El Matador Restaurante/Cantina

So my cravings for an unauthentic enchilada forced us to go to El Matador for dinner tonight. The service was awful. We sat there drinking water until our waitress came and replaced our water and glasses. We asked her why she was taking our water, and she said that IT WAS THE WATER FROM THE PARTY SITTING THERE BEFORE US! Nice. \r \r As we were eating, one of the other waitresses was walking around dunking a wash cloth in one of the pitchers from one of the tables and washing the empty tables with her grimy old rag. It was pretty off putting to see that the pitchers we drink out of are nothing more than wash buckets. She didn't spray the table with anything, just kept dunking the rag in the water and wiping down tables. Health code violation? Likely.\r \r We stuffed ourselves with the chips and cheesy salsa that the waitress set at our table. She didn't ask us if we wanted it, but we've been there before and it's always been complimentary, so we thought nothing of it. \r \r We noticed a 95 cent charge on our check and asked the cashier if it was for tax or what. She said, ""No, that's for the cheese."" My husband asked, ""The cheese that they put at our table when we sat down? With the free chips and salsa? That cheese?"" She said, ""Yeah we have had lots of problems with that..."" I'll bet you have! \r \r She brought out the manager who didn't even put up a fight about it (must happen pretty often) and gave us a dollar. Geez fella! You rip off 500 tables for $1 a piece, you've got yourself a pretty little scam there! Moral of the story: If you go to El Matador, refuse the cheese! And probably... just don't go to El Matador. more

My favorite place to eat. I have been eating here for years. The food is constantly good and the staff friendly. It used to bug me that I had to pay in cash not enough too stop me from going as the food is just that good and the price is right!(c:) but now they accept credit cards so no complaints at all. more

My family has been eating here since the beginning of time. The food is always excellent. One of the few mexican places with decent enchilada sauce. One of the few places that isn't stingy on the cheese. You will love the salsa and sopapillas. The only thing I would change is that sometimes you can hear the owner in the back screaming at the waitresses. These people that don't like this place must be on crack. more

This place is terrible. Their food is disgusting and does not even taste like Mexican food. Our refried beans alone had an outer crust on them like they had been sitting out for hours and then were stuck in a microwave just before they brought them out to us. Do not waste your time with this white family-owned restaurant that doesn't know what Mexican food is. Pros: Decent Chips and Salsa Cons: Everything else. more

Get the combo plate named after the restaraunt if you want the best of everything. The Ogden location is much better than the Bountiful one for sure. If you love mexican food this place will impress you. The Sopapillas (scones) and honey butter are addicting, you will be thinking about them until you can get your hands on another one. Pros: affordable, delicious, huge portions Cons: you may gain some serious pounds after becoming addicted to their food! more

We had to learn the hard way that there is no affiliation between the two El Matador locations. The customer service was absolutely horrendous, and I wouldn't serve the food to our dog. The salsa was cold with disgusting random chunks of unrecognizable objects. The food was cold as well. And our server acted as if she was seriously mentally impaired. She never checked on us, and when we asked for the manager--he was ""unavailable."" I will never return and highly discourage visits from others. Pros: Uhh--inexpensive? Cons: Everything. Customer service, food, location--all terrible. more

i don't know who this enirehtac person is but they are so off. el matador is always packed; and the food is always made fresh, homemade and never microwaved or put under a heat lamp. the salsa rocks as does the rest of the food. if this person wants to go to cheesy fast food restaurants like el burrito and get really microwaved and heat lamped food, then go to it. el matador is the best mexican in utah...as is shown by their 43 years in business. true, they don't take credit cards; but if that's alll you have to pay with, you have issues. the salsa is made fresh daily as well. everyone i know of loves this place and most are return cu stomers. obviously these people were perturbed by something else and don't know great food when they have it. EL MATADOR ROCKS!!!! Pros: FOOD SERVICE COSTS more

the chips and salsa are soooooooo good!!! they have a wonderfull selection!!!!!! fantastic service! i am a finiky person and they alwayse get my order right the first time!!!! Im not usually a fan of mexican food but i have gone here several times and i am alwayse plesantly supprized at how good the food is!!! ive loved everything i have orderd from here!!!!!!!!! Pros: the food is fantastic!!! Cons: the location its in isnt the greatest neighborhood` more

First thing, they don't accept credit/debit cards. There is an ATM inside, however it was out of order this particular night. We had heard such raves about the place though, that my husband went and found a working ATM to pull money out of. Too bad it wasn't really worth it.\r \r This place is seriously overrated. The food and service was horrible. We waited about 10 minutes after being seated to have our orders taken, and then it took another 10 to bring chips and salsa, which were disappointing. The salsa tastes metalllic, like the can I'm assuming it comes from. You pretty much HAVE to put the shredded cheese in it to be palatable. We then waited 45 minutes for our food. On a wednesday night and hardly anyone was even in the place. I got a cheese enchilada with a taco, rice and beans. First of all, Their meat is disgusting. I don't know what is in the sauce, but that was the lousiest taco I've ever bitten into. Second, the sauce over my enchilada had a crust on it from sitting for so long under a lamp and/or microwaved. Now, when they say the plates are hot they are not kidding and the food is even hotter. We had to wait for quite a while for it to cool down before we could stand to put it in our mouths. Try keeping a three year old off food that's right in front of her face. Now I don't mind hot when it's fresh, but when it's hot because it's been microwaved to heat up and then sat under a heat lamp, that's another thing.\r \r We never got refills on our water or our drinks until we asked for them, and when they were finally brought out we were done. We them waited for our check, which never came until we again, asked.\r \r It was probably one of the most disappointing meals I've ever eaten. I wish we would have spent our money where we usually do when we're wanting Mexican, which is Manuel's El Burrito in either North Ogden or Clearfield. I'll never stray again! Pros: Parking was the best thing about this place. Cons: Service, food, no credit/debit cards. more

The FIRST and ORIGINAL El Matador Restaurant is in ogden, utah and it is the best!! It has been in business for 43 years and conitnues to be the best Mexican around. Started by Tony and Paula Hasratian, this family run business is a staple in Utah. They even have people who come from all over the states to eat there. They even ship their salsa all over the country!! Prices are great and the food is consistent and fantastic!!! Chef Tony's idea to put shredded cheese into warm salsa was a brilliant one!! I have been going there for 32 years and will continue to do so. \r \r Pros: Superb salsa with shreeded cheese; Fantastic portions; Great prices!! more

I've been eating at El Matador for 25 years .... the warm salsa with cheese (you're supposed to put it in the salsa, not on the chips!), the sopapilla, the giant shrimp .... all at an extremely reasonable price .... you can't go wrong! The length of time they've been in business in the same locations should tell you they are doing something right! Pros: sopapilla, warm salsa more

If you're looking for a good taste of mexican american food for cheap, this is your place. It isn't glamorous, it isn't well lit, but the sopapillas and the hot salsa with cheese is really good. Their mixed drinks are enoyable, and though not all of the menu is stellar, they do a mean beef quesadilla! Pros: Price, Quesadilla, Quick service Cons: Atmosphere more

The salsa and chips are great!!! Shreeded cheese to mix in the salsa is great. Love the shreeded beef enchiladas and drinks Pros: salsa more

My first visit to El Matador was a pleasant surprise. The food was good and the prices were very reasonable. My meal arrived hot and fresh. Also, the ambience and the service wer excellent. The portions aren't that big, but neither are the prices. The sopapilla's (scones) were to die for! I will definately be back to El Matador. Pros: Inexpensive, Ambience, Service Cons: No refills on chips, No credit/debit cards more

Talk about a resturaunt being overrated. Granted the food is pretty good if you like your mexican to be meat, cheese, and tortia - great for picky eaters! But I like a good enchalada, and you can't find one here. And, every time I've been there they never have tomatoes! Its definitely worth a try, but its cuisine is extremely limited. Pros: good burrito Cons: no variety, no tomatoes more