Cinco de Mayo is weeks in the past, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t still have Mexican food on our minds. In NoVA, the options go well beyond mere skirt steak (the cut that gives the dish its name) and chicken. Wherever you decide to roll up your favorite ingredients, along with cast-iron-kissed peppers and onions in fajitas, these favorites will provide an experience to which it’s worth raising a margarita.
Buena Vida
Though this stylish Mexican restaurant from the group behind Ambar no longer serves correspondingly endless small plates, no one will claim to leave here less than full. Fajitas are the centerpiece of the menu, and each protein receives its own preparation. The best way to experience the full spectrum is to order the $48 mixed grill for two, which features zesty grilled chicken, spicy grilled shrimp, and achiote steak. 2900 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
La China Poblana Taqueria
The birria is what attracts this cheerful restaurant’s large fan base, but the over-the-top meat platters are worthy of their own, whether you order fajitas or a molcajete. The tortillas are handmade in-house, perfect for wrapping cactus salad and sautéed onions and bell peppers with your choice of chicken breast, steak, or shrimp. 9792 Center St., Manassas
Mama Tigre
Fajitas were likely invented along what’s now the Tex-Mex border. But that doesn’t mean they have to taste like it. At this Indian-Mexican fusion spot, chef-owner Renu Prakash offers both typical fajitas and versions with a spicy twist. For vegetarians, bouncy Indian paneer cheese is a protein option. For the rest of us, chicken or salmon tikka, served with basmati rice, toasted naan bread, and cilantro-mint crema provides a distinct thrill. 10443 White Granite Dr., Oakton
Ometeo
Even in Texas, it’s not easy to find fajitas with the sizzle that the variety of preparations provides at this new restaurant. The $78 beefy behemoth of a combo plate adds bone-in short rib and ribeye to the classic marinated skirt steak. You can also get carnitas with chorizo and smoked spare ribs; a duo of chicken with duck carnitas; and even a seafood platter that unites shrimp with lobster, scallops, and squid. If your pocketbook can handle it, this is the place to go. 1640 Capital One Dr. N., McLean
Rango’s Tex-Mex & Grill
Ometeo may be the latest to serve a broad selection of fajitas in the neighborhood, but it’s not the first. At this family-run Vienna eatery, diners can sup on chicken or two preparations of skirt steak, but it doesn’t end there. There are barbecue pork ribs that sear over a bed of peppers and onions, and an enticing seafood combo that includes salmon, scallops, and shrimp. 1934 Old Gallows Rd., Vienna
Uncle Julio’s Mexican from Scratch
Yes, it’s a non-local chain, but Uncle Julio’s is not only a fixture, but a standard-bearer in our region when it comes to hissing plates of hot meat and vegetables. The 24-hour-marinated skirt steak is a classic, but it’s hard to resist tender chicken paired with bacon-wrapped shrimp. For the iconoclasts, there is even a version with honey-chipotle-glazed carnitas. Multiple locations
Feature image of Ometeo by Shannon Ayres
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Food & Drink newsletter.
