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Pineapple and mango-accented shrimp, huitlacoche (corn smut), and nopales (cactus) tacos.
Pineapple and mango-accented shrimp, huitlacoche (corn smut), and nopales (cactus) tacos at DC Corazon.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Where to Find Outstanding Tacos in D.C.

Try tortillas topped with tilapia, carnitas, chicken tinga, and more

by Tierney Plumb and Adele Chapin Updated
View as Map
Pineapple and mango-accented shrimp, huitlacoche (corn smut), and nopales (cactus) tacos at DC Corazon.
| Rey Lopez/Eater DC
by Tierney Plumb and Adele Chapin Updated

Any time is a great time to eat tacos in D.C.

Many options — wrapped with flour or corn tortillas — start around $3 a pop, which means going on a citywide taco crawl is very doable. Consider a one-stop trip to Mt. Vernon Triangle, where Rebel Taco, Bartaco, and DLeña all sit on the same block.

Mexican arrivals like Cinco Soles in Columbia Heights and Dupont’s candle-lit cantina Hoja Taqueria join D.C. standbys like Mezcalero and Taqueria Habanero, which just added another location across town. For a breakfast taco fix, consider La Tejana in Mt. Pleasant and Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle.

The featured bars and restaurants are not ranked. They are arranged geographically from north to south.

Don’t see a personal favorite on the list? Sound off in the comments or shoot us an email (dc@eater.com).

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Little Miner Taco

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Little Miner Taco’s birria de res tacos oozing with melted jack cheese became so popular that the food truck added multiple locations across the DMV. Fillings for its destination quesotacos include birria, chicken tinga, grilled chicken, and mushroom, all served with consommé for dipping.

4308 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722
Beef birria tacos with consommé from Little Miner Taco. 
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

DC Corazon

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Inspired by the the mom-and-pop shops in Mexico City known as fondas, DC Corazon offers meaty tacos as well as all sorts of interesting options for vegetarians like fried avocado, huitlacoche (corn fungus), nopales (cactus), or hibiscus flowers sauteed in achiote paste.

3903-3905 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
(202) 481-0511
(202) 481-0511
Pineapple and mango-accented shrimp, huitlacoche (corn smut), and nopales (cactus) tacos. Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Also featured in:

Mezcalero

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This street food-centric taqueria fills its tortillas (corn or flour) with over a dozen featured ingredients. Combinations range from shrimp and avocado or mushrooms with goat cheese to the extra hearty campechano (chorizo and steak mixed with potatoes) as well as blackened fish with pico de gallo. Its Mexican-born restaurateurs Jessica and Alfredo Solis also send out terrific Mexican street tacos at sibling spot El Sol.

3714 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 803-2114
(202) 803-2114

Also featured in:

Taqueria Habanero

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This festive Petworth eatery is a casual and cool destination inspired by cuisine from Puebla, Mexico. Its native Mexican owners serve hits like tinga poblana (shredded chicken and sausage) and tilapia-filled tacos. An additional D.C. location just debuted across town in Northeast’s new food hall Bryant Street Market.

3710 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 722-7700
(202) 722-7700

Also featured in:

Cinco Soles

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Salvadoran chef-owner Mauricio Arias just turned his former Columbia Heights Italian eatery Ossobuco into a color-soaked destination for al pastor, breaded mahi mahi, and carne asada tacos. Maiz 64 alum Cristian Saucedo helps Arias execute the Mexican cuisine pivot, which includes making tortillas with imported corn flour from Mexico. — Evan Caplan

3418 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 975-1694
(202) 975-1694

Also featured in:

El Chucho

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Whether they come for the boozy tequila drinks or the chance to soak up some rays on the spacious rooftop deck, confidence is high that every customer that walks into this Columbia Heights mainstay isn’t leaving without polishing off at least one of the kitchen’s inventive tacos. Example: sesame-crusted rare ahi tuna topped with grilled pina salsa, pickled shallots, and jalapeño aioli with cilantro.

3313 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 290-3313
(202) 290-3313

Also featured in:

Taqueria Al Lado

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This 2-year-old Adams Morgan taqueria prides itself on grinding its own masa. Handsome blue-corn tortillas are the base for tacos simply dressed in traditional garb of cilantro, onion, and a razor-thin radish slice. The al pastor gets cooled down with some pineapple, while tempura-battered cod has a thicker blanket of crunchy cabbage slaw and chipotle crema. Owner Rolando Frias also added a location across town off H Street NE.

1792 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 481-0048
(202) 481-0048
Tacos on a white plate
Taqueria Al Lado one of the few restaurants in town that nixtamalizes corn masa on the premises.
Evan Caplan/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

El Tamarindo

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Shredded chicken tacos are the name of the game at this funky taqueria, which hosts a booming Taco Tuesday with $3.50 tacos and drink specials.

1785 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-3660
(202) 328-3660
A taco trio
Tacos by El Tamarindo
Carla Sanchez/El Tamarindo

Taqueria Xochi

Copy Link

Chef Teresa Padilla, a longtime veteran of José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup, serves up dishes inspired by her hometown of San Jose Teacalco in Tlaxcala, Mexico from a hot pink takeout window on U Street. That includes cheesy quesabirria tacos with either a blend of chuck and brisket or lamb, as well as tacos spotlighting fillings like carnitas, chorizo, or mushroom. Delivery is available, too.

924 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 292-2859
(202) 292-2859
A trio of tacos on a table with accoutrements on the side
Taqueria Xochi co-owner Geraldine Mendoza says authentically Mexican tacos — like these nopales-filled tortillas — have only onion and cilantro as a garnish with salsa on the side.
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

Hoja Taqueria

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Upper Dupont’s stylish South Beach import pays extra attention to its tacos, with corn tortillas made with masa sourced from Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca. Pick from proteins like al pastor, carne asada, chicken, or mushrooms. A Mexican beer-battered fish taco featuring the catch of the day joins cabbage, red onion, and chipotle aioli.

1900 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 448-1575
(202) 448-1575
Tortillas are made daily on-site using ground nixtamalized corn. 
Hoja Taqueria

Also featured in:

MI VIDA

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The Wharf’s flashy Mexican hotspot unveiled a follow-up location last summer off 14th Street NW, where assorted tacos from culinary director Roberto Santibañez come topped with braised pork, marinated skirt steak, achiote-marinated mushrooms, and crispy cod. A third Mi Vida is scheduled to open in Penn Quarter soon. Find more respectable tacos at Knead Hospitality + Design’s new Tex-Mex sibling Mi Casa in Dupont.

1901 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 597-5445
(202) 597-5445

Also featured in:

Rito Loco

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Shaw’s pioneering burrito bar tops tacos with a lengthy list of proteins like spicy ground beef, smoked brisket, pork carnitas, mojo chicken, and shrimp, plus veggie fillings like fried avocado. Order tacos for takeout or delivery or enjoy them upstairs across its stylish rooftop perch El Techo.

606 Florida Ave NW #1853, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 836-4270
(202) 836-4270

Also featured in:

Taqueria Las Gemelas

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La Cosecha food hall’s modern Mexican eatery with a pup-friendly patio builds its tacos on heirloom blue corn tortillas. Go for its crispy mahi, al pastor, trumpet mushroom tinga, and barbacoa varieties. President Joe Biden famously swung by for a taste on Cinco de Mayo 2021.

1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 866-0550
(202) 866-0550

Also featured in:

Oyamel

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If its legendary grasshopper tacos aren’t your thing, José Andrés’ whimsical Oaxacan eatery has lots of other $5 options at the ready. Try the Yucatán-style pit barbecued Rocky Hollow Farms pork with Mexican sour orange and pickled red onion, or one with shredded local beef in a homemade tortilla with white onions and a sauce made of pasilla and guajillo chiles.

401 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 628-1005
(202) 628-1005

Also featured in:

Santa Rosa Taqueria

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The cherished taco spot run by Sunnyside Restaurant Group (the team behind Good Stuff Eatery) made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill last year in new digs. Meat for al pastor tacos comes from a gyro stick wrapped in pineapple, a birria taco is made with cheesy pot roast and consommé, and a spicy chorizo option comes with an egg.

301 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 450-4800
(202) 450-4800
Fried shrimp tacos at Santa Rosa Taqueria.
Santa Rosa Taqueria

Also featured in:

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El Rey

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The longstanding taqueria in Shaw expanded across state lines with an outpost in Ballston, complete with a 50-foot long bar and 10 different tacos on the menu. Those options include a “DC Taco” filled with panko-coated fried chicken breast strips, crispy potato frites, cilantro, and El Rey’s own mumbo sauce.

4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203
(571) 312-5530
(571) 312-5530
El Rey’s industrial-styled outpost in Ballston resembles the original in Shaw.  
Mykl Wu/El Rey

Also featured in:

Taqueria el Poblano (Multiple locations)

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This homegrown chain covers all the bases, serving taco favorites (seasoned pork, beer-battered fish, grilled vegetables) along with upscale proteins including roast duck (and sometimes lobster tacos). There’s also grilled shrimp drizzled with avocado sauce on a flour tortilla and shredded chicken stuffed into crunchy shells. Another location sits in Arlington.

2400 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 548-8226
(703) 548-8226

Also featured in:

Taco Bamba (Multiple locations)

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Restaurateur Victor Albisu keeps growing his Taco Bamba chain with neighborhood-specific tacos served at each. Alexandria’s Landmark locale, for instance, loops in new-fangled ingredients like shawarma spiced grilled beef and burnt eggplant or slaw-topped Korean-style chicken nuggets. Taco Bamba will make a triumphant return to D.C. later this year.

6259 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
703-775-2966
703-775-2966
Special “nuestros tacos” from the Taco Bamba in Fairfax
Special “nuestros tacos” from the Taco Bamba in Fairfax.
Greg Powers for Taco Bamba

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Little Miner Taco

4308 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722

Little Miner Taco’s birria de res tacos oozing with melted jack cheese became so popular that the food truck added multiple locations across the DMV. Fillings for its destination quesotacos include birria, chicken tinga, grilled chicken, and mushroom, all served with consommé for dipping.

4308 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722
Beef birria tacos with consommé from Little Miner Taco. 
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

DC Corazon

3903-3905 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Inspired by the the mom-and-pop shops in Mexico City known as fondas, DC Corazon offers meaty tacos as well as all sorts of interesting options for vegetarians like fried avocado, huitlacoche (corn fungus), nopales (cactus), or hibiscus flowers sauteed in achiote paste.

3903-3905 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
(202) 481-0511
(202) 481-0511
Pineapple and mango-accented shrimp, huitlacoche (corn smut), and nopales (cactus) tacos. Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Mezcalero

3714 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

This street food-centric taqueria fills its tortillas (corn or flour) with over a dozen featured ingredients. Combinations range from shrimp and avocado or mushrooms with goat cheese to the extra hearty campechano (chorizo and steak mixed with potatoes) as well as blackened fish with pico de gallo. Its Mexican-born restaurateurs Jessica and Alfredo Solis also send out terrific Mexican street tacos at sibling spot El Sol.

3714 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 803-2114
(202) 803-2114

Taqueria Habanero

3710 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

This festive Petworth eatery is a casual and cool destination inspired by cuisine from Puebla, Mexico. Its native Mexican owners serve hits like tinga poblana (shredded chicken and sausage) and tilapia-filled tacos. An additional D.C. location just debuted across town in Northeast’s new food hall Bryant Street Market.

3710 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 722-7700
(202) 722-7700

Cinco Soles

3418 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Salvadoran chef-owner Mauricio Arias just turned his former Columbia Heights Italian eatery Ossobuco into a color-soaked destination for al pastor, breaded mahi mahi, and carne asada tacos. Maiz 64 alum Cristian Saucedo helps Arias execute the Mexican cuisine pivot, which includes making tortillas with imported corn flour from Mexico. — Evan Caplan

3418 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 975-1694
(202) 975-1694

El Chucho

3313 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Whether they come for the boozy tequila drinks or the chance to soak up some rays on the spacious rooftop deck, confidence is high that every customer that walks into this Columbia Heights mainstay isn’t leaving without polishing off at least one of the kitchen’s inventive tacos. Example: sesame-crusted rare ahi tuna topped with grilled pina salsa, pickled shallots, and jalapeño aioli with cilantro.

3313 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 290-3313
(202) 290-3313

Taqueria Al Lado

1792 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009

This 2-year-old Adams Morgan taqueria prides itself on grinding its own masa. Handsome blue-corn tortillas are the base for tacos simply dressed in traditional garb of cilantro, onion, and a razor-thin radish slice. The al pastor gets cooled down with some pineapple, while tempura-battered cod has a thicker blanket of crunchy cabbage slaw and chipotle crema. Owner Rolando Frias also added a location across town off H Street NE.

1792 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 481-0048
(202) 481-0048
Tacos on a white plate
Taqueria Al Lado one of the few restaurants in town that nixtamalizes corn masa on the premises.
Evan Caplan/Eater D.C.

El Tamarindo

1785 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Shredded chicken tacos are the name of the game at this funky taqueria, which hosts a booming Taco Tuesday with $3.50 tacos and drink specials.

1785 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-3660
(202) 328-3660
A taco trio
Tacos by El Tamarindo
Carla Sanchez/El Tamarindo

Taqueria Xochi

924 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Chef Teresa Padilla, a longtime veteran of José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup, serves up dishes inspired by her hometown of San Jose Teacalco in Tlaxcala, Mexico from a hot pink takeout window on U Street. That includes cheesy quesabirria tacos with either a blend of chuck and brisket or lamb, as well as tacos spotlighting fillings like carnitas, chorizo, or mushroom. Delivery is available, too.

924 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 292-2859
(202) 292-2859
A trio of tacos on a table with accoutrements on the side
Taqueria Xochi co-owner Geraldine Mendoza says authentically Mexican tacos — like these nopales-filled tortillas — have only onion and cilantro as a garnish with salsa on the side.
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Hoja Taqueria

1900 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Upper Dupont’s stylish South Beach import pays extra attention to its tacos, with corn tortillas made with masa sourced from Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca. Pick from proteins like al pastor, carne asada, chicken, or mushrooms. A Mexican beer-battered fish taco featuring the catch of the day joins cabbage, red onion, and chipotle aioli.

1900 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 448-1575
(202) 448-1575
Tortillas are made daily on-site using ground nixtamalized corn. 
Hoja Taqueria

MI VIDA

1901 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Wharf’s flashy Mexican hotspot unveiled a follow-up location last summer off 14th Street NW, where assorted tacos from culinary director Roberto Santibañez come topped with braised pork, marinated skirt steak, achiote-marinated mushrooms, and crispy cod. A third Mi Vida is scheduled to open in Penn Quarter soon. Find more respectable tacos at Knead Hospitality + Design’s new Tex-Mex sibling Mi Casa in Dupont.

1901 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 597-5445
(202) 597-5445

Rito Loco

606 Florida Ave NW #1853, Washington, DC 20001

Shaw’s pioneering burrito bar tops tacos with a lengthy list of proteins like spicy ground beef, smoked brisket, pork carnitas, mojo chicken, and shrimp, plus veggie fillings like fried avocado. Order tacos for takeout or delivery or enjoy them upstairs across its stylish rooftop perch El Techo.

606 Florida Ave NW #1853, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 836-4270
(202) 836-4270

Taqueria Las Gemelas

1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

La Cosecha food hall’s modern Mexican eatery with a pup-friendly patio builds its tacos on heirloom blue corn tortillas. Go for its crispy mahi, al pastor, trumpet mushroom tinga, and barbacoa varieties. President Joe Biden famously swung by for a taste on Cinco de Mayo 2021.

1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 866-0550
(202) 866-0550

Oyamel

401 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

If its legendary grasshopper tacos aren’t your thing, José Andrés’ whimsical Oaxacan eatery has lots of other $5 options at the ready. Try the Yucatán-style pit barbecued Rocky Hollow Farms pork with Mexican sour orange and pickled red onion, or one with shredded local beef in a homemade tortilla with white onions and a sauce made of pasilla and guajillo chiles.

401 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 628-1005
(202) 628-1005

Santa Rosa Taqueria

301 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003

The cherished taco spot run by Sunnyside Restaurant Group (the team behind Good Stuff Eatery) made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill last year in new digs. Meat for al pastor tacos comes from a gyro stick wrapped in pineapple, a birria taco is made with cheesy pot roast and consommé, and a spicy chorizo option comes with an egg.

301 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 450-4800
(202) 450-4800
Fried shrimp tacos at Santa Rosa Taqueria.
Santa Rosa Taqueria

Related Maps

El Rey

4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203

The longstanding taqueria in Shaw expanded across state lines with an outpost in Ballston, complete with a 50-foot long bar and 10 different tacos on the menu. Those options include a “DC Taco” filled with panko-coated fried chicken breast strips, crispy potato frites, cilantro, and El Rey’s own mumbo sauce.

4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203
(571) 312-5530
(571) 312-5530
El Rey’s industrial-styled outpost in Ballston resembles the original in Shaw.  
Mykl Wu/El Rey

Taqueria el Poblano (Multiple locations)

2400 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301

This homegrown chain covers all the bases, serving taco favorites (seasoned pork, beer-battered fish, grilled vegetables) along with upscale proteins including roast duck (and sometimes lobster tacos). There’s also grilled shrimp drizzled with avocado sauce on a flour tortilla and shredded chicken stuffed into crunchy shells. Another location sits in Arlington.

2400 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 548-8226
(703) 548-8226

Taco Bamba (Multiple locations)

6259 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312

Restaurateur Victor Albisu keeps growing his Taco Bamba chain with neighborhood-specific tacos served at each. Alexandria’s Landmark locale, for instance, loops in new-fangled ingredients like shawarma spiced grilled beef and burnt eggplant or slaw-topped Korean-style chicken nuggets. Taco Bamba will make a triumphant return to D.C. later this year.

6259 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
703-775-2966
703-775-2966
Special “nuestros tacos” from the Taco Bamba in Fairfax
Special “nuestros tacos” from the Taco Bamba in Fairfax.
Greg Powers for Taco Bamba

Related Maps