oyamel

good, not great. thought thefoodhere was really fresh and tasty, but some dishes had almost overpowering flavor of the sauce or spice and you couldn't actually taste the fish or vegetable underneath. i know the guacamole is like $13, but get it, it's really good. yes, the small plates can add up, but that's true of every tapas place.

overall service was very good - we got a little 'tude from our server at first, but when he realized he forgot an iced tea he was more attentive and didn't charge us for it.
atmosphere is cool - but can get very loud.

creative mexican tapas. thefoodwas wonderful and very original; the service good but quite slow. we were left to languish at our table for a long time before ordering drinks, and then again before being able to order our food. i would definitely go again if i had plenty of time.

oyamel has a great buzz, vibe and energy. thefoodis good and some of the offering like the cactus and grasshopper dishes are down right unique. be mindful though that the place offers everything as 'small plates' so you just get one-piece-of, one taco per order.

on june 15, 2016, chef josé andrés will be hosting his 4th annual dine-n-dash with proceeds going to support world central kitchen, a non-profit organization that focuses on smart solutions to decrease world hunger and poverty.

you couldn’t ask for a better event where you can pay one price (general ticket or vip ticket), walk into 30 restaurants in one night, sample some of the venue’s most popular dishes and libations and walk right out without pulling out your wallet throughout penn quarter and the 14th street neighborhoods.

sunday’s media tour offered a sneak peak into 4 of the restaurant options.

oyamel cocina mexicana

first stop was oyamel and this was by far my favorite stop forfoodand drinks.  a few of the dishes that were offered were the oyamel margarita, taco -carnitas estilo michoacán, pescadilla sinaloa, and table-side guacamole.

oyamel is mexicanfoodthat packs a punch from your standard street foods.  their margaritas are topped with “salt air,” so there’s no need for a messy rim of salt around the glass, you get a pinch of salt with every sip.  the pork taco was topped with a crunch chicharrón satisfying the soft and crunchy textures.  their take on the fish “empanada” which is steamed not fried, is a surprisingly flavorful moist ingredients tucked inside of a crisp shell.  table-side guacamole, need i say more? ...

biting into the thin non-oily tortilla chips dipped in the slightly spicy salsa was the first hint there’d be goodfoodto come. mexican cuisine is a meal i always look forward to in america. where choices are abundant and things just taste more authentic compared to canada. 

oyamel cocina mexicana didn’t disappoint. their tacos were each four delicious bites. the palm sized shell could barely contain the lengua guisada ($4.50), to the point i had to finish the second half with knife and fork as the thick slices of tender beef tongue fell out. braised until permeated with flavours, this is the way tongue is meant to be served: bites of the soft meaty properties while the unsightly bumps are hidden from view.

the pollo a la parrilla ($4) had lovely smokiness with the chicken even the green onion garnishes getting some time on the grill. if you order multiple tacos, eat this one first as the flavours are mellow. the smear of smashed heirloom resboseros beans at the bottom were

high end mexicanfoodby famed chef jose andres. good, geniune fare with small plates to share. great drinks.foodis very good but not as amazing as offered in other andres restaurants. service was spotty with a slow waiter a dish mixup. definitely worth a visit if you want genuine mexican food. if you’re feeling brave try the cricket taco, a rare mexican delicacy

what a wonderful restaurant this is!!!foodwas great, staff was awesome and the service was on point. all vegetarian options were delicious and very creative/different. would definitely come back without a doubt!

this place was very good. the service was great too. thefoodwas very tasty as well as the presentation. it is on the pricey side but it is worth it. i was there with my wife and sons and part of the time there was spent discussing on the quality of the food. i would go again.

this is very good mexican food. if you are the type that typically orders the combo platter at mexican restaurants than this may not be the place for you. this is a small plates type of place.foodis very good and the tequila selection is top notch!

i stopped in for a quick bite around 5:00pm and decided on the cheesy, chicken enchilada with the sparkling limonade. it was just the right amount offoodfor the time of the day. the complimentary chips and salsa are served warm and crunchy. thumbs up on the limonade.

real real real mexican taste ! the menu has everything it took me nearly 30 mns to pick a plate ; thefoodis delicious especially the tacos and the chocolate cheese fries ! waiters are really cool !

this place was amazing. thefoodwas extremely fresh and very tasty. a nice authenticity about it. the waiter was very helpful and passionate about the food. we had a great time, nicestfoodwe've eaten so far in the us.

warning, don't believe the posted hours. i have stopped by a number of times well within their posted hours only to be told they were about to close the kitchen. thefoodis pretty good though. the tacos are a little salty for my taste, but the ingredients were fresh and they had a lot of interesting options. the black bean soup is fantastic.

nicefood& beverage selection. tapas menu fun to try so many things. our waiter was ok.foodwas good not great! china chilcano was much better, even though it was a different type of food. try skirt steak, grilled cactus, grasshopper taco for fun, pork belly taco too dry, drinks really good. i would try tasting menu next time.

great food, a lot of noise. very energetic place for dinner.foodand service always very good. the black bean soup is to die for as is the guacamole. good bar selection.