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Oyamel, Washington, DC

Oyamel

4.7
4.7
9080 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
Top Tags:

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana combines Mexico’s rich regional culinary traditions with modern urban fare. Guests experience an array of antijitos—traditional Mexican snack or small plates—along with authentic tacos, ceviches and an impressive selection of cocktails and tequilas. This is like no Mexican food you have ever experienced. Under the direction of renowned chef José Andrés, Head Chef Omar Rodriguez takes traditional ingredients and techniques and elevates them to deliver dishes and drinks with exceptional creativity and refinement.

Make a reservation

2 people
May 2022
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7:00 PM

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Mexican, Tapas / Small Plates

  • Hours of operation

    Wed–Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (202) 628-1005

  • Website

    https://www.oyamel.com/

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive chef

    José Andrés; Head Chef, Omar Rodriguez

  • Catering

    Catering on a whole new level; José Andrés Catering elevates catering and event planning to new heights in the Washington, DC area and beyond. Now you can experience the inspired creations of celebrated chef José Andrés at your own party or venue. Visit us for more information at www.joseandrescatering.com, or call us at (202) 628-1005.

  • Private party facilities

    Let’s Get The Party Started! At Oyamel, it feels like a fiesta the moment you walk through the door.

  • Private party contact

    our Private Party Coordinator: (202) 810-8284

  • Location

    401 7th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20004

  • Neighborhood

    Penn Quarter

  • Cross street

    D Street

  • Parking details

    There are ample public lots in the Gallery Place/Chinatown/Penn Quarter area. Metered street parking is also available.

  • Public transit

    Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter on the yellow and green lines; Gallery Place/Chinatown on the red, yellow and green lines.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 9,080 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Washington, D.C. Area

    Mexican

Sort by

Filters

  1. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    Guacamole was not good. Tortilla chips have changed and are no longer good. Salsa was watery. Fish taco was mushy. Service was average at best. Host and hostess were unkind and unhelpful. The only thing that was good was the margarita. We have loved this place since it opened, but this may have been our last visit. Very sad as this restaurant has always been one of our favorites.

  2. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Baltimore

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Mother’s Day

  3. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    20 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall3food4service4ambience3

    We used to dine at Oyamel frequently when we lived near DC. We came back to visit and were a bit disappointed. The food was still very good, but the wonderful cocktails with special attention to details, like large, flavored ice balls and flowers were off the menu. Our waiter was attentive. We were seated in a large booth with no back support which was uncomfortable and the temperature of the restaurant was quite cold. Not sure we'd go back again if in the area because the sparkle is gone.

  4. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Birmingham

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Oyamel was absolutely outstanding! We did the chef’s tasting menu and every single dish that was sent out was incredible. The margarita with salt foam was delicious. Service was impeccable. Highly recommend!

  5. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 30, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    It was a nice experience! The portion size was small for the amount paid. But the food was tasty!

  6. HM

    HannaM

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 29, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great service and delicious food! Plenty of outdoor seating.

  7. JS

    JSMS

    Atlanta

    16 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on April 24, 2022

    overall3food2service2ambience4

    This is a nice restaurant with a unique atmosphere. However we were disappointed with the food and service. The service was very slow and our waitress would disappear for 15 minutes or more at a time without coming by our table but once we ordered the food it came out fairly fast. Since this was our first time there we needed some help navigating the menu but the wait person did not offer much guidance or suggestions. All of the food was lukewarm and some of the small plates were very small portions and not a good value. The manager did come by though and was very apologetic and did compensate us by taking a few items off of our bill which we did appreciate.

  8. L

    Larkanator

    Washington DC

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on April 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great dining experience. Took my team out to celebrate promotions. The food and drinks were lovely.

  9. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience3

    Good and service were outstanding! We ate outside because the weather was nice so we didn’t really take in the ambiance of the restaurant and there was obviously street noise. Overall a highlight of our trip!

  10. G

    Gourmand

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Authentic cuisine. Small plates able to try multiple items. All made from scratch. Margaritas are outstanding. Staff was genuine, happy and friendly. Would recommend to ALL. Great place for family or a date night.

  11. BD

    BrigitteD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always our go to when e are in town. The octopus is a must try!

  12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Pittsburgh

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Special dinner out with family on a trip to DC. Margarita pitchers plus chef’s tasting menu is the only way to experience this place. So so amazing. Highly recommend! And they kept the chips and quesadillas coming for our sons while we took our time to enjoy the different courses. Perfection!

  13. AM

    AMM4FOOD

    New York Area

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on April 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Just all around outstanding experience. Everything that we ordered was excellent, highlighted by ceviche, tacos and vegetable dishes. Will definitely be back.

  14. S

    Steve

    Washington DC

    56 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    56 reviews

    Dined on April 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Just a great meal with perfect service!

  15. TS

    TroS

    Denver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 12, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    I always love the food at Oyamel. The service has been excellent overall, and even with the nationwide staffing shortages I find they manage to keep a good flow with such a high capacity. My only complaint is the side patio they have setup is on uneven ground and some of the tables are very wobbly. Also some of the tables are set so close together that you can't move your arms while seated without elbowing someone at the next table.

  16. d

    dls47

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on April 12, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Food is great and inventive; service fantastic. Pretty noisy, but great energy.

  17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful service! The food was amazing and the decor inside was the cutest

  18. S

    Sam14

    Pittsburgh

    77 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    77 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Mexican style tapas with a good variety. Drinks are tasty…love the salt air foam.

  19. A

    Alice

    Washington DC

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great margaritas, guacamole, and chicken enchiladas! Service was very attentive. Great place for a group.

  20. AH

    AlwaysHungry

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 3, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    I very much enjoyed my meal. I thought the food was both good tasting and intelligently conceived. The maitre d’ was very pleasant and brought me to an isolated, outdoor table where I could relax. My server was friendly and helpful. My one criticism is that two courses were brought at the same time. Since I was eating outside, it was impossible to enjoy them both hot. I would certainly come back.

  21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Service and food was good and prompt. Drinks were pricey and quantity was small for the price. However the drinks were very good. I would go back and recommend to friends.

  22. m

    matts

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Fantastic, unique, Mexican cuisine. Everything fresh, authentic, made from scratch in house, and the flavor and quality reflects their efforts. I am a big fan and repeat customer. If you are bringing out of towners/guests to dine, have them look at the menu first because it is not your "standard" Mexican cuisine. My friends were a bit put off with the expense (they were thinking tacos=cheap; but it is truly fairly priced), but all said quality of the food was spectacular. Oyamel accommodated my larger group with ease and the service was top shelf. Highly recommend for foodies!

  23. E

    Eatfirst

    San Francisco

    56 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    56 reviews

    Dined on April 1, 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    We had ceviche, salad and tacos: cochinito pibil, fish and vegetarian. Tacos all good. Very disappointed with the ceviche- not only very skimpy amount of shrimp but also cut in half ! Very busy night and staff stretched so our service was disjointed. Won't be back.

  24. KD

    KateD

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 31, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    The food was fantastic! We ordered 3 meat dishes and 4 tacos to split between 2 people and it was the perfect amount. Drinks were great too!

  25. ML

    MichaelL

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on March 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great dinner!! Thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you!!!

  26. p

    pamela

    Washington DC

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on March 27, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Nancy was terrific . She Was knowledgeable about the ingredients for each item, checked with the kitchen about a potential substitution, and timed the delivery of our food perfectly.

  27. CC

    CCinDC

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    From the moment I checked in, everyone was awesome! Our waitress was very attentive and explained everything since this was our first visit. The food was great! We ordered the tasting menu. From the cabbage slaw to dessert the chef did not disappoint!

  28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Such great food and atmosphere!

  29. AF

    AndrewF

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 23, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience4

    The guacamole was stellar as always, but some of the dishes didn’t hit the high notes I am used to at Oyamel. Good but not great this time around, but still one of my favourite places.

  30. M

    Marya

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 23, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Wonderful, more authentic Mexican experience. Especially enjoyed the tacos both pork and tuna tacos were wonderful. The soup was like grandma would have made it. The only thing I didn't love was the noise. It is popular and crowded as such good food should demand but might be better if the music wasn't pounding in the background.

  31. SK

    SpinsterK

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    As always the food is fresh and deeply flavourful. Authentic but still inventive. The margaritas are wonderful. Not as always this time the service was fast and attentive with no big gaps between dishes. Which we appreciated since we were pre-theater diners. The dessert menu was a Covid pared down version but what was there was great.

  32. JR

    JannekeR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Eat here, you won't regret it. A DC gem that doesn't just fill you up with food, also with joy.

  33. F

    Flashattack

    Washington DC

    295 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    295 reviews

    Dined on March 22, 2022

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    Arrived for reservation but had to wait about 10 minutes. Service was slow and bland. Food was good - spicy guacamole and queso fundido with chorizo. Good classic margaritas.

  34. J

    Jealonso

    Atlanta

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 22, 2022

    overall2food4service1ambience4

    Update of a formerly-5-star review. Waited 20 minutes at my table without being acknowledged. I've been here many times during my trips to DC. It's the one restaurant I always look forward to. After 2 years without visiting, I finally had a chance to come to DC and I was very excited. Made a reservation on OpenTable, which says there's a 15 minute grace period. Got there on time, got a table quickly. And then 20 minutes went by and nobody even came by to say hello, much less take a drink order. They've also taken my two favorite dishes off the menu (Chapulines and Chiles en Nogada), although that's likely due to sourcing. I walked over to Jaleo, solely because I respect Jose Andres too much not to spend with his restaurants. I hope my next time in Oyamel isn't like this

  35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food and our server were excellent.

  36. CC

    CuriousCarnivore

    Washington DC

    89 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    89 reviews

    Dined on March 20, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Love Jose but success may be compromising quality. No guacamole available. Special pork dish dry and not hot. Good news is that wait staff attentive and friendly. Reservation kept and shown to table immediately. No recognition of birthday.

  37. DN

    DN55

    Portland

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2022

    overall2food3service3ambience2

    Very noisy. Uncomfortably so

  38. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    It was good.

  39. LF

    LisaF

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 18, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    The Brussel sprouts were a wee salty (perfect for someone who loves salt more than me, though!) but the margaritas more than made up for it. Absolutely perfect. And our server was just the right amount of attentive without hovering.

  40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on March 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Awesome place. Food was outstanding and service was too!!

Safety precautions

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

  • Screening

    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Oyamel using the Order Online button. Oyamel also offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Oyamel also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 628-1005.

Oyamel is rated 4.7 stars by 9080 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
May 2022
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
7:00 PM
Google Map for Oyamel

401 7th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20004

Additional information

  • Cross street

    D Street

  • Neighborhood

    Penn Quarter

  • Hours of operation

    Wed–Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Mexican, Tapas / Small Plates

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking details

    There are ample public lots in the Gallery Place/Chinatown/Penn Quarter area. Metered street parking is also available.

  • Public transit

    Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter on the yellow and green lines; Gallery Place/Chinatown on the red, yellow and green lines.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    José Andrés; Head Chef, Omar Rodriguez

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Website

    https://www.oyamel.com/

  • Phone number

    (202) 628-1005

  • Catering

    Catering on a whole new level; José Andrés Catering elevates catering and event planning to new heights in the Washington, DC area and beyond. Now you can experience the inspired creations of celebrated chef José Andrés at your own party or venue. Visit us for more information at www.joseandrescatering.com, or call us at (202) 628-1005.

  • Private party facilities

    Let’s Get The Party Started! At Oyamel, it feels like a fiesta the moment you walk through the door.

  • Private party contact

    our Private Party Coordinator: (202) 810-8284

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