I'm a big fan of their tacos and appetizers here. Always take out from this place. My favorite has to be their habanero margarita that you can take to-go! I'd definitely recommend if you are looking for some good tacos. read more

Actually....4.5 Stars!! A unique and tasty spot! Date and I ordered 4 different things to pick at during HH. The crab and avocado tostada was probably my fav! Delicious crab in a smooth and creamy sauce!!(go ahead, order 2!) The Queso was very also quite good on flour tortillas, nothing too unique, but extremely satisfying! The marinated octopus was amazing! I've never had anything like this! The drizzled sauce, citrus and watercress in each bite made the tender octopus come alive! No wait... THIS was my favorite dish! We also ordered the sweet potato. It was crunchy on the outside and creamy in the middle. It was way more than we could eat... so I'll be having that for lunch today. The restaurant was completely full from about 6 on, with couples and groups! It was a loud a festive spot, and the service was fabulous! This is a fabulous spot if you want to try something completely different and be adventurous! Attached is a pic of the marinated octopus! Yum! read more

Pajarito - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I went here for my dad's birthday and didn't have any set expectations. I thought the food and drinks were pretty good, but it was a bit overpriced. I didn't leave there thinking I'd come back. If it were cheaper or if the food was SO amazing that it was worth the cost then yes I'd go back, but that's just not the case. Oh, I'd also go back if someone else was paying for my meal. read more

We came at the end of happy hour, so we're able to squeeze in a few things before the deals went away. The tacos are fab. Doesn't matter which you get. They're fab. The guacamole was also very good. Their chips are nice and crispy and not over salted. One of the things that I also liked is that it was quiet, despite being somewhat full at the time of our arrival. Also, the staff were nice and made some good suggestions on what we should have. If you're adventurous, let your waitstaff decide what you'll eat and drink. With them asking a few questions of you, it's a fun way to try something new. read more

Amazing tacos and drink options. Happily surprised by the various flavors offered in the taco options. Also liked the 6 salsa types with bottomless chips. read more

I met a friend here at her suggestion and I am so happy I did! First off- free parking! I live downtown Minneapolis so I was like "I can..just..park on the street for free!?" and everyone stared blankly. The inside is really unique, this would be a great first date spot. I had a classic margarita and it was very good(hard to mess that one up) but the chips and guac were really great. I believe the chips are made in house made and I loved them. I ordered the crispy chicken tacos without the hot sauce- they were amazing. I could have eaten 20 of them but 2 were $9 so I just had to suffer and enjoy what I could afford:). I can't wait to come back! read more

Best margaritas in Minnesota. Food and service are AWESOME!! Fun place for a group!!one of the best St Paul restaurants

This spot stands alone as my favorite place for tacos. It will blow you away. First, unlike some places around the Twin Cities, you won't pay an arm and a leg for only one measly taco. All of their taco entrees come with three. Second, they provide a decent variety of taco selections,(fish, chorizo, beef, chicken) but the taco that really brought my spirits up, was the Smelt tacos were unbelievably delicioso! Not only were they savory, but Pajarito also uses fresh ingredients, so you don't feel like an elephant afterwards. For apps, the yucca fries are an absolute must. They will rock your world. Be careful of the chips and guacamole, because three baskets will go by quicker than you anticipate. It's not the portions, it's simply due to the best damn chips and guacamole you'll ever eat before a meal. Oh and yes, they have a sampler of salsa. Worth trying. Aside from food, they will serve you some awesome signature tequila cocktails. If you want to impress a friend or family member with some tacos, take them here. read more

Remember walking into the old Glockenspiel? A dark, dank Krautfest filled with heavy sauces, heavy dumplings, and a lot of heavy people. Fast forward a few years and the transformation is stunning. The charm of that old brick building remains, but they've updated with a slick bar and rustic yet contemporary decor and furniture. The space is open yet cozy. Let's be honest and realistic. This isn't gonna be your cheap night out for tacos and beer. This is not your ground beef in a hard shell served with a glass of piss warm Chango type place. This is upscale Mexican Done very well. This is a creative take on Mexican classics. This is cocktails that are inventive, tasty, and yes, spendy. Chips and salsa. No, it's not dropped off at the table for free. They are house made chips that are thick, rustic, and crispy. You can choose either 3 or all 6 salsas that range from mild to Fot (fucking hot). A few misses, mostly hits. $12 for all 6 plus the chips and they will bring more chips if wanted. Spendy but good for a group of 4 or 6 people. Grilled octopus, Carnitas and Al Pastor tacos, Chilaquiles, and Halibut Collar fish. All of them, glorious. Truly. The Halibut was cooked to perfection and prepared with avocado and a tomatillo salsa. So so good. Chilaquiles definitely not in the traditional preparation but so good and with a powerful sauce. Tacos were spot on and flavorful as hell. House made fresh corn tortillas made them really shine. Service was excellent and very knowledgeable. We were quoted 45 minutes for a table. We went across the street to have a beer as it was pretty busy. He called us within 10 minutes to tell us our table was ready. We had to pound that pitcher we bought. Dammit. Again, it's gonna be more expensive than your typical bastardized Gringo Fest Mexican American joint, but it's not even comparable. A league of its own. And goddammit they have Pacifico on tap. That's worth 5 stars right there. read more

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It was just ok. We were there on Saturday afternoon for apps and drinks. Our server was very good and explained the menu well. As far as the food, not so good. I ordered the "crispy" chicken tacos and a side of the rajas. I don't normally order chicken out but these tacos sounded good! Boy, was I sadly mistaken. The chicken was flavorless and not crispy at all. It just wasn't very good. Not sure why they advertise it as being crispy because they just looked like plain chicken breast strips. They also were supposed to be "Tennessee Hot" but had no spice whatsoever. I had to add some habanero salsa to spice it up. The rajas were pretty good and a nice portion size. My fiancée ordered the queso fundido. It was also just ok. The cheese had kind of cooled by the time it got to our table making it hard to spread onto the tortillas. It had ok flavor but nothing to write home about. Overall, our service was great but the food, not so much. read more

Rating: 3.75 stars but yelp doesn't do partial stars. We stopped for a late lunch. The restaurant is beautiful and we were seated right away. The margarita is $15! They claim it is the best in the Midwest. My margarita was very refreshing and delicious but I think next time I will pick one of the cheaper cocktails. As for food, we went with the torta and fried chicken tacos. I absolutely loved the torta! It is so filling, the meat is tender, and overall has a beautiful presentation. The fried chicken tacos didn't have a lot of flavor so I poured 1/4 bottle of cry baby Craig's on it to make up for it. We also ordered chips and guacamole. It is a little spendy but came out quick. The guacamole is fresh. Some of the chips were overly salty or stale. But overall, we were pleased with the appetizer. Overall we did enjoy the food and drinks but just not the prices for certain things (like $15 for a regular sized margarita) We found street parking easily nearby. read more

I've dined here twice and neither time failed to impress me. They don't take reservations, but it's worth the wait. I loved the chips and guac. Brussel sprouts, octopus, and sweet potato were all very good (and I really don't love sprouts). Crispy chicken tacos were a hit. Somewhat spicy and, yeah, crispy. I liked (not loved) their Old Fashioned. Our server was great. Cool spot. I'll be back again. read more

Went in with high expectations that were only partially met. Nice space with charming decor but the food was just ok. Guac was fine. Chips were freshly made and well salted. Tacos were just fair. Shrimp tacos had five or six small shrimp in single blue corn tortillas (inevitability falling apart). Salsa was fair. No distinct seasoning. $13 for two? Not good. Carnitas tacos were not good. Was basically stewed/crock pot pork. Definitely NOT carnitas. Birria tacos looked fantastic. I'm a tough critic of Mexican food and this simply didn't measure up. read more

I never venture to St. Paul and that is a problem! Its not that far from Minneapolis! I am glad I decided to and to check out a new spot. Pajarito is perfect for a friend or date night out. Good upscale Mexican that maintains traditional dishes and flavors. They don't take a rez but was able to get on a waiting list which was 45 minutes for 2 people during peak Saturday time. Luckily we got a spot at the bar and opted to eat there as some of the 2 person tables are close to the bar and seem congested. I went with the chilaquiles, which I always will if they are on a menu, and absolutely loved them. Done right with the egg added and the sauce was amazing. We also had queso for a warm up and highly recommend that. My friend had tacos and loved them as well. Had to dock a star as the margs are just ok and for the price you pay would have expected a bit more. That being said get the pineapple one - something different. All of the staff were awesome, even when we had to return a dish that was made incorrectly. They fixed it quick! This whole night made me realize I need to cross the river more - there is so much to explore outside of Mpls. read more

Octopus came kind of burnt and over cooked. Drinks were the highlight. I had the special kind of like chicken taquitos. They were good. read more

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First yelp review after officially moving to the TC. I spent the last 14 years on the west coast, LV and SD, so I'm spoiled when it comes to Mexican food. I will say this right away, this is better than Lago Taco in Uptown. The meats were delicious, enjoyed the pork and fried chicken. The tortillas were lacking, the texture, taste and how they were cooked, seemed almost store bought which I'm sure it's not the case. The guacamole, way too salty. I loved the garnishes like the jalapeños, etc, but go easier on the salt, let the flavors of the guacamole and other ingredients come thru. Drinks: they were tasty, but I wanted a drink from your websites photo that you no longer make, I suggest taking that down and replacing it with a current drink. Overall, I would return and try something else. Just not the guacamole. The service was great! read more

The tacos were amazinggggg - especially the chicken rings! Can't wait to come back again!

I MISS THE CHOCOLATE TACO. Otherwise this place is my jam. I miss living closer to it. Order their spicy margarita and whatever seafood special. I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it read more

Great place for casual drinks or a date. Their tacos are some of the best in the cities, especially the crispy chicken tacos, and the bar is stocked with tequilas straight from producers in Mexico. read more

Pajarito - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I really enjoyed our meal at Pajarito but I still just can't get behind the fancy Mexican theme. All of our food was good, and the drinks were great, but it just doesn't feel right to be paying that price point or celebrating that they make their tortillas in house (I think that should be standard at any good Mexican restaurant). We got there around 7 on a Thursday and waited about 45 minutes. Props to Keenan's across the street for getting us out of the hubbub while we waited for our table. We got the pulpo and really liked that. Queso fundido was also super tasty, though there was a sweet spice like cinnamon or cardamom that might deter some. The chips and salsa were definitely high-quality and homemade, and I really appreciate the thought that went into creating 6 unique salsas for one restaurant. The Avocado Serrano was my favorite-- you'll recognize it as similar to the avocado salsa you might get at Burrito Mercado or Los Ocampo. We also got the al pastor tacos and the chilaquiles. Good flavors and textures (housemade tortillas made me reconsider the value of flour tortillas!) but my pastor taco meat was a bit burnt. I also think chilaquiles are better with pork or chicken rather than beef and mushrooms. I looved all the drinks but I see tequila as its own food group so non-tequila fans might have more trouble. I was a bit disappointed with the spice level of the Habanero Cilantro Marg-- there was barely any spice! Service was pretty good, and food came out fast. Overall, I liked this place, but probably won't make the trek from MPLS too often. read more

My boyfriend and my best friend came here because it's close to our neighborhood and we had a craving for tacos! When we walked in, it looked amazing! I was quite impressed with the interior and the decor. When it came time to order, it took 10 minutes just to order drinks. Then we waited another 10-15 minutes before we even got our drinks. Another 15 minutes later, as we nearly finished our drinks, we ordered a second round. We received our second round of drinks and we were finally able to order food. Our waiter was extremely informative and helpful with explaining the menu. It seemed as if the restaurant was either extremely understaffed or that's how lean they run that business. From reading other previous reviews about this place, it seems like our experience wasn't anything new. I asked the server if they were short staffed, and how I can empathize and understand, but if this is how the business operates, it won't be around long. The wait times were ridiculous. We arrived around 5:45 and left at 7:45. Seems a bit ridiculous two hours for tacos and cocktails. The food was okay. It seemed a bit overpriced for what we received. $9 for two smelt fish tacos, $9 for two chicken tacos, $9 for two Barbacoa tacos. We received some really soggy chips with our salsas. The salsas were okay. I wish they would've left the avocado salsa chunky because it looked and tasted like processed green baby food. All of the salsas were super thin with no chunky textures. Super disappointing. I did complain about the soggy chips and they did take them off the check $7 for chips and 3 very small cups of runny salsa. My friend ordered the smelt fish tacos which were beer battered and she had to send hers back. The fish tacos were severely lacking in any fish. They agreed and it took 15 minutes to get another plate of fish tacos. Apparently someone else received her new plate of fish tacos so we had to wait yet again for a new plate. 20 minutes later she finally had some food. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back. The wait times were too long, not enough staff and for 5 drinks and 6 tacos our bill was $80. read more

Pajarito - They have a great drink menu! They even use locally sourced spirits from Minneapolis distilleries. - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Good food and great service! There are a lot of "small plates" that were pretty hefty portions. The Brussels sprouts and queso fundito were my favorites. I don't eat a lot of meat so I didn't try meat based dishes but did enjoy the massive sweet potato that was roasted with queso fresco and other spices. Not my favorite taco place but a cute atmosphere and I really liked the "Mexican munk walks into a bar" because of the changing flavors with a giant hibiscus flavored ice cube that adds flavor as it melts. read more

This was disappointing to say the least. Extremely overpriced for the skinny portions. One of us had the scallops. $30 for THREE scallops and some weird soggy zucchini. We were surprised when we walked in on a Friday night at 7:45 pm, to see at least 3/4 of the restaurant empty. We'd never been and thought we'd have to wait for seats. Now I know why. This place will not make it long term with service, prices, and serving sizes as is. The drinks were weak and spendy $12-$15 for the small sizes too. It's rare with our group that the food bill exceeds the liquor bill, but in this case no one enjoyed their drinks enough to have another. We (and apparently others) won't be back. I surely wish I'd read these reviews first. read more

My wife loves Mexican food and I saw that this place had 4 stars online, so I thought it'd be a great place to take her to dinner. We got sat down and got our menus pretty quickly. The first thing we both noticed is that this place is not really a Mexican restaurant. The menus seemed to have very few items that were even close to Mexican. The water that they serve is warm, no Ice. The menus are pretty small and don't really detail much. The food is overpriced for the portions they give you. The margarita was $15 and it was super tiny. The only redeeming quality is that the food was kind of good. read more

I had high hopes for Pajarito. The menu had a promising array of dishes that were not the standard items doused in red sauce and refried beans. It's nice to see a fresh new business in the old Glockenspiel space. It was a little tricky to find parking, but we found a nearly-empty parking lot for Pajarito behind Chris and Rob's Chicago Taste Authority. As we walked toward the restaurant entrance it looked crowded inside, in keeping with the high ratings. Inside, the decor was classy (Restoration Hardware) and the largely yuppie patrons were having a good time. Our server recommended the carnitas tacos and advised us that the tortillas were made fresh every day in house. I ordered the tacos al pastor, having read that al pastor referred to shawarma meat introduced by Middle Eastern immigrants. The carnitas were by far the better choice. It was tender pork shoulder cooked for six hours with complementary spices. I looked at my tacos to find... chicken breast? The staff member who brought my plate to the table assured me that it was pork loin. Oh. Moral of the story: don't trust Wikipedia, and doublecheck with the server before ordering something new. My pork loin tacos were nicely spiced, but rather dry. We were looking forward to the fresh tortillas. Although they were certainly freshly made, they seemed a bit undercooked. The tacos came with fresh cilantro and fruit and vegetable ingredients. The delicate thin slices of pepper that came with my taco had quite a kick, and my limeade, while sweet and tart, didn't quite put out the fire. In times like these, a frosty glass of horchata would be perfect but it wasn't on the menu. Our takeaway: solidly prepared high-end tacos. They were pretty good, the service was attentive, and we had a nice dining experience. (I was very glad that they completely redid the old Glockenspiel restrooms.) I couldn't shake the feeling that I was more impressed with tacos I've had elsewhere. I'd happily go back for drinks with friends to sample the many interesting-looking salsas that they have, but in the meantime I'll stick to taquerias that serve horchata. read more

A very neat atmosphere, my cousin and decided to belly up to the bar (we were hungry and didn't want to wait). There were two bartenders, but they were swamped. It took a while to get menus and then put in our drink order. The restaurant has high ceilings with exposed brick, multiple seating options (bar, booth and tables). I was sold on going to this restaurant based off the Habanero cilantro margarita. The first one was so great I just had to order a second. But a different bartender made it, I can handle heat, but this one was too spicy. Both my cousin and I had to ask for more margarita mix, which definitely helped! I ended up going with one of my favorite Mexican dishes, fish tacos. I questioned about the bartender regarding the smelt tacos. But found out I am not a fan of smelt (very fishy tasting and super oily). I couldn't finish my second taco. The chips and guacamole were very good. My cousin is a fan of the Queso Fundido. The prices are high, for the amount of food you get and I'm not one for big portions. The happy hour menu looks to be good, but ends at 6:00. I will go back for the margaritas and to try some of the other tacos. read more

Pajarito - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Whoa....the food here is delicious. We ordered quac & chips, chiliquilles, pork tacos, Brussel sports, and a torta...everything was outstanding. The drinks are tasty, but expensive. I would prefer to see a few more vegetable sides to balance out the meal. We'll be back. ;) read more

This is not your typical Mexican style restaurant! The menu is far removed from the normal microwaveable food one would expect from most Mexican restaurant. Here, everything on the menu starts with the culinary imagination of the Chef and prepared by the skilled kitchen staff providing you with a plate full of amazing flavors! The bars signature cocktails compliment your meal choices with exciting blends of liquors that will satisfy even the pickiest beverage connoisseur. The restaurant interior is fun, warm and inviting. We are hoping to return very soon! read more

Pajarito - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

A fun place with a great menu. The shrimp tacos and yuca are hard to beat. Great staff, too! We'll be back soon.

The guacamole was good. Pretty pricey for the amount. The steak and braised greens were not so good. The steak was a nice size but it was dry. The braised greens were drowned in tomato and onions and cheese. How are you doing Mexican cuisine and not have rice on the menu? Fail. read more

I am reposting a similar review to the one that I did last time. Your food is awesome BUT you need a bigger variety of vegetarian options!! You're not in northern Wisconsin, you're in a major metropolitan area!! Nothing has to be sacrificed with more veggie options and then it will bring your restaurant into the 21st century! I'm annoyed because my wife still does not want to go there (yes,she is a vegetarian) and I DO!! Cmon guys Mexican food - vegetarian options. DUH! read more

This place has the best chips! However, the rest of their food is a bit bland. First, let need tell you my preference for Mexican food. I love my guac salty and lemony. I like my tacos saucy. And I like my drinks sweet. We had the guac which Had good texture but wasnt anything special and portion was too small. Queso was pretty good but again small portions. The yucca here is awesome! I highly recommend those. Brussel sprouts were ok, sauce was good but the veggie itself was bitter. I also had the shrimp and Aveda tacos. They were good but nothing special. I wish it had more sauce. What I love most about this restaurant was the atmosphere. It's a great space for big groups. The last thing I would like to comment on is still lemonade which was pretty good. The service was outstanding. read more

Absolutely loved this place. I was amazed there is a restaurant like this in this neighborhood and a warm welcome. It's a beautiful space.

I've been dying to try this place out. I love mexican food and Pajarito checks off all the boxes. The menu is small, but drink menu is huge (which what more could you want) and they have such a large variety of options no matter what your preference. I always appreciate when a bar has a mezcal options, it seems so hard to find in Minnesota. The salsa flight was the star of the night. I hate cashews but the cashew salsa was unbelievably good! We also tried the yucca, queso fundido, and the hot chicken taco - all amazing. A little pricey but this is the kind of upscale but casual, delicious restaurant you don't mind the extra couple dollars. Parking is a little difficult to find on busy nights but there are plenty of streets around and a couple lots down the street. Speaking of busy nights, they were packed when we walked in, however after a small wait we were greeted with amazing service and the food came out super fast. I love that Pajarito serves the food as it's ready. More restaurants need to do this. read more

Pajarito - Hot chicken taco - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Literally unreal. The torts was the best hot sandwich my wife and I have ever had. Awesome guacamole and chips. Great salsa. Best part was the excellent service at the bar. Very kind and informative. Come eat here now. Stop reading, get in the car. Seriously, stop reading. read more

Awesome place. Great food and margs and I love the decor. Whoever came up with the design concept, well done. A go-to for sure. read more

Pajarito! What a nice surprise. I will admit that I didn't even know about this restaurant until I watched the Worth It Superbowl video. But I'm so glad that I did! Parking wasn't too bad. Tiny dedicated parking lot for Pajarito, but there is plenty of free street parking nearby. We came on a Friday evening around 5:30 or so, and there was a large group of people waiting. Not much room to wait in the restaurant, but the hostesses seem diligent enough to get people seated as soon as they can. Onto the good stuff: Food and drink. Yucca (5/5): EASILY 5/5 and would totally recommend. These are like big, chunky fries that demand to be eaten. The lime aioli flavor on it is strong and delicious. Even when I heated up the leftovers in the oven were they still very flavorful. I can't get enough of these! Crispy Chicken Tacos (3/5): My friend ordered these and didn't want them to be spicy. The waitress said that they weren't, but they definitely did have heat! The crisp was good, but the taco itself didn't match my friend's taste. Nothing too groundbreaking on these. Queso Fundido (4/5): If it weren't for the delectable, perfectly fluffy tortillas, I would have given this dish a simple 3/5. I got this because of Worth It. The queso was good, but a little too heavy on the chorizo front. It got very heavy. The tortillas were the savior of the dish. I got this as my main, and I think that's where I went wrong. This is more of a sharing dish! A big sharing dish. Emperor Mango cocktail (4/5): This was good! Nothing special, but it had the right booze strength and good flavors. I would get this again if nothing else sparked my intrigue. In general, this place was very good, and I hope to return soon! The menu is limited, which is something I liked. It can get busy, so consider that before showing up at peak times. Something I will always order when I visit: YUCCA. read more

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Let me start off with the food, which was great! My brother got a couple sets of tacos and enjoyed both. He's a big fan of the Barbacoa which I had back when they opened. Their chilaquiles are stellar. Our first bartender, Henry was a bit off-putting. He was slow and rather inattentive. I get that you're semi busy but relax. He was a total jackass to the server as well. Like dude, don't make it even more awkward for us over our round of brews. The servers and staff in general seemed off, the floor manager was talking trash about another to one of the servers. When you sit next to the well you sometimes get (wanted or not) the deets. The good: solid food, wish they were more flexible with the menu tho. Have to order two of any taco. No combos. The great: Daniel - rogue bartender who got the tab transfer! Woooo. The best: Nice bathrooms! Very tidy. read more

I love how they have transformed this place from a German restaurant into a lively Mexican gathering spot. Flavorful tacos ( 2 per plate), the Al pastor was quite good. The Wood-charred sweet potato was tasty and rich. Interesting menu of cocktails We had dinner at 6:45 on a holiday Monday . The place was fairly full but were able to be seated without a wait. It is newly opened and while the staff is helpful they seem to be rushing around a lot. I joked to my husband as we stood up to leave that we better watch out so as to not get run over. On the way to the door 3 different times waitstaff had to "come thru" so we moved aside. I imagine this will get better with time. We will return with friends next visit. read more

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Really great atmosphere with a modern/ southern feel, unique music, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and the food was wonderful. I've heard a bit about Pajarito so I decided to bring my boyfriend here for date night. Ordered the Barbacoa tacos with a side of the black beans. 10/10. Also order the queso fundito which was also great and the grilled octopus which was probably the star of the night. A bit spendy but worth it for a date night. read more

Pajarito - Mexican Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota