El Tapatio (4309 Kenilworth Ave., Bladensburg; 301-403-8882). Generous plates and a jukebox with Latin American hits make this Little Mexico canteen popular with Latinos yearning for the flavors of home. Most dishes taste authentic, and because the tortillas are made in-house, tacos such as the pork carnitas or chorizo ($2.25 each) are reliably good.
More-substantial picks include huevos rancheros with green-chili sauce ($7.99); chilaquiles, a mound of tortillas torn into strips and layered with cheese and a fried egg ($8.99); and fat tortas, sandwiches stuffed with breaded chicken, braised pork, or beef steeped in beer ($5.75). You can take a little comfort home, too—a pack of six tortillas is $1.50. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
>> See all Dirt Cheap Eats Restaurants
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
