The service was super quick! There may have been a 10 minute wait between ordering our food and…read morebeing served which was perfect. We got the guacamole to start which was some of the best, and most flavorful, guacamole that I've had in DC. Being from Texas, I'm very particular about my street tacos. These were the closest I've gotten to Texas street tacos since I've been in DC, and I've been here for 2 years! The place is small and intimate but full of energy - great place for a happy hour with friends or a more casual date!

Solid local Mexican spot!…read more Food- shrimp dish was flavorful and tacos consistently good. Meats are prepared well and side dishes a great compliment. Drinks- hibiscus sangria and hibiscus margarita were refreshing and tasty. Vibes- great patio space

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at dLena. I shared the brunch special where you get the entire…read moremenu in tapas style and bottomless drinks. It was a lot of food for two people to share and there was only the option to decline food, which was hard to do considering you pay for everything on the menu. I wish that the drinks were flowing a bit more. The vibes were good and the service was adequate and attentive. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and had great recommendations to offer. Would only do the brunch special again with a larger group, but since I've tasted the entire menu already, there's no rush to come back.

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!

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?

Boss pulled up and said "we're going to Oyamel" and that was the right call. Weekday lunch, Penn…read moreQuarter, reservation secured because this place does not slow down for anybody. Pitcher of margaritas for the table: smooth, rich, not too strong. Exactly what a group lunch needs without turning into a whole situation. The guacamole is terrific and they'll adjust the spice level to your liking, which is a small thing that goes a long way when you're feeding a whole office with different tolerances. The tacos are built on house-made masa tortillas and you can taste that they care. I did the Pollo à la Parrilla and the Chilito de Res. Both landed. The beef especially, slow-braised and seasoned like they meant it. This is a José Andrés restaurant, so you already know the room has energy. If you're in the District and haven't made this a regular stop, fix that.

The food was great! I had the spring rolls looking chicken and it was great. My friend had the…read morecarne asada and it was delicious. Though they do charge you separately for chips and even though the carne asada is 44$ they still charge you for rice and beans separately. It's good food but very expensive. The happy hour is the best time to come. I had the guava drink too and it was great, come for happy hour.

Stopped in Mi Vida for a happy hour drink (and possibly a fish bowl(?)). Unfortunately, they had…read morethe fish glasses but not the ingredients to make the drink on question, so simple HH drinks it was. We saddled up at the bar top and enjoyed a few cocktails, while nibbling on chips&guac and chips&salsa. Note: this is a spot that does not offer chips and salsa for free. Overall, nice spot at the wharf for high-end Mexican fare.

Had a great time and dinner! Chicatana is unassuming and unpretentious, staffed with attentive…read moreservers who do an amazing job (water was always filled and empty plates removed quite efficiently). The decor is simple, no table clothes or frills but it does live up to 'fine cuisine' with excellent food and presentation (another subtle touch is if you leave the table, you return to a nicely folded napkin). We got nearly everything on the menu including all the desserts and Mexican hot chocolate (yum, lightly spicy and piping hot!) . As others have said their guacamole is excellent...do check the charges though bc they added salsa and chips to the tab which we did not order (they removed). Also, the first order of guac came with big bowl of chips, but none with the second order of guac- not a problem though because you do not go hungry. Portions are quite generous. We even tried the ants which was a fun novelty

This was the valentine's day 2026 stop. I had no idea it was in the area it was, but alas, we made…read morethe trek from lowly ballston anyway. After parking in the Giant parking garage (decent price), we walked the few blocks to the restaurant. We spotted it with the poster sign hanging up on the outer walls. Inside you head up the stairs and you're greeted by the host stand. We checked in and got our table, right at the window (hellya). There was a rose and a candle on the table (vday vibes) and we also received a vday specials menu. We landed on queso fundido to start and a cocktail each: prickly pear marg for her, a viva mexico for me. After fundido'ing it up, we ordered our entrees. We're simple folks it was a 2 carne asada tacos, 1 al pastor taco, 1 pescado taco, and 1 chicken quesadilla. Unfortunately we weren't bold enough to try the insectos. Food was great, drinks were great, service was great. You can pay your tab via Toast for no additional fee which was convenient. There are two, single use bathrooms in there too. Overall, solid spot.

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.

Came by for happy hour and had a great experience! The atmosphere was lively and fun, and the…read moreservice was friendly and attentive throughout. We ordered the Salsa Macha-Honey Glazed Wings, Esquite Fries, Mexican Street Style Corn Off the Cob, and Chips & Salsa. Everything was delicious, the wings had the perfect sweet and spicy glaze, the esquite fries were packed with flavor, the street corn was creamy and satisfying, and the chips and salsa were a great starter. For drinks, we tried The Margarita, the Frozen Pineapple Margarita with Tajín, and the Pregame Shooter. All were refreshing, and the cocktails were definitely strong. Great food, strong drinks, awesome vibes, and excellent service. We'll definitely be back!

The perfect Mexican food spot! I've never had flat nachos before, but it makes so much sense…read morebecause you get a little bit of everything in every bite. The traditional guacamole was amazing, and the kale salad added just the right amount of healthy to balance things out. For drinks, we had the frozen pineapple margarita and the spicy margarita both were delicious. I'll definitely be back! The service was fast, and I'm glad we went on a Sunday. We were able to get a large booth, and it wasn't overly crowded, which made for a really enjoyable experience.

Pisco y Nazca ceviche gastrobar was an excellent experience from start to finish. The chic decor…read moreand modern atmosphere made the restaurant feel stylish and energetic without being overwhelming. The menu was creative and exciting, and the cocktail selection paired perfectly with the food. The service was friendly, attentive, and made the entire evening feel welcoming and relaxed. We especially enjoyed the pork belly bao buns, which were packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The tacu seco de cordero was rich, tender, and incredibly satisfying, while the arroz con mariscos was fresh, flavorful, and loaded with seafood. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience with great food, excellent cocktails, and a beautiful atmosphere. We will definitely be back.

We came here for dinner and made a reservation ahead of time to make sure we had a table, though it…read morelooked like they also offer walk-in bar seating. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and the staff was friendly and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The food was delicious, especially the dessert! We were visiting a friend who recommended this spot, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The atmosphere was lively and energetic, but even with a full house, it was still easy to have a conversation at the table. Overall, a great dining experience and a place we'd happily return to.

If you're looking for the heartbeat of Dupont Circle, this is it. Mission is a D.C. institution for…read morea reason--it's massive, loud, and consistently delivers exactly what you want when you're craving a margarita and a high-energy vibe. Housed in a stunning four-story converted townhouse, the space itself is impressive. Between the rustic wood beams, the huge glass atrium, and the multiple bars, it feels like a high-end saloon that never stops moving. It's the ultimate spot for a birthday, a massive group happy hour, or a rowdy weekend brunch. The Food & Drinks: The Margaritas: You can't come here and not get a marg. Whether you go classic or frozen, they are strong and well-balanced. Their Happy Hour (4-6 PM) is arguably one of the best deals in the neighborhood. Taco Trio: I usually go for the Baja Fish and Carnitas. The fish is crispy, and the tortillas actually hold up to the toppings. Chipotle Chicken Rollups: These are basically a Mission rite of passage. They're the perfect salty, savory bar snack to share with the table while you're a few rounds in. Guacamole & Queso: Solid, reliable, and comes out fast. The chorizo queso is a game-changer if you're looking to go all out. The Experience: The service is impressively fast considering how packed this place gets. Chef Erwin Rodas and the Mission Group team (who also run Mission Navy Yard and The Admiral) have this down to a science. Even when there's a line out the door, the kitchen stays consistent. Pro Tip: If you're planning on Bottomless Brunch, book your table way in advance. It gets wild in the best way possible. If you want a slightly "quieter" experience, try to snag a seat on the outdoor patio for some prime Dupont people-watching.

My wife and I tried this restaurant tonight and it it definitely a keeper! The service was amazing…read moreand the food was excellent. The meals my wife and I had were very flavorful and the portions were perfect. The restaurant was very clean and had a relaxed atmosphere. We will definitely be visiting again and would recommend anyone in the area to as well. I almost forgot and I can't believe I did but the margaritas are amazing as well.

I remember a few months ago, my makeup artist recommended I check out Lauriol Plaza and that they…read morehave really good food. When she first said the name, I actually thought it was a some short of shopping plaza and never would have associated it as a Mexican restaurant. I'm not sure it's history, but seems like a staple in the neighborhood as every time I drive by since that conversation with her, I notice how packed and busy it is. I recommended to my friends who were in town that we check it out and we were able to get seated outside relatively quickly for a Saturday evening. Our table started with their drinks. Half of us got the pina colada and the other half had the margarita swirl. I'd say the pina coloda was pretty good; not too strong and the ones who ordered the margarita seemed to enjoy it. We all had eaten before arriving, so we didn't order too much. They also served complimentary tortilla chips with salsa so that was pretty good and gave us something to nibble on. I ended up getting the shrimp tacos and their tortilla soup. The shrimp tacos were good, but the tortilla soup was the highlight for me. It was very flavorful, and full of vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and corn. It also had shredded chicken and cheese in it, and was so delicious. I would definitely order it again. Our server was also very friendly and regularly checked in on us. The reason for one star off is just due to the cleanliness of the cups and plates on our table. I noticed food residue still on it, and although I personally didn't use the cup or plate, I didn't care to see it on the table.

I havent been here in over 15 years. When I came it was a good experience…read more Service is attentive. The food is good....I had the mariscada saltado. Cery good and delicious. the drinks? A Casa Amigos Margarita in a beer mug with no salted rim or garnish? WTF!!!!