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Details Trickle in Regarding Ford Fry’s Latest Tex-Mex Restaurant, Little Rey

The taco and chicken al carbon joint from serial restaurateur Ford Fry opens at the end of April

Little Rey
Beth McKibben is the editor and staff reporter for Eater Atlanta and has been covering food and cocktails locally and regionally for 12 years.

Ford Fry’s counter-service, taco, and chicken al carbon restaurant Little Rey plans to open by the end of April, according to a restaurant representative. The 3,500-square-foot Tex-Mex establishment, serving chicken al carbon (wood-roasted) tacos and margaritas, is located in the former Anchor Bar & Tattoo on Piedmont Avenue in Piedmont Heights.

The “Austin-inspired” Little Rey, designed by Atlanta-based Smith Hanes Studio, includes a large covered porch with a wood ceiling and a “funky yet whimsical” design throughout the restaurant. Think a smaller, more casual version of Fry’s Superica or the El Felix with vintage signs and folk art hung around the dining room and porch, accented in soft rose, deep blues, and sage green.

Fry tasked chef Kevin Maxey with creating a menu centering around chicken al carbon and tacos, vegetable sides, fresh salsas and tortillas, and salads. Migas breakfast tacos made with chorizo, bacon, potato, steak, or mushrooms, kale, and poblano peppers are served in the morning, along with family-sized, whole portions of chicken al carbon in the afternoons and evenings. Dessert consists of a rotating selection of soft serve ice cream flavors, such as tres leches or salty cajeta and fried peanuts.

Everything can be ordered for either dine-in or at the take-out window.

Little Rey will also serve frozen and fresh margaritas, agua frescas, and local and Mexican beers, found in a reach-in cooler.

Little Rey

In addition to opening Little Rey next month, Fry’s first cookbook drops April 23 — Tex Mex: Traditions, Innovations, and Comfort Foods From Both Sides of the Border.

Fry’s other Atlanta restaurants include No. 246, the El Felix in Alpharetta and at the Battery, BeetleCat, Superica in Inman Park and Buckhead, Marcel, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, the Optimist, St. Cecilia, and King + Duke. Fry also owns Superica, La Lucha, and State of Grace, hopes to open a seafood restaurant in his native Houston, and has restaurants in the works for Nashville and Charlotte.

1878 Piedmont Avenue NE Atlanta.

no. 246

129 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, , GA 30030 (678) 399-8246 Visit Website

JCT. Kitchen & Bar

1198 Howell Mill Road, , GA 30318 (404) 355-2252 Visit Website

King + Duke

West Paces Ferry Road Northwest, , GA 30305 (404) 477-3500 Visit Website

BeetleCat

299 North Highland Avenue Northeast, , GA 30307 (678) 732-0360 Visit Website

Establishment

1197 Peachtree Street Northeast, , GA 30305 (404) 347-5291 Visit Website

Marcel

1170 Howell Mill Road, , GA 30318 (404) 665-4555 Visit Website

The El Felix

1130 1st Street, , GA 30009 (678) 248-5239 Visit Website

Superica

605 Overton Street, , TN 37203 (615) 709-3148 Visit Website

The Battery

1100 Circle 75 Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30339

The Optimist

1400 Adams Street, , TN 37208 (615) 709-3156 Visit Website

St. Cecilia

3455 Peachtree Road Northeast, , GA 30326 (404) 554-9995 Visit Website