Guacamole may be a classic summer dip, but no two restaurants make it the same way. Whose version strikes the best balance of texture, spice, and citrus?

Our staff first did a blind tasting of nearly 20 guacamoles. We narrowed those down to nine choices, including store-bought (Wholly Guacamole), restaurant chains (Rio Grande, Guapo’s, Chipotle, Rosa Mexicano, Taqueria Poblano), and independent eateries (Surfside, La Sirenita, Lauriol Plaza). Then we asked four guac-loving DC United players—defender Bryan Namoff mixes up guacamole at least twice a week—to make the final call.

The winner? The guacamole from DC’s Lauriol Plaza, which Bolivian forward Jaime Moreno said had the best flavor, while other players praised it for being very fresh. Running a close second was the tomatoey concoction from Rio Grande, which ranked high in our staff tasting as well. The staff also liked the smooth, onion-flecked version from Guapo’s. The biggest loser? Wholly Guacamole—available at Safeway, Harris Teeter, and Wegmans—which one player said tasted nothing like guacamole.

Hyattsville’s La Sirenita was also popular among the soccer players. Said midfielder Ben Olsen: “Although it’s a touch salty, the cilantro-jalapeño-and-tomato ratio was perfect for me.”

 
This appeared as part of The Washingtonian's July 2009 Best of Washington issue, on stands now. 

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