Insider Pages Reviews for El Matador Restaurant

5 Stars: Fabulous! (by AnnieBananie)

AnnieBananie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador has the best food. The salsa is so fresh filled with lots of vegetables and excellent flavor! It comes out warm...get cheese to put in it! It's delicious! The restaurant is so pretty and always clean. And the owner sure is a sweet man. He always brings our kids treats when we come in! It's the best in town for the price. The pork rio bravo is AMAZING. Yum, yum, yum!

5 Stars: The BEST. (by AprilDay)

AprilDay — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador is our favorite. The food at El Matador is the best! Literally. We've eaten Mexican at every establishment in Bountiful, and several other cities and states, and El Matador is still our number one. Maybe it's the homemade and flavorful BUBBLY hot enchilada sauce, or the fact that the owner hand picks the tender slow roasted meats...perhaps it's the atmosphere (The restaurant is gorgeous and the decor is so tasteful!), or the knowledge that the ALL the food is delicious and made IN HOUSE. I'm not sure where the magic comes from. All I know is El Matador is an experience that is definitely worth the trip!

4 Stars: Great family restaurant (by silvertop)

silvertop — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The El Matador in Ogden and the one in Bountiful are owned by two brothers, I've known them for over forty years. It's not authentic Mexican, but it's good food. If you found your food bland, next time try the chili verde.
You don't stay in business as long as they have with the crowds they serve if the service and food are bad. Kids are always welcome.

1 Stars: Terrible Food (by Bab)

Bab — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The exterior makes this a deceptive place -- looks great on the outside, but everything inside is disappointing (layout, decor, etc). Don't get the management mad, I've heard them get angry at critics and run them out the front door.

This is weird place to eat. The food is 'cheese melt mexican' everything they serve seems to smothered with melted cheese -- with tomato paste that has almost no flavor.

There are so many Mexican restaurants in South Davis County -- don't waste your money on this one.

5 Stars: A consistent treasure of Utah cuisine (by slcheck)

slcheck — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

There is a reason that El Matador has been in business for over 20 years - It's clean, it's good, it's family friendly, and you get a lot of food for your buck. I have been going to El Matador for over 16 years and enjoy it every time I eat. The owner is someone who takes pride in his business and I often see him interacting with customers, handing out candy to the little ones, and making sure that people are satisfied. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food, this may not be at the top of the list. However, having traveled to Mexico on occasion, authentic Mexican food in some cases, leaves things to be desired.

My favorite dish is the Chicken Chimichanga with the fresh guacamole on the side, and I like to polish it off with a piece of hot sopapilla. Also good are the fajitas, the cheesburger and fries, and the simple chicken burrito enchilada style. They serve chips and salsa in plenty, and I have never had bad service. For the value, the taste, the service, and the selection - this is an A+ establishment.

4 Stars: Great Mexican Food (by carol w.)

carol w. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:04:00 GMT

This place is usually swamped on Fridays and Saturdays. If you don't want a wait you will need to go on a weekday. That being said, the food is well worth the wait. They have a wonderful salsa and I have never been dissatisfied with a meal here yet. The portions are large enough that you will usually need to take some home with you.

1 Stars: Everything is bland (by sugarspin)

sugarspin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This has probably got to be the worst Mexican food I've ever tasted, other than Del Taco.
The salsa is warmed and tastes just like tomato soup, the beans are bland and tasteless.
The servers snap at you when you aren't ready,
and the owner is loud and seems very angry.
Hate this place.

4 Stars: It's own class of mexican food: a local fav (by athena3)

athena3 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I admit it, I love this place cuz it's american mexican food. The shredded beef is like none other and I love to get Raspberry Peach margaritas every time I come along with the salsa (which I buy in pint size and take home) I love the scones but hate the really dark I think it's a green room (no natural lighting) and they always try to seat parties of 2-4 in there and I have to be bratty and ask not to be seated there. It gets pretty crazy at lunchtime or the weekends and is a great family place.

5 Stars: best mexican food ever, and great service (by whatsup22)

whatsup22 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador is the most amazing mexican restaurant I have ever been to. The service was excellent. we visit at least twice a month, and have always have had the best service from the waitresses (and waiter haha) and the hostesses and even the owner. The food is the best and i highly recommend the chili verde! El matador is family friendly and I highly recommend it to everyone!!

5 Stars: Great Mexican!! Always fresh! (by Bugbeey12)

Bugbeey12 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I don't know what happened with the person that wrote that review below me...? But as you can see, El Matador is well loved for its great food, atmosphere and prices. The food isn't the most authentic...but it is still delicious. I have never had a problem there with the food, service, or quality. The sweet pork burrito is to die for...and the chips and warm salsa with melted cheese is so yummy! Our family favorite!

1 Stars: Worst I have ever had! (by foodmmmgood)

foodmmmgood — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Where have the Utahan's been to for good Mexican food, that they choose to give this such a high rating? I would guess never to Mexico or Texas for that matter. I have traveled to both and do not see anything tex-mex or Mexican about this restaurant other than the name. The beans I had, tasted as if they had come out of a can. And the sauce was not Chile Verde as I have known it. To travel from Logan or Layton or downtown Salt Lake City to get Mexican food at El Matador is not traveling far enough, I have been to Mexico, and Texas, and Colorado for really good Mexican food. Sorry folks this just doesn't quite cut it for me.

5 Stars: AMAZING Mexican!! (by BetseyJoe225)

BetseyJoe225 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador has the greatest Mexican food in Utah! My family lives in Logan, UT and we will drive the hour and a half to Bountiful at least twice a month for El Matador! There just isn't a Mexican restaurant that compares. The food is fantastic, the prices very reasonable, and the service is nothing short of the very best! We've visited the Ogden location before and it just doesn't quite compare to the service and quality of the Bountiful location. The food is always HOT, and all of the sauces and flavors are authentic, and you can tell that the quality is most certainly home made. I love the fajitas, but I often ask for the meat to be cooked in lime or lemon juice--sometimes they are a little too greasy for my liking, and they are always more than willing to accommodate me! A friend had her daughters wedding dinner there this past week and the food was delicious! They decorated the room so nicely and everything was just perfect! El Matador is a memorable experience that you'll want to repeat over and over again!!

5 Stars: Favorite Mexican for years (by ourboss)

ourboss — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador is my most favorite Mexican restaurant of all time. Even when I moved out of state for a time--I always looked forward to visiting El Matador as soon as I was home. The customer service is awesome. My wife and I went there once and she didn't like the chicken on her salad. We returned a week later, and the owner actually brought out her salad, and the chicken had been changed to a very lean, moist chicken that tasted amazing. They have the best salsa hands down. I can't imagine a person thinking negatively about this fantastic restaurant with cheap prices and the ultimate customer service.

5 Stars: Best Mexican EVER!!! (by lovetoeat135)

lovetoeat135 — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador has always been my absolute favorite. The food is delicious, always hot, always fresh. The service is just the best there is. I love the waitresses fun dresses and the food is just so fantastic. The boss is so very kind, he is always coming around to make sure everyone is happy. The only con is that sometimes it's a little too busy on the weekends, but well worth the wait! I highly recommend El Matador to people of all tastes and ages! So so so perfect! My favorite are the shrimp. They are HUGE and so delicious! A must try!

5 Stars: FANTASTIC Mexican food. (by cuisineexpert1)

cuisineexpert1 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

El Matador, in my opinion and all those that I know, has the greatest food and service of any Mexican food establishment in Utah. I will agree that at first, they had a few kinks to work through. However, this is entirely excusable due to moving to a location 3 times in size. After the first few months, everything has been back to par. The food is outstanding, the service impeccable. I have yet to understand how a person could have a negative thing to say about this restaurant? The service is the best in Utah--and the owner and manager will personally attend to a situation if necessary. The shredded beef is the best I've ever tasted...like tenderloin in a burrito. And the salsa and enchilada sauce are their trademark! As far as these other comments...I'm convinced the critics must have been intoxicated. El Matador is absolutely the best!

5 Stars: OH MY! (by foodcritic911)

foodcritic911 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I don't know how anyone could say this food is garbage. It is probably my favorite mexican resturant. The chicken Fajitas with a little bit a tapito sauce is heaven. I also love their hamburgers. My dad loves the shredded beef tacos with beans. My sister and my mom love the chicken or shredded beef chimichanga.... honeslty if you have one of those dishes i don't see how you could not like the food. I love it and highly recommed it.

4 Stars: good food (by hahd80)

hahd80 — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

good food. It takes some time to get it but its worth it. When they say the plate is hot, its HOT, my husband got burned by the plate.

5 Stars: We love El Matador! (by christimarie)

christimarie — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I recently stopped by for lunch. Our waitress was absolutely the best we have come across..at any restaurant. We too knew and frequented El Matador at their old location as well as the one in Ogden. I thought our lunch was as good as it has always been..we will be back!