Little Rey
Mexican restaurant · Atlanta
1878 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Highlights
Wood-roasted chicken al carbon tacos & margaritas
Wood-roasted chicken al carbon tacos & margaritas
"Most people associate this fast-casual, counter-service spot with tacos. But Little Rey offers a whole chicken meal that comes with pints of beans and rice, chips, and salsa for $36. The chicken al carbon is tender with a hint of smokiness (though we'd love a little more). So you can and should hit their amazing salsa bar to help add some tangy pizazz. This Piedmont Heights spot has a breezy, wrap-around patio that practically begs you to take your chicken outside. So do that, and make sure to bring a few margaritas with you, too." - juli horsford
"When plain whipped cream pup cups just don’t cut it anymore, it’s time to visit Little Rey. Their topped-off version, featuring crumbled biscuits on top of pet-safe soft serve, is a new addition to the menu. Of course, nothing (except onions and chicken bones) is keeping you from ordering a variety of tacos or some chicken al carbon to reward your dog for good patio manners." - Su-Jit Lin
"Little Rey is a fast-casual, counter service taco haunt from the restaurateur who brought us Superica and Marcel. Expect this Piedmont Heights venue to have a line of people out the door, but don't be dissuaded. This operation moves with the efficiency of a PreCheck line overseen by the city’s most hostile TSA worker. Within 10 minutes or less, your order will be at your table while you’re still sampling sauce combos at the self-service salsa bar (just get the avocado crema and sit down, fren). The tacos are decent, the pancakes on the brunch menu are amazing, the elote is skippable, and the environment is suitable for everyone from an adult kickball team saluting a 2-12 season over margaritas to parents who don’t have the bandwidth to sit down for a meal over 20 minutes. Food Rundown Little Superica Hotcakes Odd to say, but the biggest must-order at this taco spot are the pancakes (which are only served for brunch). These little round cakes look like McDonald’s flapjacks, but they’re buttery, moist and put real bonafide pancake places to shame. photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee Chicken Al Carbon This is their most popular taco, but there are better orders here. A flour tortilla holds chunks of bland chicken, onions, and pico de gallo. Take full advantage of their salsa bar (hello again, avocado crema) to help give the chicken a boost of much-needed flavor. photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee The Oaxaca This vegetarian taco is our favorite on the taco lineup. The corn tortilla has a hunk of grilled queso oaxaca and a small mound of mushrooms, charred poblano, and pico de gallo. It stays moist and juicy and the poblanos and mushrooms have way more smoky flavor than any of the meats. Smoked Chicken Wings These swap ATL’s signature lemon pepper spice for a more mild salsa macha coating and peanut crumbles. The result is a decent, crispy wing that earns ATLien approval. Pollo Al Carbon You can get a whole or half bird here with a side of warm tortillas, grilled onions, and beans. The exterior has a nice char and looks like it’s been battered with an excessive amount of seasoning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t taste as spicy as it looks. But the chicken is moist and has enough smokiness to make it a success. Again, hit the salsa bar to jazz this up. Elote This is a dicey order. Sometimes it’s perfectly limey and creamy. Sometimes it’s served with so much mayo you could mistake it for corn-topped soft serve." - Nina Reeder
"At Little Rey, a fast-casual, counter-service taco spot in Piedmont Heights, the patio practically whispers to you. It’s huge and wraps around most of the building. Secondly, since its opening, Little Rey has been consistently packed. So, despite the ample bench seating inside the funkily decorated space, the patio remains the more popular choice to dig into your whole grilled chicken, salsa, corn tortillas, and cardboard pints of hearty white beans and rice. And when the temperature drops below hoodie weather, the industrial-sized overhead heaters and retractable patio covering keep it comfortable." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder
"This counter service taco haunt in Piedmont Heights is an Atlanta brunch sleeper. There are a few breakfast taco additions to the normal Tex-Mex favorites, which help account for a crowded morning taco scene. But the biggest menu win is via a tray of tasty little round pancakes that look like McDonald’s flapjacks but put real bonafide pancake places to shame. Don’t overlook the pastries either. Sure, take your place in line to order when your friend texts you, “Be there soon.” But since orders are out quickly to the tables and you know that text really translates to “I’m 30 minutes behind,” we’d suggest hitting the margarita window for drinks while you wait. Then, take a seat in the bright, spacious interior or covered outdoor patio." - nina reeder, juli horsford
