El Matador — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

I used to visit this restaurant 2 to 3 times a week. I work long hours and this is close to my home so convenient to have a couple cocktails and food before ending my day. The service, food and staff has declined So I stopped going as frequently. The last time I was here I had a couple of drinks was feeling relaxed when I was told that my card was not excepted did I have another card to use, I was no there is money in my account I had to call my bank which took forever because of delays to talk to a representative. So feeling good went to feeling frustrated and angry especially when you see staff pass by looking at you and seeing them talking to each other made me feel like I was being targeted. I finally got a representative from my bank on the phone to find out that they were not running my card properly. Now I am really upset the representative told them how to run the card but when the bartender took my card she walked right over and ran the card.. I was not going to go back but today I decided I would try again it’s been 6 months since I visited this restaurant but it has gone bad to worse .. service bad, food was cold, and again they did not know how to run my card so after 30 minutes to try and get my bank on phone a manager came and ran my card so I could go home I will not spend my time or money at this establishment again.. I have found other great food and restaurants close by that will get my support and hard...

As a long term existing restaurant, practically landmark status in Costa Mesa, it was OK overall, but I was expecting more.

My dining experience started with a strawberry daiquiri, as I had not had one in years, and house chips and salsa.  The was no discernable taste of rum in the drink, but that wasn't terribly important on this visit as I didn't order it to get tipsy.  The chips were good and the salsa had the perfect amount of spiciness that would appeal to nearly all palates.

Upon recommendation (the menu labeled it a staff pick), I ordered the pork carnitas plate.  The presentation was nice and perhaps that prematurely inflated my expectations.   The rice had good flavor and the beans were rich to the taste and topped with a generous portion of melted cheese.  The carnitas, however, was unimpressive as compared to what I've eaten at other places.  The meat was bland and tasted as though it needed a salt rub before cooking.  Likewise, at a different restaurant where this dish is a customer favorite (for comparison), they cook the carnitas with citrus that adds to the flavor while creating a caramelized crispy coating to the exterior of the cooked meat that is served.   In comparison, in both depth of flavor and texture, this carnitas plate was not special in any way.  I would not recommend it as I'm sure other items are probably better.  Disappointing as compared to expectations, but by no means a terrible...

I hate to sound hyperbolic but El Matador is the best restaurant in the world. I have been coming here since I was a baby over 40 years ago. Some of my greatest memories of going out with my family involve coming here, sitting in the big U shaped booth in the back, having Marcial Sr. stop by and greet us at our table, seeing Marcial Jr. and his wife Judy in her pink festive waitress dress, stocky Cesar always the cool cat. Truly a family affair every time we came by. When Sr. passed the community was devastated and a big question mark loomed over the restaurant. I went to the auction with my brother, that's how much this place meant to me, I didn't want to see it go away. When the restaurant was sold to a new owner not named Gallardo fear set in. Fortunately the new owner was awesome and went out of his way to let regulars know that despite a change of ownership, nothing else was changing. 20 years later and the food is every bit as good as it was back then and they have expanded their dining rooms twice now, in addition to outside dining. El Matador is the first place I will take an out of towner, the one place I won't shup up about to anyone talking about restaurants in OC, the one place I will continue bringing my family to and pass on that tradition to. El Matador means so much more to me than just being the best restaurant I've ever been to, which it is. To the owners, past present and...