Travelers moving through Reagan National Airport's Concourse B now have a new reason to arrive early for their flight: Mi Vida Cantina & Taqueria has opened near Gate B16, serving breakfast tacos, burritos, enchiladas and margaritas daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. It's the fifth location for the D.C.-born Mexican restaurant brand, and its first stop inside an airport terminal.
As reported by ARLnow, the new outpost hosted a grand opening and joins Mi Vida's existing footprint of two Washington, D.C. locations plus one each in Virginia Beach and Philadelphia. Jaimini Erskine said partnerships like this one “allow us to connect travelers with authentic local flavors while supporting businesses that contribute to the vibrancy of our region,” according to the same report. Jonathan Dearden joined airport officials for the ribbon-cutting, the outlet noted.
The menu is built for both sit-down meals and quick grab-and-go orders ahead of a flight. Before 10 a.m., travelers can order egg and cheese tacos or steak and eggs, per ARLnow's report, while lunch and dinner bring burritos, burgers and enchiladas alongside cocktails and a variety of tequila brands. The open-air design near Gate B16 includes signature dishes like hand-crushed guacamole, tortilla soup and grilled salmon mestiza, along with drinks such as margaritas, piñadas and ponche de lola, according to flyreagan.com.
A D.C. Original Heads to the Terminal
Mi Vida's roots trace back to February 2018, when the original flagship opened as an 11,000-square-foot waterfront restaurant at D.C.'s District Wharf, created by Knead Hospitality + Design co-founders Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin in partnership with Mexico City-born chef Roberto Santibañez, according to 3877 Design. Santibañez is a recognized authority on Mexican cuisine and also owns the Fonda restaurants in New York City. Knead Hospitality + Design, founded in 2015 by Berry and Reginbogin, has since grown its D.C.-area portfolio to include Succotash, The Grill, Gatsby and Bistro Du Jour, per Total Food Service, employing roughly 1,000 workers across its mid-Atlantic restaurants.
Bringing a concept like Mi Vida into an airport terminal isn't as simple as opening a new street location. While Knead and Santibañez conceived the restaurant, the DCA outpost is operated under a partnership led by Atlanta-based Jackmont Hospitality alongside the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, concessions manager Fraport Washington Partnership LLC, and ACDBE partner Trans Air, according to Airport X. Airport concession deals frequently lean on specialized operators like Jackmont to uphold brand standards while handling the day-to-day logistics unique to a terminal setting.
Part of a Bigger Terminal Makeover
Mi Vida's arrival is the latest addition to Reagan National's concessions. Colada Shop began serving sandwiches, cocktails and coffee in Concourse C at the start of 2026, and Busboys and Poets opened its second Arlington-area location in Concourse D in June, offering burgers, paninis, sandwiches and breakfast dishes. Separately, Hoodline covered Busboys and Poets' Anacostia location in the Bridge District.
Food and beverage options are part of the broader concessions mix at Reagan National and Dulles.
Traffic Across the Airport System
The broader two-airport MWAA system, which includes Dulles, recorded nearly 54 million passengers in 2025.
Flight volume at DCA remains subject to federal slot restrictions — a reflection of how closely the airport's airspace is monitored given its proximity to the U.S. Capitol. Air traffic disruptions have made headlines at DCA before, including a drone sighting that halted flights last month. The terminal offers regional food brands a way to reach travelers beyond their original street locations.
