One of my favorite Mexican joints in town. My first experience with El chucho was at Columbia Heights day, where there were serving Mexican corn and pastor tacos at an outdoor booth. Both delicious and pretty authentic! Definitely made me want to go back. They are one of the few late night food options in the neighborhood- although they also have drinks I've mostly stuck to the food. The next couple times I went I was able to try the beef and chicken huarache, mexican corn on a cob, fried queso, and a variety of tacos- including fish, beef, and squash options. I enjoyed mostly everything- especially the pastor, beef and squash (vegetarian) tacos. All were seasoned deliciously and tasty tortillas. The corn on a cob is also good but did not have paprika/chili, missing that more authentic touch. The only thing I'd skip here is the pescado tacos. They weren't bad but not my favorite. I'd say el chucho is comparably good to taqueria habanero, another popular taqueria in town, with more favorable hours. read more

Make sure you order a combo - beer and shot of tequila! They have a large selection of tequila. The guacamole was fresh, just the way I like it- chunky! The elote was oh so yummy! Best of all, this place is pretty cheap! Gotta love that! read more

Great unique, creative faire. The margarita is top notch and the staff are friendly and knowledgable. Awesome tequila selection !

Not a food review so I can't go the full 5 stars. Which honestly is just poor design, I mean Yelp should at least have two rating systems for food and service but I digress. Went for a few drinks with old friends from college. I arrived early and I met the incredibly friendly host Rachel. She directed me to the bar as I waited for my friends who would be a while. I nudged my way into a crowded corner of the bar near the end. Bartender was nice enough to show me a space towards the center and served me the Suffering Bastard (hold the gin double the bourbon) which was nothing to write home about but solid. This is all prologue. I write this to say that Rachel is one of the nicest hosts I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She helped me move from the bar to the counter facing outside while helping to close out the tab (which I was aloof about). She has an electric smile and a soft reassuring and yet strong voice that curiously cuts through the noise of the crowded bar. She gave me multiple check-ins, asking about the imminent arrival of my friends and making sure I was doing fine. She even helped me reimmigrate back to the bar after a few seats opened and I could save one for my friend. All with a smile and kind demeanor. El Chucho has a true star in Rachel and more establishments (business, states, nations!) could use a talent like her. They are better for it. read more

I've been three times since the place opened. All the drinks are great - especially the Juan Rose. I know this seems crazy, because its summer, but the soup is amazing. Try it. Also the dried peppers with pork belly small plate. read more

Went here for dinner and drinks last night. The service was EXCELLENT...extremely friendly and nice hostess and server. We ordered chicken tacos, which were just ok. The shredded chicken doesn't really have much seasoning and they are topped with some tomatoes and onions. They are also quite small. On the plus side though, the cost is pretty low and the vibe is great and low-key. We got wine, a margarita, and a whiskey drink with the name "bastard" in it. They were all awesome! Overall, the place is cool for a neighborhood Mexican spot, but the food isn't anything to write home about. read more

I was looking forward to eating at El Chucho because the food looks good and is also one of the only places with late night food in DC on a week night. I went there a little after 10:30pm on a Monday with a party of three (everyone wanted to eat and drink.) unfortunately their service is awful. Nobody really asked if I wanted a table or if they could help me, when I approached one of the servers he was very hostil towards me and very careless. I requested a table (which was evidently open and clean) and he refused to give to me because a bigger party MIGHT show up (mind you this is a Monday late night in DC, needless to say not much goes on.) He offered me tiny bar table that sat only two people, not very convenient for a party of three. I decided to leave and go somewhere more accommodating. read more

Having biked by many times, I decided to check out this unassuming place on 11th Street. The weather was delightful, and we were able to get a roof-top table after spending some time at the bar. Thick guacamole (with paper-thin chips) and a cocktail tided us over during our wait. We hungrily ate what came next - elote! - although the kernels were small, the corn was nicely cooked and smothered with cheesy seasoning. The taco prices were reasonable ($5 for two mini flour tacos), so we got a chicken taco and a zucchini taco (calabacita). The second was a hit, with a medium tangy spice and my husband liked his chicken taco. Things were going fine. Unfortunately, I didn't stop there and ordered the flautas de pollo upon the waiter's recommendation. When biting through the greasy fried outer layer, there was a crunchy chicken awaiting - probably cartilage. Maybe it was edible, but it was not pleasant. Nor did the tomato dipping sauce redeem it. My stomach would suffer the effects of too much grease, guacamole and cheese all through the night. So I guess the take-away is to not go when hungry and avoid the flautas, and you should be okay. read more

This joint gets very busy and it'll be apparent when you walk in and it's crowded. Good thing they utilize the rooftop where you can get your El Chucho fix with a little bit more arm-space. They serve a lot of good drinks and have a lot of menu items that will satisfy your tortilla and marinated-meat craving. This is basically a fun bar in this neighborhood to grab a drink with the option to grab some higher quality bar food type dishes. read more

The street style corn is AMAAAAAAZE balls. Only wish that it was cooked a bit longer because I hate crunchy corn on the cob. Also, a tip the strawberry frozen margarita was spicy I didn't really care for that. Their Hora Feliż is the best for a quick Mexican bite! read more

I was invited here to partake in a birthday celebration. Funny how I've passed this place enroute to either The Coupe, Room 11, and Meridian Pint, and never considered going to the resto-bar. Anyhow, they have an awesome Monday Happy Hour . . . enough said. We tried a flight of Mezcals as well as their margaritas. It was an awesome time and I will be back again. read more

Love El Chucho! Great draft margaritas, great tacos, huaraches, & our friend Walter always brings us guacamole, such a nice guy. Love the atmosphere! Great tequila and mescal selection to! Good stuff! read more

I went to El Chucho with a group of friends last night, and let me tell you, the place lives up to its hype. The food is very reasonably priced (the tacos, especially the Al Pastor, are worth every cent), and the drinks are an absolute steal (margaritas starting at just a bit over $5!). We ate at the bar, and the service was superb. Our bartender was quick with drinks, very attentive to our food orders, and made sure we got water (important when you're out drinking, after all). It was an all-around excellent experience. El Chucho is also in a very convenient location, walking distance from a number of other Columbia Heights highlights. I highly recommend going. read more

Great service, amazing happy hour deals and strong (extra strong) margaritas. My coworkers and I went there for a happy hour and spent about $15 dollars on food and drinks each. My favorite menu item has to be the elote which tasted very similar to what I had back in Texas. The sauces and spices weren't overpowering and the corn was sizzling hot which was a great mix to a cold day and a frozen (spicy) strawberry margarita. I'd definitely go back again. read more

Read recently from someone I trust that they have the best tacos in DC. And, unfortunately for my trust in that person's food recommendations , I have to disagree. I had the asada tacos and the steak was quite tough - I couldn't even bite it, and had to take it out of taco. Which defeats the whole point! Otherwise, meat was seasoned well. Rice and beans were solid, but nothing to write home about. Blood Orange margarita seemed to be missing some of the blood orange. Ambience is fun and I had a good time chatting with my girls, but can say that I would definitely not return. Only plus is that it's inexpensive for DC! read more

I've been eyeing this spot for months now, and was happy to finally get the opportunity to try it out with my sister! We came on a weekday evening and had a very short wait (10 min!) for a table for two. However, the atmosphere is very "intimate" so be prepared to sit very close to your tablemates! We had the blackberry poblano margarita rimmed with chili salt, which is a must have! A perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Next, we had some chips and guac. We both loved the guac and scooped what may have been too much onto each chip...explains why all we had left was broken leftovers! For dinner, we had flautas and shared the carne asada and al pastor tacos. I definitely recommend ordering two orders of tacos between two people...they are quite small (served on corn tortillas) but come in many different styles, so it's a great opportunity to try something new! My dinner experience was so great, that I came back here on a weekend evening after a night at Meridian Pint for some late night drinks and snacks. Both experiences were very fun, but you need to be prepared for the semi-hipster environment! read more

Thanks to the sweetie hostess who negotiated a peace treaty with some other diners to open up a four-top for our hunger-crazed party! We settled in with some margs + chips and guac. Both were solid and standard, but the guac to chip ratio was WAY off and I didn't really dig the radish & cucumber garnish. I ordered the steak tacos and I found them to be small and unremarkable. The steak was cut thick and too chewy to eat with ease. The chimichangas were pretty dang good, but everything needed a kick of hot sauce as well. read more

El Chucho is better than Jackies Restaurant (not the Sidebar). Gasp if you'd like, but the drinks are just as good if not better and the food is just as creative. Fois gras on a taco? Wowzers. I like it better cause it's a lot cheaper (we got 2 apps, 3 drinks, 1 taco and an entree for like $50). It's a comfy place that made us feel like regulars despite being first timers. Jackie's is fancier. We started with the guacamole which was ok nothing special. I didn't like the cold chips. Note: they charge $2.50 for chips and salsa but the salsa is really really good. It's worth paying for. Then we had the corn on the cob. Oh sweet Jesus it was soooooo good. Definitely should have ordered one each because we didn't want to share. The chicken tacos were also good. Not crazy but unique for a chicken taco. read more

I am upgrading El Chucho to five stars. Now that the weather is improving, there is more seating! We returned recently able to get a table immediately. The service was again impeccable, the food again delectable. Reasonable prices, great food. 5 STARS BOOM read more

Having recently moved to Columbia Heights from Arlington, it's time to review the places that make up my new home, starting with my favorite. El Chucho is cheap, delicious food, consistently well-made drinks and a friendly and laid-back staff that totes doesn't mind if you and your friends have too many margaritas and start making shadow puppets on the wall. Not that I know from experience. Great happy hour specials on tacos and their frozen margaritas ($4!), but to be honest, the drinks are pretty cheap anyway. They also were voted Best Margarita in DC and are chill enough that half the staff doesn't even realize that fact. Try the Torta Ahogada - you need gloves to eat it - at least once. Buy the corn on the cob and split it with someone as an app if you're a wuss. But it's so delicious, you're probably going to want it all to yourself. And WHEN, not if, you order a margarita, get it with the chili salt. The rooftop is gorgeous and open year-round, rain or shine. read more

Came here again a year later. They have an upstairs now which is awesome, but El Chucho has a much more "restauranty" vibe than a bar vibe now. I kind of wish they kept it to be more of a bar--that way I could invite more people, they could stand up and walk around, we wouldn't have to be seated by a host, etc. Especially since the food/drinks are so casual. Oh well, the tacos and margs keep me coming back. read more

Im giving this place 2 stars: - Food was cheap - They played YACHT Everything else was a disaster! The service was so spotty! Our waiter disappeared for so long, and the poor other waiter basically took over our table. Some things that were ordered never arrived. The whole situation was out of control. 11th Street needs more bars, less restaurants. El Chucho should make one of their floors a dedicated bar bites and drinks floor, get rid of the table service. Large groups come here and its impossible for their limited staff to keep up with it. read more

This is a pretty hip Mexican place with very original dishes. The plates are all pretty small as well, which I think is a great way to eat a reasonable amount or try many things. The prices for the meals and the margaritas are reasonable for DC, and the food is really good, particularly the street corn. The staff is really nice as well. It is a pretty small place, and the restaurant is pretty drafty, so be prepared on cold nights. read more

More of a three and a half star review but rounded up due to the upstairs decor. Came here on a rainy Monday for some grub and drink. When you first enter, the restaurant looks small and packed (I swear this place is always packed). The host led us upstairs to an enclosed patio which was lush and we'll decorated. After waiting about 15 minutes, our server came with waters. We ordered a draft margarita and a ginger margarita. The ginger margarita was too sweet however the draft margaritas were on point... Super yummy! We ordered the Guacamole, fried shallots, and vegetarian tacos from the happy hour menu. The guacamole was great, it came with a little salsa and was seasoned perfectly. My only complaint is that it didn't come with enough chips. The vegetarian tacos were good, but the filling was deep fried. The schallots were OK but not at all as described on the menu, for that matter, I'm not sure the dish actually included any shallots, it was mainly fried corn meal with cheese, sour cream and mole... Good if that's what you're in the mood for. For the regular menu, we ordered fish tacos and the shrimp appetizer. Both were good and very well seasoned. A few notes when dining here, the portions are extremely small (see small tapas size). if you want things to be a little more on the spicy side, be sure to request a side of their spicy salsa - SOO good! Food is good but there ate too few non deep fried veggie and fish options. read more

When the weather is right in the DC area, all you want to do is sip on a frozen beverage while taking in the rays from a patio or rooftop. El Chucho offers you all of these in one place! Located in the hipster-ish neighbourhood of 11th street, this place gets a lot of foot traffic and rightfully so - the elote (aka mexican street corn) is amaze (individual corn on the cobs covered in chili lime salt, queso & sour cream); and the wide variety of swirled margaritas will keep you both entertained and cool. Prices are a tad on the high side, but it's the district, can you really expect otherwise? read more

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We were in DC and heard good things about this place, and thought we would give it a try. Overall excellent experience! Food and service were right on. margaritas were superb! Girlfirend had the Lengua (tacos with beef tongue) and I had Asada tacos (steak). we shared their famous corn and all was excellent. the twist here was that there were not the typical rice and beans in our tacos or sides which is a refreshing change. we will be back! read more

The bartender at this place was great. He answered all of our questions and was really attentive. We got the tuna tacos (a little pricey, but delicious), chips and salsa, ginger and lemongrass soda, and a grapefruit beer. All were delicious and the vibe at this place was cool. read more

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

Great food and service but the restaurant is very cramped and it's loud. Definitely a better spot for the weekday.

I've visited El Chucho a few times since moving to Columbia Heights, and the tacos and atmosphere do not disappoint. It's super cute and trendy, with great deals (go on Monday, $3.50 tacos and $5 margs!) However, slow, inattentive service keeps me from being a regular. Each time I've gone, I've been disappointed with the lack of service - which may have been a product of understaffing. I've had the tuna tacos, veggie tacos, and squash tacos and couldn't recommend more. However, the guac is a little on the sour side, and the service doesn't keep the chips flowing. Great spot for a date or friend night, but don't expect premiere service. read more

I'm thrilled I finally came and tried el Chucho. The food was phenomenal. I had the camarones and mole tacos. Friends had the pastor and mushroom and loved them too. Drinks were good too. Four people with cocktails and tons of tacos for $100, can't beat that. Will definitely be back. read more

Not bad at all. We came in early and managed to make it in time for the happy hour, which was a pleasant surprise given it was a Sunday. I started with a grapefruit soda "spiked" with some vodka. Eh. I should have gone for the pineapple soda instead. The grapefruit just didn't have it. Corn on the cob is good, as advertised. The little queso dippers in mole were also pretty tasty. I had the vegetarian tacos, which were decent, though could have used a bit more seasoning. I think the tortilla overwhelmed the rest of the dish, which isn't an uncommon problem, in my opinion. Overall, good choice, and an nice addition to my neighborhood. read more

As Kristin M said in her review and I'll translate in Spanish: Usted esta Loco if you don't order the corn on the cob. These guys put some crazy sauce on there and it just tastes so good. I also tried their beef tacos and thought they were pretty good, too. Overall, a great restaurant in one of my favorite parts of my fair city. read more

I had the strawberry habanero blended margarita and the elote. I mean the corn ain't no elote from Southern California street elote, but it get the job done. I wish It was a little spicier though. The strawberry habanero was pretty good. I wish there was a non blended version because blended drinks are hard to drink fast when you are in a rush. There was a great kick to it and if you add the spicy salt, it makes it even better. The happy hour is pretty good with some pretty good prices for DC. The waiter was awesome and friendly as well. They have a rooftop eating area which is really nice for a happy hour drink and food. Would definitely want to come back and try more things on the menu. read more

Came here for the second time for a quick late lunch on a Saturday. Wasn't too terribly crowded but it did start to fill up by the time we left. We started with the guac, obviously, and had the corn and grilled shrimp as well - both were immaculate. We also split the squash blossom tacos and honestly should've stopped there. But alas, the meal was marred by the torta we ordered. It was a monstrosity of fried chicken, al pastor, beans, and head cheese. Being of such a size, I feel like I should've been warned that we over-ordered. But even worse, the torta was sadly pretty bland. The head cheese didn't taste of anything and had the texture of rubber pellets. The al pastor was extremely dry, and while the chicken Milanese was delicious, the sandwich was overall lacking in moisture via sauce or condiments. Now I know to stick to the basics when I return to El Chucho! read more

El Chucho - Torta with chicken Milanese, al pastor, head cheese, beans, and who knows what else. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

El Chucho is a great little neighborhood joint where a bunch of twenty somethings get drunk off habenero strawberry margaritas and tecate tall boys, but the food is worth a visit as well. I like their small menu. This pretty much makes tacos and makes them well. Each order comes with two little corn tortillas filled with a dollop of tasty meat or veggies and cheese. They're simple and good. My two favorites are the chicken tinga, which gets a great little tangy finish from being braised in beer, and the fried squash taco. Where else can you get a squash flower taco?! Elote, a Mexican street food favorite of corn on the cob slathered in queso blanco, chili lime salt and Mexican sour cream is done right here. Other than that, the other dishes are just sins forgettable variations of fried dough topped with diced veggies and cheese, i.e. an inferior taco. So in short get a some tacos, get some elote and get something cold to drink (they also have housemade sodas) and you are good to go! All day happy hour happens on Mondays! It gets really crowded though! read more

Had dinner with the family this evening. Location is ok Place is a bit beat up.... but the food was delicious guacamole was great, service even better, we all had different meals all were delicious, so good in fact my son asked for extra chips to scoop up the leftover sauce from his plate. Hats off to the kitchen!!! read more

I just ordered delivery from here. I got the most expensive brunch order, jumbo lump crabcakes, but the portion was made for a toddler. The crabcakes were no bigger than a silver dollar, with a shmear of black beans. The side of potato - well, I got about 7 bite sized pieces. The taste and sauce was good, but not enough to make up for a lack of a portion. read more

Lame...came here on Friday night and on the menu they listed wine. Ordered and the waiter said they didn't have any. The owners haven't decided what they want to offer. Lame. Don't list it on the menu then. How hard is it to run across the street to the liquor store or to Trader Joe's and pick up a few bottles of white and red in case people order it before making a decision about what to offer. Almost as lame, they didn't have A/C. Come on! In DC any bar that doesn't invest in an A/C unit is cheap. We are in the land of 100 degree and humid summers! The bathrooms are cool with exposed brick. read more

This place is yummy and mad cheap. Only downside is that the space is small, so it gets a bit uncomfortable when it's busy and the wait can be a bit long. Sweet happy hour specials. $4 house margs, $4 beers, and half off tacos. Other faves: agave margarita, flautas, tripas tacos. read more

I first noticed this place by their amazing rooftop and greenery. I was walking past last summer and thought "I want to be on that rooftop sipping margarita now". It wasn't until a few weeks later that I actually got to go with a friend. The drinks are great definitely try the different flavored margaritas that are more exotic than strawberry and mango. The ginger margarita is genius in a glass. The tacos are good too. Can't wait til the weather gets warmer to really enjoy the rooftop. read more