Fish Taco is literally inching its Gaithersburg storefront closer to the street, shifting the restaurant's front wall toward Darnestown Road as interior work ramps up at The Shops of Potomac Valley. The expanded footprint points to a larger dining room and a more visible presence from the road ahead of a planned spring opening, which should mean more room to sit for locals who already favor the chain's Baja-inspired tacos and bowls.
Bigger footprint, familiar menu
Signage at the shopping center went up late last year, and a company representative has told local outlets that the Darnestown Road spot is aiming for a spring debut, as reported by The MoCo Show. The outlet also noted that construction crews have pushed the storefront closer to the sidewalk to boost visibility from Darnestown Road.
Seats and the menu
Once doors open, the Gaithersburg restaurant will join Fish Taco's other Montgomery County outposts and is currently listed as "Coming Soon" on the company's locations page, according to Fish Taco. The menu focuses on Baja-style tacos, burritos, quesadillas and bowls, along with shareable items like chips, elote and ceviche, mirroring the offerings at the Bethesda and Cabin John locations.
Design and timing
The Gaithersburg buildout is intended to feel beachy and family friendly, with roughly 2,200 square feet inside, seating for about 40 to 45 diners and a patio that can hold another 20 guests, according to What Now. Construction has recently been reported as on track, with buildout expected to wrap in early March and an opening window targeted for late March or early April.
From AT&T to Wayback
The corner has already had a couple of near-misses. The storefront was once slated for a Wayback Burger that never opened, a plan announced in 2021 by Wayback Burgers, and most recently housed an AT&T retail shop, according to local coverage. Fish Taco's move adds to a steady stream of new tenants at The Shops of Potomac Valley and follows expansion work by owner Francis Namin, who has opened multiple locations across the region, as detailed by Eater DC.
For Gaithersburg diners, the extra seating and patio space are expected to make this Fish Taco a convenient option for both quick lunches and family dinners. We will be watching the buildout as finishing work continues and the chain locks in an exact opening date.
