Mestizo Kitchen & Café Blends Mexican and Filipino Flavors in AsiaTown

Newly landing on Rockwell Ave, Mestizo Kitchen & Café promises Cleveland an epic 'Mexipino' mash-up with Filipino and Mexican classics—and plenty of bold fusion.

Cleveland’s AsiaTown is about to taste something delightfully different. Mestizo Kitchen & Café is opening its doors on Rockwell Avenue, with a menu fusing the best of Mexican and Filipino cooking—plus bold, boundary-blurring hybrids you won’t find anywhere else.

"Mexipino"—Where Two Worlds Collide

Mestizo’s owners, Jessie Mendoza (Filipino roots) and Armando Llamas (Mexican heritage), are tossing culinary rules out the window. Expect a playful but seriously tasty mashup:

• Birria-stuffed lumpia with saucy consommé for dunking
• Chicken adobo burritos—the most delicious culture shock you’ll ever have
• Classic Filipino bites like lechon kawali and a hands-on kamayan feast

It’s a clever play on “mestizo”—someone of mixed ancestry. Consider your cravings officially blended.

Where You’ll Find It

Setting up shop at 2162 Rockwell Ave, Mestizo takes over the space that once hosted Sichuan Hot Pot. The spot is smack in the heart of old Chinatown, now AsiaTown, just a few blocks from downtown Cleveland. It’s the perfect crossroads for a restaurant that’s all about mixing things up.

• Address: 2162 Rockwell Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114
• Easy access from Midtown, Downtown, and I-90

The Dining Room Glow-Up

Forget any memory of hot pot steam: after a gut renovation, Mestizo Kitchen looks and feels nothing like the place it replaced. Expect a fresh, vibrant vibe that channels both Filipino warmth and Mexican flair. From colorful murals to sleek accents, first-timers won’t even recognize the old digs.

Not Just Dinner: Mornings Done Right

Wake up, Cleveland! Mestizo is more than a lunch-or-dinner spot—it wants your mornings, too. Their café game includes:

• Mexican-style breads and sweet pastries
• Filipino cheese bread—don’t knock it ’til you try it
• Robust coffee drinks for all you caffeine loyalists

Roll in for a sweet start, or power up your afternoon with a pastry pit stop.

Why This Restaurant Matters

Cleveland’s food scene thrives on unexpected flavors and new stories. Mestizo is the first spot in town putting Filipino and Mexican food on equal footing, then going all-in on creative combos. For food lovers, it’s an easy “yes.” For the city, it’s another sign we're not afraid to experiment—especially when deliciousness is on the line.

How to Get in on the Action

Mestizo Kitchen & Café will open in the coming weeks. Hungry types should keep an eye on their socials and swing by soon after launch—this is the kind of place where curiosity (and your appetite) will be well rewarded.

In a town that craves flavor, Mestizo Kitchen & Café is the mix we didn’t know we needed. Are you ready to go full "Mexipino"?