El Rey Navy Yard — Restaurant in Washington

A Hidden Gem in Navy Yard – El Rey Never Disappoints!

El Rey in Navy Yard is hands down one of my favorite spots in DC! From the moment you walk in, the vibrant atmosphere, colorful decor, and friendly staff make you feel like you’re in for something special — and they deliver every time.

The tacos are incredible — fresh, flavorful, and packed with bold, authentic taste. The carne asada and al pastor are must-tries, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with any option. Their chips and guacamole are the perfect starter, and the fried elote is out of this world.

If you’re into cocktails, the margaritas are top-notch — balanced, not too sweet, and made with quality tequila. They also have a great selection of beers and fun frozen drinks that are perfect for hot DC days.

The outdoor seating is ideal for people-watching and enjoying the energy of the Navy Yard neighborhood. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite before a Nats game or meeting friends for a relaxed dinner, El Rey is the kind of place that always hits the spot.

Highly recommend this spot if you’re in the area — great food, fun vibes, and consistently excellent service. I’ll definitely be back...

Worst experience I’ve ever had in a restaurant in many years…. They were completely understaffed. My food came out an hour (43 min) before my dates food came out ….once his food came out the food runner said that his food had just been sitting on the counter for a long time so he felt bad and brought it out to us… it is crazy to me that I did not get offered water at all. I had to go up to the bar and ask someone to bring me water multiple times . It was not until 22 minutes later that someone actually brought a water. When I first arrived I was told to go sit at any open chair I could find so we sat at the dirty table, which was not clean for a good 20 minutes. I’m honestly very disappointed especially as a Google reviewer/Local food influencer consider going to another Mexican option like El Bebe or Agua 301 where the pricing is better, menu is more extensive, portion sizes are more elaborate, and the service is...

I was so excited to come here and try the new location because I’ve been a regular at the location in u st. However I did not enjoy my experience at this location whatsoever. First of all the menu is completely different which would’ve been fine if the bartender wasn’t completely rude. I asked about the nachos and refused to even try and be understanding and made me feel unwelcome to the restaurant to the point that I felt the need to leave. I get that navy yard has been gentrified as of lately, but DC as a whole is historically black and I couldn’t help, but feel like the way he spoke to me and came off disrespectful had everything to do with him not wanting me, a Black woman, eating there. Please do better when it comes to CUSTOMER SERVICE. Imagine having a long day at work and feeling unwelcome at your...