Eat More TACO, the halal Mexican street food spot that took over a former Grill Kabob in Arlington earlier this year, is bringing its tacos, burritos and oversized Machete Taco across the Potomac. The restaurant has signed a lease at Union on Knox in College Park, marking its first Maryland location.
No opening date has been set yet for the College Park spot, according to The MoCo Show, which reported the expansion. The outlet notes that additional details, including an anticipated timeline, will be shared when they become available.
From Ballston Newcomer to Maryland Expansion
Eat More TACO's rise has been quick. The concept was first reported as an incoming replacement for Grill Kabob at 708 N. Glebe Road in Ballston back in late December, when, per ARLnow, little was publicly known about its menu or opening date. By February, the restaurant had opened its doors, with ARLnow reporting it is under the same ownership as Grill Kabob according to Virginia business records.
The Arlington restaurant quickly carved out a niche as one of the area's only Mexican restaurants with a completely halal menu, the outlet's report noted. Eat More TACO describes itself as a 100% halal taco and Mexican street food concept, and its website states the food is “bold, fresh street tacos that is 100% Halal,” inspired by authentic Mexican street food.
What's on the Menu
The Ballston location's menu is led by six signature tacos, along with burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas and birria pizza. The showstopper is a 20-inch Machete Taco, a massive riff on the standard street taco. The restaurant's offerings include carne asada, chicken and other marinated meats, alongside what the company says are handcrafted tortillas, vibrant salsas and house-made sauces.
In Arlington, Eat More TACO operates daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., though it remains unclear whether that schedule, or the full menu, will carry over to College Park. The Ballston shop sits among established competitors in the area, including Uncle Julio's, El Rey and Taco Bamba, which ARLnow identified as nearby Mexican and Latin dining options.
A Growing Hub Near Campus
Union on Knox, where Eat More TACO will open its Maryland debut, is a mixed-use student-housing and retail development near the University of Maryland. Project materials describe it as a nine-story building with 341 units, according to BLDUP, while architecture firm WDG Architecture lists the project as a 532,300-square-foot community with 340 apartment units and 24,000 square feet of retail space. The development has already drawn other national chains: Shake Shack was previously reported as an incoming tenant, according to Hyattsville Wire, which also reported burger and salad chains planned for the project.
Sources differ on the development's exact address as well, with BLDUP listing it at 9113 Baltimore Avenue and Hyattsville Wire citing 4350 Knox Road. Whichever address ultimately proves correct, the development is positioned to become a dining destination for students and College Park residents alike once its retail tenants open.
For now, fans of the Ballston original will have to wait for word on when they can get their hands on a Machete Taco without crossing state lines. The MoCo Show's report made clear that specifics on the College Park opening, including timing, were still pending as of the announcement.
