Piles of snow surrounded La Loma’s parking lot when I visited for lunch in January. I needed refuge from the record-breaking winter weather, and since I wasn’t in a position to jet off to Mexico, I thought I’d at least try some of its food.
The Upper Arlington restaurant offered the respite I was looking for from the moment I walked inside.
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Colorful lamps line the ceiling, matched by the colors that arrived at my table: Red and green salsa, plus a creamy coleslaw came with fresh chips for me to munch on as I perused the menu. And given its size—a whopping 22 pages—I was glad to have something to snack on.
The red salsa, made from guajillo chiles, tomatoes and jalapenos, was similar to what I’ve been served at other Mexican restaurants. The milder green salsa, made with avocado, lime and cilantro, was my favorite of the bunch, while the slaw delivered a cool, crisp bite.
I flipped to the lunch specials and ordered an egg dish since it was still early in the day. Lunch Special 11 offers eggs served one of three ways—con chorizo, a la Mexicana or rancheros—for $16. My rancheros came out quickly, smothered in a warm sauce and served with beans, rice and corn tortillas.
A week later, I returned for takeout—al pastor ($3.50), shrimp ($4) and chorizo ($3.50) tacos. I was thrilled chips and salsa were included, though this time, a smoky chipotle salsa replaced the slaw.
The al pastor was a standout dish, served with fresh pineapple that added a sweet tang to the zippy pork. La Loma’s owner, Blanca Saucedo, says it’s one of the house specialties. The other is marinated beef barbacoa.
Saucedo started La Loma in Akron, where there’s an adjacent grocery, meat market and bakery. She expanded first to Canton and then Columbus in summer 2024. Saucedo brings desserts from the Akron bakery to her Northwest Boulevard restaurant twice a week. While I didn’t get to try them this time, some combination of the churros, flan and tres leches cake ($8 each) will be part of my order next time I visit.
This story appeared in the April 2026 issue of Columbus Monthly. Subscribe here.
This article originally appeared on Columbus Monthly: Find Al Pastor, Barbacoa, Churros and More at La Loma
Reporting by Linda Lee Baird, Columbus Monthly / Columbus Monthly
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