Why go: For generous plates of robust regional Mexican cooking—no piles of shredded iceberg or gooey Monterey Jack at this loud, funky dining room.
What to get: Crustily caramelized maduros, or sweet plantains, dunked in sour cream; one of the best ceviches—an all-shrimp version in a margarita glass; green-chili-flecked tamales filled with shredded chicken; carnitas, hunks of braised, garlic-marinated pork by turns crispy and tender; soft corn tacos filled with ground lamb spiced with guajillo peppers, or fried fish with slaw; chicken mole with a rich mole sauce.
Best for: Area condo dwellers and other young professionals looking to unwind over cocktails and snacks; group celebrations around the back bar; parents with kids who will enjoy sharable potato-filled flautas and pillowy sopapillas.
Insider tip: The margaritas are the real deal, so it’s worth paying a few extra bucks for good tequila; we like Patrón Plata or Herradura Plata.
Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner.
See all 2008 Cheap Eats restaurants
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.
