We came here before heading over to The Ritz for a concert. The restaurant wasn't super busy so we didn't think it would take too long. We ordered our food at 6:40pm. The food arrived at 7:16pm, so if you're hoping to get in and out of this place quickly that likely won't happen. We ordered tacos and they were all delicious. The Oaxaca was a pleasant surprise that I highly recommend. The chicken Al carbon was tasty. You could taste the smokiness from being grilled. It was a little dry though so we added salsa to it. The picadillo with the seasoned ground beef was good. The steak was spicy but tasty as well rico style. Overall our only complaint was the wait time. read more

I forgot to snag a picture before eating, but I ordered the fish taco and the chicken quesadilla. The fish taco was delicious, loaded with toppings and full of great flavor. The quesadilla was flavorful as well, and the chicken was tender. I also tried the large chips and queso; the queso portion was generous, which I appreciated, but many of the chips were soggy and chewy, which made them hard to enjoy. Overall, it was a good experience with friendly staff, and I'll definitely be back for the fish tacos. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Little Rey - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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. read more

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"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 read more

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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. read more

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I had the opportunity to give Little Rey a second chance, and I am so glad I did. The hiccups I experienced the first time were gone. The staff have found their groove and are super sweet, and the tacos I got were delicious. I loved the Oaxacan and the El Diablo (which isn't super spicy - don't be scared). The salsa bar is a nice touch, although it needed a refill when I was there, so I didn't get to sample everything, but the couple I had were yummy. The horchata was pretty good, too! I'll be back for sure. read more

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. read more

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

Little Rey - Chicken Taco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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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. read more

Little Rey - Casa margarita on the rocks. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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. read more

Little Rey - Carnitas quesadilla, pozole, and chips and the world's lamest, weakest salsas. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Very disappointed in Little Rey. We were really looking forward to having dinner here but it was a huge letdown. The food was not good, overly complicated and we did not finish our meals. The service was incredibly slow and our server was not attentive at all. Ended up spending over $50 for two tacos, two ramens and two drinks. Waste of money and waste of time. Definitely do not recommend, one and done for us. read more

We really like the industrial feel of Ironworks, and this restaurant fits right in! I wanted tacos for lunch on a recent Saturday, and this was the right choice! Order at the counter, and they'll bring your food to your table. My chicken al carbon and pollo tradicional were both delicious! They were loaded with well-seasoned, well-cooked chicken, and they were a decent size. Two were just right for lunch. My friend enjoyed his torta diabla, and he got an order of salsa and chips to share. The space was clean and bright, and prices were reasonable. I was pleasantly surprised at how attentive the staff was, even after we got our food! read more

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. read more

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Little Rey's rotisserie chicken is what the word succulent was invented for. Juicy, perfectly seasoned, and honestly the reason to come here, though everything else makes it hard to stop at just that. My husband and I split the half bird. It comes with beans, rice and tortillas and puts the total lunch tab at just $18 for the two of us. The salsa lineup is excellent. Bright, smoky, spicy, fresh. You will want to try all of them. And then there are the tortilla chips. These are dangerously good. Thin, delicate, shatteringly crispy. The kind of chips you fully intend to "just snack on" and then realize you've eaten half the basket before your food even hits the table. Everything feels thoughtful but unfussy, which is exactly what you want. Great flavors, great execution, and zero pretense. Little Rey is doing it right. Five stars, no notes. read more

Came in for Cinco de Mayo with the girls since they had $5 margaritas. The line was very long and they were out of stuff by the time we made it to the counter and it was only 7pm. But it is on a very nice location with great indoor and outdoor seating. The staff was friendly. Only thing is if you want authentic Mexican i would just go to a normal Mexican restaurant the food was just okay but for the price i feel like we could've got more and better read more

I had been looking forward to visiting here for a while. There is plenty of seating, both indoors and outdoors. And I came with a potential girlfriend, let's put it that way. I liked the salsa bar a lot, especially the salsa verde. But the chicken and steak tacos that I add were just ok. Nothing I haven't had anywhere else. The meats were actually overdone. Even with the grilled onions, it felt ordinary. If I came back, I might try something else. On a sidenote, the restrooms are really cool! read more

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! read more

Little Rey - Chips and salsa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Two of us tried out this new restaurant in Ironworks. It's on the opposite end from Jaguar Bolero. Good size place, with plenty of seating. Order at the counter, get your own water, tea, utensils, napkins. What makes this Taco place stand out is they offer wood-roasted meats. I tried their smoked chicken wings, which were described to me by the friendly Gal working the front of the restaurant as good if you don't have a peanut allergy and can take a bit of heat. I would say they have a LOT of heat. Tasty but very spicy and salty. The jalapeno cream sauce and fresh lime help cut that a bit. Also tried the chips and small queso. Love that they have a salsa bar, so I got a couple of those to go with the chips as well. The medium one has a nice chipotle flavor. The chips were thin the way I like them, but again very salty. My Friend got one chicken taco and said it was good, but it was small. She would have gotten two if she hadn't had some of my wings and queso. I will definitely go back but order differently. read more

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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. read more

Little Rey - Cafe de Olla (cafe + horchata) 10/10 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Cute place for casual Mexican food! Ordered at the counter and they brought food out. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating in Raleigh iron works. Would return to try their tacos or margs! read more

Little Rey - Arroz con pollo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Little Rey is a spacious restaurant with both indoor and outdoor patio seating. We ordered at the counter and they gave us our margaritas and chips and queso there. You get a card to put on your table for the rest of your order to be delivered. I thought the queso was very flavorful with a little kick. A roving employee will refill your chips. We had the half chicken which comes with beans, rice, & tortillas. The chicken was seasoned well and was tasty and we had leftovers. The only negative was the flour tortillas were pasty, and my husband could not eat them. He just basically ate it like rice bowl instead. I got my tacos on corn and those were fine. The vegetarian Oaxacan taco was my fav! They also have a nice salsa bar. The medium one hit in all right spots. We went for dinner and it wasn't very busy at on a Sunday; however, we have noticed lunch on the weekends gets super busy! read more

Little Rey - Half Chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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One of those places you try just to try. I wouldnt go back but at least i checked it off my list. Food wasnt bad but there are plenty of other taco spots in the area that are astronomically better. Kids get free soft serve which is nice. We went during slow/dead hours so energy in the space was low.. probably better to go during peak weekend hours - which is a rare desire ? read more

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. read more

Little Rey - Dining area. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Good experience here. They have great outdoor seating. You can order at your table via QR code or order at the counter and they will bring you your food. Plenty of bottle beer options and some on draft, a couple margarita options. We ordered the chips and guac to start which were tasty. The tacos come a la carte. I ordered the carnitas and shrimp diablo and they were super good! Definitely on the more expensive side. read more

Little Rey - shrimp diablo and carnitas tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My husband and I went here when they were giving out free breakfast tacos. I got the chorizo one and also the hotcakes. The taco was delicious! I got it without beans and really liked the chorizo. I was not prepared for how many hotcakes I would get. They were really good and had some good syrup. The staff was helpful, but they were hovering a little too much. They kept coming around wanting to take things we were done with. I would have preferred to just throw it away at the end. This was shortly after they opened, so maybe they will improve and not be super attentive. read more

Little Rey - Hotcakes and chorizo breakfast taco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I picked it up an order today and I really was expecting so much more. The only queso was watery and lack flavor. The chips were nice and fresh. My tacos felt tough though, the meat felt overcooked and the tortillas were a bit chewy. The tacos had great flavor though, I wish they were better cooked. I'll definitely try again because I've heard great things. Service at the pickup window was quick and the staff was friendly. read more

Little Rey - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Arroz Con Pollo, Steak Al Carbon and chips with salsa. This is all we ordered today and it was delicious. Fresh charcoal grilled chicken, cilantro rice with the works and wood-grill steak with smoked onions and the fresh pico de gallo at this side of the beautiful vibrant Raleigh Iron Works location. Laid back atmosphere and the service is surprisingly nice. Fable was our server and she did a fantastic job. Thanks crew! Keep up the amazing talents you guys shown! read more

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This place was great! Lots of options for people with dietary restrictions. My husband got tacos and enjoyed them, as well as the array of sauces to go with. I got a salad called Esqueleto that was vegan and packed with delicious things (the cashew dressing and red vinaigrette dressing were both amazing and complimented each other). We shared the chips and guacamole and several staff members came over and asked us if we needed a refill on chips, so they were very helpful and attentive. Despite being fast casual, the cashier even came over to us to see how we were liking our meals! I would definitely be back whenever in the Iron Works area. read more

Not sure if we came on a bad day but Little Rey was nothing to write home about. We came on a Saturday which was very busy, however, we found a spot outside which was pleasant. The highlight of our meal was the chips & salsa- the chips had plenty of salt, however, the two salsas I got were watery and flavorless. The jalepeno ranch was good, but that was about it. For mains I got the carnitas and the carne asada- they were both incredibly DRY. I could hardly eat them, they come with just onions and cilantro so it was very, very dry. On top of that, they come with two corn tortillas that added to the dryness. Dipping in the sauces somehow did not help. I hope that we just came on a bad day, the menu seemed promising and the staff were nice- they came around with free samples which was definitely a highlight. Overall, I don't think I would come back for lunch. Maybe breakfast, but unfortunately I was not impressed. read more

Another great restaurant in Raleigh iron works! Think fast food, but much better. You order at the counter, get a number and wait at your table for your meal. We did a sampler dinner to try a bunch of different things, everything we tried was great! They also have a little salsa/sauce bar that you can try all their different sauces. They have a patio outside and a cute indoor spot that was full of a variety of different age groups. read more

Little Rey - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Delicious! The steak and pork belly tacos were sooo yummy. Waitress was nice and helpful. Overall ambiance was cool. The chips and queso were also delicious. Will definitely come back here! read more

Little Rey - Steak and pork belly tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Their weekend breakfast slaps. Where else can you get breakfast tacos, lunch tacos, and a stack of piping hot pancakes at the same time? The pancake stack is only $5 for a stack of mini ones. And they have piping hot butter syrup. So if you're craving sweet and savory on a weekend, hit this up. Actually like their breakfast tacos more than their normal ones. read more

Little Rey is now open in Raleigh Iron Works. My husband and I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed it. I ordered two tacos (the oaxaca and chicken al carbon) with a side of elote and a beer and my husband ordered two tacos (the oaxaca and picadillo) with a side of cilantro lime rice and the aqua fresca del dia. The tacos are on the more expensive side but they are a decent size and tasty. I would have been good with one and a side. This spot is definitely worth a visit. read more

Impromptu visit on my way to DT Raleigh. Ordered 2 pork belly tacos. In all honesty, I had high expectations based on other reviews as well as having just paid $12.00 for 2 small corn tortillas tacos. Nothing special IMO. I've had better tacos from trucks in the area. That being said, I believe the ambiance and outdoor seating was very inviting. Likely I won't be here anytime soon but I'll let you be the judge. read more

We stopped by Iron Works on Little Rey's opening weekend and enjoyed some truly transcendent breakfast tacos. Fresh, soft, homemade tortillas were the x-factor for sure. Quality fillings, coffee, and sauces tied it all together. Service was friendly and attentive. They seemed genuinely excited about the food and had good recommendations. It's a fun, modern space where you order at the counter. More of a casual treat-yourself spot than a date night in my book. We'll be back soon to try the lunch/dinner menu. Breakfast was a resounding success, more to come! read more

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So I walk past this place all the time cause anytime I go to Iron Works I'm craving pizza. Well decided to give Little Rey a try today and man, I will be coming back. First off the prices are great for the quality and taste of the food. I ordered a side of chips and salsa (salsa is a good indicator of what you're about to eat) and they put a lot of love behind their salsas. I had the medium red and it was tasty with a tiny kick. Also had the green salsa, had a bit more kick and was delicious. I think it had roasted tomatillos and garlic. Anyways then I got my two tacos (the picadillo one and the carne asada one and they were also very delicious. Do yourself a favor and come try this place. read more

Little Rey - Picadillo taco (gringo) a carne asada taco and chip and homemade salsas. Of course you can't eat all this without a cold brewski juice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just left after going at 3pm on a Thursday afternoon. Walked out at 3:15 because no one spoke to me the entire time I was there. When I first arrived someone in the kitchen looked up at me and said nothing. I sat myself and when I scanned the barcode on the table to try and order, the dine-in menu wasn't even popping up. The only menu showing were for margaritas, beer, & desserts. A man was sweeping that walked past me several times and he also said nothing. Mind you, the restaurant was empty. Left to spend my coins elsewhere with better service! read more

Little Rey - Broken menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We enjoyed our lunch at Little Rey. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which was a HUGE serving. I enjoyed my dish. My husband ordered the steak breakfast taco. He liked it and said he would definitely order again. I was pleasantly surprised that they also offered a kids menu. Our kids enjoyed the beef quesadillas and the beef taco. We also ordered the chips+guac which was posted as Market Price. It was $10 for us that day and 100% worth it. The guac was so fresh and creamy. It was a large portion of guac. All in all, we'll def be back and I'd stick to their breakfast offerings which are available only on the weekends until 3pm. read more

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