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Rows of yellow, purple, and dark blue tortillas.
Heirloom corn tortillas from Nixta.
Tyson Crockett

17 Fantastic Mexican Restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Mole-smothered enchiladas, pork belly tacos, and rich lamb birria

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Heirloom corn tortillas from Nixta.
| Tyson Crockett

From Cesar Chavez and East Lake Street’s bustling restaurant corridors to the arts-industrial neighborhoods of Northeast Minneapolis, Minneapolis and St. Paul are home to great number of Mexican restaurants. Head out for crispy birria tacos served with savory cups of consomé, fluffy sweet raisin tamales, and fiery bowls of pozole. From the chefs and owners who’ve been refining their menus for decades to newcomers celebrating traditional preparations, the Cities have no shortage of marvelous options. Here’s a trail of excellent Mexican restaurants to explore.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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El Burrito Mercado

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El Burrito Mercado sits in a sun-drenched spot on Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul. Since owners Tomas and Maria Silva opened in 1979, the restaurant and market, now run by daughters Milissa Silva-Diaz and Suzanne Silva, and granddaughter Analita, has become a pillar of Mexican cuisine in the Cities. There are a few ways to eat here: Hop in line at the cafeteria-style El Cafe Express, have a seat in the El Cafe Y Bar dining area, or choose from an array of hot and cold items in the deli. For dining in, try the fluffy tamales or the molcajete Mexicano, which combines ribeye steak, chicken, chorizo, shrimp and vegetables in a hot stone mortar.

Two crispy tacos dorados on a white plate with a small dish of consomé.
Tacos from El Burrito Mercado.
El Burrito Mercado

Los Ocampo

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Restaurateurs Armando Ocampo and Lilia Zagal first opened Los Ocampo in 2003 — today, the couple operates seven restaurant sites around the metro, from casual sit-down options like this University Avenue location to express cafes at Midtown Global Market and City Center. Try the pozole, the tripa tacos, or the huarache, made with a handmade masa cake and refried beans plus meat (Mexican sausage, lengua, chipotle beef, and more). Pair lunch with horchata or agua de jamaica.

Homi Mexican Restaurant

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Owners Hortencia Reyes and Miguel Lopez opened Homi (a combination of their names) in 2010. More than a decade later, their son chef Miguel Lopez leads the kitchen, serving family recipes in a sunny, recently updated space on University Avenue. The whole menu — from the chille relleno to the empanadas to the fried beans — is made from scratch. On the weekends, stop by with Hidalgo-style barbacoa de Borrego served with consomé; menudo and pozole are available every day of the week.

El Sazon Tacos & More

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Tucked inside an Eagan gas station, El Sazon is a family-owned operation serving some of the Cities’ finest tacos. Don’t miss the pork belly chicharrón taco, tender and fatty and crowned with purple cabbage, queso fresco, and salsa ranchera, all over a fresh smear of guacamole. Keep an eye out for chef Cristian and Karen DeLeon’s “Night at the Gas Station” five-course dinners.

Andale Taqueria & Mercado

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Follow Nicollet Avenue all the way south to Richfield for a stop at Andale Taqueria & Mercado, one of the Cities’ most-loved taquerias. From the specialty menu, try the sopa de mariscos, made with crab legs, squid, and other seafood in a tomato-based broth, or crispy, golden chimichangas. Andale made an appearance on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2020: Guy Fieri heartily endorses chefs and owners Fernando Mellado-Barboza and Jorge Rangel Castro’s al pastor tacos, made with dense blocks of achiote paste, guajillo peppers, cumin, and orange juice.

Colita, an upscale spot in Linden Hills by chef Danny del Prado, focuses on Oaxacan flavors and smoked meats, weaving subtle Tex-Mex influences into the mix. The tamarind Kansas City Ribs are topped with a tortilla crumble; the lamb barbacoa tacos prepared with anchovies. Marco Zappia’s cocktail list is citrus-forward and bright.

A bar with a wall of greenery behind it and many diners in the foreground.
The bar at Colita.
Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

Tacos El Primo

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Tucked into a bright yellow and orange storefront on Minnehaha Avenue, Tacos El Primo is a marvelous spot for all kinds of Mexican dishes — from its namesake al pastor, chicharron, and carnitas tacos to calda de camaron, picaditas, flautas, and gorditas. Try the pambazo, made with bread that’s dunked in red guajillo pepper sauce and fried, then stuffed with potatoes and a choice of meat. Owner Maria Lorena Ortega Yepez also operates a food truck on East Lake Street.

Tacos El Kevin

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Tacos El Kevin, owned by Saturnina Valdez and Estevan Olivares, serves some of the Cities’ best Mexican cuisine out of a small, brightly painted storefront in Minneapolis’s Powderhorn neighborhood. The taco menu here, led by chef Armando Dominguez, is immensely popular: Try the crispy tacos dorados, or the al pastor or carne, served with whole grilled green onions, and grab a cup of sliced mangos or a passionfruit shaved ice.

Valerie's Taqueria Inc

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Valerie’s Taqueria, a cozy spot just south of Eat Street, is a neighborhood favorite for fresh sopes, tamales, and, of course, tacos. The Aguirre family serves their tacos — from lengua to carnitas to milanesa — street-style or norteno. Try the cecina: thin-sliced, salt-cured skirt steak that’s lightly grilled. Save room for churros and ice cream.

Manny's Tortas

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Manny’s Tortas was one of the first tenants at Midtown Global Market — years later, chefs and owners Manny and Victoria Gonzalez, a brother-sister duo, are still serving juicy tortas on Lake Street. Try the Manny’s Special, a hefty torta filled with grilled steak, onion, mushroom, tomato, and jalapeño all grilled together, then topped off with ham and cheese. Save room for sweet arroz con leche and flan.

Mercado Central

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A bustling marketplace of more than 30 businesses, Mercado Central is a pillar of East Lake Street. A number of excellent restaurants are located here: Find gorditas and crispy corn empanadas at Cocina San Marcos; a juicy al pastor torta from Maria’s restaurant; fiery pozole from La Perla Tortilleria; or tamales from La Loma, mentioned below. Wander around the market for even more excellent eats.

The exterior of Mercado central, painted with a bright mural.
Mercado Central on East Lake Street.
Mercado Central

Cafeteria La Loma

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La Loma serves some of the best tamales in the Twin Cities. Chefs and owners Noelia and Enrique Garcia came to Minneapolis from Quebrantadero, a town in south central Mexico — today, they run several La Loma retail locations around the Cities. Their stand at Midtown Global Market on Lake Street also serves tacos and chilaquiles, but don’t walk away without one each of the chicken, pork and sweet corn tamales. For something sweet, grab a pineapple or sweet raisin tamale to go.

Taqueria y birrieria las cuatro milpas

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Reputed to be the first restaurant to bring birria tacos to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Las Cuatro Milpas is a mainstay of East Lake Street’s food corridor. Chef and owner Hector Hernandez, originally of Mexico’s Zacatecas state, serves cups of hot lamb, beef, and goat birria stew — the birria and quesabirra tacos are a must, and the pizzabirria, loaded with generous amounts of cheese, is worth sampling.

Nixta Tortilleria & Mexican takeout

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Chef Gustavo Romero preserves and celebrates heirloom corn varieties at this tortilleria and takeout operation in Northeast Minneapolis. Romero’s tortillas are stunning shades of slate blue, pale yellow, and rosy brown — hand-shaped and fried, they make an excellent base for dishes like adobo pork belly tacos, tostadas with head cheese and black bean puree, and camote frito (fried sweet potatoes with piloncillo glaze and escabeche relish). Check Nixta’s Instagram page for the latest updates on takeout offerings.

Three tacos, one on a yellow corn tortilla and two on blue corn tortillas, sith in a square container. They’re filled with meat and veggies and garnished with cilantro and salsa. Two hands are visible in the corner of the frame.
Tacos from Nixta.
Tyson Crockett

A casual, industrial-chic restaurant in Minneapolis’s Northeast neighborhood by co-owners Jose Alarcon and Jami Olson, Centro is a great spot for creative tacos (think papas with escabeche vegetables, or cured cactus with mushrooms, kale, and caramelized onions). Chef Jose Alarcon also serves a notable brunch on Sundays: Come for the pescado tortas, the guava glitter rolls, and the passion fruit frozen margaritas. If you’re on the go, grab some masa cookies or chocolate mole cupcakes from the bakery.

A plate of fried fish tacos garnished with cilantro and pink radishes on a wooden table.
Fish tacos from Centro.
Kevin Kramer / Eater Twin Cities

Owner Isela Perez Pacheco first opened Maya Cuisine on Central Avenue in 2012: Stop by for elotes, pozole, and tacos. The restaurant has both cafeteria-style and sit-down dining options in a colorful, courtyard-like space — don’t miss out on the extensive salsa bar, or the popular Sunday brunch, which offers everything from tamales, buttered codfish, and sopa de mariscos to pancakes, French toast, and desserts.

El Taco Riendo

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El Taco Riendo is a mainstay of Northeast Minneapolis’s Central Avenue. During the pandemic, the restaurant was burned down in a fire — it’s since been resurrected in full form. Owner Miguel Gomez’s menu features standouts like massive chimichangas, crispy flautas, chile relleno, tacos dorados, and caldo de res, a red Mexican beef soup. Catch the lime green food truck out and about in the warmer months.

Three chicken tinga tacos in tortillas garnished with onions, cilantro, and radish slices.
Chicken tinga tacos from El Taco Riendo.
Justine Jones

El Burrito Mercado

El Burrito Mercado sits in a sun-drenched spot on Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul. Since owners Tomas and Maria Silva opened in 1979, the restaurant and market, now run by daughters Milissa Silva-Diaz and Suzanne Silva, and granddaughter Analita, has become a pillar of Mexican cuisine in the Cities. There are a few ways to eat here: Hop in line at the cafeteria-style El Cafe Express, have a seat in the El Cafe Y Bar dining area, or choose from an array of hot and cold items in the deli. For dining in, try the fluffy tamales or the molcajete Mexicano, which combines ribeye steak, chicken, chorizo, shrimp and vegetables in a hot stone mortar.

Two crispy tacos dorados on a white plate with a small dish of consomé.
Tacos from El Burrito Mercado.
El Burrito Mercado

Los Ocampo

Restaurateurs Armando Ocampo and Lilia Zagal first opened Los Ocampo in 2003 — today, the couple operates seven restaurant sites around the metro, from casual sit-down options like this University Avenue location to express cafes at Midtown Global Market and City Center. Try the pozole, the tripa tacos, or the huarache, made with a handmade masa cake and refried beans plus meat (Mexican sausage, lengua, chipotle beef, and more). Pair lunch with horchata or agua de jamaica.

Homi Mexican Restaurant

Owners Hortencia Reyes and Miguel Lopez opened Homi (a combination of their names) in 2010. More than a decade later, their son chef Miguel Lopez leads the kitchen, serving family recipes in a sunny, recently updated space on University Avenue. The whole menu — from the chille relleno to the empanadas to the fried beans — is made from scratch. On the weekends, stop by with Hidalgo-style barbacoa de Borrego served with consomé; menudo and pozole are available every day of the week.

El Sazon Tacos & More

Tucked inside an Eagan gas station, El Sazon is a family-owned operation serving some of the Cities’ finest tacos. Don’t miss the pork belly chicharrón taco, tender and fatty and crowned with purple cabbage, queso fresco, and salsa ranchera, all over a fresh smear of guacamole. Keep an eye out for chef Cristian and Karen DeLeon’s “Night at the Gas Station” five-course dinners.

Andale Taqueria & Mercado

Follow Nicollet Avenue all the way south to Richfield for a stop at Andale Taqueria & Mercado, one of the Cities’ most-loved taquerias. From the specialty menu, try the sopa de mariscos, made with crab legs, squid, and other seafood in a tomato-based broth, or crispy, golden chimichangas. Andale made an appearance on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2020: Guy Fieri heartily endorses chefs and owners Fernando Mellado-Barboza and Jorge Rangel Castro’s al pastor tacos, made with dense blocks of achiote paste, guajillo peppers, cumin, and orange juice.

Colita

Colita, an upscale spot in Linden Hills by chef Danny del Prado, focuses on Oaxacan flavors and smoked meats, weaving subtle Tex-Mex influences into the mix. The tamarind Kansas City Ribs are topped with a tortilla crumble; the lamb barbacoa tacos prepared with anchovies. Marco Zappia’s cocktail list is citrus-forward and bright.

A bar with a wall of greenery behind it and many diners in the foreground.
The bar at Colita.
Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

Tacos El Primo

Tucked into a bright yellow and orange storefront on Minnehaha Avenue, Tacos El Primo is a marvelous spot for all kinds of Mexican dishes — from its namesake al pastor, chicharron, and carnitas tacos to calda de camaron, picaditas, flautas, and gorditas. Try the pambazo, made with bread that’s dunked in red guajillo pepper sauce and fried, then stuffed with potatoes and a choice of meat. Owner Maria Lorena Ortega Yepez also operates a food truck on East Lake Street.

Tacos El Kevin

Tacos El Kevin, owned by Saturnina Valdez and Estevan Olivares, serves some of the Cities’ best Mexican cuisine out of a small, brightly painted storefront in Minneapolis’s Powderhorn neighborhood. The taco menu here, led by chef Armando Dominguez, is immensely popular: Try the crispy tacos dorados, or the al pastor or carne, served with whole grilled green onions, and grab a cup of sliced mangos or a passionfruit shaved ice.

Valerie's Taqueria Inc

Valerie’s Taqueria, a cozy spot just south of Eat Street, is a neighborhood favorite for fresh sopes, tamales, and, of course, tacos. The Aguirre family serves their tacos — from lengua to carnitas to milanesa — street-style or norteno. Try the cecina: thin-sliced, salt-cured skirt steak that’s lightly grilled. Save room for churros and ice cream.

Manny's Tortas

Manny’s Tortas was one of the first tenants at Midtown Global Market — years later, chefs and owners Manny and Victoria Gonzalez, a brother-sister duo, are still serving juicy tortas on Lake Street. Try the Manny’s Special, a hefty torta filled with grilled steak, onion, mushroom, tomato, and jalapeño all grilled together, then topped off with ham and cheese. Save room for sweet arroz con leche and flan.

Mercado Central

A bustling marketplace of more than 30 businesses, Mercado Central is a pillar of East Lake Street. A number of excellent restaurants are located here: Find gorditas and crispy corn empanadas at Cocina San Marcos; a juicy al pastor torta from Maria’s restaurant; fiery pozole from La Perla Tortilleria; or tamales from La Loma, mentioned below. Wander around the market for even more excellent eats.

The exterior of Mercado central, painted with a bright mural.
Mercado Central on East Lake Street.
Mercado Central

Cafeteria La Loma

La Loma serves some of the best tamales in the Twin Cities. Chefs and owners Noelia and Enrique Garcia came to Minneapolis from Quebrantadero, a town in south central Mexico — today, they run several La Loma retail locations around the Cities. Their stand at Midtown Global Market on Lake Street also serves tacos and chilaquiles, but don’t walk away without one each of the chicken, pork and sweet corn tamales. For something sweet, grab a pineapple or sweet raisin tamale to go.

Taqueria y birrieria las cuatro milpas

Reputed to be the first restaurant to bring birria tacos to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Las Cuatro Milpas is a mainstay of East Lake Street’s food corridor. Chef and owner Hector Hernandez, originally of Mexico’s Zacatecas state, serves cups of hot lamb, beef, and goat birria stew — the birria and quesabirra tacos are a must, and the pizzabirria, loaded with generous amounts of cheese, is worth sampling.

Nixta Tortilleria & Mexican takeout

Chef Gustavo Romero preserves and celebrates heirloom corn varieties at this tortilleria and takeout operation in Northeast Minneapolis. Romero’s tortillas are stunning shades of slate blue, pale yellow, and rosy brown — hand-shaped and fried, they make an excellent base for dishes like adobo pork belly tacos, tostadas with head cheese and black bean puree, and camote frito (fried sweet potatoes with piloncillo glaze and escabeche relish). Check Nixta’s Instagram page for the latest updates on takeout offerings.

Three tacos, one on a yellow corn tortilla and two on blue corn tortillas, sith in a square container. They’re filled with meat and veggies and garnished with cilantro and salsa. Two hands are visible in the corner of the frame.
Tacos from Nixta.
Tyson Crockett

Centro

A casual, industrial-chic restaurant in Minneapolis’s Northeast neighborhood by co-owners Jose Alarcon and Jami Olson, Centro is a great spot for creative tacos (think papas with escabeche vegetables, or cured cactus with mushrooms, kale, and caramelized onions). Chef Jose Alarcon also serves a notable brunch on Sundays: Come for the pescado tortas, the guava glitter rolls, and the passion fruit frozen margaritas. If you’re on the go, grab some masa cookies or chocolate mole cupcakes from the bakery.

A plate of fried fish tacos garnished with cilantro and pink radishes on a wooden table.
Fish tacos from Centro.
Kevin Kramer / Eater Twin Cities

Related Maps

Maya

Owner Isela Perez Pacheco first opened Maya Cuisine on Central Avenue in 2012: Stop by for elotes, pozole, and tacos. The restaurant has both cafeteria-style and sit-down dining options in a colorful, courtyard-like space — don’t miss out on the extensive salsa bar, or the popular Sunday brunch, which offers everything from tamales, buttered codfish, and sopa de mariscos to pancakes, French toast, and desserts.

El Taco Riendo

El Taco Riendo is a mainstay of Northeast Minneapolis’s Central Avenue. During the pandemic, the restaurant was burned down in a fire — it’s since been resurrected in full form. Owner Miguel Gomez’s menu features standouts like massive chimichangas, crispy flautas, chile relleno, tacos dorados, and caldo de res, a red Mexican beef soup. Catch the lime green food truck out and about in the warmer months.

Three chicken tinga tacos in tortillas garnished with onions, cilantro, and radish slices.
Chicken tinga tacos from El Taco Riendo.
Justine Jones

Related Maps