For Tex-Mex and Mexican, this Guapo's location is a good choice in the area. It is conveniently located at The Rio in Gaithersburg. The restaurant is set up to host indoor and outdoor dining. The covered patio is a fine dining option when the weather is nice. Inside has traditional round table seating and booths which accommodate up to 6-7 which is great for families and groups. You can find virtually all of your traditional protein and tortilla-based dishes here. The flour tortillas are homemade. If you're in the mood for happy hour, Guapo's meets the mark as they have an extensive drink menu including frozen options which is fitting for the restaurant theme. The customer service I received was very good. Overall, a good experience and will visit again in the area. read more

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TLDR: Guapo's has good food and fun atmosphere but the experience quickly becomes soured by a rushed experience and limited space. My advice. Do not order appetizer/dinner at same time. Push back on rushed service. Expect to be approached quickly and pushed until you order and left alone after your food arrives until you feel compelled to ask for a check and leave. Do not sit outside if you have babies/kids if you want your table to be large enough to fit your meal/drinks. -- Starting with the food, it's pretty good overall. Beans/rice come standard on a lot of options. They have a lot of creative appetizers. The guapomole and guacaviche are both worth trying. Might be a tad pricey for the portions and quality but nothing unreasonable. Burritos are a little on the small side for my expectations. During days when Rio is busy and dinner hours this place is so exceptionally busy so expect it to be loud. Everyone and their cousin has their birthday here and the wait staff are seemingly constantly singing and banging on instruments some days. The wait staff are exceptional for this type of restaurant- the reason why is likely due to so many experienced wait staff working here. And here's where we arrive at my issues with Guapo's and where it goes from a borderline 5* to a rapidly dropping 3*: Guapo's prioritizes turning tables over customer experience. And it RUINS the experience. The staff rush you to order, if you order dinner/appetizer there's a very good chance you'll be two bites into an app when your dinner arrives. Their tables are too small and too tightly packed- especially in the outside area. You can't really fit two meals, drinks, and an app on these tables for 4. Guapo's is a high volume money printer and it's become so bad I prefer looking at other options lately. read more

We came into Guapo's Restaurant and the first thing we experienced was poor service from the host, Marylin. She was immediately disrespectful and even rolled her eyes when asking if we wanted to sit inside or outside--even after we clearly said inside. That kind of attitude right when you walk in really sets a negative tone for the entire experience. Customer service should feel welcoming, not dismissive. I hope management addresses this, because first impressions matter. read more

My SO and I went to Guapos last night. It was really busy, as expected for Spring Break. We asked about sitting on the patio and was told 25-30min for the patio. We figured we would go for a walk around the lake and enjoy the evening and wait to get paged--we leave our info and head off to look at the ducks and wait. Times goes by and we get the page to my cell phone. I reply with the prompt saying we are "on our way" and start speed walking maybe 75-100yards. We walk up, there's a small group showing up for their page and they get seated inside. As we are standing there next in line waiting to be seated, we see our 2 top--the literal only table on the patio that's open, ready and waiting, we are hungry, it's been half an hour, all is well. Some other hostess walks up, comepltely ignores the fact we are standing at the podium and addresses to young guys who just walk right up and she seems to know, they don't have their name down but instead of telling them to hope in line to put their name in, so they can seat the next guest....she asks if they want indoor or out. I hear the guy say outside....she grabs 2 menus...walks these 2 guys over and seat him at our table. Another host greets us, we say we were paged, she checks the books, confirms us, grabs 2 menus and turns to start taking us to that 2 top, only to see the first girl just gave it away to the 2 guys... Now we have 3 girls whispering in front of us and instead of her correcting the issue, the one that gave away the table right in front of us to 2 guys who cut the line and were immediately seated....she looks me dead in the eyes and says "I don't know what happened to your table, are you sure you want to sit outside?"....i reply to her "Uhmm yeah that's why we just waited a half an hour and show her my texts and...". She starts looking back and forth at the clearly full patio...."Uhmm I can try to find you a table" as her cohort whispers something to her "...but it's gonna be another 30min because we are busy"...I laugh because it's not only absurd, she knows EXACTLY what happened to our table. I say "this is insane, nah I'm good...it's going on 8pm and I just waited to watch you seat your buddies and now I'm going to maybe wait another 30min?" This is without a doubt in the top 2 worst experiences at the host stand that I have ever experienced. I work in the industry, at a Michelin Star restaurant in DC nonetheless, and it is beyond my comprehension as a diner and an industry person, why and how this sort of incompetence, disrespect and utter lack of anything resembling service exists. This sort of ridiculousness wouldn't be acceptable at a Waffle House. I've heard a few horror stories but this by far takes the cake, not to mention the fact Guapo's bar frequently served my UNDER AGE Backwaiters from a neighboring restaurant in RIO before I headed to DC, that would slip on over and do shots and get tanked before sneaking on back over to a dinner rush, half in the bag--but I digress... This restaurants management and proprietors need to start chopping some of these young girls from the host stand and taking a look at what's really going on. I don't expect Michelin level service and interactions from a Guapos but I more than understand standards of service and service levels and even that wait times can fluctuate at times but to page your guest, and have what happened here, is beyond the pale at any venue. I ran a Saturday diner fundraiser that was fully run by students at their school, who are ages 12-15 and in their complete lack of any work experience in any form, let alone restaurants, managed to run the host stand, serve tables, take orders for 80-90covers without a single hiccup based on brief training and because they've gone out to eat ---100% green middle school kids and freshman in high school.....let that sink in for a moment. I could have 100% gotten and have gotten better hospitality at the AMC theater concession stand getting cheese sticks, than I can at Guapos and so can you. The economy is trash and the world is weird. No restaurant can afford to be throwing away business, losing money and have their reputation corroded due to a failure of the fundamentals Of service that exists at all levels--Fully and completely unacceptable. I would recommend people consider taking their finite life span and their dollars to any other place, that at a bare minimum, won't disrespect you, your time and want your business. read more

Maybe I'm getting old but it's not my scene. Very rushed and food was ok. If you looking for drinks, fast paced service and music this is the spot. And yes it is busy and you will likely have a wait but if flexible were you sit it was not that bad. Thanks but no thanks. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - But first drinks! And mocktails are our choice... Yum! - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

A delicious Mexican spot in Rio. The food was soo good for the price and portions. The service here was excellent and friendly. It's a little loud and chaotic but the kind of vibes you want in a Mexican spot. Tacos and burritos were big and delicious, and even their house chips and salsa was so good. Will definitely be back and totally recommend read more

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I will miss this place when I get back to NC, they have this nice fajita and the ceviches. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Triple Fajita! - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Upbeat vibes, friendly service, delicious food! Food was so good we all dug in so fast I forgot to take pics first. Queso was nice and cheesy. The steak in the fajitas and taco salad were very juicy. Shrimp chimichanga was super filled and had the perfect crisp on top. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Also they have a great way to celebrate your special someone's birthday! read more

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We went on Cinco de Mayo and obviously it was packed. We were seated within 2 minutes. Server came by 1 minute after seating asking for our drink order. My got a Guapos house margarita and I got a large pilsner. They arrived about 2 minutes later. Shortly after we ordered dinners and it arrived in about 5 minutes later She ordered Ceviche Mixto and ordered a steak Chimichanga. The ceviche was perfect; fresh and flavorful. My chimichanga was large, filled with a lot o steak, and seasoned well. The ambience was loud. We were extremely pleased and impressed with all the staff they had on hand. Service was fantastic! read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Steak Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Came here at 7 pm on a Tuesday and was shocked to see Guapo's was packed! We gave our name and party number and were told 10-15 min wait, and it took a bit less than that. We were seated and surrounded by a lot of lively tables and lovely servers. We quickly ordered drinks and our meals, and were quickly delivered the drinks, chips, and salsa. We also asked if they had a spicier salsa which they also delivered. Our food came out quite quickly, and was hot. All the food from the seafood mixto, spinach enchiladas, and chile relleno. After, we ordered a mango cheesecake. That probably took the longest time to come out but it was very worth the wait. Overall great food a lovely loud environment full of energy! read more

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this Guapo's branch is truly a magical place everything is fresh and of course the restaurant is always busy I prefer patio as the inside can get a little bit crowded will all people having Birthdays:)) My to go order is Calamari ( which has decreased in amount over last year, of course inflation ) , Guacamole And main dish mixed Fajita and dessert puffy sweets ! One more think don't forget about drinks one of only places has pina colada both Virgin and alcoholic and all other cocktails that fit your taste! Love it read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mixed fajita - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Let's just cut right to the chase, you cannot go wrong with Guapo's. It is a staple Tex-mex restaurant in the DMV and by far one of my favorites to eat at. We recently went there on a random Friday evening, right around the rush at 6:30. It was PACKED! The place was backed up with a line out the door, minimum wait time 30 mins for two. We got on the list and walked over to Silver Diner for some drinks on HH. Once we got back, we were seated at the table they had just closed out and cleaned up. Our server took good care of us, taking our drink and food order within the first 5-10 mins of being seated. It was nothing short of impressive how quickly our experience went from sitting down, to ordering, to having our drinks brought out, and finally food on the table. I'm telling you, it was maybe no longer than another 5-10 minutes before all of our food came out. The way they are able to handle the rush of people, the 100 tables or so, and still maintain fresh food and high quality service is something that should be studied. It was a well oiled machine. As per usual, the food was fantastic! We got some ceviche, carne asada and a fajita platter. The portions were large and filling, and we had plenty of leftovers to bring home. I guess my only complaint, which honestly isn't really one, is that it's so loud but that's to be expected. They are super busy every weekend. All in all, definitely give em a try if you haven't! Oh and make sure to get a frozen margarita (who cares if it's winter?) read more

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Best Mexican at The Rio! Super light chips and salsa, guacamole is a generous portion to share. I am addicted to the burrito Bowl, as gluten free, this is the best option for all the flavors of a burrito in a bowl. El Pastor is cooked perfectly with accents of pineapple. Comes with spicy red salsa and a mild tomatillo salsa. Staff is friendly, attentive without over bearing. Patio is closed in with heaters for the cold season. read more

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It is a great place to get alone with your family. The service were very caring at all time . The food is quite authentic Mexican. The tacos al pastor and the tacos de carnitas were very delicious. The spicy margarita was the top moment. Overall, I recommend this place if you are around the Rio shopping mall. Thumps up. read more

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This Guapo's is the largest one I have been to. They have outdoor dining, nice size Bar and a huge Dining area. We were seated within 5 minutes, but took 10 minutes to order two drinks and an appetizer. The manager had to fix the concern. The drinks were great, but they put some much ice. I was finished in two 1/2 sips. The queso and chip were good. The seafood soup was salty. The ground beef burrito was the worse thing ever. The beans were super salty, the rice was over seasoned, the ground beef was horrible. Our server did her best to make things right. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Came here for the first time while spending some time at the Rio with the family. We had gotten takeout from the Guapos in Bethesda but this was the first time at this location. The customer service was great from start to finish and they took great care of us. The chips that they gave as the appetizer were thin and crispy just the way we like. My wife had the Seafood Soup, our oldest (12) had the Birria Tacos, our youngest (10) had Chicken Taquitos Sonara and I had the Carnitas Bowl. We always had a great expereince with our takeout from the Bethesda location and we felt the food at this location was just a notch above. It could be the difference was that we were dining in and getting our food right after it was made. Overall we all really enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back! read more

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I love Guapos in general. The place is always nicely decorated and there is always plenty of seating. It's been cold recently so outdoor seating is not available. I haven't been to this location in so long since it is a bit further from me than other locations. Rio is a nice place to hangout and walk around then go for a bite. Guapos have a big menu and the food is good. The staff at all the locations I've visited have always been friendly and very helpful. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Camarones Diablo - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Always a fun time, especially for celebrations. We had a huge table and the staff were great. There is free parking in the multiple garages at Rio. It does get busy on weekends so expect a wait. They have happy hour in their bar section with some high top tables. They usually have a DJ in the bar section on weekends. Food itself is pretty good, and the menu is huge. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I had a very disappointing experience at the Gaithersburg location tonight. I arrived at the bar around 10:00 PM and was immediately told the kitchen was closed. When I asked what time it had closed, the bartender simply repeated that they weren't serving food. After I asked again, she said the kitchen was closed because they were doing repairs. The explanation didn't make sense because there were still customers eating and receiving food while I was sitting at the bar. If the kitchen was actually closed, it certainly didn't appear to be. The inconsistent explanation made me feel like I was being singled out rather than being given an honest answer. I then asked if I could at least order a drink. The bartender walked away, came back a few minutes later with a drink menu after several minutes, and then walked away again without taking my order. At that point, I no longer felt welcome and decided to leave. I understand restaurants have closing procedures, but customers deserve clear communication and consistent service. Management should take a closer look at how late-night service is handled. Experiences like this leave money on the table because paying customers who are ready to order end up walking out. I came in prepared to spend money on food and drinks, but instead left feeling unwelcome. Unfortunately, this experience makes me hesitant to return. read more

Located at the Rio Waterfront with plenty of free garage parking. Indoor and outdoor seating. On a nice day, you can enjoy the waterfront views. I've been here a few times, solid Tex-Mex food, but nothing special. I tried the Birria Fajitas this time and if not for the sauce, the meat was a bit dry. Large portions - you can probably split one entrée with two people, I took half home. They offer free chips and salsa. Service is ok, everyone is friendly, but depending where you're sitting, sometimes you can't get hold of your waiter. I also asked for more tortillas and our waiter forgot. They will bring out a sombrero and gather the staff to sing Happy Birthday, so it's always nice to celebrate there. read more

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Superb atmosphere, freshly made tortillas and birthday celebration tradition made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend

I went to Guapo's and we were seated on the side near the door which made it really cold from opening and closing. I was so chilly that I ended up ordering a hot chocolate yes at Guapo's when I really should have been drinking margaritas lol. The birria tacos were incredible and that hot chocolate was one of the best I have ever had. The customer service was excellent too, fast, attentive and friendly. Even with the cold spot, the food and service made it a great visit. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Love the decor here. Lunch on a Monday holiday is super slow, even during a government shutdown too. There was tons of attention given to our table at what is normally a very packed restaurant. I loved seeing all the sizzling fajita platters. I order a pork dish that came with rice and beans. In my opinion, everything was delicious, but it was a tad too salty for me, and I love salt. I even eat salt while cooking to curb my appetite while cooking. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Came here today, for Easter Sunday. Never been here before and was shocked to see how big the place was. We came here last minute on a very busy day, so didn't know what to expect. Chips and warm salsa and kicked up pico were served for the table. The place is nice inside, lots of staff on the move and hustling about. My husband and I both ordered the carne asada fajitas ... perfectly cooked at Medium, with the typical condiments, onions/peppers, rice, beans, cheese, pico, guacamole, sour cream. The dishes also had a garlic butter that came out sizzling in a little container (see attached video). I didn't care for the peas and carrots in the rice, but other than that we both really loved our dishes. The waiter also asked if we wanted a little hot sauce and we said yes and he brought out this delicious green sauce. Although the carne asada was well seasoned and great on its own, we added the garlic butter and that green sauce and our meals were extra delicious! Our teen daughter ordered the crunchy beef tacos, which also came with the condiments, except beans were refried. She seemed to enjoy, although it's not something we would order. We also ordered a passionfruit mocktail, which we were supposed to split (good sized for the smaller version). It was great and for this reason I barely got to taste it because it was hijacked by daughter. We all enjoyed our food and drink. Everything was perfectly cooked and delish and we will come back! read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Visited Guapo's for a birthday lunch and had a pretty good experience. The restaurant was packed, but the staff was very attentive and quick! However, some of the food was just okay for me. Felt like some of it could have used just a tad bit more flavor. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The food was good and everything came out fresh. The only issue I had was that I later found out the pinto beans were made with pork, which I can't eat for religious reasons. I just wish the server had been a little more detailed about that upfront. Other than that, the overall experience was okay read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Salmon fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I will never stop recommending this place to anyone who doesn't already know about it. If you come here and love steak, you HAVE to try the Carne Asada. Comes with loads of sides, so worth the price. The fajitas are also top notch, burritos are LOADED. This is probably the best place to get Mexican food in the area. Ive celebrated numerous special occasions here. Rio itself is beautiful to walk around and explore and events do happen occasionally. This place gets lively at night, ESPECIALLY on the weekends so expect a 15-25 min wait if you're walking in. Parking is available in the same building it's located in. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Carne Asada Tacos Al Carbon - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The service was good. Yet, the food was overpriced for the small portions served. The flavors are okay but nothing truly amazing.

Enjoyed my first time at guapos- loved the vibe on the outdoor patio and the food came out very fast! I liked the chips and salsa. Ordered the combo plate with a chicken enchilada and chicken taco. The enchilada was really good and flavorful. The service was consistent and I appreciated that she let me try a couple wines before picking the prosecco. I will be back- likely for happy hour! read more

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My first time here for brunch. I got the guapos steak and egg. I got my steak medium rare and had the option to get it sliced. I got scrambled eggs. The steak was cooked perfectly. The vegetables were so tasty as well. My friend got the first omelet they enjoyed. Both plates came with fried potato hash brown piece. The service was great. We were offered additional sauce and always had water. We got mimosas. I would come here for brunch again. read more

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Stopped in on a Friday night and we were seated immediately, to a table right in front of the very very busy front door. Located in Rio, Guapos is always lively and I appreciated that we were sat fast however we were extremely cold during the entire meal. The interior has a covered and heated patio portion, and an inside dining room. Because so many seats are packed into the restaurant it was hard to hear. The atmosphere is fun and you can tell people come here to have a good time with friends and family. Guapos offers the classic Tex-mex menu, there is something for everyone. The complimentary chips and salsa hits the spot every time. Guapos does have the best fajitas in Rio. The chicken was tender and seasoned well, and the fajitas were soft, thick, and fluffy. We ordered their 'made from scratch' guac as well and it was beautifully presented and a big portion. The drinks were lovely (and the margs come in pitchers too!!) and our server made sure to check up on us often. I'd recommend making a reservation for a larger party especially if you want to eat on the weekend! read more

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This is a good place to eat Tex Mex food if you're from the DMV area! You get chips and salsa in the beginning and the service is great! They always check up on you and when you're done eating they're quick to help clear off your table. I got the chicken and steak fajita. They're really flavorful! I recommend ordering a side of the spicy house green salsa on the side too. I will say though, one used to be able to take leftovers home and now it's impossible. The portion size has really gone down for the price. Also the meat is extremely flattened out. Skirt streak is usually flat but this seemed very pressed down. Maybe I was just unlucky the day I went in. Been here multiple times, and everything overall on the menu is very tasty and seasoned well. I would be coming back again. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Chips and salsa and side of their house green salsa (highly recommend) - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Went for Happy Hour on the covered patio. They make good margarita's. I tried a drink called the matrimonial, it was a fruity layered concoction that contained lime and strawberry flavors. We tried an appetizer, it was pretty good. The fajitas that many people were ordering smelled amazing and upon my return I might try one. One odd thing was that there were like four birthday celebrations on the patio while we were there. The staff plays a drum or something and they sing and so on.. people seemed to be having a great time (I was too). I will return. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Matrimonial Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Had a great time enjoying happy hour and dinner on the patio with a dear friend. Our server was attentive and kept our drinks and waters full. I had a lime margarita on the rocks and a frozen mango margarita. The food was delicious and we enjoyed the view of the water, too. It was great to enjoy a meal al fresco! read more

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Guapo's in Bethesda offers a casual atmosphere with classic Tex-Mex menu options. The menu features fajitas, enchiladas, and generously portioned burritos. They alway provide warm chips and fresh salsa. The margaritas there are amazing we always get the pitcher- they offer half or full. Service is often friendly and quick. Oh a reminder it can get busy during peak hours but overall great for group dinners, family dinners or just casual nights out. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Ceviche Mixto - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Another good experience. Service is usually very good. Our staff Scottie was very professional and attentive. The dishes we ordered were delicious. Atmosphere was lively with upbeat background music. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Shrimp appetizer - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Stopped by my favorite Tex-Mex spot, Guapo's, happy to finally catch happy hour (4-7 PM). Unfortunately, my experience this time wasn't good. I sat at the bar and was initially greeted by the barback, who kindly brought me water. After that, I waited several minutes while the bartender and another staff member chatted and sampled a drink, showing no urgency to assist me. Then, an older gentleman approached the bar after I'd already been seated; the bartender immediately engaged with him, took his order, and even had his table wiped down while they talked. I'll admit, I was visibly confused and honestly about to leave. Afterwards, the bartender noticed my expression and came over. He mentioned chips and salsa were on the way and took my order for a Passion Fruit Margarita on the rocks, which turned out good. The chips and salsa were fresh and delicious. When he checked back, I asked to ORDER chips and salsa To-Go, since the warm salsa is just that good. His response, "There will be a charge" this rubbed me the wrong way. Duh.... Of course there's a charge; I was placing an order. The food and drink were solid as always, but the lack of attentiveness and comment made the experience disappointing. Hopefully next time, the service matches the quality of their food read more

Nice ambiance and friendly service. The steak was good, and my son loved the quesadillas. However, I was not informed that the pinto beans contain pork, which is not allowed in my religion. This could be a concern for others with dietary restrictions or allergies. I recommend the restaurant be more transparent about ingredients. read more

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We were in the area for the weekend for a private event and decided to check this place out. It's always busy! The staff was polite and attentive when we dined in on Thursday night. It does get pretty loud, so be ready for that. A great spot for a quick bite and good music. The food was decent, and the drinks were good. We enjoyed it so much that we came back Friday for the Latin DJ. The space is tight, but the music was great, and the drinks were strong. Again, very packed, but we managed to grab a table, so it wasn't too bad. We stayed for about two hours. Not a romantic date spot, but perfect for chilling out with friends! read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Hey friends! Short review since I came here against my will lol. AKA I came here for a birthday dinner. I ordered the shrimp the burrito($22). It comes with salad, yellow rice and refried beans. The food was bland and rice was dry. Mexican food is known for its abundant flavor. But this entree was a huge disappointment. The food was cooked well, but flavor would have completed the entree. This is the only place where we've received fajitas that weren't sizzling. I ordered a Crush Punch($13). If you don't like to taste the liquor in your cocktail, this drink is perfect for you. It's very sweet. Service was friendly and attentive. Staff was accommodating in correcting some of our incorrect/cold orders. I will not be returning to Guapos. Enjoy and be safe. With love, The Picky Pescatarian. read more

Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Shrimp Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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