The Cuban people inspire Chef Raynold Mendizábal. The joy and intensity with which they go through life, their bright spirit and innate optimism no matter how hard the struggle; is what inspires him.

It’s been a long dream of Chef Mendizábal to represent and promote his culture through his craft, and here it is! El Sapo is rooted in tradition and unmistakably Cuban, full of intense flavors, laughter, music, colors and aromas. We hope our happiness is contagious.  We want to give you a little bit of the Cuba that he loves so much.

¡¡¡Aché!!!

Half of our dishes are inspired by the foods and drinks Raynold Mendizábal enjoyed at home or on the streets of La Habana. The other half tells the story of his journey as a chef. You will love our mojitos, Cuban classics like ropa vieja, our curated rums and of course, cortaditos to end your meal.

“El Sapo” is a bet with the universe. In Cuba, when people play the lottery or makes wishes, they look to “la charada china” – a superstitious guide of numbers and corresponding pictures that give meaning to life’s fortunes. Exactly 22 years to the day after setting foot on American soil, Raynold Mendizábal signed the lease on a dream he has always had. El Sapo (the toad) represents the number 22 in his culture, so in homage to tradition and the powers that be, El Sapo was born.

Please call us at 301-326-1063 or better yet, send us a note@elsaporestaurant.com.

• Happy Hour: 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. daily
• Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Our official address is: 8455 Fenton Street, Suite #1, Silver Spring, MD. 20910

Our “Cuban” address is: Located on the ground floor of the CENTRAL building on the corner of Wayne Ave. & Fenton St. in downtown Silver Spring. The main entrance is on Wayne Ave.

By Foot

Located on the ground floor of the CENTRAL building on the corner of Wayne Ave. & Fenton St. in downtown Silver Spring. The main entrance is on Wayne Ave.

By Metro

We are 4 blocks away from the Silver Spring Metro Station on the Red Line.

By Car

Street parking is limited, however, the Wayne Avenue Garage is located less than a block away, and is free on weekends and evenings after 7 p.m.

While we know that you’ll leave us in a festive mood, El Sapo promotes responsible drinking. Please let us arrange an Uber or Lyft to get you home safely.

We have a fun, tropical-chic Cuban atmosphere, however we request that guests refrain from wearing baseball caps, athletic wear and torn clothing.

We allow corkage on any wine not offered on our current wine list, starting a service fee of $25 per 750 ml. Larger bottles are charged accordingly.

If you’d like to bring your own cake, we charge a $5 per person cake fee so that your cake may be properly stored, presented, plated and served for your special occasion.

Yes! Please order them here.

For all media inquiries, please email social@elsaporestaurant.com.

Yes, advance reservations are highly recommended! Parties up to 10 may be reserved with a credit card online through OpenTable.

Absolutely! We love spontaneity and always save some seats for folks who live in the moment. However, advance reservations are highly recommended for large parties and may be reserved with a credit card online through OpenTable.

Yes, the more the merrier! Our restaurant can be completely or partially rented. If you are interested in a private event, please send us a note@elsaporestaurant.com or call us at 301-326-1063.