Big Papi's - Real - Good - Tacos — Restaurant in Rockville

We went to the soft opening so I will only focus on things that don't relate to their opening in May. TLDR: food was disappointing and overpriced, everything else was fine

Food: We ordered the birria nachos and a burrito bowl and were disappointed with both. The nachos had a delicious layer of cheese and the chips tasted fine but the birria was tough and flavorless. I've had plenty of birria before and this one lacked its traditional flavor. It was hardly wet, lacked salt, and seemed overcooked by how chewy it was. The burrito bowl was closer to a poke bowl in my opinion. There was hardly any lime juice, cliantro and no cheese. It was made with their carne asada which tasted fine but was lacking in salt. The cost for either was ~$12 which is too much for what you're getting. The nachos portion size was shamefully too small to be worth that amount and the burrito bowl nickle and dimes you for any additions.

Service: The service was friendly and they seem to be learning on the job so that's okay. They were quick with the food and patient with customers as they used their half-setup tablets to order.

Atmosphere: All the walls are painted black with the windows having a wrap on them that blocks most of the light. This gives a dark atmosphere which is fine but may not be for everyone. I imagine in the future there will be more decorations as some of the walls are plain with just black paint. There is a big tv in the main dining area that can show sports or novellas to match the latin-modern atmosphere they are going for but when we went it was just on the TV's main menu. The music was a little loud as it was difficult to talk with the person sitting in front of me. I could only find one trash bin to put the used dishes and trays after we ate and it was not marked. The restroom was easy to find but maybe a sign pointing to it would help. Overall, just needs more color in the dark spaces and it should be okay. The colorful mural was nice and so was the fake garden wall with...

I would give the place a total of 3 stars….taking into consideration: food, price, service, atmosphere, and cleanliness. We dined in.

Cleanliness/Atmosphere: There’s really no direction when you arrive so you kinda have to figure out on your own that you have to order from the kiosk screen, which was very greasy. The item descriptions are vague. You don’t have any interaction with staff because the ones up front are just the order prep staff. The decor is nice

Overpriced: For example, I got the walking taco, a 2.5 oz chip bag that you add toppings to with a base price is $16. I got the birria meat. Then you select the toppings you want…..it’s an additional 25 cents per toppings. I feel like the basic toppings (lettuce, pico, beans, cheese) should be included in the price and you should get the option of whether you want them or not. Instead, you pay 25 cents for each thing. The only thing they don’t charge extra for is cilantro or onions.

Service: we waited about 25 mins for our food (it was 3 of us). You have to pay close attention for your name to be called since the music is loud. my order was messed up. I asked for pinto beans… I got black beans (no big deal)……but they forgot to add the birria meat! When I notified the staff, they fixed it and the guy that helped apologized.

Food: this was the saving grace….the food (once corrected) was good. Meat was Seasoned well.

Would I eat here again…..not really. Obviously they’re new so they’re getting into the groove of things but they have other locations so this should not be new to them. The price point is just not it. Especially since it’s not a “server” type of restaurant, it’s a to-go place, where you have the option to sit and eat your food if you want……with tax, my chip bag with meat and basic toppings was $20 😅 the picture I took was before I realized there...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – A Rockville Gem! If you’re anywhere near Rockville and craving authentic, flavorful tacos, Big Papi’s Taco Place is a must-visit! From the moment you walk in, the vibe is fun, casual, and welcoming—perfect for a quick bite or a laid-back meal with friends. The food? Absolutely phenomenal. The tacos are packed with flavor—fresh ingredients, generous portions, and a perfect balance of spices. Whether you're into classic carnitas, tender barbacoa, or their standout fish tacos, everything is made with care and seriously delicious. But what really made our experience stand out was Oscar. He went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of—super friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and made great recommendations. It’s rare to get service that feels both professional and personal, but Oscar nailed it. You can tell he genuinely cares about making guests feel at home. Big Papi’s is the kind of place you want to come back to—again and again. Great food, amazing service, and that local charm that makes it feel like a hidden gem. Huge thanks to Oscar and the whole team—we’ll...