Best Al Pastor in St. Paul (2026)

Homi sits on a busy stretch of Victoria Street within walking distance of Como Zoo, making it a natural stop for families spending the day at the park. The chile relleno and carnitas draw repeat visits, and the enchiladas round out a lunch menu built for people who want a full plate without ceremony.

Counter service keeps this St. Paul spot moving fast, and the flautas are the order regulars keep coming back for. Tripe shows up on the menu for those who want it, alongside menudo and ceviche, and the food holds up even through a DoorDash bag, which says something about the kitchen's consistency.

The patio at La Costa is really a stretch of outdoor seating that regulars claim all summer, and the barbacoa tostadas come stacked heavy enough to justify the trip. Chicken tostadas and a fresh guacamole round out the menu, with service that stays attentive even in the hour before close.

Boca Chica Taco House holds down a budget-friendly corner of St. Paul's Mexican food scene, the kind of counter room built for a fast plate rather than a long sit. It earns a place on this list on the strength of its price point and its standing as a neighborhood fixture.

La Cucaracha runs a bar area and two smaller dining rooms that fill in past eight on a weeknight, a St. Paul room built for a slow dinner rather than a quick stop. The enchiladas and chile relleno anchor a menu that leans into a homemade feel, though service can be inconsistent when the room sits empty.

The name says it plainly: carnitas is the reason to come, and the tacos here get stacked with enough meat that four is a full meal. Chiles rellenos round out the menu at this St. Paul spot, and the staff has a reputation for letting people in minutes before closing without complaint.

Los Ocampo in St. Paul runs a family-friendly room built for groups, with beef fajitas and beef nachos as the draw and a second location on Lake Street across the river. Execution varies by visit: some nachos land cold, but the fajitas and chile relleno keep families coming back.

Red Luna Seasons is a small St. Paul room with a Latin feel to both the decor and the plates, and the burritos come out large enough that two people often split one order. The cheese quesadilla and chile relleno round out a menu built around generous, unfussy portions.

Tacos al pastor are the reason to seek out this counter spot, connected to a market a few doors down and easy to miss unless someone points the way. Carnitas and carne asada tacos fill out the rest of the menu, and Taco Tuesday keeps the counter busy with regulars who bring their families along.

Set across the street from a larger market in St. Paul, El Charrito Taquería draws loyalty for its steak tacos even from customers who could easily eat at the bigger place instead. Carnitas and carne asada tacos round out a menu built for speed, with service that moves fast even during a rush.

This St. Paul room has stayed reliable long enough to host baby showers and weekday lunch crowds alike, running a lunch buffet that keeps the chile relleno and enchiladas in steady rotation. It is not a trendy room, just a dependable one built for family gatherings and repeat visits.

Zona Cocina holds down Concourse F at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a Tex-Mex counter built for travelers who want something better than fast food between flights. The carne asada and chile relleno are the safer orders here, useful for a layover rather than a destination in their own right.