Republic Cantina - Washington DC

I often find myself dining in D.C. and feeling like I'm just paying for the atmosphere rather than a good meal. However, that wasn't the case at Republic Cantina! This charming restaurant has a delightful mix of a D.C. neighborhood feel and a touch of Mexican flair. Our server was an absolute joy, and the food was fantastic. The Chicken Fried Chicken, Taco Norteno, and Tres Leches Cake were all incredible—plus, even the chips and salsa were delicious! To top it off, the prices were surprisingly reasonable. Republic Cantina has quickly become one of my favorite spots in D.C., and I can't wait to return and share it with friends. Five stars!

I had a really great brunch here at a reasonable price! I enjoyed their breakfast sandwich, and others at my table were raving about the breakfast tacos. I recommend sitting indoors, as the outdoor area can be a bit cramped. My only critique is that the service was a bit slow, and we weren't too impressed with their horchata latte.

I began my day with a Cap-brulee, which is a breve cappuccino topped with a cajeta caramelized sugar crust. It was as delightful as it sounds! I then moved on to the breakfast tacos, and I must say, the homemade flour tortillas really take them to another level. Each taco is served individually and wrapped in tin foil. I highly recommend trying the Brisket/Egg and Chorizo/Egg options (check out the attached picture).

Republic Cantina is a convenient enough, affordable enough at happy hour place to swing through. We ordered spicy margaritas $9 at happy hour) and one margarita beer float thing. The portions of the food at happy hour were comical. The four chip, clearlymelted in a toaster oven ?nachos? felt like a middle schooler left at home in the summer had made them for us. While the quesoquantity was fine it confusingly was in a too deep dish to be easily consumed or shared and had chunks of meat the size you?dexpect on a kabob.

Actual real Tex-Mex. The food is a little DC-ified (I made that word up) but it?s all very good. The atmosphere is incredible. The music is great. The drinks are strong. The people who work there are very friendly. They did a lot to help the communityduring the early days of Covid. I know that doesn?t matter when looking for food reviews, but it does tell you what kind ofpeople they are. My fiancé and I sometimes get their queso and tortillas to go and then cook fajitas at home. I honestly lovethis place and would chain myself to the doors to stop them if they ever announced they were closing. I would love it if theymade a habanero queso?just a modest suggestion.