A couple of foodies and their children explore local cuisine to find the best family-friendly dining Fredericksburg and the surrounding region has to offer. Come along with Chef Javier, a Parisian-born, French-trained chef, and his wife, Camille, a vegetarian looking for diverse dietary options and places for two picky young eaters who won’t stay seated for long, as they seek out the best food in the area!

Mexican food has long been a favorite of mine, but finding true authentic options can sometimes be a challenge, so when we heard that The Washingtonian had named La Tingeria among the 100 best restaurants several years in a row, we had to try it, and it didn’t disappoint! 

What started out as a food truck has now expanded into several restaurant locations throughout Fredericksburg, Northern Virginia and D.C., the closest of which is in Southpoint. The menu features an assortment of traditional Mexican fare with chicken, beef, goat and vegetarian options.

Our Order

Camille: Tostada Veggie, Sope Vegetarian

Javier: Taco De Birria Goat, Taco De Lengua, Taco Tinga Beef, Jarrito Tamarind, Tres Leches

Kids: Chips & Queso, Churros

The vegetarian tostada was perfectly crispy and topped with a mound of fresh veggies, cheese, sour cream and herbs. It was also my first time eating a sope, a very thick tortilla that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, cilantro and more. A serve-yourself salsa bar featured a variety of options, including our favorite, a medium-spicy homemade salsa verde. 

Javier ordered a taco de birria with goat because he learned that it’s a common misconception that tacos de birria are typically served with beef, and he wanted to experience them with their authentic ingredients. He found it to be delicious and juicy and was pleased that it was served with a double tortilla. Of all the tacos he had, that was his favorite, paired with Jarrito Tamarind, a traditional Mexican soda with sweet and sour fruit that goes really well with tacos.

Dietary Considerations

There were a handful of vegetarian options, so I was happy to see something other than just veggie tacos available. I was told that they often have a vegan meat option available but they were out of it at the time. 

Even without the vegan meat, the various veggies, cheese, sour cream and sauces were more than enough toppings for my sope and tostada, and I felt very full by the end. It’s also worth mentioning for those with other dietary restrictions that La Tingeria is halal, so they do not serve any pork or alcohol. 

Family Experience

Our kids are pretty picky eaters and refused to try anything in the way of entrees, but I could see other kids enjoying the more basic chicken or beef tacos, rice, beans, fries or other kid-friendly options. 

They did, however, love the chips and sweet churros with ice cream. And because there was enough room to move about between tables without getting in anybody’s way, they had the space to get out their wiggles while their dad and I finished eating. They also enjoyed looking at the giant sugar skull murals! 

Our kids and I are learning Spanish, something that they’re very proud of, and the staff at La Tingeria were so friendly and encouraging that we felt comfortable practicing ordering in Spanish, so that was also a highlight for our kids.

Bottom Line

If you like Mexican food, La Tingeria is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be going again!