El Pavo Real

We order the enchiladas and they looked average but the flavor was outstanding!! The portions are large. I can't wait to order again from there.

I won't lie, I have been trying so hard to get here for months, but every time I think that I've set a time to go visit, something always comes up. My goal has always been for a Saturday night, but that's just not how life in New Orleans goes.Finally made it, and it was one of those days where I just wanted to try everything because it had been on my list forever so I wanted to try it all to see what I had been missing.1. Sangria - fairly solid. Not much to say one way or the other, but a refreshing red to start the evening.2. Spiced popcorn brought to the table -- okay, I may have asked for a refill on this...aaaaand maybe a bag to take home for later. It's a nice change up from getting chips and salsa, and it adds a unique flavor to start your meal.3. Tamale of the day - I believe I had pork that day? Great filling and flavor, no complaints. Standard tamale with salsa verde (although about half the size of the Tamale Man's tamales from the FQ, but appropriately restaurant-sized).4. Steak tacos (2) - proper steak, medium rare, with fillings on the side of cheese, jalapenos, a verde crema, cilantro, and onions. Delish!5. Dessert?! Of course. At this point when you're so full, why wouldn't you just keep adding it in; plus, we know there's a separate area of the stomach for the sweetness. Went with the Mexican chocolate mousse that had a delicious fluffy cinnamon churro on the side.Cute place, lots of take-out business, outdoor/patio seating options, full bar, and amazing staff. Good gravy, I almost forgot to shout out the staff. Zoe (hostess) and Sakarra (server) absolutely blew it out of the park. Great recommendations and patience with me as I wanted to work my way through the entire menu.Now, side note, I didn't eat anything the following day because I was still so full, but maybe a handful of the popcorn that I took back with me. I couldn't wait to go back so of course I took my bestie back there with me just over a week later. WORTH IT.

Wow! From the moment I walked in, I new this was my new neighborhood hangout. The outdoor patio dining is super inviting and would be great for a birthday party get-together or shower. The inside has an exciting but casual vibe that put my at home immediately. On my first visit, I ordered to go and had a cocktail at the bar while I waited. I chose the Garceta because a) I love coconut b) I love horchata and c) I love rum. The drink is topped with nutmeg which gives it a little holiday flavor. Yumm. I ordered the tamale del día which was chicken with salsa verde. These are my favorite type of tamales with the white masa and a super tangy salsa verde and slaw on the side. Next, for my vegetarian friends, I tried the ensalada de la casa with romaine, radish, grape tomato, tomatillo, queso fresco, pepitas, and a beautiful orange chipotle lime vinaigrette. The queso fresco was soft and so fresh that I would hate to leave it off but I'm sure you can. Along with the salad, I had the black bean soup. I'm normally not a fan of black beans but I was looking for a meatless option. The soup was just not for me but I would definitely order the soup and salad for a light, refreshing meal. Finally, the best for last was the rajas con queso. This is what brought me to El Pavo Real because it's one of my favorite dishes. The queso comes with roasted poblano strips, caramelized onion and the big surprise that is uniquely El Pavo is the fresh corn and creamy, cheesy dip that is the second layer of the dish. I chose to have mine with crabmeat and it was amazing AND another the dish comes with housemade totopo style tortilla chips that, if you haven't tried this style, you will order a double batch. They're the best!

This is absolute best Mexican restaurant in New Orleans. El Pavo Real is hiding in open view where Broad meets Napoleon, but is well worth the visit! They only have street parking, but this is never a problem as I always find a spot by the tiny park just steps away. We are Always greeted on arrival and have been able to get a table even when they are extremely busy. I should note they also have a few intimate dining tables on the side of the building that are worth the wait. Our dining experience here has always been outstanding. We found that even the most basic menu items like their queso the Rajas Con Queso is prepared in amazing, unique ways you can't find anywhere else. Seriously this Queso is oven baked with onion and corn and served sizzling to your table! Their Quesadilla and tamales are surprisingly impressive and my favorite item the Shrimp Taco is a masterpiece of spectacularly fried shrimp perfectly served as an untraditional taco. Chicken TacoShrimp Taco

2nd time around was even better the black bean soup w the fried tortilla strips is great. Soup was flavorful and the strips added crunch with a perfect touch and the portion was very generous. The shrimp tacos are good as is but when you add the sauce it definitely takes them to the next level. The fish is fried perfectly my only issue is the corn tortillas aren't heated or toasted I believe that would make it the perfect dish. But overall this spot is consistently good and I'll be back.

We just flew in from the West Coast to celebrate a milestone birthday in NOLA, We decided to try a recommended Restaurant near where we were staying. El Pavo Real! Very friendly staff, we were seated right away. The food was great, has a little different flavor profile that was so tasty! Our server was amazing, when she found out we were from out of town and saw all the tours and sites we were deciding on, she stepped in and gave us great advice and some new ideas to try. Kristen was VERY attentive, friendly and helpful as was the rest of the staff. We will actually probably stop in and eat again before we leave! Thank you for the warm welcome!!!

Friendly ,fun neighborhood joint with delicious margaritas , attentive servers and good Mexican food! The little kids loved walking over from the nearby playground and had fun bubbles blowing onto the front sidewalk.

Best neighborhood spot! The food is consistently delicious and the specials are always hits. The margaritas are great too. Very kid friendly.

Jessica was amazing as was the food:) Incredible!! Will always be back. This is the best Mexican in the city!

This place has fallen. It is not customer driven. It is more like the service is to be considered a favor. Some are happy some are not. Food is ok but mostly cheese or corn meal. If it were a food truck, I would say ok, because the attitude is generally to turn the table even though they are not fast. Quaint but not worth a special trip.