I was very excited to check out Oyamel, I've passed it a few times and we finally ducked in for some happy hour drinks and quick food. First, it was jam packed, so we grabbed a spot at the bar, which was a perfect option to move quickly for the food and drink. The bartenders were all very friendly, made jokes with the patrons, and offered tons of ideas about the best items on the menu. The chips and salsa were great paired with the classic margarita. Not only was the margarita good, it was very strong and worth it after a long day. The salsa was nice and homemade, not too thick but tons of flavor. Lastly, you would be remiss to skip on the tacos. I was firmly in love with it and can't wait to go back and try the others on the menu, I'm sure they are all incredible.

Love this spot anytime I come to dc. Sat at the bar and service was so quick and without asking. Got menu, chips, water asap and no rush on me ordering. Queso fundido is a must as the blue corn tortillla was authentic and made fresh as it could not be crippled. I'd order two of those it was so good. Taco was solid, all single and it was also blue corn, The tamale was not for me but was well done and stuffed all the way. So good and would go back again. Service again was the key, thank you to those bartenders

Jose Andres. I think that pretty much sums up this review. Go to Oyamel and have a wonderful meal. Make sure you try the Oyamel margarita with "salt air" and the black beans. On our last visit, we had the tasting menu and it was memorable. I would love to try his ceviches on our next visit. Even the salsa and tortillas are epic. In fact, it might be the best salsa I've ever eaten. Like I said...Jose Andres.

I was really excited to try a José Andrés restaurant while in DC. The atmosphere here is really is fun, lively yet casual. For the food I would skip the tacos next time and stick with the other main dishes. We really enjoyed the enchiladas and the beans in mole sauce.

Oyamel was a beautiful culinary experience by Jose Andres that my friend and I were able to enjoy on a sunny Saturday evening. The ambiance and overall restaurant decor was lovely with butterflies and immense colors all over the restaurant. My friend and I sat outside and enjoyed the salsa and fresh guacamole. The guacamole was delicious! So cheesy, crisp with peppers, and perfectly creamy when paired with the warm tortilla chips. For our entree, we each got one Pescado Baja California and Pollo a la Parilla tacos. The Pescado Baja tacos stole the show! The masa tempura-battered fish was so crispy and flavorful. The crema and salsa complimented the fish so well and provided a nice spice to the taco. Must get! The meat in the Pollo a la Parilla reminded me of Indian Tandoori style, but lacked the flavor or the tenderness. The chicken was quite dry, but I did enjoy the salsa and onions on top. However, I probably wouldn't get it again. To drink, we enjoyed glasses of White Wine and a tequila flight (highly recommend). All drinks paired well with the food and complimented its rich flavors. The service was phenomenal. Such a friendly staff that did a great job in helping us navigate the menu! Definitely would like to come back and try more of Oyamel's tacos/drinks! The perfect spot for snacking and small plates - especially on a gorgeous summer day :)

Great place to have drinks and tapas! We had a good bartender that made tasty drinks! The place was lively decorated and fun for our occasion!

Jose Andres is one of DC best and most favorite chefs.  We are really lucky to have several of his restaurants to choose from.  Although Oyamel is not the best one in our humble opinion, it is still a great meal.  We only wish the serving sizes were a little more generous.  Regardless, we enjoyed the pomegranate margarita to start.  Following, we had the guacamole (which was a great portion with more chips available upon request.)  The taco de lengua is a more unusual offering.  The chorizo and fish tacos are more common and tasty.  The smallest portions were the seafood - ceviche con citricos and atun pacifico.  The flavor was good but there was not much to go around.  We also liked the coliflor frito and the queso fundido (who can resist melty cheese)  For dessert, there was tres leches and cafe de olla.  Again, dining at any of Jose Andres' restaurants is a pleasure.

Late lunch after visiting museums, lucked out and got a booth by the window. The warm chips and homemade salsa were wonderful! The first margarita on the list includes salt air. Had no idea what that was or meant, and now I'm obsessed. So delicious! The chicken soup was the best I've ever had. It was smoky and just spicy enough to be so flavorful and not palate scorching. I could eat it every day. My son tried something new, Chapulines... a grasshopper taco. He loved it, and I enjoyed a more traditional Conchinita Pibil. Excellent service, extensive and creative menu. Wish I'd been hungrier and tried more.