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Taco Bar El Guero

4.4 (1.3k reviews)
InexpensiveMexican
Updated over 3 months ago

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TACO BAR EL GUERO ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Taco Bar El Guero

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beef tongue and pork tacos...DELISH!!!!!!
Bill T.

Awesome food and consistently everything! Noting else to report but go there and enjoy some authentic food!

Menu
Connie C.

I've been coming to Taco Bar in Gaithersburg since high school--over 20 years now--and it's still one of the best spots for authentic Mexican food in the area. The tacos are always fresh and flavorful, with generous portions and a great selection of meats. The lengua (beef tongue) is a must-try--tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. I also love their al pastor--perfectly seasoned with just the right balance of sweetness and spice. Their salsas add the perfect kick, and everything tastes homemade. Located right by the gas station, it's a hidden gem that never disappoints. There's outdoor seating if you want to enjoy your meal on-site, and you can also pick up beer and wine here, which is a nice bonus. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or craving a late-night taco fix, this spot is always a solid choice!

Jeff T.

Coming from LA and some of the best tacos, this place is certainly up there. Especially the lengua aka tongue, tender and juicy. The al pastor and chorizo were also good. You have the default option of corn tortillas or to pay a little extra for flour tortillas, both hot off the grill. Service is friendly. The atmosphere is inviting.

Ben D.

A hidden gem in Gburg awesome tacos hidden in a gas station. I got the al pastor, langua, and shredded beef. All were good definitely utiliaze their taco bar. I got roja sauce which was perfect. Langua was a bit too chewy. This place is also beer and wine shop. Doesn't have many tables. It is no frills but great food. Service is good and the restaurant looks very clean.

James L.

My friend and I were feeling a bit hangry after walking the bucolic grounds at the nearby Glenstone Museum (https://www.yelp.com/biz/glenstone-potomac) and my handy Yelp app suggested the Taco Bar El Guero. TBH, I've had this place bookmarked for over 5 years, and as I was in the area, this was the perfect time to finally check this bookmark off my list. If there is almost one universal truism when it comes to food establishments connected or are near gas stations, the food is usually ah-mazing! Taco Bar El Guero is located behind a Shell station (although locals tell me this has been other branded gas stations in the past), so be forewarned that parking is limited. TIP - there is another smaller overflow parking off to the side when pulling in...just be on the lookout for it. Luckily, we were able to find a spot near the front door, and walking in, you can be forgiven if you think this is a liquor store, since there are rows of wine as well as several fridges with full beer displays. But walk in further, and you'll see the counter to order food. The menu is extensive, so my advice is to snap a pic, step off the side to review, and then order when ready...so as to not block the usual long line of patrons waiting. We decided on a trio of tacos (Lengua, beef short rib, and the bistec), as well as the beef asada platter. The tacos were HUGE and overflowing with meat. The condiments/toppings are simple: onions, cilantro, and lime off the side. A green salsa verde also accompanies all dishes. Previously I wasn't a fan of lengua, but their version was fatty and didn't have an off putting "gamey" flavor with excellent seasoning. Bistec was also good, but a bit on the dry side. The short rib was the best of the trio. Tender braised beef was melt in the mouth tender. There was plenty of meat to use the extra corn tortillas to make 2 or 3 tacos. We were already getting full, but sampled the beef asada platter. For $11 (at the time of this review), it's a bargain. Three lean pieces of beef are seasoned and cooked on the flat top with a nice sear. When hot, the meat was tender enough to slice with a plastic knife. Take a few strips and stuff a tortilla with the beans/rice/lettuce/tomato, and you have a great build your own taco. With tax and a Jarritos soda, the total came out to approximately $26; I'd say this classifies as a cheap eat for two ppl especially since there were plenty of leftovers for the next day. If this place wasn't an hour away, I would for sure by stopping by here weekly. IMHO, Taco Bar El Guero is one of the better taquerias in the entire DMV.

Tacos de lengua, Jarrito, chips and guac
Patricia O.

This place is always busy. Delicious tacos de lengua but $6 per taco is a bit much for me. Still I should say they fill the tacos with meat to the point that you could make a baby taco with all the meat you spill. Guacamole and chips never disappoint either. The lime included with each taco is always very juicy. The ladies working here are extremely fast and nice. A few tables to sit inside and a couple more outside. There's no music playing but it doesn't need it as all the noise from those working in the kitchen and the customers getting their orders keeps this place active.

Burrito Classic Burrito - pollo
Tammy J.C. D.

This is a family favorite spot. Simple but quick, delicious, and great prices! This small, unassuming restaurant is co-located with a gas station. Very few tables inside (maybe 2 small ones) and a few more bigger ones back. Orders come out quick and are always correct. Chicken quesadillas are so flavorful, burritos are stiffed, quac is on point, and tres leches is a perfect finish.

Taco Pick Two Combo
Lisa X.

Year later and this place still is crushing it. Definitely still king whenever I crave tacos. I love their loaded nachos! Make sure to try this place at least once! The ladies are super efficient and friendly.

Liyang S.

Forgot I reviewed this place before! This is still a delicious taco joint in the Rio Gaithersburg area. They still served tacos at incredible prices and loaded with meat, but I don't mind the salt content now. They also have other food as well, all really tasty. And the latin music they play just makes me want to dance. The downside is that they can be slow since lots of ppl come here. Parking is also challenging because they share a parking lot with a gas station, Lube Center, and a car wash. Also, I still think their tacos could use more veggies, but that's really minor. Nom nom nom!

Back patio 10/10
Marshall S.

Best Burrito! Hands down. . Salsa 10/10. , Best Guacamole 10/10. New location coming soon

Jenna I.

Alright, though the reviews looked great, I was skeptical of this little hidden gem once I saw it was near a gas station. On one hand, it could be just that: a hidden gem. On the other, if I got sick from there, I'd assume it's because it was near a gas station. Luckily, it was the former. I ate every last bite of my tacos and my quesadilla was gone in less than five minutes. Everything tasted super fresh and the colors of all the (non-pictured) food looked amazing. Definitely recommend - 10/10 would come again.

I just thought the signage was amusing here. "Beer Wine Taco Bar", lol. But accurate!
Thembi S.

Was NOT prepared to have tacos THAT good out of a gas station, but here we are. I visited the Taco Bar with a friend who's a longtime patron. He assured me the tacos were official and he was 100% correct! The Taco Bar is to the back of a gas station, past refrigerated beers, wines, and other beverages. It's pretty unassuming, just a counter and a large menu hanging overhead. It takes up very little space and there are about 4 small tables nearby that can seat 2. I ordered the "Pick 2" platter option. I went with 2 steak tacos and the platter came with sides of rice and beans, and a drink. We sat outside on a fairly large patio with 4-5 tables with chairs. It was a nice day, so totally worth it! Our food was delivered and we dug in, and OMG! Those steak tacos were fuego!!! Well seasoned, moist, and no skimping on toppings. The beans were much the same, super tasty and great over the rice. I was wholly pleased and filled up by my meal. And the prices were super reasonable/affordable. Next time I'm in the area, I'm definitely returning here!

Al Pastor Taco
Jordan N.

Finally found a legit taco spot in the DMV. No BS, great street tacos! You might miss this place because its tucked next to a gas station but it worth the search! The service was pretty quick to be as busy as they were. We got al pastor tacos, chicken empanadas, and taquitos. Everything was absolutely delicious! The season/cook was perfect and the amount is generous! Best tacos weve had up here so far! Definitely will be frequenting this spot!

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4 months ago

Best food! I can't wait for it to reopen! They have amazing tortas & tacos!!! The guacamole & chips are amazing as well as their salsas!

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9 months ago

Taquito combo with rice and beans is the best. Avoid the place around lunch because parking can be challenging.

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Taco Bar El Guero Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Taco Bar El Guero

Does your outdoor seating area have heaters?

As of the last time I visited, about two months ago, they did NOT have heaters.

My mom isn't a fan of corn tortillas (I like them). Do they offer flour?

Yes, they do!

What's the best thing to order from here?

My favorite Taco is the Lengua, although they are all excellent . Each taco comes with 2 tortillas so you can easily make 2 from 1. The avocado topped gazpacho with shrimp is wonderful!

How much taco meat and the sides do I need to feed 130 people?

You will need 130 taco meat and sides in order to feed 130 people

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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We love the tacos and salsa here at Ixtapalapa, The salsa…read moreis really good because they have spicy ones. The only thing to be warned about is finding a spot to sit if you get here during the dinner rush. Other than that it is a must try!! A few of our favorites: Steak tacos Chicken tacos Veggie tacos Chilaquiles!!!

My partner and I decided to try this out for lunch. We bought 2 Pollo, 2 Veggie and 1 Al Pastor…read moretacos, a couple bottles of water and a side of guacamole. You order at a counter and are given a number to display at your table. Our food took only a few minutes to arrive. The server also brought over a box holding three salsas in squeeze bottles. The green salsa was pretty mild and the orange one was super hot. The dark one was, I think, chipotle. I didn't care for the chipotle. The tacos looked great and were each pretty packed with ingredients. Pollo tacos - I thought the chicken was a bit dry and, because of that, disappointing. Veggie - The veggie were filled with cooked onion, mushroom and peppers. Although they were well prepared and held a lot of veggies, there was no seasoning, so the taste was pretty flat/boring. I had to rely on adding guac and some salsa for flavor. I was hoping the veggie would have some flavor without having to rely on sauces. Al Pastor - was very good. Guacamole - comes "market price". The side we got was $3, which I think was a good value. The guac was flavorful and was a nice portion. I am glad I had it to supplement the disappointing Veggie taco and the dryness of the Pollo. The corn tortillas were good. The place is nice and comfortable.

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Guapo's Cocina & Bar - Steak and chicken fajita

Guapo's Cocina & Bar

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this Guapo's branch is truly a magical place everything is fresh and of course the restaurant is…read morealways busy I prefer patio as the inside can get a little bit crowded will all people having Birthdays:)) My to go order is Calamari ( which has decreased in amount over last year, of course inflation ) , Guacamole And main dish mixed Fajita and dessert puffy sweets ! One more think don't forget about drinks one of only places has pina colada both Virgin and alcoholic and all other cocktails that fit your taste! Love it

TLDR: Guapo's has good food and fun atmosphere but the experience quickly becomes soured by a…read morerushed experience and limited space. My advice. Do not order appetizer/dinner at same time. Push back on rushed service. Expect to be approached quickly and pushed until you order and left alone after your food arrives until you feel compelled to ask for a check and leave. Do not sit outside if you have babies/kids if you want your table to be large enough to fit your meal/drinks. -- Starting with the food, it's pretty good overall. Beans/rice come standard on a lot of options. They have a lot of creative appetizers. The guapomole and guacaviche are both worth trying. Might be a tad pricey for the portions and quality but nothing unreasonable. Burritos are a little on the small side for my expectations. During days when Rio is busy and dinner hours this place is so exceptionally busy so expect it to be loud. Everyone and their cousin has their birthday here and the wait staff are seemingly constantly singing and banging on instruments some days. The wait staff are exceptional for this type of restaurant- the reason why is likely due to so many experienced wait staff working here. And here's where we arrive at my issues with Guapo's and where it goes from a borderline 5* to a rapidly dropping 3*: Guapo's prioritizes turning tables over customer experience. And it RUINS the experience. The staff rush you to order, if you order dinner/appetizer there's a very good chance you'll be two bites into an app when your dinner arrives. Their tables are too small and too tightly packed- especially in the outside area. You can't really fit two meals, drinks, and an app on these tables for 4. Guapo's is a high volume money printer and it's become so bad I prefer looking at other options lately.

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This is my favorite carne asada spot. Even though the prices have increased ($30+) and the portion…read moreis not as generous, the flavor is still there. Joined during happy hour for half price margaritas. Dee used to go for the swirl and it was refreshing. Also tried the quesa-birria and the consomé was flavorful. I love their salsa and chips. I probably ate two bowls! Always come back for more and don't end up smelling like I made the carne asada, as it had been my experience at Guapos.

** If I could rate this place "Are you kidding me?" I would.**…read more Let me start by saying that I have eaten inside at this restaurant dozens of times over the last 20 years, and it has always been my go-to for Mexican food. I've defended it, recommended it, and practically paid part of their rent by now. However, tonight I made the apparently fatal mistake of ordering **to-go**. The order was simple enough that a distracted goldfish could've nailed it: * One chicken fajita for my niece * A salad for my wife * A MEDIUM RARE steak fajita for me After a one-hour round-trip drive, we opened the bag to discover a performance piece titled *"How To Ruin a Loyal Customer in Three Easy Steps."* * No dressing on my wife's salad * No chicken fajita for my niece * And a "medium rare" steak fajita cooked so far past well-done that it qualified as charcoal. Honestly, my niece made out better with her *nonexistent* chicken than I did with whatever incinerated mystery meat they sent. We called to report the missing and mangled order, only to be transferred like a hot potato and met with a surly tone that suggested we were inconveniencing them by asking for, you know, the food we paid for. We hung up when it became clear the only thing they were serving that night was attitude. Needless to say, this is the **last** time I will ever order to-go from this establishment. After two decades of loyalty, this was the culinary equivalent of a breakup text. Do better. Or don't. I'm officially out.

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La Mexicana - 2025 enchilada with pupusa.  Yummy 11 months ago especially the pupusa.

La Mexicana

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Representing 2022 in alphabet series, L is for La Mexicana. I went here a few times for a couple…read moreof events, comedy show, & birthday party. They have a nice private back room for private events or their comedy shows. The main restaurant has a nice bar area and TV's for football or whatever sport. I always got the same thing, the enchiladas. Food is solid. Prices are reasonable here, which was a nice change in the 2020's. What I realized in 2024 was the enchiladas and plates are kind of on the smaller side. When I think of sit-down Mexican restaurants, I think of hearty meals, but this wasn't so hearty. I was hungry several hours later that night in 2024. In January 2025, I was here for a friend's birthday party and remembered that the portions are smaller than typical Mexican restaurants, so I added a bean pupusa to my enchilada plate, which was excellent, even better than the enchiladas, which are solid. It was a little chaotic with the number of people there, and the awkward table setup. It would've been better having that backroom, but there was a comedy show or something happening that night in there, so we made do with the long high tables put together in the middle of the restaurant. Service has always been good here overall in terms of friendliness, but a couple of times when things ran a bit slow. Also, beer pitchers were cheap too. I remember the couple of events where people split including at the January 2025, my friend's brother & his wife split beer with me. Overall, it's a good local business in the area. In spite of a few flaws, mostly good & would return again in the future.

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Taco Bar El Guero - mexican - Updated May 2026

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