Mucho Bueno’s Mexican Grill & Cantina in Brunswick is a feast and a fiesta | Local Flavor

My wife, Susie, and I enjoy trying new restaurants for Local Flavor.

But this time, we went to a place that we know well.

Mucho Bueno’s Mexican Grill & Cantina in Brunswick is one of our favorite spots for dining out. The food is good, the cost is reasonable, the staff is friendly and the atmosphere is fun.

It’s in a retail plaza at 1421 Town Center Blvd. off state Route 303 near Home Depot, about a 10-minute drive past Richfield Township. The street might as well be called Burrito Boulevard since Chipotle, Taco Bell and Hot Head Burritos all occupy the same 1-mile strip.

Owner Antonio Garcia opened the small restaurant in 2006, and we’ve been regulars for about 15 years. In the early days, we practically had the place to ourselves, but the business grew steadily, and now Mucho Bueno’s is packed with diners. There’s even a short wait on some evenings.

The sign at the entrance, “Mi Casa Es Su Casa,” makes us feel welcome.

Artistic vibe at Mucho Bueno’s

Divided into two sections, the dining room is a swirl of vibrant colors and whimsical decorations. You hear the noise of happy conversations and sizzling plates. You breathe in the aroma of authentic Mexican food.

The decor is a lot of fun with a palette of orange, green, blue and yellow. A mosaic tile floor features a sun-and-moon motif, while three-dimensional stars dangle from the rafters. Like Seussian creations, rainbow strands burst up through blue columns, and eye-catching, homemade contraptions hang from walls. Butterflies, bees, lizards, frogs and other folk-art creatures gaze out from lofty perches.

“I think it’s very artistic,” Susie said. “It inspires creativity. It’s very cheerful.”

There are no booths. The large blue tabletops are embedded with ads from local companies such as tree services, repair shops and photo studios.

A server delivered a complimentary basket of homemade chips and salsa and we nibbled away while deciding what to order. The salty chips were warm and crispy; the red salsa was fresh and zesty — a perfect way to start our meals.

The menu features appetizers, lunch specials, house specialties, combination plates, vegetarian dishes, children’s meals, salads and a la carte options. You can find just about any combination of burritos, enchiladas, tacos, tamales, chalupas, tostadas, chimichangas and chile rellenos, or you can mix and match whatever you’d like.

The cocktail menu includes frozen margaritas, imported and domestic beers, shots, sippers, wine, juices and soft drinks.

Here’s what we had to eat

On other trips to Mucho Bueno’s, I’ve enjoyed such dishes as enchiladas verdes, chicken mole poblano, enchiladas rancheras and the seafood combo, but I usually gravitate toward the vegetarian combination plates.

This time, I ordered No. 19 ($9.99): a bean burrito, cheese enchilada and bean tostada. Smothered in red sauce and melted cheese, it’s a wonderful array of flour and corn tortillas, refried beans, fresh guacamole, diced tomatoes and chopped lettuce. The white cheese, shredded and melted, ties it all together into a hot, gooey, satisfying meal.

Various bottles of hot sauce are available on each table for diners who want to add an extra splash of heat, but the spice level was just right for me. Similarly, I’ve never used the salt and pepper shakers, which are made from repurposed Coronita bottles.

While I washed my food down with a soft drink ($2.99), Susie sipped a small raspberry margarita ($5.99), tart and tangy, with a lime wedge and sugar rim.

“It’s delicious,” she said. “I always get sugar on the rim. It adds a bit of sweetness.”

In the past, she’s dined on taquitos, quesadillas and other dishes at Mucho Bueno’s, but she usually orders beef tacos and Mexican rice a la carte. This time, she strayed from the tried-and-true to order No. 61 Yolanda’s Enchiladas ($12.99): three stuffed chicken enchiladas topped with cheese, lettuce and sour cream and served with a side of rice.

“Mine looks beautiful!” she said as the plate arrived.

The portions were generous and filling. The salsa, onions and peppers blended nicely with the tender chicken, and the tasty white cheese again was the not-so-secret ingredient of the enchiladas.

“I really like them,” Susie said. “I would definitely consider ordering this again.”

I cleaned my plate while my wife saved an enchilada for home. We also wrapped up leftover chips and salsa for later.

Fried ice cream, anyone?

Although we were already feeling pretty full, we decided to cap off the evening with dessert. The menu includes flan, churros and cheesecake chimichangas, but we opted to split an order of fried ice cream ($5.25).

A large ball of vanilla ice cream is coated in crushed cornflakes and flash-fried in vegetable oil until the outside is crispy. The cold confection is served in a sugar-cinnamon shell and topped with whipped cream. Normally it’s drizzled in chocolate syrup, too, but we asked for honey.

“It’s a great ball of ice cream!” Susie said with a laugh.

If you were married to my wife, you would understand that she was referencing a 1950s song by Jerry Lee Lewis. I laughed, too.

We whittled away at the dessert with two spoons. When the ice cream melted into the honey and cinnamon, it was a heavenly bite — just utterly delightful.

Every time we’ve dined at Mucho Bueno’s, the hard-working staff has been super nice, and this was no exception. Our server Sebastian was fun and playful, taking good care of us while juggling several tables.

Normally, our bill is less than $25, but we splurged a little with beverages and dessert. With tax, the total came to $39.72, not including tip.

“It’s fun to try new restaurants, but it’s always nice to return to the comfort of what you know,” Susie said.

Most definitely. Of course, we’ll be back.

Just as its name suggests, Mucho Bueno’s is very good.

Mark J. Price can be reached at  mprice@thebeaconjournal.com 

Details

Place: Mucho Bueno’s Mexican Grill & Cantina

Address: 1421 Town Center Blvd., Brunswick

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

Options: Dine in, takeout, outdoor seating

More info: 330-273-6294 and facebook.com/muchobuenos

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mucho Bueno’s Mexican Grill is worth seeking out in Brunswick