Skip to Main Content

Los Chamacos

Photo collage: Los Chamacos

If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, look no further. Los Chamacos (Mexican slang for the kids) is as Mexican as you can find from the décor to the menu. The waitstaff and kitchen staff are also predominantly from Mexico. Mexican food is such a popular cuisine, but you’ll especially enjoy the very traditional chile relleno, a roasted poblano pepper stuffed with ground beef or cheese and covered in a tomato sauce. Or try the more popular chile nogada, covered in pomegranate seeds, stuffed with shrimp and vegetables and covered with a creamy sauce. Owner and Chef Benedicto Yanez proudly boasts the fact that everything is made fresh every day and you’ll notice that in every order. Also try the birria, one of their specialties. It’s beef tenderloin cooked for hours, pulled apart and spices are added. Try it as a traditional plate with rice and beans, as a pizza, or as a tamal. “It’s one of the few places you can find authentic birria,” says Benedicto.

Benedicto Yanez

Having lived in Arlington for 20 years, it was an easy decision for Benedicto to set up his restaurant just a few doors away from the bustling Columbia Pike. Being in a walking community with ART, Metrobus and Capital Bikeshare nearby, makes it easy for employees and customers to come to Los Chamacos car free. Speaking of which, 10 of the 12 employees get to work car free, mostly by bus. Originally concerned about not being along Columbia Pike, Benedicto was afraid people wouldn’t find his restaurant. Fortunately, the restaurant now has a good customer base from locals in the neighborhood, tourists and military personnel. With limited and paid parking outside, it’s much easier to to get there car free. Capital Bikeshare has two nearby stations. ART 77 and Metrobus 10B pass directly by Los Chamacos. And along Columbia Pike, ART 45 and Metrobus 16E/G/H will get you close enough to smell those authentic Mexican flavors.

Los Chamacos
922 S. Walter Reed Dr.
Arlington, VA 22204
Go car free to Los Chamacos


Related Content

Arlington’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Counters

Bikes counted

View Counter Data
110 Trail
472
14th Street Bridge
1412
Arlington Mill Trail
155
Ballston Connector
0
Bluemont Connector
167
CC Connector
441
Clarendon EB bike lane
168
Custis Bon Air Park
491
Custis Rosslyn
725
Eads NB
69
Eads SB
105
Fairfax EB bike lane
88
Fairfax WB
96
Joyce St NB
43
Joyce St SB
0
Key Bridge East
715
Key Bridge West
435
Military NB bike lane
12
Military SB bike lane
34
MVT Airport South
1178
Quincy NB bike lane
70
Quincy SB bike lane
61
Roosevelt Bridge
252
Rosslyn Bikeometer
0
TR Island Bridge
572
WOD Bon Air Park
0
WOD Bon Air West
0
WOD Columbia Pike
319
Wilson WB bike lane
124

Peds counted

View Counter Data
110 Trail
155
14th Street Bridge
0
Arlington Mill Trail
670
Ballston Connector
0
Bluemont Connector
949
CC Connector
492
Custis Bon Air Park
475
Custis Rosslyn
446
Eads NB
0
Eads SB
0
Fairfax WB
0
Joyce St NB
59
Joyce St SB
0
Key Bridge East
1897
Key Bridge West
579
MVT Airport South
311
Roosevelt Bridge
173
TR Island Bridge
872
WOD Bon Air Park
0
WOD Bon Air West
0
WOD Columbia Pike
463

All counters, YTD

View Counter Data
Year to Date
1166423