Pica Taco: One of the Culinary Wonders of DC

I tend to believe that all things are better with a little avocado (or a lot of avocado -- I really overdid it with guacamole at this year's Super Bowl party). I also think that tongue is one of the more delicious things in the world, and that a well-made taco is better than a fancy meal. So when my friends Suzy G. and Jason H. introduced me to Pica Taco this summer, I knew immediately that I had found one of my favorite places in DC. It is a wonderful place that features well-made tacos, tongue, AND a little avocado. Score.

Jason and Suzy often go for breakfast tacos, a lovely Thursday morning pre-work tradition. I’ve joined them a few times, but it’s a little difficult for me to be functional before work. There are also lovely tacos at non-breakfast times, and I’ve tried most of the kinds they have – barbacoa and chicken are pretty good, but lengua (tongue) and the fish taco are fantastic.

Pica has two locations – one at 16th and Columbia and one at 14th and Florida. I tend to frequent the 14th and Florida location more often because it’s close to home, but the 16th and Columbia one is conveniently on the way back from the Zoo. I’ve been proselytizing (I know, Jews aren’t supposed to, but tacos are different, right?) about this for months, and this morning, I got Catherine H. and Emily P.G. of Wild and Crazy Pearl fame to join me (thanks ladies!).

The meal began with Coca-Cola from a bottle. Restaurateurs of Washington, the way to my heart is through a glass Coke bottle. Just so you know. Pica Taco also has other fun fruity drinks and sodas, but I always get the bottle of Coke.

All of the Pica Tacos come with two tortillas, because the yummy stuff inside is hot and because you make a mess when you eat at Pica Taco. This restaurant is not for the dainty-at-heart. As I said to Catherine and Emily as we left, “I’m a little bit of a slob.” Pica accounts for this by providing a second tortilla for each taco.

The lengua taco involves an onion-y cilantro-y salsa on top, and really tender tongue inside. I learned from a young age to love good deli tongue (thanks, Bub!), and I really like it in this form as well.

The breakfast taco (the one on the right below) is a wonder. It’s just eggs and beans and cheese on a tortilla, but it some how manages to make me ridiculously happy every time I consume it. Something about the combination of those flavors really works.

The fish taco is my personal favorite. It involved delicious white fish (tilapia?), seasoned with a peppery rub, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, some radishes, and most importantly, some avocado on top. A lot of the people I’ve gone to Pica with put hot sauce on top, but I’m a wimp when it comes to spicy, so I just squeeze a lemon slice on top. Suzy G. has mentioned multiple times that Californians, who are known for being a little picky about their fish tacos, think this is one of the best fish tacos they’ve ever had.

Tacos are wonderful most of the time, but Pica Tacos hit the spot morning, noon, and night. So get some tacos and a Coca Cola, and make sure to say hi to the lovely Sylvia. And you're welcome. You're seriously going to love this place.