Patrons who walk into the dining area of Mi Cerrito’s new location in Galion will see a mural on the wall and immediately feel the vibe of the spot. The second local location and the third overall spot has a Day of the Dead theme or Dia de los Muertos in Spanish.

Located at 741 Portland Way S. next to Victory Lanes, the new establishment gives locals a variety of Mexican food options to select from. Like its Crestline joint often is, business was booming even during Friday’s ribbon cutting prior to dinner hours. Patrons can grab a bite from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday as well as Wednesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Tuesday.

“So far, so good,” owner Pedro Macias said of business for the new location.

The building began renovations in 2022 and had a “soft opening” this past month. Most of the patrons are local, or at least from the surrounding areas, so they have seen it was coming when they travel down Portland Way South.

Mi Cerrito offers lunch specials and plenty of dinner choices. From cheese dips and salsas to margaritas, Mi Cerrito’s food is made to order, which means patrons have the ability to get it how they want. The restaurant serves street tacos, enchiladas, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and much more.

Mi Cerrito opened its first restaurant in Delaware in 2011, and the Crestline establishment began serving patrons in 2020. Now, the chain has opened three different locations within 12 years.

“We have a lot of customers come from Galion to the Crestline location,” said Macias. “We have customers from Ontario to Mansfield and all around the county.”

Friday’s ribbon cutting was led by the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director Miranda Jones.

“We are pleased to be able to celebrate the success and expansion of this local business at a new location in our community,” Jones said. “We’ve enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service at the Crestline location for years, and now we can enjoy Mi Cerrito in Galion, too.”

As for opening additional locations, Macias said he likes the thought of keeping it at three restaurants in the Mi Cerrito chain for the foreseeable future.

“… We’ll have to be content with these three for now,” Macias said jokingly.

Reach Brandon Little by email at [email protected]