I've been looking for good Mexican/Latin grilled chicken since I left southern California, and Little Rey nails it. Tacos are excellent (and thank you for the choice of corn tortillas), meats are flavorful, the drink choices hit the spot, and the service and laid-back ambiance are spot-on. (A big shout out to the more obscure classic rock and blues that they play.) The salsa bar provides a nice variety of flavors to add to the meal. The only problem? They don't have a location closer to West Nashville. Alas. read more

Little Rey - Nashville, Tennessee Overall Rating: 4.6 Little Rey in Nashville delivers a casual, approachable take on the taqueria experience, with some impressive flavors, a few noticeable misses, and a welcoming atmosphere. During my visit, I ordered the #1 Chicken al Carbón and #3 Steak al Carbón, both prepared Costra Style, along with Cilantro Lime Rice, a small Chile con Queso with chips, and a small Soft Serve Ice Cream topped with Chocolate Syrup. #1 Chicken al Carbón - 3.2/5 The chicken was well-seasoned and flavorful, but unfortunately, the texture didn't quite deliver. The meat was noticeably dry and slightly tough, taking away from what otherwise could have been an excellent taco. The Costra Style preparation added a nice dimension, but the chicken itself needed a little more attention. #3 Steak al Carbón - 4.6/5 The steak was the stronger of the two tacos, delivering excellent flavor and a satisfying overall experience. However, both tacos would have benefited from a more generous portion of fresh onions and cilantro. Another noticeable omission was the lack of lime wedges. That fresh squeeze of lime is a simple but important finishing touch that helps bring together the flavors of a great taco. Cilantro Lime Rice - 4.9/5 One of the highlights of the meal. The rice was flavorful, with an enjoyable texture and a well-balanced combination of cilantro and lime. A simple side dish executed exceptionally well. Chile con Queso - 4.9/5 Another standout. The queso delivered excellent flavor and a satisfying texture. Rich, flavorful, and easily one of the best parts of the meal. Tortilla Chips - 2/5 Unfortunately, the chips were the biggest disappointment. They tasted stale, lacked any noticeable salt, and were excessively greasy. Considering how good the queso was, the poor quality of the chips was particularly disappointing. Fresh, properly seasoned chips would have made a significant difference. Soft Serve Ice Cream with Chocolate Syrup - 5/5 An excellent way to finish the meal. The soft serve was sweet, creamy, and delicious on its own, but the chocolate syrup was the real game changer. Sometimes the simplest desserts are the most satisfying, and this one certainly delivered. Service & Atmosphere Service was good, and the staff were friendly and welcoming throughout the visit. The interior dining space reminded me quite a bit of Chipotle, with a clean, functional, fast-casual layout. While perfectly comfortable, it didn't offer much in the way of a distinctive taqueria atmosphere. The real ambiance comes from the patio at the front of the restaurant. That outdoor space captures the relaxed, inviting feel of a neighborhood taqueria and gives Little Rey much of its personality. Final Thoughts - 4.7/5 Little Rey has a lot going for it, particularly its bold flavors, excellent sides, friendly staff, and inviting patio. The steak taco, cilantro lime rice, queso, and soft serve were all enjoyable, but the dry chicken, disappointing chips, limited taco garnishes, and missing lime wedges kept the overall experience from reaching its full potential. Would I return? Absolutely. There is enough here to warrant another visit, and with a little more attention to consistency and the small details, Little Rey could deliver an even better dining experience. Overall: 4.8 out of 5 -- Good food, great potential, and a few opportunities for improvement. read more

Little Rey - Little Rey's Business Sign - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Never heard of this restaurant until trying to find the "best pancakes" in Nashville and seeing a video recommendation for Little Rey's on Instagram. We decided to go after church on Sunday to try it out for ourselves! Visited around 9:45/10am on Sunday. Lots of seating outdoor and indoor! The people working there were all super nice and seemed happy to be there. The restaurant was clean and had beautiful decor. You order at the counter and they bring out the food to you. We ordered the family style pancake, which was massive. Think as big as a pizza and there was not only one but two of them! The pancake itself was delicious, warm, fluffy and perfectly cooked. My only critique was with the syrup. It's promoted as buttermilk syrup but it tasted like strait caramel/butterscotch. Think of those little butterscotch hard candies. This was the only disappointing part, I was looking forward to a light buttermilk syrup to melt into the pancake but it was heavy and had way too much flavor. I will definitely be back to try other items on the menu! Super cool place and a great atmosphere. Also, they have their own parking lot with lots of spaces! So helpful. read more

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First time visit. I ordered the steak quesadilla and cilantro lime rice. My friend ordered queso and chips to share. The salsa bar with jalapeño ranch was chef's kiss. After eating the melt in the mouth quesadilla, I ordered soft serve ice cream with sprinkles. The staff was very friendly and patient when having issues with the register. The place is very cute and clean! Will be returning. read more

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This spot passes my bar for 4 stars by the skin of its teeth: namely on the strength of perfect chips and queso. I've loved Ford Fry establishments for a long time, though his Nashville outposts tend to pale in comparison to the Atlanta originals, and Little Rey kind of fits that pattern. Little Rey serves Tex-Mex in a casual setting next to the Vanderbilt campus. You order at the counter and seat yourself, making this an ideal spot for a cheap, casual lunch or dinner with a crew. There's a dedicated private parking lot (almost unheard of in this area!) and lots of great indoor and outdoor seating. I came in the early evening on a weekday for dinner and it wasn't too crowded. My chips and piping hot queso came out immediately, and my chicken al carbon taco was ready by the time I got back from the salsa bar. The salsa bar is free and amazing: 6 cold dips and 1 hot dip, full of freshness and flavor. I opted for two of the mild sauces, which were super fresh tasting but not spicy whatsoever (that was on me and my choice). One small note: the self-serve setup made the salsa bar a little messy and unkempt, and I wish it had been tidied up a bit between customers. I came in craving great chips and salsa and on that point Little Rey absolutely delivered. The chips were thin, crispy, salty, and delicious. The queso was super hot and liquidy, not spicy. Perfection. The taco itself was more of a letdown: flour tortilla was cold, chicken was a bit dry, and without the addition of salsa it felt lacking in flavor. They're supposed to be well known for chicken here, so that was disappointing. For dessert I got the vanilla soft serve with chocolate and crushed buñuelos on top. Smooth, creamy, with perfect toppings. The large was a bit too much, but at $5 it was an unbeatable price for a tasty dessert. My whole meal, dessert included, was under $20, which was such a pleasant and affordable change of pace to the surrounding area. Service was friendly, kind, and fast. I'd come back for the chips and queso and soft serve alone, but I'll keep my expectations low for the other items. read more

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Overall great experience. First to note is the free parking lot! In that area it is so rare and a real gem. The workers were super friends and even helped clean up when they didn't have to. We ordered 3 tacos and arroz con pollo. The tacos were ok, good but nothing special. Where they shined were their salsas and dips that were fun to mix and match on the chips and tacos. The arroz con pollo was actually a kale salad, which was not clarified on the menu. I wish the menu would've been a little more clear on what is an "ensalada" vs what is the "mas" read more

Little Rey - Arroz con pollo - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We hosted our monthly travel meetup at Little Rey. The weather was a bit chilly, otherwise we would have ate on the spacious front patio. There's also a patio in the back that we didn't notice until we were leaving. It was a little crowded inside due to how popular this spot it, but we managed to cobble together a few tables to accommodate our group of 25. They don't offer table service, so you need to wait in line to order your food. This gives you time to review the extensive menu and pick out what you want to order (they also have a dedicated kids menu). I ordered a bunch of different items, including pollo al carbon (half chicken), steak quesadillas, chicken tacos Costra style, and Birria Ramen (limited time only). Everything was very tasty, but my favorite is the Costra style tacos. They were so good that I went back and ordered a few more before we left. The margaritas were yummy, but they also have beers, Ranch water, Agua Fresca flavor of the day and other assorted non-alcoholic beverages. read more

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I was excited to try Little Rey because I pass it all the time. I stopped in the first time on a Sunday around 10 am, and the restaurant wasn't full. I ordered at the counter, and the team member answered my questions. I probably should have ordered the tacos for my first visit, but I was in the mood for pancakes, so I ordered those. When I returned a second time, I did order the tacos. The place is comfortable & vibrant - great for meeting up with a few friends or a group. There's free parking in the lot outside. Love: Agua Fresca (some of the best I've had - had to get one to go both times & would come in just for this) Like: bacon taco; steak taco (both flavorful) Dislike: hotcakes (too dense but keep in mind I like mine fluffy & crispy); side of bacon (caught off guard that it was crumbled) read more

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After passing Little Rey over and over since it replaced that Qdoba (iykyk), I finally decided to check it out. Already off to a good start because of the free parking lot out front. Walking inside the building, I was pumped at the ambiance because of the restaurants adorable interior design and so many places to sit. Since the restaurant is fast casual, I was appreciative that the front of house member was not rushing us while we looked at the menu. Once we ordered, he was super nice and helpful with answering questions we had. The food came out quickly and everything was ~good~ but in my perspective, everything I tried seemed to be missing something. Like everything was seasoned well, but it ALL needed some salt. I think that is usually to be expected any time a place has a salsa bar but the salsa was delish anyway so was all still good. read more

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I stopped in for an early dinner on a Sunday and appreciate the full parking lot and easy ordering at the counter. I ordered a variety of tacos and the pozol rojo soup, plus a side of rancho beans. I love that they offer a salsa bar with pico and a variety of salsas and jalapeño ranch. The el diablo shrimp taco was very good and I made it rico style which was a little excessive for a taco with mayo but still delicious. The chicken taco, carnitas, and picadillo ground beef. The salsas were all fresh and good, but the pozol soup was just ok. I wouldn't order it again. The service was quick and the vibe relaxed. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Had this place on our list for a while - so glad we had an excuse to go. Tacos: Carnitas, Steak al Carbon and Chicken Al Carbon - all wonderfully prepared but the flour tortilla were even better! Salsas: maybe 7 options, the creamy cilantro and roasted tomatoes were our favorite Chips & Queso: so good, but I could give it up for the creamy cilantro salsa Esquites: creamy and delicious, yes please Sweet Potatoes: a delightful surprise, the herb sauce (salsa verde) was refreshing as well Do yourself a favor, visit Little Rey often (but be prepared to wait for a parking spot) read more

Seriously incredible food! I've been twice now, and I was even more impressed the second visit. Parking is probably the worst thing about this place, but there is a free lot in front of you can snag a spot. We parked around the corner for $2 an hour which was pretty easy. My husband and I shared a carnitas taco & quesadilla, cheese fries, cilantro lime rice, and their street corn. We could not shut up about the cheese fries. I have no idea what kind of cheese was on these fries, but it was transcendent. Also the vibes and decor are so cute! Don't skip this place! read more

Little Rey - Cheese fries, carnitas taco and quesadilla, street corn, cilantro lime rice - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We first experienced Little Rey when they did a pop up at star rover sound. We waited until they opened and went to try the restaurant. Their menu is larger than I would've expected. The tacos were great- I lve the little bar of toppings too. Really lets you personalize your taco. I love having the option sit indoor or outdoors. They have a decent sized parking lot, but as we all know midtown can be a little unpredictable with their parking situation. The hot cakes are insane. I typically don't order sweet things but when we tried these at the pop up I knew we would have to order them again. Can't wait to try their margaritas! read more

I ordered the food through DoorDash. The service was FAST! The Taco Carne was VERY GOOD! I wish I had ordered another. The Elote was ok. I only ate one. The smoked wings were good as well with the jalapeño ranch. Definitely a little spicy but not overbearing. Next time I will ask them to be extra crispy. If in the area please give them a try. read more

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Midtown needs another taco place like I need a hole in the head. This place is one I couldn't figure out. It's not really bbq and it's not really a trad taco joint. Let me start-the food is amazing. Service is great. It's without a doubt 5 stars. But-I couldn't figure out the identity. I walked in thinking it was a traditional Peruvian style charcoal chicken restaurant. It isn't. It's part Mexican, part gringo bbq. Think smoked chicken with tortillas. The music selection bounced around like a Mexican jumping bean-but it's all good listening. Ate the half chicken with a side of beans, rice, and both corn and flour tortillas. I will come back again, and again, and again. I'll still be confused about the identity, but I won't be confused about the quality of the food. It's stellar. read more

Little Rey - Half chicken, rice and beans. - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I stopped here for lunch and tried 2 of their Chicken Al Carbon Tacos. Apparently, this place prides itself on its chicken. The flour tortillas were soft and held up well. They were also filled with pico, chicken, and smoked onions. The smoked onions were delicious! The chicken was tender but lacked seasoning. Thankfully, they have a nice salsa bar here. This is a nice place for lunch. The restaurant has lots of seating indoors and outside, and the staff keep the tables clean and sanitized. I really appreciated that. You order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. They also offer margaritas and beer. I'm planning to return on Saturday or Sunday morning to try their breakfast Tacos, served on weekends from 9A - 3P. read more

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Immediate review at the top, rambling at the bottom. Food: I got the pollo al carbon for $18. Comes with the chicken, tortillas, a cup of rice, and a cup of beans. A good amount of chicken with great smoked flavor. My favorite part was the sauce lineup because that chipotle ranch is too good. The platter I felt was worth the price considering I had leftovers. My only "critique" is that I wish I had been given a little bit more rice. But everything was good and the workers were very sweet. I'd probably go back again to try something else. Thoughts: Honestly, I liked this place way better than I anticipated. I'd heard a lot of mixed reviews and though I can agree that the price can feel a little bit steep, I think that has to do with the fact that it's not full service in the sense that a server doesn't take your order at the table. You order at the front, are given a number, choose a table and they bring your food. Not a big deal to me but I can see it being personal preference! But while the truth is that it is higher than your average taco spot, I do think it's worth a visit if you're in the area. It's cute inside with plenty of tables. Plus free parking! read more

Little Rey - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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My favorite taco spot right now! Shrimp taco, gringo taco, and chicken Al carbon were the best! Queso fries I definitely recommend. Lime cilantro rice is very well seasoned. The Salsa bar is amazing with lots of options! read more

Little Rey - Shrimp taco, chicken Al carbon, and queso fries! - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

My wife and I recently stopped by Little Rey in West End**, and I must say, it easily blew other taco spots we've been to right out of the water. If you value fresh, high-quality ingredients, this place is an absolute must-visit. The Main Event: Fresh-Made Soft Shell Tacos We ordered the soft shell tacos, and the standout feature is hands-down the shell. You can tell they make them fresh in-house--they have that perfect, tender texture that completely elevates the entire meal. As you can see in our spread from **920.jpg**, the tacos are packed to the brim and served up beautiful and hot. A Unique Sweet Treat: The Plantains We also decided to try an order of their plantains, and it was a completely new experience for us. They came perfectly cooked and covered with a sweet white sauce and a dusting of white sugar. We had never had plantains prepared like this before, but it was an incredible combination of flavors! In **922.jpg**, you can see my wife grabbing one of these delicious, sweet bites--they make for the perfect side or dessert The Verdict If you love your Mexican food made fresh, I highly recommend eating at Little Rey. We will definitely be back! read more

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Had the big pancake and boy is it big. I love this brunch. Wow. This place is great. Good spot

One of the best taco/mexican spots in Midtown! It stands out amongst the other options due to its fresh quality of food and wide menu range. The carbon chicken, quesadillas, and arroz con pollo bowl are some of our favorites! Don't pass up the grapefruit margarita either! read more

Food was goooood! Will be back! I had the steak quesadilla, which was very delicious with the side of sour cream. Then I had what I think was a limited special, Macho Cubano, which was also delicious. I look forward to coming back. The free parking is nice, but the parking lot was full at the time so I find street parking for only a couple dollars for a few hours. read more

Cute interior. Ample seating inside and outside. Limited free parking but it's FREE! Counter service to order. Food brought to the table. Nice sauce bar with fresh limes. You pay for quality here not necessarily quantity. And the quality and taste is great!! Had the #1 chicken taco and #5 asada taco. Chicken makes me want to go back and try a 1/2 or whole chicken!! But the real star of the show...the Rancho beans!! Holy holy holy a bucket of them please!! And some of the best salsa verde. Would buy in bottles if available. read more

Little Rey - Top, beans Right, #1sans pico Left, #5 - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Stumbled upon this place because it looked cute and had a decent rating on google. The menu is a bit limited, and the food that we ordered was very mid. The salsas are actually the best part of all. The corn was pretty good too, but the other things that we ordered left me wanting more. read more

Best tex-mex in Nashville & best steak tacos ever! The smoked meat... so good! We were so impressed with the bottomless chips & salsa bar. Everything was fresh & the whole place is adorable. New favorite spot! read more

The food is very good. The chicken al carbon is quite good. Great patio seating. Friendly staff. Highly recommended. Ambiance was chill, but fun. read more

Little Rey - Neon sign for Little Rey - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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So I went in to this thinking this is just a run of the mill taco spot and I was completely wrong. They had smoked wings and with the ranch they come with(chef's kiss) it was really delicious,I have to order more next time. The queso was just your basic queso recipe, solid but not over the top. The rios red margarita was soooo good it was not sweet and it was very good , the casa was a bit strong for me . The ambiance and s super chill they have seating in the front and a back patio also . The series's quick and the workers were friendly. They made sure the place stayed very clean . I'm returning very soon, possibly this week lol . read more

Little Rey - Chili con queso, smoked wings ,rio red margarita and the Casa margarita. - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The Oaxaca taco was muy rico, definitely wish I had ordered more than one. And the staff was patient and helpful. I'm already thinking about going back tomorrow. Love the vibe - decorations and the music were on point. read more

Little Rey - Blood orange margarita, so good! - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Food was great, service was impeccable but price was a little high for what you get. I guess it is Nashville though read more

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The food was so delicious. The service was good and they have great soft serve ice cream.

Im in town for work and came here from a recommendation and I'm so glad I did! This is a fast casual restaurant where you order at the front and then they bring out your food to you. Even though you order up there, they cleaned our plates up right away as we were finishing up. The food was delicious! The guacamole could've used a bit more lemon and seasoning but it tasted so fresh! The tacos are a little pricier than I'm used to ($3 vs. $6) but I think it's worth it. It's an elevated taco that you wouldn't get from a taco truck. I got the steak al carbon and shrimp taco and loved both. They also have a parking lot here. Definitely recommend! read more

Little Rey - Chips and Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We catered an office meeting for ten from Little Rey for the first time this week. Our group loved it! Delicious food. Ordering was simple. Their catering manager recommended a taco bar menu. The delivery and set up was smooth and was here a right on time. We already have a second lunch set up for next week. I highly recommend Little Rey! read more

Loved this restaurant Great food options & margaritas Definitely worth a visit again very soon read more

The food here was absolutely delicious! Came in the early afternoon on a Saturday so we could choose b/n brunch and lunch options and it was all great! For this restaurant you walk up to the counter to order, they give you a sign for your table, and then the food is delivered to you. They also have a self serve hot sauce and salsa bar with many different options, LOVED this. Only downfall was we did have a larger group so when food was getting delivered things were missed but they were quick to correct it when we let them know what was left out. read more

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Catering service is 10/10. Great communication, transparent pricing, and a single point of contact after the order is placed. Delivery was right on time. read more

They are still working out kinks from the first week of business (a bit chaotic ordering and with new employees learning input) but the food was solid and reasonably priced vs other similar restaurants (looking at you Velvet and Pancho & Lefty's). The carne portion was massive and the beef was still pink so A+. Bonus points for double wrapping the tacos. The shrimp taco and sweet potatoes were delicious but oily (leaked through paper to the table). Plantains were amazing. Elote was tasty. Partner loved the half bird but commented that you really needed wet naps because of the mess. We didn't wait but 5 min later the line was across the parking lot. Expect it to calm down once students head out for the summer. read more

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5 stars EASY! We have been 3 times. The chicken is delicious and those sides!!! Yowza. Best elote I have ever had. The sweet potatoes have me dreaming about them!!! Service is always awesome. A favorite of ours now. read more

There are about 5 billion Mexican restaurants in this area and I think Little Rey is one of the better places to dine at. First off, the interior is very cute and suitable for a casual date. Secondly, the queso fries were BUSSSS I honestly would just eat that as my whole meal. My fries were literally swimming in cheese sauce. The chicken flautas were just okay. I thought the inside chicken filling was a bit dry and the texture threw me off a little. The selection of sauces at the sauce bar was insane and i baptized every bite in the jalapeño ranch. They do have a free lot but it is small and we had to find alternative parking. You order at the front and food comes out fast. Would come back! read more

Little Rey - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The atmosphere at Little Rey is upbeat and fun! The music is a little schizophrenic, country music followed by Radiohead, followed by George Harrison. I ordered the half chicken which was some of the best chicken in Nashville. The flavor was rich and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I had encouraged my kids to order the chopped chicken off of the kids menu, thinking it would be the same chicken, but it was wildly different. Their chicken was dry and lacked flavor. That was disappointing, but I had plenty of chicken to share with them so it ended up working out. The staff did a great job checking in and picking up trash throughout the restaurant. Would come again, but wouldn't ordered off the kids menu. read more

Little Rey - Half chicken with cilantro rice, beans and flour tortillas. - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Friendly staff but definitely not what I expected. This is the first Mexican restaurant that is focused on vegan styled food. Not saying the food was bad but I'm certainly not a vegan which is my mistake. The chicken quesadilla was probably the better food option I chose. Not knocking the restaurant but if you're not vegan this maybe not a good option to pick. Also it would've been nice to have more food options as whole to pick from. read more

Little Rey - Little Rey's - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee