clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

7 Taquerias to Try in Maryland’s Taco Triangle

How to take a Mexican food tour in Prince George’s County

View as Map

Located just across the D.C. line and tucked inside the Beltway, three Maryland neighborhoods combine to make up one of the best areas for Mexican food in the greater metropolitan area. Riverdale Park, Hyattsville, and Rogers Heights are filled with taquerias, forming a triangle studded with shops boasting regional specialties from across Mexico.

To complete a proper taco crawl, start near East-West Highway, then drive or walk south down one of two roads: Maryland’s Route 201/Kenilworth Avenue and Edmonston Road, which run parallel to each other. Here are seven places to pit stop along the way.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Taqueria El Rey

Copy Link

Taqueria El Rey is located in a strip mall next to an exit ramp along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, For drivers, that makes it an easy first pit stop. The space is mostly a takeout counter with just a few seats available for dine-in service. Tacos are $3.50 each and the best varieties are the beef tongue and carne asada with cilantro, chopped onions, and a side of limes, radishes, and cucumbers.

Taqueria Tres Reyes

Copy Link

From East-West Highway turn left onto Kenilworth Avenue, a two-mile stretch of road filled with taqueria options. Stop number two is Taqueria Tres Reyes, not to be confused with another taqueria under the same name in Manassas, Virginia. This one happens to be one of the oldest taco joints on the strip, and it has a longstanding special: three tacos, plus a choice of soda or juice for $12.

Taqueria La Placita

Copy Link

A slight detour off Kenilworth Avenue to Edmonston Road takes you to La Placita. Look for the mariachi figurines mounted to the roof. Inside the space moves with the frenetic energy of Mexico City. As you walk in, there’s an elote and horchata station to your right, and a counter to order tacos to your right. There are about a dozen different varieties to chose from. The top three tacos to try are the beef tongue (lengua), tripe (tripa), and pork cheek (cachete de cerdo). Diner be warned: Usually, the line snakes into the parking lot at peak lunch hour.

Tim Ebner / Eater DC

La Fondita

Copy Link

Another slight detour on Decatur Street takes you to La Fondita, which looks and feels like it’s based in someone’s home. The taco menu is extensive — a favorite is the tacos de enchilada, filled with spicy pork. There’s a quesadilla stuffed with huitlacoche (corn fungus), a delicacy that dates back to the Aztec empire.

La Sirenita Restaurant

Copy Link

One of the original Mexican restaurants in the region, La Sirenita has spin-offs under the same name in Baltimore and Glen Burnie, Maryland. Here you can sample several different types of tacos, including beef, chorizo, oxtail, and goat-stuffed versions. A roving mariachi band frequently serenades customers as they eat.

View this post on Instagram

Yum

A post shared by ROLLERZ ONLY (@oldiescruising) on

Taco Rico

Copy Link

As you continue down Edmonston Road, look for the bright blue building. That’s Taco Rico, which has one of the best “Taco Tuesday” specials in town. Once per week, all tacos from noon to 10 p.m. are $1.50. The best version to sample is the tacos al pastor, sliced off a vertical spit that turns in the window. For a spicier kick, order the briny and peppery shrimp soup that’s similar to a dish found in the coastal region of Veracruz.

El Tapatio

Copy Link

The final stop is El Tapatío, a fun, lively restaurant with a jukebox in the corner that cranks out Mexican pop hits. Tacos are about $3 each, and the most succulent varieties are the beef tripe (tripa) and pork stomach (tacos de buche).

Taqueria El Rey

Taqueria El Rey is located in a strip mall next to an exit ramp along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, For drivers, that makes it an easy first pit stop. The space is mostly a takeout counter with just a few seats available for dine-in service. Tacos are $3.50 each and the best varieties are the beef tongue and carne asada with cilantro, chopped onions, and a side of limes, radishes, and cucumbers.

Taqueria Tres Reyes

From East-West Highway turn left onto Kenilworth Avenue, a two-mile stretch of road filled with taqueria options. Stop number two is Taqueria Tres Reyes, not to be confused with another taqueria under the same name in Manassas, Virginia. This one happens to be one of the oldest taco joints on the strip, and it has a longstanding special: three tacos, plus a choice of soda or juice for $12.

Taqueria La Placita

A slight detour off Kenilworth Avenue to Edmonston Road takes you to La Placita. Look for the mariachi figurines mounted to the roof. Inside the space moves with the frenetic energy of Mexico City. As you walk in, there’s an elote and horchata station to your right, and a counter to order tacos to your right. There are about a dozen different varieties to chose from. The top three tacos to try are the beef tongue (lengua), tripe (tripa), and pork cheek (cachete de cerdo). Diner be warned: Usually, the line snakes into the parking lot at peak lunch hour.

Tim Ebner / Eater DC

La Fondita

Another slight detour on Decatur Street takes you to La Fondita, which looks and feels like it’s based in someone’s home. The taco menu is extensive — a favorite is the tacos de enchilada, filled with spicy pork. There’s a quesadilla stuffed with huitlacoche (corn fungus), a delicacy that dates back to the Aztec empire.

La Sirenita Restaurant

One of the original Mexican restaurants in the region, La Sirenita has spin-offs under the same name in Baltimore and Glen Burnie, Maryland. Here you can sample several different types of tacos, including beef, chorizo, oxtail, and goat-stuffed versions. A roving mariachi band frequently serenades customers as they eat.

View this post on Instagram

Yum

A post shared by ROLLERZ ONLY (@oldiescruising) on

Taco Rico

As you continue down Edmonston Road, look for the bright blue building. That’s Taco Rico, which has one of the best “Taco Tuesday” specials in town. Once per week, all tacos from noon to 10 p.m. are $1.50. The best version to sample is the tacos al pastor, sliced off a vertical spit that turns in the window. For a spicier kick, order the briny and peppery shrimp soup that’s similar to a dish found in the coastal region of Veracruz.

El Tapatio

The final stop is El Tapatío, a fun, lively restaurant with a jukebox in the corner that cranks out Mexican pop hits. Tacos are about $3 each, and the most succulent varieties are the beef tripe (tripa) and pork stomach (tacos de buche).

Related Maps