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    Pa' Tacos El Papi

    4.5 (123 reviews)
    InexpensiveFood Trucks, Mexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Pa' Tacos El Papi Photos

    PA' TACOS EL PAPI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Ajia L.

    The best tacos in the area! Hands down. This little truck off of Columbia Pike is a hidden, but not-so-secret treasure. I came here with several friends close to closing and unfortunately, they were out of tortillas, lengua, and cabeza. They said some more tortillas would be coming if we were willing to wait an extra 10 mins. No worries because we'd been looking forward to this all day. The workers were super kind and accommodating with our orders and even ended up staying passed their posted hours. It's a place with many local, regulars with whom the workers know all their names. Some even stick around to hang out. Our food came out a little while later and we made the trek home to eat them. Everything was fresh and tasty. We ordered a little bit of everything still available-- asada, chorizo, al pastor, pollo, and the mixto. It came with salsa verde and one spicy, as well as the pickled onions, cucumbers, and limes. We topped itboff with Grapefruit Jarritos (only flavor left). My faves were the mixto and the chorizo! Although, next time I definitely need to get the cabeza and the lengua. I will be back veryyy soon and will ensure I go earlier in the day. SO GOOD!

    2 Asada 1 Mixto
    Dina K.

    I've been coming here for years and I'll always stay loyal. They're so authentic, flavorful, the tortillas are always fresh never stale or old you can taste it, the Fresca are always fresh. The owner is ALWAYS nice and welcoming to everyone. I see complaints about the Cash $$ only, but I think that's the beauty of the experience and authenticity/culture. Sometimes it's better not to change things. Theres a restaurant that should be opening soon!

    When you miss West Coast street tacos, this is the closest thing! ;)
    Diana N.

    $2.50 a taco? Sign me up. I travel to the West Coast a lot and am used to $1 street tacos, $2 street tacos... so this is the closest I'll get to that affordability while also having a satisfying meal. Not only does Pa' Taco hit the spot, the owner is really kind and makes sure you are taken care of. We love the Al Pastor, Mixto, and Lengua tacos. Tired of paying $4 for a lame taco? Head to Pa' Tacos El Papi!

    Food Truck
    Karina M.

    Everyone has their own taste in tacos. I get it! And I do have an appreciation for all types of tacos. But these tacos from Pa Tacos El Papi definitely scream "authentic!" I actually was never a fan of al pastor tacos but I really do love the way they make them here. I haven't tried the lengua tacos just yet, so until then I will say that the al pastor tacos are my favorite from this spot. If you head over, keep in mind that this is a food truck and parking isn't the easiest to find. I do promise you that the headache or parking will be worth it. Definitely check it out!

    Horrible location. Suggest walking to truck if you can!
    Monica S.

    Same great taste ... in the same horrible place. Again, the food is so freaking good. The location of the truck, however, is trash. This food truck is located on a real slim street with very limited parking. I didn't mind it so much when they would accept my call in order and I'd just pick it up, but calling to place an order is hit or miss. They could be working on the truck but if it gets too busy or close to closing time, they do not answer. Not only is it a hassle to get to the food truck if you aren't in walking distance, but their accepted method of payment could use improvements. It is 2021, why are they only accepting cash? For about a month they were also accepting Venmo or card, but they recently went back to cash only and posted their 'cash only' sign again. Talk about pissed when I got to the truck and realized there was a change again, and I didn't have cash. All in all, good food and great people, but there's always room for improvement.

    Al Pastor tacos
    LeAnn F.

    Best tacos and amazing service! Visiting from NJ/NYC and found this gem, they were amazing! We got steak, al pastor and chicken tacos the gentleman provided my friend and I horchata that was to die for!! Highly recommended!

    Alaura E.

    If you don't go get these tacos! You don't really love tacos. They don't take very long and all cooked fresh to order. I like that they are cheap, super filling, and came with some nice pallets cleansers. I always enjoy the crunch of radish, cucumber, and limes with my tacos too. There were plenty of return customers there so I was assured Thai place was solid. They did not let me down. The tacos were super flavorful, fresh, juicy, and stuffed with meat. I definitely recommend this place for a quick bite on the go!

    Beef taco
    Michele B.

    Great customer service Was really pleased with my decision to come here I ordered the El Pastor tacos....seasoned great Repeating I am pleased with my decision and Will definitely go back Plus I drove from Waldorf MD just to try this spot out

    Al Pastor
    Kylie R.

    Authentic and delicious! Prices must have gone up because the tacos were $3 each as of a few days ago. Service was very quick and packaged well to take home and they stayed hot/didn't spill. Just stuck with Al Pastor and they did not disappoint. On the smaller side, but filled with goodness! Parking is definitely a pain... but service is quick so you won't need to leave your car very long. I also am not sure if they accept card/Apple Pay because there was a sign in the window that said cash only so I paid with cash.

    Located just off Columbia Pike past Carlin Springs on a side street before Jefferson. We parked on the service road alongside of the truck
    Lyn L.

    Yelpers were right! This amazing taco truck will forever be on my list! Yes, it's worth the drive and we drove out from Burke! The guys on the truck were so awesome! They were helpful and explained everything to us! Great street tacos are SO hard to find. The prices ($2.5) are incredible. They serve tacos and beverages! It's all you need. A checkin on Yelp provided us with a free soda! A first time customer also gave us a complimentary taco! This truck has got some awesome service and they know how to treat their customers. The tacos: we ordered the beef and pork. They will ask you if you want the cilantro, onions, radishes, and cucumbers! Yes, yes, and yes! Get it all, and the lime is what gives these tacos the kick. The meat was fresh and I could hear the cooking in the truck. These are not pre-made! The corn tortillas(double wrap) are as authentic as the ones in California and Mexico! They generously fill them with meat and and condiments! NOW, they also offer "habanero" slices... and my brave hubby tried it! HOLY HABANERO .... tears came down like a rainstorm! The red sauce was enough for me! Get your tacos here! Make the drive! Preorder if you want because parking is a bit tight. They will prepare for takeout or dine there! It was breezy and shady when we went so we ate there! Dam, my review makes me want to eat there today!

    Tacos de pollo, asada and pork.

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    5 years ago

    Great tacos! So they came to a friend's outdoor event. Friendly, hard working duo made some great tacos. I'd love to try them again.

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    3 years ago

    Best tacos I've had in a while. If you're looking for a hidden gem then this is it. Great customer service

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    3 years ago

    Delicious tacos for a great price! Best in town! It's a hit every time Fast and friendly service!

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    Los Chamacos Mexican Restaurant

    Los Chamacos Mexican Restaurant

    4.4
    (265 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Sports on TV
    Catering service

    I had this place saved from IG reels for a while, so I was really excited to finally check Los…read moreChamacos off my list and it definitely lived up to the hype! We came mainly for the birria pizza and birria ramen, and both were absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The service really stood out too. Staff were polite, and super efficient; I think our food came out in like 15 minutes or less! The space itself is bright, colorful, and has a comfortable, homey vibe. We went on a Friday and were able to walk in and get seats easily, which was a nice surprise. Parking can be a bit tricky in the area though, so you may have to park a little farther away and walk. Prices were very reasonable for the quality and portions. Overall, such a great experience and we will definitely be back next time we are in Virginia!

    The food here was delicious! I had the Steak fajitas and asked for medium rare and that's exactly…read morewhat I got. The refried beans were very good and the rice was cooked to perfection. My son ordered Chicken enchiladas and they were amazing. Son's girlfriend had Torta with Birria, delish! Service was great, we got were seated right away, server was very attentive. The restaurant was clean, full of vibrant colors. You feel welcomed as soon as you walk in. If you live in and around this area I highly recommend this place. I'm visiting from California and I can honestly say there is nothing like this back home. Last thing, you can't beat the prices in this restaurant! The restaurant is on a corner, parking in the back. Came back on Cinco de Mayo since we had such a good experience the other night. We didn't get any chips / salsa (server forgot). They ran out of guacamole, the burrito we ordered had no green salsa ( we asked for it and we paid extra). My fajitas were a little over done, I asked for medium rare. Server didn't bring silverware, we had to ask. Granted it was Cinco de Mayo, but running out of guacamole?? I originally gave a 5 star but had to change it.

    Photos
    Festival
    Festival
    Famous ceviche
    Famous ceviche
    Fajitas chamacos

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    Fajitas chamacos
    El Centro

    El Centro

    3.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Came for lunch while exploring Georgetown. Had the chicken tacos and guacamole. They also have a…read morebottomless brunch on the weekends. Both dishes were great. The guacamole tasted fresh and the chips were warm when they arrived to the table. You get three tacos with the plate as well as a side of Mexican rice and beans. Service was fast, and polite. The inside has two floors. We sat upstairs where there is an indoor bar portion and an open patio. Would recommend and would return if I'm in the mood for solid tacos.

    I work down the street from here, and actually found out about it as I was perusing different…read morerestaurants to check out for Restaurant Week. I liked their menu and wanted to give it a try. I got there shortly after they opened up and it was pretty empty. I got a seat right by the door, and had a view of the street and watched as the restaurant began to fill up. Lots of college kids came in as the evening went on and it seemed like a popular restaurant. I thought my server was very good. He checked in regularly and had a lot of tables he was responsible for. For my meal, I started with Queso Fundido and that was probably my favorite. The cheese was really hot and very delicious. It also came with three types of salsa on the side (a salsa verde, a chili salsa, and a third one I'm not sure what it was). I did like the chili one. The flour tortillas were very hot and fresh. I enjoyed it. For my entree, I had the Achiote Hanger Steak Fajitas. This was my least favorite part of the meal. I had asked the waiter if they were good and he told me he always recommends it. I didn't mind the sides that came with it. The rice and beans were pretty good and I liked the guacamole. What I didn't like was the actual steak. It was very tough and hard to bite into. What was weird is it was completely red in the middle so I believe it was medium to medium rare, but the steak wasn't tender at all. It also wasn't very seasoned and the peppers and onions under it just seemed to be sitting in oil. I did ask for salt and pepper, but even with it, I didn't like it. I ended up not finishing the meal. Finally, I had ordered the corn cheesecake as a dessert. I now realize they sent out churros instead, but I guess I wasn't paying attention until after the fact.The churros were OK. I would have preferred more chocolate sauce on mine. I wish I would have spoken up because I was actually looking forward to trying the cheesecake. For me the food was ok, and not spectacular. I'd be willing to try out something else and come back to at least try their cheesecake, but if I never returned that'd be fine with me too.

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    Braised Beef Shortrib Casuela with tamarind mole and root vegetables.
    Braised Beef Shortrib Casuela with tamarind mole and root vegetables.
    Vuelve a la Vida Tacos, with grilled octopus, shrimp, chorizo and tomatillo salsa.
    Vuelve a la Vida Tacos, with grilled octopus, shrimp, chorizo and tomatillo salsa.
    Chocolate Cigars!  Made on site and served with espresso ice cream (not shown).  Awesome!

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    Chocolate Cigars! Made on site and served with espresso ice cream (not shown). Awesome!
    Tacos Los Primos

    Tacos Los Primos

    4.8
    (85 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $

    I recently moved from Kent Island, MD to Arlington and I've slowly been checking out local food…read morespots to fill the a void I have with some places I miss back home. One such place was a Mexican place as my old fav Mexican place on Kent Island (Señors Chile) had great but extremely greasy birria tacos. So you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this food truck that read "Tacos Los Primos". The spot made me curious. So I went to visit a friend who lives in walking distance from the spot for lunch recently. She ordered the veggie burrito and I ordered (pic below) Quesabirria tacos (no onion). When we got back I was WOW'd by not only how yummy my food was but how it wasn't oozing with grease! The consume that comes with for dipping is just enough for me personally and bursting with flavor. As you'd expect from most food trucks the service is made to order. When you go up to the counter and tell them what you want they make it fresh! The truck is parked on Rhoside Green Park (sandwiched between Courthouse and Rosslyn) so if you live in either neighborhood it's easy to access from walking distance. And since it's near an Arlington green space there's usually some seating nearby you can pop a squat and eat lunch. Given spring time is approaching this seems more doable. Just yesterday I was driving by to visit the same friend and saw a long line for this place! Most people in Arlington know how great this spot is, it is a terribly kept secret! Can't comment much on how long the line was busted as I went during a time when it was windy (but warm) and it was mid day. When I drove by it was pushing dinner time past 7pm. I love the food here! But since I live closer to the storefront location in Lyon Park I usually end up ordering food from there (review on that location is coming soon)! If you like authentic Mexican food that's fresh and delicious, you'll enjoy this spot!

    Stopped at this food truck while visiting D.C. The staff were very friendly! We got a pastor…read morequesadilla, a chorizo burrito, and an asada burrito. The burritos very very big, and the tortillas they used were excellent! They came with two types of sauces and were filled with rice, some lettuce, and I believe crema. The quesadilla was good as well, it had four pieces, and came with some veggies, hot sauces, and crema. Definitely worth stopping if you're looking for burritos!

    Photos
    Tacos Los Primos
    Tacos Los Primos
    Tacos Los Primos

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    Pa' Tacos El Papi - foodtrucks - Updated July 2026

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