Eater: Taco Bamba Stages a Big D.C. Comeback This Fall

CATEGORY: NEWS, RETAIL

Thank you to Eater for featuring City Ridge! Read the full article here.

After a two-year hiatus, chef and restaurateur Victor Albisu will bring his wildly popular tacos with offbeat toppings back to D.C. proper.

Situated at the shiny new City Ridge complex (3900 Wisconsin Avenue NW), Taco Bamba’s 3,100-square-foot freestanding location with a big patio will be the homegrown taqueria’s largest yet. The flashy redevelopment of Fannie Mae’s former headquarters will also welcome Tatte Bakery & Cafe and King Street Oyster Bar this fall.

“The space has a really unique quality to it,” says Albisu, of the modern, concrete building with a 20-foot glass wall. “We’re really excited to be back in the city. The City Ridge area is going to be a real game changer for D.C.”

Taco Bamba’s previous D.C. presence in Penn Quarter officially ended in fall 2020, along with the closure of his fancy Mexican flagship Poca Madre next door, as Albisu shifted attention to surrounding states. Following recent openings in Rockville and Arlington, Taco Bamba will land in Landmark, Va. and Gaithersburg, Md. this spring, as well as Herndon, Va. this summer.

Bamba’s pop culture-referencing tacos with irreverent, cheffed-up touches and portable capabilities have proven to be pretty pandemic-proof. The local chain makes unexpected tortilla toppers like ramen noodles and chicken nuggets work, along with a steady stream of margaritas, sangrias, palomas, and beers served in loud and lively settings.