When I moved to MN, more than a few expats that had escaped to sunny California told me about a great little place called Little T's that I had to visit. A restaurant with a nickname? Count me in. What I found instead of Mexican food was a large pile of confusion. First of all, the food is about as Mexican as a bed of linguini topped with baigan bharta. The entrees are all a kind of bland, tasteless mish-mash of ingredients that falls somewhere short of Taco Bell in its authenticity, but at double the price. Late night chow should not cost this much! And I might have been spoiled in California but I dont accept that Minnesota thinks this is Mexican food. Have you been to Lake St? Ok so maybe you havent... What IS good at Little T's is the tasty salsa (surprise!) so your best bet is a simple chips&cheese or anything you can add flavor to by smothering it in the salsa. Not the cheeseburger. As disappointing as the food may be though, I doubt that's why anybody comes here. There are saving graces that make it less of a destination and more of the place where everybody seems to end up: 1. It's open late and it's not a bar. I'd say this is a good chunk of their regular business. 2. Cheap coffee and tasty shakes. Again, not Mexican but who doesn't want a killer chocolate-banana shake at 1 a.m. after a long night? Besides, you get the extra in the metal shake cup. 3. People-watching. The servers are all an odd combination of tattoos, piercings, and Minnesota-nice and the clientle is usually just as fun. 4. Crayons. They cover the tables with paper so you can color and if your creation is spectacular enough, they'll cut it out after you leave and hang it behind the till. Just imagine the local fame you will amass... So if you are looking for yummy, drive right by Little T's, head south and take a left onto East Lake...but if all you want is a place to plop down and all the area coffee shops closed hours ago, Little T's will probably suffice. *note to Val B: Caesar salad IS originally a Mexican dish!
(2)
Dani B.
The chili con queso and 'wet' chips are incredible. Five stars just for that!
(5)
TATIANA M.
I was so excited to reconnect with Friends last week @ Little Tijuana but as we Pulled up its was Closed for remodeling : ( I Anticipate the opening of yours Doors .......( :
(4)
Judd H.
If you are looking for super authentic mexican food you may not love it here. Just remember that authentic doesn't always mean good. Little T's to me is really good comfort food. I love their enchiladas and the fried chips and salsa are to die for. Not the kind of food you should eat regularly but if you're in the mood for some really filling and greasy mexican food then check it out. Probably not the type of place you want to take your grandparents or friends from Edina to. It's not the cleanest looking place and the servers may scare your grandma.
(4)
Chanstay Y.
Service was good, food was ok, but I love the atmosphere and the owner is very nice and friendly. I wouldn't say I would go out of my way to eat here unless I wanted something to eat after a night of partying.
(4)
Laura P.
I like Little T's, but I never have high expectations when I come here. As far as mexican food goes, it falls a little short. As far as american food goes. . it still misses the mark. But overall, I still have a sweet spot in my heart for this place. I always win with the chicken taco salad or any of the burgers, but anything outside of that, I feel I might stray into Disappointment Land. I love the taco salad, I get mine with chicken on top. The veggies are nice and fresh and it's served in a tortilla shell, so you can crack apart the bowl and scoop up taco stuff with it. The sour cream and guacamole they give you is tasty, but the guacamole is $2.50 extra when you order it. Highway robbery!! But, I do love that dish, and it's not quite complete without the guacamole. Sometimes you have to sacrifice your values for a damn good meal. And the burgers, tasty as a mofo. They have a variety of good toppings, so go crazy and see what you can come up with. But I don't mean "come up with" as in on your own, because they don't allow menu substitutions. Like the cook's head is going to explode if you ask for some different kind of topping or something. "Could you please add cheese and jalapenos?" -"What? Add? Cannot compute . .cannot compute. . brain frying. . ." I don't know, maybe the servers have bad short term memory. Or maybe they feel it's a way of keeping the masses from taking too many liberties and getting too creative with their food. As if the only form of expression can be on the table with your crayons. I don't know, but I don't think it would kill them to allow you to order your food in the way that you would most enjoy eating it. Especially when you're about to pay $2.50 for some damn guac. The restaurant itself is really cute. The decor is awesome. There is usually some good old punk music playing. I went here during Halloween once and they were playing Halloween music, which was cute. The staff is pretty friendly for the most part. I've had a good experience about 75% of the time, customer service wise. Sometimes you get a girl that is all bitchy because she just passed the tattooed girl threshold of coolness that instantly allows her to look down on people because she got the 'super original' pistols tattooed on her pelvis. Or the really unique sacred heart chest piece. Not to mention the one of a kind swallows or sailor themed tattoos. I bow down, it takes a lot of guts to be out-of-the box punk like that. :P But, overall all the employees are really nice. They all have their own sense of style, which I really like and truly embrace, when it doesn't come with attitude or a superiority complex. The prices are -eh- here. Some stuff is a little on the cheaper side, but it's the side dishes and weird stuff that has a jacked up price. Seriously, I can't get over this, as you may have noticed by now, TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS for a little dish of guac!!!! Little T's is definitely worth checking out. I remember when I was a young out-of-towner, it was always cool to drive up to Minneapolis for a show and then hit up Little T's or Pizza Luce afterwards for dinner. Now that I know better, I would never, but they are some staple spots you have to check out when you are getting acquainted with Minneapolis. Ya just gotta do it.
(2)
Nathan D.
I got here with my sister to eat. She said she ate here a few years ago and that it was good. We sat down and they asked if we would like some chips and salsa or queso before we even got out menus. I said chips and queso would be fine. Looked through the menu, everything was very pricey for Mexican food. The chips and cheese came. The chips tasted old and stale and the small bowl of queso tasted like velveeta with some ground jalapeños in it. The salsa was bland as well. I ordered a tamale because I didn't want to spend 12$+ on anything based on the quality of the chips and cheese. The tamale was decent, hence the reason this place got two stars. My sister got the enchiladas and those were bland. Beans were tasteless but the rice was good. We split the check. I look at the receipt and they charged me 12$ for the chips and cheese! That is rediculous. A tamale, drink, chips, and cheese should no be 20$. I will never come back here. There are way too many good Mexican food joints in the cities to waste money here.
(2)
Heidi S.
I love going here late at night. They have great hours, food and service. I also love that they have paper on the tables and you can draw. They have great great great dessert and burritos. The atmosphere is very laid back and funky. The music is always great. The staff always can recommend something on the menu as well. Go hungry to this restaurant!
(5)
Matthew S.
Far inferior to Pancho Villa's just down the street, Little Tijuana is best described as Tex-Mex served by white hipsters. The food is bland and fairly boring, while the lack of cerveza and even free refills on soda is lame to put it mildly. NO BEER AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT = BAD SIGN. Plus, NOTHING came with the meal. We paid extra for chips and salsa, sour cream, guacamole, etc. The vegetables tasted like they were from a frozen bag. The service was pretty bad as well - intermittent and scatter-brained. Bottom line: If you want good Mexican food, go half a block up to Pancho Villa's. Don't even bother with Little Tijuana.
(2)
Meghan P.
I like the decor. The servers were nice. Also, they do split checks (at least for two people). It's been open since the sixties (I think; the waitress told us but I can't remember the exact year. Her dad used to eat here when he was in college. So a really long time, at any rate.). This kind of explains the Minnesota Mexican cuisine. I wouldn't go here for food, unless I was drunk. Apparently that's a major reason people go.
(2)
Nikki M.
Ive been going to little T's ever since I found it two blocks away from my first apartment 14 years ago.So its a little nostalgic for me. After reading most of the reviews its clear what Litte T's provides for hungry minneapolitians; good, greasy food at a casual spot. It will satisfy be it 1pm or 1am. I always order: the salsa, one or two enchilada's, cheese crisp w/ jalapenos.The steak tacos and chimmies are also good. Unless they change something drastically I will continue to eat here from time to time.
(4)
Kurt M.
I have a love in my heart for little T's. Been goin there for years. I think almost all of their food is really good. Its definitely tex mex. Don't swing in there if your looking for authentic mexican but I personally think they do a good job. My faves. Fried chips and salsa, guac and pico de gallo Splitting Fajitas with another person (get extra meat and tortillas)
(5)
Val B.
Despite being a Mexican restaurant that doesn't serve margaritas (it has no liquor license), this place has somehow won a place in my heart. With a semi strange menu offering traditional fare like tacos, flautas and burritos along with hamburgers and Caesar salad, everything is pretty good. I love the paper table cloths - I like to draw a plate with my chimichanga on it before my food gets there, just so I get good and hungry. The portions are pretty reasonable, so expect to be full without leftovers. The waitstaff is all knowledgable and fun - it seems like most of them like coming to work, which is nice to see at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. If you don't know what to get, this is definitely a place where you can get an honest answer from the waitress. Don't forget to order Jarritos (fruity Mexican soda). Their selection is random (sometimes they have fruit punch, sometimes they don't), but it rounds out the trip to Little T's - and makes up for the lack of margarita.
(4)
Sarah Z.
I've been going to Little T's for years. I love the atmosphere and the placements you can draw on with crayons. Most importantly, the food is FANTASTIC. Love the salsa, chips, queso dip, enchiladas, and pretty much everything I've ever ordered. Wish I could order a margarita, but love that it stays open until 4am!
(4)
Robert S.
When I'm in a mood for Mexican food, Little T's is one of my favorite destinations. The atmosphere is OK but it doesn't thrill me, I mean if I want to draw with crayons I'll do that at home. The fact that they are open until 4am, well I'll just say that at my age it's been years since I wanted Mexican food after 9 pm. So what do I like about this place? That's easy, the food is excellent (and the service is good) and will keep me coming back even if I have to deal with an alternative crowd.
(4)
Ninja S.
Little T's is an awesome place to hit after whatever night spot you were in previously closed and kicked your ass out. It is very punk rock, so bring your attitude with you when you come here. Take no shit from anyone. In order to keep its patrons sense of destruction in check, crayons and paper tableclothes are provided so that they may be scrawled upon instead of carving up the tables or defacing the walls. The food is pretty surprisingly good and way better Mexican food that I can get here in Washington state. I don't know if I would come here during the day, but hitting it at 2am is always a really good idea.
(4)
Julie R.
Ok, I get it. Little T's lets you draw on the table and the staff are weird, so that's cool. But their food is honestly sooooo bad that it isn't worth going in here AT ALL. Everything is dry, and if it's not dry it's dripping in grease. Ew.
(1)
T.S. M.
When I first went to Little T's I thought it was the coolest Mexican restaurant ever. It's on Eat Street, attracts the alternative crowd, you can draw on the table's, and their fried ice cream is delicious. But the longer I lived in Minneapolis the lower Little T's fell on my list. The food is just average, and you can't even drink there! If you like cheap Mexican dives you should try Chiapas, or Dominguez Restaurant.
(2)
Ben H.
Great mexican food, huge portions, excellent music- usually a range of punk and new-wave but they do throw in a few surprises, and friendly staff.
(4)
Lacey P.
The only time to go here is when all the restaurants with actual good Mexican, or actual good food at all are closed. Ok the atmosphere is nice, and the people watching is good, and maybe you'll run into someone you know if you're hip, but the food is not good. It is greasy and not very Mexican. The drinks are HUGE though. And paying is hard. And the bathroom is tiny. But it's open late, plays good music, has good stuff to look at, and I guess it's an institution.
(2)
emily o.
this place is overrated big time...get some flavor already
(2)
b g.
This place is a great greasy spoon that serves up good food. I got the fried chips and put a little salt on them and got pico. Very good! I also had the shredded pork taco's (#3) and they were wonderful. They do not offer refills on soda's but COME ON, no person should drink more than one of those gigantic sodas in one setting. I was practically in a food coma and wanted to be wheeled out of Little T's. Servers were also nice and helpful!!
(4)
Nick H.
This is one of my step dad's go-to places, but definitely not one of my favorites. The food is very average, but I like the atmosphere. He loves this place for the Big Ts (margaritas), both because they are great drinks, and because you are entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate, which he has won. The fresh chips are hot when they come to the table, and the nachos are pretty good, both in taste and portion size. The last time I went, the tacos were pretty "meh", although they have been better in the past. Also, the waiter this past time was very average - very low key (almost too low key) and didn't get the full order right - to be fair, there were a ton of us, we were using a gift certificate from the raffle, and we were just all around confusing. Maybe best of all, it's around the corner from glam doll donuts!
(3)
Mike B.
"No Whining" That is their motto. By whining, they mean don't ask us to work or treat you like a valued customer. I've been going to Little T's for nearly 20 years but I've finally had enough. I cannot handle paying a premium for small portions of food and the bad attitude that comes with it. Every time I think about coming here, I remember how terrible it is and I find somewhere else to go. It is really a shame because one of my favorites is no longer an option for me. :(
(1)
Lila C.
2nd vist to Little Tijuana: Food - The Chicken Nachos were sad to look at and even sadder to eat. Everything about it was bland, it looked plasticky, and the subpar ingredients just killed me. I could make better nachos at home with the random items in my fridge. The guacamole was dismal. It's a Mexican place so you would think they make it in house but it's definitely out of a container. Clearly people don't come to Little T for the food but having a standard level of guac and salsa game is important to me. I'm going to need to drink more before I try the food next time. Drinks - I guess everyone comes for the Happy Hour drinks. I went on a Sunday and the place was a beehive beginning at 5 and then completely cleared out at 7 p.m. When happy hour ended it felt like a bar close at the end of the night. Lesson Learned - Come only for the drinks during HH and leave immediately after you're done.
(2)
Jack H.
Stopped here for first time with family. Didn't know to expect but I could tell right away it's a place for drinks. We didn't order any drinks just had their food. 3 dishes, burger, nacho and enchilada. Burger was decent surprisingly. However, shrimp ($3 extra) enchilada was blend and horrid, pretty sure it wasn't suppose to taste like that... Not to mention the shrimps were so tiny and old. Nacho was even worst... I don't understand how something so easy make can be butchered like that... Chips all ruined. Ingredient scant and cheap. I would not come back again.
(2)
Michelle G.
The service was great! When my pop got done the server would give me another one. Good experience I would recommend it.
(5)
Jenni B.
What a truly bizarre experience. Our wait staff either ignored us or literally sat down in the booth with us, despite not being particularly invited. It is probably best to come here late at night once you are already in a good mood, or get there quickly with one of their pre dinner shot specials I guess. The food is greasy and easily home cooked quality. I've had a burrito and a burger and they have both been ok and no better. I wouldn't choose to come here again, but my boyfriend has a weird fondness for the oddity of dining here. Apparently he's not alone though, there is a serious cult following for this place.
(2)
Jen K.
This is where you go when it's 3am, you're wasted and there's very few other options. Sadly, to me this place used to be a four or even a five star. However, they've reorganized under new management and it's gone sadly downhill from what was not really all THAT high of a bar in reality to start with (I loved it, but c'mon, it's always just fatty tex mex). I was pretty saddeded by the chili con queso the last time I was there. The queso was literally watery. I... I just.... Awwwwwwwwww, seriously? I haven't had that in YEARS and was so looking forward to it. No dice. However, the deserts aren't that much different than they used to be. Neither is the service! I guess my rating for Little T's has swung wildly over the years as there was one point in there wherein it would have gotten 1 star from me due to the incredibly rude and listless waitstaff. These days at least they're friendly-- but they are still really inefficient and will leave you waiting forever before your order is taken and your water is refilled. Also, gone are the GIANT glasses of water-- what's up with that? There's no reason for that! Aw, forget it. The more I type the more I feel like this is a two star place now. HOWEVER, I still hope it never goes out of business because, really, this IS a classic and I have tons of nostalgia wrapped up in it. Fine, it goes back up to three stars.
(3)
Bob D.
I think the replies from the owner elsewhere on this thread say it all. Little T's, under new management, started out promising. It's gone straight downhill from there. No one here seems to care about much of anything anymore. I won't be surprised if they simply leave someday without even bothering to lock the door. High prices, stingy portions (their tiny rice and bean sides are absurd), flat beer, and just generally sub-par food. "No whining" my butt. Running a restaurant is hard work. These guys aren't even trying.
(1)
Casey N.
I wanted to like this place. But maybe that's just what the little flies buzzing around our table were whispering in my ear. I've walked by this place several times and read the reviews online, so I had an idea about this place. I ordered a dinner that included a cheese enchilada, a bean tostada, and a cheese crisp. Tasty and just what I was craving. My husband ordered the nacho fries, as they reminded him of something served at a restaurant we frequented in Arizona, and he gobbled them up. My folks both ordered dinner plates of some kind and enjoyed them. The happy hour specials looked decent, and I'm intrigued by the brunch offerings. I'll give them another chance at some point.
(2)
Jimmy W.
So the staff isn't exactly professional in their attire and the ambiance is a little 60's dimer meets happy meal. The patrons are hipster and it is fun to be here. The food is a Mexican flair and if you have desert you must have the chocolate chimichanga definitely a stop
(4)
Patrick H.
After a night of sharing some spirits with friends, we had a craving for Mexican food; we found ourselves at Little Tijuana around 12:30 am. We all ordered a round of Palomas and waited for our food. The drinks were decently strong but didn't have much flavor beyond tequila and lime; pretty light on the grapefruit soda in my opinion. While waiting for the food, a small caterpillar fell onto our table from the ceiling. Not super appetizing but he had a good personality so it wasn't a huge deal. We then got our food. I got a burrito, not the best but hard to have super high standards at that hour of the night. My friends ordered nachos which were actually waffle fries with ground beef and cheese on top. They seemed to enjoy them, except for the length-wise-cut jalapeño slices. My other friend ordered mini tacos which he was told by the server that they "are the worst item on the menu, easily our most returned item." Needless to say, the server was correct. All in all, not a very pleasant experience. Probably would never go back, even after a night of heavy drinking.
(2)
Isaac W.
It use to be my favorite. I'm so tired of going back to this place and being disappointed. The prices keep getting higher and the portions get smaller and smaller. And to make it worse, the weird lady that owns it makes her hipster staff act all corporate like Applebee's employees. See ya at Poncho Villa.
(1)
Lisa E.
I think the little mini taco appetizer we had is out of a box from the frozen food section of the grocery store. The drinks were OK and service OK. The space is really looking grungy, or maybe it always has; I was just too drunk to notice before? I guess it used to be thought of as cool to go here, even though the food was really not much better in the 90s; the nostalgia has worn thin and I've grownup.
(2)
Michael S.
This was disappointing. I used to love this place, but haven't been since it reopened...and now I know why it's dead. The chips n cheese were shitty. chips were soggy and sprinkled with shredded cheese, not queso dip like advertised. The mini tacos were,the frozen kind you dip in a fryer...not what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant.
(1)
Finn K.
One word is why I'm writing this review: Deborah (the owner). She was so mean to our party. She kept micromanaging our seating and even what we were ordering. She even went so far as to try to embarrass me and ask me to leave because I "only" ordered a malt and a dessert (this came out to roughly 20 dollars by the way). She was just very rude and controlling, treating us more like freeloading house guests than customers. It was just unacceptable service!!
(1)
Jordan T.
I've been going here for about 12 years now. If you live in Minneapolis and haven't been here to eat........... You are missing out. Awesome food. Start with the fried chips, salsa (best I've ever had.... And I've traveled the south west extensively) and some fresh guacamole. I usually will get the beef nachos. But everything is good. Even the service. Totally affordable too. Fun part is you get to color while you wait!! Great place for a first date.. Thanks Lil' T's!!!!
(5)
Glen S.
First time back since they renovated the place and we will be back again. I guess I don't know why I'm writing this, I mean I know why, but what's there to say? Get the margarita - and the food. Then enjoy. Really, you can't go wrong if you're in the mood for Mexican. Oh, and yes - it's very safe. I can't believe how long it took me to convince my wife that it was safe, so now that we went there in the day time, she now knows and has been back twice.
(4)
Corey N.
Little T's used to be good for late night drunk food. When I ate their last night: They use canned chili for their ground beef They didn't season their chips or salsa. Every thing on the menu is $10.50(weird?) My girl friend ordered a taco salad(10.50 of course) and she needed a $2 up charge to have meat on it. And what's with the weird Andy Warhol rip off art in the bar area? I wrote most of this review having a painful bathroom experience.
(1)
Linda H.
I am so sad to write this review but after trying it a few times since they reopened, I have to ask..What happened????? I used to LOVE LOVE this place!!! SO many happy memories, late night nacho eating after the bars close, and long talks with my Besties. I ordered the cheese/onion enchiladas which were not good at all, in fact, I make much better! The servings are small and don't include anything. My friend had a chimi and it was small and no rice or beans for $11 dollars...Really? I love the chips and salsa and might return just to eat those. Keep in mind here there are no free chips or salsa. You pay her bowl. Over priced, not open until 4 AM like back in the day, and sub par food makes me not want to go to Little T's anymore.... :(...
(2)
Jonathan M.
Food is meh, prices are high and the side of rice and beans is meager.
(2)
Charlie B.
Seems a bit expensive, and the owner is kinda weird, but I've been coming here for years and I love it. Chimichangas are kinda my thing.
(4)
Marsha W.
Being Latina, I was excited to try this place out for Cinco de Mayo this year. I walked by this restaurant many times. For some reason, because it's in Minneapolis and because of its proximity to Lake Street, I thought it must be authentic Mexican, right? Boy, was I wrong! Needless to say, this restaurant seems to be populated by the MCAD crowd- tons of trendy White hipsters and not a Latino in the bunch. I kind of wondered if any Latinos even worked in the kitchen! I ordered the fish tacos and a Crispin. The food was good but it reminded me of something I could have gotten at the Blue Door in St. Paul or pub food. There was nothing really extraordinary about it. I had a pleasant experience at Little Tijuana and my waiter was pretty nice. They also have a bar you can sit and drink at and some strange photos of cats with hats on the walls. Overall, this restaurant is nice with decent food and prompt service. If you like to people-watch MCAD students with funky clothes and haircuts, this is your place! However, if you are looking for authentic Mexican food, you might want to look to El Tejaban in Richfield.
(4)
Adam W.
"Little T" is back after a two year hiatus! All of the classic goodness remains: the mural, the comfy booths, and your favorite entrees (Baked Plate! Chicken Cheese Plate!) . The full bar is a welcome addition. The big margarita, served in a pint glass, was perfectly mixed and honestly poured. Staff are plentiful and full of smiles: everyone is happy to be back. Yeah, we know it isn't "authentic" Mexican. It's Little T's! The perfect place to end your night in style...or get it off to a good start. A piece of Minneapolis history, and highly recommended.
(5)
Elias A.
This place always serves up really good food, although the last time we were there the service was spotty. No matter, an excellent place to get delicious and well-prepared food. Dig the shop.
(4)
Mia L.
Okay, I wish I could rate 2.5 stars because that's exactly what Little TJ deserves. Disclaimer: I'm a Texan and I have extra high standards. My boyfriend and I popped in late on a Sunday after a show. We're both recent transplants to the cities and have been eager to find authentic-ish Tex-Mex. I'd seen Little TJ on Yelp and was intrigued. We walked in and found it crowded, and ordered drinks right away. They hadn't expected a rush on Sunday night so it took a while, but our server was nice about the wait. He had a beer, I had a daiquiri with raspberry added. It was delicious! We ordered chips and queso to start. The chips were a little hard, but were obviously housemade, so I give them a pass. The queso was creamy and mild. We really enjoyed it! They brought us some salsa as well, and I was unimpressed. It tasted like tomato sauce with cumin added. Throwing some fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic, and cilantro in a blender isn't that difficult, and it would have been much tastier. For our dinner we had steak fajitas. They came out on a sizzling platter and smelled heavenly. They were very well cooked (medium), but tasted a little like barbecue sauce. I'm used to fajitas that are lightly seasoned, but these were still alright. Let's just say there weren't any left! My boyfriend (an Ohioan) said they were great. The tortillas that came along were mediocre at best. La Perla (local brand you can find at every grocery store) are much better. We decided to have chocolate chimichangas for dessert and it was sugar overload! Then again, we didn't leave a crumb on the plate! I think that with a few tweaks this place could be great. All of our food arrived hot and fresh, and we had good service. I'll be back to review other dishes on the menu!
(3)
Paige S.
A fantastic spot! Consistently good food, great service and great happy hour. I also love that the owner is frequently on site, getting input and chatting with customers. The crispy tacos are perfect, and I am super excited for brunch to start this weekend!
(5)
Hannah B.
noooo! It really makes me sad to be writing a bad review for them. I remember going here years (and years) ago and really loving it. I loved the vibe, food was good....it took me 10 years to get back and I was so excited. Then I walked in the door and already it seemed "off". It didn't have the grungy old MPLS vibe that I really dug when I was a young kid in the city. But hey, onward! The food is what's important, right? well... as I'm walking to my seat I looked at other peoples plates and I immediately got nervous because it looked pretty grim. I'm too shy to walk out after Ive been seated, but I knew it was going to be bad from the start. Sadly I was right. My chimichanga (fried burrito, sounds perfect!) was so crazy small. I should have taken a picture, but it was literally smaller than an i-phone. They try to fool you by putting it on a big plate and covering it with a mountain of shredded iceberg lettuce and stale cheddar cheese. So much bad lettuce and cheese, just no. Then on the side (actually I'm not sure if this came with my meal or my husbands, but that's not the point) One of our meals came with a side of rice and beans. It came on a small saucer, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was ONE bite of beans and ONE bite of rice. I literally fit the whole plate full on two spoons. Not to mention that it obviously was old and had been microwaved and re-served because it was super dry and crusty on the edges and flaming hot. It was a joke, I would have laughed when I saw it except that I was very hungry, so it made me want to cry instead. Nothing was tasty, nothing was fresh or even slightly modern, and super small portions. It really is a huge rip-off and I don't think Ive been more disappointed with any place in the Twin Cities. Especially Tex-Mex! Come on, that's easy! Beans. Rice. Salsa. Good meat! I'd say Little T's it's a 1/2 step above taco bell, at 5x the price.
(1)
Jennie B.
I was so excited to try Little Tijuana's tonight. Feeling as if it was an Eat Street staple, I was happy to support it, especially after it was down and out for a while. Bad idea. Not to be overly mean, but I honestly think that I can understand why it had to close the first time - because it's bound to close soon again. Why you may ask? -The last thing from authentic Mexican -They do not accept ANY substitutions - the owner even came out to tell me that a salad subbed for french fries would cost her an arm and a leg ($2.50), although I was paying $11 for a sandwich alone. -Completely overpriced -A friend who ordered the vegan burrito opened the tortilla and found lettuce and broccoli... that's it, for $11. When she asked the waitress about it she refused to make any changes or work with her. -They overprice everything, including sprigs of cilantro which was $1, beans and rice which apparently don't come with any meal, as well as tortilla chips - which are normally free of charge. Bottom line - this restaurant is ONLY about the bottom line, not about customer service, not about quality food, and certainly not about happy customers. I would NOT suggest a thing about this place, especially not the toilet that didn't flush in the women's restroom nor the poorly made salsa.
(1)
Barbara M.
I tried them again and they made it right. So I go again and I am happy.
(3)
Gael R.
Yuckyville! It is straight up offensive that they charge what they do for the quality of their food. I had the chimichanga and I gotta say that thst was the saddest excuse for a chimichanga that I've ever seen. Like are you for real charging me 16 bucks for this crap? I've had better at Taco Cabana. The only remotely Mexican thing about this place is the runs it gave me - akin to drinking the tap below the border.
(2)
Theresa W.
Wasn't a big fan before the remodel so I reluctantly gave it a shot.. Still not a fan. The only thing that has changed is the prices! The chips and salsa were terrible; the chips were SOAKED in grease and the salsa tasted like bland tomatoes and cilantro. The tortillas they use for the enchiladas taste like paint to me and the vegetables are boring and mushy. The fried ice cream is still the best thing on the menu, and even that left me with a tooth ache. It's just so damn sweet! The full bar is a nice touch and the bar tender was super nice (even though she was really busy and working an unexpected double). But really, when ya really get down to it, you can go to a bar (thats original purpose is serving booze) and still find tastier food.
(1)
John C.
Is the food good, not really, but that's not why you go there, so who cares? (but I'd get the nachos personally). If you have a problem with punks, arty types, people with tattoos, or other alteries, then stay away and spare us your whining. It has been closed for over 13 months now, but their facebook page says to keep the faith. This ain't my faith so I don't give too much of a hoot, but it's one of those places that is different and serves a purpose, so I appreciate it for simply existing; we all have places like this. Personally, my religion is Strudel & Noodle German Bakery that used to be a block away, next to the Black Forest, and pray daily that it will someday return to this still empty spot.
(3)
Jess L.
After a lengthy hiatus, Little T's is back in action. The boyfriend and I went to see the Rembrandt exhibit at the MIA, and were craving some Mexican on the way home. Little T's popped into my mind, and he said he'd never been to this Minneapolis institution in the food scene - so we had to go. And go we did. The server suggested mojitos, which really hit the spot. Service was good, bordering on overbearing. Our food was just kind of sad. I know one doesn't go to Little T's for the awesome quality of their food, but this was beyond the pale - my chicken tacos were so soggy that they completely soaked through the tortillas, so all I had was a pile of corn mush. The boyfriend's food was ok, but we both like Taco Bell better. Two entrees and two drinks came to $50 pre-tip, which I thought was pretty steep. They were having some kind of issue with their emergency exit door, which kept going off while they tried to remove the keys from it...I think they have storage back there? Whatever the reason, it was super distracting and SCARY AS HELL when you are sitting five feet from it, and it starts going off like a car alarm. Seriously, the boyfriend almost threw a taco across the room he was so startled. Go back to Little T's for the full bar experience. Re-live your favorite late night memories, or create some new ones. Just expect to shell out a few bucks more than your last visit.
(2)
Salinee H.
Brownie points for being open basically all of the time...And I love the tributes to Patrick Swayze, Richard Pryor, Steve Buschemi and M.I.A. (completely random). Other than that, the food is mediocre. It doesn't claim to be authentic Mexican so that's good because it's not. There are a lot of American menu items. As far as Mexican items, it's mostly just variations of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos.
(3)
Doghouse R.
I've been eating here since the early 90s when I lived in the neighborhood. It's always been great but now it's better with booze.
(5)
Elyse M.
I LOVE LITTLE Ts!!! No, it's not Mexican food. No, you shouldn't come here if you're watching what you eat. But for fake-Mexican, completely unhealthy, greasy, "fuck my diet!" food... Oh you can't top Little Tijuana. Oh and the staff is really friendly, funny, and personable. Seriously like them. I miss it, a lot. I don't know if it will ever re-open. Please do. I miss being a pig.
(4)
James B.
Straight up awful. Even drunk as hell it was awful.
(1)
Tip M.
don't get a burger here. my friend and I both had stomach cramps and diarrhea the next day not coo to wake up too!
(2)
Nathan P.
Haven't been here in a few years, and since they were off the grid for awhile I decided late one night to give it another go. I have to say that overall was not greatly impressed. The hosted was literally drunk when we got there, and was drinking at the bar the entire time. Food was still sup-par. Not exactly "mexican", but ok. The price isn't horrible though for your portion size. Probably will not return in the future.
(3)
Don Y.
Awful! Don't ever order the vegetarian enchiladas. Imagine taking a bag of frozen vegetables, putting them in a tortilla with no sauce, no seasoning, and don't cook them very long so they still taste raw, put a little sauce and cheese on the top and voila! Barely edible enchiladas. Plus they charge almost $12.00, the same price as meat enchiladas, and they charge for chips and salsa. What a miserable dining experience.
(1)
Erika B.
Went on a week night. First time. Service was excellent. Food was poor (ordered based on server recommendation, even). Drinks were SUPER expensive. I won't go back. Atmosphere was boring. Sounds like it was better before the hiatus.
(2)
Jackie L.
We anticipated the reopening for quite some time. We had never been there, but had heard about this amazing little place. I was excited to try it after what seemed like 10 years of "remodeling". I am not quite sure what the place looked like prior to the remodel, but I can't imagine it looked any different. The food was very bland... Needless to say, we were not impresed and will not be returning.
(1)
Lacey B.
Although I no longer live in Minneapolis, I just have to do a quick review of Little Tijuana because it basically got me through my college years. Seriously. I may have not made it without Little T's. Big portions of yummy, greasy Mexican food served by crazy, friendly, tattooed weirdos in a crazy, divey restaurant until the wee hours of the early morning. But it's all good. Sometimes you need a little bit of craziness in your world. This place may scare off the more conventional of crowds, but don't worry, they're probably more scared of you. Oh how I miss you, Little T!
(4)
Ben D.
Okay, lets start off with a dose of truth, this cannot be classified as Mexican food. I mean it can, but really only as Tex-Mex, or Mexican American Fusion.... There is very little that is traditionally mexican about ordering a bacon cheese burger! (Which is still quite good!) I quite enjoy the atmosphere here! It is somewhat dive-y all things told, but I don't really come here to stare at the wall covering (unless you count their "table cloth art") I go there for the late night greasy spoon food that you just have to have someitmes! You absolutely can't go wrong with their taco salad (get the chicken though as the beef ruins it just a little). And a regular taco platter or burrito is awesome too! If you want the honest to god truth, it's when you go in there with this idea that somehow you are getting 5 star cuisine that you will be very disappointed in price point, service, and food. It is not meant to be fine dining, it is meant to be a great hangout, with decent food, in a really great location! I generally don't drink soda while eating, and I have heard many complaints over the fact that refills are not free, I have come to find that MANY places no longer have free refills, so I guess it's more or less a sign of the times, not this restaurant. I will end with this, I discovered this place about five years ago on one of my many trips to uptown before moving to Minneapolis, and there is something to be said for this place being consistent. The food has little variation from day to day, and it is reflected by all of the people I know that LOVE to go there for a pre-bar or after-bar fill up!
(3)
John L.
First: Little Tijuana is not a Mexican restaurant. Tex-mex, lowbrow American? Yes, and deliciously so. Little T's food is purpose-built. After-bar - or before-bar even - munchies and greasebucket comfort food. The burgers taste better than they have any right to. Quesadillas are stuffed to the gills with all manner of things in addition to a reasonably large cheese-bomb; the beef quesadilla is more like eating a massive, stretched-out cheeseburger made with tortillas for a bun. The coffee is noteworthy for two major reasons: first, that it's everything that diner coffee ever wished it could be. Yeah, it tastes cheap, but it's substantial and effective, no overpowering feeling of wateriness. Second, it is the sole item on the menu outside of water that one gets free refills on. Multiple cups went very well with chain-smoking in the days when one could do so in restaurants. On the desserts side, the chocolate chimichanga is a beautiful monster. Think fudge sundae on a tortilla bed with hidden molten chocolate. You may doubt tortillas' place in the pastry world now, but after this, you won't. Complaints? I miss being able to go here any day of the year at any time after 11 and before 3am. It'd also be nice to be able to substitute a salad for fries with the burgers, but to do so may violate the cosmic order, so I'll let it slide.
(4)
Kedar D.
Minneapolis has many Mexican restaurants but very few of them are truly veg*n-friendly. The general trend seems to be that most Mexican places have beans cooked in lard and rice cooked in chicken broth and there's a pervasive misunderstanding about the meaning of "vegetarian" (to say nothing of "vegan"). So I appreciate Little Tijuana for not using either of those common, hidden ingredients, and for explicitly stating so on the menu. It certainly set me at ease. At most Mexican restaurants, even if you speak Spanish, explaining veganism is difficult (which makes sense if lard and chicken broth are considered "vegetarian" in Latin America). I thought the service was friendly and prompt. My food arrived quickly. I had a guacamole taco without cheese ($3.50) which was pretty decent, but would have been much better if they made it with mock duck or soy protein (it seems so obvious; I don't understand why more Mexican restaurants don't embrace faux meats). Fearing the taco wouldn't be enough to fill me up, I also ordered a black bean burger which was, in actuality, a Morningstar vegan patty on a bun ($7.25). No black beans there. It came with fries on the side. This portion of the meal was a disappointment. I was also disappointed that Little Tijuana charges you for chips and salsa ($2.25) which are normally free at most Mexican restaurants. Their deep-fried chips were okay, but their salsa choices were almost all mediocre. The only one with any quality was the pico de gallo; I recommend avoiding their tomatillo or normal red salsas which didn't taste fresh at all. My other major gripe is that this place nickel and dimes you for everything. You want lettuce and tomato with your veggie burger? An extra $0.50. You want a three ounce side of guacamole? $2.50. Also, they automatically gave me a larger and pricier glass of Coke, even though a smaller and cheaper size was available (which they didn't tell me about). I didn't like this at all, even if it was only an extra $0.55. All told, Little Tijuana is not the best place for food, but their pico de gallo with chips is solid, as is their guacamole taco. I like their extra-late hours. Most critically, this is the only Mexican place that I've been to in the Twin Cities which doesn't use lard or chicken broth, which in itself is a huge plus point in its favor. Little Tijuana keeps my trust whereas most other Mexican restaurants do not.
(3)
Samantha T.
The only reason I'm giving a 2 star is because the waitresses were awesome! But the food is horrible! It's like a non Mexican persons version of Mexican food and I think its really over priced
(2)
Marsha L.
Awesome food! Open late! Friendly staff! I miss that place. I can't wait until they are done remodeling and re-open!!
(5)
Liam F.
Awesome at 1am when you are still drunk. So So in the early evenings when you are sober. :)
(3)
Marilee A.
"Late Night Mex" I went here years ago for the 1st time after the bars with a girlfriend & it was so good that I get cravings for the place.The Vegetarian Chimichanga is addicting & HUGE.This place is like no other in the city, has the feel of a New York, or DC late night spot, the staff is colorful, tats , piercings, rags, at the risk of sounding politically incorrect, but that is another thing to love about the place.Wear your Flip Flops, or your Glass Slippers, all the shoe's fit here, no Grooming Standards apply.A little Divey, but Dive in & scarf up some great late night mex.People watching amazing, food amazing, are they still open till 3am? Scrumdiddlyisious, carve your John Hancock into the table so I know you've been here.
(3)
Maia R.
Now, don't come here expecting to get the best Mexican dish of your life- but that being said, if you're hungry, and it's late, this is far better than fast food, plus a little more. I recently went here for the first time 11/14/09 with a good friend of mine who's been going there for years, and I was surprised at how cute and homey it feels inside. It's located in a great location across from the Bad Waitress on Eat Street, which is nice, and it's a great place to go after a late night out, as I believe they are open until at least 3am. We ordered the fried tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa which was good, although the chips were a little greasy from just coming out of the fryer. I ordered two tostadas with a side of rice (rice was gross, but oh well) I was full and satisfied after my meal, not lethargic (which considering nothing else was open besides fast food, I could have been!!!) Good place to go, don't pass it up, the menu is huge. My friend said even their burgers are pretty good.
(3)
Joe P.
Let's be honest, the food really isn't very good. Little Ts is oft frequented because it's open super late and the average post-bar customer doesn't care that the food is mediocre. Be sure to note the hipster-chic servers. Also be sure to note if they quote you the price of sour cream for the price of guacamole--there's a significant difference, and their "sorry" won't get you your $4.50 back.
(2)
Margaret O.
Downgrading to three stars because I'm mad that Little T's is now only open Wed - Sun. This used to be the place to turn to when other places were unavailable, especially Mon evenings when so many places are closed. I'm sure they have good business reasons to have to have made this decision, but I'm still going to be whiny about it. Boo hoo! Also, I don't know if there has been a change in management or what but the last few times I've gone to Little T's, the general punk feeling of the place has gone down from 11 (it's one more) to maybe a 6. Not that I'm a punk expert or anything, but I'm just saying that the awesome wait staff has always been half the reason I go to little T's, and now the servers there are becoming more and more like "everyone else". On the upside, the totally inauthentic and wonderfully cheese-ridden mexican food are still just the same, and wonderful imho :)
(3)
L H.
This place doesn't have the most authentic Mexican or the best but I always love it. The enchilada sauce has always been my favorite- hands down, and I live in Southern CA and eat a LOT of Mexican. When I lived in Mpls, this was always a great late night spot. This visit was truly special today as they were so accomodating for my very picky (well deserved at her age!) 91 yr old Grandma and brought her the queso dip and chips at no charge. The owner (pretty sure that she was) brought her French dressing for her tostada (and even took the time to go over the menu with her) and came back to check on us regularly along with the bartender. She felt so incredibly special and just raved about it all the way home. My drink was great and reasonably priced (again.. living in So Cal, also used to paying more for less) I wish I still lived near so that I could visit more often. Thank you Little T's for such a great experience!
(5)
Angelique O.
Little Tujuana was the WORST mexican restaurant I have ever been to in my life. And I am Half hispanic. I went there not too long ago with my mother and my Boyfriend who actually came from Tijuana and we all agreed it was the worst place for mexican food we had ever been to. There was not a single person that we saw in this so called MEXICAN restaurant that was acutally Mexican or even hispanic. The food was plain and extremely bland, and more then half the menu was American Food. The selection for Mexican food was dismal at best. We left the restaurant after only eating two bites of what they served us and left immediatley. My boyfriend who is from Tijuana said this place and the "Mexican food" was a disgrace to his home and to his people. I wouldnt even recommend this place to my worst enemy. They dont even deserve one star...
(1)
Erik D.
Five stars for the "craving" aspect and the "comfort food" aspect, too. Don't ask to split the check (they won't), and don't whine (this does not score you any points). It is not the sort of Mexican food I've had in Mexico, but it's good anyway. I go to enjoy the punk/goth servers, the huge drinks, the paper tablecloths (complete with bin of crayons), and the "Mexican" comfort food. Portions are large, and usually covered with cheese, tasty and very filling. The place is open late, so if you're a night owl or just closed down a bar, this is a fun place to stop for food with a few friends. It's not fancy or perfect, but it's one of those places you get a craving for if you've not been there in a while.
(5)
Ericka A.
Little Tijuana (aka Little T's) is staffed by servers who look like they came straight out of a punk rock music video. They are always friendly and sometimes sit down with you to chat as they take your order. The place is pretty small, so they are quick about getting to your table and bringing you what you need; however, they aren't always on the ball about coming back to check on you. The walls are plastered with typical Mexican murals and the front desk is surrounded by art left on the tables by visitors. The tables always have large paper covers and they provide crayons to keep you occupied while you wait for the food. Feel free to get creative! The food is OK, but definitely not authentic. You can tell that at one point it probably had much more of Hispanic influence, but now it is merely a silhouette of what it once was. Mostly you go here to study because they are one of the only places open all the time in the area.
(3)
Ashley F.
Little T's in my official Fallback. When I can't think of anywhere else to go, my car mysteriously navigates itself here. And before I can do anything about it, I hear myself ordering greasy chips and a plate of mini-tacos. I love that I feel comfortable here, that I can laugh with the wait-staff and that best of all, I can color on the tables. Is there really a feeling better than having your coloring-job picked for the wall? I think not. Sure it's a little pricey, but come on, where else can you order a burger, a giant plate of nachos and chocolate chimichangas at 2 am?
This place is nasty! If you like chewing on stale tasting chili powder...and ass loads of it, you will love this place. As for me, I was broken the first time I've ever eaten it sober.. I admit, when I first moved to the cities, my old roommate kept talking about how amazing this place was. I went there once with her after a long night of drinking at about 2 am.. It didn't taste that bad, but at the same time, I kept thinking it could have been alot better. Then I opted to go back there a second time; this time completely sober in the middle of the day. BAD IDEA!!! I love Mexican food, don't get me wrong, but this is not the place for good Mexican food...Take my word for it. I've read that they have some of the best food... Come on, this is Minnesota...what good food could possibly ever come from this place? The taste was the worst part...WAY, WAY. WAY, toooo much chili powder...ON EVERYTHING!!! I was really disappointed. The other thing that really set me off about this place was how everyone I know loves eating here and I don't know why. I'm always recommended it, but I know better now, I'm not sure if people actually love the food, or if its just another one of Minneapolis's little hipster hangouts. The people that go there all think their shit doesn't stink. I love Minneapolis for that reason... There is absolutely no other place in the world where you can take a 360 look and see nothing but little vegan hipsters running around talking like that actually know shit.... STOP... and dont eat bad food... you should know better
(1)
Drew D.
I really like this place because its been closed for months. Hey, whats your tattoo mean?
(1)
Lesli R.
You'll have a different experience at Little Tijuana's depending on what time of day (or night) you stop by... and by what company you keep. My 8-year-old niece and I stopped by this weekend after a play, and it was a perfect end to our funky night out. The staff here may seem a little stand-offish at first, but never once has anyone given me attitude or act all pissed off at the world. Our waiter was no exception this time; he commented on what we were drawing, and engaged my niece in conversation as respectfully as if he were talking to an adult. She *loved* being treated this way, and even left her own dollar tip. Our visit was just for a late night snack, so we ended up with the fried chips and queso dip. Always a good choice, we snarfed them up in no time. We followed that by sharing a gigantic banana split, which was just delish. If you live in the neighborhood and have kid friends who visit you, this is a great place to take them.
(3)
johanna s.
I adore Little T's. It's not the cheapest place. It's not authentic Mexican food. I'm pretty sure they won't split checks. You don't get drink refills. BUT, the food is plentiful and delicious, the chips and salsa rock (and you can buy a jar of salsa to take home. Do it!), the wait staff is inked up and hot and friendly to boot. They play good tunes and you get to draw with crayons while you wait for your chow. Open late. Parking kinda blows, but no biggie. I love you, Little T's!!
(5)
Steve B.
Great place after a late night out on the town. Went last Saturday after having not been here for many years. FeelS the same way it felt 15 years ago. I am always surprised at how many choices are on the menu. You can never go wrong with the chili con queso with meat as your appetizer. While everything on my last visit went well.. friendly service, good food, comfortable environment, I always leave feeling the food is overpriced.
(3)
Ralph M.
Trashy Mexican food served to you by punk rock staff. If any of those words frighten you, this is not the establishment for you. Is the food authentic? Hell no! They are tasty, and cheap and most importantly they are OPEN LATE. Unfortunately, on weekends if you get there after 2am you will not be getting a table. The staff is of the heavily tattooed and occasionally mohawked variety. The fine print on the menu (and many signs posted around the place) make it clear they are a bit of a no nonsense place (I imagine because of the BAC of their clientle). The service is not of the perky, TGIF style, but I have never found it to be poor. The decor is of the amusingly run down variety. You can imagine some distant point in time when someone thought this place was a real mexican restaurant. Now lots of fliers for rock shows adorn the hallway by the door. Punk rock was on the stereo. I think my favorite little detail I noticed on my way out last night. A sign hung over the "employees only "door to the basement: "Do not leave your bicycles or unicycles here overnight."
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Alison M.
When I moved to MN, more than a few expats that had escaped to sunny California told me about a great little place called Little T's that I had to visit. A restaurant with a nickname? Count me in. What I found instead of Mexican food was a large pile of confusion. First of all, the food is about as Mexican as a bed of linguini topped with baigan bharta. The entrees are all a kind of bland, tasteless mish-mash of ingredients that falls somewhere short of Taco Bell in its authenticity, but at double the price. Late night chow should not cost this much! And I might have been spoiled in California but I dont accept that Minnesota thinks this is Mexican food. Have you been to Lake St? Ok so maybe you havent... What IS good at Little T's is the tasty salsa (surprise!) so your best bet is a simple chips&cheese or anything you can add flavor to by smothering it in the salsa. Not the cheeseburger. As disappointing as the food may be though, I doubt that's why anybody comes here. There are saving graces that make it less of a destination and more of the place where everybody seems to end up: 1. It's open late and it's not a bar. I'd say this is a good chunk of their regular business. 2. Cheap coffee and tasty shakes. Again, not Mexican but who doesn't want a killer chocolate-banana shake at 1 a.m. after a long night? Besides, you get the extra in the metal shake cup. 3. People-watching. The servers are all an odd combination of tattoos, piercings, and Minnesota-nice and the clientle is usually just as fun. 4. Crayons. They cover the tables with paper so you can color and if your creation is spectacular enough, they'll cut it out after you leave and hang it behind the till. Just imagine the local fame you will amass... So if you are looking for yummy, drive right by Little T's, head south and take a left onto East Lake...but if all you want is a place to plop down and all the area coffee shops closed hours ago, Little T's will probably suffice. *note to Val B: Caesar salad IS originally a Mexican dish!
(2)Dani B.
The chili con queso and 'wet' chips are incredible. Five stars just for that!
(5)TATIANA M.
I was so excited to reconnect with Friends last week @ Little Tijuana but as we Pulled up its was Closed for remodeling : ( I Anticipate the opening of yours Doors .......( :
(4)Judd H.
If you are looking for super authentic mexican food you may not love it here. Just remember that authentic doesn't always mean good. Little T's to me is really good comfort food. I love their enchiladas and the fried chips and salsa are to die for. Not the kind of food you should eat regularly but if you're in the mood for some really filling and greasy mexican food then check it out. Probably not the type of place you want to take your grandparents or friends from Edina to. It's not the cleanest looking place and the servers may scare your grandma.
(4)Chanstay Y.
Service was good, food was ok, but I love the atmosphere and the owner is very nice and friendly. I wouldn't say I would go out of my way to eat here unless I wanted something to eat after a night of partying.
(4)Laura P.
I like Little T's, but I never have high expectations when I come here. As far as mexican food goes, it falls a little short. As far as american food goes. . it still misses the mark. But overall, I still have a sweet spot in my heart for this place. I always win with the chicken taco salad or any of the burgers, but anything outside of that, I feel I might stray into Disappointment Land. I love the taco salad, I get mine with chicken on top. The veggies are nice and fresh and it's served in a tortilla shell, so you can crack apart the bowl and scoop up taco stuff with it. The sour cream and guacamole they give you is tasty, but the guacamole is $2.50 extra when you order it. Highway robbery!! But, I do love that dish, and it's not quite complete without the guacamole. Sometimes you have to sacrifice your values for a damn good meal. And the burgers, tasty as a mofo. They have a variety of good toppings, so go crazy and see what you can come up with. But I don't mean "come up with" as in on your own, because they don't allow menu substitutions. Like the cook's head is going to explode if you ask for some different kind of topping or something. "Could you please add cheese and jalapenos?" -"What? Add? Cannot compute . .cannot compute. . brain frying. . ." I don't know, maybe the servers have bad short term memory. Or maybe they feel it's a way of keeping the masses from taking too many liberties and getting too creative with their food. As if the only form of expression can be on the table with your crayons. I don't know, but I don't think it would kill them to allow you to order your food in the way that you would most enjoy eating it. Especially when you're about to pay $2.50 for some damn guac. The restaurant itself is really cute. The decor is awesome. There is usually some good old punk music playing. I went here during Halloween once and they were playing Halloween music, which was cute. The staff is pretty friendly for the most part. I've had a good experience about 75% of the time, customer service wise. Sometimes you get a girl that is all bitchy because she just passed the tattooed girl threshold of coolness that instantly allows her to look down on people because she got the 'super original' pistols tattooed on her pelvis. Or the really unique sacred heart chest piece. Not to mention the one of a kind swallows or sailor themed tattoos. I bow down, it takes a lot of guts to be out-of-the box punk like that. :P But, overall all the employees are really nice. They all have their own sense of style, which I really like and truly embrace, when it doesn't come with attitude or a superiority complex. The prices are -eh- here. Some stuff is a little on the cheaper side, but it's the side dishes and weird stuff that has a jacked up price. Seriously, I can't get over this, as you may have noticed by now, TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS for a little dish of guac!!!! Little T's is definitely worth checking out. I remember when I was a young out-of-towner, it was always cool to drive up to Minneapolis for a show and then hit up Little T's or Pizza Luce afterwards for dinner. Now that I know better, I would never, but they are some staple spots you have to check out when you are getting acquainted with Minneapolis. Ya just gotta do it.
(2)Nathan D.
I got here with my sister to eat. She said she ate here a few years ago and that it was good. We sat down and they asked if we would like some chips and salsa or queso before we even got out menus. I said chips and queso would be fine. Looked through the menu, everything was very pricey for Mexican food. The chips and cheese came. The chips tasted old and stale and the small bowl of queso tasted like velveeta with some ground jalapeños in it. The salsa was bland as well. I ordered a tamale because I didn't want to spend 12$+ on anything based on the quality of the chips and cheese. The tamale was decent, hence the reason this place got two stars. My sister got the enchiladas and those were bland. Beans were tasteless but the rice was good. We split the check. I look at the receipt and they charged me 12$ for the chips and cheese! That is rediculous. A tamale, drink, chips, and cheese should no be 20$. I will never come back here. There are way too many good Mexican food joints in the cities to waste money here.
(2)Heidi S.
I love going here late at night. They have great hours, food and service. I also love that they have paper on the tables and you can draw. They have great great great dessert and burritos. The atmosphere is very laid back and funky. The music is always great. The staff always can recommend something on the menu as well. Go hungry to this restaurant!
(5)Matthew S.
Far inferior to Pancho Villa's just down the street, Little Tijuana is best described as Tex-Mex served by white hipsters. The food is bland and fairly boring, while the lack of cerveza and even free refills on soda is lame to put it mildly. NO BEER AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT = BAD SIGN. Plus, NOTHING came with the meal. We paid extra for chips and salsa, sour cream, guacamole, etc. The vegetables tasted like they were from a frozen bag. The service was pretty bad as well - intermittent and scatter-brained. Bottom line: If you want good Mexican food, go half a block up to Pancho Villa's. Don't even bother with Little Tijuana.
(2)Meghan P.
I like the decor. The servers were nice. Also, they do split checks (at least for two people). It's been open since the sixties (I think; the waitress told us but I can't remember the exact year. Her dad used to eat here when he was in college. So a really long time, at any rate.). This kind of explains the Minnesota Mexican cuisine. I wouldn't go here for food, unless I was drunk. Apparently that's a major reason people go.
(2)Nikki M.
Ive been going to little T's ever since I found it two blocks away from my first apartment 14 years ago.So its a little nostalgic for me. After reading most of the reviews its clear what Litte T's provides for hungry minneapolitians; good, greasy food at a casual spot. It will satisfy be it 1pm or 1am. I always order: the salsa, one or two enchilada's, cheese crisp w/ jalapenos.The steak tacos and chimmies are also good. Unless they change something drastically I will continue to eat here from time to time.
(4)Kurt M.
I have a love in my heart for little T's. Been goin there for years. I think almost all of their food is really good. Its definitely tex mex. Don't swing in there if your looking for authentic mexican but I personally think they do a good job. My faves. Fried chips and salsa, guac and pico de gallo Splitting Fajitas with another person (get extra meat and tortillas)
(5)Val B.
Despite being a Mexican restaurant that doesn't serve margaritas (it has no liquor license), this place has somehow won a place in my heart. With a semi strange menu offering traditional fare like tacos, flautas and burritos along with hamburgers and Caesar salad, everything is pretty good. I love the paper table cloths - I like to draw a plate with my chimichanga on it before my food gets there, just so I get good and hungry. The portions are pretty reasonable, so expect to be full without leftovers. The waitstaff is all knowledgable and fun - it seems like most of them like coming to work, which is nice to see at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. If you don't know what to get, this is definitely a place where you can get an honest answer from the waitress. Don't forget to order Jarritos (fruity Mexican soda). Their selection is random (sometimes they have fruit punch, sometimes they don't), but it rounds out the trip to Little T's - and makes up for the lack of margarita.
(4)Sarah Z.
I've been going to Little T's for years. I love the atmosphere and the placements you can draw on with crayons. Most importantly, the food is FANTASTIC. Love the salsa, chips, queso dip, enchiladas, and pretty much everything I've ever ordered. Wish I could order a margarita, but love that it stays open until 4am!
(4)Robert S.
When I'm in a mood for Mexican food, Little T's is one of my favorite destinations. The atmosphere is OK but it doesn't thrill me, I mean if I want to draw with crayons I'll do that at home. The fact that they are open until 4am, well I'll just say that at my age it's been years since I wanted Mexican food after 9 pm. So what do I like about this place? That's easy, the food is excellent (and the service is good) and will keep me coming back even if I have to deal with an alternative crowd.
(4)Ninja S.
Little T's is an awesome place to hit after whatever night spot you were in previously closed and kicked your ass out. It is very punk rock, so bring your attitude with you when you come here. Take no shit from anyone. In order to keep its patrons sense of destruction in check, crayons and paper tableclothes are provided so that they may be scrawled upon instead of carving up the tables or defacing the walls. The food is pretty surprisingly good and way better Mexican food that I can get here in Washington state. I don't know if I would come here during the day, but hitting it at 2am is always a really good idea.
(4)Julie R.
Ok, I get it. Little T's lets you draw on the table and the staff are weird, so that's cool. But their food is honestly sooooo bad that it isn't worth going in here AT ALL. Everything is dry, and if it's not dry it's dripping in grease. Ew.
(1)T.S. M.
When I first went to Little T's I thought it was the coolest Mexican restaurant ever. It's on Eat Street, attracts the alternative crowd, you can draw on the table's, and their fried ice cream is delicious. But the longer I lived in Minneapolis the lower Little T's fell on my list. The food is just average, and you can't even drink there! If you like cheap Mexican dives you should try Chiapas, or Dominguez Restaurant.
(2)Ben H.
Great mexican food, huge portions, excellent music- usually a range of punk and new-wave but they do throw in a few surprises, and friendly staff.
(4)Lacey P.
The only time to go here is when all the restaurants with actual good Mexican, or actual good food at all are closed. Ok the atmosphere is nice, and the people watching is good, and maybe you'll run into someone you know if you're hip, but the food is not good. It is greasy and not very Mexican. The drinks are HUGE though. And paying is hard. And the bathroom is tiny. But it's open late, plays good music, has good stuff to look at, and I guess it's an institution.
(2)emily o.
this place is overrated big time...get some flavor already
(2)b g.
This place is a great greasy spoon that serves up good food. I got the fried chips and put a little salt on them and got pico. Very good! I also had the shredded pork taco's (#3) and they were wonderful. They do not offer refills on soda's but COME ON, no person should drink more than one of those gigantic sodas in one setting. I was practically in a food coma and wanted to be wheeled out of Little T's. Servers were also nice and helpful!!
(4)Nick H.
This is one of my step dad's go-to places, but definitely not one of my favorites. The food is very average, but I like the atmosphere. He loves this place for the Big Ts (margaritas), both because they are great drinks, and because you are entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate, which he has won. The fresh chips are hot when they come to the table, and the nachos are pretty good, both in taste and portion size. The last time I went, the tacos were pretty "meh", although they have been better in the past. Also, the waiter this past time was very average - very low key (almost too low key) and didn't get the full order right - to be fair, there were a ton of us, we were using a gift certificate from the raffle, and we were just all around confusing. Maybe best of all, it's around the corner from glam doll donuts!
(3)Mike B.
"No Whining" That is their motto. By whining, they mean don't ask us to work or treat you like a valued customer. I've been going to Little T's for nearly 20 years but I've finally had enough. I cannot handle paying a premium for small portions of food and the bad attitude that comes with it. Every time I think about coming here, I remember how terrible it is and I find somewhere else to go. It is really a shame because one of my favorites is no longer an option for me. :(
(1)Lila C.
2nd vist to Little Tijuana: Food - The Chicken Nachos were sad to look at and even sadder to eat. Everything about it was bland, it looked plasticky, and the subpar ingredients just killed me. I could make better nachos at home with the random items in my fridge. The guacamole was dismal. It's a Mexican place so you would think they make it in house but it's definitely out of a container. Clearly people don't come to Little T for the food but having a standard level of guac and salsa game is important to me. I'm going to need to drink more before I try the food next time. Drinks - I guess everyone comes for the Happy Hour drinks. I went on a Sunday and the place was a beehive beginning at 5 and then completely cleared out at 7 p.m. When happy hour ended it felt like a bar close at the end of the night. Lesson Learned - Come only for the drinks during HH and leave immediately after you're done.
(2)Jack H.
Stopped here for first time with family. Didn't know to expect but I could tell right away it's a place for drinks. We didn't order any drinks just had their food. 3 dishes, burger, nacho and enchilada. Burger was decent surprisingly. However, shrimp ($3 extra) enchilada was blend and horrid, pretty sure it wasn't suppose to taste like that... Not to mention the shrimps were so tiny and old. Nacho was even worst... I don't understand how something so easy make can be butchered like that... Chips all ruined. Ingredient scant and cheap. I would not come back again.
(2)Michelle G.
The service was great! When my pop got done the server would give me another one. Good experience I would recommend it.
(5)Jenni B.
What a truly bizarre experience. Our wait staff either ignored us or literally sat down in the booth with us, despite not being particularly invited. It is probably best to come here late at night once you are already in a good mood, or get there quickly with one of their pre dinner shot specials I guess. The food is greasy and easily home cooked quality. I've had a burrito and a burger and they have both been ok and no better. I wouldn't choose to come here again, but my boyfriend has a weird fondness for the oddity of dining here. Apparently he's not alone though, there is a serious cult following for this place.
(2)Jen K.
This is where you go when it's 3am, you're wasted and there's very few other options. Sadly, to me this place used to be a four or even a five star. However, they've reorganized under new management and it's gone sadly downhill from what was not really all THAT high of a bar in reality to start with (I loved it, but c'mon, it's always just fatty tex mex). I was pretty saddeded by the chili con queso the last time I was there. The queso was literally watery. I... I just.... Awwwwwwwwww, seriously? I haven't had that in YEARS and was so looking forward to it. No dice. However, the deserts aren't that much different than they used to be. Neither is the service! I guess my rating for Little T's has swung wildly over the years as there was one point in there wherein it would have gotten 1 star from me due to the incredibly rude and listless waitstaff. These days at least they're friendly-- but they are still really inefficient and will leave you waiting forever before your order is taken and your water is refilled. Also, gone are the GIANT glasses of water-- what's up with that? There's no reason for that! Aw, forget it. The more I type the more I feel like this is a two star place now. HOWEVER, I still hope it never goes out of business because, really, this IS a classic and I have tons of nostalgia wrapped up in it. Fine, it goes back up to three stars.
(3)Bob D.
I think the replies from the owner elsewhere on this thread say it all. Little T's, under new management, started out promising. It's gone straight downhill from there. No one here seems to care about much of anything anymore. I won't be surprised if they simply leave someday without even bothering to lock the door. High prices, stingy portions (their tiny rice and bean sides are absurd), flat beer, and just generally sub-par food. "No whining" my butt. Running a restaurant is hard work. These guys aren't even trying.
(1)Casey N.
I wanted to like this place. But maybe that's just what the little flies buzzing around our table were whispering in my ear. I've walked by this place several times and read the reviews online, so I had an idea about this place. I ordered a dinner that included a cheese enchilada, a bean tostada, and a cheese crisp. Tasty and just what I was craving. My husband ordered the nacho fries, as they reminded him of something served at a restaurant we frequented in Arizona, and he gobbled them up. My folks both ordered dinner plates of some kind and enjoyed them. The happy hour specials looked decent, and I'm intrigued by the brunch offerings. I'll give them another chance at some point.
(2)Jimmy W.
So the staff isn't exactly professional in their attire and the ambiance is a little 60's dimer meets happy meal. The patrons are hipster and it is fun to be here. The food is a Mexican flair and if you have desert you must have the chocolate chimichanga definitely a stop
(4)Patrick H.
After a night of sharing some spirits with friends, we had a craving for Mexican food; we found ourselves at Little Tijuana around 12:30 am. We all ordered a round of Palomas and waited for our food. The drinks were decently strong but didn't have much flavor beyond tequila and lime; pretty light on the grapefruit soda in my opinion. While waiting for the food, a small caterpillar fell onto our table from the ceiling. Not super appetizing but he had a good personality so it wasn't a huge deal. We then got our food. I got a burrito, not the best but hard to have super high standards at that hour of the night. My friends ordered nachos which were actually waffle fries with ground beef and cheese on top. They seemed to enjoy them, except for the length-wise-cut jalapeño slices. My other friend ordered mini tacos which he was told by the server that they "are the worst item on the menu, easily our most returned item." Needless to say, the server was correct. All in all, not a very pleasant experience. Probably would never go back, even after a night of heavy drinking.
(2)Isaac W.
It use to be my favorite. I'm so tired of going back to this place and being disappointed. The prices keep getting higher and the portions get smaller and smaller. And to make it worse, the weird lady that owns it makes her hipster staff act all corporate like Applebee's employees. See ya at Poncho Villa.
(1)Lisa E.
I think the little mini taco appetizer we had is out of a box from the frozen food section of the grocery store. The drinks were OK and service OK. The space is really looking grungy, or maybe it always has; I was just too drunk to notice before? I guess it used to be thought of as cool to go here, even though the food was really not much better in the 90s; the nostalgia has worn thin and I've grownup.
(2)Michael S.
This was disappointing. I used to love this place, but haven't been since it reopened...and now I know why it's dead. The chips n cheese were shitty. chips were soggy and sprinkled with shredded cheese, not queso dip like advertised. The mini tacos were,the frozen kind you dip in a fryer...not what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant.
(1)Finn K.
One word is why I'm writing this review: Deborah (the owner). She was so mean to our party. She kept micromanaging our seating and even what we were ordering. She even went so far as to try to embarrass me and ask me to leave because I "only" ordered a malt and a dessert (this came out to roughly 20 dollars by the way). She was just very rude and controlling, treating us more like freeloading house guests than customers. It was just unacceptable service!!
(1)Jordan T.
I've been going here for about 12 years now. If you live in Minneapolis and haven't been here to eat........... You are missing out. Awesome food. Start with the fried chips, salsa (best I've ever had.... And I've traveled the south west extensively) and some fresh guacamole. I usually will get the beef nachos. But everything is good. Even the service. Totally affordable too. Fun part is you get to color while you wait!! Great place for a first date.. Thanks Lil' T's!!!!
(5)Glen S.
First time back since they renovated the place and we will be back again. I guess I don't know why I'm writing this, I mean I know why, but what's there to say? Get the margarita - and the food. Then enjoy. Really, you can't go wrong if you're in the mood for Mexican. Oh, and yes - it's very safe. I can't believe how long it took me to convince my wife that it was safe, so now that we went there in the day time, she now knows and has been back twice.
(4)Corey N.
Little T's used to be good for late night drunk food. When I ate their last night: They use canned chili for their ground beef They didn't season their chips or salsa. Every thing on the menu is $10.50(weird?) My girl friend ordered a taco salad(10.50 of course) and she needed a $2 up charge to have meat on it. And what's with the weird Andy Warhol rip off art in the bar area? I wrote most of this review having a painful bathroom experience.
(1)Linda H.
I am so sad to write this review but after trying it a few times since they reopened, I have to ask..What happened????? I used to LOVE LOVE this place!!! SO many happy memories, late night nacho eating after the bars close, and long talks with my Besties. I ordered the cheese/onion enchiladas which were not good at all, in fact, I make much better! The servings are small and don't include anything. My friend had a chimi and it was small and no rice or beans for $11 dollars...Really? I love the chips and salsa and might return just to eat those. Keep in mind here there are no free chips or salsa. You pay her bowl. Over priced, not open until 4 AM like back in the day, and sub par food makes me not want to go to Little T's anymore.... :(...
(2)Jonathan M.
Food is meh, prices are high and the side of rice and beans is meager.
(2)Charlie B.
Seems a bit expensive, and the owner is kinda weird, but I've been coming here for years and I love it. Chimichangas are kinda my thing.
(4)Marsha W.
Being Latina, I was excited to try this place out for Cinco de Mayo this year. I walked by this restaurant many times. For some reason, because it's in Minneapolis and because of its proximity to Lake Street, I thought it must be authentic Mexican, right? Boy, was I wrong! Needless to say, this restaurant seems to be populated by the MCAD crowd- tons of trendy White hipsters and not a Latino in the bunch. I kind of wondered if any Latinos even worked in the kitchen! I ordered the fish tacos and a Crispin. The food was good but it reminded me of something I could have gotten at the Blue Door in St. Paul or pub food. There was nothing really extraordinary about it. I had a pleasant experience at Little Tijuana and my waiter was pretty nice. They also have a bar you can sit and drink at and some strange photos of cats with hats on the walls. Overall, this restaurant is nice with decent food and prompt service. If you like to people-watch MCAD students with funky clothes and haircuts, this is your place! However, if you are looking for authentic Mexican food, you might want to look to El Tejaban in Richfield.
(4)Adam W.
"Little T" is back after a two year hiatus! All of the classic goodness remains: the mural, the comfy booths, and your favorite entrees (Baked Plate! Chicken Cheese Plate!) . The full bar is a welcome addition. The big margarita, served in a pint glass, was perfectly mixed and honestly poured. Staff are plentiful and full of smiles: everyone is happy to be back. Yeah, we know it isn't "authentic" Mexican. It's Little T's! The perfect place to end your night in style...or get it off to a good start. A piece of Minneapolis history, and highly recommended.
(5)Elias A.
This place always serves up really good food, although the last time we were there the service was spotty. No matter, an excellent place to get delicious and well-prepared food. Dig the shop.
(4)Mia L.
Okay, I wish I could rate 2.5 stars because that's exactly what Little TJ deserves. Disclaimer: I'm a Texan and I have extra high standards. My boyfriend and I popped in late on a Sunday after a show. We're both recent transplants to the cities and have been eager to find authentic-ish Tex-Mex. I'd seen Little TJ on Yelp and was intrigued. We walked in and found it crowded, and ordered drinks right away. They hadn't expected a rush on Sunday night so it took a while, but our server was nice about the wait. He had a beer, I had a daiquiri with raspberry added. It was delicious! We ordered chips and queso to start. The chips were a little hard, but were obviously housemade, so I give them a pass. The queso was creamy and mild. We really enjoyed it! They brought us some salsa as well, and I was unimpressed. It tasted like tomato sauce with cumin added. Throwing some fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic, and cilantro in a blender isn't that difficult, and it would have been much tastier. For our dinner we had steak fajitas. They came out on a sizzling platter and smelled heavenly. They were very well cooked (medium), but tasted a little like barbecue sauce. I'm used to fajitas that are lightly seasoned, but these were still alright. Let's just say there weren't any left! My boyfriend (an Ohioan) said they were great. The tortillas that came along were mediocre at best. La Perla (local brand you can find at every grocery store) are much better. We decided to have chocolate chimichangas for dessert and it was sugar overload! Then again, we didn't leave a crumb on the plate! I think that with a few tweaks this place could be great. All of our food arrived hot and fresh, and we had good service. I'll be back to review other dishes on the menu!
(3)Paige S.
A fantastic spot! Consistently good food, great service and great happy hour. I also love that the owner is frequently on site, getting input and chatting with customers. The crispy tacos are perfect, and I am super excited for brunch to start this weekend!
(5)Hannah B.
noooo! It really makes me sad to be writing a bad review for them. I remember going here years (and years) ago and really loving it. I loved the vibe, food was good....it took me 10 years to get back and I was so excited. Then I walked in the door and already it seemed "off". It didn't have the grungy old MPLS vibe that I really dug when I was a young kid in the city. But hey, onward! The food is what's important, right? well... as I'm walking to my seat I looked at other peoples plates and I immediately got nervous because it looked pretty grim. I'm too shy to walk out after Ive been seated, but I knew it was going to be bad from the start. Sadly I was right. My chimichanga (fried burrito, sounds perfect!) was so crazy small. I should have taken a picture, but it was literally smaller than an i-phone. They try to fool you by putting it on a big plate and covering it with a mountain of shredded iceberg lettuce and stale cheddar cheese. So much bad lettuce and cheese, just no. Then on the side (actually I'm not sure if this came with my meal or my husbands, but that's not the point) One of our meals came with a side of rice and beans. It came on a small saucer, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was ONE bite of beans and ONE bite of rice. I literally fit the whole plate full on two spoons. Not to mention that it obviously was old and had been microwaved and re-served because it was super dry and crusty on the edges and flaming hot. It was a joke, I would have laughed when I saw it except that I was very hungry, so it made me want to cry instead. Nothing was tasty, nothing was fresh or even slightly modern, and super small portions. It really is a huge rip-off and I don't think Ive been more disappointed with any place in the Twin Cities. Especially Tex-Mex! Come on, that's easy! Beans. Rice. Salsa. Good meat! I'd say Little T's it's a 1/2 step above taco bell, at 5x the price.
(1)Jennie B.
I was so excited to try Little Tijuana's tonight. Feeling as if it was an Eat Street staple, I was happy to support it, especially after it was down and out for a while. Bad idea. Not to be overly mean, but I honestly think that I can understand why it had to close the first time - because it's bound to close soon again. Why you may ask? -The last thing from authentic Mexican -They do not accept ANY substitutions - the owner even came out to tell me that a salad subbed for french fries would cost her an arm and a leg ($2.50), although I was paying $11 for a sandwich alone. -Completely overpriced -A friend who ordered the vegan burrito opened the tortilla and found lettuce and broccoli... that's it, for $11. When she asked the waitress about it she refused to make any changes or work with her. -They overprice everything, including sprigs of cilantro which was $1, beans and rice which apparently don't come with any meal, as well as tortilla chips - which are normally free of charge. Bottom line - this restaurant is ONLY about the bottom line, not about customer service, not about quality food, and certainly not about happy customers. I would NOT suggest a thing about this place, especially not the toilet that didn't flush in the women's restroom nor the poorly made salsa.
(1)Barbara M.
I tried them again and they made it right. So I go again and I am happy.
(3)Gael R.
Yuckyville! It is straight up offensive that they charge what they do for the quality of their food. I had the chimichanga and I gotta say that thst was the saddest excuse for a chimichanga that I've ever seen. Like are you for real charging me 16 bucks for this crap? I've had better at Taco Cabana. The only remotely Mexican thing about this place is the runs it gave me - akin to drinking the tap below the border.
(2)Theresa W.
Wasn't a big fan before the remodel so I reluctantly gave it a shot.. Still not a fan. The only thing that has changed is the prices! The chips and salsa were terrible; the chips were SOAKED in grease and the salsa tasted like bland tomatoes and cilantro. The tortillas they use for the enchiladas taste like paint to me and the vegetables are boring and mushy. The fried ice cream is still the best thing on the menu, and even that left me with a tooth ache. It's just so damn sweet! The full bar is a nice touch and the bar tender was super nice (even though she was really busy and working an unexpected double). But really, when ya really get down to it, you can go to a bar (thats original purpose is serving booze) and still find tastier food.
(1)John C.
Is the food good, not really, but that's not why you go there, so who cares? (but I'd get the nachos personally). If you have a problem with punks, arty types, people with tattoos, or other alteries, then stay away and spare us your whining. It has been closed for over 13 months now, but their facebook page says to keep the faith. This ain't my faith so I don't give too much of a hoot, but it's one of those places that is different and serves a purpose, so I appreciate it for simply existing; we all have places like this. Personally, my religion is Strudel & Noodle German Bakery that used to be a block away, next to the Black Forest, and pray daily that it will someday return to this still empty spot.
(3)Jess L.
After a lengthy hiatus, Little T's is back in action. The boyfriend and I went to see the Rembrandt exhibit at the MIA, and were craving some Mexican on the way home. Little T's popped into my mind, and he said he'd never been to this Minneapolis institution in the food scene - so we had to go. And go we did. The server suggested mojitos, which really hit the spot. Service was good, bordering on overbearing. Our food was just kind of sad. I know one doesn't go to Little T's for the awesome quality of their food, but this was beyond the pale - my chicken tacos were so soggy that they completely soaked through the tortillas, so all I had was a pile of corn mush. The boyfriend's food was ok, but we both like Taco Bell better. Two entrees and two drinks came to $50 pre-tip, which I thought was pretty steep. They were having some kind of issue with their emergency exit door, which kept going off while they tried to remove the keys from it...I think they have storage back there? Whatever the reason, it was super distracting and SCARY AS HELL when you are sitting five feet from it, and it starts going off like a car alarm. Seriously, the boyfriend almost threw a taco across the room he was so startled. Go back to Little T's for the full bar experience. Re-live your favorite late night memories, or create some new ones. Just expect to shell out a few bucks more than your last visit.
(2)Salinee H.
Brownie points for being open basically all of the time...And I love the tributes to Patrick Swayze, Richard Pryor, Steve Buschemi and M.I.A. (completely random). Other than that, the food is mediocre. It doesn't claim to be authentic Mexican so that's good because it's not. There are a lot of American menu items. As far as Mexican items, it's mostly just variations of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos.
(3)Doghouse R.
I've been eating here since the early 90s when I lived in the neighborhood. It's always been great but now it's better with booze.
(5)Elyse M.
I LOVE LITTLE Ts!!! No, it's not Mexican food. No, you shouldn't come here if you're watching what you eat. But for fake-Mexican, completely unhealthy, greasy, "fuck my diet!" food... Oh you can't top Little Tijuana. Oh and the staff is really friendly, funny, and personable. Seriously like them. I miss it, a lot. I don't know if it will ever re-open. Please do. I miss being a pig.
(4)James B.
Straight up awful. Even drunk as hell it was awful.
(1)Tip M.
don't get a burger here. my friend and I both had stomach cramps and diarrhea the next day not coo to wake up too!
(2)Nathan P.
Haven't been here in a few years, and since they were off the grid for awhile I decided late one night to give it another go. I have to say that overall was not greatly impressed. The hosted was literally drunk when we got there, and was drinking at the bar the entire time. Food was still sup-par. Not exactly "mexican", but ok. The price isn't horrible though for your portion size. Probably will not return in the future.
(3)Don Y.
Awful! Don't ever order the vegetarian enchiladas. Imagine taking a bag of frozen vegetables, putting them in a tortilla with no sauce, no seasoning, and don't cook them very long so they still taste raw, put a little sauce and cheese on the top and voila! Barely edible enchiladas. Plus they charge almost $12.00, the same price as meat enchiladas, and they charge for chips and salsa. What a miserable dining experience.
(1)Erika B.
Went on a week night. First time. Service was excellent. Food was poor (ordered based on server recommendation, even). Drinks were SUPER expensive. I won't go back. Atmosphere was boring. Sounds like it was better before the hiatus.
(2)Jackie L.
We anticipated the reopening for quite some time. We had never been there, but had heard about this amazing little place. I was excited to try it after what seemed like 10 years of "remodeling". I am not quite sure what the place looked like prior to the remodel, but I can't imagine it looked any different. The food was very bland... Needless to say, we were not impresed and will not be returning.
(1)Lacey B.
Although I no longer live in Minneapolis, I just have to do a quick review of Little Tijuana because it basically got me through my college years. Seriously. I may have not made it without Little T's. Big portions of yummy, greasy Mexican food served by crazy, friendly, tattooed weirdos in a crazy, divey restaurant until the wee hours of the early morning. But it's all good. Sometimes you need a little bit of craziness in your world. This place may scare off the more conventional of crowds, but don't worry, they're probably more scared of you. Oh how I miss you, Little T!
(4)Ben D.
Okay, lets start off with a dose of truth, this cannot be classified as Mexican food. I mean it can, but really only as Tex-Mex, or Mexican American Fusion.... There is very little that is traditionally mexican about ordering a bacon cheese burger! (Which is still quite good!) I quite enjoy the atmosphere here! It is somewhat dive-y all things told, but I don't really come here to stare at the wall covering (unless you count their "table cloth art") I go there for the late night greasy spoon food that you just have to have someitmes! You absolutely can't go wrong with their taco salad (get the chicken though as the beef ruins it just a little). And a regular taco platter or burrito is awesome too! If you want the honest to god truth, it's when you go in there with this idea that somehow you are getting 5 star cuisine that you will be very disappointed in price point, service, and food. It is not meant to be fine dining, it is meant to be a great hangout, with decent food, in a really great location! I generally don't drink soda while eating, and I have heard many complaints over the fact that refills are not free, I have come to find that MANY places no longer have free refills, so I guess it's more or less a sign of the times, not this restaurant. I will end with this, I discovered this place about five years ago on one of my many trips to uptown before moving to Minneapolis, and there is something to be said for this place being consistent. The food has little variation from day to day, and it is reflected by all of the people I know that LOVE to go there for a pre-bar or after-bar fill up!
(3)John L.
First: Little Tijuana is not a Mexican restaurant. Tex-mex, lowbrow American? Yes, and deliciously so. Little T's food is purpose-built. After-bar - or before-bar even - munchies and greasebucket comfort food. The burgers taste better than they have any right to. Quesadillas are stuffed to the gills with all manner of things in addition to a reasonably large cheese-bomb; the beef quesadilla is more like eating a massive, stretched-out cheeseburger made with tortillas for a bun. The coffee is noteworthy for two major reasons: first, that it's everything that diner coffee ever wished it could be. Yeah, it tastes cheap, but it's substantial and effective, no overpowering feeling of wateriness. Second, it is the sole item on the menu outside of water that one gets free refills on. Multiple cups went very well with chain-smoking in the days when one could do so in restaurants. On the desserts side, the chocolate chimichanga is a beautiful monster. Think fudge sundae on a tortilla bed with hidden molten chocolate. You may doubt tortillas' place in the pastry world now, but after this, you won't. Complaints? I miss being able to go here any day of the year at any time after 11 and before 3am. It'd also be nice to be able to substitute a salad for fries with the burgers, but to do so may violate the cosmic order, so I'll let it slide.
(4)Kedar D.
Minneapolis has many Mexican restaurants but very few of them are truly veg*n-friendly. The general trend seems to be that most Mexican places have beans cooked in lard and rice cooked in chicken broth and there's a pervasive misunderstanding about the meaning of "vegetarian" (to say nothing of "vegan"). So I appreciate Little Tijuana for not using either of those common, hidden ingredients, and for explicitly stating so on the menu. It certainly set me at ease. At most Mexican restaurants, even if you speak Spanish, explaining veganism is difficult (which makes sense if lard and chicken broth are considered "vegetarian" in Latin America). I thought the service was friendly and prompt. My food arrived quickly. I had a guacamole taco without cheese ($3.50) which was pretty decent, but would have been much better if they made it with mock duck or soy protein (it seems so obvious; I don't understand why more Mexican restaurants don't embrace faux meats). Fearing the taco wouldn't be enough to fill me up, I also ordered a black bean burger which was, in actuality, a Morningstar vegan patty on a bun ($7.25). No black beans there. It came with fries on the side. This portion of the meal was a disappointment. I was also disappointed that Little Tijuana charges you for chips and salsa ($2.25) which are normally free at most Mexican restaurants. Their deep-fried chips were okay, but their salsa choices were almost all mediocre. The only one with any quality was the pico de gallo; I recommend avoiding their tomatillo or normal red salsas which didn't taste fresh at all. My other major gripe is that this place nickel and dimes you for everything. You want lettuce and tomato with your veggie burger? An extra $0.50. You want a three ounce side of guacamole? $2.50. Also, they automatically gave me a larger and pricier glass of Coke, even though a smaller and cheaper size was available (which they didn't tell me about). I didn't like this at all, even if it was only an extra $0.55. All told, Little Tijuana is not the best place for food, but their pico de gallo with chips is solid, as is their guacamole taco. I like their extra-late hours. Most critically, this is the only Mexican place that I've been to in the Twin Cities which doesn't use lard or chicken broth, which in itself is a huge plus point in its favor. Little Tijuana keeps my trust whereas most other Mexican restaurants do not.
(3)Samantha T.
The only reason I'm giving a 2 star is because the waitresses were awesome! But the food is horrible! It's like a non Mexican persons version of Mexican food and I think its really over priced
(2)Marsha L.
Awesome food! Open late! Friendly staff! I miss that place. I can't wait until they are done remodeling and re-open!!
(5)Liam F.
Awesome at 1am when you are still drunk. So So in the early evenings when you are sober. :)
(3)Marilee A.
"Late Night Mex" I went here years ago for the 1st time after the bars with a girlfriend & it was so good that I get cravings for the place.The Vegetarian Chimichanga is addicting & HUGE.This place is like no other in the city, has the feel of a New York, or DC late night spot, the staff is colorful, tats , piercings, rags, at the risk of sounding politically incorrect, but that is another thing to love about the place.Wear your Flip Flops, or your Glass Slippers, all the shoe's fit here, no Grooming Standards apply.A little Divey, but Dive in & scarf up some great late night mex.People watching amazing, food amazing, are they still open till 3am? Scrumdiddlyisious, carve your John Hancock into the table so I know you've been here.
(3)Maia R.
Now, don't come here expecting to get the best Mexican dish of your life- but that being said, if you're hungry, and it's late, this is far better than fast food, plus a little more. I recently went here for the first time 11/14/09 with a good friend of mine who's been going there for years, and I was surprised at how cute and homey it feels inside. It's located in a great location across from the Bad Waitress on Eat Street, which is nice, and it's a great place to go after a late night out, as I believe they are open until at least 3am. We ordered the fried tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa which was good, although the chips were a little greasy from just coming out of the fryer. I ordered two tostadas with a side of rice (rice was gross, but oh well) I was full and satisfied after my meal, not lethargic (which considering nothing else was open besides fast food, I could have been!!!) Good place to go, don't pass it up, the menu is huge. My friend said even their burgers are pretty good.
(3)Joe P.
Let's be honest, the food really isn't very good. Little Ts is oft frequented because it's open super late and the average post-bar customer doesn't care that the food is mediocre. Be sure to note the hipster-chic servers. Also be sure to note if they quote you the price of sour cream for the price of guacamole--there's a significant difference, and their "sorry" won't get you your $4.50 back.
(2)Margaret O.
Downgrading to three stars because I'm mad that Little T's is now only open Wed - Sun. This used to be the place to turn to when other places were unavailable, especially Mon evenings when so many places are closed. I'm sure they have good business reasons to have to have made this decision, but I'm still going to be whiny about it. Boo hoo! Also, I don't know if there has been a change in management or what but the last few times I've gone to Little T's, the general punk feeling of the place has gone down from 11 (it's one more) to maybe a 6. Not that I'm a punk expert or anything, but I'm just saying that the awesome wait staff has always been half the reason I go to little T's, and now the servers there are becoming more and more like "everyone else". On the upside, the totally inauthentic and wonderfully cheese-ridden mexican food are still just the same, and wonderful imho :)
(3)L H.
This place doesn't have the most authentic Mexican or the best but I always love it. The enchilada sauce has always been my favorite- hands down, and I live in Southern CA and eat a LOT of Mexican. When I lived in Mpls, this was always a great late night spot. This visit was truly special today as they were so accomodating for my very picky (well deserved at her age!) 91 yr old Grandma and brought her the queso dip and chips at no charge. The owner (pretty sure that she was) brought her French dressing for her tostada (and even took the time to go over the menu with her) and came back to check on us regularly along with the bartender. She felt so incredibly special and just raved about it all the way home. My drink was great and reasonably priced (again.. living in So Cal, also used to paying more for less) I wish I still lived near so that I could visit more often. Thank you Little T's for such a great experience!
(5)Angelique O.
Little Tujuana was the WORST mexican restaurant I have ever been to in my life. And I am Half hispanic. I went there not too long ago with my mother and my Boyfriend who actually came from Tijuana and we all agreed it was the worst place for mexican food we had ever been to. There was not a single person that we saw in this so called MEXICAN restaurant that was acutally Mexican or even hispanic. The food was plain and extremely bland, and more then half the menu was American Food. The selection for Mexican food was dismal at best. We left the restaurant after only eating two bites of what they served us and left immediatley. My boyfriend who is from Tijuana said this place and the "Mexican food" was a disgrace to his home and to his people. I wouldnt even recommend this place to my worst enemy. They dont even deserve one star...
(1)Erik D.
Five stars for the "craving" aspect and the "comfort food" aspect, too. Don't ask to split the check (they won't), and don't whine (this does not score you any points). It is not the sort of Mexican food I've had in Mexico, but it's good anyway. I go to enjoy the punk/goth servers, the huge drinks, the paper tablecloths (complete with bin of crayons), and the "Mexican" comfort food. Portions are large, and usually covered with cheese, tasty and very filling. The place is open late, so if you're a night owl or just closed down a bar, this is a fun place to stop for food with a few friends. It's not fancy or perfect, but it's one of those places you get a craving for if you've not been there in a while.
(5)Ericka A.
Little Tijuana (aka Little T's) is staffed by servers who look like they came straight out of a punk rock music video. They are always friendly and sometimes sit down with you to chat as they take your order. The place is pretty small, so they are quick about getting to your table and bringing you what you need; however, they aren't always on the ball about coming back to check on you. The walls are plastered with typical Mexican murals and the front desk is surrounded by art left on the tables by visitors. The tables always have large paper covers and they provide crayons to keep you occupied while you wait for the food. Feel free to get creative! The food is OK, but definitely not authentic. You can tell that at one point it probably had much more of Hispanic influence, but now it is merely a silhouette of what it once was. Mostly you go here to study because they are one of the only places open all the time in the area.
(3)Ashley F.
Little T's in my official Fallback. When I can't think of anywhere else to go, my car mysteriously navigates itself here. And before I can do anything about it, I hear myself ordering greasy chips and a plate of mini-tacos. I love that I feel comfortable here, that I can laugh with the wait-staff and that best of all, I can color on the tables. Is there really a feeling better than having your coloring-job picked for the wall? I think not. Sure it's a little pricey, but come on, where else can you order a burger, a giant plate of nachos and chocolate chimichangas at 2 am?
(4)Sean G.
This place is amazing. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, go somewhere else. If you're looking for a "fancy" place, go to Masa and enjoy the excellent décor and forgettable cuisine. If you want to be satisfied in almost every way a person can be satisfied, go to Little Tijuana. Do you like free chips? Order them "wet" (double fried) and never look back. Do you like burritos? Order one and prepare to have your mind + gut blown. The atmosphere in this place can't be beat, either. Enjoy your giant fountain soda in the old-school red plastic glasses and drink in the tattoos. Excellent hours, too. Open super late. I always go to Little T's after I move into a new house, because I always arrive with an appetite worthy of the place. Highly recommended.
(5)Emily S.
This place is nasty! If you like chewing on stale tasting chili powder...and ass loads of it, you will love this place. As for me, I was broken the first time I've ever eaten it sober.. I admit, when I first moved to the cities, my old roommate kept talking about how amazing this place was. I went there once with her after a long night of drinking at about 2 am.. It didn't taste that bad, but at the same time, I kept thinking it could have been alot better. Then I opted to go back there a second time; this time completely sober in the middle of the day. BAD IDEA!!! I love Mexican food, don't get me wrong, but this is not the place for good Mexican food...Take my word for it. I've read that they have some of the best food... Come on, this is Minnesota...what good food could possibly ever come from this place? The taste was the worst part...WAY, WAY. WAY, toooo much chili powder...ON EVERYTHING!!! I was really disappointed. The other thing that really set me off about this place was how everyone I know loves eating here and I don't know why. I'm always recommended it, but I know better now, I'm not sure if people actually love the food, or if its just another one of Minneapolis's little hipster hangouts. The people that go there all think their shit doesn't stink. I love Minneapolis for that reason... There is absolutely no other place in the world where you can take a 360 look and see nothing but little vegan hipsters running around talking like that actually know shit.... STOP... and dont eat bad food... you should know better
(1)Drew D.
I really like this place because its been closed for months. Hey, whats your tattoo mean?
(1)Lesli R.
You'll have a different experience at Little Tijuana's depending on what time of day (or night) you stop by... and by what company you keep. My 8-year-old niece and I stopped by this weekend after a play, and it was a perfect end to our funky night out. The staff here may seem a little stand-offish at first, but never once has anyone given me attitude or act all pissed off at the world. Our waiter was no exception this time; he commented on what we were drawing, and engaged my niece in conversation as respectfully as if he were talking to an adult. She *loved* being treated this way, and even left her own dollar tip. Our visit was just for a late night snack, so we ended up with the fried chips and queso dip. Always a good choice, we snarfed them up in no time. We followed that by sharing a gigantic banana split, which was just delish. If you live in the neighborhood and have kid friends who visit you, this is a great place to take them.
(3)johanna s.
I adore Little T's. It's not the cheapest place. It's not authentic Mexican food. I'm pretty sure they won't split checks. You don't get drink refills. BUT, the food is plentiful and delicious, the chips and salsa rock (and you can buy a jar of salsa to take home. Do it!), the wait staff is inked up and hot and friendly to boot. They play good tunes and you get to draw with crayons while you wait for your chow. Open late. Parking kinda blows, but no biggie. I love you, Little T's!!
(5)Steve B.
Great place after a late night out on the town. Went last Saturday after having not been here for many years. FeelS the same way it felt 15 years ago. I am always surprised at how many choices are on the menu. You can never go wrong with the chili con queso with meat as your appetizer. While everything on my last visit went well.. friendly service, good food, comfortable environment, I always leave feeling the food is overpriced.
(3)Ralph M.
Trashy Mexican food served to you by punk rock staff. If any of those words frighten you, this is not the establishment for you. Is the food authentic? Hell no! They are tasty, and cheap and most importantly they are OPEN LATE. Unfortunately, on weekends if you get there after 2am you will not be getting a table. The staff is of the heavily tattooed and occasionally mohawked variety. The fine print on the menu (and many signs posted around the place) make it clear they are a bit of a no nonsense place (I imagine because of the BAC of their clientle). The service is not of the perky, TGIF style, but I have never found it to be poor. The decor is of the amusingly run down variety. You can imagine some distant point in time when someone thought this place was a real mexican restaurant. Now lots of fliers for rock shows adorn the hallway by the door. Punk rock was on the stereo. I think my favorite little detail I noticed on my way out last night. A sign hung over the "employees only "door to the basement: "Do not leave your bicycles or unicycles here overnight."
(4)