Shango’s Urban Taqueria
Where History, Flavor, and Culture Collide
Shango’s Urban Taqueria began as a distinct culinary vision from Chef Steven Graham. It was not created as an extension of one of his earlier restaurant concepts. Instead, it grew from his desire to explore the relationship between Meso-American food traditions and the foodways of the African Diaspora.
Chef Steven saw the taco as an American staple—one that could carry flavors and stories from the Caribbean, West Africa, Haiti, the American South and the Gulf Coast while remaining familiar to a broad range of guests. At Shango’s, a taco restaurant in Norwood, jerk chicken, Jamaican oxtail, Haitian griot, Southern fried chicken, Creole seafood and other influences are presented alongside Latin ingredients, techniques and house-made sauces.
The goal was never to combine cultures simply for novelty. Shango’s was developed around the understanding that the cuisines of the Americas have always been shaped by the movements, migrations, adaptations, and exchanges experienced by different groups of people. Many of the ingredients and culinary traditions now associated with Caribbean, Southern, and Latin American cooking share deeper connections through the African Diaspora.
Shango’s opened in 2023 inside The Gatherall at Factory 52 in Norwood, Ohio. From the beginning, it was designed to be chef-driven yet relatable: bold food, generous portions, and recognizable formats served in a relaxed setting.
The result is a spot that is difficult to place within one conventional category. Shango’s is a taqueria, but its identity extends beyond traditional Mexican or Tex-Mex expectations. It uses the taco as a starting point for telling a broader story about African diasporic cooking, cultural memory, and the ways food traditions continue to travel and evolve.
Chef Steven Graham, CC®
Chef Steven Graham, CC®, graduated from the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State in 2019 and holds the Certified Culinarian® credential through the American Culinary Federation.
His culinary work includes Shango’s Urban Taqueria, MUNCH! Midnight Brunch, and The Frank: Neighborhood Deli & Grill, concepts connected through PLEAZE HAUSpitality.
The Origin and Meaning of Shango’s Name
The origins of Shango’s name are rooted in the ancestor-veneration religious traditions of the Yoruba people of modern-day Nigeria.
Shango’s takes its name from Ṣàngó, an important figure within Yoruba spiritual and cultural tradition. The story of Ṣàngó begins with a powerful ancestral king whose legacy continued beyond his lifetime and became associated with strength, thunder, energy, and transformation.
For Chef Steven, the name Shango’s represents more than power or intensity. It connects the name to the preservation of cultural memory—an exploration of present-day ancestral connections and the ways they relate to how African traditions survived, adapted, and developed throughout the Diaspora.
That history reflects the culinary philosophy behind the place. African food traditions did not remain confined to one place. They traveled with people and changed as they encountered new ingredients, environments, and cultures throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States.
Shango’s honors that movement through food. It does not present itself as an interpretation of Yoruba religion, nor does it attempt to reproduce sacred traditions. The name is an acknowledgment of ancestry, cultural continuity, and the African foundations found throughout many of the cuisines that inspire the menu.
The possessive form—Shango’s—also helps communicate the idea of a place: a restaurant shaped by those influences and a space where those connected traditions can be explored through food.
Shango’s at a Glance
Founded: 2023
Founder: Chef Steven Graham, CC®
Location: The Gatherall at Factory 52 in Norwood, Ohio
Parent Company: PLEAZE HAUSpitality
Chef Education: Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State, Class of 2019
Professional Credential: Certified Culinarian® through the American Culinary Federation
Restaurant Style: Chef-driven urban taqueria
Culinary Focus: Mesoamerican food traditions explored through the cuisines of the African Diaspora
Known For: Jerk chicken tacos, Jamaican-style oxtail tacos, Haitian griot, Southern-fried chicken tacos, creative nachos, smoked wings, and house-made sauces
Related Concepts: MUNCH! Midnight Brunch and The Frank: Neighborhood Deli & Grill
Service Style: Approachable, fast-casual dining with chef-developed food
Community: Located in Norwood and serving guests from Factory 52, surrounding neighborhoods, and the greater Cincinnati area