Very good food . Nice ambiance. A real cut above chain restaurants Friendly staff. Its a fun lively place. Food came out in a reasonable time. read more

I will never not rave about this place. From the free chips and salsa that always come out warm, to the delicious tacos, when I am craving tacos, I always need to come here. If you come at a busy time, it may take a little bit to get seated, so I recommend planning ahead and putting your name down at the door. The ambience is casual and there are a few TV screens playing whatever game is going on at the time. read more

El Rey del Taco - Steak tacos - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The wife and I first visited El Rey del Taco on a Friday night. Line out the door? Check. Staff barely speaks English? Check. Twenty minute wait to sit down? Check. As soon as we were finally seated we were given a bowl of fresh chips and homemade salsa. Starting off strong with a Michelada and margarita, we perused the giant menu while our appetites only grew. The tacos are the main attraction here. Al pastor started off strong at 5/5 with a perfect sweet and smoky balance. The tripe tacos were a solid 5/5, grilled perfectly with the right amount of char. The homemade tortillas are the crown jewel here, turning good tacos into great ones. The guacamole is exactly what you expect, simple and comforting while the charro beans are the best I've ever had, seriously. Service is top tier and food is served quickly, which elevates the whole experience. I've been twice and I'll be back for another marg! read more

El Rey del Taco - Tripe taco - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The first time I tried to come to El Rey Del Taco, I couldn't find a parking spot. I've been back three times since then, and I understand the hype. They have quickly become my favorite place to get Mexican food. Let's get into it! Location and Parking They are located on Buford Highway in a small shopping plaza. The lot is medium sized, but they are sharing it with a few other businesses, and depending on the night it could definitely be hard to find a spot so keep that in mind. Venue and Atmosphere The venue is decently sized with both booths and regular tables. There are beautiful paintings hung all over, and the decorations that make you feel like you've stepped into a little part of Mexico. Atmosphere is super casual and comfortable. Food and drinks Now the menu here is massive. Take your time and prepare to be overwhelmed, because everything sounds amazing. Here's a breakdown of what we got each time. 1st visit - El Rey Del Taco Parrillada It's meant to be shared with two people, and comes with a pound of beef ribs, your choice of chicken or al pastor meat, six shrimp wrapped in bacon, with melted cheese and chorizo, plus tortillas and charro beans. It was just as delicious as it sounds. 2nd visit - Tacos The pastor con queso and the shrimp al pastor with cheese, onions, and al pastor sauce. You're welcome. 3rd visit - Fajitas Fajitas Texanas, with steak chicken and shrimp. There are 7 different combinations of sides that you can get. We got white rice, salad, and charro beans. This can also be shared, which my wife and I did. Speaking of the charro beans, they have the best beans I have ever had. For drinks I got the supreme regular mango margarita. My wife got strawberry. Both great. Service Food came out fast, but other than that the service was a little slow. Our waitress was nice, but it did seem that she forgot about us for a little while. The food was so good that I forgave it, plus at the end of the day I got everything I needed. Verdict If you're looking for amazing food and drinks, this is absolutely the place to get it. It just might end up being your favorite too! Until next time! read more

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I've been in this restaurant at least 5 times in the last few years and it's always a good option. Average prices, good portion, flavorful food, good selection of beverages, casual ambience. Good to visit by yourself or groups too! The staff is friendly but sometimes they tend to give "forget" about you a little bit (wait could be a little long from the moment you ask for the check until the moment you pay). I come here for the tacos and quesadillas, those are a must try! Same with the Horchata, it's delicious read more

El Rey del Taco - Pastor con queso, lengua, asada. - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Great authentic food at a reasonable price! We got the Chicken Milenesa Torta, an Al Pastor Quesadilla, an Asada taco and one mini Carnitas taco. Everything was great and super fresh! There was a 15 minute wait time, but the staff was super quick at getting us our food so we were in and out. Great vibes and great food! I'll be back :) read more

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Ok, so this is now my GO2 Taqueira. Service, A1, Drinks A1... Texas marg me.! They shall see me again soon! You know the vibes! read more

El Rey del Taco - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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A year ago I wrote about El Rey del Taco, and coming back feels like revisiting a classic that only got better with time. The first thing on the table was hot chips with a spicy salsa that still hits just right. The homemade tortillas are the crown jewel here, turning good tacos into great ones. The tacos lined up like a greatest hits album. Steak tacos landed a perfect 5/5, rich and full of flavor. Al pastor stayed strong at 4/5 with that sweet and smoky balance. The chicken tacos with cheese surprised me again with a knockout 5/5. The cheese dip is exactly what you expect, simple and comforting. Service is top tier and the food comes out fast, which makes the whole experience even better. They stay open until 2am on Saturdays, so it is the perfect late night stop after being out. Compared to last year, the experience holds up and then some. El Rey del Taco is still one of those spots where you walk out already planning the next visit. Compared to last year, the experience holds up and then some. The food remains phenomenal, the atmosphere is easygoing, and El Rey del Taco is still one of those spots where you walk out already planning the next visit. read more

El Rey del Taco - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The tacos here are excellent! I got the beef check, tongue, and tripe on their homemade corn tortilla. Their corn tortillas are the best I've ever had! They're not dry at all which is an issue I have with corn tortillas. The meat in the tacos are super juicy and flavorful! The service was also great, our server was super nice and had good recommendations. The price of the tacos are very reasonable I think for the size. The margaritas were pretty meh, they weren't really anything special. Parking can definitely be tricky on weekends but you might just need to circle a bit. Definitely recommend! read more

El Rey del Taco - Beef cheek, beef tongue, and tripe tacos - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Can you go to Buford Highway without stopping at El Rey del Taco? You shouldn't. Eat here first so you don't over-shop at Buford Highway Market. read more

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Well we have eaten at El Ray del Taco 3 times, 2 in the last 3 days because it was so good we have to have again!!! The fish tacos are so good. I like how the fish is thin and a bit crispy and the corn tortillas are soo good with the fish. Delish!! The carnitas and steak tacos are so good too. And the corn tortillas are hand made in store which is rare and they make everything taste so good. The service is really good and it's a fun place to eat if you want a festive evening. Highly recommend!! read more

Outstanding late night hours and great tacos, is there a better combination? They offer 2 sizes but if you're there late night then there's only 1 option, go big or go home. They have all the usual suspects when it comes to taco options. They have a ton of beverage options to choose from as well. I believe seating is open but don't quote me. Don't be tempted to order delivery. You must eat the food here. It's the best way. It's the only way... read more

El Rey del Taco - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

First time having Mexican food in ATL after growing up in CA. This spot was really good! The portions are huge. They start you off with a basket of chips and salsa. The menu is huge and a little confusing but we didn't mind lol My husband got a super burrito with asada and we didn't realize it came with a side of beans and rice. I got a couple tacos to try - asada, carnitas, fish, and shrimp w/cheese. The seafood ones came with a side of salad which was refreshing! We were shocked how large the tacos were lol we are used to smaller ones. Love the handmade corn tortillas. My fave was the shrimp and cheese - juicy, tender yet crisp, tasty shrimp and cheese. Everything else was pretty good. The asada was a little dry. Enjoyed the toppings on the tacos. We were so full we had plenty of leftovers to bring home! Great value meal and staff are so nice. FYI you get a slight discount if you pay with cash. read more

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I asked Google what the best tacos were on Buford highway and this place came up. Parking was easy and we didn't need a reservation. We walked in and were seated immediately at a booth. They have a kids menu, so that always helps. The artwork and what seem to be a theme was Dios los muertos paintings and decor. The server came up very quickly, brought us chips and salsa and asked if we wanted something to drink. We ordered the mango and also the pineapple agua frescas, which we're both delicious. My wife ordered fish tacos and I had carne asada, cabeza, carnitas and barbacoa tacos, which came on one large plate overlapping each other, it was wonderful. I also ordered a carnitas burrito and a pork quesadilla. After all that food, I ate most of it but took the burrito home and it was delicious all over again at home. There were a couple of salsa options on the table, one red, one green and also some hot sauce. They also brought over some salsas that were on the plate which were different. Every taco that I tried was delicious, but my favorite had to be the cabeza. The red sauce with the tacos was fire in more than one way. I don't know if these are the best tacos on Buford, but I haven't had any better. This is a great place for everyone to enjoy! read more

El Rey del Taco - Tacos piled around the plate. It's like Taco heaven! The red sauce is delicious and spicy. - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Wanted to try this place after hearing great reviews. Was very disappointed though. I ordered 4 mini tacos to go- 2 carne asada, carnitas & adobada. It was ready right away. It was around $14 for 4 mini tacos. Food was not good. Both red and green salsas were way too spicy and I like spicy food but it wasn't enjoyable. Parking lot is small for the amount of shops/restaurants there. Would NOT come here ever again. read more

El Rey del Taco - Mini Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

El Rey del Taco came highly recommended by Reddit lol. I ordered a pulpo taco al Pastor and 5 mini Tacos (lengua, tripa, buche, cabeza, y barbacoa de res y chivo). That's tongue, tripe, pork stomach, cow cheek, and beef/goat. I don't see pulpo tacos offered in taquerias very often so I was pleased to see it here. The pulpo taco was excellent. I am a big fan of octopus and it was cooked well in this instance. Octopus can get chewy and rubbery but not here. It was seasoned well and the al pastor flavor came through without overpowering the octopus. I really liked this. I'm an adventurous eater and I know a lot of my mini taco choices will probably turn off some people, but they were really good. Some taco places don't always offer these meats but I'm glad El Rey del Taco does. I won't break it down by each taco, but the different flavors and textures that each meat brings to the table is awesome. If you've never tried any of these meats before maybe a taco is the perfect vessel to do so. My brother really doesn't like tongue, but he loves them in tacos. Maybe that'll be the case for you too! Since I'm not a local I don't know what the going rate is for tacos like these, but they seemed kind of pricey at $3+ each. Back home in NJ I can get similar tacos for under $2. But overall this place is good. Food is great, service is good, and it's clean enough. I can see how parking can get dicey as it was difficult for me at about 5PM on a very rainy Monday. read more

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Best taco spot in the city. The parking lot is small but you can always park in the lot right next door.

Food was delicious (as usual) with outstanding presentation. The avocados were cut and designed to look like flowers. Everything was cooked perfectly. Shrimp ceviche had great flavor. The service was great and efficient. Another great meal at El Rey del Taco. read more

El Rey del Taco - Ceviche De Camaron - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I came here once with a friend to catch up and was instantly teleported to an authentic Latin experience! The servers are so welcoming and the place is stemming with vibrant music and the smells of amazing food. Everything on the menu is excellent! read more

El Rey del Taco - Guacamole Dip - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

It's been a while since I have updated my review on El Ray and it has NOT changed a bit. This is still high on my list of go to places for really Authentic Mexican food. We arrived on a Saturday and of course it was slammed. Be got on the list and got our call within the 15 minute window. Not bad for a Saturday. We even got a booth. We ordered some of our regulars. Chicken Tinga, Carne Asada, and Chorizo Tacos with sides of guacamole, queso, and refried beans. Complimentary chips and salsa quickly arrived. And yum. The salsa was on the high heat side but as tasty as it gets. We both just kept eating knowing we shouldn't with the amount of food that was on its way. The queso and guacamole arrived and they looked so good we just dove right in. We had ordered it with jalapeños which weren't there but decided they were trying to save us! And then the tacos arrived. Beauty. Awesome. Delicious. Yes, they were all perfect. The tastes were perfect as we shared bites. Decisions had to be made. We stopped eating the queso and refried beans knowing we could heat up at home. And we focused on the guacamole and tacos. We did it. Asked for a couple of togo containers and a bag for enough chips for a party. We left as happy as one could be. Service was great. The place was packed. Before we left a group of 15 came in and sat the booths across from us. Nine children and six adults. Kids were probably between the ages of 3 and 15...and perfectly behaved. I just kept looking at them and smiling in amazement. Thanks to the parents. And what a way to start the holiday season. Highly recommend and will definitely return. read more

The food is awesome! Great genuine Mexican food in ATL area. I recommend the chicharron quesadillas. read more

Great food 10/10. I was driving through planning to eat at home when I saw how full the parking lot was to this place and had to turn around. I made a good choice because the food was great. Picture is a visual representation of how good the tacos looked since I accidentally ate them all before I could take a pic. read more

I haven't been to El Rey in years, but it is such a great late night spot. My fiance and I flew back into Atlanta late, and we just needed something to eat. Most places besides fast food are closed at 11pm, but El Rey stays open until 1am on weekdays which is AMAZING. Typically, the parking lot for this plaza is stressful because it's so small, but since it was so late, we had no issues. During regular business hours, you should expect to find some difficulties finding a spot unless you get super lucky. Inside of the restaurant is very colorful, and I love it. It was also super clean. We were seated pretty quickly. My fiance ordered tacos, and I got the fajitas texanas. I also ordered guacamole. We were brought chips and salsa, and it was delicious. The guac I got was so good too. We also had a horchata, and it was a HUGE cup. The food was definitely good. I wouldn't say it is the best in the area, and I do feel like they served pretty small pieces of meat compared to other places I had. However, it was really good. If you're looking for a late night bite or just a good place for Mexican food, El Rey is a solid choice. read more

El Rey del Taco - Fajitas texanas - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The food was fresh, fast and tasty! The service was excellent, the atmosphere is busy and casual. Don't have to be fancy to eat here! read more

El Rey Del Taco is a popular Mexican restaurant on Buford Highway. It stays open pretty late and it is really popular at night, so there might be a bit of a wait depending on when you arrive. It can also get pretty crowded inside because the space is a bit small. I ordered the Shrimp Tacos and Steak Tacos. I was not that impressed because the shrimp and steak were super salty. I could not enjoy the tacos because of that. However, I like the chips and salsa that they give you when you first get to the restaurant. The chips are fresh and the salsa has a good kick to it! I also enjoy their refried beans and rice, but it can taste a bit salty. Lastly, their frozen margaritas are pretty strong but yummy! read more

El Rey del Taco - Shrimp Tacos and Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

We ordered a Cubana torta with a side of rice and beans. The torta was packed with ham, cheese, egg, sausage, marinated pork, guacamole, and pico de gallo. It was mouthwatering and delicious but might be a bit salty for some. Bonus: you can even get a satisfying cheese pull! We also got two steak tacos, two pork tacos, and one shrimp taco. They're best enjoyed with the green sauce and a squeeze of lime--the red sauce packs some serious heat! We paid in total $44, including drinks and tax. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. Just a heads-up: weekends get busy, so it's a good idea to call ahead if you're coming with a group of four or more. The music can get pretty loud, so it might be hard to have a conversation at times. read more

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Food was excellent, service exceptional. Very authentic Mexican food for a good price.

Great food, service and ambience every time we go and we go really often. Edited to say I just read through some of the 1 star reviews and they are silly. The claim of racial discrimination was particularly hilarious. I am Caucasus mountain, glow in the dark, Casper white and have never ever been treated poorly here. If you saw people seated before you they probably reserved a table, were on the wait list, or had a smaller party size than yours making it easier to seat them quickly. No one "in 2026" is discriminating against you for being white. Get a grip. I come here once a month or so and wait times are largely based on table/party size and little else. If you have a long wait it just means a lot of people get how good this place is. I'd like the shake the chefs hand one of these day. read more

The Food is excellent! This is my go to For good Mexican food. It's a small restaurant space but worth the wait. Corn tortillas are out of this world and Horchata is on point! read more

Definitely delicious, and the price point is right. Would come here again! I got the shrimp tacos (would order again) and the octopus taco (would search for something else). Tacos came with salad. I did enjoy the chips and salsa amuse-bouche. Frozen mango margarita with sugar rim was definitely delicious and I would order it again! Parking was not totally easy as the parking lot is definitely small. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was casual. read more

I've been coming here for 4 years! I've never had any issues! Not even a missing fork !! A great late night spot. Great food! The black lady with the red hair at the register is always very nice & calm considering how busy they always are. She's a sweetheart! read more

This is one of my go to taco spots. Service is amazing and consistent. Tacos are just the right size and flavorful. There's a festive feeling in this little place. It's not a large space and there is always a line, but with good reason! They also stay open really late, like until 3am. Convenient for late night munchies. read more

Came back to eat here when I was in the area. This place is so clean! Food was so fresh and delicious. Our server was very attentive. I will for sure be back. 10/10 would recommend. read more

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The tacos are terrific. This is a GREAT late night spot, and there was a decent crowd of other patrons that clearly felt the same way. We went around 12:30am after attending a birthday party. The drinks are strong, and the tacos are big with homemade tortillas. So flavorful. Are server was sweet, too. They did a surprise birthday celebration and song for me and gave us a surprise order of flan for the table. All in all, I'm very glad that we went. read more

Absolutely loved the food here. Depending on the time you visit though, they may be super packed so be mindful. Their guacamole is a must try also. read more

Tried this place on Buford Highway for the first time. Let me start off by saying that I've been in Atlanta a while and there are a lot of good Mexican places in this town. I try to find the more authentic Mexican places, as opposed to Tex-Mex. El Rey gets 5 stars. It's now tied with my favorite Mexican place. I had a cabeza, an asada, and a fish taco and ordered cheese dip for the table. The others got assorted tacos and quesadillas. It was all great, as was the salsa they brought for the chips. They kept a green and a red sauce on the table too, to spice up your tacos (the red is pretty hot). The place itself is not fancy, but is colorfully decorated. Our waitress was wonderful, very friendly and helpful. I'll go back. read more

Literally the best taco spot and always my go to. I love their mini tacos so it's always packed full of protein. It can get busy so I would go off peak hours or go early, and put your name on the waitlist. They did do a bit of remodeling, so it looks nicer than before. Hope they expand one day and have a bigger spot! Parking can be hard to find when it does get busy. read more

El Rey del Taco - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Hands down one of the best mexican restaurants in OTP! It gets busy during weekend. Expect 20 to 30mins wait. (They do have a queue system with text updates). They changed the menu since i have last been here. Now serving tacos, quesadilla, fajitas and lots of sea food options. The chips and salsa are one of the best IMO. The food is outstanding. We got to try the tacos and mini quesadillas. Highly recommend the mini ones which are made with in house corn tortilla. (They are about the size of tacos - check pic for reference). Cant beat the prices! Very affordable. Parking can be tight. Park in the nearby complex (Google maps set to Arepa or Cuckoos cafe). read more

El Rey del Taco - Tacos (top) Mini Quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This place always hits the spot! Service is quick, food is fresh, delicious and authentic, and prices are decent! Today we had lunch here and tried Al Pastor, Carne Asada and Camarón con Cebolla tacos. All super delicious with hand made tortilla. Something about their sauces is amazing too. Not extremely spicy but with a kick. The Chips & Salsa they serve in the beginning is so good too. You can tell the chips are freshly made in house. Portions are huge. Service was super friendly and helped me with all the questions I had. There's also so much parking around it. We came in for a quick lunch so we only had their tacos but I will definitely be back and try the tortas! ESPAÑOL Este lugar siempre da en el clavo! El servicio es rápido, la comida es fresca, deliciosa y auténtica, y los precios son decentes! Hoy almorzamos aquí y probamos los tacos de Al Pastor, Carne Asada y Camarón con Cebolla. Todo súper rico con tortilla hecha a mano. Algo en sus sauces también es sorprendente. No muy picante pero con un toque súper rico. Los chips y la salsa que sirven al principio también son muy buenos. Se nota que los chips están recién hechas en casa. Las porciones son enormes. El servicio fue súper amable y me ayudó con todas las preguntas que tenía. También hay mucho aparcamiento a su alrededor. Vinimos para un almuerzo rápido, así que solo comimos tacos, pero definitivamente regresaré y probaré las tortas! read more

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Great atmosphere, respectful servers and staff, amazing food, authentic tacos. (get the mini tacos!). Never disappointed with to go orders, order in advance and it will be ready when you arrive! Very great speedy service. 5 stars for sure. If you ever wonder why there's always a line. Come find out! read more