Mexican-inspired, locally sourced fare with plenty of vegetarian picks in funky, hip surrounds.
Kam Smash
An absolutely phenomenal experience, maybe the time I spent on the West Coast hit the nostalgia but this place checked all the boxes (ignore the politics, San Diego is a fun town). Let’s start with the vibe – cozy but a split of outdoor and indoor seating pairs well with a decorative style that takes you back to the 80s. The food – several different options from apps to platters to burritos to tacos. The house salsa has a unique flavor profile derived from Chile de Arbol. I went with the OG burrito with barbacoa as the special and the perfectly melted cheese compliments the slow cooked meat perfectly. The specials rotate daily and are worth checking out. The beer menu has a good selection of the usual suspects paired with some varieties sure to satisfy any pallete. Finally, service was TOP notch. Our server was Kyran and we received an answer to every question paired with recommendations that were spot on. Big take away is that the vibe is dope, the service is prime, and the food is satisfying.
… moreChris Hall
I had really high hopes for this spot. Overall, it was definitely worth trying, but not sure I’d make it a point to go again. The atmosphere had a unique vibe, it’s a smaller restaurant, not a lot of seating so a party of 5 had to wait about 40 minutes. Everyone was friendly, but the service was a little on the slow side. For the food, you are definitely not getting traditional Mexican food, but my burrito was tasty for the price. The beer list was rather extensive and they offer tequila flights.
… moreHeather P
I had a very different experience than most reviewers. First, the atmosphere is great. I loved the shady outside area to include koi fish, although there was an annoyingly loud outside fan.
Second, our service was great in that it was fast and responsive. However, they brought out our main course when we had barely started on our appetizer, which meant our food was going to get cold. Our waitress said she would remake the food, which seemed highly wasteful and made me feel guilty. I’m not sure if she actually did remake it or if she just set it under a hot light. Unless a customer asks for items to be served together, it is terrible service to bring them this way.
Finally, maybe it is because I grew up in Texas, but I don’t see this food as anything authentic or high end or even that great. The queso sounded good on paper but it had a weird texture and was more cheddary than queso blanco. The fajitas were also quite boring. Fajita meat should consist of skirt steak. The tortillas were also quite meh.
… moreAndré M
Fantastic, healthy meal. I was attracted to the fact that they have both tofu and tempeh as protein options. I ordered the Platter with tempeh and it was so good and healthy. It came with sweet potatoes, black beans, rice and guacamole. Yum!! Look how great it looks in that picture.
… moreScott Burbank
I visited El Rey yesterday before an event that was in the area. There was over an hour wait for the first available table but I got lucky and was able to grab two seats at the bar within 5 minutes. They serve one of the best margaritas I have ever had and they have a great drink menu. I ordered 2 street tacos, chips and queso and my only complaint was that I told them that I was allergic to onions and asked to make sure none would be included with my meal. They had onions in their pico de Gallo and were going to leave that off but forgot. It was a busy night so I just dealt with it and the sweet potato street taco was fabulous. I would not have waited an hour so I am glad I was able to sit at the bar, this is definitely one of the better places to eat in Montgomery.
… moreDoctor Chynna
Randomly in town and found this spot. Food was bomb! Service was great! Peach margarita was 10/10! Nachos could feed 3! Multiple tasty salsas. Entrance a bit hidden with trees but they have a funky light arrow situation by the entrance.
… moreCoty Hall
A staple of Old Cloverdale, the burrito lounge is a unique but high end take on Tex Mex. Lots of great drinks, and flavors. The rustic outdoor seating can be great at the right times but can occasionally disappoint depending on weather and lighting. This explains the flash needed to photograph my plate. Glad it’s been successful for as long as it has and wish then many many more years
… moreLauren Parks
We had some fantastic food last weekend. Burrito, a mix of tacos, roasted corn, a mix of chips and dips, margaritas, and tres leches cake!! The bartender knows their stuff and everything was seasoned very well. My favorite was actually the sweet potato taco. It’s so good and the goat cheese is a nice addition. Service was also really good as well.
… moreMatthew Voke
I love this place.
Great vibe, always awesome service. They have a great beer selection. The food is good.
The wait can get pretty crazy on the weekend and with large SOS parties.
The reliability of a good place with good food and good service in Montgomery can be a challenge, but El Rey pulls it off.
Keep up the good work, guys.
… moreAmina Lynch
The catfish and cabbage tacos were amazing! I had a raspberry and a peach margarita which were good but didn’t taste strong at all. Customer service was good and although we sat inside, the patio looked fun and relaxing.
… more