Taqueria Al Lado
$$ • Taco Restaurant
Reported to be dedicated gluten-free
Most Recent Reviews
Delicious food!! It’s so nice to be able to go somewhere that’s completely safe ❤ I confirmed with staff there is no gluten food on the menu (apart from beer), everything is corn based.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips, Tortillas, Tacos
Second time eating here. Everything is gf. I had chicken tacos. Did not get sick.
Dedicated GF
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More Reviews
100% gluten free so I could order whatever I wanted! I got a quesabirria quesadilla and chips and queso. Everything was delicious. The tortillas are corn, but aren't tough or gritty like other corn tortillas I've had. My stomach is rarely happy after a meal and this left me feeling great! L
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips, Tortillas
I can't say enough good things about Taqueria Al Lado! My husband and I split bean and cheese tetelas, a chicken tinga quesadilla, and carnitas huarache. Perfect amount of food for 2 people, an it was delicious. Service was fantastic, very friendly! Cozy low key spot that punches above its weight!
Dedicated GF
Everything is GF, so easy eating here! Good selection from different beef, pork options plus fish and veggo. Delicious margs also. Reasonable price but can get a little busy on weekend evenings.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Quesadillas, Burritos, Tacos
Other
- — Good for kids
- — Vegetarian options
- — Dinner
- — Good with other allergies
Wonderful experience! Everything is gluten free. Had salsa and queso with chips, quesabirria quesadilla, shrimp aguachile, chicken tinga huarache, elote, and a cocktail. The quesadilla was AMAZING - and very exciting to be able to have a safe quesadilla! Would absolutely return for another meal the next time I am in DC
Dedicated GF
This place was my favorite meal in DC. I had the suadero and quesabirria tacos, and a margarita. Absolutely delicious. 😋
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Quesadillas, Tacos
To respond to the last review - I tested one of the Huraches with a Nima a year or two ago when I got takeout and it passed. Waitstaff has confirmed gluten free a couple times when I’ve gone. I eat here pretty often (every other week or so) and have never had a situation where I thought the food made me sick.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Quesadillas, Tacos
Has anyone independently verified this place is dedicated GF? Or tested it with a NIMA sensor? I’ve been a couple times and consistently get sick (could be from anything) but wanted to check here. Every time I try to ask the staff no one speaks sufficient English to confirm.
Dedicated GF
I was excited about this place based on the reviews. I door dashed this place and unfortunately, our food was cold.
We got a variety of items including tacos, quesadillas, and guacamole. The tacos were ok-nothing to write home about. The guacamole was AMAZING-but be sure to order chips because you don’t get any with your guac order. The fish tacos are where all the flavor was! If you are Celiac and like fish tacos…I’d eat here. Like, I’d go back for those and the guac. We didn’t have any reactions and that is a plus!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Quesadillas, Tacos
Excellent, naturally GF food. Good value, especially relative to comparable restaurants in the area. The quesabirria taco was especially good.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Nachos, Tacos
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
Great food and atmosphere! I had the quesobirria taco, al pastor taco, and the pork tetelas. all were great! many vegan and vegetarian options as well. just a warning that there is no AC inside the building but there are fans to help keep cool.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Nachos, Tacos
Great tacos, 100% gluten free, don’t get the queso it’s just nacho cheese, also charges for chips unlike a lot of mexican places but tacos were great
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Nachos, Tacos
Service was good. The food was excellent. I would definitely eat there again.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Tacos
Love this place. Go to dinner or drunk food.
Dedicated GF
Food was excellent. Server was knowledgeable and patient as we asked questions to confirm it was indeed GF. Great busy ambiance.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Vegetarian options
AMAZING food, friendly staff and a fun atmosphere. Don't miss this place if you're in the area. Dedicated gluten free!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Tacos
Delicious! So glad that it's GF. It isn't labeled as such on the website or the menu, but the reviews on this website and that the staff verbally telling me it was gluten-free convincing me to go. Thanks to all who scoped this out.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Tacos
Tried many items-happy as always to have gf food! Sad to hear last reviewer got ill, we had no issues. Tacos were good (not quite California taco level-a bit biased) but happy to have food on the road!
Dedicated GF
My fiancé and I got violently ill after eating here.
Dedicated GF
I really enjoyed the guacamole and fish tacos. Everything tasted so good. The fish tacos were so good, I ordered 3 more to go. I will be back very soon.
Dedicated GF
Such a great Mexican spot! Authentic, cheap, and fully gluten free. Everything on the menu is delicious, so you can’t go wrong. Drinks are great too! Would definitely recommend!
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Good for kids
- — Good for dairy-free
- — Dinner
- — Lunch
Asked the waitress who confirmed all the food is gluten free. We had chips and queso, chicken quesadilla, pork/bean/cheese tetelas, quesabirria beef taco, fish taco, ranchero beans, and rice. Everything was delicious, but the fish taco stole the show! So flavorful and fresh. Definitely recommend!
Dedicated GF
Get the chicken quesadilla! Regularly Order take out from here. All gluten free.
Dedicated GF
Amazing, safe, fun and the best chicken quesadilla I’ve ever had!
Dedicated GF
Our family loved this restaurant!
We went to Taqueria el Lado three times in the week we were visiting DC. We stayed in a VRBO a few blocks away, chosen for its proximity to this restaurant as well as Rise Bakery, and we were so glad. The taqueria offered a variety of great options that suited all four of us (parents and two boys ages 10 and 12). It was also a great spot to have dinner with friends. The restaurant has a nice vibe — peppy, nicely decorated, not too formal, friendly. It’s great to go to a GF restaurant you can really enjoy, in addition to being fed safely.
A review of the other location of Taqueria el Lado suggested that the battered fish has beer in the batter. We checked about this with a manager and she said that it does not (at least not at this location). Our celiac son is not symptomatic, so we trust the safety based on other reviews and representations from the manager.
Dedicated GF
Great food and service. I arrived on the early side and was seated immediately. I ate by myself and ordered chips with guacamole, a fish taco, and the bean and cheese tetelas. Everything was tasty and totally safe. I would absolutely come back here.
Dedicated GF
Absolutely delicious, everything on menu is GF. Haven’t had such good Mexican food in a long time. Highly recommend!
Dedicated GF
Everything is so fresh and tasty! Interior Mexican, not Tex-Mex!
Dedicated GF
This was the best Mexican food I’ve had since my celiac diagnosis in 2019! They told me everything was gluten free. Their guacamole and salsa was delicious! I got two tacos—one chicken and one beef and the flavors were outstanding. I also got side orders of rice and ranchero beans and the beans were so flavorful. My friend got the vegan barbacoa taco and she said it wasn’t her favorite. But honestly, everything I had was good. I highly recommend this place.
Dedicated GF
This place is great! Everything is gf except the beer. Their margaritas are awesome and I could have anything. I have tried most tacos, the chorizo quesadilla and the been and cheese Tetalas. It’s also nice to be able to have chips and guac with everyone else. Love it!
Wonderful food, not having to worry about gluten free was also amazing! The food and the margaritas were delicious!
Dedicated GF
Great selection, 100% gluten free, we felt very safe here and it was a treat to get such tasty food.
Dedicated GF
Delicious fish tacos, everything is gluten free!
Dedicated GF
This is a regular spot for me! I think they have beer for drinking but everything else is gf. Chips and queso! 😍😍 my stomach sometimes doesn’t like if I get some of the greasier stuff bc it’s generally sensitive to everything, but I’ve never had a glutening here. It’s also the easiest drunk (gf) food nearby and is open late on weekends. We stan.
Dedicated GF
Great food, excellent drinks, all GF!
Dedicated GF
Safe, delicious, excellent margs. Good vegan options too. 10/10 would recommend for celiacs and normal folks alike.
Dedicated GF
Absolutely delicious and completely made from scratch! I feel very safe eating here as a Celiac, no reactions. Even the drinks are amazing! Cannot wait to go back,
Dedicated GF
AMAZING! All GF, and the food is phenomenal!
Dedicated GF
Really great food, so happy to have found another good completely gluten free option in NW DC! The homemade tortillas are great. Also really liked the tetelas.
Dedicated GF
Went here like 4 times. Still dream about it. Dedicated GF. Will be back when I’m in Dc. Such a good late night spot!
Dedicated GF
The flavors were fantastic and all gluten free! Loved eating somewhere with total confidence.
Dedicated GF
Everything is gluten free and sooooo good!!!
Dedicated GF
Ok. At least it’s GF. Not the best tacos.
Dedicated GF
Sat at the bar. Fun spot to people watch. One of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at in a long time! Please visit this place if you get a chance.
Dedicated GF
Entire menu is gluten free (not sure about alcohol though). Best gluten free tacos I’ve ever had.
Dedicated GF
