Mazunte Centro, located at 611 Main St., is inspired by the vibrancy of Mexico City, while the flagship taqueria (in a Madisonville strip mall) envelopes Oaxacan culture.

Mazunte Centro still serves the classics — tacos and tostadas, tequila and Topo Chico. But a handful of dishes exclusive to this location were added to the menu, namely tortas and tlayudas (imagine a love child between a Mexican pizza and a giant loaded nacho).

The impressive chicharrón de queso is also new on the Mazunte Centro menu. Literally translated to “cheese cracklings,” it’s a disc of shredded cheese wrapped around a wine bottle and fried. Don’t be alarmed when a foot-tall cheese tube arrives at your table; be amazed.

Out-the-door-tacos for those on their lunch break and lingering evenings sipping tequila are both served with the same warm hospitality. Although folks in Mexico indulge in a leisurely meal and siesta midday and grab street tacos at night, Americans are more accustomed to working through lunch and partying after dark. Mazunte serves Mexico City food on a Cincinnati schedule.

Read a full feature at citybeat.com.

Photos by Hailey Bollinger
Mazunte Centro is located at 611 Main St., Downtown Hailey Bollinger
Some of the offerings at Mazunte Centro including (L to R): a torta, chicharrón de queso, tacos and tlayuda Hailey Bollinger
The house recommends splitting a tlayuda — expect leftovers for two and a table littered with crumpled, grease-stained napkins, tortilla remnants and runaway salsa dribbles by the end of your meal. Hailey Bollinger
The team has adopted a DIY mindset since opening Mazunte Taqueria, inviting friends to be part of the process and asking some of the same artists to design the Centro location who initially helped design the Madisonville space. Hailey Bollinger
The employees at the restaurant make the tortillas fresh, serve them with most everything and bag up the crispy ones and sell them for cheap at all locations. Hailey Bollinger
The chicharrón de queso is an excellent two-for-one deal — snap some off and dip it in salsa roja or salsa verde (both if you’re bold) or crumble it over the tlayuda for an added crunch factor. Hailey Bollinger
The interior of Mazunte Centro has a DIY aesthetic Hailey Bollinger
Some of the artistic doodles that line the walls of Mazunte Centro Hailey Bollinger
A torta, or Mexican sandwich Hailey Bollinger
The restaurant offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments Hailey Bollinger
The shop’s design, much like its tortillas, was crafted by the hands of the Mazunte team. It’s specific to them. Makeshift and authentic, lively but simple. Hailey Bollinger
“I want to design a company that’s going to be around 10, 20, 30 years in the future that’s not dependent on my presence,” says owner Josh Wamsley. “This restaurant is not for me; this is for all of us at Mazunte.” Hailey Bollinger
Seating inside the restaurant Hailey Bollinger