Taco Tonto’s, a popular eatery in downtown Kent that has garnered a near cult following over three decades, is expanding to Lakewood with a second location in the home of the former Bela Dubby on Madison.

The restaurant, which offers a simple menu of tasty burritos and tacos handmade from fresh ingredients, opened a few weeks ago. The cozy space has been remade with bright colors, a vintage bar and a new wall dividing the kitchen from the cafe. There's also a handpainted mural featuring such fantastic delights as a half-man, half-bird drinking a margarita and a half-woman, half-goldfish holding tacos.

Taco Tonto’s offers an extensive selection of craft beers as well as meat and vegetarian burritos and tacos, burrito bowls, taco salads, pizzaritos, chips and salsa and guacamole. Menu items are reasonably priced from $5 to $10.

Lakewood owners John and Jill Crino had run Bela Dubby for the past nine years. The couple met at Kent State University and John has dreamed of opening a Taco Tonto’s ever since he graduated. When Bela Dubby had run its course, they contacted Taco Tonto's owners Kevin and Emily Yohn and made a deal.

"When the opportunity to open Taco Tonto's came up, we had no questions about whether it was a good idea," says co-owner Jill Crino, who is now a full partner in the entire business along with her husband John. "Taco Tonto's has a following."

"We don't even have a freezer for anything other than ice," Crino adds of the cafe's scratch cooking. "We cook in small batches so everything is always fresh."

Taco Tonto’s is located at 13321 Madison. It is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.

Source: Jill Crino
Writer: Lee Chilcote