Julita’s Restaurant: A Spanish Flavor, 6521 Riggs Road, just a bit away from University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD, 301-559-0958 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
I have yet to go. Supposedly it has Spanish and Caribbean food, drop me a line if you have been there, the place does not appear to fit the usual categories.
Tabeer, web site, 1401 University Boulevard East, International Mall, upper level, Langley Park, Hyattsville, MD, 301-434-2121 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The menu resembles that of Food Factory. Whenever I am in the neighborhood, I cannot resist going to Udupi Palace or Woodlands (Indian).
Chipotle, web site, numerous area locations. [Washingtonian | WaPo | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
OK, let’s get the bad news out of the way up front. This is a chain. Even worse, it is a chain owned by McDonald’s corporation, the fount of culinary evil. That being said, it is pretty good. Fresh and relatively authentic Mexican food, you tell them how to put together your meal. The salsa is genuinely spicy. The carnitas are the best meat. Not much choice, but you don’t need it. I’d rather eat here than almost any other Mexican place on this list.
La Flor de Puebla Bakery V, 6300 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, MD, 301-699-8657 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo (scroll down under Bakeries)]
A real Mexican bakery, lovely stuff. I don’t usually cover bakeries, but they also sell chile tamales for a dollar a piece. Worth it every time, stop in if you are in the neighborhood.
Taqueria Tres Reyes, 5403 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, MD, 301-779-6060 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell (also see this) | openlist]
On weekends they open at eight in the morning, as a good Mexican place should. Fully authentic, the shrimp soup is wonderful. Huaraches are tasty too. Superb for atmosphere and people watching, even when the jukebox is a bit too loud. Recommended.
La Sirenita, 4911 Edmonston Road, Hyattsville, MD, 301-864-0188, just a bit off Kenilworth Avenue (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp ]
The best chile relleno around, and also the best beans. Excellent posole. I have yet to try the fried quail. The waitress recommends the “stripe soup.” They get an A+ for atmosphere, recommended.
Costa Alegre Restaurant, 5815 A Greenbelt Road, College Park, MD, 301-474-2278, near Branchville (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Restaurant.com]
I ate here with Jane Galt, who also liked it. Excellent tacos, and get the barbacoa and the beef cheeks, it is a good sign that they serve it. The guacamole was only average but I liked the place, very friendly and good atmosphere.
Taco Rico, 4811 Edmonston Road, Hyattsville, MD, 301-779-8001 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell (scroll down)]
Tacos for $2.00 a piece, including tongue and cheef, cueritos and carnitas. Huaraches of many different kinds. I have yet to eat here, but I can’t wait. In a friendly Mexican neighborhood.
Pita Plus Kosher Deli, College Park, 4425 Lehigh Road, College Park, MD, 301-864-5150, corner of Baltimore Avenue and Knox Road (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
One reader recommends the lafah, not the pita bread.
Woodlands, 8046 New Hampshire Avenue, at University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD, 301-434-4202 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot] also located in Fairfax, in the mall where Germantown Rd hits the K-Mart, just off of Rt. 29, 4078 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA, 703-385-1996 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
Finally Fairfax has top-rate dosas. The Maryland branch has now overtaken Udupi with the Indian crowd, although the menus are almost the same. Fairfax branch not quite as good but still excellent. The kind of food is simply hard to beat. Be grateful that you can get it at all. There is one lentils dish, with vegetables, comes with a side order of yogurt, it is my favorite here.
Caribbean Delight, 7811 Riggs Road, at University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD, 301-439-1270 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Gayot]
Goat, calaloo, curried kingfish, the usual things you have come to expect from a Guyanese restaurant.
Island Cafe, Beltway Plaza Mall, 6054 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD, 301-345-0462 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]
Good roti, curries, other West Indian specialties. It is in a wonderful shopping mall, great for people watching, I bet most of my readers have never been there. One of the best mall restaurants in this Guide.
Jerk Pit, 8145-C Baltimore Avenue, Rt. 1, College Park, MD, 301-441-4786 [WaPo | City Paper | Gayot]
Yes, jerk is a form of barbecue. The wings are recommended. Fridays they have oxtail stew. Service is slow, because they do it the right way.
Chez YonYon, 834 Chillum Road, Hyattsville, MD, 301-853-0404 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [EchodHaiti | City Paper | Citysearch]
Haitian food, the fried pork is my favorite, the fish is good too. You can’t go wrong at Haitian restaurants, as long as you steer clear of the macaroni and cheese. But the real question is not what you want, but rather what they have in that day. This is not better than average Haitian food, but it doesn’t have to be. The rice and beans are always superb, mix in the spicy sauces.
Pho 75, 3103 Graham Road, Suite B, Falls Church, VA, 703-204-1490, go early to avoid the line (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
Other locations:
Do not fear tripe and the other nasty bits. Learn to eat for crunch and texture.
El Tapatio, 4309 Kenilworth Avenue, Bladensburg, MD, 301-403-8882, open 10 to 10 every day, don’t you love those hours? (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
This is a real Mexican place, treasure the thought. In LA or Houston this restaurant would be only average, but that is still great in absolute terms. Get the goat (“birria del chivo”). The best chile relleno around. Very good tacos. A lifesaver, the first Mexican place I can recommend, despite its inconvenient location. It’s right where the old “Cielito Lindo” used to be.