Great, great, great service. The food is great too. This place was the first time I had/ or had heard of poblano sauce or a pupusa. I grew up a block away, but spent my early childhood in Miami. I love a chicken poblanp with lots and lots of the fried plantains/maduro. Lots of options in terms of portion size if you want to meet up with girlfriends during a busy workday. Tamarindo also has humorous hats and Tshirts. Great bar, and great indoor ambiance. Eating outside is also great. Even if it's windy, fellow diners will help put plates on top of the tent flap to keep it from hitting you in the face. If you're in range of said flap My friends and I eat outside, mostly because we are loud. There is a very substantial tent covering for the outdoor seating, and the service is just as good if not better Enjoy read more

They were very busy on a Friday night so we were a bit delayed in seating, but nothing crazy. We got drinks and their 1982 sampler which was tasty and a good deal. Got to try a lot of items in this. Then we ordered pupusas and a chicken fajita. Both were good but could use more flavor. The ambiance is a bit loud and the service overall is slow so just keep that in mind. I lean on ordering drinks, appetizers, and pupusas if trying this place. read more

We arrived at El Tamarindo around 10:30 pm and placed our order at approximately 10:47 pm. At the time of our visit, the restaurant was completely empty, aside from me and my girlfriend, as shown in the attached photo. We ordered the Trio Dip as an appetizer, along with mimosas and a La Clásica Margarita. The drinks and appetizer were good and arrived without issue. For our main courses, we ordered the Chimichangas with grilled chicken and the Especial Intipuca (medium), served with tortillas. Unfortunately, the handling of our main course order was unacceptable. By 11:54 pm, we still had not received our food. After following up, we were informed that our server failed to send our order to the kitchen and had already gone off duty, with no communication or handoff to other staff. Our food finally arrived well over an hour after ordering. The grilled chicken was good, but the steak in the Especial Intipuca was overcooked and dry. Additionally, the chorizo was excessively salty and overpowered the dish. Given the extended wait, these execution issues were particularly disappointing. While the drinks and appetizer were enjoyable, the prolonged delay, lack of communication, and inconsistent food quality, especially in an empty restaurant, reflect a serious breakdown in service and management. read more

I was visiting the area and walked into this lil gem. We ordered the sampler platter and were so glad that every single item was great. The pupusas were legit as were the empanadas- very yummy! Seemed like a popular place read more

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The empanadas are flavorful, full of filling with a nice crisp crust. The portions of the meals are good. The tamale platter went over fairly well having a good flavor even the cabbage has a little vest and bite. The menu feels like a standard Mexican restaurant instead of Peruvian. There is a small sampler section of Peruvian items you can try, which might work well to taste numerous things instead of one meal. The venue has a good amount of space and can host groups but it can be tough on popular nights/times. The service was fine and decent ambiance read more

El Tamarindo - Tamale platter with Papua, plantains, slaw and rice - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Just.....wow In preparation for nice evening out, my wife and I decided to have a quick meal and afternoon cocktail at El Tamarindo. When we arrived, we were treated with a cozy Latin feel that reminded us of our home state of Texas. The music, coupled with the decor of the restaurant made us feel comfortable and laid back. Our amazing waitress Sonia directed us to the open seating options which was easy for us as we often will find spots at the bar when available. After a quick glance over the menu we settled on an appetizer of chips and salsa, coupled with an order of the beef and chicken taquitos. Each and every bite was just delicious! The meats were perfectly cooked, seasoned, and made us want more and more. For cocktails, we chose the house signature 1982 and the El Tamarindo (classic). Both were so far above what we had expected. Bustling with flavor and served beautifully. Such a perfect beverage for a delicious plate. For dessert, we chose the coconut flan which was the ultimate closer and an absolute MUST for anyone looking for a light and sweet option. All in all, if you are looking for a dinning options that absolutely delivers, this is your place. Outstanding food, great drinks, and it does not break the bank. 10/10. All around great! read more

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I went to make pupusas. This event is usually sold out and I know why. It's very well organized. Everything was laid out before you got there. There might've been about 40 or 50 people that were there to learn how to make pupusa. They just need a little microphone so that we could hear all the instructions but since I was next-door to the owner, anna I was able to hear and see everything that she was doing. read more

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I've been to El Tamarindo before and even tho this is the 2nd time every experience gets better. seems like they have added a cafe menu which is really great! i ordered the elote salad which was super fresh i would say it's more of a corn salad then elote cup i also ordered the Chorizo plate which was delicious the chorizo was smokey. i ordered the mango ginger beer mule and added vodka iykyk and that was also really fresh. basil garnish was fresh too extra ++ we sat outside service was slow but the food was great. i wish i tired the horchata latte hopefully next time! read more

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The pupusas were incredible and I'd certainly return. Thankful that this spot is so available, affordable and hospitable. The staff were incredibly nice and open to my jokes. It was plenty of space available for seating. Open to small or large groups. read more

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The pupusas and yuca are so great. the service is very friendly and also very slow so this is the place for a relaxed slow meal with friends and family where you're not wanting anything quickly. I'm a fan of the relaxed nature of el tamarindo and they've got a yummy breakfast too with delicious fried plantains. read more

El Tamarindo was an absolute hit. We came for lunch and had such a great time with the girls. The elote came with a green cilantro sauce instead of the traditional style, and let me tell you; it was the best thing I've ever eaten. I'm still thinking about it. The pupusas were served hot and fresh. I tried both the chorizo and beef, and they were packed with flavor. For Taco Tuesday, we got the taco deal with a carafe, which was such a steal. Three tacos and drinks? Can't beat it. The birria cheesy taco was hands down my favorite. Rich, cheesy, and so satisfying. Every bite was delicious. I would 100% come back. Great food, great deals, and a fun vibe all around. read more

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100% 5 stars. I wouldn't sit at the bar, as the service is just too slow. But the food is outstanding and I am in love with their papusas! They have a vegan and non-vegan menu u with plenty of options!! We got the nachos with vegan cheese and no sour cream and my meat-eating husband said they were the best nachos he's ever had! I love the combination platter, also made vegan with double beans, a vegan papusa, and corn tamale! My husband at this point will only order the papausa loca, which is basically a giant papusa with everything in it! Which a cool place and so delicious, my husband asked to go back only 3 days after our first visit. What a find! read more

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Wow some of the beat tamales and pupusas around. The tamale was light and fluffy with a good portion of shredded chicken. You can mix and match the pupusas i recommend the bean and cheese and chorizo ones to try. Staff if very nice and friendly she sat me at the bar and made recommendations. The red sangria hits with a punch! Overall great drinks and spirit program to complement delicious food! read more

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I chose this restaurant with a few friends after hearing about it on social media. We were all in the area after a concert and decided to give it a try. They have outdoor seating however, we sat inside. We were immediately served and ordered a few drinks. The food was good however, everything was different temperatures between warm and hot. The server was able to heat my food up after request. We had a great time. Street parking is available. Will return if in the area. read more

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Woof. It's as if the place hired everyone yesterday and no one had any restaurant experience. I had to repeat my order 2x and they still had to come back and go through everything again. The food took 25 minutes even though I was literally the only one there (for lunch) and I ordered a freaking salad. Took forever for anyone to check on me, and they never even thought about refilling my water or asking if I needed anything. Food and drink was mediocre and overpriced. Go to Taqueria Al Lado - it's better in every possible way. read more

I came here for an impromptu sunday brunch and it was a great place to walk in, no reservations needed and wasn't super packed. The server was really nice and knowledgeable. I tried the Horchata latte which was a nice treat as well as the Breakfast Pupusas. It was a really good portion and very tasty. My partner tried the same, she only had one hiccup which on of the pupusa fillings being wrong but aside from that we both enjoyed it. Overall, I would recommend this place for good music, good pupusas, and just a chill vibe when you may be looking to go out to eat without having to make a reservation or participate in bottomless drinks etc. read more

El Tamarindo - Breakfast Pupusa - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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#Nationalpupusaday2024 is on November 10th. Why not celebrate with a spot I grew up on!! They got pupusa making workshops on Nov. 6th & 7th, and are doing it up on the 10th. Go here @mvp_productionsdc for more details!! . Where I am: @eltamarindodc . Location Reviewed: 1785Florida Ave., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: *See Website* https://www.eltamarindodc.com/ . Items Reviewed: *All pupusas come with a pickled cabbage, carrot, & a carrot slaw, & El Tamarindo's special sauce* Their Loroco Con Queso & Cheese Pupusa's one (with cheese only, & the other with an edible flower, & cheese $3.99 each). STAMP!! Flavorful, cheesy, & fresh!! Their Sampler Platter (with a bean cheese, pork, chorizo, & chicken pupusa, elote street corn, & Yucca with chicharron $29.99). STAMP the whole platter!! Perfectly slathered corn, buttery Yucca, tender fried pork, & the BEST pupusas you're going to find in D.C.!! Yep...I said it!! The Tex Fajitas (with steak, shrimp, chicken, red, & green peppers, onions, rice, sour cream, red, & green sauces, pico de gallo, tortillas, & beans $24.99). STAMP!! Just very well seasoned!! GET THIS!! Their Mangonada Slushy ($10.25). STAMP!! Cold, sweet with a tip of heat, & a salt balance!! Their Brisa Tropi (a pineapple rum infused cocktail $15). STAMP!! Strong, mildly sweet, & tropical!! . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: ROUGH! . Music: YouTube-Backyard Band Pocket . Recommendations: Get the pupusas!! . Accessibility: It's wheelchair friendly, & it's differently abled persons friendly. #Bigschlimsreviews #nationalpupusaday2024 #ELTamnationlpupusaday 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more

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I was excited to try El Tamarindo given their extensive menu and affordable combo meals. Taco Tuesday offers great deals on tacos and carafes. The tacos are dressed with lettuce, pico, sour cream, and shredded cheese-- not my preferred style, but the wide variety of protein options makes up for it. I started with a frozen lime margarita, which had a solid kick, balanced fruit flavor, and wasn't overly sweet. The mango version was sweeter--great for those who prefer it that way. We also ordered the guacamole dip, which was supposed to feature corn and chile, but the standout flavor was the queso fresco, which seemed mixed in, giving it a thick, rich texture. For mains, I tried the beef empanadas and two pupusas (pork & cheese, and chicken & cheese). The pupusas were satisfying, though I prefer a bit more char for texture. The beef empanadas were the highlight--crispy shell, flavorful moist beef with finely chopped potatoes and carrots, paired with a creamy green sauce that brought it all together beautifully. I'd highly recommend them. Looking forward to coming back to explore more of their specialty dishes for a deeper taste of El Salvador. read more

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Great experience 3 papusas and a beer. Service was great and we sat outside which was perfect for the warm evening. I got the Jalapeno cheese, chorizo, and pork and cheese. Jalapeño cheese was nice and spicy and paired well with the sauce and slaw. Had the perfect mix. Chorizo was my favorite the chorizo tasted great spicy and a perfect balance to the rich cheese. Pork was great too it was nice and flavorful and tender. Paired well with the rich cheese. read more

Solid brunch spot! Faves were the breakfast quesadilla, platanos fritos, and the pork and cheese pupusas. I wish service was a little faster (I think for our last course there was a mix up with our order of pupusas; not sure if the order wasn't put in at all or just incorrectly at first since we got 3 bean and cheese and 4 pork and cheese) and more attentive with giving us water but our server was nice and funny. read more

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Loved the pupusas, coffee, and service! Sat and people-watched while enjoying our Horchata Latte and Cafe de olla! Great ambiance! read more

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

It was a Friday night and we didn't have reservations. We wanted to try something different and El Salvadorian seemed like a good choice. We were seated right away but it took a while to order our food. The food was ok. Maybe they were having an off night. I'd go back again to check it out. Sometimes servers can get behind. This was an unusually slow service night. read more

Stopped in for a Sunday brunch. The place was empty which was fine with me. The restaurant is nice not overly large but spacious enough. We ordered chips and salsa. The salsa was very thin with chunks of veggies and very light on spice, but it wasn't bad. Next were shrimp fajitas that looked and smelled really good. The flavors was mild which is the way my wife likes it. You get 7 medium shrimp with the dish. My daughter got the shrimp enchiladas which she really liked. It came with black beans and rice. I got the enchilada trio and 2 pupusa revuelta. The pupusa were nice size and had plenty filling inside of them. The enchiladas beef and chicken enchiladas were really good. The cheese enchilada was okay(I'm not a cheese enchilada person). The refired beans looked like they pureed, the rice had mixed vegetables on it. Overall all the food was really good. The service was good. We had a really nice time. read more

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My friends and I really appreciated this place being open late on a Thurs. We enjoyed the food and service. The tacos were delicious. Drinks made just right. read more

El Tamarindo - Barbacoa and chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This isn't a fancy place but they offer good service, good food, and a reasonable price. They do what they do well. My group of 9 had intended to sit outdoors but the weather forecast was very bad and they were kind enough to accommodate moving us indoors. The pupusas are kind of their main special thing. A number of us had those and enjoyed. I personally can recommend the spinach/cheeese and zucchini/cheese ones. I also enjoyed the chicken tamal greatly. The corn outside is soft and a little sweet and the inside has tender shredded chicken . The pina colada was quite tasty!!! I do recommend! They were very kind in splitting up checks for us as well. read more

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We came here for a pupusa making class for a friend's birthday and it was a fantastic experience. The owner was super kind and thoughtful, the staff were friendly, and the food was delicious. I will definitely be coming back here for a meal and HIGHLY recommend the classes for anyone looking for a great group activity! It was really special and a night we'll all remember. read more

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

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Went for brunch! Nice atmosphere. There's a bunch of beautiful artwork hanging around the restaurant and if I'm not mistaken, they're all for sale, which is pretty cool! The service was quick and friendly. It wasn't busy so it was quick. We split the fajitas and they were sizzling and delicious! They also have a bottomless taco special, so we'll be back soon! read more

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

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My friend and I were getting dinner after the DC porch fest (so fun btw if you haven't been) but we were looking for a light dinner. We stopped at El tamarindo for a light dinner. We ordered chips and queso which may have been the worst we have ever had in DC and then ordered fajitas. We waited as long as we could then politely asked for the check as we had places to be. With a 7:30 reservation we still had not had our food by 9:30. When asking for the check the waiter had responded saying "we only had ordered 30 minutes ago". It had been at least an hour. We also witnessed our drinks sitting on the bar for at least 15 minutes before being brought to our table. We will not be attending this restaurant again. read more

Whenever I wanna hang out in AdMo, I find this to be a great place to start at. It has a nice bar space, and plenty of tables to sit at, small and large. I've always enjoyed the chips and salsa and pupusas. There's a lot more on the menu, but I haven't explored it all yet! Sometimes I grab a margarita as well, and they never miss. I've never tried making a reservation before, but on weekends, you might need one -- especially if you have a bigger party. It's worth mentioning that there's plenty of outdoor seating too. It's on a corner, and the streets all around are pretty narrow and permit-heavy, so give yourself time to park! read more

I ordered some fish tacos. I only asked for handmade tortillas and they gave me the skinny ones. Not good service. read more

El Tamarindo - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I attended a Pupusa making class. It was fun. The restaurant is near U Street metro. There is metered parking in the neighborhood. You can reserve outside dining, visit the bar or eat inside. The bar has a decent sized space for events. There is also catering. The food is delicious. The Pupusas are worth the visit. The red sauce (salsa de pupusa) was my favorite topping. The beans and cream are also wonderful. There is a variety of pupusas from vegan to vegetarian to meat. Hubby loved the pork and cheese. The spinach and cheese flavor was tasty. The bean and cheese was my favorite. The bean pupusas were good. The vegan cheese (jackfruit) was also really good. The curido (shredded lettuce, onion, carrots, cabbage, onions and other items) was a great topping. The bartenders were nice. I had a Mango Mule (mango, ginger beer, mint, squeeze of lime). It was awesome. If you don't have time to dine, you can order Door Dash or to go. I would order at least three pupusas. There are many other choices on the menu. read more

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Wish I could leave a 4.5. Don't judge the food by its look. Split the fajitas with my fiance and it was just enough food. The flavor was great. They have a $30 bottomless tacos and carafe of margarita or beer on Tuesday and I'll definitely be back with friends for that! They also have beautiful art on the wall for sale! read more

El Tamarindo - Modelo Negra - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm so glad I came across this place on TikTok! Their taco Tuesday deal is a steal!! I love tacos and margaritas and this place has a bottomless deal that allows you to enjoy flour or corn tortillas with a margaritas carafe. If you enjoy a sugar rim please let them know because the go to is salt of course! read more

Amazing experience. The service was amazing, we were well taken care of from beginning to end. The brunch dairy bottomless drinks and pre-fix menu was EXCELLENT! Not only did they have a great variety of beverages to select from (both with and without alcohol), but the food options were so tasty and well prepared. Will be recommending to others and returning as myself as well. read more

El Tamarindo is my go-to spot for delicious, no-frills Salvadoran and Mexican food. The pupusas are always perfectly stuffed, the tacos hit the spot, and the horchata is so refreshing. The staff is super friendly, and the cozy vibe makes it feel like home. It's the kind of place where you leave full and happy every time! Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie read more

The food is definitely OVER PRICED for its quality and quantity. I ordered the steak quesadillas and two pupusa. Quesadillas were very dry and lacked any flavor, pupusa weren't hot and seemed like it was pre cooked. I wanted something spicy to go with the quesadillas and requested some jalapeños and was charged $4 for half a jalapeño. I definitely would not return again. They definitely nickel and dime you! read more

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

This place has amazing and traditional Salvadorean food. I definitely recommend it to anyone.

I saw this on Yelp and was craving a pupusa while I was in Washington D.C. I liked how this restaurant had Mexican and Salvadoran food. I had to get pupusa and a drink. Everything tasted great and the people are helpful. It is a nice decorated place. read more

El Tamarindo - 2 Pupusas - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

El Tamarindo is our go-to place for pupusas! We really like it because their pupusas are GF and they even have vegan options (either only bean pupusas or vegan cheese pupusas). My favorite thing is the curtido (slaw)--I always ask for extra, and the chicken and cheese pupusa (simply delightful). I'm not really a big fan of the salsa, to be honest, just not my thing. The pupusas are pretty big, in my opinion. I usually order three and only end up eating two because they are so filling. Today, I had an event for about 18 people, so I placed a large order of pupusas (48 to be exact), churros, and a tamal de elote (small sweet corn tamal), as well as horchata and tamarindo juice. The pupusas were delicious as always, and the tamal de elote did not disappoint! The churros on the other hand were very hard and no one really liked them. Both the horchata and tamarindo were very good, but very sweet for my taste. The only complaint is that the order was not ready by the time I had requested, but the staff was nice enough to provide me with plates, forks, and napkins free of charge. In the future, I will make sure to order at least 20-30 mins ahead of time taking into account that they do run behind. read more

I wasn't super impressed with their brunch - good entrees but they don't bring out the food very fast and there's an extra charge for many of the 'bottomless' dishes. Also the margaritas were so so bad :( read more