Favorite Places to Eat Tasty Tacos in Northern Virginia

Here are favorite places to enjoy tasty tacos in Northern Virginia restaurants, whether you want to grab some quick takeout, or relax with a sit-down meal. We crave those little handheld scoops of deliciousness, and we’re always searching for new places to enjoy tacos in Northern Virginia. Here are some of our favorite restaurants near DC to indulge our taco obsession.

Taco Bamba, Falls Church and Vienna

Some of our favorite lunch tacos (and taco-nos) are created in Chef Victor Albisu’s small, hip eatery in Falls Church. And his new and larger outpost in Vienna is even more welcoming. Grilled octopus, vegetarian Spicy Shroom, the Black Pearl with squid ink aioli—everything we order at Taco Bamba is really, really great.

Cerrito’s Pupuseria, Chantilly

Cerrito’s serves delicious, low-cost food in a basic setting (or get it to go) and is popular with local workers. We love their steak tacos, and at only $2.00 a piece you can fill up on just a couple. Add a delicious papusa to your order, or try one of the generous specials.

Picante Mexican Restaraunt, Chantilly

Picante offers a nice selection of taco fillings in either soft corn tortillas or crispy shells. Pork is offered in several variations including adobo, chili verde, or al pastor. The bright interior is a nice spot for authentic Mexican food and tacos in Northern Virginia.

Señor Ramon Tacqueria, Chantilly, Leesburg, Reston, Sterling

Senor Ramon’s is one of our favorite Leesburg restaurants for tasty tacos in a casual downtown spot. The Señor Ramon and Jose Jose tacos are our favorites. More adventurous palettes might prefer the tongue and tilapia combo in the El Macho, and there are several vegetarian choices too.

Senor Ramon’s also operate a takeout window in Sterling at Crooked Run Brewing (visit their two locations on the LoCo Ale Trail. Now that’s a nice combination of craft brews and tacos in Northern Virginia! In 2019, they opened a new restaurant in Reston. The Reston location has plenty of indoor seating and a nice patio for warm days.

Find more of great places to eat: 10 Tasty Reston Restaurants to Eat and Drink Local in Virginia

Los Tios Grill, Leesburg and Alexandria

Another good option for tacos and Salvadorean food is Los Tios Grill in Leesburg and Alexandria. The prices are a bit higher than some Mexican spots, but the tacos and platters are fresh and tasty.

Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar, Tysons

Visit Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar at happy hour to try the juicy beef tacos, served at the bar for $5.00. Enjoy a few with an order of the freshly made guacamole and the very tasty mojito.

Tipicos Glorias, Herndon

Tipicos Glorias is one of those awesome cheap eats venues in an eclectic shopping plaza in Herndon. It is not fancy, but offers an extensive menu of authentic, Central American food cooked with love.

We were lucky to grab one of  a handful of tables during a busy weekend lunch. There are 5 taco choices, at $2.50 a piece, and we tried the chicken, pork, and steak. All were served with chopped meat, a nice amount of cilantro, red onion, and a slice of avocado in  a double tortilla, with lime, salsa verde, and pico de gallo on the side.

They also make a nice cheese pupusa that reminded me of my childhood comfort food—grilled cheese and tomato soup—but with a lot more flavor.

bartaco, Mosaic District and Reston Town Center

Tacos at bartaco are $2.50 each for staples like baja fish, chicken, and carnitas; $3.50 for more upscale ingredients like pork belly and tuna tatako. Veggie lovers will appreciate the portabello mushroom, cauliflower, and falafel options. The tacos are small so you’ll need to order a few to make a meal. Churros and chocolate are the perfect finish to your meal.

>> Read our full review of the upscale tacos and casual vibe at bartaco Mosaic District.

Margarita’s Latin Grill, Burke

With 5 taco filling options—lengua (beef tongue), shrimp, chicken, steak, and ground beef—in either crispy or soft tacos, there are plenty of ways to assemble a happy taco dinner. Arrive between 2:00 and 6:00 pm for really great margaritas at special prices.

Zandra’s Tacqueria  El Cactus, Manassas

UPDATE: El Cactus has closed permanently. We have not tried it yet, but there is a Zandra’s Tacqueria in Old Town Manassas that looks good. They have a cute and colorful outdoor seating area that looks tempting.

Ford’s Fish Shack, Ashburn and South Riding

The hefty fish tacos at Ford’s are on our regular lunch list, especially when paired with a blueberry Sea Dog beer. Those string  fries are really good too.

Austin Grill, Springfield

Austin Grill offers a wide selection of tacos, and we’re especially fond of the carnitas and grilled fish options. We’ve also enjoyed the chicken and steak tacos, and we’re fans of the salsa that comes with the complimentary chips.

Glory Days Grill, Reston and Other Locations

Glory Days honors Taco Tuesdays with a $5.99 special which includes 2 mix and match tacos of either tilapia, crispy shrimp, or chicken served with chips and salsa. Add extra tacos for $2.75. They go a little heavy on the cabbage but it’s a nice tasty deal.

The fish tacos come with a nice mango salsa, and the chicken tacos are nicely seasoned. There’s a lot of cabbage served in the tacos, but we just pick some off and consider it a free side salad.

Megabytes Eatery, Chantilly

This quirky lunch spot in an unassuming Chantilly office park is one of our picks for casual dining in Northern Virginia. They had delicious fish tacos on special the day we visited. If the tacos aren’t on hand, try the Mega Hot Banh Mi.

Whether you’re creating your own Taco Tuesday celebration, or it’s just time for handheld yums, we hope this list of favorite places to get tacos in Northern Virginia will inspire your next outing. Help us out— what other restaurants should be on our list for tasty tacos in Northern Virginia?

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This article was published in 2017 and updated in 2018 and 2019.