Mi Cozumel in Cincinnati, Ohio, serves authentic cuisine in a unique atmosphere
By Ginny McCabe
Named after a beautiful Mexican island and founded in 2018, Mi Cozumel was created to bring the idea of modern Mexican cuisine to Ohio. In less than five years, the restaurant has become overwhelmingly popular with locals and travelers alike.
“We opened the first location in Springdale, and it was a completely different concept. We are not the typical Mexican restaurant. We try to promote the real vibe in Mexico, and we serve authentic dishes,” says Diana Jaime, marketing director at Mi Cozumel.
All three locations are located in Greater Cincinnati, with its largest in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Oakley. It’s decorated with cherry blossom trees, lights and colorful paintings by a Mexican painter.
But it’s not just the atmosphere that’s fun.
“We have over 40 flavors of margaritas and we have over 90 specialty cocktails, so we are serious about the drinks in the restaurant, and we can make non-alcohol versions of most of them,” Jaime says.
The Margarita Tower, with almost 100 ounces of margarita for $49.99, is also a favorite, and customers can choose as many flavors as they want. A Hello Kitty Margarita, a Barbie Margarita and a Queen Margarita are a few of the popular margaritas.
“That is the reason we have people from Columbus, Cleveland, Michigan, New York, even Texas, who enjoy visiting us. We have people from different states who visit us every single weekend,” Jaime says. “We have gone viral on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok because of our concept and our drinks. We have become an experience.”
While the drinks are definitely a draw, the restaurant has a family-friendly atmosphere, too. Kids often enjoy the non-alcoholic daiquiris, which are served in festive cups and containers.
Mi Cozumel is owned by Liliana Jaime, her husband and family. Before opening the restaurant, the family traveled to the 32 states of Mexico to discover all the authentic flavors and culinary heritage.
“We wanted to bring modern Mexican cuisine, the real thing, to North America, and our main goal is to teach people about our culture,” Jaime says.
