Chef Thomas Stacy Opened Tommy's Tacos in D.C.
The new Eckington spot features seed-oil-free Tex-Mex items served via a convenient takeout window.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Dining Out
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Chef Thomas Stacy has launched Tommy's Tacos, a new seed-oil-free Tex-Mex restaurant located at 227 Harry Thomas Way, NE. The establishment operates as a takeout window within Alethia Tanner Park and features a 50-seat outdoor patio for diners.
Why it matters
The restaurant fulfills a decade-long professional goal for Stacy and serves the NoMa BID, which actively sought a food operator for the local park space. By prioritizing seed-oil-free ingredients and custom-made tortillas, the new business introduces a health-conscious approach to Tex-Mex dining in the neighborhood.
Breakfast tacos start at $4.75, while lunch and dinner tacos range from $5.50 to $6.75. The restaurant features a 50-seat patio and operates exclusively through a takeout window.
The players
Thomas Stacy
He is the chef and owner of Tommy's Tacos who previously worked at the Washington D.C. restaurant Pineapple & Pearls.
NoMa BID
This business improvement district sought a qualified food operator to utilize the park space in the neighborhood.
The details
Tommy's Tacos offers a menu including breakfast, lunch, and dinner tacos along with queso and margaritas. The owner partnered with a local manufacturer to produce tortillas using a custom recipe, and he has paused his private supper club, ReikiNa, to focus on the new venture.
Timeline
Summer 2020: Stacy began offering private dinners during the pandemic.
2023: Stacy moved to Washington D.C.
Early 2024: Stacy restarted private dinner operations in D.C.
September 16, 2026: Tommy's Tacos opened for business.
Culture Shift
The emergence of Tommy's Tacos reflects the growth of public-private partnerships for park-space concessions in major cities. This trend allows local municipalities to activate public areas while giving chefs new platforms to reach their communities.
Diners can now utilize the new 50-seat patio for outdoor meals at Alethia Tanner Park without the need for indoor seating. Customers should prepare for a takeout-only experience when ordering breakfast, lunch, or dinner tacos.
The takeaway
The successful launch of this park-based window highlights how chefs are moving away from traditional brick-and-mortar models to lower overhead. Residents looking for quick, seed-oil-free options can now integrate this new dining spot into their regular outdoor park routines.
Further reading
Discover more new culinary ventures in the city by browsing the Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Washingtonian.
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