As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. The restaurant scene has been one of continuous evolution over the past couple years, with beloved eateries closing and exciting and delicious ones taking their place. Monmouth Street in Newport is no different. Here’s a look at what’s up there.
La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina and Tienda
For authentic, mouthwatering Mexican, there are few local places that match the flavors and ambiance of La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina and Tienda. The restaurant doubles as a grocery store, so guests who love their meals can try to replicate the dishes at home with fresh, authentic ingredients (although, odds are, it won’t quite live up to La Mexicana’s in-house experience).
The menu covers all the Mexican staples – tacos, burritos and quesadillas along with tortas, gorditas and sopes. Each can be ordered with a variety of meats and veggies. By now nearly everyone has heard of or had birria and chorizo, two popular Mexican meats, but this menu offers more exotic choices: If you’re feeling adventuresome, try sesos, marinated veal brains, or lengua, seasoned beef tongue, are two choices you’ll be hard-pressed to find in just any Mexican restaurant.
To pair with your meal, La Mexicana offers a variety of margaritas and Mexican beers. Those looking for nonalcoholic beverages can opt for Jarritos or an agua fresca – both refreshing options, perfect with any meal.
Sake Bomb Sushi
Sake Bomb Sushi opened its second location at the end of 2024 in the space formerly occupied by Mokka. This location is nearly twice the size of Sake Bamb’s primary location along Dixie Highway, offering plenty of seating for large parties and couples alike.
Its menu is primarily sushi and Korean cuisine, and Sake Bomb carries some creative, hard-to-find sushi rolls. For fish fans, the caterpillar roll (BBQ eel, cucumber and avocado) or Cincinnati roll (mango, cream cheese, avocado, smoked salmon and tempura flakes) are great flavor-packed options. With almost 50 options, it’s hard to order anything outside of the specialty rolls.
Ramen, chicken katsu, yaki soba noodles and kalbi short ribs are among the ample options to go with sushi. Refreshments include the place’s namesake, sake, as well as soju, a Korean rice liquor similar to vodka in taste. The dessert menu features bingsu – Korean shaved ice – in mango, strawberry, Oreo and Korean red bean flavors.
Crumbl Cookie
The cookies that took over the internet last year finally found a location in Northern Kentucky for locals to indulge in. It’s in Newport Plaza just north of Carothers.
This fast-growing chain gained celebrity through TikTok for its rotating weekly flavors and gigantic cookie offerings. Its creative flavors tend to match the season as well as pop culture. The traditional cookies are massive and meant to be shared but those wanting a taste of everything can opt for their mini-cookies.
Every week there’s some version of a chocolate chip cookie, but even that can change from a semisweet chocolate chunk to a milk chocolate chip. Flavors have included favorites from pink sugar cookie and lemon poppyseed to Kentucky cake batter. There also are more creative flavors, inspired by pies, candy and other desserts. Those have included key lime pie, tres leches and s’mores.
If You Go
La Mexicana Restaurante Cantina and Tienda
Location: 642 Monmouth St., Newport
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Phone: 859-261-6112
Sake Bomb Sushi
Location: 500 Monmouth St., Newport
Hours: Sunday 1-9:30 p.m.; Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 4:30-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon-9:30 p.m.
Website: sakebombnky.com
Phone: 859-279-3120
Cumbl Cookies
Location:1313 Monmouth St., Newport
Hours: Sunday, closed; Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-midnight.
Website: crumblcookies.com/kynewport
Phone: 859-228-7967
