Little Miner Taco will continue its growth spurt with a new pop-up planned for Brookland this spring. Chef Mackenzie Kitburi already runs his brand’s two food trucks and brick-and-mortar shops in Brentwood and North Bethesda. One of the trucks is based in Baltimore. 

The team’s goal is to serve takeout breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a daily basis out of the former home of Smith Public Trust at 3514 12th St. NE. He’ll also use the space as a prep kitchen for the food trucks and the other locations. Little Miner Taco has been racing to keep up with demand since the start of the pandemic. “We’ve really grown fast,” Kitburi says. “We’re still trying to catch up and get organized as much as possible.” 

Most Little Miner Taco fans follow their nose to cheesy, savory birria de res quesotacos that come with a cup of savory consomme for dunking. To say birria, which originated in Jalisco, Mexico, is having a major food moment is an understatement. The dish is as comforting as a stolen afternoon nap under a weighted blanket. 

But Kitburi cautions against letting his line-drawing birria overshadow the rest of his menu. Also try the carne asada fries, queso-wrapped burritos, quesadillas, and a range of tacos. “My favorite is the cochinita pibil,” Kitburi advises. He slow roasts pork shoulder wrapped in banana leaves in the oven for six hours. Then he nestles the tender meat into a tortilla and tops it with a fiery salsa. On the Yucatán peninsula, the banana leaves would be buried below ground for the cooking process. 

And in a piece of good news for Brookland parents and caretakers: Little Miner Taco is bringing its kids eat free tradition to the pop-up. The options for little ones are plain quesadilla, chicken quesadilla, or pulled chicken tinga with rice. Adult prices land around $4 per standard taco or $15 for a trio of birria de res quesotacos.

Kitburi wants to launch in Brookland by the start of May and says the menu will mirror the one in Brentwood. The end date of the pop-up is not yet known. 

Little Miner Taco, 3514 12th St. NE; littleminertaco.com