Written and photographed by Restaurantsbyrio

Combine traditional Mexican flavors with a twist of modern chef wizardry and what do you get? One of the most successful and intriguing restaurants North Orange County has ever seen. Nearing its two-year anniversary in downtown Fullerton, the Matador Cantina takes the Latin dining and social experience to an entirely new level.

When you first step foot into the 110-year-old building, you are immediately overwhelmed with a sense of traditional warm ambiance and Latin heritage. Exposed brick walls, weathered hardwood floors, dark wood finishes, and an intimate candle-lit interior take your soul on journey south of the border, where such hand-crafted decor is commonplace.

Featuring the longest bar in Orange County, the surrounding main dining area features deep leather booths opposite an intricately crafted 14-foot-tall back bar. In addition, an intimate lounge offers large parties wide booths providing further seating alternatives to socialize, relax, and indulge.

Great ambiance is a plus, but it’s really about the food right? At first glance, the large leather menus read like a list of exotic Latin art.

Matador Cantina offers a fusion of traditional and contemporary Mexican-inspired cuisine carefully crafted using fresh, high quality ingredients. The result: traditional dishes such as Tres Enchiladas using varied sauces made from robust peppers and garden fresh ingredients to unique and mouth-watering plates such as Chorizo Ravioli served with a cilantro cream sauce.

One of the most popular signature dishes at Matador Cantina is the colorful Chile Relleno made of tender chicken, oaxaca cheese, cream cheese and green chiles stuffed in a tortilla-crusted poblano chile, served with a roasted tomatillo avocado salsa, rice & beans. Ole! Looking for a taco that will take your taste buds to infinity and beyond?

Try the massive hearty Matador Taco, a double-wrapped soft and hard shell taco featuring chicken, pork, or steak, and topped with refried beans lettuce, cheese and a fat scoop of fresh guacamole. Need I say more?

The unique menu was cleverly designed by Executive Chef David Dennis. Dennis brings over 10 years of diverse experience having led the culinary teams at such notable restaurants as Ruth’s Chris in Phoenix, Arizona, and most recently King’s Fish House in Orange, where he served as Executive Chef for five years helping the restaurant earn “Best of” Orange County honors two years in a row. The Southern California native expanded his culinary repertoire of Latin masterpieces while living it up in the seaside town of Puerto Vallarta. He was also top chef on a private chartered yacht in Panama. “Living in Mexico afforded me the pleasure and incredible firsthand experience of authentic Mexican cooking at its best,” said Dennis. “What I now apply to my own recipes was initially developed from generations of cooking methods straight out of a Written and Mexican kitchen.”

Matador Cantina’s menu is far from ordinary but it doesn’t end there. A tantalizing seasonal drink menu includes exotic concoctions like the jalapeno Margarita and Mango Dulce, a variety of beers including one local brew, along with an array of exquisite Spanish, Californian, and South American wines. In addition to daily lunch, dinner and late-night menus, Matador Cantina offers brunch, served both Saturday and Sunday.

AnExpress Lunch menu with traditional favorites, as well as Matador Cantina Curbside Service, will allow guests to dine on the quick and easy during their lunch break or enjoy the convenience of take-out.

The Matador Cantina's space, which most recently housed The Rockin Taco Cantina, has been completely transformed. The new look is both upscale and casual, providing an elegant dining atmosphere while at the same time, a great place to catch the game on their
large wide-screen monitors behind the bar. Entrees are affordably priced and there are always drink and food specials like their famous Taco Tuesday featuring $1.25 tacos and $3 dollar Coronas.

“Our goal is to provide Fullerton and the downtown community with a great Mexican dining experience,” said second-generation restaurateur and Matador managing partner Mario Marovic. “Everyone loves good Mexican food, but there wasn’t a favored destination for it in the area. Now there is.” A value priced Happy Hour menu comprised of $5 appetizers is available week days from 2pm to 7pm, as well as late-night from 10pm to 1am.

For a fantastic fusion of traditional and exotic Mexican cuisine, extraordinary ambiance and superior guest service, Matador Cantina promises an altogether enjoyable experience that will leave you hungry for more.

Matador Cantina is located at 111 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA. Dinner reservations, as well as private party information can be obtained by calling 714.871.8226. www.thematador.com and facebook.com/MatadorCantina

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Alan De Herrera

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