A second casualty has fallen in the Bethesda taco wars. Chaia has closed at 7237 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. The plant-based taco restaurant opened in September 2021, and quickly found itself embroiled in a single-city-block battle royale with new arrivals Tacombi and Mexicue, and popular stalwart Fish Taco. Mexicue folded astonishingly quickly, closing only six months after opening. Tacombi has done well in its initial fourteen months, despite being barely visible behind the Purple Line construction site, and Fish Taco has built a loyal local audience over many years.
Of course, we're not even discussing all of the tacos available elsewhere in downtown Bethesda. Gringos & Mariachis, La Catrina Bar & Lounge, Guapo's, Taqueria El Jalapeno, Oliva's Kitchen, Uncle Julio's, Casa Oaxaca, California Tortilla, and Tia Queta are among those competing for your taco dollars. What would really cap off this taco war would be the addition of a Taco Bell Cantina in downtown Bethesda, or a Taco Bell on the vacant Bank of America site on River Road.
Before you start wondering what will replace Chaia at 7237 Woodmont, property owner Federal Realty has already found a solution. Next door neighbor Mon Ami Gabi will expand into this space. That will likely also allow the popular French restaurant to extend its outdoor seating capacity further towards the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.
12 comments:
Plant based tacos...
I like the little place on Highland Avenue. Get two Mexican style for $10.
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The location for this place was terrible. It was only a matter of time I guess.
What, they served tacos? I always thought it was a Chia Pet store…
That's too bad, their tacos were pretty good. But it was a tough location for them, with Fish Taco and Tacombi on either side.
Hopefully Tacombi survives the construction around them and are able to benefit from the eventual plaza green space. Their tacos and sides are different from others in town.
Glad Mon Ami is expanding. Much more likely to make use of that space. The outdoor location is great and will be a lot better once the PL is completed and you can see the new small park.
This was a temp deal for them. Looks like it expired, and they chose not to go permanently. They took over the space in Aug 2021.
Is this that former Thai place that was vacant but with tables and chairs inside for about a decade?
The food was not good and it was not a pleasant place to eat.
Cultural appropriation white girl tacos were a major fail.
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