A Crystal City eatery is about to start serving Michelin-starred tacos. But only for a short time.
Starting tomorrow (Wednesday) and lasting through Thursday, Dec. 26, Tacombi at 1550 Crystal Drive will offer some items from the menu of Mexico City-based El Califa de León — the first taqueria in the world to earn a Michelin star.
Four tacos praised in El Califa’s Michelin rating will appear at Tacombi: bistec (beef steak), costilla (beef rib), chuleta (pork chop) and gaonera, made with a beef cut resembling tenderloin. According to the Michelin Guide, the gaonera taco is “exceptional.”
“There is a reason why El Califa de León has endured for more than half a century,” the guide says.
The taco pop-up will also feature salsas from El Califa and fresh tortillas prepared on-site.
The partnership came to be when El Califa’s owner, Mario Hernandez Alonso, and Tacombi founder Dario Wolos met in Mexico City and considered collaborating.
“We are honored to partner with El Califa de Leon and share their tradition with our guests across Tacombi,” Wolos said in a press release. A launch event will be held Wednesday night in Crystal City to celebrate the collaboration.
“During the kick-off pop-up on December 11, the lucky first-come, first-serve customers will get to experience the four tacos from El Califa de Leon’s menu… plus their two famous salsas, created and served by Mario himself,” the press release says.
Tacombi’s Bethesda location is also participating in the partnership starting today.
Tacombi — which recently garnered some praise from the Mexican ambassador — opened in Crystal City three years ago. The restaurant first appeared in New York City in 2010, and now has several locations on the East Coast and in Chicago.
