Matador

A Must-Visit Spot in San Francisco! 🌮🍹 After a long cross-country flight, this place hit the spot! The queso was absolutely ridiculous. So creamy and flavorful. The drinks? Delicious and perfectly crafted. This is a must-visit while in San Francisco. The meats were perfectly seasoned, making the tacos completely irresistible. And the decor? So quaint, so retro, it added so much charm to the experience. The space is versatile, accommodating intimate tables for two (like ours) as well as large groups, like the party of 20 seated next to us. This place is a true gem (thanks Google for leading us here), and we’ll definitely be back when in San Fran! 🌉

Best food we had in San Fran! Wow! Amazing, tasty and well presented. Also a great price. Anyone who likes Mexican food should really give this place a go. I can't believe how good the food was. They also have a happy hour menu from 2pm to 5pm each day. We made the most of this and got $5 margaritas (which were also fabulous!). Highly Highly recommend 👌

We couldn't be happier with the experience we had with Matador. We are from Fresno but got married at the San Francisco city hall. While looking for place to have a to eat we found Matador. From start to finish, the team was incredibly professional, friendly, and accommodating. The food was absolutely delicious—authentic, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The next day, my family couldn’t get over how good the food was. Did I mention the food was good? Lol!! We loved how they offered customizable options to fit our theme. The staff went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect, and the setup was seamless. It was clear that they genuinely care about making special occasions unforgettable. We are so grateful for their hard work and can't recommend this place enough. Thank you, for making our wedding day even more special with your amazing food and service.

Laurie and Vlad were the best for my friend and I tonight during happy hour as we came for after work drinks! We had such a great time and the two pitchers of prickly pear mezcal margaritas were sooo delicious! Come here if you want to be seen and valued! They take such good care of you, you feel like you are royalty! Will be back 10/10

Great mexican restaurant. We shared the guacamole and corn, and it was delicious. I had the beef burrito, which was huge, and I couldn't finish it. I recommend eating here.

Quite honestly, it's the best burrito I've ever tasted. Would highly recommend having the sauce to go over the burrito. My only regret is that I couldn't finish it as there was so much! However, there is the option to have the leftovers boxed, which is great.

A very modern Mexican restaurant that really came through on the food. After ordering some very delicious margaritas, we also opted for chips and salsa. Seriously, Australia does not do corn chips and salsa like this place does. I've been ruined now. We also ordered a mixture of different tacos. Their banana wrapped beef melts in your mouth! Churros were also delightful and the chocolate sauce was delicious! Would recommend!

The food is solid. There are enough interesting items in the menu that the price is justified. The drinks are tasty, but the weight of the pour was inconsistent. Out of two margaritas, the first was all sweet/sour and light on the tequila. The second margarita was perfect. The reason why I would go back is the service. They were prompt, welcoming and friendly. I really enjoyed all the interactions. The space was perfect with just enough room, interesting art and a great looking bar with two screens. I didn't go upstairs but my partner says that the upstairs is cozy and comfortable. Next time hopefully I can eat up there.

Good service , good prices and fast plus tasted yummy ! I recommend this place , cozy and popular .

Went to Matador for happy hour before seeing a play and thought the food was delicious! Loved the nachos and tacos, and the margaritas were great! Really good happy hour overall. Service was helpful and provided water and our food quickly, checking in on us about ordering more before happy hour ended. Nice vibes in there and it's much larger than you think with indoor and outdoor seating!

Went for happy hour! Food was delicious and affordable! Service was kind and on point. Place was nicely decorated and ambiance was relaxing! Only thing that I didn't like was the menu/happy hour menu being taken away right after our first order. Had to ask for it back but that's ok.

Last night, I felt like going out for a drink. But on the way, I got hungry, so I stopped at Matador without expecting much because, honestly, Mexican food isn't really my favorite. That being said, I have to admit the steak fajitas were excellent, great texture, flavor, and portion size. The birria tacos were another option I tried, and they were unbelievably delicious. I'll definitely be coming back for a quesadilla. Good thing I don't like Mexican food, right? sarcasm!!! hahaha They have a great variety of cocktails, and they're genuinely good. The prices are fair for the local market, which is super important. The service was very friendly. The server who helped us didn't have any tables available inside but still managed to find us one since it was a bit chilly outside! She was also super attentive and made sure to take care of us the whole time without missing a beat. The place is cozy, not very big, and has a neutral decor without too many Mexican elements, which I actually don't mind... haha! Thank you Marador team..!

A fusion restaurant with decent food and drinks. Go even if you're a taqueria purist and do not prefer modern twists to Mexican food. Some menu items could be surprising. The ambiance is modern decor (with two neutral gender restrooms) and does feel cold with a concrete floor. Still, it's worth a visit if in the area. This is also a good HH spot (between noon and 5:30pm even!), unexpected for this area in the City. Can pregame or post game since there are many bars within a few blocks. Don't think reservations are taken, nor really needed, since customer turnovers are often unless you have a large group.

Great spot to come get a quick bite, and possibly a drink! Had the nachos and Mexican pizza. Food was good, pretty tasty - but nothing out of this world. Would satisfy your nacho cravings though. If you're like me, then you need salsas because, you're a sauce boss. They had brought out several: a green avocado salsa, a ranchero, and a habanero (I'd say spicy for most people). Each had their own flavor and pretty tasty. Service was fine. The man who greeted and seated us was really nice. He took our order, and after we hadn't seen him. Cute, clean interior. Overall, a nice little place to grab a bite and actual hear the person you came with.

Came across this gem as we was walking to our parking garage , saw the sign that read SOUP OF THE TEQUILA Say no more we are in ! Discovered it was also happy hour YES ON A SUNDAY !! Happy hour is everyday 12-5:30 !! Love it We sat at the bar had a classic margarita and chips n salsa Chips were freshly made and came out nice and hot Salsa was a little bit different but ok Not spicy Bartenders were friendly and attentive Drinks were good Prices are reasonable Definitely would come back and try other items on the menu

Sat at the bar for lunch. Bartender was super nice. They have great lunch specials. Diet Coke in a can (the best). I ordered chips and salsa. The salsa was orange which I was not expecting. Flavor was ok. I would skip it next time. I took a picture and sent it to my friends. They said oh queso. I said no no it's salsa. Tacos were good. Not amazing or life changing. I ordered 2 chicken and a pork taco. Very colorful, loved all the mixing textures. Portions are small-lunch sized.

Tasty and affordable posole with chips And salsa. Sat in the back and it was nice and quiet. Cant wait to return!

Came here because we were parked nearby at a garage because SF. We picked this over two Japanese places next door because it sounded good and boy were we right! Nice place inside, friendly staff, very reasonable menu and prices. I got the carnitas tacos (carnitas tacos are my litmus test of a Mexican place) and they were fantastic. We got the queso fundido appetizer with chorizo - couldn't taste any chorizo actually but it was good nonetheless. Good prices, excellent service - we will return if we're in the area.

I was walking around union square and started to get hungry, so my friend found this spot, as she was craving Mexican food. Was it expensive? Yes. Compared to other spots in the city, these prices were steep. However, objectively, the food was very tasty! I tried their super burrito which was packed with the right proportion of meat, beans, cheese, salsas, and rice + they let me adjust the rice levels which I really appreciated and the burrito was also lightly toasted. While it was $18, I still loved my dish! Also something weird was that their website said they were doing HAPPY HOUR during the time we went but we were informed that it was not happening that day...maybe updating everything would help clarify in the future, as my friend and I heard they had a great HH deal. Service was warm and welcoming though, and i would come back if I was in the area.

Took some friends from out of town to try Matador on Monday evening. We got there around 7:30pm and it was decently busy. We all tried the mix and match tacos, I got cauliflower and nopal (the waiter said nopal was his favorite out of the two). We also got chips and salsa. Everything arrived hot and fresh. Good food, we all commented on the slight sweetness of the cauliflower taco - it was delish. Overall 8/10!

Matador offers good service and a cozy dining room, though it's on the smaller side, so it can feel a bit tight during busier times. Street parking is the only option, which can be tricky, especially during peak hours, but it's worth the effort to experience what they have to offer. The food overall was pretty good--some dishes stood out more than others, but there's definitely something for everyone. However, the real hidden gem is the speakeasy-style bar located next door. It adds an exciting twist to the experience and is a great spot to grab a drink before or after your meal. The vibe there is intimate and intriguing, making it a perfect complement to the dining experience. Matador is a decent option if you're looking for solid food. I'd definitely recommend checking out the speakeasy bar!

Matador unfortunately was not good at all and didn't represent Cali having great Spanish food. My girlfriends and I had visited during HH and got several tacos and drinks. Nothing stood out or was good- the meat was dry yet the taco itself was soggy, not even sure how that can happen. All in all, if you're in Tenderloin (which I don't recommend for obvious reasons as well), I wouldn't recommend this place.

Such a fun vibe in San Francisco! It's not always easy to find good Mexican food in SF but this place hits the mark! Aesthetic - 10/10 Fun colors, fun music, fun artwork, overall its a good place to have a good time! Staff - 8/10 The staff is on the younger side so admittedly they were a bit distracted by their phones and chatting with each other. It did take awhile for our order to be taken and our check to be brought but overall the staff was all helpful and kind. Our order: - Horchata (10/10) - SO GOOD but too expensive for a tiny cocktail sized glass with 80% ice and no refills. - Mexican Pizza (10/10) - This was seriously delicious and great for sharing! Way larger than you would expect for a shared plate for 2. - Super Burrito w/ chicken - Really yummy! A great size for the price and overall a good quality burrito. Not one that I would particularly crave but it was satisfying. If you're in the neighborhood, give Matador a try, even for a fun cocktail!

Hands down the best happy I've ever been to. The quality of the food, the drinks, the prices?! $20 pitcher of high quality margaritas. They have the best chips and salsa, the nachos are out of this world, the tacos are elegantly crafted, and whatever it is that my boyfriend gets is absolutely decadent. We literally take bart from Oakland just to get this happy hour sometimes. It's a must.

Lively place for a drink and Mexican food near Union Square. Great happy hour until 5:30. Service was friendly and food was authentic and delicious. Restaurant is small - would recommend a reservation.

Quite a bad level of service. No management onsite. At this point the staff does not care either due to the lack of leadership. Ordered a pitcher of margarita (30 mins to make) had a dead fly in it. Took another 30 min to get it. Asked for a frozen margarita--took 45 mins for the waiter to realize they don't offer frozen margaritas. Food was ok, but orders were wrong on most. Asked for Spanish Rice, got jasmine rice. Asked for silverware 3 times, finally went to an unoccupied table to get it ourselves. Too bad that the ownership does not bother to be there on a busy weekend night. We will not go back when so many other options.

Alright, I'll definitely be back for a Mexican meal at Matador (the ratings are great) but this particular evening I just wanted to grab a quick Margarita. I'm a sucker for spicy Margaritas and have been trying them all over the city. Matador happened to have "Spicy Margarita" on its menu so I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered one. The very friendly bartender, Karl asked how spicy I wanted it. Boom! I knew it was going to be good. And what Karl served up was a killer Margarita both in terms of spice level and flavor. The catch... Karl also gave me the regular spicy Margarita and it was nowhere near as good as "Karl's Spicy Margarita". So make sure Karl's working there if you go in for his special potion. Note that the spice level is not for the faint of heart. Ask for it to be toned down if you don't want the max spice level. I came in for that one spicy Margarita which was incredible. Then Karl gave me flight of tequilas at all ranges (Blanco, Reposado, Anejo) separated by slices of Grapefruit (apparently the best palate cleanser). And then we checked out their amazing tequila tasting room which has some 300 different tequilas including their own Select curated brand. I tried the "Matador Anejo". Smoothest tequila I've tried including at tasting rooms in Mexico. It's apparently aged in a Cognac barrel and you can feel that tinge of caramel / fruit. You can savor one shot of it across 5 slow, smooth sips. What a blast! Go hang with Karl at the Matador.

The only confusing element to this place has been my level of customer service and dining experience. I've been in four times and have gotten everything from top of the mountain perfection to negligent frustratingly having to chase down my server for water. I've also had completely fine middle of the road service, too. But I understand things happen in the industry so I will keep coming back because... the food is always excellent! Matador delivers on its promise of elevated and slightly pricey Mexican food with a great diverse menu and really fantastic chips and salsa. The esquite is addictively salty and delicious while the indulgently large and greasy quesabirria tacos are some of the best I've had in the city. My favorite feature, however, is the ability to mix and match 2 or 3 (or 4) different tacos from their extensive taco list. The shining star is the borracho dos beer battered fish taco. The flavor of the modelo negra REALLY comes through and adds this funky depth that stands out amongst a sea of fish tacos. I also really like the camarones a la diabla and pork al pastor. This is a great spot to come to with a small group and enjoy a number of flavorful and slightly fancy Mexican dishes in a vibrant and boozy atmosphere.

This mexican pizza was SO good - the flavor of the beans, texture of the tortilla/cheese, and the pickled red onions to top it all off! It felt like an elevated take on the classic taco bell mexican pizza, but so much better. We tried some tacos as well, but I think they were a bit lacking in flavor, otherwise the corn tortilla was very nice and fresh. The music and vibes also made the whole experience so much more enjoyable. I can't wait to go back with more friends and try some of their drinks (which looked delish) next time!

My friend and I were immediately greeted when we walked in by the host. Our server, Kassy provided excellent customer service, was very kind, and attentive, regularly checking in on us despite serving the entire restaurant. We ordered the aguachile de camaron, which was very good and flavorful, but we wished they had provided more chips. The chips and salsa were a hit, especially the robust and flavorful salsa with just the right amount of heat. The tacos camarones a la diabla were excellent, grilled shrimp particularly with the refreshing mango, and the borracho uno was good, the shrimp was battered, it was perfectly cooked, not too thick. Their drink selection is impressive, although the michelada was just okay, with a balance that leaned too much towards sourness and not enough towards spiciness. It didn't particularly stand out to me. I would definitely consider returning again loved the food & customer service. You will not be disappointed!

Happy hour is sooo good! Margs delicious. If we would have known how good the chicken tacos were we would have had a few more orders of that. The aguachiles (not on the happy hour menu) but more than enough for 2 people to share. Def a hidden gem if you want a good Mexican happy hour.

I hosted a party for my wife's birthday at Matador on Saturday night for 70 people. They absolutely nailed it!! The place looked amazing with decorations, a great food buffet, passed appetizers, desserts, etc. The staff was very friendly and welcoming and people had fun exploring the rear spaces in the restaurant. Their food is delicious. Jamie was amazing with planning and communications and super responsive. With very little direction they did a great job and made it a very special night. If you are looking for place to host an event I highly recommend Matador!

My rating is based on my happy hour experience. Their happy hour deal is one of the better ones I've seen around. Some highlights: $20 margarita pitcher, $5 glass of wine, $3 tacos. They have a decent size happy hour menu, so there's some variety. Plus, the service is super fast. If you're looking for a spot to hang out after work, this place is worth checking out.

Good place to stop by after a Sunday matinee. Not a ton of options open at 3:30pm on a Sunday. So imagine our surprise when they shared their happy hour menu with $5 Margaritas and $3 street tacos... and this is SF in 2024! Needless to say our bellies and wallet left happy.

This place has a happy hour of 12-530pm DAILY. The happy hour has lots of good deals. I believe it's $3 for a taco and $5 margaritas. That being said, I give this place 4 stars just because the tacos weren't that tasty in my opinion. But hey, for the happy hour price, it's still decent. Would definitely go back for drinks and chips and salsa.

Didn't have a reservation but host went out of her way to seat us. Food, drinks, and service were amazing. The flan is a treat you won't soon forget.

Came here with some friends for their happy hour but left super disappointed. They have a decent size happy hour menu for food and drinks from 12-5:30PM. I tried their prickly pear marg which definitely was more sweet than alcohol tasting. The food was all under seasoned and wasn't super amazing. I asked for hot sauce and never got it :(

Came for happy hour and OMG, the best happy hour ever! We had the nachos and a prick lying pear mezcalita and sat outside (they have heaters) Server was very nice and gave great recommendations. Definitely will be back! My boyfriend whose first choice is never Mexican LOVED this place. That's definitely a win!

Food.... Didn't get to eat. Service... sad. We barely walked in and were met by cranky pants. We didn't have a reservation and so we agreed to sit at the bar. All good. Until I asked if we could sit next to each other. She placed one of us on the side and the other on the other side. But the longer side was completely empty. Odd behavior. Maybe she had a long day. We come here on occasion during the daytime. Much friendlier vibe. Send Ms Lady home.

Stopped in on a fluke as I had a show I was attending nearby. I've passed by and heard of Matador before so I figured I'd finally give it a try. Unfortunately, the hostess was rude so that wasn't the best first impression. She seated me at the bar, not once did she say anything to me, let alone make eye contact, pretty cold. I ordered a mezcal margarita which the 3 stars are for, it was yummy. Since this place is known for its tacos I went with the camarones a la diabla taco and the battered tilapia taco. I really like that the tacos are made with handmade tortillas. Apart from that, the flavors were underwhelming. The camarones a la diabla were not even a tiny bit spicy which is the complete opposite of what this dish should be. I'm Mexican and I love to try my people's restaurants, so I really did want to like it. But the underwhelming flavors and cold service were a turn off. I will say that their busser was the most attentive, asking me if I had ordered and serving me water. The busser. Matador is near Union Square and is clearly catered to a certain type of crowd.

I would give this place five stars for the happy hour! I spent less than $10 for a strawberry margarita and shared chips and salsa, which is unheard of in the city. We went on a Thursday at 4:30pm and we were seated right away! The restaurant is small but cozy. The margaritas are $5 and an extra $2 for any flavors. I loved the strawberry flavor and it wasn't an overwhelming strawberry flavor. The $2 chips and salsa were fresh and hot and came with three different sauces. I would try different flavors next time and some of the happy hour food.

All I can truly say about Matador is 5 stars all around! We got this place recommended to us and we are so glad we listened. We were looking for good Mexican food and we surely did find it! We ordered the happy hour potato taquitos and they were so delicious. Crispy on the outside and warm and creamy inside. We also ordered margaritas which were equally as delicious. The place is small but cute and I love that they have indoor and outdoor seating. Where we sat they have huge windows facing outside which were open giving that indoor yet outdoor feel. The service was really good too. The servers were attentive and the bartender was very good asking if the drinks were to our liking. I will definitely be back soon. Let's just say I have been craving their food ever since the first visit that's how you know it's good!

Cute Mexican restaurant with good options! I got the cauliflower and nopal taco and both were delicious! We also got the nachos made vegetarian and it was good as well! My friend got the super burrito but she didn't enjoy the burrito as much as it wasn't easy to eat. The interior is cute, but I didn't enjoy the walk there as I was walking alone.

Restaurant is far enough away from touristy Union Square but close enough to walk from there. Upon arrival we were greeted and seated immediately. The server came quickest menus and happy hour menu. I ordered from the happy hour menu: Guacamole-Fresh homemade delicious Tacos (2)-Both were delicious but the homemade tortillas were the real treat. I ordered chicken (perfectly seasoned) and cauliflower (A first for me) I purpose ordered this for the experience. The cauliflower was cut in bites sized pieces, perfectly crisp and seasoned just right. I don't think I would order this again simply because I'm an old-fashioned taco girl give me chicken Pastor Carne Asada lol. I do appreciate that the restaurant has vegetarian & vegan options. My grandson ordered the Carne Asada super burrito off the regular menu. He is a burrito connoisseur and said this was the best burrito he's ever had. I talked off my tacos with a freshly made absolutely delicious margarita. I will return to try other menu options. My grandson wants to come back for the Pozole. I highly recommend taking public transportation as parking as sparse also make a reservation. We will see there outside and I was puzzled why the place wasn't packed but as we were leaving the inside restaurant was full I understand why great service delicious meals.

The husband and I have been here too many times to count! He found this gem during the pandemic and fell in love with all of the tacos and the outdoor dining. I am happy to have moved back in to indoor seating and a full menu. The Mexican pizza for two is not to be missed! We had no idea it would be a feast and it was delicious. The tacos here are always on point and the sauces are great. We had the filet tacos this time around and they melted in my mouth. The margaritas are always yummy and bar seats are a perfect spot for a date night. Did I mention the Mexican pizza? :) I want to go back right now to have another one..... I keep dreaming about it!

We went there on a Saturday afternoon because of high reviews on Yelp, and this place did not disappoint. The food is pretty good. My friend did not like Quesadilla since it was a bit salty. I ordered Carnitas tacos despite the fact that I don't like pork that much, and man, those tacos were simply DELICIOUS or 好吃 or خوشمزه. I have also tried the fajitas, and that was pretty good. The portion size was pretty generous, and we had some leftovers to bring home, and enjoyed the flavors at home too. The indoor sitting env was quiet and comfortable. The service was a bit slow. May be they weee short of staff or some other problem during thanksgiving holidays. Even-though they we a bit slow, they were indeed nice, kind and helpful. Will def try this place again if I am in the neighborhood.

YOMMY YOMMY!!! Good food, decent prices, yummy drinks! Veggie enchiladas - it's so nice to eat enchiladas that aren't full of soggy, unseasoned, roughly chopped vegetables. Matador's veggie enchiladas have the appropriate veggie-to-cheese ratio, and the tortilla holds its own against the filling. I recommend! Chicken flautas - more flavorful than most flautas my husband has tried! Crispy, fresh, delicious, would recommend. Drinks - we recommend La Pasión and the spicy margarita. Caution - parking is a hassle. Other than that, would return!

Checked our Matador for lunch this past weekend and it was pretty decent! We ordered drinks which were all pretty good and we also ordered the Elote, Aguachile and the Mexican Pizza. I cannot vouche for the Elote as I did not try it, but the Aguachile was decent and I actually was a big fan of the Mexican Pizza even though it mostly just tasted like a quesadilla with beans in it. Supposedly the chefs forgot to make our Aguachile so they comped us a round of high end tequila to make up for it which we appreciated. The place is kinda small which I guess is expected in the city, but they have a full bar. Street parking only - not sure if there was a parking garage nearby as we walked to Matador from our hotel. I would definitely check them out again when we are in the area to try some other food options!

Not everything in SF is a wallet drainer. Excellent service, good prices and a good take on California taqueria food.

I've only tried it once (three taco combo and chips/salsa). The pastor taco reminded me of what the whitest grandma from Great Britain would make if she tried to make "authentic" Mexican food, pastor should NEVER be chunks of pork (also why giant tomato hunks??!). The steak option was mostly peppers and the meat had the texture of being boiled with zero flavor, the fish taco was decent. Salsa is super salty with stringy elements to it whatever that is. Not for me. If you find Caesar salad to be spicy then you may like this place.

Fun, lively place with eclectic menu. Great, over-priced cocktails.Food was very fresh and great location for dinner before the theatre

We came for happy hour. I had the ground beef, carnitas, and grilled chicken tacos. Each has unique flavors that were mouth watering. The horchata and hibiscus aguas frescas were delicious and refreshing. Prices were great as well. Our server was amazing and informative. Will definitely come back.

Great happy hour place! $5 margaritas is such a great deal, and they are decently strong! Took me back to college days :) I had the potato flautas and they were delicious. Overall, a very solid place and I'd love to come back.

More of a 3.5. The salsa that comes with the chips and salsa is very bland. I asked if a spicier salsa was available and was brought habanero salsa which was better from a flavor perspective but too spicy to have just with chips (it was good on the other food). The Mexican pizza was tasty! It is much larger than you think it is, two of us could have eaten only that and been satiated. The tacos were also good although pricier than they should have been. The cochinita pibil and carnitas tacos tasted good but were largely indistinguishable from one another. We ordered and received food quickly but after that service was a bit slow.

The happy hour prices and food are VERY hard to beat... $20 marg pitcher and food for less than $12?! The sweetest service here. One of the servers wife is the chef for this place and you can taste how much passion they put in their dishes. Super engaging with their customers too! Food was not only an amazing HH price, but was really good too. Their tacos had a nice crunch to it and was seasoned well and their nachos had to be my favorite. Melted cheese plus nacho cheese with those refried beans tasted sinfully delicious. Satisfied my nacho cravings to the fullest. Ambiance is an open space with big windows letting in a much of sunlight. Outdoor seating available and I heard they recently expanded their space to another bar area and a lounge upstairs. Worth checking out!

The drink tree was fun and aesthetic and tasty! I really recommend the mango one. The quesabirria was delicious and the restaurant was well decorated and service was fast though a little cold to us. Overall great experience would come here again if I was craving Mexican food.

Went here after persona and right before izakaya yoki last Tuesday and it hit. Margaritas were on point and the tacos had homemade tortillas (or what felt like handmade tortillas). We got one shredded chicken and a pork pibil, and they were schmackin. My only knock is that it needed citrus and some lick de gallo.