Taqueria El Rey has been a Southwest Detroit staple for nearly 30 years. It is beloved for its popular dish, pollo al carbon, which has amassed a cult following. After the fire that destroyed the building on January 29, 2022, the future of the restaurant was uncertain—until now. Taqueria El Rey will reopen in the space formerly known as El Zocalo.
After months of looking for a new space, the owners of Taqueria El Rey decided to move into El Zocalo, a Mexican restaurant on Bagley Street that opened in the 1970s but recently closed. The space on Bagley is in the heart of Mexicantown and is a tourist destination with plenty of parking. El Rey’s dining experience may look different, but the owners say that the food will keep its original quality.
“The menu will remain the same, with a few additions,” said Daniel Fuentes, co-owner of the family business. Though the business has been cash-only in the past, they will accept major credit cards at the new location.
Since the fire, Taqueria El Rey has found a temporary home at Batch Brewery on Monday and Tuesday evenings. On the weekends, the truck is parked on 23rd and Vernor. Devotees have shown support, following the Taqueria El Rey food truck wherever it goes.
“Got it smelling good, per usual,” said Mike Boyd, who works for the City of Detroit Water Department. He and his coworkers can’t get enough of the charcoal-grilled chicken and have been loyal customers for over thirteen years. “Anything barbecued is going an extra notch up,” Boyd said.
Driving down Bagley with the windows down is as good a navigation system as any. The rich aroma of charcoal-grilled food wafts through the street, pointing hungry customers to the current location of the Taqueria El Rey. The aroma turns heads toward the already attention-getting red food truck.
The plan is for a soft opening in May. This sneak peek is sure to entice customers to return for the highly anticipated grand opening, slated for the summer of 2024.
Fuentes hopes the new location will draw new crowds from downtown and Corktown.
“We need to move some of our equipment in and do a good clean-up,” Fuentes said. “We plan to open all the available space as we staff up our team. As for the second floor, we plan on doing private events, parties, and possibly even nightclub-type events.”
The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) has been helping Taqueria EL Rey.
“We are helping Taqueria El Rey with legally establishing their food trailer at their property and assisting them with opening a new brick-and-mortar location at the former El Zocalo building,” said Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din, President and CEO of the SDBA.
The reopening of Taqueria El Rey in the former El Zocalo location brings hope and excitement to customers like Mike Boyd. With its iconic pollo al carbon, tacos, and unwavering community support, the move to the new location will offer customers a different style of Mexican street food not offered at the other restaurants.
“Right now, we only come on the weekends,” Boyd said. He hopes once the new location opens, he and his coworkers will be able to eat at Taqueria El Rey for lunch on the weekdays as well.
“People from the community are on our side, helping us get back on our feet,” Fuentes said.
Estefania Arellano-Bermudez is a lifelong Detroiter. She has published in the Telegram News, and is a regular contributor to EL CENTRAL Hispanic News.
