Taco Bamba Now Open In Rockville With 'Record-Setting' Turnout

ROCKVILLE, MD — Taco Bamba has experienced lines so long in its first week of being open in Rockville that its owner actually encouraged people to leave and come back another day.

Victor Albisu said he doesn't like watching customers wait for food, but the lines of people told him if there were still tacos in the kitchen, they weren't going anywhere. They knew it would be worth it.

"The turnout has been nothing short of record setting," Albisu told Patch. "The people of Rockville have been super welcoming and understanding of the long lines and understanding of everything."

Taco Bamba opened in Congressional Plaza earlier this month, expanding into Maryland for the first time; Albisu opened his first location in Virginia in 2013. Rockville is the sixth location to open.

The shop serves up tacos, tortas, sides, cocktails and more. Each location has a customized menu — some of the most popular dishes in Rockville are the MOCO crab taco, the Fauda fried chicken, and the Mrs. Hogan, which features kalbi pork.

Be sure to get the Mexican street corn if you visit, which is coated in mayo, cotija, chile and lime. Pick your level of spicy from the available salsas that are displayed on a counter, or try a few.

Albisu said he found out that people had been traveling from Maryland to visit his Virginia locations. He grew up and lives in Northern Virginia, but he has friends and family in Rockville and said he's long admired the food scene there.

"Just thinking about it is a bit overwhelming for me," Albisu said of his Rockville opening. "The community has been so kind and this feels like real home for us. I feel like we really connect with the diversity of people."

He's always trying to push the envelope in his restaurant — it's a fast casual eatery, but with a craft cocktail menu that might surprise customers, he said. They set the music to be loud and play all kinds of things depending on the energy they're trying to create, said Albisu. Taco Bamba is all about being surprising and unexpected.

"That whole mentality is kind of where we live, and where we like to be," Albisu said.