Oro by Nixta Tortilleria
Mexican · Minneapolis · $$
4.7(616)
Mexican · Dupont Circle, Washington, DC · $$
Amparo, a name steeped in familial reverence and cultural heritage, stands as a luminous beacon of Mexico's rich tapestry of flavors and traditions, nestled within the vibrant heart of Dupont Circle, Washington, DC. Like its namesake, which translates to "shelter" in Spanish, Amparo embraces all who enter its doors, offering a sanctuary where community, creativity, and culinary exploration intertwine in a symphony of taste and tradition. At Amparo, we are more than just a restaurant—we are custodians of Mexico's diverse culinary heritage, passionate storytellers weaving narratives of flavor that traverse the length and breadth of the nation's varied regions. Led by the visionary Chef Christian Irabién, we embark on a journey of discovery, celebrating the time-honored recipes of generations past while embracing the boundless possibilities of culinary innovation. Our ethos is rooted in community, driven by a deep-seated commitment to challenging perceptions and dismantling misconceptions surrounding Mexican cuisine. We are both guardians of tradition and pioneers of change, guided by a spirit of curiosity and a reverence for the transformative power of food. From the bustling streets of Mexico City to the sun-drenched shores of the Yucatán Peninsula, our menu is a vibrant mosaic of flavors, textures, and aromas—a homage to the kaleidoscopic diversity of Mexico's culinary landscape. In every dish, every sip, every shared moment around our tables, we invite you to join us in celebration of Mexico's vibrant culinary heritage—a journey of taste, tradition, and transformation that resonates with the timeless rhythms of the human experience. Welcome to Amparo, where every meal is a revelation, every encounter a celebration of the enduring bonds that unite us all.
“Amparo is really top-notch and reminds me a lot of my visit to Mexico City. The food is very high quality and with generous portions - ceviche full of fresh fish, tuna tostada piled with high-quality tuna, and probably a combined 4 whole avocados represented in the dishes we had throughout the night. They don't skimp on anything, and the service was friendly and warm. I went there with a friend, and we could have probably halved our order and still have been full - so while the prices may look on the higher end, dishes are very splittable and the value is great. The environment is modern and bright, but comfortable with that classic DC rowhouse layout. It is now one of my favorite restaurants in DC.”
“I took a good friend of mine to Amparo to celebrate his birthday and it was a hit! The sopesitos are a great sharing plate. You can make your own and it’s great for a group with a variety of dietary needs. The tres leches is not to be missed!!! I will rave about it all day everyday! Perfect birthday cake!”
“We've eaten here four separate times, and each time is just better than the last. The food here is just so good, from the starter right down to the dessert. The drinks are equally as amazing and the atmosphere is just right. The service is sometimes a little slow, but nothing that I would complain about. We will continue adding this to our restaurant rotation.”
“Amparo Fondita was such a unique Spanish food experience in DC. The vibe is absolutely awesome from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is lively, colorful, and full of character. The service was great and the staff made us feel very welcome. The flavors were bold and different in the best way. You can tell a lot of thought goes into every dish. Definitely a spot I would come back to again. Highly recommend if you are looking for something unique with great energy and quality food in Washington, DC.”
“Starting off with the plantain empanadas really set the tone for the rest of the meal because wow!!! Mind you, I’m not even the biggest fan on plantains (which sounds crazy because I’m Nigerian) but they were so good we almost got another order. We also got the camarones a la plancha (grilled head-on prawns) to start and they were huge, cooked perfectly, and had great flavor. Also was tempted to get another order of this. The quesadillas were okay to me but they reminded me I prefer protein based quesadillas. The barbacoa was rich and flavorful. I didn’t try the mushrooms but my friend seemed to like them. We got rice and squash as sides as well and they were good. For desert we got the tres leches and carrot cake. If I knew they were that huge, would have probably said we should get one and share but you do get your moneys worth with them. My friend tried both and preferred the tres leches. Beautiful restaurant with great flavorful food. It’s lots of refinded dishes, which is nice to see their spin. Service was good too and they were busy for a Wednesday night. It’s an intimate spot, so definitely somewhere you’d want to make a reservation for. I’ll be back because I want to try the red snapper!”
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