This restaurant is about three blocks from my house and I love it!! The people are extra nice and I get to practice my Spanish (I live in El Salvador for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer). The food could be like a dollar or two cheaper, but it is good and they fill your plate! read more

Pupusa heaven! This place is the BOMB! Can't beat $5ish margaritas, authentic chips and salsa, and sumptuous pupusas in a charming, off the beaten path little restaurant. Went around lunch time and it was not busy except for a couple of lovely El Salvadorean men who sat next to us and gave us great suggestions of what to order. Our waitress was helpful and attentive, and our bill was really reasonable. Recommend it for a dinner with one or two other people, its not a very big space, but was excited when my bf went the next week with a coworker and had the same impression. Definitely can't wait to go again to this little hidden gem, and will probs rate it a five if I have the same experience twice! One note: It's kinda tricky to find and the friend that I met had some trouble figuring out where it was. Its diagonal from Giant grocery store, just keep walking along the Sticky Fingers bakery side and you'll see it set a bit lower than the street. read more

I have been here twice. The food is amazing, authentic, and affordable. They also have so many options to choose from. And to top it all off, the waitstaff is so kind. This is not a huge restaurant, so it has more of a mom-and-pop feel to it which I love. Authenticity is so hard to find in DC these days. Eat here - you will not be disappointed. read more

Somehow I've gone through life without ever enjoying a pupusa.The girlfriend decided that we need to remedy that situation immediately at one of her favorite places. So we strolled in eager and excited and very hungry. We were pleasantly greeted and chose to sit upstairs which was kind of empty when we arrived (we arrived shortly after 5 so of course it wasn't exactly busy). Perusing the menu I was struck by how reasonable prices were. Most combos topped out at under $9 and drinks were reasonable at around $3.25 for say a Negra Modelo. On to the food! The fried yucca was delicious and I really enjoyed the cabbagey stuff served with it. As an appetizer it was perfect at whetting the appetite for a couple of very filling pupusas. Both the girlfriend and I ordered bean and cheese pupusas which to my mind were a bit underwhelming. They were filling but didn't seem to have much flavor other than the bean filling. I could have used a bit of spice or something with my pupusa. After we finished, our plates were cleared and we proceeded to wait a good 20 minutes before our check arrived. The waitress (a different person than who was originally helping us) kept circling to other tables whilst giving our table the side-eye and avoiding us. There wasn't any obvious reason for this and she eventually came on over and graciously gave us our check but I did leave with a bad taste in my mouth. I'd say the food here is quite tasty with definitely great value while the service is a bit hit or miss. read more

Papusas, Papusas, Papusas! The bean and cheese papusas are addicting and extremely filling. I've been here multiple times and had a variety of items, but the papusas are the best in my mind (make note I am a vegetarian). The prices are very reasonable and you can get 2 papusas, rice, beans, and salvadorian slaw for around $8.00! The pace of service is usually hit or miss, but everyone at El Rinconcito 2 is friendly. This is a great casual spot to go to for drinks or food. This is one of my favorite local restaurants!! read more

Amazing food. This hole in the wall gets 5 stars from me for some delicious papusas, nachos, and chimichangas. Margaritas are passable, girlfriend and I killed a pitcher despite the overwhelming sweetness. And our server was attentive without being overbearing. And before I forget, the prices are more than reasonable. Great value and great food. read more

So good! I had a combination platter w pupusa, tamale salad and rice & bean. Cute patio out front and a good crowd! Definitely going back.

After an evening of drinking at red derby what could be better than some supposedly terrific El Salvadorian food? We went into El Rinconcito II with high hopes. Yelp reviews suggested a row house basement restaurant that was a diamond in the rough. The atmosphere is authentic, the decor minimal, clearly this was a place for food not dining. And that was perfect accordingly to our group. The expanse of the menu was impressive, basically anything el salvadorian you could want but with some pizza and subs for good measure. Chips and homemade salsa were served upon ordering. The food (papusas and corn tamale on my plate) was served with yellow rice, beans, and a cabbage salad with tangy tomato dressing. The papusas were well made slightly crisp and puffy. I preferred the bean papusa to the cheese and loroco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernaldia_pandurata). The cheese inside the loroco overwhelmed any chance of flavor from this exotic flower/vegetable. The chicken tamale was a tad bland and only the chicken had any flavor. Strangely the vegetarian corn tamale was corn and cornmeal and sweet to taste. The cabbage salad was however terrific. I fully support restaurants that will serve cabbage over iceberg lettuce. Overall the experience was terrific but the food was mediocre at best. 3 stars for the surprisingly lack of flavor in the items I ordered. Perhaps other items on the menu highlight the value and flavor better; I cannot attest to that. If friends were going again I would tag along, however I would not choose El Rinconcito II as a future destination myself. read more

El Rinconcito consistently serves the best ceviche in the District. Standard stuff like pupusas and enchiladas are excellent. In fact, I've enjoyed everything I've been served there, though I haven't delved much into the house specialties or sopas. The only slight drawback is that they sell no fountain soda or fresh brewed iced tea. Guess I'll need to drink a cerveza... aw, damn! read more

Mexican Food in DC.....well it's definitely not Mexican it's Salvadorean, but for the location, price, and quality of the food this place is solid. El Rinconcito II is your basement restaurant, and literally it is in the basement of a row house on Park St. right across from the Giant. The decor is nothing to rave back home about, but if anyone has spent time in Latin America it brings back some memories of those small restaurants. The atmosphere reminds me going to have dinner with a bunch of good friends with a soccer match in the background, bachata music on the jukebox the only thing is that I don't know half of the restaurant. When it comes to food this place has a decent ceviche, not the best but taste fresh. The pupusas are good, tortillas homemade, but still there is nothing that makes you go "wow". I would say if you are craving Mexicanish/Salvadorean food, and you don't want the greasy stuff down the street come here because it is decently priced and taste fresh. Definitely its on my list of neighborhood spots when I am too lazy to cook. read more

3.25 stars. Like many DC residents, I am a Texas transplant. As such, I often wax poetic about the numerous taquerias and restaurants where an individual could find wonderful Mexican food for mere pennies in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Not surprisingly, I have found few places in DC that adequately resolve the Tex-Mex palate. Having said that, El Rinconcito II, a hard-to-spot Salvadorean restaurant nearly directly across from the Columbia Heights Giant, has all the necessary elements requisite for enjoying food south of the Texas border: massive plates, chips and salsa, efficient service, and cheap prices. If only it were a TRUE Mexican restaurant, but I digress... El Rinconcito II has quite a few riches to bestow upon their patrons: their chorizo, Salvadorean sausage and cheese, breakfasts, and pupusas (thick tortilla stuffed with cheese and/or pork) are all above average. The chorizo, which could use better meat, is wonderfully spiced and expertly cooked and the pupusas are clearly above average (but are slightly more expensive than some of the pupuserias here in town). The Salvadorean sausage is a bit too salty, but otherwise delectable. The best menu item I have had here was on the Salvadorean specialties: it was a thin, breaded steak very similar to carne asada. The service here is excellent, and the prices are reasonable in the District (they are more expensive than some places in Columbia Heights, but they have a higher quality product as well). In any event, I would strongly recommend this place to sop up the morning (or afternoon) hangover or to grab a quick carryout meal. read more

2.5-3 stars. Went to El Rinconcito last night and rocked some huevos rancheros with a dos equis to wash it down. The rancheros were a little odd, not bad, but prepared differently than I've seen before. They came with the tortillas on the side and the tortillas were kind of puffy and soft, sort of like cold naan. Again, not bad, just kinda weird. My friend ordered a chimichanga which was big and fat and yummy. They did forget to honor her "no beans" request, but whatever. I mean, who orders a chimichanga with no beans? The space itself isn't quite as cozy as the name would imply, and they do usually have Telemundo kicking on the TV, but the staff is friendly and the food is ok. read more

I came hungover and in need of much sustenance. I just wanted food and a lot of it. To my surprise, they did not disappoint in any way. Everything they put on my plate was beyond fresh. If there was an Oscar or Grammy for freshness, this place would definitely win. I hate avocados, but their avocados were so fresh and so soft that I have a new appreciation for that fruit. The service was awesome. My drink never reached below half brim of the glass. Come here. -James J. read more

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

If I lived in DC I would be a regular. This is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I knew when my friends and I walked in this was the real deal because it wasn't filled to capacity with gringos looking for some fusion bullshit food. This is where The People eat. The margarita I had was spot on. I ordered the fried steak with plantains and beans and rice... great comfort food. The menu has an extensive selection of El Salvadorean and Mexican faves. The waitress we had was smiling and friendly, even when she had some other, more *difficult* customers to deal with. If you're in Da Heights, check this place out. Will not disappoint! read more

The food has always been good with the only exception being the nachos. The salsa, chips, flautas, burritos are all excellent, especially for the price. The margaritas are fantastic, so I was shocked when we saw a Jose Cuervo mix bottle in the trash. Whatever, they are still delicious. The atmosphere is very low-key with small tables, plastic chairs and TVs tuned to latin stations everywhere. The staff is very friendly, sometimes they don't speak english very well which makes ordering fun but a bit challenging if you don't speak spanish. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathrooms which may bother some people, but I am fine with it and it is clean when you get there. We did experience an odd rather unpleasant smell on the last visit, but I am willing to assume it was a one off. I really like El Rinconcito and it is an authentic, family owned restaurant in a location that is quickly becoming big box. read more

I love everything about this place. In terms of the food, it strikes the right combination of dishes, from the exotic to the traditional, from the a la carte to the large. For example, there are dozens of Salvadorean dishes with which I, for one, am unfamiliar. Or, if I want a big fat burrito with two enchiladas, that's also a possibility. The atmosphere is intimate, quiet and casual. There is always Spanish-language television playing in the background, which in my opinion, adds to the cultural ambiance of the joint. read more

Fast, cheap, and delicious, this restaurant is my favorite place to eat in this neighborhood. The tacos are good, the carne asada is good, and I could bathe in the salsa, but the Salvadorean dishes with shrimp are by far the best things on the menu. read more

Really good Spanish food. I love it. This is one of the few places in DC where you can find really good Spanish food.... Keep the good job... I love the salmon, the carne guisada is really good . Customer service very good. The after bar is really nice and really clean.... read more

Food here is to die for! I've tried other food items but my favorite is Carne deshilada con huevo just a perfect strictly Salvadoran dish to try. The restaurant is always clean but parking is a little complicated and I encourage you to try it! read more

We were in DC for a short family vacation at the end of October. We were staying in a condo in Columbia Heights and were in the mood for Mexican Food. My husband got on-line and found this little gem. First of all, it is Salvadoran and not Mexican. Second, it is in the bottom of a row house caddy-corner from the Giant grocery store - which was right on the way back from the Columbia Heights Metro station to our condo. The atmosphere was not much, but the service and food were top notch. I ordered the mixed fajitas - the best I have ever had. The did not come out on the "sizzle tray" but were served in a bowl with great seasoning. The steak, chicken and shrimp were all amazing. My son got the taco plate - and did not read that they were infused with sour cream. He hates sour cream and they willingly took them back, replaced with tacos without sour cream and did not charge us extra. My husband got the papusas. Not my favorite, but he loved them. My daughter (the vegetarian) ordered cheese enchiladas and thought they were excellent. The chips and salsa were great. They were a little slow to deliver, but we discovered it was because they were baking the chips. Yum!! All this, and it was really cheap. This beats Chipotle any day! Plus, they were playing Spanish music and my son recognized a song his teacher played in Spanish class. That made me feel better since we skipped a couple of days of school to go on this vacation!!! read more

I love this place. Hands down my favorite burritos in D.C. Great for both take out or dinning in and in a super convenient location. Nice staff and great food! read more

I came here with a few friends based on a recommendation and was not wowed but left semi-satisfied. Let me first say that my experience was tainted by very very poor service. We had to wait over 25 minutes for our check after we asked and somebody had to even go seek out a staff person to deliver the check. The menu is large and there are plenty of options. I am not a Salvadorean expert but the food is very similar to Mexican food. Call me ignorant but that is what my tastebuds say... The food was fresh, tasty, and cheap. The Pupsas were not as good as other places that I have had them but they were decent and a fair attempt. In general this is a good place to grab a casual bite with friends and is certainly not a date place. The atmosphere is very lacking downstairs and reminded me of small family owned places in Europe (soccer was on the 2 TVs they had). I did not go upstairs so I cannot speak to that but if I ever go back I'd make sure that I sat up there. read more

Either they have really good food here or I was starving by the time I ate the food. This place made my tummy happy tonight. I ordered the taco special. It seems to me that they make their own hard tacos. If they do, I love this place even more. Now you may ask, why give them a 3-star when they seem sooo yummy? Well, after dinner I became REALLY, REALLY thirsty. Actually, I'm still really thirsty (3 hours later). I will definitely check this place out again (as well as the neighborhood Columbia Heights). read more

It great little spot with a very extensive menu. My friend and I sampled things off the Salvadorian and Mexican portions. My ropa vieja was AMAZING!!! Delicious and absolutely packed with flavor. The rice and beans were also very good. My friend got chicken tacos (one soft and one crunchy) and although she can be a picky eater she enjoyed all of her food too. It was a lot of food for a very good price. I will definitely be back to try some more of the amazing different things on the menu! read more

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PUPSAS are the best. how do they get the stuff inside? idk. but i love it. cheap prices, strong margaritas, but be forewarned - the bathroom is in the kitchen. read more

Great place. I should have ordered the tacos though on this 100 degree day. Salsa was decent, contrary to some other reviews I've read. I haven't been here enough, so its hard to say how everything on the menu is. I like the fact that you can get a blistered jalapeno pepper on the side. Nice addition to my meal. But of course, with any latin american meal, you eat dinner, and you're full for weeks. read more

This is my favorite Salvadoran restaurant in the area. The food is delicious and hits the spot every time. They have great happy hour deals and their beans and rice are addicting. The food takes a bit to come out but it's worth the wait. read more

Not the best Salvadorian food, but (for the price) it was a doable lunch if you need a quick bite while running errands in the area. My plate came with a tamale and pupusa, and I also ordered a side of guacamole. The tamale and pupusa were passable and the portions were good. Unfortunately, the guacamole did not seem to have real avocado in it. Other things to know: They accept credit card. There is indoor and outdoor seating. And there are two TVs inside as well. read more

I used to live on Mass and 12th, so I discovered El Rinconcito (I guess, #1) from living there. I loved it, I love that it is a hole in the wall restaurant. Nonetheless, I was happy to find that there was an El Rinconcito II in my new neighborhood of Columbia Heights. I am completely in love with this location. It is so much larger and there is a patio seating. My usual order of Steak Fajitas had so much more flavor for some reason. I am guessing they marinated it longer? The staff is great and the pina colada is is perfect for that patio seating. Will definitely be back more often than El Rinconcito I because we probably never have to wait for a seat everytime we go. read more

Pupusas, how I love thee. We walked into El Rinconcito II after scoring a sweet parking spot right outside their doors. We were greeted by a friendly waitress who promptly brought us chips & salsa and our menus. We each had fruit juice - I had the tamarind juice, which was tangy and pulp-free (thank God). For those of you who have yet to try tamarind juice: it can act as a...ummm...you know, it can make you run to the bathroom if you have a weak stomach. Enough said. Unless you are looking to lose weight for a special event coming up. I grew up drinking tamarind juice so no worries for me =) The pupusas were fresh & hot and they had an authentic Salvadorian taste - you could tell they were made-to-order and they were made in-house. Also, they were moist enough to be eaten by themselves. The tamales - ahh, the tamales. I think little tears came out of my eyes and I was transported to my mother's kitchen. I tried both the chicken and the corn tamales. They were creamy and melted with the other flavors on the plate. My *only* reason for giving this place 4 stars in the fact that you have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom - and that means walking past piles of dirty dishes and the trash bags. It was not visually appealing. I don't mind watching the kitchen staff work - I rather enjoy it, but, the trash? Not so much. read more

Best hangover food joint ever. pork pupusas with that dank coleslaw on the side-- always did me n my tummy right! The woman workin the joint was always super friendly to me and smiled a lot! She was so nice... once she even got rid of a creepy old dude who was leering at me from across the restaurant-- yeah ,she yelled at him and kicked him out! oh man~ he was really drunkk. Another time time I tried buying some of the delicious house hot chili sauce, but the woman (who I think is also the owner) said she didn't have a container to put it in.. waah - that stuff was really good. Anyway, i've had the tacos here too~ this can potentially get a little messy if you don't eat them right away. still delicous tho! read more

Very good. Maybe a bit overrated here on Yelp, but that's not their fault. Pupusas are very good. Probly the highlight of the meal. I had a beef entree that hit the spot, but didn't blow me away. It wasn't ropa vieja, which I was going to order, and ultimately wished I had, but it was good. read more

All the great things I wrote about this place in August 2012 are still true. I tried the Salvardorian Carne Asada this time, and it was delicious. The staff was just as nice as last time, and I enjoyed speaking Spanish with them. The service was quick. Multiple TVs showing a Mexican fútbol match. And best of all, the margaritas still tasted strong! read more

Solid 5 stars. Nice unpretentious place with food like at your Central American friend's grandma. Love the Ropa Vieja, the Carne Asada and their Huevos Rancheros. I highly recommend the latter for hang overs and especially if you into the soupy variant of Huevos Rancheros. Bonus points: you'll always get a seat here even if you walk in with a group of 6 on a Friday night where the rest of DC is jam packed. read more

Want some affordable, hearty ethnic food in Washington DC? Try El Rinconcito in Columbia Heights. They specialize in Salvadoran and Mexican food and they're famous for their pupusas. It's the perfect hole in the wall to kick back after a long day at work with some comfort food and a beer. The restaurant is surprisingly large so feel free to bring a group here for some margs! Try a combo plate of tamales and pupusas served with rice and fried beans or the burrito platter with rice and beans. The food was solid, the servers were friendly and the bill was low- very low. If you live in the area, definitely check this place out. read more

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I ordered food to go on a Friday during Covid. I've lived in Columbia heights for over a year but for some reason never ordered from here before. It was also my first time having papusas. I got the chicken and cheese kind, with the rice and beans, and also got a tamale and chips & guacamole. Everything was delicious, the papusa was fire, and the rice and beans were seriously the best rice and beans I'd ever had before at any Latino, Tex mex, etc. Type restaurant ever. Not sure what is put in the beans but they were so creamy and delicious, and rice was super flavorful. The guacamole was fresh and you could tell the chips were fried fresh. Can't believe it took me so long to try this place out, I can't wait to try it again! My roommate says they have a great deal on margarita pitchers so I'm looking forward to that once the pandemic is over/outdoor dining is more appealing (it's January right now). read more

Nothing says "gourmet food" like a small sign and a barred door on the lower level of a row house next to a dry cleaners. El Rinconcito II is simply beautiful. I say simply because there's not much to the place; a few tables, some chairs, a kitchen and a cashier. It's tucked under a row house and has limited signage, but don't let that fool you - this place is excellent. I ate 3 different types of papusas, which were all delicious, but it was the weird cole slaw-esqe salad that comes with the papusas that stole a special place in my heart. I could eat that stuff by the gallon. My friends and I had a drunken feast there and the whole tab ended up being about $10/each - can't beat a full stomach and a full wallet. read more

I visited there with 3 friends... none of us are gourmets in Latin American/El Salvadorian food by any means, but we were all very happy with our dinners. The meals are well portioned and nicely presented and flavored. I had the pupusas that everyone here raved about and they certainty did not disappoint! I did order them with a few extra pepper to get more "spicy" but that might just be me craving super spicy food yesterday. Overall, great price, great food, and good service! Will come again, likely soon. read more

I am super picky when it comes down to Mexican restaurants but I have to say, this place is definitely a hidden treasure. It's not the flashiest place, has limited seating, and a small bathroom but the food and service totally outweigh any doubts or reservations that I have. When we arrived, the place was packed. No seating but that's alright. My boyfriend ordered the Seafood soup (which was huge complete with real crab, squid, and clams). I ordered a beef burrito (the platter) and it was sooooooooooooooo good. Presentation was so nice that another patron that just walked in stopped me from eating and asked what was it and where is it on the menu. Plus, the dish was only $8! Seriously! Where can you find a big dish in DC with authentic Mexican food for $8? If you're in the area, definitely check this place out. read more

So GOOODDDD. We got a beer, nachos, pupusa, and enchiladas, and my wife got a fruit drink that was really good. Everything is fresh. We will definitely be l going back. To top off the awesome meal, great service and fun outdoor ambiance off with a $26 bill AFTER tip bc of HH! read more