El Sazon Cocina & Tragos

Latin American restaurant · Tangletown

El Sazon Cocina & Tragos

Latin American restaurant · Tangletown

2

5309 Lyndale Ave S Suite 101, Minneapolis, MN 55419

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El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos by null

Highlights

Latin American fare with creative cocktails, birria ramen, tacos  

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5309 Lyndale Ave S Suite 101, Minneapolis, MN 55419 Get directions

elsazonmn.com
@cocinaytragos

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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5309 Lyndale Ave S Suite 101, Minneapolis, MN 55419 Get directions

+1 612 315 5383
elsazonmn.com
@cocinaytragos

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 14, 2025

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@eater

Xela’s Taco Omakase in Stillwater Is Unlike Anything in Minnesota | Eater Twin Cities

"A brick-and-mortar outpost in south Minneapolis opened by the De Leons as the next step after their gas-station taco shop; the restaurant expanded their repertoire and operations and preceded the couple’s more culturally focused tasting-room project, reflecting their desire to bring family-rooted flavors to a larger dining setting." - Cinnamon Janzer

https://twincities.eater.com/2025/6/4/24441780/xelas-by-el-sazon-restaurant-stillwater-minnesota-mayan-guatemalan-mexican-review
View Postcard for El Sazon Cocina & Tragos
@eater

The Hottest New Brunches in the Twin Cities Right Now

"Last fall, Karen and chef Cristian de Leon opened a second El Sazon in Minneapolis’s Tangletown neighborhood, where they’re serving a stellar brunch. Expect dishes like loaded “birria-quiles” finished with crema and fiery salsa de arbol (upon request); chicken and churros; concha French toast; and birria pizza, plus tacos and desserts. A full brunch cocktail menu is available, too." - Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-brunch-breakfast-restaurants-twin-cities-minneapolis-st-paul-minnesota
View Postcard for El Sazon Cocina & Tragos

Jackie Just

Google
Our hands down favorite was the tacos chingon. Bistec, rajas and house-made salsa. The star of this dish is the grilled queso right into the tortilla! So good!! For dessert we went with the ice cream and banana crème anglaise covered brownie. We also ordered a variety of other tacos off the menu. The ceviche which was a nice spicy-ish bite if of poached shrimp, jalapeño, avocado, onions, tomato, cilantro, mango and citrus passion fruit aguachile.

Mariquita de Mira

Google
Food was simply delicious! I went during Restaurant Week (I know! A while back Lol!) so I don't know if some of the dishes we ordered are available. I couldn't find anything appealing to me on their drink menu because it was mostly Tequila and Mezcal, two liquors I do not mess with because I become a hot mess, so I settled on a non-alcoholic drink and asked them to put vodka. It was quite refreshing but a little too sweet and tart for my taste. FYI, I do love sweet stuff but usually in the form of a dessert with chocolate. I digress. We ordered the Birria Dumplings, Passion Fruit Ceviche and Churrasco, which was Pure Dynamite!! The meat and potatoes was savory and tasty, topped with some grated cheese! Now for the sweet stuff. I ordered the Cafe 3 Leches and my friend ordered the Flan de Comote. It was so so good, probably one of the best ones I've had. It was moist, sweet and garnered with berries that seemed fresh. I went on a Sunday early evening at 5pm so there were hardly any customers so it was nice and quiet. Service was good, so all in all a great experience! Now for the negative. There is a parking lot adjacent to the building that you actually can't park on. It's for take-out or delivery only. There is a huge parking lot a block from the restaurant but I think it's for other businesses. If there were some spots for El Sazon Cocina & Tragos (I don't recall), there were probably limited because I ended up parking on the street.

Linda McLoon

Google
After a day of shopping, we stopped in at El Sazon for tacos. The place is not fancy, but if the food is good, who cares! It was late afternoon, so we just wanted a "snack". While they don't list individual tacos on the menu, they are happy to accommodate an order of tacos without the rice and beans. We tried a birria taco, a camerones taco, an asada taco, and a carnitas taco. Each was delicious, and they are all quite different from each other. I particularly loved the camerones taco. It was really filled, and the breaded shrimp were in a crispy batter. The meat in the birria tacos was very tender and moist...no consomme however. Both other tacos were also tasty. They all come topped with the freshest shredded cabbage and onion and sections of lime. Note of warning: that salsa on the side was SPICY!!! My husband ordered a specialty cocktail called a poctli smoked. It had mescal, smoked corn simple syrup, and mole bitters. They smoked it table side. Super funky and really good. We will definitely come back for a full meal! I heartily recommend this casual restaurant!!

Margaret Sipola

Google
Best Mexican in the cities that I’ve tried so far. I tried a couple of the tacos- shrimp and carnitas. The shrimp taco had a bit more breading on the shrimp than I like, but overall flavors were really good. The tortillas seemed like they were fried. They were slightly crispy, yet still soft- so good! They salsas they serve with the chips are homemade and you get an array of like 8 different ones. The churros for dessert- so delish! The restaurant is small on the inside and max reservation is 12 people.

Karrisa A

Google
Our favorite Mexican restaurant closed so we were looking for a new place for National Margarita Day. We came at around 8pm and this place was packed that we had to wait about 20 minutes. We tried the guacamole with the salsa de arbol. They give you a fair amount of chips (not as much as they suburban Mexican restaurants). The guacamole was chunky and the salsa had a nice heat at the back end, though it's very acidic. I ordered the Arrachera Fajitas with rice beans guacamole salsa Mexicana quesofrito and tortillas. My friend ordered the Enchilada suizas. Both dishes were very tasty and a big serving. Many people ordered churros but we were stuffed at that point. Of course we ordered the Margarita-- quite disappointing that they don't have frozen margaritas-- which had quite a bit of alcohol. We also ordered the mezcalita which is preferred because it was sweeter. All in all a good experience.

Brian Osweiler

Google
Updated review: This was our first time back in a little while, but it was fantastic. The first time we were here it was early on and felt like they were just getting their legs under them. The service was a bit off originally but the food was good. Since that first visit, every time feels even better than the last. Great service, delicious food across the menu and some of the better cocktails in the area. Do not sleep on El Sazon, it’s worth getting in here as soon as possible!

Emily Chaney

Google
Really excited to have this spot in the neighborhood! Everything was tasty in a fun atmosphere with interesting cocktails. (As someone who doesn’t enjoy tequila it was a pleasant surprise to find several other cocktail options here, while pals loved the margaritas.) Portions were spot-on, salsas have heat, dishes are unique and tacos hit the mark, particularly the shrimp which was a group favorite. Looking forward to a return visit soon.

melissa yang

Google
I've been here three times now. The first time was phenomenal service, 5 star on everything! I absolutely 💯 love it. We also came here for Father's Day, and they went above and beyond for us. I am extremely grateful. The third time, it felt like we were forgotten about? It wasn't that busy, and maybe it was because we were sitting outside, so out of sight out of mind? The server must have had a day. She was clumsy: spilled water didn't even bother saying sorry, got the order mixed up, and we waited a long time for food. The drinks were off this day, too. I had previously ordered a paloma in the past. This time, it didn't taste like it did previously. We did call ahead, and they said they would have a table for us but ended up giving our table away. We were five minutes late, so we understood and said we'd take the patio outdoor seating when they asked. After waiting so long for our food, by the time they took it out, it was already cold. Having worked as a Hostess in the past, I knew this meant they may have probably left the food sitting out for a while. There's a lot more that can be said, but 1 of 3 experiences was bad. I'm definitely still coming back. I think that was just a bad day overall. I do want to refocus on some positive things: the owner is extremely respectful 🙏🏻! The food is delicious! Not gonna lie; It's on the pricier side for me, but worth every penny! Oh and if you're wondering about parking - it's street parking so plan accordingly- don't be 5 minutes late like us. hahaha
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Michael K.

Yelp
Came here tonight for restaurant week after making a last-minute reservation for 5 PM. This was my first time coming to this restaurant, but I had heard so many great things, I just had to try it when I found out they were doing MN RW! My partner got the queso (he said it was the best queso he's ever had, which says a lot, he really likes the stuff!). I had the guacamole which was fresh and tasted like they used high quality ingredients. I was getting full just off of the appetizer round but next we both had the Birria ramen (10000/10 recommend) this was the best Birria ramen I've had hands down, ever! So flavorful, the consommé tasted just like you would expect but throw in the ramen noodles and other ingredients, perfection! We then finished the dessert round with churros that came with Dulce de leche sauce and a Mexican hot chocolate. We both left soooo full, so satisfied, and truly thinking we found our next favorite Mexican restaurant. They even told us about this Thursday date night deal where you get one app, two entrees, and a dessert for $70. RW here was $40 per person and so so worth it. I will definitely be back to El Sazon!
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Carley R.

Yelp
This restaurant was recommended from a coworker and definitely didn't disappoint. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner. We waited maybe 5 minutes for a table. Once we were seated the staff was friendly and helpful. They have a very interesting menu and everything looked good. We started with the elote and chips and salsa. Both were really good and the server added an extra elote so we could each have one. All of the margaritas were really good. I got the enchiladas suizas and holy buckets I think they are the best enchiladas I have ever had. Everyone else at the table loved their food as well. It is a smaller restaurant but sure cute. We are lucky to have a hidden gem like this in south Minneapolis. I will definitely be back!
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Evelyn F.

Yelp
El Sazon was impressive again during February's Restaurant Week! For those that don't know, Restaurant Week happens a few times a year where restaurants around the Twin Cities offer 2 to 3 courses meals at an affordable price. At El Sazon, I enjoyed an appetizer of their shrimp ceviche, a main dish birria ramen, and ended with the churros, all for $35! My only complaint was the giant bone in the birria ramen was awkward to eat around, and it didn't offer much marrow so there wasn't much reason to include it. All 3 courses were beautifully plated and delicious (so delicious that I forgot to take pictures). I would recommend the birria ramen for any new-comer to the restaurant, followed by the churros for dessert (it came with a lovely cup of spiced hot chocolate). The service was great and efficient despite the Restaurant Week crowd.
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Rob C.

Yelp
A little overpriced, better than decent ambiance. Food was good, nothing spectacular. Love the presentation. Service was standard and accommodating. Would recommend
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Dan V.

Yelp
My son loved his chicken quesadilla! He got his dinner before the rest of us as we ordered from different food vendors at Eat Street Plaza. Service was good and the eatery area was busy yet clean. Enjoyed the setting.
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Joe D.

Yelp
Had Lunch for Cinco De Mayo here and the food was the highlight of the day. Cool vibe with the decor, and was waited on by an energetic staff including Chef Christian himself. I had the Carnitas Burrito and my buddy had the Birria Tacos. Fresh Ingredients, max flavor without all the sodium (I can't eat Chipotle because how much sodium they use) and you can tell they have a passion for the food and quite the following, with their rapid growth of locations. Washed the delicious meal down with a Mexican Coke (real cane sugar) and Jarritos. Eat Street Crossing location has inside and patio seating. Highly recommend the Salsa Verde with the chips. Best I've had. Hope you find this Helpful (click the button) and follow me for more reviews.
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Jestina G.

Yelp
The menu is packed with creative dishes, each one delivering bold, well-balanced flavors that keep you coming back for more.The Birria Ramen is a must-try-deep, rich broth with tender birria, perfectly cooked noodles, and just the right amount of spice. It's comfort food at its finest. The Birria Dumplings are another standout, crispy on the outside with that same flavorful, slow-cooked meat inside. If you're in the mood for something bright and refreshing, the Passion Fruit Ceviche is a perfect choice, offering a citrusy, tangy contrast to the heartier dishes. For mains, the Churrasco is cooked to perfection, juicy and packed with smoky, charred goodness. The Pollo Cordon Bleu puts a Latin spin on the classic, and the Chicken Lollipops bring a crispy, flavorful punch that's hard to resist.And don't even think about skipping dessert the Cafe Tres Leches is next-level. It's rich, moist, and has the perfect coffee kick to balance the sweetness. The Margaritas are just as impressive, perfectly crafted to complement the bold flavors of the menu. On top of that, the service is friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. If you're looking for a spot that delivers amazing food, creative drinks, and a warm, inviting Ambiance. This was one of my favorite restaurant week spot
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Gita B.

Yelp
Fun night at El Sazon for their Chino Latino Valentine's weekend pop-up! Brought back a lot of memories from chino Latinos innovative and creative dishes and presentation. It was my first time visiting their location in mpls. Loved the casual unpretentious but bustling vibes. Started with the pork belly Bao buns and then tried the lobster friend rice and Cuban pork. I wasn't expecting a full on lobster tail and to go container of delicious fried rice, it was quite the show stopper! Those that ordered the birria also were in for a visual treat. Drinks were also innovative. I had an n/a chapulincito with a full on paleta popsicle to enjoy as it slowly melted. What a creative way to ice a drink! The smoked poctli with mezcal was also a visual showcase with a festive smoker. I hope they keep bringing this one back!
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Kal S.

Yelp
Reviewing their 2024 Summer Restaurant Week offerings. Our first time here as well. It was. Tuesday around 7pm and the place was buzzing with music and lively conversations, good first impressions. While a tight dining space, there were at least decent numbers of tables for the crowd. Pleasantly surprised with how delicious the foods were. The menu was varied enough to please us picky eaters. Tried the queso chips, tuna tostados, pistachio salmon, flank steak, tres leche, and panna cotta. All were good except the tres leche, dry and rough to the palate.
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Stephanie E.

Yelp
To start, I was a bit worried about the parking situation but it wasn't too hard, however it is only street parking as the lot only has about two spaces. The patio seating was lovely, and we were seated and tended to consistently. As it is restaurant week we did choose to go with that menu and ended up trying almost everything as we all ordered different items. We started with the Chapulín Colorado, which was a bit strong but the paleta really helped! These were brought out quickly as well as the appetizers. The guacamole had a strong taste of pineapple which we loved, and the queso was good, however it was cold. Our third appetizer was the pinchos chicken, however it was cold as well even thought we dug in as soon as we got it. For our entrees, we had the birria ramen and the skirt steak. Although both were delicious, they were also cold. It was a nice day out and it wasn't windy, so I'm not sure why the food was cold starting with the first few bites. The entrees were definitely our favorite, especially the birria ramen, however they definitely would've been better if it were warmer as broth usually is. We ended with all three dessert options, and I have to say the Panna Cotta and the churros were my favorite! The churros came with a side of cajeta and hot chocolate, and the Panna Cotta was super creamy with the perfect balance of sweetness.
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Destiny O.

Yelp
I passed by this place many times and always wondered what the food was like. I recently saw a review that stood out and I had to give it a try! The restaurant is located in south Minneapolis, with a small parking lot and also plenty of street parking along the back and sides of It is a smaller restaurant, so be sure to come early or book your reservation in advance! It is a cute restaurant with a small bar located in the back. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered a spicy margarita with chamoy on the rim, it was fantastic! (Im a hard one to please when it comes to drinks, this place did not disappoint!!) We then ordered pollo al pastor tacos & carne asada tacos. We also ordered the avocado salsa with chips & a side of elote. The chips and salsa stood out as they have multiple to choose from. It was an amazing start! The tacos were good, no complaints. The elote, though, was incredible! A must try. Thanks to this team of awesome people who made our experience here a great one! We will be back soon
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Katie W.

Yelp
Cannot recommend El Sazon enough! We had the most wonderful evening. Friendly, welcoming, fantastic staff, cozy neighborhood vibe and absolutely delicious food. Highly recommend the quesabirria ramen and chicken tostadas. The fresh homemade churros were a fun treat to cap it all off. Can't wait to go back and have told all our friends and family to go as well.
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Hoa N.

Yelp
First time here since they've change restaurant name but not sure if it's the same owner. Came here for brunch on Saturday. They have a pretty good selection for brunch menu. My husband and I shared the eggs Benedict, shrimp cerviche, and poached pears. The potatoes that came with the eggs Benedict was amazing with crispiness on the outside and soft on the inside. Service was nice and prompt. The summer hibiscus drink was refreshing. Overall, the ambiance was intimate with a small dining area. Price is appropriate for the portions. The shrimp cerviche had a nice tart with savory flavor. The chips that came with the ceviche didn't pair well. I would have liked the regular tortilla chips to go with the ceviche. It was tasty by itself.
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Jason K.

Yelp
A buddy and I were out for a new restaurant Saturday and he felt like tacos. SOLD! Parking stinks, but we found a spot and we got a table in the smallish establishment. I ordered an asada and a birria tacos from our nice server. Good dude. I also ordered a draft Surly Furious. One of the best beers ever. Minneapolis has quietly become a serious craft beer town. The tacos came out pretty quick and they were super flavorful and the shells were perfect. I had the hotter salsa, while my friend had the green one. He said it was good, but the spicy salsa was really good! Just enough heat! I really liked this place, pretty reasonable price and a fun area of town. Give it a shot.
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FMarie W.

Yelp
We hadn't had any Hispanic style food in a while and wanted to take advantage of restaurant week. This is a cozy little place tucked in a quiet yet bustling little area and South Minneapolis. The atmosphere was intimate yet friendly and The location was a little smaller than I had pictured but that didn't take away from how inviting it was. They had lots of options between tacos and tapas and other classic dishes but I decided to go with the restaurant week menu It was a prefix menu at $40 You got an appetizer, a delicious entree and you got to choose between one of three delectable desserts. The drink menu was also beyond amazing. I had the Birria dumplings the Birria ramen and the churros for dessert. Everything was great including the welcoming, friendly and attentive wait staff and bartender. The only thing that was a little disappointing / questionable with the ramen was that it literally was a pack of 25 cent dollar store ramen noodles parboiled into this amazingly delicious savory sauce with the most perfectly cooked Birria(I totally understand that this isn't a restaurant that is going to be able to or even consider making their own noodles or having a more substantial type of noodle for this specialty dish and even though it's set it on the menu it still was a little off-putting) But that minor questionable thing wouldn't stop me from going back and it didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying my dinner. I would highly recommend this place It's great for a fun low key get together with girlfriends or friends or it would be the perfect place for an intimate date night.
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Tippy P.

Yelp
We went to try out this restaurant during restaurant week. It's was delicious! Small yet cute restaurant, they have a parking lot but we ended up parking on the street. The server also told us they offered a different menu for restaurant week beside the current offer. We were given 3 different options to choose from. I went with the restaurant week and my friend went with their 3 course meal of choice. Some of the items available were on both menus. I would definitely have to come back to try the other items they have on their menu.
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Joe N.

Yelp
Food is very, very good. Especially recommended, chicken enchilada with green sauce. Probably best chicken enchilada I've had anywhere in US. Lots of taco options too. We had the guac and chip appetizer, which was good. But $13 seems a little high. But the chicken enchilada...wonderful!
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Kolade B.

Yelp
Ramen, tacos, chips and Salsa. They all tasted fresh and well prepared. Churros were a great desert. See pictures attached. Even during peek hours when the place was busy, we still didn't have to wait for service. The drink options were impressive. I ordered the cocoa. It hit the spot.
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Mikhala F.

Yelp
We are so lucky to have Chef Cristian's expertise here in the Twin Cities! He is the chef behind El Sazon, the hidden gem in the BP in Eagan. Now, they've opened their own second location - with elevated cuisine - in South Minneapolis. And what a treat it is! Unlike their gas station takeout-focused first location, this is a sit down experience with an elevated menu and table service. Karen, the co-owner and Chef's wife, greets all folks at the door and manages the service side of things. Ambiance was buzzing with excitement and happy, chatting guests. Their menu has some similarities to their original location, with an emphasis on birria. They offer tacos, apps to share, and other higher-end mains. When we visited they didn't have their liquor license yet, so we opted for some mocktails and really enjoyed both the horchata and the warm one. We got the queso and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of mix-ins added to it - that elevated it! Their chips and salsas are delicious. We ordered the pork main dish, and were shocked by the stunning presentation. The pork was tender, fall off the bone. But the quesabirria was the star of the show! Stunning presentation with the meat still on the bone, three tortillas with cheese, salsa, salt and lime on the side, and consomme served in a mini ramekin - all presented on a long wooden board. It's a stunner! The price is quite a bit steeper than ordering quesabirria to go at their other location, but you pay for the presentation and elevated additions. Wishing Chef Cristian, Karen and their family all the success with this new venture - thank you for being a treasured Twin Cities icon!

Joan F.

Yelp
This was the 2nd time I have eaten here. Every item I have eaten so far has been next level outstanding! I cannot recommend this place enough!!

Rudy T.

Yelp
The food was very good. We started with chips and salsa. The salsa was very flavorful and rich. Very authentic! I ordered arrachera and the meat was so tender and flavorful. Christian de León gave us an order of churros and hot chocalate. Thank you Christian for this!! So kind! The service from the waiter was great. He was very attentive. The ambiance was very good and relaxing. Rudy Trujillo
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Adam M.

Yelp
Love the food here , great chef . Although I went in with my wife last weekend and sat at the bar our service was terrible , our bartender was drunk and wouldn't stop talking. As we continued our dinner he kept taking shots . At one point he came out with a white powder under his nose .Love the food!. Terrible service !
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Debra G.

Yelp
Everything we tried was delicious! Super cute place, quick service, some off street parking but plenty of street parking too. We'll definitely be back!
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Julie M.

Yelp
First, if you are lucky enough to sit at the small bar when the Bar Director Zoilo is working, do it! He is the best! He will guide you through his creative list of cocktails and you won't be disappointed. I enjoyed the mocha margarita and my husband enjoyed both the hibiscus margarita and the smokey Chapulin Colorado (complete with a popsicle in the drink!). They also have a great mocktail menu. Then there is the food! The latin-fusion menu has something for everyone and is designed to delight! We started with the queso and chips--not your average quest! It has a bit of chorizo to give it a slight kick, and wild mushroom give it a new flavor that will bring me back! We also had the grilled corn (Elote). It is three small corn on the cob on a stick, loaded with flavor. We opted for the shrimp and chicken tacos (one of each). When I saw the steak burrito at the table behind us, I knew what I was trying next time, but it is gigantic so definitely a share. The tacos were filling and delicious, but all of the entire items we saw looked large enough to share or give you that extra meal at home! Staff was fantastic, food was amazing, and we can't wait until our next visit!
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Jennifer K.

Yelp
Great place to stop with the kiddos Kids Food - Quesada is standard with a wonderful guac, and my son loved the hamburger! Adult: Camaron - nice flavor but it was over fried Chicken Al Pastor - awesome!! Elote - Wonderful!
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Chris M.

Yelp
I have yet to make it to the gas station where El Sazon got started, but I am digging everything they are doing at their new(ish) digs in South Minneapolis. I am a sucker for anything birria related, and both the birria ramen and tacos here are worth the trip. Both are available during lunch and dinner, though both become much more opulent in the evening hours. Bone marrow is added to the ramen (it always comes with two birria taquitos) and the birria tacos become a DIY platter served alongside a beef short rib. Their chilaquiles are also some of the better ones I've had in town. Portion sizes are very generous. They make some good cocktails and also have a small list of beer and THC drinks available. The space isn't that big, but it's comfortable and service has always been friendly. El Sazon has worked it's way in to the regular rotation quickly.
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Leah T.

Yelp
I've died and gone to good heaven. Seriously one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. The guacamole was out of this world good. My birria ramen flavor was incredible. The churros were delicious. Just AMAZING!!! My only gripe would be the table fit 2 was too small to accommodate all our dishes. Service was superb and it was a night I'll never forget.
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David C.

Yelp
Too gussied up for this curmudgeon My son and I got together for lunch (open for Lunch only on Fridays) and each had our Mexican grocery/deli favorite - the Torta. Now Torta's are traditionally (or often) made with all sorts of weird stuff. Hot dog, boiled ham, fried pork cutlet, jalapenos, avocado (ok, some not so weird stuff also) Not al El Sazon. This is actual chef made Mexican. Toasted roll (good, but what?) homemade pickled jalapenos (ok, not that uncommon, but certainly not taco truck stuff). Single, well made meat (not a crazed mishmash including various processed meats) Real Horchata (not powdered mix). A bartender who makes real drinks. I mean, for those of us raised on food carts and back store taquerias drinking mexican coke or Tecate, it is a little disconcerting. Very nice inside, with cloth napkins and well set tables, with good, knowledgeable staff. It's very good. But I kind of like Formica tables and mystery meat tortas. All though their Horchata is to die for.
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Audrey H.

Yelp
The Lyndale location is the full service version of the gas station kitchen favorite. The menu features Mexican fare with a twist, like the birria ramen con taquitos. On a Saturday night, the place was full and lively but not too loud, even by the kitchen. Queso was good too!
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Maia J.

Yelp
Went for lunch with a friend and WOW WOW WOW! I think I've found one of my new favorite spots. I appreciated that they had their own parking lot, otherwise there is free street parking. We started with the ceviche (mind blowing delicious) and the chips with salsa. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT! The ceviche was fresh, light, and full of flavor. The salsas brought a good amount of heat, but weren't overwhelming. Now onto the tacos. OH MY GOODNESS! Everything from the tortillas to the marinated meat to the thinly sliced onions. The food is fantastic! We ended with the bread pudding and it was on the lighter side of sweet, which I prefer. The space is super cute and cozy, if you are planning to go for dinner I would make reservations as they get busy. Our service was excellent. Attentive, polite, friendly. This is in my rotation. Very delicious experience!
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Joan L.

Yelp
Great restaurant to try for Restaurant Week! We went in expecting to order 2, 3-course meals and added a third to try their monthly special featuring recipes from the bartender's mother. Overall -- the meats are delicious, fall-off-the-bone and cooked well! The fried dishes were also perfectly cooked and seasoned (birria and cheese taquitos, chicken). The sauces are impeccable and really enhance all of the dishes they came with! One note about seasoning -- the night we went, the Chileajo (see photo) was very salty. When eaten with the rice, beans, and/or the tortilla was okay. Eaten by itself, it was very salty. The desserts are also notable -- churros are delicious and came with caramel and hot chocolate. The capirotada (see photo) was really new and interesting for me! It was sweet, creamy, crunchy all at the same time! Flavors of banana, pecans, coconut, and a little like peanuts. I would order this again! It was like a next-level bread pudding!
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Jacques H.

Yelp
I love love love this restaurant! The best Mexican food I've had in Minnesota, and such a hidden gem. The flavors are incredible, the portions are significant, the drinks are delicious, and the service is excellent. The enchiladas suizas and birria are delicious, as are the guacamole and salsas. Craft cocktails are also delicious. So wonderful to have a lovely gourmet Mexican restaurant in a cozy, welcoming environment. Can't wait to go back.
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Alishia S.

Yelp
Easily one of the five best meals I've had in my life! This entire meal was stunning. The bone marrow melted like butter into the meatiest broth. The carnitas were cooked perfectly, the salsas were glorious, and the margaritas.....I can't even. Not to mention, exceptional service. You cannot come to Minneapolis without this experience.
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Mark H.

Yelp
Finally...excellent Mexican food - with fantastic cocktails! Love the gifted creativity and passion put into the food. Service seems a bit understaffed, but worth deal
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Angela A.

Yelp
Authentic...with a beautiful twist of culinary brilliance. The vegetarian enchiladas are so delicious and filling! Order the chips and salsa... order the entire flight of salsas you will not be disappointed. They happily made the queso vegetarian for us Best queso we've ever had... it had wild mushrooms in it ‍ . Grateful we have this little gem of a restaurant here in our neighborhood!! Tons of parking on the side of the restaurant, in the back of the restaurant, and street parking of course!
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Richard R.

Yelp
So went there last Saturday night we were running late and I was getting hangry.We arrived and was seated immediately and had a drink with in five minutes.We ordered the cevichie and was outstanding.I then ordered the El Saxon Burrito and it was so big and full of the moist meat you will ever eat and flavors Wow I can hardly wait to go back.If your within 200 miles of this place you have to go period
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Brendan T.

Yelp
Believe the hype! Outstanding tacos, beans and rice, guacamole and hot sauces along with inventive refreshing cocktails! Very friendly service as well. It's tiny but mighty.
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Peggy T.

Yelp
What a fantastic evening we enjoyed. Fun intimate space. Family owned and operated and Wow the food. Amazing. We really enjoyed our server, unique guacamole and so delicious. Be sure to try the Birria dinner entree, tender meat unique cheese tortillas and the consommé. 10 out of 10. Next time we are in we will try dessert as well.

Jean Y.

Yelp
We went for a weekend lunch, around one, and it was pretty busy. The music was very loud, so it made the whole place very noisy and it was hard to have a conversation. The servers were attentive, but I think since they recently opened, they were still figuring out logistics in clearing tables and taking orders. One of the tables weren't cleared out until after we left 30mins later. Birria ramen - too watery. Was pretty bland, not enough spice or salt. I've had better at la bodega. Birria tacos - would go back for these and the Chicharron tacos
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Emily A.

Yelp
Visited 2/2/24. El Sazón brought the flavor, freshness, and some cool innovation to its dishes. Get a reservation in advance because it's a smaller space, but don't let that keep you from going. There is some street parking otherwise I would recommend parking in the neighborhood on the closely located side street-plenty of spots. Service was quick and efficient throughout with the waitstaff providing good suggestions. The margarita was delicious and refreshing and I loved the taste of my friend's season hibiscus margarita as well. My biggest advice: get the guac!! Beautiful with a really refreshing spin on it. My friend got the vegetarian burrito and loved it (she had plenty for leftovers afterwards also), and I got three different tacos: chicken, beef, and shrimp. Each one of these was well crafted and thought out when it came to what was included in them which I appreciated. Out of the three my favorite was the shrimp, but I would easily order any of them again. The shrimp was in a tempura batter with some purple cabbage inside, which is one of my fave combos. This place is definitely worth a visit and I look forward to visiting the gas station location in Eagan as well.
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Paj Nyiag H.

Yelp
My husband and I went here last night for Date Night and OH EM GEE was everything absolutely amazing!!! Started out with apps - The civiche was absolutely delicious! Make sure you get everything in one bite. The flavors and textures all worked so well together. Then there were the chips and salsa - Amazing! Each dip was unique. Wow! I couldn't pick a favorite. Cocktails - I had the matcha margarita. Wow! It was so light & so good with the rim lined with Tajin. I had two! My husband had the smoked Old Fashion and a regular one. He enjoyed both noting the two were very different from each other. And there were the main dish - We shared the barria. SO delicious!!! Oh so tender and juicy meat with all the flavors!! Make a taco and dip it into the broth - WOW! I've never experienced anything like it. It's a must! In addition to that, I had a shrimp taco. Delicious!! I wish I had room for another one. We ended our meal with the bread pudding and vanilla ice cream. The ice cream was the creamiest and smoothest I've ever had. Toasting the bread was a nice touch as it added a little crispy crunch to each bite. And the service -- Loved our server. She was very attentive, offered her opinion and advice, and was all around very friendly and quick with her service. We really enjoyed her! Chef Christain and his wife stopped by to say Hello too! They are amazing people! Love seeing great people run such a great restaurant! We can't wait to come back to try more!!! Thanks for a wonderful evening!
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Cole D.

Yelp
The new Taco King of the twin cities! Everything about this place was fire, right down to the chips and salsa! The Asada taco may have been the best thing I have eaten in 2023. Can't wait to get back here and try the rest of the menu.
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Robert P.

Yelp
Brought our neighbors and their kids here and it was amazing. Everything from the guacamole appetizer to the amazing birria and elote. The soft tacos were to die for. Even the mocktails were so delicious. I highly recommend El Sazón!
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Isaac A.

Yelp
So glad they have a location in Minneapolis now since their Eagan location is a little farther away for me. Great food friendly service and this location has a full bar. I did not get it but I saw a guy order the massive burrito. I will have to try that next time.

Amy Shin S.

Yelp
it's my new favorite Mexican restaurant. their taco was so good. I will be back to try more foods

Maureen M.

Yelp
Food was delicious. Some of the best guacamole I've ever had. Food presentation was beautiful. Service was great.

Maria C.

Yelp
Food is not traditional Hispanic but is very unique and delicious. Every drink and dish seemed to have a lot of thought put into it with homeade popsicles and toppings. Highly recommend the shrimp tamarindo tacos and tinga tostadas. The ONLY thing I was not a fan of was the mole enchiladas, it might be because I'm used to the Mexican sweeter mole though. Would not personally recommend that dish.

Kim D.

Yelp
Neighborhood gem. Highly recommended. Everything is delicious & service is outstanding!

Rainie S.

Yelp
The food here is delicious. I keep wanting to go back to try more from the menu. But it'll be hard not to get the queso and the shrimp tacos. The drinks are really good as well. El Sazon Cocina y Tragos easily makes my list of restaurants I want to regularly visit. It's also convenient to park in the lot nearby, so not only is it great food but it's a low stress experience for my parking challenged self.