Zen Taco

Overall pretty good food, fast. Tofu was served cold. Decent seating area. Prices are comparable with the area.

The meats and sacues all seem really good. You can either go with one of their suggestions or build your own tacos and bowls. I was very happy with the tuna poke bowl and the Taco Chino. I would have given it 5 stars, but they are still working out some kinks since they just opened and got part of my order wrong. I will go back for sure.

After taking a walk past the White House and around Lafayette Square, I was feeling a bit peckish and started looking around for a restaurant that wasn't too upscale. Zen Taco fit the bill. The taco bowls are quite inexpensive, considering the downtown location. As a plus, with only a few upcharge exceptions, it's a build your own bowl for a fixed price, one of my favorite ways to order. If you'd rather not go that route, they also have a selection of pre-chosen bowls. As for the flavors and toppings, they have an intriguing mix of Mexican and Asian items. Although most of the toppings I picked were from the Mexican side, I added Asian slaw and crunchy noodles to good effect. Service was rather good as well. The guy behind the counter patiently named the various toppings so I knew what I was picking.

Zen Taco wins despite entering a market with a Mexican-Asian stronghold in widely popular TaKorean. Here's why: 1) Concept: They take two food genres (Mexican and Asian) that people love and weaved them into a single fast casual restaurant. It's a taco or bowl concept that walks you down the line picking favorites from both worlds. They have carnitas, chicken, brisket and then they have Asian slaw and siracha mayo. 2) Location: It's downtown DC catering to the workforce, BUT unlike many other downtown restaurants, it closes late making it a great spot for dinner. 3) Ambiance: There's plenty of seats and interesting decorations. 4) Food: My Monday night dinner buddy ordered the brisket bowl. He has a high standard for food and said based on the brisket alone, he'd give it a five star rating. I made my own Asian buns and I think I went wrong bu putting too much sauce on it (the Korean BBQ is a little too intense). The toppings was my doing, but I will say the Asian buns were dry and didn't hold the toppings well. I wouldn't order it again. 5) Price: You get a lot of food for a cheaper than normal price in a city like DC. My Asian buns were $11 and the brisket bowl was $9. Working so close to Zen Taco, I'd go back for sure!

A good addition to the fast and casual restaurant choices. Menu is mix of Asian flavors with Mexican taco choices. I had a pork rice bowl which was very good. Next time I will give the bun tacos.

This place has the tastiest choices of ingredients to choose from. I love their selection if food. I usually get their bowl. can't compare to chipotle because its 2 different ethnicities of food but chipotle chips are 10000% better.

Tasty food with good price. Like the Asian mix choices.

My first time here, 12:20pm. Really slow line because everyone seemed to have a custom/build-your-own. I just ordered the "Crowd Pleaser" bowl. It's just OK. Flavorless. Not very warm (let alone hot). Bathed in (two) sauses that pretty much just taste like mayonnaise. Not coming back here again.