Rosie Garia and Her Family Created a Business That’s Making Flavorful Memories

Article By Chance Wilson

Who wants Mexican tonight! Have you heard this food craving call after work or during the weekend? If you haven’t, then you must be living on another planet that doesn’t enjoy Mexican food. Personally, I don’t believe I’ve seen a cultural food in more demand than Mexican food, other than Italian and the endless debates over who makes the best pizza pie. According to a 2015 survey by the National Restaurant Association, 50% of Americans reported eating Mexican food at least once a month, with an additional 31% consuming it occasionally. Now that is some serious sombreros!

Unfortunately, when you ask who has the best Mexican food, you might get several different answers. Seriously, how many versions of tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas could there be? The answer is, endless variations on those dining staples. Truthfully, my Mexican food experience began where a large number of Americans began. It’s either one of two places, depending on where you grew up.

The first is the nostalgic memory of families making tacos at home from a do-it-yourself taco kit, sprinkling the prepackaged mystery seasoning mix on ground beef, and popping the hard corn taco shells in the oven. It was the mothers and fathers who were too tired to prepare a full meal of the typical meat, starch, and vegetables. This was the midweek go-to. Let’s just be honest, it was also the go-to for people who didn’t have a lot of cooking options. But all is forgiven if you put enough cheese on something. Let’s not also forget the person who was deputized to prep the sides of chopped lettuce, tomato, and onions. It was a sight to see, with the Christmas tree colors lighting up the individual bowls of toppings.

The second place is the infamous Taco Bell. And with that being said, I’ve already said too much.

Fortunately, after going to many Mexican restaurants, I believe I found a place that I consider the flavor of truth, and it’s a restaurant called Lolita's, created by Rosie Garia and her family. Rosie explained to me that they had an idea to create a space where they could celebrate the traditions and foods passed down to them. I was pleased to find out that the name of the restaurant, Lolita’s, is actually her mother’s name, which is an amazing way to pay homage to the one who inspired the inspiration. As first-generation Mexican-American business owners, they are making a mark that can clearly be tasted in their food and customer service.

Here is what I had that made me understand why Mexican food is so sought after:

Lolita's Tacos - Pastor

Includes: Grilled pork, grilled pineapple, cilantro, onions, and salsa morita.

My Review: This was one of the first dishes I tried from them and was worth every bite. The pork was seasoned well, and the flavor was heightened when they added the slice of pineapple. I ate these on a couple of visits before I decided to order something different, which says a lot.

Lolita's Tacos - Choripapa

Includes: Potatoes, onions, tomatoes, costra de queso, sour cream, and chorizo.

My Review: The first bite with those pickled onions threw me for a crazy loop. It had notes of sour and savory with a hint of slightly spicy chorizo. Then when I added their mild and sweet pineapple habanero sauce, it took the whole dish to a different area code. I really enjoyed this.

In conclusion, not only will I be coming back, but I’m already planning what I will try next as I’m writing this. I highly recommend this place.