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Downtown’s new Mexican cafe Taqueria Local opened last month with an array of tacos, towering nachos, grilled Mexican street corn, and margaritas.
The new 60-seat fast-casual eatery (1627 K Street NW) comes from nightlife guru Antonis Karagounis, who runs Echostage, Decades, Barcode, Ultrabar, Soundcheck, and L8. There’s lunch and dinner to start, with breakfast arriving this spring. Giovanni Orellana, a native of El Salvador, runs the kitchen and most recently whipped up tacos at Barcode.
The restaurant also feeds a cause, with 1 percent of yearly revenue going to early childhood education center Centronía (where Orellana’s son went to school), along with other local initiatives.
Here’s what the public is saying, just a few weeks into service:
The Taco Trio News: Yelper Menyar A. calls the chicken taco “very flavorful”; the barbacoa taco’s meat “was very tender and the toppings complimented it”; and the mushroom taco “was probably my favorite and I’m not even vegetarian.” Facebooker Pejman Parker says “tacos are so delicious I can never pick which one to have!!! One of each please.” [Yelp, Facebook]
The I’ll Be Back News: Facebooker Anna-Regina Raffaela noted the “great ambience and atmosphere! I had a vegan version of the champiñón, fresh guac and the crema de maiz. Delicious!! I have to come back for the margaritas.” And Google reviewer Hector Giron says “the flavor is unreal, my new go-to spot for tacos!” [Facebook, Google]
The Left Wanting More News: Yelper Terri C. says “even with the extra stuff added (including their sauces they give you) the tacos were super bland. I didn’t taste any spices or anything else that would make it worth me paying $4.25/taco” and the Mexican corn “wasn’t bad at all, but for $5 I was expecting a lot more.” And Amy I. says “the tacos were good but not great. The camaron taco was bland, the pollo taco was oversalted, and asada taco was chewy. Still really liked the homemade tortillas and salsa. The ingredients seemed fresh too.” [Yelp]
The Best Bets News: Facebooker Alejandro Ventura says the “tacos are bommmmmmmb! Al pastor, and the crab tostadas are life.” Facebooker Kamal Azzouz writes: “must try the portobello mushroom!” And Facebook user Ashleigh Spiller says “my favorite thing about this place is all the small plates and sides! The tostadas are incredible! Nachos are insane! And Mexican corn off the cob was the best idea! Truly worried for my waistline!” [Facebook]
The Perfection News: Facebooker Kasib Shah writes about the “perfect taste, perfect portions and perfect margaritas.” Vahid Esmaeilian says “can we just Taco about how amazing the Greek Tacos are!!! 10/10.” Google reviewer Jimmy Canales “would 20/10 recommend the Carnitas tacos with a nice cold Jarrito.” [Facebook, Google]
The Sad Salsa News: Yelper Yvette M. writes: “I’m giving the place 3 stars because I liked the location and the space and the fact that they have beer but the tacos have no flavor, the salsa has no spice to it. Very bland food.” Google reviewer Rob R. says “the salsas were so bland I didn’t use them.” [Yelp, Google]
