Pentagram's identity for Mexican restaurant Manataco embraces playful typographic wordplay

Palma de Mallorca-based Mexican restaurant Manataco serves authentic recipes from Mexico City, such as the ‘Taco Pastor’, cooked by traditional ‘taqueros’ (taco-chefs).

Their identity, designed by Astrid Stavro and her team at Pentagram, avoids the traditional decorative approach to Mexican graphics in favour of a pared-back, playful typographic approach. Inspired by the idea of sprinkling different toppings onto a taco as well the view of ingredients from above, the identity uses a combination of falling letters and aerial wordplays to create a dynamic visual language. The words used aren’t just foods – they are anything that fits with the spontaneous Mexican attitude such as salsa on the chef’s apron and sunglasses in a tote bag.

This project uses Billboard 002 and Sign 002 from THE TEMPLATES. Both are available alongside the wider collection in our shop.

Pentagram