Find your Mexican Spots in Arlington, VA restaurant.
Showing all 6 restaurants in ranking order.
About Mexican Spots in Arlington, VA restaurants in Arlington, VA
Arlington, Virginia sits next to one of the country's biggest Bolivian communities, but its Mexican rooms hold their own ground on quesadillas, ceviche, and a 24-hour taco counter that locals actually use. These six span Crystal City to the corridors near Columbia Pike, and none of them need a passport pitch to earn a visit.
Compare all 6 restaurantsNeighborhood · price · score · first order
In the same order as the guide. Scores are out of 10; dollar symbols show the listed price tier.
Ceviche is the reason to sit down here; the menu runs several versions and regulars order around them. Breakfast holds up too, with an omelette that pulls in weekend crowds alongside the enchiladas. The room added a bar near the entrance that pushes the noise up on busy nights, so ask for a table if conversation matters more than the game on screen.
What to order
Ceviche, Omelette, Enchiladas
4028 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206 · (703) 671-1701
Open around the clock, this Arlington counter is the move after a late shift or a flight in. Lengua tacos are the order regulars point to first, and the burritos hold their own with a salsa built for repeat visits. Portions are generous enough for takeout runs, though it pays to confirm extra salsa and lime before the bag leaves the counter.
Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita on Columbia Pike earns its place with tacos, and diners say it is among the few open around the clock in Arlington. One diner ordered delivery in the middle of the night and still praised the birria tacos. The inside is colorful, with Mexican music playing, and the staff are called friendly and patient.
Tacos lead the menu by a wide margin, especially the crispy, cheesy birria tacos and the taco mixto. A torta and a burrito are the other big orders, and the menu goes further into huaraches, flautas, quesadillas, elote and pozole. Visitors from out of town call it some of the best Mexican food they found in the area.
A few diners find the seasoning heavy on salt, so asking for sauces on the side is a sensible approach. Prices are modest, and the setting is casual enough for a quick lunch or a late stop.
Insider tip
Salt runs high for some diners, so ask for sauces on the side and taste before adding more.
The patio is the draw on a mild evening, with indoor screens covering soccer for anyone who wants shade over sun. Chips and guacamole open the table well, and taco Tuesday turns into a real deal with a two-for-one steak taco special. Reservations help; the wait can run long even with one booked.
What to order
Tacos, Chips, Guacamole
1550 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202 · (877) 632-9573
Carne asada anchors the menu, cooked to order and consistent enough that regulars build return trips around it. Chiles rellenos and enchiladas round out a kitchen that leans traditional without playing it safe. The Crystal City room fills for group nights and World Cup viewing, and service holds up even when the tables turn fast.
What to order
Carne asada, Chiles rellenos, Enchiladas
320 23rd St S, Ste 250, Arlington, VA 22202 · (703) 412-9211
Portion size is the pitch: double meat burritos and a steak and cheese quesadilla built for sharing across a family table. The guac comes heavy, and the steak can run tougher than expected on a given plate. This is a counter-service, low-price stop, best suited to quick group meals rather than a slow sit-down dinner.
What to order
Steak and cheese quesadilla, Chicken burrito bowl, Double meat burrito
2599 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 · (703) 302-3999
Chips and salsa land fast for groups settling in on a Saturday night, and the enchiladas are the steadier order on a menu that varies by visit. Service has drawn complaints on off nights, and the frozen margarita machine has been out of commission on more than one occasion. Go for the food, not the bar program.
What to order
Salsa, Chips, Enchiladas
1727 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209 · (703) 807-0840
Mexican Spots in Arlington, VA restaurant questions, answered.
What is the best Mexican restaurant near me in Arlington, VA?
It depends on the neighborhood. Crystal City leans toward La Posada, while spots near Columbia Pike and the corridors closer to Route 50 cover Guapo's, Tacombi, Guajillo, and the two taco counters. Each entry here lists its own city and price so you can match distance to what you want to eat.
Which of these restaurants is open latest?
Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita runs 24 hours, which makes it the default for late-night tacos or a food run after a flight into Reagan National. The others keep standard dinner-service hours.
Are any of these good for a big group?
La Posada Crystal City, Guapo's, and Guajillo all handle groups well, with room layouts built for sports viewing and shared tables. Burritos Bros works for families on a budget who want fast counter service instead of a sit-down wait.
How were these restaurants picked, and did any of them pay to be on this list?
No restaurant paid for placement. Each entry reflects its Insider Score, a rating built from the volume and substance of the public review record, weighed against signature dishes, price, and how the room actually operates day to day.
The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Staff Writer. Prince George's County native who waited tables through college and now drives the Beltway for a living. Writes the guides, and holds a suburban strip-mall counter to exactly the same standard as a downtown dining room.
