Tortilla Café

A Hidden Gem Reborn at Eastern Market On January 9th, we discovered a true "diamond in the rough" for casual dining in SE DC. Located directly across from Eastern Market, Tortilla Café offers a unique and soul-warming fusion of Mexican, Salvadorian, and Filipino cuisines. The new co-owners have breathed fresh life into this local staple. We ordered the Salvadorian Breakfast (perfectly sweet plantains and savory beans) and the Filipino Bangsilog. The Daing Bangus (milkfish) was seasoned to perfection and paired beautifully with the garlic fried rice. To drink, the Horchata and Passion Fruit juice were the perfect refreshing complements. We had the pleasure of chatting with the Filipina co-owner, who shared her inspiring journey from the cafe’s former Kitchen Manager to its current part-owner. She even reminisced about the shop’s feature on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! With modernization plans and a dining room expansion in the works, this neighborhood favorite is clearly on its way back to the top. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an authentic, multi-cultural culinary experience. The secret gem is the Filipino food! Subukan nyo!

⭐ Tortilla Cafe Mexican-Salvadorian Grill ⭐ ★★★★★ This place is an absolute gem — the kind of spot you don’t just visit once, but remember. Known for their authentic Mexican-Salvadorian flavors (the pupusas alone are worth the trip), what truly sets them apart is the heart behind the service. Oscar was really helpful in a split second. On my way to the Havana Smokeshop, I ran out of water and stopped in. Even though Oscar was already helping another customer, I kindly asked if he could refill my bottle. In less than a minute, he handed it back full — no hesitation, no fuss, just genuine care. That small act says everything about this place: they don’t just serve food, they treat people with kindness. Pair that with delicious handmade dishes, warm ownership, and the kind of attentive service you rarely see anymore, and you’ve got the definition of five-star hospitality. If you’re looking for authentic flavors, family-style warmth, and service that makes you feel seen, Tortilla Cafe is the spot. Highly recommended.

Saw this place on an old episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Staying nearby, decided to try, so glad I did. One of the better Pupusa’s I’ve had in my life, also not normally a fan of plantains, but these were awesome! Great service, great prices, great food. Highly recommend!

I must say that I've tried Pupusas in Honduras, in El Salvador, and now in DC. This place has great pupusas, the flavor was great. Wanna have a pupusa that tastes like freshly made in Central America, this is the place. So I guess its my new favorite pupusa place!

Walked by today and noticed they now have a Filipino menu in addition! The lumpia was delicious. We would've have ordered more, but had just finished eating. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of their menu!

I had the pupusa platter It was good for sure, I got to have three options for each pupusa so that was nice Great plantains too

I have been here many times, but it has probably been a year. There was a complete revamp of the space inside, an expanded and updated menu and more sit down service rather than focus on takeaway. The expanded menu and service are a great refresh and a reminder why they are a hidden gem in the neighborhood!

First time having a pupusa & it was delicious! Also tried something from the Filipino Corner of menu and it was delicious too! Everything freshly made to order. Great, friendly service!

I'm leaving D.C. soon after a semester in town for an internship, and Tortilla Cafe has been a mainstay for me for the past four months. Their pork burrito plate is amazing, their service is great, and I always know that I won't have to wait long to get my food. There are plenty of good reasons why the place is always packed, and I know I'll be back if I'm in the area in the future. Couldn't recommend more highly!

What a sad progression (see my other reviews! TC has long been a top 5 DC favorite) -- Tortilla Cafe continues to plummet in quality from what it once was. The change of ownership a few years ago meant higher prices for the same menu, which was understandable. But the consistency of the food itself, the service, and more recently, the cleanliness has continued to go downhill. Today I stopped by to grab a chicken burrito to go with a side of jalapeño sauce. Didn't check my order until I got in the car because I had an overtired toddler in tow, and I was unfortunately busy stopping my kid from grabbing the dead cockroaches on the floor of the restaurant. When I hungrily started eating my burrito in the car, I was bummed they forgot the jalapeño sauce I paid for, but that's forgivable. Worse was the multiple pieces of long hair I found in my burrito, which combined with the roaches on the floor may have turned me off of one of my oldest favorite DC eateries forever.

This is not it. These chicken strips are dry and distasteful. It's just disgusting. Did not eat

I wanted to love it, I did. I personally think the menu should be much smaller. I don't think they should offer Mexican because it doesn't deliver:/ I ordered the fajitas, and I was very underwhelmed. I'm Mexican, I know what I dig. I appreciated the effort, but this was a miss for me. I think they should perfect their pupusas, and make that their focus:)

Great place for the location and the low prices. The lady at the front was very nice and sweet, as well as the guy who brought out my order. The pupusas were good and I liked my entree too. I'd come back!

Small restaurant. Not suitable for large parties. Nice customer service. We ordered: Cheese pupusa - came out fresh and the cheese was stretchy when you took your first bite. Pork and cheese pupusa - also came out fresh and had more flavor than the cheese because of the pork. Chicken tamale - I actually ordered the pork but the chicken came out. I didn't care to complain because i didn't want to have to wait. It was good. The masa was not dry and crumbly. Even when you put your fork in to break apart, it seemed dry but when you're actually eating it, it was moist and almost pasty texture. I enjoyed it. Oh and it's Salvadoran tamale so it's bigger than what you're used to.

Small little hole-in-the-wall but very authentic food, and friendly staff. Today was my second time here (I'm out of state) because I have been craving their cheese pupusa for several months. Freshly made, warm corn taste, and stretchy cheese, and great price (2.99). I left super satisfied. Highly recommend you stop by if you're in the area. I'll be back for a third time!

There isn't anything special or good about this spot, unfortunately. The interior is not exciting or inviting. The menu display is a bit confusing because it is on 3 different TVs with them changing screens. The service is very slow. It took a long while to get my food, and they weren't busy at all. I ordered 3 beef tacos, and they were bland. The tortillas didn't seem fresh. I would not recommend this place.

This is a nice little cafe selling Mexican and Salvadoran food. We ordered a pork and cheese pupusa but we couldn't find or taste any pork inside it which was odd. Similarly with the spinach and feta empanada that only had spinach and no feta. Regardless, the food itself is good but it didn't leave a good enough impression on me to come back. They really need some AC inside. It was a very hot day and the heated store makes the wait seem so much longer than it actually was. All food will be given in take away containers which doesn't seem environmentally friendly. I'm hoping this is only done whilst the covid restrictions are still in place for DC.

This place is a gem at Eastern Market area, it's open daily for lunch. The rice and beans are not that great, a lot of space for improvement. The pupusas are great, fresh,warm and reasonable priced, make sure ask for the red sauce.

Decided to go for Mexican with my friends visiting from Mexico. Got chicken burrito with beans and plantains. Chicken was so dry and lacked flavor. I traded with my husband because I was so unhappy. Plantains we're good. Beans soso. I should have gotten a pupusa. Food took a long time to come out too. Small place not a lot of seating.

I normally order the seafood tacos but today I got one shrimp per taco. Really? ?????????????????????????????

Don't waste you time coming here since they have had new management.. they food quality Had went down . An they are so unprofessional With customer service .

Love coming in for lunch. The food is always so fresh and tasty and the service is friendly. One of my favorite places in Eastern Market to eat at.

Tortilla café gets 3 stars for amazing customer service, convenient location and inexpensive eats! However, when it comes to the food I was underwhelmed, I had the Pupusa plate with a side of refried beans and a side of yuca. The pupusas were extremely greasy and were mostly cheese (as opposed to chicken or chicharron). The beans didn't taste very fresh, they had a weird sour aftertaste, and the yuca was dry and greasy. Overall it was an ok meal, I was hoping for better, more authentic but then again the plate was $7.99 so I can't expect be too harsh.

I am not sure why the recent reviews for Tortilla Cafe are all negative. I had a great experience here! There are not many good options around the Eastern Market area, so I am so glad I was able to try this place! I ordered the tamale platter with 2 sides for only $6.99. The chicken tamale I got was delicious and moist! It was the first tamale I have ever tried and I loved it! I got black beans and yucca as my sides. The yuca was PERFECTLY fried and crispy. The service was extremely accommodating and the platter came out within 5 minutes. There are a few tables outside for outdoor seating.

Outstanding and inexpensive authentic Salvadoran Central American food with other American and Mexican options as well.

I went to Torilla Cafe and ordered a taco salad (as I've done for several years). When I arrived home in abt 20mins I opened the bag and something smelled like it was burned After mixing the salad I noticed that the green peppers and onions were burned black. I had to toss the salad in the trash The smell was awful. Why would they allow a item from there establishment me served to a customer burned up? I called over 25 times and I can't get anyone on the line I paid a bit less than 15.00 for this salad. When I looked at the cost of the salad on their on line menu it cost 7.95. I said to the cashier wow this salad had gone up. His reply was everything has. Again if the price has increased the on line menu should reflect the increase. I wasted my time and money going all the way across town to recieve a burned up 15.00 salad from a carryout. I WANT My MONEY BACK! Shame on u Torilla Cafe!

Amazing little hole in the wall! Gotta stop in and give it a try. The owner was really nice and talked to me and my friends for a bit. Family owned business

Amazing! Little hole in the wall but please try here! The papusa meat or just cheese were amazing. Also had horchata that was delicious. Sweet corn tamales was heavenly. Very affordable as well. Literally have zero complaints!

Don't sleep on this spot tucked away in the corner. The food is consistent. Breakfast and lunch. Staff is mad nice.

Finally, a go-to Mexican restaurant -- after 11 years of life in DC! Exceptionally friendly service, best deliciousness in town, and unbelievable value. I ordered a lot of extra items, thinking that for these low prices, everything must be small. Well, it's not! Nice portion sizes; the tacos are larger than most anywhere, and generously filled. The cheese pupusa and vegetarian quesadilla are especially delicious. Grabbed some steak tacos for a Latin-American handyman who was working in our house at the time. He said they were really good, seemed impressed, and asked where they were from. A good endorsement in my book! Will definitely be back at this small gem right in Eastern Market.

The food is wonderful. We got the breakfast burrito which is the best in DC at a great price. Would recommend for anyone looking for great food!

This is my go-to place at Eastern Market when I just want something filling and delicious. They have the best french fries (they're potato wedges) and amazing sandwiches. My favorites are the Margharita and El Salvadorian chicken sandwiches. Their papusa platter and burritos are amazing too. Also, take home some of their green jalapeño sauce; it's a must-have. Can't recommend this place more

Excellent. Exceeds all expectations. Don't let the modest space fool you. The food is authentic and delicious. I had the chicken tamales.

What can I say but wow! Totalmente un placer comer aquí. This place truly delivers that fantastic Salvadorian feel against a Capitol Hill/Eastern Market backdrop. The place is unassuming and sparse, but what they lack in decor they make up in taste and price. I'm on a vegetarian kick this meal so I best as I can attest their pupusas shine, I cannot comment on their Mexican food - but in short; I will be back. Tonight's meal: Pupusa vegetarianos; fantastic and totally blew me away. Some pupusas are forgettable, these are certainly not those. They were a good size and generously stuffed. Nice and melty cheese. Cabbage mixture came generously served but premixed and as such a little watery. Tamales, served in a Salvadorian style; they are dessert sweet, yet clearly high quality. They are very dense but not overwhelming. I contented myself with approximately half of one. Plátanos; the sweet varient and damned well a cut above the rest. I found them so good that I did not even need sauce or think to apply their white sauce. Walking distance from the Eastern Market metro, but arrive early, they'll close at 19:00 (7:00pm) weeknights. Tl;dr pupusas done right.

GET THE PAPUSAS! By far the best thing here. The cheese is perfectly melted within the crispy exterior. It's fantastic. Especially when paired with an horchata drink. The tamales, empanadas, and burritos are pretty decent choices too, although I found some of the meat to be dry. For sides, get the plantains; skip the yuca fries. Order a bunch and you won't be disappointed. We order a burrito combo, papusa combo, 2 empanadas, 2 tamales, and an horchata - the total was $30. I was all smiles throughout this meal.

Had the Pupusa (pork) platter with yuca and plantains, and Beef Salvadoran Soup. Soup was the best part of the meal, they give you a huge portion and it was pretty delicious. The pupusa was decent, a bit greasy and not that much filling but overall pretty good. Sides were standard, nothing to complain about. Overall solid, would probably stop by here again to try the other dishes if I head to the Eastern Market again, given the fairly inexpensive prices.

Tortilla Café is one of my favorite spots on the Hill, and it's not just because Guy Fieri endorsed it! The menu prices are outstanding for what you get. The restaurant is extremely casual, and you order and sit down. This tiny little spot is very busy but they get you in and out rather quickly if you are dining in. The service is awesome, and everyone there is incredibly helpful and friendly. My top two favorite orders are the Salvadoran breakfast and the Tex Mex burrito. I have never had a bad meal here, and have been numerous times.I highly recommend making sure you get a side of the refried beans, I don't know what they put in them but they are SO delicious. My day is exponentially better if I get to go to Tortilla café.

The pupusas platter is delicious and very hearty! It comes with two side option. The pupusas tasted authentic but the could have used a bit more flavor. The beans smelled a bit old. I do like that they whole sell rotisserie chicken and chips to go. The place is a good option for the weekend Eastern Market.

The restaurant is small so you will need to get your seats and have someone order. The prices are outstanding and the cute gal working is friendly. The disappointment is in the food and salsa. There was hardly any flavor in anything on my plate. I had the carne asada plate which is a flank steak with 3 sides and a drink for under $9 which is outstanding. For my sides I had the rice, black beans and fries. I should have ordered the fried plantines instead of the fries. The other weird thing was the platter did not come with tortillas for the steak. Normally you get that to wrap your steak with. By the time I got my plate I was already disappointed with the salsa which to me is an indication of the food. It was citriousy and salty and nothing else. I wanted to like this place really bad and if I am in the area again I may give it another go. I may try the chicken as it is rotisserie and looked good.

Saw this cafe premieres on food network, so I was anxious to try it. Our family planned the day around visiting this cafe. Glad it was a great area with a flea market that distracted us for the horrible restaurant experience. Cashier was nice however .... Fish tacos # failed Beef soup # water w unnecessary carbs( potatoes) It was more like flavored water with carrots etc Chicken quesadilla #failed Lastly our beef empanadas which no longer is on the table was it return immediately. Got out of shower was made out of like a flaky croissant dough and burn like no othe it was more like flavored water with carrots and Got out of shower was made out of like a flaky croissant dough and burned

Came here because of guy fieri. I have never had Salvadoran food before but it was delicious and there was plenty of seating. Pork papusa - I have never had a papusa before but will definitely be coming back for this. It was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside (both from the mass and the cheese). Comes with a slaw for some acid Tamale - masa was super moist but the chicken was a little dry. Flavors were okay but I probably wouldn't get this again. Guac- wayyyyyy too much lime in this. It really denatured the avocado and it kind of turned into a slime. Do not get this! Four stars given the value and the tastiness of the papusa and slaw. I was full with just the papusa and tamale

(2.5 stars) My second time here was not nearly as fun or enjoyable as the first. The food was still cheap and the pupusas were good but the rest not so much. This time I went with the margarita chicken sandwich. The sandwich itself was awful. Avoid it. The chicken was tough and hard to chew while at the same time bland and seeming undercooked. There was almost no guacamole, the bread was super oily, and there wasn't a single hint of tequila or lime in the chicken or the sandwich overall. The rice was fine but the plantains slightly tougher than I remember. Sadly this was a more disappointing experience. Perhaps just avoid the margarita chicken sandwich. Previous Review: Came here for lunch after some shopping in Eastern Market and not only really enjoyed it, but was absolutely shocked by how cheap it was. I ordered a 1/2 roasted chicken platter with rice and beans for only $6! And with $2 pupusas, it was hard to resist not ordering second and third meals. The rice and beans were pretty standard, nothing too special, but the chicken was actually quite good. It wasn't dry or bland at all, although it could have used a nice sauce. (I didn't care for the green sauce that came with it... a little too creamy and not enough spice). My brother ordered the carne asada which came with three sides and that was an even better choice. It was a large piece of steak that was tender and had tremendous flavor. Next time, I would probably order that instead. Plus, the plantains were delicious so definitely order some. A nice recommendation from DDD that I plan on visiting again for sure.

Meh. I eat a lot of Mexican and Salvadoran food, and this restaurant didn't stand out to me. My husband got the Mexican breakfast which is a breakfast burrito (which is funny, because breakfast burritos aren't Mexican, but New Mexican/American), which was very dry and he didn't enjoy. I got the Salvador breakfast, which was okay: very dry, overcooked scrambled eggs, store-bought flour tortillas, three pieces of fried plantains, and some refried beans with crema. The refried beans were good, but other than that, this meal was forgettable.

GEM in the middle of Eastern Market. The first time I visited Tortilla Cafe, I got the: - Pupusa: similar to a quesadilla but with thicker bread - Empanada: I wouldn't really call this an empanada, it was more of a stuffed flaky croissant, still tasty!! - Sweet corn Tamale: yes. That's all I gotta say. The REAL star came into my life during my second visit. The most bomb breakfast burrito EVER. it's cheesy, and stuffed with eggs and potatoes. AND IT IS ONLY $4!!! If that isn't a steal, idk what is. I need to come back here to try their nachos for sure!

I came here once before but I couldn't remember what I previously had so I opted for the cheese papusa platter today. The platter comes with two sides, and side options range from plantains, to rice, beans, chips, etc. I ordered black beans and rice to go with my papusa's. The dish is a great size and you definitely get your money's worth (size wise). The black beans were good & well seasoned, but the papusa's were very lack luster. I just wasn't wowed or satisfied, and left a bit disappointed today.

Stumbled upon this small El Salvadorian kitchen right across from Eastern Market. It has limited seating so definitely don't recommend going there with a group bigger than 4 people if you can help it. They have a pretty extensive menu with all the treats you can thing of: pupusas, plantains, fried yucca, guacamole and chips, cheese dip, horchata. I went with the bean and cheese pupusas. They are so huge and filling so I would recommend one if you aren't starving. I also definitely recommend the horchata! It's so tasty and filled with cinnamon tastiness. The plantains are also a must try they are sweet and fried perfectly. The guacamole is not what you would traditionally think of guacamole being and it's more a salsa than a thick avocado paste. The chips they come with a crispy and great to eat with your meal. I was very satisfied with this restaurant. If you ever go to Eastern Market make sure to check it out. You won't be sorry!

What was good about this place? Hmmmm... (thinking REALLY HARD) Oh! When I walked up the lady said, "hi." And, oh yeah... The location was good. Downhill from there... My order was inaccurate. I ordered a beef and a chicken taco. I didn't get chicken. I ordered euchre with the fixings... No fixings. Nothing was actually good. However, it was actually hot (another plus for getting something right?) The fish tacos were poorly seasoned, although well cooked. And, oh yeah... The outdoor seating area has been suspended for some reason. I'm not going back. Let me know if you do. And definitely let me know if you have a good experience!

I would've never stopped here if it weren't for the prior reviews on yelp. Such good things were said that it was obvious to stop here. As an out of town - er, it was hard to park and walk. Service was very fast, it wasn't crowded and the female behind the register thought of everything and checked on us. The prices are very reasonable. One less star basically because I was hoping for more sour cream.

Stopped here after a long, COLD, walk on a Sunday on New Years Eve. I wasn't that cold though- to be honest it was refreshing. The spot is tucked in a small space that has its own charm, kind of like a takeout spot with decent seating. The atmosphere is also accommodating with the greeting you receive upon entry. Later finding out that it's the owner, we were greeted, thanked and checked on. Food: We ordered the chicken fajitas and the chicken quesadilla. The chicken fajita wasn't the typical version, almost like the veg and chicken was stewed rather than flash sautéed. It was very very good- more hearty, almost like eating marinated stew than anything. The quesadilla was stuffed full of ingredients - they don't slouch on the portion of meat and cheese. The only drawback was the amount of sour cream and guacamole, maybe because of waste? But they were in very small individual cups. I also learned that Food Network was there and featured the spot. Now we know why. Very good. Will be back!

Tortilla Cafe is what I have been looking for in my life. Cheap Mexican and El Salvadorian food that is also filling and delicious. You can order your Pupusas, burritos, tacos, fajitas, and more ala carte or as a platter. How many other places in the city can you fill up and get a drink for $10? I brought my friend here with me when I came in my first time. It was a Saturday at 1 or 2 and there was still a big line and not enough places to sit. We did snag a table at the right time. I ordered a pork and cheese Pupusas ($2) and a beef burrito ($4.99). She ordered the chicken fajitas. All of these items were delicious and amazing. The Pupusas was a little greasy but delicious, although I would love a chicken and cheese version as well. The beef burrito was not ground beef, which was a surprise, but it was also delicious. I cannot wait to try the whole menu. All in all, cheap, filling, and delicious. What more could you want?

Found a piece of plastic in my tacos ...almost swallowed it. This was my taco spot but will have to keep looking.

We went for brunch a couple of weekends ago; this was near our AirBNB and we were happy to find Mexican food for breakfast. The food tastes a lot better than it looks (I posted a couple of pictures). Three stars instead of four for a few reasons: - I asked for sour cream and guac on the side, and they gave minuscule portions of both. Like thimble-sized ramekins. - Also, we dined in, and they served on plastic plates. I realize this doesn't reflect fully on the restaurant, but as someone who's trying to go zero waste, this hurt my heart. - Finally, the refried beans were barely warm.

I have been to El Salvador 3 times and love the food there...especially pupusas. In the states however I had never been to an authentic Salvadorian place that could pull off the flavors that you get while in the country. Thankfully, that has now changed with Tortilla Cafe. Excellent rice and pupusas. My favorite is the bean and cheese pupusas, though the pork and cheese was good too. The French fries were even good here. There is lots of Salvadorian and other Latino options on the menu. While this is a DDD spot, the staff was friendly and the service was fast and excellent.

I found this place on Yelp. We stopped in for breakfast but ended up eating lunch foods. I got a burrito platter with yucca and plantains. My wife got a tamale platter with beans and plantains. And my daughter stuck with breakfast and got the pancakes. The food was very good. The tamale, plantains and beans really stood out. They were so tasty. The burrito was good with big chunks of real chicken but the shredded cheddar which hadn't melted was unnecessary. The service was great and the prices were quite low. We were so happy to find this place. And we'll be back next visit.

Amazing!! We had the chicken and beef empanadas and they were on point. Wish we were more hungry to try other things. The people are friendly we will be back!!

Nice little restaurant in a great location right by Eastern Market with plenty of outside seating. Great staff too - they messed up my original order but brought out my new order within minutes and let me keep the first order (a free meal, won't complain haha). Pork and Cheese Pupusa Combo meal (8/10): The pupusa itself was good but I could only really taste the cheese. Love the slaw topping and salsa. Still recommended though, especially given the combo meal is only ~$10. Fries and plantains were solid. The salad is pretty basic though, basically just lettuce and tomato.

I came by for a half chicken with two sides. The upsides: The prices are economical for Eastern Market and Barracks Row. The green sauce was my favorite green sauce. I wasn't feeling the crema that came on the side. The portion sides weren't as big as other places but for the price that was what I expected. My platános didn't taste frozen nor the yuca. The downside: The chicken didn't wow me. More upsides than downsides so 3/5 Stars. Loved the green sauce.

I have been coming to this establishment for well over a year now. Today I received more than I bargained for in the form of a HAIR in my rotisserie chicken. When I called them I was told that I can get it exchanged.... I don't want any more food from this place. But here's the kicker. Apparently in order for me to get a refund I need to keep this HAIRY FOOD IN MY REFRIGERATOR UNTIL SUNDAY FOR THE "HEAD COOK" TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THERE BEFORE I TOOK IT. How dare you insinuate that I would put a HAIR in my own food. I work in a kitchen myself so this so called protocol is ridiculous. I will never set food in this disgusting "restaurant" again and I warn anyone else that may wander in here.