El Charrito Caminante

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

El Charrito Caminante, 2710-A North Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-351-1177, between Pershing Drive on the north and the 7-11 on the south, on the west side of Washington Blvd. (the right side as you’re leaving Arlington toward I-395) (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]

Looks, smells, and feels like a real taqueria. The goat tacos are first-rate, probably the best Mexican dish you can get in Virginia, at least outside of Oyamel. Next in line are the loroco pupusas, but many of the dishes here are no better than ordinary, noting that “ordinary” ain’t so bad. N.B.: there are four high stools and a small amount of counter space, this place is mostly take-out. I also get the passion fruit juice to drink.

El Charrito Caminante
El Charrito Caminante

El Charrito Caminante Goat Taco
El Charrito Caminante Goat Taco

El Charrito Caminante Chicken Burrito
Chicken Burrito

El Charrito Caminante Beef Burrito
Beef Burrito

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Posted in Arlington, Mexican, The Best, Virginia | 2 Comments

Pancho Villa

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Pancho Villa, web site, 910 S. Main Street, Culpeper, VA, 540-825-5268, branches also in Stafford and Fredericksburg. [The Free Lance-Star | openlist]
That’s right *Culpeper*. Many of the dishes here are only so-so, but they have the best chile rellenos in the area. Get two of those.
“Pancho Villa finds success locally,” by Kennifer Buske, Inside NOVA.com, August 9, 2005

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Posted in Mexican, Other, The Best, Virginia | Comments Off on Pancho Villa

Samantha’s

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Samantha’s, 631 East University Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD, 301-445-7300 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Silver Chips Online | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Gives every sign of being a yummy, upscale version of a mom and pop restaurant. There is only one catch: the food is bland and uninteresting. Nor is it cheap, as Mexican food goes. A disappointment. A bit Pan-Latin, but not in any way to its advantage.

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Posted in Maryland, Mexican, Silver Spring | 1 Comment

El Boqueron Restaurant

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

El Boqueron Restaurant, 2311 Price Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-4900 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [City Paper]
Another Mexican/El Salvadorean place. I haven’t eaten here, but it looks decent.

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Posted in Maryland, Mexican, Salvadorean, Wheaton/Kensington | Comments Off on El Boqueron Restaurant

Chipotle

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Chipotle, web site, numerous area locations. [Washingtonian | WaPo | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
OK, let’s get the bad news out of the way up front. This is a chain. Even worse, it is a chain owned by McDonald’s corporation, the fount of culinary evil. That being said, it is pretty good. Fresh and relatively authentic Mexican food, you tell them how to put together your meal. The salsa is genuinely spicy. The carnitas are the best meat. Not much choice, but you don’t need it. I’d rather eat here than almost any other Mexican place on this list.

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Posted in Adams Morgan/Mount Pleasant, Alexandria, Arlington, Bethesda/Chevy Chase, College Park/Hyattsville, DC, Downtown, Maryland, Mexican, Rockville/Gaithersburg, Virginia | 2 Comments

Matamoros

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Matamoros, 2322 University Boulevard West, Wheaton, MD, 301-949-2929 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | Yelp]
Mexican food by non-Mexican Latins. Above average for the area, but no great shakes overall.

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Toritos

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Toritos, 4936 Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-654-6007 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [openlist | Yelp]
An object lesson in everything that is wrong about Mexican food in the United States.

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Posted in Bethesda/Chevy Chase, Maryland, Mexican | Comments Off on Toritos

Rosa Mexicano

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Rosa Mexicano, web site (music), 575 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-783-5522, a small chain (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
I went once, and was not impressed. It is better than your local chicken fajitas, but much more expensive. It doesn’t come close to what comes out of my own kitchen. The interior is nice, though, and some people will come here for the location and the singles scene. The real eater should head to Kenilworth Avenue (Riverdale/Hyattsville, MD).

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Posted in Chinatown/Verizon Center, DC, Mexican | 1 Comment

Andale

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Andale, web site, 401 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-783-3133 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
NOW CLOSED

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Posted in Chinatown/Verizon Center, DC, Mexican | 2 Comments

Guajillo

Posted on 2006/05/04 by .

Guajillo, web site, 1727 N. Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-807-0840, near Rosslyn, by the Citgo, in the strip mall, 703-807-0840, usually open. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
It has received consistently good reviews. If you don’t know the real thing, you will be pretty happy here. If you do know the real thing, you will know they are at least making a valiant effort. A quasi-yuppie Mexican place, not a hole in the wall, the mole is probably their best dish. The sauce is excellent though the chicken ends up a bit dry. Check out the amates on the wall.

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Posted in Arlington, Mexican, Virginia | Comments Off on Guajillo