Cleveland, OHMexican

Momocho works out of a historic former grocer building on Fulton Road, where Chef Eric Williams runs a seasonal modern Mexican menu under Lucha Libre wrestling decor. The kitchen is known for fresh guacamole and colorful margaritas, plus dishes like plant-based flautas filled with butternut squash, goat cheese, red chile, and chocolate mole. It has long been an Ohio City draw.

Blue Habanero sits on Detroit Avenue in Gordon Square, marked by an oversized Day of the Dead skeleton and a bar pouring more than 50 tequilas. The focus is street tacos and margaritas, including a signature taco that layers Certified Angus ribeye with chorizo, pineapple, onion, cilantro, and tomatillo. Cleveland Magazine includes it in its guide to the city's Mexican restaurants.

Avo Modern Mexican brings burritos, tacos, tortas, and cocktails to West 25th Street in a room lit by Edison bulbs and set against a colorful mural. One standout is its Mexican pizza, built on two flour tortillas with enchilada sauce, refried black beans, chihuahua cheese, ground beef, and pico de gallo. Cleveland Magazine lists it among the area's Mexican spots.

La Plaza Taqueria operates inside an old-school Mexican supermarket, where a well-stocked salsa bar sets it apart. The counter turns out tacos and burritos across a full range of proteins, from asada and carnitas to al pastor, chorizo, and barbacoa. Cleveland Magazine points to it in its roundup of the city's Mexican restaurants for straightforward, market-style cooking.

Tapatias Taqueria is a no-frills, family-run taqueria on Lorain Avenue, with a wooden bar, cozy booths, and its own salsa bar. The kitchen keeps things simple with street tacos priced by the each, from fish and asada to barbacoa. Cleveland Magazine groups it with the neighborhood taquerias worth seeking out for honest, inexpensive Mexican plates.