50 Best Latin American Restaurants near Bethesda

“Buena atención, el ambiente se siente como en casa.“

“The waiter was very friendly, patient, and knowledgeable about their gluten free items. I have celiac disease so I had so many questions IYKYK. We got there right before dinner rush. We the Paella Con Pollo Y Chorizo and Ensalada Guardados with chicken. The Paella was ok, the rice wasn't done so it was quite crunchy. The salad was amazing, the chicken had the best flavor and was so moist. The balsamic vinaigrette dressing was delicious. I definitely will go back and try their other GF items.“

“Always love getting their grilled chicken, and Carlos always brings a smile to my face whenever he works. Jose got me hooked on their Pollo sauce and I keep begging them to sell the sauce in a jar (lol) love the friendly staff and the Bethesda spot is by far my favorite location“

“Great food great service!“

“Great food! The only complaint I have is the laptop policy which prevents this from being a place to get work done especially over the weekend. However that’s subjective and I can understand some of the reasoning. The food is outstanding“

“Absolutely delicious chicken and beef berria tinga tostadas. My suggestion is redoing their sign. It's a giant mass of black ink illustration that is way too busy visually, with a teeny tiny name underneath in a hard to read font when you're driving by on a busy road. The name should be VERY PROMINENT from the street. I drove by twice before figuring it out.“

“Brunch is amazing. Bottomless margaritas and the churros are excellent!“

“Elegant setting. Beautiful decor. Stellar service. Innovative and delectable cuisine. Bonus points for mocktail options.“

“If you’re looking for casual dining in a unique ambiance and appointed outdoor courtyard/cafe setting, then Pikoteo is your place. With fine food that stretches across the Caribbean, Latin America spectrum of flavors, to sooth your palette, and a friendly staff. The Owner is very hospitable, and can typically be found greeting and meeting with diners, and making them feel welcomed If you are a fan of hot sauces, check out the variety of bottled sauces from Honduras, with a unique variety of spices. My favorite is a chocolate infused hot sauce.“

“Nice! The food was good and a very accommodating staff.“

“We had the lamb chili relleno weekend special and it was awesome. My wife had fish taco. This is definitely a gem. Would recommend trying. This is a mix of various ethnic cuisine styles. Definitely will be a regular stop for us moving forward.“

“Deliciosas empanadas y aperitivos con ese sabor Panameño que nos identifica y una atención excelente“

“Delicious neighborhood place serving Guatemalan food and some Mexican inspired dishes. The service is friendly. The food is dependable and always delicious. They make the chips for guacamole or salsa and chips to order. Entrees come with traditional warm Guatemalan tortillas which are thicker than Mexican tortillas. I use them to pick up the delightful sauces.“

“Wasn’t expecting such delicious Salvadoreño food here. We ordered the papusas revueltas and the tacobirria. The papusas were good, but as my husband said, the tacobirria was a banger. It had a crunchy exterior bursting with juicy, flavorful birria and the best cheese pulls. Absolutely mouthwatering. We also got a horchata based off of previous reviews and it did not disappoint. Perfectly balanced, light and sweet without being overpowering. The atmosphere was cute with great music playing. We had a great experience here.“

“Mi esposo y yo fuimos hoy por primera vez. Las atenciones fueron espectaculares y la comida riquísima. Esperamos volver pronto. Gracias a Rocio por tratarnos tan bien.“

“Mita is a really wonderful small course vegan restaurant. The courses were varied and interesting and all excellent. I'm having a hard time picking my favorite but the various breads and dipping sauces were amazing. A really fun place to go for special occasions.“

“First time here & very much enjoyed w/ my girlfriends. Exceptional fabulous service w/ our server, Miguel. All staff wonderful & friendly! This South American cuisine is delicious, the atmosphere & decor beautiful ?? I highly recommend this place , looking forward in going back to experience the night life w/ music & dancing:)“

“My son and I visited El Golfo Restaurant last weekend. The staff was very friendly, attentive and helpful with reviewing the menu options. Our meals were generously sized and delicious. Live music was playing and a nice addition to the atmosphere. We would highly recommend this authentic and reasonably priced restaurant.“

“Latin comfort food; good beer selection; everything on the menu is excellent“

“the best arepas i have had outside of Venezuela.“

“I don’t usually write reviews—when I do, it’s because the experience was either exceptionally bad or truly outstanding. This one might be a bit long, so let’s start from the beginning. It’s been 10 years since I moved to Virginia, and I have to say, I love it here. That said, I do miss the beaches and the incredible food from Miami. Ever since I moved, I’ve been searching for the perfect spot—a place where both the food and the service are amazing. Let’s be honest, that’s hard to find. Often, the food is great but the service is just okay, or the service is excellent but the food falls short. When looking for a place to celebrate my wedding anniversary, a few options came up, and one of them was Sabores Tapas Bar. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it there at the time and ended up going to two other places—one was okay, the other was awful. Later, I told my wife we needed to try Sabores, maybe on New Year’s Day. Again, we ended up at a “safe” spot we like to visit. The food and service were good, but it was just our usual go-to. Fast forward to last week: my best friend from Puerto Rico came to visit with his family. He loves to eat, and his wife can be hard to please. This time, we decided to go to Sabores Tapas Bar. I’ll admit, I was nervous—I wanted them to have a great experience, but pleasing everyone is never easy. Finally, we went. What can I say? The food was amazing, and the service was just as incredible. It was so good we couldn’t stop eating. I had high expectations—growing up, my house was always full because my friends came over for my mom’s cooking. She’s an amazing cook. Mom, forgive me for saying this, but Sabores Tapas Bar is as good as, if not better than, your cooking, and the service was amazing. Wow. I’ve found the place. It’s so good that I want to go back and try dishes I normally don’t like, just to see if they can make me love them. I can’t wait to return. My taste buds have found the love of their life at Sabores Tapas Bar.“

“I've worked across the street since this place opened and never thought to stop by until today. I asked the cashier to ring me up for whatever he recommended and came back to the office with a pair of spicy beef and spicy chicken salteñas. The guy working the front had great hospitality; he walked me through how to eat it, and what I should expect through my new culinary journey. I loved it! The dough had a nice crisp bite on the outside, paired with the well-seasoned soup on the inside. Kind of reminds me of a South American take on a soup dumpling, and that sounds like all sorts of good. I'll be back for a quick luck break!“

“Excelente y rica comida! Lindo lugar y acogedor. Presentación de los platos sencillamente maravilloso! Y la cordialidad y atención de Marco Campero extraordinaria! Recomendados 100%“

“Un luga con un ambiente super higienico y fresco. Las atenciones fueron de primera, la comida fresca y con muy buen sabor. Yo sali muy satisfecha, ? por favor espero que sigan con la misma calidad. Muchas gracias al Señor Ariel y su equipo de trabajo. God bless you“

“fast service, great food, and the best Peruvian-style chicken in Columbia Heights.“

“We enjoyed our evening. It was raining and a Saturday in Memorial weekend and were able to get a reservation late afternoon for 7:30pm which usually unusual in DC. The cocktails were all superb including the mezcal cocktail, the gin cocktail, and the sangria. Definitely the best part. We did not order wine.
We ordered all vegetarian appetizers including the hummus(3/5 star), salad(4/5 star), carrots(4/5 star), tomatoe toast(4/5), Patatas bravas(5/5 star), entree roasted Cauliflower(4/5 star) and the vegetarian Paella(2/5 star as had too much beets and sweetness), flan(5/5 star), churros(4/5 star). It was a little dark and there were not many people this evening which was surprising. We enjoyed dinner for the five of us and was enjoyable. We parked in the Ritz colonial garage and received another ticket when leaving and parking was $10. Do not understand why they can’t comp us. It was pleasant but not out of world but I as enjoyable as healthy food with some good flavors. It was as about $90 a person total including tip reasonable for everyone who had a cocktail, apps, entrees and dessert in upscale DC restaurant. I would recommend a try as if ate fish or meat may be slightly better.“

“This Ricoton location in Petworth has really stepped up their game. Everything we’ve had at lunch and dinner time has been delicious. Their tacos, especially carnitas, are outstanding. The alfajores are one of the most delicious things you can get in DC right now. Now I just need to stop by for breakfast!“

“Consistently AWESOME!“

“Good and healthy easy ti get there and fast service“

“the best arepas i have had outside of Venezuela.“

“10/10, took my wife for our 15 year anniversary and she loved, every delicious bite, every plate had a story to tell,such a wonderful and memorable experience. Gracias!!!“

“Had a wonderful dinner with friends - service was great and food unique and delicious! Highly recommend!“

“Buena calidad súper rico y muy buen servicio“

“This place is such a hidden gem. Been here twice now and keep accidentally ordering too much food because the portions are enormous are the prices are so reasonable. Everything I've ordered has been delicious and I especially love the tamales de elotes frito and the tajadas on the side.“

“Bomb food :)“

“La comida es riquísima y el hambre te ya no se diga y el servicio excelente … se los recomiendo 👍“

“La sopa de mariscos está muy rica La atención es excelente y familiar los recomiendo al 100%“

“This is my favorite place! I drive from Columbia to here almost every weekends because I love the vibe, the food, the drinks and they are very kind and professional and hard working. I love to support this business and I recommend it to anyone who is into Hispanic food and reggaeton! Absolutely amazing lounge!“

“Food was delicious!! Service was excellent!! People were so friendly! Love it here!!“

“I don't speak Spanish but I enjoy Spanish and El Salvadorian cuisine. The staff don't speak much English but I have no problem with that. A little patience and friendliness goes a long way. They smiled and I smiled through the entire interaction. The people were super nice and the food was very good. I enjoy good food but nice people are a must for return business.“

“Randomly discovered this place while walking around the area and now I understand why it always seems busy. The menu isn’t huge, but everything looks carefully prepared instead of rushed. I tried their iced espresso drink and a slice of red velvet cake around lunchtime. The cake was moist without tasting overly sugary, which is rare lately. There was a short wait because only one register was open, but employees kept things moving and stayed friendly with everyone in line. Good balance between cozy cafe and practical work spot.“

“From the moment you arrive in that restaurant they give you a great feeling. Very congenial stuff, it is a nice restaurant to go out with buddies or with your date. tasty food, specialist chef de cuisine, comfortable price and nice service. Warmly recommended.“

“They need to work on their business etiquette when dealing with customers and answering the phone. Their Pupusas are very good! Their Carne Asada (Beef Filet) portion is big and tastes good. All of their dishes are made fresh in their food Truck. Again my only complaint is their business etiquette which is basically non-existent.“

“A hidden gem in an industrial park of wonderful Salvadoran food.

I’ve sampled most of the menu and never been disappointed. Prices are great as well.

The Papusas are incredible, and they sling a mean breakfast burrito as well (get it with steak).

I almost don’t want to write a review lest people find out about my secret breakfast spot but these guys deserve every 5 star review.“

“Beatiful place! Sushi is tasty and fresh.“

“great food, very friendly employees. will eat there again“

“Fantastic grilled meats. Beef chicken sausage tripe sweetbreads“

“Crisp & Juicy delivers exactly what its name promises—perfectly cooked Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken that’s both mouthwateringly juicy on the inside and satisfyingly crisp on the outside. The chicken is marinated in traditional Peruvian spices, slow-roasted, and served with a smoky, addictive flavor that’s hard to replicate. Their signature green and yellow sauces take everything to the next level—whether you’re dipping the chicken, fries, or even just spooning it straight. It’s simple, flavorful, and consistently well-executed.

Beyond the chicken, the sides round out the experience: yuca fries that are golden and crunchy, flavorful rice, and plantains that add a touch of sweetness. The portions are generous, the service is quick, and the vibe is laid-back—perfect for takeout or a casual meal. Crisp & Juicy doesn’t try to be fancy—it just does one thing really well: comfort food with bold flavor. It’s the kind of place that turns first-timers into loyal regulars“

“I have ate and picked up takeout many times at the Crisp & Juicy on my way home from running errands or after a long bike ride and the food is always good and the service friendly. Today I got the Grill combination platter and the fries were cooked to perfection, nice and crispy. The chicken and sausage were delicious. If you want consistently yummy food at a good price make the crisp and juicy one of your regular spots.“

“Fantastic, fabulous, everything on the menu is amazing. Wait staff is really good as service and completely.“