Tacombi in Crystal City could start serving tacos in December

(Updated at 1:55 p.m.) After roughly two months of delays, New York City-based taqueria chain Tacombi could open in Crystal City in December.

The taco spot is moving into a 3,000 square-foot space inside the revamped Central District Retail shopping plaza, also known as “Crystal Square.”

“We will be (happily!) swinging open our taqueria doors early next month,” a spokeswoman said in an email.

A Twitter user snapped a photo a few days ago outside the the taqueria’s new location, where Tacombi’s menu and job listings are posted. The restaurant will be serving up tacos — including fish tacos proclaimed as Manhattan’s best by New York Magazine — as well as quesadillas and burritos.

https://twitter.com/ddimolfetta/status/1459982984598142978

Tacombi’s opening is a few months behind schedule as work to complete the restaurant’s interior continues. This summer, the spokeswoman said the restaurant was expected to open in September.

Twice this fall, the taqueria has requested the county defer approving its permit request to establish outdoor seating on the Crystal Drive streetscape while construction and inspections progress inside.

“The applicant requests additional time to complete construction, inspections, and the Certificate of Occupancy for the indoor portion of the Tacombi restaurant,” according to staff reports that went before the County Board in October and November. “Once the primary use is established, the applicant will pursue approval of the subject use permit for an outdoor café.”

Last weekend, Arlington County Board members approved a request to defer approving Tacombi’s outdoor seating permit until they meet again on Dec. 11.

Tacombi got its start on the beaches of Yucatan, Mexico. The owner sold tacos from a Volkswagen Bus and eventually opened his first taqueria in the mid-2000s in New York City. Nine other locations have since opened in NYC.

The chain set its sights on Crystal City — in the same retail plaza as a CVS, NYC bakery Mah-Ze-Dahr and a Solidcore gym location — because of the rapid growth it’s experiencing, the spokeswoman previously told ARLnow.

“While National Landing is part of a cosmopolitan world capital, it also maintains the neighborhood quality that best allows us to share authentic Mexican culture,” the spokeswoman said.

Another outpost in the D.C. area — a Bethesda location — was also set to open in September but was delayed.