Top Latin American restaurants in Washington, United States

Brunch -

I am a vegetarian, I would definitely not suggest this place for veggies. It isn’t worth it and they are not even ready to customize the meal. Too much cheese In all veggie food too.

Friends ordered fish taco and Enchiladas thinking that wouldn’t be messed up, indeed it was.

Pinãcolada all time fav drink had no taste.

Would definitely not recommend to any vegetarians out there, not worth the price.

Good food and fun atmosphere! I wouldn't say it's the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it's tasty.

Table seating wait time was satisfactory and the staff were very attentive and helpful on showing the menu and deal offerings for the day.
In general, the Mexican food was flavorful but not 100% representative of authentic foods that could be offered by food trucks or businesses to the East of this restaurant. Without embargo, the portions were great, there was a wide selection of drinks and the scenery was impeccable.
For the area around the Cathedral, I would recommend Cactus Cantina as a safe Latino option for when you explore the plentiful neighborhoods and businesses that are accessible by Metrobus and walking.

Airbnb host recommended this place. The salsa was better than most and all three of us enjoyed the food. Would come back again. Sound level inside was getting higher at 2:02 Sunday afternoon as more people were arriving. Could still have a conversation, but if you use hearing aids outside may work better. Lots of outdoor seating in the shade.

The one star is for the food because it was good. Now. The service….the hostess was inattentive and almost seemed bothered to show us to the table. The server came and it continued downhill. She went back and forth multiple times when we asked about separate checks. She stated they’ve never done separate checks and we were mistaken. Literally I was there with a party in January (2024) and November (2023) a different party and checks were split by the restaurant. She continued about it and I literally said if that is not the policy now, that’s fine. However it definitely was. To which she replied no, not in the years I’ve been here. Ok. Again, I have no issue with that being the current policy. But myself and others in the party absolutely have done it as recently as this year. Once the food came out, that was a wrap. She didn’t come back until almost every single person was done. No refilling of the drinks or asking if we wanted a refill, nothing. I let her know we had a came and she seemed bothered when asking what I needed. I asked for small plates and forks. Now, each time we have an event here, we’ve always been asked what we were celebrating or was it a special occasion. This has been a trend as the food has brought us back. She never asked and clearly wasn’t concerned-and we were celebrating a huge milestone event for my child. . It literally felt like she took the attitude of “it’s a party over a certain number, so I get my tip automatically built in.” That’s a horrible way to service people. It ended with not even a thanks for coming or anything. Her just chatting with co-workers and ignoring us after she took the paid bill. Sad. I guess we will have to find another spot for our quartet functions.

We visited Lauriol Plaza on Mother’s Day. It was crowded but we were seated quickly. The young lady that helped us was attentive and the food arrived quickly. The tamales were tasty. The salsa had a little heat to it which was good. The carne asada was sizzling when it arrived. I liked the Mexican butter. The shrimp tacos were good. Overall, I would go back again to eat here. We also had the Margarita swirl which was good.

Walking down 18th Ave. I was about to pass Lauriol Plaza when the smell pulled me back. Checking the menu I found plenty of great vegetarian options!
After seating, I was brought a bowl of phenomenal salsa and homemade tortilla chips, and I decided to order a tri-and true beverage, Mezcal Negroni, but they do not have all the ingredients. The tequila section is abound, there were a number of options. Come up with a delicious drink, including a large selection of margaritas!
When looking at the menu, I was decided between a couple and the server strongly recommended the vegetable fajitas, saying the plate will be full of grilled veggies with a great assortment of toppings, and he was completely correct! I couldn’t even eat all of it because it was so much food and so delicious!
I strongly recommend!!!

Absolutely delicious! Went there for a quick lunch after visiting Capitol Hill - had a super tasty spinach and cheese quesadilla which was fresh and not oily. Also loved their guacamole and chips. Service was fast, the cook and person at the register were both super friendly and helpful. Fully recommend!

Good prices on amazing, giant burritos. Choices of tortillas, fillings, and sauces abound. Had a veggie with the works and black beans and ate for days- happily! Sooo good.

It's pretty much a to-go counter with a few seats, but the funky art could keep you intrigued even if you have to wait an hour- which I didn't, even though it was hopping with a small line and to-go orders flying out the door, everything pretty much made-to-order.

Not impressed. My breakfast burrito was a bit soggy, and for a “super burrito” it didn’t have a large amount of eggs. Also, even though you buy the “super burrito” for $9, you have to upgrade for $3.50 from the small to normal size burrito. Every burrito automatically comes in the small size by default unless upgraded. Bait and switch.

A rather nice Mexican place that offers great options at DC prices.

They have fun quesadilla options like crab quesadillas, classic fare like enchiladas and tacos. I had tacos al pastor, and I was a little disappointed that they didn't have pineapple options, but their margaritas for $11 are pretty strong and good! I also really liked the complementary chips and salsa.

The space is rather large, so it is easy for a big party to visit.

Parking wasn’t bad, but I might have gotten lucky. Worst case scenario, you park a 4-5 minute walk away.

Was sat immediately. The place is HUGE. Don’t think that it’s not worth going if you don’t have a reservation.

By huge, I mean 3 expansive floors, an outdoor seating area, and an indoor rooftop deck.

I sat with a friend at the table furthest from the rooftop entrance. Cool view of the strip outside, and close to the bar.

The food and drinks came out alarmingly fast. I had the crab and shrimp quesadilla, which quite literally came out in 4-5 minutes.

The quesadilla had a good meat to cheese ratio (40:60) and was portioned well. It wasn’t soggy, which a lot of quesadillas have problems with, and paired well with the tomatoes, jalapeños and guacamole that came on the side. 10/10

The chips and salsa that came on the house were standard. The chips could use seasoning, and the salsa was the watery type, which isn’t my favorite. 5/10

The strawberry daiquiri was delicious- light, flavorful and fresh. 10/10

The lemonade (with lime added) receives the same regards. Fresh, the right amount of tartness and sweetness. 10/10

My friend’s review stats:

Quesadilla- 8/10
Margarita on the rocks- 10/10
Chips and warm salsa- 9/10

Service was efficient.

Great place and they take care of you.

The waitstaff is very tentative and great recommendations. Their chips and salsa was fresh and supposedly make it everyday!

Wish they had seated us better. A round table and square table don’t join well.

Delicious burritos with so many options for every pallet including different burrito sizes depending on how hungry you're feeling.
Friendly staff, small but clean and artful restaurant. Bar top seating only

Unfortunately food was not that great at all! Even tho was not super busy we still have to wait almost 40min. I have the tamarindo margarita which was horrible. At list the Ceviche was good.

We brought my mother-in-law and her husband here while they were in town & we were impressed! The restaurant is HUGE. Decor is fine. Service was wonderful- we were checked on several times and the food came out at a good pace.

The food was YUMMY. We shared the ceviche crudo, gambas al ajillo which were my fave- the crispy garlic on top was unbelievable, the maduros and the fried calamari which was light and crispy. We also got the seafood enchiladas which were PACKED with perfectly cooked scallops and shrimp & the fajitas. And of course a couple rounds of their famous Swirl frozen margaritas.

I’d definitely come back! The menu is huge. Like a New Jersey diner huge. So there are soooo many more things to try.

Had a wonderful dinner here with friends on a busy Thursday night. Get here early, or make a reservation. The aesthetic of the building doesn’t scream Spanish Restaurant, but it’s comfortable and dim. The fresh chips and salsa are great. We had many rounds of margaritas, all consistent. The menu is vast and fair for the location and portions. We spent over five hours here and our server was constantly filling drinks and taking good care of us. Thank you for a wonderful dinner.

Great place for family's & friends.
Friendly & helpful staff/servers.
The food menu is huge with lots of typical mexican options and dishes. Could be a little smaller, though, to not get confused while choosing what to eat. Had mixed grill Fahitas, which were tasty, but could have more Mexican spices & aromas. The portion size is more than enough to get full. Complementary Tortilla Chips with and outstanding Salsa where super good. Margherita super tasty.
Overall a 5 start experience.

Had a great experience. Our bartender Joel was great. Good tequila lineup 👍 Lively decor.

Tried out the Royal for date night. Cocktails are incredible. Unfortunately, we were on the exterior patio (not connected to the restaurant) so that + online ordering system almost made it feel like we weren’t really in the atmosphere. Food is well presented. Overall it was $150 for two rounds of drinks and 3 small plates, with very little interaction with service. Probably better bang for your buck at happy hour than a full on meal.

This establishment is over priced and located in a whole on the wall. The price is pricey and the food is extremely salty. I will not visit here again. They worst have the worst customer service. Beware. If you want tacos, look for a taco bell or something.

A Capitol Hill staple. I have been coming here with my family for over twenty years. The decorating has changed but the food and service has remained consistent. Delicious and authentic Salvadoran food at a good price point. Great for families, hangouts, and happy hour with margaritas.

An outstanding burrito is always a go-to (quintessential in the Bay Area) and they're often hit or miss, especially in Northern America, and most definitely in the Midwest(!).

Burrito Brothers offers (3) sizes and the biggest, the Big Daddy, is certainly my go-to (albeit honestly still half the size of what there is in the Peninsula).

If you're looking for a quick bite for lunch, this cozy spot dishes out quickly, the food quality is a bit underrated, they do have an outlet if you need to charge, but no bathrooms.
This is absolutely still my go-to pick-me-up when I do go out once or twice a month, as their staff are typically inviting, their set-up is cozy, and I do love running around with fingerfood on-the-go when I'm in a rush.

Walking from the DuPont Metro station, I noticed Alero and decided to stop for lunch. I opted to play it safe and ordered a chicken and steak fajita. It arrived with the usual sides and overall I had a great experience. The restaurant was not busy so the food came out rather quickly. Service was good and timely and I plan to return again when in the area and hopefully try them for dinner.

This restaurant is lovely. The food is out of the world and the drinks were phenomenal. totally worth the price. We had platter that could literally feed 6 people! The margarita pitcher served 6 full cups. Rafael took great care of my party of 9, who was celebrating my moms birthday. It was our first time visiting Lauriol Plaza and I will definitely be coming back to try more things on the menu

Went for breakfast and lunch since I was in the area, didn't have a lot of time, and was wanting to check this place out.
They offer 3 different sized of burritos, I can't believe more places don't do that.
The breakfast burrito ruled. I got a torta for lunch and that was also pretty good! And it Is very reasonably priced! I loved it.

The Well Dressed Burrito did not disappoint! My friends and I were eager to try this little spot in the alley. Wonderful quesadillas and fajitas! Friendly staff and cute spot. Definitely recommend stopping here for a quick meal. Note- very limited dine in space.

Large portions and delicious food! Seating is limited self service restaurant, very clean. Unfortunately there no margaritas or alcoholic drinks.

Unfortunately the food is terrible no flavor and the bar person does not know how to make a simple long island. I ask for salt never came till the end when I finished eating. Has very beautiful art and decorations great music Unfortunately the food it's not good. I came with a group of ppl no one was happy with the food. I ask for chilaquiles terrible a very simple dish i idk how they manage to mess it up. Anyways good luck if u come here I was here from 130pm-240

So good!!!!! Huge burrito with quality tasting ingredients! The steak quesadilla was also amazing! Everything tasted really good together and well made! Great bang for your buck food stop!!

Great ambiance with quick service and solid, albeit occasionally muffled-flavor, food.

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Two friends and I came on a Sunday afternoon for a late lunch. We were hoping to get in earlier, but all the times between 10:30 and 1:30 were completely booked. Because of our timing, we had just missed Brunch. I had heard a lot of great things regarding The Royal and was excited to try the afternoon/evening food regardless.

The decor and ambiance inside is fantastic. There's a healthy amount of greenery inside beside the brick walls across the ground floor and the lofted area. The pods outside along the street are also very pretty and surrounded by greenery. A subtle touch I also liked was the use of old church pews as booths (which I wish I got a picture of).

The restaurant has converted to a full digital, order from your phone operation. While I know a growing trend that can assist in speed and efficiency for both customers and wait-staff, I'm a bit more traditional and prefer the direct interaction with the servers. I have also noticed it can sometime make it more difficult to get assistance if they are not checking the floor outside of food runs. That said, I did not experience issues today.

The food situation is small plates a la carte - although there are a mix of plates meant to be shared (such as the fries and sprouts), and others better served eating alone (arepas and sandwiches). My friends and I decided to each order one dish for sharing and one for solo consumption.

For sharing:
- House Fries (solid and easy eating, although not particularly special)
- Cheese Arepa (cheesy and good, but again not very flavorful, more of a snack)
- Crispy Brussel Sprouts (generally I dislike Brussels but I liked these, likely because sprout flavor was minimized and focus was on everything else which was indeed flavorful).
- Crispy Pork Belly (delicious, especially the pork itself! Quite a bit of toppings going on that probably subdued some flavor but was still enjoyable to eat)

For myself, I also got the Hearts of Palm Arepa - a veggie option with a bunch of vegetables served with Chimichurri on the side. While solid, it again wasn't the most flavorful and a bit disappointing. Again, I attribute some of the muffled flavors to the overabundance of ingredients rather than focusing on featuring less ingredients with enhanced flavors. I also had two non-alcoholic drinks from the cafe, both which were solid but not particularly spectacular (although the Lemonade with Espresso was refreshing, energizing, and fun to try).

Overall I had a great time and enjoyable experience, although honestly the food left me a bit disappointed. As $10-$20 per plate and the rave reviews I've heard I was hoping for bursting flavors. I would like to come here again for a cocktail or two (and perhaps in time for brunch), although I don't feel compelled to come here again for a full dinner.

I recently visited Well Dressed Burrito with high hopes, but left with mixed feelings. On a positive note, the shrimp taco salad was quite good – fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. However, the grilled chicken burrito was a letdown, arguably one of the worst I’ve ever had. The first half was overwhelmingly filled with lettuce, lacking balance in ingredients. The last quarter was even more disappointing, with dry, stale, and bland chicken that was tough to chew. This experience left me really disappointed, especially after the promising start with the shrimp taco salad. Overall, I’m rating it 2 out of 5 stars, hoping for improvement in consistency and quality.

Let me say that the atmosphere is absolutely the selling point of this restaurant. Beautiful decor, great music, and an overall warm and welcoming feeling inside. I came during the day to work and it will be a go-to location for remote working during the day. I got the crispy pork dish for lunch and the flavors were so well balanced and the dish was filling. The only reason I can’t give it a 5/5 is because the pork was more chewy than I thought it should be. The service was okay but you order from an app and they bring you your food, so it wasn’t a highlight here. Overall a beautiful restaurant that I will back to!

Even though we were looking for some mexican restaurant because we thought it would be cool for the Dia de los muertos, there was nothing special about the date, which was a disappointment. We thought it would have a beautiful celebration as the day deserves. Anyway, the food was delicious, the music was good, and the place is cute, well decorated. We liked it.

So my first time here with my friend the food was good the drinks were even better. Definitely will be returning

Service was very fast and food got came out within minutes of ordering. All the dishes were delicious and unique, we got the burger, crispy pork belly, and gnocchi with a side of fries and empanadas. All were very filling as well. Very chill atmosphere and interesting layout/decor.

I checked this place out this past weekend for the first time. I had the trio tacos. They were amazing. The drinks were strong. The servers took care of us before we could even get comfortable. Im going back first chance i get.

My cousin said “Hey, let’s go to this Latino Michelin Star restaurant” and after eating at The Royal, I know why they received the star. Service was great, atmosphere was cozy/private, and the flavor of the food was out of this world.

What I like about Michelin Star restaurants is that you can tell every ingredient used in their dishes and drinks were studied and well thought out. Each bite/sip creates a narrative of flavors that I just can’t get enough of.

Highly recommend. Parking was easy but we did go on a Thursday.

Great coffee and breakfast! Bites you can’t find at a typical breakfast/brunch place, and good prices.

Super cute ambiance inside and great outdoor seating!

Located in an alley. No frills dining. There is counter seating and a couple tables that seat two. Most people seem to take food to go. We ate at the restaurant. Food was good! A steady stream of people in and out.

A michelin star restaurant that is affordable? With gluten free options aplenty and the tastiest fries you'll ever eat? Yes please! We were blown away by this place, where we had the most delicious lunch. Celiac safe options available.

I’ve been ordering from here for several years and the quality just seems to keep going down. Today I ordered a steak burrito and asked for rice instead of beans, which I was charged extra for. There’s no rice in this burrito and it’s 90% lettuce…I paid close to $20 for a lettuce burrito….

I finally got to try this little spot after passing it dozens of times - and what a gem The Royal is! I met a friend for lunch and we both got arepas which were so fresh and delicious. The staff were all very warm and welcoming, yet chill and unpretentious (my fave combo!).
On the way out, we spotted some amazing lunch dishes and the bar area looked so appealing. Definitely looking forward to going back in the evening to take advantage of the evening food and cocktail menus.

This is a new location for this family run Mexican restaurant. It's an explosion of colorful decor. If you had a bad day, come and unwind here. If the lively atmosphere doesn't make you happy, the margaritas will. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Our waiter was patient and helpful. We were seated right away. Service is fast. The food is fresh and tasty. Did I mention the margaritas? Well, I tried and loved the Georgia Peach flavored one. This one is served on the rocks. They also have about 5 frozen flavor options. It's loud with music playing and people socializing, but not obnoxious. It's a fairly small restaurant, but the mirrors give it a very open feel. If I lived here locally, I would frequent this restaurant. Good luck for this new location.

Do the easy things right, and the rest will come. Had this place recommended to me by some friends and ended up in the neighborhood so I had to try it for myself.

Menu was so large, I had decision paralysis so I just went with what I heard was good. That ended up being two pork pupusas and a chicken tamale. Which only ended up being about $9 plus the beer I ordered to compensate for the hot summer evening. It was a ton of food for only a few bucks.

Salsa was decent but not the best I’ve had in DC. Pupusas were savory and fresh. Tamale was sneaky good and super filling.

Doesn’t hurt to speak some Spanish here. Mine was really rusty but seemed pretty well received as I can be nervous to use it around town.

We really enjoyed this place. We had the chimicanga, enchiladas, seafood soup, and carnitas fajitas. All were good. Decor is nice. Service was great. I would definitely recommend this place.

We ordered our food online and scheduled delivery. It was delivered ON TIME! The food was amazing 🤩 everything was fresh and prepared well. The sauces were on point. My favorite was the birria tacos.

What an incredible little gem near DuPont Circle and Farragut North! This restaurant is quaint and unassuming, but the food was just spectacular. The customer service was great too. Everything was fresh and cooked perfectly — I got steak, and the meat quality was excellent. Moreover, the prices were unbelievable for DC! I paid $12 for a massive steak bowl and even had leftovers.

Pros:
Nicely decorated
Clean bathrooms
Friendly service
Tacos were good

Cons:
They didn't have white Mexican cheese dip.
They couldn't make me agua mineral preparada, but they had a bartender.

This was a quick trip from the office for lunch... the staff was friendly, and the food was delicious! I ordered the shrimp, chicken and steak tacos. It came with one of each, the shrimp were juicy and the steak was tasty... the chicken was a bit dry... once we put the sour cream, guacamole, and the lime crema inside, it was better. We had 2 jarittos each and our lunch was under $50. I would definitely return.

The BEST restaurant experience we’ve had in a while. The food is amazing. The service was on point. And for the price ?? We couldn’t believe the find we made in this place! Wouldn’t be surprised if they need a bigger space soon. Food Network should visit this spot. It’s legit. The papusas are muy muy rico. Sooo good! The plantains, the rice, beans , the tamales, wow. And the margaritas!!! They were really good. Their happy hour is 3-6 every day! Great price for the margaritas and they were made well. The service was exceptional. Very attentive and kind. Felt like we were visiting a family’s restaurant. It’s small and tight inside but they can fit a surprising amount of people by smart table arranging and even though you may be seated fairly close to another table the food and service was so good I didn’t mind that small issue one bit. This is a gem. Comida de El Salvador and your traditional Latin American dishes. Looks like in warmer weather they have a really cute outdoor eating space with lights. Can’t wait to go back here next time! Gracias todo at Las Placitas for a great time!

It was after walking 10km in the city with our three teens that we stopped at The Well Dressed Burrito. It had a good score on Google and we wanted something quick. We were impressed with this little place. The food was good and warm, the employee super patient with us (french Canadians) and the place was clean. We had a different meals and everyone was happy with their food. I definitely recommend this place but be aware, seated places are very limited, 10 at most.

Another neighborhood staple of Barracks Row for years. Their food hasn't changed over the years. It's consistently a good choice for your fix. The cozy atmosphere and good service and pretty good drink specials draw people in from all over. Give them a try. The portions are pretty large too.

Wasn't really a fan of this restaurant. There was a friendly atmosphere but that's only if your a regular here. Food was average and didn't have much flavor. The server did give me a free shot of tequila so I did appreciate that.

One of my favorite places to eat at first....

The Manager or the Guy with the Purple & Blue hair is Super professional. The waiter with the curly hair and light brown skin isn't a good server. I had dinner & he did a poor job. We had to pay our bill with the Hostess. He was actually upset because we didn't leave a TIP. All he did was take our Drink orders. He took long to even do that. The Manager came over and took our food order. He never checked on Us. We actually wanted to spend more money and buy more drinks. I've even gone to the bar l alone once, & that same waiter never really attend to me. Beware if you get the Light brown guy with the curly hair.. he doesn't care.. he just wants to get TIPPED for doing Minimum. (Nothing) I don't know if I will eat at that location again. The food and Drinks were good tho....

I'm from Texas and I can say they have very good Mexican food, but the service is lacking, even though they were not very busy. We arrived early afternoon and it took a while to get drinks served and take the order. Then, when the order came out there were only three meals for the four of us. We waited while they cooked the other order and brought it out. We had a good time and especially enjoyed the soft beef tacos, but we did a lot of waiting. They should have made the fourth meal they forgot complementary, but all they did was say they were sorry it took so long.