Washington Favorite Taco Bamba Chooses Raleigh for First Location Outside of D.C.

Washington, D.C., staple Taco Bamba will expand to Raleigh, North Carolina, for its first venture outside of Northern Virginia and Maryland. Taco Bamba chef/restaurateur Victor Albisu has spent 2022 expanding the brand in the D.C. metro area, but his fans probably didn’t know he had intentions to go to the Carolinas. The Raleigh store will open at Ridgewood Shopping Center, at 3540 Wade Avenue, in spring 2023.

Albisu partnered with Investors Management Corporation (IMC), a Raleigh-based company, in 2021 to grow Taco Bamba nationwide. So, it makes sense the first expansion along the East Coast would be in the Triangle.

According to Eater D.C., Taco Bamba is known for its “pop culture-referencing tacos with irreverent, cheffed-up touches.” Dishes like ramen noodles, poutine, cheeseburgers, and Korean-fried chicken nuggets are commonplace tortilla toppings. The restaurant also offers tortas, empanadas, and cocktails, with plans to create Triangle-specific dishes.

While Raleigh isn’t lacking in taco options, D.C. transplants might find comfort in a taste of home once Taco Bamba lands in North Carolina.