TAQUERIA HABANERO 14th ST

by: STOOPKID (@stoopkidseat)

I had the pleasure of being invited to 4-time (CONSECUTIVE) Michelin Bib Gourmand, Taqueria Habanero (TH) by Yice & Will, co-owning power couple of TH & Alegria Bar. Better yet, I was accompanied by my mate and collaborator, Bryan, from @soshelmag, who masterminded and captured the entire moment. The request was for your mans to give an honest, no BS review of TH on 14th Street. You already know that I don’t sugarcoat when it comes to food, so I was thrilled when the feelings were mutual. 

Before I get into the food, there were a few things that stood out before I even sat down. To start, when you walk up to TH, you immediately recognize the surrounding Latino community on the block, and much was refreshing to see. Latin music was blasting on that overcast Saturday morning from multiple restaurants on the block. Secondly, when I walked into TH, I was greeted not only by the welcoming staff (those smiles were contagious) but also by the flavorful smells of the kitchen. TH is a small, cozy space, so you get the full dose of masa, meat, and spice—accompanied with a whole ass serving of Latino hospitality. For me, this was an important part of the experience. I’m not talking about those cringe Yelp reviews that only focus on service, from your local Karens in your friendly neighborhoods, but I’m talking about a team who are happy to be there. Everything from the energy, vibes, and interactions were authentic & organic. That’s just from walking into the door. Another serving you get is a line, as everyone who enters is looking for that very same feeling.

Lengua

Al Pastor, Pulpo, Napoles Tacos

Enchiladas con Mole Poblano

Now on to what you came for — La Comida.

I came hungry, in anticipation for the amount of food I was going to consume. When prepping for reviews, I have a prep regimen that includes hydrating up to 48hrs before and running 10km the morning of. Random, but necessary, as I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of food (and sodium intake) from previous reviews.

First off the bat, came the chips and salsa. Chips were solid. I have a personal preference for super thin, but again—that’s personal. If you really want to know, I ate all of them bc they were that solid. Three salsas were provided to try—red, green, and habanero (fitting, of course, for its obvious namesake). The salsa verde was my favorite, a nice mild and flavorful blend. If you like heat, then the salsa habanero is for you. Don’t take it easy—it hits you fast with heat and sabor!

When the mains started coming out, they kept rolling, and fast. Every plate that hit the table looked and smelled amazing. The food is stunning when displayed at TH as the bright colors contrast with the bright colors of the food and garnishes—perfect for the IG. Not that that should matter, but to some, it does. The menu, as devoured:

Sopes: Lengua (👅), Chicken Tinga
Tacos: Al Pastor (🐔🍍), Pulpo  (🐙), Napoles (🌵), Birria
Torta: Milanesa de Pollo
Enchilada: Enchiladas de Molé Poblano

My favorite out of the bunch were the lengua sopes. That tongue was SO F*CKING  TENDER. Bryan had to tell me to chill because I was about to devour the whole thing. At this point in time, there isn’t any better lengua than TH in the DC area. Prove me otherwise. When polling other random guests who walked into the restaurant, it was the unanimous choice by 100% of the people we asked. That’s insane. This is a hands-down recommendation for this restaurant. And I’m just getting started.

When pushing 🅿️ through the tacos, I deff loved the birria. In general, I love (good) birria tacos which I think are honestly overrated in the DMV, as they blew up in the area over the past few years. I always pass on most, if not all of them, in favor of caving in when I travel to Los Angeles (👀 you Birrieria Gomez). That was until I had them from TH at their other location at Bryant St Market last summer. They are so good. Especially with the generous amount of consomé you get to dunk those things in. Don’t be shy when doing so, she loves when you make a mess 😉. The pastor tacos are also highly recommended, that chicken is seasoned and grilled just right 👌🏽.  I love octopus in general, but the octo in the tacos could have been seasoned better to bring out the near-perfect texture and composition of the octopus itself. A pass for me was the cactus taco, the texture was more soft & mush—may be better if flash fried, but may lose that authenticity. Comes down to preference as that item is vegetarian-friendly. 

If you’re looking for something to grab for lunch to fill you up, the Milanese de Pollo is absolutely for you. Another item that I had to enact self-control on. It reminded me of the OG chicken sando from BK Lounge. I know what you might be thinking; “why tf are you comparing it to Burger King?” It’s simple—I like what I like, and nobody asked you. It’s glorious. And in my opinion, the sleeper item on TH’s menu. Now eat it. 

Lastly, we had the most aesthetic item on the menu: The Enchiladas de Mole Poblano. If you’re not familiar with mole, and it’s okay that you’re not, it’s a sweeter sauce that’s easy to fuck up. I’ve had it a lot from my time in Albuquerque, NM. And believe me when I say even the locals there find ways to jack it up. At TH, at least on my plate, it was amazing. For me, it’s a hit because the chicken inside the rolled tortillas has a hint of heat that balances out the meal. Paired with rice and black beans, you’ve got dinner. It’s also a favorite amongst the staff, along with those lengua tacos.

To wash it all down, including this review, I drank margaritas of two kinds— one with tequila and the other with mezcal. I’ll offer you all two fun facts as parting gifts: 1.) I love mezcal. Like, love mezcal & 2.) I dislike spicy cocktails. A lot. I was hesitant when offered the Habanero Margarita. Especially after getting hit with the salsa habanero. I thought it was going to be like drinking that salsa out of a straw with ice. But never one to say no (unless it’s smothered in mayo), I went in, full send. And it was glorious. Maria, the bartender, whipped up the marg just right. I could have had two, at that moment. Instead, I had the Habanero Margarita with mezcal and hibiscus. Note that it was a glorious drink. I’d pair the habanero margarita with tacos al pastor and the hibiscus variant with lengua. If mezcal is your thing, which I mentioned is very much mine, they are stocked with options. If you’re going to do it my way, hit the lengua tacos or sopes with mezcal, either solo or with a group of adventurous friends.

In summary, I’ll definitely come back to Taqueria Habanero. Easy decision. Great vibes, staff, and amazing food culminated in 4 Michelin Bibs and Best of DC awards. Don’t forget the mezcal. If you jump straight to the end then here’s my order:

• Lengua & Al Pastor Tacos/Sopes

• Birria Taco

• Shot of Mezcal

• Israel’s Matador (Mezcal, Habanero, Hibiscus, Fresh Lime Juice, Pineapple)

Thanks for reading, supporting, and I’ll catch you next time off the stoop.

Mig 👨🏽‍🚀