Lalo

A Downtown Delight! Choosing Nada for dinner was a great…read morecall. Located right in the heart of the city's high-end dining district, this place stands out even in a super competitive market. Our server, Alaura, was fantastic--super fast, attentive, and made the evening seamless. Great atmosphere. Follow me on Instagram - @thecannyadventurist for a deeper dive into my reviews.

Your bartender saved what could have been a disastrous dining experience…read more I don't like fusion y Mexican food and I am from California, so had the bartender not listened and recommended the Al pastor tacos as the most authentic style dish I probably would have eaten something weird with corn inexplicably in it and given this a 2 star. so thank your bartender but a lot of your menu sounds gross.

Bar seating

'World Famous' Braised Chicken

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Tortilla Soup

Cantina

4.3(155 reviews)

3.8 mi•Over-the-Rhine

Crown Cantina exceeded our expectations for brunch. The Breakfast Burrito was packed with flavor,…read moregenerously portioned, and wrapped in a perfectly crisp tortilla that gave every bite great texture. It was so substantial that I only made it through half. I enjoyed it with chorizo, but for a modest surcharge, they will make it with brisket! The Al Pastor Hash was the standout. It was beautifully balanced, full of bold, authentic flavors, and expertly prepared. One of my brunch-mates spends much of the year traveling through Latin America, and he was genuinely impressed. Excellent food, generous portions, and a memorable brunch experience. We'll definitely be back and look forward to trying more of the menu! Attentive service and a beautiful location in Downtown Cincinnati's quiet Pendleton neighborhood made the morning perfect.

Surprised I've not heard of this place before my brother suggested we try it (some Bengals player…read morerecommended it on a podcast I guess). This is a solid place! I didn't think I'd find something that could compete with Bakersfield but this does. It has unique flare without being over the top like some places can. Like pairing pickled veggies with my shrimp? Yes please! Ceviche was a little on the smaller side. Its flavor was there but price to size wasn't worth it to me. Recommend the grilled esquites as a side. I can't NOT get the charro beans because they were addicting. I could live on them in the winter. Tacos were so ed how you'd expect with homemade corn tortillas. Delicious, but I'd say Bakersfield pulls ahead just a touch with the tacos. Camerones Saadi's was delicious! I'd get it again, but still want to try some of their other mains. I did try dessert. Mind you I'm not huge on tres leches as it is so it might not be surprising that it wasn't my favorite. It was a tad on the drier side and textured (this was coconut tres leches so probably where the texture came from). I'd skip dessert the next go round maybe, unless they had some other fun seasonal things to try. Everyone enjoyed their cocktails as well! Especially the mezcal-based ones.

Cute bar!

Al Pastor Hash

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Awesome margaritas

Taqueria Mercado

3.7(373 reviews)

4.1 mi•Downtown

I haven't been here in years! A bustling lunchtime crowd. Rather pleasantly noisy…read more They have a huge bar selection, and three TV's showing soccer games. As a starter we ordered the freshly made (piping hot) chips with a slightly spicy salsa. Perfect combination! The chips are paper thin and so crunchy. We ordered the shrimp fajitas. The portions are HUGE! The skillet contains shrimp, caramelized white onions, green peppers, the side platter contains ample portions of shredded lettuce, avocado, sour cream, Mexican rice, refried beans and a tomato relish. Service was prompt, knowledgeable, and well mannered. A super delicious lunch!

Flavorful and not too spicy, the Mole sauce was delicious on my cheese enchiladas. I had a house…read moremargarita during happy hour that was yummy!! Our server was helpful in picking out my order and quick with our waters/drinks. This restaurant you have to buy the chips and salsa, so be prepared. The salsa was spicy and made my spouse's eyes water, he loved it! My son had a cheese enchilada that was a tiny bit greasy but huge and filled with chicken. My beans were more liquid than I like but I mixed with my rice. On Sunday night, we had no problems getting in and out in 40 min. Very fast service and always a nice time for me! Mmmmmmm

Seating area

5. Two Small Quesadillas Lunch Combo

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Ché

4.2(576 reviews)

Really amazing little gem, you wouldn't even know was open if you didn't walk inside the door...!…read more We were just going to try a couple empanadas, but the choices made fools of both of us...I won't say if we DID, or if we DIDN'T....but a person could literally sit in this cozy, friendly space and try all ten flavors of the most incredibly crispy, and lovingly filled tasty little Argentinian pastries. A few of our favorites were the mushroom feta and mozzarella, the Chicken Salsa Verde, the Carne (like a traditional flavor but SOO MUCH MORE filling and perfectly seasoned!), one I really tried to think I would not like was their "Buffalo Chicken"- it was cheesy and so darn good I ate two! Please don't judge. I may need GLP's now, but I'm not ashamed. I can't wait to go back to Cincy to Che for the absolute YUMMIEST EMPANDAS ever!!!!

Awesome, low key bar with good finger foods. I would definitely recommend this place. It's good for…read moregroups of people who want to share and try a little of everything. Bartenders were so nice. I will definitely be back when I am in town next.

Vibe

Che Tots

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Empanadas with several of their options

El Rincon Mexican Restaurant

4.4(18 reviews)

4.9 mi

After attending the NKY Pride Fest me & hubby got hungry. We saw Chipotle or this spot. I wanted…read moreauthentic versus basic Mexican food. We arrived and were serviced immediately. Our server, Enma, was very friendly, professional. I ordered the chicken fajitas and a horchata. Hubby ordered the taco dinner & coke. The food had flavor & was delish. Even the chips and salsa were good. Good Mexican music playing overhead. The men's restroom could use some sprucing..graffiti, non-working urinal, broken blind, basic-dreary decor needs updating today. Enma hug us and was very compassionate about her work...see her when eating here!!

Looking for a mid week happy hour stop to have margs, chips, salsa, and good conversation with…read morefriends. Look no further than El Rincón! The size of the margaritas alone are worth the visit but you will be greeted with so many smiles and generosity that you will want to return every week. Definitely check this place out when you are in town.

Nice bar area!

Outside dining area it's goooddddd

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Love it!

Mecca

3.7(82 reviews)

•$

What a cool vibe in downtown Cincinnati! We decided to stop at this location as they had a trivia…read morenight. The atmosphere was very divey, and welcoming. They have inside and outside entertaining space, but the outside was much more impressive. I'd recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a drink in a unique location. Enjoy!

long story short: a lot of potential but too empty to deliver on the fun club energy…read more We went on Saturday night around midnight & the place was pretty empty. There was a DJ & a dance floor, but very few people were dancing, which was disappointing. The place itself was cool with colorful lights & fun graffiti-like walls, but the aesthetic was let down by the lack of people. We enjoyed the free popcorn & I really liked my drink, the downside up, although I realize it's probably too sweet for most. Unfortunately, the cocktail & popcorn didn't make up for the dead atmosphere & we left pretty quickly. I would be interested in going again & seeing what it would be like when it's lively; I imagine it would be a fun spot when the dance floor is full!

When you first walk in, this is to the left. Bar area, small tables with chairs & a couch along with a ping pong table.

Mecca otr drinks and bar

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Dance event at mecca otr outside bar and patio

Gomez Salsa

4.1(427 reviews)

The turtles are amazing! I would definitely recommend it the staff is very personable and…read moreunderstanding. Their sauces are top notch.

My only complaint about here is that it needs more seats, but also we were the people who decided…read moreto try it on the same night as a Cincinnati FC game. Some things are out of your control, but still I would've enjoyed my food more if I could have sat and ate it. This place feels a little light a hole in the wall in downtown Cincinnati. It does not have lots of tables, it is unassuming on the outside, and the menu is simple. We were drawn to it, even with the long lines because of all of the game goers. Considering its size and the line, we did not wait an unreasonable amount of time to order and then receive our food. Everyone orders at the counter so you have to go through one at a time and wait for everyone before you to decide their orders. The food is then called out and you have to go get it. This system probably helped our situation and made things move faster. I got their signature turtle, which is basically a large crunch wrap, with chicken served southwest style. It was awesome but very large! We were going out after and did not want to carry leftover boxes, so I ate it all and kind of regretted it after. But I simply could not stop cause the food was so good! The prices are also fair and they have plenty of beer and cocktails to offer from their bar. I would love to come back here on a quieter night so we can sit and enjoy the food wholly, perhaps with a beverage as well.

Turtle Chicken Sandwich, Baja style, no rice.

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Bakersfield OTR

4.3(1.6k reviews)

4.2 mi•Over-the-Rhine

Food is great. Love the Dolly with crispy chicken. (Cesar Salad) It's fresh and the right size…read more Jake is fantastic and we will be back.

Fun to update a review that I wrote NINE years ago! How is that possible?…read more Anyway, Bakersfield still crushing it. Still love the short rib taco, but there are some amazing new items on the menu since the last time I was there. The chicken empanadas are the meatiest empanadas I've had in town, delicious and a pretty good deal at 3/$11. Perfect for sharing, on their own, it's a meal. They also now serve a basic crunchy taco, but unfortunately, they only come in orders of 4 so couldn't try those and the empanadas. I guess I'll have to come back. Oh noooo! Keep an eye on the promotions from Thunderdome around the holidays for some discount gift certificates too. Bakersfield still delivers great food at a solid value after 14 years.

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Abigail Street

4.5(579 reviews)

•$$$

First, I have not been to Abigail street in two years, because I now live in Maine. Every time I…read morereturn to Cincinnati I go to Abigail street, EVERY TIME. Heck, my wife was there in June and had the nerve to send me pictures of each course, but I digress. So why write this review now, well let me tell you. I just got back from a trip to Scotland and we went to what was supposedly the best Tapas place in Edinburgh, and it was not even close to Abigail street. So, rather than write a scathing review for that place, I figured I would come on and write this review instead. Food: 7/5 (I know, more than 100%). The reason, the food is beyond exceptional, but the pacing of the meal is great. We usually order 6-7 dishes (always finish with the ricotta and honey) and they will come out one or two at a time. You get to savor each dish, and then laugh and talk with your party about how good that course was and then BOOM, more amazing food arrives. Service: 5/5 - never had a bad thing at all. Watched them handle some very difficult circumstances with some very entitled people with such grace and professionalism. Also, they are so knowledgable, but more than that, they are not afraid to not know something. They work as a team. If one of the staff knows the wines better, they will answer wine questions. It is a rarity to find a staff at a restaurant that truly works as a team like that. Atmosphere: 5/5 - from the second you walk in, relaxed, calm, comfortable. The whole establishment welcomes you in, exuding confidence in the culinary adventure you are about to experience. Drinks: 5/5 - the cocktails may be a 6/5. The wines are delicious. Consistency: 5/5 - every time I go it is an incredible experience. Value: 5/5 - be ready to drop some money, but also know that that it will be so worth it.

My husband I were visiting Cincinnati on vacation and found this place based on online reviews. We…read moretypically like small plates, bar seating and a lively scene where we can interact with others. This place hit all the boxes. We were able to score bar seats without a reservation and had a nice time here. Parking - we ubered here, it looks like they had street parking but that might have been more tricky. We tried: Octopus - great, a tad salty Gambas - my husband enjoyed this Salmon - I especially liked the crunchy chickpeas Chenin Blanc Normandia White Blend Neon Lights (cocktail) - not my favorite Rosé - amazing, a great porch pounder. (Muga Rose, Spain)

Tall ceiling makes the place very inviting

Bouillabaisse, Gnocchi

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Wood grilled octopus - only 1 tentacle. The fried chick peas are really good. Overall it was too spicy to for me.

Olla Taqueria Gutierrez

4.4(274 reviews)

4.9 mi

Birria tacos are a 10 out of 10!! They are crispy, seasoned, crispy! I would highly recommend you…read moreget these tacos. The chicken tacos were 7/10, chorizo dip 5/10 and and frozen margarita 9/10. If you haven't been already, you should definitely give it a try, you won't be disappointed!!

This is small little local joint that happens to have the best birria tacos my family has ever…read moreeaten, and we are from Texas where tacos are taken seriously. The birria tacos are 3 for $10 on Wednesdays and so worth the trip. The meat inside is so flavorful and moist, and the cheese is so perfectly stretchy. They are authentically dipped in birria sauce and fried with the meat and cheese. They are so good dipped in the sauce! The dining area is small, but they also seemed to have a lot of takeaway business. Our server was friendly, and the bartender served up my Paloma quickly and perfectly, though I was told later that the blackberry margarita is their best drink. Check this place out. You won't be disappointed.

Decor

Guti Fries

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Street view of store front

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13 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Emily C.

135

8 years ago

Let me preface this review by saying I had a cold when we ate here, so it likely altered my taste. When we visited it was a cold Saturday afternoon and we were looking for a quick lunch before going to see Rent at the Aronoff. When we came in around 12:30p we were the only ones in the whole restaurant, which felt a bit odd but before we left it had started to fill in with more people. We started with the Queso Fundido which was great - nothing over and beyond a typical queso. My husband had the Mexi Pad Thai with Carnitas and I had the Arroz Chaufa with Carnitas which they describe as a Latin version of Chinese fried rice. Overall it was okay, not boasting the bold flavors from either cuisine. More or less taking a middle ground in regards to taste. My husband liked his Pad Thai more then I liked my entree - rating it a 4 out of 5 and giving it a solid "purdy yum" rating. I would try Lalo again, I really wanted to love it but left feeling underwhelmed. read more

Mark J.

3 years ago

Thank you Lalo for a great dinner. This was a rare date night with my wife of 30 years before we attended a Candlelight Concert at Rhinegeist 1 mile away. The service was personable, friendly and fast. We loved our food. The flavors were varied and on point. We had fish and shrimp ceviche and white wine for starters. It came with fresh made tortilla chips and was amazing. My wife had the Mongolian fajita plate while I had 3 tacos; al pastor, chicken curry and brisket. I couldn't recommend this more! Great food, service and prices. Go there now! read more

M P.

5 years ago

Incredibly delicious- great service - I am sure this will be a favorite of ours! Five Star service and amazingly fast kitchen.

Mary M.

7 years ago

The fish tacos are my fave! My friends introduced me to them a year ago and I have been eating them ever since.

Linda C.

5 years ago

Great food and wonderful atmosphere! We were served very fast and the food was hot, fresh and fantastic!!

Lily J.

4 years ago

The food is delicious and the service is usually pretty fast. I will say though, don't order the coffee.

Emily K.

4 years ago

I've only been here once but it seemed good! I got a salad that was good but the portion was small.

Patrick D.

392

5 years ago

I have never had anything bad here. Everything is amazing! One of my favorite restaurants in town!

Mike M.

530

7 years ago

Literally the best tasting food I have EVER eaten. You will not be disappointed in this food.

Nolan F.

100

4 years ago

Good lunch deals, great taste . $10 lunch specials that will leave you salivating and full.

William M.

3 years ago

Excellent food and service! One of my favorite downtown eateries. Beautiful bar and decor.

P B.

8 years ago

HORRIBLE customer service. won't pick up the phone to correct an online order

Randy T.

7 years ago

My new favorite!! We had the best time ever!! Thank you

Lalo - latin - Updated October 2026

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Courteous staff. Clean dining and restroom. FOOD WAS…read moreAMAZING I got the quesadilla and it was lovely. That chicken was very good and tender and was a much larger portion than I expected.

Amazing lunch spot for sure! I had a quesadilla and a was delicious. It had a little side salad…read morethat was pretty good. It was well seasoned. The salsa and chips were fresh and lightly salted. I asked for a spicy salsa and they came through. Yum yum yum. The portions are good for the price. Service was super friendly and engaging. The restaurant was clean and had a lot of options on the menu for both food and drinks. Highly recommended.

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I was at the food hall and decided to try a couple tacos from this place. The windward Nanny was…read morephenomenal. The meat was so soft it felt like it was melting in my mouth. I also got the Grandma Sally. The chicken had a nice Smoky flavor to it. They included some chips along with my tacos, they were fine, not anything special. I probably wouldn't recommend spending six bucks on the chips and salsa, but the tacos were five stars.

The food here is delicious however the service is rather lackluster and definitely leaves more to…read morebe desired. You only order at the register with a human if you are paying with cash, otherwise you are sent to the kiosk - they give you a number or say they will text you when your order is ready but I have found that system to be hit or miss - sometimes it works other times you have to go to the counter about 20 minutes after you have waited - you then ask for your food to find it was ready 10 minutes ago sitting in a warmer and you should have got a text - maybe if a human was running the register that would ease out those issues. The staff is some of the rudest - you have some Latin americans in the kitchen that I assume don't know english based on how confused they are whenever you try to talk to them, the lady staff member is rather rude and has an attitude as well as a stank face, the nicest staff member is usually the child that's working up front which is sad because he's probably not even 12 so he should'nt be behind the counter at all. The fries are delicous but the birria is greasy as hell!

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Everything was delicious and fresh. Definitely not eating out of the back of a Sysco truck here.read more

Everything about this visit went well! From the service to the food and everything in between, I'm…read moreso glad I found LaJaiba. After eating here, I can't imagine eating at another Mexican restaurant. There were three of us ladies here for dinner and we all loved our food. All of us ordered combo meals which are a good price at $13.99. One friend had Tamales and she they were the best she had ever eaten. I got a combo meal with a ground beef taco, chicken burrito and cheese enchilada. I'm not usually a big fan of red sauce but this sauce had amazing flavor with a touch of heat. I got my taco "Mexican" style which is just cilantro and onion - yum! Everything, including the rice and beans were delicious! The owner waited on us and because it was our first time there she treated us to some guacamole with our chips. That was an extra special touch. I ordered a margarita that was much stronger than your average. The prices are much more reasonable too. If you are in the area, I highly suggest trying La Jaiba. It's been added to my favorites!

El Vaquero Clifton

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Everything I've ordered here has been amazing!! I recommend the carne asada tacos with the…read moreguacamole salad. Service is always great!

Extremely nice and accommodating staff. I did pickup. The cashier easily retrieved a missing cheese…read moresauce. I liked the food: a cross between authentic and American. The beef tips in the quesadilla were a little salty but tender. I really liked the ground beef burrito. Good sauces and salsas. I didn't expect raw jalapeños. I will return to try more items.

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A great find. The service was great, very friendly, we felt taken care of. The food was great and…read morepriced well! We shared the Chicken Fajitas between two people and it was more than enough! We had left overs to take home which is always a win! We will be back!

Great addition to Newport! Extensive menu featuring a mix of traditional and typical Mexican food…read more(burritos, tacos, fajitas) as well as some unique but more authentic offerings that we don't often see on other menus (Gorditas, sopes, flautas, and various fillings and toppings). Do not pass up the Platanos con Crema!!!Delicious. I enjoyed the Tostada with picadillo as well. We ordered the Gordita de Asada (I'm a little particular about the fat texture from meats and this one had some chewy pieces), the Sope de Chorizo, Tacos de Birria, and Flan for dessert (just okay). Service was friendly and we enjoyed our meal overall - will definitely be back to try more!

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Guys. This place is legit. Tucked away in an unassuming block in Lockland (I think), this place is…read moreserving up delicious and reasonably priced food. Thankfully yelp's search abs reviews put this joint on my radar. I Enough chit chat. Let's talk about Pollo Shaddai. It has the look abs feel of a diner. Our waiter asked if we'd had Guatemalan food before. When we said "no," he took us through the menu and explained everything to us. On his recommendation, we started off with the Garnanchos which were mini fried tortillas topped with an amazingly seasoned ground beef mixture, sautéed cabbage, cheese and red salsa. O. M. G. Delicious!!! Definitely get an order to share when you go. The boyfriend got the Combo Shaddai which is 3 pieces of fried chicken and fries that are topped with Mayo, ketchup, abs a spicy green ketchup. He was a little sketch on the green ketchup and got it on the side. I loved it! He said the chicken was really good... very similar to the type of fried chicken you'd expect from a restaurant, but felt the breading was a little sweeter. I got the Pepian which came with 2 pieces of chicken that were smothered in a tasty curry sauce. Don't let the word "curry" fool you. It wasn't as heavily spiced as an Indian curry, but it was delicious. Mellow and delicious, it came with a side of rice and a salad made with carrots abs green beans in mayo. The waiter said it's a polarizing dish. Most either love it or hate it. I was in the middle. I wanted just a dash of spice to go with it. We both had leftovers, but we definitely didn't have any garnanchos left. We devoured all 5 of those suckers due to their amazingness. Basically, you need to check this place out. It was delightful!!!

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