[Nagoya] Enjoy Grandma's Home Cooking at "Mexican Restaurant Rosita Higashisakura"

72 years ago, in 1950, Rosita, the oldest Mexican restaurant in Japan, opened in Hakata, Fukuoka Prefecture. This sister store in Nagoya opened in February 2022.

Rosita offers homemade Mexican home cooking. You can enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine with attention to detail, such as the most popular tacos and garnishes that allow you to adjust the spiciness.

Located in Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, a 5-minute walk from Shin-Sakae Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line, the colorful exterior that suddenly appears in a convenient location is a landmark.

Spacious interior

The Rosita Higashisakura store is run by the Kino brothers, who are the great-grandchildren of Grandma Rosita, who opened the store in Fukuoka 72 years ago.

Manager's older brother Rintaro (left) and younger brother Yudai (right)

This is a historical restaurant that has been in business for four generations, starting with Grandma Rosita. We asked Mr. Kino, the store manager, about the history of Rosita and his commitment to cooking.

Mexican Restaurant Rosita's 72 years of history

Grandma Rosita (left)

Grandma Rosita, the founder of Rosita's Restaurant, was a Japanese pioneer immigrant who lived in Mexico for 30 years. When she returned to Japan, it was in the middle of the Korean War, and Grandma Rosita was an interpreter for the U.S. military.

Mexican food is familiar in the United States. Responding to requests from the U.S. military for tacos, they opened a Mexican restaurant in Hakata 72 years ago.

Rosita Hakata store at the time

Mr. Kino: "Grandma Rosita's grandson's husband, or my father, fell in love with Grandma Rosita's cooking and trained with her for about 20 years. I was also born and raised in Fukuoka, but I wanted to have a restaurant in Toyota, my father's original hometown, so I opened Rosita's sister restaurant in Toyota 13 years ago."

Ever since he was born, Mr. Kino has grown up watching his parents work. He says he has been helping out at the store since he was little. And this year, the long-awaited advance to Nagoya was made in the form of entrusting the store to the Kino brothers.

Ms. Kino: "Rosita is located in Nakasu, the busiest district in Hakata. Rosita is so famous in Nakasu that there is no one who doesn't know about it. We are so confident in our taste that we have always said, 'Since we have made it to Aichi, we would like to try our luck in the big city of Nagoya someday'. That finally came true this year."

In this way, the taste of Rosita has been passed down for four generations.

Rosita's three commitments
"Home cooking" that grandma used to make in Mexico

What Grandma Rosita was cooking was not what you would get in a Mexican restaurant, but "home cooking." Rosita's cuisine has three particularities.

Commitment ① Adjust the spiciness later so that even children can eat it

Mexico is a hot pepper country. However, at Rosita, all dishes are not spicy so that people of all ages, from children to adults, can enjoy them.

Instead, we allow you to adjust the spiciness with the three complimentary garnishes that come with the dish. These three types are also very particular.

On the right is a spicy level 1 pickled onion. It has a refreshing sourness, so it is just right for a chopstick break when eaten between firmly flavored Mexican dishes!

The red one on the left is a salsa sauce with a spiciness level of 2. At other stores, it is often made with a tomato base, but at Rosita, it is made with a hawk's claw base. Mild spiciness and umami complement the taste of tacos.

In the back is a spicy level 3 jalapeño. This one has been marinated in vinegar and more than 10 spices for more than a year. Since they are not just marinated in vinegar, they have a deep flavor with umami in the spiciness. It is a spicy but addictive dish. There are even fans who say, "I just want to buy just this one and take it home".

Commitment 2: Everything is handmade, even from a single tortilla

tortilla (back)

As Mr. Kino says, "There is nothing that is not handmade," everything Rosita offers is handmade.

The tortillas are also hand-rolled one by one. The aforementioned jalapenos are also hand marinated in large barrels for over a year.

Commitment 3: Suitable for Japanese palate

Since Grandma Rosita is Japanese, she offers only what suits the Japanese palate. For example, Mexican tortillas are made with corn flour, which some Japanese find a bit peculiar. For this reason, some people say they "don't like tacos," but Rosita uses wheat flour to suit the Japanese palate.

In the United States, tortillas made of flour are also eaten. Rosita's Mexican cuisine is not too peculiar and is made to suit the Japanese palate.

A little different from the usual Mexican food!?
Rosita's recommended menu

Rosita's cuisine is filled with many of the specialties prepared by Rosita's grandmother. Because they serve Mexican home-style dishes, some of the dishes are a bit unusual and cannot be found at other restaurants! We asked manager Mr. Kino about his recommended menu.

The skin is crispy! Surprisingly refreshing inside! "Rosita specialty tacos"

Rosita's specialty tacos (3 pieces) ¥ 1,320 (tax included)

The most popular is still the classic taco. However, Rosita's tacos are different! These tacos have a crispy texture because the skin is fried. Inside is minced beef.

It's fried but surprisingly refreshing. And it's so delicious that you'll be addicted to eating as many as you want. It's delicious as is, but if you eat it with the three side dishes, it's even more delicious. If you come to Rosita, this is the place to start!

Second most popular! "Chorizo Con Huevos (with tortilla)"

Chorizo Con Huevos (with tortilla) ¥1,980 (tax included)

This is the second most popular chorizo con huevos. It is made from ground beef and pork with several spices to give it a deep flavor.

This dish is eaten wrapped in a tortilla, and Mr. Kino showed us how to wrap it.

First, tear the tortilla in half and fold it into a triangle.

It is now triangular.

Fold the bottom up a little and you're done!

Inside the pocketed tortilla is the chorizo con huevos mentioned earlier, plus optional garnishes. The chorizo con huevos have a strong, punchy flavor. The tortillas are soft and tender without any peculiarities, making them a perfect match for the well-seasoned ingredients.

Perfect for snacks with alcoholic beverages! "Nachos"

Nachos ¥700 (tax included)

The nachos here are made from the same batter as tortillas. The cheddar cheese on top is slightly sweet and has a gentle taste. It's also salty, so it's perfect to accompany alcoholic beverages.

A lot of variety! "Mexican beer"

Various Mexican beers ¥770-¥880 (tax included)

Rosita also has a variety of rare Mexican liquors. They always have about 6 types of Mexican beer. Mexico is a hot country, so beer has a light and light taste. It's refreshing to drink, so it's also recommended for women.

We also have a wide variety of other alcoholic beverages such as tequila and sparkling wine. Please ask Mr. Kino anything you don't understand.

Finally, I asked Mr. Kino about his future goals.

Mr. Kino: "I want to create a Mexican boom in Japan just as there was once an Italian boom. In the future, I would like to expand nationwide and spread delicious Mexican food throughout the world. I believe that doing so will also be a way to repay my great-grandmother for her kindness."

The taste of Rosita has been passed down from generation to generation since my great-grandmother's generation. Why not taste grandma's gentle home cooking?