Hot on the heels of Chaia, another taco joint plans to open in Georgetown this week. Jaco Juice & Taco Bar, which has another location in West Chester, Pa., will serve a range of tacos with corn tortillas made fresh on-site as well as burritos, quesadillas, salads, smoothies, juices, and acai bowls.
Co-founder Albert DelVescovo owns a produce company in West Chester called American Beauty Fish & Produce. He started Jaco as a way to utilize fruits and vegetable that he couldn't sell but could use for juices and smoothies. After doing research on juice bars in New York, DelVescovo realized it was hard to make it just selling liquids and added other food items to the menu. The D.C. location sources some produce from American Beauty Fish & Produce, but not everything.
DelVescovo says one of Jaco's biggest sellers is the vegetarian Baco Taco with chunky guacamole, Cotija cheese, sweet onion, tomato, corn, tomatillo salsa, and roasted poblano crema. (The restaurant was previously called Baco Juice & Taco Bar. The owners had to change the name after their trademark was denied due to a similarly named business in California.) Other tacos include fish, buffalo shrimp, adobo chicken, and pulled pork options.
Jaco is also big on breakfast with La Colombe coffee, bagels shipped in from New York, breakfast burritos, and more. Jaco will also serve acai bowls, a Hawaiian treat which consists of a smoothie in a bowl with various toppings like granola, coconut shavings, and fruit. Juices and smoothies are made to order. Smoothie flavors include things like key lime (lime juice, apple, avocado, yogurt, graham cracker, and agave) and banana bread (banana, apple, yogurt, and granola). Juices range from fresh-pressed carrot to the "Just Beet It" with beet, celery, apple, ginger, and lemon.
Breakfast items go for around $5 to $6, tacos range from $3 to $4, and burritos are $7 to $9. Take a look at the full menu here.
"Our whole thing is avoiding processed foods," says co-owner Chris Luceri, "so real fruits, real vegetables."
The restaurant aims to open by Friday if not sooner. This spring, the owners plan to add a takeout window so people can come and pick up a taco and a smoothie curbside.
Jaco Juice & Taco Bar, 1614 Wisconsin Ave. NW; (202) 505-2216; jacojuiceandtaco.com
Photo courtesy Chris Luceri