The Same Family Has Run This South Carolina Mexican Restaurant For Nearly Six Decades
One burrito on this menu is named after a loyal customer who has been eating there since it opened in 1968. That is loyalty you can wrap in a tortilla.
The Stockwells have run this South Carolina kitchen since it opened, and the founders’ son is known to stop by tables to greet guests.
Nearly six decades on, the menu still has room for surprises. Diners describe the chile rellenos as an unusual take on a familiar dish, and there’s yellow queso to start.
Between the cheese dip and the burrito named for a regular, there’s plenty to consider before your first order at South Carolina’s oldest Mexican restaurant.
The Oldest Mexican Restaurant In The State Started Here In 1968
Back in 1968, El Matador Restaurant opened its doors in the Upstate, and it has been serving ever since. That makes it the oldest Mexican restaurant in South Carolina, which is a pretty big title for a modest building.
Think about how much has changed since then. Phones, cars, music, and fashion have all flipped around several times over.
Through all of it, this kitchen kept cooking. Nearly six decades after opening, El Matador is still serving diners in Taylors.
The location sits in Taylors, right next door to Greenville. Many folks simply call it a Greenville classic, and nobody seems to argue.
What I like most is that the place never tried to become something else. It found its own style early and held onto it with both hands.
That kind of staying power tells you something. People keep coming back because the restaurant gives them a reason to, year after year.
So if you enjoy places with real history, this one belongs on your list. You get dinner and a slice of South Carolina food history at the same table.
Say Hello To The Second Generation Running The Show
Family businesses rarely make it past one generation, let alone two. The Stockwell family has kept El Matador Restaurant in the family since the very beginning.
David Stockwell’s parents started it all in the 1960s. Today David and his brother stay busy creating dishes and keeping the kitchen true to its roots.
David has a reputation for stopping by tables to welcome guests. He’s known for sharing a bit of the restaurant’s story while explaining the menu.
That personal touch matters more than you might expect. It turns a regular dinner into something that feels closer to visiting a friend’s house.
The staff follows the same lead. Making each guest feel special seems to be part of the job description here.
I can’t imagine many chain restaurants where the owner knows the backstory behind every plate. Here, the history is literally walking around the dining room.
So don’t be shy if David swings by your booth. Ask a question about the early days, and you might get a better story than any menu could tell.
Your Chile Relleno Rules Don’t Apply At This Table
Diners who’ve reviewed El Matador’s chile rellenos describe an unusual version of the dish. If chile rellenos are your usual order, the plate here gives you something to compare with the versions you’ve tried elsewhere.
The rellenos are also a good choice to share if you’re curious about them and already have another entrée in mind. Order a plate for the table and give everyone a bite.
A first-time guest might come for the burrito and leave with a different favorite.
One Customer Got A Burrito Named After Him
Most loyal customers earn a punch card. One regular here earned an entire burrito.
The Syd Burrito is named after a guest who has been coming to El Matador Restaurant since it opened in 1968. That’s a friendship measured in decades, not visits.
Little touches like this tell you a lot about a place. The restaurant clearly treats its regulars like family members rather than sales numbers.
It also says something about Syd. Nobody keeps eating at the same spot for that long unless they really love what’s coming out of the kitchen.
Ordering it feels a bit like joining a club with a very long membership list. You get dinner and a small piece of local legend in one go.
Burritos make up a whole section of the menu, so you’ve got options if you’d rather explore. Still, I’d say the namesake deserves at least one try.
Who knows what could happen if you keep showing up for fifty years? Maybe someday there will be a burrito with your name on it too.
Yellow Queso Is Breaking All The Usual Rules
White queso has taken over most Mexican restaurants across the South. Here, the cheese dip proudly stays yellow.
And it’s not plain yellow, either. The queso gets its rich flavor from roasted peppers, poblano peppers, and cilantro mixed right in.
That combination gives it a little personality. It’s the kind of dip that makes you forget you were only planning to have a few chips.
Speaking of chips, the chips and salsa are another thing El Matador Restaurant is known for. Together, they make one of the easiest ways to start a meal.
A quick tip for groups is to order the queso early. Waiting until the entrees arrive just means everyone fights over the last scoop.
Fans of nachos also have choices, including cheese nachos on the menu. Those make a solid shareable snack if your table can’t decide.
I appreciate that the kitchen didn’t chase the trend. Sticking with its own queso style fits perfectly with a restaurant that has never followed the crowd since 1968.
Pollo Fundido With Mushrooms Deserves A Spot On Your Order
Mushrooms on a fundido might sound unusual at first. At El Matador Restaurant, the Pollo Fundido with mushrooms ranks among the dishes people keep coming back for.
Fundidos even get their own section on the menu. That tells you the kitchen takes them seriously.
Beyond fundidos, the menu runs long. You’ll find tacos, chimichangas, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, salads, and taco salads.
There’s even a pasta section, which is a fun curveball. Combination dinners round things out, including Texas Enchiladas and Texas Quesadillas.
With that many choices, decision paralysis is a real risk. My suggestion is to pick one house favorite and one dish you’ve never tried before.
Chimichangas also get plenty of love, so they make a great backup pick. A la carte items let you mix and match if you want a little bit of everything.
Don’t forget the dessert section either. After all that cheese, something sweet might be exactly how you want to finish the night.
Bring The Whole Crew Because There’s Room For Everyone
Big families and birthday groups, take note. The dining room includes areas that can handle large parties.
The interior has a casual, homey feel with plenty of decorations. It carries a warm, old-school vibe that fits a restaurant with this much history.
Kids are covered too. Children’s plates appear on the menu, so picky eaters won’t be left staring at a giant combo dinner.
That makes El Matador Restaurant an easy choice for multigenerational outings. Grandparents who ate here decades ago can now bring their grandkids along.
I like the idea of a restaurant becoming part of a family’s tradition. Some families have been doing exactly that here for many years.
The service is known for being quick, which helps a lot with hungry little ones. Nobody enjoys a long wait when a toddler is running low on patience.
For a big group, call ahead or arrive close to opening time. It’s a simple way to make sure everyone ends up sitting together instead of scattered around the room.
Plan Your Dinner Run Around These Hours
Lunch fans, I have bad news. This kitchen is strictly a dinner operation.
El Matador Restaurant opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 9:30 p.m.
Sundays and Mondays are off, so plan those cravings accordingly.
You’ll find it at 2919 Wade Hampton Blvd, Taylors, SC 29687. It sits along a busy road just outside Greenville, so it’s easy to reach from around the Upstate.
Parking is simple too, thanks to a free lot. Nobody wants to circle the block hunting for a spot when chips and queso are waiting.
Can’t stay for a sit-down meal? Takeout and delivery are both available, which is perfect for a cozy night at home.
My tip is to show up early on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend evenings at a beloved South Carolina spot tend to fill up quickly.
Since the doors don’t open until afternoon, an early dinner works great. You’ll beat the rush and still have the whole evening ahead of you.
Even Lawmakers Gave This Kitchen A Shout-Out
Not every restaurant earns official recognition from the state. El Matador Restaurant was honored with a house resolution, which is a pretty rare kind of applause.
That honor reflects what this place means to the community. Running a family kitchen for more than fifty years takes grit, patience, and serious love for the work.
It also reflects how many lives this dining room has touched. Generations of families have celebrated birthdays, first dates, and ordinary Tuesday nights here.
One longtime guest first came as a kid in 1982 with his parents. Now he brings his own family, which might be the best review a restaurant can get.
That’s the real secret behind this South Carolina favorite. It isn’t flashy, but it keeps showing up for its neighbors every single week.
I believe places like this deserve our support while we still have them. Family-run restaurants with this much history are getting harder to find.
So pick an evening, grab a few friends, and see what six decades of family cooking tastes like. You might just start a tradition of your own.