Matta’s Mexican Grill

So, after just two visits, I am mystified as to how and why this Matta’s location is still attracting customers. Granted the original was quite good and worthy of a stop to eat some tasty food; but that location is no more and Matta’s has since opened four more locations. And like anything that has been divided, the parts must become greater than the sum of the original in order to be recognized as at least as good as the original. Matt’s calls this location «Not fast food, but good food fast.»
I am ok with the concept of quick serve or no table service, but here, it is an odd mixture of both that just does not work well. Perhaps it once did, or it makes sense to the owners and management, but I find the entire dine-​in experience cold, indifferent and not at all hospitable. You walk in the door and are immediately in front of a small foyer that adjoins a counter with registers and a menu above and behind. If you have not been here before, seeing the drive-​thru outside and counter placement upon entry, one would assume that this portion of the restaurant is for take away. It is also easy to think that someone would greet you at the door/​counter area and take you to a table — but not so. You must order and pay at the counter. Once you do, you are given a number and empty beverage glass and are left to find your own table and fill your own drinks. .. easily done when they are not busy and there is an available clean and empty table. There is a reason restaurants seat their guests. .. so the restaurant is not over capacity, staff is available to assist and serve guests and there are clean and cleared tables of which to dine. But here you fend for your self to get a table (I guess this is the difference between dining and eating). The staff delivering the food bring you chips and salsa, and when your food is delivered, if you’re smart, you will ask for an additional bowl of chips and extra salsa because it is nearly impossible to get more once your food is delivered. .. I know, I know, I’m just eating here, if I want to dine I will get takeout and go home (but at these prices? I should at least able to get more salsa or chips or a take-​home container on my own without asking staff).
I think because if you pay for your meal first and also self-​serve your drinks, it creates an arena for not tipping. Therefore, you are left with an «I don’t really care» attitude by the staff and a bit of guilt that someone else has to buss and clean the tables. Further, a casual quick serve restaurant mandates concise meal descriptions, an ingredient list and preparation methods on the menu. And at the very least photographs of the signature dishes, if not all of the dishes. Just leaving it up to the staff to describe a dish or how it is prepared is just silly.
A positive: the chips and salsa are tasty, the Robert’s Taco is an admirable attempt, however, it is a bit greasy and lacking in flavor or quality, especially given the price. The beans are passable and it is hard to mess up a cheese crisp, but beyond that, No Bueno. The Guacamole is a very similar to store bought in consistency and taste — if it is homemade, why prepare it in such a way that your customers even ponder the source? And as much as I have a love for potato tacos, I cannot, in good faith and conscience, return to try them. The final straw was a recommendation by the staff: the chilie relleno. The relleno was filled with ground beef that was severely lacking in flavor and an overall consistency that was off putting. Sadly, it was left uneaten, which is very unusual that I ever leave food on a plate, let it go to waste or not take it home for later. The biggest disappointment came from the $ 42 spent for two combo plates and a sampler platter — and only having water to drink. $ 42 is sit-​down, full table-​service, ingredients oozing with quality, flavorfully spiced and seasoned food, prepared, presented and plated with care price territory. .. but with the number of customers that frequent here I cannot see anything changing for the better.
Spending money on food without pleasure is, well, like flushing money down the toilet; but I digress. For me, I am just not going to do it again, there are so many other Mexican food places to eat, even ones with a drive-​thru, that are better quality, better service, better layout, even better ambiance and certainly a lot less expensive. Yes, as I have said before, Mexican cuisine is so very subjective and that is precisely why on the same occasion that I had the dismal chilie relleno, a neighboring table was raving at how good it was.
All of this has left me with no reason to stop the car here. .. I will just keep going. .. and unless you have eaten here, and like the food, the service and the prices, I suggest you go elsewhere too.
Overall Rating: 1.5 Stars
Food: 1 Stars
Service: 1.5 Stars
Cleanliness: 2 Stars
Atmosphere: 2 Stars
Price/​Value: 1 Star

No flavor in anything that I order here. Tried it for a 3^rd time… that’ll be the last. Bland, OK service, decent ambiance. Food is just no bueno. Gosh. I want it to be good, but it’s just not.

The chips and hot salsa are the rave here. My family does here sometimes just to buy large containers of salsa and chips to take home for snacking and parties. The beans they offer as a side are great as well. The fish tacos are ok. If you are from AZ then you will know their cheese crisps are delicious, simply cheese.

Super friendly vibe, clean place (N. Higley Road), excellent service and very good food my first time here. I ordered «Sandy’s Special» (I think that was the name) with cubed pork and green chiles in a deep fried burrito smothered in melted cheese and sour cream. Great texture and flavor! Free chips and salsa were A-​OK. The menu is not fancy (no chicken mole or enchiladas suizas), but the kitchen here has a soul, not just a fast food assembly line.

Love this place. It has excellent food. We’ve been to plenty of Mexican restrnts and they really don’t have good shredded beef. This place is best we’ve had around here. Shhh! I don’t think the snowbirds know about this place yet and let’s keep it that way! Love good food that I don’t have to stand in line for an hour or two for.
5 stars if they served coke instead of pepsi. Can’t have it all I ‘spose.

As a long time native Chicagoan, having worked stints in Mexico (multiple areas) eventually moving to AZ from Aurora, IL 7 months ago; I am without question, a Mexican food expert. Decent vibe and atmosphere for a Mexicantina but the food less than mediocre at best. Matta’s messed up a simple request (no tomatoes) on my order the first and last time I will ever go there. For the price, you are better off going to Filiberto’s, but for quality, go to SENIOR TACO. Yes its a mile or so away, but the food is an order of magnitude BETTER than this garbage.

For a quick Mexican joint that still has that sit down feel, look no further than Matta’s. You order from the menu at the front register and they bring you food along with chips and salsa. They have fountain machines for serve yourself refills and keep the place looking clean. It can be a little pricey, almost $ 15 after food and drink, for a 2-​item combo. It’s a much better deal to head to Nando’s down the street for cheaper lunch specials and full service.

Food is ok. I always just get the Roberts tacos. Staff is friendly and the restaurant is clean. I think its a good lunch meeting place, clean tables no interruptions from servers, and not usually loud. They started offering daily specials and so that has been nice as before it was pretty expensive for average mexican food. My bro loves the place so we still go all the time. Its worth a visit, you may like it.

Not only did I notice that you changed your Salsa and it tastes like a tin can, you have also changed your chips! Instead of the light airy chips they are now thicker and taste stale. I am officially done with Mattas.

Wonderful food!!! I’ve been returning there several times now since our first check in

Absolutely amazing, food is fresh and made right. My family has been going to Mattas for 50 years.

This review is for the new location at E Brown and Ellsworth — as of today it is not yet listed on Unilocal,so I picked the closest location to it. This occurred around 3:30pm on 10/​18/​2015.
I had a quick trip to the Basha’s in the parking lot and decided to run in real quick and see about getting a few things to go so I could try them out. When I walked it, it was pretty empty inside, one family at a table and a few people at the bar. The waiters were hanging out in the kitchen area and the bartender didnt even acknowledge me coming in, he was far too busy with whatever conversation he was having at the other side of the bar to be bothered. After a good 2 – 3 minutes of sitting there, being completely ignored, I left. Very disappointing. I probably wont be back, there are far too many other good options where I am treated like a human being.
I am sure the food would have been good had I actually been acknowledged by the staff in the restaurant. I was actually pretty excited about a seemingly reputable Mexican place moving in near where I live. That excitement has turn to resentment and disappointment.
If you are thinking about stopping by the brown and ellsworth location, forget it, go to Nando’s, their service is far better and the chicken burrito’s are second to none.

This place was gross. I wouldn’t call this Mexican food at all, it’s an insult to Mexican food. The chop meat on the Mexican pizza reminded me of dog food. I could have had better food at Filiberto’s. The lettuce was frozen in the taco salad, and the tamales were stale! Never again I hope all our winter visitors don’t think this is real Mexican food!!!

I went here for dinner last night ordered take out for myself and my wife. I ordered a Red Chile chimichanga and my wife ordered the Lisa taco salad also I got a large hot sauce. The Red Chimichanga meat was tough and the red sauce was refrigerator cold the Red Chile tasted like it was made from a mix. My wife’s taco salad had old wilted pieces of lettuce in it, and the hot sauce was way watered down if you dipped a chip in it without using a spoon there would by no hot sauce on the chip. all of this for $ 30.00
best part of meal was cheese crisp and plain chips. What happened to the old Matta’s used be the best Mexican food in Mesa Taco Bell taste better than this.

If I could give NO stars that would be perfect. Seriously, the «good» reviews are from people who do not know what REAL Mexican food tastes like. This place sucks. The «ground» beef in my taco was undercooked and probably canned meat. Who the hell puts meat paste in a chile relleno?! Never coming back.

We went here for lunch after a «girls day». It was clean as well as delicious! This was the first time any of us have been here (as we are all from Alaska) but it won’t be the last! We received our food really quick. It was delicious! We met the owners Mom too so that was very nice!

Again I always rate a Mexican Restaurant on these few things.
1.) Are their Refried Beans homemade and do they taste good?
2.) Salsa taste? Are their tortilla chips homemade and are they light, airy, and fluffy?
3.) Chimichanga taste and how large is their food portions?
4.) Large Portion size of amount of food given especially in comparable to their prices?
5.) Chili Rellenos any good?
I have gown up around Matta’s my whole life. It first started down by the Mesa Temple before these fast food chains from their kids began. So here it goes!
Their refried beans are passable. They do taste homemade but flavor could use a punch! Not the best I have tasted but surely not the worst.
Their Salsa tastes great! Chunky type of salsa and good! Chips are pretty fluffy.
Their Chimichanga with shredded beef or chicken is AMAZING! One thing you have to try is their special recipe of sour cream! Get it as a side for the Chimi and you won’t be disappointed!
They definitely have large portion sizes! Great for the Chimichanga!
Their Chili Rellenos used to be better. At the family owned Mesa location they used to have, their Chili Rellenos were incredible. Now flavor has suffered. Somewhat bland and not as large in portion size.
As far as their enchiladas, nothing special in taste or portion size. Also their cheese crisp. There is nothing crispy about it. Doused in melted cheese may sound nice but it’s not when all your eating a big glob of GOOP! Disgusting! Check the picture out! Lots of cheese is nice but you still need that buttery taste and a little crunch.
So best things here are the Salsa, Chimichanga any way you want it, and their special sour cream (I could take this home in the bucket fulls)!

I’ve lived here all my life and used to go to the original Mattas. It’s definitely not what it used to be, they have gone downhill.
When I was placing my order, I told them I wanted the kids chicken fingers with rice and beans. Another girl leans over and tells the cashier that the kids meals are only for kids. The cashier then proceeds to ask me if this was for me to which I pointed at my son who was standing right next to me. Customer service is lacking.
I also ordered the 2 item meal, which consisted of tamale, cheese enchilada, rice, and beans and I also ordered a shredded beef taco.
After we were seated it took them a while to bring out the chips and salsa. I got the hot salsa and it was mediocre, nothing special.
The taco shell was horrible, like something you buy in a box at the grocery store. The shredded beef was ok. The tamale, with red sauce, was very dry and very average. The enchilada was not too bad, however, there’s room for improvement. I think Filibertos has better food then Mattas now.
My son’s chicken fingers were overcooked and a little too crispy.
I have to say the quality of the food has gone down considerably over the years, not to mention how expensive it is compared to other places. It’s WAY overpriced for what you get. There are far better places with far better quality than Mattas. Don’t waste your money!

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Mesa. The food is delicious, the chips just keep coining, the environment is great, and the prices are good!
I love their burritos and chimichangas. The salads are good, too!

I defy you to eat the following items and tell me this isn’t really tasty Mexican food.
1. Start with the hot and also the chunky salsa. Mix ⁵⁰⁄₅₀.
Eat almost all of the salsa with a couple of bowls of chips. Save some to put on entrée.
2. sandy’s special with beans and rice.
3. 1 Roberts taco on the side. Roberts tacos are better than the regular taco cuz they’re made with shredded roast beef.
Granted, I could be biased having grown up eating this practically my whole life. Still, if you don’t love this, you may have a serious medical condition… might wanna see a doctor…
Did I mention I love the beans and rice?
Oh, and the chili relleno.
Their flour tortillas are really good so include cheese crisps and burritos.