Tacos. With so many of the best tacos in DC to dig into, where do you even begin with your search for this famous Mexican food? Well, you start at the shop closest to you and work your way from there.
Whether you are looking for Baja tacos, carnitas tacos with caramelized onions, al pastor tacos, vegetarian tacos, carne asada with pickled red onion as toppings, or just street tacos near me, you will definitely find it when you are in D.C.
Go beyond the usual at District Taco (D.C.’s local taco chain), and into the traditional and modern twists on tacos that chefs are showing off around town.
Margaritas are generally on the menu, as well as guacamole, but when it comes to epic tacos look for house-made corn tortillas at Mexican food restaurants, and you are pretty much guaranteed a winner.
Our Favorite Tacos in DC… so far
While I’m not a huge fan of breakfast tacos, most shops will offer them on the menu. Grab a side of salsa verde if you like a bit of extra flavor, try all of the red salsas, and get ready for a journey through tacos from Capitol Hill to Columbia Heights and even into College Park, Maryland, and Arlington, Virginia.
If you can’t get to Mexico City this month, we are sure you will be happy with what you find at these Mexican food restaurants for tacos near me in Washington, D.C.
Where to find the best DC Tacos
The best tacos in DC can be found throughout the city, and in the nearby suburbs in Maryland, and Virginia. While we love Cielo Rojo in Takoma Park, MD, and Taco Bamba in Virginia for a quick fix, there is nothing quite like the tacos in Washington, D.C.
Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana
- Address: 3714 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
- Cuisine: Artisanal Mexican street food and regional dishes
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
Order a horchata (your kids will love it too), and dig into delicious Baja tacos, nachos piled high with toppings, and a few tacos stuffed with things you might not think to order, but you should.
Like what? Get the beef tongue (lengua) taco, wild mushroom taco, and Tacos de Mole (chicken smothered in mole sauce) for that authentic Mexico City vibe!
Taqueria Habanero
- Address: multiple locations
- 3710 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
- 670 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
- Cuisine: Traditional Mexican
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
Looking for homemade corn tortillas in D.C.? Taqueria Habanero makes their own along with the fillings, margaritas, and sangria for you to enjoy with family and friends. They are praised for the great flavor of their braised beef and carne asada tacos but we also LOVE the salmon taco, the baked fish taco, and the flavorful chicken tinga as well. Their chipotle crema is also *a chef’s kiss!* The carnitas are traditional and delicious too.
La Puerta Verde
- Address: 2001 Fenwick St NE, Washington, DC 20002 (Ivy City)
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
As Ivy City in DC grows, so does its food scene. We found La Puerta Verde in an unassuming warehouse, a spot with amazing tacos, a killer brunch (huevos rancheros for the win!), and churros.
Honestly, I’d go back just for the churros if that’s all they wanted to offer. The cocktails go perfectly with the Mexican food menu, and the street corn (still on the cob) is always a favorite.
Paraiso Taqueria & Mezcaleria
- Address: 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
- Cuisine: creative Mexican cuisine
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
If you are in Capitol Hill, grab a seat outside at Paraiso Taqueria to do some people-watching OR head inside to the cafe for coffee OR the restaurant to sit over a leisurely lunch and a huge variety of tequila and mezcal cocktails.
Salads are a winner if you need something light, but the fish tacos (my go-to order these days) are small enough to satisfy your hunger, but not make you feel too stuffed that you don’t have room for fried plantains (more of a maduros-style sweet plantain at this restaurant), all while enjoying authentic Mexican cuisine.
Él Bebe Tacos + Tequila
- Address: 99 M St SE #120, Washington, DC 20003
- Cuisine: Modern Mexican
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
If you love soccer (aka futbol), El Bebe Tacos is the spot for you. Right around the corner from Nationals Stadium in The Yards, soccer is always on the televisions scattered throughout the restaurant. Enjoy delicious Mexican food while cheering for your team!
On sunny or warm days, all of the windows and doors are open, making for a delightful dining experience that isn’t too hot as you are protected from the beating sun, but you can still people-watch while you sip on your margarita.
El Sol Restaurant & Tequilaria
- Address: 1227 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
- Cuisine: Chef-driven Mexican
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
Taqueria Xochi
- Address: 924 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
- Cuisine: Mexican by Doña Tere
- Vegetarian Options? Yes.
More Tacos in DC
- Chaia Tacos
- Tiki Taco
- Surfside Taco Stand
- Taqueria Al Lado
- Las Gemelas
- Taqueria Al Lado
- Espita Mezcaleria
- Mi Vida
- Oyamel Cocina Mexicana
- Taqueria Nacional
- Ghostline
- Hi/Fi Taco at The Roost
- Maiz 64
- El Centro D.F. (get a taste of their popular spicy margaritas)
- Cactus Cantina
- Los Cuates
- La Tejana
- Republic Cantina
Street Tacos Near Me in DC
- Bandit Taco, 1946 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
- Tacos El Chilango, 1119 V St NW, Washington, DC 20009
- Rebel Taco Cantina, 1214 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
- tuTACO, 1320 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
- Taco City DC, 1102 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Where to find Fusion Tacos
Takorean
- Address: two locations
- 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002 (Union Market)
- 1212 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 (The Yards)
- Vegetarian Options? Yes!
Oh, how I love Takorean. Oddly enough, this was the first taco shop in DC I ever went to after we moved back to the East Coast. We were at Union Market, and I smelled something amazing. I followed my nose to fresh tacos filled with pork shoulder (slow roasted with a ssamjang sauce), romaine slaw, and lime crema on top.
After that, I was hooked.
While Union Market has a lot of delicious things to try, Takorean will always be my go-to when looking for the best fusion Mexican food in D.C.
Far East Taco Grille
- Address: 635 Florida Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Maryland Tacos
Cielo Rojo
- Address: 7056 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
- Vegetarian Options? Yes!
More Tacos in Maryland
- Little Miner Taco, 4308 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722
- Ixtapalapa Taqueria, 411 N Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
- Callejero’s Tacos(two locations)
- Callejero’s Tacos, 7894 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075
- Callejero’s Tacos #2, 10110 Washington Blvd N, Laurel, MD 20723
- Taqueria La Placita, 5020 Edmonston Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20781
- TTT Silver Spring (Tacos, Tortas and Tequila), 8407 Ramsey Ave #3324, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- El Papi Real Street Tacos, 5904 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748
- Casa Dora, 2065 University Blvd E, Hyattsville, MD 20783
- Rinconcito Mexicano, 1103 Annapolis Rd ste c, Odenton, MD 21113
- El Mariachi, 765 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
- Taco Town Baltimore, 413 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Tacos in Virginia
Taco Bamba
- Address: (multiple locations in Northern Virginia)
Taco Bamba is a delicious fast-casual taqueria with 5 locations in northern Virginia: Ballston, Falls Church, Vienna, Springfield, and Fairfax. The menu is filled with traditional Mexican cuisine tacos like Al Pastor, Barbacoa, and Birria (spicy goat), showcasing authentic Mexican food.
But the food goes beyond the traditional with tasty innovative tacos like their famous Taco Bamba, Spicy ‘Shroom, and El Gringo. In a section of the menu entitled “Not Tacos” there are many options including Corn in a Cup ‘esquites style,” chips and queso, enchilada roja and tortilla soup.
Taco Bamba offers salsa roja as one of their salsa options. Their salsas are known for being flavorful, so you might want to give it a try
The atmosphere at Taco Bamba is laid back and a popular spot for happy hours and families.
— review by Jenna Liao, familytripguides.com
More Virginia Tacos
- Taco Rock: Arlington and Alexandria
- 1501 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209 (Rosslyn)
- 6550 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
- Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita, 2911 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
- Taqueria Picoso, 1472 N Beauregard St, Alexandria, VA 22311
- Locals Tacos and Tequila, 20789 Great Falls Plaza #176, Sterling, VA 20165 (Great Falls Plaza)
- La Prensa, 21305 Windmill Parc Dr Ste.140, Sterling, VA 20166
- Tacos el Costalilla, 7862 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306
- La Jarochita No. 2, 81 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22203
- El Paso Mexican Restaurant, 6804 Commerce St, Springfield, VA 22150
- El Charrito Caminante, 2710 Washington Blvd Ste A Arlington, VA 22204
- Casa Oaxaca, 1412 Starling Dr unit c, Richmond, VA 23229
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