MOLE F-ING TACOS. And they are fantastic. It's all great! We had several tacos during a Saturday lunch visit. It was crowded and service is very deliberate so don't be in a rush. The place was clean and comfortable. We had the mole, the Pollo, the Al Pastor, and the chorizo and I'd be hard to tell you that any one was my "favorite". I feel like I need to go back to try more of the menu. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Left to right: Al Pastor, Mole, Pollo - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Ixtapalapa Taqueria -- Gaithersburg, MD I've eaten here more times than I can count and never once had a bad meal. That's a hard streak to keep, and they make it look easy. The taco lineup is the main event, various meats, all of them excellent, including chachete, which almost nobody around here serves. Beyond the tacos there's grilled cactus and other sides, soups, etc, and it's all flavorful and fresh every single time. Service is fast too. The margaritas are made from scratch and the hot mango salsa is worth a special mention all on its own. What really says it all: I don't even live close, but every time I'm coming back from Frederick I stop in and load up on tacos to enjoy over the next few days. I'd love nothing more than a location closer to home. The only mild adventure is turning left into the place with the traffic, but that's never once stopped me. Great food, great prices, great every time. 10/10. read more

My partner and I decided to try this out for lunch. We bought 2 Pollo, 2 Veggie and 1 Al Pastor tacos, a couple bottles of water and a side of guacamole. You order at a counter and are given a number to display at your table. Our food took only a few minutes to arrive. The server also brought over a box holding three salsas in squeeze bottles. The green salsa was pretty mild and the orange one was super hot. The dark one was, I think, chipotle. I didn't care for the chipotle. The tacos looked great and were each pretty packed with ingredients. Pollo tacos - I thought the chicken was a bit dry and, because of that, disappointing. Veggie - The veggie were filled with cooked onion, mushroom and peppers. Although they were well prepared and held a lot of veggies, there was no seasoning, so the taste was pretty flat/boring. I had to rely on adding guac and some salsa for flavor. I was hoping the veggie would have some flavor without having to rely on sauces. Al Pastor - was very good. Guacamole - comes "market price". The side we got was $3, which I think was a good value. The guac was flavorful and was a nice portion. I am glad I had it to supplement the disappointing Veggie taco and the dryness of the Pollo. The corn tortillas were good. The place is nice and comfortable. read more

Parking is pretty limited in their lot so you might need to park at neighboring lots. I've been to Ixtapalapa Taqueria twice; once for lunch and once for dinner and both times it was packed. You order at the counter, grab a number, find a seat, and they bring the food out to you. The value here is excellent -- generous portions and very reasonable prices. The guac is MP but it's fresh and worth it. Every taco I tried was packed with flavor. You can really taste the quality and seasoning in each one especially with the sauce bucket they give you. Very busy and lively ambiance. Definitely worth the hype and I'll be coming back frequently! read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I've lived 15 minutes from here my whole life and am just now discovering this gem. The tacos certainly live up to the hype! I tried four different ones and enjoyed each one just the same. I'll definitely be coming back and next time, with a bigger stomach to try some of their apps and sides :) read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This place is such a classic. The prices are so good and the tacos and burritos are packed full of meat. The green sauce has my heart too. One of the sauces is actually so spicy and I love that they didn't pull any punches there. The inside is self seating and has plenty of space. There's a little patio area for when it's warm as well. You order upfront and grab a number or they'll call your name if you're getting to go. It's been relatively fast. I honestly wouldn't care if they were rude or slow, the prices and the food are worth lol read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

the brief: delicious, unique, and reasonable pricing. Ixtapalapa has a vibe of a more modern and Americanized (not so much the food, but the decor) taqueria in a positive way. They have a lot of seating ranging from tables, booths, communal long tables, and even outdoor patio dining. There isn't too much staff interaction after you order - you order at the front and then receiving a number sign to put at your table for them to bring the food, but otherwise that's pretty much it unless you need something specific. the food: everything was delicious. The ingredients were well-seasoned and felt fresh. I partly judge taquerias based on their sauces/toppings and Ixtapalapa didn't disappoint. Their salsas were delicious and complemented their food well. The quesadilla was unique where the shell felt a bit fried like a chalupa shell. I could see that being a good or bad thing depending on the individual. As far as dining experience goes, the food took about 10 minutes to come out and the whole place was pretty busy on an early weekend afternoon, so I think they get packed pretty quickly. They have one bathroom room for male/female each and as far as physical accessibility goes, it can be a bit challenging because all of the tables/chairs are kind of close together so things can be a bit cramped. All in all, the restaurant was delicious and I'd totally stop by again if I'm in the area and want a taco fix. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - tacos - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Overall: fast-casual taco spot, indoor and outdoor seating, great salsas, fair prices, nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks, single-stall gendered restrooms, and high chairs We came on a Sunday at 3:30, thinking it would be a slow off time but it was HOPPING from the moment we got their to the moment we left. Every table was full and the line was really long. We ordered 7 tacos, a chicken quesadilla, rice, and tres leches. The tacos were all delicious, stuffed with meat, and fresh. The service was kind. I loved that they gave you squeeze bottles of 3 different salsas. They were all super flavorful and delicious. I didn't love that the mole taco had cheese on it but I think that's just a personal preference. We also didn't love the tres leches. Overall a great little taco spot doing great business. read more

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Came on a late Tuesday evening to sample some different tacos. Extremely impressed. Very busy but counter service is pretty well managed and appreciated the variety of offerings. 3 different proteins: cachete (beef cheek), tripa, and suadero (beef rib). Each were great and loved the green and orange sauces that came in squeeze bottles when food arrived. Also had an awesome tongue burrito with a grilled whole jalapeno. Everything tasted super fresh and 2 of the 3 sauces were dynamite...making each bite different over the course of the meal. Will definitely be back next time in town read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Insta: @mmmashterchef taco medley - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Tldr great beef tacos (intestine and cheek) but room for improvement with veggie taco; fast service; spacious location with a little parking lot next to it Came for Saturday lunch and ordered 1) beef cheek taco, 2) beef intestine taco, 3) fish taco, and 4) veggie taco. Omnivore bf would rate his beef tacos five stars and said that they had a nice balance of fat and meat and that there was no unpleasant smells that could come from these parts of the meat. I had the non-meat tacos. The fish taco was pretty good with soft fried fish and refreshing pickled cabbage but the veggie taco, which mushroom is the main ingredient for, was kind of weak in its flavor. Bf said he would come back for any time he has a craving for beef intestine since you can't find it easily around here. read more

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Very delicious food! There are a variety of tacos to choose from. I really enjoyed the soft flour tortilla and the meats were so flavorful. One thing to know is that parking may be a bit limited. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Pretty good tacos!! You know its good when theres a salsa bar! I do think my experience would have been a bit better if the restaurant was much cooler! I went during a heatwave and the restaurant felt hotter than outside. read more

The food is fresh and hot. Perfect late dinner place. My favorites were the tacos and quesadillas. We tried the Jamaica drink and it was the perfect balance of sweetness. Don't skip out on this place. read more

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The only reason for 4 stars is because the parking and location are tough, and the air conditioning on a hot day is a little too weak for my comfort. If they had a fill your own water station, I might be less grumpy about the A/C. Anyhow, the food here is fantastic - five stars for the food and the prices and portions. I saw them working with some fresh cactus when I was about to order, so of course, I ordered a side of nopales. Wow, what a delicious side dish and an incredibly generous portion. I was more than pleased with it- great price, too! It was lunch though, so I wasn't that hungry, so just ordered a couple veggie tacos. The filling was also generous with mushrooms, onions, chopped raw peppers, lettuce and tomatoes. I had zero complaints and really just wanted to order two more along with more nopales. I appreciated they brought some sauces to the table to add more flavor to the tacos- though I suppose they weren't needed, they're a nice touch to bring the chilled bottles. This place was super busy for a weekday at lunch, and people just kept coming. It's a casual dining experience with a bunch of tables, but I wonder why they don't put in more tables. There is plenty of room for more seating, so maybe it's because of the tiny parking lot that they don't have more seating? Trying to leave the parking lot and turn left is virtually impossible, so, just accept that you'll turn right and figure it out from there. Staff were appropriately friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. I will be back for sure! read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Veggie tacos - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I've been to this taqueria a few times. Amazing tacos and paloma! And cheap, too. Also love the vibe, this place feels really authentic. No wonder it's always busy. Definitely will come back for more. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Great tacos and paloma - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

5 stars for the type of restaurant this is! I browsed yelp reviews before deciding on a lunch spot. The mole enchiladas are what convinced me to choose Ixtapalapa. If a restaurant has mole enchiladas on their menu, I'm going to give it a try. There is a small parking lot, indoor and outdoor seating. This is a casual, order at the counter type location. The dining area is spacious with plenty of seating and options for booths and tables. I was a little leery that it might not be authentic but was quickly reassured when the ladies at the counter immediately spoke to me in Spanish. Ordering was easy and food came out quickly. I wanted to make a change to my order from what was in the menu and the lady seemed a little confused about it but we easily worked it out. There are options for beer and cocktails but I didn't try them since I was working. I ordered mole enchiladas which is what I came for and a side of rice. The mole sauce was PERFECT for my liking! It had the right amount of sweet and spicy for me. The consistency of it was great; not too thick, not runny. Since I wanted rice, I asked them for only 2 enchiladas instead of the 3 it comes with. For me, restaurant rice is typically hit or miss so I was a little concerned that I might not like it. They proved me wrong. The rice was flavorful and tender. Overall excellent experience. I'd love to try the nopales on another trip. The only negative comment I have is that they use styrofoam plates, plastic containers for sides, plastic utensils, and plastic cups. I wish they were more environmentally conscious in this area. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Dining area - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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We love the tacos and salsa here at Ixtapalapa, The salsa is really good because they have spicy ones. The only thing to be warned about is finding a spot to sit if you get here during the dinner rush. Other than that it is a must try!! A few of our favorites: Steak tacos Chicken tacos Veggie tacos Chilaquiles!!! read more

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Best tacos!! this was my second time coming here and it was amazing both times. The tacos Al pastor are my absolute favorite - the flavor is so good and they give you a ton of meat in each taco. The restaurant is clean with lots of seating and the service is good. The horchata was pretty yummy too. Will definitely be returning when I'm in the area for more!! read more

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Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Try the enchiladas, nopales and cochinita pibil. You won't regret it. The place is super clean and customer service was outstanding. I will definitely come back read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Enchiladas - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Amazing tacos, pretty big portions!! Great and easy service. Lots of seating for larger parties. Love that families come here to eat and sit and talk for hours at a time. read more

Fantastic food and drinks and very reasonable price. Will definitely go back. It is casual atmosphere and service is great. I loved the tamarind juice. It was very refreshing. The bowls are healthy and tasty. The hand made corn tortillas are excellent. read more

AMAZING TACOS!!!! Highly recommend the al pastor! Pretty casual - order at counter and sit wherever... there's indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is on a busy street though, so kinda loud, but there's plenty of room inside. Great prices. Service could be better, but I'd totally go back! read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Legit good. Been there many times, can't get enough. Always filled with delightful ethnica. Recommending constantly.

The restaurant was really big and had seating inside and out. The food was great as well, flavor was great and the sauces that they provide with the tacos were amazing. They were reasonably priced and the food came out fast. The only thing was the quesadilla was made with a pretty thick tortilla, im pretty sure they are made in house. But besides the really thick and hard tortilla the horchata was kind of grainy but the flavor was good. Im not sure if the tortilla and the horchata is supposed to be like that but I wasnt used to it. But I will definitely be going back to try all the different types of tacos they have. read more

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It's very good value for money. There's a wide selection of meats, many of which are quite unique, and everything tastes great.

Love the tacos here! Service is quick, tacos are delicious and the salsas are fresh!! There tacos are loaded to the brim. The horchata is great as well- not too sweet. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Best tacos I ever had in Maryland. Very crowded so we ordered to go. The beef cheek and the fish taco are the best! Highly recommend. read more

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Let's get straight to it. Ixtapalapa Taqueria is serving some of the best tacos you'll find anywhere. The carne asada alambre taco is on another level. Tender steak, melted cheese, onions, and bacon all wrapped in a corn tortilla that tastes like it was handmade by somebody's grandma. Soft, flavorful, perfect. The beef tostada is a sleeper hit. Crispy shell, seasoned beef, just the right amount of toppings without drowning the whole thing. And their sauces? Serious business. The red one will have your mouth tingling for a good fifteen minutes after you're done, in the best way possible. Even the fries are good. Golden, crispy, and seasoned right. And don't sleep on the quesadillas either, our son just started eating table food and he's already a fan. Now for the backstory. Would you drive 45 minutes for a taco? Because that's what me and my fiancé do. Once a month, we leave Virginia and make that trip to Gaithersburg, Maryland. Every single time, it's worth it. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Pollo Toastado - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I would say it is authentic Mexican food. We ordered the chicken and steak tacos, guacamole, red rice, and the burrito as well as the mole soup Everything was flavorful and fresh . you could make four tacos out of the two with the portions. The sauces on the table were very spicy. unless you can't tolerate the heat stay away. The soup had a wonderful flavor and had great meat and beans inside; however it was very oily. I needed to dip my napkin in twice to get the oil off the top. Overall, it was packed Atmosphere they help us when I asked for containers to go. They were very nice. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Chicken taco, guacamole, and rice - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Always good service and great food. Wide range of sauces. Comfortable seating and decent parking in back. Even have a "for gringos" portion of menu for those that like their food 'Merican style. read more

It's like they took their food truck indoors!! The tacos were excellent. You order at the counter and it's brought to you. The place has high ceilings and lots of windows. I knew I was in the right spot when most of the customers were Spanish speaking. read more

For the east coast, this spot is actually pretty bomb. I would come here again. The service is friendly and quick. The Al pastor and the cheek are the best meats they have. It's a decent size place if you have a large party. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - 4 tacos - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Didn't know what to expect upon entering. It's a fast food style Taqueria. Order food at counter and the bring it to your table. Friendly staff, casual atmosphere and the tacos were flavorful & delicious. My only complaint is the waitress spilled my beer and didn't replace it. In a world where everything is so expensive it would have been nice if she had offered to replace it. I'm on the fence about returning as great customer service is something I really look forward to when dining out. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Pollo Taco, Cochinita Pibil Taco, 4 oz. Guacamole, Arroz, Corona Extra - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Pollo Enchilada verde I ordered was delicious and reasonably priced. The food came with three bottles of all you can try and eat sauce Loved the brick interior wall and the original paint interior as well. Will go back again read more

Wonderful restaurant right off Rockville Pike, Rte 355. My wife and I went in on a Tuesday night for dinner and it was not busy, so finding seating was not difficult. Very minimal decoration around the restaurant, which was great so that we could focus on the food. There was a lot of seating, indoor and outdoor, depending on weather and preference. The staff were all very kind and smiling, which brightened up the experience. Also, the staff brought food and hot sauce to our table when the food was ready (they give you a number after you order). The food also came out quickly, which was great. We ordered enchiladas with mole, 3 different types of tacos, esquites, and a frozen margarita. The portions of the meat and taco were amazing, where they did not hold back on either the pork, chorizo, etc. on the tacos. The enchiladas had a ton of chicken in it, which made me extremely happy that it wasn't just sauce and tortillas. Every bite was extremely delicious and flavorful. I definitely overdid it with one of the hot salsas, but didn't take away from the flavor in general. read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Frozen Mango Margarita - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Excellent authentic tacos earns four stars. A five star experience would include fresh horchata not made from powder. Everyone else in the DMV uses powder so I expected better, it was a big disappointment . read more

We were looking for a taco place as we were passing by we decided to give them a shot. Definitely worth the stop. The tacos are really stuffed and very flavorful. The quesadilla was very good as well, I hesitated on ordering chicken due to past mistakes but their chicken was very flavorful and not dry. The place was very packed which usually is a good sign. I loved the music playing, it wasn't super loud and enjoyable. Will definitely swing by next time we are in the area. read more

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Ixtapalapa has become one of our three go-to spots for tacos, and one of only two places we rely on for a really good lengua taco. My usual order is carne asada, lengua, and a Margarita to round things out. Tooey usually goes for carne asada as well, along with pescado tacos and an order of esquites. The flavors are consistently solid, with well-seasoned meats, fresh toppings, and portions that satisfy without feeling heavy. It's the kind of spot we keep coming back to because it delivers the essentials we look for in a taco place: quality, consistency, and a few specialties (like lengua) you don't find everywhere. read more

I've only ordered pick up so my review is based on that. Tacos are pretty good but on numerous occasions, they did not include everything that we ordered and forgot some ingredients. read more

Amazing casual place for tacos - will definitely be back. Large interior with tall ceilings, cute interior. Service is relatively good, no problems or complaints. I got three cochinita tacos and their mango agua fresca. Oh my gosh (5/5) I cried a bit eating this. Love how it doesn't get soggy or too drenched and it comes wrapped in two tortillas. Perfect amount of juice from the meats that is rich in flavor. This is my new favorite taco place. Each cochinita taco is $3.50, a bit pricier than I'm used to but still worth it. Mango fresca was so delicious oh my goodness. Best drink ever I 100% recommend read more

Ixtapalapa Taqueria - Cochinita Pibil Taco - Tacos Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland