Tomatillo Taqueria

Much to my disappointment, the Tomatillo on Connecticut is closed as of December 2011. Their sign says a new location will open at 14^th and H.

I wasn’t too crazy about my tacos. I got one carnitas and two vegetarian tacos with most of the toppings that were offered. The corn tortillas were grilled, which I appreciated, but they were really rough and dry. This coupled with the vegetarian ingredients made for one incredibly dry taco. The carnitas taco was a little better, but both had very little flavor, especially the black beans which appeared to be just plain olé beans out of the can. Maybe the burritos are better…

4.5– probably a 5 if not for the boring vegetarian
Cures California Homesickness!
I was missing my golden home state and decided that if I could find some tasty tacos, I would stop my bitching and moaning. Well Tomatillo Taqueria did the trick. I had 3 tacos– veggie (meh), beef (yum), pork (stella-​but messy!). AND they were celebrating guactoberfest so after 1:30 guac was free! Will definitely be back since it seems homesickness is becoming a once a week thing. Now all I need is a salty strong margarita to ease on in to the weekend ;)

This is the best burrito I’ve had in DC so far. I had the vegetarian burrito: tortilla is great, black beans, cooked veggies — one of which was a hot pepper (not too hot), guacamole, pico, your choice of salsas and queso fresco. The only objection I had was the rice seemed a little overcooked. I also prefer melted jack in my burritos but the queso was good too. The staff was super friendly and it was only $ 6! Really can’t go wrong with that.

I love the food here. Great people, great food, good value for the money (but its not expensive for the neighborhood anyway). I tend to get 3 tacos one of each beef chicken and pork, but today i got a pork burrito… amazing.
Ive been a bunch of times, but this is my first Unilocal review… i just think that anyone close to dupont circle should give this a try.

The tacos here are HUGE. They’re like the love child of a burrito and a taco… let’s call them tacritos.
I ordered the meat triple threat (my name for it, sadly not theirs). One each of beef, pork, and chicken. It’s a toss up between beef and pork for which was my favorite. The pork was a little greasy but that’s probably why it tasted so delicious. The chicken was nicely grilled, but it didn’t have much flavor. It probably would taste better in a burrito with more ingredients. The other two meats were tasty enough to stand on their own.
The person making the food was very friendly and eager to please. I asked if I could have beans in my tacos and he was happy to accommodate at no extra charge. The pico di gallo was fresh and the tomatillo sauce was a nice complement. I forgot to ask for cheese, but the tacritos were so delicious that I didn’t even miss it!

Let me know when you hire a cashier. The person preparing my food should not also be handling cash. Yuck.

I really love this now-​semi-​permanent pop-​up joint because they make outstanding tacos and they are super nice. I am a snot about tacos and I’m also not someone who reviews a joint after just one try. This review comes after having gone to Tomatillo at least five or six times and having sampled both their chicken and barbacoa meat. And, it comes after I just walked by freaking Chipotle and saw a line out the door when this place is less than two blocks away and way, way better.
They load your tacos up with lots of onions and jalepenos, legit cojita cheese, and the green salsa is divine. I sadly had to retire from the super spicy (but tasty) red salsa after showing up at a Hill meeting sweating profusely from having eaten it (in March!). The Pico looks good but i am not a cilantro person so I don’t go there. I would lean toward the chicken over the barbacoa, especially when it is hot out, but the barbacoa is definitley good comfort food on chilly fall days.
One tip: go a little later because the tortilla grill is raring to go after some use, making the tortillas just a little more lovely than they are when you get them early in the lunch hour.
And let me reiterate the nice part… the two guys who are usually behind the counter are just hands down good dudes. Four stars for the food, the fifth just because of the nice.
One NOTE: I was perusing the other reviews and saw that some folks were a little grumpy about how long it took when there was a line, which can be true for sure, but I wanted to mention that when I went there today they were training a new person so hopefully that’ll make the assembly line move a touch faster.

Why, WHY would anyone go to Chipotle/​Qdoba/​Baja Fresh when this little independent, cheaper, and INFINITELY MORE AUTHENTIC taqueria is right here?
I’m from south Texas (right next to Mexico), and since moving to DC, I have been on a constant search for good, proper tacos. This place easily beats out all other Mexican/​Tex-​Mex restaurants in DC (I’m not counting Las Placitas in Hyattsville)– notify me IMMEDIATELY if you have a restaurant to rebut my claim. The beef and pork are very tender and overflowing with delicious juices. The chicken has an excellent char to it. The pico is made fresh, the cheese is proper cojita cheese, and the roasted salsas have the perfect amount of heat. The corn tortillas hold up and taste like they might be homemade (note: older reviews no longer reflect their new practice to double up on the tortilla). And with 3 tacos for $ 6, it’s pretty much unbeatable.
During peak lunch hours the line can get a bit lengthy; I’ve waited around 10 mins in the heat before. But really, 10 minutes isn’t that long, and the food quality + price makes a short wait totally acceptable. They’re only open until 2pm. I just went at noon and there was no line.
Plus, the guy serving up the food is just so friendly– today I mentioned how his meat is so much better than other DC Mexican restaurants that charge you twice as much (aherm, Lauriol), and he smiled, nodded knowingly, and said «We put a lot of care into our meats.» THANK YOU, SIR. THAT IS EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE.
Plain and simple, Tomatillo Taqueria gets it. Tacos should be cheap, plentiful, and always made with love.

Solid lunch time tacos. For $ 6, you get three tacos or a burrito, filled with chicken, shredded beef, or shredded pork. The operation is all run out of a window adjacent to the Big Hunt. A pretty good value for what you get. The chips can be a bit stale — best to forego those. Cash only.

If you have a craving for something spicy and meaty, go for it. Otherwise this place is blah.

I tried Tomatillos last year when it opened, and I found the tacos (3 for $ 6) to be just OK. Maybe my expectations were too great and I was half expecting some Mexican granny to be working the tortilla press. Returning again a year later, however, I experienced some much improved Tex-​Mex cooking. I ordered my 3 tacos with a different meat in each one – pork, beef, and chicken. Add some not-​too-​smooth guacamole and other toppings if you please (various salsas, onions, queso fresco, and plenty of lime), and you have some of the best tacos in town. (Although I have yet to make it out to Tacqueria La Placita, which is on my hit list.)
The corn tortillas (two of ‘em per taco) are a bit thicker than the traditional ones used in more authentic Mexican tacos, but I’m a friend of more carbs, especially when it allows for more fillings! In any case, the meats featured enough char and seasoning to counter the extra heaviness of their surroundings, especially when topped with the punchy tomatillo and habenero salsas. I do recommend that you request the salsas be applied with a lighter touch, to better taste the meats (and to save your lap). I haven’t tried the burritos yet, but with tacos this good, I don’t feel like I’m missing out.

Sticking w/​3.5 stars, but they gotta get another person behind the counter. Takes like 20 minutes with only 4 – 5 peeps in front of you.

Simple and delicious. It’s simply delicious!
If The Big Hunt managed to leave you with a big hangover during the weekday, the same location will also give you some awesome hangover food as severance pay.
The menu simple, so making a decision is easy if you’re in a hurry (I chose 3 tacos for 6 bucks, with each type of meat of pork, steak, and chicken). The ingredients are simple but packed with complex flavor. I highly recommend trying the guac and the onions with the poblanos on… everything!
If you want some Tomatillo Taqueria action, but can’t make it for their lunch hours between 11 am to 2 pm, the guys at the window say you can get the same grub at The Big Hunt after 4 pm. Oh The Big Hunt, you never cease to impress.

Finally! A «Mexican» place in the Dupont area worthy of the title!!! This place is just a walk-​up window beside (in? Unclear…) the Big Hunt. The guys do a swift business, getting my burrito in only a few minutes. They were SUPER friendly, allowing me to deck it in lettuce, hot salsa (which actually had a yummy flavor unlike other places (*cough, Well Dressed Burrito, cough*), and cheese (and not horrible American or Cheddar, but the kind you get on sopas when you buy them in Mexico).
It is cash only and I’m not gonna say it’s cheap — $ 6 for a burrito that’s smaller than one at Chipotle. But ya know what? It tastes really damn good, was big enough for lunch, and with friendly service, I ain’t gonna complain. Will be going back soon!

Who woulda thought that a little taco/​burrito stand serving out of the Big Hunt would be so damn good? Totally puts all the burrito places around here to shame. A burrito or three tacos are $ 6 including tax, which is a great deal. You can try pretty much anything before you put it on your tacos/​burrito. And the salsas they have are really really good! That’s pretty rare at the taco/​burrito places around here.
I got the chicken burrito my first time there this past week. While some may see this as a down side, I thought it was great that the burrito was a perfect portion size — enough to eat and not feel stuffed for the rest of the day. Every time I go to Chipotle, if I eat the whole thing I feel like I have a rock sitting in my stomach for the rest of the day. With this burrito I felt satisfied but not overstuffed.
I also sampled a chicken and bean chili they had on special, and wow it was tasty. I was really impressed.
I’m totally going back. Gonna try the beef next time, maybe the 3 tacos instead of the burrito.
[edit — 2/​3/​2010] Ok I totally went back for the tacos and they were yummy. You can put whatever you want in them and they’ll do it for you. I can’t say I was a particular fan of the pulled beef, but it’s very rare that I like pulled beef in general, so it’s not necessarily bad that it wasn’t my favorite. It was nicely seasoned though. The salsas still get two thumbs up. They are GOOD. I would totally order a pint to take home if they sold just the salsas.

A rose between two thorns! Wow — once you find this place you will wonder how you ever lived without it! Tomatillo Café is the goods. Fresh ingredients, beautiful interplay between the homemade salsa, sour cream and just the right amount of guac! Oh and wash it down with a nice Corona from the Big Hunt… heaven! It’s a little bit of Mexico in Dupont (without the risk of swine flu!)
I don’t know where they came from but baby, don’t ever leave us!
Only complaint — PLEASE expand your hours!

I’ve eaten my way through Dupont and the surrounding area. Over the last four years I’ve become almost disappointed with the average quality of most inexpensive options in the area.
Burritos are one of my favorite foods. I have eaten my weight in Chipotle (good but not great), slightly less in Baja (only just so-​so), and at least a leg in Well Dressed (though cool and hidden away, honestly not really that good — tastes cheap and factory processed). Lets just say I was delighted to discover Dupont’s newest burrito option.
Well, I finally visited today. The food was very fresh. I mean, every restaurant proclaims their food as fresh, but this actually looks and tastes that way. The beans are flavorful, the pork tender, rice fragrant, the various salsas ALL delicious. It doesn’t taste mass produced or rushed. Yes, its not the most flavorful in the area. BUT, I would say that this is because the flavor is controlled. The food isn’t over spiced like you get at other burrito places. I could taste every bite of tender, flavorful pork and every bit of those beautiful salsas.
After many trips to LA and SF/​San Jose, I have grown to really love the wonderful flavors of real, whole in the wall, only white guy in the room taquerias. La Victorias in San Jose, for example, is one of my very favorites. Tomatillo is the closest I have yet found to the great little traditional stands you find from Text to Northern CA. This is a different sort of an idea for Dupont and I am thrilled to have it close. The two guys behind the counter were great. Very nice and helpful. I didn’t feel rushed or like I was slowing their service. As an added bonus, at $ 6 even tax included, you can eat well for less than the other options!
What more could I ask? Open back up from 9pm — 2am on the weekends. I can not think of a better way to lighten up the alcohol swirling through my brain after a night out — and am needing a serious break from Alberto’s and Julia’s.

For the record, I would just like to say how disappointed I was that I didn’t get the first review on Tamatillo Café. I went last week searching for this place, and for whatever reason they weren’t open. So after grabbing some food today, and rushing back to my desk, I eagerly logged onto Unilocal and… *sigh*
Ok, well on to the review.
Set in a great location, the walk up window with everything on display, quickly familiarizes you with the process. I ordered the braised beef, rice, pinto beans, fresh salsa, queso fresco, and guacamole. The final size of the burrito was definitely worth $ 6.
The flavors were good, but not out of this world. I think I might need to play around with the ingredients to hit that magic combination of deliciousness. But it WAS tasty and I destroyed it practically without breathing. I also paid the guy $ 1 to taste test the other meats and I think the pork and chicken are better than the beef. I liked the fresh ingredients though, and with as many options as they had, you’re sure to find a combo that suits your taste.
Will I go back? Absolutely. I practically work upstairs, how could I not? But Pedro & Vinny’s is still my burrito of choice.
One other thing — the guy was wearing latex gloves, but didn’t change them (while I was there) despite handling money. Kinda gross. Burrito guy, if you’re reading this, make note. Your customers will notice that.

So there I was, walking down CT Ave south of the circle, looking at all the signs and pining for restaurants that have come and gone. All of a sudden something caught my eye… «Tomatillo Café» it said, but it was posted up on the Big Hunt! What’s this now? and then as I got closer I noticed the buckets of burrito fillings and two men diligently warming up toasty tortillas on the window ledge of the northern half of Big Hunt’s downstairs bar.
How could I have missed this? Well, I found out they only opened a week ago! And so, with visions of FTRs dancing in my head, I eagerly put down the $ 6 for a burrito.
Yes, that’s $ 6 flat for any filling in a burrito or tacos. No more having to grumble in front of the menu deciding whether an extra dollar or two is worth breaking my wallet-​imposed vegetarianism (ha just kidding I totally love eating dead animals, but really, why do they have to be so expensive?)
The guys were super nice, patiently working with a girl who had brought a post-​it note with no less than 5 different orders, all with different specifications on it. We all know that girl. We hate that girl, because we always seem to get stuck behind her. Regardless, the guys were super nice and fixed all of her special stuff with a smile while I waited impatiently screaming at her in my head.
As for the burrito itself, I’m left feeling just on the better side of ‘meh.’ It’s not a bad burrito, but it’s nothing special. The meat was a good quality, but could have used some salt. They don’t have sour cream (good for my belly, bad for my taste buds). Perhaps the fault was mine for not getting one of their hot sauces (looked like they had a habanero sauce and some sort of salsa verde); I admit to my wimpishness.
Despite this ‘meh’-ness, in comparison to having to stand in lines at Chipotle, settling for whatever they’re pawning as a burrito from Baja Fresh, or having to wait in the underground always-​too-​hot lair of Well-​Dressed Burrito, the burrito was definitely good enough to bring me back, and I’m pretty happy about the flat $ 6 price point.
I have tried to find out more info from some google searches and can’t find anything. So here’s hoping they plan on sticking around and this isn’t all some big experiment! They are only open from 11:30 to 2, Monday through Friday.