I really enjoyed this restaurant. They are very accommodating to large groups, have a beautiful outdoor area and instantly greet you with a fresh basket of tortilla chips and warm red salsa. Their fajitas are to die for and the vegetable fajitas are the most colorful thing on their menu aside from their frozen adult beverages with swirls! I tasted a little bit of everything and enjoyed my protein packed pollo asado. While the presentation of the pollo asado and bistec encebollado was not appealing to the eye, I will admit that they were delicious. The tostones were a bit disappointing because they were extra thin and drenched in grease. The Amaraillos honestly tasted like the frozen Goya ones and were not my fave at all. The drinks kept flowing and the service was great. It was hard to find parking and they've taken the valet area foe this ginormous and beautiful outdoor area. All in all, I'd definitely recommend this place. It's a Tex Mex Cuban restaurant IMO! read more

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I've noticed that Lauriol Plaza is a popular restaurant for locals, especially millennials. If the weather permits, who doesn't love a frozen margarita? Everyone loves their "swirls." I've been a handful of times and I'm not ever really tipsy off the drinks. *whispers* they're overrated. Don't get me wrong, they taste good.. Food is decent but it's not the best margarita you'll taste. I went yesterday with a group of 5, had shots and 2 pitchers and wasn't tipsy. So either, my tolerance is high (and it isn't) or they aren't being honest about what they're serving lol. Service was good! The wait staff is very accommodating and attentive to patrons so that's a plus! The wait estimate wasn't too bad considering it was a nice day. But because of how busy it was, a lot of appetizer options weren't available due to supply shortages. It was a bummer but understandable, I guess. So I'd suggest being prepared to wait or just get your drinks and food to go if you're impatient! read more

I recently visited this establishment for a friends birthday Brunch (I know, basic). Luckily for me, it seems, I had a better experience than most. Food: This was the best part. Yes, the food is tex-mex like so don't come here looking for Mexico City quality eats but it does the job. Their chips are perfectly thin and fried, their salsa quite good. I will echo the sentiment that sometimes the salsa came out hot...which was, questionable. Get the queso, it was the best money I spent there. I got the regular chicken quesadilla and it was very good, for you know, a quesadilla. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food, with many of us getting both breakfast and lunch. Drinks: Strong, like some of the strongest I've gotten at a brunch. We liked the screw drivers and then moved to beers but a decent amount of the group got mimosas and said they were a bit too much OJ. Service: Fairly decent. We had a huge party and the waiter did his best to catch up with us. They weren't super prompt in getting us new salsa or chips but when you asked, they fulfilled. Generally a 4/5. Decent mexican brunch in this area. read more

In short mediocre guacamole and very overpriced margaritas. I had some drinks on the patio recently and left unimpressed. Service was fine-even helped us move our table when water started coming in. I had 2 classic margaritas and while strong, extremely overpriced. The guacamole was meh as were the chips. The entrees smelled great so I'd be willing to return, but with parking so difficult, it'll be no time in the near future. read more

The chips and salsa is great here! Monday's are margarita night so they are half price which makes them even more delicious! They have two bars one on the roof and one downstairs. The bar downstairs was completely empty which was a nice and quiet (I'm sure they are normally much busier) but the roof had a bus full reservation. I'll be popping back in here to try some more options! read more

Lauriol Plaza - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

While I was not blown away at all by the food, I must say that the margaritas are pretty darn good. The food was pretty much standard tex-mex food with a couple of authentic Latin American dishes. Although the food was good, I certainly don't think it was worth the price. Perhaps putting white table cloths on the tables and having pretty crystal glasses for the water justifies the price? Me thinks not. Don't get me wrong, as I stated, the food is good, but it is is overpriced in my opinion. Now back to the margaritas: now these are the strongest margaritas I have ever had in my life. Holy guacamole, I think I could only have about two at the time. If you are one of those people who likes their frozen drinks to taste fruity to mask the taste of the alcohol, then these are not for you because you can definitely taste the tequila in these drinks! I also must say that I don't understand why it gets so crowded on Fridays during happy hour times since they don't even have happy hour specials. I mean, I have seen people standing all the way at the corner with drinks in hand and pitchers of margaritas because there was nowhere else for them to stand by the restaurant. Maybe everyone loves it because of the strong margaritas? Not really sure, but I kinda feel like this place is overrated. Nevertheless, I will probably go back here again soon... just not if I'm paying for it. read more

I don't always eat Mexican food but when I do it's at Lauriol Plaza! :) Ok Ok, yeah I stole that from the Dos Equis most interesting man in the world but it just so happens to be true. This restaurant has been a trendy DC hot spot for years especially in the Spring/Summer months. It offers two modern levels for dining and an additional rooftop that has it's own bar. It also has a very large patio which happens to be their most popular dining area because if you're a people watcher like me, this is prime real estate!! I normally order the fajita combo (shrimp, chicken, steak and ribs) but I saw a new edition to the menu and jumped all over the lamb shank. This was the best lamb shank since Zengos. It literally melts in your mouth it's so tender. My friend ordered the salmon and crab enchiladas. They were so good I almost put in a to go order! Of course the margaritas were so good that a glass turned into a pitcher.. Smh! Service again was excellent! I truly love the fact that Lauriol now offers valet and at only $5 it's WELL worth it. Lauriol Plaza is yet another DC restaurant that makes us natives proud!! read more

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I went to this place for the first time this past Saturday. I went for my cousin going away to college dinner. My family and I sat on the top floor. This place is very nice, the only thing I would say it is that it was hot. I'm not sure if the air conditioner wasn't working or if it always feel like that. I absolutely love their drinks. I had a patron margarita and a frozen strawberry and mango drink. Omg you definitely have to try them. And if you like strong drinks, you got to get it. The food here is pretty good as well. Overall this is a great place to visit. I highly recommend going. Oh and a side note, it is street parking. The parking is not the best. But you can always just take a uber there, that's what I did. read more

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I've been to Lauriol Plaza about 3 times. Every time I come, it's always busy. If you're looking for a place where you can eat good food and socialize in a relaxing setting, this is the place. Just make sure you come with a few friends. Recently, we celebrated a friend's birthday here. In the midst of us celebrating, we noticed several other parties sitting near that were celebrating birthdays as well. What's not to like about a place that's big enough for multiple parties of people celebrating at the same time. The wait staff is attentive, the drinks are great and the atmosphere is pleasant. I love that it has 3 floors so they are able to hold a lot of people without a long wait time. The only thing that may be annoying to most is the parking. Remember, you're in DC. Parking will be tight. Their valet parking lot is super small so you may have to go up the street to the parking lot on the corner of 18th and California Street. Just let the lot attendant know that you're going to the restaurant and make sure you get your parking ticket validated before you leave the restaurant. Easy peasy! Now, back to the food - the menu is extensive but I'm sure you'll be able to find something that is pleasing to the palate. There is so much goodness to choose from. Our normal go to dishes include tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and just about anything with shrimp or fish. The food is awesome! Whether you're celebrating with friends or just on a date with your boo, Lauriol Plaza is a nice hangout spot that you're going to enjoy. read more

This spot probably would've gotten 4 stars had we eaten inside the restaurant, but we got seated outside in a parking lot that they covered with a tent and then called it outside seating. The table wasn't the cleanest and we were on a slant. Further it was beyond loud. Despite the seating issues, most of the food was pretty good. The Guacamole and the Calamari were EXCELLENT!!!!! The guac was smooth and had the right amount of tomato and onion. The Calamari was seasoned perfectly. I typically get chicken enchiladas from Mexican restaurants, but I went out on a limb and got the garlic roasted chicken. Great choice. The chicken was roasted to perfection and covered in onions. Everyone else seemed to be happy with their meals as well, except for my friend that ordered the fish tacos. She said that they were dry and tough and sent them back. Also, stay away from the white sangria. It was watered down juice. read more

Lauriol Plaza is accepting to all customers without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics even if said individual is dressed as a horse and pretty shitfaced trying to order all of the margaritas and fajitas two days in a row. I mean, you really gotta respect a place that doesn't judge you for being dressed a horse and spending your entire weekend there right? I mean their waiters and waitresses didn't raise an eyebrow at my ridiculousness (see picture from halloween, you will know which one). You come here for 2 reasons and two reasons only... fajitas and swirlaritas. For fajitas - shrimp, steak, chicken or combo and get ready for that sizzle for shizzle my nizzle. For the swirlaritas, I tried to get some advice from my waitress. Here was how the convo went down: My Question: "Excuse me ma'am. What flavor margarita do you recommend together for the swirl?" Her Answer: "Lime, Peach, Strawberry, Sangria, Mango" Me while looking at the menu "Did you just list all of them?" Her "Yes, thats all of them" Me "Screw it give me peach and mango" Basically just order whatever sounds good to you or doesn't sound good to you and it will be good and you will probably order like 7. Enjoy! read more

Lauriol Plaza - Only to support my review of this place. You know...evidence. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Good Mexican food. And I'm from Texas, so hard to please. Their large (55 people) dinner service was really timely considering. Except they kept forgetting the Diet Coke! But the margarita pitchers were flowing. read more

Was here back in June for my Bday. I lived in DC for about a decade and this place started in a small bungalow at the corner of 18th & S. The wait was always about 2 hours because they had limited seating. That's the reason why they built this massive 2 story building a block a way to accommodate demand. The food and margaritas offerings remained the same for years which is great cause why change the formula when it works. The only thing that changed was the wait time. Once we arrived, we were seated upstairs in 10 minutes. I ordered the mixed fajitas (Tijuana platter) and my friend ordered the Chimichanga. But first, lets start with the unlimited fresh chips and housemade salsa. These are addictive so don't ruin your appetite but do get a pitcher of margaritas to hydrate cause the salsa has a nice spice to it. Our traditional margaritas however were pretty weak and bit too sweet. I think because they were pre-made and dispensed from granita machines (you'll see behind the bar by the host stand). My fajitas were just as good as I remembered. Steak was sizzling and the shrimp was snappy with a nice char grilled taste. This restaurant stood the test of time. Still a great place to people watch if you sit outside by the sidewalk. Food was consistent and service was swift as always cause they want the table turnovers as quick as possible. read more

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This is the best lomo saltado I've had, and I've had a lot... Although I can't say that it blows me away ever, it's still a very solid dish that I like to order. There always is a wait here, so get yourself some drinks. The swirls were what we went with. Good for a hot day. I can't even tell you about the service. Was too drunk by that time to even pay attention, lol. But we were able to get outdoor seating. read more

Lauriol Plaza - Lomo Saltado - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was the worst dining experience ever. When we sat down the plates had leftover residue on them. Then the food took 37min to come out (only ordered appetizers). Calamari was salty, food was cold, drinks never came out and the cherry on top was the ANT found in my sister's water... she is allergic to ants. Manager only took care of the calamari and said he's sorry about the ant's with no regard for our terrible experience. I will never return. I hope this restaurant gets better management before anyone dines here. read more

We were recommended this place during our stay in the DC area. We were excited for the rooftop seating. Much to our surprise, it was not a rooftop at all. It is just a top floor with sliding windows. The margaritas were so overly frozen that we had to add water to them. Also was lacking on the alcohol aspect of a margarita. Then the music. What Mexican restaurant plays Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift?? Then the Queso. It was straight velveeta. Not qualified to be queso in my opinion. The food was very much under seasoned and bland. I'm not sure which clientele they are catering to, but this is not it if you're looking for the traditional tacos, margs, and Mexican restaurant flair. read more

Absolutely delicious. We came here on a Thursday night and it was a bit crowded but no waiting to be seated for 3. The dining space is huge, the service was great, and the food was delicious. Beware -- they serve huge portions. We all ordered the same thing - 3 carne asada with shrimp. We got a side of butter to dip the shrimp in, and it was so so good. The meals came with salsa, guacamole, and rice + beans which was plentiful. I didn't get this but I hear their mango margaritas (frozen) are delicious, I had a mocktail virgin piña colada -- which was super yummy. Overall, it was worth a try and will most likely go back. read more

Lauriol Plaza - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came in on a Sunday night and sat upstairs. This place has a nice, friendly vibe. Server was friendly too but not exactly the best. He forgot he even took our food orders until he asked us again and realized... Anyway, points on the gratis chips which are light and crunchy. Didn't love the watery salsa but I like the flavor. The Margarita swirls are a fave. Save yourself time and just get a pitcher like we did. Ha. They are delish and strong enough to make your night better. My entree though. Surf and turf was two bacon wrapped filets and shrimp. The shrimp had a good grilled flavor and were cooked appropriately. The filets - not so much. They weren't medium rare and they were kinda tough. I left a whole one on my plate. The accompanying things including the tortillas were good though so I didn't leave hungry. Yeah, I'd come again for the drinks and chips but I'd give them another chance with a different entree. read more

Lauriol Plaza - Surf and Turf - bacon wrapped filets and shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I hear great things about this place, I've been there once before, but I swear I can't recall the food I have, which makes me think that it just wasn't good. Well fast forward to this time...yummers. To begin, location, in the midst of all things great (not) about DC. You know the drill, parking is atrocious. Perhaps this is one of those places you go to at lunch... They have a parking lot, it is always full, and they recently added valet (yes!) unfortunately I learned this AFTER $20 was spent to park in a garage about six blocks away. Grrr! Once inside, crowded to flippin pieces...lots of people, tables and the like. I can't recall the decor cuz it was quite dark. As a starter you get yummy chips and salsa, they were quite good, I also tried the guac, it was nice and fresh. For dinner I got the lomo saltado, and I was pleased, it wasn't as spicy as I would have liked, and I only wish there were slightly more french fries. The rice/beans as a side were awesome. The portion was large, and I had plenty left over for lunch...score! Now regarding these drinks that they are known for, the so called "swirl" IMO, overrated, they truly aren't that strong...or maybe its just the lush in me. Try something else, I hear the sangria was underwhelming as well. The server, RRRRRRRafael (I'm rolling the r) was attentive, and helpful to our large party. He answered all questions, and never left our dranks empty! I'd go back, at lunch and I'm definitely utilizing the valet. read more

Lauriol Plaza - Lomo Saltado - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

+ Nice spacious space + Friendly staff + Endless chips + Yummy food (most entrees $10-15) Whether I am coming here with my coworkers or not, I would definitely be back again. I'd comment on the drinks but I don't think that's professionally responsible of me to drink during my lunch break ;). read more

Lauriol Plaza - $15 crab & shrimp enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Waited too long for takeout and the food was awful.

First time back here in 20 years and it's as good as I remember. Still such a cool spot, super busy but food comes quickly. Our server was fantastic, very worth the trip to the DuPont circle area. read more

The margaritas were great!! My gf loved the frozen sangarita! I ordered the queso tacos. They did not dissapoint, she ordered the shrimp and crab tacos and let's just say she does not need a to go box! Tap in read more

Lauriol Plaza - Queso tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had reservations for Lauriol Plaza at 1pm on a Saturday during Covid19 for my sisters and I. To start, it is easy to expect a lit & festive brunch place by reading reviews but this place is NOT that. No festive music or anything, the Spanish music that is playing is very low. It's pretty quiet and just an opened space to eat pretty much. We had "rooftop" seats which could be a nice view & vibe if seated by the window. The rooftop is not opened, it's a closed area. I visited Lauriol Plaza with certain expectations that were not met (my fault) but to be fair this place deserves their stars. Our food was veryyyyy good and they have limitless options on the menu. I had a hard time choosing what to eat which is a good thing! We love variety, right? Lol The drinks are pricey & not very strong. A don julio silver margarita is $17 and comes in a regular sized cup.. ? Seriously? My sister and I ordered the $50 pitcher of strawberry mango swirl - I couldn't taste the alcohol and left not even the least bit of tipsy or buzzed. Just on a sugar and carb overload. The swirl tasted good though, like a slurpee. Shots are about $12 a pop. Our waiter was perfect, I hate that I don't remember his name. I had an ok time overall. Just a generic breakfast, lunch or dinner place. On a regular day, they do have a small parking lot out back but since covid, that has changed to an outdoor dining space. Otherwise, you'll be left to circle the area 50-70 times looking for parking because that's just DC . read more

Lauriol Plaza - Mara y Tiarra and strawberry mango swirl - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Amazingggggg service! I don't know how my server did it, but he was perfect. Chips were always at the table, water always filled, and food came fast....while the entire restaurant was packed. I absolutely loved this place. I'm from Texas, I love texmex, and this place got the job done. The restaurant is HUGE, and has plenty of seating. We walked in, the place was packed, but somehow got sat within 5 minutes. I ordered the swirl frozen margarita (apparently that's what everyone gets there) and it was great! We also ordered the guacamole, which came in like 5 minutes. I mean I know it's just guac, but it usually takes restaurants forever to bring drinks and the appetizer. The guacamole was great, get it! For dinner I ordered the shrimp and crab quesadillas with the seafood soup, seriously SO good. I mean I wish the actual soup had more shrimp andmussels in it, but the broth alone was so tasty, so at the end of the day, I still loved it. Not only was the food and service amazing, but so were the prices. I was surprised how inexpensive the restaurant was! Overall, I really enjoyed this place, and can't wait to bring all of my friends here. I also want to try the fish tacos, and need another margarita ASAP. read more

Lauriol Plaza - The shrimp and crab quesadillas, SO GOOD! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my favorite place to eat. The seafood enchiladas are to die for!! The stag is courteous and always attentive!!

It was such a nice day and my coworker had just finished school from nursing f so we decided to celebrate. She has never been out and about in dc and i thought this was a good place to have fun, enjoy and unwind. We had the shrimp and crab quesadillas they were good plus casamigos shots, and frozen margaritas. How can you say no to that. It was a fun filled lunch!!! read more

Excellent. Good food. Superb service. High in demand. Deservedly. Multicultural cuisine and waiters.

Two years after my previous visit, eating outdoors in early October. Enjoying the spicy salsa. Very large outdoor seating area, but much of it is in the sun (not our table, however). When here before we enjoyed the modern interior. Still the same mostly avocado guacamole. The way it should be. Today they're having a salmon special, so I'm trying it. It is great. The plantains are the best. read more

This place is soooo big! Seating outside, inside, upstairs! WOW! Warm, fresh tortilla chips with salsa when you sit down? CHECK Friendly waiter? CHECK Delicious food? CHECK Decent portion? CHECK Reasonable prices? CHECK I ordered Cancun which is quail with steak fajita. (You can pick chicken fajita if you want.) It came with guacamole, tomato&onions, rice, and beans. The quail was delicious!! Perfectly cooked, salty, flavorful..YUM! The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted sooo good! I was so full, but I wanted more! GREAT meal! Be adventurous and try the quail!! read more

Lauriol Plaza - Quail and steak fajita - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great please for Mexican food in DC with a Wide variety of dishes in taste and sizes.

I just love it when an establishment is dependably, consistently good with the food and service. I have enjoyed dining at Lauriol Plaza since my first experience in 1989, before they moved to the current location. It's an oasis between DuPont Circle and Adam's Morgan. I particularly like it when it's less crowded midafternoons. read more

I ordered the shrimp and crab enchiladas which were delicious and my friend ordered the shrimp tacos which he thoroughly enjoyed! We also had a pitcher of strawberry lime margarita... and yes it tastes as refreshing as it sounds!!! The next time I'm in the area I'll be sure to dine at Lauriol again! The ambiance is also nice whether it date night or dinner with friends, you can casually dine or dress up if you'd like and still fit in. read more

Lauriol Plaza - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was the third time I've been to Lauriol's. And it's been consistently amazing. The other two times I was here however where not in the mist of a global pandemic, so things look and feel a little different on my most recent trip. Normally it's very hard to get a table here, this time not so much. Myself and my friend just walked in and it was pretty empty around lunch time which was really nice actually. The food did not disappoint. Pork flouentas cooked immediately. Queso and Gac perfectly seasoned. Beef enchiladas where made so traditionally I felt like my grandma cooked them. And the skirt steak with jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon where phenomenal. The staff is on point and I can tell just how much they're happy to be working like we all are at this time. read more

Excellent meal! The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all great. I haven't been here in a while and was surprised how good the margaritas (on the rocks), chips and salsa, mariscos saltado, and veggie fajitas were. I was especially pleased with the homemade flour tortillas - that really makes a big difference. Everything was delicious and portions were very large. Can't wait to return. read more

Ate brunch with some friends on Saturday. Nice location. Very inviting and friendly staff. Strange to receive menu on and 8x14 sheet of paper. I had their breakfast tacos. They are pretty good. Service was a little lacking. While I joined the group a few minutes late it took a bit for them to return for my drink order. What I did appreciate though was that this restaurant accommodates for large groups. read more

Lauriol Plaza - Breakfast tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Go here for the margs for sure! We went for dinner before the soccer game last night and this place was absolutely incredibly delicious! Great service, great food and great drink! We split the lamb fajitas and bistec Cubano. Both were tasty but the bistec was our favorite. I could have drank the cilantro dipping oil! I also got the spicy Marg, one of the best I've had. At the end, the system shut down and we had to wait but honestly, if that's the only hang up for the place, I'd wait again! read more

This used to be a good place, um , 40 years ago when I lived here. It's pretty awful now - mediocre food like a chain Mexican restaurant and margaritas from a terrible mix. read more

I'm not sure what I was served but it sure as hell was not Ceviche. Who puts lettuce, hominy, corn nuts, yams on a seafood dish? Seems like their chef is obviously confused ‍ I'm Mexican from the South West United States and this was far from authentic. Be careful what you order cause it's coming confused...For reference I put what real ceviche looks like! read more

Lauriol Plaza - Lauriol Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Lauriol Plaza is definitely a place I get excited about on my trips to DC! Although it can get really crowded on the weekends the wait seems to go fast, especially at the downstairs bar. Two words: Mango margarita :) I have ordered both the Carne Asada & Lomo Saltado dishes (both were very yummy). I can say the only problem I ran into with my last experience was dealing with the service. With our group of 5, when the bill came we asked to have it separated. She gave us a pen and we proceeded to split up who had what and the last 4 digits of each of our cards. Thinking that was enough we tried to give it to her she told us to do the math too, tax & all! Not our job lady ! In the end we just had her charge one card because we were completely over it . read more

Lauriol Plaza - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia