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Last Updated: May 2025
Muchas Gracias is a cozy little spot, with a few tables that can fill up quickly on a busy night. The popularity is warranted. While fancier Mexican spots like Maiz64 and Poco Madre did not make it, a crop of more neighborhood-oriented spots rose that serve up the fine-dining style plates without the fine dining atmospherics. While not as easy to get to as Amparo Fondita or as much of a phenomenon as Pascual, Muchas Gracias can hold its own.
The core of the menu are tacos, supplemented by enchiladas. They are good versions and would not steer you away from them, but on our recent visit it was the appetizers, a plate of two sopecitas topped with black beans, chipotle crema, queso fresco, pickled radish, and salsa verde cruda, and charred sweet potatoes with salsa negra and chipotle honey butter that stood out, along with the enchiladas verde loaded up inside with cheese. The burritos that established the spot’s early reputation remain on the lunch/brunch menu. The space includes a small bar and a substantial spirits collection.
It is a strange twist of fate that led to Muchas Gracias coming to fruition. Chef Christian Irabién started the place as a pop-up with the purpose of “supporting Latin American immigrant workers through food and economic support and in providing our neighborhood with essential products.” Irabién, an Oyamel alum, was supposed to be opening a fancy, edgy dining spot in Union Market’s La Cosecha emporium. That fell through, so he switched to a taco pop-up with the Comet Ping-Pong/Buck’s team. When the pandemic hit, he took over the small store-front and added philanthropy to the mix. The pop-up became a stalwart. Eventually Irabién found a spot to open his own place, that is now the excellent Amparo Fondita. Muchas Gracias continues to have his stamp on the menu, that is a good thing. Muchas Gracias has settled in to be one of the great bunch of neighborhood spots at the top of Connecticut.
Other Guidance: Steps up for back entrance, street level at front. Maiz makes it good for GF and there are lots of non-meat options for other restricted diets.
Summary:
Cuisine: Mexican/Central American
Neighborhood: Upper NW
Address: 5029 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Website: https://www.muchasgraciasdc.com/
Reservations: Resy
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Tim put it on a list of three taco places of note. Tom put it in his 2020 fall dining guide.
Washingtonian: 9 DC Winter Restaurant Week Brunches to Stay or Go
Lori (Been There Eaten That): Included in a wrap of pandemic dining.
