TAQUERIA EL REY, Helsinki - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews

Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?

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About

El Rey is a small and cozy Mexican Taquería in the heart of Helsinki. We offer authentic Mexican tacos and amazing artisanal cocktails in a trendy and relaxed atmosphere

CUISINES

Mexican, Latin, Contemporary, Street Food, Central American

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Table Service, Gift Cards Available

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4.0

154 reviews

Excellent

79

Very good

38

Average

17

Poor

12

Terrible

8

Kalevi K

14 contributions

Amazing!

Feb 2021 • none

Outstanding! Friday evening, without reservations (waited at the front door as they opened, lucky that they had a cancelation) Use their app to book a reservation, and use your QR code at the table to access their menu if you do not want a traditional menu. The waitress had started working their recently and had to refer to the manager for 1 out 30 questions (an off menu children menu dish). Otherwise she knew the menu and food by memory, she spoke perfect Finnish, English and Spanish, as did everyone there. Chef was perfect! Bartender made our drinks with special requests spot on. We ordered a children menu item, and their taster menu, 5- course menu -wow! We also ordered some side menu items. The attention to detail on the food is as beauty as the interior design of the restaurant. The whole experience is a little expensive, but the amount of food, taste and service is beyond the value. I would have liked to see a small servicing of their take on rice and beans served with all the main courses, and/or as well as a small salad... wish the place was open sooner during the days, after work for their homemade guacamole, beans and salsa and chips for happy-hour would be fun.

Written 28 February 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ed M

26 contributions

Excellent food and good service too

Jan 2020 • none

I have eaten in this establishment multiple times and I look forward to doing so in the future, the food is really very good and the staff are helpful. Just make sure to make a reservation since they tend to be fully booked. I've seen that some reviewers have complained about the price, but I find that it is well within the average of a good meal in Helsinki.

Written 12 January 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna

Finland20 contributions

Excellent Mexican, almost perfect

Oct 2020 • none

We came and there was not seat available so we got to seat at the bar. We ordered Tacos (Carnitas), tacos de Nopal, Margaritas (traditional) The bartender was nice, the waiters polite and the food was almost as good as in Mexico. We were positively surprise, the location in Annankatu is small but highly recommended if you want to taste real Mexican food

Written 28 February 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James M

Cannes38 contributions

Sour faced girl imbecilic waitress pathetic chef

Nov 2020 • none

We visited this place on the Friday.. the waitress was miserable but the food was great although very slow ! We were impressed, so we came back for a last meal just the two of us before leaving 😁 Utterly poor decision !! The miserable waitress had escalated from grumpy to angry and the food was total garbage!! I had to ask three times for chilli to spice up the pathetic lack lustre excuse for food they served us, the prawns were so over cooked that I could have used one to amputate my own hand had I known how badly I would regret eating the next several miserable courses !! The whole place stank of dirty oil and nasty fried food!! Which was mirrored by the disgusting taste of the fish tacos!! It was around here that we started to get annoyed with the terrible service and began to stack our used crockery and put it on the adjacent table rather than wait in front of dirty dishes for the arrogant lemon sucking miserable, disagreeable excuse for a waitress to wander over at her leisure and serve our next course of culinarily disrespected and utterly despicable filth. I’m even boring myself but I’m hanging in just long enough to explain that the beef brisket tacos were cooked for ten minutes not ten hours. Utterly inedible and just sinew and fat ! In short what T terrible terrible terrible attitude couple with the tasting menu from hell ! It is almost inconceivable that they got it so right three days earlier ( except the waitress, who’s miserable demeanour still makes me angry) I can only assume that they are either a. Underpaid and hate their jobs and the boss wasn’t there or they are just stunningly inadequate at their jobs and it was just a “ perfect storm” of ineptitude vs incompetence! FYI cocktails and the barman are both absolutely epic 🍸

Written 4 November 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LarrySpringhill

1 contribution

Low mediocre food

Jul 2020 • none

We had spend an evening with friends in el rey. Food took very long time, minced meat in tacos was not seasoned at all. 10 of us got the feeling that selling beer to us was more important than good food.

Written 2 July 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

erik w

Oslo5 contributions

Deceitful menu

Mar 2023 • family

The meny tricks you! My friend and I paid 49 Euro each for a tasting menu, and got HALF of what we would have if we ordered the same dishes seperately... i.ex in the tasting menu we got 1 bisteck con queso each , while we would have gotten 2 each if we ordered it seperatily. That means that we got 1 fish Taco each instead of 2, and that Wa for ever Main dish.

Written 10 March 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jussi P

Helsinki832 contributions

Perfect visit

Mar 2022 • none

Had amazing appetizers, very tasty fish tacos as main and some well thought and flavourful drinks. Drinks were expensive, but worth it. The dessert sorbet was pretty awful, so maybe don't have that, but another delicious drink! Anyway, pretty much everything was well made and it was obvious that they cared about their food and drinks very much.

Written 13 March 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna

Helsinki165 contributions

Poor service. Food doesn’t taste good

Oct 2021 • friends

I’m disappointed with the El Rey experience. Firstly, the staff is totally unfriendly. I’ve booked a table in advance. With that, there weren’t any issues. But I asked a waitress if we could change the table. We don’t like our table was in the middle of the restaurant and a lot of people were around us. To which she responded: “No because this table is for four persons but there are three of you”. The point is we also sat at the table for 4 🤷🏻‍♀ My friend and I’ve ordered ceviche de salmon. Both of us couldn’t finish it. It reminded a soup with an unbalanced taste but not ceviche. Margarita was good, in fairness. I’ve shared my experience with my followers on Instagram and have known from them a lot of Mexicans also don’t like this place. To sum up, the place is pricey, poor service and tasteless food. I don’t recommend this place. Next time I'd prefer another Mexican restaurant in Helsinki rather than El Rey 😔😔

Written 28 October 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Golden Mouth

Oslo23 contributions

Great taqueria with excellent fish tacos

Jun 2021 • couples

I had the Hibiscus Margarita, Fish tacos, carnitas and the meat. Margarita was excellent, served by a very friendly gentleman whom put his full attention and effort into the drink. Fish tacos are also top notch, nicely fried fish with a white sauce and carrot/cabbage slaw. The carnitas are decent, nothing special but not bad either, could use a bit more flavor and spice in the marinade. The beef is not that good, its one thick slice of meat on melted cheese, hard to chew and eat and not super tasty. However, the execution, drink and the fish tacos are that good that it still ends with a 4/5. Been there a couple of times and will go again.

Written 7 July 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cowboy888

Helsinki214 contributions

Not the same

Feb 2022 • couples

This has been one of my favorite restaurants in Helsinki, however it has changed. The menu is the same but the Mexican soul is gone from the food and drinks. The old staff has been replaced by young Finnish people and it shows. The bartender who used to shake your margarita with ice has been replaced by a young woman who pours margaritas production-style from a pitcher (it tastes like a mix, and not cold). I'm hoping this is temporary because El Rey was unique and very Mexican (not Tex-Mex).

Written 22 February 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Satuihminen

Lieksa62 contributions

Dinner

Oct 2022 • couples

Cosy and warm atmosphere. Super busy, at weekends table reservation is neccesary. The food was good mexican food, nothing special. Staff was friendly, but they seemed owerwhelmed. They were so busy that they didint have any time to recomend dishes, ask if we wanted more drinks or how was the food. We feld little bit rushed. Owerall diecent experience, but wouldnt go here again.

Written 28 October 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ville

Lempaala755 contributions

A Nice Mexican Dinner, Good Vegan Options

May 2023 • friends

The original El Rey unfortunately closed down some time ago, but this second restaurant of theirs has been operating since 2019. I finally had the chance to test it with my dear friends. We had their house-made totopos with excellent guacamole, and I had the vegan soft taco dish (grilled soy steak and pineapple). It was very good, and the side dressings added heat and tasty tomatillo flavour. I will definitely return to try their coconut ceviche!

Written 2 July 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

emka13

68 contributions

Good food, but was expecting for more taste

Dec 2021 • none

I visited the restaurant with a group of Friends on a Friday night. I had heard a lot of good feedback for the place, but I was a bit disappointed. The starters were great, I tried prawns and salmon ceviche, both tasted very good. The tacos we ordered for main courses weren't that great. They were good, but nothing exceptionally great. I was expecting for more taste. The service was ok and the restaurant was furnished very nicely, it felt like an authentic place. Unfortunately the smell of grease stuck on our clothes and it was awkward to go to a bar afterwards smelling like food. Anyway, I could consider going there again, but I would go for drinks and order some starter dishes.

Written 1 February 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sats71

Gurugram (Gurgaon)135 contributions

Not exactly what reviews make it look like !

Jun 2023 • couples

Had dinner here on 2nd June evening, after reading so many superb reviews. We ordered 2 dishes and both were simply tasteless. Our server was excellent and provided excellent service, but we simply did not enjoy the food and came home and ate dinner.

Written 4 June 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BoardingPass200986

2 contributions

Thank you for the wonderful tasting menu!

Aug 2020 • family

Really fresh food and wonderful Mexican tastes, like I never tasted before. My favorite was the fish tacos, ceviche and all the sauces full of flavors! Cool Mexican vibe in the restaurant and music. Really good service. Definitely coming back!!

Written 1 August 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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