Oh, no. I am getting old....The boy who once liked walking through gritty environs in order to eat ( or sit, or anything, for that matter) is, if not dead, in a state of-how can we say it- "transition." (The scociological schizophrenia that is Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant and my inner Richter scale do not get along) Nonetheless, I did enjoy my first meal at Haydee's this past weekend. Nothing stupendous, but very flavorful. And our waitress was so nice. The other stuff I mentioned... well, that's why God made therapists... And retirement communities... (hahahahah) read more

I am in a food coma while writing this. Cheap, good, with nice people... you can't go wrong. I had a chicken burrito which was great and enough for lunch tomorrow. But here are 3 more reasons to go: 1.) Awesome green habenero hot sauce that i don't see too many places. 2.) YUCA!!!!! So yummy. 3.) Scenery. There is so much to look at you'll have to go more than once. I hope i have convinced you but if i haven't than there is more room for me. : ) read more

Haydees is a nice place in Mt. PLEASANT with good Karoke, decent Tex Mex/Salvadorian food and a lovely and elegant founder - Haydee. However, count the number of drinks consumed because the itemized bill tends to be somewhat informal despite the high tech methods to pay. Plus you may be contributing to Haydee's third restaurant like it or not. read more

While the food is just okay, the atmosphere and service make it worth trying at least once. I had the Tacos Mexicanos, which I suggest passing on. I do like the taste of the grilled beef (kind of salty) but the overall effect is not that great (plus they use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas, which I'm not that into). I also had the chicken enchilada, which was a better option than the tacos. Best part of the meal though was the fried plantain appetizer. Really good, but be warned - they're filling. The chips and salsa are really good, as well, and really addictive. Sit as far away from the bowl as you can. Great decor, nice mix of people, and good for groups. Worth a try. read more

Haiku # 39 Karaoke and Funky hipster Saturdays And Mariachis! Top 5 reasons to hit up Haydee's: 5. Pretty damn decent pupusas, yuca, and plantains (one of the better pupusas and fresher tasting maduros in this hood) 4. Surprisingly friendly waitstaff considering the high number of drunken happy patrons at any given time 3. Karaoke....IN SPANISH! (if you know me, you know I'm all about the cantando en Espanol) 2. TNT night (one Saturday a month funky biboppin' hipsters--just might be those same hipsters you saw at Cafe Marx for Outlaws Night--hop on down to twist and shout some funky classics in dark-rimmed glasses and even a handful of poodle-esque skirts) 1. Mariachis! Need I say more? No, but I will. The guys that do the rounds here are awesome! A great bunch of fun and talented musicians who are more than happy to do a few shots of tequila with you and your drunken Peruvian roommate who just happens to know every word to every Mexican folk song ever written! Bonus Reason: There may or may not be a large old-school portrait of the owner/owner's wife/bartender hanging above the bar--a little spooky! read more

I live within walking distance to Haydees and I really enjoy it. It can be a bit loud if you get there during Happy Hour and the music is that Polka-ish sounding stuff...I'm not a fan of that. The environment otherwise is PLASTERED with pictures of the owner. Narcissistic? Perhaps. But the food is good, reasonably priced and the wait-staff, while they don't seem to understand much you are saying, greet you with a smile and do their best. The Fajita Burrito is my new favorite and the wings are some of the best I have found in the city. The Fajitas are also good, but I'm not a big fan of cooked tomato wedges and they are on the platter. Chips and salsa can be hit or miss as can the guacamole. Hey, if you're in the area its worth a stop. I doubt you'll be disappointed...oh and its WAY better than Lauriol Plaza and there's never a wait! read more

Bring your appetite, because there ain't no way you're gonna get through that pile of food on your plate without it. I never leave this place less-than-button-popping-stuffed. It's a little quirky and a little kitschy -- totally fits in Mt. Pleasant -- and one of those laid back places where you can kick back with some friends and have a casual meal. read more

Haydee's charms lie not in the food (average Mexadoran), or in the Margaritas (unless you order an organic one), but in its kitschy/divey interior and value for money; I would prefer to drop my $ here than at Lauriol Plaza any day. That painting behind the bar? That's Haydee herself (is there such a thing as a glamor painting?); she's one of the nicest owners around. The decor can best be described as "eclectic" with holiday lights and Virgin Marys galore. But back to the vittles and grog: happy hour runs till midnight Monday through Thursday (imports will run you $2.75), those pitchers of Margaritas will give you both an alcohol and a sugar buzz, and the quesadillas are cheap and filing. The icing on the cake is all of the chips and salsa you can wolf down. This is probably the most accessible Hispanic restaurant for gringos in the Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights area, and thankfully the Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance and their silly anti-live music stance has been defeated and the mariachis are back! read more

Went to an afterparty here at Haydee's and we were invited to a band that was blasting the restaurant away.....and excellent place to go at that time b/c it was my preclubbing warmup hehe. I only had margaritas since I've had my dinner at Thai tanic earlier on so i can't comment much on the food, but at $5 a glass+free chips and salsa and a band that was playing Mexican oldies...I can't complain about this place. I'm not sure if it's worth coming all the way out here for this but if I'm in the area I may stop by to warm up and get some food and drinks before heading out to U street. read more

ADM (Aye, Dios Mio): Fiesta Margaritas. Haydee's much more than a beautifully funky place to get soused and hear good live music: it's also the best Mexican food in NW, and can be a major challenge to your digestive tract if not taken seriously. There's real steak in the steak fajitas; this ain't no Chipotle nonsense; you will Dutch-Oven yourself out of a relationship if you don't approach the beans with caution. Every time I leave Haydee's I'm destroyed. Moderation is difficult with this level of reasonably priced expertly cooked-and-cocktailed calories. Things which are great here: Pupusas. Fajitas. Anything with steak or shrimp. Fiesta Margaritas (did I mention it's extra alcohol without extra cost? Loco). The service here is also great, even if you're devoid of Spanish as moi. read more

Food was good enough. I think it's accurate to say that it's better than many neighboring restaurants, and just as good as (and significantly cheaper than) places like Alero. The atmosphere is fun, a little dark. The server was friendly and efficient. However, I think I'd mostly go back for the huge and inexpensive margaritas. Please note: my friend got the "classic" and it tasted practically like limeade (no good!). But the rest of us got the "gold" (with cuervo) and it tasted like getting drunk. read more

The food here is terrible. I've eaten here on 3 different occasions (based solely on proximity) and each time I'm disappointed. How is it possible to mess up rice? RICE?! Their chips are terrible (unless you're wasted), the salsa makes me think of a sad young woman who has given up on life, and the service is abysmal. I acknowledge that their music is the real reason to go. They have a rotating mix of various musical styles, including on one vist, a 12-piece jazz band. That was amazing to witness. What also burns my buttons is that Haydee has literally chopped down trees, public trees, in the dark of night in order to get her way on a non-ironic eyesore of a front patio. I could rattle on like a crazy person about all the reasons this place is awful, but I'll be succinct here: + Bad Food + Bad Service + Bad Neighbor + Bad Restaurant + Shady Owner read more

Oh, Haydee's. You are totally inauthentic, yet completely wonderful. I treasure you in all your neon, Christmas light be-decked, 10,000 decible Spanish music, watery margarita glory. Haydee's is a fun, kitcshy place that is especially good for large groups. The food is typical tex-mex fare done well. The booze is pretty cheap especially at happy hour. There's a juke box with a large selection in both Spanish and English. Allegedly there is now live music, but every time I've tried to catch an advertised band they haven't played. Maybe I'm getting bad information from Hear Mount Plesant? read more

Delicious margaritas, beers... Fun, festive environment. If you go on the weekend, there will be a wait. It will not be organized. If you made a reservation, it does not count for anything. Go on a weeknight, or don't go hungry and be ready to hang out with a margarita before sitting down for a while. read more

3.5 Stars. You won't be impressed, but it won't disappoint you either. It's better than average. Had the fajita burrito and it was delicious. The beef was well seasoned, tender, and there was plenty of it. The melted cheese on top of the burrito was awesome. Rice had a good flavor to it as well. I enjoyed the entree. Of course the back of my mind kept thinking "this tortilla is probably not made of quality ingredients" and "this is probably low grade beef", but sometimes you just have to MTFU. The decor is... ethnic. Feels authentic? Sure. Good luck talking. Your vocal cords are going to get a workout because you'll be shouting over the music to talk to people. Kinda lame. Food portions are pretty big, but that's fine if you have control. I don't, so I feel like I'm going to give birth in a few hours. Salsa is terrible. Guacamole was pretty good. A bit softer than I really like, but plenty of flavor with a little spicy kick. I'll come back. I want to try their combo quesadilla. My friend got that and it looked excellent. read more

Not the worst place in the world. If you're in the neighborhood, it's worth a try. Heck, if you've got a hankering for Alero, head to Mount Pleasant (during daylight, of course) and give Haydee's a try -- essentially the same or better food for a fraction of the price. The food wasn't spectacular, but it also wasn't bad -- one can't say the same about many of its neighborhood counterparts -- and portions were certainly plentiful. The service was everything one might expect -- befuddled and slow. Really slow. But if you're up there, the food's good enough to make it worth your while. read more

Certainly can't qualify as a 5-star restaurant ... but it is certainly close. Haydee's is definitely off the beaten path and not somewhere you might just wander into (nor tourists), but is worth seeking it out. - The food is amazing, and amazingly cheap ... honestly, this is authentic, good quality, mexican food. Props to the kitchen staff here. - Additionally the drinks are also great, and plentiful -- and most importantly cheap as well. - And also just as important - the service. The service was impeccable, I was throughly impressed. This place is a great place to get authentic, great, cheap food -- enjoy it :) read more

Haydee's is the funnest. They often have a super-fun mariachi band, and they also host local bands of all sorts. There are also some lively weeknight gatherings of dominoes players that are just fun to be around. The pupusas are great, but they aren't on the menu so you just have to ask for them. The fiesta-style (extra tequila) margaritas are also a plus. This is just a charming, fun affordable place with perhaps cheesy but totally pleasant decor. It's a great place for a large group. read more

I went on a Friday night with a few friends and we were able to be seated immediately, which was nice. However, the booths were really uncomfortable--there is a weird bar below all the booth tables that will jab the knees of anyone over 5 foot 6. The server brought out chips and salsa right away, and the salsa was chunky, flavorful, spicy and seemed homemade. We ordered guacamole and it was literally inedible. Do not order the guacamole! I was wondering how it could cost $2, and the answer is because it probably arrived in the restaurant not as an avocado, tomato and cilantro, but rather as a jar of nasty pre-made Pace guacamole. Gross. We ordered a pitcher of blended lime margaritas, which was moderately priced ($18.95) and poured nearly six full margarita glasses worth. The lime flavor was a little intense but the margaritas were strong and they started tasting better quickly! My friend ordered a burrito, which came with a side of rice that was dry, cold, and so flavorless it gave the guacamole a run for its money. He said the burrito was great though, and the cheese was melted on the outside of the burrito instead of inside it, which was kind of interesting if somewhat inconvenient. I got the vegetable fajitas and they were very tasty--I wouldn't have thought broccoli would be good in a fajita but Haydee's proved me wrong! The vegetables were cooked just right, the beans were hardy and yummy, and the flour tortillas were soft and delicious. There is better Mexican food in DC, but you could definitely do worse than Haydees, as long as you stay away from the guacamole and rice. Also, I hear the happy hour prices are fantastic, but I was pretty happy to get out of there paying $22 including tip for 2 margaritas and delicious fajitas. UPDATE: My roommate tells me that burritos with cheese melted on the outside are called chimichangas and they are supposed to be that way. I don't eat cheese, my bad! I still think that's a pretty silly way to serve a burrito. read more

Haydees is alright but not great and probably not worth a long trip. It has a great/crazy atmosphere with crazy decorations (xmas lights and statues) and, unfortunately live music. The music is actually fine but when they play it creates a terrible feedback loop: the patrons, especially as they drink more, talk louder over the music and it eventually becomes unbearable. The service is OK. The place is fairly clean. The location is convenient. And the portions are huge. I am not a fan of the margaritas because even 1 or 2 makes me feel sick the next day. The quality of the food is pretty much average. I almost always get the fajita burrito which is tasty. A lot of people really like the chips and salsa - I prefer others'. All in all, I would say that Haydees is good if you happen to live or be in the area. If you like funky little dives with pretty good food then you will like it. It can be unbearable on weekend nights, with large tables of young people screaming. read more

Y'all I don't know how many different ways you need to hear it. The margaritas here are laced with someting. X maybe? And I don't mean the cadillac top shelf pitcher, I mean the standard classic margarita. Order some fried yucca and try to see if may you can get through a whole pitcher. Try. read more

Tried this place after buying a Groupon. In a nutshell, the food was good but there were other things that really annoyed me. First the food. Remember this is a Groupon deal....it was for dinner for tow - two margaritas with Chicken and Steak Fajitas for two. The food was good....very tasty. We also ordered the guacamole....meh. It had sour cream or something in it thus diluted the avocado taste. The chips and salsa were lack luster.....too watery of salsa and the chip were ok. he margaritas were quite strong...a plus in my book. Now for the service. The service was too abrupt. Again since this was a Groupon deal, maybe that's why the service was hurried and curt. This is not a way to gain a future customer, but maybe that was the point. I had high hopes for this restaurant. Will I got back..probably not. If I lived int he area...and I mean a block away..I may go back. There are too many other good Mexican restaurants to go to in this city to deal with that kind of service. read more

For food, I'd look elsewhere (pupusas are okay) but for great music and events that support really important causes--Haydees is the best in the neighborhood. read more

Neighborhood spots has a lot of qualities. Isn't perfect, but lots to appreciate. Plus their fajitas are awesome

I'll be honest, I only go to Haydee's to get super drunk off their margaritas and for that this restaurant is great. Do yourself a favor and upgrade from the Classic margarita to the Fiesta margarita. It's more pricey but it's 50% more alcohol. The classic margarita is more sweet than potent. But enough about the margaritas, Haydee's also has really yummy steak fajitas and they are very generous with their portions. The only fault of Haydee's is their salsa which is honestly terrible and is actually more like watery pico de gallo. You really can't complain too much because the salsa is free but come on Haydee's, it's not hard to make a halfway decent salsa. I go to Haydee's regularly and especially when I'm craving a margarita night, which tends to be quite often. Look out for the Groupon which they put out regularly as well. read more

Haydee's is a good choice for Mexican fare - especially if you're into hearing random local bands, like the smell of incense, and have a quirky sense of decor. Portions are large, and some dishes stand out more than others. The fajitas are a great value - enough for two meals easy. The buffalo wings are inconsistent. I've been satisfied a few times and totally let down more than once. But then again, who am I to complain - cheap buffalo wings from a Mexican place? Hells yes, I'll take me some of them. Haydee's won't knock your socks off, but it is a more than acceptable place to grab takeout in a pinch. read more

I came in early and there is no people in here Service is a bit slow an older lady bartender you wanna

I enjoyed my time here as the food was good, but be weary of the margaritas. Server asked us if we wanted strong or regular so of course we decided upon strong, but non of us could distinguish that it was a "strong" margarita. However, the bill revealed that the pitcher of "strong" margaritas cost $25!!!! WOW, really? I'd go back but be aware of the price for margaritas. read more

Came here because National Swap Day offered a $10 gift certificate to this restaurant. I got the veggie fajitas. Getting fajitas are always exciting when the sizzling platter comes out and you can smell the food before it hits the table. However, my expectations were soon dashed when I tasted the food. It had this weird italian vinaigrette that made it taste funky. The complimentary chips were really good, thick and crunchy. The salsa that came with it tasted canned. Service was kinda pushy and kept pressing me to order even when I clearly wasn't ready. Restaurant was not well-lit and not a standout in decor in any way. I wouldn't come here again for any reason. read more

The decor is. Um. Well, imagine if someone orchestrated a ritualistic muder-suicide of the Virgin Mary and sweet little baby Jesus and a bunch of famous Latina pop stars. And then they asked you decorate the crime scene for Christmas and serve shit food. With a 12-piece Marine Corps jazz band. That is Haydees. I come here despite the food, service, and drinks. The margaritas are a super-sweet, throat-burning jug of cheap mix and rail tequila. The food is just ok, and will always make you feel terrible the next day. The salsa is watery and gross. The guacamole is just green-colored sour cream, and costs a lot. I think sodas are $4, and they don't ever refill them. It's not expensive, but is still overpriced for what they have. Easy solution: only go here when you have a Groupon (which they always have available), and then it seems like a bargain. But they have live music and it's right in the middle of a great neighborhood. I have a lot of friends in Mount Pleasant, and if they moved away I would never come to Haydees on my own. read more

Chips were nice and warm, salsa was decent but way too watery. They did refill them for us for free, so bonus points on that since some restaurants just take it away when you've emptied your first bowl. The water glasses are small but they refill them regularly. I got the chicken fajitas and while I got a ridiculous amount of chicken for the price (was full after eating about half), I was pretty disappointed by the fixings that came with it. No cheese and small amounts of salsa and guac. We asked for cheese and got enough for three people at the price of $1 so not the end of the world. And while the decor is crazy (there is a souvenir plate hanging on the wall from Alaska with images of dogsledders), the only thing I minded was how dark it was! At three pm on a sunny day, I was ready to fall asleep from being stuffed and the lack of light. I can't imagine how this place is like in the evening. Happy hours are Mon-Thurs 4pm-midnight. Friday 4pm-7(or 8?)pm. read more

Points to Haydee's for excellent chips/salsa (with as many refills as you want), and pretty well-priced food for the size. I had the enchiladas, and while they were nothing spectacular, they were certainly serviceable. Warning: they are heavy on the cheese. I had one beef and one chicken, and both were tasty. Pretty sure I could have had a similar experience with a Trader Joe's boxed version, but they were decent. And, the platters come with gaucamole, which, for $7.50, I think is a pretty good gig. Our table of nine split a few pitchers of margaritas, which had far too much mixer in them but were successful in getting us nice and giggly. Our waitress, however, told us they were only $12 each -- imagine our surprise when we got the bill and saw they were actually $18 each! And one of our dining buddies had spoken to her in his fluent Spanish the whole time, so it definitely was not a language barrier issue. Fun atmosphere, the jukebox is full of Spanish and American pop hits plus Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and Creed (?!), and live music came in around 11p. So we will be back, not necessarily for the outstanding food or service, but because for $25 each we were full, tipsy, and bursting with reggaeton. read more

Meh. I have experienced MUCH better. I have been to Haydee's twice for birthday dinners. My friends who live in the Columbia Heights area really liked this resturant. BUT I DID NOT. Considering this is a Mexican/Salvadorian place, and that there are litterally hunderds of them in this area, this one is not up to par. The margaritas are NASTY. They clearly make them with a disgusting syrup. YUK! The guacamole is NOT made fresh! Margaritas and guacamole are STANDARDS in this type of food and they are nasty here so I have never tried a real meal for fear of wasting my money. I have only had, tequila, beer, plaintains, chips and salsa and papusas. I suggest you do the same too. Because if you want good Mexican/Salvadorian, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I would suggest Don Juan's down the street, the food and drinks are better and they have a staff of cute hispanic waitresses and usually have some fun entertainment on the weekends. HAYDEE's belongs in hell. YUK! read more

Muy bueno. I had the chicken taco salad. Yummy in my tummy. I also had an earful of the mariachi band. They were yummy in my ears. I fully intend to go back on a night when I can enjoy their reasonably priced adult beverages and try more of their reasonably priced, yummy food. read more

The 3 star's is for the drinks... the food was the same 6 years ago.. horrible!!! Like Um mad I put it in my body... the place is dirty, Buffalo wings weren't cooked all the way the steak was nasty...the only thing was good were the fries... I would only visit for the fiesta Margarita read more

We went to Haydees because we purchased the Groupon and the reviews looked ok. Well the food was ok nothing to rave about. The margaritas were not strong I had to get a Cadillac Margarita and I could tell they only added liquor to the regular Margarita mix. The portions are good the atmosphere is like a little shack and when you get inside it's the same feel. Would I eat here again No. read more

Needless to say, the food is hands down phenomenal! You are being docked two stars because you have judgemental servers! I come maybe once every other week. I have only had two pleasant servers. My last trip with my kids, the woman assumed I would not tip her and added 15% gratuity to my check. I have been a severe for 13 years so she was set for 25-30% until she added it with only three guest and check was $37. They make bartender always looks over me for other customers to serve while I have been standing there. I guess since I come from work I must not have the hipster look they believe will tip properly. That's my only complaint. Haydee is a wonderful and nice woman. When she is around its a better place! read more

Wow, after seeing all the really good reviews, I may need to give this place another chance, even though I've been there twice and had the same experience both times. So anyway, my thoughts are: Burritos: about average for DC (and burittos in DC are significantly worse than in any other city I've been to). They're certainly edible, but how can you mess up a tortilla filled with meat and smothered in cheese? The steak in them was kind of bland, and so needed lots of hot sauce. Margarita on the rocks: terrible. Way too sweet. Was pre-made and poured out of a giant pitcher when I ordered it, and basically just tasted like sour mix. Papusas: Below average (for DC, which generally has amazing papusas). The abundance of papusas is the only thing that makes the lack of good Mexican food tolerable. The first time I went here, the papusa was passable. The second time though, it was really burnt. Not just a little bit over-cooked, but majorly badly burnt, as in the entire thing was black. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in DC. This used to be my neighborhood haunt, and it still would be if I still lived in Mt. Pleasant. The food is excellent, and really fairly priced. You can not only get fajitas and tacos--your standard mexican fare--but all sorts of traditional Salvadorean dishes. The servers are really nice and they make you feel welcome. I love this place. read more

I came here to support a fundraiser for an organization my boyfriend has been involved in for several years. While the service was very good and friendly, I didn't really love the food. Bf and I shared an order of steak and chicken fajitas for about $14 and an order of nachos (I think it was $8). Neither were very well done. The meat were over cooked and dry. The nachos were just a mess. read more