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    Local Cantina - Upper Arlington

    3.8 (42 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Local Cantina - Upper Arlington Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    LOCAL CANTINA - UPPER ARLINGTON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Mac & Cheese buffalo chicken tacos

    Lots of different things to choose from. Unique tacos with Asian fusion and quesadillas. Includes unlimited chips and salsa. Service was good. Lots of TV's to watch the game. Wasn't very busy on a Sunday evening.

    Kristy D.

    I stumbled on this great place for an unplanned Taco Tuesday after a long travel day. The tacos were all delicious and a great price, plus they have a surprisingly thoughtful and varied alcohol selection!

    Crunchweezy Taco, Weezy Supreme Taco, Mac Attack Taco and side of Guacamole
    Kate S.

    Celebrating Brad Calvin's heavenly birthday today with some delish food from a restaurant he worked so hard to make great. I ordered online, and as soon as I got to the bar it was ready! Beautiful new restaurant, fantastic ambiance where almost every table feels outside on a nice night, and just plain yummy. There are more classic options like great fish tacos, as well as fun fusion tacos that mix in a little of this scrumptious food in a tortilla or crunchy shell- can't go wrong!

    Exterior
    Chris L.

    Half sports bar, half Taqueria, the new UA branch of Local Cantina serves a fine taco and is going to be spectacular when they can open all their garage doors in fine weather. Lots of TVs if you wanna watch a game. Happy Hour M-F 3-6p. Try hard to get here on a Tuesday when all tacos are discounted! Serve yourself chips and salsa, as much as you like, free! Full bar Including 12 taps of craft beers and cider. The menu offers a long list of tacos and a short list of favorites like nachos, burritos, quesadillas, salads and even a chimichanga. I'm a fan of the soft and hard shell combo, that means a soft flour taco is wrapped around a crispy taco shell, very easy to eat :-) We visited on a quiet weekday for lunch, tried the mushroom quesadillas, fish taco, and a beef brisket taco. Kitchen was super extra fast, the food was delicious. The tacos are roughly street taco size, small but not tiny. A person can easily eat three, $3-5 each. Vegetarian rating: strong four stars, the refried beans are veggie, you can pick purely vegetables for your tacos, highly recommend. Many, many thanks to Daniela who was easily the best server I've met in these d*mned Covid years! I don't understand all the mustache references here maybe someone will explain that to me LOL

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    1 year ago

    Stopped in before OSU-IU bb game for dinner was seated promptly, service was great and food and drinks were delicious.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great place and wonderful people! Rini is the best! I always have a great time here.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Hailey is a very nice and friendly. Everyone at this establishment is as well and the service is very good!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Gotta love the Lane ave Local Cantina. Friendly and genuine staff and great food. What more can you ask for when the craving hits.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I had the best time here. The staff and food are amazing. Jordan was our server, and she made our night. I'll definitely be back to see her!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Quirky little place. Apparently you serve your own chips. But the tacos were good. Waitress was very friendly.

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    3 years ago

    Delicious food and great atmosphere. Nice bar and lots of tvs in addition to having a family feel to it. Service was prompt and friendly.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Local Cantina - Upper Arlington

    Lupita’s Mexican Cuisine & Bar - Molcajete was so good

    Lupita’s Mexican Cuisine & Bar

    4.8(156 reviews)
    6.2 miMerion Village
    $$

    4.8 stars out of 151 reviews?! Say less. I was working in the area and had the taste for Mexican…read moreand a beer. I sit at the bar and I'm greeted by something I've never had ever...chips served with 2 red salsas, a verde salsa and bean dip! Usually you just get chips, a small bowl and a carafe of salsa, help yourself. This set the tone that this would be different than usual. I ordered steak fajita nachos and a Modelo Negra. I powered thru the chips and bean dip like it was my job. And it didn't disappoint. Really fresh and flavorful. Nachos are nachos, right? Wrong. How they are assembled has everything to do with their mouth feel as they cool down. I've had nachos that come out looking amazing but as they cool, turn into a disappointing chuck of chips held together by shredded cheese cement. These stayed loose with crunchy bites of peppers and onions, and the cheese sauce coated instead of becoming cement-like. I always order the same thing when trying a New Mexican spot. If the nachos are good, chances are everything is good! So I'll keep the almost 5 Star steak going. I agree, some of the best Mexican food in Columbus.

    The food is delicious!! And they have margarita flights. Need I say more?…read more I'd recommend the Lupita's Special which has a little bit of everything! My friend got a chicken dish served in queso like sauce and it was really good, but I can't remember the name. (First picture)

    Photos
    Lupita’s Mexican Cuisine & Bar - Dining area

    Dining area

    Lupita’s Mexican Cuisine & Bar - Complementary chips and dips...even bean!

    Complementary chips and dips...even bean!

    Lupita’s Mexican Cuisine & Bar - Quesa Birria, 41. Choripollo

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    Quesa Birria, 41. Choripollo

    Catrina Mexican Cuisine

    Catrina Mexican Cuisine

    4.8(84 reviews)
    6.6 miNorthland
    $$

    I realized I eat a lot of Mexican food! Working in the area, I do what I always do...Yelp what's…read morein the area. 4.8 starts out of 82 reviews. Let's go! I pull up and the parking lot is empty. Hmmm. Looks like an old Rax roast beef spot. Inside it had a festive vibe with a Mexican mix tape playing over the speakers. The gentleman takes my order and grab a booth. He takes your order and makes your food fresh! Fajita nachos Al Pastor with a Victoria beer. The Victoria draft came out in a frosty mug and it was cold cold. Yes!! As I'm waiting for my food, more customers start coming in. Made me feel better lol. I swear the music playing is a recording of a DJ at a wedding lol. Out come the nachos and they look amazing. He also brings a little stand for my cell phone so I can eat and watch YouTube. Never have I had that offered to me at any restaurant. His hustle, service and smile was appreciated. The nachos were really good. The marinated pork, cheese sauce, fresh chips, chunks of pineapple, sour cream and salsa verde just came together well. Bonus points for the cheese sauce. Not to mention I watched him prepare everything thru the glass counter. He's back there having fun then brings your food out with a smile. Love it. If it were super busy I don't know how he would keep up, but I appreciate his hustle. Yelp, your recommendation didn't disappoint. This was different than your typical sit down, chips and salsa, margarita special, blah blah experience. This was Cozumel in June, cruising around in the side-by-side, Oh look a cool roadside taco spot with an open center courtyard type of vibe. Minus the open courtyard. Check them out!

    We gave Catrina a try tonight and were very pleased with the service and the quality of food…read more Highlights were the tikka chicken empanada and the shrimp tostada - both delicious. The ambiance was fine , and enhanced by some very enjoyable Mexican music. We will be back!

    Photos
    Catrina Mexican Cuisine - Plenty of seating

    Plenty of seating

    Catrina Mexican Cuisine - Al Pastor Fajita nachos

    Al Pastor Fajita nachos

    Catrina Mexican Cuisine - Fish Taco

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    Fish Taco

    Chile Verde - Chile Relleno

    Chile Verde

    4.0(233 reviews)
    10.6 mi
    $$

    Very friendly, efficient and timely service from the host to our waitress despite the fact that…read moreevery table was full. We tried brunch on Easter (made reservations) and it was fantastic! We each had different dishes-- Green Chile Stew, Three Sisters (I asked for a combo of chorizo and beef and they said, "Of course!"), Sandia Sopapilla with shredded beef. All were excellent and were attractively plated-- it wouldn't have mattered, but it was those little extras that really elevated the experience. We were also given a bowl of their latest salsa to try-- sweet and mildly spicy watermelon! We are regulars here and always enjoy the food and the pleasant ambiance, but this brunch was truly exceptional. We ended our meal with a plate of puffy Sopapillas with honey to share. Delicious! **This is New Mexican and NM-inspired food, not the same as Mexican or Tex-Mex.** If you're not familiar with it, you may ask for samples of sauces and meats before you order! NM cuisine is less about piles of cheese and taco shells and more about the flavors of their regional peppers (which they fly in fresh here!). It's a blend of Mexican, Spanish and Pueblo Indigenous foods, not American-Mexican. And yes, you still get great chips & salsa, but you're going to want to pass on the refills to make room for the stars of the meal-- the e

    Sunday was my third time visiting Chile Verde and it was my second time for brunch. My friends, my…read moredog and I enjoyed our meal on their patio. Our server was friendly and provided great service. I started my meal with a beer. They offer many popular Mexican Lager style beers on draft and in cans. They also have rotating drafts. I opted for an IPA draft. The beer paired well with the chips and salsa. I struggled making a decision as many brunch items looked great. I landed on the Hueveos New Mexican. This was different from most brunch items I tried but it was very good. The green chile pork had a bit of heat for me but I still enjoyed it. The tortillas, sauce and queso were all excellent. Whether you are looking for brunch, lunch or dinner I recommend giving Chile Verde a try. They are three for three in my limited sample size.

    Photos
    Chile Verde - Inside

    Inside

    Chile Verde - Blue Corn Pancakes - a staple in New Mexico!
*available for brunch*

    Blue Corn Pancakes - a staple in New Mexico! *available for brunch*

    Chile Verde - New Mexican Big Bowl

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    New Mexican Big Bowl

    El Ranchito - Torta de carne asada

    El Ranchito

    4.6(95 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $

    Probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in columbus. Shout out to my boss who exposed me because…read moreit's definitely worth it and affordable. I spend about $20 if I get a drink, two tacos, a tostada & chips + guacamole. Tacos are delicious & it's one of the few places you can get a tostada that is crunchy and flavorful. Service is really good I've also had the horchata and cucumber agua fresca, would recommend them both. My go-to is guacamole+chips, beef or chicken street style tacos and or the chicken tostada. They also have good queso and rice and beans. I have not had a bad thing honestly.

    I wish I could get back in time 2 years and come and eat again, I used to love this place, the…read moretacos, burritos, gorditas I thought every single dish here was good but unfortunately this time it wasn't like that. I order the birria soup, and it was good, I have no complains, but the burrito had a major downgrade, it lacked everything, it was big but flavor wise was so dull, same with the flautas not good at all. We order a taco at the end just to try to say we had an excuse to drive 30 minutes to eat here but it was just ok. The ambiance is about the same, small little family Mexican spot and you fell welcome. The tres leches was the best part of our meal so freaking good, and I don't even care about sweets.

    Photos
    El Ranchito - Outside

    Outside

    El Ranchito - We ordered Sabado - Birria de chivo. The lid wasn't on right.

    We ordered Sabado - Birria de chivo. The lid wasn't on right.

    El Ranchito - Half of the both was all over the carry out bag

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    Half of the both was all over the carry out bag

    Nada

    Nada

    3.9(672 reviews)
    3.7 miArena District
    $$

    Went last night before the game. Sat at the bar. Was evidently there just in time fr the end of…read morehappy hour. The staff was very eager to make sure we knew about happy hour. Pretty thankful they did. We ordered the queso, 3 happy hour pork tacos, and street corn. The food came out very fast and very tasty. I had 2 drafts. Do wish they had a bit of a wider selection. The wife had margaritas. She says they were good. I don't really like them. The only down thing that happened was st the end. We were sitting there as my wife was finishing up the last of her margarita and we each had water. I didn't even notice when it happened, but the bartender decided we were done with our waters and took them. I was really surprised it was gone when I reached for it. The bartender decided was a bit sticky but looked cool and the bathroom was clean. Pretty nice place.

    Stopped in while in the Arena District for quick bite and beverage. Ordered Chips and Salsa (Ancho…read moreSalsa) which was ok but also ordered Quesadilla for apps and it was like a mini version (two bites) that i wouldnt order again for $12. Also note they intentionally serve this as burnt cheese (oozing out the side). Beverage wise, we ordered Nadarita(s) and they were small and little weak. Felt like college bar service and quality. Our server Khoi was nice and professional, but rarely saw him (never returned for additional drink or chip orders). Will visit again but have different expectations. Thanks Nada.

    Photos
    Nada
    Nada
    Nada

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    Mi Tradicion

    Mi Tradicion

    4.0(306 reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$

    Walking into this restaurant is like stepping into a Mexican fiesta. Bright colorful decor with…read moreupbeat music and vibe. Our server, who I think was the manager, seated us quickly and was super friendly and attentive throughout the meal. There is a long bar in one room where a couple locals were dining while watching a game. They also have a back room for larger parties and an outdoor patio. We ordered the beef enchilada, chile relleno combo, and also the chimichanga dinner. Both were very well prepared, and the sauces were definitely not store bought. We asked the manager and he did say that they make their sauces in house. I love that, especially since they were really good and had a deeper spice flavor than other places.

    I took my wife and two children here on a whim because it had been recommended to me by coworkers…read moreand we happened to be in the neighborhood. It was a Thursday night at dinnertime, but we were seated right away. They had a decent-sized crowd, but it wasn't packed. We had a server visit our table quickly and he was very friendly and light-hearted. He was good with the kids and we always appreciate that! It was a bit after 6pm, but I was able to get a Happy Hour margarita ordered, which felt like a good deal! $7.99 for a traditional margarita. (I'm not sure what time their Happy Hour ends) There wasn't much salt on the rim, but I actually didn't notice until I nearly finished it and realized it wasn't there. But it tasted great! I believe it was an authentic margarita, not the sour mix. My kids love Mexican rice and beans (respectively, neither likes both), so they only each ordered their side and feasted on chips and queso (the queso was a bit pricey for a large, but it lasted our entire meal). The queso was great and the chips were good too. Salsa was decent. I ordered the spinach enchiladas and my wife ordered the vegetarian chimichanga. We both enjoyed our meals and agreed we ordered those same meals again in the future. Service was fast and friendly and we had a nice relaxing meal. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the indoors is even nicer than it looks from the outside, although they have a nice outdoor patio with some cool decor out there as well. We'll come back!

    Photos
    Mi Tradicion
    Mi Tradicion
    Mi Tradicion - Colorful front entrance

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    Colorful front entrance

    Local Cantina - Upper Arlington - tex-mex - Updated May 2026

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