oyamel

good, not great. thought the food here 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 verygood- 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.

wait time doesn’t phase me, especially when i’m ingoodcompany, but at oyamel we had the added bonus ofgooddrink. we ordered a pitcher of blood orange chile pequin, and were we ever so glad we did. ms. classy was a little hesitant, but became a fan of the drink after the first sip. it is a refreshing citrus margarita, but the pequin puts a zing that warms your lips and will make your tongue ask for more. we all really enjoyed the flavorful complexity of this drink.

creative mexican tapas. the food was wonderful and very original; the servicegoodbut 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. the food isgoodand 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.

muy bueno!. this was my fourth or fifth meal at oyamel and it has yet to disappoint. my latest meal was lunch with some friends. we settled in with a pitcher of their version of sangria. white wine and citrus with diced pineapple added which made it a surprising change from the dank sangria offered most places. guacamole made table side was surprisingly good. we were asked how we liked it and it was spot on. i think they should have used lime juice instead of lemon - and been more generous as a little more acid would have added a little oomph to the buttery salad. the tortilla chips are how i remember them from mexico and not thegoodbut rather limp, bland things one gets in dc. i had one of the lunch tortas; a ham, turkey and cheese sandwich basically layered in flour tortillas. it was rathergood(perhaps another few seconds on the grill). another diner had the "gazpacho salad" which looked wonderful except had no relation to what one comes to expect. not a tomato in sight but it looked crisp and refreshing with kohlrabi and grapefruit. her quail tapa had to be sent back as it was partially raw. the chef remade the dish and it looked perfect and she loved it - crisp and pungent with herbs. everyone at our table was sated. the service was excellent and we were seated promptly without a reservation. my recent dinner experience here has been equally rewarding, although the wait for a table can be taxing.

treat your taste buds. wecalled to reserve but there was nothing. since we are traveling and found ourselves close, we walked in and were told it would be a hour wait. we decided to wait and had a drink once we got a bar seat and in only half an hour we had a table. what a menu, there were all kind of choices i decided on a gazpacho salad and the favors were great! this was followed by shrimp wit an aged black garlic that was also good. after my margarita i decided to try the grasshopper taco, abit salty but crunchy and with guacamole in it they balanced the flavors well. also a tip from the bartender i ordered a ron cooper margarita, you get a margarita with a shot of this smokey tequila...oh wow that was a treat. we spent a little more than we expected but then the places with t.hat assortment and the small dishes tends to run that way. it was fun withgoodeats.

guacamole is something i ordered and i did really love it man it was fresh and lovely and it did tastegoodfor me to try and love perfect for my dinner appetite but not ideal.

overall i wouldn't seek this place out for a meal. but if i had to go here, i'd have the margaritas and meatballs. i had the margarita of the day (something with blueberries and pears in it) which pretty much kicked ass and the meatballs (albóndigas enchipotladas con queso doble crema) were delicious (that sauce! yum!)

everything else i had was mediocre. taco de hongos con crema (mushroom taco) was salty, pancita y jitomate (pork belly sandwich) was uninspiring, churros were overdone, coctél de camarón y jaiba (shrimp & crab ceviche) was fine - nothing memorable, and the pescado mexicano (fish taco) was bland.

if you're looking for a great meal walk one more block to the sister restaurant jaleo for better tasting tapas andgoodcocktails, but if you must go to oyamel, i recommend margaritas and meatballs.

all in all agoodexperience but when you live in a place as varied, happening and vibrant as the d.c restaurant scene, i'm ready to move on.

biting into the thin non-oily tortilla chips dipped in the slightly spicy salsa was the first hint there’d begoodfood to 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 mexican food by famed chef jose andres. good, geniune fare with small plates to share. great drinks. food is verygoodbut 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

creative and delicious. a friend and i came for lunch during restaurant week. oyamel is well designed and has agoodambience, but is a bit noisy. the service is prompt and efficient. the restaurant week menu offered the choice of two antojitos, a taco, and dessert. antojito one was sopa tarasca estilo pátzcuaro, a black bean soup with avocado leaves, light mexican cream, and aged cotija cheese, with a side of crispy ancho chile, avocado and fried tortilla strips. delicious, deep flavors that worked well with one another. antojito two was col de bruselas estilo san quintín, crispy brussels sprouts with a chile de árbol sauce, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, and lime. bright flavors with crisp textures and crunch. my taco was tinga poblana con puerco, a well made corn tortilla filled with stewed, shredded pork with chorizo, chipotle, lettuce, and guacamole. perfection in a tortilla. finally, for dessert, flan de cajeta with piloncillo compressed apples, caramel ice cream, and goat’s milk caramel sauce. i can't wait to return!

this is verygoodmexican 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. food is verygoodand the tequila selection is top notch!

this was a fun, tasty meal. the star of the evening to me was the salted foam margarita. that's right. salt in the foam. it was life changing. the pozole verde and ceviche was particularly fantastic. the table side guacamole was verygoodas well. this is not a cheap night out, but still very good.

tip: a great review covers food, service, and ambiance. got recommendations for your favorite dishes and drinks, or something everyone should try here? include that too! and remember, your review needs to be at least 140 characters long :)

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. the food is prettygoodthough. 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.