Whether you’re looking for a  burrito joint, a modern taqueria, traditional TexMex, or a modern, creative take on Mexican food, we have it in the Cleveland area. You just have to know where to look*.

 

*This slideshow is where to look.

Bomba Tacos And Rum Multiple Locations Paladar Latin Kitchen served its first mojito in Woodmere a decade ago. Since then, owner Andy Himmel has added locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Next up for Himmel was Bomba Tacos & Rum, which started in Rocky River and has spread to Fairlawn. Those two Latin-themed taco and rum joints was recently joined by a third in Beachwood and you really have no excuse to hit one of these up because there’s gotta be one close to you. Photo via Scene Archives
Tapatias Taqueria 12501 Lorain Ave., Cleveland The great thing about this relatively new West Side taqueria is the amount of different offerings available for your taco or burrito. Choose from chicken, steak, chorizo, carnitas, tripa, lengua, barbacoa or pastor. They also have a dozen delicious big plates built around items like grilled steak, whole fried fish and grilled shrimp all come with Spanish rice, refried beans and a short stack of warm tortillas. Photo via Tapatias Taqueria/Facebook Credit: Scene Archives
Tacos Mexicanos 223 Highland Rd., Macedonia Head out to Macedonia for one of the more beloved Mexican spots in town. You can’t go wrong with any of their traditional tacos here. Photo via @Tacos_Mex_Macedonia/Instagram
Cilantro Taqueria Multiple Locations Fans of authentic Mexican and Cal-Mex food like tacos, tortas, burritos and bowls got a nice treat when this place opened in Cleveland Heights in early 2019, replacing a Chipotle. It’s rare to find real tacos al pastor in these parts, slabs of achiote and pineapple marinated pork layered onto a vertical spit, or trompo, that cooks as it twirls. In Salinas and elsewhere in California, the items often go by the name tacos de adobada. You can find them here, and they’re delicious. Photo by Douglas Trattner
Luchita’s 3456 West 117th St., Cleveland One of the oldest Mexican joints in town, this place has been serving up food from south of the border since 1982. Luchita’s is well known for its signature mole sauce, served atop enchiladas, burritos and the classic pollo en mole poblano. The eatery excels at incorporating the rich flavors of ancho, chipotle and poblano peppers into various entrees, showcasing a complexity often lost elsewhere. Photo via @ScottBeNimble/Instagram
La Plaza Supermarket 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood All it takes to get your hands on what many deem the best tacos in Cleveland is venturing to the far back corner of a supermarket. This small hot food station cooks up barbacoa, carnitas, chorizo and al pastor tacos in front of your eyes. They’re served up as-is, but load up on diced onion, cilantro, guac and salsas to your heart’s desire. Tip: You can pre-pay for your tacos at the front counter, but keep it simple and just carry cash. Photo via La Plaza Supermarket/Facebook
El Jalapeño’s 1313 W. 117th St., Cleveland If you’re looking for an elevated version of traditional Mexican-American food, this spot on the Lakewood/Cleveland border is where to go. Try the camarones del pacifico, a dish of jumbo shrimp stuffed with jalapenos and chees all wrapped in bacon. Yum. Photo via Scene Archives
El Taco Macho 1613 Mentor Ave., Paynesville This hip Painseville taqueria opened in 2016 to much fanfare. They serve traditional tacos and also more modern ones. The quesadillas and burritos are delicious as well and the homemade salsas are *chefs kiss*. Photo via El Taco Macho/Facebook
El Señor’s at La Mexicana Grocery 170 East Washington St., Painesville We promise your trip to be Painesville will be well worth the drive when you get your hands on El Señor’s tacos. A small restaurant attached to a supermarket, seating here is limited but flavor is plentiful. Choose from pork, beef, beef tongue and pork stomach. For a little refreshment, cool down with a Jarritos. Photo via Scene Archives
Chili Peppers 869 East 185th St., Cleveland There’s really no place in town like this build-your-own burrito joint in North Colinwood. With more than 30 items, you can customize your burrito exactly the way you want. So if you don’t like it? You’re probably to blame because all the ingredients are fresh and delicious. Photo via Chili Peppers Mexican Grill/Facebook
Camino Taco and Tequila Bar 1300 West Ninth St., Cleveland This contemporary taco and tequila bar, that opened in 2014, fits right into the Warehouse District neighborhood it calls home. This locally owned spot keeps things simple with a streamlined menu that focuses on snacks, small plates and tacos. A great meal can be made just from the starters, paired with a cold Mexican beer or Margarita. Photo via @CaminoCleveland/Instagram
El Señor’s at La Mexicana Grocery 170 East Washington St., Painesville We promise your trip to be Painesville will be well worth the drive when you get your hands on El Señor’s tacos. A small restaurant attached to a supermarket, seating here is limited but flavor is plentiful. Choose from pork, beef, beef tongue and pork stomach. For a little refreshment, cool down with a Jarritos. Photo via Scene Archives
Blue Habanero Mexican Street Tacos and Tequila 6416 Detroit Ave., Cleveland For 15 years, Rafael Ayala has operated Tres Potrillos in the Akron area. He later added locations in Medina and Beachwood, which opened a few years back in the former Charley’s Crab space on Chagrin. Ayala recently opened Blue Habanero Street Tacos and Tequila, which took the space of the vacated Arcadian in Gordon Square, and is not a simple reproduction of those popular Mexican eateries. The food is tasty, modern and adds a flare to your typical Mexican-American restaurant. Photo via @BlueHabaneroCleveland/Instagram
Barrio Multiple Locations Yeah, Barrio has blown up in recent years with locations all over town. But their expansion has just made them more beloved in the eyes of Clevelanders. And for under 20 bucks you can probably swing 3 tacos and nachos and a margarita. Well worth it. Photo via Scene Archives
Si Señor Multiple Locations With three locations around town, including Kamm’s Corner, Seven Hills and Westlake, Si Señor serves up delicious burros to many around Cleveland. And the vegetarian, filled with zucchini and other veggies, is one of the better vegetable burritos in town. Photo via Si Señor Kamm’s Corner/Facebook
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant 783A Alpha Dr., Highland Heights The year was 1952 when Antonia Valle finally realized her dream of opening a restaurant specializing in the foods from her home state of Michoacán in Mexico. When La Fiesta began serving enchiladas, tostadas, tamales and moles at its modest Ohio City restaurant, located at the corner of West 25th Street and Walton Avenue, it offered many Clevelanders their very first taste of Mexican food. In the mid-1970s, that pioneering operation, which many agree was the region’s first Mexican restaurant, relocated to Richmond Heights, where it had been for decades until a recent move Photo via ram_arkae/Instagram
Avo Modern Mexican 2058 West 25th St., Cleveland In four short years, Gabriel Zeller and Julie Mesenburg have gone from operating a single taco bar in Sandusky to overseeing a multi-concept portfolio of popular eateries that spans counties. The husband-and-wife team’s hands-on approach has propelled a rapid expansion eastward with stops in Amherst, Rocky River and now Ohio City with Avo. Whereas Barra is a casual taco- and tequila-fueled restaurant, Avo is more of a finer-dining style modern Mexican bistro. There are tacos, sure, but they’re just one item tucked into a broad, diverse and appealing menu. Photo via Scene Archives
Las Americas 25626 Aurora Rd., Bedford Las Americas moved locations to their new Bedford location a couple of years back, but kept the same devoted Mexican food lovers. Fans will recognize the same menu and pricing as before, but with options for take-out or full-service dining. Burritos are stuffed to the breaking point, quesadillas are cooked on a flattop until hot and melted, and those authentic street tacos are as good as they get. Photo via Scene Archives
Mamacita’s 6164 Broadview Rd., Parma This authentic California-style Mexican spot located in Parma is one of the hidden gems in town. Fans of Cali-Mex food will recognize carne asada fries, and Cali street tacos as some of the delicious offerings here. Photo via Mamacita’s/Facebook
El Torito Taqueria 1572 West 117th St., Lakewood El Torito occupies an unassuming storefront in Lakewood but its tacos are anything but unassuming. The simple tacos, topped with cilantro and onion, come in double-wrapped in corn tortillas and can in the styles of steak, shredded pork, chicken, chorizo, beef tongue, al pastor and barbacoa. Photo via El Torito Taqueria/Facebook

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