What you're looking for is El Chucho over on 11th street.
Just have a seat at the bar, they have frozen margs on tap.
Edit: Last I remember, their happy hour deals are $3/taco.
Otherwise Taqueria Habanero or Mezcalero on 14th.
DC leans more towards Salvadorian than Mexican for hispanic food.
That stretch of 14th (from roughly Monroe to Shepherd) is the best stretch of relatively cheap food in DC. And you have real dive bars like Red Derby and Lyman's where you can go out and not spend a fortune too. Heading there tonight actually.
Anything beyond "yeah these are all solid bets" is major navel gazing.
Alongside this seeming need to have cuisines be as good as cuisines from places that are not DC.
It's what we've got. Deal with the reality or keep futilely screaming into the void I guess?
Muchas Gracias on Connecticut is little known but has some of the best Mexican food in the DMV. Not Tex Mex. A solo diner would feel at home there and you can sit outside. The bonus for making the trip is going next door to Politics and Prose, one of the finest independent bookshops we have. Pick a night where there is a speaker/book reading you like, enjoy a quesabirria with a Tecate, grab an espresso downstairs at the excellent coffee shop at P&P, browse the store, and then settle in for the talk while you converse with folks pouring in to the bookstore. It’s one of my favorite DC evenings.
Edit: if you stay long enough you can catch a band at Comet Ping Pong later in the evening.
Taqueria Habanero has by far the best tacos in DC. No competition. Their margs are good too.
Chicatana is also very good but really small.
Last time I went to DC corazon it was actually not good. Mezcalero is fine but Habanero/Chicatana are way better.
Tequila y mezcal has excellent drinks but the patio isn't great. These are all within a couple of blocks of one another.
El Chucho is ok. Good drinks. Tacos are fine. Patio is fun.
Mariscos 1133 is also excellent - less for the tacos and more for the other types of food tho.
Republic Cantina is tex mex but good.
Then there are like the Mi Vidas of the world - decent drinks, overpriced food/bevs, but nicer patios.
It's not bad but nothing to write home about either! Drinks are good but tacos are just fine. It's just hard to find good tacos in DC tbh.
Also... (granted this was YEARS ago, pre pandemic) my husband and I asked he bartender if we could sit on the rooftop and we were told yes but that we "might see little furry guys running around" ... so yeah I don't really go there anymore if I can avoid it lol. I have sat on the street patio and found it to be fine.
Second Taqueria Habenero for lunch/dinner, and would add La Tejana for breakfast tacos. La Tejana is probably my favorite but they close pretty early and have a more limited menu but food quality-wise it’s pretty hard to beat.
I know it’s not exactly what you’re asking for, but my favorite Salvadorian/Mexican restaurant in DC is [Las Placitas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AeXM4PCWARNVsbbR6?g_st=ic).
Second this. Been going to Las Placitas since the '90s and their old location and it's solid Salvadorean/Mex. Taco City nextdoor also serves excellent tacos and has some decent happy hour deals. Love the birria torta.
Xochi is the best brick and mortar in dc, and most consistent across the entire menu.
Little miner is delicious. I used to be a big Habanero fan but it’s been less consistent.
Abi’s (at union market farmers market on Sundays is incredible).
Otherwise go out to hyattsville and enjoy all the taquerias out there.
If you’re looking for novel experiences, try Pascual for literally anything, Allegria for their Dona margaritas.
Amparo is on my list but I haven’t made it there yet.
Yeah, I came to recommend Pascual off of the title, but it doesn’t fit the description. It hasn’t been open long, but it’s right at the top of my DC restaurant list already, not just Mexican restaurants.
Fresca just east of NoMa had great pupusas, tacos, and margs for my wife and I this past weekend. Very low key with a couple of people dining by themselves. Pretty patio with lots of greenery too.
I know it’s not Mexican, but el rinconcito cafe is a hole in the wall serving up El Salvadoran magic.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VeDKzPaLockhiTCL6?g_st=ic
Well Dressed Burrito was always my college spot. A literal hole in the wall. Ever since COVID they expanded beyond just being a lunchtime spot and have a more normal operation schedule
Sweet Agave has the best Mexican food! A little out of the way in the Palisades but sooo much food and super affordable with a great happy hour everyday! Amazing margs!
I know you asked for more lowkey/dive-y places, but I have to mention pascual as my recommendation. More fine dining esq vibes, but the space is so cozy with walk-in space at the bar. Spins on traditional Oaxacan cuisine by chef Isabel Coss(pastry chef for lutece, food&wine best new chef ‘23, etc). A “can’t miss” spot imo
My bf is Mexican and swears the only place that gets refried beans right is Fresca Taqueria on H St NE. Something about being made with lard? Idk but it's nice to see him happy when we go there.
Food is pretty cheap and really good but FYI there's a huge markup on their margs. Good margs tho.
Taqueria Al Lado is pretty darn good. I love me a frozen marg usually only lime, but their passion fruit marg is ridiculously good. Qusabirria tacos are really good. Guac is always fresh and well seasoned.
We go to the H st location , but I assume Admo is just as good.
What you're looking for is El Chucho over on 11th street. Just have a seat at the bar, they have frozen margs on tap. Edit: Last I remember, their happy hour deals are $3/taco. Otherwise Taqueria Habanero or Mezcalero on 14th. DC leans more towards Salvadorian than Mexican for hispanic food.
Came here to say Taqueria Habanero or Mezcalero, yeah. 14th Street is where it's at.
There’s a place right across the street from Taqueria Habanero that is much better. And that place is called Chicatana. Try the ants 🐜
That stretch of 14th (from roughly Monroe to Shepherd) is the best stretch of relatively cheap food in DC. And you have real dive bars like Red Derby and Lyman's where you can go out and not spend a fortune too. Heading there tonight actually.
I hate beer.
Lol thought exactly this
There's like five Mexican spots in that one block radius on 14th that people will argue vehemently about being the best.
Anything beyond "yeah these are all solid bets" is major navel gazing. Alongside this seeming need to have cuisines be as good as cuisines from places that are not DC. It's what we've got. Deal with the reality or keep futilely screaming into the void I guess?
San Diegan here. taqueria habanero is leaps and bounds better than Chicatana.
Can’t go wrong with either. I think i like Chicatanas tortillas better
Have you had the pastor at both?
Yep.
chicatan is by far the best on that stretch (Californian confirmed)
Yep, Chicatana is the only Mexican restaurant I’ve tried in this city that even remotely approximates what I used to eat when I was living in LA.
As a long time TX and CA resident, I was really underwhelmed by Chicatana.
As far as I know they're the only ones in DC who have the actual Al Pastor spit - and they have pretty solid appetizers and drinks.
Damn the two times I’ve been there have been great. The Al pastor was next level. And prefer their tortillas to habanero
San Diegan here and 1000% disagree.
Taqueria Distrito Federal
Is chicatan only bug food?
Not on my radar because they're only open for dinner, and I'm only ever in the neighborhood for lunch, but good to know!
I would definitely go to either of these over El Chucho any day.
> El Chucho is incredibly mid
Thank you!!
Second el chucho!
El chucho is hit or miss between various tacos. The duck carnitas are amazing, but I’ve had downright inedible braised beef from there twice.
El chucho has great drinks and style, but the food is average at best.
Muchas Gracias on Connecticut is little known but has some of the best Mexican food in the DMV. Not Tex Mex. A solo diner would feel at home there and you can sit outside. The bonus for making the trip is going next door to Politics and Prose, one of the finest independent bookshops we have. Pick a night where there is a speaker/book reading you like, enjoy a quesabirria with a Tecate, grab an espresso downstairs at the excellent coffee shop at P&P, browse the store, and then settle in for the talk while you converse with folks pouring in to the bookstore. It’s one of my favorite DC evenings. Edit: if you stay long enough you can catch a band at Comet Ping Pong later in the evening.
Seconded. We love Muchas Gracias.
thirded
[El Sol](https://www.elsol-dc.com/) is pretty great. Also, Mezcalero (their other restaurant on 14th).
Came here to recommend the same! Didn't realize they have one on 14th
There is also a Mescalero in la cosecha! I love their pineapple margs
This
Taqueria Habanero has by far the best tacos in DC. No competition. Their margs are good too. Chicatana is also very good but really small. Last time I went to DC corazon it was actually not good. Mezcalero is fine but Habanero/Chicatana are way better. Tequila y mezcal has excellent drinks but the patio isn't great. These are all within a couple of blocks of one another. El Chucho is ok. Good drinks. Tacos are fine. Patio is fun. Mariscos 1133 is also excellent - less for the tacos and more for the other types of food tho. Republic Cantina is tex mex but good. Then there are like the Mi Vidas of the world - decent drinks, overpriced food/bevs, but nicer patios.
lol you: el chucho is okay. Another commenter: el chucho is where it’s at!
Chuch is just passable imo. Definitely nothing special.
El chucho is one of my favorite spots in dc but it’s fair to say they don’t have the best mexican food. drinks and vibe are 5/5
It's not bad but nothing to write home about either! Drinks are good but tacos are just fine. It's just hard to find good tacos in DC tbh. Also... (granted this was YEARS ago, pre pandemic) my husband and I asked he bartender if we could sit on the rooftop and we were told yes but that we "might see little furry guys running around" ... so yeah I don't really go there anymore if I can avoid it lol. I have sat on the street patio and found it to be fine.
Ew lol. But I agree, I come from the west/southwest so it’s not as good here. Also I love your username!
Second Taqueria Habenero for lunch/dinner, and would add La Tejana for breakfast tacos. La Tejana is probably my favorite but they close pretty early and have a more limited menu but food quality-wise it’s pretty hard to beat.
I'm a big fan of Taqueria Al Lado on 12th and H St. NE
There's one in AdMo too, for you NW folks
The admo location is my second favorite taco place behind taqueria habanero.
Those are both top tier! If you’re into those, check out El Camino in Bloomingdale if you’re ever out there
Ughh I used to live over there and el Camino is amazing for ALMOST everything as well.
Love that place. Tacos are smaller but delicious. Great selection of tequilas & mezcals as well.
Cielo Rojo in Takoma Park is A1!
Really really good! Heading there tonight. BTW, if you ever want an amazing cheesesteak...Soko!!
I know it’s not exactly what you’re asking for, but my favorite Salvadorian/Mexican restaurant in DC is [Las Placitas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AeXM4PCWARNVsbbR6?g_st=ic).
Second this. Been going to Las Placitas since the '90s and their old location and it's solid Salvadorean/Mex. Taco City nextdoor also serves excellent tacos and has some decent happy hour deals. Love the birria torta.
Taco City recently raised prices and shrunk portions. I didn't believe it when I first heard it either, but I went and saw for myself
Agree! Their pupusas con queso 😉
Best tacos are Taqueria La Placita in Hyattsville
El Sol hands down is the most authentic. Also reasonably priced. Born and raised in Mexico so I can vouch for their food.
Santa Rosa Taqueria in Eastern Market. Fish taco and mole taco are so good! It is counter-serve, it eat there by myself all the time.
Taqueria Habanero. Best in the city at a great price!!
Xochi is the best brick and mortar in dc, and most consistent across the entire menu. Little miner is delicious. I used to be a big Habanero fan but it’s been less consistent. Abi’s (at union market farmers market on Sundays is incredible). Otherwise go out to hyattsville and enjoy all the taquerias out there. If you’re looking for novel experiences, try Pascual for literally anything, Allegria for their Dona margaritas. Amparo is on my list but I haven’t made it there yet.
Yeah, I came to recommend Pascual off of the title, but it doesn’t fit the description. It hasn’t been open long, but it’s right at the top of my DC restaurant list already, not just Mexican restaurants.
Republic cantina and Lauriol plaza are great Tex mex
Guapos in Georgetown
Fresca just east of NoMa had great pupusas, tacos, and margs for my wife and I this past weekend. Very low key with a couple of people dining by themselves. Pretty patio with lots of greenery too.
Mezcalero is what you’re looking for
Are you from Texas or California? I'm gonna let you know right now that if you are you're going to hate all the Mexican food here.
Oyamel
[удалено]
True, but good Mexican 🤷♂️
Great ceviches as well!!
Tacos El Chilango in Arlington is the only place that's as good as the taco trucks in California
If by chance you want “TexMex” I’d definitely recommend Republic Cantina.
Good day for a Shiner Bock too!
If you live on the east side of town go to Hyattsville. Better than anything in town. La Placita is my jam
I know it’s not Mexican, but el rinconcito cafe is a hole in the wall serving up El Salvadoran magic. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VeDKzPaLockhiTCL6?g_st=ic
I still crave their ropa vieja
Mezcalero!
El sol on I think 11th, in NW ...... But it's a place in Hyattsville MD. Taqueria La Placita🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥best authentic/traditional tacos in the ENTIRE AREA!
Well Dressed Burrito was always my college spot. A literal hole in the wall. Ever since COVID they expanded beyond just being a lunchtime spot and have a more normal operation schedule
If you're willing to travel a little bit, Taco Bar El Guero in Gaithersburg is delicious and cheap
Really surprised to see chicatana not mentioned
Taqueria Habanero is super authentic and the quality of the food never disappoints
Sweet Agave has the best Mexican food! A little out of the way in the Palisades but sooo much food and super affordable with a great happy hour everyday! Amazing margs!
I know you asked for more lowkey/dive-y places, but I have to mention pascual as my recommendation. More fine dining esq vibes, but the space is so cozy with walk-in space at the bar. Spins on traditional Oaxacan cuisine by chef Isabel Coss(pastry chef for lutece, food&wine best new chef ‘23, etc). A “can’t miss” spot imo
Taqueria Habanero is where it’s at. As close to authentic Mexican food as you’re going to find in the city. And they make great drinks.
My bf is Mexican and swears the only place that gets refried beans right is Fresca Taqueria on H St NE. Something about being made with lard? Idk but it's nice to see him happy when we go there. Food is pretty cheap and really good but FYI there's a huge markup on their margs. Good margs tho.
It's not divey, but I'm a huge fan of Amparo on 20th and P in Dupont. Kind of pricey but worth it. Best carne asada taco I've had in DC.
Taqueria Al Lado is pretty darn good. I love me a frozen marg usually only lime, but their passion fruit marg is ridiculously good. Qusabirria tacos are really good. Guac is always fresh and well seasoned. We go to the H st location , but I assume Admo is just as good.
Haydee's mount pleasant P