Image: Boom.
Last Updated: February 2024
Overview:
Victor Albisu made his mark on fine dining with two highly-regarded spots, the smoky Del Campo, and the revelatory Poca Madre, but it was the fast-casual Taco Bamba that took off. After a few years when D.C. had to go without, we are now blessed with one location at City Ridge. There were rumors of more coming, but those appear to be fading.
The tacos are excellent, bursting with ingredients and flavors. We often fault tacos that are unbalanced but not those from Taco Bamba, they can be over the top in a good way. They do serve up excellent versions of the traditional like al pastor, chicken tinga, barbacoa, lengua, and a Baja fish taco. It is the house specialties, however, where we would focus your attention. These tend to be bigger, or at least more stuffed. The Black Pearl ups the ante on the fish taco with crispy grouper, coleslaw, ink aioli, avocado, pickled onion, and scallions (not available at City Ridge on our last visit). There is an ode to Canadian poutine with fries, barbacoa jus, spicy mayo, pickled red onion, cotija cheese, and bacon. Note that the specialty tacos vary by location, though all will likely have the namesake “Taco Bamba” with skirt steak, chorizo, grilled guacamole, cotija, pickled onion, pickled fresno, cilantro, and chicharron.
Torta sandwiches and a bowl of greens that includes, in addition to a protein choice, a slew of things like sweet corn and black bean quinoa, avocado, cucumber pico de gallo, pickled onions and chile, Mexi-trail mix (toasted pumpkin seeds, crispy onions, crushed tortilla chips). You get the idea. Restraint, even for the “healthy” option is not in character here.
The City Ridge location (a bit of a walk from the parking) is a large interior space that includes a long bar. Not all Bamba locations include booze; this one does.
Locations open at 9:00 and offer breakfast tacos, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and other options.
Summary:
Cuisine: Mexican/Central American
Locations:
D.C.
Chinatown: Maybe returning now that the arena is staying? Or not.
City Ridge: 3930 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, DC 20016
Navy Yard: Announced and then withdrawn. Looks like it will be a Taqueria Xochi now!
Virginia
Alexandria: 6259 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
Ballston: 4000 Wilson Blvd, Suite C, Arlington, VA 22203
Fairfax: 10629 Braddock Rd, Suite B-8, Fairfax, VA 22032
Falls Church: 2190 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church, VA
Herndon: 2415 Centreville Road, Herndon, VA 20171
Shirlington: 4041 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206
Springfield: 6691-A Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA
Vienna: 164 Maple Ave West, Vienna, VA
Richmond:
Maryland
Gaithersburg: 670 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Rockville: 1627 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
Other
Nashville: Coming
Raleigh, NC: 3518 B&C Wade Ave., Raleigh, NC 27607
Website: https://www.tacobamba.com/
Reservation: Walk-in
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: La Poutina and Pork Chopolopolous made Tim’s 2022 list of best tacos.
Washingtonian: Cheap Eats in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. Top 25 Taco Spots in 2022.