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| Chef Giovanni Orellana puts an innovative spin on Mexican classics at Taqueria Local, now open on K Street (Photo: Alejandro Ventura) |
From our friends at Taqueria Local...
Artisanal Taco Eatery Taqueria Local Now Open Downtown
The fast-casual restaurant gives back to the community through its advocacy-focused business model
Putting an innovative spin on Mexican classics, Taqueria Local, new artisanal taco restaurant (1627 K Street, NW), arrives downtown with a mouthwatering menu of tacos, tostadas, burritos, salads, sides and soups, as well as a handful of desserts.
Just like owner Antonis Karagounis’ other DC establishments - Echostage, Decades, Barcode, Ultrabar, Soundcheck and L8 - Taqueria Local is an authentically homegrown concept that’s sure to become one of Washington’s instant foodie favorites. Karagounis and partner Arman Amirshahi, who has nearly 25 years of hospitality experience, have tapped their longtime chef, Giovanni Orellana to helm the new eatery, which mixes modern, fast-casual vibes with the appeal of a classically authentic Mexican restaurant.
In addition to its extensive food menu, Taqueria Local also serves a variety of Mexico’s iconic aguas frescas, bottled Mexican sodas, flavored margaritas, beer and wine.
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| In addition to its extensive food menu, Taqueria Local also serves a variety of Mexico’s iconic aguas frescas, bottled Mexican sodas, flavored margaritas, beer and wine |
Taqueria Local marks the initial management venture for Orellana, a DC food prep veteran from El Salvador with more than 14 years of experience and stints at Ceviche, Lima, Pesce, Posto and most recently, Barcode, on his extensive resume. In fact, Orellana’s weekly taco special at Barcode has regularly been one of the restaurant’s top-selling plates.
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| Open for lunch and dinner, Taqueria Local’s mouthwatering menu includes tacos, tostadas, burritos, salads, sides and soups, as well as a handful of desserts |
Orellana’s recipes, full of the highest quality meat, produce and spices culled from local suppliers and small businesses, highlights his long-standing connection to the DC metro area.
Standouts on the unique menu include the incredibly flavorful “Choripapa” taco, made with spicy Mexican sausage, diced potato, avocado and sour cream on a non-GMO, gluten-free corn tortilla; the “Remolacha” vegetarian taco, featuring roasted red beet, microgreens, feta, pepitas and chipotle aioli; and the seafood-stacked Tostadas Trio with ahi tuna ceviche, mango habanero shrimp and crabmeat avocado. Other comforting craveables are the towering nachos, grilled Mexican street corn and warming tortilla soup. Plus, all of Taqueria Local’s one-of-a-kind tacos can be turned into salad creations. The eatery is open for lunch and dinner and will launch breakfast service later this Spring.
Taqueria Local is also passionately dedicated to helping people in low-income and immigrant communities in the Washington area as well as enriching the lives and incomes of its employees.
The restaurant will honor this commitment by:
• Sharing 1% of its yearly revenue with early childhood education center CentroNía
• Providing free weekly meals and holiday catering for CentroNía and its staff
• Paying employees more than minimum wage, with profit-sharing bonuses included
• Sending unused food to the Sacred Heart Dinner Program each day
• Launching a “free tacos for the homeless” program annually for the day after Thanksgiving
“Taqueria Local is all about helping Giovanni, my chef of over ten years, achieve his dream of opening his space,” says Karagounis. “The Wednesday night taco special at Barcode is always such a hit, so for him to showcase his unique talent as a Mexican cuisine chef this way is ideal.”
“It feels amazing knowing that I will be able to give back to a community that has given me so much,” says Orellana, an El Salvador native. “I sent my son to CentroNía for six years, so I know the incredible impact they have. Cooking food I love and sharing part of this success with them means the world to me.”
About Taqueria Local:
Taqueria Local is located at 1627 K Street, NW and is open for lunch and dinner and will launch breakfast service later this Spring. www.localtaqueria.com.
