St. Paul's taco map runs well past District del Sol, from Victoria Street storefronts to a counter tucked inside MSP's Concourse F. This list stays inside St. Paul city limits, no Minneapolis rooms sneaking in, and it favors kitchens that hold to a short, sharp menu over ones chasing every combo plate.
№ 01
Homi Restaurant
St. Paul $
864 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16512220655
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Homi's chile relleno draws people off Victoria Street on the strength of word of mouth alone, close enough to Como Zoo that a lunch run fits between exhibits. The carnitas and enchiladas round out a short, confident menu. Street parking runs alongside the building. This is a neighborhood lunch room first, and it treats that job seriously.
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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The flautas are the reason regulars keep coming back to this counter-service room, though the menu runs deep enough to cover menudo and ceviche too. Tripe shows up on more than one order, a sign the kitchen doesn't play it safe. It holds up on delivery as well as it does in person, which is its own kind of proof.
What to orderflautas, menudo, ceviche
№ 03
La Costa Mexican Sports Bar & Grill
St. Paul $$
194 Cesar Chavez St, St Paul, MN 55107 · +16513308743
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Barbacoa tostadas packed heavy with meat anchor the menu at this St. Paul sports bar, alongside a guacamole made fresh enough to notice. The patio, more a sidewalk perch than a proper terrace, fills up in summer. Chicken tostadas and attentive table service round out a room built for a long, easy meal.
What to orderbarbacoa tostadas, guacamole, chicken tostadas
№ 04
Boca Chica Taco House
St. Paul $
407 S Wabasha St, Saint Paul, MN 55107 · +16512228226
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Boca Chica Taco House keeps its footprint small and its focus narrow, a St. Paul taco counter built for speed over spectacle. The price tier stays at the low end, the kind of room where a quick order doesn't mean a lesser one. It fits the corridor's working lunch crowd without needing to announce itself.
№ 05
La Cucaracha Mexican Restaurante
St. Paul $$
36 S Dale St, Saint Paul, MN 55101 · +16512219682
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Enchiladas and chile relleno carry the menu at this St. Paul room, split between a bar area and two smaller dining rooms that fill up as evening service slows down elsewhere. The kitchen leans homemade in feel rather than flash. Service can be uneven on a slow night, worth knowing before a booth request.
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 states the specialty and the kitchen delivers on it: carnitas piled thick enough to test the tortilla, alongside chiles rellenos for those who want something else. Service holds up even minutes before closing. Street parking is the only real friction, though a rear lot reportedly helps on busy nights.
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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Beef fajitas and a family-friendly dining room make this St. Paul location a reliable stop for groups, chile relleno rounding out the order. It's part of a small local chain with a Lake Street counterpart, and the kitchen's consistency varies by report, some visits landing the nachos hot and others less so. Worth checking either location's current form.
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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Burritos built oversized enough to split two ways headline this small St. Paul room, alongside a cheese quesadilla and chile relleno that round out a straightforward menu. Service has improved by report, and the room carries a Latin feel in its decor. A quiet 1:45 lunch still gets a smile at the door.
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 draw first-timers back for seconds at this counter-service spot, carnitas and carne asada rounding out a menu built for Taco Tuesday regulars. The kitchen runs a little greasy by design, the kind of char that comes from a busy griddle. It sits near a market a few doors down, parking included.
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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Steak tacos and carnitas keep regulars loyal to this St. Paul taqueria even with a market selling food directly across the street. Service moves fast, and the carne asada tacos hold their own against anything nearby. Billing disputes have surfaced in isolated accounts, worth a call ahead if paying by card.
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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Chile relleno tops the order sheet at this long-running St. Paul room, where a weekday lunch buffet and a menu leaning Tex-Mex draw a steady local crowd. Enchiladas and tacos fill out the rest. It's built for group gatherings, baby showers and family dinners alike, more workhorse than showpiece, and reliable for it.
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 serves carne asada and chile relleno inside MSP's Concourse F, a Tex-Mex counter built for travelers with a gate to catch rather than a meal to savor. The quesadilla is a fair option among the concourse's fast-food alternatives. Airport pricing and airport pacing apply, so expectations should be set accordingly.
What to ordercarne asada, chile relleno, quesadilla
Frequently asked
What are the best tacos in St. Paul right now?
Carnitas don Tacho, Tromperia El zac, and El Charrito Taquería stand out for kitchens built around a tight taco menu rather than a sprawling one. Each entry here reflects its current Insider Score, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
Where can I find good tacos near me in St. Paul?
This guide spans Victoria Street, District del Sol, and the MSP airport concourse, so the closest option depends on which part of St. Paul is nearest. Every listing names its actual St. Paul address and neighborhood context rather than a general area.
Are these taco spots casual or sit-down?
Most lean casual: counter service at Tromperia El zac and Taco'n Madre, sit-down with table service at Los Ocampo and Boca Chica Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina. Vibe tags on each listing note which style to expect before ordering.
How is the Insider Score determined for these restaurants?
The Insider Score reflects the review record for each restaurant, weighing consistency and volume of feedback rather than a single visit. No restaurant pays for placement or a higher score on this list.
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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.
