50 Best Latin American Restaurants near Capitol Heights

“customer service top notch (livida)“

“Great food great service!“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“My husband had my surprise 50th here. The entire staff went above and beyond to accommodate and make this night memorable. The owner did everything he could to make everyone have a great experience. The food was outstanding! By far the best Mexican food around!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Amazing smiles and service! Best tacos in town! Great prices too!“

“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!!!“

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

“Great place to grab a chicken and cheese sub. Plenty of chicken for another sandwich…lol. Love this spot.“

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

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

“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!“

“The food was really good! They even have some rare dishes like Menudo. Don't expect much service when it's busy, and you might even need to wait a while, but it's okay. Parking can also be tight during weekends, cause street parking requires permit.“

“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!“

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

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

“Very nice place with friendly staff And very tasty food and well seasoned“

“The food was delicious and the wait staff was great, although the service was a little slow. Definitely worth the wait, though!“

“Friendly service! Try the chicken baleada! Pair it with fried plantains and guanabana!“

“🍽️ Benito’s: Incredible, Authentic Honduran Food – A Total Gem! A Must-Visit Central American Flavors

If you haven’t been to Benito’s yet, put it at the very top of your list. My little brother took me here for the first time, and it’s safe to say he completely knocked it out of the park with this recommendation. From the moment you see the menu, you know you’re in for an authentic, flavor-packed experience.

Here is the breakdown of the incredible spread we had:

The Main Event: Bistec Encebollado / Fajita Platter
The star of the table was a beautifully executed steak platter, packed with vibrant colors and rich, savory aromas.

The Meat: Tender, perfectly seasoned strips of steak seared to perfection.

The Mix: Sautéed with a generous mix of sweet onions, and crisp red, green, and yellow bell peppers that added the perfect crunch and sweetness.

The Sides: Served alongside a flawless mound of seasoned orange rice, a fresh, crisp salad topped with creamy avocado, diced tomatoes, radishes, and a squeeze of lime to cut through the richness.

The Ultimate Comfort: Pupusas
You cannot walk into Benito’s without ordering the pupusas. We got them served hot off the griddle with that signature, beautiful golden-brown char. They were thick, comforting, and stuffed generously. They came paired exactly as they should be:

Curtido: A crisp, tangy, lightly pickled cabbage slaw that adds the ultimate refreshing crunch.

Salsa Roja: A smooth, warm tomato salsa that ties every single bite together.

The Extras
To round out the meal, we had fresh, warm tortillas tucked in foil, a side of rich red beans topped with crumbled cotija cheese, and a sampling of vibrant green and orange hot sauces to kick the heat up a notch.

The Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Benito’s delivers massive flavor, generous portions, and that unmistakable taste of authentic, home-cooked comfort food. Shoutout to my little brother for introducing me to this gem. I will absolutely be back for round two!“

“This was a great spot, we received excellent service and hospitality. The food is to die for and the drinks are superb! I highly recommend this place for brunch or for a chill spot to go to on a Saturday night. Good music vibes too!“

“It's a food truck and typically you'd go and grab your food and leave. However, there were chairs out there. I would use some of those generated revenues for more tables.

The food is good, but could be better. The service wasn't the fastest but they were short staff. All in all i enjoyed my experience. If they're ever in the northern virginia area. I could see myself stopping by again!“

“What a great place!! Food: delicious 💯 Place: beautiful💘 Drinks: excelent 💯 Services: Fast and Friendly 🧑‍🍳 Yes, I recommend Cuba Libre Rest. DC“

“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.“

“A small place so close that many walk by. Everyone seems to know everybody in this neighborhood restaurant bar. I've only been there for the drinks and conversations. Maybe next time I'll order from the menu while seated at the table. The bar area is small but the joy is making new friends. The atmosphere feels private and it's easy to unwind.“

“Food was good and the people are alway friendly and down to earth. Love it here“

“I felt like some Dominican food specifically, chicharron de pollo (fried chicken) and tostones (fried plantains). The food was delicious and plentiful. It's in a strip mall and has an adjoining lounge which may double as a dance floor.“

“Excelente lugar para disfrutar de unos deliciosos tacos son verdaderamente deliciosos“

“Excelente atención y sobre todo muy buena sazón Peruana 100% recomendado“

“Muy buen Ambiente muy rica 🤑 la comida Todo excelente 😍😍🥰.“

“Very Nice ambience, truly enjoyed the music, the service , the food. If you are looking for a place to hang out anytime, this is it! They have parking, security, food and beverage all in one place, if you do try the food definitely go for Shrimp ceviche it's out of this world??“

“What a gem! Amazing patio; the food and service were the best!“

“We ate in J&J when staying I the area. The food was fantastic. Service was friendly and welcoming. Would definitely recommend.“

“muy buena comida se los recomiendo“

“A local gem. I’ve been enjoying this place for 20+ years and have never been disappointed. Wether im getting a drink or food. The drinks are always great and worthwhile and the food is always good and hot. In certain days you may even get to experience live music or karaoke night“

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

“The perfect hole in the wall. Classic, quality Mexican food. Sizes good portions, reasonable prices, you can feed two people to beyond full with a drink for $30, it’s all freshly made in house to order and turn around pick up is never longer that 15/20mins. Special shout out to the chicken burrito and the horchata.“

“la comida es rica y el servicio es bueno.“

“Arepas deliciosas con sabor Colombiano“

“great food cooked fresh!“