Why go: You’ll find the usual pileup of Americanized chimichangas and burritos in this colorful dining room, but the more traditional Mexican specials are the reason to grab a table. Not to mention a bottomless supply of freshly fried chips and dark-roasted salsa.
What to get: Fried sweet plantains with sour cream; shrimp ceviche; chicken-stuffed tamales; carnitas, caramelized hunks of pork with garlic and onion; pork tacos; chicken in rich mole sauce.
Best for: A pick-me-up meal. If the sunny vibe doesn’t do it, the margaritas will.
Insider tip: At lunch, two tacos—or a taco and an enchilada—plus beans and rice are $5.50.
Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner, Sunday for brunch and dinner.
>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
