I’ve had a surprisingly easy time settling down in NoVA. I’ve been here only since May 2020, but in many ways, it already feels like years. One thing that’s been a challenge? Finding Mexican food that satisfies me after leaving Texas.
More often than not, I need only look at a menu to know that a place isn’t going to have the flavor I desire. There have been some hits, with jaunts to Manassas chief among them, but that’s not always convenient for me. What is easier is a trip to T’Kila Latin Kitchen and Bar, which has locations in both Lansdowne and Aldie.
As soon as I tasted the smooth and smoky salsa that came out with chips before I ordered, I could tell that I had happened upon something special. I didn’t have room for apps like tuna ceviche with crispy amaranth or albondigas with Oaxaca cheese, but their very presence told me that flavor was on the menu.
In order to try as much as I could on one plate, I went for the Mexican Flag, a plate of three different enchiladas, presented upside down, but still visually striking, if not exactly the flag I was expecting. Made with corn tortillas, each has a unique personality. Chicken tinga fills the green roll, which gets its flavor from a tangy but fiery tomatillo salsa. The red one is colored with smoky chipotle sauce that dresses comforting strands of beef barbacoa. In the middle, a blend of cheeses is a spice-free respite in its warm pool of bechamel. My one complaint is that the dish doesn’t come with rice and beans.
Luckily, the mole enchiladas, filled with pulled chicken, does. Refried black beans and herbaceous epazote rice blend admirably with the chocolaty sauce. The mole isn’t quite as lovely, dark and deep as I was hoping, but is still a better rendition than you’ll find most places in the area. Most importantly, I have two more places to go when I’m craving Mexican spice. // 19345 Promenade Dr., Leesburg
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