Walking down Bagley Street, my internal compass usually spins toward that unmistakable, charcoal-heavy haze before I even catch sight of the iconic sign. Taqueria El Rey is a place that runs on the constant, percussive thwack of a cleaver and the aggressive, white-hot hiss of a grill that never seems to catch its breath.
It’s a beautifully modest, high-energy room where the decor takes a backseat to the sensory overload of lime juice hitting hot metal and the low-frequency hum of a crowd that knows a 4.5-star reputation is the result of a thousand smoke-kissed rituals.
Michigan street food fans consider this Detroit landmark the ultimate destination for authentic, wood-fired Mexican cuisine…