30 minute wait to be seated even with a reservation. 2 hours for food to be served (after being quoted a 20 minute wait time) without silverware to eat it. 20 minutes to get a final check with an upcharge error. Underwhelming portion size and food quality, especially with numerous nearby Mexican restaurants in the area. Margarita tower was fun for our group but not worth it for anything other than the volume. Unfortunately squandering a great downtown spot, will not be going back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Yulia Kentieva
I should’ve read recent reviews before going there. It was bad. No AC and it’s 80+ degrees outside. We ended up cancelling our order cause they haven’t even started cooking it in an hour after we ordered it. They didn’t bring water although we asked. It was an absolute torture.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
monkey monk
Food was delicious and our waitress kadence was the sweetest most helpful ever. Keep her around forever!
Garret Lewis
The owner was extremely rude. Terrible
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sophia Artz
this has been the worst dining experience that i’ve had in columbia. it took me an hour to get my food, and when it came, my order was wrong. the food was not at all worth the price or wait and was some of the worst mexican food i’ve had. it then took them forever to get our checks, and they gave me the wrong receipt not once but twice. i was not the only person in my group with any of these issues. i have nothing positive to say about this restaurant. poor food and even poorer service. if you are looking for a good mexican place downtown, any of the other places nearby, which i’ve tried, would be a better choice.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
galin frye
Guacamole Mexicano is awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MS Green
Fajitas lunch was there meat in there???
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Lexie Koulou
I cannot express enough how unpleasant my experience was here. It was my first time and I came with an open mind, but had an extremely rude awakening by deciding to dine here this evening. From the start, we were treated poorly for having a large party, of which (majority) left because they were here for 15-20 minutes without receiving any service. The few of us that stayed, me included (unfortunately), ended up staying for 3 HOURS due to the fact that our drinks and food took that long combined. The service was awful, the food that we received long after we ordered was mediocre and tasted like it had been under a heater for quite awhile, the atmosphere was fine up until the music went from 0-100 in the matter of seconds and I couldn’t hear the person sitting directly next to me. Oh, and don’t let me forget about the fact that our server literally put her hand up (“??”) when we attempted to get our checks. The owner briefly checked on us towards the end so no disrespect towards him but overall terrible experience and I won’t be coming back. As someone in the industry, I’ve never tipped poorly in the slightest but this experience has pushed me over the EDGE. Proceed. With. Caution.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Benjamin Long
Have not eaten there, but a great atmosphere for a Latin dance night. Good drinks and a great DJ.
This restaurant illegally dumped a years worth of stored grease into community dumpsters downtown. This caused other local businesses to close and lose thousands of dollars because it’s an extremely unsafe biohazard. No one from El Rey has apologized.
jenna burk
Monday night several friends came for a birthday party. Four of us ordered shrimp tacos, and two ordered fish tacos. Even though the orders were incredibly easy, they brought out six fish tacos. We told the waitress it was wrong, but most of us decided that we were fine with fish tacos anyways. Except one, who said she still wanted the shrimp tacos. A day later everyone experienced food illness, except the one who got shrimp. Its especially annoying because most of us didn't even want fish to begin with, and now we have all had diarrhea all day. Plus the dang Queso was cold. I never leave reviews but this particularly sucked.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Em K.
obnoxiously loud. the music from this place literally keeps me up at night, there's absolutely no reason to be that disruptive at any time. even ear plugs aren't enough to block it out.
Livia Helms
El Rey was fantastic. The workers were so kind and the owner, Leo, was extremely personable. The food was also amazing, better than the other restaurants in the area. It is also a great place to practice your spanish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joan R.
Best place ever I've eaten so far here in Missouri. I've been here twice now and I'll always crave for their Chile relleno and BEST michilada. They also have good service. Definitely my GO TO place here in Columbia, MO
30 minute wait to be seated even with a reservation. 2 hours for food to be served (after being quoted a 20 minute wait time) without silverware to eat it. 20 minutes to get a final check with an upcharge error. Underwhelming portion size and food quality, especially with numerous nearby Mexican restaurants in the area. Margarita tower was fun for our group but not worth it for anything other than the volume. Unfortunately squandering a great downtown spot, will not be going back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
I should’ve read recent reviews before going there. It was bad. No AC and it’s 80+ degrees outside. We ended up cancelling our order cause they haven’t even started cooking it in an hour after we ordered it. They didn’t bring water although we asked. It was an absolute torture.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Food was delicious and our waitress kadence was the sweetest most helpful ever. Keep her around forever!
The owner was extremely rude. Terrible
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
this has been the worst dining experience that i’ve had in columbia. it took me an hour to get my food, and when it came, my order was wrong. the food was not at all worth the price or wait and was some of the worst mexican food i’ve had. it then took them forever to get our checks, and they gave me the wrong receipt not once but twice. i was not the only person in my group with any of these issues. i have nothing positive to say about this restaurant. poor food and even poorer service. if you are looking for a good mexican place downtown, any of the other places nearby, which i’ve tried, would be a better choice.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Guacamole Mexicano is awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fajitas lunch was there meat in there???
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I cannot express enough how unpleasant my experience was here. It was my first time and I came with an open mind, but had an extremely rude awakening by deciding to dine here this evening. From the start, we were treated poorly for having a large party, of which (majority) left because they were here for 15-20 minutes without receiving any service. The few of us that stayed, me included (unfortunately), ended up staying for 3 HOURS due to the fact that our drinks and food took that long combined. The service was awful, the food that we received long after we ordered was mediocre and tasted like it had been under a heater for quite awhile, the atmosphere was fine up until the music went from 0-100 in the matter of seconds and I couldn’t hear the person sitting directly next to me. Oh, and don’t let me forget about the fact that our server literally put her hand up (“??”) when we attempted to get our checks. The owner briefly checked on us towards the end so no disrespect towards him but overall terrible experience and I won’t be coming back. As someone in the industry, I’ve never tipped poorly in the slightest but this experience has pushed me over the EDGE. Proceed. With. Caution.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Have not eaten there, but a great atmosphere for a Latin dance night. Good drinks and a great DJ.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Huge portions, good music, hospitable!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This restaurant illegally dumped a years worth of stored grease into community dumpsters downtown. This caused other local businesses to close and lose thousands of dollars because it’s an extremely unsafe biohazard. No one from El Rey has apologized.
Monday night several friends came for a birthday party. Four of us ordered shrimp tacos, and two ordered fish tacos. Even though the orders were incredibly easy, they brought out six fish tacos. We told the waitress it was wrong, but most of us decided that we were fine with fish tacos anyways. Except one, who said she still wanted the shrimp tacos. A day later everyone experienced food illness, except the one who got shrimp. Its especially annoying because most of us didn't even want fish to begin with, and now we have all had diarrhea all day. Plus the dang Queso was cold. I never leave reviews but this particularly sucked.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
obnoxiously loud. the music from this place literally keeps me up at night, there's absolutely no reason to be that disruptive at any time. even ear plugs aren't enough to block it out.
El Rey was fantastic. The workers were so kind and the owner, Leo, was extremely personable. The food was also amazing, better than the other restaurants in the area. It is also a great place to practice your spanish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best place ever I've eaten so far here in Missouri. I've been here twice now and I'll always crave for their Chile relleno and BEST michilada. They also have good service. Definitely my GO TO place here in Columbia, MO