Republic Cantina Menu (Update 2025)
Welcome to Republic Cantina, a vibrant culinary gem nestled in Washington, DC. This inviting establishment showcases an enticing menu that beautifully marries Tex-Mex flavors with a lively atmosphere. Patrons rave about the impeccable salsas and chips, often deemed the best in the city, alongside must-try dishes like poblano chicken and birria tacos, which deliver just the right amount of spice.
The attentive service and casual setting create an enjoyable dining experience, whether you're indulging in creamy tres leches cake or sharing a large fajitas platter with friends. Add a refreshing margarita or michelada to round off your meal perfectly. Whether it's a mid-afternoon escape or an exciting weekend evening filled with music and laughter, Republic Cantina offers a unique taste of Mexico that will leave you craving more.
Don't miss their late-night happy hour, aptly titled "outlaw hour", which keeps the good times rolling!
Dessert
Tres Leches Cake
chantilly cream, black pepper strawberry
Sopapillas
tossed in mesquite flour, sugar & cinnamon, served w/ chamomile honey
MHC Creme Brulee
lightly spiced chocolate custard w/ brulee crust & strawberry
Side Of 4 Tortillas
our fluffy housemade flour tortillas or sub corn tortillas (not made by Cantina!)
Street Corn
w/ mayo, cotjia cheese, lime juice, tajin, cumin, & cilantro
Side Pico
2oz portion
Side Pickled Jalapeno
2oz portion
Garlic Rice
our house white rice
Charro Beans
cooked w/ beer & bacon
Side Fresh Jalapeno
2oz portion
Side Cotija Cheese
2oz portion
Side Chihuaha Cheese
2oz portion
Side Guacamole
2oz portion
Side Cheddar Cheese
2oz portion
Refried Beans
Black Beans
topped w/ cotija cheese & onions
Side Crema
2oz portion
Sides
Coffee & Tea
16oz Drip Coffee
New Yorker by La Colombe. Medium roast w/ notes of cocoa, candied walnuts, nougat
12oz Drip Coffee
New Yorker by La Colombe. Medium roast w/ notes of cocoa, candied walnuts, nougat
Cold Brew
16oz cold brew, prepped in house - Brazil Beleza by La Colombe. Medium roast w/ notes of black currant, dulce de leche, cashew
Hot Tea
choice of flavors
Iced Tea
house black tea
Iced Latte
espresso with chilled milk and ice
Cortado
espresso drink of equal parts espresso and steamed milk
Iced Horchata Latte
espresso with chilled housemade spiced rice milk (note: also contains oat milk) and ice
Espresso
Frogtown by La Colombe. Medium roast w/ notes of marzipan, cacao, hazelnut
Cappuccino
espresso, steamed milk and foam
Mexicano
espresso & Mexican Coke
Americano
espresso with hot water
Latte
espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk on top
Espresso Drinks
Ninos
Kids Cheese Enchilada
1 cheese & onion enchi wrapped in corn tortilla. Comes w/ a side of rice & beans
Kids Quesadilla
small cheese quesadilla served on housemade flour tortillas. Comes w/ a side of rice & beans
Kids Hard Taco
1 beef taco topped w/ shredded cheese & lettuce. Comes w/ a side of rice & beans
Chips & Salsa
our house salsa roja, served with chips
Guacamole
simple and classic: avo, onion, lime, cilantro, jalapeno. Served with chips
Cantina Pupusa
classic pupusa filled with melty chihuaha cheese topped w/ slaw and salsa roja. Put a TX spin on it with an optional topping of guisada or brisket
Chile Con Queso
that good Texas style queso. Served with chips
Queso Compuesto
our house chile con queso with carne guisada, guac and pico de gallo. Served with chips
Apps
Non-Alcoholic
Orange Juice
Mexican Coke
The same great taste made with only pure cane sugar and served in a bottle.
Topo Chico
sparkling mineral water
Jarritos Grapefruit
grapefruit soda
Limeade
freshly squeezed lime juice, agave syrup
Horchata
housemade spiced rice milk (note: also contains oat milk)
Hot Tea
choice of flavors
Iced Tea
house black tea
Cold Brew
16oz cold brew, prepped in house - Brazil Beleza by La Colombe. Medium roast w/ notes of black currant, dulce de leche, cashew
Corn Tortillas
pack of 10. For the gluten intolerant (not made by Cantina!)
Fresno Hot Sauce
actually pretty mild! 2oz squeeze bottle
Habanero Hot Sauce
use sparingly. 2oz squeeze bottle
Coffee Beans
12oz, ground or whole
Parcooked Flour Tortillas
pack of 10. Just finish on a skillet at high heat!
Pantry
Breakfast Tacos
Potato & Egg Taco
w/ cheddar & onion, served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Smoked Mushroom & Tofu Scramble Taco
w/ seasonal veggies, guac served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Brisket & Egg Taco
w/ fried onion, potato, avo salsa, served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Bacon & Egg Taco
w/ cheddar, onion served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Chorizo & Egg Taco
w/ salsa verde, potato, cotija, served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Carne Guisada Taco
braised beef in chili gravy w/ scrambled egg, cheddar, scallions & tortilla crisps. Served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Migas Taco
scrambled egg, grilled onion/pepper, avo, cheddar, cotija & tortilla chips on top , served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Bean & Egg Taco
refried beans w/ cheddar, onion served on housemade flour tortilla w/ a side of salsa roja
Tijuana Caesar Salad
little gem, chipotle caesar dressing, sourdough croutons, cashew parmesan
Taco Salad
avo, black beans, onion, pico, cheddar & cotija, Fritos, cilantro ranch
Guacamole Salad
a Tex-Mex classic: romaine, guac, pickled onion, fresno, cilantro ranch
Salads
Chips & Things
Chile Con Queso
that good Texas style queso. Served with chips
Guacamole
simple and classic: avo, onion, lime, cilantro, jalapeno. Served with chips
Queso Compuesto
our house chile con queso with carne guisada, guac and pico de gallo. Served with chips
Chips & Salsa
our house salsa roja, served with chips
Avocado Texas Toast
avocado, guac, radish, fried onion, cotija cheese
Fruit & Granola
berries, granola, yogurt, honey & powdered sugar
Pupusa Platter
2 classic pupusa filled with melty chihuaha cheese topped w/ slaw and salsa roja. Put a TX spin on it with an optional topping of guisada or brisket
Migas Platter
scrambled egg, onion, pepper, cheddar, tortilla chips on top, 3 housemade flour tortillas
Chilaquiles
tortilla chips bathed in verdant chile sauce, topped w/ fried egg, avo, crema, onion, cilantro, pico & cotija cheese
Jesucristo Sandwich
our TX take on a Monte Cristo: brisket, ham, melty chihuahua & cheddar, served on Texas/French toast, topped w/ powdered sugar and mesquite flour, and served w/ a side of raspberry jam
Breakfast Enchis
1 brisket 1 veggie enchilada smothered in red chili gravy, topped w/ a fried egg
Big Breakfast
Soups
Smokey Tortilla Soup
chicken, beans, corn, tomato, onion & pepper, crema, cilantro, tortilla crisps, smoker drippings
Guacamole Salad
a Tex-Mex classic: romaine, guac, pickled onion, fresno, cilantro ranch
Avocado Texas Toast
avocado, guac, radish, fried onion, cotija cheese
Fruit & Granola
berries, granola, yogurt, honey & powdered sugar
Light Fare
Merch Items
T-Shirt: Gray
front: Taco Cowboy. Back: Don't Mess w/ DC Either!
T-Shirt: Creme
front: Taco Cowboy. Back: Don't Mess w/ DC Either!
Koozie
special Willie 90th bday edition! Keep your longneck cold, Cantina-style
Taco Dinner
served on our house flour tortillas. Your choice of 3 tacos - Chicken al Carbon w/ onions, peppers, guac & pico - Taco Norteno w/ carne guisada, grilled onions, avo & melty chihuahua - Pulled Pork w/ pina salsa, cabbage, chile arbol salsa - Smoked Mushroom w/ tofu & seasonal veggies - Grilled Shrimp w/ onions, peppers, guac, pico & chile arbol salsa
Veggie Enchiladas
3 enchiladas filled w/ squash, corn, mushrooms, cheddar & onion, smothered in green chile sauce. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Brisket Chili
brisket, beef, caramelized cornbread, ancho & pasilla chili, onion, cilantro, crema, cotija, NO BEANS
Fajitas: Pick 4
select 4 proteins. Serves 1; comes w/ onion & pepper, pico, guac & melty chihuahua cheese, w/ 8 housemade flour tortillas on the side. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Fajitas: Pick 3
select 3 proteins. Serves 1; comes w/ onion & pepper, pico, guac & melty chihuahua cheese, w/ 6 housemade flour tortillas on the side. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Braised Beef Birria
slow braised beef, melty Oaxaca cheese, grilled onion & cilantro on griddled corn tortilla. 3 tacos smoky beef broth consomme for dipping
Fajitas: Pick 2
select 2 proteins. Serves 1; comes w/ onion & pepper, pico, guac & melty chihuahua cheese, w/ 4 housemade flour tortillas on the side. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Brisket Enchiladas
3 enchiladas filled w/ brisket, cheddar & onion, smothered in chili sauce. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Poblano Chicken Enchiladas
3 enchiladas filled w/ chicken thigh, cheddar & onion, smothered in green chile sauce. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Cheese & Onion Enchiladas
3 enchiladas filled w/ cheddar & chihuahua cheeses, smothered in chili gravy. (Rice & beans may be purchased separately as a side)
Enchiladas
2 enchiladas topped w/ cotija cheese w/ our house white rice & refried beans.
Chicken Flautas
deep fried corn tortilla w/ chicken, cabbage, cotija, tomato salsa, pickled onion & micro cilantro
Taco Lunch
served on our house flour tortillas. Your choice of 2 tacos w/ our house white rice & refried beans - Chicken al Carbon w/ onions, peppers, guac & pico - Taco Norteno w/ carne guisada, grilled onions, avo & melty chihuahua - Pulled Pork w/ pina salsa, cabbage, chile arbol salsa - Smoked Mushroom w/ tofu & seasonal veggies - Grilled Shrimp w/ onions, peppers, guac, pico & chile arbol salsa