Taco Bamba Sets Opening Date For First Loudoun County Location, Plans Giveaways

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Fans of Taco Bamba's signature tacos, tortas and other favorites will soon be able to feast at the taquería's first Loudoun County location.

The new Taco Bamba will open at 9 a.m. on Feb. 28 at the Cascades Marketplace shopping center, 20968 Southbank St. in Sterling. When doors open, the first 100 customers will get a complimentary coffee tumbler unique to the opening and a golden ticket. The golden ticket includes a range of prizes, from free menu items to bottles of mezcal to free tee shirts and hats. Several winners will receive a taco every week for a year.

Taco Bamba was founded in 2013 by Chef Victor Albisu. He grew up in his mother's Latin market Plaza Latina and founded his first Taco Bamba in the same shopping center in Falls Church. The Loudoun County location will be Taco Bamba's 16th.

The locally-founded taquería has gained a fanbase due to its creative takes on tacos and other Mexican street food. Aside from Albisu's culinary expertise, Taco Bamba credits its success to chief marketing officer Jennifer Resick, who has seen with the taquería since its early days and has helped it grow while maintaining a local feel. Tom Hall, the food and beverage director, has helped with the menu since Taco Bamba had its first location and manages culinary development and training for the 15 locations along with the catering program.

Along with regular menu items, Taco Bamba will have selections unique to the new Sterling location.

"At Taco Bamba, we tailor every menu to reflect the spirit of its neighborhood, and Loudoun County is no exception," said Albisu in a statement. "Each location is driven by a killer team of chefs and bartenders who bring our rebellious energy and bold flavors to life, and I can’t wait for Cascades to experience it firsthand."

Special offerings in Sterling include the Habibi G with brisket shawarma; the Pork Pingao taco with chipotle-guava barbeque carnitas; the Doña Rosi, a tribute to Albisu's mother and their Peruvian heritage with Peruvian chicken; Poyo Di Parma, a twist on the classic chicken parm sandwich with chicken chorizo on the crispy breaded cutlets; and the Jeez Oh Man quesadilla with pepperoni and pickled peppers. The Jeez Oh Man honors Albisu's long-time partner and stepfather Bill Susinski, whose pickled peppers Albisu enjoyed since childhood. Customers can order tacos regular style, dirty style with seared cheese and chili sauce on the tortilla, or clean style with a cabbage cup in place of a tortilla.

The new location in the Cascades Marketplace will have 71 seats indoors and 46 seats on a seasonal outdoor patio. Table seating will be served by a takeout counter. A full-service bar will serve mezcal and tequila cocktails. The space includes designing in collaboration with New City Design and an original artistic mark by artist Alexa Indriolo.

Albisu is also working to open boutique steakhouse Electric Bull in his hometown Vienna later in 2025. He has won chef of the year from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington in 2015 and was nominated for a James Beard award as best chef Mid-Atlantic in 2016 and 2020.

Cascades Marketplace is seeing a resurgence of restaurants, including the recently-opened CHIKO by James Beard-nominated chefs. Brasserie Royale, the latter of which comes from the owners of Local Provisions at the same shopping center, could also open this winter. The McDonald's at Cascades Marketplace has been demolished and will become a Shake Shack, according to The Burn. Starbucks will relocate in a new space at the shopping center, and Mezeh Mediterranean Grill appears to be taking over the old Starbucks space, according to leasing information.

Another block of the Cascades Marketplace is slated to get residential development after approval by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, according to Loudoun Now.