Ray Taqueria on Washington Avenue in Houston (actually El Rey Taqueria at 910 Shepherd Dr, right in the Washington Corridor/Rice Military area) is a convenient spot for quick Cuban and Mexican eats. I tried their Cuban sandwich, and honestly, it was pretty subpar. The lack of mustard and minimal cheese made the whole thing feel dry and basically tasteless--missing that classic tangy, melty vibe you expect from a good Cubano. If you're specifically craving great Cuban food, I'd recommend looking elsewhere in the city for something more authentic and flavorful. On the plus side, parking is available with a private lot, and it's usually not too bad since it's in a shopping area with other businesses around (though it can get busy and congested at peak times). The location is easy to get to along the Washington Avenue strip. Solid for tacos or something basic, but not a standout for Cuban sandwiches. read more

El Rey Taqueria - Cuban Sandwich - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

I frequent El Ray at least once a week. As busy as Washington Ave is there are only 1 or 2 taco trucks on the road. But El Rey is RIGHT HERE with some ELITE Mexican Cuban cuisine. I'm just getting home from a 16 hour shift and can't see straight because I'm so tired. I wanted a taco. I didn't want to stop at one of the 2 taco trucks. I ordered the shrimp taco. And. Oh. Mah. GAWD. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Full of flavor profiles from savory w/ a lil pop of sweet. On flour tortilla. Nothing added because nothing extra was needed. I stop here often for chicken, plantains, tacos, and the Cuban plates. There is plenty of Mexican in Houston. There's nothing like El Rey's Cuban Mexican. I love yall. read more

I am a loyal customer to El Rey for their breakfast food. I love the Cuban breakfast taco, Cuban breakfast burrito, and their coffee. I've been going every Saturday! read more

El Rey Taqueria - Breakfast tacos - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

I thought this place looked nice with great vibes, but the food was a disappointment. I got the carnitas taco and el rey (grilled fish) taco. The carnitas were hard, stringy, and were not enjoyable to eat. The fish taco was better, but it was just okay. The salsas they provided did not have a good flavour either. The prices were cheap, but the tacos were very lackluster. read more

El Rey Taqueria - Carnitas Taco, El Rey Taco (Grilled Fish), Three Amigos - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is one of my favorite casual joints. It is the only Cuban Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. They have very good coffee. Fresh squeezed orange juice and other juices. The best rotisserie chicken in town. I get mine with black beans and rice. They also put plantains on the plate. Ro Tey is the KING of Cuban / Mexican fusion. Real Mexican tortillas, fresh squeezed OJ, cantaloupe juice, Cuban coffee, Cuban and Mexican classics. I usually get the Cuban rotisserie flame cooked chicken, black beans and rice. I am sure the Mexican food is very good. I've just never tried it. This is a step up from fast food, although counter ordering and speedy service is fast food like. The food here is better than any fast food and most proper sit down restaurants. read more

El Rey Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This place has always been a staple for me through my 20s and 30s, especially for post bars / late-night eats.. This location in particular remains a favorite.. I've brought friends, out-of-town guests, and family here over the years. The menu is pretty diverse, with your standard tacos, burritos, tortas, plates, and even breakfast options! My go-to order typically is the Three Amigos (Any three tacos with rice and beans). Good portions and a nice variety.. You can't go wrong with a Cuban taco (love the plantains), but I've consistently gone back to the El Rey fish taco over the years. The fajitas and ropa vieja are also solid choices. Back in the day, I used to get their rotisserie chicken deal, which came with beans and rice and was a ton of food. (I've also tried their Kale salad at one point which was also surprisingly good) It's a very busy corner, so parking can get congested, even with the drive-thru. That said, service is usually fairly efficient with a bit of a wait. Prices have gone up like everything else over the past few years, but the quality has stayed solid. Still a great option if you're craving Cuban-Mexican fusion. Also checkout their happy hour on margs and beers. read more

I've been coming to this location for 25 years! I moved away. Now I'm back. I didn't do food reviews back then. So I am 25 years past due. I don't see how this place has so many bad reviews. The food is simply amazing! Food: the ropa vieja taco is top notch! So is the beef fajita. The carnitas wasn't that good. Everything was fresh! The customer service was great! I'll definitely start coming back here again, now that I'm back in the area. I'll be back asap! read more

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Any time I'm remotely close to El Rey, I order one of their chickens to go with Black Beans White rice and homemade tortillas. It's a typical Cuban meal that's outstanding, and I'm an expert since I have led photo tours to Cuba nine times since 2011. You can take it to the bank!!! read more

In my opinion... Tres leches 2/5 too much leches Ropa vieja 4/5 a little dry Havana Plate 5/5 so yummy We stopped in around 7pm on a Tuesday and service was extremely fast. Portions weren't gigantic like you would expect from most "taquerias" but for the area I think it's a great value for the price. We will be back but not for the tres leches. read more

El Rey Taqueria - 37. Havana Plate - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

The breakfast tacos at El Rey were excellent. They have a large variety of breakfast tacos as well as other lunch and dinner options all at a reasonable price. The thing I most noticed about the tacos were that they felt very fresh. I will definitely be coming back here to try more items on the menu. read more

El Rey Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food is great and the prices are cheap. My wife loves the chicken tortilla soup and I love the chicken fajita tacos. Service is friendly in a quiet way. They mostly do drive through. read more

I just got a text... I think delicious used to be the case... but the last two times were sub-standard... dry chicken and sloppy presentation So no more visits for a while. You need to up your quality read more

Cuban night! El Rey is a great FAST spot to grab some good food. I did the Havana Plate tonight with a small cantaloupe juice. The Havana plate is a pork dish full of flavor. And I never forget to order the cantaloupe juice. It is so good and refreshing. read more

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The location is great for a quick bite for a night out. It was easy to walk in and quick to get food. I had a quesadilla and I had no complaints. It's not high end Mexican food which I would expect it to be. The price was a little high but I kind of understand because of the prime location. Rent can't be cheap there. I would go back. read more

El Rey Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This place sucks! Incredibly slow service, and they ran out of rotisserie chicken. What a dump! Avoid this place.

The food is amazing!!!! As long as you don't mind the register ladies looking at you like you slapped them in the face. The rest of the staff was very helpful and kind read more

I will always be a sucker for El Rey. Love everything from their tortas to the Cuban tacos. The Cuban tacos in all forms are my favorite. Personally anything with plantains will always be my options. The counter service at this location typically moves fairly fast. I wouldn't recommend going to hang out for a long time since there is simply not enough room. There is nothing romantic about this place. However, it's good to stop in for some decent quick food. read more

I've been dining here for years. I love the food! Last night I left my bag hanging on my chair. I walked across the street and the staff tried to yell at me. I didn't see who was yelling. About 30 min later I walked back across the street to my car and they ran out saying "ma'am you left your bag!" They had it under the counter. So nice!!! I highly recommend this place. The staff are on top of it. Great management and ownership I'm sure! read more

Decent spot for Cuban/Mexican food but ultimately it felt a bit overpriced for the taste/quality. The tacos were pretty good although the Ropa Vieja stood out as the best, for sure (tried the Cuban, Al Pastor, and Grilled Shrimp). The Al Pastor and Grilled Shrimp felt a bit light on the toppings. Although the Cuban was my second favorite, the Ropa Vieja was the only one I'd order again. I wasn't super impressed with their Chicken Tortilla Soup (a lot of good reviews for it). It was just okay, in my opinion. Didn't love the jalapeños floating in it -- it could have used more flavor/seasoning instead. Overall, the price tags were heftier than anticipated and in my view, not quite worth it. read more

My favorite Stafford spot. Always get the chicken soup when I'm not feeling well and you can't beat the lunch special.

Paid $15.48 for ONLY 4 SMALL PIECES OF BEEF FAITA a #52. "MEXICAN Style": Giant Burrito mind you no sides and no drink which I didn't mind. IT WAS LITERALLY A RICE BURRITO that is it. Go to Bodegas in Med Center it's much better quality and ITS NOT A RICE BURRITO! Or even go to chipotle for the price! read more

El Rey Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food was great, service wasn't. Rude cashier through drive-thru and I had ordered the Cuban super torta- they forgot the top bun... read more

El Rey Taqueria - Super Cuban torta - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

I am obsessed with their chicken tortilla soup! Hands down the best I have had anywhere. It has the perfect amount of spice, broth, and delicious rotisserie chicken. I generally get mine via Uber Eats and they package the tortilla strips, cheese and avocado separately. I also order extra chicken to give me extra protein, so it's loaded with chicken. This is the perfect soup for a cold day or if you are feeling under the weather. I will start trying other things here but for now, this soup is everything! read more

El Rey Taqueria - Chicken tortilla soup - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

We were looking for a quick good lunch before a Astros game, meal was outstanding! I had shrimp tacos and a side of Mexican rice. Best rice I've had in forever! My son and husband had quesadillas, huge portions plus lots of sour cream and guacamole! This place is better than many sit down Mexican places! Try it! read more

I should have just stuck to Pho now I'm suffering a day later from eating tacos at this place. I haven't ate anything since due to upset stomach. I've been throwing up and having diarrhea. Feels like knots twisting in my stomach. Eat here at your own risk... read more

Food was pretty tasty and filling. The staff were very nice and kind. There was a lot of seating available, perfect to get quick bite to eat! read more

El Rey Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I love love love el rey. The food is always very fresh, prices are affordable, and the mexican-cuban fusion sets them apart in Houston. I've been here a bunch and my go to order is consistently the cuban taco, horchata, and chicken tortilla soup. The three taco plate combo is a great deal. Their cuban coffee is amazing as well. A great houston staple restaurant! read more

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Best sweet plantains in the area! It's hard not to eat the whole thing, but I try to share with my family. The chicken soup is the best in the city. read more

Breakfast taco this morning was delicious. I got the fajita beef and I think they used two eggs in my little bitty taco which was brimming. Lemonade was delicious too. Will be back. read more

El Rey had been on my bucket list for ages! Unfortunately, a recent evening order was a little more like El Principe than El Rey. The Chile Con Queso seemed like a spot on match for the Tostito's Queso I used to eat growing up. It also didn't come with chips, which was fine, but I'd that's the case please label your menu accordingly. The giant burrito was giant! I mean, this thing is massive. Easily two meals. I got the Mexicana aTaste was okay. It could have used more flavor, but admittedly, I didn't add any of the included salsas, so I will do that with my second half. El Rey wasn't bad but there wasn't a wow factor for me with the Mexican side of the menu. Will explore the Cuban side in the future and report back. read more

unimpressive flavor in the quesadilla. the chicken was not very good and the ratio of cheese was off. also was not very crispy.

I'm glad the awful traffic (from numerous road constructions on all the roads that led to this little shack) didn't deter us from finding them! Otherwise, we would've missed out on this truly unique Cuban food!! Hubby and I ordered the Cuban style chicken rotisserie. One kiddo ordered the Cuban sandwich, and another kiddo got the chicken enchilada. All are amazing! The chicken is super tender. It's just overall flavorful. I believe we will be coming back for more anytime soon! Service was great too. Food came out fairly quickly. To top it off, we tried their coffee and my goodness, that one packed a caffeine punch for sure! read more

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Solid and pretty decently priced. The drive thru was there when my husband and I had a super late dinner craving at 11 pm. The service was quick and the burritos were got were solid for the price. The green salsa we preferred and overall for the convenience and price - would go again! read more

great customer service from the team! even late night... the team was attentive and very friendly

Honestly, this taco joint really hits the spot. A Taco plate with a soup on the side was the perfect portion for two people. I honestly loved every single one of the tacos we ordered. However, I think the Ropa Vieja was my favorite. The Tortilla Soup is also quite nice and freshly prepared. However, I think the tacos really stole the show. The Horchata was also super great! - Ropa Vieja Taco - EI Rey Taco - Beef Cuban Taco - Tortilla Soup - Horchata read more

El Rey Taqueria - Ropa Vieja Taco, EI Rey Taco, Beef Cuban Taco, Tortilla Soup - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Over priced and cold food, meat is also not very well done. Got a parrillada and very small serving for 25.00 dollars.

food is delicious, staffs friendly we ordered lunch from our company occasionally. small restaurant but very inviting. read more

Got one of the cuban tortas. The torta was huge had a lot of meat and plantains paired well with it. It was pricey though for one sandwich, so not sure if it was worth the price. read more

This place rocks! Excellent baked chicken and Cuban or Mexican sides. Love this place... fast, fresh, healthy, solid. Clean and attenuated staff. Highly recommended read more

If Barbie's not in heaven, I'll follow her to HELL REY If she's in Philadelphia, I'm the Liberty BELL REY From the moment I saw her in Pittsburgh, I FELL REY And when we want late night tacos, we will go to EL REY When my hair looks frizzy, she douses me with GEL REY When my Toshiba was dying, she bought her dude a DELL REY Yes, she rents me out, but I doubt she'd ever SELL REY And when we want late night Cuban tacos, we hit EL REY She makes me lick her in weird places, but they never SMELL REY I do anything she wants, and always do it WELL REY In the midnight hour she cries MORE with a REBEL YELL REY And when we are done if we aren't sleeping, we hit EL REY There's more to this story but I don't want to kiss and TELL REY And she's making me get bigger muscles via BARBELL REY Maybe I'm Drake, cuz she used to call me on my CELL REY Now she just nudges me to take her out to EL REY WHAT This is an excellent Taqueria which isn't quite Mexican but isn't quite Tex-Mex, in fact it's more Cubex-Mex, if that's a thing (it is now). It has a strong Cuban flavor although Mexican is the underlying basis for a lot of the items here including the Cuban items. Their tacos are expensive but pretty special, with the ropa Vieja and the shrimp and fish topping the list of many very delicious tacos. They're not huge tacos but they're a little bit bigger than normal which somewhat justifies the price tag. Barbie absolutely loves the Tortilla soup, but only when the cheese is taken out of it because otherwise half the bowl is cheese, which seems very geared towards Caucasians and those with a few extra pounds. The soup without the cheese is actually quite tasty and has generous chunks of chicken in it. The chicken is a little dry but it's not bad. They have rotisserie chicken tacos too, among other great things. One of the best things about this El Rey is that is located in the middle of the SW District aka the Washington Heights district, which means you have plenty of late-night party people coming in here, but not as many as you would think considering some of the incredibly beautiful people just half a mile to the West from about 12am-2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a perfect late-night stop, and it's open late on many other nights too (though not as late), so come and give it a try. Another great benefit of this place is that they do not mind people coming in here late. So I would give the food somewhere between a 4 and a 5, and the prices are definitely more like a two or three, but when you add in how much Barbie loves it and how late they are open, I definitely have to go with a 5-star rating. Now I'm feeling sad and it's not even summer (so it's not summertime sadness), maybe it's because I'm so young and beautiful, so I'm going to ride another review while listening to the national anthem, after all I have a lust for life and for moving to the west coast, as opposed to most guys who have a lust for video games. So now I'm off to eat at Lana El Rey. read more

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