Until a couple of years ago, Adams Morgan’s tired Mixtec was the best approximation of authentic Mexican food that D.C. could muster up. Indeed, much of what still passes for Mexican food around here is actually a Salvadoran interpretation that is occasionally inspired, but more often than not disappointing.

While Taqueria Distrito Federal has deservedly garnered accolades, Adams Morgan’s Tacos Pepito’s Bakery II comes closest to offering the full range of beverages and antojitos that we’ve enjoyed at similar establishments in Brooklyn.

Tacos Pepito’s menu offers such a dizzying array of cheap and appealing options that it actually took us longer to figure out what to order than it did to eat.

Their tacos are probably the cheapest way to both satisfy a craving and sample a broad swath of their menu in a single visit. Among their nine different tacos, we’ve tried their barbacoa (steamed lamb), carnitas (fried pork), al pastor (roasted seasoned pork), and cochinita pibil (baked seasoned pork).

All were pleasing, but their carnitas, an oily heap of crispy fried pork spiked with allspice, was the clear winner. Each taco comes with a double layer of tortillas generously heaped with your choice of meat and a sprinkling of onion and fresh chopped cilantro. We highly recommend topping them off with some of the spicy pickled carrots and jalapeños from the salsa bar.