Taco Bamba To Open In December At University Mall

Chef Victor Albisu has announced a Taco Bamba will open at University Mall on Thursday, Dec. 6. It will be located at 10629 Braddock Road, Fairfax across the street from George Mason University, Albisu's alma mater.

"They say you can’t go home again, but apparently you can go back to college," said Albisu. "Because I did. And I’m opening a taqueria there. I’ve got a lot of love for Mason, and I can’t wait for the students and the surrounding community to make this location their own."

The 1,300-square-foot, 26-seat restaurant will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu offerings will include its familiar taco and tostadas, as well as new items tailored to the location.

Albusi and chef de cuisine Tom Hall developed some creative menu offerings for Fairfax. Some of the new tacos are the Robinson Ramen (noodles, shoyu carnitas, salsa machado, canned corn and togarashi tartar) and a fast food twist called Ol’ Mick Nugget (crisp chicken thighs, hot sweet ‘n’ sour bbq mustard, pickles and “fries”). Vegetarians can try the Mr. Chow (General Tso’s cauliflower, “fried rice,” shishitos, candied fresnos and crispy shallots) and the Fairfax 4-Way (blistered brussels sprouts, salsa macha, pickled shallots, granola and cashew crema).

Guests can also order sopes and quesadillas with the regular taco fillings like chicken tinga, carne asada and al pastor. The location will offer beer and margaritas on draft and frozen.

Taco Bamba's other locations are in Falls Church, Vienna, Springfield, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.tacobamba.com.

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF