Review: Guapo's Restaurant of Washington, D.C

Guapo's Restaurant is arguably one of the best Tex-Mex/Latin American restaurants I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot of Latin-style restaurants over the years. There are eight (soon to be nine) total Guapo's locations throughout the Washington, D.C. area, with the original Guapo's location still alive and kicking in Washington, D.C. proper. Guapo's has been in business since 1991. The restaurant is headed by Hector and Rocio Rincon who, along with their four children, help make and market some of the best food in the area.

Guapo's Restaurant has been featured in local Washington, D.C. magazines such as Washingtonian Magazine. The Wall Street Journal also reviewed Guapo's Restaurant and gave its homemade nachos a place in the Top Ten Nachos list. Guapo's was even mentioned on the "Today Show" back in February of 2006.

While in Washington, D.C. recently, I just had to stop in at the original Guapo's Restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue. My Chicago-area friend, who had never been to Guapo's before, accompanied me on this trip to Tex-Mex heaven.

We arrived on a Monday evening, somewhat fresh from our 800-mile drive from home. Guapo's was about half-packed, with plenty of patrons sitting in its outdoor patio area. The restaurant inside contained a small bar and additional seating at tables and booths.

We were seated quickly and provided with menus. I scanned the offerings, which included both the food and the drinks. Being a bit parched, I debated between two of the place's signature drinks, the Matrimonio (a combination of Guapo's strawberry and regular margaritas), and the Tropico (a mix of piña colada and strawberry daiquiri). I decided on the Tropico after our waiter brought us some nachos and salsa.

We both dug into the super-crisp and super-light nachos, trying to make the fresh salsa last. The chips tasted great and had just a slight hint of salt to them. The salsa, meanwhile, was nicely spiced and interspersed with chunks of tomato, onion, and bits of cilantro.

All too soon our salsa was gone. We still had half a basket of nachos left over, and I hoped the waiter would refill our salsa when he returned.