While the D.C. region has seen a wave of restaurant closures over the last month, plenty of new spots are also popping up — many serving the flavors of Latin America.

Chefs at some of the new restaurants are preparing the food of their home country in an ambitious and contemporary way, but trust that you’ll still recognize the Mexican sope or Uruguayan milanesa when you visit. Readers will also recognize some of their names, as many have worked at or owned other restaurants around town.

Expect even more restaurants and food pop-ups to launch in the weeks to come. Already happening this Saturday, the grand opening of I Egg You in Capitol Hill, which started serving its beloved breakfast sandwiches as a pop-up before becoming its own brick-and-mortar, and the return of the Dirty Habit’s ski chalet pop-up, which features holiday treats and vibes. 

Amparo Fondita, 2002 P St NW

Chef Christian Irabién, the former Oyamel sous chef who launched Muchas Gracias grocery and restaurant during the pandemic, opened his highly anticipated Mexican restaurant in Dupont Circle in early November. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Irabién prepares contemporary Mexican cuisine at Amparo Fondita, with a focus on sharing the food of the country’s coastal regions. That means the menu is abundant in seafood dishes, including caldo de siete mares (a seafood soup with gulf prawns and scallops), a whole grilled snapper with esquites (or toasted corn), and oysters (a half shall is $28). Patrons also can pick from a healthy selection of mezcal and tequila to accompany their meal. The restaurant is also open for breakfast and lunch for patrons to enjoy sweet concha pastries and tamales. The plates range from $15 to $21 for small plates and $17 to $49 for larger ones.

Ceibo, 2106 18th St NW

Juan and Manuel Olivera quietly opened a restaurant late last month in Adams Morgan that celebrates the cuisine of their home country, Uruguay. The brothers, who were raised in Montevideo, have spent the last two decades cooking for or running various local restaurants, including Barcelona Wine Bar and El Secreto de Rosita, respectively. Now, they’ll be preparing contemporary Uruguayan food, which is undeniably meaty: chorizo dumplings, milanesa rellena (breaded tenderloin), and strip loin steak with chimichurri. There are a few pescatarian- and vegetarian- friendly options like shrimp pil pil (chili garlic) and eggplant ragu. The restaurant is currently only open for dinner service Wednesday through Sunday but hopes to extend their offerings and hours. Dishes are fairly affordable with small plates under $10 and larger ones varying from $12 to $36.

Peruvian Brothers, 1450 South Eads St., Arlington

Giuseppe and Mario Lanzone — the restaurant’s eponymous Peruvian brothers — have expanded their business to Virginia, with a new brick-and-mortar in Pentagon City near Amazon’s corporate headquarters. The brothers, who were raised in McLean after emigrating from a small coastal town in Peru, cook the food of their home country. Their business started out as a food truck that traveled around the District, selling empanadas and pan con chicharrón (a salted pork loin and sweet potato sandwich). Then in January 2020, the brothers opened up their first brick and mortar at La Cosecha, a Latin American market near Union Market. Their Virginia location has already received a lot of fanfare, including from Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Peruvian Ambassador to the U.S. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, who made an appearance during their opening. Expect Peruvian sandwiches (which range from $9 to $13), rotisserie chicken (which cost $6 for a quarter dark and $17 for a whole), saltados (which range from $15 to $22), and empadas (which cost $6.5 except for ones with impossible beef which cost $7) at the new fast-casual restaurant.

Maizal, 11690 Plaza America Drive, Reston

The local fast-casual restaurant chain that prepares tacos, quesadillas, and empanadas just opened another location in Virginia. The opening was a long time coming; it was supposed to open Halloween of 2022. The restaurant group behind the chain, Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, is also behind Maizal. The company’s founders, CEO Saleh Mohamadi, Steve Walker and Tai Chiao, are all Northern Virginians. They are taking over that corner of Reston, with a Maizal and Mezeh now a mile away from each other. The Maizal in Reston marks the local chain’s fourth Virginia location. It also has two locations in the District. The prices are what you expect of a fast-casual spot; a few bucks for an empanada or taco and quesadillas go for $8.50 to $11 depending on the fillings.

Saya Salteña, 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

George Washington alumni Maria Helena Iturralde opened a Bolivian eatery near her college campus in Foggy Bottom. The takeout spot gives busy commuters savory and sweet Bolivian bites to grab on the way to school or work. Patrons should of course expect salteñas, pastries filled with savory filling (beef or chicken, with the option of making it spicy) or sweet versions: apple-passion fruit or pear-cranberry. There are also vegan options. Saya Salteña will also sell traditional street food, like pukacapas (baked spicy cheese empanadas), sopa de mani (peanut soup with beef short ribs), and sandwich de chola (roasted pork shoulder sandwich). Iturralde, who’s from La Paz, Bolivia, will also sell coffee from her family’s Bolivian plantation, Cafe Takesi. Every menu item is priced under $15.

Here are more restaurant openings and new food happenings to check out: 

• Casa Teresa: The new downtown D.C. food hall, The Square, gets a standalone restaurant. It’s the first solo spot from Minibar alum Rubén García, who’s also behind the food hall. Expect Basque Country and Catalonia food.
• Limani: Another day, another luxury restaurant opening at the Wharf. This one serves Greek seafood and is a chain with locations in New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.   
• The Falls: The restaurant group behind Northside Social, Liberty Tavern and Lyon Hall opened a new restaurant in Falls Church that’ll serve seasonale Mid-Atlantic cooking.  
• Good Ducking Burger: Chef Ashish Alfred of the Duck Duck Goose restaurants is serving inventive burgers (like a vegan samosa smash) and fries (made with duck fat) at this Bethesda spot.
• Doki Doki BBQ: The Moon Rabbit team is setting up shop at Northeast D.C. food hall Bryant Street Market. Chef Kevin Tien and his team already opened a Moon Rabbit pop-up with a slightly different menu to the shuttered one. The team’s new stall, Doki Doki BBQ, specializes in grilled and smoked meats with Asian seasoning. Tien is also serving his Hot Lola’s chicken sandwiches there.
• Mélange Burger: James Beard semifinalist Elias Taddesse is back. His Mount Vernon Triangle restaurant unexpectedly shuttered in April, but now his burgers are available for take-out and delivery only in Shaw.
• Halal Guys: Union Station just got a new eatery. The New York-based fast-casual restaurant serving chicken or falafel platters and sandwiches already had over a dozen locations in the region.
• Tonari: New café alert. The Japanese-Italian restaurant from the Daikaya Group is adding a daytime café to its operation. Expect breakfast and lunch items done in the Wafu Italian style, from morning pastries to bodega-inspired egg sandwiches, and of course coffee.
• Medina: One of D.C.’s newest cocktail lounges comes from Rose Previte of Michelin-starred Maydan. Cocktails include the “Rose Tinted Glasses” (gin with pickled raspberry-rose sorbet, pink peppercorn, and more) and Medusa (mezcal with passionfruit and other fruit juices, and more). The vibes are set by tapestries, muraled walls and glowing lanterns.
• Dim sum brunch returns to Maketto. The Cambodian and Taiwanese restaurant on H Street launched Dim Sum Sundays back in 2015, but then stopped them after a few years. Owner/Chef Erik Bruner-Yang has returned the beloved brunch.     
• Ivy City gets a Bonchon. The decades-old Korean chicken chain just opened a ghost kitchen at Ivy City Food Works. Patrons can place orders for pick up or delivery online and through third-party delivery services. People can use the code “NOWOPEN” for free delivery until Nov. 29.