Guapo’s Restaurant

Probably my favorite Mexican restaurant. The service is always outstanding and the food tremendous. Anytime I have an out-​of-​town guest I take them to Guapos. The fresh guac is great, but people always love the Tomal de Lote as an appetizer. You can’t go wrong with the chicken fajitas or shredded beef tacos. Portions are fairly large and my wife and I usually split a meal. There are plenty of free parking garages in Shirlington which makes this an easy night out.

Guapos, oh Guapos. I like you, yet I wish you were more flavorful. I’m a Texan. So, my Tex Mex taste buds are a bit biased. Anyway…
I went for brunch. Enchiladas Veracruzana was my dish. Eggs, Chorizo, corn tortilla, cheese. Tasty. I really enjoy the breakfast potatoes though. A lot. Are you using tumeric?
Anyway, I ordered a side of potatoes and a heaping bowl arrived at the table. My belly thanks you. The pounds I gained do not. If I could eat the breakfast potatoes every day for a month, I would.
Until we meet again…

After a coworker suggested this restaurant, we decided to give it a try. I have to say, some of the best Mexican food I have ever had. We went on a Friday night and had about a 15 minute wait which isn’t bad considering they don’t take reservations for dinner and for how busy the restaurant gets. As soon as a table gets up to leave you see staff go to the table immediately to clean and get it set for the next guests. The Hosts were friendly and welcoming.
After being seated our server greeted us almost immediately. Food runners brought us water and our salsa and chips. The salsa is delicious! Freshly made and exquisite. The chips are airy and crunchy. Perfect match. Next time we’ll have to try the guacamole. Margaritas came literally one minute after the server took our order. Very impressive and delicious as well.
I always get fajitas when I go to a Mexican restaurant and these were perfect. Great spices and well prepared toppings. The tortillas were great as well! The staff was attentive. We will definitely be going back!

I’ve had a very positive dining experience at the Bethesda location and I can now add the Shirlington location among those I enjoyed.
There is street parking and upon entering I was greeting and immediately seated. My waiter was patient when I had questions about customizing my enchilada. The have beef and spinach enchiladas but I wanted mine combined and it was no problem. It was so tasty and I’m glad they were able to accommodate my request.
Served with pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole with sides of yellow rice and refrigerator beans it was very filling and flavorful.
The restroom was clean but initially it took some time for the hot water to reach its temperature. Plenty of seating and a varied menu to choose from. My only negative is that someone spilled something on my coat that was hanging on the back of my chair and I didn’t notice it until later.
Definitely worth returning to.

Not very tasty at all, tastes like it was thrown together. Mainly American… Not Mexican.

So much awesome food on one table! This is the best mexican style food I’ve had lately, including excellent service. We sat in the cavernous restaurant on a Saturday night as one of only three occupied tables, and during the short time we were there the entire place filled up! Where did all these people come from and why?
Well the food is incredible. Our waiter was very attentive and stopped by our table over and over while we poured over the menu in absurd detail for mexican food – it’s all basically the same, right? Well I got some sort of steak asada thing and we shared guacamole. Let me just say that you must get the guac – it is absolutely amazing. It’s fresh made at your table which is always a nice touch, but the spices they used are what set it apart. Very good, some of the best guac I’ve had… EVER! My steak dish was also incredible and the only negative thing I can say about it is that I got full… and kept eating until I felt a little bit ill. I just couldn’t put down the fork. Every bite was so delicious!
We got margaritas and they were forgetable – I wouldn’t recommend them.
I would recommend anything that includes those fresh tortillas they make at the front of the restaurant. Yes, on a weird little tortilla making contraption at the entrance to the restaurant, there is a staff producing fresh tortillas. I thought it was a dumb gimmick – and it kind of is – except these tortillas are awesome!
If you’re in Shirlington, I don’t know how you could do better than this restaurant. We’d drive out of DC – crossing the scary river– any day to enjoy it again!

Probably one of the best Margaritas that I’ve ever had.
Food was decent, nothing over the top special, but pretty solid Mexican food.
Seriously though, get a Margarita.

This Guapos location is AMAZING! The food here is excellent and the service is top notch. The salsa is so fresh and the perfect mix of tomatoes, onions, cilantro and peppers. Plus the chips are also made fresh every day. Perfect way to start your meal.
And then there are the margaritas the size of your head! In the summer there is nothing like sitting on the patio with one of these.
Our favorite foods are the Nogales (steak and shrimp fajitas) the Rosita Salad with steak (and no dressing because it doesn’t need it), and the kid’s cheese nachos. I don’t know how they make their steak but it is delicious. We are hooked. We’ve been coming here since 2006 and love it. The owner is almost always onsite making sure everything is excellent.

The first time I came here I got the tres leches to go. They gave a HUGE chunk of cake for only $ 6. I had people who don’t normally like sweets try it and they loved it. Super moist and just overall amazing.
So, I decided I needed to come back and try their dinner. It was a long wait since I came on a Friday night and they don’t take reservations — but it was worth it in the end. Got a big table that seated 4 for the 2 of us. And the server was really helpful with options since I’m so indecisive. Ended up getting the steak burrito, which sounds pretty plain/​basic, but it was honestly the best food I’ve ever had. The steak inside was cooked perfectly and was so flavorful. The meal also came with Mexican rice, retried beans, guac, sour cream, and pico de gallo.
All I can say is definitely go. Definitely get either the fajitas or a steak burrito (same meat/​flavor) and don’t leave without tres leches.

After coming back from a trip from Central America, my boyfriend and I were looking for a restaurant to relive those beautiful days of the past. We ached for the smokey fire grilled steaks whose aroma could put you in an uncontrollable fit of salivation. And who could forget the gallo pinto which filled our stomachs with so much cilantro and joy. I guess our mistake was looking to fill this void at Guapos.
We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer, which was good as it was fresh and was quite a hefty portion. One could actually order this as their entrée and be satisfied. We then ordered the chicken enchilada and the signature steak tacos. These were very one toned and not very tasty. The signature steak tacos were a disappointment because the steak in it was very subpar. So bland and dry that I wished we ate at Chipotle instead. I would not proudly call it a signature Guapos dish if I owned Guapos. Next, I tried the chicken enchilada and it was underwhelming, like a microwave enchilada meal.
The meal left us with more of a void. It left us farther away from the dream that we would once again eat great Central American food. Dejected, it made us think of settling for Chipotle from now on…
But behold, we are hopeful! The service on the other hand was amazing and the mango Margarita was strong and thick :) However, we’ll probably stay away from these food chains for awhile.

This review is for dinner for two at the sidewalk tables on a Tuesday night.
service
Guapo’s gets busy and the place is huge, so the server teams are tolerably quick and professional. No need for excessive chit-​chit, just order and deliver. That said, they’re good. Cocktails come quickly. Chips and salsa get refilled. Food runners deliver everything correctly. Bus crew is unobtrusive. Really, a great staff all the way around.
bar
No craft brews to speak of, so it was off to margarita land. My wife and I both had on the rocks, no salt. If you begin stepping up the cocktail list, things get expensive quickly. This is not a drinking man’s bar, this is a restaurant that serves margaritas. Quality quaffing, especially outdoors on a nice night. A well thought out tap selection would make this a five star place.
food
My go-​to food is Masitas de Puerco al Horno. This is a huge meal. The pork is fabulous. As far from Tex-​Mex as you can get. The accompaniments are all great; however, bagged broccoli and carrots are so average compared to Guapo’s pork, beans, rice and plantains. Ask for some of their house-​made tortillas. The whole meal is addictive. Oh, yeah, my wife also had some tacos or something. But ignore everything on the menu except the pork. And, get this, Masitas de Puerco al Horno is the only pig on the menu? They do one pork and they do it right.
details
Shirlington parking is, well, Shirlington parking. You’ll eventually find a place, but you might be in a garage somewhere. The restaurant is huge and can get noisy, but that doesn’t detract from the experience. Music is there and in the background. Lighting good enough you can actually read the menu, then revel in how gorgeous that plate of pork looks.

Guapo’s offers consistently delicious food. The service is always good and I really enjoy the live Mexican guitar — I don’t know if it’s solely a birthday thing, but keep doin’ what you’re doin’! The complimentary chips are nice and light and crispy, and the salsa tastes very fresh, and not too salty. Tonight I was trying to stay on the healthy side so I ordered the small seafood soup, which came with two jumbo shrimps, two scallops and a clam. Not a lot of seafood but arguably reasonable for $ 11. The saffron broth was especially tasty. Next time I’d like to try the large seafood soup which also comes with salmon and rice. Yum!

Let’s start this off by saying that I’m bias. I have been to Guapo’s on several occasions and I have only ordered one thing, and each time it has been awesomesauce!!! Booyahh!
Okay, anywho, Guapo’s is located in Shirlington in this dope outdoor plaza. I think it is an awesome place for a stroll, date night with your temporary or forever boo thang. Nifty things to do and what not.
Parking is pretty cool as there is street parking and a nearby garage. I’m not sure if there is a fee, whenever I’ve gone, I’ve paid nothing. This place is pretty big, having a large bar, indoor and outdoor dining area. At times it can get to be quite bumping, so if you’re not into the large loud rowdy crowd, perhaps this isn’t the place for you. I always have fun! Cheers to the freaking weekend, I’ll drink to that! yeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh!
Now, I’ve had the margaritas, pretty much all kinds, and I have never had a problem with them, can’t say that they are über authentic, but they certainly aren’t bad either. There is a Cadillac one that is a winna winna!
Now on to what I normally order– lomo saltado. #nommers. My food baby is growling now as I think of it. I’ve also tasted the fajitas, marisco saltado, and the seafood soup. Now lomo saltado is basically beef mixed with veggies and french fries, with white rice and beans on the side. First things first, the portion is pretty dang huge. There are great chunks of beef, that are seasoned nicely along with veggies. The fries are a dope addition, and they have yet to become too soggy in the sauce. Normally I just dump everything in one plate and go to town! Yum! I have yet to be disappointed.
The fajitas that I tried were good, but honestly, how does one mess that up? I can’t say that the marisco saltado was as good as the lomo, I think that the beef retains much more of the flavors than the shrimp/​scallops. The seafood soup is a saffron broth, with scallops, shrimp, and clams. There is definitely enough to go around, the seafood is quite hearty. The broth is tasty, but I do recall it being rather oily.
I always have a good time when I come here with my fambam, and since I have yet to be deterred by my order, I’mma keep getting it.
Chow down!

I’m a fan of this place!
1. They’re generous with the chips. There’s no «hey can we get more chips?» as the dude runs off. They bring new baskets before the one you’re on is even done, and a salsa cup for everyone at the table it seems. Good start!
2. Their food is really good too. Usually I get the Fiesta salad with either steak or chicken. Sometimes I get the burrito, amazing!
Downside: the parking. It’s Shirlington so you have to be able to get there and then you have to be able to find parking. But once you do, mmmmm
Go here!

Great service. Fun and festive environment. Tons of TVs in the bar area to watch sports, if that’s what you like. The chips and salsa are awesome. Chips are served warm and fresh. Margaritas are killer, but definitely on point. Great Mexican food, IMO. I think I would prefer to sit outside next time rather than at the bar when the weather is nice. This was my 5^th visit, so I will return.

I came here on a Sunday for dinner with my girlfriends.
The wait staff at the front was pretty friendly and the wait was 30 minutes for outside seating. Not bad.
Now the actual wait staff was meh. Norbert helpful with explanation of the menu.
I ordered the 27oz guapo margarita which was pretty tasty.
I also ordered fish tacos as a meal. It was literally fish wrapped in a tortilla. No lettuce. No pico de gallo. Nothing. I had the sweet plantains as appetizer but it was sent back because they were so soggy and nasty.
Asked about the tacos being plain and he said I can order a side of lettuce and pico de gallo. Smh.
Overall, service wasn’t great and good wasn’t good either.
Sitting outside wasn’t a great experience due to all of the bugs that kept coming around.
I’d not come back for the drinks and cause it’s up the street from my place.

Overpriced leftovers
If you prefer shrimp that are black and taste like sand, then you will have perfection here. ‘Fine Mexican ’ cuisine is what they boast, really, Taco Bell has a leg up on this over priced garbage hole. Don’t waste your time or time

Salsa is a tad bit runny but it does the trick while you wait for your appetizer or meal to arrive. The chips were hot and crunchy, I’m pretty sure they are made in house.
The food arrived in short order, which was good because we were a bit famished. I definitely recommend the carne asada! I ordered it medium and it was cooked perfectly. The service is very good as well, everyone seemed genuinely accommodating. Oh and the bathrooms are clean.
It was an overall good experience.

The food is always delicious! All the wait staff/​servers work together and service was very friendly and prompt.
The Tamal de Torre is very good. Great for lunch.
My friend had the Steak salad which had plenty of steak, enough to take home.
I cheated and had desert BECAUSE THE FLAN!!! THE FLAN!!! Reminds me of my grandmother’s. It is creamy. So good!!! Less than $ 5.
Parking in the street is available if you can get it, 2 hour limit.
Happy Eats!

I’ll likely take jalapeño heat for loving Guapo’s but they are my Arlington standby for fajitas. I’d put them neck and neck with Chuy’s in Northern Virginia. Guapo’s is a cheesy and salty Mexican restaurant with an all latino male servers (blue shirts) and wait staff (blue shirts). The good news is the wait staff turnover is LOW and the waiters often enjoy getting to know the customers. It’s nice to have that neighborhood feel and familiarity (not to mention, they are seasoned and get the orders correct).
When compared to Chuy’s expect less freshness (except the guacamole and flour tortillas) and more queso! I’d say the salsa is more like a pico de gallo and can be on the spicier side depending on the peppers for that batch. Fresh chips and salsa will keep arriving from the time you are seated to the time your finish your meal.
Be prepared to wait as it (and Carlyle Café) are the two restaurants in Shilington (Arlington) that always run about 20 to 40 minutes wait from 6PM to 8PM nightly.