Rosita's Restaurant

Family owned and operated, Rosita's restaurant has been a favorite south Texas eatery for decades. Their recipes are the creation of Margarita Lerma who started the first restaurant in 1965. In 1979 Margarita opened the first Rosita's Restaurant on Market Street in Laredo, TX.It was a small building with room for only five tables. Word spread about the delicious food and it soon became very popular, but there was a lease for one year and the owner did not want to renew, so she was forced to close. She was offered a new location for the restaurant by some customers that wanted to help her succeed. She opened Rosita's Restaurant on Houston Street behind the old Greyhound bus station. The restaurant became more popular and needed larger accommodations. Rosita's was then moved to 1005 San Bernardo in Laredo, TX. Margarita's daughters Maria and Rosa were also managers at the restaurant during this time. They became involved with several community organizations including The Laredo Restaurant Association. Margarita and the restaurant won several awards throughout the years and were often featured on Texas Monthly Magazine. She was also a member of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce. The restaurant closed for a few years, after which Margarita's son Ambrose and his wife Elvira reopened it, where they carried the tradition of her recipes and her legacy. The most recent location was at 600 Calton Road in Laredo, TX. Today Ambrose Lerma Jr. carries on the Rosita's family tradition with the help of his wife, Betsy Lerma, and his sister in law, Luz Diaz. They are excited to help keep alive the Lerma family recipes and are proud to serve everybody that comes through their doors.