My first visit to Oyamel was for pre-show drinks and light bites. It was beyond bustling at the bar, especially for a Sunday night. The crowd skewed younger and dressed to impress (which I was definitely not so felt a little out of place). The service is great, very attentive and quick to offer help and answer questions. I was bummed to learn that one of the agua frescas for the day, passion fruit, was already depleted; I wasn't interested in the cherry option because I was told it was on the sweeter side. My partner and I each had the vegetarian tacos, Hongos en Molito and Nopales Asado - I actually only had the latter, my partner had both. He preferred the Nopales, but I was a little disappointed with it - very spicy for sure, and good texture but it would have benefited from a bit more salt. Maybe the Hongos would have worked better for me, as my partner noted it was more savory (so maybe more salty too?) Oh well. I'm honestly not sure I would return. I feel like I missed my era for Oyamel - it would have been very much my vibe when I was in my twenties (not that I could have afforded it back then). I'm glad I got to experience it tonight though - next time I'm looking for a party vibe place to visit wth a group of girlfriends, I could consider giving it another try. read more

Jose is well represented in Washington DC, Oyamel is his take on Mexican food and it's good. The service is quick and the kitchen quickly delivers your food -- definitely a good thing for a business lunch. Their soup/caldo is always great on a cold DC day and tacos are also good. Had the torta on my last visit and it was tasty. read more

Oyamel - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We dined last weekend. José, wake up! Someone from JAG needs to pay attention before this restaurant goes under. We've been coming here from almost the time Oyamel opened - often ordering the same favorite items. We have hosted a large private party here. So there is a basis for comparison. This was the most disappointing experience ever. I'll start with what was right. Both the lengua and cochinita tacos were great - lovely meat texture, well-seasoned. The Ron Cooper margaritas disappointed: what used to be a shot glass of mezcal is now ¼ shot and with little discernible tequila compared to the past. And our second one was the odd cucumber version, which was NOT what we ordered. Our atun, which has always been a favorite which we order on every visit, was excessively salty and completely missing the advertised toasted amaranth, which used to contribute welcome texture and flavor. No chapulinas available. The low point of the meal was the Queso fundido con tequila. No tequila flaming (if done in kitchen beforehand, why bother?) Rayas not roasted but actually raw, contributing an unpleasant vegetal flavor. We ordered it with chorizo and got flavorless bits of ground pork - the whole swimming in orange grease (source? well not from chorizo). The cheese was almost impenetrable. Our server had too many tables to deal with to provide attentive service. When Oyamel first opened, it really was the only game in town for Mexican food with a degree of authenticity. But today there are dozens of restaurants doing authentic Mexican food - with respect for ingredients and for knowledgeable customers. Meanwhile Oyamel slumbers and declines. Maybe all that matters now is the NYC version. Sad read more

I hadn't been back to Oyamel for a while, but decided to have brunch here on Sunday. Wow, I was blown away by how great and rather reasonably priced Oyamel is! Made a reservation for 1 pm and the dining room was super busy, but we were seated immediately and started with a margarita and Mexican IPA. The menu is pretty expansive with some great traditional Mexican dishes. We started with the guacamole, ahi tuna ceviche (I know this is more of an American take), and the mushroom queso fundito. The guacamole was excellent, prepared fresh and just the right amount of spice. I couldn't believe it was only $16 when Guapo's charges $20. The ceviche was super fresh and while not the traditional mexican style I prefer, it was quite enjoyable and the flavors complimented the richer nature of the tuna. The queso fundito was great and mushrooms and peppers were indulgent. I could eat those all day. For my entree I went with tacos...the fried fish and the cocinita pibil. The fish was my least favorite as I thought it was a bit fishy and too heavy breading, but the pork taco was outstanding...very juicy, not too fatty, and just hit the spot. Overall, we had a great brunch and really enjoyed ourselves. Service was very friendly and attentive and I'm glad they are on InKind which made paying so easy. I'm so glad we decided to try Oyamel again and would definitely go back! read more

Oyamel - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Shoutout to our local community heroes!!! Sammy is soooo cool! He made us feel like we have been friends since childhood! I was recommended to this venue by my oldest daughter "Awesome food and service"! There was always someone attending to your table! Great people and atmosphere! The food was authentic! And tell me why during this birthday celebration dinner we all decided to had a "grasshopper taco"!! That's right! We were all just taking one cricket off the taco and down the hatch! It was actually well seasoned and not too crazy unless you had a grasshopper leg get singled out during the experience. I have definitely eaten weirder things.... like a whole crispy fried shrimp with crunchy legs and a crunchy tail. So bravo to these crispy hoppers and thank goodness for the chef who knew how to cook them!!! We also had a Caesar salad with real anchovies. We had the beet salad with creamy goat cheese and crunchy pomegranate seeds. Both were yummy!! Then we shared fresh guacamole with one medium and one spicy. Huge portion and so tasty! The crunchy tortilla chips were beautiful presented in a giant cone shaped basket. It sure looked like a lot of food already. Then came the entrees which included that grasshopper taco, lingua taco, fish tacos, chicken enchiladas, tortillas soup, and the magnificent PLATO DE SUADERO for the birthday girl!!! No room for any dessert... but we did have a good treat as we did cheers with our spicy margaritas and old fashioned! A good venue for a special occasion!!! I am so glad to see my oldest child celebrate her birthday surrounded by such good eats and a talented staff !!! read more

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Food was fine, enjoyed the pork quesadilla. However, service was terrible. The bartender Tristan was incredibly rude to anyone who spoke to him. Gossiped negatively about his coworkers calling them "f'ing idiots." Never once asked if I wanted anything additional; food, alcohol, water. The manager was also just in his office the entire time not walking the floor until I asked to speak to him. Overall, an awful experience. read more

Yelp reviews don't lie on this one. Came by for an early dinner and were lucky to be seated immediately. We really enjoyed seeing the diverse array of Mexican foods that is often overlooked in many other restaurants serving Mexican food. Ordered the quesadillas de huitlacoche, pulpo, and a few tacos. All of them were absolutely delicious with vibrant flavors. We were also pleasantly surprised by the prices that felt appropriate for the quality and quantity of the plates. I wish I lived nearby to try more of their dishes! read more

Oyamel - Pulpo Negra - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We always stop here when we're in the area, it's one of my fiancé's favorite michelada spots! Finally made it for brunch and tried their chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and open-faced avocado torta. The brunch pricing is very reasonable! read more

Oyamel - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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After exploring the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, we stopped in for girls' happy hour (bar-only) and had such a great time. The vibe was bright and welcoming--lots of natural light from big windows and fun butterfly decor. We appreciated the complimentary chips and salsa to share, and the happy hour deals on drinks and apps were on point. Highly recommend if you're in the area and want something fun and easy after a day of culture and art! read more

DISAPPOINTING FOR A MICHELIN BIB!! I went in for lunch on a Sunday with a reservation, and my table was ready as soon as I arrived. Unfortunately, the service was lacking, as the waitress wasn't very attentive. I tried the Ceviche Con Cítricos, Chilorio De Res and Pescado Baja California Tacos, and Pastel De Tres Leches Con Piña. The ceviche was the standout dish--fresh, citrusy, with a hint of spice, and beautifully balanced. It's definitely a must-try. The fish tacos, on the other hand, were a major letdown--bland and uninspiring. They were so disappointing that I didn't even want to take a bite of my second one. The Tres Leches cake with pineapple was a pleasant surprise. The pineapple complemented the cake perfectly, and the hint of rum added a unique depth of flavor. The best way to describe it? Like a cross between rum cake and tres leches. Overall, I'd only recommend this place for the ceviche. read more

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Oyamel is always such a fun time. Their drink menu is great and the service is always super quick. It's such a great vibe for a happy hour or weekend dinner. I ordered the beef tongue tacos and wasn't the biggest fan honestly, but I hadn't had beef tongue before and that was definitely my fault for ordering them. Otherwise, great time! read more

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This $30+ plate is just too salty. There's coarse salt everywhere. The beef is already well seasoned with smokey and salty flavor. However, the coarse salt applied over the avocados just overpowered everything. I haven't been here for a long time. I would've chosen Carmine's next door to fill me up. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant due to the flavor. The chips is also too salty. The guacamole complements it up to some extent. But again, the dish overall is way too salty. One of my friends that had an ensalada also complained about its taste flavor being too salty. The brussels sprouts was cooked fine. The Lima beans was actually great. It's the only highlight I could think of. Jacob, our server went above and beyond with his service with our whole group. read more

Oyamel - Salty beef dish - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My parents and I came here on a Wednesday evening and were surprised to find that the restaurant was packed. The wait for a table for three was forty minutes so we decided to sit at their communal high top tables instead. There werexperience en't hooks underneath the table to hang anything which can make for an uncomfortable dining experience if you don't want to put your items on the floor. The atmosphere was bustling and the waitstaff were attentive despite how packed the restaurant was. Maybe a little too attentive considering I saw the same server circling our table more than a handful of times to see if there were any dirty dishes for her to collect. My parents enjoyed the complimentary chips and salsa but I personally found the flavour of the salsa off putting and unexpected. There is something added to make it spicy that I feel throws off the whole taste of it. I ordered the refried beans and cheese and was very surprised when they arrived at the table shaped like a literal turd. To be honest, refried beans never look appetising, but this was the least appetising way I have ever seen them served. But they were delicious, so I can't really complain all that much. My parents loved their food as well and when our cocktails finally arrived well into our meal I was obsessed with how delicious they tasted. I ordered my go-to, a mojito, and was surprised that it came in a coupe glass rather than a highball or Collins glass. It also was probably one of the best mojitos I've ever had, sweet and tangy and surprisingly very foamy. Overall, we had a great experience at the restaurant and would definitely return. Though I don't know if I would order the beans again. read more

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My friends and I had a very underwhelming experience with the food. We ordered the popular guacamole, arrachera con salsa jitomate (grilled flank steak), ceviche verde, and chilorio de res (shredded beef) tacos. The guacamole is $16, the portion is very small, but it comes in a misleading huge black bowl, and there was nothing seemingly special about it. It could have used more salt/seasoning as it tasted somewhat bland. The grilled flank steak was very tough and not tender as expected, and the salsa that accompanied it didn't do much to add any flavors. The ceviche was pretty good, the bass was fresh and the lime juice and tomatillo added great flavors. The tacos were also alright, not as flavorful as I thought it would be. Overall, the food was very underwhelming and we likely won't be back for the food. The interior was nice though, very aesthetic and loved the warm and ambient lighting. Staff was mostly friendly. read more

We sat at the bar for a late night snack on a Thursday. The bartender was friendly and attentive the whole time. We enjoyed some fresh guacamole and pork belly tacos. The food was great, and everything came out pretty quickly. The restaurant bar was pretty lively at 10pm. People were having a good time. read more

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This was my 2nd time at Oyamel, it was busy and the server took a lil longer getting our drink order but he was very well versed on the menu and made great recommendations, the food came out quick and it was delicious. I recommend this restaurant as a must try. read more

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Went on a Friday afternoon. Sat at the bar. Absent bartender. He was standoffish when he was there and absent for long periods of time. Maybe have 2 bartenders to address patrons at both sides of the bar area? Food solid- once I had silverware. Bartender was the worst I have seen at a Jose Andres restaurant. Go to Jaleo to save yourself the disappointment. read more

The food at Oyamel is good, but not great, as are the prices, cocktails, and overall vibes. Nothing about Oyamel screams at you to return, but nothing pushes you away. I would honestly hope for more from Jose Andres. Surprisingly my favorite thing they serve are the refried beans and salsa - extra cheesy and creamy, these beans are great. Simple yet delicious. Unfortunately the more complex each dish the less surprisingly good it seems to get. I do like the Birria tacos and the different meat dishes but was extremely underwhelmed at the shrimp tacos. They really could do much better with shrimp tacos i am sure. The Mezcal Margaritas aren't bad, but again they're not great. You would think they could do better. Service was friendly and fine. They did all you would hope, and nothing more. Perhaps we're seeing a trend here :) read more

We happened in here as it was the first restaurant we saw when we got off of our tour bus. Although the food was very good, I wish we had kept walking. Again, the food- delicious. The ambiance did not match with the pretentious atmosphere. The booths and tables were not at all spectacular, yet we were asked upon arrival if we had a reservation. Ummmm it's 2:30 on a Wed afternoon. The restaurant was no more than 1/4 full. Our waitress asked us if we wanted sparkling or flat water. Ummmmm we're in DC in a Mexican restaurant, not Le Train Bleu in Paris. Flat water comes in glass bottles at $7 each. WHY?? Again, the food is good, but the pretention at trying to be something they are not is ridiculous. read more

Oyamel - Enchiladas Rojas con Pollo - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Bump it up a star from my last review. I went for restaurant week dinner and as a vegetarian here is what I got. The table chips had some spice on it I didn't like. I saw on their website that they charge you for a refill?! Ensalada Remolacha - improvement from last time, no longer a whole plate of beets but a beet salad - enjoyed. Quesadilla Hongo - It was delicious and the star of the meal! Col de Bruselas estilo San Quintín - my friend go this and we both agreed it was terrible. The chile de árbol sauce was too vinegary, we couldn't finish the whole plate of brussels sprouts. Meanwhile when I get the brussels sprouts at Zaytinya nothing is left. Frijoles Charros - a whole plate of beans with pieces of mushrooms, completely uninteresting, looked like dog food. Pastel De Tres Leches Con Piña - the cake was small but delicious although I didn't notice it said rum so that was unexpected since I'm doing Dry January. Jericalla - Oaxacan chocolate custard - looked amazing! To drink I got the passion fruit fresca, normally I don't like their agua frescas as it just tasted watered down but this one they did right. Unfortunately they are still using those annoying paper straws, there are new advances, get an olive oil straw. Also why did I get a long straw for a short cup? read more

I was very excited to check out Oyamel, I've passed it a few times and we finally ducked in for some happy hour drinks and quick food. First, it was jam packed, so we grabbed a spot at the bar, which was a perfect option to move quickly for the food and drink. The bartenders were all very friendly, made jokes with the patrons, and offered tons of ideas about the best items on the menu. The chips and salsa were great paired with the classic margarita. Not only was the margarita good, it was very strong and worth it after a long day. The salsa was nice and homemade, not too thick but tons of flavor. Lastly, you would be remiss to skip on the tacos. I was firmly in love with it and can't wait to go back and try the others on the menu, I'm sure they are all incredible. read more

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My neighbors took me here last night. They have been to Oyamel several times. Oyamel is the kinda place you really want to like: lively atmosphere, tasty looking dishes, and a lot of beautiful people drinking and dining. The check-in process was smooth and quick. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. Service was good, including frequent water refills. There were a couple oops though. The first, and which was not our waiter's fault, was that the dishes mostly came all at once, instead of being spaced out. The second was that we asked that they leave the cilantro garnishes off our dishes, but every dish still had the cilantro. Fortunately, we were able to easily pick the weed off our food. The dishes we tried: COMPLIMENTARY CHIPS AND SALSA: the salsa was the best I have ever had - smoky, a little sweet and with a nice hearty texture. 5 stars. BRISKET: Really good - tender with a delicious sauce. 5 stars. CHAYOTES ASADO SOPA TARASCA: This Mexican soup was made with pureed black beans, cotija cheese, Ancho chiles and crema. Delicious with a hearty texture, and my favorite dish of the evening. Easily 5 stars. QUESO FUNDIDO: Made with Monterey jack cheese and tequila. Served with purple corn tortillas.. It was quite good. 4 stars. ENSALADA DE PALMITOS: A very delicious dish made with several vegetables and a grapefruit papaya dressing. 4 stars. PULPO NEGRO: This octopus dish paired with pureed sweet potato was a bust. The pulpo in the dish had been way overcooked and was the texture of hard rubber. We sent it back and if anything, the replacement pulpo was even harder. Really inedible. 1/2 of a star. PASTEL DE TRES LECHES CON FRESA: The cake had a sour flavor, but the strawberry sauce was wonderful. There were bits of lime rind in the caramel ice cream and the lime flavor clashed with the strawberry flavor. 3 stars. CAFE DE OLLA: This was a good dessert. 4 stars. Despite some shortcomings with our meal, I still think you should experience Oyamel at least once. We may have come on an off night. My neighbors say their previous visits were much better. read more

A fun spot, colorful decor, good food. They had room for 17 of us, split amongst a few large tables, for walk-in on a Sunday around 12:30pm. $464 total for lunch for 7 adults and 9 kids, including a pitcher of margherita and one order of churros. Chips & salsa - 3 stars Salsa was quite watery and a bit too spicy. Guacamole - 4 stars Pretty good, a little salty, but also nice and tart. Ceviche Verde ($17) - 4.5 stars Very good! I don't usually like ceviche but several of us really enjoyed this. Taco de Lengua ($8) - 2.5 stars The meat was a little rubbery, not the best lengua I've had. Taco Carnitas, Chilorio, Cochinita Pibil - 4 stars Tried a couple of these and both had great flavor, read more

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I have been to Oyamel many times and will certainly be back again! One of my favorite places in DC. I love the enchiladas rojas and the salt air margarita, which is phenomenal. The salsa at oyamel is my favorite in town, very smokey and flavorful. The chilorio de res taco is amazing, I could eat so many of them. Very tender and juicy and delicious. The pulpo negro was really tender but we didn't love the flavor combination. It can get a little loud in there on a Friday night, but I have also been for lunch several times and the service is exceptional and of course the ambiance much quieter. read more

Dining at Oyamel was a fantastic experience. With Chef José Andrés behind it, choosing this spot was a no-brainer. We went with the tasting menu, and I was really impressed with how smoothly they handled dietary restrictions and preferences, tailoring the menu without any hassle. Every course was well thought out and full of flavor. By the time dessert arrived, we were beyond full--but the Tres Leches dessert was absolutely amazing - we couldn't get enough of it! Great food, seamless service, and a menu that feels both elevated and approachable. read more

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I came here for my birthday because I love the ceviche. I tried the agua chile ceviche which I recommend you SKIP it was bland but the sauce was good. The shrimp taste more like boiled Lidle shrimp with some sauce. PASS ON THIS ONE. Then I had the grilled octopus which was so good but the portion is more like a tapa for $22. I was still hungry so I ordered 2 beef tacos which was AMAZING! I highly recommend the res tacos! And since it was my birthday they gave me a 3 leches cake. The service was not good since it was packed. But the ambiance is nice as always if you like to people watch. I also love the deco there. I will definitely be back but sit at the bar since service is slow at the regular tables. read more

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Love this spot anytime I come to dc. Sat at the bar and service was so quick and without asking. Got menu, chips, water asap and no rush on me ordering. Queso fundido is a must as the blue corn tortillla was authentic and made fresh as it could not be crippled. I'd order two of those it was so good. Taco was solid, all single and it was also blue corn, The tamale was not for me but was well done and stuffed all the way. So good and would go back again. Service again was the key, thank you to those bartenders read more

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I was really excited to try a José Andrés restaurant while in DC. The atmosphere here is really is fun, lively yet casual. For the food I would skip the tacos next time and stick with the other main dishes. We really enjoyed the enchiladas and the beans in mole sauce. read more

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Their cheese quesadilla was soooo yummy! Our drinks were a tad foamy and the margarita was average. Took us a while to get served at the bar, the food came out very quickly though! read more

I had a mixed experience at Oyamel but was overall underwhelmed. I am eager to return to try a different mix of things I think will be more successful. The number one issue here is all over the comments section--the service is extremely slow. My group had an event after dinner so we looked at the menu beforehand so we could order quickly and eat in a reasonable time. the wait staff was very friendly, but it took some time for someone to come to our table and they did not come by frequently. Each order took a very long time to come out, we waited for our food for almost 30 minutes. We ordered two salads, a veggie dish, the octopus, and 3 tacos. The sandia salad was underwhelming. A lot of watermelon and not much of anything else. The pumpkin seed puree on crisps was tasty but the crisps got soggy quickly and the salad on top did not add anything, just took away from the spread. The cauliflower was under seasoned, but a little better if you got some of the sauce, which was not distributed over the dish. The octopus was good. The tacos were the star. The cochinita pibil and chapulines were fantastic. The nopales were way too spicy, even for a spice lover. Drinks were all good. While I had an underwhelming experience, I could come back to have drinks and tacos and think that might be a 5 star experience Stay tuned read more

So good I came here 2 days in a row! What else does one expect from a Jose Andres restaurant i suppose! I haven't tried his food before but I always see him feeding people on the frontlines of "you name it!" It is full tilt delicious to the palate, the decor (Guacamole station, Bar making beautiful drinks, Spacious welcome interior and tables, incredibly helpful/sweet waitstaff.) First day- my husband came for a few tacos, which he could not stop commenting on- the shredded beef and a fried shrimp tacos. We started with chips and salsa that were fresh and the chips had a bit of seasoning which was unique. I was out of sorts so i just got a beet salad. Hoping it would pick me up and clean my blood. Now this is a beet salad like nowhere else! Just small roasted beets, rolled around in some toasted pistachios? And cotiga cheese? And some citrus somehow. It was so delicious! I love beets! There were no greens or lettuce at all. I was so impressed and I did feel better by the end of the meal! Next day- we thought lets go back there again and order like a regular meal.. Got the green ceviche- delicious but was hoping for Avocado pieces for how it was described 4/5. Got Shredded beef taco and a unique pork taco- i had never seen or heard of. 5/5 So delicious! If you are wandering the city and can't decide what to eat~ this is it! There will be something that speaks to you and WOWs you in the end! Absolute must try in DC. read more

Oyamel - Beet Salad- Ensalada Remolacha - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped by this gem for drinks and appetizers. We had an amazing experience. The restraint decor was amazing. So many cute places to take pictures within the restaurant. Food was fresh and delicious not to mention reasonably priced. Staff was attentive and very friendly. They even brought out a complimentary cake for my mom's birthday. Not to me mention this is owned by Jose Andres, an amazing human! Will definitely come back again. read more

Oyamel - Chilaquiles con Salsa Verde y Queso - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Jose Andres is one of DC best and most favorite chefs.  We are really lucky to have several of his restaurants to choose from.  Although Oyamel is not the best one in our humble opinion, it is still a great meal.  We only wish the serving sizes were a little more generous.  Regardless, we enjoyed the pomegranate margarita to start.  Following, we had the guacamole (which was a great portion with more chips available upon request.)  The taco de lengua is a more unusual offering.  The chorizo and fish tacos are more common and tasty.  The smallest portions were the seafood - ceviche con citricos and atun pacifico.  The flavor was good but there was not much to go around.  We also liked the coliflor frito and the queso fundido (who can resist melty cheese)  For dessert, there was tres leches and cafe de olla.  Again, dining at any of Jose Andres' restaurants is a pleasure. read more

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Oyamel is such a staple I finally tried breakfast. I forget exactly what, but it's fabulous! read more

Oyamel - Not sure, but YUM - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wednesday at 4pm . It's surprising how busy this place was at 4pm but can't blame patrons for coming as the place has a fun , lively , positive vibe and atmosphere. The place is colorful and wouldn't confuse the place for a non Mexican restaurant which is important. We had some margaritas , good chips and salsa , chicharon tacos and some vegetarian tacos, all delicious . I appreciated how fact the service was and the bar staff was good at managing the bar , friendly, fast and efficient . I just had a late lunch otherwise, I would have tried the other dishes , I'll save it for next time . read more

Late lunch after visiting museums, lucked out and got a booth by the window. The warm chips and homemade salsa were wonderful! The first margarita on the list includes salt air. Had no idea what that was or meant, and now I'm obsessed. So delicious! The chicken soup was the best I've ever had. It was smoky and just spicy enough to be so flavorful and not palate scorching. I could eat it every day. My son tried something new, Chapulines... a grasshopper taco. He loved it, and I enjoyed a more traditional Conchinita Pibil. Excellent service, extensive and creative menu. Wish I'd been hungrier and tried more. read more

Oyamel - Chapulines taco (aka grasshoppers!) - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A few hits and a few misses. We went there for dinner on a Friday night. The place was busy and noisy. Our service was mediocre, the server came over and started to take our order and left midway through then we had to flag him down to finish our ordering. It was a bit odd. We tried the guacamole, ceviche con cítricos, carnitas, cochinita pinol con cebolla en escabeche, Torta queso birria, and pastel de tres leches con fresa. The guacamole and ceviche were fresh and spicy (note you can order mild) and were a pleasant way to start the meal. However there wasn't really any coursing so the tacos and torta all arrived at the same time. The cherry blossom torta was flavorful, but cold. All the tacos were soggy and fell apart. They lacked overall flavor and were just difficult to eat. It would probably be worthwhile to return for a happy hour, but not sure I'd give dinner another try. read more

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Maybe it was just me but I didn't think it was allat considering how much it was hyped up. We tried the cricket taco which was not bad tbh, my steak's texture felt a bit off though but I like the idea of a chocolate sauce. Also, we heard they make the guac for you at the table so we thought that justified the $15 but they just brought it out like normal so would definitely pass on that. It was really loud after the Duke-Michigan game and the vibes were nice. read more

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Sadly I didn't document all of the menu items from the special menu that I experienced on Valentine's Day at Oyamel. I regret that I didn't now that I'm finally sitting down to write this review. What I can tell you and what I can remember in particular is that I ordered scallops dishes for my first two courses. The first of which was a take on a scallops ceviche that had the most perfect first bite punch of flavor I've probably ever experienced at a restaurant. What I thought after I bit into it was "this is the type of flavor you pray for with small plate/tapas style restaurants." You hope and pray that the plates will have so much flavor that even though the quantities may be smaller than a traditional "American" restaurant - you'll still feel fully satisfied. And this was my experience of that first bite. It's very hard to describe how satisfying that dish was, and it happens to be the only dish that I got a photo of that night (see below). So if you ever have an opportunity to order a scallops based ceviche at Oyamel, do yourself a favor and do so. The second scallops dish I had (maybe a daring or stupid choice given that the dish could have ended up tasting too similar to my first). Luckily and thanks to the skillful chefs, this was not a problem. A totally different flavor profile than the first dish, but equally flavorful and satisfying. Much less sharp and spicy than the first course, but still quite tasty. If I remember correctly, my third course was a heads on prawn dish with the spiciest sauce I've ever tasted short of a Thai restaurant's "not recommended for novices/tourists" version. It was borderline too much (even for me), but I handled it. What I'd caution is that you should fully believe any menu description at this restaurant that indicates that the dish is going to be spicy. The fourth course from what I remember was a strawberry "soup" dish (an obvious playful take on Valentine's Day colors in particular). It was beautifully done and presented (as were all of the dishes actually). And the flavor of the dish was as deft and light as the previous course's was "almost" too heavy. It was an amazing complement to both the previous courses and to the other dessert offering, which was a chocolate dish if I remember correctly. I also remember thinking "if I could take this strawberry soup home with me and add it as a "topping" to the gluten free Torta Caprese that I'd made for myself for my birthday weekend then I'd have a literally perfect dessert (or just overall) dish." The overall menu was fantastic and struck very few if any wrong notes. My group of 7 had absolutely no complaints. This restaurant is always worth booking a table in my humble opinion. Enjoy it. read more

Oyamel - Ceviche con citricos (or a very similar dish) - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped in for lunch after visiting the National Gallery. Staff was extremely friendly and attentive. Our server took a lot time to welcome us and share his thoughts on the menu highlights. The menu emphasizes small plates and we took full advantage, ordering tortilla soup, squash salad, brussels sprouts, sweet potato tamale, and mushroom tacos. I also got a braised beef taco and a braised pork taco. Everything was tasty and flavorful. My wife LOVED the vegetarian tortilla soup. She's a pescatarian and always appreciates well-crafted vegetarian dishes. Brussels sprouts, squash and mushroom taco were all excellent as well. The sweet potato tamale was just OK. Might be that we're just coming off of Thanksgiving, so I had a LOT of sweet potatoes that week. It was good, just not at the level of the other items. The meat tacos were solid, but a bit bland for my taste. The atmosphere was lively and colorful--lots of people enjoying themselves and staff radiating positive energy. FYI, our table for two was a bit small--especially with all our small plate dishes. If/When I return again with my wife, I will likely eat at the bar. read more