Jaleo - Penn Quarter

Address: 480 Seventh St., NW, Washington, DC 20004

Phone: 202-628-7949

Neighborhood: Penn Quarter/Chinatown, Downtown

Cuisines: Tapas/Small Plates, Spanish/Portuguese

Opening Hours: Open for lunch and dinner Sunday and Monday 11:30 AM To 10:00 PM; Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM; Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM to midnight. Open for brunch Saturday and Sunday 11:30 to 3.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Kid Friendly: Yes

Nearby Metro Stops: Gallery Place-Chinatown, Archives-Navy Memorial

Price Range: Moderate

Dress: Informal

Noise Level: Rowdy

Reservations: Not Accepted

Website: Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes Stone-size boiled baby potatoes with a mojo verde sauce; a good and garlicky gamba al ajillo; house-made grilled sausage with white beans; bacon-wrapped dates; beet salad with pistachios.

Price Details: Tapas $3.95 to $9.95; entrées $14.95 to $16.95.

Special Features:
Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly

After nearly two decades, José Andrés’s DC flagship no longer delivers the shock of the new—its small-plates/clamorous-setting aesthetic has become the default for many restaurants, and even occasional restaurant goers know about aïoli and esplette. But the DC Jaleo remains one of the best dining values in the area—and one of the most consistent meals, too. A recent renovation has given the dining room a shot of Vegas excitement and resulted in fresh takes on familiar dishes—the croquettes now come in a resin shoe, and the dessert menu has been overhauled to showcase, among other things, the chef’s love of gin-and-tonics (a bracing, boozy sorbet). Don’t miss: Tomato bread; gazpacho; garlic soup with 63-degree egg; fried egg with caviar; sausage with white beans; potatoes with mojo verde and mojo rojo; chocolate flan with brioche ice cream. Open: Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday and Sunday for brunch and dinner. Moderate.