Huge menu with a ton of options--everything was great! Guac is worth coming back for. read more

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This is my go to neighborhood spot for Mexican/el Salvadoran food. I generally do take out, and I have eaten on the patio, which was nice. My go to order is nachos - they are fully loaded and delicious. I'm vegetarian so I get them without meat. They are yumm. The pupusas are delicious, you must try them. I get bean and cheese and sometimes just cheese. The spinach quesadilla is also one of my favorites. My carnivorous life partner loves the ground beef burrito, fajitas, and chicken quesadillas. The sweet plantains (maduros) are also really tasty . The service is friendly and the food is consistently good. I'm happy this is my neighborhood spot. read more

This is a cool little neighborhood spot I visited with a friend over the weekend. There's nothing fancy at all about the decorum. It's has a small tikibar-like bar area, indoor and outside seating options, and a surprisingly large menu. The complimentary chips and salsa are just ok. We ordered margaritas on the rocks which weren't very good (way too sweet). I had chicken tacos which I'm pretty sure were made with chicken strips (weird) and my friend had the shrimp quesadilla. I wasn't impressed with the food, but I had a good time in the environment hence the 3 stars. read more

El Torogoz - Chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is so expensive for no reason. The price are not worth what they serve. I was here Last Monday with a coworker of my the service was so awful . To start we order a bucket of beer that was the only good thing that the waitres got right everything else was downhill. So I order a shrimp soup it was horrible like 5 shrimps , milk, eggs and rice. Just awful my tortillas were raw I call the waitres because she never check on the only table she has my friend call her and I explained about the tortillas Been raw and that I loose my appetite she didn't seem to care. My friend steak!! he ask medium temperature and the waitres brings his steak raw what the hell. If you want uncooked food that gives you gas and food poisoning, stay away!! Service was horrible also, attitude problems or something wrong with the waitres., I have no idea she" chase a table outside because she wasn't getting tips well done for her horrible service. So sad never ever. read more

El Torogoz - a bowl of soup on a plate - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Found this spot on my walk and popped into the small ordering window. Staff was so nice and the food was amazing (as you can see in the photo). Please support this establishment!!! read more

El Torogoz - Al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped by here today, and was the best decision ever made. At first, I was skeptical because there was no other diners in the restaurant, but after taking the first bite of the Carne Asada, I almost shed a tear because it was that good. It was the perfect size, and the steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned. If you are around the area, this place is a MUST! Friendly service and they have so many options!!!!! They have both Mexican and Salvadorian food. Hope to go here again! read more

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

I've been sitting outside for 20 minutes and no one has said hola or nothing!!!! I won't be coming back. read more

Had the steak nachos and Pupusas to go....... -Nachos: Steak had a bad taste to it and less than usual. I was ok with the beans being dry as I had them to go, I expected them to be that way but didn't get much as a regular order of nachos elsewhere. The Avocado didn't look fresh as it was black! -Pupusas: Had ordered revueltas and they ended up giving me beans/cheese pupusas. The pupusas weren't even good and are expensive where as in a food truck, are less expensive and much more tasty! read more

Delicious inexpensive pupusas!! Fantastic service. Came here 2 times, the first time my boyfriend and I are in. He had a chicken sandwich which he said was decent, and then we had bean and cheese pupusas which were amazing! I called in a order of bean and cheese pupusas for my next visit and sadly was only given cheese pupusas. I called the next day and they gave me my correct order for free. I'm happy they stand by their service/food. For this reason I will def come back. Also those pupusas are bomb! read more

Still good! Went the other night and had the steak el torogoz, which was in a creamy peppercorn sauce and served with fragrant white rice and sauteed spinach. The spinach was a tad salty but the leftovers blended nicely the following day. The Colonel had beef Dishellada (spelling?) which comes with bell peppers and onions, served with rice and plantains. He loved it. Sprossling had the chicken chimichangas which were as good as ever. read more

In town alone and bored, so figured what better way to spend my time than becoming an amateur food critic. So here goes my first review on any platform, of anything. Ever: Initial service was slow, but friendly enough. Ambiance, typical at best. When chicken tacos came out, I could tell almost right away they would be underwhelming (granted I am from LA), so I ordered some Papusas as well - this is my "cheat" day after all. Again, a little slow coming out, but I was pleasantly surprised - warm, great flavor, texture and low price for not from a food truck. Just stick to what they do well. read more

I have been wanting to stop by for awhile but didn't bother to bookmark. I can't say I was hype, I just wanted to finally cross it off the list. Here's the play by play. This was a call in situation so we didn't even go in the restaurant. We went to a lil takeout window which I actually liked. It felt like something I've done in another place at another time. Thumbs up to authenticity. My order was simple. I am all about Pollo A La Brasa when I can't get to Peruvian Chicken. I ordered a Quarter White with Yuca y Plátanos on the side and was going to say hold off on the Green Sauce and double up on the White but since it was my first time I didn't. The Green Sauce was not bad. It was kind of tangy, not something I would do on the regular but cool. The White Sauce was so-so. The Chicken was aight I wasn't disappointed but I have had much better. The sides were not plentiful. Michelle Obama said easy on the starch and the fried stuff so that explains that. A filling meal with no leftovers. The food was cool but on to the next one. read more

Incredible papusas, chilaquiles and Peruvian chicken. Plantains are a must get. Small interior but clean and family friendly. We will be back! read more

El Torogoz is in Petworth just off Georgia Ave. El Torogoz features Salvadoria, Mexican, and Italian food. Everything is made to order with fresh ingredients. The place is tiny but they also feature sidewalk tables. It is not terribly vegetarian friendly though there are meals one can have. It is just a bit difficult if your Spanish isn't good to communicate that you want your meal sans-meat. But once you get beyond that the food is pretty tasty. Margaritas are good but not great. The pitcher size is a bit small and there are not enough fresh limes in the mix but definitely drinkable. The atmosphere is very friendly which is in keeping with other places nearby in Petworth. Worth checking out. read more

The steak and cheese sandwich earns 5 stars - up there with the best I've had in DC and beyond. It's a bold move ordering this sandwich and fries at a Mexican/Salvadorean place, but it is worth the judgmental looks from friends. The margaritas are the only reason I scaled back to 4 stars - they taste fantastic, but their cost is excessive. A pitcher came out to $37. I don't know enough about the economics of margaritas in DC, but this seems steep even for the Alero/Cactus Cantina/Lariol menu, much less the Haydees/Rinconcito offerings. I mean, for $37 I could buy enough tequila and supplies to throw a small Cinco De Mayo party! Nevertheless, at $7.99, the steak and cheese really offsets the cost of the margaritas. The experience is delicious. Personally, I don't care about amazing service. I'm pretty laid back. If you care about service, El Torogoz may frustrate you. I've had to send back foul wine before, which I've never had to do anywhere else. The wait for food can be unpredictable. If this would ruin your dining experience you should just go to Rosa Mexicano. I would not though because Rosa Mexicano doesn't have the best steak and cheese in DC. read more

So last night we tried out this restaurant, merely a block away from our new home. It was a beautiful spring day, so we started off outside to avoid the really loud latin music being pumped inside. The chips were freshly made, and so was their salsa. While I would prefer a little less onion (they were really strong), the salsa was delicious. I ordered the chicken (1/2) and my partner ordered the shredded beef with tomatoes and peppers. My platter came out as a quarter (not a half), and hers was perfect. While the breast was a little dryer than I would prefer, dipping the meat in their green chile sauce made it fantastic. Her shredded beef, however, was perfect, with a side of fresh avocado and deep fried plantain. Other than ambience (you can't talk in the restaurant) and imperfect service (gave me a quarter instead of a half), this is a good standard mexican/salvadorian restaurant. At least, good enough in this neighborhood. read more

El Torogoz is located about a block away from my friend's house where I was staying while in DC last week. On my first night there, we dined at El Torogoz for lack of wanting to go anywhere else. The inside is small, somewhat dark and has a consistent stream of latin music playing. It seems like the sort of place that would be fun in the summer, when you can have tables outside, but not so much in the winter. Make sure you understand Spanish though, otherwise it might be a bit difficult to place your order. The food is a mix of Mexican, Salvadorian and Italian (not sure where the italian comes in). My friend ordered a traditional plate with pupusas, plantains, etc. The plantains were prepared especially well, but my chilaquillas were sub par (and it should be difficult to screw up something like chilaquillas) Overall, it's not bad and pretty affordable, but there are other places read more

I used to have a rule that I never walked into an establishment that had very dark tinted windows (let's just say I had some bad experiences in Vietnamese establishments in San Jose, CA), but I am so glad I made an exception for this place (the dark tint is because the storefront windows face directly into the very bright sun, so it's a climate control thing). Really really really good pupusas. They are remarkably light, almost fluffy, and very tasty. I've also had Carne Asada and Pollo Saltado and been very pleased not only with the taste but the quantity and the price. It really can't be beat. I've heard the place is noisy -- can't speak to that, as it wasn't ever noisy inside when we were there, but we were there on a weekday night. Other times we sat outside, and it certainly wasn't noisy out there (and if it was noisy inside, we didn't hear it). Each time we've been there, there has only been one waitress -- she is very personable and does her best, and quite frankly I've not noticed the service being especially slow even though she IS the only person there. Maybe I subconsciously adjust my expectations, though. Also, sometimes they will be out of things -- such is the nature of a small restaurant minimally staffed. One thing they don't run out of is freshly made, piping hot tortilla chips (complimentary). Those things are great. I am really glad this place is in the neighborhood. A nice walk up the street and we can gorge ourselves on $2 pupusas for as long as our stomachs can handle it! read more

Finally made it to El Torogoz, on one of our friendly forays into neighborhood joints. Parking is super easy in this area. It's a humble place with a big wooden bar, a few big screens and maybe eight to ten tables. The fried Yuca and pork appetizer was fresh (nothing worse than fried yuca sitting under a heat lamp). The margaritas favored the mix and were not terrible but too light for my liking. I did enjoy the fajitas Torrogoz which had chicken, veg, steak, shrimp, and chorizo. Came with sides of rice and beans, cream, guacamole, and Pico. There were three tortillas which was an insult to Mexican Americans everywhere. So we had to ask for another order for which there was a miniscule charge. I look forward to returning and maybe giving it one more star if they air out the wet mop smell near my table. read more

As usual with these type of places, Yelp hours are wrong -- don't waste your time trying to come here for Salvadoran breakfast, they aren't open. read more

I love this little hole-in-the-wall spot! The food is delicious and reasonably priced, and the cocktails are tasty as well. It's a great little hidden Petworth gem. Highlights from my visits: The pupusas (the plain cheese ones are my favorite) and the fajitas. Bonus: they do takeout. Overall, highly recommend! read more

Had a quiet lunch with my sister today. Food was fresh and delicious. Service was awesome! Our waitress was helpful and very welcoming. This place has a karaoke machine (the updated version) Gonna try visiting during night time to see how live this place is. read more

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This is my partner and my new favorite local place to eat! We love that they have outdoor seating. The weather has been great lately so that is nice. We even brought our dogs with us one day. It is definitely a dive type of place. Inside feels a little stuffy and small so we definitely prefer to sit outside. Also the staff is defintely more comfortable communicating in Spanish. Luckily that isn't a problem for us. I saw another guy pointing to items on the menu so you certainly don't need to speak Spanish. It is all traditional fare. No fancy preparations. Just good food. Top selections so far are: Peruvian Chicken Carne Asada Fried Plaintains Chilequiles read more

Food tastes authentic and delicious. It's a small place, but comfortable atmosphere. There is out door seating too. I've only had the fish tacos here. I'm excited to try new items from their menu. read more

I was skeptical about trying it because the rating wasn't as high on here, but the food was actually quite tasty and the people were kind. I had the chicken burrito. It was very well seasoned, and the black beans that came with it were fantastic. My only qualm was the price. I can't remember the last time I paid $12 for a burrito. read more

One of my favorite places in Petworth. I know it's not a contest, but if you are looking for somewhere to go for Latin American food, go here instead of Taqueria Del Barrio around the corner. I go here once every 10 days or so and I love sitting on the Patio when it's nice. The menu is hilariously extensive and the half chicken is excellent--but they often run out early. (so prepare to have your hopes and dreams dashed and have to order one of the many other yummy things on the menu) I usually get the carne asada burrito and I've never been disappointed by it. The drinks are ~very strong~ but depending on who is behind the bar...they may not have all the things listed on the drink menu. Service can be a little inconsistent b/c they are understaffed (your server is usually also the bartender) but chillax, order a drink, eat the free chips and salsa and enjoy yourself. The food will be worth it. Word to the wise: not all of the staff is bilingual. If you are an English-only speaker, you may find this challenging. Consider this part of the charm. (Pointing to what you want on the menu will go a long way.) read more

Decent place to grab food late at night - not for take out but sit down. We came here at 11:30 at night and they were still serving. The menu has a good selection of Latin food including Mexican (quesadillas, burritos, etc.), Peruvian (lomo saltado) and Colombian (chueletas). Food is fairly inexpensive and is a good bang for the buck. I ordered the Carne Asada burrito, which comes with white rice beans, and guacamole. It definitely fulfilled my late night munchie craving. However, my margarita was a little too sweet for my liking. The place also has a full bar, outdoor seating and a very friendly staff. read more

El Torogoz - Carne asada burritos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food and drinks were pretty good. The service was sketchy at best. I would go back but not if I was in a hurry. read more

El Torogoz - The bar - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great place. Got takeout for my wife and I. She loved her salmon tacos. My burrito was pretty good. Chicken Quesadilla was good for supper as well as breakfast the next morning. Space looked small but nice. Definitely recommend. read more

Our favorite Mexican food in DC... it's definitely not fancy on the outside, but it is fresh, delicious food served in a clean environment in a timely manner. Also- get a frozen margarita- they make each one fresh with real margarita ingredients, not green koolaid that you get from most places in DC. My favorite vegan order: El Torrogoz burrito with no cheese ($4). read more

The mariscada Cuzcatleca was very flavorful with a good amount of seafood. The pollo a la braza (rotisserie chicken) was finger linking good, the sauce for the yuca was on point too. Overall, Great food and service. Super affordable too. read more

El Torogoz - Mariscada Cuzclateca - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Probably one of my favorite places in the city to start the weekend off. Papusa, fajitas and a kickass margarita for under $25....add in some disco lighting and karaoke? It's everything you wanted plus everything you forgot to ask for. read more

This place was amazing. Went there on a random first date. Not really expecting much. This place was great!!!! Food was amazing. Set the tone for the remainder of our evening. We will be going back soon read more

Thought it'd be authentic, hole-in-the-wall food amongst higher end Mexican places around the area, but it's sadly less than mediocre.

Walking into this restaurant for the first time reminded me of walking into a cantina in Guatemala. It's not large by any standard, but it makes the most of the space. The food is great, and if you order the right dishes, you can get a lot of food for very little $$$. I just went and had dinner for two (including drinks) for just around $20. It doesn't seem to be very busy ever during the week, which is confusing because it's so good! read more

I could see one being intimidated looking at the ambiguous, almost nondescript signage sitting atop El Torogoz's storefront, but I assure you that this would be a grave mistake. Having just spent the better part of a night within its warm interior, I can attest to its authenticity. My friends and I, finding ourselves more than a bit overwhelmed at a local bar merely a block away, deemed it prudent to escape the din of our local establishment for the sanctuary that we came to know as El Torogoz. Right now you're most likely asking yourself - Christopher, were you disappointed? You must have been disappointed. Friend, you could not be more wrong. As my party of six settled in, a kind-faced waitress took our order. We quickly ordered two pitchers of margaritas and flinch, she did not. As the night progressed, margaritas were never in short supply and the karaoke selection was enviable. We all ate healthily, myself ordering a trio of pork and cheese pupusas, which were delightful, served hot and melty with a side of vinegary slaw and salsa. They were wonderful and I would describe them. much to my close acquaintances chagrin, as soft, pillowy and absolutely stuffed to the gills with cheese. I should also take this moment to express my pure, unadulterated delight in regards to the tortilla chips we were served - never have I ever had such wonderful tortilla chip accoutrements. The salsa was on point, the chips were hot and wonderfully salty and they were anything and everything that you could ever want out of a chip. As wonderful as the food was, I really have to give it up to the DJ. We came in there "squaded up", as they say these days, just looking for a good time and a good time is what we found. DJ Carlos was more than happy to accommodate us in the karaoke department and we took full advantage, spending our night alternating between Salvadorean classics, Rambo 3, and early millennial boy band singles. We spent the better part of the night belting out not only classics such as "Cancion Del Mariachi", but also deep cuts such as N'Sync's seminal hit "Bye Bye Bye". We all joined in the revelry and enjoyed ourselves immensely. All in all our night at El Torogoz was nothing less than magical and left us all thinking "Man, we should go here more often" The burritos. tortilla chips. pupusas, karaoke, margaritas, and just the overall welcoming feeling left us wanting more and I can assure we will be back. VIVA EL TOROGOZ!! read more

Awesome, love this place. Best Pollo a la Brasa ever. Usually sold out on sundays for some reason. Sometimes there's a DJ there and it can be loud. Prepare to drink up on a bucket of beers read more

I posted a pic a couple months ago of a very delicious steak and cheese sub. It was the first time I went there and it blew my mind! They used steak tips, not the gross Steak Ums. Well, turns out that was an anomaly because I've been back 4 or so times since and nothing has since compared- now I get Steak Ums and dry fries. They must be doing something right because there are always people there, but is suggest ordering something else from the menu. read more

El Torogoz - Incredibly delicious steak & cheese with everything - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is incredible. By far the best Hispanic food I've had in DC so far. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but just so good. The carne asada and plantains are especially good. read more

In reading the reviews, I don't know what folks expect. We had a friend visiting and he wanted Salvadorian food. We went to El Torogoz (named for El Salvador's national bird) because it was nearby. I wanted papusas and plantains, and that's what I got. They were fast, fresh, and delicious. I recommend the Papusas Loroco (green flower buds). We all loved our food and the great service. I'm vegetarian and the assortment of veggie food was also as you'd expect, if not plentiful--papusas, plantains, fajitas, a variety of quesadillas, etc... Mind you, this place isn't pretentious. Entrees here cost about $10 a plate and you can choose from a wide assortment of Latin American/Tex-Mex and, inexplicably, some pasta dishes too. If you want shi-shi $25+ entrees, try somewhere else--there are plenty of those type of options in DC. read more