Anonymous wrote:Guajillo in Rosslyn is quite good.

This!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This discussion again?
Every week there is a thread ranting how Mexican food and pizza suck in the DC area.

Seriously! They are regional specialties. Special to that region. It’s not supposed to be as good elsewhere. That’s what makes them special.

And DC doesn’t really have any of its own regional specialties.

Anonymous wrote:This discussion again?
Every week there is a thread ranting how Mexican food and pizza suck in the DC area.

That is because they do suck. These are foods that people commonly crave, and when you live in a place where they are bad, it sucks even more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't exist.

2nd this. As someone who lived in California. Thai and Mexican are just not as good on the East Coast.

I definitely agree with Mexican but Thai?

I’m the PP here. Yes. Thai is TERRIBLE in DC. Compared to places in LA? I haven’t found a place that has an edible pad Thai. Beau Thai has a nice grouper dish and everyone’s curry is serviceable. But none of the noodle dishes are good out here.

Because you need to go to the suburbs. Thai Ghang Waan, for example: https://www.thaighangwaan.com/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't exist.

2nd this. As someone who lived in California. Thai and Mexican are just not as good on the East Coast.

I definitely agree with Mexican but Thai?

I’m the PP here. Yes. Thai is TERRIBLE in DC. Compared to places in LA? I haven’t found a place that has an edible pad Thai. Beau Thai has a nice grouper dish and everyone’s curry is serviceable. But none of the noodle dishes are good out here.

Anonymous wrote:All the ladies agree that I am in fact the best Mexican in this area.

But can you cook?

All the ladies agree that I am in fact the best Mexican in this area.

Taqueria los Primos in Laurel/Jessup area

Anonymous wrote:Folks, the DC area does not have a large Mexican population. Salvadoran, Peruvian, Bolivian - yes. But not Mexican. California, Arizona, and Texas, WERE Mexico at one time!

That said, I have lived in California, Texas and Mexico City and I LOVE Taqueria Ixtapalapa in Gaithersburg. There is always a line out the door and the last time I was there, I was chatting with a Mexican couple who told me they drive 45 minutes from Virginia every Sunday to eat there.

Well there ARE a lot of Californians, Arizonans, New Mexicans, and Texans living in DC. And as you point out that used to BE Mexico. So maybe part of the issue here is that the Mexican people are talking about is actually an incredibly popular and widespread American cuisine, and it's super weird you can't find it in a different region of the same country.

It's easier to find authentic Detroit-style pizza in DC at this point than decent Mexican food. That's weird!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This discussion again?
Every week there is a thread ranting how Mexican food and pizza suck in the DC area.

Seriously! They are regional specialties. Special to that region. It’s not supposed to be as good elsewhere. That’s what makes them special.

You can find very good Szechuan in this are if you know where to look. Really good sushi, dim sum, etc. There are a number of great Italian restaurants around, especially Northern Italian. The Indian and Ethiopian restaurants often have specific, regional specialties and not just generic American-style versions. Part of the allure of moving to a large metropolitan area is being able to access food from different places.

I don't expect Mexican food in DC to be as good as it is in Texas or the Southwest. But it's a bummer that it's so hard to find it at all. And it's amazing how many people here have never had even mediocre versions of a lot of standard Mexican and Tex-Mex fare. Like I've probably never had truly authentic Thai food, but I've had Thai food. There are people here who think "green chili" just means a jalapeño, or have no idea what a chimichanga is. It's silly. I'd settle for a run of the mill Mexican place with decent enchiladas, a solid ranchero sauce, used Hatch chilis where appropriate, etc.

The closest we've found is Chuy's, which is a hike. I wish they'd open one in DC proper -- I think it would be a huge draw for West Coast and Texas transplants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This discussion again?
Every week there is a thread ranting how Mexican food and pizza suck in the DC area.

Seriously! They are regional specialties. Special to that region. It’s not supposed to be as good elsewhere. That’s what makes them special.

So no one should ask about where to find good Mexican and can’t lament that there aren’t as many options?…on a food forum? What a strange response. Should we just be content with native to DC food?

You are missing the point. Of course its ok to ask where to find good Mexican food. But it's annoying that every time someone asks where they can find good Mexican, or pizza, or bagels or whatever, people come on and talk about how everything here isn't as good as where they came from (where that food is specifically well-known to be the "best").

Folks, the DC area does not have a large Mexican population. Salvadoran, Peruvian, Bolivian - yes. But not Mexican. California, Arizona, and Texas, WERE Mexico at one time!

That said, I have lived in California, Texas and Mexico City and I LOVE Taqueria Ixtapalapa in Gaithersburg. There is always a line out the door and the last time I was there, I was chatting with a Mexican couple who told me they drive 45 minutes from Virginia every Sunday to eat there.

Cactus Cantina

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, Xintli in Rockville. Yes, it is a food truck, but it is insanely good:

https://xintli.net/

When is the last time you went-Yelp page says it's temporarily closed. Is that true? Menu looks amazing.

Went about 5 weeks ago. Yelp is spotty. Check their Facebook page. Or just call them.

OK thanks

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This discussion again?
Every week there is a thread ranting how Mexican food and pizza suck in the DC area.

Seriously! They are regional specialties. Special to that region. It’s not supposed to be as good elsewhere. That’s what makes them special.

So no one should ask about where to find good Mexican and can’t lament that there aren’t as many options?…on a food forum? What a strange response. Should we just be content with native to DC food?