Simply put, easy, cheap, and good value. Visited for a simple dinner in the temporary neighborhood. Spacious area with VERY attentive service. Drinks are kind of basic, Sangria though is FULL of fruit, margaritas though are not made with real lime juice. Still many good things hit the mark. The soups here are great. Seafood soup and the El Salvadorian style are just robust and full. Authentic, rich, and feels like a home-made lunch. Polbano peppers, rich and cheesy with packing flavor. Skirt steaks cooked perfectly, Cuban beef nicely stewed and seasoned, falls apart like a perfect season roast. Cheap meal too. Very kid friendly lots of family, the staff seems to relish it. Will be back again heard the Carne Asada is VERY good. read more

I was not very impressed by my entree at El Golfo. I had the spinach enchiladas. The dish was just way too creamy. It was naturally topped with cheese, but the spinach and mushroom filling inside was with cooked with cream and that just left for an overly rich, creamy, and for me - inedible dish. I very much enjoy the spinach enchiladas at Cava's grill, or even Pollo Mex in Silver Spring and I think El Golfo should take a lesson from them. The enchiladas were $12.99 which is not super cheap, but then they used a cup of cream so no wonder. The service was good, and I also wanted to support this restaurant because they have kindly catered for teachers at the local elementary school for a very reasonable price and how can that not make you feel good about the place. Additionally, I really enjoyed the "vegan and vegetarian" section of the menu. That was a smart move which many diners will appreciate, and I may return to try one of those dishes. read more

Pleasantly surprised at our meal here for lunch last Sunday. The menu is fairly extensive, and the food was pretty good, and not overly expensive. The decor inside the restaurant needs a bit updating, but otherwise a good value for a good meal. read more

The place was super dirty when I got there.No one wanted to seat me and my wife.The servers kept looking at us n rolling their eyes at us when our server got to us she was talking with a mean attitude and we didn't get our drink more than 20 minutes then our food took 38 minutes to come to our table, our food was cold and my tacos were stale n my wife's lobster was so over cooked and we tried the carne asada and when I cut it it was raw. At least the horchata was good but everything else was not good. I don't recommend you going here. read more

Best authentic Mexican around!!! Best Cadillac Margaritas too. Live music, happy hours. Seafood is particularly great, specials too. Never disappointed with one dish. This is my family's staple Mexican place. Turned Mexican citizens onto it too, they've all loved it. Recommended!!! read more

I'm a regular here now. I've never been disappointed with anything I've eaten at El Golfo. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, the drinks are tasty and the service has always been friendly and helpful. There's a family atmosphere here, as in you see a lot of whole families coming in to eat. It's much more welcoming than the place next door, and the food is on a whole different level. I feel like El Golfo deserves a lot more traffic, but because it's kind of tucked away, probably too many people miss out. To help lure you in, they also have a lot of live music in the evenings, which is fun. This is not a 'fancy' place but it's a perfect neighborhood restaurant with a large variety of well-made dishes. The menu includes Tex-Mex, El Salvadoran and also a special vegetarian section, in addition to appetizers, soups, salads, etc. They also have a full bar and a nice brunch menu. Some of my favorite menu items include the pupusas, tamales, masitas de puerco, and shredded beef enchiladas. And I love their house-made complimentary salsa w/chips - it's very much like what they serve at Guapo's - pico de gallo-style. read more

This is our family's favorite restaurant. After we ate there Thursday evening and attended the "Cooking with Gas" blues night (free drink with $5 cover), my son decidede he wanted to still eat there the next night to celebrate his 21st birthday! The owners are very community oriented, annually hosting a fundraiser for the Takoma Park Folk Festival and other such community events. The fajita dishes are enough for two people and my husband and I got a dish with lobster, chicken and beef that was fantastic! We must have eaten here at least 25 times and have never had a bad experience. read more

The food is great, but I really recommend their mojarras. You can ask them to make the fish extra crispy. Their prices are pretty high, but the food is worth it. read more

Yum, yum, yum. I ate here today and loved it. Pupusas were so good, and so were the taquitos. Tasty, strong margarita, excellent salsa and the nicest service from the sweetest waitress. I ordered a salad with chicken but I was too full to eat it so I brought it home. Their menu was so similar to El Mariachi in Rockville (and so was the salsa) so I asked if they were sister restaurants and she said they were owned by people from the same family. I've lived around here too long. ;) I'll go back -- lots of good entrees to try. read more

Favourite Monday night spot... Exceptional staff and phenomenal Latin American food. And even a separate vegan menu which does not disappoint. Somehow, we never plan to come here ahead of time, but always end up here when we need consistently reliable good food! :D read more

El Golfo Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

This restaurant dead wins by 11 stars. First thing I thought when I took a bite of the food.... OMG it was Amazing. I ordered the rainbow trout, it was cooked SO perfectly and tender, it was like biting into a feather. It was so deliciously seasoned with the best sauce I've ever had in my life. You could literally see the scales still shining like diamonds, even after it's been cooked, it was definitely fresh to the T. The mussels were so good, I finished it within seconds. The patos en olivas was the most highly anticipated item I wanted to try, but it had a really strong sour-like taste that wasn't as.. great. The taste was mostly attributed to the sauce used, which I'm guessing could've been balsalmic vinegar or a specialized wine. The main sauce used was wine anyway.. Despite that, this duck dish was still actually pretty good because the duck was cooked right. The amazing thing about this restaurant that makes it stand out is from HOW they cook and prepare their dishes, and that won it for me. Service might be a little bit slow, but it was fine. The lady that served me was really nice. read more

I've been going to El Golfo on Wednesday nights since 2010. The band is yeoman and the MC quite annoying, but it's a very sweet place. The service is competent. The wait staff is friendly and attentive and not bothersome, which I appreciate. I admire any place that has 4 vegan entrees, let alone a Mexican restaurant. The food is good and served quickly. I really go here for the music and the neighborhood feel. People know me and say hello. Including the aforementioned MC as well as the band members. They make you feel welcome. Last night a flautist joined the band, and the sound was terrific. I'm amazed that more people haven't discovered and frequent El Golfo. read more

A decent place outside of DTSS. The Chorizo was really good and the rest was decent.

Garlic shrimp appetizer was good to the last drop. Surf & Turf was delicious and the sauces on the lobster and steak amazing. read more

I live in the area. I've always liked the food here. The service is polite and efficient. Traditional Latino fare with entertainment such as Kareoke and Jazz. read more

El Golfo has typically gone the extra mile with the local community by donating a portion of their proceeds to local schools, charities, and community groups. Wonderful in itself, but they also deliver enthusiastic, friendly service and really outstanding food in that Salvadoran-Mexican style for which this area has become well-known. Try the traditional dishes of fajitas or the tacos al carbon ... or go for some more unique fish dishes with veracruzano and caribbean seasonings ... it's all delicious and very reasonably priced. El Golfo goes above and beyond on special orders. Tonight, ten late-teen, big-eating athletes celebrating a birthday at our house concluded they wanted Salvadoran for dinner at the house. In 25 minutes, El Golfo had whipped up an enormous array of food ... a sampler of many of their favorites, and all the sides that we needed. The kids were thrilled, we're all stuffed, and we'll even have some leftovers ... All at a price that was almost embarrassingly inexpensive. There are plenty of good Salvadoran places in the area ... El Golfo has stood the test of time and has earned its strong repeat business. read more

I have to say this is pretty darn good and cheap. Can you ask for more? Service is so-so. Food is hot, good, and plentiful. Beer is cold. Great chips and guacamole. Some like the salsa and some did not. ymmv. Have fun. Bring the kids. read more

My wife and I held our wedding reception at El Golfo. The owner and the staff were simply amazing. So helpful and thoughtful as we neared our big day. During the reception we had numerous family members and friends comment on how delicious the food was! El Golfo is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant that serves amazing food and has great service! Highly recommend you check it out! read more

The food is great and the customer service al well. I do recommend this place to all it is fancy but also a Hispanic touch to it

The food is tasty; however, it has gotten so expensive. A friend and I had dinner recently and with one entree each, one margarita each it was $80 dollars. No app, no dessert. Also, the server was rather distracted with other tables, and for what seemed to be a busy time there were only two servers in the entire restaurant. read more

Five tables on a Saturday night. We had the special: ribs and chicken fajitas for $15. The food is as good as ever. The server hasn't smiled. I get the impression she'd rather be somewhere else. I like the atmosphere-- attractive decor and easy listening Hispanic music. read more

This place is very solid for the happy hour special! Friendly service, yummy snacks (including vegetarian options) and a different shot special each weekday. I also like that happy hour starts early at 3-6pm. I'll continue to stop in for my favorite local weekday deals! read more

Decided to check this place out because we always go to Samantha's, and we were not disappointed. We were seated right away and were brought chips and salsa - which was fresh and delicious! I ordered a coffee to drink, and the Carne Asada for my main entree. The coffee was luke warm, but came in a large mug (something I appreciate as an avid coffee drinker). The carne asada was cooked perfectly, and was marinated very well. It came with rice, black beans, and guacamole. The rice and beans were SO good and complemented the carne asada really well. For dessert, I had to try the tres leches cake, which I always order if the restaurant has it. The cake was a decent size and was delicious - moist and not too sweet. However, at almost $8, it's the most expensive piece of cake I have ordered at a local restaurant in the Silver Spring area. My wife ordered the vegan burrito and she really enjoyed it. It was different and super neat to go to a Latin restaurant that had vegan options. We will probably come back during one of the nights there is a musical performance because that seems like a hit! I will say that this dinner was a bit pricey (probably because of the cake), but every once in a while, it's worth it! read more

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Really enjoyed our takeout from El Golfo this weekend - got spinach and mushroom enchiladas, chicken enchiladas, and tamales. They included salsa and chips with our order. Everything was delicious with very generous portions. Glad to have this spot in our neighborhood! read more

This is probably my favorite restaurant to get lomo saltado. Staff is friendly, parking is ok and drinks are pretty good for a good price.

I LOVE this place! I have searched the world..ok so maybe only the DC area for tamales as good as El Golfo's but nothing compares. If you go here you MUST eat these. I'm typically all about variety but their chicken/steak fajitas are so good that I just can't stop ordering them! They also have AMAZING happy hour prices and if you go in on Wednesday's you can also catch in house Jazz. I love the food, the service and even if I didn't live a few minutes away I would still make the trip to eat here. OH they also started BRUNCH which i'm started to fall in love with as well! read more

I like the food, beverages, atmosphere and entertainment... The family and I enjoy meeting up here to enjoy some delicious food and family fun. The vegan options are a great in addition to, my daughter and I have very strict dietary needs which can be accommodated at this establishment. Thanks you and continue providing excellent service, food and entertainment. read more

El Golfo has been a strong presence in our community for many years, and a favorite for classic Latin American food. Their pupusas and plantains are, in particular, spectacular. They recently catered our wedding brunch of over 100 people strong, and I cannot recommend them enough. The staff at El Golfo worked with us to create a delicious and affordable menu, which they delivered promptly the day of the event. They were a joy to work with, and our guests could not stop raving about the food. I highly recommend El Golfo for dine-in or catered events in the Silver Spring area. read more

Updated to say I've been going to El Golfo for takeout about once each weekend for the past year whenever I'm in town! It's so convenient on the weekends to get a delicious hot meal in less than 15 minutes without having to do any cooking! I also bring my friends and family here whenever they come to visit me and everyone has raved about how good the food is--including a couple of vegetarian friends who don't especially love Mexican food but tried some Latin American dishes and told me they far exceeded expectation. They still have frequent nightly entertainment that's pretty loud, but for some reason, maybe good acoustics at work, you acclimate to it pretty quickly and can still hear your tablemates for conversation. Compared to nearby Busboys where I can barely hear my companions across the table over the general background din echoing around the dining room, this place presents no issues for my so-so hearing even when seating right up against the dance floor near the musicians! read more

Great Food! Drinks! Love the desserts as well! Great service...Just ask for Carmen.....Not sure if she was a manager, but her service to me and my family were OUTSTANDING! Oh...And by the way...great live music! read more

Mexican-Salvadoran. All things I've tried are delicious. This includes: pupusas, tamal de elote, la parrillada, pescado empalizado, and sopapilla. Servers always friendly. Kid friendly. Especially the first Thursday of the month when there's live kids music. Definitely recommend going. read more

Located in the heart of Takoma Park , El Golfo is an unassuming restaurant with excellent customer service and fantastic food. Certain nights of the week they have live music and karaoke. May I recommend the platter El Gordo, a fajita platter for 2 with chicken, steak, shrimp and ribs.. Awesome! read more

If you are craving Mexican food, check out El Golfo. The food is consistently delicious, and the price is always fair. Cheese enchiladas? Yum. Beef, chicken and chorizo fajitas? Just as yummy. Honestly we've never had a bad meal here. Just make sure you check their website first- they have a night circa once a month where little kid entertainment shows up. If that is your thing-- you'll love it! read more

The amount of food for the price was impressive. We had chicken, steak, tamales, and pupusas. The green corn tamales and meat tamales were equally good. The salsa and chips was an unexpected treat. I got full way to quick. Service was good. It lost a star because the place was real loud inside and there were some annoying/sketchy people in the parking lot and near the entrance. While I have had better, this place is a good one to keep in the "rolodex." read more

El Golfo has became a regular place for a group of co-workers from the school where I taught. The margaritas are pretty solid and the Cadillac Margarita is its own beast. The staff is always very friendly and Ada, the owner, is awesome. We always order too much, share it all, and have a great time. Right when the regular dinner crowd starts rolling in, we realize we've gotten ridiculously loud and start to head out one by one. If you hear a group of teachers bitching about students and administrators, come say hello. :) read more

El Golfo is one of our neighborhood haunts. Being from San Diego, I have yet to discover anything remotely labeled "mexican." The food is good, service is good; but I find the food really bland...even ordered with jalapenos...chips are great, salsa is okay. I like it though, service is consistent and there are always coupons!! read more

This place has really good mexican food it seems, as well as good margaritas with good specials on them. However, the location and interior definitely lacks. I don't blame them since I'm sure they're just trying to make it - but it doesn't make you go rushing back, especially with all the other options available. I would go back here soon if I wanted to have lots of margaritas with a bunch of friends - but so far I haven't had that occasion come up. Reasonable prices too - they also are on Restaurant.com. read more

This place is more than a local spot. It's actually worth going out of your way for. The service is exceptional, and the owner, Ada, takes a lot of pride in making everyone feel at home. The specials vary regularly,NAND twice a week there is live music. Tonight we were introduced the "Cadillac margaritas" (with Grand Marnier) and they were exceptional with our beef and chicken/pork fajitas. Whonwouldn't like a happy restaurant with great food and drinks at a price that doesn't break the bank? Extra tip: try the ceviche -- tasty, tart and fresh. Enjoy! read more

Ate here tonight with my girlfriend. Tried a couple seafood entrees, and both were really delicious. I had a whole fried rockfish, which was nice and crispy and flavorful. Also, highly recommend the flan. Service was really prompt and very friendly. Prices were also very reasonable. Highly recommend for a casual but nice dinner out. Live music was a plus as well. read more

I live pretty close to El Golfo, so I wish I liked it better. The chips and salsa are great, and the staff is very friendly, but I find the food very so-so and slightly overpriced for what it is. Their pupusas are very run-of-the-mill, and I can't even remember the other food I've had--that's how unremarkable I find it. I prefer El Gavilan next door. read more