Columbus favorite Dos Hermanos has officially rolled into Cincinnati, trading food truck windows for a full dining room across from Findlay Market. The Oaxacan taco brand opened its first Queen City outpost at 1819 Elm Street on Jan. 30, cutting the ribbon in style with a mariachi band and a crowd of curious taco hunters looking for their next regular spot. It is the company’s first full-service restaurant in the Cincinnati area after years of operating food trucks and market stalls. On the menu: signature street tacos, birria, banana-leaf tamales, and wallet-friendly “Fiesta” deals.
Findlay Launch Gives the Brand Room to Grow
The new Elm Street restaurant joins Findlay Launch, the market’s storefront accelerator that gives entrepreneurs at least a 15‑month residency in a ready-to-go space, according to Findlay Market. The grand-opening festivities included remarks from Jordon Kuhn and Robert Packer, a ceremonial ribbon cutting, and free tacos for guests willing to sign up for the restaurant’s rewards program.
Owners Double Down on Oaxacan Traditions
Owner Lisa Gutierrez told CityBeat that the menu is rooted in Oaxacan techniques and ingredients, including tamales wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks. “We are authentic Oaxacan,” Director of Operations Robert Packer told the outlet, adding that the restaurant will feature a back room for events alongside all‑day $9 Fiesta deals.
From Truck Origins to a Bigger Footprint
According to Dos Hermanos' website, the business launched as a single food truck in Columbus in 2012 and has since grown into multiple food trucks, quick‑service stalls, and several brick‑and‑mortar locations. That expansion, plus a steady catering presence at spots like Lower.com Field and the Greater Columbus Convention Center, helped pave the way for the brand’s Cincinnati move.
What It Means for Findlay Market and OTR
The new tenant aligns with the Corporation for Findlay Market’s broader push to diversify its merchant mix and bolster entrepreneurs through incubator and accelerator programs, according to the market management page. With roughly a million visitors a year, the Market District gives Dos Hermanos a high‑traffic testing ground for a concept that could eventually scale across the region.
Dos Hermanos is now serving at 1819 Elm Street, with full details, hours, and the complete menu listed on Dos Hermanos' website. For local diners who missed the grand-opening tacos, the spot promises market‑style prices and a slice of Oaxacan street food in Over‑the‑Rhine as the brand pilots its first full‑service concept in Cincinnati.
