El Matador Mexican - Clovis

I was in the area reading reviews and craving a delicious meal, so I decided to give this restaurant a try. I was amazed at how quickly my drink, salsa and chips, and complimentary Albondiga soup arrived—within just 3 MINUTES! Now that's what I call fast service. While enjoying my chips, I couldn’t help but admire the unique bull-themed decor. Living close to the border, I’ve seen a few bullfights in Tijuana, so the decor really resonated with me. As I looked around, I spotted tiny bulls, mirrors, matador figurines, and bull heads everywhere. I chose the stuffed crab shrimp with rice and beans and had the option of soup or salad. When my food arrived, I was blown away by the generous portion—it was absolutely delicious! I really loved the seasoning on the shrimp and crab. If you’re in the area, this place is a must-visit!

I really don’t understand the appeal of this restaurant. I was thoroughly disappointed, especially considering the positive reviews I had read. I ordered asada tacos, and the meat had an unpleasant taste. It felt like they had used subpar meat, added some salsa, and tried to mask the flavor by cooking it together. The chips tasted stale and seemed store-bought. The lettuce was slightly brown, and the iced tea was off. I can’t see myself returning unless absolutely forced to. The server was unfriendly and had an attitude that made my experience even less enjoyable. The worst part? I still had to pay for my meal. At least I was dining alone. Overall, it was a terrible experience; I went home and rinsed my mouth with baking soda and even made myself throw up what little I had eaten, just in case I would get food poisoning. I regret having to write this review. Final thoughts: no thanks.

We started with albondigas soup, and while the broth was decent, the meatballs were clearly store-bought—definitely not a great beginning. Then, when our food arrived, my baby's meal was cold. That was strike #2. I inquired about the mole, and the server assured me it was homemade, but it turned out to be store-bought as well, which was strike #3. I even heard the microwave door close as they warmed up my baby's food—strike #4. My burrito was supposed to be spicy, but it lacked any heat at all—strike #5. Overall, I cannot recommend this place. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this is not the right spot.

El Matador has SOLID Mexican food!! I've never had a bad meal there. The only thing that could get better I guess would be the chips. Other than that, this place is a must. Good customer service and a hidden GEM. Have to give them a try and decide for yourself! El Matador is 5X better than that dump Jorge's Place on the SW corner of Clovis and Shaw. Better than Hacienda too!

The customer service is excellent and the food was great! Very quick service and a nice comfortable environment. The only negative thing I would say is that the chips are not homemade. Other than that we had a nice time and the michelada was very good!