Photo by Joe in D.C.

Tacos, those wonderful inventions of meat, vegetables, and spices served in folded-over tortillas, abound in D.C. and the surrounding environs. And while it’s true that there are plenty of chain outlets that specialize in serving you your feelings in a 1,000-calorie dish, most tacos do not have to be eaten in shame. In fact, there are plenty of tacos worth celebrating.

DISTRICT TACO: When it launched, District Taco was quickly hailed for serving some of the area’s finest meat-filled tortillas. Yet it all played like a cruel joke. Despite its name, District Taco began as a food truck—in Arlington. But mobile success gave way to a brick-and-mortar existence in D.C. (and, yes, a store in Arlington, too), and now District residents mob District Taco’s two city locations, hankering for egg-and-potato-filled, all-day breakfast tacos, and regular tacos. Meats are cooked the right ways, from the long-simmering beef that goes into the barbacoa tacos, to the rotisserie pork marinated in guajillo chiles and pineapple in the al pastor. District Taco will serve its dishes the “American Way” with cheese and salsa, but to eat with sincerity, opt for the standard dressing of cilantro and onion. These tacos need nothing more than that before you inhale them. And you will. —Benjamin R. Freed

District Taco is located at 5723 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va.; 656 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.; and 1309 F St NW. Its food truck can be tracked on Twitter.

Photo by rockcreek.

TAQUERIA DISTRITO FEDERAL: Taqueria Distrito Federal is like a taco superstore. It has by far the biggest selection of meats: 11 different fillings ranging from the usual suspects (carnitas, pollo, carne asada) to the offal (beef tongue, beef tripe, pork skin) and everything in between (al pastor, chorizo, goat, pork ribs). With this many options, the meat can sometimes be hit or miss. I’ve had good luck with the barbacoa res, pork ribs, and for the adventurous, the pork skin. (Beware, the squishy texture is not for everyone.) —Alicia Mazzara

Taqueria Distrito Federal is located at 3463 14th St. NW and 805 Kennedy St. NW.

SMOKE & BARREL: True, there are far more inventive items coming out of Logan McGear’s kitchen, but the tacos are yet another reason to praise this beer, bourbon, and barbecue haunt in Adams Morgan. Smoke & Barrel’s menu of smoked meats and tofu are easily adaptable to the folded tortilla form; tacos come three to a plate along with one of McGear’s habit-forming side dishes. And be sure to ask for all the hot sauces. They’re good any day of the week, but especially on $5 Taco Tuesday, though on those days, getting to Smoke early is advisable if one wishes to avoid encountering a run on, say, the espresso-rubbed brisket. Actually, getting to Smoke early is a good idea any day. Is it 5 p.m. yet? —Benjamin R. Freed

Smoke and Barrel is located at 2471 18th Street NW.

THE ARGONAUT: Full disclosure: I hate tacos. Or I should say, I hate most tacos. But I can tolerate — even enjoy! — the simple fish tacos at H Street’s The Argonaut. Better yet, the flaky fish tortillas are just $3 on Taco Tuesday.—Sarah Anne Hughes

The Argonaut is located at 1433 H St NE.

FAR EAST TACO GRILLE: There are a lot of food trucks waiting to sell you tacos, but Far East is my favorite for the bold flavors, large portions, and reasonable prices. A mash-up of Korean, Japanese, and Latin flavors don’t seem like they should work, but somehow it all ends up like a giant party in your mouth. Try their recommended combinations, especially the chicken with chipotle corn. Tacos are $3 each or $8 for three. —Alicia Mazzara

Far East Taco Grille’s movements can be tracked on Twitter.

MAMA CHUY’S: The brother and sister owners use recipes based on their Guadalajaran grandmother’s cooking and both the tacos and sopes (basically flat tacos on crunchy fried corn disks) are really good. The milanesa (breaded, fried steak) tacos and al pastor (marinated pork) tacos and sopes are fantastic and even non-vegetarians will like the vegetarian tacos: mushroom and spinach, poblano, or squash. —Andrew Wiseman

Mama Chuy’s is located at 2620 Georgia Ave NW.

Photo by Brandon Kopp.

TAKOREAN: Based on my own anecdotal evidence, the tofu taco appears to be the least popular item on TaKorean’s small menu. This is a shame, because it’s actually better than their chicken and beef tacos. The tofu has been marinated and then caramelized on the grill, creating some deep, sweet-savory flavors. It may seem like a weird taco filling, but next time you see their truck around town, give soy a chance. —Alicia Mazzara

Takorean is located at 1309 5th St NE. Its food truck can be tracked on Twitter.

Oyamel also offers grasshopper tacos. Photo by Bethany L. King.

OYAMEL: Carnitas con salsa de tomatillo (confit of baby pig with green tomatillo sauce, pork rinds, onions, and cilantro). They had me at confit of baby pig, then they really had me at pork rinds. —Elisabeth Grant

Oyamel is located at 401 Seventh St NW.

Chicken and chorizo tacos at Tacos El Chilango.

TACOS EL CHILANGO: Tacos El Chilango, another beloved Arlington food truck, opened up a tiny storefront on an otherwise residential block at 11th and V streets NW last September. Since opening, the hole-in-the-wall joint hasn’t lost any of its sizzle on a block piled with construction sites. The ambiance is minimal, but that’s not the point. Unlike many taco joints in D.C., the owners are not El Salvadorean. They are Mexican, and the difference is palpable on the first bite. Fillings include steak, beef tongue, chicken, chorizo, and al pastor, the last of which comes dressed lustily in onion and pineapple. And the house-made aguas frescas (tamarind, hibiscus or horchata) are lightly sweet and refreshing, a perfect complement to the petite tacos’ spicy flavors. —Alicia Mazzara

Tacos El Chilango is located at 1119 V Street NW.

Photo by Bethan King

CALIFORNIA TORTILLA: What? It’s across the street from Gallery Place. And also across the street from the Uptown Theatre. You’re going to tell us you’ve never grabbed Cal Tort before or after seeing a movie? —Benjamin R. Freed

California Tortilla has multiple locations in the Washington metro area, including at 728 Seventh Street NW and 3501 Connecticut Avenue NW.