Gateway District: Barrio

I cannot believe that it has taken me four years of living in Cleveland to finally spotlight this beautiful place. Admittedly, I hadn't gone to Barrio until the summer before my junior year because I had no idea this place even existed. I'm ashamed of my past self, but honestly, it's probably for the best that I didn't realize that the most glorious taco place was just a hop skip and jump away from my usual walking route.

Barrio isn't your typical taco place. I mean, it is and it isn't. They have two different notepads on each table. One looks like a sheet with check boxes and the other looks like a straight up scantron sheet similar that final you probably forget to study for. One sheet has a few pre-made tacos that you can choose from but the beauty in Barrio is being able to build your own taco. You bubble in whatever fillings you want, give the sheet to your waiter, and then wait for your custom taco.

There's four different locations, but I typically only go to the one downtown right across from Quicken Loans Arena. This is my favorite place to take people who visit because the walk from my apartment isn't terrible (and helps burn off those chips and salsa calories before and after) and the prices are just right. Plus, if you're 21, their margaritas will GIVE YOU LIFE. Trust me. Trust me.

Location: 503 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114

What to get: Chicken tacos (and your topping preference), queso, and for my 21+ friends, a peach, pear, blood orange or blackberry margarita. You also can't go wrong with the pomegranate or marigold.