Speaking of Mexican assimilation, Brian's right: If you live in the district, run, don't walk, to Pollo Sabroso, the first decent taco joint I've found in DC. The market, it turns out, forces assimilation in all sorts of odd directions, and to my great relief, is pushing what was once a terrific Salvadorean chicken place (try the yucca fries) into "Mexican-style tacos." This is welcome. Despite Mt. Pleasant's concentration of Hispanics, it's actually sorely lacking in tacos -- the cuisine tends towards pupusas. The arrival of delicious warmed tortillas filled with your choice grilled meats (I recommend the tongue) is pretty clear evidence that our cultures can not only live in peace, but that they must. It's hard, however, to ignore the fact that these tacos only came on the market as the immigration debate heated up, and so are probably some nefarious plot by the Aztlan movement to increase pro-immigrant sentiment among those living in the Capitol. The way to a man's Congress is through his stomach, or something.
Putting aside the restaurant's chief virtues of Being Delicious and Being Cheap, it's also ideologically useful. The family that runs the place speaks, at best, mediocre English, and comprehension can be a problem. That's why it's always nice when their kids are wandering about the place, as they'll walk up behind you, observe their parents trying to comprehend your order, and finally offer an exasperated "he wants the hot sauce, mama, the hot sauce." This will then be translated into Spanish, and you'll then get the hot sauce, which appears to be made on-site and is also, for those wondering, delicious, and all the more so because you acquired it through the Power of Assimilation.
