Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Taco Riendo

    4.1 (515 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order El Taco Riendo Takeout or Delivery

    El Taco Riendo Photos

    Business Info

    EL TACO RIENDO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - El Taco Riendo

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tacos
    Josh D.

    No doubt in my mind - this is one of the best Mexican places in the Twin Cities! Fantastic salsas? Yes! They were all wonderful. Fresh and flavorful. Tried both the verde and the roja. Yum! Scrumptious street tacos? Oh yeah! I tried the "bistek" - which was steak. Fantastic. I could've probably made a meal of 3-4, but... I had to get my enchiladas! Went with the Rancheros (wish I would've known that the roja was the hotter of the options - but I'll be back to try that). Regardless - they were delish! I threw some of the salsa on it with the onions, cilantro, and jalapeños. Game over - enter food coma...

    Tom L.

    Take out. Everything fresh and quickly made while you wait. Chile Relleno was the bomb. Sauces galore in the bag and some killer black beans and rice too. Huge fan of this spot. Only bummer was the chips were fairly stale. That never happens at this type of joint.

    Empanada with frozen or canned veggie mix

    My son and I came in last night and ordered to go. I ordered the beef empanadas, a tamale, with beans, rice, and chips. My son ordered the chimichanga, beans, rice, and an horchata. When we got home from our 25 min trek, we realized they did not send part of our order. They gave us only one order of rice and beans but we ordered and paid for TWO. No bueno! The atmosphere inside was laid back, it was pretty clean and the staff was very nice. They didn't give limes or any kind of onions with the beans but they did add three chips that were soggy by the time we got home. The food is OK but not something I would go out of my way to eat again. The rice and empanadas both have the same frozen or canned mixed vegetable with peas, corn, green beans, carrots, and lima beans. I've not seen that in an empanada before. The tamale has very little filling and a LOT of maiz. None of it was very flavorful without the salsa verde. I'm not a fan and them messing up our order was the icing on the cake. Won't likely be back again.

    The window to watch them make your order.
    Tippy P.

    I was craving elote and went for a drive. Ended up in NE minneapolis at this taco shop I've been to couple years ago. Parking is available in the back and there's a back door entrance. Order at the counter and watch them make it through the window. Service is always good there, however they do get busy, 2 rooms for dining. Taco meats were well seasoned.

    Chile Relleno
    Luke G.

    Order at the counter service with plenty of seating inside! Overall, I think it pictures better than it tastes. The refried beans have a salivating white melted cheese on top. All the dishes had cheese sprinkled on top, and some came with pico de gayo as well. However, the meat was very under seasoned, especially the chicken. The flautas were kind of mushy (I prefer a crunch shell). The Chimichanga was probably the best thing we ate, the sauce helped give flavor to the bland meat.

    13. Sopes
    Mikhala F.

    This is one (of several) favorites on Central. We always know when we come here, it's about to go dowwwwn. Come hungry! We came around 7 on a weekday and the place was pretty quiet, but plenty of seating inside. Check out their menu and then order at the front: they'll bring food out to you when it's ready. So many goodies on the menu, including authentic items you can't get everywhere like alambre, sopes, and caldo de res. Prices are affordable: you can get uncomfortably full for under $12! I can't NOT get sopes when I see them, so I got the carnitas sopes (comes with 3) and loved the flavors. My partner got the steak quesadilla and was pleasantly surprised by the steak flavor - more of a pot roast then carne asada. He also got a taco and tostada, all great flavor. I didn't see any horchata or queso on the menu, and was craving both! Parking is free street outside, and usually is pretty easy to find. On a street full of awesome spots, El Taco Riendo is always a great choice.

    Dining area
    Richa V.

    Was craving Mexican food and picked up an order to go. Parking - Parking was easy to find on the side streets, I don't recommend parking in central since it gets so busy. Service/Ambiance - Loved the decorations they have along the walls, it was all so colorful! The restaurant seems very warm and welcoming. Staff was great and efficient. My order was filled super quick Food - I ordered a veggie burrito and it was awesome! Perfect size burrito for when you're hungry and don't want leftovers. I loved both of the salsas they had and neither of them was too spicy for me. Super satisfying and quick, will come back!

    Elote, chips and guac, carnitas and barbacoa tacos
    Anna G.

    Great spot with lots of indoor seating. My favorite part of the meal was the elote, which was huge and absolutely delicious. Loaded with the toppings. I like how this place offers both Mexican and American style toppings, added some variety to what a normal street taco place offers. The carnitas tacos were super good, suuuper juicy, and above the average street taco. The chips were pretty bland but the guacamole was delicious.

    Dining area
    Shane D.

    Taco Riendo is an authentic taco shop that will scratch the itch for food South of the border. They have a simple menu but delicious food. I frequent here whenever I am craving a (big) burrito.

    Elote
    Miranda W.

    The food was phenomenal, the service was 10/10 great, and the restaurant was spotless, very clean. Highly recommend this spot for a super-casual, super-delicious meal.

    2 11. Tostadas
    Molly M.

    Not the fanciest places to eat, but it is a great place to eat! It was recommended to us by someone who lives in the neighborhood and I'm happy we stopped here after the Van Gogh immersion. The service was quick and the food authentic and delicious (and I didn't feel ripped off afterwards). It would be difficult for me to say which meat choice I loved the best: Carne Asada or Barbacoa. Better yet, be like me and get one apiece! p.s. I think that the title of the restaurant translates to "The Laughing Taco", but no matter what it's called-it's a great down-home place to get some great Mexican food!

    Tongue, tripe, and bbq pork sope. Took it to Fair State Brewing for an IPA
    Jason K.

    My wife and I were on our weekend new restaurant trip and it led to North Minneapolis. It is still a diverse area, but the hipsters are moving in. It is a nice hole in the wall and they display their wares all over the windows. Lots of locals are here and lots of construction dudes that can burn up the 1,500 calories that one of their loaded burritos fill. Food is so good though. I got three sopas, which I didn't realize was deep fried, or I would have gotten the tacos. I got the tripe, marinated bbq and the tongue. The tongue was by far the best and then the barbacoa and then the tripe. They were all 9's though, Each one was a half a meal in itself. I probably only needed two. I took them next door to Fair State Brewing and had a couple of IPAs with my magnificent lunch.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luke G.
    209
    362
    1036

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    we ordered today 2 barbacoa burritos, of them without any meat, its bad because we use to go there for tacos and burritos

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Molly M.
    174
    1850
    16145

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason K.
    546
    1920
    1297

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kay S.
    0
    32
    29

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara S.
    5
    17
    16

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Authentic food, fresh ingredients, always on point. Service is excellent! One of my favorite spots!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Will S.
    3203
    1169
    9005

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris T.
    11
    159
    186

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    El Taco Riendo Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Taco Riendo

    Do they do dollar tacos on Tuesday's?

    No, this is a bakery

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 19,118 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Maya Cuisine - Torta (left) Maya Burrito (right) Quesabirrias (bottom)

    Maya Cuisine

    4.2(469 reviews)
    0.4 miNortheast
    $$

    The best Mexican food I have ever had in my life, It was truly so good. Phone did not eat first…read more Food and Drink - We started with the chips and guac and the guacamole was outstanding. The onions and tomato that were chopped up in it were so satifyingly chopped I really enjoyed, it was nice and cold too. I got the quesabirria tacos for my meal and they were out of this world, I seriously think I inhaled them and have been thinking about them ever since. We were drinking Pina Coloadas and it made me feel like I was on the beaches of Mexico. Service - There was one server working on a busy Friday night and she killed it; she was attentive and remembered everything whilst also being the bartender too!!! Ambience - it is colorful and bright in there and just almost nostalgic. There is a chipotle style line at the front if you want to just grab something quick and full service in the back of the building, cannot wait to go back.

    This place is a gem in Northeast. I finally got a chance to try this out and loved it. I've always…read moreheard great things about it. They offer a lot of daily specials, but the one that caught my eye most was the BOGO burritos on Wednesdays. Everything that we tried was delicious and fairly priced. You can choose to eat in the self seating dining area, or if you'd like service they have the full bar and restaurant in the back. I was blown away with how it tasted and I felt like I was back in Mexico enjoying their cuisine. I wish I would've went here a lot sooner, but I plan to be back in the future. The staff were friendly.

    Photos
    Maya Cuisine
    Maya Cuisine - Burritos with chicken

    Burritos with chicken

    Maya Cuisine

    See all

    Barrio - Cubano sandwich

    Barrio

    3.5(598 reviews)
    3.0 miDowntown Minneapolis
    $$

    Came for happy hour with my teen. Enjoyed and would hit again, although I wouldn't call it cheap…read more Queso was delightful Tex-Mex style, not Velveeta-like but like genuine cheese. All the tacos we ordered, which included chicken, mushroom, and carnitas, were delicious and with generous fall-out-when-you-pick-it-up levels of filling. CHips and guac and salsa were more basic, nothing to write home about, but did not in any way regret them. It fell down on the drinks, just a little. The HH margarita specials were all a little off. A little too sour, a little too bland, just never quite perfect (yes, I did try multiple, I'm a reviewer doing reviews, it was research, you don't get to judge). Even so, I would wander here again for HH and maybe for regular.

    Came here as we were heading to see the phantom of the opera at the Orpheum. I remember going to…read moreBarrio in St. Paul a long time ago so I was excited to try it again. The service was amazing and our waiter was very friendly and helpful. The other staff help a lot as well and bring food out as it comes so you are always being seen to. Ambiance is a little cramped on the main floor, but they have a beautiful bar and the typical fun downtown leisure hangout. The food was ok. The burrito was nothing to wrote home about. I liked that it was grilled and all, but honestly prefer chipotle by a wide margin. About a 2. The yucas and meatballs were amazing and I was really glad we took the suggestion and ordered them. 4 to 5 The black beans were ehh and nothing really special and a little dry I would not recommend. I love black beans and was a bit disappointed. 1 to 2. The tacos were a hit and if I go again I would definitely lean towards the tacos, chips, and apps. 4 The beet salad was ok but expected a little more for the price. It was ok. 3 All and all a pleasant experience but not anything that will blow you away.

    Photos
    Barrio - Bar from the top floor

    Bar from the top floor

    Barrio - Guac and chips

    Guac and chips

    Barrio - Left to Right: Pink Elephant, Black Diamond, Cobre Verde

    See all

    Left to Right: Pink Elephant, Black Diamond, Cobre Verde

    Centro - Enchiladas

    Centro

    4.0(381 reviews)
    0.7 miNortheast
    $$

    Centro on Quincy St definitely passed the afternoon vibe check. The soft serve margaritas were…read moreAHMAZING -- smooth, refreshing, and perfect for a daytime outing. The tacos weren't bad either, flavorful and satisfying without being too heavy. What really stood out was the service. Everyone was beyond awesome, friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. Good drinks, good food, good energy all around.

    This was first time at this location but my second time getting Centro. We went on a Saturday night…read moreand got a table right away but it wasn't cleaned off yet. You seat yourself so most people were snagging whatever spot they could get. You order at a QR code so there isn't actually a server. They had water you grab yourself but it was on the other side of the bar and not in an obvious location. So just be aware that it is there but you might need to look for it. The food came quick. My friend got the cool ranch wrap and chips and queso. I got the cool ranch wings. Their chips and queso is very good although I could do without the onions and jalapeño on top. The wings were alright. I wasn't really getting that cool ranch flavor and it tasted more just like your standard dry rub. I wasn't a fan of the ranch itself. My friend didn't care for her wrap as it was cold and she felt that the chicken was actually raw/undercooked. She also didn't get any cool ranch flavor come through: Not sure if I'd recommend this place or need to come back but I have had their quesadillas which were good and I did like their queso.

    Photos
    Centro
    Centro - Quesadilla

    Quesadilla

    Centro - Gogo juice (espresso) and Holly Dolly Christmas Mule

    See all

    Gogo juice (espresso) and Holly Dolly Christmas Mule

    El Sazon Cocina & Tragos - Birria croquette

    El Sazon Cocina & Tragos

    4.7(72 reviews)
    7.6 miSouthwest
    $$

    El Sazon is amazing and a gem in the community…read more This is everything you want in a small business in your local community, a feeling like you're going over a relatives home. Exceptional, personal service, passionate cooking, warm and inviting atmosphere. The owners Chef Cristian and wife Karen are absolutely amazing and the sweetest. I'd been previously for various events, but this was the first trip just for a casual pop in and dinner. Went for nachos as a table, I snagged a birria burrito bowl, and we had a churro cheesecake for dessert. Chefs, absolute, kiss. You can taste the passion. There's a lot in the back for parking, and pricing is more than fair if not, a killer value in my opinion. Definitely check them out!

    I'm not exaggerating when I say the shrimp burrito at El Sazón might have altered the course of my…read morelife. I've eaten a lot of burritos around Minneapolis, St. Paul, Eagan--you name it--but nothing has ever come close to this masterpiece. The only hiccup was the ordering process. They really want you to order through a QR code, which threw me off for a second. It's not the most intuitive setup, and I definitely had a "wait... am I doing this right?" moment. But once the order was in, everything turned around fast. The service was smooth, friendly, and the food came out quicker than I expected. And that shrimp burrito? Unreal. The tortilla was warm and perfectly toasted, the sauce had that rich, savory kick that makes you pause mid‑bite, and the shrimp... there were so many I genuinely lost count. No filler, no fluff--just pure shrimp glory from start to finish. If you're anywhere near Minneapolis and even remotely into shrimp, get yourself to El Sazón. That burrito deserves its own fan club.

    Photos
    El Sazon Cocina & Tragos - Design on their wall

    Design on their wall

    El Sazon Cocina & Tragos - Steak meal

    Steak meal

    El Sazon Cocina & Tragos - Store front

    See all

    Store front

    Colita - Chicken tostadas

    Colita

    4.4(611 reviews)
    8.0 miSouthwest
    $$$

    It's Taco Tuesday and I was craving Mexican food, but I didn't just wanna go to the type of place…read moreyou think of when "Mexican" is brought up... I'm fancy, so I wanted something a bit more upscale. I did a little bit of research and wouldn't you know it... Colita came up. So here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set south of downtown and a bit west of The Mall of America on Penn Avenue is this gem. There is no private parking lot, but plenty of street parking to leave your fly ride. But once you walk up to the restaurant you can immediately understand the message they're trying to send. Everything looks so modern, straightforward with straight lines, grey colors and light woods. There is a small outdoor section where you can dine if you get lucky enough to land a spot there. Inside carries a very similar style with a little nod to the pueblos and architecture of the southwest. The decor is minimalistic and the "loudest" thing in the room is the live plant wall seated directly behind the bar, which was super cool. Service: I can't remember who took care of us, but we had no issues whatsoever. Food/Drink: I was able to try so many different dishes and drinks here and the list is below... : Xochitl In Love : La Clandestina : Tuna Tostada : Chicken Tinga Tostada : Seared Scallops : Tlayuda : Colita Old Fashioned : Lamb Barbacoa Tacos : Duck Tamal However, my favorite things were the Lamb Barbacoa Tacos, Duck Tamal and Seared Scallops, in that order. The food here is phenomenal, the drinks are excellently crafted and things are served tapas style so you don't get too full off of just one thing! Order a whole bunch of stuff and share with the table! Value: As I mentioned earlier, I wanted upscale and the priced dddooo reflect that. Lol. This is a nice place so be prepared to spend... Like you're downtown somewhere. In conclusion, I loved this place and I will come back over and over. Check this place out the next time you're in the area!

    Been to Colita a few times, great meal every time. The latest visit was with my best friend, we had…read morea fun dinner catching up over delicious food. The Tostadas (one order of the Tuna and one order of the Charred Eggplant) were on point. The shrimp tacos and corn elote were yummy too. The Churros were amazing! - A great way to cap off a nice meal. Lucky to have such a great restaurant so close to where we live - my best friend and I both walked to the restaurant because of the snow.

    Photos
    Colita - Interior

    Interior

    Colita - Seared Scallops with carrot puree, salsa macha, peanut, and fresno

    Seared Scallops with carrot puree, salsa macha, peanut, and fresno

    Colita - Fun cocktail and delicious mocktail!

    See all

    Fun cocktail and delicious mocktail!

    El Taco Riendo - mexican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...