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    El Royale

    3.8 (147 reviews)
    Open • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    El Royale Photos

    EL ROYALE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Royale

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    entrance
    Soumya K.

    The food was really good, especially the chips and salsa, which were incredible, and the chicken tinga enchiladas, which were easily my favorite. I was really excited about the drinks because the menu sounded so good, but the one I got felt a bit uninspired since it was poured from a premade bottle. Still, the food definitely made this a solid spot, and I'd come back for the enchiladas & chips alone.

    Salsa
    Mischa J.

    Sweet Caroline! Bump!bump!!bump! Yes!!! Thank you girl for your service. It's nights out for the ladies. We are a party of 5. We all got our own SALSA! It is delicious with a lil kick!!! I opted in on the crispy fish tacos! So good! Even warmed up. It comes with rice and beans. Now this is my first time having cold rice and beans. The rice so spicy it seems intentional. I can handle it. Overall, it's the Ambiance. This place is beautiful. We sat in the garden for the rest of the night, until the owner let us know he was locking the door, but stay as long as we like. What?!! I can't wait to go back.

    Sour cream enchiladas
    Tia J.

    Really cool vibe and good location. We went for a birthday dinner and had a great time!!!! However, the prices were high to me for what we got. I had 2 drinks and 2 appetizers and my meal cost $100! I got the firecracker shrimp and the tortilla soup. My friend got the fire margarita and it was cool!! Our server was very friendly and helpful

    Birria tacos
    Sarah L.

    Came for a bday celebration/girls night. They recently stopped doing the red salsa and salsa verde with chips for the appetizer. Only red salsa now for the summer. Chips were too salty but still crisp and thin. I get the same thing each time because other dishes I've tried are a little too spicy for my taste. The Birria was a touch tough. It was not that pull apart slow Cooked meat that I am used to here. The rice was a bit hard. Beans were great as always. Service was great. Margs were great! Got a pitcher on the rocks with pineapple flavor. I will still come back and continue to support this restaurant because overall it's a nicer upscale place to get great drinks and appetizers. The bar is great to sit at and the vibe of the place you can't beat! Still 5/5!

    Fish tacos
    Ellie M.

    El Royale is a fabulous restaurant for any occasion. The inside has an amazing vibe and the staff is nice and attentive. For food, definitely start with the El Royale dip - it's a great twist on queso. Our table ordered a few items and everyone loved their food. Enchiladas Suizas, fish tacos, and fajitas were a hit. Can't wait to return to El Royale!

    Complimentary chips and salsa
    Delia S.

    Even though it seems that establishments don't last long in this space, I've always thought it was one of the most multifunctional and beautiful restaurant spaces around. And El Royale definitely takes advantage of its possibilities. Very trendy! The indoor and outdoor space is great for solos, dates, friends, families, or even special events. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered the taco salad, but OMG, it was huge!!! To be honest, I was expecting it to be pretty bland but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavor of the dish. The chips and salsa are also a slam dunk. Although the massive pieces of tomato in the salsa were at times a bit too chunky for me. As has been noted, prepare to pay a premium price for tex mex. They don't take cash and there is a service fee for credit cards. Also, many of the servers are a bit cold and standoffish, but I at least had a pleasant interaction with one!

    Combination plate (red fish taco, birria taco, chicken tinga enchilada)

    The space itself is beautifully decorated and very unique. The food was not that great and overpriced. I got a combination plate (birria and fish taco with a chicken tinga enchilada) The enchilada was not good but the other tacos saved the dish. The rice was undercooked with a few hard pieces. For the price I was expecting more but the ambiance saved the experience for me.

    Grouper
    Lindsay S.

    We came here for a lunch during the week and first of all, I guess it's just me, but I can't believe no one else has mentioned how odd the location and entrance to this restaurant is. We parked on the street and as I was following my coworker in (who already knew where she was going), I remarked, "There's no way I could've found where to go." It was just odd. You walk through the parking lot (valet only), then turn left into this patio, then look left for the door. It's like it's completely hidden from the street and I never saw any sign outside. If you know where you're going, it's fine. Once again, I was thankful I rode with someone else. As the other reviewers noted, it's a unique, jungle vibe, but kinda upscale. Service was friendly. We ordered the Dip Trio for an appetizer and it was really good. The standard chips and salsa were excellent too. Because we were there at lunch during the week, the noise was not bad at all. I ordered the Grouper and not only was it beautiful, it was also delicious. I ate every bite, it was so good. Also, it seemed to be a smaller portion compared to what everyone else at my table got and definitely healthier. I took pictures of their plates and I'm sure one was Barry's Plate and I think the other was Jolene's Plate, but I'm not certain. I didn't get a picture of my 4th coworker's plate, but 2 of the 3 got boxes to take home what they didn't finish, so apparently they really liked it. I would definitely be willing to come back, especially since I know where to go now!

    The menu
    Jay T.

    Finally tried El Royale last night and we were disappointed. We had a reservation for 7:30 but weren't seated until after 7:45. The space was festooned for Christmas, which obscured the decor quite a bit, but the whole place was a weird mashup of English Pub, French bistro, and garden tea room. It doesn't have an ounce of Mexican restaurant as far as ambiance goes, but everyone seemed to be having a good time. We started off with the worst house margarita I've ever had. It was pure bad tequila with ne'er an ounce of lime in it. It sat on the table untouched, and our waitress asked if it was okay. I told her I wasn't a fan and ordered a coke (no fountains here, I got a can), but she took the drink back to the bar to have it remade. She confessed to trying a dropper of it and knew it needed lime. The second cocktail was no better. The chips and salsa were wonderful. We were offered two styles, red and green, and I loved both. We took our waitress' recommendation of the ribeye fajitas and the enchiladas suizas for our entrees. The enchiladas were very dry. The shredded chicken inside was moist, but the whole point of enchiladas suizas is the delicious sauce, but there was more melted cheese on the enchiladas than there was sauce. Very disappointing. The fajitas fared better. The order came with three small, weirdly translucent flour (?) tortillas. Maybe the weird texture and shape was meant to make sure you knew these were made in-house, but they looked awful. Thankfully, filled to the brim, you couldn't taste them at all. The steak was very tender and delicious, and it was a good portion. The peppers and onions were lightly grilled but very over-seasoned. All in, El Royale is a vibe. If you're looking for a boisterous, noisy crowd where folks appear to be having a great time, then it's fine. But the food doesn't live up to the hype.

    Drink menu
    Rachel J.

    This restaurant has absolutely beautiful decor. From the moment you walk in, the vibrant colors and thoughtful design create a warm, inviting atmosphere that really sets the tone for the experience. I felt like I was at a resort restaurant. It's a great place to enjoy a meal visually and would be perfect for photos, a casual night out, or date night. While the ambiance truly stands out, the food itself was just average. We sat at the bar and Gage was our waiter. The dishes were fine and nicely presented, but nothing particularly memorable or standout in terms of flavor. I had the flaming Royale to drink ($17) and the fish tacos ($22) to eat. The grouper was seasoned well. Overall, it's a lovely spot for the atmosphere.

    Salsas, marg, menu
    Madison E.

    Had to see what all the buzz was about! The moment you step inside, the lush greenery and stunning interior design transport you to an entirely different world--beautiful enough on its own to make you want to come back again and again. The chips were notably thin and extra salty and served with salsa and salsa verde. We added on queso ($12) and thought it was a great touch. We each had margs. I started with prickly pear and thought it was fine but just tasted like normal lime. Then got a peach and it was delicious. These are on the smaller side but delicious nonetheless. ($15) I got the enchiladas suizas - chicken, Monterey Jack, cheddar, Tomatillo sauce, onion and cilantro. The tomatillo sauce was bright and tangy and made the whole dish. ($24) My friend, Julia, got the chimichanga ($20) and said it was delightful. Our server was very kind, helpful and made great suggestions. Parking is valet with the option to tip. There is some street parking but was full when I got there. It is on the pricier side, in my opinion, and was equivalent to other, more economical, restaurants with similar style dishes. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our night here and will be back! It felt like a mini trip somewhere. The atmosphere and ambiance (and margs) alone are worth the trip! The post cards with your receipt are an adorable touch!

    House elote
    Bri B.

    Absolutely a 10/10. I think I have found my favorite New Mexican spot in Birmingham. First off - our server Christina was so pleasant. She shared with us her favorite dishes and the most popular dishes. Front hosts were friendly and greeted us pleasantly as soon as we got in. On to the food and drink - We don't drink so we opted for the two mocktails on the menu. The cucumber one was very refreshing which is up my alley. My bestie got the little dove and added pineapple juice which gave her the fruity taste she wanted. All of the appetizers were simply delicious. Best elote I have ever had!!!! The entrees were hot, flavorful and at a great price. I had never had grouper and I enjoyed it. My bestie had the most meat-filled birria and the best "motor oil" consommé I loved the decor in the restaurant, I felt like I was in an upscale jungle with all the green - little different than what I'm used to for Mexican restaurants. Upbeat and friendly was the overall vibe. They had it decorated for Christmas which was cute! Will be back every chance I get.

    The outdoor patio!
    Campbelle W.

    El Royale is definitely a favorite of my husband and I's. We've probably been here upwards of 10 times. Our go-to's are the ribeye fajitas, sour cream enchiladas, corn elote & (of course) the house margaritas. The restaurant and bar are gorgeous and give off a very New Orleans vibe. However, I knocked off a star for the prices and the notoriously slower service. Overall, we really enjoy El Royale and think it brings a great new atmosphere to Bham! Definitely a great spot to try out, but make sure to get a reservation!

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    Ask the Community - El Royale

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    El Royale - tex-mex - Updated September 2026

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