Thanks to Yelp, a recent and terribly random craving for breakfast pizza (not pizza that happens to be eaten the next morning, but rather pizza with, say, eggs on it) led myself and my adventurous companion to Matador Cantina in Downtown Fullerton. This was fortuitous as I had already purchased a Restaurant.com gift certificate for Matador and had been meaning to go back.

Available Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm, The Matador (map) brings weekend brunch to Downtown Fullerton.  Prepared by Executive Chef David Dennis, the menu offers a fusion of traditional and contemporary Mexican-inspired cuisine. All dishes are made to order using only the freshest, high quality ingredients available. 

As beggars cannot expect to be choosers, if I wanted a breakfast pizza on this occasion I was going to have a Mexican-style concoction, complete with scrambled egg, Oaxaca cheese, green chilis, pico de gallo and chorizo. Note: bacon is also an option instead of the chorizo, but I figured “when in Rome…”.  It was a very large portion that could easily be shared, especially since guests are still served Matador’s colorful chips and flavorful salsa before the meal.  The chorizo provided spice and the Oaxaca cheese lended its creamy texture, while the chilis and pico de gallo offered a hint of freshness to offset the richness of the whole. My only complaint was that the pico seemed heavy on the onions, which meshed the least-well with the rest of the ingredients.  Overall, however, this brunch meal hit the spot!  And, for the record, the thin crust pizza was actually very tasty the next day.

My dining companion ordered the Chorizo Benedicto, a South of the border version of the breakfast classic comprised of two poached eggs and chorizo sausage patties placed upon English muffins all topped with homemade hollandaise sauce. On the side were “pepper jack hash browns” that looked like a potato pancake and a hollow Mexican pastry covered in honey that tasted much like a donut.  I thoroughly enjoyed the few bites of the eggs benedict I was afforded, and found the creamy texture of the hollandaise paired well with the mildly spicy sausage.  We found the hash browns to be too rich, and that they were improved with the addition of house salsa. If I go back, I will probably order this dish on my own.

Located in the heart of Historic Downtown Fullerton, Matador Cantina brings North Orange County an entirely new dining and social experience. From our Mexican-inspired cuisine and array of premium tequilas and signature cocktails to the warm and inviting décor, Matador Cantina promises an altogether unique and rewarding dining experience.

111 N. Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton CA, 92832

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