bartaco - Reston

Went this weekend and started with a grapefruit ginger Aqua Fresca, which I've had before, and love. We started with guacamole and chips and salsa. They make the best guacamole!I decided to try the BBQ sesame ribeye bowl. It was delicious.The ribeye was tender and so flavorful. It sat on a base of brown rice, and had spinach, crispy shallots, and spinach. It was so filling. I was too full to have dessert.

Hadn't been to Bartaco in a while. Arrived at 6pm and the place was packed! We found two seats at the bar and so glad we did. The bartenders were great! Attentive, and lots of fun singing and dancing around while working their tails off! So much fun! The music was great too! We had the guacamole, a variety of tacos (oyster, Baja fish, shrimp and steak). The shrimp was delicious but a little too spicy for me. I remember there being a few more taco options last time I had come in. Just wish there were more options that didn't have a spicy rating. We also got the elote which was very good! I think next time we go, we will just opt to sit at the bar for vibes!

Food Ordered:* worth trying- [Plantains]: A little too heavy for my taste but I didn't think they were too sweet. I think this would be a good appetizer to share with a couple people.- [Spicy Cucumber Salad]: I think this would have tasted better if this was marinated in advance/all the cucumbers were evenly coated in the marinade because all the cucumbers at the top barely had any flavor with only the bottom cucumbers having soaked up the marinade. Overall, it is a pretty refreshing appetizer. - [Lobster Esquites*]: Maybe a touch too much mayonnoise sauce but I like the creamy, sweet corn paired with the lobster.- [#givingtaco Roasted Brussel Sprouts Taco*]: Unfortunately, the #givingtaco topping rotates because I really liked the Roasted Brussel Sprouts Taco when they sold it. It had roasted honey chipotle glazed brussels sprouts, spicy curry carrot puree, sweet and spicy candied pepita, and pickled onions. I liked all the different textures and flavors. They came together for a really good couple of bites. I hope they bring this taco back soon!- [Baja Fish Taco]: I liked the fry on the fish but there wasn't any seasoning. -[Pistachio Cauliflower Taco*]: Similar to the #givingtaco Roasted Brussel Sprouts Taco, I like the different textures coming from all the components.-[Chili-Lime Shrimp Taco*]: The shrimp is well cooked and not dry and I like the little bit of a kick. It's like a 1/10 in terms of spice.-[Chili-Lime Shrimp Rice Bowl*]: If you're between the taco and the rice bowl, I would choose the taco because there are fewer bites in the taco so you have more concentrated, flavorful bites. Generally speaking, all the tacos have a rice bowl equivalent except for the Ahi Tuna + Crispy Rice Bowl, Korean BBQ Ribeye Rice Bowl, and Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice Bowl, which have slightly different topping additions.-[Key Lime Pie*]: I LOVE this dessert. Their house-made whipped cream is so airy and I like the addition of the lime zest for that extra lime flavor. The dessert isn't too sweet and I like how tart the custard is. -[Tres Leches*]: If you're between this and the Key Lime Pie, I would choose the Key Lime Pie in a heartbeat but the Tres Leches is still a good dessert. I think the addition of the toasted coconut helps cut into the richness of the dessert. Would I order again? : I've ordered from here a lot because my office is partial to ordering lunch here. Overall, I think everything I've had is ok in taste except for the #givingtaco Roasted Brussel Sprouts Taco and Key Lime Pie, which I would order on my own outside of team lunches. Other than that, I would prefer to get tacos elsewhere like at Taco Bamba. Just a tip if you're ordering from here for the first time: the tacos are street taco sized so, unless you're also planning on ordering an appetizer and/or dessert, I would recommend ordered at least three tacos.

Years ago, my wife and I visited one of the earlier iterations of the now ubiquitous bartaco in Nova. While we enjoyed the food then, the chain has since grown significantly and our Mexican food palates have similarly advanced. As such, we find ourselves visiting more no frills, authentic taquerias these days rather than fusion-y chains. Despite this preference, we chose bartaco for a quick date night out when the craving for tacos struck. We arrived to a bustling dining room during peak weekend hours. The restaurant does not take reservations but instead offers an online "waiting list." I don't think it does much in terms of actually cutting down on wait times, but I tried signing up anyways. We asked for an outdoor table and took a seat on the popular patio within 10 minutes. Our friendly waitress introduced herself shortly thereafter and explained the menu and service model (QR code or in person ordering, your choice). She appeared well trained as she was able to answer all of our questions on the menu quite accurately. We placed our order via phone and the food arrived surprisingly quickly.The first menu item we tried was the duck birria, the easy favorite of the evening. The juicy, flavorful duck paired well with a properly restrained amount of salty cheese and was nestled in a crispy tortilla. A dunk into the rich, well spiced consommé yielded a meaty, cheesy, and zesty bite. We also received a small order of the guac, chips, and salsa around the same time. The fresh red and green salsas perked up the flavors of all the tacos quite well, but we found the guacamole ho hum.Our next "course" arrived afterwards, which represented tacos (chicken verde, chorizo, and duck) as well as the lobster esquites. We enjoyed the creamy corn and big chunks of shellfish the esquites provided, though the dish lacked spice. All the tacos we sampled were solid, with the meats properly cooked and well seasoned. With a little room left in our stomachs, we ended on a sweet note with the plantains. The sweet banana chunks had addictive caramelized edges and hit the spot for dessert. The total damage ended up just under $70(including tip), which seems average for the area and reasonable for the amount of food we had. Ultimately, the quality of the items we had pleasantly surprised us. Bartaco is not going to win any awards for the best or most authentic Mexican food, but they do what they do well and with very fresh ingredients.

Bartaco is always consistent. Good bar scene, fast service, a little slow on the bar tenders, but overall good service. Pork belly tacos are my fav. Guac is fresh and don't forget plantains!

Overall Taste Let me start off by saying I used to LOVE bartaco! Unfortunately they have changed up pretty much everything I loved about them. We used to get complementary guacamole and chips, but not anymore. The best taco on the menu, Crispy Oyster is no longer available (at any location) and the crispy shrimp taco to replace it doesn't do the job! Nonetheless, the Glazed Pork Belly and Baja Fish are still available and delicious. We also love finishing our meal up with an order of churros! I have to admit the pricing is luxury for what you get. After about one maybe two bites, you are done! I suggest bringing back the complimentary guacamole to make the pricing more reasonable. AestheticsThis is a cute little place to dine in or outside of. The main focus is usually the bar, but offers plenty of seating and entertainment for families with children. If you don't like placing your own order and paying on your phone this is not the place for you. You will get assistance, but you don't have a designated server. While I wouldn't make a special trip like I did in the past, I would stop by if in the area. Recommend

"Tacos are a symphony of flavors dancing in your mouth." Bartaco has the most tantalizing tacos that you have ever tasted. Have you ever thought of duck tacos? Well, you should, because that extra rich duck, that is slow roasted in a tamarind glaze, paired with caramelized onions and cilantro. It is phenomenal! Then,we had the chile-lime marinated shrimp that rests on a mound of shaved jicama dressed in a pepita salsa. It was mouthwateringly good. Next, we had the pork belly which was covered in a chili glaze and accompanied by pickled onions. It was delicious and I couldn't stop eating it. We also shared the fish tacos, which were served with a refreshing coleslaw. The fry on that fish was amazing and the fish tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned. Yum. The creamy and rich guacamole is a must have. It is so yummy and cravable. Service was excellent. We ordered online and it was ready for us when we arrived. I love how everything is packed with care, so that it arrives home in perfect condition. The ambiance is a modern design. There is warm wood furnishing and metal accents. Bartaco has the best tacos I have ever eaten! I just love the chance to visit them in Reston, Virginia.

I love soft tacos and well why not add drinks to the mix. Love the concept, order from the app and it comes to the table. This is a nice HH spot. All the tacos are good but baja fish , shrimp and chorizo were my favorite

Such imaginative gourmet vegan cauliflower tacos! Recommended by my children, who are not vegan, & had other tacos. The corn tortillas were exceptional; very similar to handmade ones I had in Guatemala.

Every time I visit Reston, we get food from Bartaco! It's delicious, and their quality has been consistent over the years. We usually order to go because we live so close to RTC, but they are always busy on weekends for sit-down dining.We have tried everything on the menu, and it's all so good. We always end up getting all the tacos, family style. This place is great, and we're glad they are in Reston!