A CELEBRATED CHICAGO CHEF OPENS A TRIO OF MODERN MEXICAN RESTAURANTS AT DOWNTOWN DISNEY
In a big move for Orange County’s modern Mexican food scene, lauded chef Carlos Gaytán opened Paseo, Céntrico, and Tiendita at Downtown Disney on May 2 with partner operator Patina Group. This marks the chef’s first expansion into Southern California; he has previously opened Tzuco in Chicago and Há in Playa del Carmen’s Xcaret resort. The Downtown Disney restaurants are designed by award-winning Mexican architect Jorge Gracia of GraciaStudio in Tijuana to reflect contemporary Mexican design trends, accented by furnishings from Mexico City’s La Metropolitana and dinnerware by 100-year-old producer Anfora.
Born in Huitzuco, Guerrero, Gaytán learned to cook at his mother Teresa “Tete” Romero’s antojitos stand. Over two decades, he swiftly rose in the ranks of Chicago’s upscale kitchens before opening Mexique, an acclaimed contemporary Mexican restaurant where he earned a Michelin star in 2013. In addition to appearing on Top Chef Season 11, Gaytán has made numerous appearances on television shows as a judge and is considered one of the country’s most prominent Mexican American chefs.
At the larger Paseo, situated on the second floor with 180 seats, diners can expect a full-service modern Mexican experience. Fans of Tzuco will recognize Paseo’s steamed lamb barbacoa, tuna ceviche, and chicharrón de pescado (whole deep-fried red snapper). His mother’s cochinita pibil — marinated pork shank roasted in banana leaves — is accompanied by refried beans salsa habanero tatemado. Gaytán flew his mother to Chicago to get her taste of approval for the cochinita pibil. “The menu at Paseo is about 50 percent Tzuco, which is like being in my mom’s kitchen,” says Gaytán.
The hacienda-style Céntrico occupies the first floor, where Gaytán serves playful bar bites like a spicy Tzuco burger, Oaxacan nachos, cochinita rilletes, and salmon esquites. The lush room with rustic wood elements makes for a romantic setting for sipping guava-flavored Ritual margaritas, or El Mariachi in Manhattan, a Mexican twist on a Manhattan meant to be shared. The third restaurant, Tiendita, is an all-day taquería with tacos de al pastor, tuna aguachile, and traditional sides like esquites.
Upscale Latin American fine dining has had a slow and steady trajectory in Southern California. Alta California cuisine saw the rise of chefs Wes Ávila, Ray Garcia, and Carlos Salgado, who opened their groundbreaking modern Mexican restaurants that used elements of California cuisine. Gaytán now joins a crowd of prominent Latin American chefs in Southern California, including Enrique Olvera (Damian, Atla), José Olmedo Carles Rojas (Si! Mon Venice), and Diego Hernandez (Dudley Market). Maizano, LA Cha Cha Chá, Loreto, Mírate, and Za Za Zá could be included in this wave of restaurants serving sophisticated Latin American flavors.
All three Downtown Disney restaurants are now open for walk-in guests, with Paseo and Céntrico taking reservations on OpenTable. Paseo is currently open for dinner service, with lunch and weekend brunch coming soon, while Céntrico is currently open for lunch and dinner. Tiendita is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday to Wednesday, and until 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
The restaurants are located at 1580 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA, 92802.
