Eat at El Andariego

El Andariego Restaurant, Ashton, Maryland

El Salvadorean and Mexican Cuisine

I happen to live in the suburbs of the Nation's capital, which is utopia for diners seeking variety in eating options. Montgomery County, Maryland, suburb to Washington DC, has students from 164 different countries who arrived speaking 184 different languages. And somewhere within the metropolitan area there is likely to be a restaurant or a food stand selling food representative of each of those countries.

One of these is El Andariego Restaurant, which I heartily recommend for local dining. El Andariego’s menu features recipes and preparations from two of those countries, El Salvador and Mexico. It is located in Ashton, Maryland, in the NW corner of the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Route 108 (Sandy Spring Road) in a small shopping strip with easy access and ample parking.

I will now give you an extraordinarily biased description of the restaurant at which my daughter, who used to write restaurant reviews for the Boston Globe, will cringe. I do not have a food vocabulary, just as I do not have a colors vocabulary (I am color blind and once wore a blue sports jacket for years before discovering that it was a very muted green.)

My wife and I, along with friends, have been regulars at El Andariego for decades. Our original companions moved away some time ago, but when they have occasion to visit, we go there to eat. My original favorite order of Twins Burritos, one each of chicken and beef, accompanied with rice and refried beans, is still available, and substantial enough to have one of them as take home for next day’s lunch. The only difference in my order is that I now order Negra Modella Cerveza as my beverage of choice. Tortilla chips and salsa are on the table as soon as you are seated, and flan is often ordered for dessert..

Prices are reasonable and since our visits coincide with their beer specials, my Negra Modella is only $3.50. That’s hard to beat. Tortilla Soup, a favorite of my wife, is $5.59 .

When we have out of town guests, or when our own adult children are visiting, we invariably take them there to eat. With our children, it is usually at their request.

The owners and staff are friendly, attentive while being non-intrusive, and very likeable. If the Mrs. of the couple who runs the restaurant is anywhere near the door when we leave, she is more likely than not to have us leave with a hug in addition to our take-home bags. There are usually three of us in our regular party, a friend who, if it is possible, is an even bigger fan than are we. After a couple of visits there, it is like visiting family and being treated like a desired potential son or daughter-in-law.

They have along with their dinner menu, a lunch menu, a carryout menu, early bird specials, special wine menus, and Happy Hours. Many choices to choose from as you can see on the pictures and menu I pulled off the internet.

Fajitas carbon or de Camerones are especially good, as is their Trio Enchilada featuring cheese, chicken, and beef accompanied with rice and beans. And if there during Happy Hour, perhaps a half price Margarita or Sangria will strike your fancy.



Tacos? Of course, and Quesadilla. How about Chimichanga? Or their Plata San Luis with shrimp and fajita? Pupusas, Yuca con Chicharron, or Combination Guanaca are Antojitos Salvadoreños. I can’t speak the language but I can copy from the Menu.

So, what can I say? I like it, I patronize it, I recommend it, and encourage anyone within hailing distance to plan a meal there.

Viva El Andariego!