I came to El Rey with a coworker for Happy Hour. Nestled in the restaurant-filled area of U Street, El Rey boasts some of the most colorful aesthetics you'll find at a Mexican restaurant. They have an initial dining area in the front, but in the back is where the fun is. Our server greeted us warmly and went over the Happy Hour Menu and specials with us. It was Taco Tuesday, so we both ordered 3 for $10 tacos and an $8 frozen margarita. For happy hour specials, El Rey didn't lack in quality or price. Because it was our first time, we were given complimentary tequila shots to go with our drinks. The mango margarita was blended smoothly, and the flavor was spot on. It didn't seem watered down at all. My coworker enjoyed her passionfruit one. I ordered the Al Pastor tacos, and one element that caught my eye were the cube-shaped pork. Regardless, the tacos had great flavors, from the meat, pineapples, and sauce. We also received an order of chips with hot queso cheese and salsa after our bill came. Not sure if they're usually free but we were still hungry lol. If you're looking for a lively atmosphere with a fulfilling Happy Hour, El Rey is the place to go. read more

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We decided to come here to pregame before the 2nd spot. We got "premium pitchers of margaritas. We got Strawberry and Strawberry Mango flavors. They were both good and not too sweet. We ordered different tacos. I got the Birria tacos. Very flavorful and filling. Very good. My friends ordered the DC one. I can't remember the name of it. Oh yeah and we ordered Nachos! So good! Not too spicy! I left out to go meet one of my friends and when we came back, there was a line outside to get in. So it gets pretty crowded after happy hour. I'll definitely come back for happy hour. Sometimes they have a DJ in there. read more

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El Rey is a staple for me to go to before shows at the 9:30 Club. The location is great, right off U street, very close to the metro. They have some indoor and outdoor seating. They have $7 margaritas during happy hour, the mango is my personal favorite. Last time I got the chips and queso, the queso doesn't taste like queso and it is not my favorite. I usually get the birria tacos and they are really good, the meat is juicy and the tacos are crispy. You can order from an app or they have a server walking around taking orders. They do card you at the door, so don't forget your ID! read more

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I have a love and hate relationship with this place. For starters the food does come out fast and it taste so good but the service in this establishment sucks. I have to chase down a worker for drinks and food almost always. Last time I went the bartender took our food and drinks before happy hour ended and he ended up messing up our order and the time for happy hour ended and he did not want to accommodate us again and charged us FULL price for food items we ordered with time. He realized he made a mistake as we seen how upset we all were and sent us a round of drinks which is appreciated but some of us didn't eat food as we were annoyed, he didn't try and help us out knowing he made the mistake. read more

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Great service and a variety of gluten free options on the menu. They offer a happy hour on Saturday, which was appealing to our group. Their rooftop is great during summer and they have space on the lower level you can reserve for events. read more

I've been here a number of times with friends, usually already feeling good to say the least and it's been cool. I've now tried to pop in here two times solo and the first was ok. It was nothing memorable, honestly, and the quesadilla was mid. This most recent time, I sat at the bar for a bit and waited for the bartender. He finally comes over on a non busy night and I see some beers on tap that I'm not familiar with and he says, exasperatedly, "I don't know, I'm just kinda here, I haven't tried it." I said ah ok cool and walked out. read more

El Rey - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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3 stars for food quality, 4 stars for location, open air seating, order at the bar and fast and friendly service

I've been going to El Rey for years, and every single time I come through, it's a good experience across the board. From the staff to the bartenders to the overall vibe, this place has always been consistent. Over the past couple of years, adding a DJ has really elevated the atmosphere. It's gone from just being a solid spot to grab drinks to a place where the energy actually feels like a party, especially on busy nights. They're also really creative with specials, whether it's Howard basketball or football games, holiday promos, or limited-time menu items. You can tell they're always thinking about ways to keep things fresh. The pitchers are really what keep me coming back. They're strong, no question about it. If you get something on the rocks, especially the strawberry or mango, it hits every time. The frozen swirl pitchers are also a go-to if you're trying to switch it up. Either way, you're getting your money's worth. They've also added some newer food items over time, like the Mexican pizzaa. If you're looking for a spot with good drinks, good energy, and a staff that knows how to keep things moving, El Rey is hard to beat. Always a good time, always a solid choice. read more

Frozen margaritas are a yes for sure at El Rey. The Al pastor tacos though .... Are a big no no. The pieces of meat were thick squares, chewy and fatty. I only ate a half of a taco out of the 3 that I needed to buy because that was their special for the day. It was gross and inedible. My friends got the Burria tacos and loved them so go that route if you decide to stop by. The restaurant was very busy on the day I came. Shoutout to the DJ because they brought all of the energy. The bartender I was ordering with was not the friendliest but I'm sure he'd also had a long day. All in all, will not be getting Al pastor tacos from here again. read more

El Rey - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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El Rey is a popular spot to pregame on U Street. They are known for their Margarita pitchers, which you can have regular or frozen. Also, they have pretty good nachos. At nighttime, the bouncers are sometimes jerks and the place can get packed with a line outside the door. On one visit, they denied my friend entry because her ID had a crack in it, and they refused to scan it and accused her of having a fake ID. Mind you, we were 24 at the time. Why would we be carrying fake IDs? read more

El Rey - Steak Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

DC needs more late night eateries, so I want this place to succeed. But, it will definitely not be through their tacos. I went here for a last hurrah happy hour with my grad school classmates and the happy hour prices were fantastic. But the taco I had was mediocre at best (I'm glad that I just got one). The shining star of the night were the nachos. They were really good. Like surprisingly good. They were out of a few things on the menu, which is one of my pet peeves with dining out. And the service was pretty DC standard. They were just there to do their job --- nothing more/nothing less. And the ambiance was "dive island bar", but is great for meeting with a group of friends/coworkers/sport team members (definitely wouldn't bring family, date, or out-of-towners). DC is not a great city for tacos, so the search continues. 2.75 out of 5 stars read more

One of our go to spots margarita pitchers and good tacos. Music is always good and people typically have a great time. Service can be hit or miss. read more

El Rey - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My favorite part about El Rey is the sky view from the back of the restaurant. It does get busy some nights but it's still a cool spot to have a few drinks and tacos. On Tuesdays they have 3 tacos for $10 which is a great deal! This place gives me the vibe that it's for younger people so I did feel kind of old but the music was nice and the atmosphere is cool so I've enjoyed myself here each time I've went. The women's bathroom was awful and the parking is hit or miss that's the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars. read more

El Rey - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

When I got my bill I was charged $100 when all I had ordered was 2 tacos and 2 modelos. I had to ask for an itemized receipt because I thought I was getting scammed! The food was good, but the service was subpar, didn't even seem like they were sorry for mistaking my order, trying to pull a fast one on me. I was at the bar trying to place an order and it felt like I was being ignored. C'mon now. read more

Estuvimos ayer visitando el Rey con mi esposa. Yo pedí 3 tacos de asada y mi esposa una quesadilla de pollo acompañado con chips y guacamole. Todo eran muy delicioso totalmente recomendado los tacos eran una delicia con un sabor único. También pedimos una Jarra de margarita suprema de mango y era riquísima. En total hemos pasado una linda tarde y también recibimos la mejor atención de parte de Nico. Sin duda volveremos pronto! read more

El Rey - Carne Asada Chips - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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El reeeeyyyyyyy!!!!!! I've passed by so many times but it's always tricky trying Mexican inspired spots (sorry not sorry) this obviously isn't authentic but the taste is there. I appreciate a creative taco, and I'll give them that recognition. My Al pastor taco came with pineapple and as a sweet and savory LOVER. It melted into my mouth. The meat wasn't rough or too chewy either. It was flavorful and not dry which was worth it. I also got the choriqueso and it was a bit underwhelming. The other toppings got overpowered by the choriqueso (duh) but it tasted more like a pupusa rather than taco. My fellow kitties got the chicken burrito, dc taco and the carne nada - the meows that were shared were also a bit underwhelming- the dc taco was a bit too dry and disappointing (as a dc native you'd like to support dc everything!!! Maybe not this taco.) it was also reported that the burrito's chicken was also a bit dry. The beans and sour cream carried apparently (you can't mess up beans tho) regardless of that experience, the carne nada? 9/10. The toppings paired nicely with the fake meat and it was juicy!!!!! A juicy fake meat is hard to come by. The flavors meshed well and it was worth it. The service was a bit confusing at first since people have usually come by just for drinks. We did have to wait a second before getting served water and told how to order (I'd consider adding a QR code for ordering - they added it for the menu and then another link to download another app to order ?? Was confusing.) the ambiance was good, we came around 8:30-9 on a Saturday night before It got too crazy. We sat outside and it felt so nice. They had fans everywhere and the decorations were what was expected when you go into a Mexican inspired place. We also got drinks and they were good. I had the classic spicy marg (SO GOOD) and mango crush was also ordered. Sweet and tangy. Pretty normal. I'd come back for the drinks! read more

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El Rey is always a go-to spot, the food is consistently good and it's a fun time every time! Whether you're going for a casual bite or a lively night out, the good vibes never miss. read more

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El Rey Restaurant is my go-to spot for amazing tacos and margaritas. The flavors are always fresh, the vibe is lively, and the staff makes you feel right at home--highly recommend it! Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie read more

I'm LATE!! I know I know...I should've hit this taco spot a looonnngg time ago. But, better late than never!! With that being said, let's GO to El Rey!! . Where I am: @elrey_dc . Location Reviewed: 919 U St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Chicken, Shrimp, Fish, Beef, Vegetarian, & Impossible Tacos, Nachos, & Quesadillas. Chips n Salsa, Tostadas, Elote, Tamales, Wine, Cocktails, Beer, & Beverages!! . Items Reviewed: Their Tacos (all $4 each) The Choriqueso Taco (on a flour tortilla with mozzarella, chile de Arbol salsa, jalapeños, Spanish onion, & cilantro). DELICIOUS!! Meaty, spicy, probably better on a corn tortilla. The Thai Shrimp Taco (on a flour tortilla with marinated shrimp, carrot jicama slaw, sriracha aioli, & cilantro). STAMP!! Spicy & tangy slaw, & well cooked, & seasoned shrimp!! The DC Taco (on a flour tortilla with fried chicken breast, potato frites, house Mambo sauce, & cilantro). STAMP!! Crispy chicken strips, sweet & spicy Mumbo, with crunchy potatoes!! They're Quesabirria Tacos (with braised beef, cheese, onions, cilantro, creama, & consumé $15). LIKE THAT!! Cheesy, with well marinated meat!! STAMP their thick, & savory consumé!! Their Nachos (with chicken, Queso, black beans, & cilantro $15). STAMP!! The chicken, & cheese set this off!! Perfect nachos!! Their Elote (corn on the cob with lime aioli, cotija cheese, & cayenne $6). LIKE THAT!! Fresh corn, thick, & tangy aioli, scrumptious!! . Customer Service: The waiter didn't write down my order so I had to repeat myself several times, via him not getting it right. The waiter also insisted that I didn't need all the food I was ordering, saying "The quesadilla would be enough." I didn't ask. Service was on point after that. . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: Rough . Recommendations: The Nachos, & tacos!! =STAMP =LIKE THAT =DELICIOUS =DECENT =PASS =NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more

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Those margarita pitchers omg! When I tell y'all I left this place lit, I'm not lying! Also they were so good! Not too sweet, just right & then more! I only ordered two tacos the Al Pastor and the Thai Shrimp taco. The Al Pastor was good but I didn't really like the Thai one that much. I still ate it though lol. I'm took off one star because of the tacos, i enjoyed the Al Pastor but I plan to visit again to try other food! read more

El Rey - Al Pastor Taco Thai Shrimp Taco - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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If i can give a narrative star .. this is deserving in all my years of frequenting this place... but I usually never have a bad experience here, but it seems the new manager African American female is ego throttling here. I myself am a manager and i work in a high volume establishment so i can understand any frustrations or pressure. But tonight her customer service was nothing but unprofessional & tasteless. It' was giving sexest & very nonchalant for anyone's concerns. To include the DJ who was also a female was very rude also! There's no human decency or understanding for customers here. They are quick to turn their backs and not solve a customers issues! Been coming here since 2018 & to experience what i did with my friends was just absolutely a disgrace that this is what this establishment has turned into when it boils down to the ppl working for them. read more

Went to El Rey with two friends before a show at the 9:30 Club. We sat outside on the patio, which was great. At the time we were there, around 6:00 on a Wednesday, it wasn't too busy or too loud. Service was friendly and timely. The food was really good. The only negative I want to mention is that this restaurant adds a 20% tip onto every bill without telling you, then they add a tip line in addition. Up to you if you want to add more than 20%, but be aware that that much is already included. read more

El Rey - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Place never disappoints. Highly recommend the streak nachos and margarita pitchers to wash it all down. read more

El Rey - Steak Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The 1 pescado taco I had is the sole reason for my 3 star review. I ordered from Uber 2 orders of the bogo adobo chicken tacos. Those get 1 star, really flavorless. The chicken is mushy like it was over boiled, basically inedible to me. BUT, the pescado taco is so flavorful and wonderfully cooked. I would have been very disappointed if I didn't add this extra taco to my order. I also asked for the crema on the side but they put it on top. I am not allergic but something to note if you do have allergy/dietary restriction requests. I would order/go to El Rey again specifically for the pescado taco. It's that good. read more

El Rey - 4 bogo adobo chicken tacos, 1 pescado taco - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love coming here for the shrimp tacos with flour tortillas. They are so delicious! They also have really good drinks and the atmosphere is always upbeat & friendly. The only thing that sucks is that they don't really open until 5 PM. read more

El Rey - Shrimp Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

5 stars only for the Margarita Pitcher 3 of us split two pitchers and had us feeling exactly how we wanted to. Bartenders were great too. read more

El Rey - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Post-Covid post: So no pandemic will stop this spot! But boy oh boy are they strict! WHICH I LOVE!!!!! Because I know they are invested in making their patrons safe! So I'll take the pat down any day! First you need a reservation. Second they'll confirm if you can fit at the table because in DC, there's still a max of 6 patrons per table. Then they'll check your ID (that's not new), then they'll take your contactless temperature. Then you'll be let in. I don't care what you need to do to keep all of us safe but THANK YOU! obvi the margs were as strong as ever and delicious. Got the nachos yum! Will have to plan accordingly for next time since this place has always been a poppin place and more that they have limited seating, I can only imagine how difficult it is to get a rez! Menu is via QR code. They are following guidelines TO THE T I love you! read more

This was a good place pre covid used tj live this place but it's gone down the hill Beware of the bill 20% service charge is added for 1/2 people That part is okay but they don't tell you on menu it's added and then hope you might add more tips People who get drunk might tip 40% before realizing their mistake I always tip 20% so it's fine I caught it but I still added a bit more as it's not bartender fault Best to avoid places like this which are bars that try to double dip the customer in a non transparent manner read more

El Rey is one of the best places to grab a drink and some Mexican food in the U Street Corridor. If it's not obvious, El Rey is located in the gayborhood so you know the drinks are going to be good/strong. They have one of the best happy hours in D.C. (M-Th 5-7PM, F 12-3PM). The Friday early happy hour is one of the best things ever especially for the lucky ones who get out of work early that day. As far as food, I had a carne asada taco and a quesadilla after downing a $3 cold tall Natty Boh--amazing Friday after-work meal! If you're looking for good local no frills D.C. flavor, El Rey is a great spot to check out and just let it all out. read more

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We were here for Saturday brunch. Found this place while walking in the Shaw area. Well, I had some really good Mexican food so when I found out about this place I was very excited. We were greeted by security personnel who checked our ID. Frankly, that was kinda weird as this place looked nothing like a club. So we were surprised why they would want to see our IDs. I am all up for checking our IDs if we order any drinks but don't check our IDs at the entrance if it's a regular restaurant that serves drinks. Let's get to the food. We were expecting chips and salsa but our server handed us the menu instead and said chips and salsa have to be ordered off the menu. Since I am a huge fan of chips and salsa I ordered it anyways. Very underwhelmed by the taste of salsa. Hardly any flavor in it. We literally used up all the hot sauce to add that punch to it. Not worth $5. We ordered various tacos. Absolutely disappointed by the portion size and flavors in each of their tacos. Thai shrimp looked the most promising but not a lot going on. Well, I am not sure if it was a one off experience. It's just my opinion based on my experience. Check it out and see if you have a good experience. read more

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The first thing you're usually greeted by at El Rey is an hour long line. This line is filled with bouncers letting in dozens of people they know ahead of you and then greet you with disrespect. You are then inside and greeted with more poor and slow service, with overpriced products, and truly poor food and drink quality. Save yourself a good time and check out 801, Capo, or Whitlows. read more

The food is outstanding. The atmosphere is perfect Margarita pitcher 100% you will enjoy your night being there

If it wasn't for the younger crew extending me an invite, I probably would not of heard or visited El Rey. Hooray I got a $3 Vegan Taco which was pretty darn tasty. The layout reminds me of a Biker's Club garage/clubhouse with a hacienda backdrop. No fancy table & chairs as the aluminum patio style & other make shift sitting arrangements are scattered amongst this colorful & spirited tin shack with a retractable roof. Aside from my tasty tacos & the friendly, tatted Bartender who made my Sangria without liquor, I was simply amused by the water faucet that was hanging out the wall giving off a small drip. Security takes their job seriously, yet with an engaging approach. You order your food at the bar, get a number & a few minutes later your food is at your table. The Servers are just as quick clearing of the tables. The go to items seemed to be the pitcher of Margaritas, Sangrias & the bountiful inexpensive food options. Happy Hour items are even cheaper. What a popular, hip & diverse hotspot offering plenty of Tacos, Burritos, a Beer Garden & an energetic bar scene. read more

El Rey - Patio View, 07.05.2019. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In DC for the weekend and my friend made this the first spot we ate at and it was definitely a great introduction. El Rey has a friendly and lit vibe and is a good place for happy hour. It's great for a group of friends or even a date as well. Parking? Forget it, Uber/ Lyft is your best friend unless you luck up and find a spot. I've been checking menus before arriving to places so I can order the first chance a waiter/waitress's comes to take any orders. With that being said I ordered 5 tacos @ $4 each (total about $23). 3 Choriqueso tacos which are ground chorizo sausage, mozzarella cheese, chile de arbol (very potent Mexican chili pepper) salsa, jalapeños, spanish onion and cilantro. The other 2 tacos were Thai shrimp tacos that come with marinated shrimp, carrot-jicama slaw, sriracha aioli (mayonnaise seasoned w/ garlic) and cilantro as well. I also I added a side queso but in powdered form to see how he would pair with the tacos. These tacos are extremely good. ESPECIALLY the Choriqueso tacos. I regretted not order 5 of those but the Thai shrimp tacos were good as well. The flavor of the sausage makes this taco one of my favs all time. With the jalapeño and chile de arbol I was surprised that the tacos weren't that spicy. I was able to actually enjoy the taco and all it's flavors. The Thai shrimp tacos have a dominant sweet taste which probably comes from the sriracha aioli sauce. I love shrimp tacos altogether so I'm gonna always order some. Lol my honest opinion, although the powdered quest on the tacos were good I wouldn't recommend it. Stick with the dip. Overall if you're looking for some quality tacos and not tryna spend too much, El Rey is the spot for you. read more

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The tacos here are pretty good despite being expensive, but I guess that's just par for the course when you get Mexican food outside of California. The service is fast and amicable, and the interior is open and leaves way for people to dance, converse, and enjoy themselves. Been here twice now and will more than likely come back again soon. read more

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I will have to come back because I did not taste any of the food items or drinks. I thought I had taken some photos but I guess I didn't not! lol. First time being here and it's like you are walking into a coloring book! All the different reds and greens on the chairs and tables. Now the chairs are not comfortable and they are high back. So if you got a little extra back there them stools are not for you. The drink items seem really good but I didn't partake in any of them at this time because we had just got back from brunch and was trying to figure out what we was about to do. So soon I will be back to try out the delicious looking tacos and variety of drinks. Service was slow so that's why they only got the 3-stars. read more

I love El Rey! It's my premiere pregame spot in DC! It's like the trendy taco place with great margs and lots of people mingling. Be alert that you need ID to get into the place at all times I believe. The food is always bomb! I used to always get the quesdillas but the nachos have literally become my fav fav thing! The margarita pitchers always do me right with sharing with friends. It's limited seating so you'll have to get there early or wait and stalk people for a table...not even joking. I wish it was a bit better but its DC so yea! Omg the service is always great as well..the food comes out really fast. If you're at a table you have to order at the bar tho. If you're looking for a place with good priced drinks & food that's filling, gonna get you lit, & be a vibe then El Rey is thee spot to kick off your night! read more

El Rey - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited on a busy Saturday for lunch, the wait was about 10 minutes so not too bad. There is a very close parking garage so that's convenient. They have a spacious outdoor area when you actually go inside the restaurant. I liked the vibe of it. I loved the queso and chips! This was my first time with the Birria tacos, they were good. I also got one of there frozen drinks in a pitcher, loved it. Def would visit again. read more

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Great happy hour- pretty good margaritas and decent nachos for a great price. Service was fast, and the place had a cool dive bar vibe. Would definitely recommend this place if you're in the area. read more

I ordered delivery because I was really craving nachos and I'm obsessed with their Carne Asada nachos! I'm mean they aren't anything fancy, but sometimes you need that liquid gold with refried beans to give your heart what it truly needs! The delivery was quick and the nachos were hot when I got them. The chips were soggy, but what do you expect when you order nachos for delivery? I'm happy with what I got and I loved every bite! Perfect with a coke or margaritas! read more

El Rey - Carne Asada Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia