Highly recommend Signature Fajitas with Shrimp. Shrimp are very tender and juicy.
March 2024
The margaritas and the tacos were amazing - we had the carne asada and shrimp tacos. Staff was very friendly and made the experience beyond enjoyable . . . all this inside a mall! Make the journey to La Sandia!
January 2024
Food and Service was great. The waitress really took care of us.
Welcome to La Sandia Cantina & Tequila Bar, an authentic Mexican restaurant by acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval. Inspired by his culinary mantra of ‘old ways, new hands,’ Chef Sandoval reinterprets traditional Mexican food with contemporary techniques and skillful presentation. Guests will rediscover classics, such as street tacos made with soft, corn tortillas and flavorful fillings such as chicken tinga and adobo marinated pork. Sophisticated dishes such as the Carne Asada and Salmon Adobado will expand visitors’ perception of Mexican cuisine.
With over 250 varieties, La Sandia’s Tequila Bar showcases the diversity of agave-based spirits. House infused Tequilas and Tequila flights are different ways to explore the collection.
Other Information
Cuisines: Mexican, Latin American
Price Range: Average
Glitzy, noisy and modern Mexicano, Richard Sandoval's Northern Virginia eatery (he also owns DC's Zengo and the two El Centro D.F. locations) serves not an upscale rendition of classical Mexican fare or even an experimental take on Tex-Mex eats. The menu stays put in familiar territory: think nachos and shrimp quesadilla appetizers, and fajitas and chiles rellenos for entrées. Two offbeat dishes are the chicken mole, an updated version of the turkey-based original, and the pork carnitas, with the meat bathed in its own hot fat and the sides of guacamole and beans forgettable. Perhaps the best bet is the queso fundido appetizer, a blend of three cheeses with the option of mushroom or chorizo add-ins. The margaritas are good, the caipirinhas not so. For shoppers on the run, the restaurant offers a Vamonos Express Lunch that includes the choice of a starter, soup or half-portion-size salad from the featured menu, plus the choice of an entrée.
