Rosa Mexicano

Noé Turcios, Manager

Rosa Mexicano collage of pictures

Rosa Mexicano started in New York as a fine-dining restaurant. Owner Josefina Howard chose the name “Rosa” to focus on the not-so-common aspect of being a female business owner. Fast forward to Nov. 2022, and Rosa Mexicana arrives in Arlington. Noé Turcios, the restaurant manager, is from El Salvador and came to the US in 2004. In 2008, he started with Rosa Mexicano as a busser and moved his way up to his current position as manager of the new Arlington location. Noé explains that while Josefina was Cuban born, she enjoyed traveling throughout Mexico and trying different cuisine. Her recipes reflect her travels and when she moved to NY, she decided to apply those recipes in a restaurant setting. One interesting detail is every location has a water wall with divers. This represents La quebrada de Acapulco, a site famous for its divers who jump from a height of 45 meters into the sea.

You won’t find burritos or chimichanga on the menu. Instead, you’ll see plates like tampiqueña — a plate of New York strip served with rajas (green, yellow, and red poblano peppers) and topped with enchilada salsa roja de Guajillo. Or try their carnitas, cooked in their own fat and reduced down, served with avocado, tomatillo salsa and pico de gallo in a cast iron casserole dish.

Located in Pentagon Row, the restaurant attracts military personnel, mall employees and local residents. Because tourist buses park nearby outside, Rosa Mexicano receives a good number of travelers. Being so close to Pentagon City Metro, many of the 50 employees use public transit to get to work. With two ART bus routes, four Metrobus lines, Capital Bikeshare and the Metro nearby — it’s easy to leave your car at home and come savor these Mexican flavors.

Rosa Mexicano
1301 S. Joyce St.
Arlington, VA 22202
Go car free to Rosa Mexicano