I really did not have high expectations for a Midwest Mexican restaurant, but here I stand, mostly…read morecorrected. Miny's is an Ann Arbor staple. A small taco shop in a nondescript strip mall, Miny's is turning out some seriously impressive and authentic tacos on par with places I love in Southern California.
My friends and I swung by around dinnertime and while it was not crowded, there was a steady flow of customers and take-out orders. There is no dining area, but there are tables outside where one can sit and eat. I ordered 3 tacos: al pastor, cabeza, and Cameron, with spicy salsas on the side. The total was about ~$13.
The first thing that stood out to me was the size. These were some hefty tacos, lovingly double-wrapped in pliable, warm, corn tortillas and neatly packaged for takeout. Salsa can be hit or miss but the salsas here were SO GOOD. Made in-house, they add the perfect moisture and flavor to each bite. Their green salsa has a mild, tingling kick, and tastes very rich and refreshing. The orange creamy salsa, however, stole the show. It is spicier than the green, and has a super addicting smokiness that enhances, but doesn't overpower, every bite. I was bright red and sweating but could not put this salsa down.
The al pastor taco was my favorite. Sweet, soft, smoky pork with the crunch and freshness of onions and cilantro, drenched in the above salsas, simply divine! I wish it had come with pineapple for a pop of sweetness, but it was still a super good taco.
I was thrilled to see that Miny's offered cabeza and lengua, as they are cuts of meat less familiar to the average American diner. I opted for cabeza and was greeted with a pile of soft, collagen-rich meat, bursting with juice and oil. The meat by itself is definitely a bit bland so the salsas did the heavy lifting in terms of flavor. The gooey-soft texture though, that was all due to the perfectly cooked meat. This was a pricier taco than the Al pastor, and there was definitely a bit less meat than in the Al pastor, but still a very good taco.
The shrimp taco impressed me the least. The shrimp were unseasoned and looked to be boiled. While bouncy and tender cooked in this way, I prefer the char and juiciness of grilled shrimp in my tacos. In addition, I tend to expect my seafood tacos to have a slaw on them, versus the standard onions and cilantro. With the salsas, this taco was fine, but I would not order it another time. A very healthy but uninspired taco.
Overall, for where it's located and what it is, Miny's does some amazing tacos, though I will probably skip the seafood ones next time. I will be DREAMING of that orange salsa, and now understand why on their menu, they sell it by the carton.
