Best Mexican Restaurants in NoVA

Northern Virginia is home to incredibly diverse cuisine. You can find delicious Italian, high-end French, and classic steakhouses all over, but what’s one dinnertime staple that everyone is always craving? 

Tacos. 

And when it comes to incredible Mexican food, Northern Virginia is at no loss for cemitas, chilaquiles, tamales, pozole, and more. Of course, there’s a very big difference between crave-worthy albóndigas and a few bland balls of meat thrown in broth. Trying to decide where to go for dinner tonight? The below six restaurants offer some of the best Mexican food in NoVa, and are sure to be crowd pleasers. 

Taco Bamba

Falls Church + Vienna

Tiny restaurant, simple layout, major flavor. Taco Bamba offers both traditional and creative twists on your favorite dishes, like La Poutina tacos that feature fries, barbacoa jus, spicy mayo, onions, cotija cheese, and bacon, as well as top-notch pork tamales. Food is prepared quickly and expertly, and with four additional locations throughout NoVA and DC, you’ll take any opportunity to try something new from Taco Bamba. 

Bartaco

Reston

A transplant from the West Coast looking to satisfy your carnitas craving? You’ll feel right at home in the southern California beach culture bartaco captures, along with that of Brazil and Uruguay. Their menu features everything from tacos to rice bowls to plantains. Give the roasted duck quesadilla a try for a meaty and flavorful take on a classic dish, complete with a blue corn tortilla to give it unique texture, and tomatillo sauce for a tangy bite. 

Cerrito’s Pupuseria

Chantilly

Who knew some of the most authentic Mexican-Salvadoran food in NoVa would be found in a hole in the wall in Chantilly? Generous portion sizes are the calling card of Cerrito’s, so come to this hidden gem hungry and give multiple dishes a try (but be forewarned: their portions are huge!). Of course, you’ll need to try a pupusa or two, but don’t ignore the chicken stew, chicharron with yucca, or refreshing horchata. 

Señor Ramon Tacqueria

Leesburg

When Señor Ramon Taqueria opened in 2016, the goal was to bring authentic, street style Mexican food to Northern Virginia. They’ve achieved that and so much more. Their expansive taco offerings would be overwhelming if they all weren’t so deliciously perfect, but it’s their other menu items, like the Choripan Torta (smoked Argentinian sausage, chimichurri sauce, and tomato salsa on a toasted bun) and best-selling corn nuggets (fried corn balls served with cilantro cream sauce) that have kept customers coming back and allowed them to open two additional locations in Sterling and Chantilly. 

Picante Mexican Restaurant

Chantilly

It’s been said by many a Picante visitor that you could make a meal just out of the appetizers (ceviche and queso fundido for days!), but definitely save room. You’ll want to enjoy every bite of the Cecina de Res (thin sliced beef cured in salt, lime juice, and herbs served with poblanos con crema, onion, and poblano baked in a cream sauce), pollo en mole, spinach enchiladas, and--of course--churros. And then get the ceviche and queso fundido to go. 

La Union Restaurant

Arlington

We’ve found your new family favorite. With classic dishes and impeccable flavors, this place will be hard to top. Customer favorites over the years include El Tipico, Enchiladas Rancheras, Fried Plantains, and Carne Asada, and many of their recipes come from family recipes dating back to 1922. At La Union, they want to make every member of the community a part of their family. Sounds like an amazing reunion...can we come?