Tortas Ahogadas El Rey — Restaurant in El Monte

This place was incredible. After visiting Guadalajara and falling in love with the food I have searched for somewhere that comes in as even a distant second. That has lead me to try some pretty underwhelming tortas ahogadas and Carne en su jugo.

I was expecting diner vibes (think your drive thru mom and pop burger joints) and while you do order at a counter the place is well designed, incredibly clean and food is brought to your table as opposed to a number being screamed at you.

I dined with my husband (who lived in Guadalajara for many years) and my young kids. Everyone was happy with their selection and we did a lot of mixing and matching between plates. I am happy to report that I have finally found a place I would enthusiastically return to for authentic Mexican food. It all came out hot, everything tasted made to order, and homemade. The flavors and ingredients were incredible down to the perfectly charred onion and jalapeños on the side. The prices were incredibly reasonable and gave us the ability to order some additional items we wouldn't have otherwise tried. An absolute find!!

The only downside is that writing this review is...

MÉXICO 🇲🇽 (Jalisco) Eat the World LA review: In a fun building that has seen two burger joints close in the past ten years, Tortas Ahogadas El Rey has decided to expand to their third location. After two locations in Southeast Los Angeles, Lynwood and Huntington Park, this El Monte branch will seek a different customer base in the San Gabriel Valley.

Inside, the furniture immediately transports you back to Guadalajara. The dining room may still have the bones of a burger joint, but within that it feels 100% Tapatío. The tables and chairs are exactly like those in the good tortas ahogadas restaurants we dined at, comfortable and high-backed, ready for a long stint eating and drinking into the night like at personal favorite Ahogadalajara.

Extremely happy to have so many folks from Jalisco in and around Los Angeles, making the foods from one of the most delicious of Mexican states, on this night we came for the carne en su jugo ($9.99), another Tapatío specialty very specific to Guadalajara. The always praised tortas ahogadas are obviously worth an order as well if it is...

For "Employee Appreciation Week" we placed an order of 120 tacos, 40 chicharron, 40 beans, 50 potatoe on Wednesday afternoon to pick up Thursday morning at 10:30am as our employees take lunch at 11am. We were confirmed, lady said to pay when we pick up. All was set up. When our Rep arrived to pick up the order, to our surprise, at 10:15 am he was told that they didn't have our order, he waited for over an hour, they didn't have potatoes, so we got stuck with 60 bean and 60 chicharron tacos, our employees had to eat late, and rushed, some couldn't eat meat and had been looking forward to the potatoe ones. The tacos, perhaps because they were made in a rush were not great. Ok but not wowed. Highly disappointed in the unprofessionalism, poor service and quality. We will NEVER be returning...