Xelaju Bakery

I have no idea how this place has such high reviews. It is not the cute little Cuban hole-in-the-wall place that I was looking for. My potatoes came out looking like a pile of mush. It was overpriced. They didn’t have cans of diet soda (that I could see). My toast was a single piece of bread cut on a diagonal. Surely, at their prices, they can give two pieces of bread. I would much rather pay to go to Streets or a local deli like So’s your mom. Overall: Poor value and quality. Do not recommend.

The tacos chapines and al pastor were both very savory, hearty, and delicious! The chips and salsa were fresh and the interior smelled amazing. Everything was made fresh to order and the service was friendly. I will definitely be back to try a couple of the sandwiches that other reviewers are raving about.

The best Cuban sandwich I've ever had! Out of three at that (one in Tampa and one in Atlanta) but still unbelievably good! Great iced coffee too. Excellent service, cozy atmosphere, good prices, and super bikeable thanks to the 14th Street NW bus/bike lanes. A real gem in Columbia Heights.

The Cuban breakfast ($13.99, plus tax) consists of rice and black beans, scrambled eggs, fried plantains, home fries, and toast. It was well-seasoned and filling. The iced coffee had a welcome surprise: the ice cubes were frozen spheres of coffee. Not even the fancy coffee shops do that.

Absolutely delicious and big portions, great addition to the rotation. Cuban sandwich blew our minds and they have a lot of great appetizers too. Service was super friendly and fast.