Zandra's Taqueria, Manassas — Restaurant in Manassas

We visited this spot last night during First Friday and had a great time. The line to get to the rooftop took about 40 minutes, but once we got up there and lucked out with a table, it was all worth it.

The highlight of the night, though, was our server Isabella. She delivered some of the best service I’ve had in a long time. She was attentive without being overbearing, always checking in at just the right moments and making sure we were well taken care of. Her friendly, professional demeanor really added to the experience, and her makeup was flawless, elegant and stylish in a way that fit the vibe perfectly. Honestly, I wish Isabella could be our server everywhere we go. She really set the bar high.

My fiancée and I split everything so we could try a bit of it all, and the food did not disappoint. We started with the beef nachos, and they were stacked. The beef was incredibly tender, and the toppings were balanced just right, plenty of cheese, fresh jalapeños, and a generous drizzle of crema that tied it all together. Definitely one of those dishes where you’re low key competing for the best bites.

The Reuben taco was a standout, rich, savory, and packed with flavor. The tangy sauerkraut and creamy sauce paired perfectly with the corned beef. The bourbon taco had a smoky sweet kick, with tender meat and just enough texture to keep it interesting. Both tacos were served on soft flour tortillas that were warm and fresh, with a nice chew that held everything together without falling apart.

We had one frozen margarita and one house margarita to go with the food. Both were refreshing and well made. Personally, I would’ve liked them a bit stronger, but they still hit the spot and paired nicely with everything we ordered.

As if the night wasn’t already memorable, the massive screens behind the bar were showing the Capitals game, and we got to witness Ovechkin score, putting him just one goal away from setting a record. The energy in the space was electric when it happened. It was the perfect backdrop to an already great night.

All in all, between the delicious food, rooftop vibes, and standout service from Isabella, this place delivered. We’ll...

//update 2023 Much better atmosphere now! Service and food was much more streamlined.

//original review Uncomfortable experience due to the various forms of "heat".

Granted this visit took place on the 4th of July, I'd still expect a better atmosphere despite the crowd. We were seated inside to avoid the July mugginess and unfortunately the AC couldn't keep up with outside temps (~85 degrees) and the doors being constantly opened. It got really stuffy and was nearly sweating by the end of the meal.

Another form of heat was in the kitchen which is visible from the dining room. Tensions were high and on several occasions we could hear full volume yelling amongst the staff with the wait staff scurrying out and not wanting to go back there saying "don't go back there right now". Also, lots of trash on the floor of the kitchen that was visible which is worrisome for what's going on behind the scenes and near the food if they're at the same standards of cleanliness.

Drinks and frozen margs were cold and tasty but not enough to elevate to 3*. Food was good but not great. Lots of taco options which I appreciated but some seemed like they were given more attention than others. So, just amongst my 3 tacos (~$16 total) one was meh, one was pretty good, and another was really tasty.

The wait staff and hostess were trying their best especially since they just recently opened but they were dealt a losing hand to play with. Our 30 minute wait we were told turned into 1hr 20min until we got seated.

Also, for some people the unisex bathroom (3 private stalls with an open sink area) might make them uncomfortable. Especially as the night goes on and more inebriated folks start being a bit boisterous back there with what should be a...

THE BARBACOA IS UNREASONABLY SPICY. It's described as merely 'spicy' on their online menu (and does have 3 chili peppers on their physical menu, but you don't see that when placing an online order), but my carryout order of 'spicy barbacoa' was incredibly hot, along the lines of a traditional lamb vindaloo or biryani. It was hot to the point that even sour cream, barbecue sauce, AND sipping on a cup of heavy cream didn't even make it edible. We've eaten there many times and usually get the pork belly with brussels or the birria, both of which have nice spice levels.

My bf has even ordered the barbacoa before, and took one bite of my taco and literally spit it out and grabbed my heavy cream. He didn't believe me until he tried it himself. He said 'whatever they did this week is wildly spicier than usual,' so maybe we got a bad batch, but what a waste of $20 (when you include tax, tip, and fees). I'm only giving them 3 stars because of decent past experiences.

This is on top of the fact that you HAVE to place an online order through their system and create an entire customer profile with your 2000th password (hope you don't forget it!), which is a hassle in & of itself when they could just use a typical easy-to-navigate system like Toast. I get that they want to collect primary customer data since they're opening 2 more restaurants right next door, but making it frustrating for your customers to order is just a poor business decision, and will have us going to any number of the many other taco spots in Manassas. At least the elote is always good... when it's...