Creative Mexican at Oyamel (Penn Quarter)

NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS
Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members.
→ Learn how DC Metro Dining works
→ Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)

RSVP CUTOFF
The final opportunity to change your RSVP from Yes to No is Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m.

After that point, please do not change your RSVP without contacting the organizer. Last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and failure to communicate may affect future participation.

INTRO: To close out the month, we're heading to Oyamel, José Andrés' creative Mexican restaurant in Penn Quarter.
Oyamel celebrates Mexico's regional culinary traditions through an energetic menu of antojitos, ceviches, tacos, vegetables, and more substantial dishes, along with an extensive tequila, mezcal, and cocktail program.

FOOD: The menu provides a broad range of price points, from individual tacos and vegetable dishes to ceviches, seafood, meat, and larger-format plates. This makes it easy to mix and match, whether ordering individually or sharing several dishes across the table.

Current menu highlights include Ceviche Verde, Ceviche con Cítricos, Atún Pacífico, Aguachile de Camarón, and a variety of tacos such as Cochinita Pibil, Carnitas, Chilorio de Res, Pescado Baja California, and Taco de Lengua. Other options include Queso Fundido con Tequila, Coliflor Frita, Quesadilla de Huitlacoche, Camarones al Mojo de Ajo Negro, and Bistec con Mole Coloradito. The menu also includes vegetarian options and desserts such as chocolate flan and tres leches.

The current à la carte menu ranges from approximately $6–$9 for individual tacos, $11–$23 for many smaller dishes and vegetables, and higher for larger entrée. Menu items and prices may change.

→ Explore OYAMEL's Dinner Menu: https://www.oyamel.com/menus/

-= SPENDING EXPECTATIONS =-
Approximately $45–$75 per person before tax, gratuity, and beverages for a moderate à la carte dinner. Those ordering multiple shared dishes, larger entrées, cocktails, or wine should plan for approximately $75–110+ per person all-in, depending on selections.

SPACE: Oyamel is a very popular, energetic restaurant, particularly on weekend evenings. The dining room has a lively, sometimes boisterous atmosphere, with numerous hard surfaces that carry and amplify the sound.

On a Saturday night, the experience can feel almost like a fun dinner-party or celebratory atmosphere, with animated conversations, a busy bar, and a steady flow of diners. This is part of the restaurant's appeal, but it is worth noting that Oyamel is not an especially quiet or intimate dining environment.

The décor is colorful and distinctive, and the overall setting is polished without feeling overly formal. Come expecting a spirited, social evening rather than a subdued dinner.

→ Visit the restaurant website: https://www.oyamel.com

• Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details)
• Limited to 8 slots

See you there,
JoeN

CLOSEST METRO

• Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (Green and Yellow Lines). From the station, use the exit toward Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street NW. Walk north on 7th Street NW, passing the National Archives area and continuing toward D Street NW. Oyamel will be on the right between D and E Streets NW. 2 min walk.
• Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow Lines). From the station, walk south on 7th Street NW toward D Street NW and continue to Oyamel. 6–8 minutes walk.
• For directions using the Metro, try using the Trip Planner | WMATA Rider Tools https://share.google/V5iOWbEbTGTvrqF8T

PARKING: Oyamel is located in a busy downtown area where street parking may be limited, especially during the evening. Several commercial parking garages are available within a few blocks. For advance parking reservations, check SpotHero or Parking Panda.

Attendance Notes

• If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaur
• New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot? Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (often open up on the morning of the event). You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs and please respond timely to Event Lead communications.
• Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total. This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant.

Looking forward to dining with you!

JoeN