Al pastor in St. Paul lives on street corners and counter menus as much as any tasting room, from Cesar Chavez Street storefronts to a taco stand doing steady business near a neighborhood market. This list tracks the spit-roasted pork and the kitchens that treat it seriously, wherever in the city they sit.
№ 01
Homi Restaurant
St. Paul $
864 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16512220655
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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.
What to orderchile relleno, carnitas, enchiladas
№ 02
Taco'n Madre Taqueria Y Cevicheria
St. Paul
63 Winifred St W, Saint Paul, MN 55107 · +16513404614
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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.
What to orderflautas, menudo, ceviche
№ 03
La Costa Mexican Sports Bar & Grill
St. Paul $$
194 Cesar Chavez St, St Paul, MN 55107 · +16513308743
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The patio at La Costa is really a stretch of outdoor seating that regulars claim all summer, and the barbacoa tostadas come stacked heavy enough to justify the trip. Chicken tostadas and a fresh guacamole round out the menu, with service that stays attentive even in the hour before close.
What to orderbarbacoa tostadas, guacamole, chicken tostadas
№ 04
Boca Chica Taco House
St. Paul $
407 S Wabasha St, Saint Paul, MN 55107 · +16512228226
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Boca Chica Taco House holds down a budget-friendly corner of St. Paul's Mexican food scene, the kind of counter room built for a fast plate rather than a long sit. It earns a place on this list on the strength of its price point and its standing as a neighborhood fixture.
№ 05
La Cucaracha Mexican Restaurante
St. Paul $$
36 S Dale St, Saint Paul, MN 55101 · +16512219682
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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.
What to orderenchiladas, chile relleno, carne asada
№ 06
Carnitas don Tacho
St. Paul
1193 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130 · +16517769561
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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.
What to ordercarnitas tacos, carnitas, chiles rellenos
№ 07
Los Ocampo Restaurant & Bar
St. Paul $$
615 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16513405311
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Los Ocampo in St. Paul runs a family-friendly room built for groups, with beef fajitas and beef nachos as the draw and a second location on Lake Street across the river. Execution varies by visit: some nachos land cold, but the fajitas and chile relleno keep families coming back.
What to orderbeef fajitas, beef nachos, chile relleno
№ 08
Red Luna Seasons
St. Paul
114 Mahtomedi Ave, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 · +16513507819
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Red Luna Seasons is a small St. Paul room with a Latin feel to both the decor and the plates, and the burritos come out large enough that two people often split one order. The cheese quesadilla and chile relleno round out a menu built around generous, unfussy portions.
What to orderburrito, cheese quesadilla, chile relleno
№ 09
Tromperia El zac
St. Paul
1322 Rice St, Saint Paul, MN 55117 · +16517974575
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Tacos al pastor are the reason to seek out this counter spot, connected to a market a few doors down and easy to miss unless someone points the way. Carnitas and carne asada tacos fill out the rest of the menu, and Taco Tuesday keeps the counter busy with regulars who bring their families along.
What to ordertacos al pastor, carnitas tacos, carne asada tacos
№ 10
EL CHARRITO TAQUERÍA
St. Paul
168 Cesar Chavez St, Saint Paul, MN 55107 · +16513131052
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Set across the street from a larger market in St. Paul, El Charrito Taquería draws loyalty for its steak tacos even from customers who could easily eat at the bigger place instead. Carnitas and carne asada tacos round out a menu built for speed, with service that moves fast even during a rush.
What to ordersteak tacos, carnitas tacos, carne asada tacos
№ 11
Boca Chica | Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina
St. Paul $$
11 Cesar Chavez St, Saint Paul, MN 55107 · +16512228499
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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.
What to orderchile relleno, enchiladas, tacos
№ 12
Zona Cocina
St. Paul $$
4300 Glumack Dr, Ste F2330, St Paul, MN 55111 · +16124308754
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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.
What to ordercarne asada, chile relleno, quesadilla
Frequently asked
What is the best al pastor near me in St. Paul right now?
Tromperia El zac gets the most consistent praise for its tacos al pastor specifically, while Carnitas don Tacho and El Charrito Taquería are strong choices if you want a full spit-roasted pork lineup nearby. Check the Insider Score on each listing, since these reflect real customer feedback and no restaurant pays to be included in this guide.
Which St. Paul taco spots are best for counter service and a quick meal?
Taco'n Madre Taqueria Y Cevicheria, Tromperia El zac, and El Charrito Taquería all run counter service built for speed rather than a long sit. Each has an Insider Score based on real customer feedback, and none of the restaurants in this guide paid for placement.
Are any of these St. Paul Mexican restaurants good for families or groups?
Los Ocampo Restaurant & Bar and Boca Chica Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina both run rooms suited to family gatherings and larger parties, and Red Luna Seasons and Homi Restaurant also work for a relaxed family lunch. The Insider Score for each reflects unpaid, real customer feedback.
Is there a good Mexican option at the airport or near MSP for a quick bite?
Zona Cocina in Concourse F at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is the practical choice for a layover, with a Tex-Mex menu built for travelers rather than a destination trip. Its Insider Score, like every listing here, comes from real customer feedback with no paid placement.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
