“Victor Albisu To Open Taco Bamba Lunch Counter at Del Campo Nov. 8”

777 I Street, NW

Check out the menu here.

From a press release:

“Washington, D.C. chef Victor Albisu is bringing Taco Bamba, his wildly popular counter-service taqueria to Washington, D.C. when it takes over the asado bar at Del Campo, his downtown South American grill located at 777 I St. NW, for weekday lunch beginning November 8. The Taco Bamba menu will be available from 11am to 3pm and feature a greatest-hits selection of Taco Bamba favorites from both the traditional and nuestros menus. Taco Bamba Lunch Counter at Del Campo will run through January 2018 and is designed to test the waters for possible permanent expansion to downtown D.C.

“Since opening my third location of Taco Bamba in Northern Virginia, I have been humbled by the extremely warm reception and loyal following and am grateful for the chance to cook this food for the people of D.C.,” Albisu said. “The one question people always ask me is when I’m going to open a Taco Bamba in D.C. Before I take the plunge I’m testing out the concept during weekday lunch at Del Campo. We tailor each Taco Bamba location to its neighborhood, and already having a kitchen downtown gives me a unique opportunity to road test D.C.”

Taco Bamba, which now has locations in Vienna and Springfield, began as a tiny takeout operation in a Falls Church strip mall located steps away from Plaza Latina, the neighborhood Latin market owned by Albisu’s mother, Rosa Susinski. Despite its seemingly sub-prime location, the restaurant’s mix of traditional tacos and original creations quickly drew a rabid fan base, a following that spread to the second and third locations, both of which added dining room seating and full bar programs to the mix.

The Taco Bamba lunch counter menu will be a curated selection of at least 20 Taco Bamba favorites, including traditional tacos like chicken tinga, al pastor and carnitas, as well as Albisu originals like the namesake Taco Bamba (skirt steak, chorizo, grilled guacamole, chicharrones). Like all Taco Bambas, the Lunch Counter will feature a small selection of Nuestros tacos unique to that location. At Del Campo, these will include the Maradona (grilled sweetbreads, burnt habanero chimichurri), the Black Mamba Octopus (Veracruz style with squid ink, potatoes, olives, capers, lime) and the James Bond (crispy cod, tomatillo minty mashed peas, malt vinegar pickled jalapeno and tartar). Grilled guacamole and street corn will round it out with some non-taco options, and the menu will change as Albisu rotates in new and existing dishes.

The Taco Bamba Lunch Counter menu will be available at Del Campo Mondays through Fridays from 11am to 3pm, November 8 through January 31. Similar to Taco Bamba Vienna and Springfield, the lunch counter will accommodate carryout orders, while the bar will offer full service, including highlights from the Taco Bamba cocktail list. Amin Seddiq oversees both beverage programs.”