Abi Azteca Grill & Bar
3005 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 22204
Abi Azteca Grill & Bar Menu
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Address :
3005 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA, 22204 - Phone (703) 979-3579
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Todd J.
Definitely has a local, hole in the wall bar feel which I found enjoyable. The service was excellent and I dug the lazy salsa music they play in the background. Don't expect an "oh my gosh I have never had this before" experience. But what they do cook and serve here, they do well. The Central American platos we ate were very good and fairly basic; Protein, rice, and beans with some combo of veggies or additional starch (the grilled plantains were particularly good) The steak - either stir fried or grilled, was of good quality and good flavor. They do an excellent job with the chicken - great grill taste and seasoning. The portions are large as well so you end up taking something home. The margarita pitchers are excellent and reasonably priced. As are the beers. The bill was affordable and with great service, I'll definitely return.
(3)Olivia J.
Pupusas. Pupusas. More pupusas. Get the cheese and pork. Or just the pork. Or just the cheese. Or the one with everything. And happy hour maragaritas! You can't go wrong here, especially with the price. Friendly people. The tamale del elote is also really good. You can get amazing full meals for almost nothing. I was able to pick up wifi here too.
(5)Mikkela T.
In an earlier incarnation, this place had guys coming out of the restaurant to tip the balance for those of us indecisive types. The new restaurant is bigger. My friend wanted a little something like what she'd had in Miami. Uhm. Okay. We can go in there. We sat at the counter and waited for the pupusas... Three pupusas for $2.95? Or something cheap like that. We went outside and sat on a wall. It was nice out. The pupusas were hot and came with the requisite vinegary slaw. The pupusas were okay (okay, I'm spoiled. My roomita's mama came and made us the real deal) and CHEAP. I liked feeling like I should break out into Espanol... or that I was somewhere completely not ArlingTO...
(3)Scruff M.
Being Cinco de Mayo, my friends and I decided to try out Abi Azteca last night. We got there around 7:30ish (on a Monday night), and the place was pretty packed. The waitress was pretty nice, and the food is priced pretty nicely. The Salvadorean entrees are above $10, but if you want to try their Mexican food, pretty much everything is around $9 or less, which is fairly cheap. We were served with the typical nachos and salsa while we waited for our food, which wasn't anything to brag out. I ordered their Abi Margarita on the rocks, which was pretty good. It was about $6-7 from what I remember, and was well worth it. I ordered a burrito, which was a LOT bigger than I expected it to be. I'd say it was about 1.5 times the size of your typical Chipotle burrito gringo's seem to enjoy :P Being Cinco de Mayo, It was really busy and there were only two waitresses working, so service was a tad bit slow. All in all, the food was pretty good, there's a decent amount of parking in the area, and the music that was playing was the randomest selection of music I've ever heard, so I'd definitely eat there again.
(4)Jessica P.
I love this place..I just wish it was in a better location and closer to me. When I came here from California, I was spoiled with really great mexican food but ,here it is as good as it gets and I forget I am sitting in VA next to Mc Donalds in Arlingon. An ex flame took me here years ago and the menu pretty much was in all spanish so, if your spanish skills were sub-par you better bring a friend that spoke spanish. Recently ,I went there and saw they added breakfast and that the translations of the menu item were in english before it was all spanish circa 2002. Very awesome and authentic..try their veggie burritos, worth the drive
(4)Betsy T.
Abi is really a Salvadorean restaurant, but like every Salvadorean restaurant I've been to, the menu also includes the more traditional Mexican dishes, like burritos and chimichangas. As a vegetarian, I can only get the vegetarian chimichangas or the vegetarian burrito, but both are absolutely delicious - generous portions stuffed with refried beans, rice and cheese and vegetables. The burritos and chimichangas come bare (not covered with cheese and sauce like most Mexican places) and are served with slightly stingy portions of salsa and guacamole. I also highly recommend the tamales with sweet cream. My meat-eating friends had plenty of choices on the menu and seemed pretty happy with their choices. Aside from the food, I also like the fact that Abi seems like a local Salvadorean hang-out. It's usually pretty lively and filled with Salvadorean customers, and often there is either a live musician or karaoke that everyone is singing along with. The wait staff is also very nice and welcoming.
(4)Holly L.
Great pupusas and mojito
(4)Paul D.
ABI AZTECA THE BUTT WRECKA. I've eaten here 3 times and 2 out of the 3 I got sick. It's below average El Salvadorian/Mexican food. There are better choices in the area. Such as El Paso, Guajillo, or El Charrito. This place is not even as good as Mexicali Blues. They have some of the worst salsa I've ever had. I mean the salsa (if you could call it that) was nothing more than watered down canned tomato sauce with a few chunks of onion in it and a single piece of cilantro. This is served with store bought, extra thick, tortilla chips. If you were to visit the bathrooms in this place you would realize how dirty a place it really is. The service is friendly and the owners are really nice, but the food is no good. Avoid the risk of diarrhea and eat somewhere else.
(1)John J.
My wife and I wandered here on a Monday night, and were fairly pleased with the experience. On the positive side, it has a great ambiance; plenty of Spanish speakers at the bar, and nice decorations. Our waitress was very friendly, so that's definitely another plus. As for the food, we really enjoyed the papusas, but were less than thrilled with the enchiladas (very dry). Luckily we got there in time for happy hour (from 4pm-7pm), so salvaged the meal with a few $2.95 margaritas. All in all it's a good - but not great - restaurant. But we'll certainly go back and hopefully choose something better than the enchiladas.
(3)Jamie M.
Gwen B. and I came here a few weeks ago around 6 PM on a weeknight - it's a little hard to see from the street but it's right next to a McDonalds. There were a few other groups seated and a couple of folks at the bar, not too busy, but not completely empty. They didn't spend a ton of money on the decor (or a lot of time cleaning apparently). The parking lot behind the restaurant was pretty much empty, a big contrast from the last time I used it when we were going to the Arlington Cinema & Draft House a few months ago. I ordered an absolutely humungous pork chimichanga - probably 12 inches! I thought it was pretty tasty except some of the pork was somewhat dry. Maybe the chicken or beef would be better? I agree with Kathleen M's review, while Abi was okay, if I was up in the area, I'd probably rather go to Bangkok 54.
(3)Elisa S.
Abi's is pretty authentic when it comes to Mexican. It is affordable, they have half price burritos on Tuesdays and half price margaritas and beer during happy hour. They have great salsa and pork and cheese pupusas. The service is great, warm and friendly. My son can't get enough of their salsa and rice. We will definitely go back, it may become another local favorite of my family's.
(4)S T.
I was there a few weeks ago with my family. First they have friendly service without being overbearing. The pupupas were really tasty. We tried both the pork and the beans. We ordered the Tilapia Fajita, Plato Tipico and the chicken burrito. We were all happy with our choices. The portions were generous and I would definitely go back.
(4)Tia K.
This "Azteca Bar and Grill" is somewhat of a hidden gem in my opinion. Good margaritas- cheap. Tasty El Salvadorian/ Mexican-style food. I am partial to their daily specials. Very reasonably priced, although the decor is not notable. The clientele is Spanish-speaking for the most part (I am not and the waitresses are always helpful).
(4)Laurie D.
If I were rating this place on take out alone, I would have given it a 5. We like to go get food to go and the food has been great. We've enjoyed all of the burritos, the carne asada, and the pupusas. The only thing I have not liked here is the cabbage on the pupusas. It has a weird taste to it. Today for the first time, my daughter and I decided to go in and eat. Once again the food was a 5, but the service was a 0. We waited 10 minutes for someone to come put chips on our table, and another 6 minutes to get water. 22 minutes after we sat down, someone finally took our order. We were given one place setting even though we were both present at the table and I waited over 5 minutes to get a fork after my food was served, even though I asked for one 3 times. We waited over 10 minutes to get the check and when the waitress brought it, it was wrong. I may go back for take out, but I will never again dine in. I don't know when I have ever had such bad service.
(3)Laura V.
Look out folks, you're about to see a 5-star mexican food review from the non meat eating 1/2 of the South of the Border Queso (or Guacamole, no wait, queso) Comparison, Culinary Discovery Tour and Gastronomic Extravaganza duo. Stop number 9 proved to be my all time favorite for a number of reasons which I will gladly share with you in my story below. As some of you know, I had been saddled with a potentially mexican- food-lover career ending situation. I'd lost my Mexican mojo due to the fallout from a recent trip to Mexico (details not necessary). Mary Kay waited patiently for it to return. She gave me space and told me that it had to be right or it would be ruined forever. There were doubts at times, pleas from other Yelpers, my own inner monologue telling me to let it go...But it came back. And we celebrated at a little, off the beaten path, hole in the wall called Abi Azteca. As always, we were joined by official sidekick Kevin L, as well as Mary Kay's ever entertaining husband Martin, and a new fabulous surprise guest - Kathleen M. I arrived late (unusual for me) because I couldn't find the place. In fact, I drove past it a couple of times. Folks, please note that it is tucked sideways into a tiny strip mall next to the McDonald's. I hope this tip will help you find it. So when I got there, the kids were already diving into a pitcher of margaritas. Of course I tucked right into that. Good margarita with plenty of tequila. I thought I was off the tequila, but apparently I was wrong. Now, on to the food. The salsa was, hands down, the best Mexican Restaurant salsa I've had. I loved the spicy, oniony flavor. Chips were decent too. We saved ourselves for the main event by skipping on the appetizer orders. (Really, what this means is that there was no queso on the menu.) My friends all seemed to enjoy their meals and there was lots of commentary. Kevin had his usual combination plate - sadly only on one plate. I think he liked it because when I looked over, his plate was sparkling clean. Only one little pile left in the corner. Kathleen had the quesadilla. Alas, after a day of eating, she took most of it home and I'm hoping for an update on how she liked it. Martin had the ceviche which was HUGE (and tasty, he let me try it), the tamales, and the Sopa de Mariscos. I think he was pleased. That bowl of soup was also HUGE and brimming with all kinds of seafood. MKS had her usual beef fajitas. There was easily enough on that sizzling platter for 2 people. I'll let her fill you in on her meal. I had the shrimp fajitas (no surprise there either). Well, they were supposed to be shrimp and scallops, but the kitchen was out of scallops and I was totally ok with that. I had so many shrimp on my skillet I didn't know where to begin. At $14.95, this is a bargain for shrimp fajitas. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and flavored with all kinds of nummy goodness. I even got the choice of corn or flour tortillas. I picked corn. Even the refried beans were good! This meal was fantastic. The service was great. Everything came with a smile and I even got to practice my Spanish. The thing I really liked about this place is it's hole in the wall feel. I also liked that this restaurant was largely patronized by hispanic people. Even better, somehow, they manage to keep their prices very reasonable and still provide high quality food and drinks. Abi Azteca, you get a big OLE! from me. I will be back.
(5)M P.
Yum! Great hidden gem in South Arlington. My husband and I discovered their pupusas and have not tried anything else, but we keep going back for more. And even more delicious is their beans and rice. Very fresh and tasty. I have never eaten inside the restaurant, we always do take out. Definitely very authentic.
(4)damon n.
ok i give this place 4 stars on effort and restaurant.com . their food is good but they aren't trying to be great. this is a great happy hour place $3 margaritas and excellent paella ( just tell the cook to rinse the clams/mussels=grit!). restaurant.com regualrly has 80% off sales which allow you to test them to your measure. please try to see if you like them.
(3)April B.
This place kicked butt. First off, the prices are right. Mexican food really shouldn't be expensive. After all, everything on the menu is basically a variation of the same thing with the same ingredients. This place was right across from our hotel, so it was convenient. We walked in and were told to sit wherever we wanted to. There is a long bar on one side, and on the other side is the restaurant filled with tables and mirrors lining the wall. The decor is pretty cool...hats from a bunch of South American locales are hung on the wall. Our waitress (actually, I think we had 2!) was very attentive. I ordered the combo plate with a chicken taco and enchilada. It was delicious! My boyfriend had the chicken fajitas and his dish was great as well. The chicken was flavorful and tender. My only two complaints is that for the dinner patrons, perhaps the jukebox music chosen by the bar patrons could be a little quieter. Mariah Carey was shreaking throughout the first part of our meal. Also...it took about 20 minutes for our food to come out. Quite a while for Mexican food, no? Overall, awesome option for Mexican food in Arlington.
(5)d c.
went here one friday night. pretty good crowd. drunk gringo at bar with bright red sweater vest tried to seat us...even tho he's just a customer. ha! that sweater was radioactive. Food was pretty decent, tho not amazing. why 5 stars? not really for the food, here's why- they had live music - spanish singing guitarist. and drunk sweater vest started getting too drunk and almost starting fights with some salvadorean guys at the bar, but then i think they hugged and made up, but the best part was as sweater vest left, he spoke with the guitarist and then they sang "we don't need no education" in spanglish. he he...good times.
(4)Natasha U.
First, I would say that the food is really Salvadorean and not so much Mexican. And my rating is more 3.5 stars than 3. We were looking for a place to eat before heading over to the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse for a movie presentation and this place fit the bill. You walk in and it's not much to look at inside at all, but they have photos of the food posted on the windows which is how we were lured in. We sat down and I would say, overall, the service is good, but beware to go during a soccer game. It gets packed and the waitstaff is attentive most to their drinking customers watching the game than to the restaurant patrons there to eat. We got there just as a game was finishing so it was all good. I got the Plato Typico ($14.50) which was pretty good. Nothing to write home to momma about, as I wasn't a fan of the rice, but the avocado and ripe plantanos really put it over the top for me. It's a good amount of food and I left full and taking the rest home for lunch the next day. I think it's a good choice for dining options in the area and want something comforting and yummy and don't want to eat the rough food at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse. Safe bet.
(3)Carlos P.
Great food and service. Very authentic Salvadorian cuisines. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)Paul C.
I give it 2 stars. I remember a visit here some 5 or 6yrs back and i think i had a good experience. I decided to re-visit this place 2 days ago. I ordered the $6 lunch special( Yes, just $6) and i had reasonable expectations based on my 1st visit and a good friend who really likes this place. Taco, enchilada and rice and beans combo plate. We arrived when they opened at 11am. Only 2 others diners ahead of us but yet it took about 12-15min.. to get our meal. Crispy beef taco was cold and bland. Cheese Enchilada was hot but very salty. Rice was ok,but the refried beans were scorched. My friend had a Soft Beef Taco that also was cold, average papusa and rice and beans. I know it was only $6, but i would've paid more for a better lunch. For me the lunch specials are the way to go on a first visit. When i return i usually order something different, but i won't be returning.
(2)Chris C.
Great authentic papusas at a wonderful price. Their refried beans are well done and the chips and salsa are endless. This is not fine dining by any means but great for when you need a beer and some comfort food.
(4)Jay L.
This is a convenient, hidden little gem off Columbia Pike, located on the backside of a 7-Eleven near the Arlington Drafthouse. The meals at this place are all great, and I and my friends have had a good number of items from the menu. My personal preference is the steak fajitas, and i do admit that the margaritas are tasty. The service is decent, and they are very accommodating to requests. It's fairly well priced, and you can always walk right in and be seated. Tasty, delicious and friendly. Perfect.
(4)J D.
This neighborhood joint, almost a bit of a sports bar, is tucked away off Columbia Pike is Arlington and is easily overlooked when navigating Columbia Pike's aggravating traffic. A dear friend and I recently enjoyed a meal there, and though the server never got the "unsweetened tea" order right, I do plan on going back to enjoy other offerings. The fajita abi was very good, and the portions of meats enormous. The beef, chicken and shrimp had all been nicely marinated and emerged from the kitchen hot and sizzling. All had absorbed the flavors from the marinade and were very flavorful. Of the three, the steak was particularly good. Service was a tad slow though the restaurant wasn't full - there were numbers of empty tables. And, as I indicated earlier, the unsweetened tea order never got filled. After sending back the first order and receiving a replacement order, I decided to just have water. Still, the fajitas are a sufficient sampling for me to believe that the kitchen has strengths that will be well worth exploring.
(3)Kristy V.
Papusas were to die for. Happy hour specials were great, too. I loved their food. The service wasn't spectacular, but also wasn't bad. The location made it a little hard to find, but I would definitely give them my business again.
(4)Jen M.
Prices are average - not exceptionally cheap compared to true Salvadoran hole in the walls unawares to non-Spanish speakers, but certainly not pricey compared to the rest of Arlington area. The nachos are a wheat/corn mix and are not made in-house. The pupusas are pre-made (so once the combination of fillings you want is out, it's out for the rest of the day)...uh, really?...they really don't take *that* much time to make them to-order. The decor may be tacky, but it does have character. Food is authentic [I grew up in foster homes w Salvadorans], but in the way that McDonald's is authentic American burger food... I would say it's not of any quality worth spending $ on. This is the kind of place you take non-Spanish speakers to make them feel as though they are "experiencing a new culture" without being too overwhelmed. My food: - Tamal de Elote (I like this as a dessert. It was moist & so sweet - perfect for dessert with some cream) - Sopa de Mariscos (I received mostly mussels & clams which had not even been steamed hot enough to open their shells...uh...ok.) Broth was good. The one piece of shrimp was quite jumbo sized and tasty. - Lomo Saltado (It reminded me of that Hungryman TV dinner of the sirloin beef tips, or also reminded me of poutine) - Side of Yuca (Good portioned & tasty) - Appetizer of Scallions (Yes, it really was...just...scallions...grilled. No added flavor. No other veggies or garlic or oil. Just scallions on a plate) - The curtido was tasty. - Ceviche (asked what is the "seasonal" fish mix and was told it would simply be a shrimp cocktail, so declined my order)
(1)John D.
I'm biased here. Being from a city and stae where the Mexican food flows like fine wine creates a high bar. Abi's meets the expectations level. The service is very good. Upon seating, you are immediately greeted by chips and salsa; the salsa being very well executed and fresh. I ordered a very simple dish, but one that is often poorly done at subpar restaurants- the enchiladas. Mexican food is not very difficult to get right, but it easy woth sloppines and inexperienced hands to mess up. Abi'a knows what they're doing and does it well. You should definitely give this place a try.
(4)Cloud S.
You just can't go wrong here--everything I've ever had from the menu is consistently stellar. Careful if you stray from the typical and special order--they'll do it, but you don't always get the same level of quality even if the ingredients aren't new. As a vegetarian, I'm used to that. Service is reliable and helpful. Guacamole and chips come unsalted, which is a refreshing difference from other places that over salt. I just wish they had a mushrooms and onions pupusa or quesadilla option. If that happened, you couldn't keep me away!
(5)Edie M.
This is, by far, my favorite restaurant. I frequent it about once a week or so. Everything I've ever had off the menu has been delicious, but my favorite meal is El Fredy. The margaritas are to die for and the servers are all extremely nice. I recommend this restaurant for anyone who wants to break out of eating at chains and wants to experience authentic Salvadoran/Mexican cuisine.
(4)Mo H.
I end up getting carry out from here all the time. I love the papusas and tamales, which are on the a la cart menu. Their regular menu items are a bit pricier, but also really good, such as the steak. Hard to beat $4 for a good chicken tamale and combination papusas.
(4)waleska p.
This restaurant is located behind the 7 eleven and next to McDonalds. It is not mexican, it is Salvadorian. My review is for take out, have not eaten inside in a very long time. It is dark and there is a group of regulars at the bar all the time, I hear that they have great Margaritas. I come here to get soups (like chicken soup) for my family when anyone is sick, they make the most delicious soup, and makes us feel better quickly. They serve the traditional latin soup with potatoes, yuca, carrots, noodles and a very tasty broth. The soup comes out with thick maseca tortillas, all homestyle, like a latin grandma would make. So perfect for flu season, or when not feeling well or a cold night!!! Pupusas are also good. Try it.
(3)Rachel P.
Get something with a pupusa! They are delicious. The highlight of my meal.
(3)Angela S.
This place has been around since I can remember. I have lived in Arlington since I was about 3 years old. This has always been a family favorite and is the equivalent of a pizza night for our family. I recommend the pupusas, tamales, and enchiladas. The new york steak meal with rice and beans is good too. The prices are pretty affordable and the staff is very friendly and attentive. Just to show you how down to earth they are you will still see the owner walking around serving people. If you are in the mood for real authentic El Salvadorean and Mexican food, come to this place. You will not regret it. You will feel at home here in this very relaxed environment. If you go for drinks I recommend you stick with the beers. They specialize in food but not mixed drinks unless it is like a margarita or pina colada and those are good.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I'm so mad I didn't realize how great this place was 2yrs ago when I moved to Columbia Pike. Great neighborhood restaurant. The queso is insane, and the Mexican fried ice cream for dessert was amazing. I'm so happy I finally dropped in & can't wait to return!
(5)Rachel B.
Eh, I could take it or leave it. My husband enjoyed it, and if he begged me to go back, I wouldn't put up too much of a fuss, but it won't be a place I ever suggest. The food was fine, but nothing special. You do have to remember that it's Salvadorian and not Mexican. If you go in hoping for Mexican, this place is more of a two star rating.
(3)Jimmy J.
I haven't been here in ages and now, I remember why. Stopped by this evening for dinner and ordered the Fredy platter. Just don't ever order that platter. It comes out looking more like an appetizer. The steak is cut up as if you were a child and it's sitting on a bed of lettuce, tomatoes and onions with no dressing whatsoever for the "salad". The tastiest part was the cheese and the fried tortilla. I didn't get a chance to try the pupusas but I'll skip another visit and just look else where for my fix. They have bud light/Heineken and Dos Equis on tap. Buen Provecho!
(1)Tessa M.
i loved this place, but i tend to judge every mexican restaurant by their chile rellenos and these just weren't my favorite. now, i had to remind myself it wasn't a mexican restaurant, but salvadorian, so the chile rellenos are bound to be a little different. and it was good, just not the best i've ever had. HOWEVER i had my first pupusa here and it was FABULOUS. it's a small but busy restaurant, but the service was attentive. i also tried the tres leches cake and loved it, so i'd definately recommend abi's to fans of central/south american cuisine.
(4)Katie D.
If you're looking for a great experience, check this place out. Got the fajita platter and it was delicious--great seasoning on the chicken. Also suggest getting the corn tortillas over the flour. Best refried beans I've ever had. The service was also impeccable! 5 stars for food and atmosphere--a true Mexican restaurant with lots of flavor
(5)Joye P.
The food is mediocre. Service is fairly unattentive. Prices are somewhat low. I strongly dislike the loud tvs - I'll turn on my tv at home or tune in online if I want to watch a soccer game. I'm here for food, not futbol. I am not a fan.
(1)Christian M.
I love this place. The staff is friendly, the food is good and inexpensive, the hours are good, and the atmosphere is friendly and inviting. I'm a vegetarian and my favorite things to get are pupusas. I usually order the Dos Pupusas platter. The Mexican food is OK, but the Central American stuff is their specialty. The fried plantains and tamales and are also yummy. To drink, I usually get the Margarita Abi but the sangria is also good. They also have a big bottle of beer you can order (maybe 22 oz) that is pretty tasty. The seafood soup, chicken soup, and ceviche are some of my less vegetarian friends' favorites. And check out the Sunday brunch here. It hits the spot. This might not be the greatest place to go if you're in a hurry, because it often takes a while to pay your check when you're done. As far as the atmosphere goes: if you don't like local places or slightly divey places, just go to Chipotle or something. This is an awesome local place and it's got personality and history. It's a great part of the Columbia Pike neighborhood.
(4)Tierra H.
My first experience with Abi's was through take-out. I ordered through Living Social. I was told that my meal would be ready to pick up in a half an hour. Well, I actually gave it closer to 45 minutes. I got there and they told me it would be another 15 minutes. Oh. Um. Ok. So we finally got the food. We ordered queso. Something told me to look in this bag and do inventory. I quickly did and noticed they gave us no chips. I asked. They gave us some. In all, we'd ordered queso, fajita abi, pollo entomatado, and tres leches cake. The food was excellent! Everything was flavored really well and was just plain good. So I was SUPER excited when I saw a deal with KGBdeals for Abi Azteca. It was a three-course meal for 2 for $26. Good deal. I asked if they had sweet tea. The server brings me back unsweetened tea and a few sugar packets. Oh. Um. No. So I gave that to my boyfriend and I had the Sprite. The Sprite had waaaaaay too much syrup in it. It was sickening. I should mention that our server's command of English was just about nil. I'm not downgrading service because of that (though, there were just as many non-Spanish speaking folks in the place as there were Spanish-speaking folks . . . so they serve both about the same amount). I'm more annoyed at her rudeness and her not coming back to the table, no matter what language she knew or didn't know. I had to go and get silverware and napkins. I had to go get her to order the appetizer, dinner, and dessert. She seemed disinterested. The kicker was when we tried to order dessert and asked for the tres leches cake. She said, "No". She attempted to explain that there was no more. So I asked about another dessert that I had no idea about and needed her to explain. That didn't work well. I flagged down the other server and she explained that they had tres leches, but it was frozen. Oh, just frozen. Fine. We were stuffed, so we could take it to go. The other server made sure that we got our desserts. Then it came time to pay. I had to go find our server to get the check. She finally prints it off and gives it to me. And I swear, clear as a damn bell, she said, "How much are you going to tip me?" So you couldn't speak English all during this meal, but THIS you CAN say?!? What the hell?!? No. No ma'am. The food was ok this time. My shrimp appetizer was insanely salty. Who knew 4 little shrimp could have THAT much salt in them . . . My steak fajita was good. And well, my tres leches was consumed at home after I let it thaw. It was tasty. Boyfriend had a chicken dish that had eggs and plantains. I took some of his plantain -- amazing! All in all, I'd say this place works for take-out. Great food, very indifferent/crappy service.
(3)Casey P.
I hope this place never changes. Better food and service in addition to being less expensive than a couple of the more corporate places in the area. I will return.
(4)Sharon L.
We love Abi's. The tamale de elote makes my day. The papusas are also really good. Great curtido and red sauce. My husband likes the lengua. The platanos and yuca are also go to apps for us. Great neighborhood Salvadorean place. And the breakfast/brunch is good, a little greasy, but good.
(4)Lee N.
I like Abi's. It is colorful and has good food at a decent price. I have going to Abi's a couple times per month for the past 5 or 6 years. In all that time I've had maybe 3 or 4 meals I didn't like, and most of them were simply because I didn't care for the dish I ordered, rather than the food being bad. Abi's has a fun atmosphere: fun if tacky decorations, a few Christmas lights, a big screen TV playing Latin shows or soccer. The menu is large and the food is good quality. The Pollo Entomatado is my favorite dish. The ceviche is great and is a large serving. The Lomo Saltado is great. Service is really good. Abi's isn't pretentious and doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. It's simple, fun, good food. My one gripe: the music is too loud. I really wish they'd turn it down a bit.
(4)Sim A.
Feels and looks like an authentic Latin restaurant. Out of the few dishes I have had, only 2 have been really good and that combined with the service, atmosphere (people watching extravaganza) and good happy hour specials, gives this place 5 stars. Recommend the pupusas mixtas and Plato tipico (steak with plantain, avocado, queso (typical white Latin cheese).
(5)Katie G.
I have lived walking distance to Abi for two years and only just checked it out. The menu is a mix of Salvadoran and Mexican dishes. One thing I didn't know is how much cream features in Salvadoran dishes. I can't do cream or milk; probably should have made that clear to my friend who was ordering. Anyway. We started with margaritas and they were good. Had pupusas and tamales for apps--good, nothing earth-shattering, but nice. Moved on to a fish dish which was good, what little I had of it. The sauce was completely covering it. Next time I'll order for myself, and find something grilled!
(4)Renee C.
People looked like regulars there. Our food was good. We just stopped in, obvious tourists and they made us feel right at home....THANKS! Worth a try
(3)Courtney F.
This place was okay. I had the milanesa de pollo and it tasted like something I had at a school cafeteria. Also, it came with french fries (not a big fan) and eggs and for some reason I thought I should of had some beans somewhere on my plate. My wife had the carne asada which is impossible to mess up (or at least should be). It was well cooked, and she had a huge serving of beans which I stole constantly. Good enough to get a second change, just won't get the milanesa and ask for no fries
(3)Victor R.
amazing place! i always go i and get the carne asada with beans and rice on the side and its only 12 bux for an amazing steak. The popusas are good too. i have been coming in for the last 10 years for them and they know how to make em. The service is ok and the atmosphere is nifty. i would definitely recommend this place to everyone, its the best traditional food in the area. This place gets 4 starts just cause the service may be a shoty at times.
(4)Qwerty -.
Viva El Salvador! When you think 'spanish food', lots of people think rice, beans, tomatillos, carnitas (and if that's what you're hankering for, you'll find lots of it at Abi's). Somehow, though, seafood got swept away from the line up of spanish staples. Think about it--Mexico, El Salvador, and Peru all have epic coastlines (the only landlocked country whose cuisine has significant representation in the D.C. area is Bolivia). You think their people somehow overlooked all the edibles splashing through the water? It's not your fault--Taco Bell & Chipotle haven't done a lot to further spanish-american palates. But now that you're reading this review, you need to do your part to enlighten your taste buds...by chowing down on some crab pupusas, ceviche (mixed seafood served in broth), and stuffed lobster. Abi's offers great bang for the buck, so you can go all out and sample every fish in the ocean. And if you're more into turf than surf? Abi's has got steak and chicken cooked every which way, plus a ton of veggie options (their menu is something to be marveled at). Whatever you order, you won't leave hungry: the portions are huge. Pass on the flan.
(4)Gina W.
3 stars is what I can give to any Mexican Restaurant here in the East Coast. I admit, I am spoiled and have enjoyed years and years of awesome Authentic Mexican food living in California. Nonetheless, as far as rating this restaurant...this is the best Mexican food you will get for the area along with Los Tios and Picante the Real Taco. The prices are great and papusas are awesome!!!
(3)Hilary W.
On a Sunday search for the best California style burritos in Arlington we came across Abi after reYelping when Pedro and Vinny's was closed. I understand that El Salvadorian and Mexican foods are different, but I was hoping for more. Craving creamy refried beans, enchiladas, and horchata we decided to go to this well reviewed spot. Total bummer. The horchata was off. Not enough cinnamon and it had a peculiar aftertaste. The pupusas were good but the enchilada was lacking. The cheese on top wasn't melted, the beans weren't smooth and the coleslaw was a bit earthy. The fajita burrito was decent and the accompanying guac definitely made it tastier. Standard tacos, nothing to write home about. The food was pretty well priced and it seems like they have incredible drink specials and a great happy hour. The service was pretty standard, no complaints.
(2)Mateo A.
I don't know why but I like the place. Maybe it's the flavorful food, their happy hour, and their friendly servers! We had a good time and I must confess I had a Restaurant.com certificate and they had no issue with it. Thank you guys, we'll come back.
(4)Genny P.
Discovered Restaurant Abi almost 20 years ago and it has consistently been one of our favorites. First - for all the dumb people out there - Restaurant Abi is not a Mexican Restaurant; it is a Central American restaurant (Guatemalan and El Salvadoran). The Mexican food on the menu is probably there because the silly people kept asking for it. The best food on the menu is Central American and the owners are Central American. This place is authentic and by now old Arlington. It is always well patronized. The salsa is great. The pupusas are wonderful and Abi was serving pupusas in Arlington long before the others. The Fajitas come out sizzling and make a complete spectacle. There is almost always a soccer game on the sets and Central American music coming out of the juke box. The Tosdada is a wonderful salad while the Nachos comes with a great guacamole. This is a family owned, non-franchised, small business. It is authentic. It is wonderful.
(5)Lady M.
I grew up in the area, so I visited this place for years with family and friends. Unfortunately, I moved, but I always visit when I am in the area. These are amongst the best pupusas in the DMV area. This is a staple in Salvadoran food, so it's the first thing I try at a Salvadoran restaurant. If the pupusas are not good don't bother eating anything else. I always bring out of town guests to eat pupusas and have only heard great reviews. They have a simple, unpretentious Latin American menu cooked Salvadoran style with low prices. I have probably tried everything on their menu at least once, with the exception of mondongo soup. I heard it's the best in the DMV area, but I don't like mondongo and don't eat it anywhere. My favorites are pork & cheese pupusas, nachos, beef soup, seafood soup, fajitas, lomo saltado, paella, empanadas de platano & flan. They had one of the best happy hours in Arlington with 1/2 price apps, very cheap imported beers & margaritas. I know they still have food & drink specials, but I'm not sure what they are now. The staff is friendly, some more than others. On the busier nights the owner always comes around the tables and talks to the customers. She will refill beverages, bring out food and whatever else needs to be done. I love the atmosphere in this place. Sports on TVs, live music some nights, music on the juke box on others, and an occasional sing-along by the patrons.
(5)Sara R.
We needed a laid-back inexpensive spot to catch up with some friends in a 'hood we weren't familiar with so we Yelped it and were not disappointed. (Thanks fellow yelpers!) The ambiance is fun, easy-going and not rushed at all. It's not too fussy for a large group to hang around, maybe get a little loud and have a good time together. The music is loud, and strange mix of Mariachi and angst-driven college tunes (think Staind. I'm not kidding.) Overall it's a great value for the proportions and service, plied by strong pitchers of Sangria. On our table were plenty of pupusas (delish, but spice them up yourself), sangria, amazing plantains, sweet corn tamales (YUM!), Lomo Saltido (steak bits a tad overcooked), and more sangria. Everyone enjoyed and left happy!
(4)David K.
For full disclosure, I have only eaten at Abi's for breakfast and can't comment on their lunch and dinner fare. The breakfast here is excellent, and reminds me of the Mexican breakfasts I've enjoyed in San Diego. Abi's is truly a Salvadorean restaurant with Mexican dishes on the menu, and it is actually the Salvadorean breakfast items that really shine. The Ropa Vieja is a great mix of steak, eggs, onions and peppers delightfully cooked together. It is very filling and under $6. The huevos rancheros are tasty, not quite to the quality I've enjoyed in Mexico, but still very delicious. For a cheap breakfast in the Columbia Pike area, I highly recommend Abi's. I hope to come back and try lunch and dinner. I've heard good thing about their Lomo Saltado and pupusas.
(4)Kathleen M.
I was so honored to be invited along for the SotBQ[oG]CCDTaGE by the official sidekick. When we arrived, we were a little nervous. There were 4 or 5 guys at the bar watching football... and that was it. We settled in and ordered up a pitcher of margaritas, knowing the rest of the crew would certainly drink their fair share. I found the margaritas to be really really salty (and no, I was not drinking from the salted rim!). I was already pretty full from my day of pumpkin pancakes, cupcakes, and gelato so it was great to have a lot of options in terms of a la carte vs. combination platters. All of the food that arrived looked fantastic: I was super jealous of Martin's ceviche and seafood soup, as well as the ladies' fajitas. My quesadilla was not nearly as pretty as the others, but the taste was still solid. It looks like seafood at Abi may be the specialty, as we saw another guy get a whole tilapia that looked incredible. The actual place was a little sketchy, although I liked the display of hats from around the world. Still, the bathroom was seriously gross. Service was quick and very friendly. I wouldn't travel out of my way for Abi, and with Bangkok 54 right next door, you'd probably find me there if I somehow ended up on Columbia Pike.
(3)Jeff S.
We came here via a groupon and excellent yelp reviews. It was nice to try something new, though this particular night I was looking for something healthy and there were basically no options. I did get a salad that was okay and my fiancee liked her fish fajitas. It was pretty loud inside and it was full of locals. A nice change
(3)Anna D.
I saw beef tongue on the menu and was grossed out before my meal even started. I have eaten Lomo Saltado at a handful of establishments, and I am sorry to report that Abi's version is not one of my favorites. The meal was overly soggy, which diluted any semblance of flavor in the food. The soft chicken tacos, on the other hand, were amazing. Moist chicken and an explosion of taco goodness (aka: lettuce, tomato, beans) were stuffed in a soft tortilla. My only complaint about the taco was the tortilla. It was so thin and flimsy that it practically disintegrated under the weight of the filling. Forget about eating it in your hands; you're going to need a fork to avoid looking like you've been playing with your food.
(3)Misty K.
Interesting. I see a lot of people referring to Abi as a Mexican restaurant. I think it's important to understand that Abi is a Salvadorean restaurant. Some of the offerings are Mexican/Tex-Mex, but at its heart, Abi (its owners, and much of its staff) is Salvadorean. That being said, one thing you must try is the pupusa. Mmmm...and have it with everything. My favorite Abi dish is the Vegetarian Burrito, which comes with a side of my favorite food...avocado! The fried plantains with refried beans and sour cream are, in my humble opinion, worthy of being called a dessert. As in my other reviews, I appreciate seeing people of a restaurant's ethinic base in the restaurant, and Abi is no exception. I speak Spanish and that's definitely a boon at Abi. The service is fantastic, but Spanish is the first language of most of the attentive servers. The menu is inexpensive and can be ordered a la carte to make it even more inexpensive. Lunch specials are plentiful, and combinations and happy hour drinks can save you even more. As far as cons - the guacamole has recently taken a depressing turn southward. :/ How sad. It seems as though it may have gone from homemade to store-bought. I want to cry. The bathrooms...well, you just may want to be sure you took care of that before you walked through the door. The atmosphere is roomy, but the decor is dark and odd. The wall is covered in hats from all over the world, the clientele is the same most nights (drinking men at the bar, but they don't move much :D ), plastic table cloths, and mirrored walls. The parking is sparse and a bit shady. For me, the cons are outweighed by the pros, and I make special trips to get to Abi.
(4)Juan Carlos Anh T.
Dig it. Nothing beats a $15 meal consisting of pupusas, tamales, and an horchata. Always come here for lunch!!!
(4)Stephanie B.
My office has recently developed an obsession to find the best (and cheapest) pupusas in the greater D.C. metro area. Despite the road work going on outside Abi and the thumping Spanish version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", this place is a winner. $5.95 gets you a Dos Pupusas lunch special that includes rice and beans. You can order your pupusas in any combination of cheese, beans, pork, chicken, or loroco. I tried a cheese and a bean and cheese pupusa which were both fantastic. Usually in Latin American restaurants the beans and rice are an afterthought, but they were top notch at Abi. I also have to recommend the fried plantains - crispy on the outside and warm and tasty in the middle. Abi was definitely worth the drive from the district - its less than 14.5 minutes from McPherson square at lunch time!
(5)Kevin C.
Ok this is a good place! For Latin American Breakfast huebos Ranchos,which is scrambled eggs with cheese rice flour papusas a little bit rare to find in the DC area cause that I understand the last time I checked is more common on the West Coast but if you have some one who eats latin american food don't take them there because they are used to their own cooking so they compare it to theirs! However I took my friend here from Pittsburgh here and he loved it. Can't go wrong get the Cuajada it's made fresh there!! it's not over salty as if you buy it from the store!!!! Go in the Morning if you want less noise volume to your eating expirience!
(4)Erin B.
I love Abi! We go there, or order take out from there, about once a month, on average. Every time I go in there, I feel comfortable, and I feel like the wait staff actually wants us there, as opposed to some of the other restaurants like this in the area, where all you get are dirty looks and a cold sholder b/c you are a gringo. The salsa and chips are very good, especially hit with some of the green hot sauce they have on hand. Beer is cold, and reasonable in price. During Snowmageddon 2010, we walked up there at least 3 times to eat, they were always open and ready to go. The soups are delicous, and you can order them in small sizes too, which isn't on the menu. But, the food is all authentic tasting, as opposed to Guapo's in Shirlington, it's got a large menu, and it's not expensive. All in all, I love having this place right around the corner. 4 stars instead of 5 b/c their food can be a little salty sometimes.
(4)Jay R.
Walking into this place is like walking into another country. Four TVs had two different "futbol" games on two sets each, and another one had a Spanish language station on. There were a couple of birthdays to celebrate, with most customers singing along with "Happy Birthday", and then "Hail Hail the Gang's All Here" came out of the speakers. Quite the festive atmosphere. That was the best part. The inside of the restaurant looks pretty well worn, but I guess you don't really go there for decor. The wait staff do their job fairly efficiently, but don't seem to go out of their way to be friendly (perhaps to gringos?), so I guess you don't really go their for friendly service, either. What's left? Oh yeah, the food. We started with ceviche, which was drowned in a opaque green liquid that looked almost like lime juice was combined with milk. It was o.k.; I make better ceviche. We also had the yuca con chicharron, which was pretty standard; we've had better and we've had worse (just recently, in fact). For the entree, my dining girl had the arroz con pollo, which she just struggled to finish (for today's lunch). I had the "El Fredy" specialty, which was small pieces of grilled steak (with a lot of fat & gristle), chorizo, and a couple of other things on the plate...and lots of toothpicks, which was kind of odd. The best part about it is that the portion sizes were on the larger size (which is why some of the arroz con pollo was lunch today), but the taste of everything was just average, and, really, how hard would it be to maybe act a little friendly, or smile to the customers? 2.75 stars, a shade below "A-OK"
(2)Jenna P.
My parents used to take me to Abis as a kid, I'm back in Arlington now and I like Abis even more than I did 20 years ago. Its totally laid back, not at all fancy, behind a 7-11 and next to a McDonald's but the pupusas are delicious. My favorite plate is 2 pupusas, a slice of cuajada cheese, a slice of avocado, beans, and platanos. Yum! And only about $12. A big bowl of chicken soup with huge chunks of vegetables is fantastic on a cold day. Chicken and rice in a tomato sauce is great, so is the chicken and rice with onions. A great South Arlington neighborhood spot, but don't go looking for Mexican food - its not a Mexican restaurant, its Salvadoran (with a tiny Mexican menu for people who don't try new things).
(4)mike c.
Authentic. If in no other way, definitely in ambiance. Abi's looks like it fell out of your grandma's basement. You know, a place covered in wood paneling and filled with furniture that doubles as firewood and weaponry equally well. You didn't come here for the sommelier nor the cloth napkins. You came here for the hanging plastic beer/futbol banners and the digital jukebox. Abi's food is as good as this North Arlingtonian's pallet can appreciate. The Papusas are superb, tender and greasy, just as they should be. The rice and beans that come with most dishes is relatively standard, but does not disappoint. The portion size on the apps is a bit lacking (to share), but you will not leave Abi's hungry
(4)justin k.
Okay, let's get started. Abi is about the best Latin food I've had. Ever. And I lived in Los Angeles. It's truly epic. Bonus, most everything is extremely affordable! Also, large portions (I've pretty much always had to bring home a "doggy bag"). I pretty much order the same thing every time I go, I start with a Pork and cheese Papusa (Which is pure awesomeness.. Good lord. They should just sell them in a six pack so I can go home, sit on the couch, and go to town.) I usually get the Burrito Abi for my main entree. The burritos are humongous, and stuffed with all types of goodness. The free chips and salsa are super tasty also. I'm a pretty big fan of Mexican chow, and this place has it locked up. Sure, the bathrooms are a little sketchy. But, you're there to EAT, not inspect the crappers. And think about it, IT'S A TOILET... No one throws CLEAN items into the thing. It's GONNA get a little dirty. There are usually a few "classy" individuals sitting at the bar, which should go without saying. Last time we went, some pleasantly buzzed young man decided it was wise to spend his time hitting on my girlfriend. Nice work, bub. Can't fault the restaurant for having a douchebag inside. I suggest Abi to everyone I know. It's our favorite place to eat in the area.
(5)Gwen B.
Abi's was definitely in a shady area, with an equally shady, difficult parking lot. Luckily I have a small car or else I would've had a tough time maneuvering! The food was pretty good. I ordered the vegetarian burrito and my first papusa! The papusa was great, but I missed having cheese in my burrito! The service was decent, although our waitress got caught up at the bar often and I was even worried she was not going to give me the change for my check... Overall, a decent place if you're in the area, but I'm still in favor of Los Toltecos.
(3)Jen D.
The pupusas! I can't say enough. I ordered the seafood soup - which was ok (and also had half of a fish in it - the whole of the fish) flavor wise. But I got to try some of my friend's pupusas and I was blown away. Two of us have celiac and they were very accommodating and understanding, stressing what was corn and what had flour, including knowing that the soup was not thickened with flour. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Mary Kay S.
Stop Number Nine on the South of the Border Queso (or Guacamole) Comparison, Culinary Discovery Tour and Gastronomic Extravaganza (SotBQ[oG]CCDTaGE). Our next outing will put us in double digits! This meal was served up to myself, Laura V., Kevin L., Kathleen M., and my husband Martin (no last initial, he's not a yelper!). Abi was a fine addition to our roster of Mexican food havens. By the way, make sure you note the name "Abi" -- because that's what you'll see outside the restaurant. Really no obvious clues that this place has Mexican food until you get in the door. The margaritas were definitely from a mix, and they weren't my favorite part of the meal. But, they had tequila, and that means that after the first half glass I LOVED them. Loved them. Well, really liked them. Chips -- thick and hard. Why is it so hard to get light crispy chips in this area? Sigh. Enough moping. On the pre-entree side of things, one issue that threw Laura off significantly was the lack of guacamole or queso appetizers. There was a queso fundido on the menu, but of course it has chorizo in it, and Laura doesn't roll that way. We agreed later that the guacamole served with the entrees was pretty good -- definitely could be the star of its own appetizer. Abi has a big, varied menu, and as usual when I'm overwhelmed I blurt out, Tourette's like, "Beef Fajitas!" I followed Laura's lead and chose corn tortillas over flour. See how adventurous I am? The arrival of my steaming plate of sizzling beef was simultaneously impressive ("Oh my, what a large amount of beef you have!"), and therapeutic ("I've been meaning to get a steam facial this week"). The beef was flavorful, and tender. The accompanying beans were lardy (lard-laden?), indeed they were smooth and creamy. The guac was likewise smooth and creamy. It's always a challenge to get Martin to join us on these Mexican outings, because he doesn't care much for Tex-Mex (my personal favorite brand of "Mexican" food). But he does really like seafood, and he was plenty pleased with the ceviche and Sopa de Mariscos he received here at Abi. It all sounds pretty good, right? So why only three stars? I guess because compared to some of our other outings, for me this one fell solidly into the "Not Bad" category. I could up it to 3.5 stars pretty easily. In fact, I just did. Hey, did any of us try the flour tortillas?!
(3)Miss N.
This is my second time ordering pick-up from Abi, and it was so good, I just KNEW it was time for a review. Both times, I ordered the shrimp burrito and two pupusas. Deeee-licious!! The burritos are chock full of shrimp, fresh red and green peppers (slightly crunchy still), and drenched in a deliciously creamy white sauce that is slightly spicy. It comes with a generous scoop of fresh guacamole, a dollop of chopped tomatoes and lettuce, and refried beans. Overall, it is a HUGE portion, but I love their pupusas so much, I have to keep going. I have tried both the pork and bean burritos (with cheese on both, but the bean is by far my favorite. It is tender, unlike the pork (which I have found to be slightly dry). When you order, definitely call in. They told me five to ten minutes both times I called (a Friday night around 8 and a Thursday around 6:30). I have found my food ready and hot each time. And they are always super nice. Overall, I vote YES to Abi, and will be back many, many, many, many times in the near future :)
(5)Gi A.
Every time I come here, I'm almost overcome with the urge to bust out my Spanish. I say "almost" because I quickly come to my senses and decide not to torture these people by taking 20 minutes to place my order. Breakfast is available any time, but you'll have to specifically ask for the breakfast menu if you go later in the day. The menu is pretty expansive; I generally go for my favorites, camarones entomatadas or trio los panchos. My husband the meat-eater tells me the lomo saltado is pretty tasty, too. And of course, everything goes well with margaritas, especially when it's probably too early in the day. What is it about ethnic food and alcohol?
(4)Jess T.
I had a gift certificate for this place and when the bill came, they accused me of having called the number on the certificate, thus invalidating it. I never called the number and I told them that, and they accepted the gift certificate in the end, but it was weird that they had a problem at all. The food was hit or miss. The arroz con pollo was not very good, but I've had really great arroz con pollo growing up so maybe I've been spoiled. The service is great. The rice is fluffy white rice with bits of cooked vegetables in it; I prefer yellow rice without veggies, maybe with peas at the most. Overall I thought it was too salty and underseasoned otherwise. Oh, but the salsa they serve you, thin with small chunks of fresh onion, is so yummy. It was the best part of the meal.
(2)Mariah S.
Service a little slow perhaps a laid back atmosphere is why. But food comes out quick, hot food comes out hot or in my case sizzling since I got the fajitas. Ordered the seafood ceviche appetizer and it's enough for two to share. It had shrimp, squid, and fish (tilapia) marinated in citrus. This was my first Salvadorean food experience. I enjoyed the culinary treat of the pupusa (plain). Also ordered a breaded steak served with two eggs that included salad, rice, and a very tasty fried plantain. I wasn't too impressed with the rice so next time I'll try the frijoles. Ordered a soda and it kept getting refilled. Waitress checked on us a few times during the meal. Chips didn't get refilled but we had so much food it wasn't needed. I'd come back for lunch since there seems to be some reasonably priced items for less than $6 bucks. For children, they provide a kids activity with crayons. Also kids get an Abi drink cup. Plenty of seats, and restaurant is conveniently located off main road adjacent to McDonald's.
(3)Sarah G.
This place has great, cheap mexican food. I can always order a huge bean burrito and its literally just spoonfuls of beans in a buritto... I love it. They have HUGE margaritas, and my boyfriend always has the same thing, but i dont remember what that something is... (blame it on my wine at lunch hehehe) Bottom line: Good food, authentic, cheap, satisfying.
(4)Vic T.
Mixed Pupusas were so great, that I came back to take some home and share with the whole family. The flavors are just perfect on the Enchildas too and you can't ask for better Queso Fresco. Don't forget to try the Refried Beans, 5 stars. Prices are very reasonable compared to the portions, they fill you up. It's a small restaurant and the staff are nice and friendly. I'm sure I'll be back to try more from their menu.
(5)Marie M.
I came here for dinner. The place itself is not super nice, but what Mexican place is. We got a table right away, there were a few tables taken. We got cheese dip for an appetizer. I was not a fan. It was just melted American cheese with jalapenos thrown in. Tostitos has better cheese dip. The chips are good, the salsa is ok. It reminds me of a runny pico de gallo, it was ok. They never refilled our chips and salsa. I got a combination dinner. It had refried beans, ride, shredded chicken taco and beef enchilada. The beans and rice were tasty. I was not impressed with the chicken. It tasted like crockpot chicken with a seasoning packet thrown on it. It was not genuine Mexican chicken. The beef was good ; the cheese was standard store bought cheese. They need to get the good white Mexican cheese. I was in the mood for genuine, hole in the wall, cheap Mexican food. This place did not live up to its standard.
(3)Dani P.
This has been a gem since I was a little kid. It's across from the McDonald's, and you have to drive in to see it because it isn't facing Columbia Pike. My family used to come here to often when we were little that they knew all of the servers and they knew us. The food is always quick, tasty, and inexpensive. My husband and I can gorge on their portions and pay less than $25 for a good meal. I usually go for their pupusas, but they have good chimichangas too if you ask my hubby. I love their flan if you're not too full for desert.
(4)Lia M.
I'm a big fan of Abi. I thank two friends for their constant encouragement to try Abi and am glad that I finally did. This Salvadoran restaurant offers friendly staff, a large bar with TVs, and reasonably priced (strong) drinks and delicious food. I've tried the pupusas, yucca, enchiladas, rice and beans, and sweet corn tamal. Chips and salsa are placed immediately on the table and no complaints there. I love the pupusas. The dough is not too thick, and they are perfectly browned with well-melted cheese and plenty of curtido. Fried yucca is fine, but the sauce was bland, plain tomato sauce that I did not care for. I'm usually not a fan of yucca in restaurants, anyway. I've had the cheese and chicken enchiladas and both have been full of flavorful ingredients and topped with plenty of cheese and rojo sauce. Rice and pinto beans are good, as well. The sweet corn tamal is delicious--it's huge and after a pupusa and enchilada, I couldn't finish it, even though I wanted to. Drinks are delicious. I've had both the regular and strawberry mojito and they are strong. I was fairly tipsy after two. And, the Monday-Friday happy hour is great, with $3.50 drinks and selection of noshes, as well. I'm happy I can walk here, as I will obviously need to walk after those drinks.
(4)John A.
Okay, I've been to this place at few times. I was referred to this restaurant by the manager of my favorite restaurant. It's a little rough around the edges but the food is great the atmosphere is cool and the people are really nice. I have even called in and had food to go from there. While takeout food is never as good as when you eat it at the restaurant it's still really good
(5)Izzy C.
Food is good....i had a GC that i wanted to use but they kept refusing because it was 5 de Mayo. I dont celebrate it i was there because of a birthday!!! But instead the Manager bumped up the price on items & applied my GC.... Morons never going back. FYI to the waiter tell your boss the price increase was your tip!!!
(1)Timi O.
I'm giving this place a 3 simply because I used to love it. Unfortunately things have changed. I used to dine here very frequently a few years back and loved it every time. I moved so it was tough to come around. I came back not too long ago and the food lost its delicious taste. The pupusas revueltas don't taste that good, the cheese tastes old now or maybe the whole mixture was sitting out too long. The lomo saltado dish was not cooked well. The beef was so tough, I was expecting tender beef. The bathroom still looks the same, creepy. Need some TLC.
(3)Dave, Lily S.
This place is disgusting!!! My wife & I did to go order a couple of months ago, we ordered Milanesa de pollo & Carne asada. The eggs that comes with the Milanesa was literally black like spoiled, chicken & steak was dry & no flavor. Beans, salad looked old & tasted not fresh. So after few bites we decided to go back & return everything. The manager by the name Israel apologized, refunded back our money & also invited us back with a 50% discount. So after a while we happened to be in the area today & why not let's give them a try. Went around 5 pm sat at the bar for happy hour drinks & also had the Abi sampler. My wife's margarita glass smelled very bad, he admitted it & changed her glass. Right after we ate the Sampler my wife headed to the bathroom to vomit, soon after that I had to follow her to do diarrhea. We were sick & uncomfortable that we just wanted to leave. So it gets better, when we asked him for the check he had the audacity to tell us that he can't give us the 50% discount that he promised us in our previous visit cause we were doing happy hour after I called him 2 days ago to confirm & that we might consider going there soon. Really? Are u serious? After all this experience we r having ? We didn't say anything to him, we thanked him, left him a decent tip & left. But we said never to go back there again & regretted our second visit! Another thing that I forgot to mention is that the cooks are not wearing gloves. Please do not waste your money in this place. Go somewhere else!!!
(1)Christopher C.
I used to go to this place frequently but not so anymore. The food and service has gone downhill. And it's not family friendly at all, as most people sit at the bar and get loud and the waitresses lack customer service skills. If you're looking for authentic food and great service, honestly just go next door to 7 Eleven and get a hot dog and a coke. The food and service was so bad that we paid and just left.
(1)Charity B.
I have lived in Arlington for many years and have always seen Restaurante Abi but thought to myself "I wonder what goes on in that sketchy looking place". Well, now I know. Good food goes on there. I have only ordered food for delivery from here, have not been in person, but the food that I've ordered is so good that I think I will put aside my concerns about eating at a place wedged behind a 7-11 and next to a McDonalds in a shady looking area on Columbia Pike. The food is that good. We've gotten the lomo saltado and the carne asada. I'm not a huge fan of the rice. Seemed a bit undercooked or maybe stale? Rice shouldn't be crunchy. I look forward to going trying the food freshly made in person one day soon.
(4)Mary Kate M.
The Good - Great authentic food. - Use ScoutMob for 50% discount off total table bill (not individual) - Large portions - Amazing mojitos - Muy caliente looking soccer players on the over-sized televisions showing the latest soccer game - Decent service Not So Good - The bathroom scares me. It didn't look like it had been cleaned or had a touch up of paint since the building was constructed in the 1960s. Beware! IF this is how the bathroom looks, I am scared of how the kitchen looks. I guess if I want to continue liking the food - the kitchen should be out of sight and out of mind.
(4)Aju M.
This is my favorite Mexican/El Savadorian food! I love that I can get a bean and cheee pupusa which I haven't found at alot of places or they don't do it as awesomely. Anything I have ever ordered has been on point. The portions are great for the price and their frozen mango margarita and horchata-PLEASE BELIEVE IT! Definitely going to check out the Abi's II Just make sure you ask the server for the check, because they really believe in not hovering over the table.
(5)EJ J.
Love Abi's! As a Northern Virginia native, my favorite places to try are the hidden gems in the area. The service is great, and you can't beat the price. They have a lot of selection on the menu, and everything I've had there so far has been delicious! They are known for their pupusas, which I highly recommend.
(4)Jennifer B.
Good hole-in-the-wall Mexican/Salvadoran spot. Delicious guacamole and salsa. Super yummy mango mojito. I forget what the name of what I ordered was, but it was thinly cut/pounded chicken breast, black beans & rice, over easy eggs, and plantain. It was amazing...except for the plantain, which was super dry and bland. By the combo of the other ingredients was just perfect. My bf ordered the enchilada platter or something like that, and he also said it was great. Service was pretty good as well. We went there because they were on Restaurant.com , but we didn't even up getting the certificate because the meal only came to about $35, nowhere near the $50 min. I was fine with that bc it only as still a good, cheap meal!
(4)