D.C.’s Now Permanent Taco Bamba Opens April 6

The Taco Bamba that started as a pop-up lunch counter at now-defunct Penn Quarter restaurant Del Campo is now scheduled to become a permanent fixture of the D.C. dining scene on Friday, April 6.

Restaurateur Victor Albisu has brought the homegrown taqueria he started in neighboring Northern Virginia to the District for good, carving out room at his flagship establishment (777 Eye Street NW) for the gourmet tacos and specialty drinks that have spread throughout the budding chain. The remainder of the space that used to house South American grill Del Campo is being reserved for his new modern Mexican restaurant, Poca Madre.

New menu items at the upgraded 76-seat spot — 40 in the dining room, 36 at the bar; a seasonal patio will provide 30 more seats, weather permitting — in Penn Quarter include: a burger topped with Chihuahua cheese and mezcal-spiked thousand island dressing; a chivito torta that pays homage to Del Campo’s steak, ham, and fried egg-filled sandwich; a brisket-stuffed chile relleno; plus assorted margaritas and mixed drinks such as a michelada made with grilled tomatoes and hot peppers.

Scroll down to view the full cocktail list:

Albisu also announced plans to open a new version of the casual eatery, called Taco Bamba Vamos, in a 1,300-square-foot space at University Mall in Fairfax, Virginia — a popular dining hub located across from his alma mater, George Mason University. Chef de cuisine Tom Hall has been tasked with overseeing a menu allowing customers for the first time to mix and match any featured fillings into tacos, tostadas or tortas. Ordering “dirty” tacos will incorporate additional cheese and sweet chile sauce into the meal. The Fairfax outpost is projected to offer less beer and cocktails than the existing Taco Bamba locations, but is scheduled to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The new Taco Bamba in Penn Quarter is projected to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m to 11 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, beginning Monday, April 9.

Status: Scheduled to open at 11 a.m. on April 6. 777 Eye Street NW; website.

• Restaurateur Victor Albisu Is Replacing Del Campo With Two Mexican Restaurants [EDC]
• Penn Quarter’s Taco Bamba Is Staying Put [EDC]
• A Look Inside Chef-Driven Taqueria Taco Bamba [EDC]