50 Best Latin American Restaurants near Kensington

“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“

“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“

“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.“

“Came for brunch. The Pupusas Benedict was a hit. Rounded it up with black beans and chips & guac and had a feast. Very nice staff. Maybe the parking was a bit challenging (luckily I got the last spot in front of restaurant), but maybe there is another lot nearby.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Very cute and clean out of the way Salvadoran restaurant. Worth a stop if you’re in the area! Had a great weekend lunch, tried the papusas (get the revueltas!) and tacos, as well as a couple different margaritas. Very reasonably priced and really delicious.

I’ve had papusas from several places, these are handmade and very fresh.“

“The 12-course prix-fixe made for a memorable special occasion meal. At $135 pp, quite a splurge, but can imagine the 6-course version is also quite satisfying. Each dish was presented in an interesting way -- with coins and currency, art by Colombian painter Botero, on stones and cactus slices, paper, etc. Even the check returned inside a book. Each was so tasty we couldn't pick a favorite. Staff was intimate and friendly, explaining every dish, without being intrusive. Aficionados might appreciate the extensive and varied wine list (also not cheap), though we were no experts. Also close to Metro (8-min. walk), which we always appreciate. Updated from previous review on 2026-03-18“

“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“

“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:)“

“Les recomiendo llegar a comer en uncles Marco !! Me pedí un Lomo saltado ceviche de corvina y una milanesa de carne,todo pero todo estuvo super delicioso excelente calidad de carne y pescado super fresca la comida hecha del momento,la milanesa de carne wow no tengo palabras para describirla,volveré pronto para tomar un desayuno familiar y probar la butiffara y pan con chicharrón!!! Marcos el dueño super amable me sentí en casa el lugar super limpio muy buen ambiente super recomendado“

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

“se los recomiendo todo muy bueno 👌“

“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“

“Went with a small group and the service was amazing. Friendly staff and owner with quick service. Food was delicious. I had pupusas, guacamole and chips, tamales with house made sour cream, and chicken. I definitely recommend you enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner here.“

“We had a wonderful experience at La Fogata Grill. I had a poblano chili stuffed with beef, raisins, almonds, pomegranate seeds and served with walnut cream sauce. Really unique and delicious. My husband had the mole enchiladas. He loved it. Service was excellent! We will definitely eat here again.“

“I went there on the Saturday afternoon. It wasn’t too busy. I ordered only plantains and it was delicious and cooked in a record time. The staff was respectful and friendly ; they had a large selection of empanadas. And i really like the atmosphere. Also they had some very good sauces. It tastes natural and homemade.“

“Great atmosphere with elegant decor. Went for Valentine's Day, so our experience may just be due to them being busy. We were seated late, and the waiter was rushing. Our reservation was for 10:45 PM, so I assume they just wanted to close. Other than that we had the Tapas menu, which offered some really good options. We enjoyed the garlic shrimp, lamb meatballs, potatoes, and snapper the most. The star of the night, hands down, was the Churro dessert. To our surprise this was not your traditional churro. A churro in the shape of a hollow cupcake filled with ice cream and escorted by a side of warm chocolate for you to drizzle. CHEF'S KISS! Overall, a good experience that could have been great if the service was better, but I will attribute that to it being a very busy night.“

“The salteñas from Saya are, without a doubt, the best I’ve tasted—not just in Washington DC, but even compared to some spots in La Paz, Bolivia. The staff is warm and attentive, and every bite of food is bursting with flavor. A true gem for anyone craving authentic Bolivian cuisine.“

“I absolutely love the fish dishes, the ceviche was amazing! The new menu provides some wonderful flavors that are expertly combined. And classics like the empanadas are a great comfort food as well, paired with a tasty chimichurri sauce, and other fantastic sides with different levels of spice. 😙👌“

“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!!!“

“Consistently AWESOME!“

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

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

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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??“

“We stopped by this Salvadorian-Mexican restaurant for breakfast and had a great experience. The food was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care.

I ordered the Salvadorian típico, which came with scrambled eggs mixed with shredded beef, sweet plantains, and traditional sides. Everything was well seasoned and cooked just right. We also tried the cheese pupusas, and they were excellent. Hot, cheesy, and full of flavor. The coffee was really good and completed the breakfast.

Customer service also stood out. The cashier was friendly, polite, and welcoming, which made the visit even better.

Overall, everything was on point. From the food to the service, this is a great spot if you are looking for authentic Salvadorian food or a solid breakfast. We will definitely be back.“

“muy buena comida se los recomiendo“

“Bomb food :)“

“My daughter ordered a door dash from her and shared a taco with me. This was one of THE best tacos that I've ever had. This is a gem of a restaurant. I will continue to try out more of their menu and will say that this is truly authentic food that is excellent!“

“I mean it's a food truck at a gas station, not much atmosphere. Other than that No complaints!! Unless I get there late and she's out of pollo??‍♂️. Not her fault lol. Never been disappointed and if you're nice you may get some home pickled jalapenos, definitely a great lunch option. It's my go-to a couple times a week. Definitely recommend ??“

“Beatiful place! Sushi is tasty and fresh.“

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

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

“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.“

“The vibe is good. The service was very very slow. They kept forgetting to put things in. Not sure if they were short staffed. Don’t waste your time with the chips and dips. They tasted like store bought guacamole and salsa and cheap dollar store bag chips. But other wise the Citron sampler was amazing! We only one drink because again the service was slow. But overall I would try this place again because of the vibe and music.“

“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.“

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

“Ok, I know I should have known better but evenings (8:30 pm) are a Latin disco fest with music videos and slightly loud music. The food it traditional and delicious and they offer bucket discounts for beers. Either way, don’t believe the Google reviews saying the price is $100+ As we grabbed to entries for $28 total. It was a bit to loud after our day, otherwise we would have hung out in the outdoor area.“