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Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine

4.7 (97 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

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CHICATANA FINE MEXICAN CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

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Dogs allowed
Happy hour specials

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Margarita
Mel R.

This corner Mexican spot has such a cool setup with two levels, though when I stopped by on a Wednesday only the upstairs was open. I went during happy hour and it started off pretty quiet, but that didn't last long by the time I ordered my second drink, the place was filling up. The prices were honestly very good, especially for happy hour. I ordered three cauliflower al pastor tacos and they were sweet, crunchy, and packed with flavor. The service really stood out too they kept the conversation going and made the whole experience feel welcoming and relaxed.

Tuna tostada

Amazing food, drink, vibe, and happy hour prices! Great place to sit on their little rooftop/balcony patio and drink a margarita.

Passionfruit Flan
Diana P.

They have a new menu and it is full of great options -- their traditional tacos and new additions. Recently I came for a late tacos dinner and a margarita. Their passionfruit flan was amazing!

Duck Hurrache
Caleb H.

My girlfriend and I have now been twice and I don't know that we'll go anywhere else. The guacamole is the best- fresh with cilantro and chili oil and salsa matcha. We also had sopes de pulpo, al pastor taco, carne asada taco, camaron al diablo taco, duck hurrache, and langosta taco- every bite was absolutely delicious. The pulpo fresh and cooked perfectly, the steak perfect MR-M, the shrimp were the perfect texture, and as someone who eats a lot of duck I can honestly say it's up there with some of the best I've had. Antonio one of the owners was kind and generous and a pleasure to meet. Makes a mean spicy mezcal margarita too. We look forward to many more nights at Chicatana. -Caleb and Danielle

Ian C.

My new favorite Mexican spot in DC! The tacos were excellent and they went above and beyond in filling the tacos with ingredients not commonly found elsewhere. Prices were reasonable and they have great drink options. I originally tried to come here on a Friday night (solo) and it was PACKED!! Definitely need to be a bit strategic with timing.

Jose P.

Mexican food is pretty consistent in what you get, and most dishes are gluten-free. So I was expecting a good time and meal - it was hard to surprise me. Yet I was surprised. The guacamole was fantastic. The margaritas were amazing with fresh lime juice (we do skinny margaritas that end up being tequila and lime juice only - no triplesec or agave). All the different tacos were amazing. The waitress was super friendly and helpful. And the place was well decorated and fun. As normal the chips have cross contamination, which I risked, but otherwise this is a very gluten-free friendly place. Definitely coming here again.

Al pastor and carne asada
Swatee G.

Stopped by for a late dinner here today because I was craving Mexican food. Ragz got his usual Tito's and Lily had the mango margarita. The marg was yummy but sadly missing the salt rim. We started with the fried potato balls and these were so yummy! Very soft and perfect texture. Lily had the Spinach and mushroom quesadilla which was surprising so good! Forget the store bought ultra processed tortilla - they had this slightly thick, very rustic looking masa dough fresh corn tortilla that held the filling together and it was omg amazing! It was also a huge portion size and we couldn't get through it all. The sauce on the side was yummy too. I had the fish taco ( very tasty, but lacking a little seasoning), the cauliflower taco ( average) and the chicken tinga taco. The green salsa on top of the chicken tinga def stole the show and I would take a bath in it if I could. It was absolutely, insanely tasty and left me wanting so much more! Ragz enjoyed both his Al pastor( very juicy) and carne asada tacos. In the spirit of being adventurous, we tried the buenolos, which were topped with little Mexican ants ( restaurant namesake) and these were so so good! The dulche was sweet and sticky, the ants crunchy and the buenlos slightly sweet - made for the perfect bite and perfect ending to our delicious meal! I can see why Tom Seistsema named this place his restaurant of the year! I'd love to be back another time! Also a note about service- our server was super sweet ( Camille), but a little busy and there was def a bit of a wait.

Carne Asada Taco & Pescado Taco
Tova W.

Amazing food for your moneys worth. Sad the pescado taco didn't have more sauce. Non-alcoholic drinks also yummy. Decent amount of seating. The inside is heated as well as their outdoor seating. Service was nice. No reservation, just walked in and got seated fairly quickly. Street parking nearby.

Passionfruit Flan - Strawberry, Blueberry, Passion Fruit
Ken S.

KenScale: 7.25/10 Visits: May 2025 Earlier this year, my wife Jun and I visited Mexico City primarily for food; it confirmed our view that Mexican cuisine offers so much to be celebrated. After that February trip, we haven't been to any Mexican restaurant in the States until our visit earlier this month to Chicatana in DC. I was very much looking forward to checking out this restaurant following glowing reviews from the Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema. Unfortunately, our dinner at Chicatana had a number of misses that were in some cases inexplicable. Even though we tried a number of insects during our food tour in Mexico City, Jun and I stayed with more traditional dishes at Chicatana, which has a number of insect-based menus such as grasshopper tacos. We of course started our meal with guacamole with chips (oftentimes a reliable indicator of how good a Mexican restaurant is) and it was solid. I also thought the tuna tostada with black sesame seeds salsa and generous amount of greens was not bad but not quite up to the level of the life-changing tostadas we'd eaten in Mexico City. Sope is a traditional Mexican dish with fried masa base; Chicatana's version came with octopus, refried beans, guajillo chile and smoked paprika. The savory combination was rustic in a good way, but the masa below was surprisingly soggy and didn't quite work well with the octopus. It was the tacos at the restaurant, however, that really were disappointing. Perhaps we were too spoiled from eating all the amazing al pastor tacos in Mexico but I certainly didn't expect the pork to be so dried in Chicatana's version. The lobster taco was not particularly memorable, either, despite the promise of lobster, avocado puree, citrus salsa and habanero that sounds too good to be true. We moved over to the desserts and the dishes we ordered also missed the mark. Jun was puzzled why the restaurant couldn't come up with churros that were as ethereally delightful as the ones she'd had in Mexico; the overall texture felt too heavy. Same goes for the passionfruit flan which just wasn't a very good flan with surprisingly thick texture. Getting a reservation at Chicatana is not particularly challenging and there are plenty of outdoor seats, too, when the weather is good. Unlike the food, the cocktail list is a strength at the restaurant, with a variety of tequila- and mezcal-based options that would complement the meal quite well. When we were seated at the restaurant, we saw plenty of diners from Mexican background enjoying their weekend right before Cinco de Mayo (always a great sign), hence the misses at the restaurant felt even more surprising. Perhaps the entire kitchen staff was off before the celebrated Mexican holiday? In any event, we really wished Chicatana had offered more memorable food; it probably won't be our favorite Mexican restaurant in the District anytime soon.

Esquites Corn
Patrick L.

I live in Los Angeles, so Mexican food is easy to find (that's an understatement, huh?!) D.C. on the other hand, Mexican food is not as abundant (and much of it is Latin American-flavored.) Don't get me wrong, I love Latin American food but it's not Mexican food. So, discovering Chicatana was exciting! I found the dishes inventive, well-executed and very tasty! Everything was good, there were no "so-so" dishes. However, if I had to name my favorites, the passion fruit ceviche was amazing and I loved the delicate flavors of the pollo mole. Service was good - especially the kid that works there (he must be about 13), he was funny when I asked him how old he was "16" was his reply (no way, bro.) Be sure to take your time and order as you want. My dining partners had been there previously and ordered everything at once, and it all came at once. That's fine if you're starving or need to get in/out. If you're dining, then order a few items at a time and enjoy the experience. If you explore the back area of the restaurant, you'll see the bar - take note, they have some EXCELLENT tequilas - not the George Clooney crap. Try some Cazcanes or Caballito - sip it, don't ruin it with mixers. Next time, I'll try some ant or grasshoppers, lol. Loved my first visit to Chicatana - 5 stars! P.S. I chatted with one of the chefs briefly and he told me the pollo mole recipe was a family recipe - loved that!

Jaylan H.

Pre-Meal It was very easy to go to the website and make reservations. We even made same-day reservations on a Friday during the early evening for an evening dining time. When we got there, the host had our reservations and we were seated where we asked. We had a few drinks at the bar: Viva Mexico and Strawberry Margarita, both solidly on point! During the Meal We both got appetizers. I had the esquites corn and yes I tried it with the traditional ants. It was phenomenal! I only ate a few of the ants just to say I did it and try it. The dish overall was great! My husband had the scallop tartar. That was ok. But the corn was the start of the pre-game show. The main meal featured tacos carnitas for me and lobster taco for my husband. Both, again were great! The carnitas were very flavorful and the non-traditional lobster tacos was really good too. Service The service was great! The host and the waitress were very kind and helpful navigating the menu and drinks. We never had to wonder where the waitress was and she was the one that convinced me to try the ants. I really like when the staff knows their menu really well and can share in the food experience. Ambiance The location is vibrant and quaint. I appreciated that they had a covered and uncovered patio. It was a little chilly and breezy but the covered patio fit the bill. It was clean and organized. They use the space they have pretty efficiently. Recommendation. For sure! If you're looking for a place with reasonable prices and a great experience, this is the place. The fact that they have great food and drinks is an expectation that they absolutely met! Give them a try!

2. Chilaquiles Verdes Brunch
Tracy R.

Dined on a week night with a group of 3 and were seated right away. We ordered a few margaritas - the prickly pear with the tajin rim hit the spot along with a couple old fashioneds. We went to the newer Chicatana that's a few doors down from the OG. First time trying the scallops ceviche, chilaquiles, and aguachile verde shrimp as appetizers. All were so yummy and would order again. The chilaquiles may be a bit filling so would suggest to only order this if you're sharing otherwise you will be too full to eat anything else. I'll see if I can add more pictures to this review. A few go tos for us are the esquites and the fish taco - seriously- must try! I would also recommend the shrimp and al pastor tacos. The buñuelos for dessert is always the sweetest way to end the meal. They mixed it up adding in a cream that wasn't there before. And it's not too sweet or heavy! Please try this place out - you won't regret it!

quesadilla  @davideatsdc
David H.

Finally tried Chicatana and it's great - solid 4 stars. Narrow restaurant inside - 5 or so small tables along one wall, bar seats in front of the open kitchen/bar on the other. A covered/enclosed patio out front. We walked in on a Saturday and sat at the bar. Menu is straightforward - we ordered drinks which were all good and priced well. The flavored margaritas were stiff. salsa verde was delicious. also started with an order of esquites (solid, rich, could use a squeeze of lime), shared a shrimp and carne asada quesadilla (thick dough, very substantial, overall decent), and had the passionfruit ceviche (good quality fish, fresh passionfruit used, but needs more acidity the marinade is very sweet with sugar added). Then we had tacos (pastor was the favorite, lengua a close second, asada was good, carnitas was salty). Pretty large and messy on corn tortillas. To wrap things up we had the whole fish which was good with the adobo rub. For dessert, the bunuelos were great. Will be back to try the rest of the menu

Esquites Corn

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4 months ago

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10 days ago

Had a really good experience here. The food was fresh, flavorful, and came out quickly. The al pastor tacos were delicious.

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3 months ago

Easily the worst street tacos of my life. Ultra greasy. I was disappointed and won't go back.

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Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine Reviews in Other Languages

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3.8(3.5k reviews)
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Mid week stop to meet family in DC, World Cup specials on the menu, crowds were great. Oyamel did…read morenot disappoint. Guac was superb, chips and salsa (smoky Fresno pepper undertone?) were amazing. A pitcher of the house Marguerita was worth every dime, top shelf perfection with the house sea foam. $20+ off for the WC!!! I will only serve marguerita as with this foam ever again, sucrose esters acquired Queso fundito with chorizo tasty Atun Pacifico is a do not miss ceviche for the table Cactus taco, chicken taco, pork taco, pulled beef taco, and chicken enchiladas were all perfection. I eat bugs but passed on the grasshopper taco, you know it has to be perfect and crunch second to none. Service was very good, Mexico's game came on at 9 PM which lit the place up. Broadcast was in Spanish as it should have been. Love this place.

This restaurant from Jose Andres was one of the better elevated Mexican restaurants at which I've…read moreeaten. I wasn't super starving so I had a fish taco and the enchiladas. The taco was amazing and was some kind of fried catfish! YUM! And the enchiladas were delicious as well. The green sauce cut through the overabundance of cheesy goodness quite well. I like that you can mix and match tacos so you're not stuck with all of the same one. The menu didn't have a ton of choices, which made deciding a bit easier. They had an amazing bar staff too that was absolutely killing it mixing cocktails. The margaritas were on point and the one had a flair of "salt air" foam instead of a messy, sticky rim. Who wants a messy sticky rim, right?

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El Sol Restaurant & Tequileria - Fajita El Sol

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4.1(780 reviews)
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This place hit the spot, even toddler approved! We ordered take out and it was prepared pretty…read morequickly. The menu is quite extensive, it took us longer to decide on what we wanted. I got the nachos, my husband got tacos, and we got a chicken quesadilla for our toddler. The nachos were PILED with toppings and so colorful - even in a take out container is looked beautiful. They were SO tasty, very full of flavor and spice. My husband said the tacos were delicious and our toddler actually ate a lot of the quesadilla. Win all around. Highly recommend!

In town for the week, tried to get into Unconventional Diner for brunch...a backup was needed. We…read moreventured down a few blocks looking for anything and found El Sol. Fair sized joint with a smallish patio out front. Having perused the menu on the way, I was looking to try something just beyond "staple of cheap Mexican." Sadly, we were presented with brunch menus, so it was a breakfast burrito for me and the breakfast tacos for her. I was remarkably hungry, so the burrito was eaten (and quickly). But truth be told, it's standard Mexican fare made with breakfast ingredients. No more description necessary - you've had this before and you'll have it again. The service was marginally lackluster- if you're not in a big party, you might get shuffled down in prioritization (or at least I thought we were...once ready to leave I did the 'fidget with credit card' trick to get the staff to close us out. It took frustratingly long. All in all, if I lived in the neighborhood, this would be my cheap Mexican place and more out of convenience than culinary merit.

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Second visit, brought my parents in celebration of dads birthday. I did the ostiones again (really…read moregreat, ill probably get these every visit lol) and the branzino (zarendeado?)- wow that was one of the best fish dishes ive had recently. From the sauces on top to the smoked flavor of the fish meat, truly top tier! Mom loved her kale salad and fish tacos, dad loved the kale salad as well and said the seafood enchiladas were pretty good. Manager came out to greet us and we chatted for a while, nice touch! We went down to Roja Lounge- no live music that night but the ambiance was inviting and the drinks were expertly done- dad is a margarita fan and said that was probably the best one he's had! They will have repeat customers in ALL of us!

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Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine - mexican - Updated June 2026

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