El Rey Sol Restaurant

An interesting place, El Rey Sol. When we went the place was absolutely empty. Despite that the food took a while to get to our table. The mushroom soup was actually pretty good. The dinners were not.... I had linguine with fish with a wine sauce. I had assumed it would be white wine but it was, I think, a soy sauce that wasn't horrible but.... surprising. My partner had the duck with fruit sauce that was basically a dessert and unpalatable. My friend had Coq Au Vin which was ok. All in all, it was a middling experience and definitely not worth the premium cost.

I don’t like giving negative reviews to restaurants but- if a restaurant is expensive and touting itself as fine dining then it’s another story. Between the 3 of us, one meal was ok, the coq au vin, one was meh, the wine pasta, and one was outright inedible, the duck. The dish was a lump of overcooked duck meat with some odd fruit sauce dumped on top of it. While a berry sauce with duck could be subtle and divine, this was as if someone took a sauce for cheap pancakes and poured it over chunks of duck. Yuck.

Thank you for reading the Honest Reviews4u! This restaurant is very clean inside and out and serve was very professional. The restaurant is quite busy so wait is expected. Many famous people like the U2 band come here for a nice meal. The restaurant does have a classic fancy feeling. Great for a business, romantic, family and friends meal. The food was very good and well cooked. I highly recommend this place!👍🏼

The first French restaurant in Mexico and a terrific one. The setting is beautiful and this is as good as the menu looks. Opened in 1947 and still across the corner from its original location. My wife and I dined here almost 50 year ago. It has the same menu as that time and is still owned by the family that founded it. The food is wonderful.

A Gem in Ensenada, we travel to France frequently. The food pastries is EXACTLY what they serve in France. We Had the privilege of eating here and meeting the manager he showed us around and told us the history of this fine Establishment

Simply amazing food with service to match.

It’s a great restaurant to enjoy in Ensenada. The taste is supreme and you can taste the ingredients. The French dishes are great but you can close your eyes and order.

Such a beautiful restaurant in the heart of Ensenada. The staff is wonderful, so respectful and so helpful, the food is quality and delicious, and the prices are amazing for such high end food! The atmosphere inside is so relaxing. There was a pianist playing beautiful music while we ate. If you want a more lively vibe, the outside patio is just as beautiful but more casual. Great find! Will definitely be back.

My partner and I ate breakfast here during our cruise stop and we ordered the Machaca de Cangrejo (Crab Machaca) and Eggs Benedict with Salmon. Service and ambiance were excellent! Our servers were excellent and I'm sad I forgot their names. Our lady server was Spanish-speaking and was very nice. Although I spoke little Spanish, I was happy that we were able to understand each other and she was accommodating and understanding with my broken Spanish grammar. Our male server spoke English and was accommodating to my partner and I as well. I enjoyed how no one pressured us to eat at the restaurant and the rest of the customers were mostly locals. The food was SO delicious. I've never had crab for breakfast so I was very impressed with the food and how it tasted. I will definitely be coming back if I am ever in Ensenada and will recommend this restaurant to other tourists and people! Total for 2 Entrees, 1 Hot Chocolate & 1 Capuccino: $47 Mi pareja y yo desayunamos aquí durante nuestra escala del crucero y pedimos Machaca de Cangrejo y Huevos Benedict con Salmón. ¡El servicio y el ambiente fueron excelentes! Nuestros servidores fueron excelentes y lamento haber olvidado sus nombres. Nuestra camarera hablaba español y fue muy amable. Aunque hablaba poco español, estaba feliz de que pudiéramos entendernos y ella fue complaciente y comprensiva con mi gramática española deficiente. Nuestro camarero masculino hablaba inglés y también fue servicial con mi pareja y conmigo. Disfruté de cómo nadie nos presionaba para comer en el restaurante y el resto de los clientes eran en su mayoría locales. La comida estaba TAN deliciosa. Nunca he desayunado cangrejo, así que quedé muy impresionado con la comida y su sabor. ¡Definitivamente regresaré si alguna vez estoy en Ensenada y recomendaré este restaurante a otros turistas y personas!

Go anywhere else!!! The food was mid, and super overpriced. I could've gotten something better from the frozen food isle. The service was non existent. Utensils were dirty. Everything took wayyy too long to get to the table, IF it arrived.

Very elitist. Staff was bothered we only wanted desserts, ignored us and tried to rush us out.

Stopped by in the afternoon for coffee and pastry. Sat outside. Excellent cafe mocha and pastry. Very friendly service. Highly recommended!

I love this place ! Mostly for the decor it's so elegant. The service is impeccable shout out to Alejandro our server. I adhere to a faint strict diet so my choices were slim but the pasta was delicious my novio was pleases with his steak . All was good and tasty.

What a mistake coming here. Took a while after we got seated for anyone to bring a menu. Out fire arrived in decent time but the taste just wasn't there. The tomato enchilada tasted like ketchup. No one ever came to check up on us. We had to get up and get your napkins. The check seemed overly priced but we were just fed up with this place and paid so we could leave. To top it off, the daiquiri drink seemed to have zero alcohol. As a side note, I speak French, this is a French restaurant, no one that works here speaks a lick of French.

Classic French restaurant in Ensenada with amazing service, table side Cesar salad, traditional French onion soup that was absolutely delicious, fabulous fondue and wonderful pasta courses. Wine pairing from Santo Thomas was excellent.

Excellent food, impeccable service, freshly made Caesar salad at your table from scratch. Wish I lived closer - I'd be a regular! Nice decor- quiet and comfortable.

I have been here a few times and enjoyed both French and Mexican food. The ambiance is nice and the service is good. They claim to be the oldest French Restaurant in Mexico and you can read about their interesting history when dining here. I would recommend a visit when in Ensenada.

This place is delicious! Specially their chilaquiles! I felt they were the best I've had so far ; just so crunchy and the sauce has this perfect consistency and taste. The waiter was pleasant and although they were about to close the brunch menu since we got there almost at the end of brunch, he did his best to get our order in so we can still enjoy brunch menu. The ambiance is lovely, feels like you're in a movie. Will be coming back to try other things in the menu!

Wow - yet another incredible culinary experience in Ensenada! It was a weekday morning and we were craving some breakfast after making the trek down from San Diego the previous evening. El Rey Sol came highly recommended from our airbnb host. A short uber ride later and we arrived. Masks are required for entry - after taking your temperature and requesting you use hand sanitizer, we entered the dining room. Fancy. Maroon walls are adorned with artwork and the lighting from chandeliers. All the servers are wearing formalwear. Menus are available via QR code or printed. Yes, there's an English menu for those still working on their Spanish. Very attentive hospitality from Luis. We started with almond croissants from the pastry carts. They were huge, fresh, and decadent. Caffeine sometimes gets me going too hard so we opted for fresh squeezed papaya + grapefruit juices. Solid. Now onto the entrees. We shared the green chilaquiles with green salsa and chicken. Incredibly flavorful, with bright notes contrasted by hearty cheese. Next up was the Dona Pepita Omelette -- named for the original owner of the restaurant and her recipes that are now nearly 75 years old. The highlight was the béchamel sauce that covered the dish. Unbelievable umami and richness. All accompanied by salsa arbol and grilled Serrano peppers. All this for about $30 USD out the door for two people. Enjoy!

Me encanta desayunar en Rey Sol, les recomiendo el omelet de camarón, siempre con un excelente servicio y un ambiente musical con piano en vivo

Food: not delicious Water: charged Service: delayed Price: over price Overall: don't come. Don't believe 4star in the past.

Great restaurant All great foods and big portions Very classy decor Oldest french restaurant in mexico All delicious Upscale price but half usa prices Classy service

Ported in Ensenada for the day so tried El Rey Sol. The wait was about 20 minutes on a Sunday for my party of two. FYI, they serve strictly breakfast til 1pm then lunch service starts. I tried the seafood pasta whiles my boyfriend had the Mexican trio. We had to wait a while for our dishes since we were early for lunch service so had a few of their delicious pastries. The seafood tasted fresh without that fishy taste and noodles cooked perfectly. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area.

My review is only for the complimentary breakfast as part of my stay at the Posada El Rey hotel: Complimentary breakfast - my reservation included a complimentary breakfast for one or two people. The person at the front desk of the hotel gave me a card to redeem at their restaurant, which is located across the hotel. You get a choice of four breakfast options ranging from your typical eggs and potatoes, to pancakes and bacon, and Mexican chilaquiles. I honestly didn't expect much given my experiences with complimentary breakfasts at hotels in the US. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the breakfast was! Since I went with my family, I got to try all four options, and they were all pretty good and the portions were filling. I also appreciated that you have an option to take the breakfast to-go, so if you're in a hurry, you can drop by the restaurant, place your order, and pick up your breakfast on your way out. I've also heard great things about their dinner menu, so I'll be sure to make reservations next time I visit!

Came here for an early dinner - they had live music that was a plus. We all shared a large cheese board and received soup with our meals - some sort of bean soup, It was very good. Got the steam clam appetizer for a main and It was delicious. Great attentive service as well. We came dressed casual as It was early, but could see this being a little more upscale later at night.

While food, music, and ambiance are wonderful - service was non existent last night. Sad to say

Super cute area to sit outside & enjoy pastries with family! Great service! -@neeks93 on Instagram!

One of the originals, this restaurant has that good old feeling of quality service and good taste. Chilaquiles where good and the coffee also. The eggs with cilantro sauce where terrific. Nice classical music and outdoor seating makes for a good feel.

We had a great experience at El Rey for breakfast. I had the enchiladas with red sauce and a fresh mango juice. The service was good and the ambiance had a traditional Mexican feel to it. I will come here again for lunch or dinner.

Service was one of the worst experiences I've ever encountered at a restaurant After we finished our meal I had to call the manger it had been more than 30 minutes and nobody had even looked over our table I went there for the traditional old school that the restaurant is supposed to be It's not what it used to be don't waste your money

Based on reviews, we decided to have breakfast here. The restaurant is clean with a classic retro decor. We visited on a Sunday. Lots of locals and a piano man entertained the crowd. We were seated promptly. Our server, Edgar, was outstanding. The food is delicious and the ingredients were fresh. We highly recommend this place for breakfast.

Service was excellent food was good my family and I love coming here every time we are in ensenada

The desserts were amazing, we ate soooo many! The service was lovely. They take all precautions necessary during these times! Highly recommend!

Tuvimos mala suerte quizás, un día antes mi hija estuvo desayunando y nos lo recomendaron pero no fue de nuestro agrado. Tomo más de 30 minutos que nos atendieron y en total esperamos 2 horas para que nos llevaran la comida, mi plato llevaba atún en salsa de cilantro estaba sobre cocinado seco y la carne asada la pedido nos bien comida para un niño y se la llavaron hecha un pedazo de cuero resecooo, todos los empleados se sentían arrogantes solo hubo uno que nos atendió al final que nos mostró un poco de cortesía, Toda la entradas y comida nos la sirvieron al mismo tiempo que tuvimos que dar un plato de enchiladas para que nos lo dieran para llevar y NUNCA nos lo entregaron y se pago la cuenta completa. Estamos desepcionados de este lugar NUNCA VOLVERÍAMOS Y SE LO ESTAMOS DICIENDO A NUESTROS FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS.

Food was excellent Service was terrible. Took 20 minutes before someone came to take our order

Comida excelente con muchos antojes y no se olviden probar las crepes cuando van a comer. El lugar número 1 para desayunar, un antojo, y para cenar. Amazing food couldn't ask for a better restaurant to eat breakfast, to have brunch, lunch or supper. The best possible food especially the crepes and sweet bread. Thank you and I hope you like the review

So glad that we found this 70 year old restaurant located in downtown Ensenada, Mexico. This place has really good food, excellent value, clean bathrooms, attentive staff and friendly. My son is a Musician in SoCal and had been itching to play the piano on our trip. The Host was very nice and allowed my son to play the beautiful Yamaha piano in the restaurant. He played 3 pieces and the applause from the staff was so warm, you would have thought it was a huge audience. Most importantly, the food was well prepared, tasty with great flavors and fresh. We tried the mixed breakfast plate, crab omelet, crunchy tacos and calamari. The lunches came with a very fresh and nicely prepared cream of carrot soup. A nice slice of toasted sour dough bread with butter and an appetizer plate with quail eggs, Parmesan small croissant and a small sour dough bread with a seasoned cream cheese topping. A very nice sit down restaurant.

I was impressed from start to finish with this restaurant. The ambience is elegant and classy in an old world style. The attention to detail is exceptional. They are known for their French food as well as for Mexican other cuisine. Since they are on the ocean and I know they have access to great fresh seafood, I ordered a seafood pasta call Neptune which has salmon, shrimp, and scallops served in a wine sauce. It was excellent. Our server was exceptional in every way. The menu is actually very extensive, so if you are considering a visit I recommend you visit their website and choose breakfast menu or lunch dinner menu to see all the options. All the people at my table were very pleased with their orders as was I. I would certainly recommend this as a classy place to take your wife for date night! Or for a special occasion this would be a great choice. There is also a hotel which is connected to the restaurant. Some of the reviews are from hotel guests who come over for breakfast. I was there for a late lunch or early dinner, and not as a hotel guest. My experience was completely positive. I give them five stars!

First things first, the service was impeccable. Nary a crumb nor morsel went unnoticed after they made their way off the plate. We came here because the hotel we were staying at across the way stated that it had a good (and comped) breakfast. Of course, we went off the limited menu and decided to take out breakfast choices into our own hands. The pastries served upon the initial seating were to die for, and I probably should've tapped out with those. However, I soldiered through and ordered the chilaquilies, red and green. Stick with the red and you'll be set. If I knew then what I know now, I would've stuck with just pastries and some tea. Live and learn. Overall, this fancy place is pretty damn cool.

This restaurant is very nice they have a formal dinning room and you have the option to sit outside in their sidewalk patio. We were greeted right away and didn't have to wait at all to be seated staff are super friendly. Food was good their croissants are delicious and prices are very good as well.

So after a rowdy weekend in Ensenada during carnaval, stepping into this restaurant for our last breakfast was like walking into a different world. Live pianist, white table cloth and all. There was a short adjustment period, but after that we enjoyed the full ambiance. I was starving and indecisive, so I ordered the Mexican Trio, which includes scrambled eggs, beef machaca and chilaquiles. After a few spoonfuls I was full. Very flavorful, but also very filling. The service was great, and the prices (coming from LA) are even better.

My husband and I found this place on Yelp while vacationing for our Babymoon. Place was nice, service was good, romantic music was playing in the background and food was delicious. Definitely recommend for breakfast. Mi esposo y yo desayunamos aquí durante nuestras vacaciones. Lugar está romántico, tiene buen servicio y la comida salió muy rica. Definitivamente recomendado. Mi orden: Pan Francés Tradicional, acompañado con dos huevos y orden extra de papas campesinas. Orden de mi esposo: Desayuno Estilo Americano con huevos revueltos, acompañados de salchicha Italiana y tocino.

We've been there three times, twice for breakfast and once for coffee + pastries. I know this restaurant if famous for their french cuisine, which we'll try next time, but so far breakfast and pastries were just ok. Nothing spectacular, and nothing wrong. Interior is really nice and kind of fancy, and they have a lot of recognition, but I bet it's all about their dinner menu, will try it for sure.

Best chilaquiles ever! My fav are the green ones and of course I always start off with a coffee and almond glazed crossiant!

This restaurant has been here since 1947. Not a fly-by-night place, obviously. Susan's grand-parents hung out here in the early '60s when they sailed down from NHYC. The menu is massive. Something for everybody. If you find that you are in Ensenada, this is a MUST. Susan and I started with the Queso Fundido - melted cheese - next was a table-sIde Caesar's Salad. Now, I know how to make a traditional Caesars, and this rendition was exactly to my specifications. My entree was wild-caught Abalone. This dish in LA (few restaurants even have it) would have cost of $90 at least. Here, I paid $13.00 and I only ate half of it, since there was so much. You will not be disappointed if you came here.

Uno de mis lugares favoritos para desayunar cada que teníamos oportunidad de visitar Encenada. Lamentablemente nuestra última visita fue muy mala experiencia. 1-Ordenamos nuestras bebidas, olvidaron traer el agua de mi esposo y el latte de mi hija, lo ordenamos 3 veces. 2-Pedí que me trajeron el pan a la mesa, me encantan los cuernos de almendra de ahí solo veía que pasaban con la charola de pan para otras mesas pero nunca a la mía. Cuando por fin la llevaron ya se habían terminado los cuernos. Ok not a big deal, pedimos un pastelito en lo que traían el desayuno. 3- Por fin llegó el anhelado desayuno, se equivocaron con uno de los platos, mi esposo duro 15 minutos esperando por tortillas, cuando por fin las trajeron la machaca estaba fría. Es una lástima de verdad, los platillos están muy ricos pero el servicio pésimo a tal manera que la frustración no te deja disfrutarlo.

Personally, I believe they have the best tasting deserts.. I have tried cakes, tarts, pies and all of them were great. I specially like their cakes but it was sold out when I visited. So I had to get other deserts. It was not my 1st choice but still good. Price is very reasonable.

I had breakfast on the sidewalk patio so can't comment on the inside or dinner menu but breakfast was solid. Seems to be about the nicest place to eat in the immediate area - not necessarily the best - but nicest. I wanted something healthy to start the day and the fruit plate with granola and yogurt was perfect. I added an almond croissant for about $1 US just for good measure. The menu seemed to have the normal Mexican breakfast fare so you'll probably be covered if you have a mixed group.

I ate here on a Tuesday afternoon as part of a half day port call via a 4 DAY Carnival Cruise I was just on last week. Being my first ever time in Mexico I had to try something new and different to mark the event. Knowing Mr. Jean Bitterlin the restaurant owner from a prior encounter we had almost a year earlier in downtown San Diego at a sushi joint lead to me awareness of El Rey Sol and its many many awards, rankings, celebrity guests and famous menu. Having been in biz for over 60 years and never losing any luster to is accolades (it only kept getting better it seems) made for a MUST stop location while I spent my day in Ensenada. This joint is a perfect blend of Mexican/American/French fusion if I had to label it. This could and is a hard task to do well but El Rey Sol does it just fine from both the restaurant decor, the expansive menu and the quality of the food they serve. The menu itself has endless options of traditional and custom made French, Mexican and American entrees, appetizers, seafood, steaks, chicken, and much more. Only having this one meal to sample left much to be desired but at the same time what I did get would be relished in that much more......and it was! Every entree is served with a complementary or'derv plate which can be seen in my pictures. I had quail eggs for the first time ever and I like'm! I also got the small portion of the chicken/cashew salad with house made lemon vinaigrette dressing which I enjoyed very much. My entree was the seafood sampler which as the picture shows had a bit of everything. Tuna steak, breaded stripped base, baked clams and mussels, grilled shrimp, and a very rich but tasty clam shell filled with cream of mushroom soup and oysters topped with melted cheese (Swiss I think). Jean allowed me to try a house cab wine which I was very pleased with and as a picky red wine lover it takes a good one to please my pallet. This did the trick. I was told I had to try a dessert item as they are not to be missed but by the time I made my way through all the prior items there just was not room left to make for such an indulgence no matter how good it looked. I'll just have to come back and try 1....or 2 of them out I guess. If your in Ensenada and want a authentic meal with top tier customer service, a vast menu of options each prepared and served with delicate care and genuine flavor then El Rey Sol is where you need to go. Prices are a little higher but worth it for sure. My meal with appetizer (wine covered by Jean which rocked!) was $30 and change, worth every penny! Tell Jean Joshua sent you and I bet you get a big smile from him, just watch! PS....I will note that the rooms beyond the main dining area (seen in pictures) are amazing! They would suite well for business meetings, weddings, celebrations or large family functions. Be sure to look at those when you come in next, very impressive.

Thank you Yelpisphere! My wife and I were looking for a hearty breakfast that wasn't too filling but just enough to last us until we found a place to eat lunch on our wine tasting excursion up Highway 3. Since we alternated picking restaurants for every meal we had on our 4 day stay in Ensenada, my wife immediately turned to Yelp to help make her decision between the two cafes on opposite sides of the street. Based on the reviews and her craving of chiliquilles, we opted for El Rey Sol. Uniquely French and Mexican, my omelette de camarones was so delicious, but it was more the sauce than the omelette itself. If I had to nitpick, the eggs were slightly over cooked and I would have rathered the sauce be under the omelette rather than on top, but the flavor profile was intense and very memorable. So much so, I will definitely order this again on my return trip. My wife's chiliquilles were good, but she has had better. The pastries were amazing! The service was impeccable and the presentations were nice. For a change of pace from traditional Ensenada cuisine, this place was a definite gem!

Omg, this place is super cute, and the food is super delicious. Recommend everything. The portions are big you can actually share some plates but be ware is so delicious that you might want to have your own plate

At one time one of the top 50 restaurants in the world. The menu is extensive and i bet their chefs could create anything one might wish for. Though known for European Cuisine their Mexican dishes rival Caesar's in Loreto and even Del Mar in Guaymas. I love their Huachinango La Veracruzana a gracious serving of fish with many perfectly cooked vegetables and an out of this world tasty red sauce. Everything on their menu, plus service, and decor is perfect. Meals are priced far below value. If it weren't for Ensenada being the home of the world's best fish tacos, were i to live in Ensenada, Mexico i would eat every meal at El Ret Sol.

This restaurant has a very unique and formal vibe out here in downtown Ensenada. I've visited El Rey Sol two times and have been greeted with a warm welcoming. The pianist sets the mood. Would recommend the Mexican Chilaquiles. The food itself is nothing too special. Expect to wait about 40 minutes for your food..... don't I come here hungry.

The service is impeccable. We loved our waiter. They work for tips in Mexico so be generous. The food was good, but not mind blowing. It's average french fare. Do not miss the dessert stand outside of the restaurant. You will not find a more flavorful fruit tart in Baja or the Unites States. We didn't get a chance to try all the desserts, but we enjoyed every one we tasted. There is very little parking nearby so you should walk from a local hotel or Uber in. It is in the nicer part of Ensenada, two blocks away from the rowdy bars on the north side.

This place is excellent. Very good service and very good food. We came for breakfast, there was 6 of us and everyone loved their plate. My recommendation is the chilaquilles tradisionales.

I would definitely come here again! GREAT service!! The servers work together, they attentively service your needs. Intimate atmosphere, delicious food! I went with a party of 10 and they all were pleasantly stuffed and happy about their meal choice! I had the Salmon in champagne sauce and it was flavorful! I ate the entire serving, I also used their fresh baked bread to scoop up the rest of the champagne sauce. Also try one of the local Ensenada wines, they have a variety of options!

This was by far the best restaurant we went to during our stay in Ensenada. Not too crowded with a quiet romantic setting. Our server Cesar was amazing. Friendly and really explained the menu. We ordered way too much food but everything was delicious and affordable (compared to American restaurants). Definitely recommend