The restaurant was crowded on a Wednesday night, but we had a reservation and got seated right away. Make a reservation if you can! The restaurant was lively and the decor matched it. It was a bit loud so conversation with our larger party was difficult. The food was good but nothing memorable. Overall a fun place to with decent food. The prices aren't too crazy. read more

Oyamel - Enchiladas de tinga poblano & Reposado Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Always enjoy the food here! On my most recent visit my server was Larissa and was super hospitable and helpful! We had two gluten allergies at the table and she made us feel taken care of and answered all our questions. My favorite dishes were the appetizers and sides, the equites, guacamole, queso, and refried beans were the best. I found the enchiladas to be a bit bland, but that was all I tried that I didn't care for. read more

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After visiting the nearby National Museum of Art recently, we were famished and decided to enjoy an early dinner at Oyamel. Here's what I had: * warm, fresh tortilla chips + delish, smooth salsa (I would got back JUST for these, by the way.) * tacos = carnitas + pollo a la parilla * limonada [not pictured] = refreshing, especially on a scorching summer day Our waiter (Juan) was so helpful. We informed him of our food allergies and he was super attentive and cautious with the handling of our orders -- which is something we both appreciated immensely. The receipt shows a QR code to pay for your meal. You can also split the check with your table, which is even more convenient. __ I eat. @f.hux I thrift. @DCthriftish I read. @dcbook.ishh read more

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I'd say our meal was fine, just Ok, nothing great but nothing terrible either. The menu is basically small plates, something we didn't realize until we went to order and the waiter informed us of that. Of the three things we ordered, the queso fundido was our favorite and it's arguably the least interesting thing one could order at a Mexican restaurant. Still we enjoyed it and finished the whole thing. The tamal was very tart and extremely oniony from the marinated onion garnish (can't remember what they called it). I didn't eat it with much of the onion fearing how that might come back to haunt me later. The enchilada was likewise ok, nothing great. In terms of ambiance we were seated at a two top that was a very small table with two uncomfortable plastic feeling chairs, squeezed in what should have been just an empty walkway between two rows of booths. It was very uncomfortable being in the way of the waitstaff and bus staff, and seemed highly questionable if it was up to fire code. Overall I think this is one of those places that takes itself a little too seriously and the food just isn't anything great. read more

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This restaurant from Jose Andres was one of the better elevated Mexican restaurants at which I've eaten. I wasn't super starving so I had a fish taco and the enchiladas. The taco was amazing and was some kind of fried catfish! YUM! And the enchiladas were delicious as well. The green sauce cut through the overabundance of cheesy goodness quite well. I like that you can mix and match tacos so you're not stuck with all of the same one. The menu didn't have a ton of choices, which made deciding a bit easier. They had an amazing bar staff too that was absolutely killing it mixing cocktails. The margaritas were on point and the one had a flair of "salt air" foam instead of a messy, sticky rim. Who wants a messy sticky rim, right? read more

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I was excited to try this after seeing it was a Jose Andres restaurant! There was a $25 special which included two appetizers and a taco, so I ended up getting the Camarones al Mojo, Frijoles, and Cochnita Pibil taco. I loved the shrimp! This was like a sweet garlic flavor and very generous amount. The Frijoles was like a bean and squash soup which I didn't love. For cocktails, I had the Daisy Margarita. The housemade grenadine was actually pomegranate syrup, and the salt air rolling was very unique! read more

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Fantastic food and margaritas! After or BEFORE checking out the National Gallery of Art, I HIGHLY recommend dropping by Oyamel for a Mexican flavor explosion in your mouth. The salsa is PERFECT! I'd suggest a Mezcal margarita to wash it down. I had 3 tacos: Nopal Asado, Pescado Baja California and the crunchy Chapulines (fried crickets). The latter might sound gross but trust me the flavor is excellent and it has lots of protein. I promise you it's not as gross as you might think. The service was perfect. Only when I needed them. Great place for a business lunch or a first date. read more

Oyamel - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Oyamel was an awesome vibe and even with great company, the small bites were enough and cocktails flowed to satisfy. Friday night we risked with no reservations and was able to snag a table. One glance at the bar it was elbow to elbow, so we dove right into our dinner. Service was quick and friendly. I chose two pescado Baja (Maryland catfish) tacos and one hongos en molito (wild mushrooms and peppers). Both were delicious and the flavors were nicely layered, however my hongos tacos fell apart on first bite. This was a bit saucy and probably better to get the sauce on the side. The chile de arbol in the pescado was so bold, mmm mmm. To compliment my dinner I chose the mezcal margarita and loved it. It hit that perfect sweet spot - bright citrus Magdala liqueur, followed by a gentle, smoky depth of mezcal that lingered just long enough. Onward to the bar to enjoy some after dinner cocktails and I chose the Estilo Ron Cooper. When I say Dua Lipa's "One Kiss" randomly played in my head as I sipped away, the flavors of this mezcal was fun and delicious. Time was fleeting but had it frozen, I may have tried a few more others and had the bartenders spin me something unique. Our bartenders for the night were very personable and engaging. I'm looking forward to coming back soon. read more

Oyamel - Estilo Ron Cooper comes with a side of mezcal. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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

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I was in DC with my friend to see Romeo and Prince Royce at Cap 1 arena. Since we all know that the food there is expensive and not appetizing.. We picked Oyamel which is another restaurant by Jose Andres. Since I'm a fan of Jaleo I knew that I would be in good hands. The menu is crafted to small plates. I picked taco de Lengua (beef tongue) And chicharonnes quesadillas. Both plates were delicious. I had beef tongue tacos before but not like this. Meat was tender and savory. My quesadilla was delicious. The comp chips were good, but house salsa was served warm. It was good too but the house made guac IS A MUST!! Agua fresca de pineapple ... I'm be honest was a miss... for what they charge I expected better.. No garnishes.. completely watered down. . I don't recommend. The choco flan a miss..... very dry the chocolate part very dry and no flavor. Betty Crocker quality cake. The flan wasn't what expected .. very disappointed. Service was good but a lot of the menu items can be hit or miss.. it's like a 50 50 chance you might like.it or not. read more

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Nice atmosphere. Great service. Delicious food and drinks. Got tacos (al pastor, fish, and carnitas in fresh blue corn tortillas), cheese enchiladas, and quesadilla. Drank mago and mezcal margaritas - all so good. Portions are small but correspond to the price of the items so you will want to get several times to eat. Chips and spicy salsa (first portion) are complimentary. Food came out quickly and we are able to scarf food down and order more pretty quickly. Would go again read more

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Mid week stop to meet family in DC, World Cup specials on the menu, crowds were great. Oyamel did not disappoint. Guac was superb, chips and salsa (smoky Fresno pepper undertone?) were amazing. A pitcher of the house Marguerita was worth every dime, top shelf perfection with the house sea foam. $20+ off for the WC!!! I will only serve marguerita as with this foam ever again, sucrose esters acquired Queso fundito with chorizo tasty Atun Pacifico is a do not miss ceviche for the table Cactus taco, chicken taco, pork taco, pulled beef taco, and chicken enchiladas were all perfection. I eat bugs but passed on the grasshopper taco, you know it has to be perfect and crunch second to none. Service was very good, Mexico's game came on at 9 PM which lit the place up. Broadcast was in Spanish as it should have been. Love this place. read more

A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Delicious and beautifully presented cuisine,and the butterfly-themed decor added a dreamy touch. Chips and Salsa: Absolutely amazing! Worth coming just for the complimentary tortilla chips. The corn flavor was incredibly rich, with a subtle undertone; the salsa was perfectly balanced between sour and spicy, with the garlic, onion, and cilantro adding a refreshing and pungent aroma. Everything was just right. Ceviche con Citricos: The dish I was most looking forward to, but it was only so-so. The sauce, made with citrus, pineapple habanero, and Fresno peppers, unsurprisingly had a refreshing and tangy flavor, but it was slightly too sweet and lacked spiciness, significantly diminishing its vibrant and stimulating effect; the bass was also bland in terms of oiliness and sweetness. Salmon would have made it much more delicious. Julienned jicama was sweet and crunchy, which was quite interesting. My friend and I initially thought they were pears. Taco de Lengua: My first time trying a beef tongue taco , and it was definitely the most interesting taco on the menu. The beef tongue was clean and odorless, stewed until tender and juicy, with a savory flavor similar to Chinese lo shui滷水. The salsa, white onion slices, and cilantro were fresh and crisp, creating a complicated texture. The tortilla was baked perfectly, not too dry, and had a good chew. Everything was right too. Quesadilla de Chicharrones: The pork belly was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the fatty parts almost melting in your mouth. It had a rich smoky and marinated flavor, but it was a bit too salty for me. The salsa had melted, reducing its spiciness considerably; it was basically just tomato sauce. The cheese was rich and creamy, softening the flavors--the more the merrier! But that's where the problem lay; the cheese was visibly unevenly distributed. Huarache de Bistec: The bread was very hard and difficult to cut, but the simple, fresh corn aroma was irresistible; the flank steak was tender and savory, and the smoothness of the cream and sunny-side up egg contrasted beautifully with the refreshing salsa. Ladies and gentlemen, please add an egg! Tamarind Juice: Sweeter and lighter than regular tamarind juice. More suitable for a wider audience. The restaurant is very busy, so please make a reservation in advance. Also, since my friend paid the bill, and she went to the restroom while the waiter coming back for the tip and signing, I suggest that we wait for her return, but the waiter refused to wait and insisted that I sign on her behalf. Is this reasonable? read more

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Stopped by for a quick bite and was very satisfied with the quick service despite it being busy and how delicious everything was. Great spot to enjoy watching world cup matches here! read more

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This place has a Mexican eatery ambiance with great service. Jose does a good job crafting the menu and offerings. The tacos were delicious but on the pricier side. I prefer other tacos in DC in comparison to this one read more

Oyamel - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Trivia: What creature adorns a wall as well as evident in several mobiles? Fresh, house made guacamole. Highly worth it. Comes in mild, medium, or spicy. I definitely want to try the medium and spicy next time. The tortillas, as explained in the menu, are every bit unique and delicious. Service was great. Attentive and friendly. I'm a big fan of chips and salsa, and both are terrific. Slightly smoky and smooth. read more

Oyamel - Remnants of the guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had been looking forward to our visit to Oyamel after all the hype about this place. While some of the food was great, the majority of it was more in just "okay" territory. I guess the delta between the high expectations and the average outcome is what brings me to a three star rating. We had reservations for 7pm on a Saturday. No doubt this is peak busy, but fortunately we were promptly seated at a table. The table we were sat at was pretty small considering the tapas style dishes I was expecting. The moment we were seated I was wondering where all the plates would land. To start I ordered a pineapple agua fresca. Folks, let me tell you, this was the most basic, blah agua fresca I had ever ordered. Other places will usually put muddled fruit or some sort of garnish. This was barebones in a small child's glass. That was rather disappointing. However, the chips and salsa were delicious and if I'm being honest, this was my favorite part of the meal. We started out with a fruit salad of "Gaspacho" estilo Morelia, which has chunks of pineapple, jimica root, cucumbers, queso fresco and some chile. This was a good dish and refreshing, but I wish the chunks of fruit would have been cut smaller to elevate the texture of the dish. Another appetizer we got was the Quesadilla Huitlaco which was tortillas with Monterrey Jack cheese, Mexican corn truffles, tomatoes and garlic. Honestly, this was like something my Tías would've made for me as an afternoon snack as a kid, so it didn't quite rise to the level of what I was expecting. I still don't know what corn truffles are because I couldn't find any. I think it's just corn. As our other dishes came out, we began to eat those and soon our table was full of plates which made it very awkward to maneuver around the table. We also ordered the Enchiladas de Queso, Tamal Verde and the Pulpo Negro. Only the Pulpo Negro was a 5-star dish. The others landed at a 2.5 to 3.5 territory. Last we had the Pastel de Tres Leches con Pina. It was about a 4 star dish, but seemed it could've been a bit more restrained in the overall sweetness. Throughout the meal, the noise level was high, but we knew this going in. It looked like maybe the did have some noise abatement panels but there should be more of an effort on this front to make it less boomy. Once thing I really did love about Oyamel was the decor. It was fun, artistic and had a definite point of view. I loved it, but wished the dishes as a whole were able to rise to that level. While a few of the meal components were excellent, the majority of the meal seemed average. read more

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Omg! We were there again in May, and I forgot to update my review. Again the food was outstanding as well as the service. Laura was amazing, and I was very impressed how Cynthia the manager walks around to make sure everything is ok. Being it's a Jose Andres restaurant, I shouldn't expect anything less. :). When we return to Wash. DC we will gladly dine here again! read more

My experience at Oyamel was outstanding, and Jose made it even better. From the moment we were seated, he was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. He took the time to answer our questions, offered excellent recommendations, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal without ever being intrusive. Jose's positive attitude and exceptional customer service truly elevated our dining experience. It's rare to come across someone who is so professional while also making guests feel valued. I'll definitely be returning, and I hope to be served by Jose again. Highly recommend! read more

Oyamel - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a Jose Andres restaurant. It is very good. It's also got a unique menu. I saw a grasshopper taco and I had to order it, and it was great. Crispy and hollow. The texture was more notable than the taste, but it's easy to be adventurous at nice restaurants like this because you can trust that it is going to be good. I also always appreciate complimentary chips and salsa, and the crudo was great as well. Not to mention the bartender was super friendly. read more

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Oyamel is an upscale Mexican themed restaurant with a comfortable feel. I had their shrimp sandwich which came with Caesar salad. Free chips and salsa also came with the meal. The red sauce was thick and rich. My sandwich had crispy bread and included shrimp and vegetables with a tang. The sandwich was decent. Service was fast and friendly. The lunch was very reasonable given what was served. read more

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This was such a great dinner date. I made reservations via OpenTable on the same day. When you arrive, it's such beautiful decor very vibrant and many butterflies everywhere. There were no specials but they did have a 4 course meal menu that could be paired with drink suggestions. We just chose the food and got two sets of mezcal flights. Sarah was our waitress, really nice and informative. She shared they definitely try all the foods so they can relate to any question we may have about the menu. I think my favorite dish had to be the ceviche de cayos, it was sweet and a kick of spice to it. I also loved the enchiladas and the empanadas filled with just enough cheese. I wish I had asked for queso. My date had the steak tostada, I thought it was good but he said it's a little chewy for him. I still recommend, it wasn't too busy at the time I went. read more

My daughters had been wanted to check this place out, so we stopped in before heading to the theater one night. Our server told us it would be the best Mexican food in DC, so the gauntlet had been thrown! They serve in tapas style, which we love because it gives us a chance to try so many different things! The Atun Pacifico and Coliflor were among my favorites...and I don't ever really like cauliflower! The Queso Fundido was a little disappointing because we kind of expected it to be flambeed tableside. Figuring out the right quantity to order at a place like this is always a challenge, and the recommendations the servers provide are always a little too high. We had 11 items for 4 people, which was probably a bit more than we needed. read more

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The food was pretty average. We ordered 5-6 dishes. But for Mexican restaurants, if you can't get Guacamole right, it is bad. Their Guacamole was very average. The rest of the food was pretty Ok as well. 2-3 stars in my opinion read more

My favorite thing was the chips and salsa. Quite tasty. Chips seemed very fresh and salsa was super tasty and smoky flavored. Ceviche was a laughable portion size. And it served with no extra tostada or chips. Or nearly this wouldn't be an issue when there is it unlimited supply of chips, but even though I'm sitting at the bar the chips were not plentiful. The beef mole tasted good but the beef was tough and not especially warm when it came out. It was good but it was not great. read more

I was really impressed with the ambiance here. Super cute and picture worthy! The tacos were delicious, super flavorful, and clearly made fresh. The drinks were great too--well-balanced and worth ordering again. The service was excellent, and what really stood out is that they took care of us at the very last minute without rushing us or making us feel like an inconvenience because we definitely stumbled in right before closing time. That kind of hospitality goes a long way. Overall, a great spot for good food, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe. I'd definitely come back! read more

Oyamel - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of my favorite Jose Andres restaurants. Highly recommend reservations especially before a Cap 1 Arena event. A great way to start is their guacamole. You can order it mild, medium or spicy. I found the medium spice was just right. My two favorite dishes to share are the Camarones Al mojo de Ajo Negro- reminds me Mexican version of Gambas al ajillo and Bistec Con Mole Coloradito- grilled flank steak with excellent mole sauce. Order this medium-rare, sometimes they overcook it if it's really packed. Their tacos are really good, and most are priced $7 each so you can pick and choose. Fish taco was my favorite out of the bunch. I also liked their chicken enchiladas. Cocktail menu is pretty good but their signature margarita drink is a must. read more

Incredible dinner experience. Found this place on a "where do you take friends from out of town?" thread and it did not disappoint. Rather large inside so had no problem walking in on a Saturday at 6:30pm and only waiting 5 min for a table for 4. Double sided menu with an extensive drink list. The guac was fresh and made to order and we got à la carte tacos. We didn't wait too long for our order which came out hot. read more

We ate at the downtown DC location on a recommendation from a friend. We couldn't get a table as it was a Friday night but they had a couple of seats at the bar. It was noisy, World Cup on . The vibe was fun and electric. We got full service at the bar and had great conversations with the bar staff and our neighbors sitting right next to us. The food was fantastic! We tried almost all of the tacos. Don't forget to try their signature margaritas with air salt. They are what most customers were drinking and are delicious. read more

Oyamel - Signature margaritas with "air salt"! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What should I say about a place that seems to be: short staffed, food is served to some members but not others for over 20 minutes, your sides come out first, sit there and get cold while you wait on your tacos and the chips are so salty as to make you long for the drink you ordered 25 minutes ago and didn't get yet? Or perhaps you should be grateful you can't hear yourself think as the noise level is decibels louder than recommended by your ear doctor. The redeeming factor? You only have to tell your waitress 3 times to change your dessert to take out so you don't spend another hour waiting for it. read more

Beautiful! The space is inspiring with subtle touches everywhere. Drinks contain authentic spirits sourced in Mexico and fresh fruits - no shortcuts. I loved the Mezcal Margarita but am obsessed with their House Cocktails. El Mago is life changing with its depth and freshness. The chips and salsa are fresh and perfectly seasoned. They even have happy hour from 4 to 6 at the bar. read more

Oyamel - Happy Hour Menu - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cute spot for lunch! They have a great lunch combo. Food took a bit too long though.. we waited about 40 mins. Tacos were small and underwhelming. The chicken enchiladas were good. The pozole was under seasoned in with salt and flavor..Overall, enjoyed our meal but may not come back. read more

Oyamel - Chicken Enchilada de Pollo con Salsa Verde - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A friend & I went here yesterday and it was understandably very busy and vibrant for a Friday afternoon. Ambiance was pretty typical of that of a Mexican restaurant. Our chips and salsa came relatively quickly. Our waiter was pretty decent but towards the end, he rarely came over to check on us. We both ordered the Chicken tortas for furloughed workers in the DMV area. Oddly, while cooked properly, the tortas were severely under-seasoned/ bland. The melted cheese my friend ordered was super greasy & hard and they didn't seem to want to rectify that particular dish for her. I asked for slightly extra refried beans, salsa guajillo, & crema, not a lot. I had no idea they charged $2.50 extra EACH, was not communicated to us. Needless to say, my experience was rather disappointing because I heard and saw so many great reviews about Oyamel. I will lilely not return on my own. read more

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I came up for a weekend to visit a friend. We wanted a good dinner, so we hit the Michelin Guide, and found Oyamel. The menu leaned more Mexican Mexican than Mexican American, and it had some things I had been meaning to try, so we jumped on it. Ambiance was awesome. Inside was embellished with lots of traditional Mexican decor. I can't go into detail, because we got a lovely seat outside in their Covid-era streetside outdoor patio. Weather was beautiful, so we were delighted. Service was ok. It was actually painfully slow. The dude seemed very aloof. I don't have his name, and I wouldn't throw him under the bus anyway. Maybe it was a process flaw because of the outside seating? Something to consider. But the food more than made up for it. Three stars for the service, seven stars for the food. I started off with the Quesadilla Huitlacoche (Tortilla with melted Monterey jack cheese and Roy Burns Mexican corn truffles with a blend of tomatoes, corn and garlic). I've been wanting to try huitlacoche for a very long time, and this was my chance. It was lovely. It was basically very mushroomy, smothered with cheese, pressed into three separate little quesadillas, perfect for sharing. Earthly, cheesy, with the bright green salsa served on the side. Then I got a couple of tacos. I got two, the Pescado Baja California (Crispy masa tempura-battered seasonal fish with shredded cabbage, chile arbol mayo, Mexican crema and salsa Mexicana) and the Chapulines (The legendary Oaxacan specialty of sautéed grasshoppers, shallots, tequila and guacamole). The fish taco was excellent. Expertly fried, a nice-sized filet with a lot of flakiness and juiciness inside. A nice crema and some fresh tomato salsa outside. I also really liked all these blue corn tortillas I was getting. The flavor is better than regular store-bought corn tortillas that we're all used to. Then, it was time, after many years, I was face-to-face with the chapulines. I do not want to describe this mouth feel in too much detail, but if you curious at all about this taco, I would recommend it. The little crickets are fried to heck and are crispy poppable like popcorn. The shallots and the guac help with alternative textures. Definitely worth a shot. Pulpo Negro (Grilled salsa negra marinated Spanish octopus served over creamy sweet potato, topped with an hoja santa chimichurri). This was sooo good. Octopus can be so tough, but they made it so tender. The deep salsa negra, the just sweet enough sweet potato, and the bright, herbaceous chimichurri, just so good. This was an A+++ dish. Overall, wow, I could not believe our luck with finding Oyamel. DC has countless ethnicities of cuisines, and we found the best Mexican food I've had in a long, long time. So glad I came, you should also come here. read more

Food is good, staff is attentive. It is a fun place and conveniently located. It is a little pricey for Mexican food, but the quality is great. Really good selection of mezcales and tequilas. The ambience is fun, good place for a dinner date. read more

Came here with family (party of 6) to celebrate my sister in law becoming a U.S. Citizen. The food was really delicious. Loved the ceviche, the pork taco and the tamal verde from the Restaurant Week prixe fixe along with drink pairings for each course. Service left a lot to be desired. Firstly, I had to flag down the manager to have our waters refilled. Also, everyone had to wait at least 20 minutes to receive our drinks. I can understand that a party of six is challenging especially on a Saturday night when half is doing restaurant week menu and other half is ordering a la carte. But there was a serious lack of communication between the server, the management and our table. Also, if you are going to call something a course there should be some time between them. And if you are going to call the drinks pairings it should come with the appropriate course. I wished our server or the manager had at least stopped by our table several times with an update, an apology or some form of explanation-"sorry we're slammed. Sorry the drinks took so long. Etc." Jose, I love your food but please train your staff in service. read more

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One of my fav happy hour locations as far as drinks in dc so far!! The classic margarita was delicioussss, I got two and thoroughly enjoyed them. HH is only at the bar so make sure u grab a spot early if you can. Also loved the complimentary salsa & chips they start you with. I ordered the happy hour chicken tacos and they were just enough to hold me over. I definitely want to come back for happy hour again and for regular dining. A convenient location off the metro & a nice dining experience read more

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Come with friends and enjoy small (emphasis on small, but ironically they have a really sizable Cesar Salad), tapas style plates. I think the idea of having smaller plates is that they are able to control the quality of the food coming out the kitchen. Each ingredient gets its own special attention and it really pays off since the bites are moreso one offs, but they are indeed delicious. Come with friends to share. Attention to the interior design of the space, it truely captures that new spirit of Mexican cuisine breaking the fine dining space. Its roots in embracing heritage in a contemporary format is also translated in the food for a really great immersive experience just off of the GalleryPlace-Chinatown Metro Station. The lighting is sexy and moody, and well lit enough to have a great wine down with friends. Our waiter was attentive despite being peak dinner hour and thoroughly explained the menu and the flavors we would be tasting. read more

Oyamel - Minilla Veracruzana - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Amazing. That's the best way to describe this restaurant. Every dish, drink, service, and detail in the environment is carefully examined and deliberately placed or thought out. The servers and chef were exceptionally friendly and took the time to explain each dish thoroughly. We chose an entirely vegetarian menu, and the flavors exceeded my wildest expectations. I've never tasted anything so magical and refreshing. My favorite part was the salad, a vibrant mix of crisp greens, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy nuts, and a tangy vinaigrette that created an explosion of flavors. I loved it so much that I went two nights in a row. read more

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Best meal in DC so far. We came here from the air and space museum. It's about a fifteen minute walk so not bad. I'm so glad we found this place because it was the best food and drink we had. I got a salt air margarita and a tomato margarita (which was a special option). I know, tomato margarita sounds weird, but I love trying things that are unique and this was delicious. It doesn't taste strongly like tomatoes, just a subtle, welcome flavor. The salt air margarita was amazing as well. For kids, they have either a cheese or chicken quesadilla. These are good quality quesadillas. It's basically two taco tortillas filled with cheese and chicken. I usually suffer through eating my kids leftovers, but this was so good. They didn't give the kids mediocre food (like different tortillas) like some restaurants do, but the same quality as adults. We also got a chicken tamale and the flank steak (I think it was flank steak?) The meat was perfectly cooked at my requested medium rare. That's a must get. The tamale was good, but the casing was a little thicker than I like. We also got one brisket taco and one beef tongue taco. Both were phenomenal, the meat was so tender. I highly recommend both of them. The tortillas are also superb. They bring free chips and salsa to the table. I found the chips to be ok, but the salsa was very good. Service was fantastic. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. This meal was one of our more expensive lunches, but being that it's the same menu for dinner it would be a comparable dinner to others. Very enjoyable and I would definitely come back. read more

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