A while back I posted a reel of my favorite taco spots in Maryland, and my comment section would NOT let me rest until I checked out one place in particular. So Deke and I finally made the trip to Taqueria La Placita in Hyattsville, and Nomsters, I’m so glad you all bullied me into it (lovingly, lol). These were honestly some of the best tacos I’ve ever had, and I don’t say that lightly.
We ended up ordering one of almost every taco on the menu because we couldn’t help ourselves, and we loved every single one! The tacos’re $4 each, but they’re BIG, fully loaded, and served with an extra tortilla so nothing falls apart. If you’re anywhere in the Hyattsville and Riverdale area and you love a proper street taco, this one’s a must. It’s earned a permanent spot on my list of favorite taco spots in the MD burbs.
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What Makes Taqueria La Placita A Must Visit
What sets La Placita apart is that it’s the real deal, no frills and no shortcuts. This is authentic Mexican street food in the Pueblan style, which means corn tortillas, simple traditional toppings, and a lineup of meats that goes way beyond the usual. Yeah, you can get your carne asada and al pastor, but you can also order cachete (pork cheek), lengua (beef tongue), tripa, and more if you’re feeling adventurous.
The place stays PACKED, too. We went at 2:30 on a random afternoon and there was still a line, but it moved fast. They open at 5am, so this is genuinely an all-day spot, breakfast tacos and huevos con chorizo included. Every order comes with habanero onions, salsa verde, and a hot sauce that’s got a real kick to it.
What to Order at Taqueria La Placita
Here’s the thing, there’s not really a wrong order at La Placita, but these were the ones that stood out most for us. Everything comes fully loaded with that bonus tortilla, so an overstuffed taco easily splits into two.
Carnitas Taco ($4)
The carnitas were one of my favorites of the whole spread. If you’re new to La Placita, this is your safe, crowd-pleasing order, slow-cooked pork that’s an easy win. It’s the one I’d hand a first-timer before they work their way up to the wilder cuts.
Barbacoa Taco ($4)
Another standout for me. Barbacoa’s that tender, pull-apart beef, and the salsa verde they hand you is fire spooned over the top. Add the habanero onions if you can handle a little heat, because they take it to another level!
Pork Cheek (Cachete) Taco ($4)
If you want to get a little adventurous, the pork cheek was one of my top picks, and it’s a cut you just don’t see on every menu. Cheek meat gets ridiculously tender when it’s cooked low and slow, so don’t sleep on this one. This is where La Placita really shows off.
A few more you should know about:
- Chorizo taco ($4): rounded out my four favorites, get it if you like a little spice.
- The adventurous cuts: lengua (beef tongue), tripa, and oreja are all here if you’re the type to order outside your comfort zone.
- Aguas frescas ($4.50): the horchata’s a must, and the melon juice was so yum. I already want to work through the rest of the flavors next visit.
- Bigger appetite? They do burritos (around $12), tortas, and tamales, and since they open at 5am, breakfast tacos with eggs and chorizo are fair game.
The one thing La Placita isn’t really about is birria, so if that’s what you’re craving, I’d point you to Tacos a la Madre up in College Park for that instead.
What Makes These Tacos So Authentic?
It’s all about doing things the traditional way. La Placita cooks in the Pueblan style (Puebla being a region in central Mexico that’s serious about its food), which means none of the shredded cheese or iceberg lettuce you get at an Americanized spot. You get a soft corn tortilla, your meat, a little onion and cilantro, and the salsas on the side so you build it exactly how you like. That simplicity is the whole point, and it’s why the quality of the meat matters so much here. It’s also why these hit so different from your average taco.
The Vibe and Experience
The vibe’s exactly what you want from a legit taqueria: casual, buzzy, and totally unpretentious. There’s seating inside and outside, but this is really a grab-and-go, order-at-the-counter kind of place. Expect a line, since this place stays busy, but it keeps moving. Quick heads up on parking, the lot’s on the tight side and you might have to circle for a minute, but I promise it’s worth the little hassle. If you’d rather settle in for a sit-down taco night nearby, Lime & Cilantro in Silver Spring is another favorite of mine.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 5020 Edmonston Rd, Hyattsville, MD, right around the Hyattsville and Riverdale line, about 8 miles from DC.
- Hours: 5am to 10pm daily, so breakfast, lunch, and late dinner are all on the table.
- Prices: tacos $4 each, aguas frescas $4.50, burritos around $12. A serious bang for your buck.
- Ordering: counter service, no reservations. They take cards, though a separate vendor inside the space is cash-only, so keep a few bucks on you just in case.
- Seating: inside and outside, but it’s mostly a quick-service spot.
- Parking: a small lot that fills up fast, give yourself a minute.
- Pro tip: come hungry, and go at an off hour if you want to dodge the line. Full menu’s at taquerialaplacitamd.com.
Is Taqueria La Placita A Must Try?
10000% YES! These are some of the best tacos I’ve had anywhere in the DMV, and at $4 a pop for something this big and this good, it’s genuinely one of the best deals going. It’s for anyone who wants the real, no-frills, authentic thing over a sit-down situation, whether that’s a 5am breakfast taco run or a busy weekend lunch. Bring your appetite, bring a little patience for the line, and thank me later.
Have you guys made it to Taqueria La Placita yet? If you have, drop your go-to taco order in the comments, and if you haven’t, consider this your sign to go this week. Save this one and send it to your favorite taco buddy, Nomsters!