Samantha's Restaurant

Latin American restaurant · Silver Spring

Samantha's Restaurant

Latin American restaurant · Silver Spring

2

631 University Blvd E, Silver Spring, MD 20901

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Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null
Samantha's Restaurant by null

Highlights

Hideaway Pan-Latin eatery serves Mexican fajitas, Salvadoran pupusas, meaty Argentine dishes & more.  

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631 University Blvd E, Silver Spring, MD 20901 Get directions

samanthasrestaurante.com

$$ · Menu

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631 University Blvd E, Silver Spring, MD 20901 Get directions

+1 301 445 7300
samanthasrestaurante.com
samanthasrestaurante

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 13, 2025

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@cntraveler

"Samantha’s Restaurant, known for Salvadoran cuisine."

50 States, 50 Cuisines: The Food Worth Traveling For in Every State
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@eater

"Good luck finding parking here. With ample acclaim, this Silver Spring staple typically has devotees lined up out the door. Some come for the sweet and satisfying tres leches cake, but the pupusas, served with a spicy and zesty vinegar slaw, are the savory highlight of the menu." - Tim Ebner

13 Essential Pupusa Places Around D.C.
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debbi hopkins

Google
Gross. Disgusting. Needs immediate improvements. My son picked up dinner to-go from Samanthas the other night, and we were all so excited based on the reviews. Unfortunately, out experience was less Mb than desirable. First, his encounter with ordering and dealing with ordering staffj was disappointing from the onset. They were unfriendly and seemed annoyed when he had a few questions about placing our order. This was to-go/ carryout, so we got home and started to dig in. Things seemed fine until a few bites in, my son found a ROACH!!! Then upon a closer look, a fly was also identified. Needless to say, I was grossed out, completely. The restaurant was closed by the time we ate, otherwise I would have taken the food back. My son, however, is so kind that he didn't even want to return because he was still affected by the poor treatment he received when he was simply trying to order the food. He threw the food away and went to bed hungry. What a complete waste of money and a huge let down. Which, by the way, this place isn't cheap! Sqmathas, please get a quality exterminator in there ASAP. And, work on training all employees to provide better customer service, even to those who may not be Spanish speaking. Come on people!

John Phillips

Google
Absolutely blown away! This place is incredible! I had fajitas and a chili rellano. I consider myself somewhat of a chilli rellano connoisseur, and this was the very best one I have ever eaten. The food was presented so beautifully as well. The service was that of a very expensive restaurant. I cannot recommend Samantha’s enough!

Marijke Evans

Google
The Lomo Soltado was absolutely delicious 😋 the baked stuffed chicken with Spinach and mushrooms and avacado sauce melted in your mouth! Everything was fantastic including the service!

Javier Almendarez

Google
I always came to eat here at this restaurant with my family because it seemed very clean, but today I realized that it is not. I came to have some soup and this is what happened to me. A fly appeared in my food. I will never return to this place again.

Samuel Welay

Google
This place is so cool, I just love how it's small and organized. And the fact that I live 5 minutes away from here and never been here is sad. The waiter was nice and friendly. The food I had was delicious. I'll definitely be back with my friends.

Thomas

Google
The service here is high quality, feels like you're eating a meal at home. The pricing's reasonable, especially for the large quantity of food that you get. The food is also phenomenal, the pupusas are great, and any of the fajita plates are safe bets. The spicy sausage is a family favorite.

irfan ozarslan

Google
Since we had been to this restaurant once before, we have been obsessing for paella. But, to get to this restaurant during the dinner hour, you take your life into your own hands. It is like driving through Tijuana in a 1957 Chevy convertible. We pulled into the parking lot and we were almost run over by a diesel pickup. It was a nightmare. We entered the restaurant and were met with serenity. The peacefulness and calmness of the dining room was a 180 degree difference from the outside craziness. Our server, Carmen, made us feel at home. She was very gracious. We had mussels and nachos for appetizers and they were both delicious. I have never tasted such a flavorful sauce with mussels. I couldn’t get enough . Then came the paella. The presentation was beautiful. And the flavors were phenomenal. And the amount served for two people is more than plentiful. The food and the service is well worth a visit. Thank you chef and crew.

billschomer

Google
Such a cool place! The service was incredible. We had a wonderful server who was super nice. The food was wonderful. I was not really in the mood for Mexican and had the Pollo asago. At the end of the meal I was ready to come back the next night!

Kelly W.

Yelp
Great service and great food! Definitely an authentic Latin restaurant. Chips and salsa are great that come to the table and definitely make sure you try the grilled shrimp fajitas.

Kaprice G.

Yelp
I've never eaten inside, only done take out as I live close by here. But I've gotten the Carne Asada before (not pictured) and now I've had their Lomo Saltado (pictured) and it was fire. Their Horchata is ok but the food is a must try, based off what I've had. Very flavorful, meat is cooked nicely, sauce is great. Will definitely look forward to trying out their desserts later on along with a margarita.

Laurie J.

Yelp
Excellent food perfect service nice atmosphere. Definitely gojng back. I got the enchiladas they were really good.

Katrina F.

Yelp
Sorry for the half-eaten food; when you look forward to a meal for soo long, sometimes, taking pictures is the last thing on your mind ^.^ This is a small Latin / Central American restaurant. Delicious food, decent portions, good quality, excellent service, but expensive. Is it worth the price? For the most part, I think it could be a few dollars cheaper, but they don't cater to the people in the area. For this reason, I can only come every few months. Their food is delicious do. Stop by if you are in the area and want to try high-quality Latin food.

Sher A.

Yelp
Love, love, love this family owned business. Great ambience, drinks, food and service. Always a good choice!

Barb T.

Yelp
Another wonderful meal at elegant Samantha's. They have the best chicken, tamales and tropical salad with their homemade dressing and good chips with delicious salsa. Please Support this restaurant that has such delicious food. And the staff is just the best you can't go wrong with ordering anything it's all delicious!

Jonathan G.

Yelp
Amazing and very delicious food , the staff was amazing and very nice , I got the pollo de milanesa and it was all very well and well seasoned I definitely recommend.

Mariano S.

Yelp
I Recently visited this restaurant for lunch, I had a pollo milanesa with rice and beans. The food was delicious. Everything was seasoned and cooked well. The reason why it's not a 5 star review is because the dessert was not good. I bought a 3 leches cake and one small slice was $7.50. Taste, texture was unpleasant. It was more like gelatin.

Mahsa A.

Yelp
Great place, good food, friendly staff! Their chips and warm salsa is delicious! Recommend this place for a homemade food.

Maira R.

Yelp
If I could give more stars I would!!! If I was on GOT and had a last meal, I would hit Johnny up at this fine establishment and get it in! Yall!!! This place is the real deal! Like..For real.. The staff is like family, the food is delicious! I see the female cooks! delicious food, wonderful people, and great times!

Barbara T.

Yelp
The best food around. The tropical salad is amazing. The salmon in whichever type you get is delicious. And the regular server lady is notches gorgeous but so so sweet. The salsa they give you with the chips is to die for. Love this place! I'm also getting a carry out for my daughter and family who live further away. They love the chicken Pupusas oh my grandson got the stuff shrimp.I just got the salmon and look how Amazon!

Lajuan M.

Yelp
I've eaten at this place several times but my last experience on September 18 was not memorable. I ordered steak and chicken tacos which arrived five minutes afterwards. The tacos shells were very hard and the steak and chicken were both cold; I couldn't even enjoy it them because the taco was so hard. I decided to send them back and order soft tacos. What a waste of time, because when I received them they were old and stale! The margaritas were good! However, I would seriously have to rethink visiting this place again. The service and ambiance was mediocre!

Sindy D.

Yelp
A nice place to eat by authentic food. The atmosphere is nice and the servers are always kind and welcoming.

Lourdes M.

Yelp
Hace tres años fuimos a cenar allí, la comida están muy buena pero en medio del burrito que se estaba comiendo mi acompañante, encontramos una cucaracha del tamaña de un dinosaurio, y la mesera muy preocupada nos Pío una disculpa y nos dijo "si ustedes vieran cómo está la cocina de infestada es algo que no podemos controlar" Nunca regresamos.

Wilmer O.

Yelp
I ordered a carne asada and it was very nicely cooked. Customer servise was very good

Kevin A.

Yelp
Excellent food, more costly than other Salvadoran and similar restaurants but worth it. Great fish. Only problem is a terrible parking lot that's often full and always makes you think someone Will bump your car getting out of the blind, dark spaces.

Julianne B.

Yelp
Went here tonight with a friend and everything was so good! The service was great and the food even better! I got the Lomo Saltado which is "Pan sautéed tenderloin tips with red onions, tomatoes, green pepper, French fries, jalapeños, cilantro, and green peas in our homemade Peruvian style sauce." Everything went together so well and I paired it with a pineapple mojito. Delicious. We spent a pretty good amount of money but for what we got, I didn't mind! I'll definitely be back!

Tania C.

Yelp
I been complaining bout the food in Langley Park for years. That's because I didn't know about this place. Food here is absolutely dynamite. Good, honest, just, everything that food is supposed to be. I got the shrimp and steak fajitas, steak was so juicy, shrimps soooo good. Man I tore that thang up and the seafood burrito. IYKYK

Carol K.

Yelp
Hands down my favorite Salvadorian restaurant. The salsa and chips they serve you when you first sit down are the best I've had. The tortilla's are so thin, making the texture amazing. I highly recommend their Lunch Parillada, the chicken and steak are so tender and juicy. The yucca con chicharron is also cheap, delicious, and filling. The chicharron is heavily salted though, so I recommend eating it with salsa and rice. Honestly, everything here tastes good, even their non-alcoholic drinks:)

Alex A.

Yelp
I been coming here for years ! Great food , love it , if I have to say something negative about it , it was just a one time experience , happens to the best places out there !! Very chill spot , pupusas are amazing! Love the dressing on the salad , it's so good , great place to bring a large party if you must ! Love the place

Sarah M.

Yelp
Delicious food and mixed drinks, friendly staff and great service. Ordered guacamole, pupusas and shrimp stuffed with crab

Roy S.

Yelp
This is where you get the best pupusas in the area. Period. No one else fills them up with as much or as good a filling. No one else offers warm salsa for dipping. If you get them extra crispy you have one of my favorite meals. This place also does everything else well. Anytime I try a new dish I am always surprised at how good it is. The parking sucks, but it's worth it!!

Shelly J.

Yelp
It looks shabby on the outside but inside is a gem. Both my dude and I were sick and needed something theraflu couldnt cure. We were too lazy to cook or buy groceries to make soup. Our first visit we split their seafood soup. It is expensive but soup was plentiful. Soup had a rich creamy broth with shrimp, scallops, mussels, and clams and other veggies. This soup was no way watery or lacked seasonings. It was very filling and help us fight our bug. Next trip: pupusas they are good but not spectacular. Carne Asada mm mm good Lengua Guisada its delicious but momma dukes would nail this Margaritas are da bomb. Great service.. parking sucks.

C S.

Yelp
Fantastic food and great service. We ordered papusas, chicken and beef enchiladas, and beef tongue tacos. Everything was delicious!

Helen M.

Yelp
Looks like a hole in the wall from the outside. Not anything fancy about the inside, but nice. The food is great along with the Margherita's My Favorite the guacamole taco. If you love Mexican food you will not be disappointed

Aileen M.

Yelp
I had been wanting to try this place for some time now. They serve a variety of Pan-Latin cuisines from Enchiladas, Fajitas, to Saltados, Ceviche and more. I would say a majority of the dishes are Mexican/ Salvadoran though. This place has options for Meat/fish eaters and vegetarians. I decided to go for a Marisco(seafood) dish. I choose the Salmon Primavera and was not disappointed. For the the amount that I paid for( $23 with tax included) I was completely satisfied. I had leftovers for lunch the next day too because it was a lot of food. The salmon portion is quite large. It also comes with 2 pieces of medium sized shrimp and a scallop. The seafood cream sauce is simple yet has the right amount of flavor. Since the vegetables are just steamed I ended up dipping them in the leftover sauce lol. It also comes with avocado, white rice, and black beans on the side. I came on a Wednesday evening. I had called Samantha's beforehand and put in my order for pick up. They told me it would take about 15 minutes. I got there maybe 20 minutes after I called and I only waited for less than 5 minutes and my order came out bagged and ready to go. When I got to the restaurant, there was only one family of four dinning in. So I'm assuming during the week business maybe a bit slow but when I pass by on a weekend especially at night it's pretty busy. I would like to go back and dine in as well. I will definitely their Seafood Burrito next!

Aissatou G.

Yelp
The food and service was 10/10! I hade the Guadalajara Platter and quesadillas as an appetizer. So amazing and and prices are great too

Sherry B.

Yelp
Great food. Nice service. Consistently good quality. My only complaint is that they don't deliver through one of the regular apps.

Dan A.

Yelp
My first time at this restaurant and i love it. I was seated immediately and thise golden crispy chips and salsa arrived at the table in no time. I ordered the sama tha's fajota combo which i liked a lot, the .eat was juicy and cooked to perfection the accompanied dish was fresh and very delicious. The restaurent is alwast busy i assume but service is pretty good. One thing i like about the place is the hygiene, the tables walls and surrounding is all clean. I will definitely come back to try new dishes.

Steve E.

Yelp
Samantha's is on my list of best Salvadoran Cuisine in the Area. I came here when they first opened and the food has been great since. Ive had great memories dining here from hanging with friends, business lunches, to bringing a date. I recently came because now it has became my moms favorite. This dishses where you can't go wrong with tamal de elote camarones emotatizados sopa de mariscos fajita platter trucha frita pupusas

Diane M.

Yelp
Such a wonderful and friendly spot. My husband did suggest that the burrito not shred the chicken. But awesome place.

NaBeela W.

Yelp
This place was such an unexpected delight! This was my second time visiting and it was just as good as the first time. I ordered the chicken burrito which comes with grilled chicken, seasoned vegetables (seemed like mostly onions), and cheese over a homemade sauce. I asked for double rice and they gave me an ample amount of pico de gallo. My mouth is starting to water as I write this. The burrito is the only thing I've had here but it's so good and filling. You really get what you pay for and the ingredients taste fresh and are very flavorful. It also doesn't take long if you order carry out. I highly recommend this place if you're in the Greater DC area or near Takoma Park & Silver Spring. So good!

Rudy M.

Yelp
Very good food...dined there 20+ times over the years with wife for dinner and with kids for family dinner. Always very good to great. Have noticed some differences in how some plates are prepared, seasoned and served but it's all good. Parking is limited and such a hassle that sometimes we go around the corner to another excellent Salvadoran restaurant. Nice mix of authentic Mexican and El Salvadoran foods for authentic papusas, tamales, soups and main dishes. My favs are the masitas, the zarzuela, the sopa de res, and the tacos al carbon.

Dana M.

Yelp
Back again and loved it! Favorite dishes: - pitcher of margarita for the family - carne asada (never fails!) - lomo saltado - marisco saltado - salmon primavera Everything was amazing and we will probably order it all again!

Tanya L.

Yelp
Carne asada...literally that's all what my review should say...but that ain't Yelptastic. We've visited Samantha's sporadically for almost two decades...through countless military moves and visits back home...and the carne asada is always stellar. Perfectly cooked and seasoned with crack...I mean, perfectly seasoned. Tender, juicy, & and totally worth it. This is coming from a girl who normally prefers to NOT order steaks since I grill some pretty mean cow at home. Still, Samantha's has our family drooling at the thought of their carne asada. Even the non-red meat eaters will order it. Sooooo sooooo good. We've had their other dishes and have always been pleased with them (although we tend to not order the run-of-the-mill tacos and such and stick to the house specialties). It's a sketch area but that's where you get the best food. Samantha's never disappoints...like ever.

Toyosi O.

Yelp
Whenever we drive past we always see so many people inside so this restaurant always piqued our interest. Finally, we decided to come here for my sister's birthday and honestly, we were kind of underwhelmed. The taco salad tasted great and the enchiladas are what you expect. On the other hand, the vegetable fajitas lacked flavor to a point where it was shocking... The overall restaurant was pretty nice and the staff was great! Next time I'll just make sure no one orders the vegetable fajitas.

Joseph S.

Yelp
Amazing service, amazing food. Only thing I'm upset about is that I want more!! Haha. Great time at Samantha's as always, very clean and well kept restaurant. Can be a causal dine in or you can feast with your loved ones and they'll treat you like royalty. Great time. Thanks much Samantha's!

Hemanth D.

Yelp
Nice Mexican food. Chips and salsa were probably the best. Salsa was prepared fresh and served hot. Chips were thin and didn't feel greasy. We ordered plain tamales with no filling. They were a bit a sweeter than what I had eaten. Loved them! For the main course, we ordered enchiladas and veg fajitas. They were alright, not as spectacular as the salsa and tamales. Service was great. However, the place is very small and congested. Also, parking can be challenging. Food is a bit pricey as well. Enchilada were about $13 and Fajitas were about $18. All in all - it was worth it.

Andre C.

Yelp
Samantha's has been one of my favorite places to go for Mexican and Salvadorian food for years. I first went there back in 2010, and have been back a few times over the years. A word about getting there: it's on University Blvd, and located next to a car wash that gets fairly busy on the weekends, so physically pulling your car into the parking lot (which is sorta small anyway) can be nightmarish. The service is usually ok. The staff are usually polite. I've never had to wait an unreasonable amount of time for food, so no real complaints there. The space is pretty small, but they packed an impressive amount of seating in there. I've never had to wait for a table. Though if for some reason your showing up with more than 5-6 people, they're going to have to rearrange some things. The food is good! I love them because they have some of the best pupusas you'll find in a restaurant in that area. They are large and well balanced. Not too oily. (I will, however, stand by making a Salvadorian friend and getting them to invite you over as the best way to get amazing, authentic pupusas.) I've also had enchiladas and quesadillas there. Never had any complaints. On the most recent visit my friend had the yuca con chicharrón which was pretty good too. May not look like much from the outside, but the food is definitely worth a visit.

Andrew L.

Yelp
Walked in and sat a table. Before the server even took my order, I was served with tortilla chips and dipping sauce. Perhaps I haven't gone out to many restaurants, but that right there to me is the best service you can get. Food was great too.

Rupa N.

Yelp
Mediocre restaurant overall. I ordered the cheese enchiladas which was overwhelming with cheese that the tortilla wasn't visible. There was also less enchilada sauce and I like my enchiladas covered in sauce Rice and beans accompanied with it was good. Their complimentary chips and salsa were the best part. Salsa is different from your usual Mexican restaurant. It comes out warm, soupy, and a light red color. I enjoyed it. If you prefer your salsa more like pico de Galla and chunky then you might not like this. I got the tres leches for my dessert, it wasn't overly sweet which was good but it wasn't drenched in milk as I would have liked. It was kind of hard. The tres leches I've had in the past has always been soft.

Paula O.

Yelp
Delicious!! Beef taco salad, nachos and hard shell tacos!! We stopped to wash clothes on a trip as we were driving thru town. Samantha's was next door and within walking distance. Best decision for on the go dining!

Chris R.

Yelp
While many describe Samantha's as Mexican food, it's really more Pan-Latin. You have influences from all over Central and South America. It's one of my favorite restaurants in the area hands down. While on the outside it doesn't look anything special, inside feels both a bit upscale and cozy. I have always received excellent service and have enjoyed everything on the menu. I returned last night with several friends and we ordered pupusas and the ceviche mixto as appetizers. All stellar! I ordered one of my favorites, the spinach burrito. The portions are HUGE and so I will have it for lunch today as well. It never disappoints. Just scrumptious! We also split a pitcher of the red sangria... also always a delight. (The margaritas are also very good!) And our server was was friendly, attentive, and helpful. We wanted for nothing as he checked in regularly and cleared up as we went along. We were too full to order dessert this time but I can vouch for the flan and tres leches from previous visits. If i weren't trying to watch my waistline a bit, I'd have ordered one to go. My other favorite dishes are the Masitas de Puerco and the Trucha Frita. You cannot go wrong with these dishes. But my friends loved theirs too and we've covered a good portion of the menu so follow your taste buds!

Meheret W.

Yelp
I'm a transplant to the area but a Texan at heart and this place hit the spot! I'm always searching for authentic Mexican food in the area and this place didn't disappoint! I ordered the chicken enchilada and steak taco combo and my taste buds were outta control! The enchilada was incredibly tasty and I loved the sauce that complimented it so nicely! The steak taco was really flavorful and simple, just like a taco should be! Let's just say I was real upset when the food was gone lol Oh and the margarita was the bomb.com! Can't wait to come back!

Tracy W.

Yelp
Yummy authentic mexican food near my work! Super excited about this place. I ordered Shredded Steak Enchiladas for pick up. They told me 15 minutes, I got there and it was already ready to go. The food was amazing! However when I asked for pico de gallo they charged me for it (seriously?) but it was a large amount not a small lil salsa cup (which they do not have). Also they accidently made double orders of my enchiladas, I said a 2 enchilada plate, and they took it as 2 plates, I took it home anyways and was happy to have yummy lunch for the next day. They give you large portions as well so definitely multiple meals. Next time I will just make sure to clarify my order. They also have a small bar in the intimate restaurant that I sat at and had a strong drink. It was okay, I think they are better at tequilla than vodka. I will order again in the future.

Fiona K.

Yelp
The chicken burrito was okay , the sauce seemed sweet. Portion size is huge though!! The highlight for me was the lupus's and chips & salsa, not sure if I will return.

Rachel G.

Yelp
This restaurant should easily have five stars! I have been coming here since I was a student at University of Maryland. My friends and I have always come here for the best margs, guacamole, enchiladas, and carne asada. Even years after graduating, anytime we are all together a trip to Samantha's is a must. The carne asada is truly one of my favorite meals in the entire world, the staff are always incredibly friendly, and it is always consistent. Definitely make a trip here and you will not be disappointed!

Carroll D.

Yelp
Nice Latin restaurant - ambiance is better than most. Food is good. Be sure to try the gambas al ajillo. Parking can be a chore.

Craig M.

Yelp
Been going here for a long time. Always on point, authentic Mexican and Latin American cuisine. Just delicious!!!

Lindsey A.

Yelp
Always good. Pupusas are heaven. I've been coming here for the past 3 years and have always had a satisfying meal. Take out can be a little salty, but consistent portions and flavors. You know what you're getting.