4. Restaurants

Tippy’s Taco House

8632 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA, 22031
  • (703) 560-0511
  • Store is closed

Tippy’s Taco House Menu

  • Tippy Specialities
  • Dips and Chips
  • A La Carta
  • Tippys Dinners
  • Carryout Only
  • Party Platters

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tippy’s Taco House

  • Tippy Specialities
  • Dips and Chips
  • A La Carta
  • Tippys Dinners
  • Carryout Only
  • Party Platters

Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 9490 Main St )

Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 9490 Main St )

  • Armand B.

    It's definitely not an authentic Mexican style restaurant. It's more like what I suspect rural North American "Mexican Food" probably was up until the late 1970's, as it would have been described in a Betty Crocker Cookbook from 1954. It tastes like a really fresh and well prepared Old El Paso taco dinner in a box, with crispy wet iceberg lettuce, sauce from a jar, meat cooked in a "taco" seasoning packet, and an acceptable store brand cheese. That's basically it, if you grew up in the suburbs of the 70's or 80's, this food will remind you a lot of what you might have had at home on taco night. I get the impression this place has been around at least 30 years, and it's definitely popular with the good ol' boys blue collar crowd. They're not trying to be pretentious, and it wasn't pricey, so all in all a decent experience.

    (3)

  • Garrett S.

    I've heard about this place many times from my uncle who spent a lot of time in NoVA when I was a kid. I saw a $20 for $10 deal on Amazon Local and figured I'd give it a try. With all the taco joints around here, I figured it would be good to try yet another. Well, my girl and I walked in and it was eerily quiet. The decor might have been updated in the early 80's. There was a REAL Rock-Ola jukebox, which would have been cool had it actually given me two plays for my quarter. The sound quality (or lack thereof) took Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and made it pretty awful. I thought vinyl was supposed to sound better... Anyway. The food. Dear lord. I mean, it's cheap. I get that. Fine. We struggled to come up with enough items to equal $20. we got the quesadilla with jalapenos. Strike one - pickled jalapenos. Strike two and three - American cheese. WTF? It only got worse when I realized they put American cheese on the burritos and tacos as well. The tostadas that came on the side were stale. The ONLY redeeming part of the meal was the guacamole which was amazing compared to everything else, but not really anything special compared to other local spots. I don't usually say this, but this place is really not good. I don't recommend going here unless you want to experience the low end of tacodom. It's like every now and then I'll drink a Bud/Coors/other macro crap to remind me how good craft beer really is - but that's mostly because I'm trying to be polite because it's all someone has to offer. I'd go to Taco Bell over Tippy's any day. People comparing this place to boxes of taco mix you make at home are insulting Old El Paso, Ortega, and Chi-Chi's. Home made tacos are bomb as hell compared to this.

    (2)

  • Sarah S.

    Tried this place for the first time. Not sure how I missed it for so long. We got some soft tacos, chalupas, and a Tippy's Wrap. I thought it was pretty good. I can see myself going back and trying one of their burritos.

    (3)

  • Tisha B.

    Umm...Three Words....excuse my French...but OH H@LL NO!! My stomach still hurts! I want my $23 bucks back dangit! To give a clue about how terrible this place was, here are a few direct quotes from my Kindergartener: "Mommy, this is gross. You should go tell that lady (the waitress) how yucky this is" "Mommy, can we go to Chipotle right now? This is the most disgusting quesadilla EVER." They don't know how to make a quesadilla" "We are NEVER coming back here again! Yuck!" I wish I was making this up. First, it was clearly our first time here...because we walked in and sat down. The lady at the counter let us sit there for five minutes twiddling her thumbs and didn't say a thing about the need for us to order at the counter. I ordered the chicken fajitas, a cheese quesadilla for my little one and a salsa and queso trio. It was all down hill from there... 1) I heard a microwave go off....Huh?! What are you possibly microwaving back there? Mexican is so easy to make you can't possibly be nuking our stuff because we are litterally the only order you have. 2) Quesadilla - was made with these weird chunks of tomato and america cheese slices...even though I asked for cheese only. So she took it back and I heard that darn microwave again...exactly 60 seconds later, my baby was served a cheese "product" quesadilla that was growing harder by the second. He took one look and said, I am not eating that lol. 3) "Chicken" fajitas - my chicken was the chicken slices in those instant chicken bags you can find at Safeway or somewhere. The seasoning blend was an Italian blend instead of Mexican which immediately threw me off. To top it off, the meat slices were fatty cuts. Eww. I was served a few shreds of iceberg lettuce, about 8 little dices of tomatoes and some sweaty cheddar cheese shreds. It was horrible. I made one fajita just so I could say I tried it and after two bites, my tummy started rumbling. EWW just EWW 3) Salsa trio - seriously, HOW does one mess up salsa?!?!?! Why is it runny? Why can't I see any real veggie chunks in it? The guac was just as bad as there were no visible vegetables or even salt in it. Literally, the only palatable thing on our table was the queso dip which was Tositos brand...we ate a few chips and left. Needless to say, we enjoyed our Chipotle bowl and quesadilla that much more that night. I wish I had asked for a refund but oh well...lesson learned! NEVER AGAIN!

    (1)

  • Wendy W.

    This is not the best taco joint but with $0.99 taco Saturdays, what is there to complain about?!?! For less than $20, 2 people can gorge on tacos until they pass out. There aren't that many places like this anymore! My advice is to skip the nachos and enchiladas and stick with the tacos. Your tummy will thank you for it.

    (2)

  • Nicole W.

    This little taco joint is a hidden gem. I went on a Sunday and was excited to see that they have $1 tacos on the weekends! The hard shell "meat" taco was awesome and you can't beat $1. I bought two and then came back for 2 more. The meat was seasoned well and the hot sauce that they have on the table (in a little jar) added a delicious kick! I kept spooning more on. Unfortunately I tried a chicken taco and was not impressed. It was bland and even the hot sauce didn't help. This place isn't fancy at all. It's very casual and no frills (kind of a hole in the wall). But I will definitely be back for $1 tacos. The service was good and quick. The lady at the counter was polite and she brought the tacos to the table when they were ready. If you're in Merrifield you should try this place!

    (4)

  • Roxanna H.

    Honestly their tacos taste like they came out of a box hahah like the ones you can easily make from buying a couple boxed Mexican items from Safeway. If you're really hungry and want something super freaking cheap sure go here. But their tacos suck and so does their salsa it also tastes out of a tostitos can which I kind of enjoy homemade not canned salsa haha

    (2)

  • Henry T.

    I have mourned the absence of Taco Bell since it was demolished in Merrifield. In college, I was told that the small Taco Bell franchise at the corner of Gallows and Lee Highway was the highest grossing TB in Virginia. Today I was in the mood for tacos, so I ventured to Tippy's. I really had high hopes, but I am left mediocre taste in my mouth (but a full stomach). I had 4 tacos for $5. Two bean, two ground beef. Overall taste and quality...eh. It's pretty much the same as you buy one of the home taco kits from the supermarket. Actually no, you would season the meat more at home. Walking into the restaurant is like stepping back into 80's. The decor is dated and there is about as much ambience as a garage sale. I don't plan to go back to Tippy's until they decide to serve better food.

    (2)

  • Simon L.

    The best way to describe Tippy's is, it's a mom and pop Taco Bell with an amazing ( and spicy) hot sauce. Don't come here expecting authentic tacos or a culinary masterpiece. (Go to a food truck or Taco Bamba, if that's what you're looking for) As a native to Fairfax, coming here is like a trip down memory lane. It was one of my after-school go to spots as a teenager with friends when we had no money but a large appetite. I get nostalgic feels every time I come here with the decor that looks like I've traveled back in time to the 80s or early 90s. Upon arrival, you order at the counter and the food is brought to you within a few minutes. Typically when I come here, I only get the tacos because everything else is sub par. If you want a burrito or a quesadilla, go to Chipotle and the many other Tex-mex fast food joints available in the area. As for the tacos, they are Americanized, using seasoned ground beef with lettuce, tomato chunks, and shredded cheese. Similar to what you would make out of a box at home. But what really keeps me coming back here after all these years is the home made hot salsa/sauce. It comes in a little clear saucer that is re-used but if you like your food very spicy then this place is at least worth a try. The prices are dirt cheap. On weekends expect to pay only 99 cents for a hard shell taco and they also have an option for all you can eat hard tacos with a soft drink for 13.50. My last piece of advice is this place sometimes leaves my stomach unsettled but that could quite possibly be due to the excessive amounts of hot sauce that I use.

    (3)

  • Kelsey K.

    Tippys is delicious! It's obviously not authentic and it's a hole in the wall but if you're looking for some cheap basic tacos then it's perfect! Their chili/rice and guacamole tacos are really good.

    (5)

  • Megan B.

    Tippy's Tacos is pretty freaking disgusting. The queso is filled with greasy ground beef. The grease was pooled on the top of the queso. It was disgusting and made me feel very sick. The beef tacos were also saturated in disgusting grease. The atmosphere is very hole in the wall. The prices are cheap but the quality warrants the prices. The food didn't have much seasoning or flavor, as other reviewers have also mentioned. I will not be back.

    (2)

  • Brandy F.

    Inedible. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and I took one bite and threw it away. It had American cheese and frozen chicken slices. No flavor. Something like what you would get in an elementary school cafeteria. I also ordered guacamole. Also inedible. Tasted like bland mush. To sum up, the food was so bad that I refused to eat it. If I could give it negative stars, I would.

    (1)

  • Ashley J.

    Disappointing if you're hoping for authentic Mexican food. The taco shells looked to be straight from a box just as the chips did. The salsa, I'm fairly certain was something like Pace Picante. There may be people that want that sort of thing, but I hope for and value genuine authenticity.

    (1)

  • Miranda L.

    Forget Chipotle and all those other places; Tippy's is the go-to place in the area for Mexican food! It's a hole in the wall but that's what makes in near and dear to my heart. Everything here is great, but my fav is Tippy's Wrap, which is a burrito with queso and sautéed onions amongst other things (but the queso stood out to me the most)! SO GOOD. The perfect comfort food.

    (5)

  • Danny N.

    We've been eating at tippys for close to 20 years. The black haired lady who's always there at this location at the counter seems to have a problem with women. My wife ordered 2 tacos with guacamole. I stood right beside her and heard her order. She paid and sat down. My wife said "I think she overcharged me. She looked at the receipt and said " She charged me for 3 tacos". I said that's okay, I'll eat it along with my Mexican pizza that I ordered. When they came, none of them had guac on them. She took them up to the lady and very nicely told her. The lady said "There's nothing I can do about it. " my wife said " You can't give me the guacamole that I ordered on my tacos?" "No" she said. "You didn't order guacamole." My wife came back to the table and sat down, upset. This was not the first time the lady had been argumentative with my wife. On other occasions I convinced her to just blow it off. She wanted to tell her we'd never be back this time. ( she didn't even mention that she only ordered 2 tacos!) I told my wife, "She doesn't care. Let's just leave and tell everyone we know about the experience. After all, the place is pretty sad. We only go because it's a block from our house and it's one of those run down little places you can go when you've been working in the yard and don't look your best. :) You certainly don't go there because they have great food, for the ambiance or pricing. What does that leave? Certainly not the service! Taco Bell is a couple of notches up the food quality list, cheaper and nicer. It leaves only the convenience of being a block away. Sorry. That's not enough to make up for everything else that's deficient. So we'll never go back even though it is so close. I'd recommend you try taco bell for a better, cheaper, and friendlier meal.

    (1)

  • S T.

    5 crispy tacos and an order of chips with chunky salsa. Went on a Saturday. $0.99 for each taco. $3 for chips and salsa. Tastes a lot like Taco Bell's. Friendly atmosphere, great staff.

    (4)

  • James J.

    Total dive of a place, real small, one register, ten tables. But top tier tacos. 99 cents each on weekends and all sorts of other deals. Nachos are killer, while looking sketchy and sure to pack a herpes packed punch to the intestines they are quite tasty and made with real cheese. Salsa is also good even though it is pretty thick. Bottom tier beverage selection, any place with birch beer never gets exalts from me. The old jukebox is a rad touch along with the logo and fun apparel. I love me some tippys!

    (4)

  • Anna Laura B.

    Decent little dive. The tacos are pretty much the same as something you'd get at Taco Bell as a few other reviewers noted. The additions such as the fajitas nachos etc that are a step above Taco Bell are what keep me coming. It's cheap, fast, and tasty. Is it the best I've ever had? Definitely not. But if I am hungry and passing by it's worth a stop.

    (3)

  • James S.

    I love tacos and just found Tippy's. I ordered 80 tacos for my team and we enjoyed them so much we now have Tippy's Taco days!!!! If you like tacos you have to try Tippy's.

    (4)

  • Othman B.

    I will be so, so sad if this place ever goes out of business. I only go about once every couple months, but every time I'm there I'm asking myself why I don't go more often. I don't know what it is they put in that taco meat or what temperature they bake those taco shells but nobody else does it like Tippy's Taco House.

    (5)

  • Lori Y.

    I'm originally from San Diego and have been on a search for great, cheap Mexican food place in NoVA/DC. As soon as I walked into the door, I had a great feeling about finding a "hole-in-the-wall" place. The price was great, they had a good selection of items and it felt like it was a family owned place. Unfortunately, once I got my food, it went all down hill from there. Maybe I got the wrong item (taquitas) or they were off that day (Wednesday night), but the food was bland, including the guacamole! My husband got the California burrito, which was just ground beef in a tortilla covered in chili; definitely not the California burrito that I'm use to and not a good representation of California nor Mexican food. On the plus side: the salsa had good flavor and heat and the chili was pretty good. I'm sorry, but that's not enough for us to come again.

    (1)

  • Pai K.

    We love the tacos and chips w/ queso! Decor could use an update but the food isn't bad for the price

    (5)

  • Dean R.

    The place is a bit of a dive - but, there is an all you can eat option and there are daily specials - it is a pepsi store (bummer) - prices are reasonable and food is good. And if you are into Ham Radio - stop by on Saturdays at 1PM and meet some great guys that are Ham radio gurus.

    (4)

  • Karen W.

    I just love this little dive of a taco place. It is always clean and brightly lit, with fast service and great tacos. Also love the chip and salsa (try the hot salsa). You get a lot of food for a few bucks. Parking is easy and service is always pleasant. A great meal for the price.

    (4)

  • Ashley L.

    Don't get anything but the tacos. These tacos are the bomb! It's a taco house, people review this place poorly because they don't order the tacos. Even if you are a meat lover, try the bean tacos, they are just as delicious! I think they've recently changed the meat recipe too, because it just got even better!

    (5)

  • Jake E.

    Don't listen to the haters, Tippy's has great tacos for a very affordable price. Their taco sauce is awesome and I personally recommend the bean tacos. I think that most of the people that rated negatively strayed to other parts of the menu but it's called Tippy's TACO House for a reason. Get the tacos and you won't have any regrets.

    (5)

  • Sarah K.

    This place brings back fond memories of chowing down here after high school with friends. Stopped by today and it hasn't changed a bit. I don't know what all the bad reviews are about--c'mon people, it's supposed to be a dive! It's perfect for what it is--cheap, fast Mexican food that hits the spot when you are hungry. I had the "Tampico Snack"--a meat taco, queso and guacamole, and two big tostada chips for about $3.50. I planned on it just being a snack since I couldn't eat dinner for hours, but by the time dinner rolled around, I was still full! It was a decent amount of food for a cheap price--I especially love the queso! I honestly don't mind the meat at all and thought the taco was good! Yeah it isn't "fancy", but it's good--It's typical taco-seasoned ground beef just like your Mom would make. I do have a feeling that the appetizers and tacos may be your best bet--I haven't gotten to try a lot of the other entrees simply because I don't live close by. I also love that Tippy's is a unique local business--they've been in business in NOVA since 1958--you gotta love that. I encourage everyone to give Tippy's a chance--it's a cute throwback kind of place and a lot more unique than stopping by Taco Bell or Chipotle! I heard someone say that with Tippy's you either love it or hate it. So, I guess, to quote the corny song "I don't care, I love it!"--give it a chance and I hope you will too.

    (5)

  • Thomas A.

    Tippys, what can I say. It's a Northern Virginia mainstay. I've enjoyed them for the past 20 years at various locations. It's certainly not gourmet Mexican cuisine, but it isn't indented to be. It's fast, inexpensive, and pretty darn tasty. Everything is prepared very simply, almost like home made. I especially like the tangy taco sauce they put on all the tables. It makes the light, crispy hard shell tacos that much better. If you happen to drive by one of these give it a try instead of yet another visit to Taco Bell. I shouldn't cost much more and I think you'll be very pleased.

    (4)

  • Avneet K.

    Great tacos, great price. Definitely check this place out if you want some crispy flavorful beef tacos topped with spicy salsa.

    (4)

  • Eboni B.

    This place is a real treat! The staff is super friendly and they always take care of me when I visit. My true love is their salsa. It has just enough kick to make you beg for more. Sometimes, I go just to get a pint of the salsa for dishes I prepare at home. I usually get the hard tacos or nachos with the works. It's an enjoyable cheap meal if that is what you are going for. I do not dine here often because the quality of the meat is not so great...but for an occasional thing, not so bad. The service, staff and salsa keeps this place at 4 stars for me.

    (4)

  • Mitch R.

    The amount of hate for Tippy's is ridiculous. This is not a fine dining or gourmet experience. It is super cheap, fast Mexican food and it wasn't ever intended to be anything else. All of you cry-babies need to calm down and take a step back to reevaluate. Do NOT compare this to Cactus Cantina or Uncle Julio's, as it is not meant to even be in the same league. Do you really think your $3 burrito is going to compare to theirs? No, it isn't. It is a step up from Taco Bell, and it is delicious if you set your standards. That being said, I love their "All you care to eat" weekend specials and their gravy is still as good as ever.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    If you want cheap tex-mex comfort food, this is the place to go. The bean and cheese Sancho is pretty good, and I don't know anywhere else in NoVa that makes them. Just don't expect a gourmet meal - just fast, cheap and decent food.

    (3)

  • Brian Z.

    Had the "special," which is a plate of rice, refried beans, some kind of taquito business, two hard-shell tacos, and two "tostadas" which are just flat crispy corn tortillas. All the food was reminiscent of taco day at any middle-school cafeteria in the US. Bland tortilla shells, bland ground beef, freezing cold iceberg lettuce, and still frozen cheddar cheese. No al pastor or barbacoa, or anything like that here. Very authentic if your idea of Mexican food is whatever is on the outside of the box of the Chi-Chi's DIY taco kit. It's cheap and the people are nice, but the food is dull.

    (2)

  • Cary C.

    This place is gross. Period. It is the worst Mexican food I have ever had. Aside from the chips and queso--which is the only thing I would ever get here again--I have literally had better microwave Mexican. My boyfriend and I used to get chips and queso all the time from here, and one night we decided to try some other stuff for dinner. I thought maybe what I ordered was just not their best...I think I tried ordering almost everything on this menu over a span of a year, hoping there would be ONE gem (since it's so cheap, and so close to where my boyfriend lives), and every single thing I ordered sucked. Again, aside from the chips and queso. So if you want an appetizer of chips and queso before dinner, this is your place. For any other food, I would seriously rather eat Taco Bell...it is legitimately much, much better than this food.

    (1)

  • Ron H.

    Tippy's is great alternative for cheap Mexican food that isn't Taco Bell. There is no waiter service - it's order at the counter, pay and pick up. The quality is midway between fast food and a sit-down restaurant. It's just right if you crave Mexican, want it fast and simple - perfect for business lunch. The ambiance is much like a family pizzeria and the cleanliness and bathrooms are passable. They run a weekend special on Saturdays and Sundays were you can get all-you-can-eat tacos, burritos, rice, beans, chili INCLUDING drink for $12.95. They also offer "taco kits"where you can get corn tortilla, meat and fixings for parties and get togethers. The location on Lee Highway can be a little difficult if coming from across the street, but the restaurant is down the road from the Merrifield Mess (construction at Gallows) which is a big plus for me. Try the nacho deluxe with beans, sour cream and guacamole. I used to get this for lunch all the time at their old location Columbia Pike in Arlington. Unfortunately this location closed down many year ago.

    (3)

  • Dana Z.

    I'm sorry but I just don't get it. These are two very generous stars. I never heard of this place before today and had no idea it was a chain. I stumbled upon Tippy's when I was in rush hour traffic. (I was already in my car for 90 minutes and not moving and I had to eat before my class) So I ordered and sat down to go over my homework. The food came before I could even open my book. It was almost TOO quick. I think I've waited longer at a McDonalds. The food was okay, but what is with the processed velveeta like cheese?! That was a let down. It also gave me a stomach ache after I ate there. Not what I want when I have to sit through a 2 1/2 hour class :-(

    (2)

  • Sara W.

    Let me start off by saying that I have friends that LOVE this place. I can't figure out why, but they do. The only thing in my opinion that this place has going for it is it is cheap. The food is nasty. The wait can be long. It looks dirty. They were also closed last year by the health department.

    (1)

  • Drew S.

    Authentic? Not really, but the price is right. An inexpensive option where you get a good amount of food. Quality is just north of eating a "4th meal". I can take it or leave it.

    (2)

  • Charles E.

    Pretty nappy establishment they got going here. I appreciate that it's just a cheap dive and that prices are low (99 cent tacos, $12.50 all you can eat specials). This is because the meat is just taco-bell level if not lower. It takes them just a second to bring out your food which is a plus but this is just because the meat is sitting there in troughs ready to ladle into your burrito/taco. On my visit the meat wasn't very warm. Definitely not recommended. For the same price it takes to house the 7 gross tacos you'd need to feel sated at Tippy Tacos, you could go just down the street and get a legit burrito at Chipotle.

    (2)

  • Ginny R.

    Best cheap tex-mex food ever. Best cheese dip I've ever had anywhere. Now listen, this place is a dive. Get carry out. I used to go to the one in Laurel, MD when I was a kid. It was a family tradition and a well kept dirty little secret. When I moved to VA and discovered they had one here, I was over the moon. It used to be just one joint run by a biker from Texas. I don't know how it became a franchise, but God bless. If you like Taco Bell, you have to switch to this place. SO much better and more authentic tex-mex...which is to say greasy, yummy gravy, cheesy wonderful-ness.

    (4)

  • Trixi S.

    I usually visit the Tippy's in Centreville but happened to be in the Fairfax area so I stopped in for lunch. Just about everything about this experience was sub-par. The first thing I noticed was the smaller selection of menu items. When our food came (the same order of nachos & crispy tacos we get every time) we were amazed at the portion size. About a third less was on the nachos plate - less chips, almost no cheese, 3 jalapeño slices (literally), a teaspoon of tomatoes and a sprinkling of beef. The tacos were equally sparse, barely filling up the tiny taco shell with even lettuce, had to search for tomatoes and couldn't find but 5 little cubes :( Things didn't taste as fresh either. It was REALLY sad. I'm sticking with the Centreville location from now on. Difference is like night & day!!

    (1)

  • Caitlin B.

    This place isn't too bad if you just want a quick lunch. The place is a little dirty and there are some horror stories circulating about the cleanliness/food quality, but there is one saving grace for Tippy's: their sauce is fantastic. It's one of the only reasons I ever go to Tippy's.

    (3)

  • Anna Y.

    Mom and pop style taco shop with oldschool plastic booth seats and retro jukebox machine. We got the daily special which was less than $7. The special included two burritos (meat and bean) with mexican rice (or you can choose beans). We also ordered 4 tacos for less than $5. It was so much food! To be honest with you, I do not like mexican food, but I liked it here. The bean burrito was the best I ever tasted. I usually hate it because it tastes so bland, but if was so flavorful here. I actually like this better than the chain restaurants that specialize in mexican food because it has more flavor and is more homemade. For the same price, wouldn't you rather eat somewhere where it tastes better rather than have to pay more for copyrighted and commericial atmosphere than flavor?

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    Oh gross, this place is disgusting. I couldn't even believe how bad the food was. I asked which entre would be more recommended, the enchiladas or chicken fajita salad. They said the salad so I got it, but didn't eat more than two bites. It was all cold, yucky chicken, brown lettuce, and pink tomatoes in a crunchy shell. If this was supposed to be the better option, my goodness, I don't want to try the enchiladas. To be fair, the guacamole appetizer was fine-tasting and my husband said his burrito was edible, for what that's worth. The decor was cheap, but I don't really care about that--it was the food that was disappointing. Personally, I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Kevin O.

    Don't come here expecting authetic Mexican. It's like Taco Bell Plus. I had the lunch special which was like a big taco salad thing with chips and soda. They didn't skimp on anything and I didn't leave hungry. The interior feels like the 80s in a way i can;t really put my finger on, but i liked it.

    (3)

  • Jennifer D.

    The tacos are awesome but everything else was just okay. My husband got the burrito and I got an enchilada - definitely had better elsewhere. But the tacos are great and I think they are only 99 cents on weekends.

    (4)

  • Chris D.

    Awesome. Super fast service. Great tasting fresh ingredients. Amazing value. You simply can't beat 99c tacos Saturday and Sunday.

    (5)

  • Eric N.

    This place is considered a landmark in Fairfax for whatever reason unknown to me. Since my gf works right down the street, we just had to try this place out for lunch. She got a chicken burrito and I got the famous California beef burrito, covered in chili con carne. For starters, it was okay. I didn't really see what the whole special thing was. The burrito was decent, but nothing spectacular at all. Anitas makes burritos just as good as here. I won't come out of my way to eat here again, but since my gf works down the street, I might try something else in the future.

    (2)

  • Tony C.

    Love the food here, I always get a combo plate. Also, the lady who works there weekdays has a great ASS !!!

    (5)

  • Mary Fletcher J.

    Honestly, I don't know why I keep coming back but the truth is I like this place, because it just feels homey to me and they have birch beer. I do think Taco Bell and Baja Fresh are better, it's hard to park, and there are almost no songs on the juke box, but it's just so quaint and after all they do have a juke box. My son likes it too. There is one thing I really like to get and that is the Tampico Snack. I think it is $3.75. You get a little cup of queso (yummy), a little cup of guacamole (really yummy), a meat taco, and 2 flat corn tortillas. It's a nice portion size. The salsa is different. It's very tomatoey and acidic. I still eat it in small doses but it's not my favorite. Oddly, I get a craving for it every so often. They sell corn chips by the bag, and they are very, very good. I don't know what it is, but about every 2 weeks I come back. It is not the best Mexican food you will ever have but there is just some undefinable thing -- maybe because it is kind of old and unique.

    (2)

  • Alan M.

    The reason for 4 stars is because the food is good. The place is a hole in the wall, FYI. Zero ambiance, zero mood, zero music. The cheese could be better. Overall, you are getting what you pay for. A Tippy's Taco. It tastes pretty close to Mexican as you're gonna get for the price, and location.

    (4)

  • Jodi B.

    This particular location was a favorite of my husband's and mine when we were dating more than a decade again. He likes the classic meat taco "MT." and I like the guacamole taco. Well, we went back today. This is a much better location than the other one in Fairfax that I panned in my other Yelp review. But this place has gone downhill. Stale tacos. Meat was low quality. Tomatoes on tacos were almost non-existent. And we won't be going back. They do still have birch beer though.

    (3)

  • Billy L.

    I'd heard so many good things about this place. It makes me think that maybe there's another Tippy's Taco House in the area. The dollar tacos where what drew me in, but I was disheartened to find that they focused on quantity over quality.

    (2)

  • Alex C.

    Before writing this review I wanted to give this place a chance. I've been there a few times now, trying different items, but in the end I'm going to have to give the place a "meh". It's not bad, but I wasn't pleasantly surprised by anything I've tried. The Tippy's wrap, which is basically a burrito, was probably my favorite. However, having had really good burritos in California I can't really say it's anywhere near the best I've had. I thought the service and price is really good. The fact that it's the closest food place near me will probably have me coming back for a cheap bite. If it wasn't for that fact, I probably would just settle for Taco Bell.

    (3)

  • Alan N.

    Not much to say about this place other than the taco's are fast and they are simple, the service is awesome and its definitely a good spot to hit up for lunch time.

    (3)

  • Philip T.

    Do not eat at Tippy's Taco House on Lee Hwy.; it is the most disgusting, execrable, inferior excuse for Mexican food I have ever found. Even if your only ready alternative is Taco Bell, 7-11, or some microwavable frozen TV dinner, it will certainly be far superior to anything you'll get at Tippy's. We live only a few hundred yards from this place, and have given it a few tries through the years -- I would kill to have a decent Mexican place that close! I honestly don't see how they stay in business; it's just unredeemably awful, and no one in their right mind would eat there a second time if there is any alternative.

    (1)

  • J L.

    I went to Tippy's with the roommates (two locals from Vienna and one not) on the basis that it was "awesome" and had "great tacos." We go on a Saturday for dinner. The restaurant is located in a bit of a run down shopping center. The decor, if you would call it that, was something reminiscent of Chinese takeout crossed with the 1970's. Add in that we were the only customers and it should have been obvious what to expect. I decide on two chicken soft tacos, one regular taco, and a Dos Equis. The food came out way to quick to be fresh i.e., it was sitting in a steam tray. The chicken tacos were not even hot and tasted like salt. The proportions of cheese (if any), lettuce (overflowing), and tomato (a few) were bad. The other taco was bland, so much so that I don't event remember what it tasted like. My one roommate ordered chips with queso and guacamole. The queso tasted sour while the guac was decent. The chips were nothing special. One redeeming feature was the hot sauce which was surprisingly good considering the lack on all other parts. After the fact, the local roommates raved about this place being as great as it was in high school. I could not see why anyone wouldn't venture to say Taco Hell is better. The non local roommate agreed that this place was not worth it, further adding if we are driving into Fairfax for tacos, we might as well go to Anitas. Considering the vast amount of Mexican venues in the area, do yourself a favor and try somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Bro H.

    If you are craving a crunchy taco with ground beef, this is your spot. I get that craving occasionally, what can I say? This location, for some reason, has higher prices than the other Fairfax location, and if there's one thing a Tippy's Tacos doesn't need, it's higher prices. Charging more than a dollar for one of these tiny tacos is pretty inexcusable, but, I mean, it's like a buck ten or something, I can't really get that angry about it. If you get anything that's not a taco, you're going to land somewhere between disappointed and disgusted, gotta be honest. However, they do crunchy tacos well, and you can get full for under five bucks, so, hey. Not too bad.

    (3)

  • A J.

    Awesome! This little hole in the wall taco house is a hidden gym. For what it is, Tacos, it beats fast food chains and they obviously make there tacos, tostados, etc... from scratch. The queso is fantastic. Also, the taco sauce is homemade. Good for lunch or take out for a family taco night.... would not recommend for a dinner outing. Also, there is absolutely no atmosphere. Great tacos, queso, and taco sauce!!!!!

    (5)

  • Elana G.

    I finally went here a second time. I've changed my mind. If you stick with the tacos only it's pretty good. The ground beef is actually really flavorful. Though the plastic cheese (obviously process cheese that looks like plastic to me) they put on it is kind of unappetizing. They should use real cheese. I got two hard tacos and a soft taco, which was plenty for me. And I don't know how I missed this last time but they have birch beer! That's hard to find in a fountain. I'd probably go back here just to get some birch beer.

    (3)

  • Colleen S.

    I LIKE this place - the guacamole is homemade and great! I like the queso though it's like a processed cheese - it's different and goes well with the food. I also absolutely LOVE the hot sauce - I usually buy a pint of it to take home. It's the bomb (but spicy). The tacos are good and decently priced - it's lettuce, tomato and cheese. My husband and I both like the California Burrito which is a burrito with meat and beans smothered in their chili. My fave is the Combination Burrito - meat, beans, cheese, lettuce and tomato - I add the guacamole and sour cream and hot sauce and it's the bomb. The chips are homemade too and are great! They don't have a ton of salt on them like store bought though and if you like the salt then you might not care for them like I do. This is not designer Mexican - it's more like fast food Mexican as others have said but I think it's WAY better than Taco Bell. We eat here about 1x a month or a little less. They have specials that are generous too and the all you care to eat on the weekend if you're eating in. The dining room reminds me of 1970s or 1980s but it's clean and fun and if you eat in, you just sit down and they bring your food out to you. My fave Birch Beer is on tap too! Love this place! PS. As others have stated - DON'T park over in the lot to the right of the place - they will tow you (townhomes or something like that). Sometimes you have to walk from the other end of the small strip mall that the place is located in but it's not far - there are only about 5 or 6 stores.

    (4)

  • Barbara J.

    I have been going to Tippys in Fairfax for years. Their tacos are the best. I'm not sure why, but I just can't get enough of them. For a fast food place, their tacos are way better than any sit down fancy Mexican food restaurant. Their cheese queso dip and guacamole are great as well.

    (5)

  • Pete H.

    I love good hole-in-the-wall Mexican places (like where English is a second language and I'm the only gringo in there) and was hopeful this would be one. Not even close. The cheese is mediocre Velveeta-type cheese, the tacos were pretty flavorless (I got the chicken and the beef). Honestly, was so hopeful for something simple but good and this just completely fell short for me. Disappointing.

    (2)

  • Palma B.

    Yes, this place is a little piece of hole-in-the-wall heaven on earth. It doesn't look like much but the food is great, the prices are super reasonable and there are always specials. The hot sauce, queso and cheese are amazing!! Get the $12 taco kit to-go when you want a night in...it has everything you need for 2 people and you'll still have left-overs. My parents and I have been going their since I was little, and now its also become a favorite spot for my boyfriend and I....sigh. Will definitely keep going back as long as it's around!

    (4)

  • David K.

    The very first day I moved to the DC area, I drove by this Tippy's Taco House while I explored my new Fairfax neighborhood looking for a grocery store, 7-11, etc. At the time, I remember thinking, "Awesome! A taco shop, Fairfax will be just like San Diego." I immediately stopped, went in and ordered a taco and some enchiladas. The interior looked like what I was used to, the cashier spoke Spanish, it seemed authentic. I dug into my enchiladas and realized these were about as tasty as a Banquet frozen meal. And I'm a person that enjoys eating pseudo Mexican slop like Taco Bell. The tacos were slightly better, certainly edible. The real problem with the enchiladas was the sauce sued. It was bland, and a weird dull maroon color. They attempted to compensate by drowning it in cheese, which is a method I'm not a fan of (ask me my opinion of Queso Fundido and it's relation to a fat bomb). I didn't find Tippy's to be a very good value either. For this Taco Bell caliber food, I'm paying significantly more. The next time I'm eager to make a fresh batch of poop water, I'll be sure to make a triumphant return to this location of Tippy's. It's almost a guarantee.

    (2)

  • Sean R.

    First time at Tippy's Taco, I decided I needed to try A LOT! Tried the California Burrito, Beef Nachos, Beef Tacos and Chicken Quesadilla. Don't listen to the 1 star reviews on here. Those people are haters. For the quality and price, Tippy's taco is a legit hole-in-the-wall mexican place worthy of its praise. The restaurant had every seat taken and a line at the counter, so obviously people are fans of the food. Very inexpensive, quick service and delicious food. Food is reminiscent of a taco truck stand you would find in California. Highly recommend. I bought a $15 for $30 deal on DoubleTakeDeals and I will be back soon to try some other items!

    (4)

  • Deborah Z.

    Cheap it is. However, I would prefer to pay a little more to get better mexican food. I do not think it is a step up from Taco Bell. I had more flavor in my food at Taco Bell than here. I odered the california barrito platter. The rice tasted so bad I left it. It really did not have any flavor to the beans and barrito. I will not visit this restaurant again

    (2)

  • Sonja J.

    Our geographic area hosts a variety of Latin food: Peruvian, Salvadoran, Mexican, Bolivian, Argentinean, Brazilian, TexMex. We also have a number of commercialized Latin food restaurants: Taco Bell, Chevy's, On The Border, Baja Fresh, Chipotle. "Authentic" doesn't necessarily make food better (I've had really crappy American meatloaf by both American restaurant chefs and home cooks). Similarly, being commercial doesn't necessarily make food bad (I can't resist ANY fried chicken from anywhere). What makes something "good" or "bad" is also influenced by our expectations: if I grew up on mac and cheese made with blue and cream cheese and you give me something with aged white cheddar and fontina, I might back pedal. And then there are situations where the food just sucks. If you want plain ol' TexMex burritos, chalupas, or tacos, outstanding guac and picante sauce (the latter are both house made), then you'll like this place. If you want to eat your fill for little money, go on a weekend. If you want gourmet beans, rice, or enchiladas, go to a different place. The people and service are friendly and welcoming. Oh, yeah, and get a T-shirt... they're so cool!

    (5)

  • Anson P.

    Some days I get that craving to test fate and play some Russian Roulette with my GI tract. Today was one of those days. Tippy's Taco House has always been one of those places that I have always wondered about. I ordered up 4 crispy tacos and a chicken fajita burrito. I think the food is slightly better than what you would get at Taco Bell. The crispy beef tacos had a good amount of taco meat and were topped with lettuce and tomato. The lettuce wasn't particularly fresh but it was still ok. The chicken fajita burrito was soaked in what I assume was chicken fajita juice when I opened up the foil wrapper. It was topped with lettuce, tomato, and sauteed onions. Not the highest quality but still good. The hot sauce that came with the meal was pretty good. Definitely a step up from the hot sauce you get at Taco Bell. 4 tacos and a burrito for less than 10 bucks. This place is a hole in the wall. The decor is that of a taco hut. There's plenty of seating inside. Note: park only in front of the place. Do not park in the office park next to Tippy's or you'll get ticketed or towed. This place is what it is. You can fill yourself up for 10 bucks although, those of you with a more eloquent palate should probably stay away. For me, it got the job done. If I'm nearby, I could consider coming back. They also have all you can eat options on Saturday and Sunday. If I really feel lucky, I'll give it a try.

    (3)

  • C R.

    It was okay. Made me full, but just as ordinary..or maybe imitation mexican place. it's so average, that it's underaverage. I'd rather go to taco bell..

    (2)

  • Max M.

    0 Stars. It troubles me that I'm forced to give this place a single start it doesn't deserve. I wish there was an option to not give this place a single star. In short: WORST FOOD EVER. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CONSIDER EATING HERE. I find it really disturbing that anyone has written a review of this place to say anything other than how ridiculously bad it is. A friend of mine lives nearby and I wanted to pick up some food on the way to his house and he said this is the closest place to get something quick, but the food is worse than dog food. I checked reviews to see if there was any validity to him insisting that this place is the worst, but apparently some idiots have either been paid by this place or they own the place or are affiliated with the owners, because anyone with taste buds is out of their mind to give this place more than one star. I ordered a chicken burrito, which came with diced up pieces of microwaved chicken. I don't mean chicken that was cooked or ever prepared by a human and then reheated either, I mean the chicken was like some disgusting processed meat out of a bag that was microwaved and dropped into a tortilla. The burrito also had american cheese in it. WTF. Who had the idea to put american cheese in a burrito. Not shredded cheese of some sort, or nacho cheese, or anything else that might have made more sense. Absolutely ridiculous. The burrito was also supposed to have rice and beans, which it didn't. I actually paid extra for beans and rice instead of just what it came with. I could have been okay with that if any other part of the burrito was remotely edible. Other than the cheapest microwavable processed chicken diced up in a tortilla, there was some iceberg lettuce that was soggy and disgusting, a few pieces of tomato, and some stringy onions. That was it. I couldn't eat more than a few bites of it. I actually read one review that said Taco Bell is a step up, but Taco Bell being Taco Bell, I figured that was just someone trying to sabotage the ratings of this place. After seeing my burrito, I couldn't believe that review was actually accurate. I'm not a fan of fast food, but any fast food chain is exponentially better than this place. Not even a question of authenticity, the food is too bad to even begin to discuss it being authentic. It is absolutely appalling that people are able to say this food is worth two stars, three stars, in some cases... just lunacy. I sincerely hope this place ceases to exist in the immediate future.

    (1)

  • Kim D.

    I enjoy the food @ Tippy Taco's because it taste fresh and I feel like it's better than a lot of the other fast food restaurants. My favorite thing to order is the soft tacos and the apple dessert. Every time I do venture inside though I feel like there is a new owner and now some of the menu items are gone! And the most annoying thing is there is no sauce on the table. I will have to try another location cuz this place in Fairfax is not cutting it.

    (3)

  • Amy B.

    This is ok for takeout..The tacos are ok..wouldnt suggest the fajitas. I think this must be another place that I dont get cause im not from around here. Insert "why are there no authentic mexican places in Nova?!?!" gripe here. Its better than fast food, but I wouldnt call it good mexican. But I agree with EG..its better than Taco Bell if your in a bind.

    (2)

  • Funk E.

    I got the burrito and taco combo and it was disgusting! The taco shell and tostada was stale, the tortilla for the burrito was chewy, and even the Sprite was watered down. The only thing that was good about the meal was the cheese for the tostada. I've had better food at Taco Bell for half the price! Oh yeah, my wife and I had some serious stomach pains and diarrhea an hour later! Do your stomach a favor, next time go to Baja Fresh or California Tortilla!

    (1)

  • Nicholas B.

    Tippy's is the best local Taco Dive. Good, cheap food. Great tacos and awesome chili and queso. They even have Birch Beer on tap. If you are expecting fancy food I would avoid taco houses, but if you are into great dives with great cheap food, Tippy's is the place.

    (5)

  • Mat R.

    This taco house features a unique style of service. Prepare to order standing up from the register and have your food delivered to your table. What you order is what you get, there is no complementary chips and salsa. I had nachos and a taco. The taco had great tasting meat and everything else was fresh. The nachos, however, lacked any inspiration: a round Styrofoam plate of chips with beans, cheese and a few jalapenos. My advice: stick with what the name suggests: Tacos The prices were good (4 tacos for $4.50). However, I will continue my long quest for decent Mexican in this barren land.

    (3)

  • Javin B.

    We've never actually been in this taco house, but we do order food from them through Carryout4you. Their food is fantastic, and has become one of our favorite "order out" joints. I honestly can't fathom what the negative reviewers are saying about Taco Bell being better. I loathe Taco Bell, and having had real Tex Mex in San Antonio, this is as close as it gets in this area.

    (5)

  • geeyore g.

    It's ridiculously hard to find decent "Mexican" food in NoVA, and TTH is just one example of the problem. I don't want to bash the place, because it seems to be tidy, the service is fast, and the food seems reasonably priced, even cheap. But unfortunately it's also completely uninspired. And bland. The tacos are simple taco shells with lettuce, some bits of tomato, a sprinkle of cheese, and what I can only call "Mexi-mess," which is some kind of chili/meat/beans mixture that honestly is not much more tasty than the chili from a grocery store can. I also tried the "taco salad" which is basically identical to the above creation but served in a taco "bowl", filled with a handful of shredded lettuce, some tomato, and Mexi-mess. It also included a thimble of "chili sauce" on the side but it also was tasteless and uninspired. I was not offered any hot, medium, or mild salsas so presumably there's no choice. I think they had guac and sour cream but not sure. I won't post the photo I took of this "salad" in its styrafoam container, so just be advised that's it's not really an image that will amp up your appetite. I simply do not understand how anyone could go to work every single day and produce these offerings.

    (2)

  • Nikki J.

    This place has been an institution for a long time, and what you see is what you get: simple, yummy tex-mex food. What I really like is the Monterrey Combo that comes with a taco, corn tortillas, a small container of guac, another of queso, refried beans, mexican rice, 2 enchiladas and a burrito. Hard to finish it all, so you can get two meals out of it. The chili gravy is a special treat, and I often get an extra container of it. Their hot sauce is pretty sparky too. On weekends, you can feed a crowd with super-cheap tacos (for just a little more money, you can make those soft tacos too!). Vegetarian? Go for the "Guac Tacs", or the bean tacos. Nice folks behind the counter.

    (5)

  • jenna i.

    My friend said she had heard this was a good place to go eat so we went to check it out. For what you get, it was expensive. The food wasn't horrible but it wasn't the best. I regretted going there and wished i would have just gone to taco bell, i would have saved some cash.

    (2)

  • Su F.

    This place has the worse Mexican food. I thought their tacos were disgusting. My sister and I were extremely disappointed with the food.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

    Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Divey
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Tippy’s Taco House

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