El Rey Rosticeria y Restaurante

"Another one of the city’s BYOB gems lies on a side street a few blocks off of downtown, identifiable by the thatched tiki umbrellas swaying in the breeze over the outdoor tables. El Rey, a small, casual Mexican spot, serves up juicy birria tacos and tlayudas alongside oversized burritos and enchiladas that are big enough to feed a crowd." - Marion Brewer

"Asbury Park is home to a number of Mexican restaurants, and you’ll literally find them up and down Main Street and throughout the town. Of the many options, El Rey is one of our favorites, particularly during the warmer months when outdoor seating is more ideal. Located on a residential street a few blocks north of the popular Cookman Avenue row of restaurants and bars, El Rey was opened in 2021 by a local family originally from Oaxaca (they’ve also recently expanded to a second location in Belmar). The restaurant is BYOB (although their agua fresca is good enough to make you skip the cerveza), and once you step inside, you’ll be drawn to the oversized pot of birria bubbling on the stove. Everything here, from their choriqueso to their carnitas to their quesadilla de maiz, is solid. Also worthy of your attention is their pollo rostizado, which can sell out quickly each day." - Michael Sinatra

"Asbury Park is home to a number of Mexican restaurants, and you’ll literally find them up and down Main Street and throughout the town. Of the many options, El Rey is one of our favorites, particularly during the warmer months when outdoor seating is more ideal. Located on a residential street a few blocks north of the popular Cookman Avenue row of restaurants and bars, El Rey was opened in 2021 by a local family originally from Oaxaca (they’ve also recently expanded to a second location in Belmar).  The restaurant is BYOB (although their agua fresca is good enough to make you skip the cerveza), and once you step inside, you’ll be drawn to the oversized pot of birria bubbling on the stove. Everything here, from their choriqueso to their carnitas to their quesadilla de maiz, is solid. Also worthy of your attention is their pollo rostizado, which can sell out quickly each day. " - Michael Sinatra

"El Rey in Asbury Park serves some of the area’s best Mexican food. Located on a residential street a few blocks north of the popular Cookman Avenue row of restaurants and bars, El Rey was recently opened by a local family originally from Oaxaca. The restaurant is BYO (although their aqua fresca is good enough to make you skip the cerveza), and once you step inside, you’ll be drawn to the oversized pot of birria bubbling on the stove. Everything here from choriqueso to carnitas to quesadilla de maiz is fantastic. Also worthy of your attention is their pollo rostizado, which can sell out quickly each day. " - Michael Sinatra