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    El Rey

    3.6 (18 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

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    Cherry Limeade
    Larry M.

    I can definitely vouch for this spots tacos!! I've been here before, just their spot Uptown. I had no idea they were also at the Navy Yard!?! You know what that means right? Time to get some tacos!! Let's GO!! . Where I am: @elrey_dc . Location Reviewed: 79 Lotomac Ave., S.E. Washington D.C. . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Cherry Limeade ($9 with cherry juice, lime juice, & soda water). Refreshing, sweet but sour!! STAMP!! Their Chips & Queso Chorizo ($13 with tortilla chips, melted queso, & chorizo). Get this!! Cheesy, a zing in that chorizo, I could eat a bucket of this!! I added guac for $6 too...STAMP! LIKE THAT! Their Elote Frito ($13 Cheesy sweet corn fritters, chipotle mayo, & Tajin). Sweet, savory, corny!! Round fried cornbread!! STAMP!! Their Chicken Quesadilla ($16 with grilled chicken, Oaxaca cheese, sour cream, pickled onions, salad, & lime creama in a flour tortilla). Juicy chicken, well seasoned, flour tortillas hit different to me!! The Tacos *2 per order* Their Hamburguesa Tacos ($15 with club sauce, shrettuce, American cheese, & pickles). Surprisingly tasty!! A we made burger in a tortilla!! LIKE THAT! Their Carne Asada Tacos ($14 with grilled flank steak, charred scallion salsa, queso fresco, & cilantro). Well seasoned steak, with that charred scallion taste!! STAMP!! Their Crispy Cod Tacos ($14 Masa fried with shaved cabbage, curtido, lime crema, & hot sauce). Beer battered Cod, crispy, & spicy!! STAMP!! Their Churros ($9 with cinnamon , sugar, & ancho chili chocolate sauce). The chocolate had heat to it!! . Customer Service: On Point. . Parking: Rough on the street, but it's paid garages everywhere. . Recommendations: Get that Quesadilla, & try that hamburger taco!! . Accessibility: It's wheelchair friendly, & it's differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

    Kaya E.

    The new El Rey location is at a beautiful location right by the water in Navy Yard. The space is really open and perfect for a summer day/evening grabbing food with friends. They have plenty of TV's scattered throughout and they also have the QR codes set up so that you can order your meal/drinks right away. What I didn't love so much about this location is that the food runners/servers never really checked up on you. They dropped food and then would go look off into the distance or start socializing on their phones. I say this because it was so difficult to talk to someone after receiving really bad guacamole. The guac tasted like it came from a package at Costco unfortunately. The Al pastor tacos were decent. They tasted fresh but the filling to taco ratio was not there. The meat was super skimp. After wanting one more taco my friend and I decided to split the cheeseburger taco and it was not good. Super greasy and lacked a sauce. For now I would only recommend this El Rey location if you're coming for drinks and a nice view. The food is a little off.

    Al Pastor and Carne Asada tacos.
    Michael B.

    The good, great new location right on the water. I didn't love the vibe though. The service is minimalist. Order from your seat using your phone and so interaction with any service staff is pretty limited. They bring your drinks and food, but don't really check on you other than that. The chips, salsa and guacamole are a nice starter. Shared tacos with friends and so we could try different meats. Tried the al pastor and carne asada tacos. Both tacos had plenty of meat unlike some previous reviews. They had good flavor, but being a Tex-Mex snob, I felt they didn't quite live up to my expectations. It's worth a try, but maybe not even the best tacos around Navy Yard.

    Samone J.

    Waterfront restaurant? Don't mind if I dooooo! Ok this spot is a vibe, especially before a game! The indoor and outdoor space can't be beat. Awesome for small or large groups, just go! We kept it light with salt and pepper calamari, crispy cod tacos, nacho, a coke, and a HH margarita! Our favorite bites were the tacos and nachos, we didn't loveeeee the calamari and so wouldn't order again if we return (oh we willlll be back!) They take orders using an app, so be prepared for that! All in all, a cool experience!

    Spencer D.

    My best Mexican spot in the neighbourhood, and in the best location. The good: service here was rapid. They use qr code ordering which I am not always thrilled with but the kitchen and servers were on top of their game with every order while we were there. The food was also great, I have not been thrilled with some of the other Mexican options in Navy Yard and was thrilled that this spot has opened up. The dining area is also a great evening hangout with a covered patio overlooking the river. The mediocre: I got nothing to complain about all fire. They even let me bring my dog! The bad: my only complaint is that this place is not closer to my apartment. See you at happy hour!!

    Taquitos
    Lynne R.

    I love a good happy hour and had been wanting to try El Rey before a Nationals game and it finally worked out this week. You can't beat the beautiful location overlooking the river. They have a nice outdoor seating area but we were hot and decided to eat inside in the A/C. We were shocked when the place was empty at 5:30 pm but realized that people were not eating out because of the federal occupation of DC. Very sad that businesses like this are being harmed... Anyway, we were given a lovely booth and quickly ordered traditional margaritas. I really loved mine, sweet, sour and nice and strong. We stuck to the happy hour menu for food and ordered the chicken tinga taquitos and the elote frito. We got two orders of the taquitos, which came 3 per order. They were packed with chicken and crispy, topped with onions, shredded lettuce, and a delicious crema (I could've used more of that, it was so good!). We shared the frito, which were four little corn fritters. Very tasty and moist. This was plenty of food to satisfy us. We had to have a second round of margs (definitely feeling happy at this point!) and couldn't resist the Dulce Churros for dessert. There was a long delay before the churros came out so our wonderful server, Mary, comped us for them. I have to say I wasn't sure about the chili chocolate sauce they came with but it was mighty tasty! Highly recommend. We really enjoyed our time at El Rey. We definitely want to go back.

    Carne Asada taco w/ Llama de la Llama (spicy margarita)
    Tyler H.

    The front dining area of El Rey is vibrant and inviting, setting the tone for a cozy and fun dinner experience. I had the carne asada taco, which was delicious -- the hot sauce added a nice extra kick. I paired it with chips and salsa and a refreshing cocktail, all of which hit the spot. Service was quick and smooth with no issues at all. I'll definitely be back!

    Cod tacos
    Victor R.

    This place is pretty good in a nice day like today its 80 out and I sat outside with the breeze coming off the water. The food was good. You had to order from the code on the table. Which was cool. Be a nice spot for a hapoy hour. The food was like small like a tapas though. It was worth it.

    Happy hour nachos! Reaaallly good!
    Chancia M.

    Great customer service, great food, great happy hour, and best of all a great view! I definitely recommend for happy hour, you get a lot for the price.

    Mango basil marg

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    1 year ago

    Food and Service was great. I got the short ribs and ate off the platter for days. The portions were huge.

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    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Gyoza ($15) - they are smaller than you can imagine

    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden

    3.7(106 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I attended a holiday party at Zooz and had a great time! The venue was decorated beautifully for…read morethe holidays, and there was plenty of dining room and bar seating options. The happy hours deals were excellent ($4 beers, $10 cocktails), especially for the Wharf! There was a dj playing music, but it never felt like a "club" - there was plenty of space to move around, the music was at a good volume so you could still talk, and there was space for people to dance without bothering anyone that was sitting down. The bartenders were attentive, but we're definitely understaff considering the event and that most of drinks on their menu are craft cocktails.

    I had been here before for a date night but was invited back for a brunch and day party with a…read morefriend. We had reservations for 2pm and it was already packed with the dj spinning. Definitely a grown and sexy vibe. Our server was Yonas. I'm not sure if they were short staffed or if he was overwhelmed but after his original check in, it took him 15 minutes to come back and take our order. We actually had to find someone to find him (security) and have him circle back. I ordered bottomless mimosas and the steak and egg sandwich. My friend ordered quiche. Their brunch service needs a lot of work. Her quiche came out hard from being overcooked and my sandwich wasn't hot. 2pm reservation 210 First waiter (woman) took water order 230 Actual waiter returns for food and mimosa order order (Yonas) 245 Mimosas finally arrive 305 food arrives Don't see waiter again until around 4 and he returns to tell us that our 2 hour time limit was up. No checking in, no additional juice provided for mimosas. We were not happy and expressed our disappointment with service. He left and returned again around 430 saying the manager said we have exceeded our table time. No manager check in. I don't have an issue with the 2 hour limit, IF and only IF I am receiving 2 hours of consistent service. Especially if I am paying for bottomless drinks. Bathrooms were filthy and not kept up. Zooz do better and step up your brunch game if you want to compete with the competition.

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    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Poisonous Kiss

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    Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf - Roasted chicken

    Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf

    3.7(1.1k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    My husband and I stopped in (4/10) after lunch for a drink and some oysters. We shared a half dozen…read moresalty-wolfe oysters. I had their Solace Party Cloudy Hazy IPA and he had a Hendricks Martini. The staff was amazing and on top of everything. May was our bartender and Jorge was the barback. Both were super friendly and social. The oysters were good and the drinks were tasty. We would come back. We went back again today (4/11) with some friends and chose a seat outside. The table we chose required you to order your drinks from the bar which was super easy and convenient. May took care of us again and was just as great as yesterday. We started with 6 salty-wolfe oysters and the fried shrimp and calamari combo. Both were delicious. My husband had the oyster po boy with old bay fries and I had the roasted half chicken. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals! Our friends got oysters, shrimp po boy and a side of the carrots. Between us all we had martinis, margaritas and beer. We really enjoyed our experience and would highly recommend.

    The waterfront setting makes for a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere -- perfect for a long lunch or a…read morecasual dinner with a view. Service stood out right away. The staff was genuinely friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and helped keep the experience seamless from start to finish. I ordered the endive salad, and it was a standout. Fresh, crisp, and beautifully plated, with a great balance of textures and flavors -- the kind of dish that feels both light and thoughtfully composed. The fish and chips were also some of the best I'd had. Between the setting, the service, and the quality of the food, Hank's delivers a well-rounded experience. A great Wharf spot that I'd happily return to.

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    Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf
    Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf - Grilled Branzino with lemon caper sauce over broccolini

    Grilled Branzino with lemon caper sauce over broccolini

    Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf - Diet Coke

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    Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling - S'mores platter

    Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling

    3.4(482 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    This place was made to party! We came on a dreary spring day- I have to come back during nicer…read moreweather because the building is made for it! Also I have to strongly recommend happy hour. The drinks are kind of pricey otherwise, up to $25 for a cocktail! But the happy hour deals are amazing! We started with a rum punch bowl for $22 and holy crap it was strong! It's also so cute and ready for Instagram, and every time one of us lifted it to drink we felt like Poseidon. From there were got some apps to share. The nachos were pretty good and had a unique flavor profile, and you can't beat $12 for nachos in DC! We continued with $5 mini frozen drinks and wow were those a deal! They were super strong and also super cute! A friend got the Pain Killa and again for $9 it was a steal and the most delicious drink we had. Someone also came by with free Jell-O shots and they matched the mood of our night! The whole bar is fun with quirky decorations and great views. I'm sure it gets really busy during nice weather. Plan for it and come for the best deals during happy hour.

    3.5. I would come back here again but with caveats. Vibes and concept are 4 stars for sure. Service…read morewas a little lax but very personable so that is fine. But what landed me on a 3 was value, specifically for my shrimp po boy which, at $18, was literally 3 shrimp on a hot dog bun. See the pic. It comes with broccoli but I had them sub tots. I just have a hard time with the idea that some broccoli, a single hot dog bun and 3 shrimp are worth $18. The fried rice was a much better value in both portion and quality and our s'mores platter was pricey at $18 but also quite ample. Drinks were strong. Not necessarily good. But strong. So whether these drinks were 3 or 4 stars for you depends on your goals. Overall, is this somewhere I would go out of my way to visit? No. Is it a chill easy hang if you're already in the area and need somewhere to drink while waiting to do something else at the Wharf or if you work in that area? Sure. Do I like that it is chiller and less bougie than the rest of the Wharf? Absolutely. I just feel like your best bet is to come and have a beer.

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    Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling - Downstairs bar

    Downstairs bar

    Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling - Honolulu cocktail bowl

    Honolulu cocktail bowl

    Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling - Frozen Rum & Coke

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    El Rey - mexican - Updated May 2026

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