Popular Taqueria El Rey reopens in Mexicantown area, 2.5 years after fire
A popular southwest Detroit Mexican restaurant devasted by fire more than two and a half years ago has a new home.
Taqueria El Rey, known for its tacos, tortas, grilled chicken, and barbecue ribs, opened its new spot Friday on Bagley Street in southwest Detroit's Mexicantown neighborhood.
Owned by Eliseo Fuentes family, Taqueria El Rey's new location at 23rd and Bagley previously housed El Zocalo restaurant, another beloved, family-owned Mexicantown eatery, which closed in 2016 after more than three decades in business.
Taqueria El Rey's new brick-and-mortar location will offer a menu of its popular Mexican street food, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. There will be a full bar with margaritas, tequila cocktails, domestic and imported beer, according to a social media post . They are also opening alongside Tres Leches N Snacks. On Nov. 1, the restaurant will host a grand opening.
In business for more than 25 years on Vernor Highway, the restaurant's January 2022 fire started in the grill shack next to the restaurant building. Inside the restaurant, there was substantial smoke damage and several areas were destroyed.
Not long after the fire, Stephen Roginson, the owner of Corktown's Batch Brewing Co., stepped up to help, welcoming Taqueria El Rey to offer its popular fare with a pop-up at the brewery on Porter Street until they got back up on their feet.
It was February 2022 when Taqueria El Rey began a chef's residency at the Batch Brewing, cooking the restaurant's tacos, char-grilled chicken, and ribs. Expecting to last a few months, the pop-up continued every Monday and Tuesday at the brewery since the fire.
Now, with the new place, the pop-ups will cease after Monday and Tuesday, Taqueria El Rey's final two days at Batch Brewing Co., according to a news release.
"We are so incredibly happy for Taqueria El Rey finding their new restaurant. They put in a ton of hard work to make it happen," Batch owner Roginson said in a news release. "This is bittersweet. We love it and encourage everyone to visit their new spot, but our entire organization is bummed they won't be here after next week."
During its time at Batch Brewing, Taqueria El Rey also partnered on other events at the brewery, such as Cinco de Mayo celebrations and other events. Danny Fuentes, Taqueria El Rey general manager, thanked Batch Brewing for allowing them the opportunity to continue going.
"I can honestly say we would be nowhere close to where we are today if it wasn't for Stephen and Kim, and the Batch Brewing Co. crew," Fuentes said.
This isn't the first time Roginson stepped in to offer his place to help other restaurants. When Michael Symon's Roast closed abruptly in January 2022, Roginson turned his planned birthday event into a Roast Burger pop-up. Funds raised benefited Roast employees who were suddenly out of a job.
Taqueria El Rey also operated a food truck and was part of the local food offerings at Comerica Park for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Hours at the new Taqueria El Rey, 3400 Bagley Street, are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, closed on Wednesday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
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