Birria has become a Minneapolis staple far beyond its Jalisco roots, and the city's version runs through taquerias, family-run dining rooms, and a few chef-driven counters that treat the consommé as seriously as the meat. This list weighs the actual birria and taco work on record, not the margarita menu around it.
5400 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55419 · +16128861606
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Colita works coastal Mexican rather than a birria-first menu, but its tortilleria instincts and seafood-forward plates make it worth noting for anyone tracing Minneapolis's wider Mexican chef tier. Expect a room built around masa done right and a kitchen that treats regional technique as the whole point, not a garnish.
What to ordertacos, octopus, burgers
№ 02
Pineda Tacos
$
60 Nathan Ln N, Plymouth, MN 55441 · +17635451977
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A counter-service taqueria built for volume, Pineda Tacos keeps the format tight: order at the counter, tacos arrive fast, and the price stays low. It is the kind of stop that earns loyalty one taco at a time rather than through a tasting menu, and it holds up as a grab-and-go standard.
№ 03
Órale Mexican Eats
$$
5447 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419 · +16123543350
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Órale Mexican Eats has built a following of regulars who return specifically for its chile relleno, enchiladas, and carne asada, the kind of consistency that outlasts trends. Diners who have eaten across Mexico and the Southwest still rank the kitchen's version against the real thing, and it holds up.
What to orderchile relleno, enchiladas, carne asada
№ 04
Taquería y Birriería las Cuatro Milpas | Mexican
$$
1526 East Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · +16128348814
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The name says it plainly: birria is the point here, alongside a carne asada taco and quesadilla that draw families back for old time's sake. The kitchen's birria has staying power across generations of regulars, though the carne asada taco has drawn complaints of dryness on off days, worth knowing before ordering.
What to ordercarne asada taco, birria, quesadilla
№ 05
Barrio
$$
925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · +16123339953
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Barrio runs as a downtown happy-hour room first, with ceviche, margaritas, and a chile relleno anchoring a patio that fills on weeknights. It has held its lease long enough that former regulars return years later to check if the room still delivers, and by most accounts it does.
What to orderceviche, margarita, chile relleno
№ 06
Nico's Taco and Tequila Bar
$$
2516 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405 · +16123457688
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Set inside a renovated house with a patio built for date nights, Nico's Taco and Tequila Bar leans on tacos, churros, and strong margaritas rather than volume. Portions run small for the price, and the room's charm carries some of the bill, but the churros and drinks land consistently.
What to ordertacos, churros, margaritas
1222 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN, 55413 · +16122008087
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Oro by Nixta runs a tortilleria line in Northeast Minneapolis, and that focus on masa made in-house sets it apart from a standard taco counter. Anyone tracking where Minneapolis's Mexican chef tier is headed should note the technique here rather than expect a birria-first menu.
What to ordertres leches, tasting menu
№ 08
Jefe Urban Cocina
$$
219 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16122552000
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Jefe Urban Cocina pairs a large patio with a menu built for groups, including vegan chorizo tacos that turn up on the happy hour list and a carnitas plate built for sharing. The room reads more pub than taqueria, with music and atmosphere doing real work alongside the kitchen.
What to ordervegan chorizo tacos, carnitas, chile relleno
№ 09
Listo! Fresh Mexican Grill
$
1730 New Brighton Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · +16122163909
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Listo! Fresh Mexican Grill keeps its menu tight and its service fast, a counter built for burritos, tacos, and quesadillas rather than a sit-down meal. Multiple metro locations mean consistency depends on which counter a diner hits, but the fundamentals of fresh, well-prepared food hold across the format.
What to orderburritos, tacos, quesadillas
№ 10
Dominguez Family Restaurant | Mexican
$$
3313 E 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · +16127248493
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A locally owned family room where the chicken chimichanga and the house enchiladas draw repeat orders, Dominguez Family Restaurant leans on rice and beans done right as much as the entrees. Reception varies visit to visit, but the regulars who order the same dish every time keep coming back for a reason.
What to orderchicken chimichanga, enchiladas, beans and rice
№ 11
Abi's Restaurant
$
2828 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · +16127210013
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Abi's Restaurant works breakfast-for-dinner territory with a tamale and eggs plate that draws real enthusiasm, alongside pupusas served warm with cheese and greens folded inside. The strip-mall room asks diners to request salsa rather than offering it automatically, a small operating quirk worth knowing before ordering.
What to orderpupusa, tamale with eggs, quesadilla
Frequently asked
What is the best birria taco in Minneapolis right now?
Based on the Insider Score data behind this guide, Taquería y Birriería las Cuatro Milpas stands out for making birria the actual center of the menu rather than a side item, though its carne asada taco has drawn mixed notes. No restaurant pays to be listed here or to rank higher; placement follows the score alone.
Where can I find birria tacos near me in Minneapolis?
This guide covers rooms across Minneapolis proper, so check each entry's neighborhood before heading out since the city is large and traffic between corridors adds real time. Midtown Global Market on East Lake Street and Pineda Tacos are both built for a fast counter visit if speed matters more than a sit-down room.
Are any of these birria spots also good for a sit-down meal with a group?
Barrio and Jefe Urban Cocina both run patios built for groups and after-work crowds, with fuller drink menus than a taco counter offers. Nico's Taco and Tequila Bar also works for a smaller date-night table. None of these three lead with birria specifically, so set expectations accordingly.
How is the Insider Score for this guide determined?
The Insider Score reflects an analysis of the public review record for each restaurant, weighing consistency and standout dishes as diners actually describe them. It is not paid placement; no restaurant on this list or any other Top of Minneapolis guide pays for inclusion or for a higher rank.
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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.
