El Rey

I was actually looking for Latino Village across the street but ended up at El Rey first, so after reading its few Unilocal reviews decided to try it out anyway. I’m glad I did!
El Rey is a combination market/​eatery. There are some tables/​chairs with waitress service for dining-​in, but I got my food to-​go directly at the back food counter. There is a partial picture menu up on the wall, but more dishes if you ask (e.g. pupusas).
I think they sent someone with English-​speaking abilities to take my order when they saw me approach the food counter, and I believe I was greeted with «Hello,» but when I ordered my sopa de mondongo with decent pronunciation, the rest of the conversation automatically proceeded in Spanish. I was even complimented on my Spanish by the same employee when I went up to pay later at the front counter, lol. I don’t think my Spanish is that great, but we did chat about my having studied Spanish in high school and college, and that I was currently a medical student at VCU.
Anyway, I ordered the tripe soup as I said, plus a pork pupusa. The soup stayed quite hot even though I didn’t dig in to eating it until over thirty minutes later! And it was excellent, served with lime, chopped red onions, and a side of what were more like sopes (or unfilled pupusas/​really thick tortillas). The pupusa was great too, and came with cabbage slaw.
In total, my meal was only a little over $ 10! Definitely a steal for such authentic food, and as good as it gets in Richmond (hence the five stars). Can’t wait to come back and try more off of their menu!

I was impressed. although this restaurant is a real hole in the wall, the food was pretty authentic. My beef tripe soup was delicious, the chunks of tripe were big and grizzly, just how I like it :-) nobody spoke English when i was there so ordering may involve pointing. my buddy’s steak was pretty good too. our dishes were $ 7.99 and $ 8.99, pretty cheap for a real meal. I will go back in the future because they had a lot of dishes on the menu I want to try next time. this restaurant is why I venture out, good find.

I am a BIG Fan of «Hold in the Wall» places as sometimes you really get the best of International Food and how it is cooked. AND El Rey certainly lived up to it’s name. I just discovered El Rey even though I have passed it many times traveling down Broad St here in Richmond. It seems many of the Central American Grocery stores have little Mom & Pop Restaurants in the back of the store and El Rey was NO exception.
I ordered the Pupusas on the review of another Unilocaler. I found out however, they had to find a translator as I speak NO Spanish. The Manager came over to explain to me what I was ordering and he told me I should try one of each… He said the food cooked there is Native to El Salvador. OK, I was now anxious to try the food, as I have never had El Salvadoran food in the past. So, I ordered the Pupusas with Fried Pork; Loroco & Cheese; Beans and Cheese. It has a side of Pickled Cabbage on the side. He said the fillings was stuff in a Corn Tortilla as appose to a Flour Tortilla. He said it is like a Quesadilla but instead they use Corn.
When the order came out, I thought I had 3 pancakes and I was wondering where was the stuffing. Upon cutting the cake open, I was disappointed in the small amount of filling inside the PUPUSAS. I guess, WE Americans are looking for large fillings. I was anxious to taste the Fried Pork and the Loroco & Cheese… however because there was So little, all I could taste was the Corn Tortilla. In addition, I could not eat it all as it was too heavy in the oil in which they fried the PUPUSAS in. So, for my first time with the Pupusas… I think I will pass. However, their pickle Cabbage was excellent. I even asked for extra as it was SO good. I am really giving it a 3 ½ Star rating for this visit. I know the next time, it will be better and I am looking forward to it very much.
The people in there were really great, and the Owner thanked me for coming in. He said they had ONLY been open a year. I AM going back. I have their menu and I want to try other items on the menu. In addition, they do have some Mexican food on the menu for those who want tacos or a Burrito. So, if you get a chance, stop in and order your lunch/​dinner if in the area. I am looking forward in returning again soon and once I do, I will update my review…

In search of great pupusas, I ended up at El Rey, which is the Latin Market next to Mekong on Broad Street. I think it used to also be called Happy Mart, but on the menu and over the door, it says El Rey. Anyhow, it’s like some of the other Latin Markets nearby where it’s a grocery AND a restaurant. This is the real deal where you’re lucky if anyone in the place speaks English and you almost feel transported to a Latin country. Because of the language barrier, it can be a learning experience when you go. I didn’t realize, but they do have a waitress. I was supposed to sit down like at any other restaurant, and wait for my waitress to come to me, but I went straight up to the kitchen counter and placed my order, which I think is what you’re supposed to do when you’re getting it to go. Anyhow, my pupusas came right out, and they were delicious! The accompanying cabbage salad was also great. And who could complain at $ 1.50 per pupusa? Dinner and bottled water for $ 6!
When you’re finished eating, you pay at the grocery counter. And I think they prefer cash, but they will take a card.
When I walked in, I was the only one there. When I left, the dining area was full. Popular place! Very nice people/​service. I’ll be back when I need another pupusa fix!
They also have pool tables in the front if you’re so inclined…