Wow, I was very blown away by this unassuming restaurant. The first thing you will notice is that it's tucked away on this street with not much else going on but don't judge...just go find your parking spot. Good news is that there is free street parking. I had to wait for 5-10 min for something to open up because the place was packed. I was shocked by how busy it was on a Monday night. We had a long wait but I'm not sure if this is typical given that it was the week of Christmas We started off with classic margaritas and queso fundido. The queso is topped with this amazing ground sausage with fresh guacamole on the side. The chips come out piping hot. I like that you can order individual tacos so you can mix and match. I hope next time I have room for dessert. Ambiance, service, food and drinks are all 5 stars. The reasonable prices are just the icing on the cake. read more

Clavel - Busy night - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The food here is magical. This is sophisticated Mexican food. Definitely a place to eat in Baltimore.

Clavel is a baltimore gem! The ambience is very chic and can be romantic for a date night! Their happy hour is great but their regular menu is just as stellar! I recommend this restaurant to everyone I know! The tacos are flavorful, fresh chips and guac, ceviche is reallyyyyy good, and the drinks are even better with great attention to the ingredients, presentation, and mixology! It is a popular place so get their when it opens or expect a little bit of a wait but it is worth it! read more

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One of the best Mexican places I've ever been to. You have to get the queso and margaritas when you go! I've tried a bunch of the tacos and they're all so good but my personal favorite is the Barbacoa. Quick service and even though it's a little crowded inside, it's still worth it. They don't take reservations just as an FYI! read more

Lehn & Ish were awesome. Good recommendation . Nice vibe. Food is really good. Overall outstanding experience host to bartender. Highly recommended. read more

Clavel - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Having a get-together at your place? ORDER ONLINE! The taco kits and MARGARITA kits will turn it into a real party. Your friends/ family will be impressed, and well fed. It looks pretty cool inside but I've never dined in. read more

I'm a native angelino - and raised by a Mexican mother- so I have a good palette for the food served. It's a good place if you're born and raised in the east coast and have limited Mexican food places. Otherwise, I might pass. The guacamole and flan is good. The service was a little inattentive and slow for the order we had. My biggest disappointment was portion size, it is very small in my opinion and not as flavorful. Overall, I'd eat here again if I'm too lazy to cook, with a group of friends who are craving Mexican food, or need food after going to W.C Harlan read more

Drinks= mezcalita (spicy) and a tequila and coke. Bring your own straw. They do not provide them. I had the Barbacoa de borrega (lamb)and Carne res tacos. All tender & juicy. Third was a mushroom taco, topped w/cotija cheese. This taco for vegetarian style was very hearty. All were good. Sauces on the table range in heat. Green is mild/pale orange next to pickled onions has a smoky flavor. Cant handle heat? STAY AWAY from the bright orange sauce. Hard stop. It's very loud so make sure you like who you're w/ because you'll be screaming @them. They also do "communal table" seating. My partner ordered 3 cheese quesadillas and added shrimp, nothing groundbreaking. Overall, I'd come back. read more

Clavel - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Unfortunately, it was pick up only, would have loved to go inside but it's 25% capacity so mayor announced also no dining in... we also ordered online. The food was amazing I ordered a carne asada burrito, which was overstuffed and I enjoyed every last bite. I also ordered carne asada taco kit, which came with sides of onions & salsas. Of course i had to order guacamole with fresh tortilla chips that were crispy & so delicious. Even had to order esquite corn layered melted butter, mayonnaise, lemon, queso cotija, & chiltepin. All the ingredients I listed were on the menu. When I come back to Baltimore, Maryland I'm definitely dining in. can't wait!... read more

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We came on a Thursday night 5 minutes before opening at 5pm and waited in the pre-opening line. We were seated right away, got our drinks, ordered, and out food came out super fast. Interior: dim, artful, open space, plenty of seating, bar and dining seats. Gorgeous, great mood. Lit by candles, string lights. For appetizers, we ordered chips with salsa and guacamole and aguachile ceviche. Both were amazing and delicious. I ordered the rajas vegetarian quesadilla and it was delicious. They even fried the tortilla, which was crispy and delicious. (Some places just give an untoasted, cold tortilla and I'm wondering how they're in business). The whole thing was full of flavor. I had about 7 different sauces; 4 are on the sauces on the table, the ceviche sauce, the guacamole and salsa. My taste buds were so happy. We ended with a tres leche cake. Yum! Everything was perfect and delicious. Service was amazing. read more

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It's always a great time at Clavel! Be prepared to wait a while, as it's always packed! But, nothing to worry about, as WC Harlan is just up the street and you can go there to have a delicious cocktail while you await your table at Clavel! The atmosphere at Clavel is laid-back, loud, and hip. Don't go here if you want a quiet night out with your significant other. Rather, go here if you want to have a great time and enjoy great, loud conversation. Drinks are really tasty - very unique and appropriately priced at around $10-12 each. The chips and salsa are worth the $4 - very tasty, fresh chips and a refreshing house salsa. The tacos are the specialty here, as is the ceviche. My favorite tacos are the carne de res and the lamb marinated in coffee. So moist, so flavorful and soooo good, especially when drizzled with the house green and red salsas. Beware, this can get spicy, but it's ok because you can finish off your meal with a piece of tres leches cake! It's always a great time at Clavel! read more

Clavel - Tostada, carne de res taco, and lamb taco - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Came here for a birthday dinner with friends and had a lovely dinner. The queso was a fan favorite and I really enjoyed my tinga de pollo taco - wish I got another one! Parking around hampden can be tight and there is always a wait, however I hope to be back soon! read more

Clavel - Queso Fundido - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We stopped in for dinner last night around 9 on a Saturday. It was pretty busy, but they have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available and the outdoor seating area was very cute. Our server was friendly and the service was fast. We ordered the queso fundido and esquite to start and they were both delicious. The queso also comes with beans and guacamole and the beans and queso combo was chefs kiss. I got the quesadilla with the added rajas vegetarianas taco filling of poblanos, onions, corn, and crema and it was absolutely delicious. There was a perfect amount of spice, cheese, and vegetables and it was really good with guacamole as well. For dessert we got the flan and it did not disappoint. It had a great salty caramel flavor and perfect texture. I would definitely come back. read more

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Stop everything you're doing when you see this review and get to Clavel. Yelp has clearly made a typo in my name, it's not actually Christine- it's Clavel. I am officially a taco and I'm glad to fully take on this life. Clavel just gets it! Not only do they get it, they get it right. I've only been twice but the first time I went I tried to go again in the evening for a late night snack. I got the margarita which is $4 off during happy hour m-f 5-7 and a mezcalita which isn't on happy hour but AMAZING. I got three tacos; tinga.barabcoa de borrego and carne plain. I know that says plain but there's nothing plain about it, you do also have three other options to dance it up but I like to try things as is the first time. The richness and boldness in the flavor is one of a kind. The tacos were so filled with their respective meat toppings and sit perfectly on the corn tortilla. It was all so fresh and delicious. The vibe makes you really feel like you're in Tulum with their aesthetic. I came with a girlfriend cod happy hour the first time and alone the second time but sat at the bar both times because it was super busy and I didn't want to wait for a table. The only drawbacks are parking and how tight it can get in there during prime time but it's all so worth it! I hope you too, will become a taco after reading this review as you wait for your table. read more

Clavel - Margarita - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I really liked this place! Went there on a taco Tuesday which im not sure was the best idea lol but the food and drinks defiantly made it worth it. Kind of tight in there once it gets packed but let me tell you, the food was so worth it! They have it set up where you can watch the cooks make your food while you wait which i thought was pretty dope! Been a true California baby, my standards for tacos are slightly higher than others. Let me just say,,, they passed! from the authentic sauces served with each taco, to the hand made tortillias . Drinks were strong but they dont have much of a selection of alcohol just a lot of light liquor read more

What can I say. Had to come all the way from California to have my Mexicali taste buds blown. And the cocktails...bartender's beso!!!

Really cool spot, brings in the essence of Baltimore. The beautiful interior decor distracts from the industrial nature of the neighborhood. Got here at 6:00 with a party of 5, had a 2 hour wait but this wasn't an issue as we visited WC Harlen down the street while also returning for a beer before we were sat. Once sitting the food was fantastic had the server pick out a taco assortment and it worked out perfect. Great spot for vibes, food, and drink at an affordable price. read more

I have dreams about their Queso Fundido with chorizo. It's a must-try at this restaurant. Expect a wait time, but Its worth it. read more

Clavel - Queso fundido with chorizo - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Love their margs and happy hour! Queso fundido was so good as well as the tuna pina ceviche! Tacos have a nice variety tried a few but not as tasty as the apps. read more

The food at Clavel is amazing. Each item is carefully placed in its own container, making pick-up quick and simple. The restaurant has two sections, so if you're here for pick-up, use the left-hand door. The interior is beautiful, with just the right lighting, and the employees are very kind. read more

I know every other review already says how amazing this place is. I'll add another. Also loved the meal pickup orders during COVID.

One of my favorite spots in Baltimore. The tacos taste awesome and are very creative but the service can lack at times as the place gets really busy. read more

I've been hearing about Clavel for a LONG time and it absolutely lives up to the hype. It's ridiculously hard to find quality Mexican food in Baltimore, let alone a place that specializes in Oaxacan. We loved our tacos so much that we ordered more. I got two carnitas tacos, the Ahi + pineapple ceviche, and a corn tamale with beans (sans cheese). My friend got the chicken, carnitas, and barbacoa. They have a great selection of cocktails but I ended up getting a non-alcoholic drink. We also got there around 5:15pm on a Wednesday so no wait! Everyone was super friendly. read more

Clavel - Barbacoa, chicken, and carnitas tacos with corn tamal - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Amazing ambiance, great margaritas, delicious food great taste. Courteous staff. I came for Happy Hour and would definitely return. read more

Clavel - Queso Fundido and Margarita - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Wonderful atmosphere, great service and outrageously delicious food. Ordered a chicken quesadilla, Atun con pina ceviche and jinjis mezcal chocolate. The flavor profiles of each dish were unique, amazingly decadent and filling as well as aesthetically pleasing. I highly recommend read more

Went to Clavel for dinner over the weekend. The outdoor seating options were great. Food was excellent and came out incredibly quick (we ordered, sat down, and it was delivered to our table in minutes). Spicy marg and mezcalita were delicious. It was our first time here and we were pumped to say the least. We've heard many good things about this place. I wish we had more time to enjoy the atmosphere and food. The only thing I would say left a lot to be desired was the service, or lack thereof. Hostess was not friendly and didn't explain the new ordering process. During checkout we felt incredibly rushed to order even though the moment we got to the counter to order was our first time seeing the menu. It also felt like we were being rushed out after 20 minutes and dropping $75. Overall, the food and drinks were amazing! If you're looking for a great marg this is your spot. read more

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The best tacos and ceviche in Baltimore! Maybe Maryland or the entire DMV area! I actually did a happy dance when eating my fish taco. They don't have just one ceviche, there are 10 different options! Their chips are even noteworthy! The tacos are amazing and lots of interesting combos. You can't miss out on the drinks either. Tons of NA options and indulgences for those who drink! read more

You can never seem to go wrong with Clavel. As long as you're ok with the no reservations (and I love their waiting room btw), this place is, hands down, my favorite in Baltimore. That Mezcalita with the heat is just something else. I am not sure what is in it, but I want it with every meal! The tacos were also on point - the red sauce made my mouth burn but in a good way! The service was great, the ambiance is fun. Just go here if you want to have a good time! read more

Most authentic Mexican I've found in this area. Great drinks! This place fills fast on the weekends, so be ready to stand in line. read more

I took a work trip to Baltimore earlier this month and had dinner at Clavel with a group of English teachers who were hosting me at their high school. It was a fun place to hang out with five very nice people I'd just met--a busy, vibrant restaurant with great food and drink. Oh, the good old days of two weeks ago. Clavel is popular and doesn't take reservations, so we arranged to meet there right at 5:00, when doors opened. There were already a number of other parties waiting when we arrived, though not so many that we didn't all get seated right away. The space was attractive and service was good, prompt and friendly. There was an extensive, tempting drink menu, loaded with mezcal cocktails I'm sure I would've loved, but I satisfied myself with a couple of creative zero-proof drinks. The Curandero was sour and refreshing, with a little heat, made with house tres chiles shrub, lime, Topo Chico, and chile salt. The Misol Há was a sweet, aromatic drink with almond orgeat, oat milk, orange blossom water, and house tortilla ash. The food was quite tasty. We ordered a bunch of things to share then got our own tacos, and this seemed like the way to go. My favorite thing here might have been the queso fundido with chorizo, a dish of melty queso Chihuaha served with chips, guacamole and beans. Decadent and flavorful, and whatever they put in those frijoles (lard, probably) really hit the spot. I also enjoyed the chicharrones, crunchy pork rinds with guacamole. The aguachile rojo was a solid ceviche of wild Pacific shrimp and striped bass, cured in lime with chile guajillo, chiltepin, cucumber, and topopos. The only disappointment was the esquite, which I thought would be a sure thing--corn layered with Mexican crema, melted butter, mayonnaise, lime, chiltepin, and queso cotija. The corn wasn't the best, and the preparation was kind of watery. I enjoyed my tacos, which were meaty and satisfying, served on decent tortillas. The cochinita pibil was pork cooked with bitter oranges and achiote, always a favorite of mine. The barbacoa de borrego was hearty house-butchered lamb in Mexican coffee, Negra Modelo, and spices. The tinga de pollo was chicken stewed in chile guajillo, árbol, chipotle, and tomato. I ordered the house pickled jalapeño as an accompaniment, and this was worthwhile--I love vinegar and spice with my tacos. I got a slice of tres leches cake for dessert, and this was delicious, milky and spongey and sweet. It was an excellent end to a lovely dinner at Clavel. If you're in Baltimore, I'd highly recommend getting some tacos and tres leches for pick-up or delivery, as well as dining in when we can go out to eat again. read more

A fun and magical place of mezcal and tacos! Get here early because it gets packed! Me and a friend sat at the bar and had a couple of cocktails, mezcal flights and tacos. All of it was delicious and amazing! The head bartender also took time to go over the mezcal flights and enjoyed the crickets as well. Definitely worth checking out and experiencing. read more

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AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! This is all I can say because dining here, the ambiance took me back to standing at the side of the taco cart in Mexico as we eat from plastic covered plates. The softest corn tortillas, my first time trying lengua and it was spectacular. I would say the drinks were not great. And I do like mezcal so it wasn't that I'm unfamiliar. The service was fantastic as well. read more

This is a fun spot to have a dinner with a friend or go on a date. The ambiance is nice, very low light, for a romantic evening! Be sure to get there early, there is usually a wait and they do not accept reservations. There is a small bar area in the back where you can wait for your table, however the place does get packed pretty quickly. Parking: the parking is street parking in the neighborhood, we were able to find one in the alley out front, however we got there right at 5pm before the rush! Drinks: they have a delicious selection of mix cocktails and mock-tails, I'm a big fan! One of the reason I come here. Food: the food is good, perfect size for sharing, except tacos. Everything is seasoned well and has lots of good flavors, their house made hot orange hot sauce is my favorite thing here, it has nice heat after you eat it, it pairs well with the chips and queso. read more

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Clavel is a consistent favorite of mine. The lamb taco (slightly spicy) is a new pick for me but I will certainly be back again for it, however the shrimp quesadilla is AMAZING and I've been ordering it for years. The cuisine is spectacular every time. However, it's no secret that Clavel's wait time is pretty long. An hour wait is typical and a 2 hour wait is not unheard of. I believe this is an aspect of the Clavel experience that could use improvement, but regardless, Clavel is a restaurant worth trying. I'll be back! read more

Clavel - Margarita and cocktail - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I came 15 mins before opening to get a seat since I heard this place is so popular and there was already a line! Definitely a beautiful place but the lighting is terrible in my opinion. It was very dark and I had to use my phone to even see the menu. Onto the food- the queso fundido is a 10/10 and very delicious, especially with the chorizo. I had a cochinita pibil quesadilla. It was well-made, but not really more special than a regular chicken quesadilla. I would give it a 7/10. However, the service was very slow and it took about an hour to get my entree. I understand that it was busy, but for how popular this place is, I thought they would have a system in place to make the service smoother. Overall, I would rate this place a 7/10. I think the food can be easily replicated at other Mexican restaurants and you don't need to go out of your way for this place. read more

The best Mexican food in Washington, D.C. is in Baltimore and it's worthy of a sixth star, Yelp. Located in the south side of the Remington neighborhood, it has that industrial, "where am I" feel to it starting the experience off perfectly. It opens right at 5PM and doesn't take reservations, but if you show up between 5-5:45PM, you should get a table. Grab one of the many spots of street parking nearby and walk toward a seemingly bland looking building with small lights strung to the roof and a small "Clavel" sign above the entrance. The hostess will greet you and take you to one of two places. The main dining room is simple with small lights gracing the ceiling. It's minimalist approach is very Nordac and works. If they don't take you to this room, they may seat you at one of the two bars. If not, you're led into a much more warehouse-esque room with high ceilings, a glass garage door, and an elevated small bar for private events. This is where we dined. To start the food experience, order a drink. It's a must. Their original margarita and spicy margarita are perfectly mixed and strong (in an inviting way). To accompany some of the best drinks in Baltimore, order a queso fundido with their chorizo. Trust me- you'll find yourself ordering a second. The best part is all of this is on happy hour prices if you go right when they open. Once you've already wined and dined, move onto the entree portion. Truly, order anything and you won't go wrong. If you are more adventurous, they have ceviches and more unique tacos like beef tongue. If you like to play it safe like me, they have all your usual suspects from barbacoa to carne asada. The stands out for me in the taco category were the Huitlacoche (vegetarian), Carne de Res, and the Al Gobernador (my favorite!). Since we were celebrating a birthday, they brought out a piece of their Tres Leches cake on the house. It was perfectly creamy and moist (contrary to the often dry tres leches cake elsewhere). Clavel was one of the best overall dining experiences I've had on the East Coast (and I've dined in every major city on the East Coast). To top it all of, they have amazing service as well! I'll make that hour drive any day of the week from DC to Clavel. read more

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Staff is great. Atmosphere is warm and cozy and makes you feel like you could spend forever there with your people, chatting away. We tried 5 different tacos and they're all great, my favorite was probably the shrimp. They make a nice Paloma as well. read more

Very popular "hole-in-the-wall" looking place now during COVID due to the outdoor benches. We stood in a socially distanced line outdoors towards a food truck and there's limited seating so it took about 30-40 minutes to grab a table. I tried the carne asada quesadilla and the appetizer melted cheese with chorizo. The food came out really hot. The carne asada quesidilla was extremely tasty and the steak was tender and flavorful. The cheese appetizer was tasty but I felt that the cheese with the chips with were a bit too greasy. I wish that they gave us water with our food, but understand that the kinks in the midst of a pandemic still need to be worked out. read more

Clavel - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I love this restaurant! The interior is nicely decorated with some fairly lights and potted green plants here and there-- it's a comfortable, casual environment to talk to friends or for a date. The food is really well done--it's absolutely the best Mexican food I've had in Baltimore so far. The ceviche was really fresh and had a bright and fresh flavors that weren't too acidic. The quesadilla had the perfect crispy crunch and a generous amount of cheese inside. The meat on the tacos are seasoned well and cooked well (nothing had a chewy or overcooked texture). One thing I'll do the next time I visit is choose a taco with some cilantro as one of the ingredients (because I love cilantro). In other places, all the tacos I've had before have come with some sort of pico de gaillo or cilantro on the side, but this was the first time I was kind of missing that extra kick. The tres leches cake was good, but not as spectacular as the other items on the menu. I was surprised at how affordable the food on the menu is given the quality of food you're getting. The tacos were only about $4 a piece and the quesadilla about $7 (with a taco filling of your choice). My boyfriend and I ordered 2 tacos each, shared a quesadilla, a large ceviche order ($16), and a slice of tres leches cake and we were satisfied, but I could've definitely had another taco to be full. The large ceviche order wasn't as much food as I hoped for (I wanted more because it was so good!)-- the plate/bowl it came in was about the width of a doughnut. read more

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Great food and vibes! The wait is usually around ~1 hour. Service is okay. Very authentic Mexican food with ingredients from Oaxaca!