Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Little Rey

    3.9 (77 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Little Rey Takeout or Delivery

    Little Rey Photos

    LITTLE REY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Little Rey

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Hayley P.

    I visited Little Rey for the first time recently for lunch with a few friends. It is located in Iron Works, so be mindful of parking. When we went on a Friday at lunch it wasn't initially too crowded but quickly got busy at 12/12:30. You order at the counter. I grabbed chips and salsa, the El Diablo taco and Steak Al Cabron taco, and a soft drink. In total, I think was around $20. As I mentioned, the place got busy quick so it took a little bit to get our food out to us but no worries because we had our chips and drinks to enjoy. I found the tacos to be amazing and hefty. I am torn about paying $6 for a single taco. That being said, I would pay for these $6 tacos again. Definitely a fun little spot to grab lunch with friends. I would encourage you though to give yourself 1.5 - 2 hours in case you come during a busier time like we did.

    Staci H.

    I was trying to give some grace, but at the time I got here and ordered, it was dead. It's been almost 39 mins. And no food. And the restaurant is now packed. It came out after some time. It wasn't bad. Just a lot into the taco. A good taco doesn't really need too much. It was a pretty cute event restaurant though.

    Melissa Z.

    My new obsession is this restaurant. I always came by the area to have coffee or a sandwich and finally decided to come in and try the food. I went for a half chicken with the rice, beans, and a side of corn. This also comes with your choice of flour or corn tortillas. I also got 3 tacos- chicken, steak, and shrimp. I had everything with flour tortillas. The total for all- which could've fed 2-3 people, was around $45. The quality of the food was AMAZING. The steak and chicken tacos were sooo juicy and good that I've been wanting to go back just to get it again. If you try any taco, get the steak. There is also a salsa bar, and the first greenish/white sauce (cilantro crema?) was so good on everything so don't forget to grab a cup or 2. I later had the chicken with rice, beans, and corn and was extremely satisfied. I probably won't eat at another chicken spot other than this now. In addition to great food and good service- the restaurant is so pretty and modern inside. It was surprisingly empty and had so much seating inside and outside.

    Iron Works Area
    Liz M.

    "They have all the smoke" My first time in the Ironworks area, and me like! Free parking and crossing guards directing traffic - wonderful! Ironworks is a mixed use environment with vendors hawking wears under canopies, alongside brick and mortar stores, shops, and restaurants. Little Rey's (IMO) is Alpaca Restaurant meets Mexican in the best way possible. The line for the food was a solid 30-45 minute wait. So don't be like me, have a seat, pull out your phone, use the code on the table, view menu, and order and pay. However, they have employees who greet customers and begin your drink menu while you wait in line. We ordered the half chicken, Gringa tacos, guacamole, and queso. Little Rey has a pretty extensive salsa bar, with approximately 7-8 varieties. The salsa bar spans the gambit from mild, mid-hot, smoky, and creamy options. The star of the show is the smoked chicken! So good with the corn tortilla, green salsa, grilled onions and grilled jalapeño! Moving forward I'll add an order of the chicken taco to get the perfect bit without the mess! The Gringa/Picadillo taco was good. And while I am a Gringa, and I love a Taco Bell sour cream situation, that almost mayonnaise flavor didn't sit well with my soul. However, the meat itself was super flavorful. I'd ditch the flour tortilla for corn , and opt for another salsa, add pico, and I think we are there. We weren't a fan of the rice, if I'm being honest - but will try again. While I didn't try any alcoholic beverages on this round, I'm stoked to try on my next visit. Plenty of seating, but can get awkward if there are long lines. The party is outside, so that maybe your best bet. Looking forward to grabbing a group of friends for round dos! Northern Mexican: 4.4444

    Falan E.

    Little Rey service was great. The staff here were pleasant, professional and welcoming. The restaurant was clean and well lit. I ordered the La Superica without avocado. The salad included chicken, cucumber, pickled red onion, corn, crispy tortillas & oregano dressing. The salad was fresh and crisp. I really enjoyed this. I'd get double meat going forward. I also order myself carnitas (delicious) and one chicken quesadilla for my Mom. My mom is such a picky eater but she really enjoyed the quesadilla and was talking about how meaty it was for days. I'm happy with my purchase and I look forward to returning. I do recommend dining at Little Rey if you're in the area.

    Chicken Taco
    Ben M.

    With a modern American twist, this was hands down some of the best Mexican food I've ever had!

    Shavonne H.

    My friend and I decided to try out Little Rey, and we didn't love it. Located in the fairly new Raleigh Iron Works, I do like the location. There's parking all around, but scarce directly in front of the restaurant, so you may need to drive around a little to find a place to park. When you enter the restaurant, you'll see the counter to order first. At the counter, you'll order your food and drinks. You'll immediately receive your drinks, but you will receive a table card to place on your table, and a server will bring your food when it's ready. I liked the decor and also the cute table cards. They weren't just numbers, but had their own themes. The staff was great! They were all happy to help and had great energy. I appreciated the energy there! For my drink, I ordered a ranch water, and it was pretty good. I also liked the fact that I was able to have the remainder of the Topo Chico to keep adding to my drink. Now on to the food. It was just "OK." When my friend and I came in we noticed a lot of people had salads and we thought that was interesting, but once we had our food it made more sense. Since we had never been before, my friend and I decided to order a few different things. We ordered: Papas Fritas, Chips and Guacamole, Fingerling Sweet Potatoes, Elote off the cob, Chile con Queso, Super Greens, and Chicken Flautas. The dishes I enjoyed best were the elote and the Super Greens. They were both quite fresh and flavorful. I really appreciated that we could order the elote off the cob. I love elote, but I have permanent retainers that make eating corn on the cob difficult sometimes, and my friend had braces at the time, which also makes it difficult. The Papas Fritas were also good, but just your basic crinkle-cut fries. I was definitely disappointed in the other food. The guacamole was ok, but nothing special. The sweet potatoes and flautas were ok, but not that flavorful and nothing special. I was really disappointed with the chile con queso. No flavor and just cheese. I would return to give it another chance and get a salad because they did look really good. I say it's worth a try because it just may not be MY taste, but I wouldn't go in with too many expectations.

    Casa margarita on the rocks.
    Charlotte B.

    Everything I had was good! Guacamole was just right flavor, consistency, just a classic style. Good crispy salty chips, salsa bar with a few options like creamy jalapeño, a salsa verde and a couple others. I got a carne asada taco and Oaxaca taco. Both were flavorful and fresh. The casa margarita was surprisingly good. I guess I was expecting too sweet but it wasn't. I like the table "numbers" which are bands; just kinda fun. Indoor and outdoor seating are available.

    Carnitas quesadilla, pozole, and chips and the world's lamest, weakest salsas.
    Joshua L.

    Little Rey is the latest counter-concept in what I would call the "Gringo Taqueria" in the Raleigh area. Okay...yes, I'm a Mexican food purist. Growing up in Southern California will do that to you. And while, Little Rey is so cool and hip inside...intentionally fun branding, bright colors, open concept. And the staff is friendly. But they fall into the "trying to be everything to everyone" valley with their food, which for me is a full stop. Quesadillas made with mozzarella cheese, a salad bar that, regardless of what the signs say, top out at "barely mild" as far as heat. And everything...everything with the same basic flavors. And I get it. They are popular. So it's working. Just not for me. For me it's all about the food. And in that department, Little Rey does not deliver.

    Cafe de Olla (cafe + horchata) 10/10

    Breakfast was really good. The hotcakes literally melt in your mouth. The tacos were excellent as well. Quinn was very helpful in helping me order.

    Dining area.
    Chris H.

    Little Rey is a nice Mexican spot in the Iron Works development in Raleigh. The tacos I had along with the Super Salad were tasty and filling. The interior offers ample seating and they do offer beer and wine. The ambiance is southwest themed and you order at the counter and seat yourself. The service was attentive and quick.

    Smoked wings
    Kiki H.

    Parking is available in 4 different areas. The restaurant was very clean. The staff was awesome! Z was amazing. She greeted us, gave food recommendations, and was very professional. Phenomenal customer service from the entire staff. I thought the restaurant was new but it's been here a year. I'm mad that I didn't go before now. BUT THE FOOD!!! Kudos to the cook/chef! Oh my goodness!!! I ordered the bowl. One of the best I've ever had. The chicken was flavorful, and the super greens were crisp. We also ordered their wings, sweet potato fingerlings & steak tacos. Listen, the wings!!! Definitely getting those again. Nice and spicy. I added some of the sweet potato fingerlings to my bowl too. My daughter had the steak taco. She loved it. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!!! I think I'm addicted already.

    Chips and salsa
    Christine S.

    Popped in with a friend for some chips and salsa and drinks. A great little spot and 1.95 for bottomless chips and salsa is an amazing deal! The salsas were spicy and flavorful and the chips were thin and crispy. Great service as well despite the fact that we weren't eating a meal! The draft beer was cold and my friend had a ranch water which she said was delicious. I will definitely be back to try the tacos!

    See all

    1 month ago

    We recently used the catering services for a work event. The food was good and the service was as well. Would definitely order again.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam B.
    747
    1236
    502

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jeni C.

    Jeni C.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B L T.
    133
    516
    1386

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of juan m.
    389
    42
    34

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jeni C.

    Jeni C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lan Z.
    1
    42
    140

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Little Rey

    You might also consider

    Taqueria El Toro

    Taqueria El Toro

    4.4
    (370 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $

    Stopped by Taqueria El Toro last week after a few people had recommended this place. I'll admit my…read moreexpectations may be shaped by having a lot of Tex Mex style food in Texas, but I wanted to give this a try. When you arrive, there is plenty of parking around the building, and entrances in the front and on the right side. Once inside, you'll walk up to counter and place your order. Your then given a order number and it's open seating. Your number will be called out in Spanish when your food is ready and you'll pick it up at the counter. I ordered an al pastor taco which unfortunately was not good. It came out extremely cold and needed a lot of salsa for it to have any flavor. I also ordered a steak burrito which was much better and was served with melted cheese on the top. There were fatty pieces throughout the burrito but this was far better than the taco. Lastly, I ordered a horchata but it tasted like grainy and wasn't great. If I'm in the area again I may give this a try but I'd definitely stick with a burrito so your food is hot.

    First visit. Not my favorite Raleigh taqueria but ok if you are in the neighborhood…read more Tacos were good (both types of chicken) with good portions of meat and tasty flavors. Counter service was very friendly. Menu seems diverse. Restaurant is huge and clean. Prices are good value. Salsa bar was lacking. Only two types of salsa and was not a fan of either. : ( Tortilla Chips are the variety that are thicker, harder, and not as tasty. And they were probably over cooked. : ( Burrito was just ok but again good portion.

    Photos
    Best Sit Down Mexican Food! Authentic and made with love!
    Best Sit Down Mexican Food! Authentic and made with love!
    Pre-salsa bar
    Pre-salsa bar
    Taqueria El Toro

    See all

    Taco Bamba Raleigh

    Taco Bamba Raleigh

    4.3
    (128 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    It's so unfair that the best Taco Bamba location imo happens to be the one farthest away from me…read more We have friends who came to visit us in the DC region, and fell in love with Taco Bamba when we brought them to the Vienna location. They would then make a point to come visit one of the locations (Springfield, Landmark, Vienna) anytime they were visiting. It was simply meant to be that they happened to relocate to Raleigh where a Taco Bamba location exists, so that now WE get to visit THEIR Bamba. Their Raleigh location specific tacos are truly amazing. The Queen Bee and Sweet Baby Jesus are delicious. It's also nice that this location has a really nice outdoor seating area. There's ample seating both indoor and outdoor, and despite it usually being busy we always manage to find a table.

    Decide to explore and visit this restaurant. I went around…read more4pmish on "Taco Tuesday!" I walked in and it was an straight vibe! I sat at the Bar and the bartender Teran took great care of me! I ordered a side of guac to go with my chips, 3 shrimp tacos with beans and rice! Just an FYI, everything here is 'a la carte.' I also order the white peach margarita - which was delicious! They also have a sauce bar with medium and hot salsas! They also have a patio for outside dining with corn hole games as well! I will definitely be back - hopefully Teran will be working when I return. SIDE NOTE

    Photos
    Tinga Taco Side Rice & Beans The Jeffrey
    Tinga Taco Side Rice & Beans The Jeffrey
    Tinga Taco
    Tinga Taco
    Taco Bamba's burger with brisket chop chop patty, American cheese, chili relish, Bamba smoke sauce.

    See all

    Taco Bamba's burger with brisket chop chop patty, American cheese, chili relish, Bamba smoke sauce.
    Gringo A Go-Go

    Gringo A Go-Go

    3.8
    (412 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    The service was super attentive and our food and drinks were incredible! The vegan chilaquiles were…read moreON FIRE! The hubby had a ranch water that was so bubbly and delicious too!

    The days of grease guns and gasoline fumes have been replaced with vintage music and the delicious…read morearoma of corn tortillas combined with grilled meats at this old Esso station. Dining outside at this busy street corner is like eating in the middle of a moving painting--chaotic, colorful, and endlessly entertaining. The symphony of the city combined with the clanging of silverware while being serenaded by the Mamas and the Poppas, it all wraps you like a warm breeze, it's an electrifying energy that feels both invigorating and alive. Meanwhile every staff member seems to glide effortlessly through the space, moving with purpose, assuring you an excellent dining experience. If you're lucky enough to get Mikey for a server, his energy is contagious--he lifts your mood and he will delver an excellent dining experience. This one-page menu is the perfect mix of simplicity and diversity, capturing the essence of Mexican food without overwhelming, giving you just enough to excite your taste buds and leave you wanting more. Gringo's Old Fashioned is a unique and comforting twist on the popular drink and the chorizo enchiladas will want you coming back for more, my only wish would be for flour tortillas in place of the con tortillas. Cheers!

    Photos
    Interior.
    Interior.
    Trio appetizer
    Trio appetizer
    Margarita!!

    See all

    Margarita!!
    Torchy's Tacos

    Torchy's Tacos

    4.0
    (318 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Torchy's Tacos over the weekend and it didn't disappoint. I was so excited to see that…read moreTorchy's is in the triangle area after relocating from Texas. When you arrive there is parallel parking outside the front of the restaurant and if that's full there is overflow parking in the back. When you walk in you'll be transported to a fast, casual taco shop near downtown Raleigh. To order you can either sit at the bar, order on the kiosks, or at the counter. I ordered the trailer park combo which comes with a trailer park taco (Fried chicken, green chiles, pico de gallo, mixed cheese with poblano sauce on a flour tortilla), queso and a drink. I'd recommend taking the lettuce off as I feel like it overpowers the taco. I also ordered the Ranch Hand breakfast taco (Cage free eggs, marinated and grilled steak, mixed cheese on a flour tortilla with a side of Diablo sauce). The Diablo sauce is a bit too hot for me so I subbed that for the salsa roja on the side. Both tacos were excellent and remind me of my first time eating Torchy's at their og location in Austin. Torchy's also has one of my favorite quesos as the green chiles really add a nice flavor. Highly recommend this spot if you are looking for good fast food Tex mex spot.

    I tried Torchys when it first opened and thought this is ok. My husband wasn't with me and I wanted…read moreto try the smashburger taco of the month so we went back. And back again. It's a fun little fast date night. We order a bunch of tacos and split them so we can try different ones. The queso is also excellent The downside is the location is very loud.

    Photos
    Torchy's Tacos
    Torchy's Tacos
    Torchy's Tacos

    See all

    Little Rey - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...