Taqueria Habanero Food Truck — Restaurant in College Park

I love Mexican food. It's my top 5 favorite type of cuisines to eat. This place was actually good overall. It had a light crowd as well, with many customers of different ages and ethnicites too. If it wasn't relocating I'd visit again.

So, after about a hour driving in the rain and switching plans to go to different restaurants (Shagga was having problems, so they were closed for the day and the Black-owned vegan place across the street had NO parking) my friend, Ms. Lily, suggested this place. The food was my treat (except she wanted to pay for the little food she ate before I arrived.) I think she bought an order of sopes, chips and salsa, and a coffee ☕ (Cafe de Olla.) I was cool with coming here.

My friend ate some chips and had a little of the salsa verde and spicy sauce but her stomach can't really take that 😅🙃. She ended up giving me her chips later to take home. She ordered the burrito 🌯 and mango drink 🥭 and I ordered Horchata (under agua frescas), camarones enchipotlados (a spiced shrimp dish), and the trio of tacos: 🌮: yucatecos (to-go.)

The food was spot on! I really loved all the flavors even the spice. I ate my plate - no leftovers (except my to-go tacos 🌮 😅.) I ate several chipotle peppers too. My friend NEVER had horchata before so I suggested she get a sample cup, so I asked the waitress (glasses and hair cut on sides) for one. It took her a while to bring it to the table and she didn't bring the entrees all at one. It was probably about 3 minutes in difference. So that was annoying. I wish the menu listed all the house drinks they made, because no one would know unless they either asked or looked at the machine pitchers of drinks in the kitchen area. Advertise that stuff! The horchata was great 😃. My friend liked the horchata and it was cooling for some of the spice in her 🌯 burrito, which she had leftovers of and decided to take home. I treated and the total was 60.95 and I tipped so the grand total was almost $71 dollars 💵.

By October 30, 2023, this location is relocating to Route 1 off of Rhode Island Avenue. There is demolition and construction to build UNaffordable housing near University of Maryland - College Park, so all off the businesses in that campus mall are either going to have to relocate or close shop. This is pretty unfortunate because I really want to head to that African restaurant and the Mr. Fries man location (again). Hopefully the Mr. Fries restaurant doesn't move too far because the next location is in Towson. I'm sorry, but I'm not going super close to Baltimore just for decorated loaded fries... 🍟.

Anyhow, I'd like to visit the restaurant again but with Taqueria Habanero 🌶️ basically moving to/near DC I doubt they'll have parking 🅿️. I absolutely hate heading to restaurants that don't have bomb 💣 parking, at least, so this will be the first and last time I would be willing...

Very good quality and let me tell you why should try this place.

Disclosure: I am from southern California, engaged to a Mexican woman, am a big individual, and have had much Mexican food in my 32 years.

I visited here during a research trip and was craving Mexican food after a week away from Southern California. In 2 visits, I ordered Birria, ceviche, a house margarita, and a mezcal passion fruit drink (Sunshine).

House Margarita: Impressive quality for a house marg- not many use freshly squeezed lime juice and instead opt for the cheaper/easier sweet and sour mix and it is immediate how much better a margarita made the right way with fresh squeezed lime juice is.

Sunshine: If you like Mezcal, this is a very good drink. Nice smoky after-taste contrasts nicely with the citrus of the lime and sweetness of the passion fruit. My only minor gripe is the passion fruit is a little thick- I probably should have stirred this drink up.

Birria: Came out fast and hot with a nice side of consomé (Like Mexican gravy for these beef stew tacos in a quesadilla shell). Very good and was actually the first thing I tasted. Tender, beefy goodness.

Ceviche: Big ceviche fan- had peruvian-style a few days earlier and like to make my own. Generous in the amount of shrimp they give you and the sauce has a nice citrus-spice combination with hints of sweetness. Again, small comment, but they should chop up the shrimp instead of serve it whole so it can absorb their delicious sauce they put it in.

Service: Very good. Stephanie did a great job, was very attentive, and got my drink to me very quickly and routinely checked that everything came out well.

Final Impressions: This place is very good and much better than the Mexican food I've had in New York or Masachussetts- this restaurant is comparable to a solid place in Los Angeles/San Diego and I mean that in a good way. Will definitely return when...

The steak burrito I had at Habanero was easily the best burrito I've had in just over 20 years since I lived in California. It was bursting with flavor from the first bite to the last. The tomatillo salsa was excellent and had just the right amount of heat.

The burrito was so good I wished it were larger, but it wasn't small either. It included guacamole which I understand they make at your table right in front of you. Perhaps that occurs during the day as I went there in the evening and simply saw a sign that was put away.

I held the San Francisco area burritos as the gold standard but Habanero's may have topped the list. I asked for a few lime wedges and they were willingly provided. Habanero's is an excellent addition to the plethora of culinary choices we have in College Park. Once you visit you'll become a regular.

Advice to management is get a sign ASAP, and put the burritos on the menu. Their omission and the lack of a sign left me scratching my head. Also, your cashiers should be well versed in the product. Every time I asked a question she had to get the answer from someone else. She was nice though.

I highly recommend Habanero's if you're a fan of Mexican food. their burritos are the best. I've not tried anything else but I have no reason to doubt anything I have will be superb. I'll be going back again soon. One last thing, their prices are competitive, not cheap and...