San Pancho — Restaurant in Takoma Park

I went with my partner on a Saturday around 11:30am. We chose this time because we weren't sure if we wanted the breakfast or lunch menu, and it worked out well, as we were able to mix the two (apparently breakfast is available till noon on weekends, though the menu says it's through 11:30am).

Parking in Takoma can be a challenge, but we found a spot off a side street a few minutes' walk away. When we arrived, the line was out the door (you order at a counter), but it moved pretty quick. We were there for around an hour and there was a line the entire time - I guess folks in this area have been craving some West Coast-style burritos!

We had a California burrito and a breakfast burrito with chorizo, along with an order of chips and salsa. Both burritos were delicious, though the breakfast burrito was the winner. The cashier offered the option of sour cream on the side for the breakfast burrito, which we did (it's an upcharge on the other burritos that also comes with cheese and guac). The chips and salsa were a good call because we then had a variety of salsas to eat with the burritos (though you can just order a side of salsa for $1). The chips were fresh, crunchy, and not oversalted.

We also had a non-alcoholic passionfruit slush and a Mexican Coke. The slush was well worth it, and Mexican Cokes are always delicious!

Seating is first come first served and it can be a bit cramped inside between the line and all the people waiting for takeout orders. As such, this is the only aspect where my rating is 4 out of 5 stars. There's a lot of outdoor seating as well.

We visited on a weekend and within a couple of weeks of the grand opening, so I guess there is a lot of "new restaurant hype" (and therefore crowds) at the moment. I imagine this will die down eventually, but if I were to come back on a weekend, I'd probably try to get there on the early side.

Overall, this was a great experience - everything was tasty. 2 burritos, 2 drinks, an order of chips and salsa and a tip put us all in at just under $60 - a bit more pricey than I was expecting, but it was worth it....

Ever since we heard the owners of El Cielo were opening a Mission district style taqueria in their old space, we were filled with excitement.

After living in San Francisco for about 20 years (and most of it in the Mission district) and then recently returning home to the DMV where I grew up, it's been a series of disappointments in trying to find good Mexican food in general, with one of the very notable exceptions being El Cielo.

We ventured from Rockville today for lunch at San Pancho and found a long but fast moving line. We grabbed a table for the 3 of us and our chips and salsa trio came out quickly, along with our agua frescas and slushie. The salsas were pretty good, especially the smokey chipotle. Their salsa verde could benefit from little chunks of avocado, like you find at a few of the better taquerias in the Mission. The burritos took about 20 minutes to come out as the staff juggled a steady line of patrons plus carryout orders.

Everything was worth the wait. I had the super burrito with carne asada and every ingredient was perfect, from the authentic rice, the warm tortilla, tender steak, and all the other fresh and evenly distributed trimmings inside. The care they take in sourcing and preparing the same ingredients as the Mission taquerias really showed. My wife enjoyed her chicken mole burrito, and my daughter loved her bean and cheese burrito as well. We were so impressed and taken with San Pancho that we ordered another set of burritos to take home.

Very grateful for this place. We will venture...

What’s attractive to me about an eatery is when they have a small/limited menu. That exudes confidence to me!! Their few items MUST be good!! Well…that’s the case with this spot!! . Where I am: @sanpanchoburritos . Location Reviewed: 7056 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park M.D. . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Guacamole & Chips ($12 non GMO chips with smashed avocado, lime, cilantro, & jalapeno Guac, mild avocado salsa verde, medium charred chipotle, & spicy guajilo tomatillo). Fresh lightly salted tortilla chips, a mild smooth guac, with refreshing salsa’s!!

STAMP!! Their Spicy Shrimp Quesadilla ($16 with shrimp, cheese, & hot inside a Sonoran flour tortilla with an avocado salsa). Mildly spicy hot, a tasty shell, & cheesy!!

STAMP!! Their California Burrito ($18 with cilantro, onions, melted cheese, shoestring fries, guac, & pico de gallo salsa). The BEST burrito I’ve had in the DC area!! Try it for yourself!!

STAMP!! Their Guava Pomelo Frozen Margarita ($13 with guava, grapefruit, agave, & lemon). Sweet, fresh, & strong!!

STAMP!! Their Matcha Horchata ($5 a cinnamon milk with matcha on top). GET THIS!! That’s it!!

STAMP!! Their Lemonade ($5). Freshly squeezed, & tasty!! . Customer Service: On Point . Parking: Rough . Recommendations: Get that burrito!! . Accessibility: It’s wheelchair friendly, & it’s differently abled persons friendly.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=STAMP ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕=LIKE...