The food and drinks were delicious! Giving this place a low rating due to the wait time to get our food. It took about 45 minutes to get our food. We only order 4 tacos. We had better service at the Mt. Vernon Triangle location. read more

Meh. We set out on the patio and ordered the salsa roja and chips and drinks. The salsa tasted like vinegar and we couldn't even eat it. The drinks were fine, but nothing to write home about. Would be willing to try the full menu, but was turned off by the salsa. read more

I would say this place is useful for a quick bite when you don't have a lot of time. It's an order yourself though a QR code and pay on your phone type of restaurant. You don't have much interaction with the waitstaff. Nobody came over for the duration of our meal. I ordered my lunch tray with no cilantro, however it was only adhered to for the taco portion and not the soup (as you can see the soup was loaded with cilantro I had to embarrassingly pick out). Ribeye taco was okay, baja fish taco was crispy but lacked any sort of wow factor, the chorizo was more of a patty than what you would typically expect for a taco, the chicken Verde was good, but the pork belly one was by far the best. The street corn was good but could be better with maybe a char to the corn and some more seasonings. The inside was a good set up being on the wharf. read more

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Average at best. Good vibe when u walk in, yet service is lacking. Food very slow. Drinks yummy but service mid.

This place is incredible. The alcoholic drinks like their margaritas and sangrias are really good. Their tacos are 3 bites each so fairly small, but considering you are fed for basically $12 (I had 3 tacos and was full) that's great!! The tacos are incredibly flavorful. I had the pork belly and duck. We also got the plantains which were delicious!! The service here was really awesome too. They constantly checked on us despite not having a waiter (you order from your phone with a QR code) and even the manager, Gabriel, was very attentive!! We cannot wait to go back :) read more

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We go here often when we are in DC at the Wharf. We normally sit at the bar but have been at the outdoor tables a few times with our dog. The ordering is a bit confusing at the tables if you have not done it before. You have to use the QR code and order everything that way. Which makes it a bit more complicated if you have food allergies such as diary. They are pretty good about gluten intolerance and make sure it is marked in the menu. BUT, I could not find anywhere to note 86 the cheese when ordering. The portions are in the smaller side but are good. I have not gotten a bad meal here and have been several times. The servers and bartenders have always been really nice and helpful. I would have given it a 4/5 star review if it was not for the difficult ordering process! read more

If you live near the Wharf, you know that finding an affordable restaurant nearby is almost impossible. Bar Taco is the exception. Great atmosphere, awesome staff, excellent food. Great place to unwind with friends, with a great view of the water. read more

Do not skip on the pork belly tacos!! They are delicious. The shrimp taco is also great. Guac is also delicious.

The place is really cute and well maintained. It makes you feel like you're at the beach. The experience could have been really good, if wasn't the bad service. The place was pretty empty when we got there. I asked for a table, the host asked me to wait by the bar for 15 min. I wait 20. Then I went to check the status, and they failed to put our name on the waitlist. So she asked for a few more minutes, 15 minutes later I went there once again, and she said that she forgot again to put our name on the waitlist. But then she found a table for us. The food took a good bit to be served, but it was tasted. While a was eating I ordered 1 glass of wine that took about 15-20 minutes to be served, and they brought 2. I said I only ordered 1, and I had to convince the waiter that I didn't order 2 because he wasn't buying it (my friend is pregnant and not drinking), so he took the glass back after some back and forth. When we got the check, they were charging us for the 2 glasses. Overall service is poor, but the food is good. The price is good, specially due the location and ambience. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Bartaco. I sat at the bar and had interaction with 3 different bartenders, all very personable. The margarita was made with lime juice, simple syrup, tequila, triple sec, and jalapeños. Very simple and very good. The tacos were the same way, not a ton of ingredients, but what they did use was made very well. My favorite was the pork belly taco, but I had that, fish, and ribeye and all three were good. This place can get busy, so be prepared for that. I definitely would go back. read more

bartaco - Fish, Ribeye, and Pork Belly Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My co-worker and I wanted lunch from Bartaco at the Wharf on 3/18/25. We both wanted the chicken bowl but wanted to substitute the tortilla strips and corn for mushrooms and bell peppers (like it use to be). The server who took our order said that getting the replacements would not be a problem and also said it would be no extra charge. When my co-worker returned, it was to our disappointment that we were not given the mushrooms and bell peppers but the tortillas and corn (bummer). Not to mention there was more rice, tortillas strips and corn (very little chicken). Bartaco also did not provide any sauce , bowl was very dry!!! Very unhappy experience read more

Delicious tacos and cool ordering concept. After an initial interaction with your waitstaff, you use your phone to order. Food came out fast and all the staff were great. There are so many tacos options and we enjoyed trying many of them. We shared the churros for dessert. Yum! Freshly cooked with a chocolate and white sauce for dip. Highly recommend this restaurant! We sat outside which was an enjoyable ambiance on a hot summer night. We had to wait about an hour for a table even at 9 pm so I'd recommend getting there early or plan on waiting. We walked and played pin ball down the wharf a bit. read more

Fell short in a few ways. 1. Service was really really slow and .. the place was no where near full and I watched another table sit for 15 minutes before walking up to the bar with their food choices only to walk back to their table in frustration b/c nobody acknowledged them. 2. Food came out cold. Ribeye tacos tasted like they sat around for all day under a heat lamp. The meat was closer to jerky than ribeye. Chorizo taco was better, but cold as well. 3. Nobody checked in with us. After waiting about 15 minutes for our server to check back in with us, ask if we want more food, drinks etc. I gave up and found a manager to retrieve our check, only to find an 18% service fee (not a tip) added for 3 people. Looking at the menu, we saw in 2 point font, way at the bottom, the explanation of this charge. What exactly is this going toward? Especially in light of the fact that expect you to do your ordering and payment by on your phone. So basically, count on 38% being added to your bill if you tip the customary 20%. Avoid. read more

Drinks and food are okay, nothing to write home about. Service was friendly and fast, the two things I don't care about are the pay method. Not a fan of inputting credit card information just anywhere. The street taco thing is overrated, the sample size tacos are a rip off!! read more

bartaco - Ribeye rice bowl... - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This bar taco has a lovely ambiance, the inside felt like we were in a real beach town. The meals were on the small side but affordable. For a group of 5 women, 3 tacos each with 2 chips and guac to share was enough to keep us sated. If you're more hungry get a bowl and a taco as the tacos are quite small. Our waiters were attentive and they give out free matchboxes at the front. A relatively inexpensive meal on the wharf, our group all left saying we'd come again! read more

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I have mixed feelings about bartaco, I was really excited that they opened a new location at the Wharf which is the closest one to me, and it closes relatively later than other food places. We won't sound 11pm and ordered a variety of food which included tacos, the tuna poke, and a bowl, the food doesn't taste fresh, the cold food tastes like it's just been sitting there waiting for someone to order it and the hot food tasted like it had been microwaved. I was a little disappointed in the quality of the food for the price we paid. read more

The only reason this review is getting 4 stars is because of a server named Tay. Our experience was rough at this Bartaco Location yesterday. The woman who was hosting was very rude and unaccommodating. She had black hair and was wearing black pants with beige flowers on them. She wouldn't make eye contact and rudely told us there is a 40 minute wait. We let her know we had put our name down 35 minutes ago and she just said 'ok'. We sat and waited and 10 minutes later a new host was at the front so we asked her and she seated us right away. It took 15 minutes before someone came to our table, and when she did, she took our order but seemed very uncomfortable and rushed. After giving our order she suggested we order online using the app instead. Umm, what? We had hungry kids at the table so I just did what I was told and the web site never loaded. I then asked her if she can just take the food form we filled out and start bringing out food since we had already spent so much time completing it. She said okay and left. After 10 more minutes I realized we never got waters nor were asked about drinks. It was then that I got up and found someone else who could help. His name was Tay and he said he would take care of everything. Tay brought us extra plates and waters and generally checked on us throughout the evening. As we were leaving he stopped by again to ensure we were happy and gave is a warm sendoff. If it weren't for this gentleman this review would have been very different. Please promote this man as he is the sole reason we will be back to dine at this location. read more

Best tacos ever, fun games for kids - jenga and connect four. Great location near Ben & Jerry's and on the wharf. No guacamole on the tacos but you can order a side and add it to them yourself. Technology was a little glitchy - not everything we ordered through the website made it to us, but the staff was super helpful and able to resolve any issues. Great family friendly option with delicious drinks for mom and dad! read more

Came here on a Thursday evening and this place was packed. There is plenty of bar seating and the food comes out quick. Speaking of food, everything was AMAZING, so flavorful decent prices it was probably the best tacos I've had in DC. The drinks were also delicious, highly recommended the wharf location! read more

bartaco - Spicy margarita - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped by after seeing a show at Arena stage. Tried the pineapples and two drinks, the green margarita and the oaxacan sunshine. The cocktails and service at the bar were good. It was an interesting concept of writing down your own order using the provided forms. read more

Food was very good. Great atmosphere will definitely go back. Ordering was a little confusing at first it's all done from your phone and they were packed so we think the servers were just a little overwhelmed. After a while it started working great. We got food quick and I can't forget to mention the cocktails. The Oaxacan sunrise I think that's what it's called...so good. read more

Everyone at this BarTaco is the chillest! My fiancé & I make it a priority to stop in and grab tasty tacos & drinks before a show or pregaming before diving the warf! read more

bartaco - Front of Bar Taco - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Plaintains were outstanding! They had the perfect sweet ripeness and soft-yet-just-slightly-crispy-on-the-outside texture. Tacos were delicious but a bit pricey at almost $4 for fairly small portions. That's DC for you though. I tried duck, pork belly, and chile-lime shrimp tacos. Shrimp was the least impressive taco for me--pretty spicy and tart without any substantial flavors. The other two tacos were much better though. Duck was flavorful and nicely roasted, though I gotta say Peking duck is better heh. Pork belly was definitely my favorite--it was wonderfully sweet, savory, and very tasty. I also tried spicy cucumber salad, which was good too. read more

We decided to try out the bartaco in the wharf and food wise it didn't disappoint, but they def have some kinks to work out. Like the other bartaco's you use the app to place your orders and check out. It's really a great concept in my book; however as they got more busy some mishaps started happening. Some food items and drinks didn't come out. We had to show our phones as proof that we actually did place the order and it was displaying in our check to pay (waiter asked for this proof) because the waiter told us kitchen had no record. It's unclear what happened and if the food was maybe delivered to a wrong table, but once the kinks were worked out the food and drinks were great. You can't go wrong with the pork belly tacos, guacamole, and corn. read more

Bartaco is always quick to seat and serve its customers. Ordering and checkout are also super convenient through the QR code. The tacos are fairly small (2-3 bites each) but the flavors are all interesting. I love how they have all sorts of fusion options on the menu. My go to is typically the sesame ribeye, roasted duck, and spicy chicken verde. They also have sauces on the side which add extra flavor to the tacos. If you're contemplating on whether or not to get the street corn, just do it! Go with the mess-free street corn off the cob and you'll be laughing at whoever orders street corn on the cob. read more

bartaco - Street corn and tacos - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

At atmosphere is really nice by the wharf area. Love their pork belly taco and duck taco. Will come back for more.

Very nice location except for the constant smell of weed. The staff was slow and not attentive.

I've been looking forward to visiting this restaurant for quite some time and happened to chose a time where it wasn't too busy. We were immediately seated, and the server came over to explain the "high tech" ordering process using your mobile phone... I really thought this was a nice touch, I'm hoping more restaurants will adapt. Started out with the drinks so I order the signature. Margarita, I found it to be a little, sour and not too much alcohol. I wouldn't order it again. However, for the second round, we had the Caipirinha and the Spring Caipirinha. Light and refreshing taste, I'd order again. And now for the tacos, the star of the show...the sesame ribeye! The meat was tender and sweet, topped with kimchi which I thought was the perfect compliment with just enough spice and crunch. The glazed pork belly taco was pretty cheap, basic however, delicious. Sweet and a hint of spice. We also ordered the tuna poke. The tuna was perfectly seasoned and tasted fresh. I really enjoyed the flavor of the sesame and the crunchy tortillas were a perfect accompaniment. Lastly, three more tacos...the duck taco - pretty basic with just onions but very flavorful and the Baja fish taco was excellent. The fish had a nice tempura crunch and not too much batter. We even ordered the kid's menu option steak with cheese taco, I thought it was a rather excellent. The meat was very tender, but could have used some salt, but I was impressed by the taste and size. Also, I can't forget to mention that they offer a few sauce options at the table. The jalapeño sauce was truly my favorite with a nice vinegary bite and just enough heat to add it to any taco. The ambience and the vibe at this restaurant was chill and relaxing. I enjoyed the outdoor seating and views of the water, I'm already looking forward to my next visit. read more

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Too expensive but i'm sure they struggle to pay the rent here so it's fine considering. Foods good and the bar is nice in the summer plus it's on the quieter side of "the wharf". read more

The five stars is for the bartender at Bartaco, named Michael! He was very professional and provided top notch service. The waitress told us that all the tables were reserved even though most tables were empty (see pic for reference) and sat us at the bar. My 75 old mother has back problems and she was very uncomfortable at the bar But the waitress would not reseat us so Michael found us a table and moved us. There should be more people like Michael in the service industry. If not for him, we would have had a terrible experience! And this restaurant needs to manage the place better, because what we initially experienced was unacceptable! read more

bartaco - empty tables - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

TLDR: food is fine, portions are small, and service was poor We were excited to try the new bartaco at The Wharf a few weeks ago. The weather was beautiful so we were hoping to sit outside. When we arrived, we stood at the host stand for about 5 minutes without anyone coming over. We decided since they had all their windows open and it had a breezy vibe, we sit at the bar. Mistake #1. We sad for another 15 minutes without a single bartender welcoming us or letting us know they'd be right with us. We tried to make eye contact and they all zoomed right by. Not even any water. The spaces we took at the bar still and old glasses and plates that got cleared 30 minutes into our service. We wanted to be patient as we knew it was a beautiful night so they were a little busy. But we couldn't get past the extremely slow service. When we finally ordered (this was about 20 minutes since we sat down), the food did come relatively quickly. We loved the plantains and the salsa verde. The duck tacos were a miss for us, though enjoyed the mushroom and oyster tacos. All the portions were EXTREMELY small so cost adds up when you need 3-4 tacos to feel anywhere near full. We had to basically beg to get water as the bartender never checked on us at all. It also took us another 15 minutes to just get the check (after sitting with empty plates and cups and trying to stop someone as they walked past). The most attentive person was the runner who was kind enough to get us napkins when our bartender never came back with them (we had no napkins or silverware to begin with). Would we come back? Really unsure. The plantains were delicious but the service was atrocious. If they can figure that out, maybe they'd at least get 3 stars read more

Bartaco has quickly become one of my favorite Mexican restaurants for good reason. Their extensive taco menu offers something for everyone, including unique options like oyster, duck, and pork belly tacos - choices you don't typically find at Mexican restaurants. Whether you're a taco enthusiast or simply looking to try something new, Bartaco is the place to be. With flavorful dishes and a laid-back atmosphere, it's the perfect spot for a casual meal with friends or family. read more

Sat at the bar with two kids three adults. Bartenders and servers were incredibly friendly, professional and fast! Margaritas were delicious and hit the spot. Food was great. I expected small tacos. For the price, they were small but not microscopic. I had three tacos and I was full. I think 3-4 would be appropriate for the average Jill or joe. The kids meals are generous. If you have kids, get the kids meal. They don't mess with spices, sauces or toppings. Just plain tacos, which is what most kids want. If you're kid is a foodie, ask for the regular accoutrements. My kids are not. Located in the new wing of the wharf, bar taco is a pretty good deal for the area. The only comparable price options are on the other end - shake shack, falafel and chop smith. Even Gordon Ramsay's fish and chips is pricier when all is said and done. Here's what we had...pretty much liked it all! Shrimp taco Fish taco Duck taco Tuna taco Chicken taco Steak taco Kids set Quesadilla Churros Plantains Guac and chips We will be back! read more

I've been to this bartaco location a handful of times and this is my favorite location in the DMV. From the front desk to the service manager, everyone is very attentive and friendly. The ambiance of the restaurant is pretty relaxing when it's not too busy, but when it's a packed house, it gets pretty lively. The food is delicious, especially the pork belly tacos. That is my number one go to. The crispiness of the pork that's caramelized in a chile glaze is to die for. Runner up is their cauliflower taco because of the burst of flavor when you bite in to it. It's so good! I like that you can customize your food through their online food ordering process. Our kids are pretty picky eaters, so it's nice to be able order them flour tortilla tacos vice the default corn tortilla. All in all, would definitely recommend this place! read more

Just checking in to talk about our great experience going to bartaco. The hostess JaMaya Rae and our waiter Tyreek (I hope I'm spelling both names right) were amazing! They were both so accommodating and friendly would come back again just to see them! The food was delicious as always we enjoyed their recommendations of the duck and pork belly! Would definitely recommend stopping by if you're craving Mexican! read more

- No beer on tap; only cans/bottles - Good space; could use more outdoor seating or open the front patio to the outside (totally enclosed on a 60+ degree day) - Rice was undercooked for chorizo rice bowl. Seems like no effort went into it. - Extremely small for portions an entrée. - Menu isn't clear as to what is in the rice bowl besides the "meat" - I'd rate the food at this bartaco a step or two below Chipotle. - My canned Monopolio beer was good - Many staff lingering and mingling near the kitchen -- wonder if there was a backup or kitchen issue? I plan on trying it again for the tacos -- never ordering a rice bowl again -- would also go back for drinks. read more

Super friendly service. Went on a slow Monday night. Drinks were fantastic and the fish and shrimp tacos were delicious. Would definitely recommend and would come back. The music was a fun laid back vibe too. read more

I have been to bartaco several times over.the past 3 months. It's a solid spot. It's strength is the quality of the food at a reasonable price. Itis one of the only options on The Wharf for a meal that is not exorbitantly expense. The unique tacos are amazing, especially the pork belly. If you get a seat at a table, you are in good shape. The scan menu and ordering is impersonal but keeps food moving. The bar serves great drinks but is slow and always understaffed. It's tough to get a quick drink, so bring your patience. The margaritas and caiparinhas are worth the wait.One note for those who like Orange Crush and other Crush cocktails. Do not get them here. The bar uses orange soda instead of juice. Considering the place uses LOTS of fresh citrus in other drinks, the orange soda is baffling. Anyway, bartaco is pretty good. read more

Food was perfect. Highly recommend that you explore the menu as they manage to combine modern and established flavors with fresh ingredients well seasoned. Their signature margaritas and tacos are worth it. Service is always good. Learn to use their menu/ ordering system(you scan the QR code from the table and use the web page on your phone to order food, drinks, pay the tab, etc.). Ambiance was clean, cool, relaxing beach vibes. This is our 3rd time visiting this restaurant and it was the best one yet. read more

This is our second bartaco we've visited. The first one in DC was amazing and this one in Boston didn't disappoint! We waited maybe 30 minutes on a Sunday night. We love the style of this restaurant. So easy to order, food comes out quickly, and it's really yummy! The fish tacos are the best!! Guac is a must for a starter and of course the fresh margaritas! We love it! read more

bartaco - Lobster escarole, Baja fish tacos, oyster tacos, tuna ceviche - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia