Tacombi Delivers a Weekly Taste of Mexico

Perhaps you’ve tasted Tacombi’s Tacos Al Pastor, Mexico City-style marinated pork with pineapple, or Pollo Yucateco, a marinated free range chicken tostada. This fast casual restaurant landed in the DMV last summer, opening locations in Bethesda, MD, and Arlington, VA.

As a Mexican company founded on the soft sands of the Yucatan, Tacombi is focused on sharing authentic taco culture, not only with their customers, but through their food relief program.

Tacombi Community Kitchen, a private foundation, initiated a food relief program during COVID-19 in New York City, where their restaurants first opened. The Tacombi Foundation has committed to growing this non-profit initiative and fighting food insecurity for the long term. They currently provide 6,000 freshly prepared meals in the local communities where their taqueros (restaurants) are located in New York, Florida, and now in our region. Currently, Tacombi donates 550 burritas every week to five Community Food Rescue (CFR) member organizations that serve Hispanic communities and do not have the facilities to cook meals.

Staff from University Landing Apts., Manna Food Center, and Tacombi during our site visit.

At the beginning of the year, Manna staff hosted a tour for Tacombi Foundation staff to visit Community Food Rescue member sites that receive their weekly, freshly prepared meals. We met with the five CFR food assistance providers, including our two newest members, Servicios Ambulatorios Medicos de Urgencia (SAMU-First Response) and Christian Fellowship (Fraternidad Cristiana). SAMU shelters and feeds up to 50 immigrants arriving in the U.S. from the Southern border, mostly from Central and South America, seeking asylum. They receive 50 burritas on Fridays. Christian Fellowship distributes 50 burrita meals weekly to people experiencing housing insecurity in Silver Spring.

Annarose Kennedy, Manna Food Center, tours the choice pantry at Mishkan Hashofar.

We also met with three other established CFR member organizations that share food from Tacombi. University Landing Apartments, Section 8 housing, receives 50 burritas and provides a meal three times a week via their after- school programs, for families who work into the evening.  Mishkan Hashofar, offers a choice pantry and takes 50 burrita meals out to the community in Silver Spring.  Finally, the Montgomery Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH)-Nebel Street Men’s Shelter receives 150 burritas each week. Lynn Rose, MCCH Interim Director of Development and Community Partnerships, told us, “These delicious meals, freshly prepared just for our residents, provide food with such dignity and consistency.”

Lynn Rose, MCCH, gives Susana Camarena of Tacombi an appreciation award for their food donations.

The Tacombi staff were very impressed with each organization’s work and offered to increase the amount of food they provide, immediately adding 50 more burritas for SAMU and 150 taco plates for MCCH each week. Both organizations gratefully accepted. With their continued commitment to serving those who are food insecure, Tacombi expects to be able to increase their donation through CFR  by an additional 50 burritas weekly in the coming months, bringing the total donated to 600 burritas every week!