Two years ago, we brought you ten of our favorite taco spots in D.C. And with the exception of California Tortilla (sorry Ben), we still stand by that list. However, the District has seen a veritable taco boom in the last few years, meaning more tortilla-wrapped goodness for local diners. This town isn’t known for its Mexican food, but the options are slowly improving. Here are eleven new favorites among the DCist staff.
Photo by Joe Flood
CHAIA: A trip to the farmers market for a mixed trio of Chaia’s vegetarian tacos has become something of a Sunday morning ritual. The women behind this farm-to-taco stand sell their wares at the Dupont Circle Freshfarm market, and at the Thursday afternoon White House one too. A chalkboard under the tent goes over the ever-changing offerings, like skillet charred corn with green chilies or dark raven zucchini with mint and chevre, based on what’s in season and delicately finished with a sprinkling of micro greens. Chaia is also noteworthy for what’s underneath all those veggies: Balls of masa are formed, pressed into tortillas, and griddled on the spot. A brick and mortar location in Georgetown (3207 Grace Street NW) is now forecasted to open this fall.—Josh Novikoff
Chaia is located at the Dupont Circle and White House FRESHFARM markets.
EL REY: This low-key shipping container has several things going for it. First and foremost are the cheap and delicious tacos. For as little as $3 each, these puppies are great for a quick snack or combined for a bigger meal. The veggie option—queso con hongos (cheese with mushrooms)—is particularly fresh and tasty. If I’m being honest, I also love that this place is down the street from my gym, because there’s nothing better than ruining a perfectly good workout with sangria, chips and lots of guac. —Victoria Finkle
El Rey is located at 919 U Street NW.
EL TACO LOCO: When you’re literally next door to one of the best pollo a la brasa spots in the area (El Pollo Rico), it’s easy to get overlooked. However, El Taco Loco is churning out some great tacos in Wheaton. This taqueria fulfills all taco lovers’ prerequisites: no frills, cheap, and good. The meat stuffed inside each corn tortilla is moist, flavorful, and abundant. And for $2.50 per taco, it’s a great value. They even make great pupusas, too! —Brett Gellman
El Taco Loco is located on 2515 University Boulevard in Silver Spring, Md.
Photo by Brett Gellman.
IMPALA CANTINA: A bite of a taco can be described as meaty, crunchy, spicy, tangy and herbaceous. With all the emphasis on the inside, the humble tortilla is often overlooked. Given that it’s entrusted to blanket the comforting ingredients, the tortilla is indispensable to a quality taco. The Impala corn tortilla could stand alone like the Continental bread basket and satisfy unto itself. Homemade throughout the day, its artful balance of texture and flavor is the foundation of the tacos at Impala Cantina. Fillings include handcrafted chorizo, seasoned with a finely tuned house blend of herbs and spices. The same seasonings are used for the vegan chorifu tacos as well. Adventurous carnivores who try the lengua tacos may forget it’s tongue after a bite or two and liken it to a flavorful braised meat. An irrefutable gut bomb, the pork belly tacos are garnished with piquant red onions and jalapeños to cut the dense delight. —Andrea Adleman
Impala Cantina y Taqueria is located at 1358 H Street NE.
PEPITA: Pepita Cantina, Mike Isabella’s foray into Mexican cuisine, doesn’t technically open until tomorrow. But I’m going to make a bold move and put them on this list after having sampled several tacos and other fare at the restaurant’s pop-up at G earlier this year. Perhaps my lens is a bit rosy, as the menu featured two of my favorite cloven-hoofed animals: a succulent lamb barbacoa taco and sweet-and-tangy pork al pastor taco with pickled pineapple. Isabella may be known for his skill with Mediterranean food, but the chef does just as deft a job with Mexico’s bold, fresh flavors. I walked away from that meal supremely satisfied and supremely sad that Pepita was opening closer to my house. —Alicia Mazzara
Pepita is located at 4000 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Va.
PICA TACO: For such a small place, Pica Taco offers a surprising array of menu options, though a few stand above the rest: This is the place to go for barbacoa and lengua. You can enjoy them outside on the patio at the Columbia Road location, or with a Mexican beer at the Florida Avenue location. Don’t skip the white crema sauce, which packs a little kick. —Jenny Holm
Pica Taco has locations at 1406 Florida Avenue NW and 1629 Columbia Roadd NW.
Impala Cantina’s lengua (tongue), pancita de puerco (pork belly), and chorizo tacos. Photo by Andrea Adleman.
PHO WHEELS: Pho Wheels’ tofu taco is so drool-worthy that I dream about it and feverishly check their Twitter status every Monday, fingers crossed that they have my ‘hood on their schedule. What makes these tacos so different is that this Vietnamese taco truck’s version of a tortilla is a soft, pillowy roti. The Malaysian flatbread serves as the perfect base for the filling of tangy pickled radishes and carrots, savory mushroom-onion tofu, topped with cilantro and sriracha lime mayo for a little bit of heat (traditional or vegan mayo is available). I’m sure the chicken and pork belly versions are delish, but my money’s on the tofu. So, next time you see the PhoWheels truck around town, dissuade your taste buds to turn down their pho and banh mi, and grab a couple of these tacos. You won’t regret it.—Lynne Venart
Follow Pho Wheels’ location on Twitter.
TACO BAMBA: Victor Albisu made a tucked-away shopping center in Falls Church into a taco destination when he opened up Taco Bamba two years ago. There’s his mom’s Latin grocery market, a rug store, a local dive bar that time forgot, and the counter-service Mexican joint from the guy who was declared Washington’s chef of the year in 2015. Along with his cooking at Del Campo, it’s his signature ‘tacos nuestros’ at Bamba, like the black pearl with fried tilapia and black squid ink aioli, the spicy ‘shroom, and the el beso with crispy pork and beef tongue, that made it this way. Plus there’s often something new. A trip down I-66 to try the poutine taco with fries and barbacoa just may be in order.—Josh Novikoff
Taco Bamba is located at 2190 Pimmit Drive in Falls Church, Va.
Photo by LaTur.
TAQUERIA HABANERO: The pillowy, fragrant house-made tortillas are just one reason to visit this friendly, family-owned spot just a few doors down from Red Derby and Lyman’s Tavern. The menu is small but fierce, offering tacos, quesadillas, tortas, and huaraches (fried corn masa patties stuffed with beans) with a variety of carefully prepared fillings and toppings. The gently sweet shrimp tacos topped with a dollop of salsa verde are a must-try, and if you think you can’t possibly like anything made with tongue, you haven’t tasted their creamy lengua tacos. Wash it all down with an agua fresca, which are refreshing and not overly saccharine. —Jenny Holm
Taqueria Habanero is located at 3710 14th Street NW.
SUPER TACO: First, it’s very important that you turn up your computer volume and go to supertacosdc.com right now. You will be rewarded with D.C.’s best Website soundtrack. Then, head to Super Tacos in Adams Morgan, across the street from the CVS and Safeway. The small storefront, with a limited number of seats, is a functional Mexican bakery for the neighborhood, probably more so since the closing of Heller’s in Mt. Pleasant. Tacos here are simply meat, onions, and cilantro in a tortilla. Chorizo, carnitas, al pastor … you can’t go wrong with the pork here; it’s delicious. Add whatever you like from the self-service toppings bar. In addition to traditional-style tacos, they’ve also got great tortas and tamales. The horchata is grainy and not too sweet, which I love.—Josh Kramer
Super Tacos is located at 1762 Columbia Road NW.
SURFSIDE: This laid-back taco spot has been a Glover Park fixture for years and now has a 24-hour location in Dupont Circle, as well as a food truck. The menu’s varied ingredients are fresh, and each taco pops with tropical flare. The Nevis tacos are a great blend of grilled shrimp, pineapple mango salsa, avocado and lime sour cream inside a corn taco. Steak lovers will enjoy the Cabo San Lucas, a flour taco filled with grilled steak, pobano peppers and red onions. The guacamole and chips are also a popular side option. The Glover Park location has a quiet roof deck and also lets customers build their own tacos. —Travis Mitchell
Surfside is located at 1800 N Street NW and 2444 Wisconsin Avenue NW.
