El Rey Coffee And Luncheonette

If I gave this review prior to their renovation, it would have been 4 or 5 stars, but unfortunately the food service went downhill overnight.
I’m not a coffee junky like apparently most under 40s of NY seem to be, but I appreciate good food and fresh vegan options! I used to come here all the time for the Del Sur avocado dishes and Kale salads with avocado/​poached egg. They were delicious, and that’s saying a lot because I’m critical of these kinds of foods.
Unfortunately around a month or two ago they completely eliminated food service and instead opted to only serve pre-​made plastic boxes of old salad and other dishes from a fridge that are clearly not fresh and taste awful from condensation and sitting there all day. I literally only came to El Rey for the Kale Salad and it was inedible. a waste of $ 10 (which is a few dollars more than the Kale salad with fresh avocado and egg they used to make). Also not very eco-​friendly to have tons of plastic takeout boxes vs serving your patrons on dishes.
As for customer service it was always subpar, but I waited until reopening to visit, and when I did I was completely ignored until I flagged the staff down and once I asked for/​pointed to the Kale salad on the menu. He goes «UHH. It’s right there???» and points to the dinky new fridge full of old packaged garbage. Like what???
For the customer service alone this place does not deserve your money. The name «El Rey Coffee and Luncheonette» is false advertising– please just change it to «Coffee» because boxes of soggy greens do not make a Luncheonette.

Decent iced coffee.
Knocking a star because the kitchen seems to be under construction right now, so all of the salads are premade and they’ve jacked up the prices. I’ll return once the kitchen’s back in business.

This is the kind of overpriced hipster spot I tend to avoid, but I was lured in by the sign for slushee rosé, which seemed like the perfect drink for a hot summer day.
The food here is all pre-​made and stored in a refrigerator, a fact I didn’t realize until after I ordered. For the price, I’d rather have gone somewhere I could have my food made fresh!

**DECENT BREAKFAST, BUT PRICEY**
Beyond thrilled that there was a coffee shop
on every corner of LES, I had to stop by.
3.5 stars.
AMBIANCE
=========
Neon signs always gets me.
So it got me.
FOOD
=====
CHIA SEED BREAKFAST PUDDING
Coconut, almond, and seasonal fruit was good.
But it was $ 7. A bit steep, but whatever.
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
LOADED KALE SALAD
Served in a plastic container. WTF. Boo.
Good kale, avocado, chickpea, and that beet pickled egg.
RATING: 3.5÷5
COFFEE
=======
CAPPUCCINO
Not the best cup of Joe I’ve had.
Prefer it to be stronger.
RATING: ³⁄₅
PRO TIP
=======
Doughnuts aren’t healthy, but it’s cheaper and better.
OVERALL
========
The good part was the people watching at the huge windows.
The bad part was the price.
Breakfast for 2 (Salads, coffee, and pudding) = $ 52
Pricey for a salad in a plastic container.
RECOMMEND for those seeking healthy (and expensive) breakfasts in LES.

Love the coffee and vibes! I literally go there everyday! People are all so friendly EXCEPT the one woman thats always in a bucket hat and looks like a witch… she must have some weird thing against me, I just don’t go there when she’s around anymore.
Besides that all the other employees are awesome and cool and have really good energy.

I like everything about El Rey except for the service.
The neon pink, the ridiculously expensive organic coffee that was harvested from beans grown in a cave paved with diamonds, the curvy cursive «El Rey» logo.
But let’s break this down:
–The menu’s printed price for agua fresca is $ 2.25
–The cashier charged me $ 3.50
–When I showed her the menu, her only response was that the drink came up on the computer as $ 3.50; she didn’t even TRY to honor the price
Huh? You won’t charge me what the price says? But you will charge me more. Okay.
I’ll get my expensive, tasty coffee elsewhere from now on.

The kale salad used to be one of the best food items in the LES. A perfect poached egg and avocado on top of a hefty bowl of artfully massaged kale.
Now… Expect soggy kale and over-​cooked eggs in a see-​through plastic container.

Meh it’s true :(I thought the update and new construction to el Rey would have brought amazing change but instead everything is pre packaged… No avocado del sur, no beautifully pouched eggs, it’s making me sad. The last two times I’ve gone in the morning to get my favorite Mexican mocha they’ve been out of cold brew and condensed milk mix. Not sure if it’s because of the hectic changes to the shop but I’m a lil disappointed.

My coworker and I used to frequent this place quite a bit because of their amazing and expensive salads.
However, the staff were either really rude, or cold to us. They had a renovation period recently and they didn’t have a sign or anything while they were renovating, and when my coworker asked someone in front of the shop when the store would be reopened, they responded with, «When do you think?»
So now that it’s been reopened, we were very excited to get some fresh salad with avocado, poached egg! What we really liked about this place was the fact that everything was freshly done for the customer.
Everything is now pre packaged in plastic. The only option for the salad now is the kale salad, which would’ve been fine on it’s own if it wasn’t for the fact that it was pre-​packaged. It’s soggy and disgusting and definitely not worth the $ 10.
How disappointing.

Rest peacefully, absolute best option for lunch on the Lower East Side. It seems like just yesterday I was gauging myself on multiple avocado del surs (with poached eggs) per week (that’s because I was). Not that this is place is closed but it seems to have shot itself in the foot at least for their mid-​day service.
Hate to go in so soon on social media, but am simply gutted that they got rid of their hot/​cold lunch service after their most recent renovation. I know it must of been tough to keep up with the demand but the best menu items have either disappeared or have been crammed into little containers and price-​hiked by several dollars. In the few minutes I was in there at least 3 people came to the counter asking what was going with the same single tear falling so figuratively from their eyes that I had when hearing the news. I can imagine with the cost of rent in this area soaring why El Rey would make this sort of transition but I hope that they can meet their regular customers somewhere in in the middle with a median price points between their old and new, and the resurrection of the del sur.
While their food is fantastic and I can’t wait to see what changes they have in-​store for dinner, I will really miss the olé’ El Rey setup… When I’m in the mood for $ 15 salad they’ll still be #1. Xo.

El Rey has recently voted one of the most Instagrammed coffee shops in the world, so we had to go. It’s in a fun part of NYC and slightly bigger than your usual coffee shop. They serve brunch as well so it’s crowded on a weekend morning. The coffee is quality as are the pastries. In the very back, there’s a simple neon sign that says «El Rey.» That’s what people Instagram. It’s cool, but definitely not note worthy. Regardless, if you’re in the area, stop by!

There’s an abundance of café coffee shops in New York City. Despite the large amount of conventional coffee shop the city is over flowed with, El Rey is one of those shops that will always stick out to me.
What makes El Rey different from the rest of the coffee shops I’ve experienced is the quaint authenticity of this place. If you’re strolling around LES, you might just miss it. It’s a small hole-​in-​the-​wall but with an amazing chic atmosphere. The open windows are inviting, the staff is friendly, and may I not forget, the food is pretty much amazing.
Aside from their wide coffee selection, they have a lunch and dinner menu as well. Lunch only goes till 4:00pm, which is the only time you can get their Del Sur, which is an avocado platter with an option of two eggs. Amazing. Last time I went, I tried the «this is not a falafel» which is basically a plate that breaks down what would be inside a falafel. Once again, amazing.
If you just so happen to be strolling around the Lower East Side or up for trying a place that may be too cool for you, El Rey is your place to go.

After reading so many different things about El Rey, finally passed on a day where the line wasn’t too insane and grabbed am excellent $ 2.50 Tamari Almond Cookie. Nice vibe, even it can knock the cool out of you.
Cookie
$ 2.50
+ Tamari Almond
Subtotal
$ 2.50
new york tax — included, $ 0.20
Total
$ 2.50

KenScale: 8.5÷10
There have been cafes in New York City that are starting to moonlight as full-​time restaurants lately, some to great effects. I have yet to check out what Fair Weather Bushwick has been doing lately, and I regret that I didn’t get to try the dinner from the duo at Box Kite café before they moved to open Bruno Pizza. When I first stepped into El Rey, it was already packed despite the small size of the space. I was quoted an hour to hour and a half wait at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Well, my dining companion and I weren’t that hungry, so we just killed time at a new cocktail pub named Suffolk Arms nearby before we got there slightly before 8 p.m. I didn’t really know what to expect from this place; there is nothing that suggests it is a serious restaurant. Don’t let the appearance fool you; El Rey’s food will surprise you greatly for a very positive dining experience.
The menu at El Rey looks like what a skinny girl in yoga pants would eat every day, California-​style, vegetable-​focused (read: almost no meat). The food here, however, is anything but boring. I’m not a fan of greasy chicarrones in general, but I can’t to this day stop thinking about the vegan chicarrones with hot sauce, cashew crema, pickled plum and peanuts that the kitchen put together. It was a marvelous dish, with each ingredient working so harmoniously together. I was afraid that I might get stuffed just munching on the pieces. Shaved cauliflower with chickpea vinaigrette, white sesame and poached egg was also quite delicious. I try to get my intake of cauliflower whenever I can during weekdays (so I can feast on weekends), but I’ve never had the kind of clean flavor this dish offered. Papas bravas were not some pedestrian potato dishes either, as I absolutely enjoyed the mix of potatoes with pickled pineapple hot sauce, scallions and cashew crema. While the menu is almost devoid of meat, there were some seafood-​based dishes that I thoroughly enjoyed. Sardines tostada was fresh, and again worked well with the carrot top dressing, peppers and radishes to generate satisfyingly clean flavor. Octopus salad with «black bean» purée and tomatillos was just as good, with tender, juicy octopus that was seasoned just about right, i.e. no overseasoning that could’ve killed the texture. Even a slice of banana bread for dessert was a very delightful dish, although I wished I could’ve witnessed more ingenuity of the kitchen in the dessert section.
The restaurant doesn’t take reservations and the tiny space is fully booked at all hours, so my suggestion is to come early or be prepared to wait at a bar nearby. There are some decent beer and wine selections that you can choose from. I recently learned that chef Gerardo Gonzalez who was helming the kitchen left to pursue other projects. I couldn’t tell whether the kitchen was running without him on the day I visited, but what a shame given how much satisfaction I drew from my dining experience. I wonder if the kitchen will be able to pick up where it left off once they pick a capable successor.

Wanted some coffee so stopped by and grabbed a Mexican Mocha. Tasted great, the interior is like a little café/​snack shop, love the vibes. Would definitely come back for a meal sometime.

El Rey is freaking phenomenal! It’s also the opposite of my experience in The Dutch in every way… ahhh, my love of NYC brunch has been restored with El Rey.
Key differences:
Super fresh ingredients combined in plate-​licking, filling combos
Hole-​in-​the-​wall space that turned over quickly so easy to find seats
Order food and then you seat yourself
We ordered the AVOCADO DEL SUR and GRAINS & CRUDITE SALAD. Don’t come all the way down to LES to order the avocado del sur without the flatbread and 2 poached eggs, so dish out the extra $ 7.50 if you have it. I was also surprised by how much I liked the salad. Both dishes sound really simple, but they also added some spices that added a level of depth that I wouldn’t have gotten if I had made it on my own.
I’m definitely coming back for the falafel (which the server recommended, along with the avocado) and $ 4 hot chocolate.

Definitely one those over hyped places on the social media end but it lives up to its hype. The food is very pretty and so tasty/​complex! It certainly costs more then your average café around the block but I guess it comes with its territory.
I ordered 3 plates and shared with a friend. Everything bagel, grains salad and kale salad. All were very yummy. I can easily see this place being packed on weekends. They have minimal seating (approximately 15 seats?).
Worth a try. Makes me feel like a hipster. =)

This is a coffee review
Location: L.E.S is hippie and crazy. I start to come here a lot because of work stuff so El always came to mind to visit. The place is small, like very small. They have several tables but you will leave your totally privacy if you decide to dine in there. They also have strict rules like do not bring other food, please eat ASAP, blah blah blah. I do not enjoy those rules if I am eating food. So, -.5 star. The decoration is… okay tho.
Coffee: Ordered Americano as usual. Sour, less smoothy, and i was trying to get almond milk, they asked for .5 dollar plus… I was like… well… nope. It is just average. I saw they did latte… just like starbuck staffs who do not treat coffee seriously and they basically pour the milks in… Well, this should be artistic coffee shop. where is your skills? –1 star
Service: slow. and rude.
Overall: nope. and nope.

After many years of living nearby, El Rey is slowly becoming my favorite place to start the day in Lower East Side. It’s like a greasy spoon diner was propelled far into the future with a huge emphasis on healthful nourishment.
There are lots of incorrect, preconceived notions (in my opinion, of course) about El Rey that’d normally keep me away. Many involving too many hipsters, too little seating, and foodstuffs being too expensive. Maybe the ‘too crowded’ aggravator is correct, but it’s also the size of a large walk-​in closet. You snooze, you lose out on a seat. But if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot inside, you must make it happen.
The coffee drinks are some of the best downtown, the staff are all friendly to chat with, and the fresh fare served during brunch hours is a far better way to rise than a bodega bacon, egg, and cheese. For $ 7 you can snag a delicious kale salad tossed in a homemade almond butter vinaigrette and topped with a poached egg. Never would have considered almond butter and kale working together, but it definitely does. For something a bit more filling, the avocado del sur with flatbread and two poached eggs is a like a modern California style take on eggs Benedict, except you’ll be replacing hollandaise sauce with a healthy dousing of pesto and avocado.
They do dinner and special pop up events as well. I previously attended a prix fixe with LA’s Sqirl that was a lot of fun. Follow their website for a full list of upcoming events. But even on a normal day or night, El Rey is special in and of itself.

At first glance, El Rey is one of the last places you’d find me in. It initially appears to be an agglomeration of the most recent health food trends of late, espousing a vegetable-​centric menu where ingredients such as chia seeds, quinoa, avocado, and farro are all readily found. Nonetheless, the overwhelmingly positive reviews sparked my curiosity and when a few friends suggested it for a weekend brunch, I was more than willing to see what it had to offer.
El Rey is aptly located in the Lower East Side, a tiny venue that sports a bustling kitchen counter where seating consists of a handful of tables and various counters; holding over ten people at a time would be pushing its capacity, so dining in isn’t necessarily a guarantee. Orders are placed at the counter and assigned a number; it’s a simple and efficient process that easily falls in the «fast casual» category. The food, however, is far from what you’ll find at your typical chain restaurant.
First, the «Everything Bagel» I tried was one of the most creative riffs on the traditional breakfast item. Instead of the traditional dough, a dense base of Za’atar bread was used, and served as the perfect vehicle for the generous serving of ricotta cheese, dill, and seeds. A few slivers of sliced red onion for freshness, and you have a perfect compilation of flavors and textures, and a surprisingly successful take on one of my guilty pleasures.
Another surprise was the Lost Bread Egg Frittata, a dish that I would best describe as a chilled egg custard. The «lost bread» comes into play because of the addition of brioche in the egg custard, which gives it the unique denseness and texture. Drizzled in a fragrant pesto and topped with a shaved fennel salad and crushed avocado, it’s a surprisingly delicious and well-​balanced dish, and certainly one that tastes better than it actually looks.
I have to say that El Rey surpassed my expectations, and I can see why it’s done so well in NYC. Some might write it off as just another place following the health-​conscious food trends of late, but the dishes served here are a unique blend of Middle Eastern and Mexican ingredients and flavors that are surprisingly successful in execution. I’d recommend visiting at an off-​hour to make sure you can get a seat, or planning on taking your order to go; certainly, it’s fair to say their popularity is justified.