El Matador Restaurant

10/01/09

Fabulous!

by AnnieBananie

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!

• Pros: Most yummy salsa ever!
• Cons: None...

08/18/09

The BEST.

by AprilDay

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!

• Pros: Amazing food, service and atmosphere!
• Cons: Such busy weekends!

04/29/09

Great family restaurant

by silvertop

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.

• Pros: large portions, low prices
• Cons: It's crowded on weekends

04/16/09

Terrible Food

by Bab

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.

• Pros: Nice location
• Cons: Food is Bad

01/28/09

A consistent treasure of Utah cuisine

by slcheck

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.

• Pros: Priced extremely well, great selection
• Cons: Not strictly authentic

08/20/08

Everything is bland

by sugarspin

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.

07/09/08

It's own class of mexican food: a local fav

by athena3

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.

• Pros: Local place, it's own kinda mexi food
• Cons: Lighting, waiting for a table, you always end up waiting to pay or put your name in

03/30/08

best mexican food ever, and great service

by whatsup22

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!!

• Pros: Great service and food
• Cons: non

03/24/08

Great Mexican!! Always fresh!

by Bugbeey12

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!

• Pros: Great food, great prices!
• Cons: So busy!!

03/22/08

Worst I have ever had!

by foodmmmgood

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.

• Pros: Lots of Parking
• Cons: No kick to the sauce, not authentic, the food tastes as if it came out of a can and warmed in the microwave!