First Place: Taco Tontos
Kent’s most loved spot for Mexican food is Taco Tontos on Franklin Avenue. The restaurant’s colorful storefront, marked by a firehouse red staircase rail, draws people in with its distinctive burritos and drinks.
When customers walk in, they are greeted with lilac and salmon walls, a human-height cactus in the corner and a Baby Yoda next to the JBL speaker that sets the vibe with music.
“The colors, the great atmosphere, the music, I think a lot of people come strictly for that,” Manager and cook Chris Jackson said.
While there is limited in-store seating, customers can take their food outside to the patio connected with Zephyr Pub, across the street to the gazebo or tables along the street.
Jackson recommends new customers try any burrito, which are made in house, crispy and large enough to give you leftovers. If you’re unsure of what to try, asking a worker for recommendations or trying the daily special posted on the eatery’s Instagram and Facebook is always a good option.
The menu also offers an array of alcoholic and soft drinks. Margaritas with fresh fruit made every morning cover those 21 and over and classic glass coke bottles are available for younger people.
Jackson said many people come in for liquor double pours and the special draft menu featuring local beers from places like Hoof Hearted in Columbus. A good time to try the drinks are on Taco Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays when craft draft beers are $6 and margaritas, mixed drinks and Hoof Hearted 4-packs are $2 off.
Senior aerospace engineering major Andrew Pertz’s go-to order is a chicken el biggo burrito with pico de gallo. Pertz believes Taco Tontos is the best Mexican food in the immediate campus area.
Jackson said Taco Tontos is not authentic Mexican food, however its almost daily spins and fusions on top of classic items keep the menu interesting.
“I know there’s a lot of Mexican restaurants in Kent, but a lot of people come here just because they like the vibe and atmosphere,” Jackson said.
Taco Tontos’ owners are Emily and Kevin Yohn, who have been the owners for about 20 of the restaurant’s over 50 years of business.
“It’s been family-run for a very long time now,” Jackson said. “Most of the staff we have, we’ve been here over five plus years.”
The staff tries to make it enjoyable for everyone who comes in. Usually, customers think the staff is friendly and some have been loyal to the establishment for over 40 years, according to Jackson.
“The food’s been around for so long that it’s become almost like a staple in Kent,” he said.
Taco Tontos is located at 123 Franklin Ave., and its number is 330-677-0223.
Second Place: Barrio
Barrio is hard to miss on South Water Street with its floor to ceiling windows and walls of murals depicting a Day of the Dead wedding scene.
Manager Madison Montez can’t think of any other word besides “vibey” to describe the atmosphere of Barrio, which attracts a young and diverse crowd.
One of Barrio’s quirks is their ordering concept.
“We all have our own little spiel on describing the menus,” Montez said. “We relate it to a scantron from school because you just bubble in what you want on a taco.”
The best-selling taco is the smash-burger, according to Montez. It features a flour shell, crumbled bacon, American cheese, smash burger, lettuce, pico de gallo, pickles and mac sauce.
“It’s funny because it’s not Mexican at all,” he said.
Other popular tacos under the el jefe’s selecciones are the crunchy chipotle chicken, chicken bacon ranch and el jefe loco.
For those looking for a more authentic taste and variety, Barrio’s Sunday brunch menu from 11-3 p.m. is more Mexican, according to Montez.
For something to drink, Barrio carries a wide selection of liquor options with their margaritas and premium cocktails.
Barrio has happy hour Monday-Friday from open until 6 p.m. Happy hour specials include $1 off tacos, bowls and drafts, $5 casa margaritas and skinny skeletons, $15 casa margarita pitchers and half off tequila and whiskey.
“We have happy hour all the time, which I don’t think a lot of other places do,” Montez said.
For the night owl-customers, on Sunday-Thursday from 9 p.m. to close, the bar area offers $5 appetizers, ballpark or build-your-own nachos, 20-ounce long pour casa margarita and 20-ounce draft beers.
Barrio started as a food truck in Tremont, Ohio, and now has locations across seven states. The Kent location is at 295 S. Water St., and its number is 330-968-6118.
Third Place: Los Girasoles
A little removed from downtown Kent, Los Girasoles is a more traditional Mexican restaurant right off of SR-43. However, its location allows the restaurant to see a mix of students and travelers.
Employee Gino Galindo said business has grown more in the last six years than the past 15.
“We get a lot of people who are like, ‘Wow, I didn’t expect it to be this good,’” he said. “And, I mean, we’ve had the same line cook for the past 25 years.”
Consistency is something Los Girasoles has that other restaurants may lack, and Galindo has heard customers say the food never changes.
For newcomers, Galindo recommends trying the fajitas and a margarita. Fajitas come with chicken, steak shrimp or all three, and “people love the margaritas here,” according to Galindo.
The flavors at Los Girasoles originate from Oaxaca, Mexico.
“They bring that tradition with them and then replicate it here,” he said.
What keeps customers coming back, and what is special about Los Girasoles, is the familiarity of the restaurant.
“It feels like a family when you come here,” said employee Cassandra Ramos.
No matter the day of the week, Los Girasoles has some kind of deal running. Margarita Mondays offers margaritas as low as $4, Taco Tuesdays have three tacos for $5, Wednesdays have discounted jumbo margaritas, Thursdays have discounted draft beers, Friday and Saturday have discounted margarita pitchers and kids 12 and under eat free on Sundays.
Los Girasoles is located at 4441 OH-43, and its number is 330-673-8874.
Bianca Amoako is a campus editor. Contact her at [email protected].
