Image: Fish, Al Pastor
Last Updated: February 2023
Current Status: Now with three two locations! The new Woodley Park location did not make it.
Overview: In a pleasant development for Washington, D.C., it is much easier to find a good taco without a trek nowadays (compare current conditions to even this 2015 list). There is the concentration of places on the north end of Columbia Heights. There are the unique or fancier takes in Georgetown and Penn Quarter. A new spot in Union Market is getting a buzz as did the small spot on U Street before that. Taco City is on the good taco list and helping cover the Barracks Row, Brookland, and Woodley Park areas. With juicy – but not sloppy – fillings for excellent homemade corn tortillas, they will satisfy a craving and maybe even start a habit.
The shops are small, but with tables and chairs to relax at lunch or happy hour. Drinks, including cocktails, are available. Tacos are the focus, but there are other small plates and entrees available. Chef Francisco Ferrufino was chef at Meridian Pint and his partner Juan Jiménez has tours at Café Atlantico and Oyamel under his belt. In other words, this is a casual spot doing some serious cooking. They may not have the publicity machine that other places have, but they are no less deserving of attention – and maybe close to you! Finally, we agree with Eater, the Al Pastor is divine.
Summary:
Cuisine: Mexican/Central American
Locations:
Barracks Row: 1102 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Brookland: 3740 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
Woodley Park (CLOSED): 2604 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Website: https://tacocitydc.com/
Reservations: Walk-in
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: #9 on Tim’s 10 Best Taco Shops list in 2019 – which is how we found out about them. Good local coverage matters.
Washingtonian: No coverage
DonRockwell.com – no thread yet
Washington City Paper: Laura Hayes included it in the annual food issue that was dedicated to immigrants making contributions to the local food scene.
Eater DC: Best Mexican Spots List: “The chilorio de res tacos (braised beef, avocado sauce, pickled habanero and cilantro) and the al pastor tacos (spit-grilled pork, pineapple, onion, cilantro and salsa roja) really shine.”
The Hill is Home: Flagged its arrival.
Howard University News Service: One of the few profiles.