Oyamel

“I love this restaurant! It was a new experience for me so I decided to go all in. From the complimentary chips and salsa to the Oaxaca dessert, everything was fresh, flavorful, and festive! I ordered the chicken enchiladas and I was instantly immersed in a flavorful experience that I didn’t know I needed. Fresh flavors of tomatoes, lime, and Mexico all added in this dish with enough heat that gave your tongue gentle slaps to keep it awakened. Since those were sooo delicious I thought how bad could the chapulines tacos be? Yup I ordered it! Yes you can see them lying there! Yes, that was the BEST taco I ever ate! Not because the taste reminded me of beef marinated with all the right spices. But I had to get through them waiting for me to make it worth their little lives. So the first bite was both fearfully exhilarating and so worth the deliciousness I received for my heroism. Crunchy tacos the fresh tortilla was not but the filling was crunchy indeed! I can’t describe it so you just have to bite the bullet, I mean grasshopper, and TRY IT! Yes, TRY IT! Did I want dessert? No, not until I heard coffee ice cream Oaxaca pudding, pecan shortbread, and flambé bananas with lime. I know what you’re thinking, this combo can’t be delicious too. But I love to tell you that it was, and it was the perfect ending to wonderful meal. The coffee was not overwhelming and the shortbread was not what you would think. The flavors work and the lime cleans the palate so you can keep eating it. Every now and again one must treat themselves to a delightful and adventurous meal in a lively, beautiful and picturesque restaurant. My friend and I stumbled upon this place after visiting the museum, because the lively atmosphere caught our attention. Walking into colorful ceiling decor that draws your eye. It put me in the mood to enjoy myself and that is exactly what I did. The only thing I did not like is no complimentary refills on their limeade drink. Tasting this coming in from walking on a hot day was a refreshing pick me up that would have been finished in 2 seconds until I learned of this restaurants only issue. Really go ahead and make non-alcoholic drink refills free. If you haven’t already, or haven’t in a while come and enjoy yourself. You will not be disappointed!”

“Amazing authentic Mexican place to eat gluten free! The friendly front of house person knew from our booking that I needed a gluten free meal due to being a celiac and so gave us a gf menu as well as another one. The waitress said that they have a dedicated fryer to cook the corn chips and so the free chips and salsa were devoured with gratefulness! We chose a shared menu of Hearts of Palm salad with grapefruit, radish and cucumber, Bass Ceviche, Grilled Octopus, Wild Mushroom taco, Adobo Chicken taco, BBQ Pork Taco and Shredded Beef taco. It was all scrumptious! The margaritas were delicious too! The waitress was super helpful, took my celiac allergy serious and best part was I didn’t get sick from the experience! Would definitely recommend this restaurant to celiacs.”

“A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Delicious and beautifully presented cuisine,and the butterfly-themed decor added a dreamy touch. Chips and Salsa: Absolutely amazing! Worth coming just for the complimentary tortilla chips. The corn flavor was incredibly rich, with a subtle undertone; the salsa was perfectly balanced between sour and spicy, with the garlic, onion, and cilantro adding a refreshing and pungent aroma. Everything was just right. Ceviche con Citricos: The dish I was most looking forward to, but it was only so-so. The sauce, made with citrus, pineapple habanero, and Fresno peppers, unsurprisingly had a refreshing and tangy flavor, but it was slightly too sweet and lacked spiciness, significantly diminishing its vibrant and stimulating effect; the bass was also bland in terms of oiliness and sweetness. Salmon would have made it much more delicious. Julienned jicama was sweet and crunchy, which was quite interesting. My friend and I initially thought they were pears. 🤣 Taco de Lengua: My first time trying a beef tongue taco 🌮, and it was definitely the most interesting taco on the menu. The beef tongue was clean and odorless, stewed until tender and juicy, with a savory flavor similar to Chinese lo shui滷水. The salsa, white onion slices, and cilantro were fresh and crisp, creating a complicated texture. The tortilla was baked perfectly, not too dry, and had a good chew. Everything was right too. Quesadilla de Chicharrones: The pork belly was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the fatty parts almost melting in your mouth. It had a rich smoky and marinated flavor, but it was a bit too salty for me. The salsa had melted, reducing its spiciness considerably; it was basically just tomato sauce. The cheese was rich and creamy, softening the flavors—the more the merrier! But that's where the problem lay; the cheese was visibly unevenly distributed. Huarache de Bistec: The bread was very hard and difficult to cut, but the simple, fresh corn aroma was irresistible; the flank steak was tender and savory, and the smoothness of the cream and sunny-side up egg contrasted beautifully with the refreshing salsa. Ladies and gentlemen, please add an egg! Tamarind Juice: Sweeter and lighter than regular tamarind juice. More suitable for a wider audience. The restaurant is very busy, so please make a reservation in advance. Also, since my friend paid the bill, and she went to the restroom while the waiter coming back for the tip and signing, I suggest that we wait for her return, but the waiter refused to wait and insisted that I sign on her behalf. Is this reasonable?”

“We had a great experience at Oyamel Cocina Mexicana. The atmosphere is vibrant and colorful, with a lively energy that really makes the place feel special and perfect for a night out. The food was delicious overall, especially the tacos and guacamole, which were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The menu offers a nice variety of dishes to try, and everything felt authentic and thoughtfully prepared. Portions are on the smaller side, but it works well if you’re sharing and sampling different items. Overall, a really enjoyable dining experience. A bit on the pricier side, but worth it for the ambiance, quality, and unique flavors. I would definitely come back!”

“Must have been an off night. Place was packed & busy, but service was good at the start. However, the drink order took a long tine to arrive. Wait staff had some drama at the bar, so getting more service after food arrived was slow. There appeared to be some arguing-drama with some of the waitstaff at the bar, so we were patient as we waited 15-20 minutes after finishing our meal for our check. Again, I hope this was an one-off, as this place gets a lot of positive reviews. I gave service a 3 star, bc when engaged, they were good. Unfortunately, they were distracted by whatever drama was going on at the bar with other waitstaff.”