El Taco Riendo

I think I’m in love. Seriously, guys.

I went out a few weeks ago to get some tacos at Barrio again. And they were good. I mean, they always have new lunch special tacos, so going there to get mid-day tacos is usually a special adventure. This time when I went they had calamari tacos. They were pretty good, but the calamari pieces were large, and fried, and not especially conducive to functional taco consumption. The real winner that day was the chicken quesadilla. Man, that was yumtown.

And a few weeks before that, my vegan friend Holly over at Babes in Soyland made me this unbelievable vegan burrito pie. Seriously, it was so freaking good.

Those were like first dates. They were good, flirtatious and satisfying, but kind of awkward in their respective ways.

Then, I walked into El Taco Riendo in northeast Minneapolis, and I fell in love.

I don’t know any more magical way to say how delicious their tacos were than to say this: I ordered three tacos (al pastor, barbacoa and shredded chicken in chili verde), business as usual, right? But then, after I finished my third. I went back to the counter to get another one (al pastor). Holy Mary, mother of God, that al pastor was so delicious that I was powerless to stop myself.

El Taco Riendo is set up like Chipotle (it must be a bummer to always get described that way, especially when the offerings at ETR are so much better): some tables, and a counter at which you can order an array of tortilla-based meals to be filled with an array of delectable meat, starch and vegetable options. I could have put just about anything on my tacos, and the affable dudes behind the counter would have let me!

The owner was even there, hanging out and just being an all around nice guy. I told him about All the Tacos, and he told me about a tattoo shop around the corner. He also let me know that El Taco Riendo does catering, which is awesome, because my birthday is coming up.

Here’s the thing…I got three types of tacos, and all of them were unbelievable. Sure, when I went back for seconds, I got a repeat of the al pastor rather than the beef or chicken, but that’s only because it was so super-sonically delicious that I just couldn’t hear the other types calling my name over the sound of little pineapple pork angels singing.

I don’t remember what my meal cost, and I don’t really care. I would climb over broken glass for more of those tacos. But…will I take the bus to the north east to experience them again? Time will tell, my friends. Time will tell.

El Taco Riendo
2416 Central Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 781-3000 ‎