Hidden Gem. Must try! The tacos and service are amazing. I'd love to see this place thrive!

We came in to the very crowded Taqueria Al Lado this past weekend during the Adams Morgan Porchfest. The line was out the door but we were lucky to snag a seat. The service at the front while we were waiting and while we were served was really good and for being such a super crowded day and big event, we received our food super fast - to the point where we were all surprised. This was great though because we were super hungry. To reward ourselves for waiting in the line, we also got drinks, which I'll say were kind of the downer of the experience for me. I ordered a spicy tamarindo drink, which was suuuuuper strong. Then, I tried a friends watermelon drink and hers was even stronger. I don't want to judge the drinks based on this visit alone, since it was so crowded and a lot of people were coming in just for drinks, but if that's how the drinks are typically, then I don't need another drink from here again. I hope it was just a bad day but for me, my drink was almost undrinkable. Another friend ordered a frozen margarita which, by the time it reached us, didn't resemble anything frozen at all. Again, this could be just due to the sheer volume of people that were there. On to the best part of our visit, the food. To start, we did chips and guacamole. The chips are served warm, are light and crisp, and you can see how this is a great place to just grab drinks and chips and guac or queso and have a great time at. We had to order two baskets because they were so yummy! For our dishes, some in the party got huaraches, which were a good size and they seemed to enjoy them. I got the tacos - one thing to note here is that they split the menu pretty well, describing what meat is pork, beef, fish, etc. For beef, they don't have a typical steak or asada, but they have suadero, which was quite good here in my opinion. Next, the al pastor was also very good, especially for DC - which I believe is a "good taco" desert. The standout for me though were the quesabirria tacos. Loved them and had to order another. The tacos are all a good portion and the prices are on par with most places in the area. I would have to rate these tacos pretty high on my list in the DC area. Again, service was wonderful and all in all, we had a great experience! read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Huaraches in the back, tacos in the front - suadero, al pastor and quesabirria - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A DC classic. This location is in the heart of Adams Morgan, they're open pretty late, and they give you everything you need. Dine in? They have tons of space. Al-fresco? They have a great window that opens up, with some seats on the outside during summer. To go? You can easily order through their website for pickup, or they have a bustling delivery game through the normal apps. To go cocktails? They're one of the few places still offering them. A nice margarita to enjoy on a walk around the neighborhood sets the perfect cozy Sunday mood. And their margaritas are good. I prefer the classic shaken variety, but they also offer frozen options. We have ordered one shaken and one frozen mango and mixed them together to get the best of both worlds. They're surprisingly potent, too. For food, they are one of the better Mexican spots in town. The chicken tinga quesadilla and beef birria tacos are very good. I don't love their other taco options, but that is easily outweighed by everything they do well. For the mix of quality and convenience, they are top notch. read more

I truly cant speak highly enough about this place. Every time I am visiting friends in AdMo my one request is that we hit Taqueria Al Lado. Everything I have had from the chips and salsa, Quesabirria Quesadilla, Aguachiles or on my most recent visit, the Chicken Pollo Birria Huarache has been phenomenal. Not to mention the drinks are perfect with the Michelada being my favorite. Service is always on point, fast and very friendly. They have gone out of their way to accommodate us on numerous occasions despite them being very busy. The ambiance is precisely what you want from a local Mexican spot: cute, casual and warm. Thanks for always being so great! I cant wait for my next visit. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Micheladas & chips - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here with a couple friends after finding our first choice was closed and it was really nice! It's a small space with a few tables in front and a larger back room that was maybe previously a patio or open air - a bit chilly out there in the winter but it is heated. Our server was kind and accommodating when we needed some more time to decide. We started with chips and guac which was solid. The guac was really limey (which I love) but the portion was a little underwhelming for $7. We didn't try the margaritas but I heard they were strong! I tried the shrimp, al pastor, and quesabirria tacos. The shrimp was probably my favorite! The quesabirria was also really good. The al pastor could have been a bit more tender, I don't love super chewy meat. Overall solid meal and I'd likely come back! read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Shrimp taco, al pastor taco, quesabirria taco - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really cute spot with a neighborhood vibe, and delicious vegan options! I was skeptical about the vegan barbacoa tacos, but they were delicious. I paired that with a side of tetelles and beans and rice, which was a perfect meal. Be aware that they get very busy on weekends though- we got lucky with a 20-min wait for 2x read more

solid tacos! But NO or Poor AC My friends and I popped into this place after walking in the heat for hours at the zoo. We were excited for tacos but were quickly sad to be in a little-to-no AC restaurant. The water they served also came with no ice lol. We ordered 5 different tacos, including chorizo, carnitas, and Al pastor. The tacos are served on a soft shell. We also ordered the chips and guac, which served as a refreshing snack before the tacos came out. There is limited seating here, and the spacing was a little claustrophobic. This, on top of the no AC is enough for me to revisit only in fall or winter temperatures read more

Tacos here are some of the best Ive had in DC. They are bit on the smaller end but the meats and tortillas and fillings are so good. My hotel was near by and I stopped in 3 times in 3 days. read more

Decent food, even better artwork on the walls. I especially loved the Saint Luigi ;). The guacamole was delicious. The chicken tinga quesadilla was just okay. Service was expedient. read more

Got my order through UberEats. The tacos were very good but I was very surprised by the size of them. They were very small, especially the birria tacos. I think they should double up on tortillas for the Al pastor tacos bc my taco was falling apart. We also ordered guacamole and I think if you're going to charge $10 for guacamole, it should come with chips . Overall everything tasted good but the portions were not what I thought they would be. read more

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Very cute place with fun cocktails and, most importantly, a fully gluten free menu! I felt safe enjoying the chips. The salsas that came on the table were a little too spicy for me. The vegan jackfruit tacos were flavorful but a little too wet/drippy for the tortillas. The battered cod taco was outstanding! I got the sandizcal, which was a little too mezcal-y to taste the watermelon, but still good. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Sandizcal, pepino and chill, margarita - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I am once again disappointed by East Coast Mexican cuisine :( I came by during a day trip to DC per a recommendation by someone who rated this spot as 9/10, which left me excited to try! Parking nearby is tricky; you can turn by the nearby vinyl shop onto the residential areas and try to get lucky with someone leaving so you can secure free street parking. There is 6 indoor tables (for two) + a bench that faces the sidewalk where ~5/6 people can sit at. There is also outdoor (?) patio selection (I did not see this but I heard a group head there and I'm assuming patio = outdoors). Chips and Salsa 3/5, firstly; price wise it's hard to beat; at $2. This came out first and very quickly. The chips are standard, and I was disappointed that the salsa doesn't come out in a small sauce bowl to dip which gives the appearance that it isn't fresh since it comes out of squeezable ketchup style bottles. I tried the green salsa which is mildly spicy and didn't taste bad but again I had no way to see if this was fresh or made in house etc. Al Pastor taco 2.5/5, I would have rated this a 3/5 but given that this was $4.50 for a SINGLE taco I must rate this lower. That price is insane. Cilantro is minimal and the taco is predominantly meat + onion. Some of the onions tasted sweet I almost thought this was corn or pineapple?? The meat was fine. The lime that I got with this was minuscule and barely had any juice to squeeze out Suadero Quesadilla 1.5/5, genuinely so confused what cheese they used for this because it tasted so unique compared to quite literally every other quesadilla I've ever had. The meat was fine but this was predominantly cheese based which would have been fine if I had liked the cheese. I ended up opening the tortillas and eating the meat and leaving the cheese and tortilla behind by my third. read more

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The food! This is not a fancy restaurant. But it is delish! Strong Mexican flavors, and the perfect amount of spice. Plus super tasty salsa choices. The servers were friendly, and gave zero eye-rolls. read more

Taqueria Al Lado has some great Mexican food! Get some delicious authentic street tacos or choose from their many many different tequilas, rums, and mezcals. I came with a group of friends and we easily got a big table in the back. I hate paying extra for chips and salsa, but they gave us big portions and the salsas are delicious. I got an Al pastor quesadilla that was incredible- they use the right cheese and get a good crunch on the tortilla. But the tacos seem like the main attraction here. The service was a little slow, but they were friendly and kind. The drinks were delicious, and they reminded me of past trips to Mexico. I would love to come again and work my way through the drink menu! read more

When I visited this restaurant, my friend and I were seated at a bar-style window seat, which was actually pretty fun. The window was open, and it felt like I could almost reach out and high-five people walking by. It's a great spot if you enjoy people-watching or soaking in the street atmosphere. The restaurant itself is quite small, but we were seated right away on a Friday night, which was a pleasant surprise. Service was decent, though it took a little while to get my water filled and the check at the end. I ordered the pork carnitas quesadillas. They were okay, but not my favorite. They were very cheese heavy with more cheese than meat, and essentially nothing else inside. The flavor mostly came from the sauces provided. The tortilla had a nice texture and some crispness, but mine was a bit soggy in spots. Overall, it wasn't bad, just not particularly memorable. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars. It is worth trying once, especially for the atmosphere, but not something I'd rush back for. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Carnitas Quesadillas - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great service, excellent food, plenty of gluten free options, lots of nonalcoholic drink options, full bar. A neighborhood gem.

I went to culinary school. 3/5 stars. There were some good elements, but I would not return. I ordered the Huarache with chicken. The pros were the service and ambiance, that the lettuce was crisp, and everything seemed fresh. The seasoning on the chicken was good, as was the green salsa. I would not return because of the very small portion of chicken served. I expected at least 4oz, however after weighing it out, it came out to just under 2oz. The taste was good, but it does not make a meal. I also found the tortilla (which seemed homemade) to be slightly undercooked. I also had an issue with the red salsa, it had a strong briny flavor, almost as if it were made with anchovies. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Huarache with chicken - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is one of the spots in Adams Morgan that I regularly visit for a casual, quick Mexican meal. The service is fast though can be spotty at times depending on the server who is working. For the longest time, I only thought there was one small room with a handful of tables. But on my latest visit, I saw that there is a whole other section in the back just after the bathrooms. Mind blown! I typically sit in the front of the restaurant and love the high top stools that have bar seating looking outside. Note, sitting in this spot is a great allows you to watch all the craziness of Adams Morgan pass by. I've seen a lot of dates at the high top section, which is romantic. Though, it could be awkward since I've had a fair share of people outside come up to me asking me for money since the sidewalk is right outside the open window. The menu is very basic here -- quesadillas, tacos, salads, chips and a drink menu of Tequila, Mezcal, beers and cocktails. I do like that they have a vegan option using jackfruit for the tacos. I typically get 2 tacos and an order of chips and guacamole. The chips and salsa are definitely not worth it. The salsa comes out in squeeze containers that you squeeze onto your chips. It seems less of a dipping salsa and more of just a sauce. Overall, the place is nice and I like the ambiance. The music can get really loud at times but again, I feel like it's based on whoever is working that day! read more

Al Lado used to be our taco spot when my boyfriend and I lived in Adams Morgan, so we were excited to visit again while in the neighborhood. Sadly, the quality has dropped. My quesadilla was much smaller than before, the tortilla was dry, and there was barely any cheese inside. I even took a photo of my last bite to show the inside, and it looked the same in every slice. The fish taco tortilla was also very dry which makes me question if they stopped hand pressing their tortillas as they say they do on their website. Sharing this feedback in hopes that they can bring back the quality that made us love Al Lado in the first place! read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Pork - Al Pastor Quesadilla - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Got the chicken quesadilla and chips and guac. The quesadilla was surprisingly flavorful and filling, but the chips and guac were disappointing. The chip to guac ratio was far too high :( Wasn't the best meal, but had a cute ambiance facing Columbia Rd. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This taqueria is in such a cool spot, with a great bar area opening to the street. They had a fairly extensive menu and I decided to start off with some chips and salsa. It was ok, the salsas were not my favorite. Then I got two tacos -one pastor and one beef. The pastor was underwhelming. I didn't love how they sliced it and that seemed to dry it out, there was no sauciness and it needed more pineapple. The beef was ok, a bit fatty and not a ton of flavor. The tortillas were good and obviously homemade. Service was good and staff was friendly. Overall not my favorite but not bad. read more

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Very solid taco place. I like that they have the salsa in squeeze bottles. They also have solid margaritas and drinks. They have a great back dining room and they are surprisingly kid friendly. Really friendly staff and quick service. read more

Good Mexican food is really hard to come by in DC--most places are overpriced and underwhelming. This spot is no-fuss and offers great drinks, fresh chips, salsa, and guacamole, friendly service, and good food! Some dishes are better than others, but I love the fish tacos and the rice and beans. read more

Love this spot! The tacos and quesadillas are filled with meat which makes the price a great value, especially nowadays. Everything is so flavorful and cooked perfectly. The guac was well seasoned and tasted very fresh. This is a great takeout spot but also a great spot to sit by yourself or with some friends. The decor is fun and colorful and theres plenty of seating. The staff is very friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly. Definitely should try if you're craving tacos and you're in the area. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - front entrance area - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice little Taqueria centrally located in Adam's Morgan. I stopped here with a group of 6 for lunch on a work trip. We didn't have any wait and service was quick (we were done in under an hour). We enjoyed the food and the open-air ambience. I got the Aguachiles Mixto (basically ceviche with both fish and shrimp). It was a nice filling lunch, with a spicy marinade and lots of cucumber and red onion. Great accompanied by a side of chips. A couple of my co-workers got tacos and had good things to say. read more

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Been coming here for awhile, the prices have increased while the servings are inconsistent. Tonight (11/15/25) I paid $4.75 (the highest I ever paid for a taco) and got the smallest tacos ever. I'm so tired of business ripping us off. I use to come here when tacos were $3.50 and FAT now you charging me more for less?!! I even told the waitress but of course they don't care. Ugh.... I had to go to McDonalds next door to finish getting filled read more

Loved this place a Lado! Aguachiles was spicy and delightful. Coronarita with the perfect pairing and I love that they let you pick any type of liquor and price that way-- mine was perfect with 400 Conejos. Tacos were a little small, but tasted great. There was no bar seating but we were able to grab a two person table on a Friday night with a minimal wait. The table was a little small to fit food, chips, and drinks, but they seemed to make good use of a smallish space. And the service was really fast too. read more

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Lord, I thank you for this place! Amazing tacos. Strong margaritas. Authentic atmosphere. Highly authentic cooking. My one and only complaint is no shrimp tacos! But every single thing else is muy delicioso. Have been several times. Will be back many more. read more

I've been back a couple times since my first review. The salsa and guacamole are still good. Service and ambience are also the same. The food has been disappointing with every new visit, however. Flavor and general quality of the food has gone down. Hard to justify the price when it doesn't satisfy my craving. There are still limited offerings in DC for Mexican food, so I don't doubt I'll be back again with hopes that it gets better. Or maybe just for the salsa and guacamole. read more

Until venturing in, I'd never heard of Taqueria Al Lado, but I'm so glad my friend suggested dinner here. It's small, but cute, with bright, colorful artwork. Service was fantastic. I loved my passionfruit margarita, which was strong. The tacos were excellent and well-filled. Between the al pastor, carnitas, and tinga, I can't choose a favorite. I recommend ordering the chips and guacamole, as those were good as well. I'm looking forward to returning. read more

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Yum! This is a great restaurant in Adams Morgan with super affordable prices and a great, fun atmosphere as well. I love the half-in half-out counter seating, the pleasant wait staff, and the delicious food. I was blown away by the Birria quesadilla. The cheese was perfectly crisp, the meat was succulent, and the tortilla was perfectly grilled. I think this will be my new rainy day comfort meal! The chips and queso rocked, the huaraches were tasty, the elote was awesome... just a great experience! read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Jarritos - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been hearing good things about this place so my friend and I stopped here for a quick bite the other day! We started off with the guacamole and it was one of the most best guacamoles I've ever had. I also got a margarita that was pretty strong but delicious. I ended up ordering the mixto aguachile and an al pastor taco. The aguachile was good but I didn't love the texture of the shrimp in it so I would definitely recommend ordering just the fish aguachile next time. The al pastor taco was very tender and flavorful which I appreciated. The servers were great and I loved the bustling atmosphere, I wouldn't mind coming here again! read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Guacamole - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yummy tacos!! Good drinks!! and Good Service. I would definitely come back. Some of the best tacos I had. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Al Pastor Taco Quesabirria Taco - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The margaritas are fantastic as are the tacos, but my favorite thing to order here is the mixto aguachile, which is basically shrimp and fish ceviche. Delicious and pretty heathy, if you don't eat the accompanying tortilla chips! (weird art work on the walls, which can be slightly distracting if you're seated in the back. But you want to be seated in the front area anyway, if possible. Best seat is at the window bar facing out on Columbia Road. read more

This is a great taqueria! We visited last year while in town for a conference and this was a fantastic restaurant for our large group. Service was great and the food was really, really good. We had the queso and guac with chips, quesadillas, birria tacos, and cocktails, which was a great combo. The tacos in particular were flavorful, cooked well, and had great consomé. The cocktails were awesome and I really enjoyed my passion fruit margarita. The food, atmosphere, and service was so good that we actually came back with our large group twice, which is something we rarely ever do on vacation. It's a great spot! read more

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This has become my new neighborhood spot. Huge selection of tequila and mezcal and some solid tacos, all for a very reasonable price. They let you substitute any of their tequilas or mezcals into any of their non-frozen cocktails, which makes it really easy to test out different combinations and find your favorite. It's also important to note that although it looks small from the front, they've got a whole back room that sits in a little courtyard and is dog-friendly. My one complaint is that their tacos come in a single corn tortilla. At other places, they'll typically give you two tortillas per taco, which I end up splitting into two tacos with half the filling. Still, I can't really complain because they give you the same amount of meat. Plus, the only real issue I see with the single tortilla is that it may get soggy with some of the juicier meats, which hasn't happened to me yet. read more

I have to be honest, this place was a disappointment. We were a party of 6 and fortunately they seated us right away. The host at the front was really friendly and helped us with both food and drink suggestions while we waited for a table to clear. Once we sat down it took a while for anyone to come to our table. Finally we were able to flag our waiter down and he took our drink and appetizer order. It felt like another 30 minutes before we got those drinks, and my drink was way too strong. For food we all got a variety of either their tacos or quesadillas, and two of us ordered a side of their Spanish rice. When ordering we asked to make sure the rice would be seasoned, when it came all it was was plain white rice. It seemed like the waiter was in a rush and hurried us along with ordering too. When the food came my friends tacos were cold so we sent it back to be reheated. Quesadillas weren't good and the rice was literally just plain with no added seasonings. Also the person bringing the food to us was rude and gave an attitude when we were trying to pass the food to everyone. On top of that, the vent we were sitting under was leaking rusty water and my friends shirt was stained. Overall not the best dining experience and there was a lot that seemed to go wrong during our time here. read more

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I was excited to find such delicious, authentic Mexican food! The atmosphere and the service in this restaurant are fabulous. I have celiac, so it also was wonderful to find a place that is 100% gluten-free and safe for me to eat! read more

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Honestly was pretty excited to come here! The receptionist at the front desk was super sweet - shared good food & drink recs & overall aesthetics were great! However, upon being seated for about 15 mins noone ever came to greet us or provide water.We found a server and they rushed us to order. My drink (sandizcal) w vodka was great! However, the rest of the group ordered strawberry margs and they were waaaayyy too strong to the point no one finished :( When it came to food, the guy who brought our food was rude. Two of the six peoples food were cold, so they requested it be reheated. Our chicken quesadillas lacked flavor and cheese, as well as the "spanish rice" was white rice with cilantro - we used the white rice and side of beans we ordered, with the green salsa to curate our own seasoned rice. For a party of 6, the 20% gratuity was auto-included as well. Personally I'd rather go to chipotle or taco bell for better food and experience. read more

Taqueria Al Lado - Chicken quesadilla with "spanish" Rice - Tacos Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great tacos and great service. A highlight on Columbia rd. Some of the best food in the neighborhood. Worth the trip to Adam's Morgan.