Overpriced, tiny portions, I left this place starving. Our waiter was awesome, but I've had better Mexican food at taco trucks. Then again, Los Angeles has much better Mexican food than DC. I digress, but I wasn't a huge fan of the world's smallest tamale at this place. Also, the tacos are microscopic. I don't think I'll be back. read more

I give 3 stars for Oyamel's unique drinks and good dishes at the bar but I'm not sure if this is good to have special dining-out. You can try chicken with mole sauce (sauce made of chocolate and others) at Oyamel since it's rare to find this dish in this area. Good portion and well-balanced flavor of mole and other seasoning. Drinks with foam are certainly unique. lots of creative tequila drinks. You can get $4 margarita or fruity (not too sweet) white sangria during Oyamel's HH. Bar is too small, too crowded and too noisy... read more

ok but not all its cracked up to be. ordered a pitcher of margarita's with premium tequila that turned out to be pointless because there was way too much sweetnsour in the mix. felt like i was drinking something made for high schoolers in tijuana. opted to get a negra modelo instead but it took asking four different people and 20 minutes of waiting to actually receive the beverage. food was fairly good but well short of the amazing other people claim. have they not had real mexican food? or is there a different standard for stuff designed by a spanish guy? read more

This review is based purely on Oyamel's business practices. Unfortunately I am not able to review the food because they refused to seat our party of 3 despite there being TONS of open tables at 6pm on a Thursday. Apparently one must purchase entrees to be worthy of seated service. My mom made the mistake of telling the hostess we wanted to graze over several appetizers and drinks. It's interesting that another negative review commented "do they want our money or not?" It's as though they're actively trying to turn away business. read more

First time trying Oyamel, I made a reservation for 10pm and we were sat within 5 min! We came for restaurant week. Our server was super nice and accommodating. The chips and salsa was amazing! 1st I had the ceviche cítrico (which were delicious!!!) 2nd the Brussels (amazing as well) 3rd the frijoles (not as good as I expected, they were basic frijoles with veggies) 4th the tacos de pollo (super disappointed in the tacos- no flavor what so ever and for being Mexican that should be the main dish that's memorable) 5th the flan de camote (tasted like it came out of a plastic wrapping that I could find at a Spanish store- wasn't tasty at all, the ice cream was good.) Overall I liked some plates but wasn't too fond of others. But great size portions and the ambiance was great! Will return again for the ceviche and to try other dishes! read more

I headed here this past week in the hopes of finally finding a decent burrito in what Ive sadly come to acknowledge is the Land Lacking in decent Mexican (aka DC). I never made it to the table because while enjoying what Ill admit was a pretty decent pomegranate concoction at the bar, I was unceremoniously ditched for dinner last minute by friends I was to meet! A few days later, I made the unfortunate discovery of an additional several $s being added to my tab - I guess my tip in buckaroos didn't satisfy the bartender and she took it upon herself to make her own contribution. Harrumph, that is NEVER OK! Am I willing to give it another try? Probably not: one glance at the overpriced menu left me uninspired and the decor/atmosphere left something to be desired. read more

This place was fantastic--perhaps the best meal I've ever experienced with a Mexican flavor profile. We had a reservation for 4 at 8:30 on a Friday night. Of course it was busy, but the restaurant worked efficiently despite the crowds. The oyamel margarita was enjoyed by my sister and brother in law--a fantastic "skinny" margarita with an interesting salted foam on top as opposed to the traditional salted rim glass--a great touch. I tried a non-alcoholic ague fresco, half coconut juice and half fresh pineapple juice. It was refreshing and fantastic. The guacamole made table side was a hit. The fresh serrano chiles gave it a small kick, and the diced tomatillos brightened the lime juice inside. The warm tortilla chips and house made corn tortillas were perfect for dipping. I also enjoyed the smokey, chipotle salsa. We ordered several things off the menu and they arrived at different times which made for an unstructured, informal dining experience that was conducive to conversation. The first small plates that arrived were a hearts of palm salad that was served with orange, avocado, radish and a tamarind dressing. The spiciness of the radish and tartness of the tamarind complimented the hearts of palm perfectly--and they were julienned, a preparation I hadn't seen before. I tried a baby cactus salad. The lime vinaigrette was a bit salty. I like my food that way, but it could be a bit much for some people. Baby cacti are peppery, slightly bitter, and visually similar to a green beans. I enjoyed this experience as well. My brother in law also ordered "queso fundido," an excellent preparation of melted cheese doused in tequila and dramatically set on fire. It was fantastic. The somewhat asian inspired tuna dish came with a maggi-lime marinade and crispy amaranth that gave it a crunch. The scallions and avocado topped off this dish and made a table of mostly vegetarians go uncharacteristically wild! The brussels sprouts were also a hit. They came in an arbor lime sauce that was vinegary and fantastic. We ordered seconds. I almost ordered thirds. They were split and grilled and then drenched in a delicious sauce. Definitely order the refried black beans that come with a little sour cream and micro-cilantro on top. Simple but delicious and necessary. We had mushroom tacos with guacamole as well. These were solid, not necessarily as exciting/different as some other things on the menu but nevertheless tasty. There was also a chicken tamale at the table in a chile verde that was very well received. Like any perfect meal, the best was saved for last. We ordered two of the same dessert that Oyamel is famous for, an Oaxacan chocolate custard with a mexican chocolate sorbet on top. It comes with a passion-fruit infused passion fruit gelatin. (I asked about this, it borders on molecular gastronomy) so the passion fruit really packs a punch against the chocolate. It was topped with spiced pumpkin seeds and passion fruit seeds. Keep in mind I usually don't even think that passion fruit and chocolate is the best favor combination. However, the bright, sharpness of the infused gelatin combined with a chocolate pudding that had a hint of cinnamon/spiciness and a pumpkin seed crunch was perfect. It was absolutely amazing. I was so full at that point, but I could have eaten a whole one myself. PLEASE, please don't miss out on this dessert. There are no words to describe Oyamel's experience. I'm tempted to say it's the best Mexican food I've ever found or heard of on the East Coast, but I can't even think of anything back West right now that competes--at least in my mind. I will come back to visit this restaurant even if I don't have family to visit in Washington D.C. read more

Oyamel was definitely a unique experience for me. This was my first time eating at a Mexican tapas restaurant. After visiting Oyamel, I either don't like Mexican tapas or this place doesn't live up to its hype. My friend and I visited Oyamel during their happy hour (4-6pm) and were greeted with chips and salsa upon being seated. Their salsa was absolutely delicious. We also ordered margaritas and their "signature" guacamole. The margaritas were good but not the best I've ever had, but at $5 a pop during happy hour I can't complain. Their $13 guacamole was okay but nothing to write home about. For my entree I ordered their pork tacos, which I'm not a fan of. And my friend ordered a rice and bean dish which was sent back to the kitchen because it was too salty. For dessert I ordered the tres leches with caramel ice cream...... delicious. Overall, Oyamel was enough to curb my appetite but it did not leave me feeling satisfied. I'm not a big fan of small portions. I would only consider revisiting Oyamel for their chips and salsa. The next time I'm craving a mexican cuisine, I'll be hitting up Lauriol Plaza. Oyamel is too pricey and sophisticated for my taste. read more

Four of us shared a table and got several dishes. The guacamole and salsa were really good, but the accompanying chips are made with pork grease, so vegetarians beware. Of the other dishes we had, we did not like ANY of them. The food was nauseatingly bad--and this is coming from relatively adventurous restaurant-goers. I would discourage everyone from coming here and am completely dumbfounded how this place can have such good reviews. It does not deserve them in my view. read more

I came to the restaurant for a restaurant week lunch and was sadly disappointed. The menu was laid out in courses. I ordered "Gaspacho" estilo Morelia. This should be noted that the gaspacho is in quotes. There was alot of lime and chili powder on it. The others on my table who had ordered the gaspacho were a surprised that it was not soup. Nothing in the food stood out as spectacular but it was all competent. The courses had a little bit too much of everything: lime, spice, or oil. The Camarones al mojo de ajo negro had a 1/4 inch of oil at the bottom of the bowl. My first course arrived 5 minutes before the others at my table. Since they were all cold dishes they could have held them in the kitchen to be delivered at the same time. The next course came before I had finished the previous one and others still had hot courses delivered earlier and later. The food delivery was a disaster. The taco course was delivered as groupings of 3 and 2 with no side plates. We managed to forage plates from already used ones and below the taco holders. One should not be foraging for plates in a Zagat rated restaurant. They have been riding on the name and brand and I would not bother to go back. read more

In an effort to review responsibly, I have to preface this with a few key pieces of information about myself, because there is no such thing as an unbiased reviewer.... 1. I love good Mexican food. 2. I lived in San Diego for a couple of years and used to trek down to Tijuana for the tacos, so my idea of good Mexican has been influenced by relatively authentic street food in and around Mexico/So. CA. 3. Overly fancified decor in a restaurant makes me nervous as it can sometimes be used to compensate for the food. Let's get down to it. The food was just okay. I would compare it to Rosa Mexicana and maybe not even that good. Here are a few details for your consideration... Cricket Tacos: They are swinging for the fences with their cricket tacos, but it's definitely a gimmick and after trying it I would never say "gee, I'm really craving a cricket taco". Mole sauce: Mole is a complex and rich sauce that consists of roasted peppers and other variants like peanuts, cinnamon, and chocolate. A good mole is divine, but it I am quickly realizing that these are difficult to find as my hopes are repeatedly built up and then dashed by poser sauces. Theirs is decidedly a poser sauce and tastes more like a smoky BBQ sauce. Guacamole: I am a huge fan of the guac. Their version is good, and that is how they earned one of their rating stars from me. It was a tad heavy on the lime and it did not contain cilantro, which the perfect guac must have in my opinion. Fish Tacos: Here is another Mex favorite for me and these were just okay. They missed an opportunity to improve upon these with a little shredded roughage (i.e. cabbage) and of course cilantro. It always goes back to the cilantro for me. Salsa: Is very good if you like a smoky flavoring to your tomato, and they kept the chips coming which was great. Drinks: Were generally overpriced but that is DC, right? Of course they offered a variety of margaritas and a noteworthy selection of taquila. Kudos also go to them for offering horchata, which is a tasty rice-based drink that is scarce at most Mexican restaurants. Decor: Festive, cozy and warm. Nice without being too fancified. Spend: I'm giving it $$$ assuming you order a drink or two, but if you're not that hungry or thirsty you can probably get out of there for $20. read more

Hmmm. Tequila and Mezcal Festival at Oyamel, sounds like a nice idea. I didn't know anything about Mezcal, but I received quite an education at the tasting. The tastes were genreous and beautifully served. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and so very conviently located. I was happy that the weather was exceptional for an early-March evening walk on 7th and D NW after Happy Hour. This was a very pleasant experience and I plan to return soon. read more

I like Oyamel a lot, mostly because I really like trendy tapas-style restaurants. The table-side guacamole is delicious, but you can get it at other similar-style Mexican places, so it's not worth coming for on its own. I've been here a number of times, and really enjoyed the Arrachera con salsa molcajete (grilled skirt steak), the Chilaquiles (cheesy heaven), Quesadilla huitlacoche (you've probably never had huitlacoche before, but it's really yummy), Churros (oh the sweetness), Huevos revueltos "Migas" (great brunch tapa), Sopa de chileatole al lima y tequila con camarones (shrimp soup, i love it when they bring a bowl with a few things in it, and then pour the broth in table-side), and Sopa Tarasca estilo pátzcuaro (black bean soup, which they bring with a plate of accompaniments, including an enormous dried chile, which my boyfriend thought it would be funny to put the whole thing in my soup... the soup was still good, but could have done with less dried pepper)... If you like mole, skip Pollo con mole poblano here... it's less than mediocre, and basically tastes like barbaque sauce, not mole. Despite the mostly delicious food, I dock one star for slow service, and for disappointing mole. read more

(I wrote this review of Oyamel on August 8, 2007 during Restaurant Week) Oyamel: You Disappoint Me, Young Grasshopper Through many meals over the years at two of my favorite DC spots, Jaleo and Zaytinya, I've grown fond of Jose Andres' inventive cooking and tapas-based approach. Little plates make a social meal more communal, as well as scalable. You can pig out if you're starved, or eat more lightly if you (or your bank account) prefer. And if there's something you don't care for, you can move right along to the next item. With high hopes, I arrived at Oyamel during Restaurant Week, but I unfortunately found myself wanting to move along to the next item far too frequently. Since it sells itself as a kitchen that prepares authentic Oaxacan/Mexican cooking (unlike most of what passes for "Mexican" food in the US), I will allow the possibility that Oyamel is offering dishes and preparations that are unfamiliar to my palate. But when I'm paying for a meal out, I do expect to enjoy the food on a basic level, and I just didn't find most of what I sampled particularly tasty. An adventurous eater, I started my meal by making a beeline for the grasshopper tacos (tacos de chapulines), after reading about their presence on the menu in various reviews of Oyamel. The menu described a soft tortilla filled with guacamole and insects sauteed in garlic, shallots, tequila, and chipotles, so I expected some crunch, a bunch of familiar flavors, and then perhaps some unexpected ones. Biting into my taco, unfortunately all I got was bitter, sour greasiness. The chipotles, which were marinated in heavy oil, overpowered the taco with their sour, smoky flavor and I could taste nothing else, while in the meantime, a stream of orange oil leaked all over my plate and the table. Other reviews have described this dish as having an unexpected sweetness, but if it was supposed to be there, the heavy hand on the marinated chipotles obliterated it. My companions passed on trying my grasshoppers and we shared a tuna ceviche, a red snapper ceviche topped with avocados and crushed pumpkin seeds, and a salad of nopalitos, chopped Prickly Pear Cactus blades (with the spines removed, of course). The ceviches were hideously tart - all one tasted was the lime juice, not the fresh fish, the onions, or the accompanying fruits. Part of the problem is that they were drowning in marinade, and part of the problem is that they were served on a flat plate, rather than the traditional presentation in a deep bowl or martini glass, which would have prevented every spoonful from coming up with a ton of overpowering acid. The tuna ceviche pieces were ensconced in little rice-paper wontons, an odd wrapping, since the wonton was destroyed and made soggy by the flood of lime juice. The nopalito salad was tastier and more straightforward, accompanied by diced tomatoes and red onion. I did find myself thinking that chopped nopales would be tastiest in an omelette, used as green bell peppers might be. For our next round of tapas, we sampled pollo con mole poblano, salmon with a green mole and crushed pumpkin seeds, and enchiladas in a red sauce. The chicken mole was tasty enough, accompanied by plantains and rice, but it was nothing special. The mole was more chocolate-y and not as spicy as some I have tasted over the years. I did not have a chance to sample my companions' enchiladas or salmon, but they reported that their dishes were "fine, nothing special". Dessert was the winner by far. We had a mole poblano-stuffed chocolate cake that was delicious, and I think I understood why the mole used on the pollo was not so spicy - my guess is that the chef was cutting corners, and a sweeter mole was doing double duty! I and another table companion had the delicious tres leches cake, a favorite of mine and recommended by our waitress, accompanied by a yummy dulce de leche ice cream. In addition - despite the hot outside temperatures - I opted for a divine chocolate caliente with cinnamon, chilis, and steamed milk. Service was good, not exceptional, and the décor was interesting enough. The restaurant occupies the space formerly taken by Andale, and I have to admit, my dining companions and I departed from our meal wishing that Andale was still in business there. Andres has been very successful in Washington, and I think he needs to stick to what he does best - making inventive food that doesn't lose its basic tastiness at the expense of the razzle-dazzle. In the meantime, if you're looking for a tastier Oaxacan meal, give newcomer Casa Oaxaca in Adams Morgan a try. read more

I feel that everyone has already said what needs to be said about Oyamel...but I have to tell you about the cocktail I had! Anyways. Let's start at the top. My boyfriend and I ordered several things: two ceviches (rojo and verde), spinach tamale, pork quesadilla and the nopal. The hamachi was amazing. I also really enjoyed the tamale and my boyfriend raved about the quesadilla. But let me tell you about the mojito. It was SO GOOD! I actually ordered this on a whim. I usually find mojitos overly sugary/sweet and I'm not a huge rum fan. This drink was more of a "martini" style than the tall glass with the mint leaves. It is topped with a foam. It was refreshing and balanced. I would go back for this drink alone. read more

After a failed attempt to eat dinner at Espita Mezcaleria (where we were informed upon being seated that they were out of the only fish entree), we walked down to Oyamel to see if we could get in. While the wait for a table was an hour (this was around 8 on Saturday evening), there were seats available at the bar. Since we had ordered chips, guacamole and salsa at Espita, I didn't try the chips or salsa here (but my boyfriend said they were good). We did order the ceviche verde - striped bass in lime juice w/avocado & tomatillo....oh, this was so good!! I could've eaten two of those dishes by myself, so clean, bright & tangy. Then we ordered tacos. I got one of the Baja California fish tacos (they are tiny, like appetizer-sized tacos, not regular size), and my boyfriend got a hongos en molito (mushroom and poblano peppers); a Baja fish like me; and the chapulines (grasshoppers). He loved all of his tacos, but especially - surprise- the grasshopper taco. We ordered a second round, another Baja for me, and he got one more of the grasshoppers, and though he thought he ordered the ejotes taco, he got a different dish (I think it was the nopal asado con salsa molcajete, or cactus paddles in a tomato/tomatillo/chiles salsa). He ended up liking the cactus dish after a few bites, at first he found it a little slimy (similar to how okra can be), but, again, he raved about the grasshoppers taco! This definitely was a "save" from how the night started at our original restaurant, and we were so glad we were able to eat here. The bar experience wasn't my favorite - the bartender was great, but between the amazingly loud woman next to us when we first were seated (the poor dude w/her!) and the space-invading girls that came up while we were eating made it annoying - but we would definitely go back!! read more

Five of us went to dinner here and we all had a great experience. The homemade warm chips, salsa and guacamole was delicious. The ceviche was excellent. We ordered about 5 dishes to share and they were all flavorful. All plates were empty by the end of the meal. The cocktails were good as was the beer selection. The restaurant is right next to the Wooly Mammoth Theater, so it's a great spot to go afterwards. We would definitely return here again. Highly recommend making a reservation. read more

I love this restaurant. We've been to the DC location 3 times now and haven't been disappointed yet. It's great for vegetarians. It costs about $50 per person, but I think it's worth it. I've been enjoying the cocktails more than the wine (although the wine was fine). I loved the pineapple coolada. We ordered the guacamole which is great. I thought the chips and salsa were fine. Tip: ask for extra chips because they don't give you enough with the guacamole. I also love the "Gaspacho" estilo Morelia, which is a flavorful fruit salad, the mushroom taco which was outstanding (with a little bit of guacamole in the bottom), the cheese tamale , and the potato fritter. The plaintain fritters were also good, For dessert I love the tres leche cake and the chocolate cake. We're going back again this later in the month. read more

I really had high hopes for this restaurant. I enjoy Chef Jose Andres' restaurants (Jaleo, Cafe Atlantico, Zaytinya), but I won't be coming back to this one. First of all, I think our waiter took the name Oyamel a little too literally. Ordering from him was like trying to catch one of those migrating butterflies the restaurant is named for. I would have thought our waiter was mute if I hadn't heard him talking to other people. He just kind of hovered around us without saying anything. We didn't even get a "can I start you with some drinks?" or "would you like to order?" and even when we tried to catch his eye, he didn't get the hint. Proactive was the key to ordering. Furthermore, our silent waiter didn't handle my raw chicken very well. Yes, I ended up with raw chicken again! I don't just mean a pink tint either, but I'll spare you the bloody details. When I showed the waiter, and explained that I didn't want another chicken taco, I just wanted him to warn the chef that the chicken was coming out raw, he walked away without saying anything, and left me staring at the bloody raw chicken. About 10 minutes later he returned and took my plate, again without saying anything. After my group received the bill, mysteriously another chicken taco was brought out to our table. We were a little confused, because it was placed in the middle of the table (perhaps where a dessert should have been?). I assume it was meant to make up for the raw one I had received earlier in the night - but a free dessert would have been better received. At that point, I really gave up on this place. Over all I enjoy the concept more than the execution here. Perhaps Chef Jose Andres should spend a little more time supervising this restaurant. read more

The atmosphere is fun and lively with interesting Mexican artwork, and more casual than Cafe Atlantico around the corner. We were seated in front of the taco bar where you can watch your food being prepared and there were also film clips of Mexican street market scenes being projected on the wall which is something I haven't seen used in any restaurants here. The salsa and chips were underwhelming, but the rest of the meal more than made up for that. I had the creamy avocado soup which was a sizeable portion, followed by the beef tongue taco which was delicious and the fried potatos which had a tangy, spicy sauce. The salmon ceviche was also quite good with pomegranate seeds, and the tequila queso with sausage had interesting flavors. A good place to grab a light dinner or just a couple of cocktails and appetizers in a cool atmosphere. read more

If you don't feel like reading, all you need to know is this: This place is a shit show and an overpriced tourist trap. And the tacos in the pictures look bigger than they actually are, I'm small and they are no bigger than my palm. I came to Oyamel the day after New Year's Day, and being a server myself, I recognize the problem in going to any restaurant shortly after New Year's, as most have hangovers or simply don't show up to work. I walked in with a party of four, and there was a woman who was having a food allergy at the front of the restaurant, which was caused a little bit of understandable chaos. The maitre'd sat us at a table in the middle of the floor next to a booth, and we requested to have the booth instead. She said "No, it's not set right and there are a million things going on right now." She dropped the menus and left. All the booth needed that the table didn't have were the water glasses, which could have easily been moved. She then immediately sat the next party in the booth we requested that was still "not set right." Strike 1. Then she sat three more parties in the same section simultaneously. I immediately realized this was about to be bad, and when our server approached us, she was very nice, but completely in the weeds. We ordered the guacamole which was $13 for one and a half avocados, and then we all ordered a taco, soup, and a margarita pitcher. The pitcher of margaritas came after our food was already down (Strike 2), and the portions were ridiculously small for the prices (Strike 3). I love tapas, but these tapas were not worth it. T read more

Good food and really excellent service. Josh behind the bar hooked us up with a collection of spicy foods and cocktails, and made the experience fantastic. Looking forward to our next visit to enjoy the fish tacos and amazing habanero salsa, and to discover something new. read more

Amazing food, but the service was not amazing!!! I've been here several times. We had to wait over 20 minutes to get our margarita's and the servers kept changing. Honestly, I had no idea who our server was. And the servers that we had seemed irritated and put out to be helping us! The food is great, but they really need to work on better service! Will not be going back for a while...if ever! read more

If you are going to host private parties and then tell me I have to unfortunately wait an hour for my food until the private party is handled first, then don't take my reservation or don't seat me. Hell, maybe don't host private parties. Why would you seat and serve people you don't have the capacity to handle? Besides the crazy wait, all the hot dishes came out cold because they were sitting out for a joint time before actually making it to our table. read more

Their guacamole was so delicious, went 2 days in a row just for the guac. Plates are small (which is perfect for me because I'm not a big eater) but are so full of flavor! Wish they had Horchata when I was there, but the agua frescos were refreshing. Not a huge fan of their beer/wines but their sour ale with mango and guava was pretty interesting. Was in DC for a small vacation and if I ever swing by again I'm definitely coming back for Oyamel!! read more

Don't come here unless you want to chomp on glass. My sister bit into a piece of glass and the manager didn't do anything about it. The manager asked if it was an emergency and if they needed to call an ambulance.... Smh.. I'm sure that was an insult. The waiter mentioned that that happened to another employee last week.. But quickly corrected himself to say it was at a different restaurant. Poor service all around. read more

I've been to Oyamel once, for a light dinner, and I thought it was fantastic. I went on a Saturday, around 6pm, after seeing the Edward Hopper exhibit at the National Gallery (which you should absolutely try to see before it closes). I didn't try any of the fruity drink options, but there was a pumpkin spice martini for which I think I may return. I had the tortilla soup, Uchepos fingidos de Michoacn (tamale) and Cochinita pibil con cebolla en escabeche (taco with carnitas). Well, I had actually ordered the shredded duck taco, but received the pork instead and I must say it was a happy accident. The pork was very spicy and tasty. I would order all of the above again in a second, but there are so many other interesting sounding things on the menu (grasshoppers!), I can't wait to go back and try some more. I've read some negative reviews about the service. The service we received was fine, but then again, we were there for the early bird special crowd. read more

Two words: Grasshopper Tacos. OK, maybe add two more: Air Salt. The Oyamel Margarita is delicious on its own, but top it with the lighter-than-air salt and it easily becomes one of the best Margaritas I've ever had anywhere in the world. Maybe it's the drinks or maybe it's the food, but Oyamel is always packed with people. Key word: always. After trying to make reservations at 6:00pm on a Wednesdays afternoon, we were told "Sorry, our only available time is 6:15'... OK then. Anyway, the reservation was worth it cause we were seated right away, albeit in a very small table and ridiculously close to two other tables on either side of us. But none of this came as a surprise since this was my third or fourth time coming to Oyamel... clearly they are doing something right. The dishes are small. I mean TINY. So ordering two or three per person would probably be the wisest thing to do. After much deliberation I ordered the "chayote" salad, or Mexican squash salad. At $6.50, I wasn't completely impressed and frankly, I expected more from the hibiscus dressing which was barely noticeable. I also got the "Papas al Mole", basically french fries with an almond/chocolate dressing ($5.50). Delicious, but how can one really go wrong with fries and chocolate? Granted, the unique combination of the two may take some getting used to for some (the friend I came with was not a fan). My friend got the "Nopalitos", or cactus salad with citrus dressing ($7.50). A little salty for my taste, but not terrible. He also got the Shrimp and Crab cocktail ($8.50), which he must have loved since every last bit was gone. Finally, we ordered the extravagantly eccentric "Chapulines", or grasshopper taco ($5.00). Although I'm vegetarian, I allowed myself to break my non-meat vows and try this dish, it being rare enough to warrant a taste. And man did I not regret it! Delicious. Absolutely fantastic. In fact, the Oyamel Margarita, the Chapulines, and the fresh guacamole (which I've ordered in a past visit) alone warrant four of five stars. They are simply THAT good. I guess in the end what you end up paying for at Oyamel is the rarity of its dishes and the chicness of its atmosphere. Some dishes (maybe even most) are leave 'em or take 'ems. As for the rest: they are absolutely worth a 6:15 reservation any day of the week. read more

Was very disappointed in the service, food was good but the severs were rude and snooty. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant, there's plenty of others to choose from read more

I go to Oyamel quite frequently, and I have to say that the quality of their food and the level of service are consistently good. Their small plates are actually of a decent portion size (unlike other tapas places in the city), and the ingredients that are used in all of Oyamel's dishes are fresh and very flavorful. It's hard to have a bad dining experience here. To top it off, the pitcher of margarita is the best in the city. It's made with real lime juice, so it's refreshingly delicious and tastes as if it can't hurt you (but it can---do not schedule any pressing commitments after one of these pitchers---it has the ability to knock you down). Give this place a shot! read more

It's been a while since I've written a review, but in the last 2 weekends I've visited 3 great places. One of them is Oyamel, one of Jose Andres' yet another gem in the city. A very chic and trendy decor adorns this corner spot on Penn Square where a previous authentic rural Mexican cuisine restaurant, Andale, resided. Oyamel offers a good selection of wines from California, unlike its other sister restaurants (Jaleo and Zaitinya) offerings off from its respective regions of Spain and the Mediterranean. Chef Andres specializes is small plate presentations such as Tapas (Spanish small plates), Mezze (Mediterranean small plates) - Jaleo and Zaitinya respectively. Oyamel offers great traditional Mexican small plates - Antojitos, prepared with slightly updated versions of its traditional form. Limes, Cilantro, garlic and cumin rule the flavors. I went with a friend and shared a few things, as is usually the norm when one visits these types of places. One cannot pass up the freshly made guacamole, tableside. Made with 2 hass avocadoes, fresh minced garlic, lime juice, cilantro and topped with Mexican Cotija cheese. A combination of smooth and sweet avocado texture, citrus and sharp cheese. Also not to be passed are the freshly made tacos prepared at the Taco Bar, always go with the fish tacos. Prepared with presumably Tilapia, with a hint of garlic and lime flavors. The beef tongue is no. 2 on ,y last as it is bursting with flavors of almost corned beef without the acidity and a slight smoky after-taste. I made sure I didn't tell my friend eating with me knew that it's beef tongue, as it she may not be as adventurous as I am. For those who are a little more daring, there is also a Tacos chapulines, grasshopper...crispy and slightly spicy, but not for the faint of heart as it is an acquired taste....some say the texture may be a turn-off. There are also chicken and vegetarian taco choices as well as seafood. The tacos are pretty small as a variety of choices is encouraged. I ordered, 2 fish tacos, 2 chicken tacos, Pollo guisado which is shredded chicken pieces in a tomato chile sauce and grilled with chicken pieces served with a guacamole sauce. Both are good and citrusy. I also ordered the beef tongue taco, which is surprisingly light in flavor, almost smoky and a slight cured tasting. On other occasions I've also had their corn tamales topped with green tomatillo sauce, which is very good; light and creamy with a consistency of polenta. The food here stays consistently good, professionally prepared with high quality ingredients and always a great value. A perfect combination in a sea of unnecessarily high priced restaurants in DC. read more

This restaurant was not worth the time it took to trek into D.C. The food was served to us in a really unorganized way - the items are listed in Spanish, and, since these are small plates and patrons are expected to order many plates, they expected us to remember the exact names of everything we ordered. They couldn't tell us who ordered what (all we could identify were the main ingredients in what we ordered), and the wait staff got pissy because we had no idea we had to memorize each foreign-language item we ordered. That doesn't compare to the mess that happened when we got our check. You'd think that an "upscale" (I say this only based on price) restaurant in D.C. would be able, at the very least, to itemize orders based on guest. Personally, I'd expect a restaurant to be able to split a check, but I'm used to dining in Boston, where that's the norm. The check was messy, as no one knew the exact names of what they ordered because it was in a different language, and, on top of that, they added gratuity as a "service charge" and then taxed the gratuity (let's face it, it's a tip). If they want to force us to pay 18% gratuity, that's fine, as I normally pay 20% or more, but rendering it as a service charge based on a technicality just so they can tax the tip is ridiculous. Oh, and I left without my hunger satiated. read more

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE. I know a posting that starts 'do not eat here' will probably make people curious enough to eat here, but I mean it. This was the worst experience I have ever had. I was extremely disappointed in this place. We vacationed to DC for our one year anniversary, and had absolutely wonderful dining experiences at every restaurant there, except this one. The Oyamel is the absolute opposite of the excellent restaurants in DC. Just so I am not one of those posters that says 'you suck' and 'I hate you' and leaves, here are some specifics... The food was tiny, weird, and absolutely lifeless. I am an open-minded epicurian, and I am not dogging on anyone's 'authentic' cuisine, but sauteed grasshoppers on a menu? WTF?!! We paid $60 for one very small taco (that's right ONE taco, no sides), the most ridiculously small quesadilla I have ever seen, two average margaritas, and the 'guacamole' if you can call it guacamole. The guacamole was the most lifeless guacamole I have ever had, other than the random bite of pure salt that you get. Sixty bucks for literally a couple bites of 'tapas' and two margaritas. To top off this horrid experience, the day my wife and I are here was the lunch for our one year anniversary. My wife was so upset that she actually cried. I do not blame her, as this place essentially ruined the first part of our one year anniversary. I gave this place one star, only because I had to give it a rating. It deserves zero stars, or in our case, negative stars, because we want our money back. read more

We were visiting from Houston and looking for a Mexican place to try in DC. This is definitely not our areas run for Mexican food (ok, I'll rephrase Tex-Mex). I had a grapefruit margarita that was refreshing and satisfying. Our waitress said we should order 3-4 plates a piece (because they were small) we listened, and definitely over ordered!! So, I'm not sure if it was just because we were stuffed, but the last go round consisted of Frijoles refritos con queso, and two of the moderately priced corn tortilla tacos... they were ok at best... The starters: queso flam and ceviche were delicious. Fun place to hang out. read more

Joy! As a significant upgrade from Jaleo (please see my review), I can finally feel part of the tapas cool crowd. hooray for me.

The tequila tastings at the bar are worth a try. And the guacamole and the ceviche were good and excellent. This place is what it is, a place to come to grab a few small things to nosh on over a boisterous conversation (the acoustics of the place make the din a little louder than one might wish for). If youre looking for a cozy quiet place, this aint it. But if youre looking to try a few things and bounce around a menu a bit, this place will serve you well. read more

Went to Oyamel with high expectations, and do not plan on returning. The food was overpriced, and the portions were minuscule. The presentation of the food was excellent, but flavor was lacking. Ordered a $4 pork taco which was so laughably small that I consumed it in one bite, the 1/2 of a young chicken (better described as fetal chicken due to size) and a quesadilla which was made with tough flavorless meat. The best thing we ate was the salsa, which was made from roasted red peppers and was delicious (may have been from trader joe's). The decorations were nice, but the atmosphere wasn't anything special. In summary, didn't enjoy the food, atmosphere, and everything was overpriced- would not recommend to anyone! read more

It's a shame that they don't know how to manage seating people. There's no place to wait around either without getting in someone else's way. The bar was great, the bartender was very helpful in recommending a good tequila. But what was supposed to be a 15 minute wait became almost an hour...and there were a couple of empty tables. We watched many people who got too impatient head out for the tons of other restaurants around the Gallery Place/Chinatown neighborhood. The small-dish themed food itself was pretty good, the mole chicken was nice, the Yucatan-pibil was a little bland but good, the fresh made guacamole was good, and their ceviche was tasty. Prices were a little steep for what you get. read more

With over 700 reviews attesting to it's greatness, all I will say is that Oyamel was the most enjoyable dining experience I had in my 5 day visit to D.C. Try it out, you won't be disappointed. Their staff is unbelievably kind. Their decor is modern and unique. Their food is extremely satisfying. Enough said :) read more

We went during restaurant week and tried pretty much everything on the special menu (there were 4 of us). The food was good, but the flavors were like things I'd had before and didn't wow my taste buds. My favorite was the tamal verde. The Caf de Olla dessert (milk chocolate custard with anise ice cream) was also surprisingly good and I managed to find a little room in my stuffed stomach for it. For drinks, the classic margarita is the way to go. We tried the one with jamaica, but it was too sweet. read more