Taqueria Xochi

"There’s nothing quite like a quesabirria from Taqueria Xochi after a night out on U Street (or any time of day, really). The half-quesadilla, half-birria taco is dripping with grease, oozing with cheese, and delicious. This is the main attraction at the takeout-only taqueria, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the juicy carne asada and loaded fries with queso, jalapeños, and chipotle crema." - omnia saed

"The carryout window with the hot pink facade on U Street NW can barely contain everything chef Teresa Padilla, who grew up in the interior state of Tlaxcala, is excited to cook. Now that she has her own place, the longtime pastry chef under José Andrés imports hubcap-sized tortillas from Oaxaca to make tlayudas covered in pieces of beef tenderloin, chorizo, nopales, gooey strands of cheese, refried beans, and avocado. There are all sorts of tacos, but also bowls of equites (street corn salad) deglazed in a fiery pan, individual containers of chocoflan, and chamoy-tinged go-cups of frozen mangonada smoothies. An additional locale recently arrived in downtown’s new Square food hall." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff

"Chef Teresa Padilla, a longtime veteran of José Andrés Group, serves up dishes inspired by her hometown of San Jose Teacalco in Tlaxcala, Mexico from a hot pink takeout window on U Street. That includes cheesy quesabirria tacos with either a blend of chuck and brisket or lamb, as well as tacos spotlighting fillings like carnitas, chorizo, or mushroom. Delivery is available, too. Taqueria Xochi recently expanded across town with a new stall in downtown food hall the Square." - Tierney Plumb, Adele Chapin

"There’s nothing quite like a quesabirria from Taqueria Xochi after a night out on U Street (or any time of day really). The half-quesadilla, half-birria taco is the kind of genius idea you'd expect from a teenager experimenting in the kitchen at 3am. It's dripping with grease, oozing with cheese, and really f*cking delicious. The dish is the main attraction at the takeout only taqueria, both for people choosing to escape the U Street mayhem before 9pm and those willing to eagerly wait in the shop's half-a-block line on weekends until 1am. But that doesn't mean you should scroll past the juicy carne asada and loaded fries with queso, jalapeños, and sour cream as you're ordering on your phone." - Omnia Saed

"All-Around Faves: Taqueria Xochi: great tlayudas and tacos but don't skip the desserts." - Rob Rubba