If you want to hear pure food specific poetry, ask someone living in the DC area where the best place to get "authentic" Mexican/Latin American/TexMex food is to be found. Chances are, you will get a 10 minute, impassioned response, detailing not only where the place is located (in a whisper), but also a treatise about the ambiance and some of that person's favorite dishes on the menu, as well as a word on what they always see the "locals" eat yet are too timid to try. Even people who are "out" on "food", most likely have a favorite non-Chipotle place to eat tacos.
You could also say that I am the wrong person to fully appreciate this city-wide obsession. My first foray into South-of-the-Border cuisine was from a Taco Bell in the Crystal Mall food court when I was around 13 years old. Two soft tacos, side of pintos and cheese. And, it was SO delicious. And, I was hooked. It beat the hell out of what was at that time, my usual balanced mall lunch that consisted of a sleeve of boardwalk fries and a large mountain dew. Don't judge--you know french fries sound good to you right right now. Moving on...
The point being, at any point in my life, my favorite place to eat tacos has always had the happy coincidence of being the joint that is closest to where I live. Take my current favorite place, Taqueria D.F. Is it the best taqueria in DC, or even the neighborhood? Probably not. But, I can sprint up there on a moment's whim and then waddle my way home, full of about 8 tacos Al Pastor and a 20 oz. of Mexican coke (made with sugar, not with corn syrup, so it doesn't feel like your teeth are wearing sugar sweaters after you drink one).
I know there are some foody folk types that may dismiss this place as simply average, judging by the yelp reviews. Or not authentic enough because it has a website in English. Or because you eat in an actual dining room instead of someones apartment. Or maybe I'm just projecting my own inadequacies at not being able to tell a really good taco from a great one. I do that alot...sigh...What was I talking about?
Oh yeah...the point being, either I'm under-thinking the art of the taco, or the rest of DC is over-thinking it. Either way, aren't tacos awesome?
Have a great weekend!
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