ARLINGTON, VA — From Brazil and Peru to Mexico and Puerto Rico, Latin American cuisine has diverse cuisines to satisfy all kinds of appetites. As restaurants make these different kinds of cuisines available to diners throughout the DC region, a new event called Latin Restaurant Weeks will debut in the DMV region in May.
Latin Restaurant Weeks, a national initiative held in select U.S. cities, will happen in the DC region for the first time from May 3 to 17. Participating restaurants will offer specials and menus representing more than 10 Latin American countries.
The restaurant week seeks to promote “unsung heroes within the Beltway’s Latin hospitality sector” and raise awareness of increasing expenses and menu price hikes that deter customers and could cause some businesses to close.
“With rising costs and myriad economic challenges, the hospitality industry is facing insurmountable hurdles,” said Karinn Chavarria-Luckett, co-founder of Latin Restaurant Weeks. “Supporting these local Latin eateries means saving jobs, preserving tradition, supporting families, and providing loving morale to the community through hospitality; this initiative is paramount for sustainability.”
Chavarria-Luckett and Warren Luckett created Latin Restaurant Weeks in 2019 to promote Hispanic restaurants and Latin cooking styles. The event started in Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and New York City and expanded to Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. In the District of Columbia, 11 percent of businesses are Hispanic-owned along with 10 percent of Virginia’s businesses and 8 percent of Maryland’s businesses, according to the National Restaurant Association.
More than 40 restaurants are expected to participate in the DMV’s restaurant week, and others can sign up until May 1. Restaurants can participate in Latin Restaurant Weeks for free or at a premium level for $250.
Participating Latin residents from Arlington include Inca-Social, Los Chamacos, Sabores Tapas Bar, El Pollo Rico, and Peruvian Brothers at Amazon HQ2.
Spanish and Latin Sabores Tapas Bar will be offering prefix menus for lunch and dinner, at $25 and $40, respectively.
El Pollo Rico will have a two-for-$ $25 special with a half chicken, two bottled drinks, two desserts, and a choice of two sides like beans, rice, coleslaw, plantains, steak fries, and fried yuca
A few other highlights around the region are DC’s Michelin-starred El Secreto de Rosita, Peruvian Brothers at La Cosecha Latin Market, Puerto Rican Qui Qui DC, Mexican Abuelita’s, Spanish and Latin Sabores Tapas Bar and more.
