A fun, "hip" spot in DC but it can get a bit crowded. I wish you could make reservations in advance! Drinks and food are good, but the food can be a bit pricey. read more

I describe this place as probably the most hipster Mexican restaurants I've ever been too. I love love their blood orange margaritas. The food was good. Maybe not 100% authentic. More like 90%. Service is excellent. read more

Came here for brunch on a Sunday. The food was really delicious, the price was very reasonable, and the atmosphere is great. Good little restaurant and it was nice that we could get a table and sit outside. read more

Enjoyed awesome service, tasty food (the enchiladas suizas were delicious), and good drinks on the upstairs deck. Perfect for summer.

Giving this place two stars because the staff is generally polite, their margaritas aren't bad, AND we've eaten here before without any issues. But we got food poisoning from their chicken tacos the last time we came here and were sick for about 24 hours afterward... so, uh. Definitely not ordering food here again. read more

I wasn't expecting anything suuuuper authentic, but it was just authentic enough to be good. I got the asada tacos, which weren't like my abuelita makes, but were better than the old el paso taco nights that my friends try to pass off on me once a month. The prices weren't bad, but it's a little dumb that they won't let you split checks. Venmo had my back, tho. The thing I was most excited about was the grapefruit soda that I had. It was amazing. read more

Stopped in after the women's march, put my name on a list online and they texted when my table was ready! Really appreciated this! The food was so delicious. Had the shrimp tacos and the pork belly tacos with pineapple salsa. Both juicy and full of flavor. Chips and guacamole to start and a yummy Margarita. For delicious tacos with really good and modern customer service, they get two thumbs up. read more

Tacos were good (wish they were a little bigger) and the meats were well seasoned and marinated. The corn was excellent! 4 stars for the excellent happy hour prices. read more

The house margaritas are good along with the chips and salsa. Unfortunately, not much else is. I want to like it, as I live in the neighborhood. But with so many other food choices in the area, I would not eat here again. read more

Went here at midnight on a Tuesday (well, technically Wednesday, I guess o_0) Had a great time, thanks in large part to Mick, the bartender. We ended up chatting for quite a while, and it really made all the difference since I was alone and the other folks at the bar were all couples. Had chips and guac, which came with some salsa. They were solid. Not amazing, but definitely fresh ingredients--just a bit bland. Also had two chicken tacos, which were quite tasty. Not blow your socks off, but definitely pretty good, if a bit small. That was washed down by a ... few (don't want to self-incriminate here) of their $5 on-tap margaritas, which is a pretty cool concept and executed very well. El Chucho has solid food and, even better, great folks working there that really seem to care about and want to get to know their customers. They understand the value of building relationships and repeat business and it shows. Will definitely add El Chucho to my rotating list of regular haunts. In fact, I'd say they have the inaugural position, since I just moved to CoHi (I love saying CoHi--it feels so New York--don't you?). And ask for Mick if you go on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday. Great guy. read more

NO FREE CHIPS AND SALSA?! meh, chain Mexican restaurants have ruined me...otherwise, awesome place.

Very limited menu; tacos were well prepared and tasty, but it was difficult to bite through the carne asada, so I ended up dragging out a whole piece and was forced to chew through the giant mouthful while trying to maintain decorum on a second date. The ginger margarita was a standout, as were the calabacita tacos. Service was decent, but wait staff please take note: the time to tell customers that menu items are not available is when they are seated, not after they order one or - amazingly, TWO, in my case - said item(s). And, if you only offer one dessert, you just plain need to make sure that you have it, period. read more

Love the corn on cob and heated rooftop seating in the fall/winter. Great margaritas and not too expensive either. As a Texan, this place fills my tex mex and authentic Mexican fix all in one visit. Definitely try this place out. read more

I love El Chucho. It's a great neighborhood spot and is fantastic for meeting up with friends, casual dates, and just grabbing a drink and shooting the shit with the bartenders! Love the rooftop and large open window bar for seating. This place is about mexican street food. If you've spent time in a plaza in any Mexican city, you'll get it. The tacos are okay, but I suggest getting an elote callejero (corn on the cob with seasoning and tons of butter) and splitting a cemita (ginormous delicious sandwich) with a friend/lover/stranger. As far as drinks go, the strawberry habanero margarita is delicious and wonderfully smoky/spicy, but do yourself a favor and explore the cocktail menu. We're talking about unique, well-crafted (mostly) tequila-based drinks here. The Paloma is refreshing and my fave on the menu! read more

If I make a piece of toast and throw some tomato sauce and cheese on it, I wouldn't get away with calling it "pizza" and saying "it's how I do it." That's what El Chucho seems to be getting away with by virtue of the non-existent reasonably-priced traditional Mexican fare within DC. They get an extra star for the cheap Tecate, though. read more

I went there for their happy hour last night. The place was fairly crowded given that it was 30 degrees outside and neighboring bars were fairly empty. The hostess seated us in the upstairs patio in the corner table. The table was too cold because we could feel small gusts of cold wind in our feet so we asked to be seated elsewhere and the hostess accommodated us fairly quickly. Below is how I rate my food and drinks: Frozen lime margarita - 2 star Regular house margarita - 3 star Chips and Salsa - 4 star (The salsa probably deserves a 5 star) Chicken Tacos - 1.5 star (Chicken was was very tender but bland) Pork Tacos - 3.5 star Corn - 4 star Overall, this place has a nice atmosphere and I can see myself coming back again for the corn and salsa... not the tacos! read more

Love the food! I have never had anything bad on the menu. The street corn is amazing! And the fried cheese app is one of my favs!!!!

The margaritas are delicious and are a pretty good price considering its DC. The food portions are a bit small so order several as a tapas type meal. I'm all about the street corn. The staff were all friendly but the service was a bit slow. read more

Only deducted a star because it can be too crowded sometimes, especially for coveted outdoor at-the-bar seats. Otherwise, food and drinks are great. Definitely recommend trying their corn (even if you're not a huge fan of corn) and margaritas. Perfect happy hour spot or on a spring/summer day. read more

Came here again recently after moving from DC to Philadelphia. The happy hour deals were awesome, no doubt, but the food left something to be desired. The tacos al pastor were the biggest disappointment (they are my go-to benchmark for any Mexican restaurant...if the al pastor is awesome then most everything else should be solid too!). The meat used was ground pork, which is not the way the pork should be served. It was also over-seasoned, but not in the way that made the meat juicy and tasty, but rather as a way to mask lack of technique and marination. The tortillas were also a bit cold, which is pretty unacceptable. The margaritas tasted watered-down. The one redemption: the elote, which came with too little chile powder, but was still a solid option. read more

Average place. Tried their tacos al pastor. I know this isn't Mexico City, but their tacos were very one note. Nothing special, and I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. I did like the guacamole, but it's very basic. A friend who ate with me got the elote and said it was very good (and I have to admit it looked quite good). read more

So tasty! The margaritas are fantastic, and the food is hard to pick from because everything is good.

Nice, but average taco spot. Food was tasty, noise level was off the charts, guacamole was dreadful.

Way overpriced and not even good food. 2 not even good breakfast meals with two drinks cost 88 $. Disappointed. Never going back.

This is what a great Mexican restaurant should be. The place has character...a warm downstairs seating area and a tiny, colorful rooftop. Super sweet happy hour: $1 chips n salsa, $5 guacamole, all tacos half off (that makes them $2.50 a plate) and $4 margaritas. The strawberry-jalapeño swirl was nice although not too strong. Could easily down a couple of these. The "salt" options were more exciting in theory than in execution. The carne asada and the al pastor tacos were perfect; the right ratio of meat to tortilla to seasoning. Two tacos to a order. The guacamole was served with cucumbers and radishes. Not a fan. The salsa on the hand was delicious even if it was quite mild. The corn is the best thing you'll ever eat! read more

I like this place and have been a few times. I'm psyched it's here. Only 3 stars because there are hits and misses and I think there's room for improvement. Avocado pit in the Guacamole!?! That's a super cheap way to fill out the bowl--not cool. Chicken taco and flautas are pretty bland. Everything feels like it could benefit from a little more seasoning. BUT a lot of other stuff is great - pastor tacos, great. The kimchi torta is also surprisingly good. Friends loved the hot dog. We all enjoy the queso. And it's affordable. The drinks are a little strong for me but I was an outlier. Chili lime salt is delicious. I'll happily be back! read more

To fit in with other plans for our recent date night, my husband and I were looking for a budget-friendly restaurant easily accessible from the green line in the Columbia Heights/U Street/Petworth area. After weighing our many options I found myself drawn to El Chucho because of some fantastic-looking tacos pictured on a DC food blog. I was a little hesitant to try it because of some of these Yelp reviews, but I am so glad we gave it a chance. We had a fun and pleasant meal here. First of all, we lucked into hitting the place on a Monday night at 8:30, which meant we could walk right in and grab a table (something I'd imagine isn't the case most of the time in this small restaurant). It turns out Mondays are half-price taco night, too, so we sampled almost all of the tacos on the menu: al pastor, carne asada, pollo, and calabacitas tacos filled up our little table. The tacos really hit the spot, especially the pork. To be honest, I've had equally good carne asada tacos from the taco trucks that park outside the thrift store in my old 'hood in Rockville, but since El Chucho seems to be aiming for "Mexican street food," I'd say the chef pretty much nailed it. Plus at the taco trucks I had to sit on a milk carton to eat my meal. El Chucho is a bit pricier than your average taco truck, but it provides more bang for your buck in the form of trendy atmosphere (if a bit over-thought; the plaid flannel-shirts-as-uniforms thing is already getting a little old). It also provides a full bar. The cocktails rock, by the way. I started out with a Paloma (grapefruit-based and very good) but then after sampling my husband's blackberry margarita with chili salt I had to get one for myself for my second round. I was practically licking the salt off that thing. So that's my suggestion: go for the drinks and grab a taco snack, and you'll have a fun night. Oh, and the elote really is worth raving about. Having grown up on the border I'm used to the corn-in-a-cup concept (which is basically what this is, except El Chucho serves it on the cob). My yankee husband had never had elote before, but says he'll never eat plain corn on the cob ever again now that he knows this is an option. I thought the prices were fair, and I didn't experience any of the cranky staff issues other reviewers mentioned. In fact, we had one of the best waitresses I've had in a while. She was quick, friendly without being overbearing, and very good at the subtle upsell. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd definitely be back. I might be back regardless! read more

My husband and I had a late night dinner at El Chucho last night. We both ordered a delicious cocktail - I think it was called a senorita. The service was great. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the food (we had a couple of questions) and quite personable. We started with guac and chips. For entrees, I had the huaraches and the pasilla rellena. My husband had the chicken tacos, the corn on the cob, and he finished with the "postre" - a chocolate mousse with coconut in it. Everything we had was quite good but the standout was the corn on the cob. I only had two bites of the corn since my husband ordered it. It was AMAZING. I want to have it again right now. Try it! You will see. read more

The house margs (on tap!!) are ok, and the menu is not very extensive. Don't expect to go here for a burrito or fajitas. But if you are looking for a unique experience, I recommend the frozen jalapeño margarita, the tacos and the cheap Dos Equis tall boys. read more

Margaritas: Very good margaritas, though a little on the expensive side. Tacos: I've had them there three different times thinking that they will get better...they don't...dry meat, poor seasoning, overall overpriced and low quality... If you can't make a simple dish well, aka tacos, then why would I try anything more intricate? read more

I'm in the area and I'm glad to see a local place survive. I love the food and drinks and enjoy the relax environment. Would suggest this place for a good drink and food. read more

My favorite place to go on Columbia Heights. I've literally tried 90% of the menu by now. The margaritas and mezcal drinks are delicious. The elote is wet- dream-worty. The tacos and most of the appetizers are reorder worthy. I particularly recommend the pork belly, the chimichanga and the cheese (and ALWAYS order the elote). The vibe is definitely hipster but it's still a friendly neighborhood vibe. read more

My roommate loves this place so I thought I'd try it out for dinner with some friends. It was pretty crowded for a Sunday night - a good sign - and we had to wait a few minutes to be seated. The atmosphere is pretty neat and the service was fine. I didn't think the food was anything to write home about, however. My two friends and I shared the guacamole con todo which was delicious but didn't come with many chips. We asked for more but never got them. I had a pina colada, which was pretty good - very pineapple-y! I really wanted to try the elote callejero but sadly they had run out for the day. The tacos al pastor were small (which was fine for me) but a tad bland on the flavor side. They came with "classic toppings" which translates to onions and cilantro. Overall, this place has a neat albeit hipster atmosphere but just okay food. If I came back, it would be to try the elote callejero. read more

Adorable. Funny to describe a restaurant like that but it is. The place is cozy, servers friendly and the food divine. Can not say enough good things about it. Great place post-movie with a date. Enjoy. read more

I really like this place. It reminds me of NY, not DC. My drink was awesome. I got a blackberry and jalapeno soda with tequila in it. I came here for drinks on a Saturday. The place was full, but we found a seat. We were actually really encouraged to sit, not stand. The wait staff were friendly, but some were too cool for school. People were still ordering tacos at 11pm - not gonna lie, they smelled so good I was jealous. read more

Extended happy hour on Mondays. Need I say more? The margarita selection is great along with the elote. Seating is very limited so go here if you have a party of 3 or less, preferably 2. read more

Food is amazing! Love the Huevos de Chesapeake. Only thing I would criticize is the bearded bartenders surly and rude service. I shouldn't have to ask for water but I really shouldn't have to deal with attitude when I ask for it. But I don't blame the food. read more

The margaritas here are excellent and that's basically all I come here for. The food is ok and I only eat it during HH bc otherwise the portions are too small for the price. The torta ahogada and street corn are both worth trying. If you want better tacos I recommend Casa Oaxaca; during their HH you can get them for cheap (they also make homemade tortillas!) read more

We ate there on a friend's rec...great ambience rooftop dining, adored the corn and margaritas!

Had a really nice time grabbing a quick drink here. Their homemade sodas paired with mescal are delicious and our bartender, who ended up being the bar manager ( cant remember his name but dark hair and beard) was super nice to us and talked to us about all the different mescal's they had! When back in DC I will come here! read more