Tacos are always a crowd-pleasing food, and there are many restaurants in the DMV serving up delicious, authentic and unique spins on the classic Mexican dish. We asked locals for their recommendations for the best tacos in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Consider these restaurants the next time you want to celebrate Taco Tuesday!
Ixtapalapa Taqueria | Gaithersburg, MD
Ixtapalapa is a family-run restaurant whose owners first started out with a small taqueria in a gas station. Its menu boasts 13 different kinds of tacos, all served on gluten-free corn tortillas, so even families with dietary restrictions can enjoy them. The most expensive taco on the menu is still only $4.25, so you can try many different toppings at a low cost. Many of Ixtapalapa’s ingredients, like its mole, are made from scratch. ixtataqueria.com
La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria | Alexandria, VA
A humble bakery and restaurant operating out of Mount Vernon Square Shopping Center, La Mexicana serves up big portions and even bigger flavors. La Mexicana offers a fairly no-frills dining experience, letting the food take center stage. If you’re still feeling hungry after your food, try the sweet offerings from its bakery — including the pan dulce, which is baked fresh daily. facebook.com/LaMexicanaBakeryTaqueria
La Tejana | Washington, D.C.
It’s never too early for tacos, and La Tejana is the best place to go if you’re feeling peckish early in the day. This MICHELIN Guide restaurant in D.C.’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood specializes in serving up Tex-Mex breakfast tacos topped with eggs, cheese, chorizo and more. If you want to leave the kids at home and enjoy a boozy brunch with friends, La Tejana serves a “Dirty Horchata” on weekends only. latejanadc.com
Tacos A La Madre
Beltsville and College Park | Maryland
Tacos A La Madre is a favorite among University of Maryland College Park students for its low prices and wide variety of offerings. Vegetarians will feel right at home here, as this taqueria offers several meat-free taco options, including grilled cactus, cauliflower, mushroom and grilled and fried zucchini tacos. Aside from its signature tacos, the restaurant is also well-known for its indulgent birria pizza. tacosalamadre.com
Tacos Don Perez
Kensington and Silver Spring | Maryland
Tacos Don Perez was the most frequently recommended restaurant from community members. Beginning as a small catering business, Tacos Don Perez became a from-home pop-up during the COVID-19 pandemic, then a food truck and trailer and now has two brick-and-mortar locations. Most notable are its “Quesa-Tacos,” which are made using a quesadilla instead of a normal tortilla. The birria Quesa-Taco was actually featured in a Washington Post article about the best birria in the DMV. tacosdonperez.com
Other DMV Favorites
• Bandit Taco | Locations in College Park, MD,
Leesburg, VA and Washington, D.C.
• Chicatana | Washington, D.C.
• El Güero Mexicano | Gaithersburg, MD
• El Paso Mexican Restaurant | Springfield, VA
• Hijos del Maiz | Rockville, MD
• La Jarochita Restaurant | Manassas, VA
• Taco Bamba | Multiple locations across the DMV
• Taco Loco | Olney, MD
• Taqueria Los Primos | Multiple Maryland locations
• Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita | Arlington, VA P
