Oyamel Cucina Mexicana, Mexican restaurant in Penn Quarter, Washington D.C., United States
Oyamel Cucina Mexicana is a Mexican restaurant located in Penn Quarter that specializes in tacos, small plates, and ceviches made to order. The kitchen sources fresh ingredients directly from family farms throughout Mexico and prepares each dish by hand.
The restaurant was founded in 2004 by Spanish chef José Andrés, who introduced regional Mexican cuisine to Washington D.C.'s growing food community. This opening marked a turning point in how the city approached and appreciated authentic Mexican cooking.
The restaurant sources ingredients from family farms across Mexico and prepares dishes using traditional techniques that reflect the cooking styles of different regions. Diners experience these regional differences through each course they order.
The restaurant is located in Penn Quarter and stays open until midnight on weekdays and until 2 AM on weekends. Making a reservation ahead of time is a good idea, especially for dinner service and weekend dining.
The menu includes chapulines, grasshoppers that are sauteed and served as tacos in the traditional way. This dish is rarely seen in the United States and offers diners a chance to try something genuinely uncommon from Mexican cuisine.
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