Highest-rated Restaurants for Tacos in Washington, D.C., According to Yelp

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Highest-rated restaurants for tacos in Washington, D.C., according to Yelp

Depending on who you ask, tacos are more than just a quick snack you can grab off a truck for lunch. They're an experience. One that allows the chef to layer flavor and textures—from the fresh crunch of the cilantro and onions to the smoked heat of roasted chiles cavorting with the savory delight of your protein of choice—all onto one delicious tortilla, freshly crisped over an open flame…sorry is anyone else hungry?

Much like the food, the origin story has a fairly layered history. Both Mayan and Aztec civilizations were said to have eaten a food similar to what we know as a taco, but the modern iteration traces back to the 1800s in Mexico. Born of a need to ensure that miners had a means to easily consume hearty food while on the job, piles of meat would be rolled into corn tortillas and packed for the road. During hours upon hours of hard labor in horrible conditions, the ability to pull out a few taquitos (named for the gunpowder role the miners carried with them) was practically life-saving.

Considering LA Taco once called the dish a "multifaced god" it's clear that the reverence for this dish has traveled across time and space—which resulted in a plethora of places to choose from. So where do you go to get the best taco?

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants for tacos in Washington, D.C. using data from Yelp. See if some of your favorites are on the list, or go find some new favorites to enjoy! Note, some restaurants may have recently closed, so be sure to double-check.

#21. El Techo

- Rating: 3.5/5 (392 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 606 Florida Ave NW Washington, DC 20001
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#20. Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub

- Rating: 3.5/5 (237 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 500 H St NW Washington, DC 20001
- Categories: Irish Pub, Tacos, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#19. La Fondita Mexican food truck

- Rating: 3.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 1701 14 st Washington, DC 20009
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#18. TaKorean Korean Taco Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (231 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1309 5th St NE Union Market Washington, DC 20002
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Korean, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#17. Bar Elena

- Rating: 4.0/5 (124 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 414 H St NE Washington, DC 20002
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Tacos, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

#16. Taqueria Las Gemelas

- Rating: 4.0/5 (84 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1280 4th St NE Washington, DC 20002
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#15. bartaco

- Rating: 4.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 645 Wharf St SW Ste 835 Washington, DC 20024
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#14. TaKorean Korean Taco Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (271 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1212 4th St SE The Yards Washington, DC 20003
- Categories: Korean, Asian Fusion, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#13. Surfside Dupont

- Rating: 4.0/5 (623 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1800 N St NW Washington, DC 20036
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#12. Jaco Juice and Taco Bar

- Rating: 4.0/5 (218 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1614 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20007
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#11. Korean BBQ Taco Box

- Rating: 4.0/5 (114 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: Washington, DC 20001
- Categories: Food Trucks, Korean, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#10. Far East Taco Grille

- Rating: 4.0/5 (195 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 635 Florida Ave NE Washington, DC 20002
- Categories: Tacos, Asian Fusion, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Bartaco Mt Vernon

- Rating: 4.0/5 (81 reviews)
- Address: 1025 5th St NW Washington, DC 20001
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Surfside Wharf

- Rating: 4.0/5 (86 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 33 District Square SW Washington, DC 20024
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#7. El Bebe Tacos + Tequila

- Rating: 4.0/5 (290 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 99 M St SE Ste 120 Washington, DC 20003
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#6. Bartaco

- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 475 K St NW Washington, DC 20001
- Categories: Latin American, Tacos, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#5. Chaia

- Rating: 4.5/5 (164 reviews)
- Address: 615 I St NW Washington, DC 20001
- Categories: Tacos, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp

#4. Gerrard Street Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 1515 Rhode Island Ave NW Washington, DC 20005
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Sushi Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#3. Tiki Taco

- Rating: 4.5/5 (374 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 2010 P St NW Washington, DC 20036
- Categories: Tacos, Hawaiian, Shaved Ice
- Read more on Yelp

#2. Chaia

- Rating: 4.5/5 (764 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 3207 Grace St NW Washington, DC 20007
- Categories: Vegetarian, Tacos, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp