El Rey
Restaurant · Rittenhouse ·
Modern Mexican dishes in a funky space with retro decor.
Modern Mexican dishes in a funky space with retro decor.
"The Deal: $4 Tacos, $5 Modelo Draft, $6 Margaritas, And $2-$8 Snacks This Center City spot is almost guaranteed to get busy during happy hour. Coworkers line up for a run of spiced wings and sh*t talking while friends meetup over beers and tacos. The retro spot is a fun place to have some cheap drinks, get a stranger's number, and count the old Mexican cinema posters on the wall." - candis mclean
"El Rey's third location is open in Navy Yard with a 300-seat space overlooking the Anacostia. Like the other locations, the new spot serves tacos, burritos, tostadas, and more, with a Happy Hour running weekdays 3-6pm, where you can get $10 nachos, $7 margaritas, and a rotating selection of frozen cocktails." - omnia saed
"Sprawled on the banks of the Anacostia River, Navy Yard’s new 300-seat El Rey marks the showiest project yet for D.C. hospitality brothers Ian and Eric Hilton. Unlike the other two landlocked locations, El Rey 3.0 embraces a “coastal taqueria” vibe with a dominant outdoor dining situation that’s even bigger than the interior (166 vs. 134 seats). Happy hour (weekdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) includes $7 margs and frozen cocktails in rotating flavors; $4 Estrella beers; two tacos for $10 all day on Tuesday; and (happy hour-only) loaded nachos for $10." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"Puebla and Veracruz cuisine is the influence behind the south-of-the-border appeal of restaurateur Stephen Starr’s El Rey in Rittenhouse. Here, Mexican folk art and Spanish movie posters fill the walls as tasty carnitas tacos, tumbada (a Veracruz-style paella), hearty nachos, and boozy margaritas are served with ease. Head to Fishtown to check out Starr’s sibling spot LMNO — a restaurant, lounge, book store, and art gallery all rolled into one." - Ernest Owens
"Congratulations - neither you nor any of your friends fell into the fountain at Pagano’s. That means you’re ready to have a post-SIPS dinner at El Rey. The Rittenhouse Mexican spot is like a festive diner full of booths, long tables, and vintage movie posters plastering the walls. And if you make it in time for Happy Hour, they’ve got dollar tacos (go for the steak and fish options), $2 beers, and $4 margaritas. If not, you can’t go wrong with the short rib enchiladas, the chile relleno, or their nachos that come in a pizza pan." - sydney mcelwee
