Washington, D.C.’s diverse dining scene includes an array of high-end Mexican restaurants where renowned Mexican chefs showcase their heritage through innovative cuisine. From reinterpreted classic dishes to inventive new creations, these chefs are pushing the boundaries of their traditions, inviting diners to explore a unique fusion of Latin American flavors. Here are five top restaurants in Washington, D.C., for upscale contemporary Mexican cuisine.
Amparo Fondita
What started as a pop-up concept in D.C.’s Brookland neighborhood has blossomed into a Michelin Bib Gourmand establishment in Dupont Circle. At Amparo Fondita, explore Chef Christian Irabién’s award-winning alta cocina, featuring authentic Mexican comfort food alongside craft cocktails. Popular items include the the sopesitos, chile relleno and plant-based creations like the winter salad, a refreshing mix of three different types of oranges, olives and serrano peppers.
Amparo Fondita, named after the Spanish word for “shelter,” offers a welcoming and communal atmosphere. The minimalist decor has warm stucco interiors, wooden benches, and an intimate bar area, creating the perfect setting for relaxed gatherings with friends. Recently, the restaurant launched La Hora Poderosa, an exciting new happy hour menu with $9 craft cocktails, $5 tacos and unconventional bites like mezcal-flambéed edible insects.
Anafre
At Anafre, Chef Alfredo Solis brings the coastal flavors of Mexico to life. The Columbia Heights restaurant is named in honor of his mother, who was born in a pueblo outside Mexico City, where an anafre—a coal-burning clay pot—was her family’s sole stove. Solis, who also runs Sol and nearby Mezcalero, uses the traditional pot to impart a smoky flavor to the food served at Anafre.
The restaurant specializes in wood-grilled and charcoal-cooked dishes that embody different regions of Mexico, with mouthwatering items like chicharron, seafood enchiladas, Mexican-inspired pizzas and tacos. Anafre also has an extensive cocktail list that includes drinks like the Paloma Rosada, which contains sotol, ancho reyes, lime and grapefruit juice, and the Mucama Mexicana, made with tequila, mezcal, passion fruit syrup and lime juice.
Pascual
At this intimate 30-seat Capitol Hill restaurant from The Popal Group, James Beard Award Semifinalists Isabel Coss and Matt Conroy deliver contemporary Mexican cuisine, with dishes like steak tartare with peanut salsa, tacos al pastor served with homemade tortillas and smoked half chicken. Pascual also employs a full-time “tortilla lady” who crafts tortillas from various heirloom corns. The centerpiece of the restaurant and its cuisine is a traditional Mexican hearth.
Complementing the food are creative beverages like mezcal margaritas and aguas frescas. Ideal for upscale and romantic dinners, the restaurant’s ambiance is minimalist and airy, with a chic design, light-colored walls, wood furnishings and a bright and airy bar.
Paraíso
Paraíso offers creative cuisine inspired by the streets and home kitchens of Mexico, evoking the flavors and memories of Chef Geovany Beltran’s childhood. Paraíso also supports Mexican purveyors and Indigenous communities by importing heirloom corn for its in-house made tortillas.
Each season, Beltran reimagines the menu, showcasing dishes ranging from branzino a la brasa to cauliflower tacos. Guests can order from the sobremesa menu, the agave menu and the bottomless brunch menu, which has items like horchata lattes and desayuno tostadas. The vivid decor features traditional patterns, prints, and art and pays tribute to iconic Mexican women such as Frida Kahlo, Ana Leovy and Lola Alvarez.
dLena
Award-winning chef Richard Sandoval offers modern interpretations of Mexican cuisine at dLena. Featured in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Michelin Guide, the restaurant celebrates “leña,” or firewood, which is incorporated into the restaurant’s wood-fired dishes and smokey mezcal and tequila-centered drinks.
Menu items include short rib tacos, Maryland crab guacamole and hot stone Wagyu. Guests can elevate their dining experience with craft margaritas, tequila flights and other creative cocktails, including La Sandia Alta, made with tequila, aloe, watermelon, and lemon. The restaurant’s contemporary setting makes it an ideal venue for casual gatherings and special occasions.
This article first appeared on Forbes.com.
