I came here with my girlfriend to watch the Mexico World Cup game. The place is a small but…read morewelcoming space. The customer service was really great. The hostess and waiter were very friendly and attentive. Our glass of water was never empty. We ordered some chips and Guac while we waited for our bean and cheese pupusas and taco salad. The chips and guac were good. Nothing amazing. The taco salad was fresh with amazing veggies. The grilled steak was good. However it was missing beans. It was ok, but not my favorite. The pupusas however were 5 stars. There were so good. I highly recommend them to anyone. Their curtido was also so delicious. We loved them so much we went back another day to order some more. The next time we are in the DC area we plan to stop here again.

The food was just OK and the service was TERRIBLE. We were mostly ignored. The wait was extremely…read moreslow, entirely too long for the small amount of food we ordered in a basically empty restaurant. The restaurant really needs some cleaning and general maintenance/upkeep. I had high hopes but I was so disappointed by this restaurant

I've only ordered this to go using the Uber Eats app, which I wish allowed the option or better…read moredescription of the items, including the various sauces packed with the order, because although generous, the 2 types of sauces provided are too spicy for me! Of the dishes I've had: champurrado (yum, except not securely packaged for delivery); chips & salsa (the salsa did not agree with my tummy); sopes carnitas (pork chunks were more fat than meat); tacos fritos de pollo (super dry despite the salad that's lauered on top -- needs sauce!), and the baleadas, my favourite is the baleadas sencillas (good portion, nice flavour, perfect texture).

Freezing, I walked along 11th street on a Tuesday evening searching for Benito's Place. An old…read morefriend had suggested it but..I couldn't find it. I walked a little back and forth, but.. no. Across the street, I saw another Mexican restaurant on the corner, but it looked closed, or even shut down. Maps told me it should be there. Looking across the street my eyes were drawn to the second floor, and a series of neon lights for a tarot card reader and psychic. Taking this as a sign, I crossed. That's when I found Benito's and realized that it's neon sign was out. Walk too fast and you might miss it. A narrow door aside a bay window lit from inside. It's a small place with a warm, cozy feeling. Benito's is very much a neighborhood Central American restaurant, but FYI: no alcohol. Started with guac and chips, usual fare, delicious but nothing that singled it out. I ordered the Pollo a la Plancha and it was rather good. The chicken was grilled through but not tough, it still had moisture and you could cut it. Rice, greens, etc. and the small 2oz solo of black beans, all standard fare. The corn tortillas were interesting, not your usual thin tortillas, so it took my mind a moment to consider what I was holding. It had the thickness of a pancake, maybe a sope base, and reminded me of thick, handmade tortillas when you don't have the press. Curiously, the tortillas were not the same that my friend got with his Mole Poblano, which were thin. Granted, it was a cold Tuesday evening, but in two hours only two other individuals came in to eat. Seems like they do brisk take away business. I expect on a warmer night with higher foot traffic this place fills up quickly. The service was great, did not want for anything. We were served with two containers of sauce, green and orange. Ostensibly green chili, and habanero, I did not learn specifically however. When I dine in DC I can't help but confront the blunt question: Was it worth it? Yeah, it's good food, good people, and a good place. You'll feel comfortable there and leave full. But the price of dining out is too damn high, and this meal is on the higher side of what, ten years ago, would have been $15. I fear that prices will continue to be pushed higher and places like Benito's might disappear, so get over there because the food excellent, the people are nice, and it's just a warm space to hang out for an hour or so talking to an old friend.

Great neighborhood shop. Stumbled here because of inkind. Although I was shocked by the price that…read moreI paid for my plate, I was pleasantly surprised by how good tasting everything was. The plantains were the standout side for me. Also the employees were helpful with telling me what I should order. I would definitely come back!

Saw this on a YouTube vlog. Plentiful food & good prices. Not the most dazzling place inside, but…read moreit gets the job done. Was disappointed that they didn't have oxtails when we went. But overall it was a good experience.

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.

We came by for a quick drink but eventually realized they actually have music on Saturday nights so…read morewe stayed! They had a DJ tonight. Google hours are incorrect - they do not close at 11pm! Really great pisco drinks - I've tried a few variations which have been great but really need to actually try the original pisco sour. I'll be back for sure to try their food!

I had high hopes for El Secreto De Rosita given the unique concept of blending Palestinian and…read morePeruvian cuisine, but the experience fell well short of expectations. The food was average at best and significantly overpriced for the quality. We paid $30 each for ají de gallina and arroz con pollo--both dishes lacked depth and were nowhere near worth that price point. The ceviche ($27) was bland and underwhelming, missing the brightness and flavor you expect from a staple like this. Even the chicha morada felt like a stretch at an extra $10. The issues weren't limited to Peruvian dishes. The kafta sandwich was dry and completely lacking flavor, and a simple salad my wife ordered came with poorly seasoned dressing. Overall, the kitchen seemed to miss the mark on both sides of the fusion concept. To make matters worse, two classic Peruvian dishes--anticuchos and jalea mixta--were unavailable. The explanation given was that they had run out after Saturday night service, which is hard to justify when we visited at 1:30 PM on a Sunday. The restaurant was nearly empty at that time, which in hindsight should have been a warning sign. All in, we spent $225 for a family of four including tip, which is more than double what the experience was worth. I would rate this place 2 out of 5 stars and would not return.

So delicious and friendly service. Price is a little steep compared To chain steakhouses but the…read morequality is far beyond. Parking is sketchy but the restaurant itself is really nice and depicts what seems to be a Argentinian rural setting.

1 Star is too much -- Very disappointing experience…read more We were really excited to try this restaurant because we were hoping for an authentic Argentinian dining experience. Unfortunately, it was nothing like what we expected, and the food was extremely disappointing. Then I found out the owner is Bolivian not even Argentinian. The chimichurri was red and had a very different taste than what we expected. The green hot sauce was basically like eating raw jalapeño--extremely overpowering. The mashed potatoes were watery and very salty, and the broccoli was literally sitting in so much water that almost half of the bowl was full of it. The rice tasted like microwave rice, and the French fries were just ordinary fries. The biggest disappointment was the meat. It was extremely fatty, chewy, and had almost no flavor. The chicken was overcooked and tasted like leftovers that had been reheated. For an Argentinian restaurant, the quality and preparation of the meat should be one of the highlights, but unfortunately, it was the complete opposite. Honestly, we could barely eat our food and ended up leaving most of it. What made the experience even worse was that, despite barely being able to eat the food, we were still charged half of the meal. The total bill was over $85, and that included $5 for a small cup of what tasted like microwave rice. Just in case the food looks half-empty in the pictures, we did put some of the food onto our plates to try it. Unfortunately, we couldn't eat it, so that's why some of the containers look partially empty. As someone who was genuinely looking forward to trying Argentinian food, this experience was incredibly disappointing. In my opinion, this restaurant does not represent the quality or flavors that people expect from Argentinian cuisine. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant, and I would not return.

Food and vibes are just magnificent. Hands down the best Peruvian restaurant in the DC area, by…read morefar. Honestly it doesn't matter what you get, everything is just so freaking succulent. The ceviche is really good, can never go wrong with ceviche, especially if you're going tapas style. The ají de gallina, lomo saltado and lamb are so freaking good, the meat is tender, the sauces are perfection, and when you mix the rice to with the sauce it's absolutely delicious. Heard about this place a while, finally tried it out a couple times now, already can't wait to go back!

It was fine. The drinks were fine, but I'm not a super big drinker so don't take those too harshly…read more The pork tostados were good, especially if you like a vinegar-based pulled pork. A little messy but a good bite. The burrata was as good as a cheese ball can be. Slightly dry and I wish there was a cracker or another element, but still good. The saltado and pork belly were a let down, BUT the pork does melt in your mouth so the cook was obviously great. Flan had too much of a bitter caramel for me but the profiteroles were the best bite overall Service was also great! Quick and efficient, even during restaurant week. They were also super nice

I was in Washington, D.C., a few days before a work event and spent the day exploring the city…read more After miles of walking, I stopped into Cuba Libre, and it turned out to be the perfect place to recharge. I ordered the El Cuban sandwich, and it was outstanding. It came with black bean soup, a salad and tropical chips. I'm not usually a fan of beans, but the black bean soup completely changed my mind--it was rich, flavorful and one of the highlights of the meal. The drinks were also excellent, the service was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience was exactly what I needed after a long day on my feet. If you're looking for great Cuban food in D.C., Cuba Libre is absolutely worth a visit.

The three stars is for the empanadas and mojito options. The service was good and 'twas an…read moreaesthetically pleasing space. Unfortunately, the portion of yuca fries was too small. The entrees were nothing special and the rice x beans were disappointing. I'm pretty sure the beans were heated straight out of a can. Prices are high because of the location.

I'm sure food and ambiance is awesome here. But staff competence is poor based on a simple request…read morethat went badly awry. Again I must preface by saying I didn't dine here or experience the place. I was invited to a dinner here that I couldn't attend, and as a birthday surprise I wanted to send that table a bottle of champagne. I intended to order a Dom Perignon (for which they charge ~$400 per bottle). But the staff was on amateur hour -- instead of taking my order, they altered the reservation, then alerted the birthday person who made the reservation (ruining any potential for a nice surprise gift), and said they would have to cancel the original reservation because the number of people changed. Birthday person had to call them and me to smooth it all over. Then, another person called me to get my email address to send me a PDF to fill out (which I had to then send them on WhatsApp) for my order - a comically silly added bureaucratic/administrative load. Just take the credit card over the phone on the first call/request, like 99% of businesses around the world. This place takes 3-4 steps just to order something... This person had absolutely zero idea that I made the request as a surprise, so it suggests there is pretty poor coordination and communication amongst staff. I'm sure people come here regularly and have great meals and great times. But at their prices, wine/champagne mark-ups, and promise of an 'elevated' experience -- staff need to get their act together.

We entered and waited a bit at the stand for some help. We did have reservations and were sat. The…read moreservice was good, our waiter did come around and check in on us. They also refilled our waters constantly! In terms of food: - we did partake in drinks: I had the passion over perfection and my gf had the pina colada. I will say her pina colada tasted more like pineapple juice than anything else. I enjoyed my drink though. - we were recommended by our waiter to get around 4-6 dishes depending on how hungry we were. We opted for 7R ceviche, cheese arepitas, Latin falafel, and seafood jalea. I will say everything tasted so freaking good (with the exception of the falafel because they were on the drier side) but those portion sizes i would expect a little more for pricing - I will also add a side note they were providing sampling of a pumpkin soup. Did j like it? No. Did i appreciate it the ability to say i tasted it and didn't have to pay for it? Yes - we also were greedy and went in for desserts: banana bomb and chocolate and Ron. The banana bomb SOOOOO good! The chocolate and ron was more on the forgettable side. Despite the portions, the food was so good I'd come back in a heartbeat. I would love to see the seasonal things they come up with!

The Royal is one of my local go-tos! I've been able to walk in successfully on weeknights but…read morerecommend reservations for weekends. Most recently went as a party of 4 and got the crab beignets, beef arepa, masa gnocci, and parillada for two. Crab beignets were our favorite - perfectly crispy and great flavor. Masa gnocci was a little overcooked this time but still yummy. Beef arepa is a classic dish to get at the royal; two people can easily share one arepa. Parillada was a hearty entree and probably best for 2-3 people. This amount of food altogether was just nice. We probably could have ordered one more thing to be extra full. I don't typically get Latin American food but love all the flavors at this restaurant. Next time will try their breakfast menu!

Yummy. This is my favorite burger in dc. It is toooooooo good. & the fries are fire too. Seasoned…read moreso nicely. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It had a beautiful chew with the classic burger toppings with an amazing pairing of their slaw with a garlicy aioli. The bun was very pillowy and soft with a nice crust. They also never lack on their specialty lattes. I got their carrot cake latte and it was just so fabulous. Extremely smooth espresso and perfectly steamed milk. Syrups made in house of course and you can tell. Just a perfect latte. I usually am an iced latte person but I recommend getting their lattes hot. Hits different.