Chefs Leo Garia and Arelie Florez bring the flavors of their hometown to Cinder BBQ every weekend.

Cinder BBQ at 800 Upshur Street has been a popular restaurant in the neighborhood, serving up great BBQ for dinner since 2019. They’ve been a favorite at Taste of Petworth during the fall Celebrate Petworth Festivals, and are a citywide favorite for their great smoked flavors—including Texas Brisket, wings, pulled pork and more.

Last year the opened a sandwich shop as a pop-up during weekend afternoons that was pretty popular, so this year, owner’s Matt Krimm and John Anderson are trying something new, a breakfast popup called Desayuno.

The passion project of Cinder chefs (and wedded partners) Leo Garcia and Arelie Florez, Desayuno offers breakfast from 8am until noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Both chefs grew up in the same town of Guerrero in Mexico, but met here in DC many years later. Their BBQ creations have made their customers delighted, and their various weekly specials like their Pulled Chicken Nachos, Pork Pozole, Cheesesteaks, Chicken Fried Steak and more have made their customers dedicated fans.

Chefs Florez and Garcia making enchiladas.

Desayuno will offer a Mexican cuisine breakfast menu that includes tamales, enchiladas, huevos rancheros and jamon, and many other favorites, including Huevos Con Chorizo (scrambled eggs with housemade chorizo, queso fresco, black beans, stewed potatoes and tomatoes) and served with the best-tasting, softest corn tortillas I’ve ever had. All made in house.

Chorizo scramble that will definitely start your day full and ready to go.

Chef Leo’s popular Pozole is also on the menu (pork and hominy, radishes, carrots, pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, avocado and served with fried tortillas). The spice is light but delicious. It goes really well with the Tamales (I kept dipping the chicken tamale into the pozole and the combo was great.) I love that everything is made in-house by the chefs.

Their Chilaquiles is the highlight, especially with the carne seca added on the side. Carne seca is thin sliced steak made by Chefs Garcia and Florez, salted, cured, rolled and then cooked on a flat-top grill. The dish comes with two eggs over-easy, next to tortilla chips covered in an insanely good salsa rojo, creme sauce and topped with onions. Crack the yolks open and enjoy a carnival of flavors.

Go get yourself some Chilaquiles with carna seca!

Chef Garcia says more dishes will be coming, as will coffee service. Both he and Chef Florez are excited to share their favorite foods with the neighborhood.

You can visit Desayuno at Cinder BBQ (800 Upshur St NW) every Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 12 noon. Their menu will be online on the weekends on Cinder’s website for ordering, or walk up and order at the window and pickup for takeout. Right now they’re not seating inside for breakfast, but owner John Anderson said that could change depending upon response.