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    El Mercat

    4.4 (25 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Stephanie S.

    El Mercat was good but a bit overpriced. This was my first time eating paella, and I thought it was fine. The montadito de carne was my favorite dish, and the churros were great, but I LOVED the crema catalana dessert. We realized we were there during happy hour after we ordered when another couple walked in and asked the server about it. No one had mentioned it to us, which would have been nice. I believe happy hour is only for bar seating though, so be sure to ask about it. Overall, it's a good meal, so you'll leave satisfied. But it's small, tapas portions for a high price.

    Stuart O.

    We had a wonderful large happy hour here a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a bunch of shared plates and drinks. The service was great. We had over 20 people and filled up the bar and a couple of tables near it. The tapas were a perfect to share at happy hour. I look forward to coming back for a full meal!

    Pan con Tomate
    Chelle K.

    El Mercat is a tasty new addition to the area! Some dishes were definitely better than others, but overall the service was fast, the atmosphere was pleasant, and some of the dishes stood out enough to make me want to return. The crab and artichoke dip was definitely more artichoke-forward than I've had in other similar dips in the past, but it was still rich and filling nonetheless. The cheese plate, patatas bravas, and simple but delicious tomato bread were my favorites of the night. The paella was fine, but it didn't have the crisp bottom/sides of rice that I typically expect from this dish. TLDR: Worth it, dishes vary, but get the cheese plate and patatas bravas

    Tara B.

    Came here for dinner and absolutely loved it. The restaurant is so clean and their service is super friendly. I felt like they should've been more busy for a Saturday night, maybe this is more of a hidden gem. What really stood out to me is their mocktails - they were beautiful and you would've never known that they didn't have alcohol in it but they also tasted so fresh and delicious which most restaurants skip on. Their crab dip is absolutely a must order. Will be back here because I wanna try their brunch.

    Spacious interior
    Joanne D.

    Good food, efficient and fast service. Located in Pentagon Row, our family liked their Paella, Gambas Al Ajillo, Monteditos de Carne and a tapas sampler. They were all delicious. It's a good place for date night or family group lunch/ dinner outing.

    Pan con tomate
    Keyin L.

    New to the pentagon row/westpost area, this spot serves tapas and drinks. We came during happy hour the week they opened and ordered a few apps and drinks. The patatas bravas was the best thing we got, delicious fry and the sauce was perfect. The pan con tomate was a bit stale and too salty, but we came around 4 and maybe their bread had been sitting out for a bit that day. Croquets were solid but probably personal preference, it came with a sweet jam that I didn't love paired with the salty croquets. Drinks were definitely good! We sat at the bar and got very good service. Ordered the apple fizz mocktail and the red sangria was delicious. Would like to come back and try some of their mains now they've had a bit longer to get organized

    Inside
    Iva S.

    We stopped in after a neighboring bar was unable to accommodate our small office gathering, and we were pleasantly surprised. The staff was absolutely friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome right away. We enjoyed some adult beverages and appetizers, which was a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon heading into the holiday shutdown. The bathrooms were clean, and parking was easy to find in the nearby mall area with just a short walk to the location. Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

    Baby carrots and brussel sprouts
    Elizabeth M.

    They have a great variety of tapas options and mocktails as well. I got a reservation for a Saturday dinner but it wasn't super crowded inside. The service was great and food came out fast.

    Food was and has been amazing! I have been here 4 times already. Stellar drinks, food, service and look of the restaurant. I got the steak and my husband got the chicken and both were very good! The winter daiquiri drink is very good, and I highly recommend! Absolutely well done restaurant!

    Absolutely delicious. The chimichury is so tasty on both the steak and roast chicken. The Winter Daquiri is so fresh and crisp tasting, we get at-least one every time we come! Took one bite of my meal and had to post.

    What a fun bar set up

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    Los Tios Grill

    Los Tios Grill

    3.6
    (171 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    My first time trying this place and it seemed authentic. They had vibrant music playing and there…read moreis a slight language barrier so be prepared with a few basic Spanish words. I ordered the grilled snapper filet w/ rice & black beans and a Paloma. The food was delicious! The cocktail on the other hand - seems like they prefer making margaritas or shots because the Paloma was not it. Way too tart and I don't think the bartender knew how to make one Overall, this place is very family friendly with nice staff. Located near Reagan National airport, it's nestled on a row of restaurants & bars and unassuming unless you know what you're looking for

    Los Tios Grill benefits from three things: ample parking, great service, and outstanding salsa con…read morequeso. Directly behind the restaurant is a large public parking lot, using ParkMobile to pay. You can also pay at the machine. There's a walkway on one side of the parking lot that takes you to 23rd St or you can walk around... I had the lunch beef quesadilla, and it was quite tasty. Good portion size, good taste. But the showstopper was that queso. Generally I am a pure queso Blanco fanatic. I find queso made with something closer to cheddar cheese then made worse with bad salsa to be vastly inferior. This quedo, however, was fantastic. It had the right blend of cheese, with a bit of jalapeños. You know it's excellent because that top layer starts to solidify so you need to stir it up. The chips were plenty and kept coming. The service was great. Nice atmosphere, beautiful painting on the wall of a man harvesting agave. This might be my favorite place on 23rd St.

    Photos
    Tios Bar!
    Tios Bar!
    Biftec con camarones
    Biftec con camarones
    Los Tios Grill

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    Que Rico

    Que Rico

    4.3
    (71 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Que Rico received a 10 out of 10 because the food was delivered at the right temperature and ready…read moreto chow down. My friend and I ordered two Abuelo's Favorite Plate and the rice and peas were proportioned, the shredded pork succulent and the ripe plantain sweet and delicious.We topped our order off with two guava and sweet cream pastelillos - pastry nice and flaky and the filling just the right sweetness to end this delicious meal on! Thank you Que Rico for a meal reminiscent of my childhood Sunday dinners!

    Pretty good food if you have a craving for Puerto Rican food…read more The Pastelillos were delish. I ordered a ground beef and a chicken with cheese. They were crispy, good amount of filling and nice flavor overall. Fantastic. I think they should serve the meal with a bit more rice. The Pernil, pulled pork was sort of dry and unfortunately the large side of garilc mojo sauce (garlic oil) was sideways in the bag and by time I got it home, the oil had all leaked out into the paper bag and onto the floor mat inside my car. The mofongo bites listed as 5 bites, however I only received 4. They were on the sweet side. The masa from the plantain taste too ripe for my liking. I prefer more green plantains in my mofongo. The tostones were pretty good. The pictures made them look a bit larger, but oh well. This was my first time ordering from a ghost kitchen, and the concept is a brilliant idea because you can order from so many cuisines! You can try so many restaurants in one place. Quite amazing.

    Photos
    The pick up entrance.
    The pick up entrance.
    Burnt balls of not mofongo.
    Burnt balls of not mofongo.
    Chicken Kabob (Pincho de Pollo)

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    Chicken Kabob (Pincho de Pollo)
    El Pulgarcito Restaurant

    El Pulgarcito Restaurant

    4.0
    (70 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $

    El Pulgarcito is one of my favorite spots to visit for pupusas. Ever since living in NOVA I've been…read moreintroduced to pupusas, and this is bar far the best pupusas in NOVA! El Pulgacito is a small cozy spot this sits in the El Salvador settled neighborhood called "Chirilagua," after the city in El Salvador of the same name. Known for its authenticity you can't go wrong for some great Central American cuisine. The pupusa portions are massive compared to other places, if I'm hungry I can only eat two. You have been warned going on thinking you can knock down four lol. My favorites are the steak and pork. Their curtido is the best I've had as well that comes with the pupusas, and it's slightly mixed with warm salsa and it's just so good. My go to drink is the Tamarindo, I'm not sure if they make it in house, but it seems as if they do. If you are into tamarind drinks and flavor, it's a go to for sure. I just call it the Central American sweet tea lol. The only other dishes I've tried were the Lomo Saltado and the enchilada, although they were ok, I personally wouldn't get them again based on the taste, portion, and price point of the pupusas. The service is always nice and attentive. You can't go wrong here if you are in the area be sure to grab you a pupusa.

    It's been a while since I've been here, but I was a regular when I lived in the area. When I do get…read moreout to the DC area, I do try to make it in here. Solid food at good prices. It's definitely worth trying all the flavor combinations. Service is always pretty fast and the little interaction I've had, as someone who mostly just orders a takeout when I'm buying from here, has always been pleasant.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    A perfect pupusa loca
    A perfect pupusa loca
    Tie and colorful storefront

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    Tie and colorful storefront
    Nando's Peri-Peri

    Nando's Peri-Peri

    3.8
    (511 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    What a lovely impromptu wine night. The staff were very friendly and worked hard to ensure that our…read moremeal was correct and that we were comfortable while dining in. Cozy ambiance Great for groups Delicious and fresh food. We ordered the 1/2 chicken with red mashed potatoes and I added a little heat to the sauce. Everything was perfect and did I mention fresh? Thoroughly enjoyed the chicken and how juicy it was They have a cocktail and wine list, nothing massive. I enjoyed what we selected! Definitely on my list to return again if I'm in the area.

    This is a chain that I really enjoy…read more I wish we had some in California in Nevada. But we first got introduced to Nando's when we were in London. And now it's a must stop whenever I'm in the DC area or Chicago. For my kids, they have some great meals where everything is very fresh, we got chicken strips and mac & cheese meals. For the wife and I we got the whole chicken option which is shareable with two sides. We chose, honey, glazed cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts in their special mayonnaise sauce. They are an interesting fast, casual restaurant as they provide ceramic plates and silverware, which is different than the traditional recyclable plates and silverware. If you've never been to Nandos at South African in Portuguese. Most of all the entrées are flame grilled and spiced. Definitely check out the medium with herbs sauce. Service was super positive and everyone was very nice.

    Photos
    Nando's Peri-Peri
    Nando's Peri-Peri
    Nando's Peri-Peri

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    AC Kitchen & Lounge

    AC Kitchen & Lounge

    2.0
    (1 review)
    0.7 mi

    Well, this is our stuck-in-cancel flight rescue. We were super tired and finally settled in a hotel…read moreto rest our feet since our flights got pushed due to chemical spills somewhere on the runway. FAA closed 3 airports in DC. Anyway, we were hungry, so we decided to walk down. I ordered the Salmon. The waitress said, how would I like to have it cook? I was surprised and turned my head looking at her. I have never had someone ask me how would I like to cook my fish, rather maybe steaks every time. We also ordered a bottle of rose`. She brought the rose` and the ice bucket but no ice. My husband said that out loud, "there is no ice", so I waved at her after she disappeared for 10-15 minutes. So I asked her, she told me because the wine was cold. I said, "usually once the rose` is open, it should sit on ice". She tried to agrue with me it was because the rose` was already cold. I just stopped saying any more. She came back with the rose` on ice in the bucket, saying, " is it how you like it? " with an attitude that I was wrong. I took a deep breath and just swallowed what she said. The food came and food were almost excellent, or we were just hungry. You never know. We even ordered desserts and expresso. It was good until waitress was no where found for another 15-20 minutes. We were expected our ticket, so we could go back up and rest our feet. She disappeared again. Mann... I don't know what to say to you. Food is good, can be better, but service no good. Sorry.

    Photos
    Sirloin steak
    Sirloin steak
    Churros and Gelato (more like vanilla ice cream)

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    Churros and Gelato (more like vanilla ice cream)
    Yunnan By Potomac Noodle House

    Yunnan By Potomac Noodle House

    4.3
    (700 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    located in a large shopping center with pay for parking garage…read more I was sat by the hostess right away, I had a choice of wherever I wanted to seat, plenty of seating. there is also a bar area with available seating my waiter doubled as the bartender. he was amazing, friendly, attentive and considerate. he made my drinks immediately. you're given a fresh moist towel at the table to clean noodles, soups and dessert came pretty quick, the only thing that took a little longer to arrive was my bao buns, which you have the option of having it steamed or pan fried. all were delicious. 2 separate single bathrooms

    Been a few times prior to reviewing, so I generally had a good opinion, but finally decided to…read morescrutinize them a bit more. Stopped in for dinner, and was warmly greeted and seated. Always appreciate the minimalist yet still eloquently-decorated aesthetic of the restaurants, complete with a window to view the kitchen, which itself seemed relatively clean and well-kempt. Ordered the Woodear Mushroom and Mint Salad, and the Mogu Shiitake Mixian Ramen. The mushrooms were light and chewy, yet savory with citric and garlicky elements, and overall very refreshing. The ramen was solid in most respects, with a decent variety of vegetables and multiple proteins, including tofu, shiitakes, soybeans and marinated egg (which I enjoyed despite typically not liking hard-boiled egg too much). The noodles were a little bland, however, and didn't taste like they absorbed much of the broth. Overall, I'd say 4.5 stars are more accurate; YbP Noodle House is a regular haunt for me because the quality is there in most respects.

    Photos
    @foodsinmyheart
    @foodsinmyheart
    Mixian beef noodles
    Mixian beef noodles
    Fried chicken bao

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    Fried chicken bao

    El Mercat - tapas - Updated July 2026

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