Tiki Taco

Ever since falling in love with proper Hawaiian poke a few years ago, I've been on the hunt for good (semi-) traditional Hawaiian food that doesn't come with a $1K plane ticket. Tiki Taco has absolutely filled this niche with their poke; unlike the poke we generally find on mainland US, their poke just has rice and fish. The hot, slightly sticky rice pairs perfectly with the huge chunks of cool salmon or tuna, flavored with a variety of mix-ins. I usually opt for their traditional blend, but it does err a touch salty, so I would recommend bringing a bottle of water with you or ordering their Hawaiian shaved ice to round out the meal.While I originally came to Tiki Taco for their poke, their namesake, the tacos, is just as exciting; they have a wide variety of tasty fusion tacos that are just absolutely massive. Each taco is probably a meal in and of itself, but each one is so amazing that it's impossible to stop at just one. I'm especially fond of their shrimp tacos, but you honestly can't go wrong with any of them.And if you have a sweet tooth, their malasadas (Hawaiian donuts) are a wonderful way to end the meal; they're fried to golden perfection, but are gloriously soft and pillowy on the inside. The donuts go perfectly with their rich dark chocolate sauce, which is decadent but not overly sweet.All in all, truly can't recommend this hole-in-the-wall spot enough! The food is simple yet delicious, and the staff is remarkably friendly and helpful! If you're craving a quick / easy bite or just want to experience a little bit of Hawaii, definitely recommend giving Tiki Taco a try!

Tasty food from a fusion menu. Interesting mix of meat for the tacos. The taco trio is filling and the tacos are well filled. There's chicken, salmon, kalbi, tofu, brisket when they have the special. More beverage options would be nice. We didn't try the poke. The texture of the shave ice was pretty good, the lillikoi syrup was red and not really passion fruit tasting, but fine; my friend said the coconut was nice; they didn't have any toppings for shave ice. There are a few tables with stool seating. Friendly and helpful staff.

An unexpected find near Dupont Circle a short walkfrom the The O Museum.Easy to miss spot on the lower level. Don't blink! Fast and very very l casual with a counter and a few high tables. Service was quick and friendly for a mid-afternoon lunch. We were happy to see such a variety on the menu. Each taco was freshly prepared as we waited: Oyster Mushroom (special on the menu)Blackened SalmonIsland FishJerk ChickenCoconut ShrimpThe flavors were spot on. We took ours to go and the tacos were carefully packed. Resonably priced as well! They get 4 stars instead of 5 for the casual divey atmosphere but beyond that, highly recommended!

Stopped in for a drink while pet-sitting for a friend. Service was quick and friendly. The environment is definitely fun and energetic, my drink, not so much.I ordered the El Silencio Mezcal margarita....it tastes like watered-down lemonade with a drop of Mezcal in it, so the name is appropriate. Welp, that did it for me - my day-drinking here has officially ended. Definitely won't be returning for drinks or otherwise, unless treated.

We walked from our hotel looking for something to catch our eye that was unique with good reviews. We found Tiki Taco. It's literally a hole in the wall (well in a basement) with some indoor and outdoor dining. They had specials posted and a regular menu. They also serve shaved ice and it was warm enough to give that a try too. The shaved ice was good, typical. For dinner, I had the 2 handed taco with pork and chicken. The taco itself was flavorful and it was filled with meat. It was so good and I really enjoyed it!My husband enjoyed 3 tacos, and they were all good. His fave was the Kalua pork. At the table we also had a burrito and another set of 3 tacos. 4 STARS! Decent service, seating was good enough, and everything tasted good and was filling.

Solid taco spot with reasonable prices in DuPont. They have a whole selection of Hawaiian tacos along with dishes like Loco Moco and poke. I've only had the tacos, but I really enjoyed the carne asada tacos and the coconut shrimp one. The hot sauce they have has a small kick, but it's good for most people. Note that they have steak tacos and ground beef tacos too, so each beef taco is slightly different. The carne asada taco is classic with onion, salsa verde, and cilantro. The ground beef one comes with cheese and tomatoes (reminiscent of a healthier Taco Bell). Finally, the regular steak taco is steak with melted cheese and really thin fries. Personally I like the carne asada the best because it's the most complex. The jerk chicken taco was okay, but I preferred the coconut shrimp and the carne asada tacos the most.Service is pleasant and one of the owners, Ben, is really nice. It's a nice, casual little spot to grab some grub after a night of drinking or if you want to make a pit stop before continuing your other activities.

I arrived last night (Thursday) around 6:30 PM, and the place was nearly empty. Right off the bat, it smelled like something had burned, which wasn't exactly inviting. There was only one person working, and unfortunately, he appeared to be sick--clearly dealing with cold or flu-like symptoms. I felt bad for him but was also uneasy about him handling food.I ordered the salmon poke bowl to-go, and the experience went downhill from there. When I got home and opened it, the portion was small, and the fish still had the grey part left on it--something that should have been trimmed off. On top of that, the entire dish was overly salted to the point of being inedible. I had to throw it out.The only redeeming aspect was the scoop of sticky rice, but that alone doesn't justify the $17 I spent. Overall, a disappointing experience. I won't be coming back.

good local find! i have been told as a californian that DC tacos weren't good but so happy to have been able to try this place. Inside gives humble vibes, they played really great music, and the food was incredibly yummy!!!! i got three tacos: pork belly, jerk chicken and coconut shrimp. The coconut shrimp was my fave, pork belly nice and tender, jerk chicken kind of tasted like kahlua pork but still yummy regardless. Will definitely visit again!

Tiki Taco is in the basement of a very unassuming block near Dupont Circle. The stairs down into the shop are highlighted by a bright pink sign hanging from the railing. For those who can not navigate stairs, there is ample outdoor seating on the curb and an app to order online. The staff are really friendly. We started by sitting outside because it was pretty busy when we arrived, and there was limited indoor seating. We ordered online for pick up and moved inside when we saw other people leaving. Our food was ready, and we were served inside about 10 minutes after that...so maybe 20 minutes total for the food to be ready after we placed our order...which is pretty quick. The portions were very generous. We tried the tuna ceviche, and each ordered three tacos. We were stuffed. The taco flavors were delicous, and so was the tuna. Great small business, and they offer delivery through DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats. We would definitely come back. Thanks!

This is a very solid and creative taco place. The basement location is clean and basic, and the staff are ready with a recommendation if you need one. Stick to the tacos, which are great, especially the island fish and the crispy tofu. Definitely worth a visit for a quick bite!