Still just as delicious over a year later!! Reposting with additional photos of the pupusas de revueltas.

Thanks to good tips from others about row house location, etc. it was much easier to find. Though it's now pretty well marked, with a neon "open" sign in the window. It's a half-block from the Giant grocery store and less than two blocks from the Best Buy/Target/Staples mega mall complex across from the Columbia Hts metro stop, and it's kitty-corner from a beautiful pink/purple row house on a corner. The frijoles and chips were mediocre though the salsa was very nice and unusual. The pupusa con queso y lavoras was tasty but had very little of the greens in them. The steamed yuca was yummy, esp mixed with the pickled cabbage. read more

El Rinconcito II - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Not as good as the original El Rinconcito in Shaw/Mt. Vernon, but still decent. A little pricier. Nice service, but the food is a bit bland. My partner's burrito was also strangely sweet tasting and the beef was tough. read more

Mal servicio! Nunca tinen lo que se les pide! O te traen mal la orden. En 3 ocasiones que e llegado nunca tienen café. No lo recomiendo

They're back open ! Great food and great happy hour. Awesome patio - I'd give it six stars if I could. read more

El Rinconcito II - Pupusas ! - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

the arroz blanco and frijoles frito were amazing, frijoles reminded me of my tias. carne quesadilla was good, but there is some salsa made with it. i enjoyed it, but just a beforehand notice! will definitely come back read more

Yummy food for a great price! My roommate and I get pupusas from here regularly. Service is always quick!

This is a good spot for pupusas in DC with outdoor seating in a stretch of Columbia Heights that's near the metro but far enough out from the main commercial shopping area that things feel residential. The pupusas were delicious, cheap, and filling. I would recommend the bean and cheese, pork and cheese, or chicken and cheese. I also tried the loroco pupusa because I wanted to branch out but personally I did not enjoy the taste (maybe it's an acquired taste?). Otherwise the salsa and chips were good and the waiter never rushed us as we stayed and chatted for a while. read more

El Rinconcito II - 3 pupusas - hard to say what is what - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great service and great food. Definitely a place I would recommend while in DC. The restaurant was cleaned and pretty big. The music selection was great. read more

El Rinconcito II - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A review for this place is long overdue. I've been a fan of El Rinconcito Cafe on 11th and M for a while and it took me a couple of months to try its sister restaurant (which I hear split up from the other location) in Columbia Heights. Let me say, I'm Nicaraguan and I've had a good amount of Salvadoran food in my life, back home and here in the U.S. and I feel this is a great unpretentious restaurant with great food at a great price. The first thing that a lot of reviewers ignore on here is that not all Latin food is the same and that D.C. has a very large Salvadoran population (count the number of pupuserias in Columbia Heights alone!) and you should let that be your guide to ordering food here. When you are in a city with a huge Salvadoran population, go for the Salvadoran specialties, or "antojitos." A lot of the negative reviews on this site complain about the free chips and salsa they give you at the start of your meal and that the Mexican food isn't that great. You simply aren't ordering the right thing! Everyone who works there is Salvadoran, so why go for a burrito? I mean, if you're not very discerning with your Mexican, I'm sure they'll give you something decent but if you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this isn't it. In addition to that, different countries in Latin American handle avocado differently. This is mostly a Salvadoran place and lime is very common in guacamole in Central America, perhaps more so than in Mexico, so, yes, this is how they're going to make it there. What you should get is either the pupusa combo with 2 pupusas of your choice. These are pan-fried stuffed tortillas with either cheese, beans and cheese, or pork and cheese. They also have loroco, which is a flower bud that grows in Central America. I would suggest going with the cheese and the beans and cheese. Your combo, for less than $7, will also include: refried beans, seasoned rice, and cabbage salad. All of this for less than $7. You can also get 1 pupusa and either a chicken or corn tamale. The corn tamale is light, sweet, and filling. The bean and cheese pupusas are my absolute fave -- velvety melted cheese with rich refried beans on a fried tortilla. It's to die for. I had this for brunch today. So delicious every single time. Just pile some Cholula and cabbage salad on top of your pupusa and nom away. This is what they're truly good at here and you won't be disappointed. Wash it all down with a delicious rice-based milk drink, Horchata, or Tamarindo, which is tamarind juice. They don't give you the Jarritos version here -- they go for the real thing here. If you feel like getting an appetizer, go for the fried plantains with sour cream (definitely on the heavy side, but delicious) or the fried yuca: the Latin french fry extraordinaire. If you know what to order here (hint: Salvadoran-inspired) you will leave satisfied and you'll have no spent less than $10 for a generous plate of food served by a friendly staff. read more

I don't really know what's going on with Columbia Heights, ya'll. All the new-ish retail means it is totally unaffordable to inhabit and it is a major clusterf*ck to get there by car or Metro, plus you can't park anywhere without reading four different signs that contradict one another. It is pretty much everything bad about gentrification. The only saving grace is that the area hasn't been totally overtaken by wealthy white 20-somethings [she says, unable to think of a way to describe this without dripping self-conscious liberal guilt]. Somehow, even though you can't rent a one-bedroom for less than $2,000 per month, you can still stuff your face with extremely tasty pho or pupusas or bibimbap or Cuban sandwiches for something like $10 all without traveling more than a mile in any direction. It is one of the few parts of the city where this is true. That is a really long preface to the fact that I mostly hate going to Columbia Heights, but I will continue to go there anyway because of places like El Rinconcito II. Free chips and salsa? Check. Delicious, soft yet crispy-edged pupusas? Check. Combo platters that cost seven bucks? Check. Enormous menu that inexplicably includes pizza and burgers but you will obviously ignore that section entirely and go straight for the sabor? Check again. Best taquitos of my life? Seriously, check. Is it the most authentic Latin American cheap eats I've ever had? Definitely not, but that doesn't mean it isn't yummy, hearty food for pennies. Also wasn't remotely crowded when we went on Monday night. Coming back here for sure! read more

Me gusta El Rinconcito Dos! While out on an epic walk around DC on Saturday, our threesome grew hungry and to the Yelp app we turned. Solid reviews and a close proximity were the reasons for our decision. We sat at one of the outdoor tables since the day was so nice, only to be greeted by a sudden change in climate that brought a chill. We pretended it was still warm as we sipped our beverages - agua for my boyfriend and friend and cerveza for me. The chips were a bit stale and could have used some salt. But the salsa was good. We saw queso listed on the menu and mistakenly thought it meant queso dip. Some attempted dialogue with our server yielded a cup of stringy melted cheese instead of creamy cheese dip, but it was still okay. Melted cheese is never a bad thing! My pulled chicken burrito was BANGIN'! Super filling and stuffed with tender, spiced chicken, rice, beans and cheese. The Mexican rice and beans alongside were also great. I do wish there was an option for hot sauce other than Tabasco. I want Cholula on my burritos, damnit! Aside from a few minor snafus though, this was a great place to stop for lunch. And if this review doesn't convince you, the steady stream of take-out orders probably will. read more

El Riconcito is one of those hole in the wall places that effortlessly pleases, but by no means is it a "sheeshy" modern hipster kind of joint. By contrast it has a very informal family sort of atmosphere and the patrons are predominantly Latino. Accordingly, they serve a traditional crowd and the menu offers lots of dishes you will not see at other places. That being said, it also has something for everyone. From their "taco salad" to their chimichanga, and even burgers and subs, they offer some great traditional Mexican and Ecquadorian dishes while ensuring that everyone can find something that they want. A note about me: I'm pretty tough to please when it comes to Mexican food as I reign from Burrito Land USA (California). But El Riconcito is definitely the best Mexican I've had in Washington, and it is surprisingly inexpensive for the size of the plates they serve. One thing I should mention is that while the wait staff is kind, courteous and attentive, they aren't English scholars. But don't fret, they get the job done and know how to make a hell of a margarita. Not to mention, they have the real traditional margarita glasses and a better selection of tequila than almost any place I've been to in Washington. read more

This review is for their tamales only. Both tamales, chicken and pork, are tasty and juicy. I usually call them earlier for togo order. I think it's one of the best tamales in town. read more

Stale tortilla chips w/ flavorless salsa. I asked for a spicy salsa or something spicy to throw into this garbage. Sorry, they don't have anything like that. I asked for my vegetable chimichange w/o veggies because I know no real Mexican joint that takes a vegetarian anything to mean that it has to include vegetables. I asked for white rice and black beans inside because of the animal by-products in both the yellow rice and refried beans. Why did my chimichanga come with yellow rice and refried beans on the side while I had white rice and black beans inside? 1. I already have beans and rice in my chimichanga. Why the redundancy? 2. We just discussed my vegetarian diet, why did animal stuff still land on my plate? ... 3. Why did the pico de gallo and guacamole that I paid extra for taste like a lemon? 4. Why does your menu offer a Grilled Jalapeno, but you gave my friend a fresh jalapeno? 5. Why are your chips so stale? 6. Why doesn't any of your food taste like anything... other than a lemon? I know, I know. It's too much to figure out. Screw it. read more

It's just around the corner from me and the kind of place I want to root for. Real mix of people, Salvadorans eating their fish soup (which looks amazing but i'm not a big seafood person) and everyone else eating pupusas. Shy, but friendly wait staff that can be a little slow to bring the check at the end of the meal. You can get 2 pupusas, a corn tamale (which I find to be much better than the chicken), rice, beans, slaw, chips & amazing salsa for under $8 - are you kidding me? Anyone who has had tacos or more mexican-style cuisine has been underwhelmed, but realistically its not what the place is about. I've had beef and pork plates a few times and enjoyed them, but it usually ends up being a pupusa craving that we go there to satisfy. read more

I know my 1-star (would give it zero if I could) might seem a little exaggerated, but let me specify, THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR VEGETARIANS! I went with a meat-eater (LOOOOVED his plate....some kind of beef thing) but i got a plain and simple bean burrito (HOW DO YOU MESS THAT UP?!?!) and I am NOT exaggerating when I say that the refried beans were CRUSTY and BLACK (not black beans black, just OLD black). Terrible meal and that gave me stomach pains for hours after. DO NOT RECOMMEND this place...and am really surprised I hated it this much after so many other yelpers gave it such great reviews... *sigh* read more

This is my secret place for Salvadorian breakfast. I come here pretty often but i get so focus on my food that i forget to yelp. I am in LOVE with this place. Platanos maduros, aguacate, fresh tortillas, refried beans, cheese and huevos rancheros... OMG to die for. I have never, ever found a better breakfast. I am glad I dont leave near by otherwise i would be 20 pounds heavier.... Sometimes there can be a wait but i have nothing bad to say about this place... Pupusas are very good as well. Can you please move the restaurant to MY basement? I will not charge you rent! read more

I want to give this place 4.5 stars. I am a big fan. The food is very tasty and is either cheap or moderate depending on what you get. My memory is not good enough to remember the names of most people, so the names of Salvadoran/Mexican food outside of the Taco Bell spectrum is at least equally challenging. So let me just say I like almost everything I have tried at this place. I usually aim for the cheaper items so that I can taste a variety of items, instead of spending more on a platter which includes rice and beans, salad, etc. I do this everywhere I possibly can... :) Chicken tamales (I think) for appetizer - they come wrapped with chick peas and potatoes. Under $2, good size, & tasty! Beef enchilada - my gf got the platter, I tasted it....tasty! Cheeseburger - (I don't care, I like cheeseburgers....I'm not too cool to order it at a Salvadoran restaurant. No offense...I understand the logic behind NOT doing what I do...) I love it! Oh yea, $3 for a regular burger and $5 for a burger sub! You should get at least 2 burgers or 1 sub. Consider a cheap appetizer if you want to get pretty full. Let me just say: I love their cheeseburgers. LOVE them. Simple, standard, & TASTY! Chips and salsa - free, and the salsa is tasty! Other stuff I can't remember - pretty tasty! Oh, the only reason its not 5 stars is the place could be a bit more upscale. Its not bad at all, but I can't give 5 stars to everything! (My girlfriend thinks this place is average) ---- Hey, 2 reviews in one! read more

I had once heard of a tucked away gem of a Latin restaurant in the basement of a random row-house. I went on a mission to find this tiny place, and ended up finding it across from the Giant in Columbia Heights. All I can say is, "me gusta!" This is not a classy dinning establishment. It is crowded, not well lit, and only has about 5 tables. That being said: the food is authentic and home made. Everything is fresh and it has a certain charm. I do suggest brushing up on your Spanish before coming here - those who work there do not seem to speak English. That only adds to the authenticity, though. It's not much of a problem as long as you can point to words on a menu. Surprisingly, I might add, they do have a pretty extensive menu. They are famous for the pupusas, so do yourself a favor and order some. read more

Four and a half stars. Easy. What I ate: A chicken burrito with the best sauce I have ever tasted. It also comes with some sort of cheesy rice and I have to say that it was the best rice I've ever had. No lies here folks. A bottled soda topped it all off. What else they offer: Of course burritos, tacos, chimichangas, enchiladas, chorizo, cheeseburgers, alcohol, bottled beverages. The restaurant's upkeep is fantastic. I can see what their profits go towards. They have a couple TVs that is tuned to Hispanic television. The two downsides (which in my book equates to minus a half star) to El Rinconcito II is that they have a ten dollar minimum for charges. Ten dollars?! Their prices for everything is a bit high. My burrito and a soda cost me ten dollars and some change. I think I'll head over to Taqueria for lunch as they're a little less expensive than here. read more

Oh man oh man do I heart Yelp. We came here for a late lunch not expecting much, but boy were we blown away. The three of us shared a bunch of dishes: pupusas, fried plantains, beef soup, chicken wings, and horchata. The pupusas were good, but in all honesty, I don't know if I like pupusas. The fried plantains were amazing, beef soup spectacular, and even the chicken wings were supremely tasty (they also came with a ton of sliced tomatoes and avocado). The horchata was sweet, creamy, and perfect. Prices are great, atmosphere may leave something to be desired, but it was quiet and laid back on a late Sunday afternoon. We were too stuffed to try dessert, but I would have loved to sample the tres leches. I will be back for this amazing Mexican/Salvadorean cuisine next time I visit DC! read more

I was raised in Southern California with great Mexican/Latino food on every corner. I have been in the district 6 years and the best suggestion people had was "District Taco or Cactus Cantina" all very subpar options. This is hands down the most authentic 100% real food you will find. Sad it took me 6 years. I come here like clock work every Sunday. Phenomenal food. Customer service could be a little better and they could be more attentive but the food is amazing. read more

El Rinconcito II - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Soooo yummy! You could walk by this place 10 times and never even know it was there. Under a little purple umbrella is tiny restaurant with nice people and great food. We started off with the nachos, standard nachos with lots of jalepenos(yum) and tasty beans with lots of cheese. I had the cheese papusa with the chicken tamale. It seems that all cultures have a version of bread/cheese combo and I have yet to dislike any of them. Warm gooey and tastey with sour cream. The tamale tasted exactly like solid chicken noodle soup.... or like a chicken noodle soup dumpling. Not the corn flavor I was used to, but reallllly good. The 'coleslaw' if you could call it that was very fresh and tasty. I put some on the pupusa and ate it. The refried beans tasted homemade. Fun music was providing the soundtrack for a very dramatic spanish soap, the bar looked fully stocked and ready to roll out some tasty beverages (although i didn't have any on this particular night) and the servers were very friendly. Prices were not bad at all. very afforable. A fun little jem right across from Giant. read more

I love this place. Absolutely the best Mexi-El Salvadorean food in the city!!! Having it around the corner from my house is a true treat (almost as good as having them on speed dial). The joint is nothing more than authentic -- from the juke box screaming Latino tunes to the futbol and Spanish soap operas glaring on the TVs. The food rocks too... try the steak burrito and some papusas... or branch out for more traditional Salvadorean dishes that will delight the pallet like no other. Get extra food to go if you feel like gorging... I know you will. read more

How can you resist cheap pupusas in a rowhouse basement? 'Nough said. Really, though, delish eats reasonably priced with quick friendly service. It's a huge perk having this place in the neighborhood. read more

Not the absolute best Tex Mex/Mexican/Salvadorian place I've ever been to in my life, but El Rinconcito II is still really good. My roommate and I walk down to get dinner a few times a month and we've never been disappointed with the food or service. My only gripe is that the music is INSANELY loud -- if someone is playing music on the jukebox you can forget about talking to your dinner partner until it's over, it just isn't going to happen without screaming and constantly asking each other "What? What? What?" The Pork Enchiladas and Cheese Enchiladas are both totally worth the hearing loss though. read more

I'm going to try and be as genuine as possible in this review. I really like this place. I ordered the salvadoran breakfast and it was really very good. The tortillas here are pretty serious--almost sope consistency instead of regular tortillas. My eggs, beans, plantains, cream, cheese, and quarter avacado were all great. The eggs were cooked to the right moisture level. I will be coming again for many more breakfast/lunches (I hate the term brunch). My friend had the pupusas. I had a few bites. I must say they are not as good as El Charrito Caminante in VA, but better than Gloria's on 14th. They were a little bit too greasy/moist. As for the rest, there was a good amount of seating, very good service, and they had music playing which is a big plus with me. At an adjacent table, people ordered the seafood soup and it looked really good--with seafood looking like it just came out of the Little Mermaid sitting in a large steaming bowl. I hope to order that in the future. What's very refreshing about this place is that it's a salvadoran establishment that isn't the exact same as Las Placitas, La Lomita, La Lomita Dos, La Loma, La Plaza, and La Paraiso. read more

I really want to love this place. The food is yummy (one of the better Mexican/Salvadoran restaurants in DC) and seems authentic, and I adore the hole-in-the-wall vibe. However, every time I've come here with more than two people, we've waited upwards of an hour for our meals, even when the place wasn't very busy. The waitstaff also has a knack for forgetting one or two orders, so even after the extended wait, you may have to continue to wait for your meal (as I've done), without receiving an apology or a discount. To be fair, you don't come here for the service, but I don't think I could come here again with more than one person, just for that reason. I plan on ordering the yummy pupusas to-go or with a date next time, rather than with a group of friends. read more

From the outside (and on in the inside) this place looks like nothing special. But it is definitely a hidden highlight of Columbia Heights. The quality of the food is better than all the other Mexican/Central American restaurants in the neighborhood (i.e. you don't feel like crap afterward); it's seemingly authentic. And their margaritas are a must. The staff is super nice, the menu is extensive, and the price is right. read more

When I lived in Adams Morgan, Don Jaime's in Mt Pleasant used to be my go-to hole-in-the-wall brunch spot. Now that I live in Pleasant Plains, El Rinconcito II has become the go-to brunch spot. Portions are large but not overbearing. Food is decent enough - nothing to write home about, but nothing to gripe about, either. Service is pretty much the same as every other Latin place of this caliber: you'll get your order taken, your food, and your check... but don't expect anything beyond that. Outdoor seating here is a plus (even if you are just looking at the Giant)! This place easily accommodates last-minute large groups upstairs or on the patio. read more

EXCELLENT chicken taquitos (flautas) with all-white tender meat, sour cream, guac and plentiful refried beans on the side. On the cheap, too. The salsa provided with the cold tortilla chips was exceedingly mild. It almost tasted like v8 juice, but it was good enough. Unfortunately, the first thing we noticed when we entered was the smell. I called it rat bait, and my friend said cats. We saw neither cats nor rats, but wish it smelled nicer. read more

This little out of the way joint is great for authentic central american food (not like Chipolte or Lauriol Plaza). The clientele is diverse, from latinos to hipsters. The food is good but it's mostly for meat lovers, not much for vegetarians except for the pupusas or burritos. I recommend the salvadoran seafood soup, which is so big that it's hard to finish or the steak with rice/beans on the side. read more

Gotta give love to Rinconcito II. It's my default neighborhood restaurant. Importantly the food is pretty darn good and handsomely priced. The staff is extremely nice and love when you spit a little Spanish. Oh my god though, they can crank the volume on the telemundo or bachata... Don't always expect being able to hear yourself think. They'll turn it down for your gringo butt if you got the huevos to ask em to turn it down. For what it is, they do it well. Constantly pleased and looking to return. read more

Located right across the street from Giant, it is easy to mistake this place for the laundry mat next door with the pay phones and shady dudes ogling girls out front, but follow the craigslist kids into this place for some delicious food. While most yuppies have never given a second thought to the cultural or culinary distinctions between Guatemala, Honduras, or Nicaragua, this here is a Salvadoran restaurant. SO DON'T GET MEXICAN FOOD!!!!! They have tacos, burritos, enchiladas and all that, but they taste like they do at FGIFridays/Bennigan's/Chi Chi's. You don't go to an Italian restaurant and order Greek food, so why would you go to a Salvadoran restaurant and order Mexican food? Get one of the steaks or a seafood soup. Trust me on this; look at what the people who order from the Spanish menu are eating. While you can't have a truly Salvadoran dining experience without a few 32oz Regias, for some reason no place in DC has them. Suppose that is why Laurel is often referred to as "Mecca of Culture," but I digress. Start off with Yucca con Chicharron. Pupusas are also a classic, but are more fun to get on a Sunday in front of the church on 16th street. Since you probably won't make it out there though, you might as well get a few here. Get the horchata if you want, although it tastes like bad Yoo-Hoo (this ain't Mexican horchata remember, this is the Salvadoran stuff). Mostly though, just enjoy the food, and when you are so emboldened head on down to Haydee's on Mount Pleasant Street for the best Salvadoran dining experience in the city. read more

My one of my favorite places to eat in DC. I went here all the time when I lived in DC a few years ago and then couldn't find it again amidst the re-vamped Columbia Heights. Then one day, I was walking along Park Road and, gracias a dios, there it was. The food is consistently delicious, especially the chicken taquitos, and the plantanos con crema y frijoles. I love their Horchata too. Diners there are a mixed bunch, which I always take to be a good sign. A nice little spot. The ONLY down fall, and I am hesitant to say this but someone else did first ... it smells. It didn't use to smell like that. You get used to it after a few minutes, but seriously, what is it? I like it so much that I'm sticking with the 5 stars, even with the smell. read more

I've been slowly working my way through all the interesting looking restaurants in the Mt. Pleasant area, so stopped by El Rinconcito II for lunch. I probably should have listened to other reviewers and stuck to the papusas and tamales, but I was feeling tacos. While the beef ones weren't bad, they just kind of reminded me of the ones I used to make from the Old El Paso spice packet as a kid. The rice was pretty tasty though, and the pork papusa was delicious. Not a bad little place, would definitely try again. read more

Wowwy wow wow. Had this last night for the second time, and YEAHHHH BUDDY! Chicken is delicious! Doesn't matter what dish you get- if it has some chicken in it from this place, it is guaranteed to be a juicy, tasty explosion in your mouth. I got the chicken enchiladas, but I also tried my BFs burrito-- which was also amazing. You can ask for black beans instead of refried (but they don't advertise this). The entire meal was delicious, and for two take out entrees we spent $15. AWESOME DEAL. AWESOME MEAL. read more

Caught dinner here after an exhausting day at the Zoo. Service was friendly and quick. The location was interesting, to say the least. It is located in the basement of a rowhouse and there is limited seating. Luckily, when we arrived, it wasn't all that busy. That quickly changed to being completely packed by the time we left. I ordered a plate of 3 beef enchiladas, which came with lettuce, salsa, guacamole, yellow rice, and refried beans. It was delicious! The bathroom was located in an odd area past the kitchen. It was nice to see that the kitchen was stocked full of middle-aged hispanic women. Fantastic food, good service, nice location, and CHEAP. I would definitely go back. read more

My friends and I were looking for an uncrowded and unpretentious venue for day drinking outdoors, and this is where I ended up a few weeks ago for my first outdoors DC day drinking this season. Food/drinks: Strongly recommend the coronitas and peach margaritas (the latter we saw were being enjoyed immensely by a group next to us and FOMO compelled us to order). For food, we ordered a superboca (or something similar) platter, which was basically a sampler of all fried forms of Rinconcito's offerings. Delicious platter paired with great drinks! Vibes: Rinconcito feels like a local hole-in-the-wall in the rapidly developing Columbia Heights neighborhood. The crowd is great - everyone from families celebrating birthdays to yuppies in search of a refreshing spot for a yummy drink are welcome. read more