Great little spot in Montgomery. I wasn't expecting much of this place when we showed up but the food tasted great, generous portions (it's the south so I suppose that is expected) and the margaritas flowed by the pitcher! The margs were a little on the sweet side but still good. There was also a good selection of beer if that is more your style. I came with a big group and the service was still prompt and friendly. Our waitress made a point to joke with us even though she had a lot of people to serve. Great little spot and worth the drive!
(4)
Luke W.
Favorite Mexican restaurant in Montgomery. I like the outdoor seating and unique atmosphere. Really good beer selection. Awesome burritos!!!
(4)
Dan R.
El Rey's delicious creations weren't exactly "traditional" Mexican, but they are appetizing. I didn't like the service. At all. Awesome burritos, great chips, slasa, and guacamole, but ground beef? The only other "Mexican" place I've ever seen serve ground beef is Taco Bell. But back to the service. My table of six was basically ignored by our server over the course of two hours. She took our drink order after being there for over 20 minutes. We finished our drinks and sat waiting for another visit to order our food, but that didn't come for another 40 minutes. Quite literally, we had been seated for over 1 hour before she approached us to take our dinner order. The table next to us was empty when we arrived, and the party had been seated, ordered, eaten, paid, and left before the SAME server even asked to take our orders. The food was good, but this has to be some sort of record on how slow the service can be. The restaurant would have made more money on our drink orders if the server would have ever stopped by our table, but our glasses remained empty throughout the visit. The servers are teenagers, and don't seem to care. They aren't mean or rude, they are just poor workers. So expect this. I really liked the atmosphere though. The indoor seating has a nice vibe, but gets pretty loud when it's crowded and the crowd has found the beer menu. The outdoor seating is awesome. Try and get that.
(3)
J O.
Right on Fairview Ave so it's easy to find. Really great burritos. I'm a beef eater but the chicken is my favorite. Highly recommended. Cool vibe and friendly servers too.
(4)
James F.
Everything a weary traveler needs: Good food, strong drinks, and great company! The restaurant was shockingly empty due to it being "football Saturday," but that just meant more attention for me! The grilled chicken plate was amazing (thanks to a previous reviewer for that point), and the chips & salsa stood up well alone. Definitely a Tex-Mex flair to it all. Ask for the special "pumpkin seed" salsa, and get a TASTER of the habanero tequila they make in house (any more than a little and you'll pay). All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better place to eat, drink, and be merry in Cloverdale!
(4)
Nina U.
This is a discrete sit-down restaurant by the Capri Theatre in Old Cloverdale. I knew this place was nearby but didn't notice it until I saw all the people sitting outside under the trees on the patio one day while I was about to leave Cafe Louisa. Cute nice size restaurant. Look for the arrow lit with bright colorful lights and you're in the right place. They have a decent size drink menu and their dinner menu is larger than I expected... includes appetizers, burritos, quesadillas...anyone can find something they like here.
(4)
Shannon H.
BEST food I've had in a good while! So FRESH! Truly not mexican...but who cares as long as it tastes great. If you want real mexican, go elsewhere. If you don't want to wait, go elsewhere. If crowds and noise bother you....guess what? Go elsewhere. If you like a fun atmosphere, sitting outside, large beer and drink menu, and fantastic FRESH food....stop and put your name on the wait list! I didn't even mind paying for the salsa! (Pricey place though, one mixed drink, salsa, and meal was over $30.00 for just me.)
(4)
Beth D.
Umm... YUMMM! We went here on a Friday night, took a baby and enjoyed every bite. This is my new favorite Montgomery eatery.... this is closest to what we would enjoy in a different town. The food was "local", and fresh. They are inventive with the flavors, don't shy away from authentic mexican corn tortillas, and cook clean, with many vegetarian options done well! We enjoyed the variety of beers, fresh margaritas, black beans, Alabama shrimp, a burrito, guac, and the laid back atmosphere. We will return, frequently. Good job El Rey! Delicious!
(5)
Mark M.
This is a gem in the South. As a Southern Californian who loves Mexican food this was a fun twist on the classic fare, I was surprised to find this place and think is would fit well in downtown LA.
(5)
Jed S.
Nice atmosphere and beer selection, but a bit expensive and no drink specials. I still give 5 stars.
(5)
Caleb M.
One of the best spots in Montgomery. Great food, fresh (and often local) ingredients. Huge portions Great beer selection. Service can be a little slow, and it gets packed quickly during peak times. Also check out their back-alley bar LeRoy for more great beer.
(5)
Laura O.
Two starts for ambiance only. The "fresh" food is terrible. BYOS! (Bring your own seasoning). There is nothing unique or appetizing about the food. You actually get to pay for the cardboard tasting, salt free chips! This restaurant might be good for someone on a sodium restriction with some Mrs. Dash in their purse, otherwise the only thing this place has going for it is a good drink selection and a cute location. "Hipsters" in Montgomery? Who knew!
(2)
Jake H.
Hipster location in montgomery. Torn between 3 and 4 rating. They gave an honest effort. Cool location, good crowd, good vibe. However, my steak quesadilla was so so. I would return and imagine I will give it a higher rating then most likely. This is only a single data point.
(3)
David T.
Its like beating a dead horse to repeat this. Everyone knows service is slow here. Its usually pretty packed, especially on weekends and that tends to slow down service. Food can take a bit longer to get out to the table and thats because they make it fresh to order. Expect that caveat and get a beer or margarita and relax. El Rey is a lounge after all. Now that thats out of the way on to the food. The salsa is fresh. Its just like the stuff I make at home for myself and my girl just not as spicy as we like (Granted we are chiliheads so we like it hot). They have a variety of different ones to choose from and they are all pretty good. The cheese dip is good and different from what you will get in most typical (read as americanized for the terrible southern palate) "mexican" restaraunts in montgomery. The only thing most places will give you in cheese dip is chorizo which I love but otherwise its white and bland. The malditos are good with the pumpkin seeds adding a different flavor contrast with the jalapenos (surprise pumpkin is used in mexican cooking despite what Iv overheard in here from others here.) The burritos are big. The "taco" is big. You wont go hungry here and most of the time we end up with leftovers. Iv gotten the burritos here and you can get a flavored tortilla and a choice of fillings ranging from beans and rice to chicken, beef, fish, Tempeh, tofu, mushroom, vegetables and shrimp. Iv eaten the chicken and beef and tried the fish. The beef and chicken I thought were great. The fish not so much. My girl ordered it and I think it was catfish which was kind of a weird flavor in a mexican dish. Not my recommendation. Enchiladas have been hit or miss. My brother got them one night and they were good but on the same note my girl got them one night and they were bad. They have special food nights occasionally for different events and this has been hit or miss too. The chili and the chorizo burger I have tried were good but the jambalaya I didnt like as much. On to the beer. Its honestly the main reason I checked out this place when we first moved here. The beer list is huge. Lots of selection placed in group by the style of beer. Iv never counted but Im guessing its close to 75. Thats not including the usual 4-5 they have on tap that are constantly rotated. You can get american lagers( I do tend to order a pbr or two here occasionally) but in reality there is such a huge selection that branching out should be easy. I admit lately I find myself at Leroy around the corner a bit more for just drinking a few as they have I think around twenty taps but since its all the same people I doubt they mind. Classic margarita was great. Is it authentic Mexican food? No. You dont get those portions in Mexico. Is it good flavored Mexican inspired dishes? Yes. Very fresh and good. Over priced? not necessarily. Look at what a jumbo burrito costs at a typical mexican restaurant. $6-$11. The only difference you get free chips and "salsa" if you can call that watered down crap that. If El Rey offered a free basket of chips and a house salsa for free youd not even notice the difference in price. Your paying extra for the fact they are preparing a quality product vs giving you cheap crap for free. On a side note I want to address something Iv heard in reference to the type of "mex" El rey serves. I heard "Cali-Mex" and it sounded odd since Im from California and never heard that term used. I assume its in reference to the use of fresh ingredients that is common practice in Ca but otherwise Im at a loss as Id assume more seafood due to the Baja regions influence in SoCal would be more "Cali-Mex". If anybody can clarify that feel free to.
(4)
Shanny B.
Delicious! I ordered a chicken quesadillla w/ black beans and a side of pineapple salsa. My boyfriend ordered the shrimp grilled taco. The freshest of the fresh ingredients! I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
El Rey is located in an awesome spot in Montgomery surrounded by some local bars that all make for a great evening. However, the price is little high for what you get. Great margaritas!
(3)
Julie L.
Give me a bowl of their guacamole and some chips and I'm a happy girl. I'll have garlic and onions coming out of my pores for three days, but I won't care one bit if you judge me.
(3)
Tra S.
YuMmm great food, great margaritas, love the seating outside :) go and enjoy!!
(5)
Barbara W.
Reliably delicious Cali-Mex food. Great chips and queso. Lovely the mango iced tea. Best quesadilla's ever, but the rest of the menus is also good. Very nice to eat outdoors when weather permits. They also will prepare the food for carryout too. It is not cheap but the food is delicious.
(5)
Rob C.
Awesome beer selection and semi-authentic mexican fare. I would call it more or a local food prepared in an authentic mexican style. The steak platter was perfect. The meat was cooked perfectly medium-rare. The 2 preparations of beans really demonstrated the creativity of the chef. Amazing salsa and grilled veggies topped off an excellent meal. The only reason why I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars is because the service was very very slow. I know they were a little busy but we waited about 20 minutes in between getting our drinks and the waitress coming back to get our orders. She forgot a coffee that my friend had ordered. Then after ordering, it took us about 30 minutes to get our food. Finally about 1 hour later we received our checks. However, saying that, the food was so good that this is really 4+ review. If we came on a non-Friday night, I'm convinced the service would have been better. I would definitely consider returning.
(4)
Simon M.
Good food, nice people - kind of pricey for what it is OK - There's not a lot going on in Montgomery, after driving around searching for a place that wasn't a low budget chain (there are lots) we stumbled upon Cloverdale. We decided to eat at El Rey Burrito Lounge. It's kind of a hippie place - organic food, natural ingredients. A very pleasant surprise! I got a steak burrito with corn tortillas - it was very good. They mixed up our side orders but no big deal. Food was good. The only real knock was the bill was $50 for two plates of fajitas and a couple of beers. But given the choices in Montgomery I'll pay these prices.
(3)
Ben G.
The food is good, but expensive for the quality. The service is usually slow. The beer selection is pretty solid for the Montgomery area. I like the quesadillas and tilapia tacos. El Rey is not the type of place I would go out of my way to eat at but is the type of place that if I am in the area I will eat at as a solid option.
(3)
Cheli S.
Let's just say it right now: if you want "real" Mexican food, then find another restaurant. What's here isn't traditional Mexican. In fact, unless they were back in the kitchen there wasn't even anyone of apparent Mexican descent working there. But, it is very tasty, well presented food. The salsa, while it could've used (for my taste) another jalapeno, was chunky and fresh and delicious, the guacamole and margaritas excellent, and I highly recommend the chicken enchiladas, which are baked and unlike any enchilada I've had (and I mean that in a good way). It's also the healthiest "Mexican" food I've had. The meats are all organic, and the menu is very clear that they'll cater to vegetarian and vegan diets. The lack of green chili was something I found a little odd, given that most Mexican and Tex-Mex places live and die by their green chili recipes, but it wasn't a deal breaker. All plates appear to be made to order so the service isn't quick but it made for a nice, leisurely, al fresco late-spring dinner. The two drawbacks are first, I can see where parking could easily be an issue depending upon when you go (it's an older neighborhood among "trendy" other bistros and a theater), and it's pretty pricey for what you get. The enchiladas were almost $12, and chips/salsa aren't gratis--they're a $5 appetizer. Guac and sour cream, typically served with a quesadilla, are also extra. In a nutshell, a very good restaurant but you have to know what to expect or you'll be disappointed.
(3)
Jesseca C.
My favorite eating and drinking spot In Montgomery. Tasty fresh locally sourced ingredients. Fantastic beer selection. In walking distance of my house. The outdoor seating is great, either cafe style by the sidewalk and crepe myrtles or, more secluded, by the coy pond. They've got outdoor gas heaters that get toasty. The beer selection is fantastic. They always have really quality beer. It's the beer, in fact, that won me over in the first place.
(5)
D G.
The service was very slow! The chips & salsa were $5 and we didn't love the salsa or queso. We shared chicken quesadillas & it was dry & flavorless. Atmosphere was nice however. We were visiting from Georgia & unfortunately will not be back.
(2)
kenny j.
Excellent food, and best beer selection in this town, or most of Alabama for that matter. If you live in Montgomery or are just passing through, you must eat El Rey.
(5)
Teneisha J.
This place has fresh food and great serving sizes, but boy is it crowded! That's a great sign for the quality of the service and food, but be prepared to wait on Friday's. Weekdays are not as bad though, so if you want to try the food and not feel rushed, go then. The service is .... Interesting. The male host there will keep you laughing as you wait on a table, but other than that it's not that memorable.
(4)
J.P. M.
Awesome burritos, great atmosphere, large beer menu, great service, nice part of town!!!
(5)
Jim W.
El Rey's (affectionally known to some as Hippie Burrito ) is one of the coolest places in Montgomery to get some excellent food and just the right splash of youthful style and attitude. When I go, I usually have one of their extremely tasty (and huge) burritos. Best burritos that I have ever had (sorry Moe's) without a doubt. Everything tastes so fresh and tasty...no microwaves...no freezers...organic and mostly local stuff. And to wash that burrito goodness down, they have a AWESOME selection of beers. The Delirium Tremens was excellent (yes that's a pink elephant..you haven't had too many)! And no review of El Rey's would be complete without mentioning: the decor. Oh the songs that have sung about the sconces. :) Artsy, hip and no apologies. It has definitely grown on me...have the Lucky Buddha candle to prove it. If you are looking for something different, delicious, and a welcome change to most of the places in Montgomery...look no further.
(5)
LL H.
Dont go here to be woo-ed, dont go here if you don't want to wait for a table....go here for GOOD fresh FOOD!!! I did'nt order everything on the menu so I cant give a very "foody" review but I can say my chicken taco was so yummy I ate every bite (an accomplishment considering it was the size of the plate!)
(4)
patient z.
Decent food and beer, but crowded! However, if you can wait long enough, you'll get seated and be served some pretty decent food. The waitstaff is cool and will keep the drinks coming and coming. I was pretty hammered at the time, though, so I may not remember this correctly. Was I even really here?
(4)
Joseph B.
What a great place. Great decor, amazingly fresh food, and unique beers. It is in one of, if not the coolest areas in town, Old Cloverdale. The burritos are monsters. The guacamole is delicious, and the salsa is house made. I can't say enough about this place. I wish I still lived on this side of town for the cool spots like this.
(5)
Kevin P.
Holy smokes, I would need a freaking lamp to write this review if I were in El Rey. The place is a "burrito lounge". I'm not sure that those two words should ever be next to each other... ever. El Rey's is located in some random place near a college. You'll probably drive by it on accident on the first time. It's okay, just turn around and find some parking. I'll do the sandwich method: Goods: --They have an extensive beer and drink list --There is a koi pond outside --They have food Bads: --It's pricey for what you get --It takes forever to get food --They have a koi pond outside. Wtf why? Good: --Waitress was cool Okay so this place just doesn't live up to the hype. It's a freaking burrito lounge. It's a valiant effort at trying to make upscale gourmet burritos... but in my opinion it falls short. Just because you have tempeh, tofu, or mushrooms as a replacement for the meat won't give you street cred for the hipsters or hippies alike. I'm from Seattle / San Diego. I would know. Try this place out just to say you've been there. I'll be back again, but more-so because of the lack of options around.
(3)
Ian S.
Very poor service, ok food, and high prices. The only redeeming quality is the extensive beer list and the atmosphere. Save yourself the disappointment and get a 6 pack and head to taco bell.
(2)
Miz S.
A local recomended it, so I stopped in. No tamales ;( but I still recommend it. The guacamole needed more salt & lime, but I'm a lime freak. The chips were very well made. I got the carne asada, the meat was average... But all the little sides in the plate. So delicious! A mango salsa that wasn't hideous? I didn't think it existed. Wonderfully flavourful rice, well spiced beans, lightly spiced chopped sweet potatoes. But the real shining star was the Tres Leche Cake. Stunning. Not too sweet, a little salt. Moist, delightfully moist cake! Go here. Eat this. Also, I don't drink beer, but there was a huge ale/lager/belgian selection. Go here. Eat cake. Rejoice. Cute atmosphere too!
(4)
Jim O.
Great fresh food and very good beer selection. I love the atmosphere and decor. The whole place is well thought out and worth a few extra dollars for the food. I highly recommend ElRey and will be back!
(5)
Michel M.
We went extremely early (before the waitress got there) but the selection of beer was great. I was a little disappointed that we had to wait to get the first one open, but it was worth it. This is just one of a couple places on the strip and you almost have to look hard to find it, but the food definitely made it worth it. Both me and my companion got the Gigante Burritos in the Chipotle tortillas. We both also had the steak (we have no imagination). It was simply heaven. (not Tex -mex, but we're in Alabama). The hot sauce was hot and the beer was cold.
(4)
Brent M.
Fantastic little local hangout with an amazing beer selection! If you are looking for that hard to find Micro Brew this is the place.
(5)
Melissa T.
Seriously, there are no reviews for El Rey? What is WRONG with you people??? Okay, El Rey was one of my very favorite hangouts when I still lived in Montgomery. I still like to go back to El Rey when I have to go back to Montgomery for whatever reason. El Rey is the reason I will now eat guacamole. I would never eat it before I had theirs. El Rey has the most fantastic margaritas I've ever tasted (order a pitcher of "nice" margaritas -- they are pricey but sooo worth it). This place is so unusual for Montgomery, Alabama. You don't see too many hippieish, organic, cali-mexican joints in the Gump. The food at El Rey has always been delicious and fresh-tasting. It is a little pricier than what you would pay elsewhere in Montgomery, but in my opinion it's worth it. It's no more expensive than what you'd pay for the same meal in a different city -- Montgomery's dining patrons are notoriously cheap and overly fond of chain restaurants, like Crapplebee's and the like. Get the fish tacos, the nachos, the nice margaritas, and the guacamole! Or any one of those. Or two.. :) Man, I have a craving for some El Rey now... gotta get back to the Gump.
(5)
Melissa T.
We just moved into the neighborhood and started exploring the local restaurants. Our favorite find so far is El Rey Burrito Lounge. Don't mistaken, they serve up more than just burritos. To start, they have quite a few salsas to choice from, which are served with warm chips (I think its fresh made). Most of the produce they use are organic and the meats are hormone-free/antibiotic-free. I would eat here every week if my husband let me. Love it!
(5)
Marjorie Jean A.
Funky fresh place! Love the local freshness and the funky atmosphere! Highly commended!
(5)
Philip L.
This place is a real gem in Montgomery. The food is great, and all made with very fresh ingredients. For a first timer I would recommend starting with a steak or chicken burrito. Every time I've gone, the service has been top notch. As an added bonus they have a huge selection of beers. If you enjoy imported Belgian or German beer, this is the place to go. They also have a great selection of local and national micro brews. Only down side to this place is the cost. The place has a definite casual atmosphere, however you pay for the freshness and hand-made quality of the food.
(5)
Bob F.
Was excited to hear that this place bought local foods and decided to try it. Typed the address in the GPS and cruised past the ghetto projects into my old high school partying neighborhood of Old Cloverdale. When I lived here, this place was a BBQ/ art gallery or something. Now it's changed into a chic place to eat some good, organic Mex made by gringos. I love a good Taco truck, but don't always need that. The drinks were good. Tried the spicy marg and the tortillas less catfish burrito. (Gluten free). Had a nice conversation with a pleasant gay couple at the bar and moved on to 1048 across the street.
(4)
Ward S.
I live just down the street from El Rey. Its location is in a cozy little spot along E. Fairview Avenue among several other independent eating establishments, one of Alabama's only independent movie theatres, and an art gallery. In other words, a hip, trendy locale. The menu is fairly small, but the quality of the food is top notch. The simple soft shell steak taco is wonderful - it's huge and it covers the entire plate. The different levels of hotsauce in the squeeze bottles on your table are delicious. The chips with salsa and guacamole are the best I've come across anywhere. And, if you like margaritas, El Rey by far has the best in Montgomery. Weather permitting, I recommend sitting outside where you can enjoy the scenery along the sidewalk in this busy but quaint, charming neighborhood.
(5)
Jaclyn B.
We are new to the area, and were disappointed with all the chains everywhere, especially since where we came from had amazing restaurants that were one of a kind. But during our first week here we were told that El Rey was good, and were encouraged by this place. Unique, cool outdoor patio, and friendly servers. I had the Ancho Chicken Salad and my husband had chicken fajitas. Although he said his chicken was just a tad dry all the ingredients were very fresh. I am always on the lookout for HEALTHY choices and you can totally do that here if you choose. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Jamie G.
I love this place. Great atmosphere and down to earth staff. I had the tempeh BBQ and jicama salad. Pretty tasty, but I wouldn't really call it a salad. Or maybe just call it a warm salad and then make it warmer. Anyhow, I love the hot sauce options on the table, all my favorites. Great mojito and poinsetta drink, Cava (champagne from Spain) with a splash of cranberry juice. Sooo good! Pineapple salsa could use more peppers and be chopped up more to give it salsa appeal instead of a side of flavored pineapple chunk appeal. Overrall i'd definitely reccomend this place. It has charm and the food is organic and hormone free, with vegan options which is always such a pleasure to eat and see.
(4)
P K.
Great beer selection, atmosphere, and LOVE their pumpkin seed apps.
(4)
eric v.
a bit pricey for mexican food (you have to pay for chips and salsa), but good. many ingredients are organic and natural. atmosphere is cozy, but is loud sometimes. Some dishes like the fajitas are bland.
(3)
Randall F.
Montgomery needs more places like El Rey. This place is certainly a diamond in the rough in terms of originality and the thought and care that goes into providing a quality dining experience. The ingredients are locally sourced, which is nice. This lends their food a distinct freshness that you don't get from the Sysco/US Foodservice havens like Chili's, et al. I especially like their attitude towards craft beer and wine. They have a broad and extensive selection of regional beers that is sure to please any palate. I have only been twice, each time was a weeknight after 7p and my dining partners and I were seated right away so I can't comment on how crowded the place gets. (though I imagine it does!) The restaurant itself has, what I would think to be, a very Southern California vibe. Large, comfortable booths lit by candlelight make dining easy, and a little dark. If I had to provide any complaints it would be about service. Each time I have been to El Rey I have been greeted with a smile and seated promptly and each server has been very pleasant however, service can be a bit slow at times. This is especially apparent when the restaurant wasn't overly busy while I was there. There is also an overall "Hipster" trend among the staff. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and doesn't subtract from the experience of El Rey, its just not really my thing. You probably won't even notice. Between the excellent beer and the burritos the size of a baby I am sure I will find myself back at El Rey soon.
(4)
Chris R.
Great (and very healthy), California inspired Mexican cuisine along with the best margaritas in town, and lots of outdoor seating make for a really good time in Old Cloverdale. Two doors down from Alabama's only independent movie theatre El Rey is tucked back in the crepe myrtles and hard to spot from the road. Look for the big flashing arrow on the side of the building.
(4)
Paul K.
I thoroughly enjoyed my burrito and it was quite massive. We had one of the different salsas and a queso and both were quite tasty. Overall I enjoyed the food here the best while in Montgomery.
(4)
Eric W.
Tired of saving money by eating at home? If you've got a twenty burning a hole in your pocket and a few hours to kill on a weeknight in Montgomery, this is the place for you. Sometimes cooking yourself a dollar fifty worth of dry chicken breast and half a bell pepper gets old. Why not spend a couple hours' pay (and a couple hours) allowing some hipsters to do it for you?
(1)
Shawn S.
Nice addition to the Mtgy dining scene. Not much can slow me down when I pass through this town but El Rey is less than 2 miles from I65 and is a good stop.
(3)
Tisha B.
This is some tasty Alabama Mex. It's not authentic Mexican for sure, but in Montgomery it's a nice change. Margaritas are good (not from a nasty bottle of mix like most places here) & you'll pay a bit more as result. Service is good. Depending on when you hit the door the wait for a table can get long because there just aren't very many tables. The guacamole and salsa are ok, not special; the guacamole was a bit bland (and if you've ever had fresh guacamole made table-side nothing else can come close). The queso cheese dip is ok, best hot because as it cooled it got a bit gluey and well, just unpleasant, kinda like old rotel dip, but is good to dive into when you first hit the table with a frosty beer or margarita. Quesidillas: tasty! My friend ate every bite! Burritos: fab! Cheese & mushroom enchiladas: good! Yummy! Fajitas: not so good. Meat was tasty, but all the meat & veggies were in an odd sauce, almost like gravy. Not fajita like at all. NO! No sizzling platter. Just plain strange. Beans/rice: Meh. Rice seems Rice A Roni like. Beans seem very odd, old, dried out. We ordered black beans. They still came out looking like refried beans and looking very sad and dried up. That said, the atmosphere is fun. Lots of folks just hanging out, having a drink, relaxing. Music is mostly good though on second visit they had a bizarre loop of elevator music mixed with soul music. Even after customer complaints it was not fixed. Food: 4/5, with some minor tweaking could be freakin' awesome (60/40 on the plus side) Atmosphere: 4/5 Value: 3/5 (pricey, but you are paying for a bit of fun & ambience here) Would I return: Absolutely!
(4)
Betty P.
Been a while since we ate here (3 years) and was still just as good. We had a burrito and mushroom enchiladas with black beans. All tasty. The atmosphere is great indoors and outdoors. Love the neighborhood the restaurant is in as well. The staff are friendly, missed a couple of details like a chilled glass for the beer that we asked for, but nothing to kill our experience. Pricing for some items is a little ridiculous and we are spoiled by most other Mexican restaurants giving you free chips and salsa off the bat. Here they start at $5.
(3)
Shaun C.
Holy crap. Close this place down. The enchilada must have sat under the Warner lamp for at lest an hour before I got it. Seating took 45 minutes for an outdoor seating. Then I quickly ordered and the flavor of the enchilada lots sets like a bowl of dog food. Actually dog food might taste better. I didn't know that the entire meal is supposed to taste like. I just told the waitress that it tastes like it sat under a lamp for an hour and she agreed. "It probably did." Close this place down so a real restaurant can take over this space.
(1)
Jennifer T.
Yum yum yum. Our waitress was clearly busy with many tables. However, she always had a smile on her face and was very polite. The place isn't big and we wound up sitting outside. The drinks are tasty, the food is, hands down, the best Mexican I've ever tasted. Only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it took an hour to get our food. If it had come out just a little bit sooner, I would've given it 5 stars.
(4)
Melissa P.
Stopped here while on the road from New Orleans to Atlanta. I was excited because I am a well-documented lover of Mexican/TexMex/anything remotely approximating that sort of cuisine (and let's not forget the usually-accompanying margaritas). There were no tables available, so I had to sit at that bar, which was fine, since I was a party of one. The bartender, Reese, was super friendly, and I had friendly conversation with another patron at the bar. I liked the decor, too. Based on those things alone, this place would get 5 stars, but the food and drink won't support that. I'm never a fan of places that charge for chips and salsa, so I figured since I had to pay for chips, I'd go ahead and treat myself to queso dip. I made the mistake of getting the larger size (because usually I can tear up a bowl of queso), but since it just sort of tasted like Velveeta/Rotel dip that you have at parties, a lot of it went to waste. With the larger cheese dip, I decided to skip a regular entree and just have some black beans and rice. To echo some of the other reviews, it was kind of bland. I had two margaritas, and while the first one seemed ok, the second one tasted exactly like Country Time Lemonade, which isn't really what I want when I'm paying for my favorite adult beverage. I think this place could be really great if they tweaked their recipes some.
(2)
Michael S.
I ordered the steak burrito. Disappointed at best. Short on steak long on filler. The salsa verde included with the fillers I didn't care for and I will ask for on the side next time.
(2)
Yvette N.
Man. I REALLY wanted to like this place. I know a lot of people do! But I'm from good ol' San Antonio Texas and all of its wonderful restaurant flavors...And I'm Hispanic so obviously my taste buds have a mind of their own. So I do encourage you to try this place and taste for yourself. The ambience here is great! Trendy background music, huge beer selection. The place felt clean. ***NO HAPPY HOUR*** ***NO MILITARY DISCOUNTS*** I've been spoiled with complimentary chips before being served "Mexican " food. Obviously this place doesn't offer that, so ok..no problem, we will order them anyway, add guacamole to that please, we read great reviews on it. BLAND CHIPS. PRE-PACKAGED GUACAMOLE. FAIL. EVERYTHING on my dinner plate was bland to me except for the quesadillas. I ordered Bean Quesadillas. They were good. The side beans and rice, To put it nicely...not for me. The waitress...I mean if she would have been AWESOME, that would have helped. But you know, the lack of effort or a shred of...CARE..it kills me. Ok. There u go.
(2)
John C.
Very good place to eat. The atmosphere is very nice too. I loved the three salsa and chips appetizer. I also had the chicken taco and it was more like a quesadilla than a taco but was very good.
Delicious! Amazing patio, and the food was worth the long wait. Great salsas, the burritos and the fajitas were very good, and the spinach salad was fantastic! Oh, and the frisco margarita was perfect. Our server even brought the kids fish food to feed the koi pond...wonderful experience.
(5)
Kyleah J.
I love fresh, organic food, but El Ray's has lost the flavor in the "healthy" trendy food menu. The chicken enchilada and steak burrito are nothing to write home about. It was flavorless, took forever to come, and didn't impress me in the least. Their hours are wonky and the place "fills up" fairly quickly - aka the wait times are 2-3 hours plus and the only resolve is to go to the bar next door (Leroy's) owned by El Rays and created specifically for people to wait while the restaurant was full. Despite the lack of flavorful options, it does have a wide array of salsas. Albeit pricey salsas and other menu items. If you feel the urge to eat "Mex-ish" food, make the drive to Ixtapa in East Chase. The drinks, food, and service are all way better.
(2)
Jason K.
Great drink choices, they definitely need to add a blender to the bar. Menu is solid and food is great, server too!
(4)
Chris G.
Gulf Shrimp Grilled Taco= yum! Mango tea not so much... The salsa Trio and Chips was well done. Had the Verde, salsa, and guacamole and enjoyed each.
(4)
Sam L.
If this were a place in Los Angeles, hipsters galore would probably flock here. But wait, we're in Montgomery Alabama...but you know what....the wait here is pretty ridiculous if you're with a group of 6 or more. Come around 7pm on a Tuesday and expect to wait at least an hour...or more! I think they could totally expand and/or add a few more tables near their entrance to accomodate more customers. There are 2 servers for this entire place so like everyone says, service can be a bit slow. Because of this, I dock 1 star. On with the food. Seriously...who charges for nachos? I guess I've been spoiled by many other restaurants that serve nachos and salsa for free, but to pay $5 for the basic seems a bit steep. The burritos here are $11 and up. Now that Chipotle has opened up, I doubt I'll ever find myself coming here for a burrito. I got the chicken platter twice now and I think it's the best thing on their menu. They have an interesting collection of things on there like black and pinto beans, guacamole, rice, sour cream, some other things and the chicken. A lot of the food seem kind of heavy, and after stuffing my face with nachos, I never seem to be able to finish my plate off. I know El Rey uses some quality ingredients compared to other places, so I'm on board with that. However, due to price being on the higher end, I dock another star. The beer selection here is definitely worth mentioning. For a small establishment they have quite an impressive array of local and microbrews. Since you're going to be spending a lot of time waiting to order and get your food, might as well order a few cold ones and enjoy the many pretty women that seem to come to this place. The margaritas are pretty decent. Bottom line: Expensive food, long wait, good beer. I spend an average of $30 every time I come here, which to me, seems like a lot of money for "Mexican" food. I'll be back only if I'm going to be hanging out with friends but would probably divert to Chipotle from now on.
(3)
Becky B.
The only thing good here was the pitcher of sangria! We ordered the dip trio which was extremely bland and the queso just tasted like microwaved velvetta. We also had the steak fajitas with rice and beans. The beans looked crusty like they had been sitting out and nothing on the plate had any flavor. The tortillas were store bought and they were still the best thing on the plate...
(2)
Charles K.
Restaurant was very crowded on the day that I went. I wanted to order the enchiladas, but the stove/broiler was broken. I ordered the steak taco instead. The taco was OK, but the shell was a bit doughy. The service was great and I did enjoy the ginger beer. I will try the place again. Hopefully I will be able to order the enchiladas.
(3)
Andrea N.
I went to El Rey yesterday (Monday 10/27) with a couple of friends and my 1 1/2 year old daughter around 4:30. A forewarning to anyone considering going with a child, they don't have high chairs or booster seats. This was extremely frustrating since my baby wanted to get into everything but I dealt with it. I ordered the Cali burrito, which is just kind of a basic burrito with grilled veggies. It was huge! I couldn't eat all of it. The burrito was tasty but nothing special. I probably won't go back unless I have a babysitter since they aren't accommodating to families.
(3)
Alex R.
Came in for dinner on a Saturday night with a group of 13. We waited about an hour and were seated in the "covered" outside area. Food: good. Not close to traditional Mexican but tasty and well prepared. I marked down one star because chips and salsa are not brought to the table gratis. This is the first Mexican restaurant I have ever been to where chips and salsa are not brought when you are seated. We had to pay for them and we opted for the trio which included queso and guac. The queso was very good but the guac was moderate to sub-par. No heat and not much salt or flavor. Also it had no texture, it was very smooth and I want to say it might have been made in a food processor or might have been a commercial product by the lack of chunkiness. Our table had burritos and enchiladas. All of the entrees got good reviews. Booze: we only had a few pitchers of house margaritas. Nothing great-weak and super sweet. But for $19 I'm not sure I should expect anything more. Nice spot to eat but I would warn that if you are eating during a colder time of year stay away from the outside area. The heat lamps in the covered areas are not adequate to keep you comfortable.
(3)
Lyn C.
Delicious fare, tight surroundings; but that tells me it's a busy joint, good problem to have. Def recommend the guacamole and "el Rey" queso. For the vegans and Prius drivers out there, the vegan/veggie options are plentiful, enjoy!
(4)
Bryan M.
After 4yrs of living here, it's still my go-to! Great people, service, and excellent tex-mex fare! This is also the second year they've been open on Sundays in December.
(5)
Marc S.
El Rey is a nice looking restaurant with a great beer list. The food is good, but not very good. The food is very expensive. It is among the most expensive Mexican restaurants that I have ever visited. They charge $5.95 for a basket of chips and salsa, and they charge for refills. The service can not be classified as bad, because it is non-existent. There are too many other good restaurants in the area to waste your time and money at El Rey. My experience here was a big disappointment.
(1)
Alice H.
Mexican food made by college kids... Not great, but also not terrible. The place itself was nice, and I do really like that most of their foods were from local farms, and the meats and seafood were mostly wild caught, and grass fed. Just don't expect authentic Mexican food and you'll be fine.
(3)
Aaron G.
Americanized mexican or tex-mex imho. Fantastic beer selection, fish tacos & the half/half guacamole & salsa is the ticket. Casual indoor/outdoor cozy atmosphere. Pitchers of margaritas are also fun. Enjoy!
(5)
Ben R.
Crowded with nowhere to really wait. And you will definitely wait. They can send you to the bar, but the bar is crowded, so then you end up getting a drink and having to stand around in the floor area. Then the servers will get grouchy because they have to maneuver around you. There is a decent off-the-beaten-path beer selection to try while you wait. Someone must have dug a tunnel between here and Williamsburg because the hipster quotient is awfully high. The food wasn't bad, although it wasn't amazing. I think the standard is to keep it fairly bland and appealing to the largest mass of people. Lots of beans/rice staples, pretty much what you can expect for decent Mexican food in Alabama. Prices probably range a little high, a lot of burrito/fajita/enchilada mix-and-match plates are 12-14 bucks and you don't get anything extraordinary. They have decent beers, but so does Leroy around the corner. Unless you're dying to eat average burritos with your Belgian beer, you can get the same experience elsewhere. I've always gone when someone invited me, and would probably go back if invited again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek this place out on my own.
(2)
Erin J.
Best Mexican/southwestern food in Montgomery! This place has indoor and outdoor seating. The food tastes fresh vs canned like other restaurants. Fantastic beer, service and food. I've been coming here for over 7 years!! I can't believe I haven't written a review until now. This is a restaurant you must eat and drink in when you come to Montgomery! Best beers and fish tacos in Montgomery hands down!
(5)
Lin G.
Experts say that when it comes to Mexican food, El Rey does not come even close to good, or authentic. Despite this, business is booming and they had people waiting out the door on a Wednesday night. Could people be so desperate? Yes I guess we were. At least they seated us. And at least they turned on the heat lamps outside, after two requests. The burrito came, wrapped sadly in tin foil, sitting by itself on a plate. Not really relished, it left partly uneaten. And that concludes the story of the sad steak burrito. And I will be going to the taco truck in Birmingham to satisfy all future Mexican food cravings.
(3)
Seth R.
Very good place: everything I've had there was good, and this is one of a few places in Montgomery that tries to use local and organic ingredients. Fantastic beer and tequila selections.
(4)
Mgm C.
Love the space, beer selections -and hard to find outdoor space. But I have to say, the food seems very bland and boring. I'd like to attribute it to being healthier -but it should be better!!
(3)
Heather C.
El Rey can always be counted on for a great spot to hang with friends and drink the evening away. Have a pitcher of Nice Margaritas and a trio with cheese dip, harissa and guac to start things! My favorite dish for dining in is the spinach, onion and cremini enchiladas. Replace the rice with sweet potatoes, you won't be sorry! We always sit outside and plan to stay for at least a couple of hours. If we want to enjoy the food but don't have anyone to watch the kids, we order carryout-- Cali burrito for me and a steak quesadilla on the large quesadilla for the husband. Great, fresh, local food!
(4)
Will O.
Great potential, poor execution. These guys need to figure out how to use spices or something to give the food flavor. Been here several times and the food across the menu is consistently bland. Service is sloooowww. Great atmosphere, good drink selection. Fun place to hang out.
(2)
Kelsey M.
Great food had the shrimp tacos..Yum!!! They have over 100 kinds of beer (lil fun fact) only gave 4 stars b/c service was slow but atmosphere and staff makes up for that....
(4)
Steven M.
By Bama standards this place is probably worthy of 5 stars since it had a local vibe and uses fresh ingredients, but this place just doesn't stack up to high end local Mexican joints in other places...didn't have a real signature dish or anything that stands out to make a burrito worth more than 10 dollars...rice and beans ain't shit. My burrito was $12 since I wanted guacamole, salsa was $5 extra so I was looking at a $20 burrito with no beer. Come on, use cilantro and crazy fresh ingredients like sweet potato, cabbage slaw with the fish or butternut squash. And if you're going to charge 5 dollars for salsa make it good. Salsa was runny and full of seeds which had more garlic than jalapeño or cilantro. No heat. Hire some Mexicans or stick to bbq bama...just saying.
(2)
Anne C.
Drinks and atmosphere are fantastic. Food is somewhat uneven, but definitely not terrible. Fun place to spend an evening.
(4)
Imani L.
El Rey Burrito is a wonderful restaurant and I will definitely be going back soon. Cloverdale is a bit "out of the way" for me so I hadn't been before. However, a friend and I were looking for a place to eat that was convenient to the Cloverdale Playhouse since we were set to see a show one rainy evening. We Google'd the best places and settled on El Rey. This place is awesome. First of all, it's small. It definitely has a cozy feel that I can appreciate. We arrived around 5:45/5:50 and beat the dinner rush so there was plenty of seating. By the time we left the place was quite crowded so if you do come for dinner, arrive early. They also have a patio with white holiday lights that I bet is fabulous on a nice day/evening. Instead of sitting at a booth or table we opted to sit at the bar and enjoy some margaritas while our food was prepared. The bartender (his name escapes me) was great. He was super friendly and made good drink recommendations and knew when to leave us to our beverages and conversation. We both ordered fruity margaritas. I got the mango and it was DELICIOUS. My only complaint about drinks was the fact that they have no happy hour specials :( Maybe it's for the best because I'd spend way too much time there otherwise. I had a hard time picking an entree but settled on a steak burrito. It was also delicious. The steak was tender, well-seasoned, and grass-fed. The rice was cooked to perfection and even though the burrito was huge I managed to eat all of it. I think on a typical night I would only eat half but I knew it was an early dinner and wanted to stay full. The overall experience was awesome. It's pretty pricey but worth the extra cash.The only thing I hated was the lack of drink specials and the dive-y bathroom.
(4)
Robert M.
Avoid at all costs. I don't know what kind of food this is but it is not Mexican, or even Tex-Mex. I do know that it is bad. I ordered fajitas, what I got was cubed filet that had barely been seasoned and not at all charred, accompanied by some nearly raw onions. The corn tortillas, clearly store bought, were inedible. Apparently nobody told these gringos that you have to cook them before you serve them or they taste like cardboard. The beans had been under a heat lamp for 15 minutes at least, making them look and taste like dirt. The rice had no flavor whatsoever, making it the best thing on the plate. This is the peril of Mexican food made by hipsters in a trendy neighborhood. You'd do better to head out to the highway somewhere in the hood and find a Mexican restaurant in a strip mall.
As good as it gets of Mexican food in Montgomery. They use fresh ingredients in rather creative and inventive ways. Burritos are huge and tasty. Tacos and quesadillas are tasty. The various salsas and dips are all great. There are several choices of margarita, all of which are pretty good. The beer and wine selection is good. It's conveniently located in Old Cloverdale and decorated hip and trendy -especially for Montgomery. All-in-all it's one the best food options in Montgomery and as long as you don't have to wait for a table, you'll probably be happy and appeased with the choice.
(5)
John A.
4-stars for the great beer selection. 2-stars for the food. The salsa was a mix of chopped tomatoes and garlic and the food was bland.
(2)
Tia A.
Tasty food with just the right amount of spice. Great service and a good beer selection. Good for a date night or hanging with friends. Must check this place out if you are in Montgomery.
(4)
David K.
El Rey features overpriced, so-so food served by a smugly disinterested wait staff. You'll spend 13 bucks for a single burrito (with no sides) wrapped in foil, a la food truck cuisine. The surly waitress will get friendly only when it's tipping time. This place is run by amateurs and attracts that same clientele.
(2)
Zed H.
Best fish taco I have ever had! Cool atmosphere and fresh salsa! Everything is fresh tasting and delicious. Would go again in a heartbeat. Zed
(5)
Samantha H.
DELICIOUS AND FRESH! I always use yelp but never post... this place is so good though, that i'm not even home yet and posting from the passenger seat because i just couldn't let myself forget! The restaurant has a wonderful, relaxing and fun vibe. They are just a few dollars more per entree than your average Mexican place ($9 for a burrito) because they serve only hormone-free meats and vegetables from local farms (they also have a ton of vegan and vegetarian options including tofu and tempeh). Normally I wouldn't care about all this and was like "yea, so what" when reading the menu.... BUT they've changed me. This was the freshest tasting meal I think I've ever ordered at a restaurant. Everything was obviously made to order and fresh. I personally got the catfish platter (such a great deal and full of incredible food: a perfectly cooked filet of catfish on a bed of roasted vegetables, along side light moist not-overly seasoned rice, spicy black beans, the best refried beans I've ever had, heavenly sweet potatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and a few types of salsa- too much to finish!) The seasoning was spot on! (PS I'm from California and this place was better than any place I go in San Diego if you're looking for delicious and fresh!) I ate way too much and still left feeling wonderful (not bloated like most Mexican places leave you feeling)! Also their mojito was perfection... Not too sweet, just right! My husband ordered a Belgian beer that he (being quite the beer aficionado) could not get enough of. And our waiter which I wish I had got the name of (a bearded gentleman) was genuinely helpful and kind without being pushy). We ordered Tres Leches cake to go and as full as I am, I'm sure we'll still break into it once we get into our pajamas! Overall, I was apprehensive about the pricing at first but after receiving my meal, I'm not sure they charge enough. Perfect place for date night, or dinner with friends, adorable patio area, and kids seemed to be completely welcome too. It's in an awesome location if you've never checked out Cloverdale. Very easy to find for people coming from Maxwell AFB. Oh and as a clean freak, I love how clean this place is too! Bravo El Rey!
(5)
Sam L.
Food is average. Enchilada is different than traditional; ingredients are layered on top of each other instead of rolled. Chicken has decent flavor.
(3)
Forrest T.
5 out of 10 for food. 2 out of 10 for service. Average is 3. Would not make me a cheese quesadilla on a corn tortilla. They actually refused. However I can get 2 cheese enchiladas on a corn tortilla, hold the sauce just fine. Also, I asked for a booth and was handed the menu and told I could seat myself. Not the southern hospitality you hear good things about. All in all I would not go back.
(1)
Clorinda T.
Love the ambience--not your traditional Mexican restaurant, though. The food is delicious (plenty of vegetarian options) and the margarita/tequila selection is worthwhile to sample. I make an effort to stop by once a week.
(5)
Mali C.
Oh my god overpriced.. But service is pleasant. Food is good.. but oh my gosh overpriced burritos.
(4)
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Address :1031 E Fairview Ave
Montgomery, AL, 36106
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Russell G.
Great little spot in Montgomery. I wasn't expecting much of this place when we showed up but the food tasted great, generous portions (it's the south so I suppose that is expected) and the margaritas flowed by the pitcher! The margs were a little on the sweet side but still good. There was also a good selection of beer if that is more your style. I came with a big group and the service was still prompt and friendly. Our waitress made a point to joke with us even though she had a lot of people to serve. Great little spot and worth the drive!
(4)Luke W.
Favorite Mexican restaurant in Montgomery. I like the outdoor seating and unique atmosphere. Really good beer selection. Awesome burritos!!!
(4)Dan R.
El Rey's delicious creations weren't exactly "traditional" Mexican, but they are appetizing. I didn't like the service. At all. Awesome burritos, great chips, slasa, and guacamole, but ground beef? The only other "Mexican" place I've ever seen serve ground beef is Taco Bell. But back to the service. My table of six was basically ignored by our server over the course of two hours. She took our drink order after being there for over 20 minutes. We finished our drinks and sat waiting for another visit to order our food, but that didn't come for another 40 minutes. Quite literally, we had been seated for over 1 hour before she approached us to take our dinner order. The table next to us was empty when we arrived, and the party had been seated, ordered, eaten, paid, and left before the SAME server even asked to take our orders. The food was good, but this has to be some sort of record on how slow the service can be. The restaurant would have made more money on our drink orders if the server would have ever stopped by our table, but our glasses remained empty throughout the visit. The servers are teenagers, and don't seem to care. They aren't mean or rude, they are just poor workers. So expect this. I really liked the atmosphere though. The indoor seating has a nice vibe, but gets pretty loud when it's crowded and the crowd has found the beer menu. The outdoor seating is awesome. Try and get that.
(3)J O.
Right on Fairview Ave so it's easy to find. Really great burritos. I'm a beef eater but the chicken is my favorite. Highly recommended. Cool vibe and friendly servers too.
(4)James F.
Everything a weary traveler needs: Good food, strong drinks, and great company! The restaurant was shockingly empty due to it being "football Saturday," but that just meant more attention for me! The grilled chicken plate was amazing (thanks to a previous reviewer for that point), and the chips & salsa stood up well alone. Definitely a Tex-Mex flair to it all. Ask for the special "pumpkin seed" salsa, and get a TASTER of the habanero tequila they make in house (any more than a little and you'll pay). All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better place to eat, drink, and be merry in Cloverdale!
(4)Nina U.
This is a discrete sit-down restaurant by the Capri Theatre in Old Cloverdale. I knew this place was nearby but didn't notice it until I saw all the people sitting outside under the trees on the patio one day while I was about to leave Cafe Louisa. Cute nice size restaurant. Look for the arrow lit with bright colorful lights and you're in the right place. They have a decent size drink menu and their dinner menu is larger than I expected... includes appetizers, burritos, quesadillas...anyone can find something they like here.
(4)Shannon H.
BEST food I've had in a good while! So FRESH! Truly not mexican...but who cares as long as it tastes great. If you want real mexican, go elsewhere. If you don't want to wait, go elsewhere. If crowds and noise bother you....guess what? Go elsewhere. If you like a fun atmosphere, sitting outside, large beer and drink menu, and fantastic FRESH food....stop and put your name on the wait list! I didn't even mind paying for the salsa! (Pricey place though, one mixed drink, salsa, and meal was over $30.00 for just me.)
(4)Beth D.
Umm... YUMMM! We went here on a Friday night, took a baby and enjoyed every bite. This is my new favorite Montgomery eatery.... this is closest to what we would enjoy in a different town. The food was "local", and fresh. They are inventive with the flavors, don't shy away from authentic mexican corn tortillas, and cook clean, with many vegetarian options done well! We enjoyed the variety of beers, fresh margaritas, black beans, Alabama shrimp, a burrito, guac, and the laid back atmosphere. We will return, frequently. Good job El Rey! Delicious!
(5)Mark M.
This is a gem in the South. As a Southern Californian who loves Mexican food this was a fun twist on the classic fare, I was surprised to find this place and think is would fit well in downtown LA.
(5)Jed S.
Nice atmosphere and beer selection, but a bit expensive and no drink specials. I still give 5 stars.
(5)Caleb M.
One of the best spots in Montgomery. Great food, fresh (and often local) ingredients. Huge portions Great beer selection. Service can be a little slow, and it gets packed quickly during peak times. Also check out their back-alley bar LeRoy for more great beer.
(5)Laura O.
Two starts for ambiance only. The "fresh" food is terrible. BYOS! (Bring your own seasoning). There is nothing unique or appetizing about the food. You actually get to pay for the cardboard tasting, salt free chips! This restaurant might be good for someone on a sodium restriction with some Mrs. Dash in their purse, otherwise the only thing this place has going for it is a good drink selection and a cute location. "Hipsters" in Montgomery? Who knew!
(2)Jake H.
Hipster location in montgomery. Torn between 3 and 4 rating. They gave an honest effort. Cool location, good crowd, good vibe. However, my steak quesadilla was so so. I would return and imagine I will give it a higher rating then most likely. This is only a single data point.
(3)David T.
Its like beating a dead horse to repeat this. Everyone knows service is slow here. Its usually pretty packed, especially on weekends and that tends to slow down service. Food can take a bit longer to get out to the table and thats because they make it fresh to order. Expect that caveat and get a beer or margarita and relax. El Rey is a lounge after all. Now that thats out of the way on to the food. The salsa is fresh. Its just like the stuff I make at home for myself and my girl just not as spicy as we like (Granted we are chiliheads so we like it hot). They have a variety of different ones to choose from and they are all pretty good. The cheese dip is good and different from what you will get in most typical (read as americanized for the terrible southern palate) "mexican" restaraunts in montgomery. The only thing most places will give you in cheese dip is chorizo which I love but otherwise its white and bland. The malditos are good with the pumpkin seeds adding a different flavor contrast with the jalapenos (surprise pumpkin is used in mexican cooking despite what Iv overheard in here from others here.) The burritos are big. The "taco" is big. You wont go hungry here and most of the time we end up with leftovers. Iv gotten the burritos here and you can get a flavored tortilla and a choice of fillings ranging from beans and rice to chicken, beef, fish, Tempeh, tofu, mushroom, vegetables and shrimp. Iv eaten the chicken and beef and tried the fish. The beef and chicken I thought were great. The fish not so much. My girl ordered it and I think it was catfish which was kind of a weird flavor in a mexican dish. Not my recommendation. Enchiladas have been hit or miss. My brother got them one night and they were good but on the same note my girl got them one night and they were bad. They have special food nights occasionally for different events and this has been hit or miss too. The chili and the chorizo burger I have tried were good but the jambalaya I didnt like as much. On to the beer. Its honestly the main reason I checked out this place when we first moved here. The beer list is huge. Lots of selection placed in group by the style of beer. Iv never counted but Im guessing its close to 75. Thats not including the usual 4-5 they have on tap that are constantly rotated. You can get american lagers( I do tend to order a pbr or two here occasionally) but in reality there is such a huge selection that branching out should be easy. I admit lately I find myself at Leroy around the corner a bit more for just drinking a few as they have I think around twenty taps but since its all the same people I doubt they mind. Classic margarita was great. Is it authentic Mexican food? No. You dont get those portions in Mexico. Is it good flavored Mexican inspired dishes? Yes. Very fresh and good. Over priced? not necessarily. Look at what a jumbo burrito costs at a typical mexican restaurant. $6-$11. The only difference you get free chips and "salsa" if you can call that watered down crap that. If El Rey offered a free basket of chips and a house salsa for free youd not even notice the difference in price. Your paying extra for the fact they are preparing a quality product vs giving you cheap crap for free. On a side note I want to address something Iv heard in reference to the type of "mex" El rey serves. I heard "Cali-Mex" and it sounded odd since Im from California and never heard that term used. I assume its in reference to the use of fresh ingredients that is common practice in Ca but otherwise Im at a loss as Id assume more seafood due to the Baja regions influence in SoCal would be more "Cali-Mex". If anybody can clarify that feel free to.
(4)Shanny B.
Delicious! I ordered a chicken quesadillla w/ black beans and a side of pineapple salsa. My boyfriend ordered the shrimp grilled taco. The freshest of the fresh ingredients! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Elizabeth D.
El Rey is located in an awesome spot in Montgomery surrounded by some local bars that all make for a great evening. However, the price is little high for what you get. Great margaritas!
(3)Julie L.
Give me a bowl of their guacamole and some chips and I'm a happy girl. I'll have garlic and onions coming out of my pores for three days, but I won't care one bit if you judge me.
(3)Tra S.
YuMmm great food, great margaritas, love the seating outside :) go and enjoy!!
(5)Barbara W.
Reliably delicious Cali-Mex food. Great chips and queso. Lovely the mango iced tea. Best quesadilla's ever, but the rest of the menus is also good. Very nice to eat outdoors when weather permits. They also will prepare the food for carryout too. It is not cheap but the food is delicious.
(5)Rob C.
Awesome beer selection and semi-authentic mexican fare. I would call it more or a local food prepared in an authentic mexican style. The steak platter was perfect. The meat was cooked perfectly medium-rare. The 2 preparations of beans really demonstrated the creativity of the chef. Amazing salsa and grilled veggies topped off an excellent meal. The only reason why I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars is because the service was very very slow. I know they were a little busy but we waited about 20 minutes in between getting our drinks and the waitress coming back to get our orders. She forgot a coffee that my friend had ordered. Then after ordering, it took us about 30 minutes to get our food. Finally about 1 hour later we received our checks. However, saying that, the food was so good that this is really 4+ review. If we came on a non-Friday night, I'm convinced the service would have been better. I would definitely consider returning.
(4)Simon M.
Good food, nice people - kind of pricey for what it is OK - There's not a lot going on in Montgomery, after driving around searching for a place that wasn't a low budget chain (there are lots) we stumbled upon Cloverdale. We decided to eat at El Rey Burrito Lounge. It's kind of a hippie place - organic food, natural ingredients. A very pleasant surprise! I got a steak burrito with corn tortillas - it was very good. They mixed up our side orders but no big deal. Food was good. The only real knock was the bill was $50 for two plates of fajitas and a couple of beers. But given the choices in Montgomery I'll pay these prices.
(3)Ben G.
The food is good, but expensive for the quality. The service is usually slow. The beer selection is pretty solid for the Montgomery area. I like the quesadillas and tilapia tacos. El Rey is not the type of place I would go out of my way to eat at but is the type of place that if I am in the area I will eat at as a solid option.
(3)Cheli S.
Let's just say it right now: if you want "real" Mexican food, then find another restaurant. What's here isn't traditional Mexican. In fact, unless they were back in the kitchen there wasn't even anyone of apparent Mexican descent working there. But, it is very tasty, well presented food. The salsa, while it could've used (for my taste) another jalapeno, was chunky and fresh and delicious, the guacamole and margaritas excellent, and I highly recommend the chicken enchiladas, which are baked and unlike any enchilada I've had (and I mean that in a good way). It's also the healthiest "Mexican" food I've had. The meats are all organic, and the menu is very clear that they'll cater to vegetarian and vegan diets. The lack of green chili was something I found a little odd, given that most Mexican and Tex-Mex places live and die by their green chili recipes, but it wasn't a deal breaker. All plates appear to be made to order so the service isn't quick but it made for a nice, leisurely, al fresco late-spring dinner. The two drawbacks are first, I can see where parking could easily be an issue depending upon when you go (it's an older neighborhood among "trendy" other bistros and a theater), and it's pretty pricey for what you get. The enchiladas were almost $12, and chips/salsa aren't gratis--they're a $5 appetizer. Guac and sour cream, typically served with a quesadilla, are also extra. In a nutshell, a very good restaurant but you have to know what to expect or you'll be disappointed.
(3)Jesseca C.
My favorite eating and drinking spot In Montgomery. Tasty fresh locally sourced ingredients. Fantastic beer selection. In walking distance of my house. The outdoor seating is great, either cafe style by the sidewalk and crepe myrtles or, more secluded, by the coy pond. They've got outdoor gas heaters that get toasty. The beer selection is fantastic. They always have really quality beer. It's the beer, in fact, that won me over in the first place.
(5)D G.
The service was very slow! The chips & salsa were $5 and we didn't love the salsa or queso. We shared chicken quesadillas & it was dry & flavorless. Atmosphere was nice however. We were visiting from Georgia & unfortunately will not be back.
(2)kenny j.
Excellent food, and best beer selection in this town, or most of Alabama for that matter. If you live in Montgomery or are just passing through, you must eat El Rey.
(5)Teneisha J.
This place has fresh food and great serving sizes, but boy is it crowded! That's a great sign for the quality of the service and food, but be prepared to wait on Friday's. Weekdays are not as bad though, so if you want to try the food and not feel rushed, go then. The service is .... Interesting. The male host there will keep you laughing as you wait on a table, but other than that it's not that memorable.
(4)J.P. M.
Awesome burritos, great atmosphere, large beer menu, great service, nice part of town!!!
(5)Jim W.
El Rey's (affectionally known to some as Hippie Burrito ) is one of the coolest places in Montgomery to get some excellent food and just the right splash of youthful style and attitude. When I go, I usually have one of their extremely tasty (and huge) burritos. Best burritos that I have ever had (sorry Moe's) without a doubt. Everything tastes so fresh and tasty...no microwaves...no freezers...organic and mostly local stuff. And to wash that burrito goodness down, they have a AWESOME selection of beers. The Delirium Tremens was excellent (yes that's a pink elephant..you haven't had too many)! And no review of El Rey's would be complete without mentioning: the decor. Oh the songs that have sung about the sconces. :) Artsy, hip and no apologies. It has definitely grown on me...have the Lucky Buddha candle to prove it. If you are looking for something different, delicious, and a welcome change to most of the places in Montgomery...look no further.
(5)LL H.
Dont go here to be woo-ed, dont go here if you don't want to wait for a table....go here for GOOD fresh FOOD!!! I did'nt order everything on the menu so I cant give a very "foody" review but I can say my chicken taco was so yummy I ate every bite (an accomplishment considering it was the size of the plate!)
(4)patient z.
Decent food and beer, but crowded! However, if you can wait long enough, you'll get seated and be served some pretty decent food. The waitstaff is cool and will keep the drinks coming and coming. I was pretty hammered at the time, though, so I may not remember this correctly. Was I even really here?
(4)Joseph B.
What a great place. Great decor, amazingly fresh food, and unique beers. It is in one of, if not the coolest areas in town, Old Cloverdale. The burritos are monsters. The guacamole is delicious, and the salsa is house made. I can't say enough about this place. I wish I still lived on this side of town for the cool spots like this.
(5)Kevin P.
Holy smokes, I would need a freaking lamp to write this review if I were in El Rey. The place is a "burrito lounge". I'm not sure that those two words should ever be next to each other... ever. El Rey's is located in some random place near a college. You'll probably drive by it on accident on the first time. It's okay, just turn around and find some parking. I'll do the sandwich method: Goods: --They have an extensive beer and drink list --There is a koi pond outside --They have food Bads: --It's pricey for what you get --It takes forever to get food --They have a koi pond outside. Wtf why? Good: --Waitress was cool Okay so this place just doesn't live up to the hype. It's a freaking burrito lounge. It's a valiant effort at trying to make upscale gourmet burritos... but in my opinion it falls short. Just because you have tempeh, tofu, or mushrooms as a replacement for the meat won't give you street cred for the hipsters or hippies alike. I'm from Seattle / San Diego. I would know. Try this place out just to say you've been there. I'll be back again, but more-so because of the lack of options around.
(3)Ian S.
Very poor service, ok food, and high prices. The only redeeming quality is the extensive beer list and the atmosphere. Save yourself the disappointment and get a 6 pack and head to taco bell.
(2)Miz S.
A local recomended it, so I stopped in. No tamales ;( but I still recommend it. The guacamole needed more salt & lime, but I'm a lime freak. The chips were very well made. I got the carne asada, the meat was average... But all the little sides in the plate. So delicious! A mango salsa that wasn't hideous? I didn't think it existed. Wonderfully flavourful rice, well spiced beans, lightly spiced chopped sweet potatoes. But the real shining star was the Tres Leche Cake. Stunning. Not too sweet, a little salt. Moist, delightfully moist cake! Go here. Eat this. Also, I don't drink beer, but there was a huge ale/lager/belgian selection. Go here. Eat cake. Rejoice. Cute atmosphere too!
(4)Jim O.
Great fresh food and very good beer selection. I love the atmosphere and decor. The whole place is well thought out and worth a few extra dollars for the food. I highly recommend ElRey and will be back!
(5)Michel M.
We went extremely early (before the waitress got there) but the selection of beer was great. I was a little disappointed that we had to wait to get the first one open, but it was worth it. This is just one of a couple places on the strip and you almost have to look hard to find it, but the food definitely made it worth it. Both me and my companion got the Gigante Burritos in the Chipotle tortillas. We both also had the steak (we have no imagination). It was simply heaven. (not Tex -mex, but we're in Alabama). The hot sauce was hot and the beer was cold.
(4)Brent M.
Fantastic little local hangout with an amazing beer selection! If you are looking for that hard to find Micro Brew this is the place.
(5)Melissa T.
Seriously, there are no reviews for El Rey? What is WRONG with you people??? Okay, El Rey was one of my very favorite hangouts when I still lived in Montgomery. I still like to go back to El Rey when I have to go back to Montgomery for whatever reason. El Rey is the reason I will now eat guacamole. I would never eat it before I had theirs. El Rey has the most fantastic margaritas I've ever tasted (order a pitcher of "nice" margaritas -- they are pricey but sooo worth it). This place is so unusual for Montgomery, Alabama. You don't see too many hippieish, organic, cali-mexican joints in the Gump. The food at El Rey has always been delicious and fresh-tasting. It is a little pricier than what you would pay elsewhere in Montgomery, but in my opinion it's worth it. It's no more expensive than what you'd pay for the same meal in a different city -- Montgomery's dining patrons are notoriously cheap and overly fond of chain restaurants, like Crapplebee's and the like. Get the fish tacos, the nachos, the nice margaritas, and the guacamole! Or any one of those. Or two.. :) Man, I have a craving for some El Rey now... gotta get back to the Gump.
(5)Melissa T.
We just moved into the neighborhood and started exploring the local restaurants. Our favorite find so far is El Rey Burrito Lounge. Don't mistaken, they serve up more than just burritos. To start, they have quite a few salsas to choice from, which are served with warm chips (I think its fresh made). Most of the produce they use are organic and the meats are hormone-free/antibiotic-free. I would eat here every week if my husband let me. Love it!
(5)Marjorie Jean A.
Funky fresh place! Love the local freshness and the funky atmosphere! Highly commended!
(5)Philip L.
This place is a real gem in Montgomery. The food is great, and all made with very fresh ingredients. For a first timer I would recommend starting with a steak or chicken burrito. Every time I've gone, the service has been top notch. As an added bonus they have a huge selection of beers. If you enjoy imported Belgian or German beer, this is the place to go. They also have a great selection of local and national micro brews. Only down side to this place is the cost. The place has a definite casual atmosphere, however you pay for the freshness and hand-made quality of the food.
(5)Bob F.
Was excited to hear that this place bought local foods and decided to try it. Typed the address in the GPS and cruised past the ghetto projects into my old high school partying neighborhood of Old Cloverdale. When I lived here, this place was a BBQ/ art gallery or something. Now it's changed into a chic place to eat some good, organic Mex made by gringos. I love a good Taco truck, but don't always need that. The drinks were good. Tried the spicy marg and the tortillas less catfish burrito. (Gluten free). Had a nice conversation with a pleasant gay couple at the bar and moved on to 1048 across the street.
(4)Ward S.
I live just down the street from El Rey. Its location is in a cozy little spot along E. Fairview Avenue among several other independent eating establishments, one of Alabama's only independent movie theatres, and an art gallery. In other words, a hip, trendy locale. The menu is fairly small, but the quality of the food is top notch. The simple soft shell steak taco is wonderful - it's huge and it covers the entire plate. The different levels of hotsauce in the squeeze bottles on your table are delicious. The chips with salsa and guacamole are the best I've come across anywhere. And, if you like margaritas, El Rey by far has the best in Montgomery. Weather permitting, I recommend sitting outside where you can enjoy the scenery along the sidewalk in this busy but quaint, charming neighborhood.
(5)Jaclyn B.
We are new to the area, and were disappointed with all the chains everywhere, especially since where we came from had amazing restaurants that were one of a kind. But during our first week here we were told that El Rey was good, and were encouraged by this place. Unique, cool outdoor patio, and friendly servers. I had the Ancho Chicken Salad and my husband had chicken fajitas. Although he said his chicken was just a tad dry all the ingredients were very fresh. I am always on the lookout for HEALTHY choices and you can totally do that here if you choose. We will definitely be back!
(4)Jamie G.
I love this place. Great atmosphere and down to earth staff. I had the tempeh BBQ and jicama salad. Pretty tasty, but I wouldn't really call it a salad. Or maybe just call it a warm salad and then make it warmer. Anyhow, I love the hot sauce options on the table, all my favorites. Great mojito and poinsetta drink, Cava (champagne from Spain) with a splash of cranberry juice. Sooo good! Pineapple salsa could use more peppers and be chopped up more to give it salsa appeal instead of a side of flavored pineapple chunk appeal. Overrall i'd definitely reccomend this place. It has charm and the food is organic and hormone free, with vegan options which is always such a pleasure to eat and see.
(4)P K.
Great beer selection, atmosphere, and LOVE their pumpkin seed apps.
(4)eric v.
a bit pricey for mexican food (you have to pay for chips and salsa), but good. many ingredients are organic and natural. atmosphere is cozy, but is loud sometimes. Some dishes like the fajitas are bland.
(3)Randall F.
Montgomery needs more places like El Rey. This place is certainly a diamond in the rough in terms of originality and the thought and care that goes into providing a quality dining experience. The ingredients are locally sourced, which is nice. This lends their food a distinct freshness that you don't get from the Sysco/US Foodservice havens like Chili's, et al. I especially like their attitude towards craft beer and wine. They have a broad and extensive selection of regional beers that is sure to please any palate. I have only been twice, each time was a weeknight after 7p and my dining partners and I were seated right away so I can't comment on how crowded the place gets. (though I imagine it does!) The restaurant itself has, what I would think to be, a very Southern California vibe. Large, comfortable booths lit by candlelight make dining easy, and a little dark. If I had to provide any complaints it would be about service. Each time I have been to El Rey I have been greeted with a smile and seated promptly and each server has been very pleasant however, service can be a bit slow at times. This is especially apparent when the restaurant wasn't overly busy while I was there. There is also an overall "Hipster" trend among the staff. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and doesn't subtract from the experience of El Rey, its just not really my thing. You probably won't even notice. Between the excellent beer and the burritos the size of a baby I am sure I will find myself back at El Rey soon.
(4)Chris R.
Great (and very healthy), California inspired Mexican cuisine along with the best margaritas in town, and lots of outdoor seating make for a really good time in Old Cloverdale. Two doors down from Alabama's only independent movie theatre El Rey is tucked back in the crepe myrtles and hard to spot from the road. Look for the big flashing arrow on the side of the building.
(4)Paul K.
I thoroughly enjoyed my burrito and it was quite massive. We had one of the different salsas and a queso and both were quite tasty. Overall I enjoyed the food here the best while in Montgomery.
(4)Eric W.
Tired of saving money by eating at home? If you've got a twenty burning a hole in your pocket and a few hours to kill on a weeknight in Montgomery, this is the place for you. Sometimes cooking yourself a dollar fifty worth of dry chicken breast and half a bell pepper gets old. Why not spend a couple hours' pay (and a couple hours) allowing some hipsters to do it for you?
(1)Shawn S.
Nice addition to the Mtgy dining scene. Not much can slow me down when I pass through this town but El Rey is less than 2 miles from I65 and is a good stop.
(3)Tisha B.
This is some tasty Alabama Mex. It's not authentic Mexican for sure, but in Montgomery it's a nice change. Margaritas are good (not from a nasty bottle of mix like most places here) & you'll pay a bit more as result. Service is good. Depending on when you hit the door the wait for a table can get long because there just aren't very many tables. The guacamole and salsa are ok, not special; the guacamole was a bit bland (and if you've ever had fresh guacamole made table-side nothing else can come close). The queso cheese dip is ok, best hot because as it cooled it got a bit gluey and well, just unpleasant, kinda like old rotel dip, but is good to dive into when you first hit the table with a frosty beer or margarita. Quesidillas: tasty! My friend ate every bite! Burritos: fab! Cheese & mushroom enchiladas: good! Yummy! Fajitas: not so good. Meat was tasty, but all the meat & veggies were in an odd sauce, almost like gravy. Not fajita like at all. NO! No sizzling platter. Just plain strange. Beans/rice: Meh. Rice seems Rice A Roni like. Beans seem very odd, old, dried out. We ordered black beans. They still came out looking like refried beans and looking very sad and dried up. That said, the atmosphere is fun. Lots of folks just hanging out, having a drink, relaxing. Music is mostly good though on second visit they had a bizarre loop of elevator music mixed with soul music. Even after customer complaints it was not fixed. Food: 4/5, with some minor tweaking could be freakin' awesome (60/40 on the plus side) Atmosphere: 4/5 Value: 3/5 (pricey, but you are paying for a bit of fun & ambience here) Would I return: Absolutely!
(4)Betty P.
Been a while since we ate here (3 years) and was still just as good. We had a burrito and mushroom enchiladas with black beans. All tasty. The atmosphere is great indoors and outdoors. Love the neighborhood the restaurant is in as well. The staff are friendly, missed a couple of details like a chilled glass for the beer that we asked for, but nothing to kill our experience. Pricing for some items is a little ridiculous and we are spoiled by most other Mexican restaurants giving you free chips and salsa off the bat. Here they start at $5.
(3)Shaun C.
Holy crap. Close this place down. The enchilada must have sat under the Warner lamp for at lest an hour before I got it. Seating took 45 minutes for an outdoor seating. Then I quickly ordered and the flavor of the enchilada lots sets like a bowl of dog food. Actually dog food might taste better. I didn't know that the entire meal is supposed to taste like. I just told the waitress that it tastes like it sat under a lamp for an hour and she agreed. "It probably did." Close this place down so a real restaurant can take over this space.
(1)Jennifer T.
Yum yum yum. Our waitress was clearly busy with many tables. However, she always had a smile on her face and was very polite. The place isn't big and we wound up sitting outside. The drinks are tasty, the food is, hands down, the best Mexican I've ever tasted. Only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it took an hour to get our food. If it had come out just a little bit sooner, I would've given it 5 stars.
(4)Melissa P.
Stopped here while on the road from New Orleans to Atlanta. I was excited because I am a well-documented lover of Mexican/TexMex/anything remotely approximating that sort of cuisine (and let's not forget the usually-accompanying margaritas). There were no tables available, so I had to sit at that bar, which was fine, since I was a party of one. The bartender, Reese, was super friendly, and I had friendly conversation with another patron at the bar. I liked the decor, too. Based on those things alone, this place would get 5 stars, but the food and drink won't support that. I'm never a fan of places that charge for chips and salsa, so I figured since I had to pay for chips, I'd go ahead and treat myself to queso dip. I made the mistake of getting the larger size (because usually I can tear up a bowl of queso), but since it just sort of tasted like Velveeta/Rotel dip that you have at parties, a lot of it went to waste. With the larger cheese dip, I decided to skip a regular entree and just have some black beans and rice. To echo some of the other reviews, it was kind of bland. I had two margaritas, and while the first one seemed ok, the second one tasted exactly like Country Time Lemonade, which isn't really what I want when I'm paying for my favorite adult beverage. I think this place could be really great if they tweaked their recipes some.
(2)Michael S.
I ordered the steak burrito. Disappointed at best. Short on steak long on filler. The salsa verde included with the fillers I didn't care for and I will ask for on the side next time.
(2)Yvette N.
Man. I REALLY wanted to like this place. I know a lot of people do! But I'm from good ol' San Antonio Texas and all of its wonderful restaurant flavors...And I'm Hispanic so obviously my taste buds have a mind of their own. So I do encourage you to try this place and taste for yourself. The ambience here is great! Trendy background music, huge beer selection. The place felt clean. ***NO HAPPY HOUR*** ***NO MILITARY DISCOUNTS*** I've been spoiled with complimentary chips before being served "Mexican " food. Obviously this place doesn't offer that, so ok..no problem, we will order them anyway, add guacamole to that please, we read great reviews on it. BLAND CHIPS. PRE-PACKAGED GUACAMOLE. FAIL. EVERYTHING on my dinner plate was bland to me except for the quesadillas. I ordered Bean Quesadillas. They were good. The side beans and rice, To put it nicely...not for me. The waitress...I mean if she would have been AWESOME, that would have helped. But you know, the lack of effort or a shred of...CARE..it kills me. Ok. There u go.
(2)John C.
Very good place to eat. The atmosphere is very nice too. I loved the three salsa and chips appetizer. I also had the chicken taco and it was more like a quesadilla than a taco but was very good.
(4)Taheerah B.
This review is for 6/30/14 I'm in love with the roasted vegetable enchilada, which are the best that I have ever had. Instead of lots of cheese like a standard enchilada, this one is loaded with roasted carrots, potatoes , onions, green peppers, and red pepper. I was excited to come back and enjoy my meal on the patio. As expected the place was packed with people, but the wait was less than ten minutes. Once we were seated, my dining companion and I were promptly asked for our drink orders. I order Coke and he ordered a ginger beer, which was extremely tasty. In addition, we order chips and three dips--- pineapple salsa, queso del rey, and guacamole. The pineapple salsa was spicy and sweet. Since the chucks of pineapples were so huge, it was awkward to put it on the flat tortilla. Regardless, it was still awesome. The queso del rey was nice, but it wasn't a stand-out. The guacamole was my absolute favorite, which is rare. I loved the garlic and cumin that was added. I attempted to order the beloved roasted vegetable enchiladas, but my server told me that it was unavailable, but I can order the roasted vegetable quesadilla. I was heart- broken, and reluctantly, I ordered the quesadillas, and I was happy again. It had the same magic as the enchiladas, just cheaper. The black beans (which can be made vegan), and the oven roasted basmati rice was perfect compliments to the entrée. My dining companion ordered the steak quesadilla. He stated that the steak was great, but since it was taken out of the skillet and put on the quesadilla, the juices didn't have time to run off the meat. His quesadilla was really soggy, so he ate the meat and left the tortilla. Overall, the experience and food was great. This is a spot that I will visit each and every time I visit Montgomery.
(4)chanda w.
Delicious! Amazing patio, and the food was worth the long wait. Great salsas, the burritos and the fajitas were very good, and the spinach salad was fantastic! Oh, and the frisco margarita was perfect. Our server even brought the kids fish food to feed the koi pond...wonderful experience.
(5)Kyleah J.
I love fresh, organic food, but El Ray's has lost the flavor in the "healthy" trendy food menu. The chicken enchilada and steak burrito are nothing to write home about. It was flavorless, took forever to come, and didn't impress me in the least. Their hours are wonky and the place "fills up" fairly quickly - aka the wait times are 2-3 hours plus and the only resolve is to go to the bar next door (Leroy's) owned by El Rays and created specifically for people to wait while the restaurant was full. Despite the lack of flavorful options, it does have a wide array of salsas. Albeit pricey salsas and other menu items. If you feel the urge to eat "Mex-ish" food, make the drive to Ixtapa in East Chase. The drinks, food, and service are all way better.
(2)Jason K.
Great drink choices, they definitely need to add a blender to the bar. Menu is solid and food is great, server too!
(4)Chris G.
Gulf Shrimp Grilled Taco= yum! Mango tea not so much... The salsa Trio and Chips was well done. Had the Verde, salsa, and guacamole and enjoyed each.
(4)Sam L.
If this were a place in Los Angeles, hipsters galore would probably flock here. But wait, we're in Montgomery Alabama...but you know what....the wait here is pretty ridiculous if you're with a group of 6 or more. Come around 7pm on a Tuesday and expect to wait at least an hour...or more! I think they could totally expand and/or add a few more tables near their entrance to accomodate more customers. There are 2 servers for this entire place so like everyone says, service can be a bit slow. Because of this, I dock 1 star. On with the food. Seriously...who charges for nachos? I guess I've been spoiled by many other restaurants that serve nachos and salsa for free, but to pay $5 for the basic seems a bit steep. The burritos here are $11 and up. Now that Chipotle has opened up, I doubt I'll ever find myself coming here for a burrito. I got the chicken platter twice now and I think it's the best thing on their menu. They have an interesting collection of things on there like black and pinto beans, guacamole, rice, sour cream, some other things and the chicken. A lot of the food seem kind of heavy, and after stuffing my face with nachos, I never seem to be able to finish my plate off. I know El Rey uses some quality ingredients compared to other places, so I'm on board with that. However, due to price being on the higher end, I dock another star. The beer selection here is definitely worth mentioning. For a small establishment they have quite an impressive array of local and microbrews. Since you're going to be spending a lot of time waiting to order and get your food, might as well order a few cold ones and enjoy the many pretty women that seem to come to this place. The margaritas are pretty decent. Bottom line: Expensive food, long wait, good beer. I spend an average of $30 every time I come here, which to me, seems like a lot of money for "Mexican" food. I'll be back only if I'm going to be hanging out with friends but would probably divert to Chipotle from now on.
(3)Becky B.
The only thing good here was the pitcher of sangria! We ordered the dip trio which was extremely bland and the queso just tasted like microwaved velvetta. We also had the steak fajitas with rice and beans. The beans looked crusty like they had been sitting out and nothing on the plate had any flavor. The tortillas were store bought and they were still the best thing on the plate...
(2)Charles K.
Restaurant was very crowded on the day that I went. I wanted to order the enchiladas, but the stove/broiler was broken. I ordered the steak taco instead. The taco was OK, but the shell was a bit doughy. The service was great and I did enjoy the ginger beer. I will try the place again. Hopefully I will be able to order the enchiladas.
(3)Andrea N.
I went to El Rey yesterday (Monday 10/27) with a couple of friends and my 1 1/2 year old daughter around 4:30. A forewarning to anyone considering going with a child, they don't have high chairs or booster seats. This was extremely frustrating since my baby wanted to get into everything but I dealt with it. I ordered the Cali burrito, which is just kind of a basic burrito with grilled veggies. It was huge! I couldn't eat all of it. The burrito was tasty but nothing special. I probably won't go back unless I have a babysitter since they aren't accommodating to families.
(3)Alex R.
Came in for dinner on a Saturday night with a group of 13. We waited about an hour and were seated in the "covered" outside area. Food: good. Not close to traditional Mexican but tasty and well prepared. I marked down one star because chips and salsa are not brought to the table gratis. This is the first Mexican restaurant I have ever been to where chips and salsa are not brought when you are seated. We had to pay for them and we opted for the trio which included queso and guac. The queso was very good but the guac was moderate to sub-par. No heat and not much salt or flavor. Also it had no texture, it was very smooth and I want to say it might have been made in a food processor or might have been a commercial product by the lack of chunkiness. Our table had burritos and enchiladas. All of the entrees got good reviews. Booze: we only had a few pitchers of house margaritas. Nothing great-weak and super sweet. But for $19 I'm not sure I should expect anything more. Nice spot to eat but I would warn that if you are eating during a colder time of year stay away from the outside area. The heat lamps in the covered areas are not adequate to keep you comfortable.
(3)Lyn C.
Delicious fare, tight surroundings; but that tells me it's a busy joint, good problem to have. Def recommend the guacamole and "el Rey" queso. For the vegans and Prius drivers out there, the vegan/veggie options are plentiful, enjoy!
(4)Bryan M.
After 4yrs of living here, it's still my go-to! Great people, service, and excellent tex-mex fare! This is also the second year they've been open on Sundays in December.
(5)Marc S.
El Rey is a nice looking restaurant with a great beer list. The food is good, but not very good. The food is very expensive. It is among the most expensive Mexican restaurants that I have ever visited. They charge $5.95 for a basket of chips and salsa, and they charge for refills. The service can not be classified as bad, because it is non-existent. There are too many other good restaurants in the area to waste your time and money at El Rey. My experience here was a big disappointment.
(1)Alice H.
Mexican food made by college kids... Not great, but also not terrible. The place itself was nice, and I do really like that most of their foods were from local farms, and the meats and seafood were mostly wild caught, and grass fed. Just don't expect authentic Mexican food and you'll be fine.
(3)Aaron G.
Americanized mexican or tex-mex imho. Fantastic beer selection, fish tacos & the half/half guacamole & salsa is the ticket. Casual indoor/outdoor cozy atmosphere. Pitchers of margaritas are also fun. Enjoy!
(5)Ben R.
Crowded with nowhere to really wait. And you will definitely wait. They can send you to the bar, but the bar is crowded, so then you end up getting a drink and having to stand around in the floor area. Then the servers will get grouchy because they have to maneuver around you. There is a decent off-the-beaten-path beer selection to try while you wait. Someone must have dug a tunnel between here and Williamsburg because the hipster quotient is awfully high. The food wasn't bad, although it wasn't amazing. I think the standard is to keep it fairly bland and appealing to the largest mass of people. Lots of beans/rice staples, pretty much what you can expect for decent Mexican food in Alabama. Prices probably range a little high, a lot of burrito/fajita/enchilada mix-and-match plates are 12-14 bucks and you don't get anything extraordinary. They have decent beers, but so does Leroy around the corner. Unless you're dying to eat average burritos with your Belgian beer, you can get the same experience elsewhere. I've always gone when someone invited me, and would probably go back if invited again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek this place out on my own.
(2)Erin J.
Best Mexican/southwestern food in Montgomery! This place has indoor and outdoor seating. The food tastes fresh vs canned like other restaurants. Fantastic beer, service and food. I've been coming here for over 7 years!! I can't believe I haven't written a review until now. This is a restaurant you must eat and drink in when you come to Montgomery! Best beers and fish tacos in Montgomery hands down!
(5)Lin G.
Experts say that when it comes to Mexican food, El Rey does not come even close to good, or authentic. Despite this, business is booming and they had people waiting out the door on a Wednesday night. Could people be so desperate? Yes I guess we were. At least they seated us. And at least they turned on the heat lamps outside, after two requests. The burrito came, wrapped sadly in tin foil, sitting by itself on a plate. Not really relished, it left partly uneaten. And that concludes the story of the sad steak burrito. And I will be going to the taco truck in Birmingham to satisfy all future Mexican food cravings.
(3)Seth R.
Very good place: everything I've had there was good, and this is one of a few places in Montgomery that tries to use local and organic ingredients. Fantastic beer and tequila selections.
(4)Mgm C.
Love the space, beer selections -and hard to find outdoor space. But I have to say, the food seems very bland and boring. I'd like to attribute it to being healthier -but it should be better!!
(3)Heather C.
El Rey can always be counted on for a great spot to hang with friends and drink the evening away. Have a pitcher of Nice Margaritas and a trio with cheese dip, harissa and guac to start things! My favorite dish for dining in is the spinach, onion and cremini enchiladas. Replace the rice with sweet potatoes, you won't be sorry! We always sit outside and plan to stay for at least a couple of hours. If we want to enjoy the food but don't have anyone to watch the kids, we order carryout-- Cali burrito for me and a steak quesadilla on the large quesadilla for the husband. Great, fresh, local food!
(4)Will O.
Great potential, poor execution. These guys need to figure out how to use spices or something to give the food flavor. Been here several times and the food across the menu is consistently bland. Service is sloooowww. Great atmosphere, good drink selection. Fun place to hang out.
(2)Kelsey M.
Great food had the shrimp tacos..Yum!!! They have over 100 kinds of beer (lil fun fact) only gave 4 stars b/c service was slow but atmosphere and staff makes up for that....
(4)Steven M.
By Bama standards this place is probably worthy of 5 stars since it had a local vibe and uses fresh ingredients, but this place just doesn't stack up to high end local Mexican joints in other places...didn't have a real signature dish or anything that stands out to make a burrito worth more than 10 dollars...rice and beans ain't shit. My burrito was $12 since I wanted guacamole, salsa was $5 extra so I was looking at a $20 burrito with no beer. Come on, use cilantro and crazy fresh ingredients like sweet potato, cabbage slaw with the fish or butternut squash. And if you're going to charge 5 dollars for salsa make it good. Salsa was runny and full of seeds which had more garlic than jalapeño or cilantro. No heat. Hire some Mexicans or stick to bbq bama...just saying.
(2)Anne C.
Drinks and atmosphere are fantastic. Food is somewhat uneven, but definitely not terrible. Fun place to spend an evening.
(4)Imani L.
El Rey Burrito is a wonderful restaurant and I will definitely be going back soon. Cloverdale is a bit "out of the way" for me so I hadn't been before. However, a friend and I were looking for a place to eat that was convenient to the Cloverdale Playhouse since we were set to see a show one rainy evening. We Google'd the best places and settled on El Rey. This place is awesome. First of all, it's small. It definitely has a cozy feel that I can appreciate. We arrived around 5:45/5:50 and beat the dinner rush so there was plenty of seating. By the time we left the place was quite crowded so if you do come for dinner, arrive early. They also have a patio with white holiday lights that I bet is fabulous on a nice day/evening. Instead of sitting at a booth or table we opted to sit at the bar and enjoy some margaritas while our food was prepared. The bartender (his name escapes me) was great. He was super friendly and made good drink recommendations and knew when to leave us to our beverages and conversation. We both ordered fruity margaritas. I got the mango and it was DELICIOUS. My only complaint about drinks was the fact that they have no happy hour specials :( Maybe it's for the best because I'd spend way too much time there otherwise. I had a hard time picking an entree but settled on a steak burrito. It was also delicious. The steak was tender, well-seasoned, and grass-fed. The rice was cooked to perfection and even though the burrito was huge I managed to eat all of it. I think on a typical night I would only eat half but I knew it was an early dinner and wanted to stay full. The overall experience was awesome. It's pretty pricey but worth the extra cash.The only thing I hated was the lack of drink specials and the dive-y bathroom.
(4)Robert M.
Avoid at all costs. I don't know what kind of food this is but it is not Mexican, or even Tex-Mex. I do know that it is bad. I ordered fajitas, what I got was cubed filet that had barely been seasoned and not at all charred, accompanied by some nearly raw onions. The corn tortillas, clearly store bought, were inedible. Apparently nobody told these gringos that you have to cook them before you serve them or they taste like cardboard. The beans had been under a heat lamp for 15 minutes at least, making them look and taste like dirt. The rice had no flavor whatsoever, making it the best thing on the plate. This is the peril of Mexican food made by hipsters in a trendy neighborhood. You'd do better to head out to the highway somewhere in the hood and find a Mexican restaurant in a strip mall.
(1)Jan S.
El Rey has been on my list of places to check out since moving here. I like the quirky setting and fun neighborhood. I started off with the sangria which was so good. Then we had the half salsa, half guacamole appetizer. I didn't notice, but my fiancé pointed out that the guacamole was pre-packaged and not made fresh. It was still good though. I got the tempeh fajitas and they were delicious! The whole dish was fresh and healthy with lots of flavor. However, we were not warned about the glob of hot paste also on the plate. IT WAS SO HOT!!! Way too hot and I couldn't taste the food. It took awhile to get my taste buds back, but the rest of the meal was great.
(4)Gina B.
As good as it gets of Mexican food in Montgomery. They use fresh ingredients in rather creative and inventive ways. Burritos are huge and tasty. Tacos and quesadillas are tasty. The various salsas and dips are all great. There are several choices of margarita, all of which are pretty good. The beer and wine selection is good. It's conveniently located in Old Cloverdale and decorated hip and trendy -especially for Montgomery. All-in-all it's one the best food options in Montgomery and as long as you don't have to wait for a table, you'll probably be happy and appeased with the choice.
(5)John A.
4-stars for the great beer selection. 2-stars for the food. The salsa was a mix of chopped tomatoes and garlic and the food was bland.
(2)Tia A.
Tasty food with just the right amount of spice. Great service and a good beer selection. Good for a date night or hanging with friends. Must check this place out if you are in Montgomery.
(4)David K.
El Rey features overpriced, so-so food served by a smugly disinterested wait staff. You'll spend 13 bucks for a single burrito (with no sides) wrapped in foil, a la food truck cuisine. The surly waitress will get friendly only when it's tipping time. This place is run by amateurs and attracts that same clientele.
(2)Zed H.
Best fish taco I have ever had! Cool atmosphere and fresh salsa! Everything is fresh tasting and delicious. Would go again in a heartbeat. Zed
(5)Samantha H.
DELICIOUS AND FRESH! I always use yelp but never post... this place is so good though, that i'm not even home yet and posting from the passenger seat because i just couldn't let myself forget! The restaurant has a wonderful, relaxing and fun vibe. They are just a few dollars more per entree than your average Mexican place ($9 for a burrito) because they serve only hormone-free meats and vegetables from local farms (they also have a ton of vegan and vegetarian options including tofu and tempeh). Normally I wouldn't care about all this and was like "yea, so what" when reading the menu.... BUT they've changed me. This was the freshest tasting meal I think I've ever ordered at a restaurant. Everything was obviously made to order and fresh. I personally got the catfish platter (such a great deal and full of incredible food: a perfectly cooked filet of catfish on a bed of roasted vegetables, along side light moist not-overly seasoned rice, spicy black beans, the best refried beans I've ever had, heavenly sweet potatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and a few types of salsa- too much to finish!) The seasoning was spot on! (PS I'm from California and this place was better than any place I go in San Diego if you're looking for delicious and fresh!) I ate way too much and still left feeling wonderful (not bloated like most Mexican places leave you feeling)! Also their mojito was perfection... Not too sweet, just right! My husband ordered a Belgian beer that he (being quite the beer aficionado) could not get enough of. And our waiter which I wish I had got the name of (a bearded gentleman) was genuinely helpful and kind without being pushy). We ordered Tres Leches cake to go and as full as I am, I'm sure we'll still break into it once we get into our pajamas! Overall, I was apprehensive about the pricing at first but after receiving my meal, I'm not sure they charge enough. Perfect place for date night, or dinner with friends, adorable patio area, and kids seemed to be completely welcome too. It's in an awesome location if you've never checked out Cloverdale. Very easy to find for people coming from Maxwell AFB. Oh and as a clean freak, I love how clean this place is too! Bravo El Rey!
(5)Sam L.
Food is average. Enchilada is different than traditional; ingredients are layered on top of each other instead of rolled. Chicken has decent flavor.
(3)Forrest T.
5 out of 10 for food. 2 out of 10 for service. Average is 3. Would not make me a cheese quesadilla on a corn tortilla. They actually refused. However I can get 2 cheese enchiladas on a corn tortilla, hold the sauce just fine. Also, I asked for a booth and was handed the menu and told I could seat myself. Not the southern hospitality you hear good things about. All in all I would not go back.
(1)Clorinda T.
Love the ambience--not your traditional Mexican restaurant, though. The food is delicious (plenty of vegetarian options) and the margarita/tequila selection is worthwhile to sample. I make an effort to stop by once a week.
(5)Mali C.
Oh my god overpriced.. But service is pleasant. Food is good.. but oh my gosh overpriced burritos.
(4)