Oliva's Kitchen Mexican Fusion — Restaurant in Bethesda

Food: 2/5 Presentation: 5/5 Service: 4/5

I hate giving scathing reviews, but this place was just not it. My really big issue was with the food itself.

I’ll start off with saying I’m Mexican, from Texas, and I make my own tacos too. I’m new to the DMV but I’ve visited a lot so I knew not to expect Texas level tacos. Still, the food was a huge let down.

I ordered a #1, an order of grilled chicken tacos on corn tortillas instead of flour (if you know, you know). I also asked for no cheese as that’s really a Tex-Mex thing rather than an authentic thing and I’m not a fan. I even got a nice coke to pair with my tacos.

I sat outside on a nice breezy day. There is are only two benches outside where you can sit but I didn’t mind. Within 15 minutes, my food was ready.

The tacos were beautiful. Nice, bright colors with some pop from the red radishes. My issues started when I first took a bite. First of all, anyone who cooks Mexican food knows that corn tortillas must be warmed up before you can use them, otherwise, they crumble. Unfortunately, my taco didn’t stay together too well. I wouldn’t have minded all so much if the taco itself also wasn’t missing a lot of flavor. The final disappointment came from the rice itself, which wasn’t the classic orange/red color you get at a real Mexican restuarant. It was a yellow Spanish rice style.

I don’t think this place claims to be authentic or even Mexican, but tacos and Mexican rice do have some simple rules.

All in all, the workers were super nice and the place was cute, but I wouldn’t recommend this place for anyone who has ever had an...

This was a hard place to rate. The service is excellent. The guy who greeted me speaks both English and Spanish really well. I did tell them I couldn't eat anything dairy (allergy) and I didn't want beans, but they gave me both. Thankfully they were separated from my food enough that it didn't matter.

Their Salsa roja was surprisingly mild and yet quite tasty. Their Salsa Verde is good.

Their tacos are on the smaller side. The Al Pastor was really good. The Barbacoa didn't do anything for me. The carnitas was good.

They do breakfast all day, so I asked for bacon on the side. The bacon comes out looking right, but the flavor is so subtle that I couldn't taste anything. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't prevalent either.

The prices for the region are good. This place is one of those pick up and carryout places. They're are 2 picnics tables in front to eat on, which I did. The customers are friendly enough to engage.

One thing to note: There's plenty of metered parking out in front. The parking authority does enforce the parking meters.

One of the guys who was eating near me, they ticketed his rental for being 5 minutes over on a weekday during lunch hours. I'm glad I paid through ParkMobile. I made it back to my car just as my time was expiring and the meter man drove by just as I got to my car. They're serious about...

Definitely worth the wait. Took me a while to time a bike ride over to Bethesda as they are only open through (late) lunchtime hours but I am grateful I was able to make it.

I sampled the combo fajitas with steak and chicken, accompanied by peppers and onions, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and rice and beans. Everything was excellent, really good meat quality and well seasoned and grilled. Rice and beans were superb, authentic Mexican flavor.

I also squeezed in an Al Pastor taco and a Chorizo taco and both were very tasty. The Al Pastor was a lighter flavor, but really solid and nice they include the grilled pineapple as hoped. The chorizo is a chunkier variety, vs ground fine, and rich with flavor as well.

Staff is very polite and friendly, and will make modifications where they can.

Can't wait to return to...