Menu
You Might Also Consider
in Chicken Shop, Latin American, Peruvian
Amenities and More
Ask the Community
Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about El Taco Azteca.
Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
10 reviews
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
- Kevin S.Rockville, MD064Jan 23, 2024
Worst place ever !!. I went in to try this new place out and it was a mistake . The lady in the front is so rude I had to keep repeating my questions at her and she got my order wrong . I gave a tip to her friend who came and helped she was so nice but the other lady couldn't even process my card . This is definitely not a place I'm recommending to anyone doesn't seem authentic from the service to the food . Only the decoration is Mexican in that place . I would deeply recommend taco Rico or tacos la plácita which are located in the same street and these places have authentic Mexican tacos and authentic people cooking your food . And not to mention they will treat you nicely .
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Nov 22, 2021
Ordered this online so we wouldn't have to wait but when we got there they hadn't even grabbed th ticket off the machine to make it so we had to wait in the car while they cooked it. Ordered pupusas and a quesadilla. Both were pretty good. The quesadilla came with beans and rice and could be a meal on its own. I'd like to try a few more items. Definitely not recommending ordering online but the food is worth trying.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Josefina R.McGuire Air Force Base, NJ02Jun 18, 2023
Was going to order on doordash but my husband and I decided to go order in person. Lots of drunk dudes inside this small place. We ordered our food to go. we had Tacos and enchiladas but they weren't worth the almost 50 dollars we spent. she said it would be 20 minutes, food sat on the counter while we waited outside because we didn't want to wait inside and the ladies that were all in there couldn't be bothered to tell us it was ready. I could've made this at home but didn't want to cook and I paid the price. You can find better food somewhere else.
Helpful 1Thanks 2Love this 1Oh no 0 - Dec 23, 2020
My brother and I had actually meant to go to the place next door. We accidentally turned in here and didn't realize it and went inside and ordered a couple tacos. I got one chicken taco and one carnitas taco. They had a table outside for some outdoor seating. My brother said that it was the best pork taco he had ever had and his life. He loved how the pork tasted like it was similar to a fresh pork with the crunchy outside on the meat. At some point we will come back and try the other place. The thing to note is that this place does not have a nice interior. I would not plan to eat there. However the staff is friendly. They did not speak English but the menu was English and I was able to point at the menu. Tacos were $2.50.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Sharnice G.District Heights, MD20713Mar 4, 2019
I love this place! Best well kept secret!!! I will be back again!! The price is amazing and the food is truest cooked with love!
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - HighStandard S.Honolulu, HI22183Mar 17, 2012Updated review
Short version:
menu includes English
small quesadilla+3 large meaty tacos+chicken dinner+tortillas that were still warm when I got them home= $20.04
(vegetarian) quesadilla de flor de la calabaza is different and interesting.
taco de barbacoa de la cordero (lamb)---oh yes!
mole de poblano----not as good as at La Sirenita, which is almost across the street.
take-out logistics: you can park near the picnic tables, go to the window to order, then wait in your car and listen to the radio. they will wave to you when your order is ready. if you're middle class, don't be paranoid about the other clientele. poor people aren't criminals.
--------------------------
Long Version:
The Magic Window, or, Clueless White Lady Gets An Education
Tonight I went in to order some takeout and was greeted with a hostile silent treatment from a young waitress who looked at me as if to say, "Are you kidding me?" and then gave a meaningful, contemptuous look to the young ladies behind the counter, smirking away and indicating me with with a tilt of her head as if to say, "Getta load of this!"
I just smiled at her and asked to see a menu. She vanished, vampire-like, leaving me at the mercy of the ladies behind the counter. Once I started asking questions in bad, but earnest Spanish, one lady behind the counter opened up.
I noticed quesadilla de flor de la calabaza on the menu, which was very exciting. I asked if it was available, as squash blossoms are a seasonal thing, and was told yes. I asked if I could have corn tortillas with it, no problem. The hilarious thing was that the lady taking my order consulted with another lady standing right next to her to answer my questions, translating my bad Spanish into Spanish. The blossoms turned out to be preserved rather than fresh, so I didn't like the first couple of bites because it wasn't what I expected. Once I got a hit of the cheese, which was a nice contrast to the vinegar of the blossoms, I started to enjoy it, and was satisfied with it by the end.
I had ordered taco de barbacoa last time, and was not pleased with it, but then I noticed on the menu that there were 2 kinds of barbacoa: goat and lamb! Last time I didn't specify and I got the goat----Yuck! This time I ordered the lamb, "cordero", and it was delicious!
The chicken mole---mole poblano---came with plenty of sauce, two thighs, black refritos, and some rice. The rice didn't look like much, but I thought it was better than average because it's short grain with a moist but fluffy texture. This meal was mediocre, although even a mediocre mole is good in my book.
The Magic Window: After ordering, the nice lady told me it would be 15 minutes, so I went outside to wait in my car. I was parked by the picnic tables. Other people were out there too, none of them eating. Poor working folks, totally harmless, some with well-behaved kids in tow. I say this because I was the lone gringo there, and I was noticed. It was a situation that could make an outsider feel uncomfortable, like crashing a party, especially after the treatment from the vampire-waitress, but the other customers made eye contact and smiled at me and showed no edge.
A van pulled up with a father and two kids. The dad gave the son some cash. I had noticed an addition to the brick house that is the restaurant. It was behind a fence, and had a window that was opened. I thought, that must be the kitchen and the window is open for ventilaiton. But then the little boy went skipping to the fence, climbed a little wooden staircase I hadn't noticed, and rang a little bell. Someone appeared at the window and took his order. It was then I realized that everyone else outside was waiting for take-out from the window, and that I had broken the rule by going to the dining room for take-out.
I went back into the dining room after 10 minutes and my order was ready at the counter. I asked the lady if next time, I need to order at the window, and she confirmed. We had a good laugh over it. They take credit cards at the window. There is no sign of any kind at the window, and nobody who ordered from the window used a menu. You'll have to ask for one.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0Mar 4, 2012Previous reviewShort version: Good food, good portion, good price.
Positive:
Lengua tacos were delicious, moist, flavorful, huge, served with a slice of cucumber, radish, chopped onions and cilantro, fresh warm tortillas, and a huge chunk of lime. The meat and fixings were so satisfying that I didn't even bother trying the two sides of sauce that came with.Two tacos were more than enough for dinner. Only $2.50 each. They take Visa.
Negative:
Barbacoa tacos were pretty good, but after biting into something hard----bone fragment, I hope---I decided to toss them. No signs on the wall. I just asked for some tacos and I got them. The staff were not exactly hostile, but they did exchange pained looks when I came in, and between the three of them, couldn't muster enough English for a greeting, "sorry, we're closed", or "thank you". They seemed very young. Pathetic, really, what options will they have in the future? Do they ever dare leave their little neighborhood? Assimilate, people! It's worth the effort!
Long version:
After reading all of the enthusiastic reviews of Taqueria La Placita, I decided to go, but discovered that it closes at 10PM on Sunday, not 1100 as listed, but this place was practically next door so I thought I'd try it.
I got there just at 10PM. At both places, the sign in the windows said open and the doors were unlocked, but they were really closed. The guy at La Placita barked, "Cerrado!" at me. At Azteca, the 3 young ladies behind the counter were so reluctant to engage in a conversation with me in any language, that they decided to serve me, and I'm glad they did, because the tongue was the best I've had anywhere.
This is an interesting neighborhood. It's not hard to find because there is a light and big sign that gets you onto Edmonston Rd from Kennilworth. This stretch of the street feels like a southwestern neighborhood. Lots of trucks parked in front of the houses, and the yards are dirt instead of grass. Drive slowly if you want to fit in and not disturb the vibe of the community. There are at least 4 taco joints on a quarter mile stretch of road, and they are actually Mexican. I've been disappointed so many times by restaurants in the area that pretend to be Mexican, but are actually Salvadoran, that I had given up. However, this area seems to be a Mexican enclave.
Don't expect to be greeted warmly and be prepared to order in Spanish. - Paul J.Washington, DC98132Jul 13, 2012
I give it five stars because I happen to stumble across this just trying
something DIfferent and I was happy the taco's were good and the price was right
It Remind of a taco joint I used to eat in Laredo Texas the staff was friendly and helpfulHelpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Jay R.Orlando, FL0318Jan 27, 2015
Almost rated a 4 star, we found this place while looking for La Placita, which was literally 15ft away only we didn't see the sign because they had a tv over it. Anyways, I ordered tacos and a sope, the tortilla was the best part. It had it's own unique taste and was thicker than what I'm used to, the sope was indifferent. Also the salsas where pretty good after adding a little salt. The drink selection isn't great. Also the restroom is unisex with a big window near the toilet with no blinds or curtains over it which gave me the sense that anyone could look in while your doing your business.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0
You Might Also Consider
in Tapas/small Plates, Tacos, Latin American