A fast-casual eatery, Southern-inspired Mexican restaurant Little Donkey sits in the same building as Cochon Butcher and Juice Bar, completing a triumvirate of welcoming dining establishments in Germantown. Like its neighbors, Little Donkey has a layout that's spacious and airy, with a large patio out front. The decor is rustic and unfussy, and the open kitchen offers a peek at the preparation of its scratch-made menuthey even grind the corn for their authentic tortillas.
There are fried catfish tacos that deliver just the right amount of crunch to contrast the tart pickled cabbage that tops the fillets. And Little Donkey's fried chicken, available as either a quarter- or half-bird platter, benefits from an overnight soak in a chili-laden brine before being dropped in the fryer. The result is remarkably crispy. The rest of the menu is divided into dips, soups and salads, small plates, street food, and a cluster of 'burros, bowls, dillas, and sandwiches.” Popular starters include chicken tortilla soup and a green salad with goat cheese and toasted almonds. Tacos dominate the lineup with savory options like traditional pork pastor with grilled pineapple or the adobada, which is pork shoulder stewed in guajillo and arbol chiles and topped with crema and fresh onions. A vegetarian taco features seasonal vegetables and toasted pumpkin seeds for a punch of earthiness and texture.