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Chew on This: Where’s the Best Mexican Food in the Area?

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By Kate Nerenberg   Published Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Comments

Mixtec!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hands down!!!

Posted by: Ramya, Aug 03, 2009 08:01:02 AM

Mixtec. Mixtec. Mixtec.

That is all.

Posted by: N.S. , May 18, 2009 09:14:42 PM

Super Tacos and Bakery up in Adams Morgan. You can get a tamale the size of your head for like 3 bucks. There tacos are also superb!

Posted by: Evelyn, May 11, 2009 01:02:35 PM

There is NO good MEXICAN food in this area. I am from California and my husband is Mexican. They do not eat black beans, pupusas, plantains, etc. I once went to a "mexican" restaurant and ordered a taco. I was brought a few strips of steak in a flour tortilla--I wouldn’t even call that a burrito, let alone a taco! Fortunately, I’m going for a visit to Cali in a week, and will be able to eat REAL mexican food.

Posted by: Conie, May 11, 2009 06:37:40 AM

Personally I would prefer Casa Oaxaca in Adams Morgan for authentic Mexican food. The young Chef Alfeo, from Oaxaca, produces authentic cuisine. He specializes in a variety of Moles ranging from mole negro Oaxaqueno , mole verde and mole rojo. The quality of the cuisine is excellent and consistent. I have been to the restaurant many times with Mexican friends who consider it to be as good as the best in Mexico.

Posted by: vim maguire, May 09, 2009 02:39:54 PM

Try Pachanga Grill in Odenton Md. Best in AA county.

Posted by: Jayes, May 08, 2009 11:35:39 PM

Try Pachanga Grill in Odenton Md. Best in AA county.

Posted by: Jayes, May 08, 2009 11:34:47 PM

El Ranchero in Arlington. Random joint a bit outside of Ballston but with the best fajitas I’ve ever had. Great margaritas and cheap beer. The service lacks but the food makes it worth the long wait.

Posted by: Carter, May 08, 2009 10:05:33 AM

I’m a fan of El Mexicano in Bethesda on Highland.

Posted by: Ashley, May 08, 2009 08:59:50 AM

for tex-mex, guapos in tenley/bethesda! a hundred times better than cactus cantina.

Posted by: sarah, May 07, 2009 11:27:34 AM

The Real Picante in Chantilly is pretty decent.

Posted by: Megan, May 06, 2009 03:47:53 PM

goat tacos at El Charrito Caminante(use the sauce)
posole&menudo at El Tapatio (Bladensburg)
fish veracruz at Cafe Atlantico (inconsistent)
lamb tacos at Guajillo

Posted by: gus, May 06, 2009 02:10:37 PM

I *heart* Guajillo on Wilson Blvd. in Arlington. Fantastic food and always a rockin’ good time! Beware of the margaritas as they are tasty but lethal. The guac is to die for. Just talking about it makes me want to go there tonight!

Posted by: Beth J. Bates, May 06, 2009 09:12:26 AM

Mixtec? You guys have to be joking! The only authentically good mexican food in DC NW is either Pepitos Bakery on Columbia rd. (already mentioned), the taco truck on Columbia rd. acrosss from the Aragon or Taqueria Nacional on 14th. Casa Oaxaca on 18th is also deliscious but more pricey, so basically its not authentic.

Lauriol, Tamarindo, Mixtec are all not legitimate Mexican food. Mexicans would throw up if they ate there.

Posted by: Ryan California, May 06, 2009 07:49:44 AM

Taqueria Nacional on 14th street has amazing tongue, goat and carnita tacos as well as great sandwiches (tortas)

Posted by: Popov, May 06, 2009 07:16:40 AM

from a SoCal transplant, my favorite: Tortilla Cafe at Eastern Market. Great burritos, plantains, and pupusa’s. Family owned with a real friendly neighborhood feel.

Posted by: David, May 06, 2009 07:13:39 AM

Irene’s Pupusas in Wheaton (Salvadorean)
La Frontera (Gaithersburg and Rockville)
and of course The Rio Grande for honestly good TexMex in Bethesda

Posted by: Danny, May 06, 2009 06:32:53 AM

I, too, am a San Diego transplant and I’m DYING for good Mexican food out here. I love the Roberto’s shot out. My favorite spot in San Diego was La Play on Mission Blvd. Mmmmmmmmm.

Looks like I’m gonna try Mixtec tomorrow.

Posted by: Stevo, May 05, 2009 08:37:35 PM

El Tamarindo in Adams Morgan/U Street

Posted by: Vikki, May 05, 2009 04:17:59 PM

I am from San Diego and aside from the weather, the thing I miss most is Mexican food. If there was a Robertos here (hole in the wall dive with amazing food)they would do great business. It’s so hard to find MEXICAN food. Everything is more Salvadoran. I would love to have a taco that has shredded beef rather than ground and that you can taste the corn in the tortilla.

I’m keeping track of this list and am going to try every recommendation on it.

Posted by: Tall Girl, May 05, 2009 02:59:56 PM

After a dozen years in Arizona, the only decent place we’ve found is El Azteca in (of all places)Clarksville, MD off of Rt. 32. Not fantastic but the best we’ve found so far...

Posted by: Arizona Gal, May 05, 2009 02:54:42 PM

Los Tios in Del Ray, Alexandria

Posted by: stuart, May 05, 2009 02:48:08 PM

It’s important to note that Tex-Mex and true Mexican are not at all the same. I’m a former resident of the area in Alexandria referred to by residents as Chirilagua and by other as Little El Salvador, but don’t be fooled by the name. The area is a hotspot for Latin cuisines of all stripes, including Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran, Peruvian and, yes, Tex-Mex, among others. Lilian’s, located on Mt. Vernon Ave. near Glebe Rd., is a personal favorite.

Posted by: Jack, May 05, 2009 01:52:15 PM

Tacos Pepitos Bakery in Adams Morgan.

Posted by: Catherine, May 05, 2009 01:49:24 PM

Being from California, and knowing good authentic mexican cuisine, I think Mixtec is the only place to go. I went to Lauriol once....gross. I can’t even believe they call that Mexican. Furthermore, the margaritas there tasted more like "limade".

Mixtec is the only choice for me and my friends. We’re regulars. If you go, try something with salsa verde or the the mole. Who knows, you may even bump into the owner...he’s a funny old dude that’s sure to entertain you with a story or two.

Posted by: Maria, May 05, 2009 01:42:55 PM

I am going to have to give it up to California Tortilla for great chips & queso/salsa. Affordable Tex Mex on the go!

Posted by: Muy bien!, May 05, 2009 01:23:51 PM

I’m a native Texan and when my fellow ex-patriot Texan friends get together we head for Picante in Chantilly or Cactus Cantina in DC. The only places we’ve found that come somewhat close to real Tex-Mex. But why isn’t there a mexican restaurant in town that serves chalupas???

Posted by: JC, May 05, 2009 01:15:07 PM

Cafe Tacuba in Germantown is great. Their Pozole is great. Good Sunday brunch too.

Posted by: Trish, May 05, 2009 01:14:24 PM

No way Lauriol Plaza... people just get drunk and then say the food is good. It’s actually pretty awful!

Posted by: WHAT?, May 05, 2009 01:01:58 PM

Good Mexican food in D.C.? No such thing.

Posted by: pancakebreakfast, May 05, 2009 12:59:39 PM

Los Toltecos for great "cheap dirty" Mexican in the suburbs. Tortilla Coast is great too!

Posted by: LB, May 05, 2009 12:49:05 PM

I’m a big fan of Taqueria Distrito Federal in Columbia Heights. Delicious and super cheap.

Posted by: Alejandro (washingtonian.com), May 05, 2009 12:47:27 PM

Mixtec in Adams Morgan is the best Mexican Restaurant in town. Careful with the margaritas though, they’re potent!!!

Posted by: James , May 05, 2009 12:38:48 PM

El Paso in Springfield!! Their Carne Asada and Burritos are Amazinggggg!

Posted by: Woley, May 05, 2009 12:35:22 PM

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