Boca Chica | Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina

Generous Portions & Strong Drinks — A Local Favorite Worth the Trip! I grew up near this restaurant, and even after moving to Europe, it remains a must-visit spot every time I’m back in town. The portions are massive—so much so that my parents usually take half their entrée home for lunch the next day. The enchiladas are a standout: smothered in melted cheese and a perfectly tangy mole sauce. The weekday lunch buffet is an excellent deal, and the Sunday brunch is another highlight (just be prepared for the crowds—it’s popular for a reason!). The drinks are strong, so pace yourself—or better yet, bring a designated driver so you can enjoy that third round guilt-free. Parking is conveniently located next door, though it can fill up quickly during peak hours. You can reserve an indoor table in advance, but outdoor seating on the terrace is first come, first served. Looking at these photos, my mouth is already watering. I can’t wait for my next visit!

The food was good, but the servers seemed very serious and uninterested in engaging with customers. A short, dark-skinned, slightly overweight waitress with dyed blonde hair attended to us, and she appeared to dislike her job. I also noticed that the booth we sat in had a dirty backrest, and the Coca Cola served in our cup tasted strangely like sanitizer. I'm not sure whether it was from the ice cubes or the cup. I ended up ordering a Coke from a glass bottle instead. Another detail that affected the experience was the music. It was too low in volume, which made it easy to hear everyone's conversations and laughter around us. I believe a louder, more lively selection of traditional or upbeat Mexican music could have really enhanced the atmosphere and created the festive vibe you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant. It was also uncomfortable that the bill was brought out very quickly, as if they were pressuring us to leave before we could fully enjoy our meal. I would have rated this place 5 stars for the food alone, but the customer service and overall atmosphere definitely leave much to be desired.

Chile rellenos was too soggy and the beef had an unpleasant flavor, not sure what. My quesabirria tacos were great! The cactus salad was excellent!

Great food and friendly service! Enjoyed a birthday dinner with family. Generous portions of classic Mexican favorites, everyone left happy and full.

The food is ok. I don’t know if I’m the best critic because I really don’t like Tex Mex.. it always lacks the spices of more authentic Mexican cuisine. similarly their salsa was meh and the consume for the birria tacos-very bland! Not a place I’d return.

Cute restaurant! I went here for the first time yesterday and it is a really adorable restaurant. It is more of a family-style Mexican restaurant vs. a Mexican bar restaurant. There were a lot of families here. I ordered the barria tacos as well as the ceviche and a side of rice and beans. The food came out relatively quickly and everything was absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend checking this place out. The service was phenomenal and the food was equally as amazing.

We stopped in for lunch on a Sunday and was told they only had the buffet... We were a little unsure but it turned out to be awesome! Lots of choices - both regular breakfast food and Mexican food - and all you could eat! We ate out on the patio and it was perfect! We'll definitely be back if we're in the area.

Food was not as good as the last time I was there . I had a server make fun of us for not knowing how to get out to the deck . the restaurant was packed and no clear path to the door. Our server outside was great and very nice. The mariachi band was wonderful.

We had a very large party for a big birthday. The restaurant was very accommodating, the servers were friendly, the place was bustling, and the family-owned vibe was welcoming. They let us split the bill easily and got everyone's orders correctly. We all tried all the tacos, burritos, salads, chips and salsa, and margaritas. Everyone enjoyed their food and had a great time. I can't speak to the buffets, as we had regular dinner menu, but we all liked it. Great for big groups and families.

I think chips and salsa is my love language. As such, it's a hug in a bowl when I eat them from here. Other must get items for me: Don Guillermo margarita, fried beef taco, nachos viejo. I like sitting at n the bar area and admiring the hustle of the bartender. They are amazing.

Enjoyed a lovely lunch with a women's group. Boca Chica Restaurant did an excellent job seating us together. Food was excellent. Wonderful and prompt service. I enjoyed the Taco salad with chicken. It came with 3 different dressings on the side to enjoy. It was so delicious! I was so busy devouring my delicious meal and chatting with my friends, I forgot to take pictures of the food....but OOOH SOOOO GOOD! The atmosphere and space is lovely, open, and bright. They have a huge free parking lot too. Can't wait to go back to try more things from the menu!

If you're looking for real, authentic Mexican food, Boca Chica is the way to go! Their drinks are always well-made and strong and the food is absolutely phenomenal. One thing I really love is the murals on the inside. I think it's such a wonderful way to showcase the culture!

The Los Dos Amigos here is one of my favorite Mexican dishes in the city. Truly delicious. I ate so much food I didn't eat for like 24 hours after (exaggeration but honestly kinda true LOL). The staff here are so friendly and the restaurant is a great vibe. They have a patio and I cannot wait for it to open!!! I will definitely be back once it does.

Booked dinner for a large group on a Sunday evening. Everything was fantastic - good communication as we were booking, great service, and fantastic food. Will definitely bring our group back.

If you can catch their Sunday brunch buffet it's a real delight. Lots to chose from and delicious. My all time favorite item is their deep fried taco. They didn't have it at the Brunch buffet but what they did have was so good, I wasn't even disappointed! Their black beans are so good, not a gross mass produced version of beans and their Flan is also amazing. Almost as good as my mama's! Don't skip Boca Chica. It's a classic favorite of my crew, it will be for yours too!

Decent TexMex food! This place is super popular in west St.Paul and I can see why. It's simple and decently priced. 100% recommend coming for the AYCE buffet but they also offer great main dishes too! The servers are very sweet and the place itself is so cute. Tons of seating and they offer outdoor seating as well.

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the cities! My go-to for the dinner menu is the Los Dos Amigos ($16.50)--the sopes (thick corn tortillas) are so tasty and filling, and I love being able to choose an enchilada to go with (usually, an enchilada guajillo)! Perhaps it's kind of basic, but my favorite thing about Boca Chica is their salsa and sopa (which is an appetizer-y soup, not to be confused with the sopes!)--both are very simple but have really great flavors where the tomatoes really shine. While you do pay $3.25 here for chips and salsa (as opposed to some other places where it's complimentary), it's 100% worth it to me and I never skip ordering them. The staff is always super attentive and quick to refill drinks, clear plates, and otherwise check in, even when it's busy (which, it usually has been when I've gone!) I think the weekday lunch buffet ($14.95/pp, M-F from 11a-1:30p) is also a great value for the price with a great selection of enchiladas and mains like chimichangas, tacos fritos, and flautas, along with the sopa and salsa that I love so much.

Excellent taco salad! However, the drinks were weak and the lunch hour noise was too much for any meaningful conversation-ing.

We're stuffed after an amazing meal! 10/10 food, service, and vibes. Great spot to hang out on a beautiful summer night

my mom has raved about this place for the last idk how many decades. i was never a fan of it when she took me here on vacation to minnesota & now that im an adult with an adult palette, i hate it even more. growing up in an area of mostly mexicans and having extended family from mexico... this place is not it. there's nothing "authentic" about mexican restaurants. if you want actual mexican food, you need to find a taqueria. i ordered two chicken tacos & while they were surprisingly spicy for being in the midwest, they were overall terrible lol. the tortillas have got to be Mission brand from the grocery store because they literally split in half the second i lifted the taco. the "salsa" was chunky af and seemed like a salsa for chips rather than a spicy sauce for the tacos. i really have nothing good to say about the food here & im surprised they're still in business. i guess as a cult favorite for elderly white people, they'll stick around for another decade.

My family and I have been coming to Boca Chica Restaurant as long as I can remember (literally YEARS!). I love to support local and the food is absolutely delicious. The buffet is scrumptious which is offered at lunch during the week and also on Sundays. This visit my lovely sister treated me to the lunch buffet for my birthday which was so great because we rarely get a day off during the week together. As always, it was fantastic and we left beyond stuffed. I love the fried flour tacos, beans, and rice. Cannot forgot the bean, cheese, and chorizo dip for an appetizer. Let me tell you, do NOT skip on this. It's the best. However, back to the lunch buffet, I missed the cheese enchiladas this visit (sad face). Just a wonderful variety especially for the reasonable price. I love how the buffet setup has been moved to the back room, doesn't seem as crowded as past visits for the buffet. Our waitress was fine, not overly friendly, but still fine. I did get to enjoy a large chocolate sundae. My nephew, sister, and I left with really full bellies and smiling faces. I'll always be back to this spot.... Cannot go wrong.

Food was good. Id definitely will come back and eat again. It was $23.99 per person + $3.25 for soda. They have alcohol options too. Service was friendly and nice. We experienced some inconveniences at the end. They fixed them and gave us 25% off. I recommend this place for others to try it.

This was a trip! Boca Chica reminds me of the kind of tex-mex restaurant you would go to in years past. Not fancy, but generous portions and great service. A family kind of place. This was the first time I had my meal on the patio, and it was so pleasant. The waiter was great, the food was served quickly (we were hungry!) and there was a Margarita menu that was lengthy. I was with a group, and we all ordered what would turn out to be our new favorites. Before we got far with our chips, homemade salsa, and margaritas, the food arrived -- we're not talking fancy and persnickety plating here -- generous portions and great food like you are eating at a traditional tex-mex restaurant. We had a great time. There is parking on site. Oh, and inside, the place has a fun atmosphere: again, more traditional than fancy, a good place to bring friends and family.

Good basic Mexican food. Attentive wait staff! Those working help out others tables to keep patrons well served. Great with refills on chips salsa and beverages. Birthday guest gets photo with fancy mariachi sombreros. Would like to see more vegetarian options, especially on enchiladas. Good for larger groups of 8 - 12.

Food was yummy, service was great once a server was assigned to us, and ambiance is wonderful. We came for happy hour and dinner today and arrived around 4:30. We were seated and someone gave us waters and menus at 4:40. We wanted to order before 5pm to take advantage of the happy hour specials so we asked the person who gave us water if we could order. He said no because he wasn't our server. At 5:00, we were tired of waiting for a server so we walked to the front desk and asked for a server. Once a server was assigned to us, service was great. But... I took away one star for the inconvenience of waiting 30 minutes to be served. All the food was delicious, even the kids menu items. The ambiance was amazing with huge murals on the walls, cultural decorations and a beautiful outdoor patio area.

I'm always looking for good Mexican MN and Boca Chica was a great find. This place has been around for 50 years and has an eclectic crowd that packs it out on the weekends. The staff is fun and has hilarious shirts promoting their killer fare... the taco plates are a must as well as the enchiladas. We also tried a combo plate with chorizo and a tostada to round out our options. The chips and guacamole was fantastic and the spicy margarita and overall bar menu made this place a fun environment for groups. It was an amazing night

Went here for late night dinner and will go back. The parking was a breeze; big lot behind restaurant free and well lit. Seated by hostess right away near fireplace that was cozy. Waitress arrived right away with waters and carafe, gave us just right amount of time to review menu before ordering and she was attentive throughout meal. Pricing was good, food was hot and tasty. Only complaint was salsa unremarkable and had to pay for chips which is just different that most Mexican restaurants.

The food was delicious and just what I wanted. The Serive was good and efficient. The organization was clean , and food wasn't a mess. Carefully placed in the to go container.

Best Mexican place around. I grew up near this place and all three of my kids and wife love it. It is now our restaurant we all can go to. Even after moving 25 minutes away we still find time to go here. Chips and salsa are fresh and great. The sopa is wonderful. Great family recipes and a steal of a price. The entrees are amazing and in Sundays the brunch has a great variety of things. The mole sauce is amazing and I love it on any of the dishes they have. Great family friendly atmosphere.

Incredible food! Every part of our meal as somehow better than the last. We started with Chile con Queso and were blown away. It's exactly what you would expect and want from a cheese dip. Next up was steak fajitas and Quesabirria tacos. The Quesabirria (on the appetizer menu) was phenomenal, but did feel a little salty after a bunch of bites. It's still up in my favorites in the cities. The fajitas were sizzling and so good! To wrap it up we had the churro bites - they melted in your mouth and were sooooo tasty. The waiter said it's not usually as busy as it was tonight, but reservations wouldn't have hurt!

You know you're bout to eat good when not one but two brothers walk out the restaurant licking' their fingers (their own not each other's ). Didn't know it was Mexican Independence Day, but we had street tacos Al pastor for $2 each. Pretty good street taco. What you need to know, This is not an American Mexican food restaurant, this is not some Tex-Mex chain or branded style, no, what Boca Chica is-is a restaurant from Mexico, that was picked up and transported into the heart of the twin cities! This is authentic Mexican food, prepared and cooked to absolute flavorful perfection! I went with my wife and four year old daughter, not only did we try the street tacos but we didn't there was a buffet as well! Tacos, rice, enchiladas, burritos, enchiladas with green tomatillo sauce (my absolute fav!!!), chips, dip, and the churros!! Man did I say churros?!! I've walked the streets of Havana, Cuba, I've bought and eaten freshly prepared churros right there in Cuba, and these churros I just ate Boca Chica are hands down the best churros I've ever let hit my tongue. . I will be back!' I give it a 10, my wife gives it a 10, my four year old gives it a thumbs up with a full tummy!!

I have not been here in years! But still the best. It should be a necessity on any visit to St Paul.

This dining experience started out pretty rough. The hostess mixed up the order of arrivals and sat a number of tables ahead of us and failed to apologize or acknowledge it which is not my favorite part to start an experience. We sat outside and the lighting was a bit dim but the table was clean. We ordered a round of drinks that definitely felt smaller than the average margarita - from a bartender's perspective. There were major delays in our service from the perspective of when we ordered drinks, when we got drinks, when our food order was taken, etc. Our waiter was friendly but just not the most efficient. What saved this experience was hands down the food. Being from the west coast - Mexican food can fall short of the mark in other parts of the country but I would say this is the top 3 Mexican food I've ever had. I ordered the grilled fish tacos and they were outstanding. I didn't get sides but the table reported that in general the beans were better than the rice but all was delicious. I would be willing to come back again solely because of the food in the hope that operations are running more smoothly.

A classic! I usually love coming here during the brunch hour on the weekends but today I came to try out the patio seating with a friend. I got the steak fajitas and my friend got the cheese enchiladas. The patio area was beautiful and the service was great. Food, of course, was delicious with juicy steak fajitas and a very cheesy enchilada to pair. The only feedback I would give is that the servers often took away our soup appetizer and chips before we could finish them. Otherwise, must try!

We have been coming to Boca Chica in Saint Paul for over 30 years and it doesn't disappoint. On this trip, four of us sat on the patio and had margaritas, chips and salsa, enchiladas and tacos. Service was great, their recipes haven't changed and the family-style cooking meets the mark. I return when I am in the Saint Paul (or even if I am not close to Plato Blvd!). Will return. The outside dining was a big plus on this lovely fall day!

What a gem! I went for Boca Chica with coworkers and it impressed everyone! The lunch buffet is a great deal at around $14 with all you can eat Mexican food. The buffet selection was great, only critique is I would have loved to have Guacamole and spicier salsas. The staff was very accommodating to my allergies and walked through the buffet to point to any issues, this meant a lot to me and showed a level of care and consideration! You should check this place out!

Boca Chica is an institution in the neighborhood and a place you should try at least once! The ambiance is warm and welcoming, and the dining room is constantly full. The menu is full of classic dishes, and you can't go wrong ordering anything. I ordered the Shrimp Fajitas, and after finishing the first course of Sopa, pasta in a tomato sauce/soup, our server set down 3 full platters of sizzling shrimp, fresh tortillas, and flavorful beans. It was very good and a perfect plate to share with others! However, I was disappointed in some of the smaller items on the plate. The guac did not taste fresh, more like it was pre packaged and not made in house, and the lettuce and tomato on the side didn't add anything special to the dish. Overall it was a great experience, and I can't wait to try their sister Taco House across the street!

I went with three friends to the recent Cinco de Mayo festival for an evangelism outreach. Around lunchtime, we decided to take a break and looked for a restaurant where we could sit down while eating. We eventually stopped at Boca Chica. It wasn't too packed there (possibly because it was blocks away from the crowds). I ordered a "Pick Three" special for $16.99. The food was good and filled me up. However, we were surprised to see each of our bills with an added charge for chips and salsa. Earlier we were told it was provided for free. One of my friends commented that our waitress didn't have a good attitude. Maybe she didn't want to work that day. Regardless, I'll be more watchful of restaurants charging for stuff that used to be complimentary.

The food I found was lacking seasoning. I ordered steak fajitas. I like my steak to be seasoned a little. I did like the amount they gave me though. They had a mariachi band walking through the restaurant. Even though this makes the ambiance more appealing. I feel that it just makes it to loud to we're we couldn't hear each other. I have given them 3 stars because of the lack of seasoning and loud environment.

This is a classic! If you're looking for the best enchiladas in the cities, this is arguably a contender. It's the same today as it was 30 years ago and they're not sorry about it. What has changed are their drinks, a much more elevated drink menu, with a homemade margarita mix, so when you see margarita mix on the menu, that means their own. Refried beans are super Smokey. What makes the enchiladas so great! It mostly the sauce. I had the Guillermo's beef enchiladas, I get it mostly every time. The sauce is super rich, with the cheese and the corn tortillas it is a great combination. The guacamole is a little bland, could use some lime but it's doable. I do wish they would update the decor inside

Lunch buffet M-F 11am-130pm. Walk into lots to look at. Artwork. Bar. Large open dining room. 14.95 each for lunch buffet (not including drinks).

Everything here is good! Friendly people serving fantastic Mexican food, the buffet is amazing!

Boca Chica is a happy noisy place in a good way. Happiest crowd I've ever seen, of course it was Cinco de Mayo and the Margaritas were flowing everywhere. Just the appetizers is enough for a meal for some as there were four large fried corn tortillas w/shredded beef, Mexican white cheese, tomatoes, guacamole and cilantro. Topped with happy hour drink specials and reasonable prices, and happy employees behind the bar this was a great time. There is a large parking lot to the rear.

Chose Boca because it was Hockey night at the Exel and Boca's is far enough away and has great parking. The food is as close to authentic as you'll find in "raised on hot dish" MN. I enjoyed the Chili Relleno with creamy cheese filling. ONLY complaint is their salsa is Minnesota spicy (maybe has a little paprika in it). Ambiance is warm and enjoyable. Service is top notch.

If you want the best authentic Mexican food and atmosphere this restaurant needs to be on your must visit list! The food was amazing, fresh, hot and delicious!! The complimentary chips and salsa (hot) were always full and in-house made. I had the steak fajitas, the steak was so tender and served with a huge pile for perfectly sautéed peppers & onions, and a side plate of everything you need to fill your tortilla! My sweet heart had enchilada mole, she loved it!!They were packed with shredded chicken that was seasoned perfectly!! Service was very good, we received lots of attention from the server to the manager. I can't wait to go back and share our new favorite restaurant with our family and friends. I hope it's warmer and the patio is open! There signature margarita will have you hooked!!

The interior is extremely decorative. The décor is extravagant with lots of pictures, history, and murals on the walls. They've done a very nice job of creating an experience that feels like you've traveled to a different country. The food was polarizing. Some of the dishes were very good, for the first bite. The mole sauce with our chicken (pollo) was strong, but hard to finish more than half of the plate. Also, the green sauce (verde salsa) on the enchiladas had the same effect: overly seasoned and salted, but tasty in moderation. The margaritas weren't too impressive, however they were the best ones I've had that included "margarita mix". Not sure if this is a house, "margarita mix", or something purchased. It's still not worth the price tag.

Very nice place good food friendly I would eat here when in town. The Margaritas are fantastic the flaws was great

At the weekday lunch buffet the atmosphere is great, the service is great...and the food is hit or miss, mostly miss..but cheap for AYCE

We had our holiday dinner there this year and the food was really bad. Soup was cold meat had no seasonin. All the salsa was bland.

Had been to their taco place across the street years ago Service not so great Food not great Use of American cheese not cojio (sp) cheese extra charge for a two tea spoons of cheese

I came here for dinner. The tacos and guacamole were good, as expected for Minnesota tacos. I would recommend the traditional tacos & spiked mango lemonade. If you want a lighter option, I would go with the taco salad There are two locations, one where you can get take out and the other is for sit down. They had hand sanitizer at each table and did a good job with spacing out the tables

We were seated by the door leading to the patio. One of our chairs was continually bumped when wait staff or customers went through the door. We picked up our menus and utensils and moved to a table one over. A few minutes later, the manager came over and loudly scolded us for several minutes in front of other customers and employees. We were told that we had no right to move tables without consulting the host. The restaurant was not even half full and many tables were open. Why were we given this high traffic and uncomfortable table in the first place? The manager said it didn't matter and we could stay at the new table. If so, why scold us in this manner at all??? Very unprofessional and not customer friendly and totally unnecessary. As usual, the service and the food were excellent.

As a former Arizonan, this place has legit Mexican food and it has a nice patio and great vibe inside as well. Tacos were bomb and so were the chips and queso! I marked it down to 4 stars due to service being super slow and subpar drinks. I could tell they were properly staffed (one server per table and hardly anyone in the place) but service was super slow. Great spot if you aren't in a rush! Cheers.

Two times in a row.. terrible service in the bar.Feel low morale there. Will sit in the restaurant if I go back. So I went back and got the buffet...no flavor!

Service was good despite that the seating was full inside and out. I had an enchilada with de mole for the first time which I did not like. It may have been good since I have not had before. The rice and the beans were cold. Two ordered the fajitas which I and one other thought were flavorless. Two ordered quesadilla's and rated them good. Portions were good.

I recently went to the lunch buffet at Boca Chica. There aren't many Mexican buffets in the Twin Cities, so I was excited to check this place out! The buffet selection was rather small. For the price of $12+, I thought the selection was mediocre. The food was decent. Nothing mindblowing. The service was good, & the buffet was replenished frequently.

Went there after a show. They were about to close and we ordered quickly. Service was good and decent food. Got the bean dip which was good and the pick 3. The chimichanga was good. The fried taco with chicken not so much. The chicken had no flavor. The sides were adequate. Nothing to write home about. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat here but could see stopping by if I am in the area.