I wanted to like this place because of the family run vibes, as other comments say. But after experiencing El Norteño I'm shocked by the positive reviews. This was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in Minneapolis. 1. Incredibly slow service. Got our food about 1 hour 40 mins after sitting down. 2. Poor food quality. Bland and microwaved (refried beans had crust on the outside of the plate). Chicken pieces in the mole were incredibly dry, tasteless, previously frozen 3. High cost, small portions. The small portions ended up being a blessing in disguise due to digestive issues afterwards. 4. The salsa you pay extra for is mass-produced jarred grocery store salsa. My best guess was Tostitos mild. 5. They don't have hot sauces 6. Forgetful staff forgot to deliver foods and utensils multiple times even after we'd been sitting there for over an hour 7. Dusty interior, I could see a dust bunny hanging from the vent in the ceiling 8. Weird decor overall... carpet on the walls? Maybe I would've been fine with this if the experience was good but instead it contributed to the bad vibes not sure if this place has fallen on hard times but I cannot imagine why they have the sisters doing everything (hosting, serving, cooking/microwaving). We didn't see a chef in back so I have to assume they are prepping food while they serve. This leads to a poor service experience and the food quality follows. There are many other great, family establishments on Lake Street. Save yourself the time, money, and by going to one of them instead. read more

got a takeout order of mole chicken enchiladas. wonderful! i also got an order of flan. best of my life! SOOOO GOOD! read more

El Norteño - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

El Norteno was definitely an unexpected surprise on E Lake Street! This Mexican restaurant is very unassuming, it looks pretty unimpressive from the outside. Even the inside eating area is just so/so. However, the outdoor patio is AMAZING; in the summer, it's really pleasant to enjoy a meal among all the leafy plants. The food itself is also really good; it's a somewhat old school, rice and beans type Mexican restaurant, but it really hits the spot. The grilled shrimp salad was really yummy, as was the homemade salsa. My kids also loved their food, which does not always happen. All in all, I would recommend this hidden gem on Lake Street! read more

Wonderful family business. Highly recommend. The sisters who run this restaurant are very attentive and the dishes are top notch quality. Lots of fabric on the walls mutes sound, making this a relaxing experience. read more

Stopped at El Norteño's for the first time and dined on their cute patio, surrounded by lively plants! I tried the wine margarita and the mole enchiladas! They didn't have a liquor license, so the margarita used wine. I really enjoyed the authenticity of the mole sauce and would definitely order that again, but would possibly opt for another beverage option if I were to go back. The staff were friendly, but busy with the amount of guests there. read more

Love this Longfellow gem! Three sisters do it all, cook and wait in the customers. Food is very texmex, and is done with a nod to the heritage of the owners. Very kitschy decor! Go back if you have been and check it out if you have not been! read more

Enjoyed sitting out in the patio amidst all of the plants. It was a beautiful night to dine outdoors. No seating indoors. The staff is very pleasant and work so hard! They need more help! We had to wait for almost 2 hours to get our food. Chips and salsa kept us from eating our hands. Salsa fresh and delicious, but the chips were somewhat stale. I had Norteno beef enchiladas (red sauce) with rice and beans. It was delicious. Other diners with me engulfed their chicken burrito and their tacos. The margarita was so-so, but the fresh lemonade was amazing!!! read more

My husband and his friends came for dinner one night and enjoyed the patio. My husband loved this place so we recently came for dinner. We easily found street parking nearby. The place isn't very big as far as indoor dining goes but it wasn't very busy so we were seated right away. I believe the patio can get quite busy when it's nice out. So the food itself is pretty good. I got shrimp tacos and enjoyed them. My husband got the norteno enchiladas with beef. The beef is shredded instead of ground and this may be our new favorite way. Last time, my husband asked for hot sauce and they brought him something home made and he said it was so good! This time around, he asked again and they brought something homemade. He said it was different but he liked both. We devoured our little side of hot sauce and then went in for the salsa. I'm not really a big fan of salsa but this was so good! We were disappointed that we ran out of food so we didn't use all the salsa! When we were there, there were 6 people dining in. And at the end, all 6 plates were completely empty. I have never seen that before. They have figured out portion sizes to get you full but not create a lot of waste. What really gives this place 5 stars is the family that owns it. We didn't get to meet the actual owners but our server said she was one of the sisters. She was literally the nicest most adorable person. She was so happy to speak to everyone and gave everyone a little extra attention when she came by. Is service slow? Yes, especially with just one server. However, it didn't even matter because she just made me smile every time she walked into the room. People who can lift your spirits just by walking into a room deserve more praise and recognition. Please note that when we went, they actually don't rush you out to pay by bringing the check to you. There's a little check out window by the door and you can pay then. We didn't know that until we saw the other diners! read more

Fantastic authentic Mexican food. The chips and salsa are amazing. You have to be patient waiting for your food but it's worth it. read more

El Norteño - Enchiladas suizas - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

4.9 tbh, lighting was strange and bathroom door is in the middle of the dining room but the food was absolutely delicious and the staff was super sweet and friendly we will definitely return. I can't wait to see what their famous patio is like in the summer read more

El Norteño - I had steak salad, they had chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

If I had not been accompanied by someone familiar w/ the restaurant, I might have entered & turned around & left. That would have been a big mistake. The interior is nothing to write home about BUT their patio is a hidden treasure! Literally, it is a monarch butterfly garden & so secluded & peaceful. The guacamole could have used some more salt but was fresh. My BIL had the shrimp tacos which he loves b/c the shrimp are not breaded so you can actually taste them! My sister & I shared the mole & carnitas; The mole was definitely the star!!! While the carnitas were yummy, good mole is hard to find & not always so flavorful. Here they really do mole right!!!! I will return to try their tamales another day as they are also hard to do find & are another test of a true Mexican restaurant so I'm sure they will be delicious... read more

This restaurant is a gem. We've been patronizing El Norteno for many years. The food and service are consistently excellent. The enchiladas suizas and quinoa salad are our particular favorites. Their flan is to die for. The outdoor patio is a lovely place to dine. We are greeted like family and love this place. read more

El Norteño is a humble mom & pop Mexican restaurant serving up hearty Mexican classics. True to its name, the restaurant specializes in northern Mexican cuisine, which, while not as vibrant or spicy as some other categories of Mexican food, is certainly comforting. We had the norteño burrito and the asada tacos on corn tortillas. Both were delicious and satisfying. What further pushes this restaurant to five stars for me is the lovely lady who seemed to be running the shop single-handedly on the night we were there. I made a comment to her about the abundance of thriving potted plants inside the restaurant, and she proudly led us to the patio around back to show us her beautiful garden as well. It was a little late in the year for us to eat outside comfortably, so I'll have to make sure to come back next spring to fully enjoy her patio (and her food again, too!). read more

El Norteño is my new favorite Mexican restaurant! The women who work there are so lovely and encourage my friends and I to order en español. They are attentive and remind me of family. The chicken fajitas is the perfect portion size at the perfect price. The chips and salsa they provide for free are also delicious. They also have the MOST beautiful patio. In the summer there are lots of flowers and butterflies flying around. There's murals on the back of the building and glass bottle sculptures. Eating here is such a relaxing and tasty experience and that is why I will continue to stop in whenever I'm craving good quality Mexican food. Parking is also a plus! I park next door at Hi-Lo Diner and walk next door to El Norteño. read more

El Norteño - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I am happy to support El Norteño on East Lake Street. They serve delicious food made with fresh ingredients. The service is prompt and friendly. read more

El Norteño - Norteño Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Service is amazing. Food is home cooked amazing. Its food that makes your heart feel good.

He food was good and service was very good. A month ago the patio was lovely. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes authentic Mexican food. read more

A very laid back, family run (and apparently occasionally neighbor assisted) establishment. If available, seating out on the pleasant patio is a better option on nice days compared to the nondescript interior. The menu offers Minn/Mex comfort food served at what I'll choose to call a leisurely pace. Maybe not worth a special trip but I can see this as a decent choice for Longfellow residents. read more

Loved this spot! The service was friendly and I loved all the plants inside. We got the lemonade and horchata which were good. The horchata was different than "traditional" horchata and blended with milk so it tasted more like a frothy smoothie. It was tasty! My husband got the chicken mole and he said it really hit the spot. I got the Norteno enchiladas and loved them! Tasted just like the ones my mom used to make. It came with rice and beans which were solid and a little salad mix (which was a really nice add-on). Overall, a good meal and I can't wait to go again. read more

El Norteno is a hidden surprise located on Lake Street proper. Guests usually park on the side streets; If they're feeling very lucky, they'll find a tiny spot in front and grab center stage. Once inside you are greeted by the most charming family . I family owns the restaurant, but all are expected to and participate or work at one of the service station. read more

Tried it for the first time today. Can't believe I have not been there before. Very friendly staff serving authentic Mexican food. The beans look and taste homemade and not from a can. The Mexican rice is probably the best I've ever had. Salsa which came with the complimentary order of chips tastes light and refreshing. They also have a yellow habanero salsa which packs some real heat. Never had anything quite like that. Great ambience in the very roomy patio. The only sad thing is that the store front looks like it is a grocery store (which I think they had at one point along with the restaurant,) otherwise I'm sure the place would be super busy all the time. read more

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I've been going here for decades. It isn't the most trendy place for Mexican, but it's delicious, well-prepared. The restaurant is owned and run by three sisters from Mexico. It only has a beer & wine license, so you won't get a true margarita, but the patio is a wonderful space in warm weather. Just so you know, usually when we're ready to pay, we just walk to the cash register--it's faster. read more

This is my first time visiting their restaurant, I was overwhelmed by their welcome, the two women were super nice, I got shrimp taco and barbacoa, they were ok, not my taste though. I'll probably come back because of the hospitality. read more

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We decided to try someplace new for Mexican tonight with our guests from the UK and made 6:45 reservations at El Norteño. We arrived on time and we were seated promptly, but after that the promptness was gone. It took forever for water and even longer just to place an order. At 8:45 pm, two hours after we arrived, we still had not received any food, although we were told that we were next - for the third time. Around 9:00 our meal finally showed up. The food was fine, but really nothing special. During the whole time we were waiting for food, the restaurant was taking and filling orders to go. This is no way to manage a restaurant. If you don't have sufficient staff then either you shut off the take out side or you shut down the sit down side. Making your patrons wait hours for food is a really bad choice. We won't be going back to El Norteño!! read more

My friend and I arrived to the restaurant 15 minutes before it closed. The women working told us not to worry and that they would still serve us. I ordered the chicken mole, it was so delicious, so flavorful, everything about it was absolutely perfect. Authentic in every way. The price was incredibly reasonable, I would have paid $5 more, gladly, for the flavor fiesta that was going on in my mouth. The decor is cute. It's a very clean restaurant. I hear that it is run by three sisters, so that makes me love this place even more. When my friends ask for good mexican food, this is where I sent them. read more

Holy crap I love El Norteño. I originally read about this restaurant in a book about Minnesota restaurants that cook exclusively with locally-grown, organic meats and produce. I was impressed because it was the only Mexican food restaurant in the entire book. If you read my reviews, you know I am something of a Mexican food addict so I was intrigued to learn about this little place right down the street from me. I finally made it down there and I am completely blown away by the quality and the taste of El Norteño's food. Apparently the environment and some animals and local farmers are all benefiting from their excellent work practices...but my stomach was totally happy with the arrangement as well. I first ordered some homemade lemonade, which tastes really lime-y in a good way. I highly recommend it, especially since you get a giant glassful for only $2. You can definitely taste the fresh tangy-ness and it's not too sweet. Then came the chips (excellent) and fresh salsa which was also wonderful. I am hard to please when it comes to complimentary salsa so that's a big deal to me. As for the meal, I had the vegetarian chimichanga. It comes, as it should in all authentic restaurants, with sides of rice, beans and a small salad--all of which were delicious. The burrito itself was also impressive, full of rice and black beans, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It was a real vegetable burrito, which was a welcome change. At some restaurants "vegetarian" means you get just beans/rice/cheese and might as well be eating a BRC from El Pollo Loco. Nope, this was a true veggie delight and all of it was sauteed beforehand and had wonderful flavors, especially the yummy rice. Another thing this restaurant had was my favorite hot sauce of all time. It's this bright green habanero sauce called Yucateco. I eat about 2 bottles a week at home and usually have to buy it at special markets because not all grocery stores carry it. Thankfully, this restaurant had it on the tables for me to pour all over my meal. The only other place that has it for free is La Que Buena. It's understandable since the tiny bottles cost a pretty penny but El Norteño hooked me up right. The final and yet most wonderful reason that El Norteño is an amazing establishment is that at the end of my meal, I sat back completely satisfied but not stuffed. The portion size was just right. I have no control when it comes to Mexican food so the fact that my plate wasn't ginormous is a real help. I can already tell this restaurant going to become a once-a-week habit for me. read more

Where else can you go to a restaurant run by 3 women? They do everything, and still have the time to make the best papa flautas this side of the Mississippi. My only sad part is that their store is not packed with supplies for my revolutionary recipes. If you get a chance, have their vegetarian tacos. And be patient, imagine...3 people run the entire restaurant. Give them an extra tip or go and help wash dishes. Que viva People Power! Que Viva El Norteño read more

Best Mexican (non-taco) place in the Twin Cities. It satisfies my craving for Sonoran Mexican food when I can't get down to Tucson in March. Superb tomatillo sauce, real queso, everything we've had is great. It's run by two sisters, though, so don't come expecting speedy service! Just come expecting good food, enjoy the company of your date, and the friendliness of the service. read more

I want to like El Norteno so bad but I just can't. I am a big big fan of Americanized Mexican food but most everything here falls flat. It all sort of tastes the same: bland. The real kicker for me was that the fajitas don't even come on a hot a skillet! This means you don't get that super yummy char we all love so much. I've tried the Chicken Fajitas, Quesadilla and Taco Salad and all were just boring and felt like bad versions of familiar dishes. The service is always friendly but inattentive. Waters are often left unfilled and they really don't put any effort into making a stellar experience. The indoor space is seriously lacking charm. It's dingy, dated and not at all comfortable. One plus side though is the patio, it's super duper beautiful. They also don't serve alcohol, which may not be an issue for some but I like to enjoy a giant margarita while scarfing down chips and salsa. Overall, I want it to be some much more than it is and it's worth the drive to head somewhere else to get your Mexican fix. read more

So, this restaurant is 10 blocks from my house and I never even knew it was a restaurant. But I saw the review when browsing through a friend's reviews. I was like "That sounds yummy." and then I realized it was 10 blocks from my house. So we looked it up on Google Maps street-view, and headed out into the cold. Chips were a weird texture. Salsa was delicious. Guacamole was a little too tomato-y for my taste, but it was at least fresh. I ordered a Mexican dish I have never had before; enfrijoladas...mmmmm.. They were delicious. It's just like chicken enchiladas, but instead of enchilada sauce on top, there is a tasty black bean sauce. Boy ordered the Chipotle Burrito. He was impressed that it was actually spicy. Like, spicy enough that he was afraid for me to take a bite; I'm a wimp. The lemonade was really great, perfect balance of sweet and sour. It's tough to win our Mexican Food hearts, since we live a few blocks off Lake St., but this place was pretty solid. And it might win over El Nuevo Rodeo, since parking was plentiful. read more

I am a HUGE fan of the patio! I don't come often, but I love that the patio is off the street and I do feel as if I am transported to Mexico. I am always annoyed at myself when I eat 2 or 3 baskets of the chips at other restaurants - so I welcome the restraint imposed by a fee on the 2nd! Just had dinner with the family here.... the best we all decided was the shrimp fajitas! We're all going to order them next time! read more

So good! Great service. super cute patio, I can imagine it would be even greater in the summer when all the plants are still thriving. Definitely recommend getting a dish with the house made sauce. read more

No bar, so don't come here looking for a margarita. They do have a small selection of what is gringos would call "Mexican beers". The burrito I settled on had 3 different kinds of meat and was topped with melted cheese, plus lettuce and tomato. I enjoyed it and would order it again. The beans were especially good, as were the chips (you can tell they fry their own), salsa, and simple but fresh guacamole that they charge "market price" for. Says so on the menu. About an avocado's worth for $.49 today. I found the food and service more like eating at a friend's house, which I dig. I asked one of the gals working how long they have owned the place, and apparently it's nearly 20 years. You can't make it that long without doing something right. This should be a 3.5 star review but since that's not allowed I'm rounding up to 4 because of this paragraph. As some other reviewers have suggested, it's not amazing enough to drive to the neighborhood for, but it's certainly good enough to stop if you find yourself nearby. read more

Sometimes, only good Mexican food will suffice for a meal on short notice (and only a short distance away). For me this is that place. Their chicken and rice soup is very tasty and satisfying and it reminded me a lot of the soups I ate while living with a family in Mexico City. The pork tamales were o.k. I always love their rice and beans. The women working there are friendly and pleasant. They also cheerfully indulge my practice of the Spanish language. read more

I haven't had the food here in years. I always thought compared to the local competition, food was ok, but expensive and small portions. This review is for their Flan. It is amazing. It's creamy, thick and richly flavored. Best I've had anywhere. read more

American style Mexican food. The salsa that is served with the chips tastes like it comes from a big gallon jug. I had the Norteno burrito. It was just ok. At almost $10 it was on the small side. The ingredients don't taste fresh. The server did bring me out some really good salsa on request. It wasn't the stuff they serve with the chips. The atmosphere was meh. Overall, if you're on Lake, you'll have many better choices for Mexican food. read more

My guy and I decided to check this place out for Saturday "linner"...you know, when you wake up too late to even really call your first meal "brunch" and instead have a lunch/dinner hybrid? That. I'm not sure how busy this place typically gets since we did come at such an off-time, but there were a few other tables (including out on the patio) so I'm assuming they get pretty solid business. They don't have a full bar, just wine and beer, so I decided to try the wine margarita. It was affordable but mostly just tasted like white wine with a salted rim so I would probably skip this and get a Negra Modelo or something net time around. Still, I appreciate that they offered *something* in lieu of a typical tequila margarita! Your first basket of chips and salsa are complimentary and it's around $3 for refills. We never wound up needing a refill as we ordered guacamole as an appetizer and were nearing full by the time our entrees arrived! I will say that the salsa was very bland and the guacamole could've used something as well...lime, garlic, maybe jalapenos? Just something to give it more flavor. Still, they were a pretty standard way to start the meal and I know not everyone appreciates spice the way I do. For our meals, J got a chimichanga and I went with the veggie fajitas. Prices are fair for the amount of food you receive, and these plates far surpassed the appetizers in flavor! Plus, I requested hot sauce and the bland guac/salsa was completely forgiven. That hot sauce was SO GOOD. Habanero peppers and deliciousness. I doused my plate in it and cried tears of joy and heat. The fajitas come with flour tortillas but I would assume they'd sub corn if you asked (I should have asked!). There was a great mix of veggies including a variety of bell peppers, mushrooms, potato, etc. plus refried beans, lettuce, rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa. I scraped the cheese/sour cream onto J's plate and all was well with the world! There were several other veggie items on the menu that I'd love to come try, and I am so glad I requested the hot sauce because it totally turned the meal around for me. I look forward to coming back and scoring a spot on their nice patio this summer. read more

Probably my favorite Mexican place in the area. The mole verde is incredible, as are the chips - but pace yourself on those, you only get one basket for free. If the weather's not too hellish, be sure to sit outside, they have a really nice patio setup. read more

Great neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Delicious enough to stop in if you're in the area, but probably not enough to come into the area to stop in. Know what I'm sayin' This place is a 5 minute walk from my house, so my wife and I stop in here often for a bite of tasty Mexican. Chips & Salsa: Free, as it should be at every legit Mexican restaurant. However, you do have to pay for the second round of chips and salsa, which is a little nickel and dimeish. chips are tasty. Salsa is yummy. Not the best I ever had, but pretty good. Entrees: They have everything you'd expect out of a traditional Mexican restaurant. My wife loves the Chimichanga (I think it's pretty tasty too). I usually opt for one of the combination platters to get a little taste of all the things i love. Food ranges from tacos, enchiladas, chili releno, buros, etc. to more entree style dishes. The beans are some of the best we've ever come across. My wife has some Mexican heritage and makes the absolute best, but El Nortenos beans are really tasty. Probably because you can see the old Mexican lady stirring the pot when you walk in. It also has an outdoor patio, which is nice during the summer. All this being said, it is expensive versus what you expect to pay for such Mexican food. I think some of it may be to cover the costs of the idle space for the Mexican grocery that never happened. I'll keep coming back as long as I'm in the area, but won't return to the area to go back. read more

This patio is bomb. Come here for the patio, stay for the kind service, but...expect very average Mexican food. I feel bad. I want to love this place, but the burrito I got and the enchiladas my husband got were so standard. Maybe they have a specialty that we should have gotten? Sigh. With all the great Mexican options in the TC, I doubt I'll be back, unless its for a drink on their lovely patio. read more