Chinatown

701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

From a press release:

“ThinkFoodLab, the R&D-driven space from José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup that features a rotating roster of fast-casual concepts, announces the opening of Butterfly Tacos Y Tortas. This new concept offers a menu inspired by Mexico City’s vibrant street food culture and Mexico’s rich regional diversity as a whole.

Drawing on the decade-long success of its sister restaurant, Oyamel, Butterfly features an all-new menu of tortas (Mexican-style sandwiches), tacos, salads, snacks, desserts (including Paletas) and a seasonally-driven selection of agua fresca flavors. This dynamic concept will also debut at Audi Field, the new home of DC United, in July.

Menu highlights for Butterfly include:

Photo by Rey Lopez

Tacos (3 for $10):

Cochinita pibíl con cebolla en escabeche: Yucatán-style barbecued pork with pickled red onion and cilantro
Chilorio de Res: Shredded beef in a smoky chile sauce, onion,raddish and cilantro
Hongos: Grilled trumpet mushrooms with guacamole, maggi sauce, and cheese
Pollo a la parilla con aguacate: Grilled marinated chicken thigh and green onion, with guacamole and salsa chipotle

Tortas: (more…)

777 I Street, NW

Follow up to yesterday’s signage posted post, from a press release:

“Chef Victor Albisu announces the opening of Taco Bamba’s first D.C. location on Friday, April 6. After a quick renovation, his Taco Bamba lunch counter at 777 I (EYE) St. NW will re-open as a permanent location in Chinatown, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, including a full-service bar program. A fifth Taco Bamba location (and fourth in Northern Virginia) is set to open in University Mall in Fairfax, Va. this fall.

“The response to Taco Bamba’s lunch-only run in Chinatown was better than I had ever expected,” Albisu said, “Because we create a new menu for every location, I feel like Taco Bamba just keeps improving. My team of chefs, managers and bartenders went all out to deliver a menu and experience that meets the energy in Chinatown. And University Mall is giving us a chance to try some cool new tacos. The ‘dirty’ tacos that will be exclusive to that location are my new favorite thing.”

Taco Bamba in Washington, D.C.

The menu at Taco Bamba Chinatown has been bolstered with The Royale with Cheese, a burger patty seared on the griddle, topped with Chihuahua cheese, flipped into a flour tortilla and topped with lettuce and a thousand island dressing made with mezcal. The Chivito Torta carries on the spirit of Del Campo, offering a version of the restaurant’s infamous Argentine sandwich to tide chivito lovers over till the restaurant returns in a new location. A chile relleno stuffed with suadero-style house-smoked brisket is topped with Taco Bamba’s version of classic nacho cheese.

A reinvigorated cocktail program (more…)

777 I Street, NW

I’ve got the chills. Thanks to Mary for sending! Last month we learned:

“Nearly five years after opening the award-winning South American steakhouse, chef Victor Albisu is replacing Del Campo with two Mexican concepts. Taco Bamba, his wildly popular counter-service taqueria, will have its first permanent D.C. home in the front bar and dining room, while the back dining room and patio will welcome Poca Madre. Albisu’s first upscale Mexican concept will offer a refined menu for dinner only.

When Taco Bamba opens as a permanent concept the week of April 2, it will do so with a new-to-Chinatown look.

Renovations to the back dining room and enclosed patio are expected to finish in April for a spring opening of Poca Madre, which is Mexican slang for “really cool.”

Albisu is actively searching for a new location to open Del Campo in the District.”