El Rey has great food (surprisingly - it could definitely get away with having mediocre food), great drinks, a fun brunch, a cool space, amazingly nice bartenders.... the crowd can skew a bit young at times, but this a solid spot on U street to return to again and again! read more

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

*Rating is based on food* Nachos and tacos were alright. I was pretty drunk and still not that impressed (you know food usually always taste better when drunk...) The atmosphere of this place is pretty cool. I like the actual layout and decor-- nice and chill place to drink. However, it does get very packed at night, and can become rather difficult to order drinks. read more

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

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Great for cheap yummy tacos and snacks! I love El Rey as a fun chill bar with good music and good vibes. Then I discovered they have BOMB tacos as well. Went for the 3rd time last night for some tacos and drinks. The Thai shrimp (Big juicy shrimp! I got seconds), Al Pastor, Al Carne are all fabulous. We also had the taco of the day which was steak and so good! Overall this will be a to go casual spot for me and friends anytime we want some great quick food and drinks! read more

El Rey - Yummy cheap tacos! I ordered seconds of the shrimp because it's my favorite! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I bought tickets for the drag show, but found out they didn't check everyone's tickets and some were just there for the show for free. Questionable practices so we spoke with the manager, Victor, and promoter. The promoter was helpful at first, but did not honor what was promised, then bait and switched. Communication between Patio, our bartender, and customers was terrible. The manager came and was very rude to our group until we left. I regret spending over a hundred dollars in this establishment. Please avoid El Rey, they offer questionable services and customer service. I regret spending my money here. read more

El Rey has a fantastic patio, and is basically a patio with an indoor area about 50% the size. I showed up at 6 pm on a Wednesday and was able to secure a table for what became 8 people, with no wait and no hassle. We had a super friendly waitress, although some of our food got lost between the order and the delivery and we had to ask for it after quite a bit of time. I had three of their tacos, the al pastor, the carne asada, and the fish taco. I also ordered a pitcher of their margaritas on the rocks, but it sounds like I should have ordered the blended from reading other reviews. The food was not bad, and the margaritas were pretty standard. I am a fan, I would return, and I think above all, it was just great to be able to host a last minute party at this place without having to put much planning into it. I would definitely plan another one here, given the opportunity and the interest. read more

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

Overpriced, rude service, and yet another place in DC tacking on hidden "service fees" to the bill. Came here for a quick bite before a show at 9:30 club - about the only good thing I can say was that it was quick. Nachos are little more than prepacked cheese sauce, canned jalapenos, and canned beans - not a single fresh ingredient to be seen. Tacos are small and lacking in flavor. Margarita was poorly mixed. Will not return. read more

Had it not been so cold, I would have given this 3 stars. I thought my tacos al pastor (with corn tortillas) were quite good. Everyone in my group that ordered anything not containing al pastor, didn't like their dishes. Multiple overhead heaters were not working so it was freezing and a portion of the tables weren't being used because of the cold. In true bar fashion, you either open a tab or you pay for your food when you order it--it is just strange because you are seated with a waiter. After ordering food, the waiter lingered (its loud in there) and tried to convey to us that he needed credit cards from us (the whole process was just weird). When we left, there was a huge line to get in (I'm just relieved we arrived before it). While I liked my food, the atmosphere and experience were not worth it and we won't be returning. read more

Fam, I'm honestly not sure whether to give five stars or none--El Rey is the spot where you black out and end up going home with your ex, and has been for years. I remember showing up here days after they opened a few years back with the last guy I dated before meeting my now husband, and all the changes have been for the better (especially with the upgrade to my husband!). The margaritas are wickedly strong and the bar tenders are fast and fair. The bouncers are quite stringent, so it took a while for my whole group to get in, despite having adequate IDs, etc. We ended our night here after getting started at Dodge City, and it felt like an appropriate progression. Late night on a Saturday means this place is packed and you're not going to hear what anyone says to you without shouting. Would love to go back and try the food here when things are a bit calmer. If you want to remember what it feels like to be 21 and in a cool bar, give it a go. read more

Stumbled upon El Rey and never knew what it was. The entrance doesn't stand out at first; a pile of shipping containers. The indoor area is big and even more appealing is the incredibly spacious back area that has a retractable roof, extensive bar area, and plenty of seating. Bar service was surprisingly good even though it was very busy. Staff was attentive and friendly. One of the staff ended up giving me 3 free extra tacos after they saw I was missing one of my taco orders. I can't say enough good things about the tacos. I tried the el pastor and carne asada and I was in heaven. It has been hard finding a place that makes tacos as close to delicious as these. The tacos are home made, delicious and the best in DC in my opinion. The margaritas were just as good as the tacos. I would gladly come back! read more

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

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Quick overview: great vibes, great music, strong frozen margaritas, not authentic Mexican food. Ok so I loved the vibes of this place, they had great mix of oldies R&B, reggaetón, salsa, bachata, and others. I was either dancing in my seat or literally up and dancing! Plus I loved that it was an covered outdoor space! I'm sure this is really amazing on warmer sunnier days and I can't wait to go back! The crowd is super mixed so it was really nice to see people of all ethnicities and races enjoying Latino food, culture, and music. The margaritas were amazing!! A little smaller than I'm used to but they were potent. I had two and was totally feeling my drink! The food was basically Mexican inspired but no means an outstanding representation of Mexican food. I had previously read the reviews and concluded that the nachos were the best item on the menu. I was not impressed by he nachos, it seemed like everything came straight out a can. I also ate the flan...not impressed either. It was sweet so it did the job but came with no glaze like traditional flan comes with; it was a bit dry. So this is a great place hang out and have some Mexican inspired food, great drinks, and jammin music! read more

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

A friend recommended this place to me and I happened to be looking for a place with a decent HH. I came in and I was greeted by a bouncer. He checked my id which wasn't a bad idea and saved me from having to show my id at a later time. I sat at a higher up table and there was a sign that said "I need to approach the bar for service". I approached the bar and ordered a pitcher for $24 which was a good deal. The margaritas are very strong but very very good. You literally cannot taste the liquor. I also was able to order chips and queso. It got pretty crowded as the day went on. I loved the layout of the business. There's an opening in the ceiling that was closed due to a possible thunderstorm. I ended up getting a second pitcher and drinking that as well. I was definitely toasted by the end of the first pitcher and shared my second one. I love this place!!! read more

El Rey - $24 pitcher HH - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went here for Happy Hour and had a pretty good time. The back patio is spacious and well ventilated (plenty of fans). There were not too many food options but the food was not bad; simple bar/taco food. The drinks were strong but be sure they're not putting rail liquor in your drinks (unless you don't mind). Rail liquor upsets my stomach. read more

Going off of how I much I typically write, this is a short review since my two girlfriends and I didn't stay here long. We stopped in around 7:30/8ish on a Friday night and it was packed. We managed with a small standing area at the front bar and ordered three each of the Carne Asada, two Thai Shrimp and two Adobo Chicken tacos as well as an order of nachos to go. The tacos are well priced for the quality and small enough that you can order a few to try and it doesn't rack up to an unreasonable price. Soon after ordering our tacos came out - it was super fast. I've definitely had better tacos but these were not at all "bad" and suited the occasion. I'll definitely keep this place in mind for evenings out on U Street. read more

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

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Went to El Rey on Saturday night with a few ladies. We arrived a little after 9pm only to see a line to get inside. D'oh. We waited approximately 30 minutes before going in. Being in our 30's, we were definitely some of the oldest broads there, lol. They didn't overcrowd the inside, which is nice. We were lucky to snag a 4-top table immediately upon walking in. Drinks were served quickly and the food didn't take long. We got nachos with the pork to share. I also ordered the chicken adobo taco, al pastor taco, and an elote. We ordered margaritas (regular and frozen) by the carafe. Food was good and the drinks are strong. The nachos were definitely the crowd pleaser. So. Much. Cheese. Our intention was to eat, have a couple drinks, and go to the pop up bar around the corner, but the music and vibe at El Rey was nice that we stayed way longer than intended. read more

This is my new taco Tuesday spot!!!!! They have the best frozen margarita EVER (although they are pricey)!!! And the best tacos (please try the DC taco)! I would recommend you sit at the bar for the best service, otherwise you will not be dissatisfied with your visit here. The ambiance is everything as well and even with the roof closed, you still feel like you are outside. You also might want to get there early because they tend to get packed and you will have to wait in line outside! read more

I've visited a couple of times now and feel that El Rey is a pretty decent bar. It's always packed, and as it's basically two large patios it seems like it would be a great summer spot. Having been here only in the winter, it does have heat lamps placed throughout so most areas are warm. I have really enjoyed all of the tacos and drinks I've tried. The tacos are pretty cheap and a good size. The al pastor ones are especially amazing- they come drizzled with this awesome Chipotle sauce. The margaritas are also great on the rocks or frozen, and are a good deal during happy hour. Service wasn't that great the first time I visited. It was slow despite it not being crowded and none of the employees my group interacted with were particularly friendly. It was better the second time and I had a great bartender, but it seems a little hit or miss. All in all, I do enjoy my time at this bar and will be back for more tacos at some point in the future! read more

El Rey - Al Pastor, Carne Asada, and Thai Shrimp Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This spot is definitely great for chill vibes. I went late at night and it was pretty dark so I can't say much about the appearance of the place. I can say that it's a large open space I believe the back half is pretty much outdoors because it was FREEZING but they do have heaters. When I went the two across from the bar were broken. The heaters get warm enough but I kept my coat on so if you don't like the cold don't visit this place till spring/summer or bundle up when you do. Now to the food! As a pescatarian I hate getting tacos cause I never have many options but el Rey had options for plant based eaters! They had the impossible, Thai shrimp, hongos, and fish taco. I had all but the fish taco (tilapia). They were delicious and gone within seconds of hitting the table. The margaritas were margarita'ing. The only thing I didn't like was the chips and queso it taste so cheap, like aldis has better cheesier queso than that. The server was amazing very responsive, polite, and helpful. I can't remember her name but she was small brown with black and blonde hair. She was amazing! Definitely would recommend this spot to friends and return (most likely when it's warmer). FYI ITS HARD TO FIND STREET PARKING CLOSE BY. read more

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

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My friend and I knew we wanted tacos but we also didn't want to decide where we were going in advance for whatever reason lol We ended up here around 8pm on a Saturday so there were a decent amount of people but we saw that as a good thing rather than bad. We kept talking so we couldn't figure out what we wanted to drink and the bartender was kinda funny about it but so nice, he joked to see if we were finally ready to order. Honestly, for all of the time it took us to decide we probably should've come up with something more creative than a marg, but that's what we ended up getting. They were good! But then we saw all of these people with pink drinks but we couldn't figure out what they were. Instead of asking someone we just thought it would be more fun to guess, which needless to say, did not work and we never got the pink drinks. Then we ordered tacos. They were yummy, I've had better al pastor tacos, the meat was a little tough, but overall they were really good! My friend and I were able to get a table, so chilling and sitting down and people watching was fun. We both commented on how loud it was and I'm realizing now I kind of lost my voice, but tbh how could it not be on a Saturday evening. We were going to leave and come back, which we didn't end up doing, because we had a pretty chill time for how litty it was! read more

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

First time here Friday night, a friend introduced me. I thought it was a club or something because they had a bouncer checking IDs. We went inside which is really nice loved the lighting and how they had the ceiling heaters blowing in there. We grabbed a drink but had to get food outside the bar. Definitely different and wondered why since it's freezing cold outside but whatever it's cute. I ordered a chicken Tamale and taquitos, it was really good and hot. I can't wait to come back in the summer. read more

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

Me and my friend been here today at 05/11/2021 and the service was terrible. Nobody attended us in a timely matter. Everything was so underwhelming and was unprofessional. The food wasn't good and some was over cooked. Expected better, the waiter was very rude and very dismissive about our experience. read more

I'll be honest, I probably came here every weekend during the few months I spent in D.C. because their margaritas are STRONG (but so good). I highly recommend coming here for happy hour for a better deal on drinks but coming any night during the weekend is fun. The tacos are cheap and are incredible after a few margaritas and the tamales were beyond my expectations. Def recommend if you're looking for good music or taking a friend out in D.C. read more

Overhyped. Food was not that great but the alcohol ratio in their drinks is pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again for food. read more

El rey used to be cool. Now they have this fake fucking line. I used to come here five years ago and all I can say is that I was 23 and I got so many margs surrounded by gay white men and now I'm 27 and tired and want a taco. Pretty convinced even 23 year old thots can't get in due to the power trip at front door. I AM STILL IN LINE BY THE WAY... seen 25 people leave. We started at 8 people, it's growing because apparently the "boss" said there are too many people here. THE TOTAL HAS GROWN. 30 and it's raining. WE ARE IN. Apparently they have a 90 person limit... be warned. I'm sorry, the "line" was so long the kitchen is closed. Great night. THANK YOU EL REY. Do less, you already do SO much. read more

El Rey - See one person in the window with a line outside? Me too! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food is 2/5 The drinks are great 5/5 As a heavy loving tequila girl, a *frozen* margarita pitcher is $28 and is worth getting for me! It is STRONG and even sharing with 4 people, you will feel a buzz off of one glass. The food is really weak though. I got the chips ($2) with queso ($5) and the queso was super runny, like water. How do you mess up queso? :( You dip a chip and it all runs off. Taco Bell's queso is better than this and was definitely not worth the price. Everyone raves about the tacos here and although it looks appetizing, it was just ok. Wasn't the best tacos and didn't leave me wanting more. (Even while eating buzzed) The menu is pretty limited and small, I don't recommend coming here for food but their drinks are on point. El Reys is crowded no matter what time of the day it is, they play music but no one is dancing, just socializing. read more

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El Rey is a great time. The margaritas are strong, so be aware. I do wish they had strawberry margaritas on the rocks. The nachos are heavenly-- no matter the topping. The music is pretty bad. I understand it's a Mexican bar, but it'd be better if the music catered to the audience-- be it Top 40 or Hip-Hop. I will say the vibe is different during and after Happy Hour. It's almost like two different El Reys! read more

Food was good , some of their dishes were not as clean as they could have been so it was a bit questionable. The only issue I would probably say I had is that the woman whom was at the front could have been more welcoming . Didn't really like her attitude and how she presented the fact that we would have to wait 30-45 min for seating, after calling prior and them stating that we could come right in . read more

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

Ate here with two colleagues from work. This is one of my daughter's favorite bars, so she was a bit surprised that someone my age would be in here. And true, I was the oldest person in the room, wondering if I was the oldest person they had ever met! But we were there for margaritas at 5:30 PM. And they were excellent!! We ordered a pitcher, some chips/salsa, and I got two small fish tacos. Everything was excellent. And the music was great, atmosphere great, good vibe. If they let me in, I will be back! read more

My colleague and I decided to try this out for Friday lunch because it's only a few blocks from where we work. We both ordered 3 corn tacos, and it was very filling. I ordered the al pastor, carne asada, and shrimp. The fillings were generous and the tortilla held up nicely. Tons of flavors and I loved the toppings in each one of them. Unfortunately, my colleague realized her tacos were prepared with flour instead of corn tortillas. We mentioned it to our server who said he thought he heard her say flour, but it was a mistake. When we were ready to pay, he told us not to worry about it and comped our meal! Hopefully, my colleague doesn't get too sick afterwards. It was thoughtful of the server to do that for us though. I think we'll definitely be back, but will confirm and make sure (:D) the tortillas are corn for her. read more

This isn't place to satisfy your taco cravings. Taco Bell could do a better job. The food taste like it was made by Caucasian's. I didn't have any of the drinks but my friends looked like they enjoyed themselves. I had the Hongos Taco, shrimp taco, and the beyond meat taco, didn't come with salsa. All okay, lacked seasoning. Wouldn't go again. They were able to split the check though, I'll give them that. read more

El Rey has a nice outdoor beer garden in the back where you can chill and wash down a cold beer....not. My group of friends and I ordered food at the bar then went to go take a seat and was promptly kicked out by the waiter AND manager because we didnt buy food from the outside bar- whats the difference?! The margarita was strong though, so plus 1 star for that. There's no food on happy hour and the tacos are the size of a baby's hand. All together now, "booooooo." I wont be back. read more

If you're looking for the best taco of your entire life (yea, I said it) - look no further. El Rey is handsdown one of the best mexican eateries that I've ever eaten at. Across the board, both the food and drinks are beyond satisfying. The adobo chicken taco melts in your mouth, with the perfect dollop of crema and a soft corn shell. The margaritas are the best bang for your buck (get frozen strawberry!). The bartenders are generous with the tequila while somehow maintaining the delicious taste. It's magic, I swear. Avoid the nachos and arriving after 10pm on a weekend - there's always a long line. Enjoy! read more

El Rey - You can find me by the tacos. || @EL REY - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Overall: So far... the drinks are better than the menu of food. I've had the corn (too much sauce, not enough cheese), the nachos (really thick), and the vibe is chill on a HH Thursday type of day in DC. I won't complain. Plenty of seats and decent people. Location: U Street NW (enough said) Parking: Pretty difficult, but it's close to one or two metros. Word of advice, use the metro. Service: Bar tender serves meals and drinks in the area we sat and was pretty available anytime we needed him. I don't have any gripes there. For six people at a table, it just makes it. I wouldn't recommend anything beyond that. Price: Whiskey (Maker's Mark = $9) Tacos (Thai Shrimp Tacos = $4 each) Corn (Elote, Corn on the Cob = $6) Final Review: I'll be back. I need to see it on another night at a different time to see the level of consistency they have. True word. read more

El Rey - Menu during HH. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We went here before a concert at the Lincoln Theatre and it was very nice! We tried a couple of their tacos and they didn't disappoint. If you like spicy, try the Thai Shrimp tacos and you'll love it! I wasn't a huge fan of their margarita, not sure if it's the tequila, but it didn't taste quite right...tasted cheap. Quite a bummer for a tacos and margarita place. I didn't get to try the frozen margaritas but those are definitely worth a shot next time. It was a bit quiet when we went (around 6:30), but plenty of room to sit and stand. Tacos are priced reasonably. We were able to do a date night for less than $50 and were both full... so that's a win! read more

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

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Horrible place to go food sucks 1/10 and the service is horrible maybe one of the worst Mexican bars in d.c, if you want to go at night it worse, they have no body inside, but make everyone wait outside to make it look like it's packed, I also waited in line for 40 minute just to get kicked out of line bc someone jumped in behind me in the line, all together if u want to go out on U street, go to Capo deli, do not support this shitty place, Trust me and don't waste ur time or money. read more

5 Stars in the customer service alone......everything else (Food, Cleanliness) can vary based on whatever.....but the staff was attentive, friendly, and well trained. I would go back.....but I heard it's closing due to COVID-19. Sad to see it go! read more

I basically come here once a week for happy hour, steak nachos, a chicken taco and a fish taco with my cousin. We could eat the nachos a couple times a week because they are that good. They are sloppy, but exactly what I like.. melted cheese, jalapeños, black beans, meat and lime. I always get a side of sour cream (theirs has a unique taste). Now that I'm done bragging about the 4 star nachos, here are the pros and cons: Pros: One pitcher is enough for two people to enjoy about 2-3 glasses. They are strong! Food and drinks come out quickly. Most of the restaurant is a patio, so in the summer the roof is open with fans and in the winter they have heaters. Cons: The place is always crowded during happy hour, usually to the point that you can't find a seat anywhere including the bar. You have to hustle for a table.. literally. Additionally, service is typically mediocre and no workers actually care. It's almost like they know people are going to come there regardless. Lastly, beware of their drinks. The margs are strong because the bartenders pour every type of alcohol they have behind the bar in them and add margarita mix. I usually choose frozen, but they are similarly strong. This isn't necessarily a con until you are sick the next morning! Overall, this place is a barebones HH spot. Rather enjoying HH or not, I doubt I'll ever stop coming to this place because of the nachos haha. read more

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

Late NIght Review El Rey is another one of the bars on my U street bar hopping list. They' have a solid draft list as well as a variety of cocktails. If you want the status of bottle popping you can by margaritas by the pitcher. Nothing improves the appearance of your group like a bunch of margarita pitchers at your table. All jokes aside they are good,strong margaritas. There is seating late night, which gives you a chance to really people watch and enjoy the drinks. There is also late night tacos and other Mexican dishes. It's not much of a dancing bar which isn't too say you can't have your own dance party but just know you might stand out because most people come to El Rey for a conversation based night. Overall it's a solid bar for conversations with friends or a date read more

I liked this spot for happy hour but don't expect specials. The tacos were good enough for a bar and they are tiny so you need to order 2-3 to coat your belly. I tried the steak & Thai shrimp tacos. The steak was too dry for me. The shrimp was sweet & the pickled veggies on top with aioli were good. Drinks - I had a white wine Sangria & a cocktail called Ensenada which was sweet & had a little kick to it with the chipotle. We loved the outdoor space & the service could be a little faster. Overall, a cool spot to grab drinks & nibble on some tacos. read more

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No. Why? 1) We ordered a margarita pitcher ($28) on the rocks. The bartender then gathered all of the ice in these United States of America and put them in our pitcher and our glasses. I have never been so insulted. 2) The tacos are $3 each and an insult to appetites everywhere. I have never seen a taco that tiny. 3) They don't have Taco Tuesday. El Rey. Ha. The King? Psh. The King of Tiny Tacos. read more

I really wanted to like El Rey -- but I hated it (except for the nachos). 1) IDing customers at the door on a Wednesday night at 7:15 pm? #sketchy 2) Having to get my water from a dispenser at the bar? #cheap 3) Allowing customers to smoke on the back "patio" even though the retractable roof is closed and the doors to the main dining room are open? #illegal 4) Pouring a $8 margarita in something barely bigger than a shot glass and filled with ice? #ripoff 5) Serving tamales that lack any flavor and tacos of questionable flavor? #sinful But I did like the nachos. read more