El Norteño Authentic Mexican

The patio is GORGEOUS!! Especially if you're a plant/flower enthusiast! The food was very good and authentic. The ambiance was perfect! It felt like I was in Mexico!

When you first walk in, it feels like Covid is still going on! Looks like it’s pickup only. No seating in the restaurant (late august 2023) But there is a wonderfully cute back patio. So many beautiful plants and flowers. Lights come on later in the evening. Very small menu, no liquor. (Think margaritas, though she said they have wine margaritas) One round of chips was all we got, and I think because we ordered guacamole? Not sure you get the standard free chips. I really enjoyed the mole, though I’d have enjoyed a larger size for my appetite! Only bummer was service was slow, but I believe she was working the floor all by herself. So can’t complain

Wonderful patio area makes you feel like you're not even close to the busy streets. Great guac, carnitas, taco salad, and enchiladas. No tequila or hard liquor but simple selection of beer.

I had the chicken chimichanga and my partner had the shrimp tacos. He tried some of my rice & beans and immediately orders his own side! When we first got there, we were bummed out about no chips and queso… but everything following that seriously makes it worth it, forget the queso! The salsa was amazing as well. The service was awesome, I read somewhere that this place is owned by 3 sisters and you can absolutely tell they own the place. Not only can you tell they are happy to be there, but they really enjoy the restaurant. You’ll see them back there cooking your food before they bring it to you. And there is one ingredient in their food you will never taste at El Rancho Grande or any big name Mexican restaurant… LOVE!! We ate all our food and were definitely full, but it didn’t leave us feeling all gross and lethargic like you do after eating the greasy food at other restaurants. Come show this family owned business some love, you won’t regret it

Excellent and authentic Mexican food. Decent prices, too. Friendly staff and a great patio. Highly recommend. A Cooper neighborhood gem! Update 8/9/22: still the best Mexican food around, and the patio is an undiscovered gem!!

I am happy to have found El Norteño right in my neighborhood! We were seated right away next to an amazing plant collection that blocked out the traffic of Lake St from the window. The service was so friendly and the food was delicious! I ordered a horchata, which wound up being unlike any I've had before. It's made to order with cows milk (not rice) and blended up to be a fluffy, creamy, cinnamon delight. It was like joy is a glass! I am sensitive to both cows milk and sugar, thankfully my symptoms were low and it was DEFINITELY worth it. Plenty of gluten free options for my dinner! My spouse ordered the enchiladas (which were also GF with corn tortillas) and I ordered the carnitas plate. Both of us gobbled our meals down with hardly any discussion, just nods and delicious 'mmmm's. It was the perfect portions to leave us feeling full, but not uncomfortable. My only note would be that it was not clear that we needed to go to the register to pay. The register is out of sight both when entering and from the tables, so we sat at our table for quite a while wondering when our check would come. We didn't mind at all and would have asked if we were in a hurry. Will definitely be eating here again, and often! I'm definitely looking forward to experiencing the patio when it warms up.

This place has a nice patio and that about it. The food was good but nothing to rave about. My girlfriend and I ordered burritos. They are good sized but the flavors are lacking. The prices where good. What actually really disappointed me was the Horchata I ordered. Instead of getting Horchata I got milk with crushed ice and some cinnamon sprinkled on top. Very disappointing and kinda ruined the first impression for me. I would probably only come back if friends or family really wanted to eat here.

Lovely service and delicious food. This is not a fast in&out Mexican restaurant. El Norteno is a place to dine, relax and enjoy great food at a leisurely pace.

Fantastic authentic Mexican food. The chips and salsa are amazing. You have to be patient waiting for your food but it's worth it.

4.9 tbh, lighting was strange and bathroom door is in the middle of the dining room but the food was absolutely delicious and the staff was super sweet and friendly we will definitely return. I can't wait to see what their famous patio is like in the summer

My husband and his friends came for dinner one night and enjoyed the patio. My husband loved this place so we recently came for dinner. We easily found street parking nearby. The place isn't very big as far as indoor dining goes but it wasn't very busy so we were seated right away. I believe the patio can get quite busy when it's nice out. So the food itself is pretty good. I got shrimp tacos and enjoyed them. My husband got the norteno enchiladas with beef. The beef is shredded instead of ground and this may be our new favorite way. Last time, my husband asked for hot sauce and they brought him something home made and he said it was so good! This time around, he asked again and they brought something homemade. He said it was different but he liked both. We devoured our little side of hot sauce and then went in for the salsa. I'm not really a big fan of salsa but this was so good! We were disappointed that we ran out of food so we didn't use all the salsa! When we were there, there were 6 people dining in. And at the end, all 6 plates were completely empty. I have never seen that before. They have figured out portion sizes to get you full but not create a lot of waste. What really gives this place 5 stars is the family that owns it. We didn't get to meet the actual owners but our server said she was one of the sisters. She was literally the nicest most adorable person. She was so happy to speak to everyone and gave everyone a little extra attention when she came by. Is service slow? Yes, especially with just one server. However, it didn't even matter because she just made me smile every time she walked into the room. People who can lift your spirits just by walking into a room deserve more praise and recognition. Please note that when we went, they actually don't rush you out to pay by bringing the check to you. There's a little check out window by the door and you can pay then. We didn't know that until we saw the other diners!

If I had not been accompanied by someone familiar w/ the restaurant, I might have entered & turned around & left. That would have been a big mistake. The interior is nothing to write home about BUT their patio is a hidden treasure! Literally, it is a monarch butterfly garden & so secluded & peaceful. The guacamole could have used some more salt but was fresh. My BIL had the shrimp tacos which he loves b/c the shrimp are not breaded so you can actually taste them! My sister & I shared the mole & carnitas; The mole was definitely the star!!! While the carnitas were yummy, good mole is hard to find & not always so flavorful. Here they really do mole right!!!! I will return to try their tamales another day as they are also hard to do find & are another test of a true Mexican restaurant so I'm sure they will be delicious...

Enjoyed sitting out in the patio amidst all of the plants. It was a beautiful night to dine outdoors. No seating indoors. The staff is very pleasant and work so hard! They need more help! We had to wait for almost 2 hours to get our food. Chips and salsa kept us from eating our hands. Salsa fresh and delicious, but the chips were somewhat stale. I had Norteno beef enchiladas (red sauce) with rice and beans. It was delicious. Other diners with me engulfed their chicken burrito and their tacos. The margarita was so-so, but the fresh lemonade was amazing!!!

El Norteño is a humble mom & pop Mexican restaurant serving up hearty Mexican classics. True to its name, the restaurant specializes in northern Mexican cuisine, which, while not as vibrant or spicy as some other categories of Mexican food, is certainly comforting. We had the norteño burrito and the asada tacos on corn tortillas. Both were delicious and satisfying. What further pushes this restaurant to five stars for me is the lovely lady who seemed to be running the shop single-handedly on the night we were there. I made a comment to her about the abundance of thriving potted plants inside the restaurant, and she proudly led us to the patio around back to show us her beautiful garden as well. It was a little late in the year for us to eat outside comfortably, so I'll have to make sure to come back next spring to fully enjoy her patio (and her food again, too!).

Service is amazing. Food is home cooked amazing. Its food that makes your heart feel good.

He food was good and service was very good. A month ago the patio was lovely. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes authentic Mexican food.

I am happy to support El Norteño on East Lake Street. They serve delicious food made with fresh ingredients. The service is prompt and friendly.

El Norteño is my new favorite Mexican restaurant! The women who work there are so lovely and encourage my friends and I to order en español. They are attentive and remind me of family. The chicken fajitas is the perfect portion size at the perfect price. The chips and salsa they provide for free are also delicious. They also have the MOST beautiful patio. In the summer there are lots of flowers and butterflies flying around. There's murals on the back of the building and glass bottle sculptures. Eating here is such a relaxing and tasty experience and that is why I will continue to stop in whenever I'm craving good quality Mexican food. Parking is also a plus! I park next door at Hi-Lo Diner and walk next door to El Norteño.

Loved this spot! The service was friendly and I loved all the plants inside. We got the lemonade and horchata which were good. The horchata was different than "traditional" horchata and blended with milk so it tasted more like a frothy smoothie. It was tasty! My husband got the chicken mole and he said it really hit the spot. I got the Norteno enchiladas and loved them! Tasted just like the ones my mom used to make. It came with rice and beans which were solid and a little salad mix (which was a really nice add-on). Overall, a good meal and I can't wait to go again.

El Norteno is a hidden surprise located on Lake Street proper. Guests usually park on the side streets; If they're feeling very lucky, they'll find a tiny spot in front and grab center stage. Once inside you are greeted by the most charming family . I family owns the restaurant, but all are expected to and participate or work at one of the service station.

A very laid back, family run (and apparently occasionally neighbor assisted) establishment. If available, seating out on the pleasant patio is a better option on nice days compared to the nondescript interior. The menu offers Minn/Mex comfort food served at what I'll choose to call a leisurely pace. Maybe not worth a special trip but I can see this as a decent choice for Longfellow residents.

This is my first time visiting their restaurant, I was overwhelmed by their welcome, the two women were super nice, I got shrimp taco and barbacoa, they were ok, not my taste though. I'll probably come back because of the hospitality.

Tried it for the first time today. Can't believe I have not been there before. Very friendly staff serving authentic Mexican food. The beans look and taste homemade and not from a can. The Mexican rice is probably the best I've ever had. Salsa which came with the complimentary order of chips tastes light and refreshing. They also have a yellow habanero salsa which packs some real heat. Never had anything quite like that. Great ambience in the very roomy patio. The only sad thing is that the store front looks like it is a grocery store (which I think they had at one point along with the restaurant,) otherwise I'm sure the place would be super busy all the time.

I've been going here for decades. It isn't the most trendy place for Mexican, but it's delicious, well-prepared. The restaurant is owned and run by three sisters from Mexico. It only has a beer & wine license, so you won't get a true margarita, but the patio is a wonderful space in warm weather. Just so you know, usually when we're ready to pay, we just walk to the cash register--it's faster.

So good! Great service. super cute patio, I can imagine it would be even greater in the summer when all the plants are still thriving. Definitely recommend getting a dish with the house made sauce.

I want to like El Norteno so bad but I just can't. I am a big big fan of Americanized Mexican food but most everything here falls flat. It all sort of tastes the same: bland. The real kicker for me was that the fajitas don't even come on a hot a skillet! This means you don't get that super yummy char we all love so much. I've tried the Chicken Fajitas, Quesadilla and Taco Salad and all were just boring and felt like bad versions of familiar dishes. The service is always friendly but inattentive. Waters are often left unfilled and they really don't put any effort into making a stellar experience. The indoor space is seriously lacking charm. It's dingy, dated and not at all comfortable. One plus side though is the patio, it's super duper beautiful. They also don't serve alcohol, which may not be an issue for some but I like to enjoy a giant margarita while scarfing down chips and salsa. Overall, I want it to be some much more than it is and it's worth the drive to head somewhere else to get your Mexican fix.

Best Mexican (non-taco) place in the Twin Cities. It satisfies my craving for Sonoran Mexican food when I can't get down to Tucson in March. Superb tomatillo sauce, real queso, everything we've had is great. It's run by two sisters, though, so don't come expecting speedy service! Just come expecting good food, enjoy the company of your date, and the friendliness of the service.

Sometimes, only good Mexican food will suffice for a meal on short notice (and only a short distance away). For me this is that place. Their chicken and rice soup is very tasty and satisfying and it reminded me a lot of the soups I ate while living with a family in Mexico City. The pork tamales were o.k. I always love their rice and beans. The women working there are friendly and pleasant. They also cheerfully indulge my practice of the Spanish language.

American style Mexican food. The salsa that is served with the chips tastes like it comes from a big gallon jug. I had the Norteno burrito. It was just ok. At almost $10 it was on the small side. The ingredients don't taste fresh. The server did bring me out some really good salsa on request. It wasn't the stuff they serve with the chips. The atmosphere was meh. Overall, if you're on Lake, you'll have many better choices for Mexican food.

The chicken is cubed and not shredded which is weird. The tacos are delicious, ask for the hot sauce, the habanero one. It's good

I haven't had the food here in years. I always thought compared to the local competition, food was ok, but expensive and small portions. This review is for their Flan. It is amazing. It's creamy, thick and richly flavored. Best I've had anywhere.

A cute little local restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious! The service can be a little slow, since the restaurant is owned & operated by one family, but the food is definitely worth the wait.

I guess I was blessed to find this place. I'm from LA and they have a painting of Olvera Street and it has my favorite restaurant there, la Luz del Dia, in the background. The food is very good, at least the enchiladas suizas were good and the coffee was excellent (it may have been Peace Coffee.) I will be coming back for a taste of home.

It's easy to overlook- old signage, darkened windows. Very old-school decor. The three sisters who run this place moved here in the 1980's from Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico, to start this restaurant. Clemen or Rufina will greet and serve you. Estela will cook for you. Their grandma taught her to cook. In a city full of Latin-American options, you can find just about anything you want. What you will find here is what I would call Northern Mexican comfort food. Not too spicy, decent portions, pleasant food. To get your mouth burned off, or to sample Chilled Monkey Brains, or for an extensive drink menu, shop elsewhere. To be full and happy and well-cared for, come here. Particular culinary strengths- You must order their flan. They do it the right way. Smooth, creamy and uniform, with lovely sugar sauce. Theirs sets the standard. Their tortilla chips are thick and freshly fried. Their salsa is very flavorful and not too hot. Their veggie chimichanga is generous and satisfying. If you ask for lemonade, it is fresh. I have tried their Enchiladas too, and they are great. I just wish there had been more on the plate. In warmer months, their patio is just amazing, and I sometimes come just for that. Beautiful, with dappled shade, and fairly insulated from the noise of Lake Street. A real refuge. This place deserves a spot on your orbit- a peacful place to pause and recharge. Try it.

We lived in the neighborhood when the sisters opened El Norteño, and we have continued to be delighted by the down-home hospitality and homey Mexican cuisine. The addition of the patio makes for summer destination dining and kicking back a few wine margaritas (not as demanding on the system as those with tequila!). And they are always happy to accommodate a last-minute gathering in the party room. The restaurant is also wheelchair accessible. El Norteño is a great neighborhood classic! Try the enchiladas suizas and the chile replenish, the moles and the barbacoa.

This patio is bomb. Come here for the patio, stay for the kind service, but...expect very average Mexican food. I feel bad. I want to love this place, but the burrito I got and the enchiladas my husband got were so standard. Maybe they have a specialty that we should have gotten? Sigh. With all the great Mexican options in the TC, I doubt I'll be back, unless its for a drink on their lovely patio.

My guy and I decided to check this place out for Saturday "linner"...you know, when you wake up too late to even really call your first meal "brunch" and instead have a lunch/dinner hybrid? That. I'm not sure how busy this place typically gets since we did come at such an off-time, but there were a few other tables (including out on the patio) so I'm assuming they get pretty solid business. They don't have a full bar, just wine and beer, so I decided to try the wine margarita. It was affordable but mostly just tasted like white wine with a salted rim so I would probably skip this and get a Negra Modelo or something net time around. Still, I appreciate that they offered *something* in lieu of a typical tequila margarita! Your first basket of chips and salsa are complimentary and it's around $3 for refills. We never wound up needing a refill as we ordered guacamole as an appetizer and were nearing full by the time our entrees arrived! I will say that the salsa was very bland and the guacamole could've used something as well...lime, garlic, maybe jalapenos? Just something to give it more flavor. Still, they were a pretty standard way to start the meal and I know not everyone appreciates spice the way I do. For our meals, J got a chimichanga and I went with the veggie fajitas. Prices are fair for the amount of food you receive, and these plates far surpassed the appetizers in flavor! Plus, I requested hot sauce and the bland guac/salsa was completely forgiven. That hot sauce was SO GOOD. Habanero peppers and deliciousness. I doused my plate in it and cried tears of joy and heat. The fajitas come with flour tortillas but I would assume they'd sub corn if you asked (I should have asked!). There was a great mix of veggies including a variety of bell peppers, mushrooms, potato, etc. plus refried beans, lettuce, rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa. I scraped the cheese/sour cream onto J's plate and all was well with the world! There were several other veggie items on the menu that I'd love to come try, and I am so glad I requested the hot sauce because it totally turned the meal around for me. I look forward to coming back and scoring a spot on their nice patio this summer.

Wonderful service, very friendly. It had a very cozy environment too which makes you feel right at home. The food is good, not great. The enchilada I ordered was delicious though the rice was a bit dry and bland, and the refried beans were ok. Usually short waits for food too which is a bonus. The lighting certainly could be better though as it's quite dark at night, not a lot of lamps.

No bar, so don't come here looking for a margarita. They do have a small selection of what is gringos would call "Mexican beers". The burrito I settled on had 3 different kinds of meat and was topped with melted cheese, plus lettuce and tomato. I enjoyed it and would order it again. The beans were especially good, as were the chips (you can tell they fry their own), salsa, and simple but fresh guacamole that they charge "market price" for. Says so on the menu. About an avocado's worth for $.49 today. I found the food and service more like eating at a friend's house, which I dig. I asked one of the gals working how long they have owned the place, and apparently it's nearly 20 years. You can't make it that long without doing something right. This should be a 3.5 star review but since that's not allowed I'm rounding up to 4 because of this paragraph. As some other reviewers have suggested, it's not amazing enough to drive to the neighborhood for, but it's certainly good enough to stop if you find yourself nearby.

My friend and I arrived to the restaurant 15 minutes before it closed. The women working told us not to worry and that they would still serve us. I ordered the chicken mole, it was so delicious, so flavorful, everything about it was absolutely perfect. Authentic in every way. The price was incredibly reasonable, I would have paid $5 more, gladly, for the flavor fiesta that was going on in my mouth. The decor is cute. It's a very clean restaurant. I hear that it is run by three sisters, so that makes me love this place even more. When my friends ask for good mexican food, this is where I sent them.

Holy crap I love El Norteño. I originally read about this restaurant in a book about Minnesota restaurants that cook exclusively with locally-grown, organic meats and produce. I was impressed because it was the only Mexican food restaurant in the entire book. If you read my reviews, you know I am something of a Mexican food addict so I was intrigued to learn about this little place right down the street from me. I finally made it down there and I am completely blown away by the quality and the taste of El Norteño's food. Apparently the environment and some animals and local farmers are all benefiting from their excellent work practices...but my stomach was totally happy with the arrangement as well. I first ordered some homemade lemonade, which tastes really lime-y in a good way. I highly recommend it, especially since you get a giant glassful for only $2. You can definitely taste the fresh tangy-ness and it's not too sweet. Then came the chips (excellent) and fresh salsa which was also wonderful. I am hard to please when it comes to complimentary salsa so that's a big deal to me. As for the meal, I had the vegetarian chimichanga. It comes, as it should in all authentic restaurants, with sides of rice, beans and a small salad--all of which were delicious. The burrito itself was also impressive, full of rice and black beans, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It was a real vegetable burrito, which was a welcome change. At some restaurants "vegetarian" means you get just beans/rice/cheese and might as well be eating a BRC from El Pollo Loco. Nope, this was a true veggie delight and all of it was sauteed beforehand and had wonderful flavors, especially the yummy rice. Another thing this restaurant had was my favorite hot sauce of all time. It's this bright green habanero sauce called Yucateco. I eat about 2 bottles a week at home and usually have to buy it at special markets because not all grocery stores carry it. Thankfully, this restaurant had it on the tables for me to pour all over my meal. The only other place that has it for free is La Que Buena. It's understandable since the tiny bottles cost a pretty penny but El Norteño hooked me up right. The final and yet most wonderful reason that El Norteño is an amazing establishment is that at the end of my meal, I sat back completely satisfied but not stuffed. The portion size was just right. I have no control when it comes to Mexican food so the fact that my plate wasn't ginormous is a real help. I can already tell this restaurant going to become a once-a-week habit for me.

Where else can you go to a restaurant run by 3 women? They do everything, and still have the time to make the best papa flautas this side of the Mississippi. My only sad part is that their store is not packed with supplies for my revolutionary recipes. If you get a chance, have their vegetarian tacos. And be patient, imagine...3 people run the entire restaurant. Give them an extra tip or go and help wash dishes. Que viva People Power! Que Viva El Norteño

This one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. It's family-owned and friendly. The food is great!

So, this restaurant is 10 blocks from my house and I never even knew it was a restaurant. But I saw the review when browsing through a friend's reviews. I was like "That sounds yummy." and then I realized it was 10 blocks from my house. So we looked it up on Google Maps street-view, and headed out into the cold. Chips were a weird texture. Salsa was delicious. Guacamole was a little too tomato-y for my taste, but it was at least fresh. I ordered a Mexican dish I have never had before; enfrijoladas...mmmmm.. They were delicious. It's just like chicken enchiladas, but instead of enchilada sauce on top, there is a tasty black bean sauce. Boy ordered the Chipotle Burrito. He was impressed that it was actually spicy. Like, spicy enough that he was afraid for me to take a bite; I'm a wimp. The lemonade was really great, perfect balance of sweet and sour. It's tough to win our Mexican Food hearts, since we live a few blocks off Lake St., but this place was pretty solid. And it might win over El Nuevo Rodeo, since parking was plentiful.

I am a HUGE fan of the patio! I don't come often, but I love that the patio is off the street and I do feel as if I am transported to Mexico. I am always annoyed at myself when I eat 2 or 3 baskets of the chips at other restaurants - so I welcome the restraint imposed by a fee on the 2nd! Just had dinner with the family here.... the best we all decided was the shrimp fajitas! We're all going to order them next time!

I have been coming to this place for years and the food is always amazing! There are a lot of options for Latin food on Lake street but I think El Norteno is the best Mexican restaurant I've been to.

Probably my favorite Mexican place in the area. The mole verde is incredible, as are the chips - but pace yourself on those, you only get one basket for free. If the weather's not too hellish, be sure to sit outside, they have a really nice patio setup.

Wait, are we all eating at the same place? I wanted to love this place, I really did. It's a cute little family- owned and operated restaurant with a beautiful patio, friendly (though inattentive) servers, and obviously very fresh ingredients. Unfortunately, none of that could make up for the underwhelming food. My lunch took 40 minutes to arrive which I realize is probably atypical since my server came to apologize after about 30 minutes. No biggie really; I spent years as a server and realize that stuff happens and I was in no rush. However, when it did come, my food was unforgivably under-seasoned and everything tasted bland which is a big, fat bummer since there is no salt, pepper, or hot sauce on the tables. I will be rooting for this place to improve on its recipes. It truly has all the makings of a great Mexican restaurant, but it just really misses the mark.

Great neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Delicious enough to stop in if you're in the area, but probably not enough to come into the area to stop in. Know what I'm sayin' This place is a 5 minute walk from my house, so my wife and I stop in here often for a bite of tasty Mexican. Chips & Salsa: Free, as it should be at every legit Mexican restaurant. However, you do have to pay for the second round of chips and salsa, which is a little nickel and dimeish. chips are tasty. Salsa is yummy. Not the best I ever had, but pretty good. Entrees: They have everything you'd expect out of a traditional Mexican restaurant. My wife loves the Chimichanga (I think it's pretty tasty too). I usually opt for one of the combination platters to get a little taste of all the things i love. Food ranges from tacos, enchiladas, chili releno, buros, etc. to more entree style dishes. The beans are some of the best we've ever come across. My wife has some Mexican heritage and makes the absolute best, but El Nortenos beans are really tasty. Probably because you can see the old Mexican lady stirring the pot when you walk in. It also has an outdoor patio, which is nice during the summer. All this being said, it is expensive versus what you expect to pay for such Mexican food. I think some of it may be to cover the costs of the idle space for the Mexican grocery that never happened. I'll keep coming back as long as I'm in the area, but won't return to the area to go back.

you know I have only been here once that's back in like 2012 I think I went on a date here and it was super cute and good and I still remember it. It left a mark with me I always said ill go back but always forget to because its such a small cozy place. I remember I got enchiladas super good the staff was nice and the place was super clean I remember that. I think its a store to in there actually you can get Mexican goods if im not mistaken! its a nice place to wine down if you don't like loud Mexican restaurants ( I know we can get loud and ghetto lol im Mexican I know lol ) I need to remember to come back

Overall : Blah. I was craving Mexican so my lady and I picked this place for its generally positive reviews and proximity to my house. I had a busy workday and missed lunch- so I was ready to seriously mow down by the time we arrived to the patio. Service : S-L-O-W. We waited a good 15 minutes to get our waters and chips and had to wait another 15 to give our drink/food orders. I get its a smaller operation but there was one waitress for about 15-20 tables. From when we sat down, we waited around 45 minutes to get our margaritas and probably 90 for our food. Hire more help. Actual food: Meh. I ate most of mine because I was famished, but it was pretty pedestrian. Definitely not worth the ridiculous wait. I will not be returning.

My favorite Mexican restaurant. Excellent food. Best tamales I've ever had. Everything is good and fresh. The ladies working there are pleasant and fun--excellent service. Nice patio. My favorite dish is the fiesta.

We are so lucky to live down the street from this family-run gem. The sisters who own and operate it are warm and welcoming, and serve great Mexican food at a good price, too.

I loved it. Doesn't score points on atmosphere (though a stained glass interpretation of Hokusai's Great Wave was a welcome, though odd highlight!) but c'mon, it's a Mexican restaurant, who cares? I ordered the mole verde but they were sadly out :( Instead I had the ordinary mole, which was terrific, though could have used a touch more heat. A great restaurant and I will be back.

I almost hate to give this wonderful restaurant a review for fear that it'll become too popular. The food is terrific and authentic. The menu is somewhat limited, but who cares when everything is so tasty? There is enclosed outdoor seating. I've seen that large groups have been accommodated inside. The service ids always good.

Great food at a great price, the service was very good as well. I would recommend trying the burritos. Everything was made fresh to order.

I've been coming to this restaurant for about five years now. I was introduced to it by a very good friend. The meals here are authentic Mexican. It is located on Lake Street in South Minneapolis. Street parking is usally easy to access. The restaurant is within walking distance from the blueline lightrail. Usually, when I come I enjoy the tocos or burritos. Additionally, there is excellent soups and appetizers. Food is fresh, flavorful and at a great price! The patio is a beautiful oasis, during the summer it fills with lush foliage and landscaping. It doesn't feel anything like a busy city street. Come for a quick bite or bring the whole gang; they are family owned and operated. Anytime you're there you'll feel like family too! Thanks for having such a great community spot Courtney

Very tasty food, my favorite mexican food in town. Eat on the beautiful patio in the summer for the best experience. The service is consistently very good. Two downsides: (1) only beer and wine, so no (real) margaritas. (solution: drink a beer) (2) The indoor decor is ... cheap (don't go here on a first date) Despite these flaws, the food and service are great. The price is average, but a bargain considering the quality. The kitchen is out in the open, and appears to be clean and professionally run. There is a mexican grocery store attached.