Unfortunately we were pretty disappointed with this experience. The appetizers were very good and honestly their saving grace. Once we were served our entrees, it went downhill. The short rib tacos were unnecessarily extravagant. Looking the menu, we noticed peanuts were part of the dish, expecting a sprinkle of them for a crunch on the tacos. No. The bright orange sauce seen in the photos is the overbearing peanut sauce that does not belong on the plate. The restaurant is quite expensive, so we tried to send the tacos back, but were told they could only make one because the kitchen was closed..? The pulpo tacos were good but not worth the price. The pork belly tasted like something you could get at a Chinese food restaurant for half the price. The drinks were about 18-20 dollars and completely watered down. read more

See all

Visited on a Sunday evening. Parking is ample. Decor was lackluster. Food was not great. I ordered the seafood guacamole, empanadas, enchiladas and the beef tacos. The waiters were pleasant enough. The food came out promptly. The food is overpriced. read more

LOVED this place!! It's so hard to get weekend reservations so I came here recently on a Wednesday night--we were seated right away at a high top near the bar. The restaurant is dim-lit and has an intimate ambiance. Food was AMAZING. For appetizers, highly recommend the Maryland Crab Guacamole, Empanadas de Wagyu and Pork Belly--all three were outstanding, well flavored and unique tasting. For entrees, the Medio Pollo Al Carbon (grilled chicken) was okay--the chicken was a bit dry for my preference. The server told us all their food are wood-fire grilled. The Tacos de Short Rib was SO GOOD!! The meat was tender, the chili peanut sauce was interesting (and delicious) and the tortilla pieces gave it a nice crunch. Unfortunately, they don't let you mix-and-match the taco meat options (each dish comes with 3 tacos). In regards to the overall visual dining experience, I will have to say, the restaurant is a bit TOO dim--I couldn't see my food clearly because it was too dark and I had to use flash every time I took a food photo. Looks like they have a full bar! Tried the Tamarindo Margarita--pretty tasty, had a sweet and sour kick to it. For dessert, we got the Mil Hojas de Panqueque Argentino, a crepes dessert--it was good and not as overly sweet as you might expect (which I preferred), but wasn't a fan of the salted caramel ice cream which was way too sweet. Overall, I would love to come back and try more of their dishes! Side note, street parking is hard to find but there is a parking lot across the restaurant for $20. read more

See all

dleña continues to be top tier experience for me, whether I'm introducing a new person to Sandoval's culinary experience or coming back for my monthly date nights. I enjoy consistency and I have not had a miss at all, my fave drink is the passion fruit/hibiscus marg and I love the Wagyu on the menu (I could low key just come and try all the apps and soups.) the presentation, ambiance and wait staff is friendly but they don't hover. The jazz lounge in the basement is icing on the cake! Can't wait to return and try something new on the menu! There's outside seating while the weather cooperates! Don't miss this opportunity to people watch in the City while you eat good! read more

See all

I was able to get in with no reservation, but I suggest you make one because it gets packed on the weekend very quickly. I was able to sit downstairs. There was live music, speakeasy vibes and the drinks were great. The service was excellent, the tables do have a two hour limit but the server was very nice about it. The food was filling and of great quality. Nice place for a date or to hang out with a group! read more

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

I really loved dLeña. My food and drinks were both amazing. I ordered the Dleña Mar y Tierra. The steak was cooked perfectly and I surprisingly enjoyed the seafood enchiladas (because im not always in the mood for enchiladas). I got the Guava Me Please as my drink and it was pretty good as well. The only thing that I could say was that our server didn't really check in on us much. When i needed a utensil I had to flag down someone else. Other than that, good experience overall. read more

I love elevated Mexican! I had been wanting to check out this DC restaurant for a while but hesitated because it is a little pricey. We went on a Friday and it was busy but were able to get seats in their downstairs lounge which had a different craft cocktail menu but you could order from the main food menu. They had a small band playing towards the end of our time there. Very "hip" atmosphere and of course a little loud. Lots of young folks, which is weird to say since I feel young at heart as a 49 year old. Doesn't really bother me though my wife usually feels old in those situations. The food and drinks were great! We got the tres salsa which you can't go wrong with chips and fancy salsas. I got the short rib tacos and my wife got the mushroom tacos. We each got a drink and tab came to $110 with tax and tip. So like I said it is a little soendy for what you get, even though it is delicious! Going out has just gone up everywhere, such that it can be a "luxury", which thankfully we can afford but one does start to pause and think about it... but I digress. Love the place and hopefully will go back on another visit to DC. read more

See all

DLena, DLena.....This is such an amazing spot for contemporary Latin cuisine and live music. The décor is beautiful, a dress or well curated outfit is highly recommended due to the ambiance. The speakeasy on the bottom floor is open seating, they do not take reservations, in order to get a seat, arrive between 5pm and 6:30pm. The Friday and Saturday night band performs Bossa Nova, they sounded great. For starters we have a traditional house made guacamole with chips. Very good. The Wagyu Steak a la Piedra was delicious, made with a combination of fajita pepper mix. I got medium well, but I felt it was more well done, which was fine because the cuts were juicy and tender. The baked potato was soft and tender I believe they boil it, the sauce tasted like tartar sauce with bacon crumbles on top. The sauce on the potato threw me off, but it wasn't bad. Sorry to say I do not remember the name of my mezcal cocktail, but it was fruity and the presentation in a mini clay pot was very attractive. The expresso crème brûlée is outstanding, a very unique take on this classic dessert. If you love coffee go for it! I highly recommend coming here dining well, enjoying the music and the lovely atmosphere. And get a picture of yourself because the scenery is too sexy to pass up! read more

See all

Came here for lunch and it's a good deal - 3 course for $28 and they have all the good stuff as options so I recommend! - ceviche: both of our favorites, not too sour and just a perfect mix of fish and veggies/fruita - queso fundido: nothing standout, what you expect - birria tacos: the most amount of beef a taco could hold, super savory and rich - pollo: liked it but nothing standout to me - pastel de elote: tastes like bananas but in a good way, sweet and somewhat savory as well - salted caramel gelato: love the little crunchies they serve with this - churros: perfectly crisp and soft inside read more

This place was a great brunch spot! It was different because all the brunch food was Mexican-inspired. So the endless brunch works like this. You get to test everything on the menu at least once. Any items that you like you can request more of from the waiter. So I will start with the items that threw me off a bit. The Dlena Caesar salad was different. It wasn't bad at all, but it seemed out of place. Now the shrimp aguachile was fantastic! It was sweet with a citric cut that made it very refreshing. The Birria beef taco was very tender and juicy. The enfrijochiladas were rich in flavor, I loved the black bean sauce and the pork chorizo was crispy with a kick. The zarandeado salmon was large and flakey and the Napa cabbage gave it a great crunch. Also, the grilled street corn was exploding with taste. The bacon piece in the dish with the chipotle mayo was excellent. Now the number one star of the whole experience was the seasonal fruit cocktail. This dish was literally out of this world!!!! I have no clue how they made orange juice into a foam but they were able to do it very well. This dish is the best type of sweetness you can get and the berries were fresh and plump. I loved this dish so much that I was stuffed from eating everything but I made a little room for another one of this dish. Overall, the atmosphere was very classy with a slight South American flare. The staff was amiable and informative as well as attentive. We did not get the bottomless drinks, so sadly I cannot speak on that. If you are in the area, give this restaurant a try it is worth the price, the amount of food you get, the type of food you get, and the beautiful atmosphere. read more

See all

A friend and I came here when we both found ourselves in DC for work. On a Tuesday night, the upstairs was full but as walk ins we were able to be seated in the lounge downstairs. The lighting is low and the interior is filled with living room-style leather and wood furniture. It definitely says "sit and stay a while". We ordered food to split: guacamole, kale salad, and the short rib tacos. Everything was delicious - the kale salad was well dressed with a nice citrus balsamic vinaigrette. The short rib tacos were the stand out - with a chile árbol peanut sauce, the fattiness of the meat was cut by the sauce and salsa on top. Surprisingly, the corn tortillas we asked for in place of the flour ones usually offered stood up well to the juiciness of the short ribs. While a bit pricey, I left full and eager to come back here to try more of the wood fired meats and veggies on offer here. read more

amazing happy hour & such a fun place to celebrate my birthday! sat the bar & felt well taken care of by the staff. food was incredible & the drinks were seriously SO good! would highly recommend, ambiance was so vibey - great for a date, girls night, etc. read more

See all

The food was amazing, but unfortunately the service completely ruined the experience. First, we were rushed from the moment we sat down. Our table was being bused so aggressively that at one point I still had my drink up to my lips when a staff member asked if I was finished and took it away. Throughout the night, I felt pressured to hurry through our appetizers because as soon as a plate looked nearly empty, someone was in our personal space clearing it. It made the entire meal feel stressful instead of enjoyable. Second, the way our table time was handled was incredibly off-putting. We sat down at 5:40 PM and were in the middle of finishing our last drink when, at 6:45 PM, someone I believe was the manager approached and told us we had reached our time limit and had three minutes to leave. This was shocking, especially considering we ordered two appetizers, two entrées, and two drinks each. We were there for just over an hour, which is not an unreasonable amount of time for a full dinner. When I later called to express how this made me feel, the hostess told me this is "standard practice" because they are fully booked. If that's the case, then reservations are being overbooked. Paying customers should not be rushed out with drinks still on the table. My advice to dLena: respect your guests and allow them to enjoy the experience they're paying for. Great food doesn't make up for being treated like this. read more

Mother's Day brunch was by far the best ever surrounded by family and great food. Jeff was our waiter and he was AMAZING!! He was so attentive to our needs and made sure we needed nothing. He even accommodated those with food allergies. I would highly recommend this establishment. They get a 10/10 from me and my family. read more

See all

OVERALL: I cannot wait to come back and try their dinner menu. The bottomless brunch was amazing! FOOD: 4 friends and I did the bottomless brunch option for $40 (they offer bottomless food and cocktails for $65, which is a good deal!). We started with the seasonal fruit cocktail which came with a foamy top. It was sour and fruity and everyone loved it (we ordered it twice)! Then we had the Tuna ceviche, cazuela, crispy waffles, grilled street corn, fried chicken and waffles, enfrijoladas (which are bean enchiladas), salmon, churros, and all the available tacos. Everything was delicious! The only thing we didn't 100% love were the tacos because it had pickled onions and that just made everything sweet. They even gave us extra churros to celebrate a birthday. SERVICE: Staff was amazing! A friend is lactose intolerant and informed staff and they were super kind and accommodating. They recommended alternatives and advised her whenever she was going to order something that wasn't obvious lactose-free. VENUE: The restaurant is beautifully decorated. It has an elegant feel to it and I loved the seating because it allowed for privacy among dining groups. It's always packed but the crowd never gets in the way. 10/10 recommend! read more

See all

Was looking forward to trying this restaurant. First of all the service was EXCELLENT. Great waitress and support staff. Decor was nice and comfortable. We ordered a bunch of appetizers to start. The crabmeat guacamole, the empanadas, and the queso fundido. They were all good, but the tortillas were not very good. The entree of waygu steak fajitas was really pricy and not very good. The steak was so so and the vegetables were soggy and bland. And it too came with those tortillas that were like they came out of a bag. Perhaps I was expecting a lot as the reviews were so good, but I honestly wouldn't come back. read more

One of my favorite moody date night places in DC or just a place to come for any night! The Mil Hojas Argentino is to die for! I dream about that sometimes... and the branzino is chefs kiss! read more

See all

The food was great. Our waitress was also great. What ruined my experience here was a hostess at the front door who was cold, arrogant, and power crazed. I made an early reservation for 5:30 because it was a business holiday party. I arrived on time with a guest. There were maybe 6 people in the whole restaurant, the hostess says we have to wait at the door for one more person to arrive before we could be seated. Mind you the whole restaurant was empty. No line behind us. There was no waiting area so we were cramped at the front door. Horrible! We finally got seated and when another guest arrived he mentioned, without any provocation that the hostess was cold and not hospitable. He dines out constantly. So fine we eat. We are perfectly respectful, not boisterous and good to our waitress. And then at exactly the 1.75 hour mark the hostess says we need to leave because she has other tables to serve!!!! There was no line at the door!! No one was waiting to be seated,and she asks us to wrap it up!! We protested of course, and we did not rush out. We would have ordered dessert and drinks but we didnt feel welcome there anymore. The waitress was really apologetic. She said she couldn't understand why the hostess sometimes asked her to do that. When we finally left we complained and asked to see the manager. The hostess says she was the gm but the business cards said differently. She was the asst gm come to find out. She was very interested in letting us know she was in charge. We let her know what she did was extremely rude and that she alienated 6 customers. I wrote a letter to the gm. No response. Service is everything. Even though the food was good, the attitude of the hostess ruined our experience. Worst I have seen in years. None of us will ever return there. PS There were 3 people of color in our party. We wondered if there was some discrimination going on. She asked no one else to leave. Just our party. And this was a business thing so nobody was loud or drank too much. Fishy...Foul. I will never return to D'Lena! read more

Went here for my birthday dinner and had a great time! The ambience is perfect and is reminiscent of mexico. My party got seated at a comfy spacious booth. The service could be slightly better as I feel that our server could have done a better job explaining the menu since it was our first time here. Also, if you have a shellfish allergy I would be aware that almost everything on the menu would be off limits for you as they fry most things in the same oil. For a restaurant at this level i thought that was strange. Other than that, the food was cooked to perfection and is definitely worth a try especially for a special event. read more

See all

I just went for my brother's birthday and we had a great time. Our server, Laheera, was very knowledgeable about the menu and efficiently helped us order and get our food in a timely manner. Justin, the service manager was also very kind and also had a hand in making my birthday one to remember. Thank you to Laheera and Justin! 10/10 I do recommend. read more

Loved the staff the vibe and everything else about this place!!! Some of our party was running late so we were escorted to the downstairs lounge and it was such a vibe!!! The decor was warm and comfy but chic at the same time. We went upstairs for dinner and everything was an experience! The food is full of flavor and just enough. The drinks were great especially if you love tequila. Highly recommended this place to eat or just vibe and drink some cocktails read more

See all

I really liked Dlena. The service was amazing and the staff was really lovely and accommodating. They moved our reservation a full 45 minutes when half our party was running late (it was a less busy Wednesday, don't try this on a Saturday!) They have a fun happy hour with food and great margaritas. Their other drinks are special though. I had the negroni norte. So good. They also have a cool and interesting wine by the glass list. The food is a little pricey, but it's higher end. This isn't Tex-Mex. Everything was delicious. I will definitely be back. They were also sweet to bring out birthday churros. read more

See all

First off, our server was amazing! He was so funny and was joking around with us, making the experience 10x better. Everyone was so kind and accommodating. The interior was immaculate. It was giving desert vibes and was extremely clean. The bathrooms were absolutely gorgeous! They were participating in restaurant week when we got there ($35 three course meals per person). It was amazing as we got to try an appetizer, main dish, and a dessert from the menu! The guacamole was fresh and delicious. The chips were also absolutely amazing! The ceviche was a bit salty on its own but paired with the chips, it was a great combination. My friend ordered a passion fruit margarita with a tajin rim which was pleasantly refreshing and sweet! I couldn't taste the alcohol at all which I like. The tacos were 10/10. The meat was perfectly smoky, tender, and juicy. The portion size was also huge! I was so full after three tacos. The desserts were all fantastic and had great flavor combos! My friend got the sorbet which was refreshing and not too sweet. The cheesecake was on the sweeter side but the tart fruits on top balanced it out. The pastel de elote was strangely nutty and sweet. It came with a tart raspberry (or strawberry) jam that perfectly balanced it out. All in all, dLeña was all worth the hype and absolutely delicious! I definitely recommend going during restaurant week for a great deal on your meals! read more

See all

Great time at dLeña. The service was outstanding and the bartender was excellent. The shareable menu options is perfect as it gives you a chance to try different dishes. I love the empanadas with the wagyu and the steak. The restaurant was buzzing with energy and excitement. The patrons were diverse; young and old; black and white; male and female. Great vibes! read more

See all

The best bottomless brunch I've attended. And it's reasonably priced! Service was amazing. And the ambiance is so beautiful. read more

See all

We have been to dLeña a few times in the past and always had a great experience. Last Friday was no exception. Great service and great food. There was a nut allergy at our table. Our server made sure to explain what was best to order and what modifications could be made. At one point, their tacos did come out with the peanut sauce but the server was quick to rectify. The manager on duty even came by to apologize and let us know how frustrated the server was about it. One of our favs in the city. Make sure to order the crème brûlée! read more

See all

Met with a college friend for brunch and it was phenomenal. The bottomless brunch allowed us to select multiple tapas style brunch items to share. The Mexican corn was incredible along with the fruit cocktail. We also orders some fish tacos and mushroom tacos. I think the best selection was the huevos rancheros on a crispy tortilla. It was so flavorful. We both decided to try the mocktails and the mango was incredible. Our food came out very fast and the waiter was so friendly. The decor of the space was so cute and boho chic. read more

I've been here both for brunch and at the chef's table dining experience. The dining experience with the chef was absolutely incredible and one of the best dining experiences I have been a part of. The brunch was affordable and they tailored the order so that they brought out the food to ensure that it went in an order that made sense for the palate. I'd definitely come back for their other meals so I can try more! read more

See all

This place was sooo good! My friend and I randomly came here after the Christmas market. I learned that they have jazz downstairs so we went and we were luckily able to get a table that night. It was a wait, but you are able to get drinks while you wait. The servers were super sweet and recommended great drinks and food. I loved the ambiance of the location and would def come back whenever I'm back in DC. read more

My friends and I came for bottomless brunch. Great ambiance, though a little loud (to be expected during a brunch in DC). Food was great and drinks were good. Service started off strong but it could be difficult to order more towards the end. read more

We had an awful experience. Our server had no interest in trying to check on us and made it very clear they could not accommodate for an allergy (a very common allergy) as soon as we were seated. There was no sense of effort that showed he tried speaking to the manager or the kitchen. Really disappointing and most definitely do not recommend. He should really get some basic hospitality training. Due to his lack of service we could only order 1 drink and an appetizer since he just never tried to put in the effort to make us happy to eat there. read more

We went here as a group of three on Cinco de Mayo - the place was packed inside and out! (duh... I should have expected that... DC is crawling on this margarita-forward holiday and we did book 2 months in advance), but that didn't stop dLeña's staff from delivering excellent service, food and drinks! I was honestly just impressed with how smoothly everything was running on such a packed night! Kudos to that entire team :) Even with the packed house, they didn't hurry us along (which is evident in my photos where the room gets slowly darker until it is markedly nightfall in my dessert pic!) and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal, ordering several rounds of their OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD good Habanero Pepita Salsa. We ordered three rounds... it was that good! I am really picky about my salsa, it has to have good flavor but a decent spice level with the right consistency - not too watery you can't hold it on a chip and not so chunky it feels like you are eating diced tomatoes right out of a can. This stuff hit all the right notes! That is probably enough of me gushing about salsa, but hey, it would be a mistake to miss it! The rest of the meal was just a good, delivering excellent flavor with fresh, quality ingredients. I feel like a glutton saying it, but we ate for over 3 hours and walked away full, satisfied but not sluggish. I think that's a testament to the quality of the dishes served at dLena. Our group was divided on whether the Hot Stone Wagyu or Wagyu Beef Tiradito was better - both D.E.lish, but my vote goes to the Tiradito... if you are unsure, a wise man once told me "¿Por qué no los dos?" I thoroughly enjoyed my enchiladas and though I was slowing down for the dessert course, I somehow powered through :) I mean, it was hard to stop gobbling down that silky, sweet and salty caramel ice cream! We will be back, specifically to check out their underground bar with live music. I can't wait :) Tip: If you get one of their wood-fired steaks, skip the hot plate. Or if you want that sizzle as your gorgeous steak is set before your, order it one degree rarer than you usually do. It continues to cook as you are eating it (because, well, the plate is hot) and though we ordered the steak medium rare, it was definitely heading towards medium-well by the last few pieces. read more

See all

The cocktails were spicy, the food was delish and the ambiance is a whole vibe. The Maryland Crab Guacamole is out of this world, I repeat, OUT OF THIS WORLD!! The Empanadas Wagyu was super cheesy and could've used less cheese and more meat would've been nice but awesome nonetheless. read more

See all

Food was phenomenal and the atmosphere was impeccable. Everything is cooked on a fire grill, so it all has a smoky flavor. We also had the oysters which I loved as well read more

dLeña - Short rib Birria Beef Tacos** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Wow. Wow. Wow. One of the best meals I've ever had! You MUST get the Maryland crab guacamole (they did not skimp on the crab--or the flavor!!)...you MUST get the queso fundido topped with cecina (comes with incredible sauces, homemade blue corn tortillas, and some gooey, smokey cheese pulls. So satisfyingly delicious!!) ... and you MUST get the Zarandeado (Branzino). Perfection. It was definitely a great way to balance out the night after indulging in the rich fundido. So there ya go--order those, and you'll be more than happy. read more

See all

This is another example of customer experience and how you're treated being a big part of the total vibe. While the staff were on paper technically friendly, there's always this feeling that if you don't have your name on their iPad -- you should be banished from the entryway when it's 5 degrees outside. The food was okay, the drinks meh. I think the vibe would have been better if we weren't sat next to the bussing station for a $100 per person meal. When I came here a year ago, I remember the bar downstairs being amazing and the food was great. So, to be fair it could've been a meh visit this time so I'll tell you what I tell myself, come back again. read more

Fantastic happy hour. You have to get there early to get a spot at the bar but the happy hour deals are excellent. $7 margaritas and $6 snacks. I got the barbacoa tacos and truffle fries. I recommend both but the tacos were far superior. The service was also very kind and attentive and the ambiance was very authentic. The barbacoa tacos do have a delicious spice to them if you are sensitive to spice then it will likely be too much. The truffle fries had a yellow dressing in them I forgot to ask what it was. It looks like mustard but was not. The carajillo crème brûlée was also excellent. It's espresso with a layer of liquor on top. The mercardo margarita had a slight spice to it but not too much at all. If anything I asked the. Attended to make it a little less sweet but it was by no means overly sweet. I just like a dryer more savory margarita. I hear they also have a great bottomless brunch I plan on checking out. read more

See all

Hands down one of my favorite restaurants! Love the over all vibe of this spot and the food is on point. I gave it 4 stars because although the food is really food, it can be inconsistent. When you have you tastebuds set on a certain taste and the food isn't hit'n the way it did the last time you had it, it's kinda disappointing. But at dLena it's not the end of the world as I've never had anything I absolutely didn't like. My favorites out of what I have tried so far are the oysters and short ribs . Everything is made in a wood stove so that automatically gives everything this smokey unique flavor. The oysters also have that smokey flavor with bacon jam which is absolutely amazing. I had this once and they forgot the jam and it changed the taste completely. It's a small amount but makes such a big difference. Now the short ribs come off the bone. I think your supposed to make a lettuce taco with it...but I didn't realize it until I devoured all the meat. The service from the waiters is great, always. The manager is also very nice and seems to genuinely care. The hosts I've interacted with were just ok, not super pleasant and you may gave to pull information from them. But they got the job done. They have a speakeasy downstairs which is super cute and sexy. It has it's own small menu and sometimes has a jazz band playing live. The atmosphere at dLena is very nice. read more

See all

dLeña was such a wonderful experience and I was not expecting the food to get this great.... Went to dLeña on a Sunday and the place has just one of the best ambiances. Felt like I am in Miami for some reason and I have never even been there. Started with Ceviche and it was one of the most fresh Ceviches I have had in any place in the DMV. Ordered the Branzino for myself and Diablo Tiger Prawns for my guest. The food quantity was great. They definitely don't skip on giving you food in the name of fine dining experience. I have to give dLeña its flowers for that. The food was excellent and so flavorful. I am planning another visit real soon. The service was excellent. Water was being refilled like every minute. Even though I am self sufficient type of person who generally doesn't like service staff to fill my glass with a beverage I really appreciate that. We finished with tea and our sever presented us options in a very premium box full of different types of teas. There is an amazing lounge in the bottom floor with live music which is amazing. This is a 5/5 place a must visit for everyone! read more

pros: -best service specifically because of our amazing server ricardo who was super friendly and attentive -BEST MEXICAN RESTO: pork belly; branzino; broccolini, short rib tacos -cute date spot or an intimate night with friends -clean restrooms -easy to make a reservation online cons: none read more

See all