Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Back Door Tacos

    3.8 (12 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Back Door Tacos Photos

    BACK DOOR TACOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Back Door Tacos

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Variety of tacos
    Hannah R.

    Wanted to love this place but it fell short... The hostess was so confused and had a terrible system of taking the waitlist. You'd get off the waitlist then wait inside again? The food was very expensive for what it was and took so long to come out. I hope they are working out some kinks I really liked the space! But it also didn't seem that well run

    Austin G.

    I love a hidden restaurant in an alley, especially in Dupont Circle where there's a plethora of great restaurants, museums, and public art. Back Door Tacos' entrance is off of 17th Street NW. Walk inside to an outdoor courtyard. Continue inside to a bar area and a dining room. I ordered at the bar and within minutes my shrimp taco was out. It was the right size and tasty. I don't usually love corn tacos, but these ones are good. There's a giant jug of water in the corner.

    10/10 experience. What a great place to spend a Friday night with friends! Frozen margaritas were wonderful! Dog friendly patio, and great DJ!

    Entrance to the Back Door
    Bret T.

    Tiny but fun place! Tasty tacos and drinks in a relaxing space. Although the tacos could use some Zing to them. Maybe a salsa bar would help fill that gap? This hidden hot spot will be sure to fill up quickly. Get there early. The wait is worth it.

    Outside Patio

    See all

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bret T.
    1
    76
    75

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken D.
    104
    4
    3

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    25 days ago

    Needs better hours. 4pm on a weekend is ridiculous, people want to be able to eat lunch here and do other things in the evening.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Back Door Tacos

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Tacos 11,171 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Talkin Tacos

    Talkin Tacos

    (195 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    One word, AMAZING! I was in DC for a week and we went here 3 times. We even made it a point to get…read moreour last lunch before our flight here. The food is fantastic, fast, with great service with a smile. If you're in DC, don't pass this place up. One last update, I ordered the street corn as a side. Wow! It was amazing but beware it is more than a side, it's almost a meal so you could certainly share.

    I was so excited to come try the Birria Mac n cheese. As a reviewer I would say Mac n cheese is my…read morespeciality! I love it! But unfortunately this Mac n cheese was not it at all. I would not order it again. The birria was good, the takis were a little Over powering so I'm glad they added a small amount. But the noodles and cheese itself. Just not good the most bland thing I've had. Like seriously I think Kraft Mac n cheese would have had more flavor. It was also super watery... and I usually love my mac n cheese creamy but this wasn't creamy. I'm not sure the cheese they used but it was not it.... I also asked for a side of hot sauce on the Kiosk and it was not brought to me. So I can't rate how that was. The horchata was good though. But there weren't that many people and the churros took forever to come out. They were the best thing I had there though lol. I left hungry... time to try the next spot in DC. Final thoughts: I think all food should come out at once... With so many spots to try in this spot I'll skip it for a retry. Even the birria was okay but not best birria I've ever had... not even top 10... maybe an off day? The vibe inside was beautiful though! I dig the video showing the process of making the food.

    dLeña - Pork Belly** and Short Rib**

    dLeña

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$$

    Came last night before a comedy show at the Capital One Arena and OMG...10/10 hands down I have no…read morenotes. We went in right as they opened, on a Friday at 5 pm, and there was already a line! The reservations were full, but we were offered a seat either at the bar or outside. Luckily it was a beautiful day so we took a seat outside. They started us off with a sweet hibiscus flavored juice as a palate cleanser which was super refreshing. The left side of the menu had appetizers and shareables, while the right side had entrees. We ordered the short rib tacos, pork belly, wagyu empanadas, and seafood enchiladas. Everything had a beautiful bright orange sauce on it and made it look like it would be spicy but it wasn't! I think it's their signature guajillo sauce and it was VERY good, super creamy. Seafood enchiladas: This was my fav. Might have been because it was extremely hungry and it was my first bite. Definitely best when eaten warm, as the cheese is gooiest and the seafood inside is hot. I wasn't sure how the salad was going to be but it added a perfect refreshing and acidity to balance out the creamy sauce. Wagyu empanadas: Much gooey-er and cheesier than expected, but also a hit! Came with a decent amount of beef inside. Comes with the orange sauce and a chimichurri, which I think was a good idea because given how cheesy and creamy the filling already was, the chimichurri was a nice balance as well. Pork belly: Melts as soon as you cut into it. The Asian in me low key wanted a giant bowl of rice with this so that I could soak up all the sauce and veggies. Pretty fatty so if you're not a fan of that you might not like this. Short rib tacos: These were loaded, not with meat but with tons of crunchy topping (maybe fried carrots?) Could have done with slightly less crunch but overall still good. The orange sauce on the bottom had a peanuty flavor which I thought added a unique kick. Also, we were surprised at how quickly the food came out. We were in and out in under an hour. Our server Rebecca was also extremely nice. Will def be back if in the area. Highly recommend all around!

    I came to dLeña for brunch with friends on a Saturday, and overall, it was a decent experience but…read morenot one I'd necessarily go out of my way to repeat. We went around 11:30, so it started off pretty quiet, but as brunch picked up, it definitely got louder. The ambiance is nice though, very laid-back, chill, and a great vibe for a group brunch or celebration. We did the bottomless brunch, and one thing I really appreciated is that the bottomless food and drinks are priced separately. Not everyone in our group wanted drinks, so it was nice that we were only charged for the people who actually ordered them. The only downside is that mocktails aren't included. The food is served as small plates brought out progressively, but I do wish this had been explained better upfront. It was presented as if they would just bring items out, but it wasn't clearly communicated that we could also order anything we wanted from the menu. That made the experience feel a bit confusing. The meal started off strong. The salad was fresh, and there was a fruit/yogurt dish with agave that was honestly one of the best things we had. From there, it became hit or miss. The ceviche and chips were good, the fish tacos were solid, and I appreciated that they had some vegetarian options (though somewhat limited). The waffle and churro were highlights, but the potato hash fell flat. As the meal went on, service slowed down quite a bit. We were waiting a while for certain items (like the corn), and it felt like things just started to lag toward the end. Service overall followed a similar pattern. Strong at the beginning, but less attentive as it got busier. Overall, I'd rate it around a 7 out of 10. It's a fun spot for the experience and group setting, but the lack of clarity and inconsistency in pacing took away from it. I might consider trying it for dinner since I've heard good things, but for brunch, it's not a place I'd go out of my way to revisit.

    Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine

    Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine

    (95 reviews)

    Columbia Heights

    Had a great time and dinner! Chicatana is unassuming and unpretentious, staffed with attentive…read moreservers who do an amazing job (water was always filled and empty plates removed quite efficiently). The decor is simple, no table clothes or frills but it does live up to 'fine cuisine' with excellent food and presentation (another subtle touch is if you leave the table, you return to a nicely folded napkin). We got nearly everything on the menu including all the desserts and Mexican hot chocolate (yum, lightly spicy and piping hot!) . As others have said their guacamole is excellent...do check the charges though bc they added salsa and chips to the tab which we did not order (they removed). Also, the first order of guac came with big bowl of chips, but none with the second order of guac- not a problem though because you do not go hungry. Portions are quite generous. We even tried the ants which was a fun novelty

    This was the valentine's day 2026 stop. I had no idea it was in the area it was, but alas, we made…read morethe trek from lowly ballston anyway. After parking in the Giant parking garage (decent price), we walked the few blocks to the restaurant. We spotted it with the poster sign hanging up on the outer walls. Inside you head up the stairs and you're greeted by the host stand. We checked in and got our table, right at the window (hellya). There was a rose and a candle on the table (vday vibes) and we also received a vday specials menu. We landed on queso fundido to start and a cocktail each: prickly pear marg for her, a viva mexico for me. After fundido'ing it up, we ordered our entrees. We're simple folks it was a 2 carne asada tacos, 1 al pastor taco, 1 pescado taco, and 1 chicken quesadilla. Unfortunately we weren't bold enough to try the insectos. Food was great, drinks were great, service was great. You can pay your tab via Toast for no additional fee which was convenient. There are two, single use bathrooms in there too. Overall, solid spot.

    Taqueria Al Lado - Campechano Taco

    Taqueria Al Lado

    (67 reviews)

    H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast

    Years ago, behind U Street Music Hall (RIP), there used to be a taco spot in a row home called El…read moreChilango. It used to be the spot for me and my friends to grab a quick bite and everything about it was exceptional: who can say no to super affordable yet authentic street tacos served on paper plates. Sadly, it closed. Last night, I think I stumbled across a taco spot to finally take the wheel from our dearly missed El Chilango. Taqueria Al Lado is very no frills and a tiny spot, but it has tacos that make your heart sing. My friend recommended the Al Pastor so I got that with a chicken taco as well. Both were super flavorful, fatty, but really fresh and well balanced. The key here is simplicity and they do it perfectly. Each taco was about $4 or $5 if I remember correctly, so it's a great spot to grab food if you're trying to ball on a budget. We got the guac, too, which was good but not life changing; the fresh chips, however, were spot on. As far as service goes, we went on a Friday and it was super busy, but there were plenty of servers if we needed something (just had to be vocal). I will definitely be coming back!

    I stopped in here as I walked home from an appointment on H street because the music was great and…read morethe smells were even better. The ordering process was very easy. I picked a spot and was quickly approached by one of the several servers to place my order. I ordered two tacos, rice, and a beer. The food came within ten minutes and was hot. The vegan birria taco was delicious. It was a mishmash of veggies and tasted amazing. The fish taco was good, but the vegan option was my favorite. I had hoped the rice would be seasoned, but it was just white rice. The overall restaurant vibe was very fun with loud music. It was crowded but there were still several tables available. Checkout process was easy as well. A happy little find I will be sure to come back to.

    Back Door Tacos - tacos - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...