Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Chucho

    3.6 (746 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order El Chucho Takeout or Delivery

    El Chucho Photos

    EL CHUCHO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Hipster
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like El Chucho

    Recommended Reviews - El Chucho

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Piece of hairnet in the queso
    Anna S.

    I wasn't super impressed by El Chucho. If you love mezcal, this place should definitely be on your list though and this was the main reason we ended up here on a Sunday for dinner. The collection is vast and they do mezcal flights. However, I wasn't in love with the tacos. The tortillas were bland and flavorless and the al pastor filling was minced meat instead of the traditional thinly sliced. It also didn't come with the pina salsa which is to be expected on an al pastor tacos. Even worse, we found a piece of a hairnet inside the queso. At first we thought it was a hair and when we said something, the server said it's just a piece of a hairnet... as if that was supposed to make things better. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want anything in my food other than food. Service all around was slow and disjointed. We were seated outside and it was clear that the server in our section was brand new and overwhelmed. We waited a long time for drinks, silverware, etc. After the hairnet incident, another person came to help us who was a lot more efficient but not very personable. I wouldn't return here in the future.

    AL PASTOR (2 TACOS), ASADA (2 TACOS), COSTILLA CON MOLE (2 TACOS)
    Thomas N.

    Really good taco spot and for fix. They have a really good happy hour deal with food and drinks special which I recommend. Vibe is cool and service is fast!

    Tacos (chicken and al pastor)
    Kyle W.

    Chill bar with a great all day Monday happy hour special. Plenty of seating inside and outside. This place has a great Paloma for sure. One of my favorite places in town to get elote. Tacos are solid, nothing to rave about. Chicken taco on happy hour is my preferred. Need to go back and try non HH items, but am in no rush

    BRUNCH BIRRIA TACOS! Get the hot sauce!
    Leah C.

    Came here for brunch and really enjoyed it. Got the bottomless brunch which was a really good deal for DC and must say probably some of the best margaritas I have had in the dmv. They do time you for your two hours so be aware of that, but they did give a heads up with like 5 mins left if we wanted to get one last round. Never felt rushed by any means. I got the Birria brunch option and was happy with my choice, though not the best Birria by any means that I've had but think most will be satisfied. The hot sauce was in house made and thought it was da bomb! Really loved it. Actually hot and good flavor. My partner got the torta and it really wasn't anything special. I would call it a pass. Overall I did really enjoy it here and would recommend for drinks and trying some tacos.

    POLLO (2 TACOS)
    Ashleigh B.

    We were deciding between here & El Sol; but El Chucho was the place that was personally recommended. After a terrible experience at El Sol, we drove straight here to try their chicken tacos. Honestly, It was mediocre at best. I wouldn't eat at or recommend El Sol nor El Chucho. 3/23

    Ian C.

    Everything about El Chucho is great! The atmosphere is eclectic and fun. The food is solid, and there's no shortage of great drink options. It's a great place to go on a chill date or catch up with friends. Combine all of the above with regular happy hours and late night specials (starting at 10pm), El Chucho is a great neighborhood Mexican spot!

    POLLO (2 TACOS)
    Nikhil R.

    Let me start off with the good. The food is incredible. Everything we had was excellent. Let me also just get the bat out of the way. The restaurant at a 1.95% surcharge on all checks, however, the issue is that the surcharge is actually not 1.95%. It is closer to 2% or 2.1% . This is a little scummy by the establishment. However, like I said, the food is excellent. We started off with the queso fundido. This had so much flavor with the fresh tomatoes and onions on top, but the Cheez itself was grilled beautifully. The tortillas were also double layers and tasted fresh and homemade. Then we got some tacos. The duck tacos are by far the best that this place has. Super crispy and flavorful duck. That taco lives rent free in my mind. The Ahi tuna taco was also very unique as I had not tried this before. Seared ahi tuna was cooked really well. I do wish they had served this with some lime to bring it together. Finally, we tried the chicken tacos. These were also excellent, however, I personally prefer Pollo Asado over shredded chicken. Again, I think if they added a salsa or some lime, this would really bring the dish together well. The mango Agua fresco was delicious. Refreshing, bubbly, but they only give you a small quantity and fill it to the brim with ice. Service overall was fine. They came by once to fill up our water, and maybe two other times to just check on us. The atmosphere is also excellent. They have an upstairs enclosed heated area, which was nice to get away from the rowdiness at the bar downstairs. Overall, I would come back just for the queso as well as the duck tacos.

    Taqutios, AL PASTOR (2 TACOS)
    Julia G.

    Came here with my husband and I friend and would definitely come back. Food was good and reasonably priced. We sat outside on their terrace and got a few refills on our drinks. They're dog friendly so I also enjoyed watching the pups.

    AHI TUNA (2 TACOS)
    Tara L.

    I've only been here a couple of times, but each time I left fully satisfied. The first time I dined her, we ate outside under their tented seating. It was on a weeknight so they weren't terribly busy, but the there was still enough energy for it to feel vibrant. I ordered the ahi tuna tacos and they were bangin'. The portion was perfect and the seared ahi tuna was topped with pineapple salsa, pickled shallots, avocado and drizzled with jalapeno-cilantro aioli. The blend of flavors did a happy dance on my tongue with each bite, making devilishly delicious as well as satisfying. I also really love the selection of agua frescas. When I'm in the mood for a non-alcoholic option, I'll order the hibiscus and find it so refreshing that it's become my go-to beverage when dining here. So although I've only recently discovered El Chucho (when my best friend moved down the street) it's quickly becoming a fave!

    Birria Queso Taco
    Dave W.

    Found this place on Yelp...and I'm glad I did! It's a tiny place, but it was a nice night and they have a big patio, so we sat out there. The salsa was better than nearly any other restaurant I can remember. The elote was amazing! Our server suggested the flautas and that was an excellent recommendation! I had the asada tacos - they were good but a little dry. My daughter really enjoyed the birria quesa-taco. Overall, a really tasty dining experience! And it's super inexpensive!

    Ceviche, al pastor tacos, shrimp tacos, carnitas tacos

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fløyd L.
    82
    336
    830

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Doug K.
    142
    13
    0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    I got food poisoning on Thursday from here I had the al pastor and brira tacos during happy hour.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kaya E.
    2435
    554
    1775

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 2
    Love this 8
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Bottomless brunch is an amazing deal and so yummy! Wait staff is friendly, and the vibes are good.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The cocktails are great, the food is wonderful and priced well. Love going here regularly!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 19

    El Chucho Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Chucho

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 37,351 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Bar Betsie - Back area

    Bar Betsie

    (66 reviews)

    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

    The Alchemist DC - Bubble machine!

    The Alchemist DC

    (117 reviews)

    U Street Corridor

    Just stepped into The Alchemist DC -- crowned Best Bar in DC in both 2024 & 2025 -- and now I see…read moreexactly why it holds the title. The space feels part-speakeasy, part-laboratory, where every cocktail is crafted with intention, story, and a little bit of magic. Their mixology roots run deep, drawing on technique + creativity to deliver flavors that feel familiar yet completely new. Here's what I tried (and loved): Lavender Killer Sally -- light + floral with a hint of citrus, beautifully balanced and so easy to sip Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned -- warm + cozy, with notes of brown sugar + ripe banana; it tastes like a dessert you can drink Shared Secrets -- a gin-based peach sangria poured straight from a French press, releasing more fruit + aromatics right at the table -- interactive and delicious Latte Martini -- smooth, creamy, and bold with espresso; a perfect pick for coffee-cocktail lovers Butterscotch Russo -- sweet + silky with rich butterscotch notes; comforting without being too heavy If you're hunting for a cocktail bar that's equal parts craft + creativity, The Alchemist NEEDS to be on your list. 1334 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009 Save this post for your next night out + follow @daithefoodie for more food + drink gems across the DMV! #dmv #datenightdc #dcdatenight #speakeasybar #speakeasydc #dccocktailbars #dcbars #dcbarscene

    We visited The Alchemist in DC and ordered the Banana Bread Rum Old Fashioned and a Fireplace…read morethemed cocktail with chocolate and cherry notes. Both were disappointing. The drinks tasted watered down and unbalanced. The banana flavor in mine was dull and overripe rather than fresh and vibrant. The smoke and fire presentation was nice, but the actual cocktails did not justify the $25 price point. The restroom was unacceptable. There was urine on the floor, a strong foul odor, and the surface was slippery. For a speakeasy positioning itself as upscale, this was a major miss. The space is very small and service was just okay. Overall, the concept has potential, but the execution did not meet expectations. I will not be returning.

    Death & Co DC - Fool's Gold

    Death & Co DC

    (111 reviews)

    $$$

    Shaw, Downtown

    I've been eyeing this bar for several weeks now, and the other day, I finally decided it was time…read moreto give them a try. I know reservations are probably highly recommended, but we were fortunate to walk in at just the right moment and snag a seat. The seating is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening. The atmosphere is just my style, an elegant, dark, grown and sexy vibe that really sets the mood. The decor is striking, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting space to unwind. While it leans a bit on the pricier side, the exceptional service more than justifies the cost. Jordan and the team were incredibly knowledgeable about both the drinks and food menu, offering suggestions that perfectly matched our tastes. We tried two standout drinks that I can't recommend enough: the Attractive Nuisance and El Tiburon, (which is an Old Fashioned made with gin). The bartenders here clearly know what they're doing, each drink was crafted with care and precision. The good music in the background added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful spot to spend an evening.

    Bar scene so sexy, you decided to add it permanently on your date night list! Come along as I…read morereview Death & Co DC!!!! Ambiance: from the outside you'd have no idea that a hidden treasure awaits you up a flight of stairs. The decor was very mysterious, perfectly dimmed, and sexy. They added greenery near the hostess station to create what I would describe as an exotic/jungle vibe. This area also contained a beautiful small bar and a few cozy seatings. Next, the hostess led us to a table inside where the magic of candles, cozy tables, and intimate booths immediately meets your eyes. Did I mention that we sat in most comfy green velvet chairs in our cozy booth? How sexy! Service: our waiter, Jordan, was the best! He provided great service and recommendations. However, shoutout to the rest of the staff because it was truly all hands on deck. Drinks: the bartender is indeed a mixologist! There is no question of the magic he created in a glass. Her drink- I ordered the Attractive Nuisance, an elevated spritz. The drink was perfectly balanced with flavors to include G.H. Mumm Champagne, Avua Prata Cachaca, Cocchi Americano, Saffron, Vanilla. I literally tasted all the flavors in the drink and the liquor ratio was just right. Of course I went with another round, you simply have to try it understand why I did. His drink: El Tiburón-Let's just say that he said that this is now one of his favorite cocktails because it was smooth! Small bites: the kitchen was out of mussels and their famous donuts so we decided to try the Franks en Crute, the sexy adult version of pigs in a blanket lol. Such a delicious treat, well balanced flavors giving both sweet (flaky puff pastry) and savory (well grilled wagyu beef). Definitely recommend. The music was perfect for the evening! The bar was filled with all matured folks enjoying their group meets or dates, the atmosphere welcomed all. As I stated earlier, this has now become a regular on the list and I'm excited to visit again.

    El Chucho - mexican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...