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Archive for the 'Mexican' Category

El Rey Mexican - Revisited

I reviewed El Rey Mexican Restaurant back in April of 2007 and I’ve been back several times since then. I am writing another review because there have been some changes that I really think need to written about.

El Rey is serving Mexican style breakfast. There is no shortage of breakfast restaurants in Tulsa - but El Rey is one of the only full service restaurants serving authentic Mexican breakfast so if you are looking to try something a little different on the weekend or any morning before work - stop by and say hi to Roberto and his family at El Rey.

Did you know that Tulsa World voted El Rey as the BEST MEXICAN RESTURANT in Tulsa and that El Rey also placed thrid overall amoung restaurants in Tulsa, Browken Arrow and Owasso? -  If it’s not breakfast you are looking for - go for the Cheesecake or for goodness sake, try one of the largest Burritos in Tulsa. If you can finish an El Rey Burrito - leave a comment here and tell me about it!

El Rey is located at 2146 S Garnett in Tulsa of course. 918-794-3780.

Josie’s Tamales

In Tulsa we never have a lack of good Mexican restaurants. but what I don’t always find is a Mexican restaurant that specializes in one thing and one thing very well…  until Josie’s Tamales.

Josie and her husband have opened ‘Josie’s Tamales’ here in Tulsa.

The menu is quite simple as one can predict from the name of the restaurant, HOWEVER the flavors are not predictable nor simple at at all. 

Josie’s offers both meat and no meat tamales, with vegetarian selections that have no animal products in the ingredients. They even have a ’sweet’ tamales section that includes raisin or pineapple tamales.

Meat Tamales include:

  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork

No Meat Tamales include:

  • Cheese
  • Jalapeno with cheese
  • Bean and cheese
  • Bean

Vegetarian Tamales include:

  • Veggies (Zucchini, Carrot, Bell pepper and mushroom)

If you dine in, Josie’s offers about 6 tables inside and you can order their popular ‘Tamal Plate’ which includes Two large tamales, rice, chili beans and salsa for $5.00. (The salsa is HOT so be sure to get something cool to drink!)

You can also order tamales as single items or by the half dozen or full dozen with prices ranging from:

1 to 5 tamales: $1.50 each plus tax

6 to 11 tamales: $1.10 each plus tax

12 tamales or more: $1.00 each plus tax

Side orders include: Rice, Chili Beans and Salsa from 2 oz. portions all the way up to 32 oz. portions.

I ordered 6 tamales,  3 chicken and 3 beef with 8 oz. of salsa for a few pennies over $9.00 . The flavor was authentic with each tamale slow cooked inside of corn husks the way Josie’s family has been making tamales for years.  If you don’t plan on eating your tamales within 2 hours of buying them, Josie’s recommends buying their freshly frozen tamales so you can enjoy them when you are ready.

I will visit Josie’s again to try the other tamale varieties and you should as well… Great tamales at a great price using a genuine, authentic family recipe. 

If you are in a hurry, Josie’s Tamales offers drive through service during normal business hours which are Monday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Josie’s Tamales

8720 E. 21st St Space 200 (East of Memorial on 21st)

918-619-6700 (You can phone in orders as well) 

El Rey Mexican - Original!

Oh man, what a delight! I was driving up Garnett from 21st headed to 31st and came across El Rey. It’s on the west side of Garnett between 21st and 31st where Shlotzsky’s used to be.

The owners greeted me warmly and made some great suggestions from their vast menu.

 El Rey has everything from Enchiladas to T-bone steaks and even more in between. What I found rather odd is El Rey is also a bakery - but not the Mexican bakery you’d expect… The owner makes the largest, fresh Cheesecakes I have seen in a long time. In fact, the Cheesecakes are Chicago style, with enough choices to satisfy any craving. Tuesday, I picked up a few slices of Banana Cream Pie, a California Cheesecake loaded with Kiwi and cream and a Chocolate variety that was almost 5 inches tall, drizzled over with chocolate and strawberries. 

 As for my meal? I had one of the best and largest Poblano chilis I have seen in Tulsa, prepared from scratch, not from frozen ingredients the way some Mexican restaurants serve it. On the menu it’s listed as a Chile Relleno, filled with cheese and topped with an authentic Mexican red sauce. My guest had Enchiladas De Molle Con Pollo - Shredded chicken in a spicy, sweet red sauce. Flavors were very original and the service was top notch. You can expect prices from 5.99 to 12.99 depending on whether you order from the daily specials board or from the vast and unique menu choices.

El Rey is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner… They serve alcohol and also have a small sit down bar towards the front of the restaurant. The menu is both in English and Spanish and all of the servers and staff speak English fluently.

Oh I almost forgot, there is an appetizer that you must try at least once… Cocktail De Ceviche - Salmon and Whitefish cooked in lime and orange juice, mixed with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, olive oil and avocado served with crackers! Great stuff! 

El Rey is located at 2146 S Garnett in Tulsa of course. 918-794-3780.

If you do visit El Rey, tell them you heard about them at Tulsa Tonight!