I can't comment on their food overall, because I always get the fish burrito. It is the most delicious fish burrito, hands down, I have ever had. It has fresh off the grill seasoned fish, cabbage, chipotle sauce, cilantro, and warm flavorful rice. The green salsa they make is spicy and loaded with cilantro and it goes perfectly with the fish burrito. I would definitely recommend coming during the weekday around lunchtime when the veteran cooks are there. The weekend crew doesn't make the same delicious burrito.
(5)
Jonathan D.
Fish burritos are the best, imo! Can get quite a long line during lunch but don't let that intimidate you-they get through it very quickly. Not the best burrito in the world but very good and they are made with consistancy, every experience should be about the same.
(3)
Nicole D.
Pollo Rey is my go-to place for Mexican salads -- I have their roasted chicken salad about once a week because its quick and healthy, two things that are somewhat difficult to find in downtown Boise on your lunch hour. The only other thing I've eaten there is the nachos which are good but pretty greasy with the massive amounts of cheese (which for some is a plus). The salsa is pretty good, but I'm not a fan of their guacamole.
(4)
Oswald C.
The only non fast food place in Boise where you can get a full lunch for under $5. I usually get a chicken soft taco with black beans and rice which comes out to $4.24! I'm a big eater and this fills me up every time. I'm always shocked by how cheap this huge meal is every time I order it. It's as if I've found some kind of loophole in the food to price ratio of Boise restaurants.
(4)
Dustin C.
My wife and I ate dinner here on a Wednesday night. There was plenty of room to sit in the restaurant. The burritos are huge. They also offer a stuffed potato. The kitchen prep area is open for customers to watch, everything is cooked up front, fun to watch if you don't yet have a table or to-go order. My chicken burrito was very tasty (and came with a hand full of chips). It was too large to eat by hand (probably intended to be eaten by hand), so I used a knife and fork. The burrito was too juicy for the paper lining of the tray and I probably ate some paper (there was some missing). I asked for a plate and transfer the burrito to a plate. Much better set up. A very hearty meal that kept me full all night. Great place on a great street corner to watch outside activity. Nothing special about the food, service, dinning room, or overall experience.
(4)
Frederic B.
Had the Carne Asada Burrito. Very good food for a fast food. Little spicy and had a great pico de gallo. Service was fast and friendly. Great place for a quick Burrito and a Dos Equis. Overall experience was muy bueno!
(4)
Whitney S.
OMG delicious. I forgot about this place on 8th, until a lazy Sunday produced a craving for fish tacos - so what did we do? We hopped on the scooter and made a date out of our quest to satiate the fish taco void in our lives! We scooted over the 13th Street Bar and Grill thinking they would have them for sure, but to no avail. Someone there told us Sunray Cafe across the street had them so we walked over, but again, no fish tacos! We knew Matador would have them, but being in the cheap-o mood we were in, we didn't want to pay $12 for 2 tacos + tip so we thought, "Why not try Pollo Rey? We haven't been here in forever!" That we did. And we got two fish tacos each with chips and salsa, plus tons of fresh cabbage and pico de gallo. All for about $13 :) We sat out on the patio under the umbrellas and people watched for about 45 minutes until it started drizzling. Since we were scooting, we thought we'd better make a dash for home before we spent another $13 eating indoors because of the weather! I'm all about fresh, cheap and delicious when a craving hits (without lowering my standards and hitting up Del Taco)... so Pollo Rey, I'm coming back again and again to your clean, fast, fresh establishment! My apologies for forgetting about you since we frequent 8th street more than we'd like to admit. :)
(4)
Twosox S.
Mediocre food, burrito was mainly rice and beans. Good fish tacos though and the salsas are decent. This place benefits from the location. Agreed, no flavor and no originality.
(3)
Paul H.
I absolutely love the fish tacos here. Being from SoCal, I knew that moving up here would likely mean I would not find a good fish taco. I found this place and it has been a favorite since. My wife and I always get a fish burrito and two tacos and eat one taco each and split the burrito. Grilled Tilapia and their chipotle sauce is an amazing combo!
(5)
David F.
I should probably lower this to 3 stars (I'm really stingy with my stars) because I have eaten there so much I have burned out on it. I used to work across the street and each fish tacos like there was no manana. They are still my favorite item on the menu. My friend gave me the idea to branch out and get the chicken burrito with BBQ sauce. I just couldn't do it the last time I was here. The veggie burrito is a good selection. The veggies are diced and sauteed a little but not too much to the point of being mushy. Salsa's are fresh - especially the spicy tomatillo verde.
(4)
Janet D.
A great place to stop for a quick & casual meal. Their addition of sauteed veggies in the tacos is right up my alley...I love little unique additions to a usually straightforward dish. They nailed it with the veggies. Good chips...fresh & crispy. Definitely eat on the patio and people watch in downtown Boise.
(4)
Sarah F.
If you like humongous Burritos stuffed with chicken, rice, cheese and beans....this is your place!! The owner has accomplished having a very successful business with a fantastic concept. The service is usually fast even when the line is outrageously long!! I miss this place! they should expand to other states! The chicken is flavorful and juicy and I love the fact you can have a Papa Pollo (potato with chicken) or a Pollo Burrito or get a dinner for yourself or your entire family! YAY for Pollo Rey!!
(5)
Shayna W.
This is my favorite burrito in Boise. The nachos are really good also and the fish tacos are good if they're freshly made. Good sized portions, quick service (even during lunch time week day rush) and a clean place.
(4)
Andrew B.
Not bad, good burrito and tacos! Love how they put green onions on the red salsa!
(4)
Jessica H.
I used to go to this place all of the time in high school and I haven't been there in a few years but I assume they still serve good food because they are still in business and I always see people eating there. This is not really the place to go for authentic mexican, but they do a good job of cali/american/mexican food. They have really good cheesy gooey quesadillas. They also sell baked potatoes stuffed with an assortment of meat and veggies and cheese and stuff. I would recommend getting one of those because it's kind of different and always good. The atmosphere is really relaxed, you order and pay at the counter and then they call out your number. The service has always been really fast for me. There is also a nice patio facing 8th street if the weather is nice.
(3)
Rob S.
This is one of the first places I ever ate in boise and it has been a staple in my diet ever since. Everytime I go there food is always fast and very good and prices are very reasonable. You can get everything from a small taco to a huge burrito. All there food seems to be more on the health side then u would normally think for a Mexican restaurant. I would never hesitate to stop in for a bit.
(5)
Ophelia M.
Pollo Rey is a locally owned and operated Mexican Rotisserie in a prime downtown location. The inside is impeccably clean and I love the huge street side windows. The service was friendly and efficient. The food? *shrugs* Meh. It was by no means bad, but wasn't particularly memorable, either. I ordered their chicken quesadilla, which was just ok. The rotisserie roasted chicken it was filled with tasted like my Grandmama's Sunday roasted chicken. Which, while not bad...the fact is, my Grandmama was Irish, not Mexican. The whole experience didn't feel Mexican at all but rather...I don't know...American? The country music rockin' on their sound system only served to audibly reinforce the lack of Mexican flare. That said, the prices are incredibly reasonable (3 of us were fed, hydrated, and out the door for $26) and if you work downtown, the speed of service would make this an attractive quick lunch option. Other notes: If you want sour cream with your meal, you need to order it (and pay extra for it, which isn't a huge deal given their prices are so reasonable to begin with--but I didn't realize it before getting my food and had to go back up to order the sour cream separately--so a good thing to know going in).
(3)
Chris O.
I was so excited to try Pollo Rey's fish tacos! With the four star average they currently have, I had high hopes of having a very good, even great, dining experience. Unfortunately, it stopped at A-OK. And that's only because the fish tacos were pretty dang good. Unfortunately the beans and rice were not... the rice was dry and the beans were bland. Not at all what I was expecting from a place that currently rocks a four star average. But... I'd probably go back because I did love the fish tacos!
(3)
Carl H.
Though we enjoyed our meal overall, it was a shame that we were made to wait 20 minutes for a table even though reservations were made well in advance.
(4)
Dee O.
Pollo Rey has been a staple joint in my life for years; it is always exactly what I crave when I crave it and the quality never changes. I always get nachos so I can't speak to any of their other fare, but the nachos are so damn good I don't want to try anything else! The price is outstanding for how much you get and you can always add jalapenos from the side salsa bar for some spice. Otherwise they use enough cheese, strong chips, sour cream, guac, and pico to form an amazing mixture of yum. The location is very nice for people watching in or outside, and after my friends and I usually float on over for some coffee or for a cocktail. The restaurant is clean and bright, the staff is always friendly and the service is very fast!
(5)
Travis F.
Everything is great here. If you've never been, do one of their signature burritos. I suggest pollo. If you've been here before, I suggest carne asada nachos. Delicious and huge.
(5)
Travis S.
Great cheap and healthy lunch. Fresh and fast. Dependable. Arte lunch there regularly for years (9?). Introduced my younger sister to the place. She ate lunch there regularly for years also (neither one of us live there any more). Solid.
(4)
Steve W.
I've been coming to Pollo Rey for years, and it's always been delicious. Mexican on my mom's side, PR reminds me of the food my grandma always made, very simple, fresh, and delish. You won't find anything made out of Doritos here, no faux-mexican foods, just fresh, simple, satisfying fare. The carne asada burrito is my favorite. Carne asada, pinto beans, and rice (I hold the salsa). The chico (small) size is plenty, and the burritos come with a side of chips (there is a salsa bar with plenty of choices). One of my favorite things about Pollo Rey is the location. Right on the corner of 8th and Idaho, the outdoor seating is a prime people watching location! Come with friends, hang out for a while, and enjoy the atmosphere of downtown Boise!
(5)
Nicole R.
Normally love Pollo Rey, go there all the time and they have the best fish burrito in town, but eating there tonight I was very disappointed. The workers were not great, the cook didn't yell out our number very loud, if at all, so we didn't hear when our meal was called and had to go up and check if it was ready, and the cook did not prepare my fish burrito like it has ALWAYS been prepared before, barley any fish and no sauce at all, and the sauce is the best part, and also didn't give as many chips as normally come with the the burritos. Very bummed because I love this place.
(1)
Meghan H.
Stopped in here for some quick, cheap Mexican. I got a quesadilla, chips & a strawberry margarita. It was good and for the price I can't complain, but it wasn't anything special.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : No Waiter Service : No 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.
Ellen D.
I can't comment on their food overall, because I always get the fish burrito. It is the most delicious fish burrito, hands down, I have ever had. It has fresh off the grill seasoned fish, cabbage, chipotle sauce, cilantro, and warm flavorful rice. The green salsa they make is spicy and loaded with cilantro and it goes perfectly with the fish burrito. I would definitely recommend coming during the weekday around lunchtime when the veteran cooks are there. The weekend crew doesn't make the same delicious burrito.
(5)Jonathan D.
Fish burritos are the best, imo! Can get quite a long line during lunch but don't let that intimidate you-they get through it very quickly. Not the best burrito in the world but very good and they are made with consistancy, every experience should be about the same.
(3)Nicole D.
Pollo Rey is my go-to place for Mexican salads -- I have their roasted chicken salad about once a week because its quick and healthy, two things that are somewhat difficult to find in downtown Boise on your lunch hour. The only other thing I've eaten there is the nachos which are good but pretty greasy with the massive amounts of cheese (which for some is a plus). The salsa is pretty good, but I'm not a fan of their guacamole.
(4)Oswald C.
The only non fast food place in Boise where you can get a full lunch for under $5. I usually get a chicken soft taco with black beans and rice which comes out to $4.24! I'm a big eater and this fills me up every time. I'm always shocked by how cheap this huge meal is every time I order it. It's as if I've found some kind of loophole in the food to price ratio of Boise restaurants.
(4)Dustin C.
My wife and I ate dinner here on a Wednesday night. There was plenty of room to sit in the restaurant. The burritos are huge. They also offer a stuffed potato. The kitchen prep area is open for customers to watch, everything is cooked up front, fun to watch if you don't yet have a table or to-go order. My chicken burrito was very tasty (and came with a hand full of chips). It was too large to eat by hand (probably intended to be eaten by hand), so I used a knife and fork. The burrito was too juicy for the paper lining of the tray and I probably ate some paper (there was some missing). I asked for a plate and transfer the burrito to a plate. Much better set up. A very hearty meal that kept me full all night. Great place on a great street corner to watch outside activity. Nothing special about the food, service, dinning room, or overall experience.
(4)Frederic B.
Had the Carne Asada Burrito. Very good food for a fast food. Little spicy and had a great pico de gallo. Service was fast and friendly. Great place for a quick Burrito and a Dos Equis. Overall experience was muy bueno!
(4)Whitney S.
OMG delicious. I forgot about this place on 8th, until a lazy Sunday produced a craving for fish tacos - so what did we do? We hopped on the scooter and made a date out of our quest to satiate the fish taco void in our lives! We scooted over the 13th Street Bar and Grill thinking they would have them for sure, but to no avail. Someone there told us Sunray Cafe across the street had them so we walked over, but again, no fish tacos! We knew Matador would have them, but being in the cheap-o mood we were in, we didn't want to pay $12 for 2 tacos + tip so we thought, "Why not try Pollo Rey? We haven't been here in forever!" That we did. And we got two fish tacos each with chips and salsa, plus tons of fresh cabbage and pico de gallo. All for about $13 :) We sat out on the patio under the umbrellas and people watched for about 45 minutes until it started drizzling. Since we were scooting, we thought we'd better make a dash for home before we spent another $13 eating indoors because of the weather! I'm all about fresh, cheap and delicious when a craving hits (without lowering my standards and hitting up Del Taco)... so Pollo Rey, I'm coming back again and again to your clean, fast, fresh establishment! My apologies for forgetting about you since we frequent 8th street more than we'd like to admit. :)
(4)Twosox S.
Mediocre food, burrito was mainly rice and beans. Good fish tacos though and the salsas are decent. This place benefits from the location. Agreed, no flavor and no originality.
(3)Paul H.
I absolutely love the fish tacos here. Being from SoCal, I knew that moving up here would likely mean I would not find a good fish taco. I found this place and it has been a favorite since. My wife and I always get a fish burrito and two tacos and eat one taco each and split the burrito. Grilled Tilapia and their chipotle sauce is an amazing combo!
(5)David F.
I should probably lower this to 3 stars (I'm really stingy with my stars) because I have eaten there so much I have burned out on it. I used to work across the street and each fish tacos like there was no manana. They are still my favorite item on the menu. My friend gave me the idea to branch out and get the chicken burrito with BBQ sauce. I just couldn't do it the last time I was here. The veggie burrito is a good selection. The veggies are diced and sauteed a little but not too much to the point of being mushy. Salsa's are fresh - especially the spicy tomatillo verde.
(4)Janet D.
A great place to stop for a quick & casual meal. Their addition of sauteed veggies in the tacos is right up my alley...I love little unique additions to a usually straightforward dish. They nailed it with the veggies. Good chips...fresh & crispy. Definitely eat on the patio and people watch in downtown Boise.
(4)Sarah F.
If you like humongous Burritos stuffed with chicken, rice, cheese and beans....this is your place!! The owner has accomplished having a very successful business with a fantastic concept. The service is usually fast even when the line is outrageously long!! I miss this place! they should expand to other states! The chicken is flavorful and juicy and I love the fact you can have a Papa Pollo (potato with chicken) or a Pollo Burrito or get a dinner for yourself or your entire family! YAY for Pollo Rey!!
(5)Shayna W.
This is my favorite burrito in Boise. The nachos are really good also and the fish tacos are good if they're freshly made. Good sized portions, quick service (even during lunch time week day rush) and a clean place.
(4)Andrew B.
Not bad, good burrito and tacos! Love how they put green onions on the red salsa!
(4)Jessica H.
I used to go to this place all of the time in high school and I haven't been there in a few years but I assume they still serve good food because they are still in business and I always see people eating there. This is not really the place to go for authentic mexican, but they do a good job of cali/american/mexican food. They have really good cheesy gooey quesadillas. They also sell baked potatoes stuffed with an assortment of meat and veggies and cheese and stuff. I would recommend getting one of those because it's kind of different and always good. The atmosphere is really relaxed, you order and pay at the counter and then they call out your number. The service has always been really fast for me. There is also a nice patio facing 8th street if the weather is nice.
(3)Rob S.
This is one of the first places I ever ate in boise and it has been a staple in my diet ever since. Everytime I go there food is always fast and very good and prices are very reasonable. You can get everything from a small taco to a huge burrito. All there food seems to be more on the health side then u would normally think for a Mexican restaurant. I would never hesitate to stop in for a bit.
(5)Ophelia M.
Pollo Rey is a locally owned and operated Mexican Rotisserie in a prime downtown location. The inside is impeccably clean and I love the huge street side windows. The service was friendly and efficient. The food? *shrugs* Meh. It was by no means bad, but wasn't particularly memorable, either. I ordered their chicken quesadilla, which was just ok. The rotisserie roasted chicken it was filled with tasted like my Grandmama's Sunday roasted chicken. Which, while not bad...the fact is, my Grandmama was Irish, not Mexican. The whole experience didn't feel Mexican at all but rather...I don't know...American? The country music rockin' on their sound system only served to audibly reinforce the lack of Mexican flare. That said, the prices are incredibly reasonable (3 of us were fed, hydrated, and out the door for $26) and if you work downtown, the speed of service would make this an attractive quick lunch option. Other notes: If you want sour cream with your meal, you need to order it (and pay extra for it, which isn't a huge deal given their prices are so reasonable to begin with--but I didn't realize it before getting my food and had to go back up to order the sour cream separately--so a good thing to know going in).
(3)Chris O.
I was so excited to try Pollo Rey's fish tacos! With the four star average they currently have, I had high hopes of having a very good, even great, dining experience. Unfortunately, it stopped at A-OK. And that's only because the fish tacos were pretty dang good. Unfortunately the beans and rice were not... the rice was dry and the beans were bland. Not at all what I was expecting from a place that currently rocks a four star average. But... I'd probably go back because I did love the fish tacos!
(3)Carl H.
Though we enjoyed our meal overall, it was a shame that we were made to wait 20 minutes for a table even though reservations were made well in advance.
(4)Dee O.
Pollo Rey has been a staple joint in my life for years; it is always exactly what I crave when I crave it and the quality never changes. I always get nachos so I can't speak to any of their other fare, but the nachos are so damn good I don't want to try anything else! The price is outstanding for how much you get and you can always add jalapenos from the side salsa bar for some spice. Otherwise they use enough cheese, strong chips, sour cream, guac, and pico to form an amazing mixture of yum. The location is very nice for people watching in or outside, and after my friends and I usually float on over for some coffee or for a cocktail. The restaurant is clean and bright, the staff is always friendly and the service is very fast!
(5)Travis F.
Everything is great here. If you've never been, do one of their signature burritos. I suggest pollo. If you've been here before, I suggest carne asada nachos. Delicious and huge.
(5)Travis S.
Great cheap and healthy lunch. Fresh and fast. Dependable. Arte lunch there regularly for years (9?). Introduced my younger sister to the place. She ate lunch there regularly for years also (neither one of us live there any more). Solid.
(4)Steve W.
I've been coming to Pollo Rey for years, and it's always been delicious. Mexican on my mom's side, PR reminds me of the food my grandma always made, very simple, fresh, and delish. You won't find anything made out of Doritos here, no faux-mexican foods, just fresh, simple, satisfying fare. The carne asada burrito is my favorite. Carne asada, pinto beans, and rice (I hold the salsa). The chico (small) size is plenty, and the burritos come with a side of chips (there is a salsa bar with plenty of choices). One of my favorite things about Pollo Rey is the location. Right on the corner of 8th and Idaho, the outdoor seating is a prime people watching location! Come with friends, hang out for a while, and enjoy the atmosphere of downtown Boise!
(5)Nicole R.
Normally love Pollo Rey, go there all the time and they have the best fish burrito in town, but eating there tonight I was very disappointed. The workers were not great, the cook didn't yell out our number very loud, if at all, so we didn't hear when our meal was called and had to go up and check if it was ready, and the cook did not prepare my fish burrito like it has ALWAYS been prepared before, barley any fish and no sauce at all, and the sauce is the best part, and also didn't give as many chips as normally come with the the burritos. Very bummed because I love this place.
(1)Meghan H.
Stopped in here for some quick, cheap Mexican. I got a quesadilla, chips & a strawberry margarita. It was good and for the price I can't complain, but it wasn't anything special.
(3)