We came to Oyamel for Easter Brunch and we weren't disappointed. The atmosphere is fun and festive yet clean and very sanitary. They take Covid seriously and it feels good to eat here knowing they've gone out of their way to prepare their restaurant for safe service to their guests. The food was amazing! We started with the Queso Fundido Con Tequila with chorizo. Wow, was it good! YUM!!! Then we had the Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo Negro and the Pulpo Negro. I loved them both but I really couldn't get enough of the shrimp. You have to try that dish! After that we tried three tacos: a chicken, beef, and pork taco. It's hard to say which one I liked more. All three were so tasty. And y'all- the service was top notch! When our server found out it was our first visit she walked us through the menu and helped us pick out everything. She kept our drinks full and our table clean and pre-bussed the whole time. We highly recommend trying this place out! read more

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Where should I begin... First of all, staffs were very kind but food is the problem. Pricy, small portion size, and taste so blend. I do not recommend this place since this area is full of food and drinks. read more

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

Went for Happy Hour. Weekdays 4-6pm at Bar/ high tables. Best drink we ordered was Mojito Dorado. Best food item was dessert. Tres Leches was amazing. Best food HH food item was the quesadillas dipped in the HH albondigas sauce. read more

Great place. They had umbrellas in the outside seating space and we were seated right away. The service was very fast and the food/drinks were fantastic. The prices were exactly what I expected them to be. I had great experience all around and would comeback. read more

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Let's start with the chips. Who raves about tortilla chips? BUT FOLX. These chips had salt, pepper, and tequila and are the best warm tortilla chips you'll ever have. I enjoyed the margarita with "salt air" although it's nothing extraordinary. Opt for the blood orange chilé Pequín for something a bit more unique. The tacos are all great, can't go wrong. If you're here for brunch, I recommend the conchas as an alternative to churros, it would be too much bread and sugar to get both. Others say it's super expensive, but I can't help but wonder if they're from out of town. Overall standard brunch pricing. read more

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Oyamel was delicious and i'll tell you why! Ambiance was fun and our waitress was the sweetest person ever. Not only did she give us recommendations on how much to order for 2 people, but she made sure to check on us throughout our meal. GET THE OYAMEL MARGARITA. listen, im a stickler for a good marg, being mexican is a blessing and curse. the salt foam is a delicious addition to a classic margarita. we got ceviche, the brussel sprouts, chicharron quesadilla, fish taco and cochinita pibil. everything was truly delicious. my advice, def get the quesadilla. the sauce that accompanies it is deliciously smokey. read more

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Attractive venue with lots of space for indoor dining. We came here on an Sunday afternoon, group of 6 and we felt very comfortable. Staff was very accommodating and gave us good recommendations. Enjoyed the fresh salsa and warm chips that they serve beforehand. I started with their pomegranate margarita and ended up getting 3 of them (one to go). Sweet and strong. For entrées, a few items were not featured in the menu that day. I got a trio of tacos (one beef and 2 fish). The fish was definitely my favorite. Crispy and delicious. The beef was more on the heavier side. Ended up getting an extra fish taco to complete my meal. Overall, we had a pleasant experience dining here. Would return again when back in the DC area. read more

Oyamel - 1 beef 2 fish tacos. Pomegranate margarita on the left - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Resoundingly delicious. House salsa was a ringer, and three tapas were each utterly distinctive.

This was the worst meal of 2020. I also participated in DC restaurant week every day from August 24-August 30th and this was by far the worst pick of the week. I just need to reiterate how awful the food was - like spit out level. Ordered both ceviche options and they were acceptable but fairly bland, missing a lot of acid and flavor of any kind. Next was the tortilla soup and meatballs. The soup was more like water with some chicken and avocado thrown in. The meatballs were mushy and inedible - I spit them out. Had the tamale and shrimp. Tamale was almost cold with bits of chicken, definitely needed seasoning. Shrimp was rubbery and tasted of burnt oil. Tacos - atrocious. This 100% should not have been served to any living thing. Ordered the shredded braised beef and the bbq pork. Both were so soaked in oil the the point that the tortilla disintegrated and globs of oil just dripped out. I also spit this out. Ordered both desserts - didn't like either but at least I didn't spit either out. Service was great but unfortunately the food was so goddamn disgusting there was no way to salvage this $70 + cocktails meal. I also didn't go into as much detail as my other 900+ reviews because it isn't worth my time. read more

Date on a Thursday night. Reservation made they opentable. Rainy night so we had outer coats. Booths had hanging hooks for coats so a nice touch. Tapas kind of place. We ordered the chips, salsa and guacamole. All on point. Ordered 2 Oyamel margaritas- very good. Pud with Rooam app. Good food and good service. Highly recommended! read more

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

Service was good. Food doesn't Yvette much flavor. Even the las has no flavor. Disappointing dinner.

I got three different kinds of tacos and they were just okay. The guacamole and chips were good, but note that the chips were much saltier than I'm used to. On the whole, my party thought it was a bit expensive for the quality of food. read more

We came to Oyamel for restaurant week lunch. The ambiance of the restaurant was great-- very nicely decorated, colorful, good seating. The chips and salsa were flavorful, and my friends said the guacamole was amazing. However, the Brussel sprouts were really salty/sour and a bit soggy. Taco was fine, and dessert (tres leches) was just okay. Service was wonderful. Overall, glad that I tried it out but I probably won't be returning. read more

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

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Took a long overdue trip back to Oyamel on a late night this week, and I wish I regret that I did not just go home instead. I was very surprised this Jose Andres spot was poorly executed in both service and food quality/taste. Overall the entire spot looked worn from lots of years of service in this location. From the service point of view, very uneven although the restaurant was not full given the time of night. Our server was quite friendly, but there when we didn't need anything, and nowhere to be seen when we did; quite odd. As for the food, it was mediocre. The quesadilla was probably the best thing we got, but presentation wise it just looked like they were in a hurry to get it out the door. The meatballs were just not good at all; no texture, soupy sauce, and no flavor. Lastly, I hoped the fries with mole sauce would save the day, but that quickly proved wrong. Fries were soggy and undercooked which did not allow the mole to stand out. I managed to pick out a few fries that were cruchy enough, but that did not overcome the overall fail on the meal overall. I hope they put some time back into this restaurant as this have been a DC institution for years now. Until then, I will head back to Zatinya. read more

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The food here is INCREDIBLE. My husband and I were walking around and thought this place looked fun and decided to eat out for the night. Boy am I glad! I highly recommend the fish tacos (I wish I ordered 3 of them!!) and the Brussel sprouts are nice and fresh. We got the pastel de tres leches con Fresa for dessert, and I thought my husband was going to choke from eating it so fast. Even better, the staff were wonderful and friendly. We got a seat outside super fast. read more

Our favorite restaurant in all of the DC area! A Jose Andres small plate restaurant based on Mexican food. Like any of Jose's places the food is outstanding. Had a great pitcher of their Oyamel margaritas, one of their fresh as can be ceviches (sit at the ceviche bar if you can to watch them being made), pork stuffed roasted pepper, and tacos: beef tongue, goat and grasshopper. Yes, farm-raised grasshopper and it's very spicy. It's awesome and memorable. read more

First thing I would say is this place is good but not for everyone. It's very loud so if you have hearing loss, do not plan on participating with your party. Loud enough it was hard to hear the server and my ears were ringing. The drinks were superb though, 10/10, so if your hearing is intact and you want a good drink with some delicious guacamole, give it a try. The service was leisurely, good pace for a party having conversation and relaxing. Of our whole party though, none of us were super impressed with the food. I looked promising on the menu but most of our plates were meh, like 3-6/10. I would personally not come back to eat here but would definitely come back for drinks and guac. read more

Adding another glowing review just to say this place rocks for a vegan, too. Get the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. I love tortilla soup and it's not often vegan, so this is a place to try it. The charro beans were pretty good but not a must do. The salt foam margaritas are an amazing vegan way to get a frothy cocktail (no egg!). read more

Very pretentious staff except for the busboys. The tacos fell apart and pulled pork was dry. Food was pretty bland and overpriced. Toughest piece of meat I have ever had. read more

An attractive restaurant with vibrant interior decor and incredibly helpful staff, Oyamel is a good option in the area (note: it helps to have a reservation). The bar staff were very helpful with recommendations, and the food was quite good (albeit focusing on quality rather than quantity). The complimentary chips and salsa are startlingly good, and although a bit more sour than expected, the tamal verde was quite solid. The tacos I got were both fairly good, but suffered from the same problems. In both cases, the tortilla was absolutely fantastic (made in house!) but the filling was very oily. The Chilorio de Res as mostly samey but a massive chunk of fat provided the bulk of the flavor. The Cochinita Pibil had a nice flavor but the sauce was a lot less intense in flavor than the tortilla. Overall, a solid option in the area though the taco fillings can be a bit underwhelming. read more

I came here because the reviews were absolutely insanely amazing reviews. I can honestly say my experience did not disappoint. I sat at the bar with Trenton and what a gem he is?! Perfectly honest food recommendations...but his drinks Lord Jesus. I may die at this bar! His drinks are pure perfection! Do yourself a favor and sit at the bar. read more

Came in for dinner with our family of 7 with 5 younger kids. Food was good. Was a little pricey for the offering in our opinion. The best dish I got was the pork belly quesadillas. Loved the topo Chico's. Finally got one with a lime and on ice after my 3rd. read more

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Very small and expensive for Mexican food. A very foodie place to eat. The guacamole was amazing so it gets the three star but in visiting the city I am sure there is better Mexican restaurants. If I was a foodie I would more than likely give it all 5s read more

Great service. Great food. We actually ordered too much. Great atmosphere. I will return. read more

A mucho grande bueno! ayeeee! Seriously though, beautiful place, great location, food is authentic! Coming from a N, Cali-girl! This is legit! great great chips snd salsa. meatballs are a must snd the pollo verde tamales were so tender! great sauces. Tacos amazing! Cynthia our waitress fantasico read more

The service was okay here, but very slow and the food did not make up for it. Overpriced and frankly not flavorful.

Great spot for a quick casual dinner! Cheap, flavorful, and shareable. Tapas style. I went early in a weeknight and it was quite lively. read more

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My fiance took me here last night to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and a personal milestone. He surely knows the key to my heart because I had such a lovely feast here! We started out with margaritas - a blood orange for me and serrano pepper for him. You can request with salt or without around the rims. These were delicious and drank like juice! Even though I couldn't taste my liquor, it must be the quality of the tequila as I had 1.5 glasses (the serrano pepper as my second glass) and felt sufficiently buzzed. We got the guacamole super spicy, which was a fantastic balance against the blood orange magarita and the tormatillo salso. I loved that the guacamole was served in a mortar and there was SO much avocado. The chef did a great job with spice levels to achieve a perfect balance of creamy, salty, tangy and spicy level in each bite. The tortilla chips are fantastic as well - deliciously seasoned and absolutely crispy in each bite. My fiance had to scooch it out of my way because I couldn't stop eating it! (To be fair, I told him that I can't stop eating it, hah!) We also shared the Aguachile negro, a red snapper ceviche. I wished for more fish to lime juice ratio, and I could not really taste the "charred" onion (just tasted like normal red onion to me!) but it was still delicious. Also, the avocado portion is quite scant - it is literally a slice of avocado. So if you are looking for an avocado fix, you should rely on the guacamole instead! As for my entree, I ordered the beef tongue, the bbq pork and the goat tacos. I was a little hesitant about the corn tortillas, as I normally like the flour. But these were not your normal corn tortilla! They weren't as firm and chewy, but had a soft and sweet texture that I could get down with. As a warning, the meats are marinated very well so the corn tortillas do fall apart quickly, but that's no problem as each is about 2-3 bites. All of the tacos were delicious, but the beef tongue stands out for how butter soft and tender the meat is! The goat was my favorite though - the meat was assertive but not too gamey, while delivering the perfect pairing with the corn tortilla. I've only had goat in stew before, so the flavor of this was quite unexpected and really delicious. I love the vibrancy of the decor here as well as the lively atmosphere. As always, Jose Andres did not disappoint and I cannot wait to come back! I would order everything again! read more

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This is my third time dining at this Oyamel location in DC. They attempt upscale Mexican tapas (small plates) which they do well. Every time I've visited and ordered any of their tacos, they have been very fresh and delicious. The same goes for their chips and salsa and guacamole which are made fresh daily and in open space, visible to diners. On this occasion I ordered the Trucha tallada (Grilled Trout) which was exceptionally fresh and delicious. This place is known for their small plates however the serving size for this dish was slightly larger than I expected. The fish was very tender, flavorful and was topped with dollops of creamy avocado spread. If you're looking for a light, Mexican meal for lunch or dinner I think you should give this place a try. It won't necessarily fill you up, so if you're more on the hungry side you might want to bypass this place. They offer no confusion to how small their plates are. My only issue is the seating on the inside is rather tight. I wish there was more space in between tables. But over all a very good experience and one which will encourage me to return. read more

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Food was spot on and service was awesome. Got the tasting menu - experience was well worth it. Atmosphere was pretty hopping as well. Sunday night. read more

Not sure why the rating of this place is only 3.5 stars, maybe the locals want a chance at getting in? The service was sweet and attentive, the vibe was fun, and the drinks and food were solid! I would not hesitate to return! read more

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

Had lunch with friends on a winter afternoon after visiting museums. It has been a few years and they remodeled, which was nicely done. We started with guacamole, which was good. I didn't think it was as wonderful as the description on the menu, but it was good. I really liked the chips and salsa they served. Chips had a chipotle flavor which was nice and the dip was tomato based and very good. We ordered several plates to share and the Brussel sprouts were my favorite. They were really exceptional. Highly recommended. Also enjoyed the meatball. The other dishes were also tasty and interesting We had smoked tuna, shrimp (which I would have enjoyed more if I hadn't gotten a hot pepper in my forkful!), chicken enchilada, and a sweet potato item. I'm not a fan of sweet potatoes so that was my least favorite, but others at the table seemed to enjoy it. Service was good and we were comfortable except that it got cool while we were at our table, so we put or fleece and sweaters back on. Recommend if in the area! read more

First time at Oyamel today. It was incredible! I didn't have a reservation and was asked to sit at the bar. The hostess was nice about it. I have a bad back and can't usually sit on barstools but I tried it and the barstools were very comfortable. The restaurant was mostly full and it was very loud in there. The atmosphere was fun. At the bar, patrons were talking with each other and we all had a great time. I tried a mezcal cocktail (very good), the garlic shrimp (great), and the refried beans (OMG-- one of the best things I've ever eaten). I will definitely prioritize going back next time I'm in town. read more

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana on 7th Street in DC is a great place to go for delicious and flavorful food and drinks. I have been impressed with everything that they have available here. The staff here is very friendly and accommodating to make sure that you have everything that you need and more. read more

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

I was recently in DC for a few days on vacation with my husband and my in-laws, and I knew I wanted to try a Jose Andres restaurant or two. As a lover of Mexican food, Oyamel was an obvious choice. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. We started with the guacamole freshly made to order. The texture was good (is there anything worse than a pureed guacamole?!), but it was under-seasoned: where was the acid and the salt? The waiter asked if we wanted mild, medium, or hot, and we chose medium. It tasted more mild than the mildest salsa. It was just bland. We tried the ceviche rojo (sliced Hamachi with cucumber, hominy, and corn nuts tossed in a guajillo chile sauce, garnished with avocado and radish). It was all right. The Hamachi was beautiful. The guajillo hominy and corn nut mixture was served under the Hamachi, and it was interesting, but the dish didn't read as ceviche to me. The Hamachi didn't taste of any acid (I thought the only meal needed more acid - it's all about the lime) or any marinating at all really. It wasn't anything to write home about, but it wasn't the worst dish either. We also got the Nopal asado con salsa molcajete (grilled fresh cactus paddle served with a salsa molcajete of grilled tomatoes, tomatillos, green onions, cilantro, and green chiles). The taste of the nopal was okay, but so slimy! I've cooked nopales at home and have eaten it at restaurants across Texas, and I've never had such slimy nopal. I know the slime is part of eating nopales, but there are ways to cook it that will decrease the slime. And this was slimy and pretty unpleasant to eat (if this was my first time eat nopal, I'm not sure I'd eat it again). We tried two of the bean dishes: frijoles refritos con queso (slow-cooked refried beans stuffed with melted Chihuahua cheese, served with Mexican cream and fresh tortillas) and frijoles rebosero (heirloom rebosero beans, fresno chiles, and seasonal vegetables in a "mulato chile" dressing). The frijoles rebosero were not impressive. The seasonal vegetables were broccoli and green beans, and they didn't work with the beans at all. The frijoles refritos were possibly the best thing we ate all night. The refried beans were smooth and tasty, and I'd never had refried beans served this way before (sort of a large quenelle with the cheese inside), and the crema worked perfectly with it. The tortillas were good as well. And two chayote squash dishes: chayotes guisados (grilled chayote squash, broccoli, and cauliflower with a tomato-arbol chile salsa, watercress, and pumpkin seeds) and ensalada de chayote (Mexican squash salad with house-made requeson and crushed peanuts, hibiscus dressing, and peanut praline sauce). These were good, because the chayote squash was beautiful. We also tried the tamal de mole poblano (shredded chicken tamal with a poblano mole sauce of almonds, chiles, and a touch of chocolate, topped with crema, sesame seeds, and onion). It was okay, but I didn't think the mole sauce was very balanced. And, lastly, we got some tacos. One cochinita pibil con cebolla en escabeche (Yucatan-style pit barbecued Rocky Holly Farms pork with Meixcan sour orange and pickled red onion) - okay, but too wet, and the tortilla didn't hold up. A $4.50 taco has to be perfect, and this was just all right. We also tried two of the chapulines tacos (yes, grasshoppers). The menu describes the taco as sautéed grasshoppers, shallots, tequila, and guacamole. I didn't taste shallots or tequila, and, unfortunately, the guacamole in the taco was just as underseasoned as the guacamole we got as a starter. If I'd had some lime, it would have gone on the taco. Because I didn't, I added some of the pickled onion from the tamal to the taco. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the restaurant either. The butterfly décor seemed childish and tacky, the restaurant was super loud, and the bathrooms were pretty gross for such a nice/expensive restaurant (I think the air conditioning in the bathroom wasn't working, which gave the bathroom a pretty terrible smell). The service was fine, but not worth noting. Sadly, there wasn't anything that stood out about this meal to me. The food wasn't anything special, and neither was the experience. Of the food experiences I had while in DC, Oyamel was the greatest disappointment. I definitely wouldn't recommend it over other restaurants we tried over our five days in DC! read more

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Not the place to go if you're looking for a satisfying meal. It may be ok if you're looking for lite appetizers, drinks and a hefty tab. Way overrated and overpriced. read more

Their food is almost served for one person, which is pretty good for a personal trip here in DC. I ordered the Carnitas and the crispy sprouts, they tasted fresh and delicious! Great experience. read more

Oyamel - Col De Bruselas Estilo San Quintín - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of my favorites about Mexican food. Great selection of tequilas and mezcal. Good service. Music a little bit loud. Great ambiance for friends and dates. Food is delicious. Not easy parking. Restrooms in good condition. They have restaurant week! read more

Flavor, flavor, flavor! Oyamel offers explosive tastes and textures. The ceviche rojo was my favorite - it has a crunch element that I had never tasted before. I also loved the camarones al mojo de ajo negro. The dish was so good that I was using left over peppers to eat the remaining sauce after the shrimp were gone. As an extra bonus, the attention to detail with the decor is amazing. Every corner is covered in art that comes together as one cohesive vibe. read more

Good food and plenty of drink choices to accompany. The menu is filled with a la cart choices or to share dishes. Items will come out piecemeal to enjoy at leisure. Drink menu star are the Mezcals but plenty of mixed beverages also. Place is busy, reservation was helpful. Staff is polite and initiates menu conversation to fill in details. read more

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

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