Holy molé, there are a variety of Latin eateries in el Distrito de Columbia! Apart from popular Mexican and Tex Mex fare, as the best Spanish and Latin American restaurants in Washington DC prove, you can sample the cocina of just about any Spanish-speaking country in the capital. From tapas to Brazilian steakhouses, it’s all on offer here. Ready to see what’s cooking? Check out the following list, which highlights some of the best Spanish and Latin American restaurants in Washington DC, to get a taste of what’s in store.
Jaleo Barcelona Wine Bar Cuba Libre Nazca Mochica
| Name | Location | Description |
| Jaleo | 480 7th St NW | It’s the restaurant that started the José Andrés revolution (and has added two locations). You can have the crisp bread with sardines; we’ll have the Spanish toast with caramelized bananas and rum. Add a glass of Cava to the order for an ideal pairing. |
| Estadio | 1520 14th St NW | Let’s start with some spicy marcona almonds and a Negroni Slushito (slushie), perfect for warm-weather seasons. Then, move onto Jamón Ibérico and a bottle of Trincadeiro from Portugal. ¡Salud! |
| Barcelona Wine Bar | Multiple Locations | This cozy bar is great for a date spot. How about a shared plate of Paella Mariscos, with shrimp, clams, mussels and squid, for two? |
| ToroToro | 1300 I St NW | One of Richard Sandoval’s eateries, ToroToro bills itself as “Pan Latin.” And indeed, you’ll find a variety of diverse menu items on offer, such as guacamole, tacos, piinchos (skewers), burgers and yucca fries. |
| Cuba Libre | 801 9th St NW | For lunch, dive into “A Taste of Havana 14,” half an El Cubano sandwich (orange-marinated pork loin, Genoa salami, ham, provolone, and Swiss) plus a salad, tropical chips and black bean soup. With a lunch like this, you could skip dinner. |
| Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse | 1101 Pennsylvania Ave NW | Carnivores will love this place with its menu of steak, pork, chicken, and seafood that keeps coming until you say No mas! Be sure to stop at the Market Table for seasonal goodies, such as vegetables and salads, and fogo feijoada, a black bean stew over rice. |
| La Fonda Paisa Bakery | 7914 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD | Satisfy your sweet tooth with traditional Colombian breads and pastries that include tarts, doughnuts, flan and all kinds of confections sprinkled with sugar. If you prefer savory to sweet, try a pan de queso (cheesebread) and some soup for a quick bite. |
| El Tamarindo | 1785 Florida
St NW |
A DC staple since 1982, El Tam, as it’s affectionately known, serves up Mexican and El Salvadoran fare. You can try a crowd pleaser such as a chicken chimichanga, but the seafood soup looks inviting, too. Stop by on Tuesdays for $3 tacos and $5 margaritas. |
| Los Hermanos | Multiple Locations | Sample the flavors of the Dominican Republic at this homey spot run by two brothers, aka Los Hermanos. Red snapper, roast chicken, shredded pork, rum-infused goat, tostones (fried plantain cakes)… it’s all good here. |
| Nazca Mochica | 2651 Connecticut Ave NW | Start with a traditional Peruvian appetizer of papa Huancaina, potato covered in a spicy cheese (Huancaina) sauce, and then move on to cebiche. Sure, you can go for the “claisico” with white fish marinated in lime, but we prefer the Cebiche Mixto, with poached shrimp, poached calamari, and sliced octopus. Order it with a glass of Argentine sauvignon blanc and enjoy the good life. |
CHEAT SHEET:
Nancy Oakley cut her teeth as a travel editor and writer for in-flight magazines, including Delta Sky and US Airways Magazine. She currently explores the world as senior editor of a local arts-and-culture monthly and its sister publication, a home-and-garden quarterly.
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