, quesadillas and they taste really good. Special mention to the dip flight (guac, quest and bean dip), it is so good. The place is also bustling and a good late night hang out spot :) Kind servers are a plus too, maybe sometimes slow but not a big deal.

This place is delicious. Make sure you get the spicy shrimp every time. The enchiladas were ok but all the appetizers are my favorite. I might as well just get full from that and get slee

Best. Brussel. Sprouts. Ever. We loved coming here this time and a month ago. Service is great. Food is wonderful. Always have BoneyardRPM on tap. Absolute love coming here.

OK food. Poor service. Bartender more interested in her co workers than customers. A little pricey for what is offered, in my opinion.

I ordered 2 margaritas with a side shot of toquilla. $30 EACH for a total of $60 plus a tip of $9 was total of $69 for 2 drinks. Totally NOT ok. You guys need to check yourselves. F@&k that sh!t!! Grrr.

It was good not great but good. Absolutely beautiful ambience very clean, service was all right. We had the habanero enchiladas. They had a bit of a kick which was nice but they also had a tinge of sweetness that I could've done without. We also ordered guacamole and street corn from the appetizer, This was supposed to be delivered before our entrée unfortunately, it was not, all came together, I went to take a bite of the corn picked it up and it was super cold like it just came out of the refrigerator, not even room temperature we let our waitress know She apologized and took it back. We finished all of our food still had not received the street corn waited a little longer than paid our bill I let our server know I was OK we didn't need it she said it would just be a second longer, She went by again I asked her for a box for the corn. finally came The gentleman apologized and said he would take it off the bill I informed him we had already paid the bill. He said that's OK. He could still adjust it

HH at Matador is where it's at!! With plenty of house margaritas and other cocktails to complement their HH menu, we were pleasantly surprised by their offerings and affordable deals. Service was polite and friendly, and we were given complimentary chips and salsa when seated. We were frequently checked on and waters were refilled. Their HH food features tacos, quesadillas, nachos, dips, and more. We each got their street tacos (3 for $5) and an order of their grande nachos with shredded chicken. Their nachos are HUGE. For $7 (without shredded chicken) it is some of the best deals you can get on nachos. Loaded with cheese, black beans, pico de gallo, chicken, guacamole, and sour cream - it is the perfect for sharing and munching on throughout the meal. Tacos were good! 3 tacos filled me up and they were generous with the meat and each came garnished with onions and cilantro. I couldn't really taste the difference in each of the meats, but they were well seasoned and tender. Matador is your pretty average Tex-Mex fare. Could you get better tasting and more unique offerings else where? Yes. But Matador is a solid option for good HH grub with friends in the bustling NW Portland.

Four stars out of courtesy but really it's more a 3. To their credit everything was perfect--extremely nice ambiance, great customer service. However, the food ain't it. Something wasn't right but everyone else around me loved it. So maybe I'm the problem.

HH @ MATADOR First off, the cocktails/ bartender at matador knows what's up. Very delicious, perfectly balanced strength to taste ratio. Some of the best cocktails I've had in a while. Pictured: Blood Orange Espolón Blanco, Solerno Blood Orange Liqeur, citrus, agave. The matador uses all-natural meats and fresh, in-season vegetables and fruits and you can tell. We opted for the"Dip Flight," to enjoy with our chips. I'm a sucker for anything that has the word "flight" in it. Dip Flight: 3 dips- Creamy three cheese queso, fresh guacamole, & black bean queso. The guac tasted just like pure avocado. Not much flash, but I like that with a guac. Simple. The black beans were very puréed, not much texture to the bean left since it was supposed to be a queso and was slightly sweet. Honestly, not my fave. The queso was my least favorite because it had like an easy cheese texture. The flavor was really good, but the texture wasn't it for me. Chips and salsa were really good. Thinner chips. Salsa was tomato (duh) and garlic forward. Now, when talking about the tacos, I have really no complaints at all. We opted for the 5 taco option, and subbed one of the tacos for the special Baja ones (these were my favorite). Top notes: 〰Baja- fresh, crispy batter, loved the cole slaw, and the orange sauce was such a good addition (will be going back for these babies) 〰Chicken- slt spice but not too much. Was slt cold upon arrival. 〰Beef Picadillo- slt sweet after taste, good texture, tasted to me like glorified Taco Bell. Like if Taco Bell was actually nutritious. If TBell is your choice for 4th meal, you'll love this. 〰Chorizo- Not very impactful in comparison to the other line up. 〰Carnitas - not too greasy which I appreciated. Very good flavor. Husbands fave. Quesadilla Monterey Jack, guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro-lime sour cream --was good! Nothing too crazy going on here. But I was left wishing I ordered just the same 5 tacos again, cause damn.

My husband's company hosted their holiday party here. They rented a private space in the back room. The room was set up to accommodate 25 to 30 people. I always love the dark ambiance of the restaurant and that's it's adults only. The restaurant runs on the warm side with all the fire pits in the restaurant. We had a dedicated waitress. She was really really nice and took good care of us throughout the evening. We enjoyed cocktails, good food and great company. The jalapeño cucumber drink is known to be their signature cocktail and it didn't disappoint. We had a Buffet set up for dinner and it included lots of yummy food to include tacos, Chips salsa, guac and lots of sides. We tried several deserts and they were just ok. The strawberry topping that was included on most of the desserts was not enjoyed by most. It didn't have a typical strawberry flavor and threw off the desserts.

Anyone who has been to Spain knows what the interior design on NW 23rd Street invokes. The sense that you're in a dream. The kindness and service are very real, though. My last day in Portland on my 1st ever visit and I picked the perfect spot to kill an hour.