La Famosa

Review! Navy Yard, Washington D.C. // Puerto Rican Restaurant // authentic but pricey

the ELEVATOR PITCH

Specific food items enjoyed during a trip always seem to find a permanent home in my heart, especially if that trip has me immersed in a culture not my own. So it’s no surprise when, years after a trip to Puerto Rico in February 2022, I still have a soft spot for pan de mallorca and mofongo, savory beef pastelillos (also called “pastelitos,” meaning “small pie”) as big as my face and tender sweet guayaba pastelillos that flake away with a single bite.

And the more I travel, the more I realize there is SO much nuance between different cultures’ cuisines (and even then, there are regional interpretations…). A lot of the Latin American restaurants near me have Colombian, Cuban, Mexican, or Peruvian roots, so while I could get myself an order of tostones, empanadas, or a concha, it was almost impossible to find their Puerto Rican counterparts like mofongo, pastelillos, and pan de mallorca.

Whilst in D.C., I spotted my opportunity to walk down memory lane again… and we found ourselves at La Famosa. Joancarlo Parkhurst, the chef and owner behind the restaurant, was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Manhattan when he was 5 years old. His deep love for Puerto Rican dishes is credited to his grandmother, who he spent much time with in the kitchen while he was still in Puerto Rico and now has brought to the States to share with us!

Atmosphere wise, the entire restaurant felt very playful, tropical colorful, and beach resort-y (real talk—while the chair swings were cute, they weren’t too comfortable to sit on long term).

Come here if you want to try Puerto Rican cuisine for the first time, but keep in mind that it will cost you the typical Washington D.C. eating-out price of $15-$20 (minimum), versus half that price if you were in Puerto Rico (a trip to the island is worth it). All in all, I’m so glad to have at least one option in the States I can return to if the nostalgia hits again.

now, what about the food?

honest reviews incoming 👇

Guayaba Batido: I had high hopes, the drink really sounded fun! But the actual guava flavor wasn’t very strong, and basically tasted 90% like milk. (rating: 2/10)

Ensalada de Pulpo: octopus is cooked, but gives immense ceviche vibes with the amount of lime juice used. Delicious and refreshing with the tostones! (rating: 8.5/10)

Beef Pastelillos: moist and flavorful; the pastelillo dough is super tender too. Good amount of ground beef and potato chunks in the filling, but even still the $5/piece price point was steeper than I’d prefer. (rating: 6/10)

Pan de Mallorca: from what I can remember, this one closely resembled the one I had in Puerto Rico (Feb 2022), just the exterior bread bits were a smidge too dry. Do keep in mind that this is just a sweet-butter-egg-milk-bread, so while a very nostalgic pastry for those who grew up with it, could feel underwhelming for others. (rating: 7.5/10)

Pork Mofongo: the fried & mashed plantains had really great texture and flavor, but I wish there were little bits of chicharrones woven throughout it! The pork belly is so deeply fried that you may feel like it’s too hard to bite into, but bite with gusto because it’s DELICIOUS! (rating: 8/10)

Carne Guisado: a tomato forward stew, perfect with its tender beef (the “sandy” kind of texture, versus “fatty,” though I prefer more of a “fatty” texture), and there was a lot of potato given (a plus for my husband who loves potatoes). (rating: 7.5/10)

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the RÉSUMÉ

address // 1300 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

operations // Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM; Sunday, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

logistics // I took public transit, but I heard there’s free street parking and also paid parking garages available nearby

amenities //

• public bathrooms, changing tables available

• no WiFi nor outlets available

• accessible (i.e., well-lit, wheelchair accommodating table heights, etc.)

• plenty of indoor and (covered) outdoor seating options

• catering available

vibes // a modern tropical island vacation? The chair swings were, admittedly, still cool even though not the most comfortable.

menu //

• beverages ($3.75 - $7.00): coffee (drip, cold brew, etc.); espresso (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.), batidos (blended milk, fresh fruit, ice)—mango, pineapple, guava, soursop, etc.

  ⭐ dairy-free milk options available (almond, oat)

• baked goods ($3.50 - $4.50): quesito, pan de mallorca, pastelillo de guayaba, alfajores, mousse de parcha (passion fruit mousse), flan, mantecaditos

• food food ($14.00 - $42.00): sandwiches, canoa de platano (beef/cod), mofongo (mashed fried plantains), etc.

  • breakfast (8:00 AM - 11:00 AM): various mallorca sandwiches

  • starters ($10.00 - $15.00): bolitas de queso, beef/vegetarian pastelillos, croquetas de bacalao, ensalada de pulpo

  • sides ($5.00): arroz con gandules/habichuelas (rice with peas/pink beans), amarillos (fried sweet plantains), tostones (fried plantains)

recs // if I had to reorder, I’d choose the ensalada de pulpo, but this is a place I’d want to try something new from before reordering, like their sandwiches!

site // La Famosa

~ cath!!