This place is more of a HH dive bar, the margaritas at regular price are not really worth it. You can find cheaper in DC. However, on HH at $6 it's the perfect price point. The tacos dos at $3.5 is a good deal too. The al pastor tacos were sweet and a little under seasoned, which made them a bit off-putting. When I think pork tacos I think salty, savory and spicy. Also at 6:34 my waiter came back to check on me and I guess HH stopped at 6:30. No where on the menu does it indicate that and she didn't even give a last call, forewarning or try to accommodate me for the lack of heads up. Small things like that will make you not revisit a place. read more

El Chucho - No Happy Hour time indicated - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A very cute place. I really like the set up of the whole restaurant. It is small and nice. However the service was not that good. I'm pretty sure our waiter was high. Anyways I ordered the Asada tacos and it was so tiny. Taste wise, it was mediocre at best. However I will say that their chips and guacamole is really good. The guac was amazing, although it was like almost 10 bucks which is a little excessive. My main complaint is that I was disappointed by their taco proportions. . I will be back for the chips and guac for sure. read more

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Amazing food and beverage, and very attentive service. Such nice people. Great atmosphere. Unfortunately, they have a cockroach problem. It was gross to see multiple roaches climbing the walls and the seating area. I'm hoping that management can take care of this problem. If they do, I will be happy to return. read more

i ain't got sh** to say here except if maya's on the sticks behind the bar it's a great time and drinks will be A1

I've never had a bad experience at el Chucho. Situated in a cute strip of restaurants in Columbia Heights, this restaurant serves classic Mexican food with a lengthy drink menu. The chips and salsa are a fantastic way to start the meal. The chicken tacos are pretty good as well. The horchata is yummy as well. Definitely try this place out if you're not sure where to go for a good Mexican food experience. You can't go wrong and everything on the menu is affordable. The service was great and quick. read more

El Chucho is easily one of my favorite spots in DC and I love taking friends here when they visit from out of town! It's perfect for anytime of the day: brunch is amazing, happy hour is spectacular, and the late night menu is exactly what you need after a few of their awesome margaritas. It's not even uncommon for me to grab the elote to go when I'm walking past the place (it's seriously the best elote I've ever had). During happy hour be sure to grab the pollo huaraches and $4 Mexican craft beer! You can read all the other reviews about the tacos an guac (for the record, I'm a big fan), but be sure to check out the whole menu. My girlfriend and I love sharing the fried cheese as an appetizer, their ceviche is magnificent & you shouldn't leave without getting some churros with chocolate. read more

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I've been to E Chucho three times and I really enjoy this place! I have two favorites that I get every time I come here and I'm not ashamed that I don't try new things. 1. If you like elotes, ORDER AN ELOTE. It's amazing! The cheese, the mayonnaise (which is actually a sauce made in house is delicious), and the little hint of spice is worth coming here only for the elotes. 2. The Huaraches Trio is phenomenal! It's a little more filling than a taco but just as flavorful. My favorite is the chicken. I find the beef to be a little too spicy but I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy levels. The margaritas here are also very good and they're happy hour menu is great if you actually get here for happy hour. Seriously, check this place out. read more

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I always sit at the bar and the staff is friendly! Rooftop is great too. The frozen margarita machine has been broken a few times which is a bummer because they are so GOOD! Food is excellent and atmosphere is very chill. Projector to watch games isn't high def but still really fun. Would recommend a visit! read more

Stopped by here after not being there for a few years. I am glad to report that it is much improved. I always liked the drinks, but the food menu was kind of small And dull. They have greatly expanded both the food and drink menu. They added a delicious tuna taco and tuna ceviche. I am happy to report they still have my favorite Jack Rose drink, but also have an enhanced selection of Mexcal drinks. I much prefer this to Espista Mexcaleria in Shaw which has a similiar concept, because this has a cooler laid back neighborhood feel to it! read more

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I absolutely love the drinks here. The other night on a Tuesday the bar was pretty busy and It took a minute for us to get a server's attention. The staff was super friendly and fast after we were noticed. Definitely get the chili salt it's such a spicy kick to the sweet margs. read more

I have been to El Chucho several times, but this review is for my bottomless happy hour visit. First off, I definitely got my money's worth. I had several margaritas, tacos, chips & guac, huaraches, and the bartender slipped us a couple of shots. The food here is really a well kept secret - they have really solid carne asada tacos and the chicken tacos are the best I've had in the city. I'm not a fan of the sweet crema on the pescado tacos, but the fish is cooked well and it tastes good without the sauce. The shrimp tacos are also nice and tasty. The guac is fresh and at a perfect mashed level. On tap margaritas provide consistency, and they also have frozen margaritas as well (though sadly the machine is often broken or the frozen margaritas aren't available). This is a fun neighborhood bar and a great easy place to come grab some good drinks and food! read more

El Chucho - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

El Chucho is a really cute Mexican restaurant located down in NW. Their Happy Hour is petty good, super cheap prices for food and drinks, however I am not sure that the drinks are of quality. Also, we were seated and not greeted for at least 10-15 minutes. It wasn't that the service was not good once we were served, but the first impression is always a lasting one. I do appreciate that they were accommodating when a few of my friends showed up--they set a table for them downstairs and they were able to enjoy a meal. The place also seemed pretty cleaned and sanitized, too! read more

Came here for the brunch special & was wildly disappointed. The portions are small and the drinks are watered down. The churrasco was ordered medium well and was served almost rare. There are better brunch options in D.C; for a $21.95 fixed brunch price, this place isn't worth it. read more

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Truly don't know a better or more authentic Mexican spot! Ceviche is a must, as is their Al pastor and tuna tacos. The birria is to die for!! Thank you for always serving us the most delicious meals, we look forward to our meals here each time we come back read more

Pretty tasty and fun spot in Columbia Heights. Pros: I'm a vegetarian, so I almost always get the veggie hurraches. They are REALLY good, but kind of small if you're super hungry or a guy. I'm a somewhat petit so they're perfect for me. I've also always had nice service here. Try to get upstairs if you can! It's pretty cool up there. If you're looking for a deal, their house margaritas are only 5$. Cons: The chips and salsa aren't free, so that's kind of sad. They are pretty cheap on the menu, but it's kind of meh. Also, the bathroom was absolutely disgusting. I've been in some nasty bathrooms in my life, and I was kind of surprised that it is legal in DC for a restaurant to have a bathroom looking like that. Overall, I would go back if I was in Columbia Heights. But I don't know if I would take my mom there, it's a bit grody. read more

Oh my this pace is great. The drinks? Check. The service? Double check. And the food. To die for. The Birria tacos here are phenomenal. I also love their pastor tacos. I just wish they didn't ground the pork in them but that's me being picky lol. Definitely worth having. I docked a star only because they never seat the rooftop. read more

Came here for happy hour with some friends recently and we all enjoyed it. We got a table upstairs which was nice and shaded, but still pretty warm since it's outside and summertime. We all got some drinks and split some chips and salsa and guac. We didn't try anything else since it was just happy hour, but I saw some tacos go by that looked pretty good. Fun spot when the weather is nice! read more

I really like El Chucho. It's tiny and very popular, so expect a crowd. Staff has been awesome both times that I visited. Regular prices and happy hour prices are extremely reasonable. I'd probably give four stars, except that the frozen margaritas on happy hour are not great. Tasty, yes, though my strawberry habanero lacked any kind of spiciness, and it also lacked any alcohol content. Now, before you say "Lia, what did you expect from something out of a machine?", I challenge you to visit Little Miss Whiskey's or Jimmy Valentine's, and then pose that question. After two margaritas, I should feel something, but all I felt was sadly sober. I do love the food here. I've had the chips with salsa and guacamole, al pastor tacos, and calabacita tacos (rajas, squash blossoms, fried zucchini, black garlic). The chips are thick and crispy, the salsa and guac tasty. Al pastor tacos are flavorful with a good quantity of meat. And if you're vegetarian, you cannot go wrong with the calabacita tacos--the zucchini was very lightly battered and fried, so it still tasted like zucchini, and was sprinkled with plenty of cotija. I'd go back anytime for food and to try a non-frozen drink. read more

I'll be back asap. Let me start with that. This place was amazing. Insanely nice selection of tequila in the bar. The front wall of the building completely opens up to let the light and fresh air in. The owner has a passion for tequila and the food, as he recommended some good choices to me. I also overheard him explaining some of the tequilas to other customers and everyone was extremely engaged. The food was so fresh and nice. I ordered the asada tacos, four of them actually lol. I also ordered one of the blue tequila based drinks and it was delicious. Watching the bartender make the drink was pretty cool, too. This ain't no college bar - they know what they're doing and they take it seriously. Overall, go take a look and enjoy yourself. You won't be disappointed. read more

El Chucho - One side of the tequila bar. Amazing selection! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I really wanted to like El Chucho- it's hard for me to turn down Mexican food, and adding a full bar to the mix seems like an excellent idea! However, I think after my 2 visits, El Chucho and I are on the outs. It mostly comes down to bad service. I know that any restaurant can have an off night, but both times that I was there, the service was so disappointing. On my first visit, the hostess seemed so put off by a simple question about whether there was upstairs seating available-if looks could kill, I think my friends and I would not have made it through the night. Once we did get seated, I noticed that it took a while to get a waiter's attention, and since this happened on both of my visits, I chalk it up to a level of understaffing or poor floor management. I will say that the servers were friendly once they arrived, but the wait seemed like too long. I think the food highlights had to be the churros and margaritas. I thought the tacos were decent, but maybe my years in California have spoiled me and paying too much for only "ok" tacos seems like a travesty. I do like the retro restaurant decor, and maybe I would recommend it for people looking for a good happy hour location. Yet, I think there are probably a lot of places I would advise you to visit first before going to El Chucho. read more

After a few visits, I tried giving this place the benefit of the doubt each time, but I just can't anymore. First, let's start with the positives: the tacos are extremely delicious--tripas and carne asada tacos are jam packed with flavor that I ordered quite a few. The guacamole and salsa are also a good appetizer before the meal and set you up nicely for their tacos. Other than this, el chucho is a nice yet small Mexican restaurant in Colombia heights, but they really need better service and better alcohol. The hostesses here also need better estimation on when you will be seated after waiting--saying 10 more min. after 30 min is fine the first time but not multiple times. Also I hope that they can improve on their drinks because their frozen margaritas and regular margaritas taste like virgin margaritas! They don't even creep on you. Overall, el chucho has so much potential and hope to come back one day, but not in the near future. read more

DC needs more places like El Chucho. To be honest, the food here isn't amazing. The carne asada is :meh:, the chicken tacos are a little too bland to my liking, and the al pastor could use a little more kick to it (but is still pretty good and better than the nearby Taqueria DF). So why then do I wish there were more places here like it? Because it is one of the few places where I feel like you pay for what you get. The price of the tacos (2 for $5) is similar to a cheap place, and the food matches that price. Throw in the nice ambiance and wide drink options, and you have yourself a restaurant that's worth visiting frequently. To sum up: Al pastor tacos: 4 stars Carne Asada tacos: 2-3 stars Chicken tacos: 2 stars Drinks: 4-5 stars Service: 2-3 stars (it can be slooooow) Value: 4-5 stars read more

So it was Cinco de Mayo and I thought, "Yes! Let's go to El Chucho's, friends!!" Wellll, it was okay. Love: + friendly staff. I understand the wait would be long but the team was nice about it and worked to accommodate people. + nice patio area for non-cinco days. I'd love to snag a spot at the counter that faces outside! Not so love: + tiny area inside + margs were a letdown. For ~$8 all of ours felt watered down and not worth the price. This experience was mediocre which is a shame with it being Cinco de Mayo, but I have hopes that other days aren't like this and I'll probably be back to give the food a taste. read more

I'm about 93.7% sure that I had a personal inappropriate moment while and after eating that corn. It was orgasmic. I couldn't put it down after the first bite. Amaaaazing! Okay, you get the point. Went for Cinco de Mayo and wasn't disappointed. Besides the corn, I tasted the chicken taco which was marinated well, the guac which was nice and creamy and the spicy queso/salsa which are essentially fried mozzarella balls on a bed of spicy salsa...that one was just okay. I LOVE tequila so any place that has a substantial tequila list with flights is a-ok in my book. I sampled some new ones to add to my summer drink list! The vibe is cool and it attracts a varied crowd. They have a rooftop which is always a plus. The service was awesome - our server was very attentive. The happy hour specials are awesome...most items you probably really want become half off at 4...including that corn! Recommendation: Go eat corn, drink tequila and have fun. read more

El Chucho - Tequila flight! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here on Sunday with my besties, not our first time here but it was super crowded on the main floor area, though the upper floor/patio level had available seating thankfully (had to wait 20 minutes for a table so we just killed time by walking around the neighborhood and checking out the random Pre-Fourth fireworks...I love pre-game fireworks lol). After we came back, we were sent upstairs and I forgot the name of our waiter but he was a pretty cool dude, had us order some real nice drink mixers off-menu! The patio deck was cool but try not drag your seat while you're sitting unless you want your chair to clip up by the breaks between the wooden floor lol. The views were good, even had front row seats to the pre-game firework display going on around Da City. I love dinner and a show lol, can't beat that! The weather was very pleasant since we out well into the night but if you're worried about humidity, there are two metal fans on the deck. Now on to the food!!! I ordered almost everything on the spot (which is something I don't often do lol) and those succulent orders were as follows: Horchata spiced up with coconut rum Eloté Callejero with extra cheese upon request. Tacos de Pansa. Pescado. And this drink who's name I forgot but it had tequila in it, had a nice spike to it! Btw, the downstairs level plays old school movies on their projectile just above the kitchen/bar wall. Today there was this black & white film being shown, last time we were here they were playing Gremlins. Gotta love summer nights in DC :) read more

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Had a great experience on opening night. All the margaritas we tried, particularly the lime/strawberry habanero frozen swirl, were fantastic. The margs come with the option of three salts: sea salt, chile, or cilantro. Though our waiter kept mixing ours up, and the "cilantro" turned out to be cumin, each complemented the drink nicely. And props to the guy for remaining calm and friendly -- some of the staff seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Foodwise, I definitely recommend the queso frito and the al pastor and asada tacos. (The only thing missing from al pastor was pineapple, but every place seems to have their own pastor recipe.) The queso frito is sizeable and comes with a great salsa for dipping. I was a little disappointed with the squash blossom tacos, if only because they had too much going on (queso fresco, fried squash with mole, etc.). If these were pared down a little, they'd be a nice veg option. We didn't try the tortas but they looked delicious and like a good bang for the buck, as opposed to the $8 guacamole. Brave the heat and sit on the roof. It's a really pleasant and green space that the staff has clearly put some effort into. Overall, the best addition to 11th Street in a long time. read more

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I really liked this place for a quick dinner and some cocktails. I tried a few different tacos, my favorite were the al pastor tacos. The server was friendly and the service was very quick. The orders of tacos come two per order FYI read more

I've been here a few times and though it has yet to blow me away it's still pretty good. I really enjoy their swirly magarita w/ chile lime salt - excellent! I don't normally like frozen margaritas but the strawberry habenero was what drew me and it didn't disappoint. The asada tacos - meh - the grilled onion was great and the radishes were a nice addition - but I don't expect ground beef when I order an "asada" taco and I wouldn't order a ground beef taco on purpose. I've been for brunch too and sat on their lovely upstairs patio. The brunch menu is pretty small (maybe 8 items). I had the Huevos Verdes and Jamon (green eggs and ham!) and I liked it a lot. The green herb sauce was particularly good. Almost everyone else in my party got the "burro" (burrito with chorizo and eggs) and enjoyed it. Though they're not on the menu, if you ask for it, you can get chips and salsa too. Really colorful, fun decorations and a good addition to the burgeoning 11th street cuisine. read more

An authentic Mexican taqueria this is not. The street style corn is not worthy of the name, and the meat and lengua tacos are bland and not terribly tasty. But the veggie tacos with lightly fried squash blossoms and squash are just divine. The chips and salsa are solid, and the margaritas are flavorful, not too artificial, and very affordable. I come often for the veggie tacos, chips and salsa, and margaritas. The roof deck is great. Very chill. And the service is fine. But the wait times can be far off. Last time I was quoted 45 minutes, returned then to be told it would be half an hour more. A solid and affordable neighborhood spot, but something special or a foodie destination it is not. read more

El Chucho-Cocina superior . Very nice cozy atmosphere. The selection of Mezcal drinks is amazing. And the servers help you through the selection in case you don't know anything about Mezcal ( like me ) To me,this is more like a place to have few drinks and learn about the different types of Mezcal. They make their own sodas in-house. The street corn is good the flavor of the cheese and cream are delicious but really what made it more special is their butter sauce on it man! That is so good I would put that on everything. I noticed that the portion size of the Tacos and Burritos is not what I'm used too, so that's why I didn't order any entrees. I find $6 dollars for 2 Tacos is too expensive and not worth it for me. I'm sure they must taste good I saw them flying out the kitchen none stop. Maybe I'll try it next time surely what ever it is I'll make sure to order that butter sauce on the side...so good!! read more

El Chucho - Mezcal for days ! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Incredibly delicious, ordered the Calabacita tacos. Very little wait times for food as well.

Nice indoor/outdoor venue. I came here for a Meetup and I really enjoyed myself. I got a chance to sit at the window bar that serves as an indoor/outdoor space. The establishment is small but they also have rooftop dining, which I decided not to take advantage of...I'm still kicking myself in the butt for that one. Anyway, the food was pretty good for $21. I had a chef's omelette and the mimosa's were bottomless. I really enjoyed the Hibiscus flavored one. It was the perfect sweet and sugary drink! I think I had 2.5 glasses and if I didn't have to run errands after the Meetup I would have definitely had a few more. haha! In short...it's cute, quaint and exceptionally reasonably priced. No complaints here! PS: I will be back for more and the next time I won't tread so lightly with my alcohol consumption. ; ) read more

El Chucho - View from Indoor/Outdoor bar - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

El Chucho is worth well more than it's star rating. This CoHi neighborhood staple provides fresh eats with very friendly service. The generous use of Chihuahua cheese on dishes is unique and a welcome addition to a chicken burrito. Whether it's a quick bite after a work day or a weekend celebration, El Chucho is worth the trip. read more

My boyfriend is more the foodie than I am so he's the one I credit for finding this little gem. We came in just at the right time, about 5pm on a Saturday, and were seated right away. I wasn't expecting such a tight fit...so be prepared to share your space with other patrons. But, the music and overall vibe was really nice and comfortable. Our server, despite the rush that came within the first 5 minutes we were there, was very knowledgeable about the menu and gave honest recommendations, which I appreciated. The drinks were amazing and I loved the fresh guacamole, however, the chips were a bit stale. Nonetheless, I loved that they added radish and cucumber slices (who knew?!). I had the spiked pineapple w/ vodka drink and it was amazing as well as a couple of the frozen strawberry habanero margarita. I wasn't so much a fan of the latter since I couldn't really taste any of the flavor (maybe I should have gotten it on the rocks). But, the pineapple is now my new favorite drink. We pretty much tried all of the tacos and loved them them all! I personally found the pollo taco to be a little on the dry side but other than that I loved them all. They are the perfect size for sharing but it does get a bit pricey by the end of it. They are made with fresh ingredients and made to order and overall they taste amazing. This is definitely one of our new top spots to visit. read more

El Chucho's airy and clean (for now) patio and upstairs dining room are a pleasure. I live close and have been 3-4 times. As others have noted, great happy hour specials and delicious, strong margaritas. The chili lime salt on the rim is a must! We started with the chips/salsa and fried chicken tortillas (name escapes me). They were slightly over fried but oh so delicious! The chicken filling had me excited for our tacos. Amigo tried pollo - loved it. I tried pork and really enjoyed as well. Yummy tortillas - not the best I've tried but still a sign of a good, authentic Hispanic joint. Photos are of tacos and fried chicken tortillas. *4 stars due to the waitress' cold/abrupt and slightly unaware service. Food was delicious. No other issues. read more

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Delicious food and drinks. Recommend the frozen cocktail swirl, the mezcal mule, and the draft cocktail. For tacos, the costilla con mole was incredible and the asada was a very close second. Great atmosphere as well. read more

The price is probably the biggest knock on this place cause my cemita was actually really good. Just at $14 it's probably more than twice as much as it would be at a normal mexican taco joint. Still you sort of know you're going to pay a premium when you can get pretty good mexican food while drinking rogue (yes!) beer. The lengua tacos I tried were also pretty solid but once again, the premium price is hard to justify. Though it might be hard to make rent at normal taqueria prices on 11th street and without much real competition I guess they can do it. read more

El Chucho has delicious food, but service so slow you might not want to bother trying it. The hostess seated us upstairs for Sunday brunch. There was a long wait in-between ordering drinks, getting drinks, fixing the drink order, getting served, paying the bill...I think you get the idea. It may just be that we were ravenous after the long wait, but all of us actually really enjoyed our food. My huevos rancheros was perfectly layered and seasoned, although very small in portion. My friend's potatoes kept me from going hungry. They were crispy and light like a perfect french fry. If you do end up going to El Chucho, I hope it's during off-peak hours. Otherwise you may end up waiting a long time for not enough food. read more

One word: elote. Go to El Chucho for the corn, stay for the margaritas (and everything else). If I lived closer, I would eat here all the time! In fact, so many of my friends already do. I don't think I've ever had anything here I didn't like. And, I've always enjoyed very friendly service. The place is compact, even though it has both upstairs and downstairs seating. And, it can get packed. But, I've never had a problem getting a seat. And the upstairs is nice in warmer weather. read more

El Chucho is on of our local favorites. The food is great, the service is great. We had a mixup this evening with our takeout order where a 3rd party delivery service took our order by accident. When I arrived for pickup they quickly fixed it. Highly recommended - every restaurant makes mistakes sometimes - the good ones fix the mistake right away. read more