Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Mexican
Average price per person:20€
Environment: 8/10
Food: 8.5/10
Service: 8/10
Other: Gluten-free options, Vegetarian options
Website: https://elreydelostacos.top/index.php
Madrid’s Mexican food scene has improved considerably over the last few years. With more taquerías opening across the city, expectations have risen alongside competition. Fortunately, tacos have become a little more serious.
El Rey de los Tacos positions itself around a relatively simple idea: traditional Mexican street food with a menu centred on tacos, tamales and familiar comfort dishes. There is no elaborate concept; the focus appears to be on flavour and accessibility.
I visited with friends on a Sunday for dinner.
Location / Environment
Situated in Chueca (the location I visited, there are more) El Rey de los Tacos benefits from an area where casual dining generally performs well. Inside, the atmosphere reflects the restaurant’s food philosophy: uncomplicated and approachable. The space feels informal and functional.
The environment suits groups, casual meals and quick visits particularly well.
The service is casual and efficient.
El Rey de los Tacos – Menu
The menu at El Rey de los Tacos focuses heavily on Mexican staples, with tacos clearly acting as the centre of gravity. Fillings range across familiar options including chicken, pork and slower-cooked preparations, alongside tamales, sides and dishes designed for sharing.
The menu also makes ordering relatively easy for groups because dishes naturally encourage sharing. Tacos and tamales are also sold as units, allowing diners to build a meal rather than commit to a single heavy plate. The only minor challenge is that, because the menu stays relatively close to familiar territory, diners looking for more regional or less commonly seen Mexican dishes may find the offering somewhat narrower than more specialised concepts.
El Rey de los Tacos- Food
The guacamole was fresh and straightforward, focusing on texture and balance.
We tried the tacos alambres with pork, melted cheese and pico de gallo. It was a tasty taco but the cheese was a bit overwhelming.
The tacos with tinga de pollo were quite good. Tinga is made with shredded chicken with tomato, onion and smoky chipotle peppers. The chicken was moist and well seasoned, although it needed the extra hot sauce they brought us on the side.
The cochinita tacos have slow-cooked pork, although the dish was not heavy or particularly intense in flavour.
The chicken tamales with green salsa, were good. The texture was soft without becoming dense. I preferred them to the pork tamales as the chicken option leaned more toward comfort and subtlety compared to the heartier pork option.
Conclusion
El Rey de los Tacos feels comfortable staying within the Mexican street comfort food category. Rather than trying to become the most experimental Mexican restaurant in Madrid, it focuses on doing accessible favourites in a casual setting.
Its strengths are straightforward: familiar flavours, value for money dishes and an atmosphere that fits naturally into Chueca’s dining scene. The menu may not be the most adventurous in Madrid’s growing Mexican landscape, but not every taquería needs to chase novelty. I would happily visit again.
Visit: May 2026