I met up with a few friends here after attending the nearby escape room. Jaleo has been on my list for a long time. I love Jose Andres and have been to a couple of his restaurants. The restaurant was packed. So for sure get a reservation if you can. First things first, the restaurant is beautiful. The art, the menus, the ambiance. Just a really great hangout spot. Our server was really knowledgeable and friendly. As for the food , unfortunately, i didn't have anything that blew me away. My mini hamburger/Ibérico de bellota mini hamburguesa was actually my favorite item. Very juicy and flavorful. Though $13.00 for one slider was a bit much. My least favorite was the rabbit confit with apricot puree/Conejo en salmorejo con puré de albaricoques. I was excited about this because I can't recall the last time I've ever had rabbit but I think it was the texture of the puree that took away from the dish. Coming in at the middle was the seafood paella. I know it's one of the restaurants headlining menu items but I found the seasoning inconsistent. The rice seemed a bit salty and the shrimp was pretty bland. Combining it to balance it out didn't yield the flavor I was hoping for. Weirdly enough, if I went back and the table ordered it again, I definitely wouldn't mind but probably wouldn't get it myself unless my companions were interested. All in all, I'm not opposed to trying other items on the menu should I know anyone who would like to visit though I can't say it hooked me enough for me to go on my own accord read more

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I really wanted to love this place. I have passed it for years and finally chose it for our anniversary dinner, but the experience was very disappointing. We ordered the patatas bravas and sent them back because they were just basic potatoes with mayo. The calamari was good, and the salted fish fritters were okay. We came specifically for the seafood paella, but after waiting about 45 minutes, it arrived cold with undercooked rice and was not edible. Management did come over after we sent it back, which I appreciated, but we had a show to catch and could not wait for a remake. We ended up leaving hungry and had to eat when we got home. Overall, very underwhelming, especially for a restaurant I had been excited to try for years. read more

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I've been here in DC for 20 years, I've frequented Jaleo now and then over the years, and is it me, or is it slipping hard? Went for Sunday lunch. So... the place is showing some age. The seats and table weren't clean when we were seated. The high chair for my little had multi-colored streaks of stuff on it. But I'm here for food, not hygiene. Got a calamari and shrimp paella, cod croquettes, "Canary Islands style confit rabbit", and some pasta tube thing with force-meat in it covered in bechemel. I should have been concerned when I asked the server what "Canary Islands style" meant with the rabbit, and she responded "it's soft." Ok, it's a confit. I asked about flavors-- sweet, savory, sour? "Not spicy" Ummmm. Ok... whatever, let's go. Cod fritters were great as always. Dig them. Freshly fried, nice texture, aioli on point, great. Then the paella came. With rubbery shrimp and worst of all, salty salty salty. Even after it cooled down, it tasted of salt and little else. Had the same issue at Zaytinya lately, and I wonder what's going on. Had it just been adults at the tables or had the server showed up at the table more frequently, I would have sent it back. But I'm with two littles, they're eating it, we've been walking all day, and we just have to soldier on and move things along. The rabbit. Was indeed soft. And bland. (Or maybe my taste buds were fried from the paella). meh. The pasta was meh as well, theoretically contained foie, but assuming that's the case, the flavor was well disguised. Bummer of an experience. What happened to you, Jaleo? read more

Super busy on weekend nights but it's a fun vibe when you're out with friends, and definitely worth it for the food! The paellas are huge so be prepared to share with a large group, but I personally like the tapas more. My favorite are the potatoes - SO satisfying with the cream sauces they're served with! The sangrias are also amazing, I highly recommend sharing a pitcher with your group. read more

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Wow!!! Seated early for our dinner reservation which was so appreciated. Service was good. Timing between dishes was perfect. Not a single bad bite the entire meal and pleasantly surprised at the portion sizes. Wish I had a bigger group to try the pallea with because it looked so good!! read more

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We came in around 8:30 and sat at the bar. The bartenders were all friendly and had great suggestions. The sangria with cava was sweet and fresh. The paella takes about 45 minutes so we ordered one right away and then 1 tapa. The paella was amazing. Very rich and flavorful and perfectly cooked. The tapa was a type of pasta cannoli covered and cheese and stuffed with meat. It was very delish. read more

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This was my first time at the restaurant. Thule food was so scrumptious! Melted in my mouth! One of the best flavors in DC for sure! I like that the menu had several small plates for a decent price so we could essentially sample the menu. The restaurant was packed, so definitely have a reservation! Even so, the staff worked like clockwork and were super nice and attentive! read more

Jaleo - Lamb - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Is it spring yet? Had an amazing lunch experience at Jaleo this winter with warm modern interior with ample seating and friendly service. Did a walk in and didn't have to wait which was wonderful. It was a second visit after trying for the first time many years ago. Ordered endive salad, calamari, croquetas, gambas, pulpo, and scallops for food. Sloshed it all down with sangria and crowned it with a sweet ending of flan. Everything tasted amazing and authentic. Calamari and pulpo were tied as my favorite. The flan tasted a bit too lemony for me. I still dream about the tres leches I tried at Oyamel so I had high hopes for dessert but alas the food is their strong suit. Tldr it's Jose Andres - it's going to be good read more

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This meal was quite possibly the best meal I've had in over 7 years. The shrimp seemed simple with butter and garlic, but was definitely my favorite bite in at least 7 years. The calamari and squid ink dipping sauce was insanely good. The rest of the dishes we got were excellent. The desserts were light and a perfect way to end our meal. . The restaurant seems casual, wear jeans, wear a suit or dress, come as you are. The atmosphere is inviting to all. The service is also down to earth and inviting. However the waitstaff may appear casual, but the service was definitely 5 stars . I dripped sauce on the table, and the next thing I knew the table bus-service casually and efficiently wiped up the drips in a way no one noticed but me. The service was amazing. . Pro tip, this place is so popular, it is best to get a reservation. read more

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I highly recommend trying out Jaleo during restaurant week! The food is delicious, but I will say that the normal menu is small portions (expected for tapas) for a high price. It is DC, so again, expected, but you get a good sampling of options for a reasonable price during restaurant week. I enjoyed the wine pairing with my food. The flan was my absolute favorite, so definitely save room for dessert! read more

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Jaleo has greatly surprised me. My partner and I stopped by as we were were looking for places to eat in DC. This place was so BUSY we had to go eat at the bar. Galileo was an outstanding bartender with the most amazing hospitality I've ever experienced in DC. He greeted us in an instant, gave us menus, was able to make a drink upon request swiftly and put in our orders promptly. The food that arrived shortly after, I can't even put to words how well balanced these flavors were. I reordered the Carne asada con Piquillos twice! (Almost 3) 10/10. Ambience was lively, the restaurant was packed! I can definitely see this place in my recommendations for my friends and I to come visit. read more

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We had dinner here before going to a CAPS game and this is definitely a team favorite spot. How could it not be with delicious tapas, vibrant decor, and it's Chef Jose Andres... hello!!! Jaleo opened in downtown DC in 1993 and consistently ranks as a top DC dining destination and It was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the 2017 & 2018 Michelin guide to Washington, DC. In 2010 Chef Andres opened World Central Kitchen. He has been named one of Time magazines "100 Most Influential People" in 2012 & 2018, awarded the 2015 National Humanity Medal from President Obama and is an internationally recognized humanitarian. He's also a New York Times best selling author. The tapas aka small plates are designed to be shared, and they are the best authentically Spanish and local ingredients tapas, all inspired by Chef Jose Andres' childhood. We were a party of six and wisely made a reso. Our table was ready for us and we started off with some cocktails and got right into it with the food because hey small plates are cool like that. Being a party of six we shared a lot; too much to describe here, but the pictures of the food speak for themselves! Suffice it to say that we had a wide selection of meat, seafood, and veggies, followed up with dessert and of course good wine throughout. LQQK at those pics & you'll understand. Service was exemplary, and the atmosphere was perfectly lively and fun. Go here and support a local business and a celebrity humanitarian chef who is doing a lot of good in this world! Trust me you will not be disappointed. read more

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The service and ambiance was amazing here. The food is the reason for the three stars. It just was not good. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing but it was the most unsatisfying meal I've ever had. I don't understand why the restaurant didn't carry hot sauce, horseradish, vinegar or cocktail sauce. The oysters needed something because it wash sooo bland. The rice dish we ordered that takes 45 minutes to make came out in 25 minutes so the rice was hard on the inside. We couldn't enjoy it. The waiter was nice enough to remove it from our bill. I don't see me going back. read more

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Came to Jaleo for my surprise birthday dinner! It was amazing! I've attached some photos of the menu for whomever reads this. And because i'm terrible at labelling what's in my photos. Anyway, despite the happy hour crowd (Jaleo really could benefit from expanding the restaurant's footprint whenever possible) which dissipated about 20 minutes into our reservation, our food was amazing. We shared a medium sized pitcher (good for 2 full rocks glasses each) of one of the Sangrias (my wife picked) and then chose several Tapas. Some of the photos of what we had are below and everything was super tasty. The potato and cod fritters, seared Scallops (they're on the third page) and the mushroom dish were the highlights for us for sure. But, across the board everything was a super flavorful and simple elevation of what your impression is. We did briefly contemplate the tasting menus, but we thought it best to just order a la carte. I think that's the right call. Also, the staff were super friendly and very helpful with our questions. My only nitpick is the Pan de cristal con tomate, while really flavorful and tasty didn't particularly strike me as "ethereal" as described on the menu. But that's a person nitpick. It also doesn't aesthetically look the best, I think it needs an herb sprinkling, despite how tasty it is. Just a heads up that, as I mentioned, the space gets CROWDED for happy hour, but by 6:45/7 there's plenty of tables. So just bear that in mind if you have a reservation around 6pm. We were at one of those small nook tables across from the bar but still had plenty of space despite there being people behind either of us. read more

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We LOVE Jaleo. It's great for groups because you can order a bunch of plates and share. Everything we've ever ordered has been delicious. They have plenty of vegetarian options and a great red sangria as well. We love to bring family and friends who are visiting. The restaurant is nice and service is always great. We have never been disappointed. read more

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This place has been on my bucket list for a while and when I finally got to visit D.C., it did not disappoint. I order a margarita and was offered a different flavor than what was on the menu--the strawberry margarita was perfect! For food, I ordered the rossejat, which is a favorite dish of mine from Spain. If I ever see it on a menu, I order it. This one was the second best I've had in the U.S. after Cúrate's rossejat. The noodles were toasted perfectly. The smooth seafood taste was not overpowering, and the allioli and shrimp were just right. I would have liked more shrimp, but hey, can't have it all! read more

Jaleo - Rossejat - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had 2 appetizers and they were both so delicious. Iberian ham and liquid olives, the ham had so much flavor and melted in my mouth. The liquid olives were like nothing ive ever had, it exploded in my mouth. I wanted to have 10 of them!!! The service was over the top kind professional and helpful. The restaurant had beautiful plants hanging from the ceiling and I loved the decor. Deep colors and textures. I would love to go back! Definitely recommend! read more

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Not surprised to see how busy it was during lunch on a weekday after eating there. Exceptional! You gotta know Jose Andres wouldn't serve subpar food. The plan is simple, pick a bunch of small plates (tapas) for the table, get a pitcher of sangria, and enjoy! Service was excellent, food came out timely, and not a single thing on the table failed to deliver. The pan con tomate, as simple as it is, was front and center on our table, serving as a vessel for all the embutidos and cheese. A little pricey, but perfect for a date or to catch up with friends. Must try if you're in DC. read more

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Had been wanting to try a Jose Andre's restaurant after he has been such a huge philanthropist and supporter of people all over the world in their time of need. We were seated immediately, service was very courteous from seating to checkout. We ordered a flauta, an eggplant, onion, red pepper dip and a paella with veggies and chicken. Dip and bread, the flauta were delicious. Paella takes about 45 min to make so we ordered it ahead. It was ok, not excellent - I guess my expectations were too high. It needed a few more min to dry out the liquid and crisp up the rice. I was expecting a dryer dish. Also, way too many carrots. I don't mind carrots but there were enough to have one in every bite. read more

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JP was beyond a lovely server -- attentive, kind, and more than willing to give his personal recs. Service was quick and beyond friendly even on a busy game day. For any brazilians - they do offer caipirinha! read more

Stopped into Jaleo for their generous offer during these furlough times. Jaleo is one of many and one of owner Jose Andres' restaurants offering deals for those impacted by the government shutdown. The place was busy at 12pm. The service was quick and polite. Two of the tables are also glass topped with a foosball table underneath!! The food was delicious--to where I'll have to go back and try something else off the regular menu! read more

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First off; this was not your average consumer experience since this was a work-related lunch and I didn't have to pay the bill. That said, the experience was AWESOME. I loved the creativity behind these dishes. The tapas-style dishes meant my table could order a bunch and share. Serano ha is a must, of course. I also loved the 'floating' olives, which apparently are a José Andrés special. Loved the Rossejat. I took pictures of several other dishes, but couldn't tell you what half of them were. Also got a sherry, which paired great with everything. The place was packed but creatively decorated. But honestly - I was so focused on the food, I could barely pay attention to anything else. Definitely will return. read more

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It was good. Overall nice experience but don't feel like I'm going to go back over trying other places.

Was visiting DC, and my friend really wanted to try Jaleo- I'd never had Spanish cuisine before so I was excited! In order of my favorites: - Patatas bravas: The crispy potatoes with the tart, spicy tomato sauce and creamy aioli were just heavenly. - Rossejat: I'd never had paella and wanted to try it, but their table-side paellas are large enough for like 3-4 people. Instead, we opted for the rossejat which was so interesting. There were small bits of toasted pasta instead of rice- mixed with the creamy aioli and perfectly cooked shrimp and squid, it was delicious. Only thing was the shrimp had a bit of a bitter aftertaste, but nothing super off-putting. I look forward to eating traditional paella in the future, but in the meantime, this hit the spot. - Berenjenas a la malagueña (fried eggplant with honey): If you love eggplant as much I love eggplant, definitely get this. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, perfectly sweet and savory. - Carne asada con piquillos (grilled hanger steak with confit piquillo peppers): The steak was well cooked and I appreciated the peppers, but this didn't really stand out to me. - Sangria Rosa: It was way too watered down, and I unfortunately did not enjoy this at all. Overall, had a great experience! Service was great: very friendly, and our waiter provided a lot of recommendations. Ambiance is really nice, super modern and vibey. Definitely make a reservation. 9/10 would recommend! read more

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Another amazing meal with exceptional service. I want to extend my gratitude to Roberto, who did an amazing job taking care of my family throughout this meal. You are the reason why family meals are memorable. Thank you, Roberto, for being you and providing us with a wonderful evening. Food: If you love tapas, this is the place! Jamon Iberico is a must here. If you are to order anything, that would be one on the list. Their cheese and other cured meat options are a plus as well. Depending on your party size, you can order and share family style for this type of cuisine. Hokkaido Scallops were cooked beautifully and tasted wonderful. Pine nut praline elevated the dish quite nicely. The medium rare pork loin was the first time I've experienced it. With the salt... wow. This is on a whole new level. We did go overboard a bit with 3 types of Paella (2 Seafood, 1 Steak, 1 Pork). It's quite large, so be mindful about ordering this dish. We had leftovers for the next two days. Drinks: All of the craft spirits were awesome. My family shared the drinks like a full entree. Overall, we had such a great time throughout the meal, and again, Roberto did an exceptional job tending to us as if he were part of our family. Love his spirit, knowledge, and charisma. Can't wait to dine here again with the family. read more

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AWARDS: Bib Gourmand -2017 and Michelin Guide to Washington, DC, 2018 Self-described as cutting edge, Jaleo showcases the rich regional diversity of Spanish cuisine. Beautiful, whimsical and modern, every dish lures you into another memorable bite. Served in tapas fashion, these small bites allow you to explore many flavors in one visit. We made reservations on OpenTable and were seated quickly upon arrival. The waiter was attentive and portioned our paella for four of us. Owned by award-winning , culinary innovator Chef Jose Andres we were fortunate to visit this DC Location. We hope to come back soon! read more

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Good food, excellent service. I was disappointed they no longer have the jamon croquettes but the gambas is still tasty. Annakarina and Leslie are stellar servers! They were the highlight of the meal. read more

The service was great, very helpful, appetizers were good patatas, gambas and tortilla. Sangria and the shrimp pallela failed. The rice was not cooked and it lacked seasoning, the sangria was watered down, and the desert bland. The "hype" was huge but the reality was three stars.. read more

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My wife and I were excited to try Jaleo during our visit to D.C., especially with all the buzz around José Andrés and his tapas concept. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the hype, and we walked away feeling like it was more about the name than the food. We started with the croquetas, which were overly mushy and lacked any real flavor -- not the creamy, savory bite we were hoping for. We also tried the steak with peppers, which turned out to be a tiny portion with very little actual steak. For the price, it felt more like a garnish than a dish. The best thing we had was the endives with mandarin and almonds, which were bright and refreshing, but again -- not quite worth what we paid. Overall, the portions were small (even by tapas standards), and the flavors didn't justify the price tag. With so many great spots in D.C., this one felt more like a tourist stop than a serious food destination. We really wanted to love it, but sadly, it missed the mark for us. read more

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Had high hopes but it just didn't hit... honestly kinda bad. Only the rice, mushrooms, spinach, and rabbit were barely passable. Everything else? Big nope. Lowkey killed my interest in any other José Andrés spots after this. Cone? Tr Endive? Super mid. Spinach with pine nuts? Basic. Mushroom egg? Eh, worth a try. Squid ink rice? Not bad. Rabbit? Sweet flavor, not too bad. read more

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Overall Jaleo was good but I expected a bit more from Jose Andres. The portions were great and prices were fair but overall everything was just fine and nothing truly blew us away. The ambiance is fun and the patio was really nice for an evening happy hour. Service was great just looking for a bit more in their dishes. read more

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Was in DC for Thanksgiving and met a DC friend here for brunch. Great food and service. Artistic portions and decor. I'd go back again. read more

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Honestly, pretty mid for a well-known "upscale" Spanish restaurant. My partner and I got the experience which was about a 10 ish course menu, but nothing was spectacular or exciting about the dishes. We were seated outside and I would recommend that they place the plates and cutlery after we get seated because it was really dirty and needed to be replaced as soon as we sat down. The drinks were watered down as soon as we got them. If I were to come back here, I would have just gotten a couple of a la carte dishes, particularly the paella that the table near us got. It looks beautiful and plentiful. Nice staff and they kept us hydrated on a hot day. read more

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Amazing brunch here in DC! Got the brunch tasting menu and overall it was delicious. The stand outs were the cone, cheese stuffed peppers and of course the flan! We were super stuffed by the end of the meal! Only criticism was that they gave us like 3 egg dishes in a row towards the end of the meal. These dishes, while delicious, were heavy and flavors started to get dulled after the 3rd. Would recommend asking them to space it out throughout the meal instead of the end. The service was great and friendly! Would recommend if a fan of tapas! read more

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We came here yesterday after the pro-democracy/anti-corruption demonstration on the National Mall yesterday. Rest assured, the current administration will not crush the soul of this city. I've always loved Jaleo, ever since my first experience at the now gone location in Crystal City. We thought before we got there, it might well be impossible to be seated because of all the people downtown, but we were still able to be seated at very nice table (actually a curved counter) in the bar area. Service was stellar the entire time we were there. We started out with the Cono de Sobrassadas. These looked like mini ice cream cones, filled with goat cheese and a bit of pork sausage. I thought they were very good, but kinda wanted the cheese to be sweeter. Curiously, though the conos didn't taste sweet, there was something sticky like honey on the cono, necessitating washing my hands after eating. We also ordered the Sopa de Pescado (fisherman's soup), Gazpacho de Remolacha (chilled soup), Carne Asada con Piquillos (flank steak with peppers) and Chorizo Casero. The Sopa de Pescado came with shrimp, mussels and clams. It was good with a definite seafood flavor. The chilled bright purple-red Gazpacho was made with beets, goat cheese, tomatoes, cucumber and peppers and topped with bits of pistachio. This soup was absolutely delicious. In the Spanish traditional way, the server at our table poured the soup broths over the other ingredients in the bowls. While the Carne Asada was very good, not everybody might like the seasonings on the meat, though I don't know what the seasonings were. The Chorizo Casero was excellent. The chorizo, which looked like sliced sausage, came with pure de patatas (mashed potatoes). The creamy buttery potatoes were fantastic. read more

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Jaleo lived up to the hype!!! the entire experience was a 10/10 the music and atmosphere was lively. the food was absolutely bursting with flavor. the staff were super friendly and accommodating. again, absolutely amazing experience start to finish. the gambas were amazing because they had an unexpected citrus kick to them. the pan con tomate, regardless of it's simplicity, was so tasty! we also had a cheese dish that wasn't pictured. read more

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I've eaten here several times now and each time everything, food, wine selection, service, and ambiance, was on point.

We ate here in their parklet. It had good ventilation and the parklet is well covered and would work even in the rain. This was some of the best Spanish food I've had. I liked the complimentary bread with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic. The orange juice my teens each got seemed like a rip-off for $6 since they only got about 5/12 of a goblet. (I arrived at 5/12 because my notes say between and 1/2.) The best: -Mushrooms with poached egg over potato mash. (I'm not an egg person but this was my favorite.) -Patatas bravas. (Aren't these always the best at a Spanish restaurant? Only quibble: too much aioli.) -Cod and potato croquette. -Gazpacho. (Nicely flavored. My kids were excited to try since it was featured in a particularly memorable "I Think You Should Leave" sketch.) -Fried eggplant chips with honey. The worst: -Hangar steak. -Sea bass with potato. -Potato salad with tuna and pickles and giant crackers. read more

Great flavors! Was in the area and stopped into Jaleo for lunch on a busy Sunday afternoon. Had the Arroz a la Cubana (from the brunch menu), Ensalada de Remolacha (beet salad), Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp) and Croqueta de Bogavante (lobster coquettes) - all good. Definitely worthwhile to try a variety of dishes. Lively atmosphere. read more

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DELICIOUS!! I've been more of an Oyamel girlie for the past several years, but the gang wanted Jaleo! We ordered - Bikini de Jamon y queso 10/10 - pan con tomate 10/10 - patatas bravas 10/10 - salmon - espinacas - some other fish - frittata I like mine better - crisper, and more oniony - virgin sangrias Everything was great, especially the ones indicated above. I can't stop thinking of those dishes! read more