El Rey Mezcal Bar in Toronto

The best Micheladas and cocktails!!

Great staff, tacos and drinks. Worth coming over from Australia to try.

The food was good but over-priced. Service was excellent.

Best guacamole ever!

Jeremy always gives such great service and makes amazing cocktails!

I know Im a year late giving this review. It just randomly came to my mind outta nowhere, did I leave a review about El Ray? I went on October 10, 2023 for the first time and it was awesome. The crew members were very polite and friendly. The guacamole and chips and Baja fish tacos... Hallelujah! My taste buds were like praise the Lord I look to return again soon time. Shout out to El Rey.

They have the best micheladas

Great vibes and good service.

high quality service, people-watching, fair menu options. beware of their own orange hot sauce high Q/P

Great little spot with a no B.s menu thats straight to the point. Wonderful flavours and great service! Thebal pastor tacos were amazing and crispy squid tacos even better. Must try! Food

Fun place but expensive tacos. $15 and $19 ouch! $9 for less than a pint of beer wow. There are other taco cantinas in the area.

Amazing food and vibe

Seth Johnson bartender / actor improved experience to a 3. Otherwise, a non event. T O has better IMO

Great atmosphere and service was stellar! But not a great place for vegetarians. It had only one veggie option for taco: a mushroom one, and it didnt taste good at all for the price I paid. Guac and chips were great! Vegetarian options: Not good. Guac and chips are the best option but thats no dinner.

I love this place. Always have a good time with great food and service.

Great place for tacos and a drink. Try the margarita if you can.

Liked everything about this place but we had 3 tocos (2 tocos each), a little bowl of guacamole, and 3 cocktails and it came to 150 dollars with an 18% tip. It was too much money for the amount of food, drink, and service.

Really cool atmosphere at night. Great place for a date or hangout with friends. The service is good. One of the rare places out there that do not rush you with the bill. A quick guide for people who like to eat a lot like me : Prices are around 15$ for 2 tacos. Almost half the price you get at Campechano (13-15$/taco), but still higher than say Anejo s happy hour where tacos go for 4$.

Chicken tacos are literally the best Ive ever had, but 4 stars since margs could use some work :(

Solid 4 out of 5 which is a good score for me to give. Food very tasty. Ate inside and was quite dark.

Good food, good cocktails, reasonable price and a good atmosphere. One of the pearls in the area.

Cool vibes

We came here for a quick anniversary bite before heading to a TFC game. We made resos on Resy but got down to Kensington much sooner than anticipated and they gladly sat us. The inside was pretty dark so we opted for the patio which was a nice vibe. Service was excellent all around! I don t think I ve actually had a restaurant look at my Resy notes, but the hostess saw it was our anniversary and comped us a round of drinks. We got a steal my sunshine (super refreshing!) and an el Rey Paloma (delicious). We started with guac and chips which is a staple, and they topped up our chips free of charge. Loved the crispy onions. Our entrees were the birria quesadillas and al pastor tacos. Both stellar choices. The birria tacos came out so fast! They were great, meaty, and we could actually taste the lamb which was delicious! The al pastor tacos were perfectly grilled with a yummy pineapple relish with a bit of heat. We wanted to grab dessert there too but opted to go to super serve which I believe is their sister store around the corner which we frequent quite often. We ll definitely be back to try everything else, thank you for such a great anniversary dinner :) Dietary restrictions: They offer vegetarian, gluten free and vegan options. Parking: Kensington Market, few nearby lots, somewhat difficult to find paid street parking, lots of one ways here. El Rey is on the corner, try to take a streetcar

I went for dinner with my friend and the staff took amazing care of us. We were having dinner for a memorial so I requested a table that was tucked away, and the staff made it happen, but they also did a wonderful job of serving us with a lot of care and compassion on what was a pretty tough day. I am so grateful for the extra effort they put in. Also the food was amazing and the cocktails were really cool. I ended up not enjoying one of mine because I don t like rum and I didn t realize that s what I ordered - but our server noticed I hadn t had my drink and offered to comp it even though nothing was wrong with it, it was just a personal preference of mine. I appreciated their commitment to making sure we had a great experience!! 15/10 service!! Dietary restrictions: Lots of vegetarian and gluten free options!

Great little spot in Kensington, only issue we had was when the bill came its one bill so I paid it, them when we went to break down wjaz everyone owes me. We realized we were over charged and had $60 of stuff on our bill that we didnt order. I brought it up to the server. They took the bill and said hold on. I waited for about 20 minutes, and she finally came out and handed me the $62 and some change. All she said when she came back was Here you go. No apology for the error or anything. We still had a great time, but the servers response to the situation was just abysmal

Amazing food and service! Would highly recommend the chicken tinga tacos or the street corn!

Truly awful tacos. No seasoning, no taste. We could not even finish it. The atmosphere is cute though.

This is a nice place to come, especially if you want a chill patio during the warmer months. The birria quesadillas are really good. Also tried the fish taco. Overall pretty good food and some good cocktails as well. Guac and chips is really good but questionable portion for $14. it s not the cheapest place but I guess that s standard for most taco places

Go for the vibe and the ceviche!

Fantastic service, food and superb location!

Tuna Tostada and crispy squid tacos are amazing

This place is a guaranteed hit for a night out! The service is lightning-fast, and the cocktails are absolutely fantastic!

Used to be a fav date night spot. Now it just seems to have lost its flavour, service is slow when the resto is barely busy, drinks arent strong, food lacks flavour unless you use their house habenero sauce, Ill be goin elsewhere for tacos and margs after my last visit

El Rey I found wanting. $12 for a non-alcoholic cocktail seemed to be a bit much. The food was decent. The atmosphere was nice but those small stools with no back were not comfortable. Finally the service. Our server was not horrible. We had to flag down the server a few times and when we were ready to pay the server had hopped in a cab without saying anything. We had to flag down someone just to pay our bill.

Our favorite bar in Toronto! Best drink AKA Open Window and amazing food and services!

Food was really good, just small portions for the price.

Food tastes good, can t complain. But other than that it s totally overrated and overpriced. i would encourage passerby s to explore the rest of Kensington market for cheaper alternatives. For ~$15 you get a pair of small tacos fighting with each other in a small plate. It felt a bit like robbery to be honest. You get double the quantity at other places. And let s be frank here, it s pulled pork, and avocado in a taco not rocket science mind boggling cuisine. Oh yes, i forgot, that afternoon when we dropped by the 6 of us, not only did we feel rushed (as soon as we got the last bite, the plates disappeared right away ok), but we had to pay a 18% tip because we were 6 guests. Needless to say this added insults to injuries.

Food was great. Husband said the Birria tacos reminded him of his moms cooking. Photo: Birria tacos + Aguachiles.

el Rey s vibe and staff were everything me & my best friend were looking for! the decor, the service, and the food shout out to Jeremy, Lauren and Seth for being so kind and genuine to us!! as visitors to toronto the staff gave us recommendations of other fantastic establishments to check out. thank you again to them for making our experience so welcoming!

Dropped in for a couple of mezcals with friends. Very friendly, informative service, great selection, enjoyed the drinks and hanging out on the patio! A definite drop -by if youre inn the neighbourhood!

Excellent service, dude knew his stuff and was glad to help wall us through the tequila and mezcal menu. I wish we hadnt just had dinner because their menu items looked fantastic.

The patio is a MUST. Super cute and chill vibes. $10 margaritas on Tuesdays, which are great. I got the guac and chicken tacos which were unexpected: the chips were super thick and the tacos were very juicy. Great experience overall and the service was fast and nice. Ill be coming back.

They have really great drinks and the squid tacos are amazing! Just a warning that the place is wildly overpriced. The guac and chips are $13.95 and I was shocked to see it was the size of one half of a regular sized avocado worth of guac.

Nice location to make a little pit stop! Good food & service. FYI - small portions, so order plenty

Everything we Tried at El Rey El Rey, located in Kensington Market, is a mezcal bar with so many options the cocktails dont disappoint, and neither does the food! The menu is short, sweet, and delicious with traditional ingredients that provides so much flavour in every bite. The bars welcoming atmosphere is enhanced by raw brick arched doorways, terracotta accents, and pops of color throughout that create a fantastic rustic vibe. El Rey is a must-visit spot while exploring Kensingtons street art and quirky shops. $$ @melissa_foodie.fun

We showed up close to closing time for a bite to eat after a concert, and there were a few menu items that were unavailable because they d sold out. We almost left to go somewhere else, but I m glad we stayed. The tacos were great and despite being very busy, we enjoyed attentive and friendly service. Next time we ll stop in earlier in the evening!

Very cool place

Great cocktails and the tacos were generously loaded, with great flavors that we really enjoyed. I wasn t a fan of the squid tacos; they call them crispy squid tacos but they were rather grilled squid with a mushy sauce on them. The washroom unfortunately wasn t very clean, which was a bit disappointing

A cozy spot with amazing atmosphere and eye-catching decor! It was almost full when we arrived, but we managed to grab a spot at the bar - seating was comfortable. Our server was cold/distant when we first sat down and again when she asked about our drinks order. When it came time to order food and I shared certain dietary restrictions, she became more friendly and explained dish ingredients, answered all questions and got confirmation from the chef to accommodate where possible. The Guacamole & Chips appetizer was truly the best and most flavourful guac Ive ever tasted - loved the chips as well. I shared the Crispy Squid Tacos with a friend and we both were mind-blown. They were cooked to perfection and had incredible flavour! The Baja Fish Tacos were light and crispy, but lacked any flavour - definitely not worth the $15 price tag. My friends ordered the Al Pastor Tacos and Birria Quesadillas and both absolutely loved their food. Overall, I would consider coming back here to try out the patio in the summer, but everything was a bit pricey, so not top of the list.

Sat on the patio, nice little spot. Service was great but I have to say the tacos were just okay. Flavours werent great, kind of bland. Wouldnt recommend if youre looking for really good flavourful tacos. However, the guac and chips were great

Very pretty bar! Didn t make a reservation on a Friday night and got a seat at the bar for 2, they were quite busy but still attentive! Ordered two drinks - margarita with mezcal and a cocktail. Drinks were very good and quite strong without tasting it, worth the price.

Original and very pleasant in an unusual neighborhood. Tasty cocktails

We had a wonderful evening. The food is homemade and delicious, the cocktails are very good and the service is really top notch! Dietary restrictions: They take the trouble to ask about restrictions. In addition, the menu is designed so that several dishes are suitable for vegetarians, people with lactose and gluten intolerance.

make sure u specify alcohol free or else theyll add alcohol to a zero proof drink

The best tacos Ive ever had in my life. The guacamole was sensational

Cozy and good food with drinks.

Meat and vegetarian options. Excellent place for afternoon lunch or snack in Kensington Market area. Vegetarian options: Mushroom Quesadillas or tacos!

Love their drinks... done right #icecube food is tasty and staff is what makes this place #summer2024

The food here was really good. They have a small menu that is executed really well. Friendly wait staff, good service. Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly but definitely pet friendly

Tacos were amazing and cocktails as well.

Its OK, but the food is a bit tasteless. I could only taste the spice on the tacos and quesadillas, and the portion of guacamole is quite small. The staff were very nice, although at some point they took some of our plates when we werent done eating (as in one of us hadnt finished, so not very polite).

Omg the best tres leches I had.

Delicious! Great service, good vibes!

4.5 Great spot for a drink and some Mexican food. The drinks are great and they have an assortment of zero proof as well. Food was pretty good- some tacos were better than others. Service was awesome and the vibe is a lot of fun. Great for an early drink, a dinner, a late drink etc. can t go wrong. Vegetarian options: Lots of veg options!

The open windows was out of this world! So balanced so unique, do not forget to ask for the mezcal menus for some excellent sipping Mezcal! Will definitely stop by again any time in Kensington

The Negra model micheladas were amazing ...

The restaurant has a few tables inside to the left from the entrance and bar seating along the bar counter and the wall in the main area. Pretty cozy space-wise but didn t feel crowded when I went. The music is at a volume where you do have to project your voice. I had a reservation and when I was seated, I was told by the server that I had the table for only 1h 30min. Found that a bit odd because the usual is around 2 hours so felt a bit rushed and limited. Their mezcal is nice and smoky and they serve it with sliced cucumbers and some spiced salt. I had the Hands in the Garden cocktail as well which had a nice pandan flavour but was too sweet for my taste. Their guacamole and tortilla chips was good. The chips had a nice flavour and were crispy. The guacamole has crispy onions, radish, and pico de gallo. It s a nice snack if you just want something to nibble on while drinking and can tide you over if you re not too hungry. Also had their Tres Leches cake. This one took around 20 minutes or so to come, which was unfortunate considering the 1h 30m limit at our table that we were given. I don t imagine them doing much on this cake aside from plating it when it s ordered (it s completely cold). It was anyway pretty good and was moist. Had some nuts and berries on top so it had some crunchy texture and berries to give it some variation in taste. All in all, the experience was decent. I wouldn t mind returning if I m craving any of the mezcal and wouldn t mind trying their other food. I can t say I had an extraordinary experience compared to most other places I ve been to.

My partner and I went here last night for his birthday - he is a great cook, so the pressure is always on to find the right place! The food was amazing and we loved the atmosphere! Our server was friendly and efficient, a true professional! They have clearly labelled vegan/veg/gluten-free options. My partner really enjoyed their cocktails and the mocktails were the best I ve had in the city as they were thoughtfully prepared just as an alcoholic drink would be. We were told they make their juices and syrups in house which was very impressive! Highly recommend!

I loved this place. Awesome design, great service. The coctail with mezcal was top notch!

Small place. If you find seating youre set. Otherwise fantastic waiters and food and drinks. Cheers!

Cute environment, beautiful patio and delicious margaritas!!

Always an amazing experience here!...

Great spot. Cheap cocktails with good quality mezcal, well made. Recommend the Oaxaca old fashioned and on Tuesdays the discounted margs. Bartenders are knowledgeable and attentive. Bathrooms are wild

Expensive, mediocre service, they dont know what a quesadilla is.

Very cool vibe and atmosphere, inside and out. Food is good but not as good as other Mexican places that have more traditional Mexican food. They dont have many Mexican drinks or real Mexican food. Its just a normal bar. They have special prices for drinks. I went when the margaritas were 10 dollars. Not cheap but not expensive restaurant.

I m in love, I m obsessed.

Best michelada in my life

Nice place for cocktails but the food is puro white people tacos, que vienen sin salsa y limón. If cultural appropriation is a thing this place is nailing it. Go to el trompo or el pastorcito if you want real Mexican food.

Traditional Mexican cantina atmosphere. Good drinks and good food, not recommended for large groups of the patio is closed as it might get too tight or won t have space. Definitely comeback again to try more dishes as all of them are very good!

Love the micheladas

Great spot tasty drinks !

10 out of 10- will be back. Tried the guacamole, 3 diff types of tacos and an amazing mocktail. No hesitation, this place is going to the top of my list.

Margaritas are $10 on Tuesdays ! Great atmosphere and delicious Mexican food

Restaurant offers a delightful taste of Mexico with vibrant ambiance, mouthwatering fajitas, and impeccable service. A must-visit gem and highly recommend.

A place for good cocktails and snacks

This place was nice. Taco was delicious, the atmosphere was nice. Service was also best. But the one thing is that this place is quiet expensive.

Great food.

I am a fish taco connoisseur. I have had fish tacos at premier locations across all of North America and I can confidently say this; El Rey has the best fish tacos I have ever eaten. Each and every ingredient was so obviously given the love and attention required for near perfection, I have nothing to critique. The guacamole was similarly fantastic. Do yourself a favor and eat here.

Pastor tacos are tasty, good service and a nice environment.

Fantastic food and cocktails, Jess was so great!!

It was an after dinner event and rolled in here for drinks. Oh my, what a vibe. The atmosphere was nice and the drinks, amazing. Im going back for the tacos so look out for a second review.

Great squid tacos! Fun vibe!

The peeps working here are so easy and nice, Bartender is one of those pro guys, so sure of what he s doing, nice service decent drinks ..most importantly for me, dimmed lights and just the right ambience for a drink or three or Five out :) ;) ;) things don t have to be complicated!

Nice Mexican bar style restaurant with bar seating and a few tables. I liked the atmosphere. Dim lighting, easy on the eyes, not too loud. Service was quick and friendly. I tried the Birria quesadilla even though the last one I had wasnt great but the menu description sounded really good. Im glad I gave it another shot here. It was amazing. The meats were so tender and melted in your mouth. Good amount of spice and flavor from the consomme. Very impressed. I would come back just to have the Birria again but would love to try other items too.

Top tier taco fare. Gluten free and tastier than illegally hopping the American Canadian border going south to meet another illegal fence hopper and having them make you a meal out the back of a truck. Fun cocktails with a classic backbone. Amazing seating style, wrap around bar seating!! Great vibes. Perfect for a hot date or a hungover post date or lunch. Dietary restrictions: Gluten freeeee

Cozy atmosphere and yummy margaritas

Only came for drinks, but really liked the vibe. Cool, different, little spot.

they have the best cocktails!

A geltlemam from the place came out and asked me to smoke my pipe outside the patio.... Its OK.... Im bothering the people sitting outside, meaning go on the curve .... Look a the picture below. Sorry, you are of my list.

This is my fav spot in Kensington. Its usually packed but they have a waiting list that you can add your name too. But most times, I get lucky and find a spot within minutes. Now summer time might be another story. If you are looking for a quick bite/cocktail drinks with friends or even a romantic date, then this is the spot! Nice ambiance, good food and delicious cocktails. And forgot to mention, theres lots of free/paid parking around the area.

a hot bar

Food was decent. Gave 3 stars bc you pay $14+ for 2 tacos and zero sides.

Great place to spend time with friends on a weekend! Great selection of mezcal beverages

Came in for a drink but stayed for a few because of the atmosphere

Great outdoor bar area. Great service.

Good place

Horrible service and food. The waiter was rude, drinks never arrived and the mains were served 10 mn after the appetizers. It was so quick, we felt that we were being kicked out! Never again!

There s a waitress really mean, we wanted to order so we call her (waiting for her a long time) and she just said what s up?? With a mean face, if she don t want to work with a good attitude better get her another job. This happened tonight Friday 15th September at the patio. And btw she charged the tip at 18% like if she really deserved .

Nice people on the corner of Kensington Market, drinks are a bit expensive. I did not know mezcal was Smokey tasting, live and learn - I dont like Smokey drinks.

Love this place. Drinks on point.

A bit overpriced, but nice. Drinks are small, but good.

Food pricey but dam good.

Best tacos this side of California

Delicious Mexican food in the heart of Kensington Market.

I had this restaurant marked for some time to visit, and I finally did and loved the atmosphere and the food, particularly that it was not spicy at all, considering that this is a Mexican restaurant.

best Asada tacos I have ever had

Loved this. A lunch on a budget but food was amazing and drinks slapped.

The photo is the birria quesadilla, really good and try the Mexican coke, also my fav. During winter they have queso flameado in the menu that one is pretty good also.

Food is great, ambiance is nice, but they serve tap water and managed to screw up a 3 ingredient drink in 3 different ways. We likely got the same checked out waitress that a few other reviewers mention - luck of the draw Dietary restrictions: They don t do well with these. This is based on 2 separate visits. Plan accordingly

Food and drinks are amazing here. The non alcoholic michelada actually is one of my favorite drinks, and the squid tacos are super unique and worth a try. Service is amazing, Lance is the man.

Tacos and chips were great! The Mezcal Old Fashion is a must try!

The mescal cocktails are incredible. The Open Window cocktail was the highlight of all the cocktails I tried. I didnt have any food so I cant really comment on it. The patio was pumping and had a nice vibe. Overall I had a nice experience. My only caveat with this place is that the servers were pushy with the consumption. At least thats how it felt to me and my friends at the table

Solid 8/10. The fried onions on the guac tasted kind of weird but other than that, everything else was great. Quite pricey for the quantity but two tacos were surprisingly filling. Tres Leches was so good.

$10 margaritas on Tuesdays, need I say more?

Great tacos

Love their Mezcal Margarita

Chips and guac ratio was the best Ive ever had, perfectly balanced. Drinks were pretty good too.

Loved the place and the vibes. The Baja Fish Tacos were good but wish it came with more sauce in it. My favourite were the snack items, great with the drinks! Tips: You can get your Michelada with beer on request. It was

Asada tacos were hearty & delicious, and the open windows cocktail was hard to stop drinking! Love this place!

Chill atmosphere and good service. The Open Windows cocktail is always a treat

Cute little spot for a date or friends! It s not very big so beware if you have a larger group. The tacos were delicious but a bit on the pricey side. $15 for 2 tacos. Drinks were also good. Would come back!

Great atmosphere. Reminds me of Cortez in Williamsburg.

An amazing spot for a cute girls night!

Nailed it! El Rey Mezacal Bar served me a phenomenal bowl of Pozole and serviced me very well. The lighting and ambience is great, I went solo and felt so welcomed. It was mt first time in Toronto. Judging from the pictures, This place is top notch comida Mexicana! Ill be back this summer

Had a great time at El Rey with a group of friends. Food was quick and delicious. The drinks were super tasty! The highlight was definitely our server, Jazz. She made us feel so welcomed and engaged in some great chats with us. Will be back here soon.

Food is still as good as ever

Super duper tacos

Cool cozy bar. Very friendly atmosphere and friendly service staff. The old fashioned cocktail was very nice. Didnt get to try the food but maybe thats for the next time I visit!

guac and chips are the best!!

Terrific tacos...great margaritas and they had some Trust History pilsner on tap...love this place.

Margaritas are good

The portions are small.

Very delicious and good service:)