This restaurant is the real deal. Friendly, welcoming, casual, with friendly service and great food. I've spent significant time in the past 15 years along the US-Mexico border, and El Rey's food is on par or better than many favourites in the American southwest. Love this place! read more

Next to China town. Staffs are nice and the price is reasonable. I ordered beer and green pepper. Both ate good. read more

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A bit of a wait on a Friday but that's to be expected for Toronto. Loved that they have outdoor heaters to extend patio season. Inside was really cozy and they had a great selection of drinks and snacks. Important that drinks weren't watered down because you want to get what you pay for! It's a great place in Kensington and better than the conventional bars further east in financial district! read more

Great drinks. Fun atmosphere. Def a place to stop. Fish tacos. Yum yum. Good music. Come hingry. And with one or many friends. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Pretty pimpin and rey paloma! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Oh El Rey how I love you!! Never a time that I don't feel like tacos and you guys do it so right. My go to is sharing some chips and gauc, a lime margarita, and one fish taco and one chicken. So cute in here. My favourite place to stop when in Kensington. I tell everyone to come here, everything from the service to the decor is off the charts. I come here as often as I can and am dreaming of my next visit. Thank you for fuelling my taco addiction!! read more

First time here and saw good reviews. In kensington , so pretty busy area. Very limited inside seating , however they do have a patio that is not covered (have an umbrella above some benches). Although there was no line up it took awhile before someone came to sit us down... looked like they were understaffed and that was a little annoying. However otherwise my friend and i came for drinks and their cocktails are delicious and unique. Their ig page also shows what specials they have during the day. The inside decor is nice as well. Overall cool vibes. Didnt get a chance to try their food/snacks but if i do come by this place again i may give it another shot! read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - a hand holding a tall glass with a drink in it - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Unexpected find! Got to Kensington on a Monday night kinda late, 7:30pm. As the taco places we wanted to go to was closed or closing. So found this spot and grabbed takeout (lockdown 2.0)! Their tacos were amazing! So we're the drinks!! Can't wait to come back and sit on their patio and try out all the rest of their items!! read more

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Staff was very friendly and the food and cocktail were delicious. I loved the birria taco with the consome. I wanted to drink the whole consome up because it was so delicious. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Birria tacos with consome, chicken tinga tacos, marinated cucumbers and open window cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is one of my go-to spots when I visit Kensington in the summer, so with the last few waning warm days upon us I had to get in some tacos last night. El Rey is a vibey place with a cozy interior, bustling patio, excellent taste in music (heavy Daniel Caesar, R&B and old school hip hop) as well as one of the best mezcal selections in Toronto and plenty of delicious cocktails. Here's a rundown of the meal: - Drinks: hard to go wrong with any of their signature cocktails, but be bold and try one of the mezcal ones, you won't regret it - Guac and Chips: always solid, they do theirs with a cashew pesto (except for this time as they graciously handled our table's cashew allergy) and some pico de gallo. I love their homemade chips, they're thicc and pack a good crunch - Al Pastor: a solid but unspectacular taco in my eyes, they do it well enough but it doesn't quite blow me away - Crispy Squid Tacos: the combo of tamarind + coconut I was skeptical about at first, but they played it really well and it turned out great - Birria Burritos: these are pretty hefty, packed with meat and served with sour cream and a spicy consomme flavoured (?) aioli. These are delicious and I loved the sauces, just take notice that these are not served with consomme on the side. The birria meat itself was very delicious too. - Birria Quesadillas: the more traditional birria style, these ones have cheese, plenty of meat and a side of consomme and their spicy aioli. The combo of birria quesadilla + spicy aioli + consomme definitely packed a punch and was a heck of a bite. My only qualm here was it would be nice if the quesadillas were crispier and if the consomme was a bit less salty Overall would say this is one of my fave mexican spots in the city. They do their meats really well, everything is fresh, and their cocktails are great which makes this perfect for anything from a lunch with friends to a date night. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Birria Quesadillas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Situated on the edge of Kensington Market, you'll find Grant van Gameren's mezcal bar, El Ray. In addition to incredible cocktails, they serve a mean takeout menu of Mexican-influenced street fare including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and molotes. For tacos, try the Al Pastor (grilled pork with pineapple relish), cauliflower or crispy squid and tamarind. If you're looking for something a bit different, opt for one of the molotes, a crispy corn-based pastry pocket stuffed with a variety of braised proteins and veggies. El Ray's guac is also a must -- laced with just the right amount of cilantro for a refreshing bite. If you're hungry, consider ordering extra because each dish comes with two pieces. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This little hole in the wall spot is super cozy, cute and perfectly tucked away in between the shops. Britt B. located this place on Yelp when researching the neighboring vintage shops. She wanted to give it a try due to her affinity for mezcal. We were greeted by our bartender and server Mark(c) immediately upon entry. We opted to take seats at the bar given our sole purpose was to enjoy adult beverages. Two of us ordered margaritas with sugar rims and the other two opted for the Open Windows cocktail featuring mezcal. The margarita was great and the other cocktail was enjoyed by the gals who appreciate the smoky flavor of mezcal. In fact, they enjoyed two each. I would've loved to try the tacos; however, we enjoyed a large lunch at the CN Tower earlier in the day so I lacked the appetite. We did order the guacamole and chips as well as the marinated cucumbers. I loathe cucumbers so I can't attest to whether or not these were enjoyable. Albeit, the girls appeared to enjoy them. The guacamole was quite different than what I'm accustomed to ordering as it featured garbanzillo, crispy chickpeas and pickled cucumbers. It's definitely an interesting twist on good ole faithful guacamole with a hint of lime and fresh cilantro! The chips were nice and crisp and somewhat mimicked a pita chip. Mark(c) did an excellent job taking care of our needs and was super friendly. Additionally, he provided some worthwhile advice when asked about particular venues. The drinks were superb, the food was fresh, the restaurant and restrooms were clean. I would definitely return here, but with an appetite! read more

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Food was really good , really good service , great with allergies and a very chill spot for a day of walking around the market

I enjoyed my dinner here, but it's not the best taco place in the city and it's a bit overpriced. As others have mentioned, the Crispy Squid taco was the absolute highlight. I could have eaten 10 of those. However the other tacos were a bit lacklustre. In particular, the Cauliflower taco was disappointing. The Chicken Pipian Molotes tasted like something I might have reheated from my freezer. Not great. I also had some cocktails - very overpriced. Don't bother with the Old Fashioned. read more

Came here on a whim with a friend as we were just strolling through kensington market looking for a quick bite to eat! It's a smaller restaurant but the interior design is beautiful and super cozy! Lucky for us we came during happy hour and they had $4 off margaritas. We each had a marg and it was supperrrrr boozy and also quite delicious. I was a bit shocked by their food prices (example: $12 for 2 tacos), which seemed a bit drastic. There are other Mexican restaurants in Kensington, so you want somewhere a bit more affordable then I suggest going elsewhere. read more

Mezcal is in their name, and El Rey wins at that game! I'm a huge fan of mezcal so naturally was excited to try to this cute little bar in the Kensington Market neighborhood, and to say this place exceed my nonexistent expectations would be an understatement. Came here my first night in Toronto, and after a long day of traveling, I couldn't think of anything I wanted more than a taco and a mezcal, and El Rey fulfilled that hankering (and then some). El Rey is pretty small, and on a Friday night, the place was popping! Upon arrival we were greeted by the host (who doubled as a bartender) and let us know he'd get us a table, and less than five minutes later, we were escorted to the next room and sat at an adorable two top. Our waitress came over quickly and took our drink order. I had the Open Window (tequila, mezcal, chilis) and wow did it hit the spot. Smoky, spicy, and very drinkable; it was absolutely delicious. I took the al pastor tacos, with a pineapple relish, and this smoky hot sauce that was out of this world. The perfect hint of spicy while still retaining flavor yet not taking away for the tender meaty flavor of the al pastor. El Rey definitely leans more on the side of a bar that happens to serve food, over the other way around, but that is fine with me! El Rey is one of those places that specializes in one or two things and absolutely murders it. My friend had the Walker Choice cocktail, which was very floral, effervescent, and very refreshing. Overall, amazing food, beverages, services, and vibe!! Def a place I could see myself coming back to just hang out and grab drinks with friends, especially in the summer months because it looks like they have an adorable patio outside. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - The Open Window! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is my first post-COVID-outbreak restaurant review, so I might be being more generous than my usual self. With that being said, I still think that El Rey is excellent and deserving of your attention next time you're in the Kensington Market area. First and foremost, the staff was VERY attentive to 2020-appropriate health and safety protocols. That means: wait staff wearing masks the entire time, digital menus, hand sanitizer bottles on the table, the whole 9 yards. The patio tables (which had great ambience with the dim lighting later on in the evening) were well spaced apart and I felt comfortable the entire time. After my safety-related concerns were all addressed, I dug into the tacos and the Guac & Chips - all of which were spectacular. The Al Pastor was the perfect combination of sweet and savoury, but the Crispy Squid tacos is really what won me over. I know some people may have reservations with having squid on tacos, but I'd definitely give it a try. The guac could have used a little more seasoning, but after 4 months staying at home, I was just happy to eat guac. All in all, I had a great experience at El Rey. Make sure to get there early so that you can secure a seat on their patio! read more

Great drinks, but not thrilled with the Mexican food. Food more like hipster-Mex fusion. If you want true Mexican tacos this is not your place. But if you drink several of their alcoholic beverages first, you'll think you are eating true Mexican street tacos (I suppose). Also, portions are small. You don't get what you pay for or maybe you do if you've had quite a bit to drink Over all I give this place a 5 for atmosphere and drinks and a 2.5 for their food. Oh, forgot service. Out waitress was ok but there was a guy with a Shania Twain t-shirt, that came by to check on us and he was super fun! read more

I had some rum and cokes and in it they gave me 3 giant ice cubes filling entire glass literally (silly) and the booze was virtually non-existant (could not even taste it) They are serving lowest end drinks that might even be watered down. I might as well have been drinking coke zero only. The bartender spoke to same girl forever at bar and finally asked me if I needed a drink. I tried one last time to see if it was me or them. (I was done trying to get an actual alcoholic drink after 3rd one) paid bill and left read more

El Ray never disappoints. Whether it's cocktails, ceviche, or Mezcal they always hit the spot. The ambiance inside is so warm no matter where you're sitting. The patio is a patio. They have such friendly staff always willing to recommend food n' drinks. Yes they have good tacos, guac, and margaritas... but the name of the place is MEZCAL BAR! So if you Don't know what that is ask their staff and step into the world of Mezcal. Perfect date spot. Prices are what you would expect anywhere decent in Toronto. read more

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I come to this place quite a bit, and always spend $100 PLUS. Last night I took a friend and spent about $260 after tip. I love going out and splurging here. It saddens me that last night I had never been treated so badly by a member of service staff in my life.. I almost wanted to ask "hi I'm sorry did I do something to offend you" but felt it would be somewhat inappropriate. At this point we wanted to order Mezcal and the server hadn't been to our table in a while and we kept trying to get his attention... FINALLY, he is walking by our table, I perk up and ask "excuse me".... I kid you not this man child stopped dead in his tracks, ROLLED HIS EYES, turned to us and went "yes" in such a demeaning tone... I'm sorry to bug sir is it literally not YOUR JOB to be here and serve your tables... we asked for the shots and he never came with them... we had to ask the kind other server that was clearly picking up his slack the whole night.. she was an angel.. we had our shots in minutes. I will be back, but I will never let some man ever treat me like that again while I'm paying good money to enjoy myself.. so I'll come prepared next time and will match what ever energy he throws at me.. Love this place for the Mezcal, ambience, and the food is great! Just learn how to hire people that treat others with the BARE MINIMUM of respect... read more

Yup, it's that good. The molotes (crispy pouches with goodness inside), the tacos, the guac, the pozole (traditional soupy stew), the cocktails! I always loved the cocktails here, and even in winter, they were serving up a to-go hot boozy cocktail that was seriously one of the best hot cocktails I've had. Everything here is top notch. Can't wait to enjoy their cozy interior again one day in the future. But for now, takeout (and hopefully the patio in the near future) will have to do. It's definitely one of Kensington's most sought-after patio spots. And now you know why! :) xo read more

Look guys... the confidence is there but the heart is stuck in a abyss of blandness. Food is outright... bad. This is not authentic Mexican food. The Aztec gods are cringing in their graves at the thought of your "birria quesadillas". Drinks 8/10 Food 3/10 - Daniel from Los Angeles read more

To be fair I didn't try the food but I'm giving the Hibiscus Financier the 5 stars because it was a fun dessert to look at and eat. Loved the flavor & texture. The staff were also friendly and the overall vibe is sweeet! read more

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Gord and I had supper this evening at El Rey Mezcal Bar (they opened in May). It's a cute spot. They had a great rum selection (which I appreciated) and an interesting beer selection (which Gord appreciated). Gord had the Anticuchos ... "Peruvian meat skewers" is beef heart (Gord is adventurous at times). He said it was really good and he'd get it again. I had the Skirt Steak Tostada. It too was delicious. It had a bit of a bite. I'd get it again. Nick was our server and he took good care of us. He was very knowledgeable about the food and their rum. We'll be back! read more

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First time trying El Rey. Limited taco options on the menu and not much seating inside. The food was decent. Ordered nachos with guacamole dip, Birria burritos, and cauliflower tacos. read more

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I like the ambiance - there's a lot of detail in the interior. However, it's pricey. Especially for Kensington, in my opinion. Considering that this place was opened by the same owners as Bar Raval, which is one of my all time favourites, I'm fairly disappointed. We came on a Tuesday night around 9pm. Only one guy was serving - it didn't take long for the orders but he didn't seem to really want to be there, which is fair if you're serving the joint solo. More or less: I was hungry and I felt bad for ordering food. It was margarita night which meant $3 off, but it was still $10 for a margarita - didn't feel quite like a deal to me, but much expected from a place like this. The margarita wasn't special either - tasted like a frat party premix. The food was okay but for its size and price, it's $$. I tried all three tacos (beef brisket, pork and squid), I was only impressed by the pork. The guac and chips were okay - the chips are hella salty, so beware! I liked the touch of cranberries in the guac. I wouldn't go again on a weekday night. From the other reviews, I feel like it might be better on a busy weekend... however, that sounds like a nightmare to me. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Cute menu though - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came here on a sunny day after work to get drinks on a patio. The patio was full, so we sat by the windows, which was still pleasant. I ordered the La Niña Fresa (light & sweet) and my boyfriend had the Paloma (alcohol tasted pretty strong). We also ordered fries/chorizo to share, which was kind of a poutine. It had Tocino mayo, cheese, jalapeño peppers, bean sauce, and crumbled chorizo! The atmosphere inside is really fun and it's in a good location. read more

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The costumer service ladies outside, really wanna sell me a dish that we don't want to have, she kept repeating it 3 times the moments we wanted only chips with guacamole , then asked her is she can put guacamole on the side she said no I can't put in the side. We end up having only drinks! It's owners lost we could spend more money on food, but her attitude made us going somewhere else;-( read more

Strolled in here while in Kensington market area. It was our last day here, and I wish I stumbled into this place sooner. Like the area it's in, this bar had the chill hipster vibe. The bartender was attentive and chilled and the drink he made was delicious. I would visit this spot again if I visit Toronto again. I would visit Kensington market as a whole if I go back. That's my favorite area. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Suspicious minds - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cute little restaurant inside of kensington market with a bigger patio outside. I went there at around 6pm on a Saturday and was able to get a seat inside in about 10 minutes. The interior feels very western with dark woods and knick knacks around, doesn't feel like you're in the city. I just got a few snacks. Got the empanada, cripsy outside hot savory filling inside with a tangy a bit spicy dipping sauce on the side. The octopus tostada was beautiful to look at, bright green from the avocado with red chilis on top. But for $15 it was very small. The octopus itself was nicely grilled and taste good but it was a snack for the price of an entree. With an extensive drink menu this is a great place to grab a snack and drinks but I wouldn't come hungry or else i'd have to spend a good amount to be full read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - empanadas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Cute spot. Went here for an early brunch and sat on the patio. We waited about 20 mins for someone to come to us to ask if someone had helped us already. Anyways, I got a quick bite to eat -- the bean and cheese tostada -- which I really enjoyed. It was super tasty but extremely smallllll (so I'd say to get three if you're starving). Overall it was a cute patio but I won't be coming back because of how limited the menu is. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Bean and cheese tostada - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Decent food -- like snacks though, at least for me. Are tostadas bite-sized? Maybe I'm just a big eater. But tasty tasty tasty! Good atmosphere and friendly staff. They're willing to banter with you and make custom drinks if you'd like. That being said... expensive drinks. Everything is kinda expensive in Kensington though. They're decent tasting drinks but I'd rather go to a proper cocktail bar instead of a Mexican place for that price. The patio looks cool though, I wish I had tried that out. Also they had this freaky mirror thing going on on the walls or ceiling? I forgot but it was pretty rad when I first noticed it. Overall, not bad for what it is. read more

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Had a dinner on their patio and was extremely disappointed with their service. At first I was forgiving of the mistakes because restaurants are understaffed due to covid, however our server was actually condescending and rude - I was shocked. The food was ok but nothing special and was pretty over priced. There are definitely better Mexican spots in this city. read more

Came here for the drinks and was very pleased, since I don't drink, they were able to make one of their cocktails virgin, also very friendly staff! read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I have been to this spot a few times and never have anything to complain about. Bartenders are top notch and exceptionally skilled. Food is never a disappointment, I've had nearly everything on the menu and it's always mouth watering. Best guacamole I've ever had. Atmosphere is very cozy sun or snow, the patio in the summertime is one of my favourite places to be. Sometimes there is even a live mariachi band! Definitely would recommend to everyone I know. read more

Excellent if you like tequilla, mezcal or cocktails in general. This place is basically dangerous if that's what you like. Compared Repesado on Ossington, the prices here are much better and the ambiance is much more relaxed. read more

Really 3.5 stars. I came here a few times two years ago and loved it! They had unusual snacks (there was a crispy fried wafer like chip with a hot sauce on top) and more options for mains outside of the current tostadas and tacos. It also tasted amazing. Since then then the menu has changed significantly and I find the food is just OK in flavor. The drinks and ceviche are still great. The service is still friendly and attentive. And I love the cozy decor and vibe. (plus a patio!) Unfortunately the menu and the food hasnt been as good as it used to be. It's also pretty expensive for what you're getting. read more

A really cool Mexican spot in Kensington. I REALLY liked the chicken tostada I got as well as the chorizo fries. The guac was good, but not amazing and I wasn't the biggest fan of the empanadas. read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I came here for cocktails on a Friday night. It was full but we were seated promptly. Very cute space - dimly lit - perfect for date night. What I can't get over was the service. I can't remember the last time I was treated so well at a bar. We were promptly greeted upon arrival with a smile and conversation. The bartender was witty and eager to help us select the right cocktail for our tastes. All the staff were an absolute dream! read more

El Rey Mezcal Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Overall experience: 8.5/10 Food: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8.5/10 Looking at photos, you would think that El Rey is a small joint with select bar seating and a few tables near the window behind the bar. My friend and I were ended up being seated in a little seating area, just to the left and up a couple of stairs as you enter. It is a physically transportive experience. You no longer are in Kensington or Toronto, but rather a wonderfully local Mexican joint. The lighting is dim (but not in an obnoxious way) and the decor authentic. But to the food. We shared the hamburguresa and the empanadas. To top off the night, we each enjoyed a grilled octopus tostada. All in all, I would say what you will enjoy at El Rey is small but mighty. Dishes have been well thought out and each possess their own zest and flavour. An easy add to the list of ones to come back to. THE BOTTOM LINE: A great little spot if you are looking for something fairly quick, not too fancy, but delicious. read more