Chaia

christopher paprocki

Yes yes yes. The tacos are great here. I had this place saved on my map for 2 weeks and have wanted to try. I walk past it almost every day. Well, today I went inside after the lunch rush, about 3:30pm and no crowds, no lines… quickly ordered and received 3 tacos. Considering the flavors, ingredients and preparation, the cost was justified. As soon as I took my first bite, I knew this place will become a regular stop. The tacos are vegetarian / vegan, but the flavors are authentic. I’m visiting DC from LA and I used to live in Mexico City. My taco palette is well seasoned and I think I found a go-to east coast fix for my taco addiction. I got the braised mushroom, creamy kale & potato and the seasonal roasted butternut squash. Additionally, I asked for some spicier salsa. I love the heat and I’ll be asking for even more next time. For sure drop in here… crowd or no crowd, it’s worth the visit.

Nicole TheCaulkArtist

Absolutely loved this stop! It’s such a pleasure to find a place where you can get some vegetarian tacos that are absolutely delicious. Honestly I was surprised they were vegetarian because everything was so good. We were able to enjoy the sweet potato nachos along with the taco trio and every bite was absolutely exquisite. Service is wonderful and everyone is very helpful. Even though you put in your own order there are people there to help, the vibe and ambience of the location in Georgetown was so cute. I will definitely be back.

Rose Shafer

Chaia has been one of my favorite lunch spots in Georgetown for years, and I'm glad they're still going strong. They offer healthy, fresh and flavorful vegetarian tacos with unique and delightful flavor combinations. The restaurant itself has a pleasant, sunny ambiance that makes you want to stick around. I ordered the mushroom, eggplant and sweet potato tacos, all of which I would enthusiastically recommend. If you're a vegetable fan, this is the place for you! The only thing I would recommend would be expanding seasoning options, e.g. offering hot sauce or red pepper flakes for those of us who enjoy our tacos on the spicier side.

Jonathan Ortiz

This is a nice little taco place on the outskirts of Georgetown a short walk away from the Waterfront. It’s easy to get to and has some seating inside. Everything tasted great, especially the habanero pepita dip. The only thing is I wish there would’ve been more chips to enjoy all of the dip! Highly recommend this place for vegetarians as the menu is completely veg!

Daniel Stepel (The last Baby Boomer)

I’ll be honest — “vegetarian taco shop” doesn’t exactly get my blood pumping. I’m a guy who has hunted wild boar, gnawed on bloody steaks, and considered pork fat one of life’s greatest pleasures. So walking into Chaia, tucked in a cozy Georgetown corner, I wasn’t expecting to walk out impressed. But here’s the thing about food: when it’s done right, when it’s made with passion and guts and a little bit of attitude, you don’t miss the meat. And Chaia? Chaia gets it. The tacos here are humble works of art — earthy, thoughtful, layered. The mushroom taco, with garlicky portobellos, feta, and a zing of salsa verde, is the kind of bite that makes you rethink how good vegetables can be. The creamy kale and potato taco is rich and satisfying, without hiding behind a wall of cheese or sauce. Every taco pops with texture, balance, and a sense that someone actually gives a damn in the kitchen. The vibe is refreshingly unpretentious — airy space, clean design, people who genuinely seem happy to be there. You’re not here to be impressed by candlelight or overpriced cocktails. You’re here because you want to eat something real, something that tastes like it was dreamed up on a farm and not in a marketing meeting. Sure, the menu’s small, and yeah, it’s not the cheapest taco you’ll find in D.C. But Chaia is doing something rare: it’s giving vegetables the spotlight without apology or gimmick. It’s a place where you bring your carnivorous friends and watch them silently nod after that first bite — the universal language of “Damn, this is good.” Four stars because Chaia delivers on what it promises: vibrant, soulful food that makes you feel good without beating you over the head with kale evangelism. You leave full, happy, and maybe — just maybe — a little more open-minded about what belongs in a taco.