Céntrico has finally opened at Downtown Disney bringing a luxe approach to Mexican classics brought to life under the direction of Chef Carlos Gaytan. The upscale approach comes with a price tag to match but is the guacamole worth the smash? Let’s dive in.

Here’s a look at everything we experienced with our visit to Céntrico at Downtown Disney. This visit was on July 7, 2024.

What to Expect

The Location

Céntrico gets its name from its central location in Downtown Disney replacing the former Uva Bar. Everything about the experience is an elevated version of homestyle cooking from Mexico under the creative direction of Chef Carlos Gaytan.

Despite the hustle and bustle around it, the space is a somehow calming respite with a relaxed but luxe outdoor vibe. Bold patterns upholster the outdoor patio furnture which is surrounded by a calming blend of greenery including succulents. A beachy vibe that feels also urban and modern is what you can expect here.

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The Food and Drink

The antojitos and starters on this menu feature a mix of traditional and modern Mexican flavors, ranging from classic Guacamole with optional toppings to the more adventurous Cochinita Rillettes served with masa madre bread. Seafood lovers can choose from the Shrimp Aguachile and Tuna Tiradito, while those looking for shared bites can enjoy the Avocado Flatbread or Chips & Salsa. The selection extends into a variety of specialized Tacos, such as Cochinita Pibil Tacos and Fish Tacos, alongside an extensive list of Oaxacan-style quesadillas like the Mexican Truffle Quesadilla and the lamb-based Quesabirrias.

For substantial main courses, the Platos Principales offer diverse options including Chef Carlos’ BBQ Ribs glazed in chipotle tamarind, a Burito Norteño with short rib, or the  Céntrico Hamburger made with Wagyu beef. Traditional corn-based dishes like the Tlayuda and Huarache de Asada sit alongside lighter choices like Pan-Seared Salmon and Delicata Squash. The menu is rounded out with sides such as Mexican Street Corn and Black Beans, as well as a dedicated Niños section featuring kid-friendly staples like Chicken Tenders and Tres Quesos Mac & Cheese.

Overall, while the presentation and quality of everything here is very good, we didn’t find the menu offerings to be particularly memorable. For the prices charged here, we feel like there’s better places to spend your Disney dollars. Perhaps common in more upscale dining locations, we were turned off by the fact that some items didn’t come with rice and beans — such as the taquitos — without paying extra. If this was a tapas-inspired menu, that would be one thing but it seems they should just up the prices and serve a complete meal. We’re not adverse to a more upscale dining experience with a focus on quality pieces but the flavors here didn’t seem quite elevated enough to warrant the sticker shock once we got the bill. We’d honestly return if we were with friends who wanted to go but we’re not sure we’ll make a return visit here in the near future.

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Complete Menu

Below is a look at everything on the menu including ratings and reviews for what we tasted!

Antojitos (Mexican Bites)

Chips & Salsa

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Chips & Salsa ($6) Bottomless crispy tortilla chips, fresh housemade salsa (GF, V). The salsa is delightful and refreshing with a bit of heat and the chips are perfectly light and crispy. And the fact that they’re bottomless is a nice plus — even if they aren’t included automatically with the meal.

Guacamole

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️⚫⚫

Guacamole ($17) Creamy avocados, tomato, cilantro, onion, lime, serrano, tortilla chips (GF, V). You can add chicharrón +$2 or pork belly +$3. For near $20 we were hoping for a bit more in this quacamole than would fit within the empty rind of a single avocado. Sure it was tasty but we’re not seeing anything in the ingredient list to warrant such an incredibly small serving of guacamole that isn’t even prepared table side.

More to Try

  • Tlayuda ($25) Large Oaxacan tostada, black bean purée, avocado mousse, cecina, chorizo, pork belly, salsa macha, Oaxaca cheese (GF)
  • Avocado Flatbread ($18) Ricotta cheese, avocado, preserved Meyer lemons, salsa macha, serrano, chives (V)
  • Shrimp Aguachile ($19) Lime juice cured shrimp, cucumber, cilantro, red onion, chiles toreados, avocado, yuzu-lime aguachile (GF)
  • Tuna Tiradito ($21) Sashimi-grade Ahi tuna, chiles toreados, avocado, red onion, ponzu (GF)

Quesadillas

More to Try

Add Esquites +$6

  • Oaxaca Quesadilla ($16) Hoja santa, Oaxaca cheese, avocado mousse, salsa roja, corn tortilla (GF, V)
  • Quesachicken ($20) Chicken barbacoa, pinto beans, coleslaw, Oaxaca cheese, avocado mousse, radishes, corn tortilla (GF)
  • Gobernador Quesadilla ($23) Shrimp, Oaxaca cheese, pico de gallo, corn tortilla
  • Quesapastor ($21) Pork “al pastor”, Oaxaca cheese, onion, cilantro, avocado mousse, salsa roja, corn tortilla (GF)
  • Quesabirrias ($22) Lamb birria, Oaxaca cheese, guacasalsa, cilantro, red onion, consomé, corn tortilla (GF)

Tacos

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Chicken Taquitos

RATING: ☀️☀️☀️⚫⚫

Chicken Taquitos ($20) Four lightly fried corn tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken, topped with sour cream, queso fresco, salsa verde, avocado, lettuce, tomato. These were great but were they $20-great without any sides? No.

More to Try

Tacos are served 3 per order and come with salsa & guacamole

  • Cochinita Pibil Tacos ($23) Guerrero-style pork shank, black bean purée, pickled red onions, habanero salsa, corn tortillas (GF)
  • Fish Tacos ($26) Mahi mahi with light tempura crisp, creamy coleslaw, chipotle aioli, flour tortillas
  • Carne Asada Tacos ($25) Sirloin steak, roasted knob onions, cilantro, chile de árbol salsa, flour tortillas

Platos Principales (Mains)

Huarache De Asada

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️☀️⚫

Huarache De Asada ($24) Oval-shaped corn masa, grilled flank steak, black bean purée, sautéed spinach, caramelized onion, goat cheese fondue (GF). Although perhaps the ugliest plate that came to our table, the flavors here were absolutely on point. The flank steak was cooked to absolute perfection and the spinach and onions were a fantastic accompaniment with the cheese as the proverbial icing on the cake.

Pan-Seared Salmon

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️☀️⚫

Pan-Seared Salmon ($31) Canadian salmon, sweet corn esquites, fennel & cherry tomato salad, lemon vinaigrette (GF). If you like salmon this is a pretty safe option to try. The sweet corn esquites on top are a nice complement.

  • Caesar Salad ($16) Baby romaine, oven-roasted tomatoes, queso cincho, sunflower seeds, charred avocado, roasted poblano dressing (GF, V) (Add chicken +$8 or shrimp +$9)
  • Squash Salad ($17) Roasted seasonal squash, mint jocoque, avocado, salsa macha, dill, roasted pumpkin seeds (GF, V) (Add chicken +$8 or shrimp +$9)
  • Huarache De Hongos ($21) Oval-shaped corn masa, mushroom tinga, pinto beans, sour cream, queso fresco (GF, V) (Add chicken +$8 or shrimp +$9)
  • Burrito Norteño ($25) Braised short ribs, crispy Oaxaca cheese, pinto beans, tomatillo & chile de árbol salsa, sour cream, queso fresco, avocado, flour tortilla
  • Chef Carlos’ BBQ Ribs (Half Rack $25 | Full Rack $36) Pork ribs, chipotle-tamarind glaze, creamy coleslaw, sweet pickled cucumbers, sesame seeds, dill, mint (GF)
  • Céntrico Hamburger ($26) Wagyu beef burger (8oz), brioche bun, Gruyère cheese, pickled yellow beets, oven-roasted tomatoes, truffle aioli, black truffle sauce, garlic butter French fries

Acompañantes (Sides)

Mexican Street Corn

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️☀️⚫

Mexican Street Corn ($9) Local fresh corn, epazote-garlic aioli, chili powder, lime juice (GF, V). All the right flavors are here but perhaps the ratio just slightly off to my more unrefined palate. I could have used with more seasoning and more of the aioli but this is definitely tasty. For the price, we wish there was just a little more in that bowl.

Mexican Rice

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️⚫⚫

Mexican Rice ($7) Tomato broth, peas, carrot (GF). Maybe we’re just upset that we had to pay extra for this rice to accompany our taquitos but we’ve definitely had better.

More to Try

  • French Fries ($9) Garlic butter (V)
  • Pinto Beans ($7) Puréed locally sourced pinto beans, spices (GF, V)
  • Black Beans ($7) Puréed avocado leaves, serrano (GF)
  • Tortillas ($6) House-made corn tortillas (GF, V)

Niños

More to Try

Crafted for kids 9 and under. Served with Rice, Refried Beans Or French Fries

  • Chicken Tacos ($12) Chicken, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, corn tortilla (GF)
  • Burrito ($12) Chicken or carne asada, refried beans, cheese, flour tortilla
  • Quesadillas ($12) Chicken or carne asada, Oaxaca cheese, sour cream, queso fresco, flour tortilla (V)
  • Chicken Tenders ($12) Fried chicken tenders, ranch dressing
  • Tres Quesos Mac & Cheese ($12) Elbow pasta, creamy three-cheese sauce (V)

Dulces (Sweets)

Elote Y Café

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RATING: ☀️☀️☀️⚫⚫

Elote Y Café ($12) Sweet cornbread, corn ice cream, coffee crumble, caramel popcorn, cajeta. this is an absolutely stunning dish but unfortunately our love affair was only skin deep. The popcorn was stale and despite the presentation like a tamale the sweet cornbread was cold.

More to Try

  • Acapulco ($12) Coconut sorbet, coconut dacquoise, yuzu lime purée
  • Guava Meringue ($13) Classic Mexican meringue, guava sorbet, fresh horchata-orange foam
  • Hot Drip Coffee ($5)
  • Hot Tea ($5)
  • Carajillo Espresso Martini ($18) Abasolo whisky, Nixta licor de elote, licor 43, La Colombe cold brew, Rocas

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See it for Yourself

Céntrico at Downtown Disney is now open! Reservations are strongly recommended but walkups are generally welcomed, as well, with wait times varying throughout the day.

MORE INFO: MouseInfo coverage about Céntrico at Downtown Disney

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