Found this restaurant while looking for things to do in DC. Decided to give it a try bc of the live music and great Yelp reviews. dLeña has two levels - dLeña ROJA is on the lower and features a bar, it's own menu and music while the main floor is the restaurant dLeña Wood-Fire Mexican Cocina & Mezcaleria. I had a great time! I was pleasantly surprised to see they had a Brazilian jazz duo spicy margaritas and a sophisticated Mexican fare. My date and I shared Pork Belly, Ceviche Amarillo, Ostiones a la Leña (grilled oysters) and Zarandeado fish a definite must try. read more

dLeña - dLeña ROJA margarita called Spiked Flower - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My fiancé and I came to d Leña after seeing images of the gorgeous decor online. We arrived early and spent some time with Tyler at the downstairs tequila bar- highly recommend! We told Tyler what we liked and he whipped up some amazing, original drinks! We were seated upstairs for dinner and again.. did not disappoint!! Everything we had was amazing but the short rib tacos are a must!! We got the Tomahawk steak as well which came out with its own beautiful table side presentation. We loved it so much that Liz, the manager that night for dinner, told us we had to come back for brunch. So we did!! Three days later Kim, Tim, and Alison (I remembered!) Served us during brunch and it was so worth it! Bottomless food and drinks for $49? Can't beat it. Tim started off by bringing us all of the brunch options and then we got endless repeats of what we loved (I'm talking 5 plates of tuna ceviche- try it). We will definitely be coming back. Perfect spot for a date, to bring out of town friends, or for happy hour downstairs. The decor is 100!!! read more

one word: WOW. dleña blew me away. for an appetizer, we had the guacamole dish - which was quite unique and DELICIOUS in comparison to the traditional chips & guac. 3/4 of us ordered beef dishes, all which were consumed completely and were raved about. i ordered the mushroom tacos and tortilla soup and am already craving this meal again. it was the most flavorful mushroom tacos & soup i may have ever had. the service was amazing and they provided a churro birthday dessert for the birthday boy. will be returning sooner rather than later!! read more

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

We have been dying to try this place and finally had the opportunity to stop by on a busy Friday night. Food was incredible and the sauces for every appetizer was paired perfectly. Definitely worth it to try the wagyu empanadas! Our bartender, Armando, was wonderful and knowledgeable with tequila and mezcal pairings for our courses. I definitely recommend stopping by for the food, drinks and Armando! Cheers! read more

This is probably one of my now favorite restaurants in DC. The atmosphere is really nice esp the downstairs bar and lounge that is a lot like a speakeasy. The service is always great and the waiters are very knowledgeable and give great recs. The food is always sooooo good and tasty. I always end up eating too much to get dessert so I need to go back because the dessert items look phenomenal. read more

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I felt like I was in Mexico City eating authentic a vanguard Mexican food ! I don't think there is a place of this level anywhere else in the East Cost of the US, period. read more

dLeña - A1 tacos ! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent food and service! Go on a day where the weather is nice enough to sit outside on the patio. read more

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We had such an amazing experience for brunch! Such a value, I kinda don't want to announce it. the Birria tacos and Mexican street corn... sooo good. Bottomless everything! What more can you ask for?! Adrian was awesome! Really took care of us! I will be back! read more

Went on Wednesday night for a two-person, 6:45 pm reservation. The place was rather crowded which I took as a good sign and nice to see, post-COVID restrictions. Beautiful decor and lots of types of seating options (bar in center, high tops, banquettes, tables). I was surprised by how much they were already sold out of. When we sat down, we were told about several of the cocktails that were sold out, which was a bit odd (I've never heard of cocktails selling out) and disappointing since it included some I wanted to try. We ordered the corn empanadas, the queso fundito, and the pork belly to split between the two of us. The empanadas are as good as everyone says--flaky crust, delicious, gooey interior. And three large empanadas was a good portion size! The fundito was greasy and underwhelming; there was a slight smoky flavor that lent some interest but that was all it had going for it. The pork belly was divine. Cooked to perfection and the pickled veg and spicy sauce elevated the beautiful dish. I was disappointed yet again when we went to order dessert and found out the one I had my heart set on was sold out. I wish I had known that before I went to order it; it was my birthday and I was really craving that corn cake. It's clear they're still working out the kinks. Aside from a lot of sellouts so early in the week and evening, we watched a lot of food runners and servers delivering wrong orders to tables. We had to turn away a gorgeous looking tomahawk steak that they wheeled over to us, poised to carve, because we didn't order it, and several rounds of drinks and appetizers that didn't belong to us either. It could've been a marketing ploy to get us to see more of their offerings (it all did look good!), but having worked in restaurants in the past, it was clear it was just training kinks. I hope this restaurant continues to work out the opening issues and I would love to return to get to try menu items I was sad to see sold out. I'd love to update this review when I'm able to do that! read more

The vibe at D'Lena is incredible! If you're interested in a fun spot with a great vibe and good food enjoyed with friends, then this is the place for you. There is so many good things to say about this restaurant that I would never be able to write it all down. The reason I love it here so much begins with the attentiveness of the management and staff. I don't think there is any other restaurant that can match D'Lena's customer service. I enjoy it do much here that I purchased a locker, stock with some of the best bottles of Tequila available, because I host so many of my clients and friends here. Kudos to the owners and the Sandoval Hospitality Group for bringing such a great restaurant to D.C! read more

dLeña - A vibe... - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tried dLena a few weeks back after having it on the list for a while. We walked in at 6:30pm on a Friday evening and were able to get a seat downstairs at the Roja Lounge - really pretty bar with an Art Deco style. It took a while to flag down a server to get a full menu (the downstairs has a supplemental menu with some small shareables). To start, we ordered the tres salsas and pork belly, as well as drinks. Pork belly was very tasty, with a nice peanut sauce. The salsas were good - I'm glad we got the three, as I thought the two not on the regular menu had much more flavor (a green and a Smokey chipotle). My friend had the passion fruit fizz (she was not a fan of it - too much evaporated milk), and I had a blanco tequila (they have a good selection). For dinner, we opted to split the short rib al carbon and the kale salad. The short rib was fine, but small and expensive. The kale salad was also fine, but unevenly dressed. All in all, I would go back for drinks and apps, but would skip dinner. The restaurant definitely has a vibe - big focus on presentation and everything feels very Instagram worthy. Just very expensive not to be blown away. Service was a bit of a challenge downstairs. read more

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Nice ambiance and the service was great. Our waitress was very good and attentive. There was a hibiscus drink they brought to our table to sample and it was so good. Food was just okay and was expensive for the small portion size. Overall 6/10 read more

The food and ambience are incredible, I loved the service and the hospitality. The parking is an issue but other than that I would definitely visit here again. read more

We visited dLeña with a friend and two young kids (3+5) in tow right at opening at 5pm. The staff was fantastic at taking care of us, the kid had water cup with lids quickly and were entertained with crayons and cool placemats very quickly. This is a huge deal, particularly for something upscale in DC. Well done. As for the food, there was not a single dish that disappointed. Everything had a delicious smoke flavor. The do not miss items - guacamole de bonito, cauliflower and shrimp tacos. The guacamole is super fresh, and with great contrast in texture with slices of radish along for the ride. The chip that this comes with is fantastic with salty and smoky notes. The cauliflower entree is really delicious and a wonderful vegetarian meal. The shrimp taco was a really surprise. The "tortilla" for this dish is a thin slice of jicama, with a crunchy fried shrimp inside, topped with a smoky sauce and nice slaw, plus a flavored citrus squeeze on top. We talked about these tacos for many hours after the meal. dLeña is a great experience, with an amazing staff (Josh, Mike and our server Patricia were all so accommodating to our family) and unbelievable food. Go there! Go there now! read more

I cannot stop bragging about this place to my friends. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful ambience. Next was the amazing service, but it didn't stop there. The drinks weren't only for show. They tasted as beautiful as they looked. Same for the enchiladas, beautiful on the outside and perfectly seasoned on the inside. This place is worth every penny and I will be returning! read more

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Tomahawk for two had wonderful presentation and perfect char. Love the speak easy in the basement featuring love music.

I come here for lunch, happy hour, brunch and birthday celebrations with friends. We truly enjoy the music and entertainment on Thursday-Saturday on the lower level. The drinks are creative and tasty cocktails with a nice twist! Many Mezcal options are available, including a flight option! The drinks are also very creative and refreshing. The bar tenders can make tons of drinks not on the menu. I often get a cucumber margarita or a kiwi margarita that is not on the menu. I love the modern Mexican style food and brunch tapas options. The location can be pretty packed on the weekends and you will need reservations if you are not planing to find a spot at the bar. Just plan ahead for larger groups because it is worth it. It's the perfect option for celebrations. I love the overall vibe and menu options. The restaurant has a beautifully decorated inside, with a gorgeous picture worthy staircase. The location is great and near the city center shopping areas. The staff is always very nice and helpful! It is a great date night spot or fun time with friends. From desert (churros) to everything I have had on the menu (Guacamole, corn empanadas or seafood enchiladas), the orders are so flavorful, tasty and fresh. I love it all! It's very neighborhood friendly and has great outdoor dining as well. The atmosphere and area is so beautiful, nice and relaxing overall. read more

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Came for brunch and had a great experience! We did bottomless food and drink and our server was amazing!

Really bad food that came lukewarm, but nice ambiance. Don't get the ahi tuna tacos, they were tasteless and had no tuna just cabbage. My friend got the enchiladas and they tasted like spaghetti-o tomato soup. (No taste) I won't be coming back read more

dLeña - Ahi tuna tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was decent, if a little (a lot) overpriced. The short rib tacos are delicious, and the Camarones a la diabla were also a standout! I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size -- came with about 6 large prawns. So good I didn't even get a picture. The drinks were just okay, the food is definitely the selling point here. read more

dLeña - Short rib tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place has a really cool vibe! I sat at the bar and enjoyed my experience as the bartenders where very attentive,friendly and made sure you had everything you needed without asking! The cocktails where on point but every appetizer I had was just okay! The meal was just okay as well! Everything looked better than they tasted! I'd come again for they service and atmosphere and absolutely for the drinks! read more

Get tequila selection, delicious food.... especially the wood grilled oysters. Great day lighting too. We sat at the bar and had great service. Can't wait to go back! read more

Went here for date night! I have no complaints, we literally talk about this place being the gold standard of our date night spots. I think we went on a Thursday. There was live jazz in the basement-- who were extremely good and interactive with crowd Speciality drinks were 10/10. Happy hour prices were good. Bartender really go above and beyond. Customer service: amazing Food was beyond. We pretty much ordered half the menu. - tacos.. to die for - steak.. some of best we've had - guac - quest fundo Honestly, if it weren't for needing to explore new restaurants I would come to dLena every week. Must try! read more

This restaurant was absolutely gorgeous! From the decor to the food, you can tell that everything was carefully thought for. The employees were very sweet, and excited to share their menu favorites. My girlfriends ordered their famous chicken dish "Medio Pollo al Carbon", everyone in the restaurant was raving about it. So, we definitely had to try it! I ordered their enchiladas, which had fresh shrimp and Maryland blue crab in it. IT WAS AMAZING. To finish dinner, our server Tim recommended his go-to dessert Crepas. And, just like everything else.... it was AMAZING! dLeña i'll be back! I highly, highly recommend this place. read more

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Troy ! Troy! Troy! He was the best server that I've had in quite some time. The food was perfect, came out in perfect timing with the perfect temperature and we never had to ask for a drink. Troy was the icing on the churros with his charm, jokes, security and suggestions. I'll never come without him being my server. This was a perfect time with my girlfriends! read more

Great service, great food and great drinks. D'Leña has to be on you goodie list when visiting Washington D.C. Highly recommend to take a seat in the lower level area, it's very cozy, the decor is beautiful and they even have a live band on the weekends. Enjoy! read more

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Once again, dLena knocks it out the park!!!! I really enjoy the food here and the atmosphere! It's amazing! I had some grilled oysters, empanadas, amazing grilled chicken over broccolini, and awesome cocktails! I found some seats at the bar downstairs to listen to live jazz music! Perfect night! This is my go to spot for a great dinner and great music. read more

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Very pretty restaurant. Love the dark Tulum vibe going on. The food was really good. I couldn't finish all of my mine that night but when I warmed it up the next day it was just as good lol. They had pretty fast service and our waitress was super sweet. I definitely missed out on some ig-worthy picturesque spots while I was there, so I will definitely be returning! read more

dLeña - I don't think what I had is on the menu anymore actually. It was a pork chop with mashed potatoes and carrots. Bomb - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is amazing! My husband and I went for dinner last night and found the food--and the experience overall--incredible. We sat at the chef's table, which we definitely recommend. :) Everything that came out of the kitchen was just extraordinary. Nearly all the food is laced with smokiness, and a lot of consideration has gone into the other flavors layered on each item. Everything we got was incredible, but here were the particular standouts for us: -Mercado cocktail--loved the sweet-spicy-salty combo! -queso fundido -burrata and charred watermelon salad -Tomahawk steak--yes, it is worth it. -Carajillo creek brûlée The staff was welcoming and just so friendly and knowledgeable. I cannot recommend this place highly enough! read more

good food, more for the experience and ambiance! they care very much abt the vibe set inside the space, its dark dim and vibey (apparently no flash photos allowed LOL) anyways we got queso fundido, camarron tacos and short rib tacos. the green sauce that came with the queso was DELICIOUS. our server jeff was so sweet and attentive, answered all our questions and was fun to talk to. we didn't make it downstairs to the roja lounge before last call or the band left, but it seemed like a cool spot to hang with friends at. overall food was good, but you're paying more for the vibe. i'd like to try other items on the menu next time. the hibiscus agua fresca (palate cleanser they give everyone) was delciioussssssss read more

dLeña - camarron tacos, short rib tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cannot give dLena enough stars. This is one of the best spots in DC. The vibe and the ambiance alone are beyond 5 stars. It's perfect for a date night, family dinner, friends gathering, everything. The lower level is the perfect spot for just drinks while you enjoy live music. I've even gone and sat at the bar alone and loved it. The service is always exceptional, everyone is so friendly and accommodating. They truly want you to have a perfect experience. Oh yeah, I forgot most people go to restaurants for the food and drink! Even if the food was bad, this place is still 5 stars. Luckily for us, it's not! It's absolutely delicious. Wow. Wow. Wow. I think I want to go tonight.... read more

This restaurant was amazing !!! A very sexy vibe with a lot of sexy people . If you like to drink tequila and have a good time this is the place for you !!! Food was stellar, drinks amazing . My server REBECCA was top notch and I'll be sure to visit again frequently and I'll ask for her . The downstairs speakeasy was a VIBE and a definite pantie dropper . So all my single guys with a few shekels this is the spot to take that sexy girl to that you want to get lucky with read more

Really great Mexican cuisine in a beautiful space. The only complaint is that everything is a bit pricey, but it is all worth it, as everything from the guacamole and homemade chips to the ceviche amarillo to any of their tacos are great, even though I do wish there were a few more taco options and the option to mix and match the different ones. The drinks are also great and I look forward to going back and trying their "speakeasy" bar downstairs. read more

Went for happy hour everything was amazing! I got the house margarita, strawberry and the hibiscus-passionfruit. For food I got the Barbacoa tacos and truffle cojita fries. The tacos were extremely delicious, and though the fries weren't very truffle-y they were very yummy. Staff was also lovely! read more

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Expensive but clearly high quality ingredients. If you're willing to pay the price these were very good: birria barbacoa, enchiladas, and corn empanadas. I had some for leftovers the next day and it was still insanely good. read more

Before I discuss the food, I have to say, if I could give Raul 10 stars out of the 5 possible I would. He checked on us and made sure everything was perfect! Food: Every item was delicious. This typically doesn't happen at restaurants. Usually, there is something I wish I did not order. I enjoyed every dish and drink! I highly recommend: Pork Belly, it melts in your mouth. Guacamole, perfect amount of heat. Ceviche, has subtle hints of delicious fruit. A great touch, I haven't experienced from other ceviche dishes! Tacos: Camarones and Short Rib, both bursting with flavors that you wouldn't expect! Great portion sizes and easy to share! Tomahawk: HUGE, we even had leftovers. The flavors were great, it came with 3 types of salt and they took the flavor to a whole new level! Potatoes and broccoli sides were also great, not your average sides, again bursting with flavor! Make sure you come here for a special occasion too! The churros they serve on special occasions are to die for! We ordered 3 drinks, one of which was the house margarita, it was strong and delicious. Mike the manager also is very personable and ensures that customers are taken care of! The ambiance: 10/10 great lighting , romantic, and head downstairs for a great mirror photo! Parking: $10 CASH lot available on the same block, great for our rainy evening. Overall, made my boyfriend and my birthday very special and memorable. We will be back! read more

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Wow! THIS IS THE ONE! I've been waiting for a restaurant like this is the DMV and dLeña did not disappoint. I started the evening off downstairs at the bar while waiting for my dinner reservation. Please arrive early so you can enjoy the bar downstairs. The drinks are amazing and the bartender will even craft a cocktail for you based on things you like. Oh...and the bar is made of leather!!! Did I mention that the service here is AMAZING! Now y'all know...I'm a SUCKER for SERVICE!!! This place delivered!!!! Dinner ...baby...it was so good. I can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu especially that tomahawk for two! Yes...I'm coming back for you. My experience here was amazing and by looking around the restaurant I feel amazing is the norm here. read more

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I love this spot. The food - particularly the smaller plates of tacos, empanadas, ceviche, guacamole - are consistently tasty. The cocktails and mezcal selection are high caliber and inventive. I have never seen a passion fruit fizz on any other cocktail menu. The service is excellent. And finally, the ambiance, particularly of the lounge on the lower level when the Bossa Nova band is playing really transports you from DC to another place. Although the lounge is not huge, it's good for pairs and groups up to 6, and if it's full you can get the same menu upstairs in the main dining area. read more

I've been here a couple of times for dinner and both times were awesome. And yesterday mom and I went for lunch for the first time. My mom and I love the Guacamole de Bonito. We also enjoyed the prawn tacos. I also went another time for dinner with a non-seafood eating friend...yes, those people exist and I cannot explain it - so we had the Queso Fundido. Actually - I ended up being thankful seafood was off the table for once, because I never would have ordered that on my own....but it was so delicious! I do recommend if you want to have this, don't order anything else YET. Everything comes at once and very quickly. And the Queso Fundido is best eaten immediately while hot with no distractions. As someone else noted, it is really thick cheese - but oh so good particularly the hotter it is. Perfect level of saltiness. Also had the Short Rib Tacos which were great but I definitely want to try the Short Rib al Carbon next time I have dinner there. A neighboring table had it and I had order envy. For lunch, mom and I had the Maryland crabcake sliders. Having thoroughly enjoyed a crab tostada dish at dinner previously (and planned to order again), I was slightly bummed that it wasn't on the lunch menu. But the new sliders made up for it completely and the Old Bay Fries and pickled veg were perfect complements. Our server yesterday, Eduardo, was awesome. And Carmen was our server for dinner last week and also fabulous. I must say, all the staff have always been lovely - friendly, attentive and go out of their way to do or say little things that make you feel very welcome! read more

I made reservations here for my birthday & I was NOT disappointed. The food was amazing! The service was great. I sat down in the Rojo Lounge & the head bartender mixed me up some yummy custom drinks! read more