Not going to lie, walking up to the restaurant felt a wee uncomfortable but that is no fault to the…read morerestaurant just a note on the neighborhood. Restaurant was bright and welcoming and our waitress was lovely! In order of preference, we got the: Octopus tacos - Outstanding!!! There's a nice smokey char that adds flavor, sauce was fresh, and octopus was easy to bite through. Never had octopus tacos before and these were awesome!! I want to go back for this and to try other things! Huaraches - Bean filled and fried corn underlayer with sautéed steak and cactus on top -- cactus had a sour flavor and a light crunch with just a bit of slime kind of like okra, some folks aren't as into this but I liked it! Scallop tacos - Good sauce and nicely sized scallops. Salmon tacos - Good but did not standout, I'd skip unless you want something safe and it's your go to

The service was super quick! There may have been a 10 minute wait between ordering our food and…read morebeing served which was perfect. We got the guacamole to start which was some of the best, and most flavorful, guacamole that I've had in DC. Being from Texas, I'm very particular about my street tacos. These were the closest I've gotten to Texas street tacos since I've been in DC, and I've been here for 2 years! The place is small and intimate but full of energy - great place for a happy hour with friends or a more casual date!

Came last night before a comedy show at the Capital One Arena and OMG...10/10 hands down I have no…read morenotes. We went in right as they opened, on a Friday at 5 pm, and there was already a line! The reservations were full, but we were offered a seat either at the bar or outside. Luckily it was a beautiful day so we took a seat outside. They started us off with a sweet hibiscus flavored juice as a palate cleanser which was super refreshing. The left side of the menu had appetizers and shareables, while the right side had entrees. We ordered the short rib tacos, pork belly, wagyu empanadas, and seafood enchiladas. Everything had a beautiful bright orange sauce on it and made it look like it would be spicy but it wasn't! I think it's their signature guajillo sauce and it was VERY good, super creamy. Seafood enchiladas: This was my fav. Might have been because it was extremely hungry and it was my first bite. Definitely best when eaten warm, as the cheese is gooiest and the seafood inside is hot. I wasn't sure how the salad was going to be but it added a perfect refreshing and acidity to balance out the creamy sauce. Wagyu empanadas: Much gooey-er and cheesier than expected, but also a hit! Came with a decent amount of beef inside. Comes with the orange sauce and a chimichurri, which I think was a good idea because given how cheesy and creamy the filling already was, the chimichurri was a nice balance as well. Pork belly: Melts as soon as you cut into it. The Asian in me low key wanted a giant bowl of rice with this so that I could soak up all the sauce and veggies. Pretty fatty so if you're not a fan of that you might not like this. Short rib tacos: These were loaded, not with meat but with tons of crunchy topping (maybe fried carrots?) Could have done with slightly less crunch but overall still good. The orange sauce on the bottom had a peanuty flavor which I thought added a unique kick. Also, we were surprised at how quickly the food came out. We were in and out in under an hour. Our server Rebecca was also extremely nice. Will def be back if in the area. Highly recommend all around!

This rating is for the brunch and the brunch only... I have to be completely honest about this for…read moreanyone planning on going for brunch. The service was ok, we had to tell our server we weren't seeing him enough, there's a 2 hour limit and we weren't getting a chance to order more drinks. After that he kept the drinks coming. WARNING! You DO NOT get to choose what items you want from the ayce brunch menu, they bring every single dish out and they do it at a pace that you barely get a chance to enjoy anything. Every dish is loaded with fillers and barely any meat. Every dish has a similar flavor of chilli, lime and cilantro. I say this with the upmost respect to this restaurant, the only good thing about the brunch were the churros and they don't give you that until you're ready to leave. The chicken and waffles were almost good but the sauce on the chicken with the waffle just ruins it. The steak and eggs were ok and you only get a 1oz piece of steak. Birria tacos were just ok and the fish taco was ok. Everything else was not worth it. A lot of items went to waste. If we could've chose exactly what we wanted, it might have been better. This would also add to why the service did not start off well because our server gave us our first drink and left. After that, every item from the brunch menu were just getting dropped off by food runners. It became overwhelming. We didn't even have room on the table for all of that. Then we also had to ask for new plates because we did not want to mix the flavors of every dish. The drinks were also not good, I had margaritas for my drink of choice and they are so sour and filled with cheap tequila... respectfully for 70$ a person you're better off ordering à la carte. The restaurant is beautiful though, great for pictures and the food is colorful as well but the flavors are just not that good and you're ultimately paying for a bunch of food that you don't really even want nor enjoy. I really hope they adjust this because I heard it was 10x better in the past.

Boss pulled up and said "we're going to Oyamel" and that was the right call. Weekday lunch, Penn…read moreQuarter, reservation secured because this place does not slow down for anybody. Pitcher of margaritas for the table: smooth, rich, not too strong. Exactly what a group lunch needs without turning into a whole situation. The guacamole is terrific and they'll adjust the spice level to your liking, which is a small thing that goes a long way when you're feeding a whole office with different tolerances. The tacos are built on house-made masa tortillas and you can taste that they care. I did the Pollo à la Parrilla and the Chilito de Res. Both landed. The beef especially, slow-braised and seasoned like they meant it. This is a José Andrés restaurant, so you already know the room has energy. If you're in the District and haven't made this a regular stop, fix that.

My favorite thing was the chips and salsa. Quite tasty. Chips seemed very fresh and salsa was super…read moretasty and smoky flavored. Ceviche was a laughable portion size. And it served with no extra tostada or chips. Or nearly this wouldn't be an issue when there is it unlimited supply of chips, but even though I'm sitting at the bar the chips were not plentiful. The beef mole tasted good but the beef was tough and not especially warm when it came out. It was good but it was not great.

Mi Vida is located along the Wharf, with tons of outdoor and indoor spaces…read more I went with a hungry group of 8 and started with their guac and small plates/apps. We ordered their "most popular apps" for 5 which came with tamales, croquettes, empanadas, deviled eggs, oranges, and fried pork rinds (chips?). The serving size was definitely enough for our group, so I'd only order this for an actual group of 5 if you weren't eating anything else. I had their pork tacos as an entree and tried their carne asada. Both were satisfying but neither stood out. Overall, I'd say this place is a safe place to dine - you know the service will be good and the food will be solid. I wouldn't say that their dishes stand out, but I also mainly tried their basic items.

I really wanted to love Mi Vida because the atmosphere is beautiful and the decor is stunning. At…read morenight, it has such a lively vibe and the service has always been wonderful! I'm giving it 3 stars because the food just hasn't hit for me as much as I hoped. The first time we went, I tried the birria and tacos de pescado. I wasn't a fan of the sauce on the fish tacos, it kind of took away my appetite after a few bites. I had my boyfriend try them (he thought I was being dramatic), and he immediately agreed something was off, though his tacos were great. We went again another time and ordered 3 or 4 things, but the chicken tasted a bit old, which was disappointing. I'd still be open to trying it again in the future, but right now it sits at just okay for me. A cute place for drinks though!

Had a great time and dinner! Chicatana is unassuming and unpretentious, staffed with attentive…read moreservers who do an amazing job (water was always filled and empty plates removed quite efficiently). The decor is simple, no table clothes or frills but it does live up to 'fine cuisine' with excellent food and presentation (another subtle touch is if you leave the table, you return to a nicely folded napkin). We got nearly everything on the menu including all the desserts and Mexican hot chocolate (yum, lightly spicy and piping hot!) . As others have said their guacamole is excellent...do check the charges though bc they added salsa and chips to the tab which we did not order (they removed). Also, the first order of guac came with big bowl of chips, but none with the second order of guac- not a problem though because you do not go hungry. Portions are quite generous. We even tried the ants which was a fun novelty

This was the valentine's day 2026 stop. I had no idea it was in the area it was, but alas, we made…read morethe trek from lowly ballston anyway. After parking in the Giant parking garage (decent price), we walked the few blocks to the restaurant. We spotted it with the poster sign hanging up on the outer walls. Inside you head up the stairs and you're greeted by the host stand. We checked in and got our table, right at the window (hellya). There was a rose and a candle on the table (vday vibes) and we also received a vday specials menu. We landed on queso fundido to start and a cocktail each: prickly pear marg for her, a viva mexico for me. After fundido'ing it up, we ordered our entrees. We're simple folks it was a 2 carne asada tacos, 1 al pastor taco, 1 pescado taco, and 1 chicken quesadilla. Unfortunately we weren't bold enough to try the insectos. Food was great, drinks were great, service was great. You can pay your tab via Toast for no additional fee which was convenient. There are two, single use bathrooms in there too. Overall, solid spot.

This place hit the spot, even toddler approved! We ordered take out and it was prepared pretty…read morequickly. The menu is quite extensive, it took us longer to decide on what we wanted. I got the nachos, my husband got tacos, and we got a chicken quesadilla for our toddler. The nachos were PILED with toppings and so colorful - even in a take out container is looked beautiful. They were SO tasty, very full of flavor and spice. My husband said the tacos were delicious and our toddler actually ate a lot of the quesadilla. Win all around. Highly recommend!

In town for the week, tried to get into Unconventional Diner for brunch...a backup was needed. We…read moreventured down a few blocks looking for anything and found El Sol. Fair sized joint with a smallish patio out front. Having perused the menu on the way, I was looking to try something just beyond "staple of cheap Mexican." Sadly, we were presented with brunch menus, so it was a breakfast burrito for me and the breakfast tacos for her. I was remarkably hungry, so the burrito was eaten (and quickly). But truth be told, it's standard Mexican fare made with breakfast ingredients. No more description necessary - you've had this before and you'll have it again. The service was marginally lackluster- if you're not in a big party, you might get shuffled down in prioritization (or at least I thought we were...once ready to leave I did the 'fidget with credit card' trick to get the staff to close us out. It took frustratingly long. All in all, if I lived in the neighborhood, this would be my cheap Mexican place and more out of convenience than culinary merit.

I love this place! It is definitely a NE gem. I've been here for multiple happy hours, a birthday…read moreas well as dinner! The restaurant's ambiance and design are cool. It reminds you of a vacation with the dim lighting, decor, and artwork! I really love sitting outside on the patio, even in the winter! Drinks: I've had the red bell pepper lemonade (made it sweet) and it's unique and refreshing! The margarita is a classic choice I love and I've had the frozen pineapple margarita (a FAVE!!). Food: My #1 go to is the El Presidente guacamole! It has crab on top of fresh guac and comes with chips. The chips aren't impressive but they're good. The guac with crab really is the main attraction. I like the wings too! We use the dipping sauce that comes on the side as well. The crab tostada is so good! My friend enjoys the hotdog every time he visits! The new item we tried was the taco slider with a jalepeno sauce, also very good! They kept asking for more! Service was quick, efficient and helpful especially for a happy hour!

Went for lunch with a few coworkers…read more Food- we had the lunch special (super reasonable price too) we got an appetizer, two tacos, and sorbet/ ice cream. Alex told us her faves were Burria and carnitas. They did not disappoint. Well seasoned, flavorful and good portion size. Just enough. Vibes- the space is so well decorated and luscious. Both bright colors and an airy feel to the space. Flows well and so much to see. Service- we felt we'll take care of from the moment we walked in. Sat quickly, nice large table for our group of 5. Shoutout to Alex who knew the menu well and was very attentive. Wafers always filled.

We came here for dinner and made a reservation ahead of time to make sure we had a table, though it…read morelooked like they also offer walk-in bar seating. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and the staff was friendly and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The food was delicious, especially the dessert! We were visiting a friend who recommended this spot, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The atmosphere was lively and energetic, but even with a full house, it was still easy to have a conversation at the table. Overall, a great dining experience and a place we'd happily return to.

This place is a solid 3.5 stars but doesn't hit a 4 because the main dishes were underwhelming…read more We came here on a Monday night and it was pretty busy. They have good drink options which was nice for a group which all had different tastes. We started with appetizers, including the chicken empanadas, the tuna tacos, and ceviche sampler. The chicken empanadas were good, if not particularly memorable. But had a nice crunch on the shell and the inside had a nice savory flavor and not dry. The tuna tacos, which didn't have the most appetizing color, was also tasty. The tuna was tender and balanced well with the crispy shell. The ceviche sampler was also delicious, each one having a different flavor profile. I liked the tigre de leche the best in terms of the acidity and brightness. I just wish the ceviche had some kind of vessel to eat it with. One of the ceviche had plantain chips which was nice but I wanted more. Without it, the texture is just one note. For the main dishes, we got the lomo saltado and the aji de gallina which are two, iconic Peruvian dishes. Both were just meh. The aji was the better of the two. The sauce was flavored well with the creaminess of the sauce not overwhelming the garlic and tumeric flavors. But the rice was SUPER dry, almost crunchy. The lomo saltado was even worse. The beef was overly cooked, some pieces were very sinewy and chewy. It was also overly salty and the veggie to meat ratio heavily favored the veggies and made the dish feel cheap. Overall, it was fine but given the options for Peruvian in DC, not sure this deserves 4 stars+.

If you're looking for the heartbeat of Dupont Circle, this is it. Mission is a D.C. institution for…read morea reason--it's massive, loud, and consistently delivers exactly what you want when you're craving a margarita and a high-energy vibe. Housed in a stunning four-story converted townhouse, the space itself is impressive. Between the rustic wood beams, the huge glass atrium, and the multiple bars, it feels like a high-end saloon that never stops moving. It's the ultimate spot for a birthday, a massive group happy hour, or a rowdy weekend brunch. The Food & Drinks: The Margaritas: You can't come here and not get a marg. Whether you go classic or frozen, they are strong and well-balanced. Their Happy Hour (4-6 PM) is arguably one of the best deals in the neighborhood. Taco Trio: I usually go for the Baja Fish and Carnitas. The fish is crispy, and the tortillas actually hold up to the toppings. Chipotle Chicken Rollups: These are basically a Mission rite of passage. They're the perfect salty, savory bar snack to share with the table while you're a few rounds in. Guacamole & Queso: Solid, reliable, and comes out fast. The chorizo queso is a game-changer if you're looking to go all out. The Experience: The service is impressively fast considering how packed this place gets. Chef Erwin Rodas and the Mission Group team (who also run Mission Navy Yard and The Admiral) have this down to a science. Even when there's a line out the door, the kitchen stays consistent. Pro Tip: If you're planning on Bottomless Brunch, book your table way in advance. It gets wild in the best way possible. If you want a slightly "quieter" experience, try to snag a seat on the outdoor patio for some prime Dupont people-watching.

Unfortunately, not sure where to start, other than truly disappointed…read more We ordered dinner from here tonight, but can't say we'll ever do that again. My husband and I each got the steak fajitas for $24.00 per plate. First off, this is my fajita plate, I haven't even eaten yet, but as you can see, little to no meat can be seen. To make matters worse, the box in which it was sent was leaking from all 4 corners. As if that wasn't bad enough, we were sent taco sized tortillas, not fajita sized, and we were only sent 4. So between two people, there were 4 tiny tortillas to share. For $24.00, I expect to at least have an ounce or two of meat, but our boxes were filled with soggy vegetables, soggy rice, and poorly flavored minuscule bits of meat. I actually had to dig to find the meat. I understand inflation, but there's a difference between inflation and being ripped off or being dishonest about what you sell. I am embarrassed to even be writing such a negative review, but I believe restaurants need to be made aware of incidents like this so they can be addressed. It's possible this isn't their typical practice (and I would hope not); however, it is unacceptable to charge $24.00 for a steak fajita plate that looks like this. Is it because we ordered take out? Was it bad night? Was there a shortage of ingredients? I would have preferred to have been notified that my order couldn't have been fulfilled than to have been charged what we were for dinner tonight. Wish I could tell you we enjoyed our meal, but we didn't. Wish I could tell you that I look forward to visiting it in person, but we won't ever dine from there again. Only positive thing worth writing was that the guacamole was decent. Not exceptional. Not worth ordering again either. Just decent.

Came in recently on a Saturday with a friend. Had read the reviews before and was a little wary,…read morebut I was pleasantly surprised. We actually came in at a great time without realizing it, it was a happy hour, even on the weekend, that started at 9pm I think. Drinks were half off so that was amazing. We each got two margaritas which were great sizes. My only complaint here is that I wish they had more flavors for the on the rocks margaritas. They only have flavors for the frozen margaritas. I ordered the tacos Al carbon which comes with two tacos, but they are big tacos and are white hearty. I got the beef and it was very flavorful. The salsa was mild and didn't seem so authentic, but it was still good. We sat outside and typically I'm nervous about service quality outside, but here, the servers went above and beyond. It was a little chilly the night we went and even then, the staff was super attentive. I think this is a good fun place to go to locally and would be open to trying other menu items on my next visit!

When I first arrived to this restaurant I was surprised that they have on-site parking. It is $5…read moreper car but it does help with not having to fight for parking in Washington DC. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted immediately and sat fairly quick. My waiter was very attentive and did a great job with offering some recommendations. For starters they give you salsa and chips. He recommended trying the cheese which was very tasty. For my entree I had salmon stuffed with crab meat which was amazing. The sauce that they put over it was the star in my opinion. The salmon was cooked very well and was a good portion. I also tried their Margarita/ sangrita which I can tell is a popular drink. If you are into a fruity flavorful drink then this is the one for you. You can order it by the cup or by the pitcher. For dessert I had tres leches cake And it was to die for I'm glad to finally find a tres leches worth $10 a slice. Overall my experience was great. I really recommend coming if ever in Washington DC Salmon 8.5/10 Cheese 9/10 Cake 9/10 Margarita 10/10