Amparo Fondita

A onetime pop-up, this contemporary Mexican restaurant now enjoys a permanent home in a minimalist space just off Dupont Circle. Chef Christian Irabién prioritizes exceptional ingredients, as in corn sourced from Oaxaca, then nixtamalized in-house. The menu is wide-ranging with selections from the raw bar, appetizers, sopecitos, and an array of main dishes like halibut with mole. Sides, such as a fried plantain that seems simple but is layered with flavor, shouldn't be overlooked. No matter the selection, every dish tempts with creative and contemporary flair. Take the papaya nixtamal. Cooked in piloncillo and Mexican vanilla, served over a coconut cream and finished with fennel pollen and wildflower honey, it mystifies with mind-bending complexity.