Pineda Taco
1304 Robert St S, West Saint Paul, MN, 55118
Pineda Taco Menu
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Address :
1304 Robert St S
West Saint Paul, MN, 55118 - Phone (651) 455-6833
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Juliet K.
YUM! I am used to going to loc ocampos but we pass this place weekly so decided to stop in. if ambiance is you're thing don't go here. seats are ripped. its in a funky building but one of the workers was cleaning heavily when we ate so cleanliness is not an issue. the food was good! similar menu to los ocampos but you can see the food. almost laid out chipotle style. i opted for authentic tacos with corn tortillas, chopped steak, onions, cheese and cilantro. came with rice and beans. finished my plate, the steak had almost no fat ( a pet peeve of mine). my husband opted for hard shell tacos. half chopped steak, half spicy chicken. the spicy chicken is AMAZING. not only spicy but VERY flavorful. so yummy. my husband ( who is from texas and socal) was in love. we will return here many times :D
(4)Dave P.
So far, my favorite place for quick Mexican in the Twin Cities. All the fillings are fantastic; my usual choice is the spicy chicken, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. I usually get the burrito, but tacos and tortas are occasional selections too...haven't had anything bad yet!
(5)Brian L.
Would definitely eat here again, as the food is good and priced for value. My review would try to avoid a comparison to Chipotle, but here we go: a burrito from *that* place is usually no problem to eat in one sitting, but here at Pineda, I was out of breath 3/4 of the way through. They give you a lot of food and don't skimp on the meat. My one complaint is that the roasted pork meat included pieces of fat, which I noticed and picked them out before eating. Tacos were delicious in the traditional double corn-tortilla. Many choices of meat fillings were available. The building is yellow and pointy, looking a little like a spaceship. Can't say the food is out of this world, but if you're in West St Paul and looking for an inexpensive and filling lunch, check it out.
(3)matt k.
Really good authentic Mexican food. This isn't like my review of yelp.com/biz/las-margari… and other lame Mexican restaurants that buy all their food from the same Mexican food vendor and re-heat and reserve. THIS STUFF IS GOOD! My wife and I ordered Quesadilla's, and Taco's each. We ordered 3 of the 4+ variation of pork they offer - All REALLY good and tasty and the seasoning was on. One of the pork's that we ordered was very spicy which was a very nice surprise. Wife didn't care for that one but agreed it was still tasty - and I got to finish it up. ;) It's a small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant; it's nothing special by any means - but so what? The food has plenty of personality and authenticity and I really look forward to going back and trying something new! Side note: before they add the pork to your tacos or whatever else you want it added to, ask them to press out the fat, because it's really sitting there swimming in fat, unless you like all that greasiness... So really, an honest review. GOOD FOOD here. Will definitely be back.
(4)Rog G.
LOVE THIS PLACE just get the beans on the side if ordering the Burrito LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
(5)Amy C.
When someone asks me where to find authentic Mexican, Pineda Taco is where I send them. I also warn them to check their expectations about the decor at the door. The former Embers restaurant hasn't seen a remodel in a long time, certainly it was still an Embers the last time anyone updated it. Forget all of that, you're there for the food. This is authentic Mexican, it's fresh and spicy and different and if you're on a budget you can eat here on the cheap. I go for the tacos-they're loaded with onion and cilantro. They have five different types of beef, including tongue (I'm not that adventurous), five types of pork and three types of chicken. With prices that low, you can experiment. Get out of your Chipotle comfort zone and walk on the wild side.
(5)Patti K.
More ethnic food surprises on South Robert St. We stopped in Pineda on a whim because the parking lot was packed on a cold Sunday afternoon. The building looked like it had once been a mid-century modern coffee and breakfast place, but inside was a sizzling grill and a warm ambience. A mother was ordering her family's meal in Spanish, and the non-Spanish speaking kids seemed to be familiar with the amazing array of meats and fillings in the metal tubs. This place gives a certain national chain burrito joint a run for its money. My husband had an enchilada platter, and I ordered a sope (not to be confused with sopa!), a made-to-order thick oblong corn pancake topped with pork, cilantro, fresh onion, cheese, and sour cream. There were four kinds of pork, and I had never seen most of them before. The slow-cooked pork was fantastic. The enchiladas were also wonderful. The red sauce didn't taste like the tomatoey sauces we've had in other Mexican restaurants, so we concluded that must mean it's authentic. The chicken in the enchiladas was also very tender, and not overdone. They had Mexican soft drinks, and the food is cheerfully heaped on a plastic-coated paper plate. The food reminded me of Mexican food I've had at the Midtown Marketplace. We really got a kick out of the ski lodge roof and the bright colorful stained glass windows. The one downside is that the seats were not terribly clean, much like many other inexpensive ethnic (and non-ethnic) food places. Clearly lots of people eat here, though, and the crumbs on the seat weren't a big problem for us. I'm bummed this place isn't closer to where we live. Otherwise, I think I'd be coming here often!
(5)Daren D.
Taco special was solid, first time here - will be back for sure. Shredded beef and spicy chicken.
(4)Roma R.
I love this place. My favorite place in west St. Paul for tacos. Friendly staff, food is fresh and not dried out. They don't put vegetables in their rice like some weird places do (gross). They're open until 10pm and they open early so I can get a 10am lunch. I didn't give a full 5 stars even though this is my absolute favorite place if only just because the seats/booths are pretty busted up and the place is rundown looking. It does look like a run down mexican ski chalet---it used to be an embers I believe?
(4)Tony K.
They make awesome burritos better than Chipotle for a cheaper price and no 100 person line to wait in like over at Chipotle during dinner rush.
(5)Joe C.
The food is great and cheap, the building itself is feels run down and dirty, the staff has always been friendly and helpful. My recommendation is to carry out.
(4)Emily K.
This place does NOT skimp on the good stuff like Chipotle does. They stuff your burrito until it's busting at the seams without giving you an attitude about it. Super nice, friendly staff. Overall would totally recommend this place. Authentic and so yummy. Definitely recommend the barbacoa, great flavor! Give this place a shot you won't regret it
(5)Z N.
This place is a fantastic. I love the meat plate with carnitas. There are lots of Mexican food places in South Saint Paul. This one is the best I've been to. No outrageous lines like El Burrito.
(5)Me. X.
If St. Paul had kids, West St. Paul would be the one that was forgotten in the forest, left to ravage around and roll in the dirt. This side of St. Paul feels beaten down and aged, much more so than the east side, which shows early signs of gentrification. (Eek.) So if you're looking for polish, or mainstream hipster, or if midway or East St. Paul makes you uncomfortable, stay away. Leave Pineda Taco to me and the likes of me. It's delicious and we don't want you anyways.
(4)Carolyn O.
Delicious tacos in various meats and great salsa. Tasty kids options for children and a nice variety in their menu.
(4)Max G.
One of the more underrated restaurants out there., Pineda serves up some fantastic burritos. I tried this place on a whim a couple years ago and have been going back ever since. Pricing is comparable to Chipotle, bu the portions are considerably larger. I would definitely recommend this place to any avid burrito enthusiast out there.
(3)Victor M.
i gave this place 2 stars because a friend of mine was saying how great the food was and how good the horchata was OMG the horchata is the worste horchata i have ever tasted.. the food was ok
(2)Hannah T.
This place is GOOD. There is a lot of abominable Mexican food in the area. (What's with the District del Sol? Awful.) So I'd lost hope. But then I went to Pineda and was delighted. I was especially impressed with their generous fresh avocado portions.
(4)T B.
Pineda is the place I go for really good flautas. You can choose from an arrangement of meats including steak, pork, chicken (spicy, mild, hot & maybe regular I'm not sure). I choose spicy & the platter includes rice, beans & toppings. I have to say the rice looks crunchy & not very appetizing every time I visit, but I get it anyway. The cheese & crema that melts over my flautas is seriously the showcase to this platter! Oooh! The fresh avocado slices, tomato, lettuce & onions is something I should order extra next time! Now, the customer service is a hit or miss as with many places. I speak fluent English AND fluent Spanish, yet this one particular lady pretends she can't understand me! Once I ordered the flautas & she kept responding "fajitas!" Until she gave up & said they didn't have either lol. Even though both were printed & described right above her head. Hmmm. I think she doesn't like me. She doesn't keep me away though when I'm craving crunchy deep fried corn tortillaness. I have yet to try anything else. I'll read some reviews & expand mi munda a la Pineda!
(3)Troy J.
Pineda Taco offers everything you're looking for in a hole-in-the-wall Mexican dining experience. Big flavors. Huge portions. Small prices. The menu is huge and authentic. While considering options recently, I watched them prepare a homestyle torta (grilled bread with mayo and topped with cheese, beans, lettuce, tomato, peppers and onion) for the man in front of me and knew that I was in the right place. Everything they make looks good. The meat choices at Pineda are seemingly endless: Chopped Steak, Barbacoa, Mexican-Style Steak, Steak with Onions, Lengua, Tripas, Chicken in Tomato Sauce, Chicken in Green Sauce with Potatoes, Chicken in Chipotle Sauce, Roasted Pork, Chorizo in Chipotle Sauce, Pastor, and Spicy Pork. All of them look irresistible -- including the Tripas, (cleaned, boiled and grilled intestines). My eyes were drawn to the Pineda's super-sized burrito, a behemoth that weighs in at more than two pounds. It contains rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and your choice of meats -- wrapped in two huge, grilled tortillas. I passed on the cheese and sour cream and added roasted pork, Mexican-style steak and chorizo. Adding the third meat was a bit extra...but still a bargain for a burrito big enough for two. Although the restaurant has plenty of seating, it's rarely occupied by more than a handful of people. This place provides brisk, friendly takeout.
(4)Bridget D.
Worst carne asada I've ever had. Came for dinner on a Friday. Dead inside. Watered down beans. Rice was okay.
(1)Matthew T.
Favorite spot for a Milanesa Torta!
(5)Clinton L.
Authentic tacos are my favorite food and I try them everywhere I go. The pork tacos at Piñedas are the best tacos I've ever had in my life by a wide margin. Absolutely amazing. Better than gourmet. Better than I had anywhere in Mexico. These are the absolute best.
(5)Alyson M.
Drove past this place and wanted to try something new. Boy am I glad I did! Good authentic food!
(5)Dan B.
Recently, my wife and I decided to give a little taco shop on Robert Street a try, and we were both happy with our experience at Pineda Tacos. I was there once before years ago, but had forgotten how good it was. When we walked in, I knew we were in the right place based on the clientele. Any ethnic restaurant should have customers of that ethnicity as regulars. If you specialize in authentic Mexican food, but no authentic Mexicans eat there then you have a problem. So when Bombshell and I walked into the Pineda Taco and there was more Spanish than English being spoken I knew we were in for some good food. Pineda Taco is set up like a deli- you head to the counter, place your order, and they prepare it as you move down the line to pay. After perusing the menu, looking over the options, and asking for a recommendation we made our decision. This was not easy. There are nine different choices of meat on the menu, and four different pork choices. Needless to say, I was in trouble. I wanted to order 5 or 6 tacos, but also wanted to avoid a meat coma. After some internal debating, Sara decided on a chicken and rice Chimichanga, while I went with a beef tongue taco and a chipotle pork taco.The chimi was great. Moist chicken and rice surrounded by a crisp shell and smothered in a smokey enchilada sauce. My wife was very happy, and impressed with the sauce. If there is one thing Bombshell enjoys its a good enchilada sauce, and Pineda's did not disappoint. My tacos were awesome. I'm not a fan of chipotle peppers but I went with it based on a recommendation from the cook behind the counter,and I have to say it was very tasty. The chipotle did not overpower the pork, which was tender and delicious. The beef tongue was glorious as well. If you haven't had beef tongue I highly recommend it. It has a great beef flavor but a soft, velvety texture. SO GOOD! Add a little fresh onion and cilanto and I am a happy camper. Overall, Pineda Taco offers a little something for everyone. Whether you're looking for authentic options, or something a little more Americanized, Pineda has you covered.
(3)Lisa M.
Quesadilla and flour taco! As I promised myself - I would go back and get the taco and qesadilla. The qesadilla was filled with cheese and pork and grilled lightly. It was cut in about 8 small pieces and served with lettuce, tomato, an avocado and sour cream. It was simple and delicious. I think next time, it's a qesadilla and chips with guac. I'd say 2, but do I really need 2? I had a spicy chicken flour taco as well. It was about what I expected. My coworker had the enchilada combo and said the addition of potatoes was a pleasant surprise. I good solid choice in the area for something reasonably priced (less than $10 for my food + a DC) quick and decent.
(3)Jonathon A.
Straight up burrito love here. You get a BIG meal for about 5 bucks with big taste and authentic ingredients. Much better variety of fillings than your "chain" burrito joint. Here, "spicy" means what it says and you will never leave unsatisfied. My only complaint is a common one for authentic mexican food: the occasional hard, dry piece of rice. Other than that, perfection! EAT HERE TODAY!
(4)Heather G.
We dropped in on a Friday evening to grab a quick take-out dinner...the chicken in the quesidilla was juicy and tender and delicious. The beef chimi was amazing too! fast service, reasonably priced ($14 for dinner) Mexican food...just amazing! sorry Chipotle, i love this place!
(4)Samuel W.
This is a surprising little place. I honestly wasn't expecting much when I decided to give it a shot (call me jaded) but I found myself really enjoying the food. The people that work there are polite but there's definitely a tad bit of a language barrier. I felt like both of us were having issues understanding one another. That being said... they don't skimp on stuff here. You get good quality hot food in nice quantities. The steak and onion combination is incredible. I don't know that I would recommend dining in. It just didn't seem like a sit down sort of place to me (even though the option is there). The prices, as with most Mexican restaurants, are cheap. Stop by this place if you've driven by it a thousand times and just thought about it. You might be surprised.
(3)Cindy S.
I love & hate this place, depending on the day. The burrito can be the best or dry & tasteless. They need some help with conformity! So much potential. Took some friends & was raving about them, then they messed up 3 of the orders & the burritos were very dry. We ate it due to hunger, but won't go back. Such a shame.
(2)Chris B.
Great place to go for a quick Mexican meal. It's quick and delicious. Their sandwiches are pretty good and they have a lot of choices with great prices.
(4)Karl H.
I'm adding another star to hopefully increase the hype, the place deserves it. For all of the Mexican places that have been reviewed on yelp I feel like this one is missed in the mix. The food here is stellar. The garlic shrimp tacos are outstanding, btw.
(5)Amy R.
Pure Goodness! Humongous burrito that fit the name- Burro Gordo. This was not the intended destination, but really glad I settled on this place. Ordered J the Spicy Chicken- Burro Gordo. The guy making it was so nice, helpful and generous with the ingredients. It was one big a$$ burrito and money well spent. I was told it had a lot of zip to. The leftovers will suffice for awhile. I ordered the Carne Asada which smelled and tasted heavenly. I love the grilled onions and grilled jalapeno. Such incredible flavor. Comes with 8 corn tortillas or 4 flour. I chose the corn. It's a lot of meat. Also comes with rice and beans. I love their rice and really like that it was plain spanish rice. Exactly how I like it. Plain and tasty without all the frozen confetti looking vegetables thrown in. Service is excellent. Staff is helpful and friendly. Service with a smile and appreciation. For quick, tasty and inexpensive this is a first rate restaurant. Spent the same amount here as I would at Taco John's for much less food and much lower quality. Pineda all the way..
(4)Melaney S.
Any time I am in the area I stop in the tacos are great. It can be hard to communicate and they don't have the choices listed anywhere so you have to ask. Makes you feel a bit like a little kid. Whats that, whats that, whats that.The decor leaves a lot to be desired. That said the chorizo taco is so good you will keep coming back. Every thing is good but that one is amazing.
(3)Sean F.
Wanting to try something new and simple for my birthday, so we decided to stop into Pinedas. On approaching the entrance, we see a man with a guitar wandering amongst the tables, playing and singing. I open the door and am hit right the nose with a smell that immediately brings me back to Mexico. The restaurant is setup cafeteria style; place your order and walk along the counter as they prepare it, then pay at the other end. I got the Chicken Enchilada, and was offered 3 levels of spice for chicken: Medium, Mild, Hot. Normally I like really spicey food, but I know enough about authentic foods that I should test the waters with a Mild first. Honestly, the mild was a perfect combination of deliciousness and spice for most Minnesotans. Next time I'll get the hot. As we were eating, the man with the guitar appeared next to our table, and my friends let him know it was my birthday. Well, this meant he needed to sing me Happy Birthday every possible way that he knew. He was doing renditions of The Doors, and The Eagles, but would replace the words with his own way of saying Happy Birthday. Needless to say, it was pretty fantastic. We chatted with him for a bit, and then headed out, but thanks to him and the good food, I will most definitely be making my way back here.
(4)Patti I.
Funky 60s moderne building resurrected as a grubby but delicious taco joint. Tacos are good, but the enchiladas made us swoon! Hubby thinks many patrons look like characters from Breaking Bad. Says, "I wouldn't ask these people what they do for a living." We eat there during daylight hours.
(4)Jon F.
I'm sad it took me so long to find this place. This place is a dive with awesome food! Puts the burrito chain down the street to shame. Huge portions of very tasty food. I've had the steak burrito and the carne asada and can't wait to try more things off the menu.
(5)Kristi C.
Three stars because the Pastor (pork) was tender and full of flavor and the guacamole was fresh made. A little surprised that nachos included...cheese sauce. A little disappointed neither of my favorite Mexican desserts were available (flan or tres leches cake), instead an offering of cheesecake.
(3)Jesse B.
Get the Meat plate for dinner. you can choose from several of the meats, and the avocado is always fresh. For breakfast the burrito is amazing!
(5)Jason D.
Pleasant surprise. We were looking for a quick lunch in the south east metro. My dining companion has wanted to try Pineda for a while and I'm always game to try new places. We came to Pineda around 12:25 on a Saturday. The place was not very busy. I thought that was a bad sign. After we ordered it got busier. At Pineda you order at the counter and wait for your food like at Subway. It was kind of cool because you get your food pretty quickly. I ordered three crispy tacos, 2 beef and 1 spicy chicken. There was a bit of a language barrier and I had to repeat my order several times, but it was correct in the end. I enjoyed the shells and the filling in the tacos. The beef was tasty, but nothing special. The spicy chicken had a really good flavor and a little kick; not too spicy. Dining companion got a toastada with the spicy chicken and agreed and the flavor and spice. If I was in the area and was in the mood for a quick lunch, I would come back to Pineda.
(3)Kyra M.
There's something about this friendly, inexpensive place that makes me want to give it 5 stars. I think it's because it has helped me eat well when I've been broke. For $4, you can get two tacos absolutely loaded with a ton of meat. They don't ever, ever skimp. I'm picky about the quality of meat at restaurants, and I can tell their meat is very good quality. I took a friend here recently, and he raved about how tender and perfect the pork was in his taco. They have green & red salsa, neither of which are particularly spicy, but taste good. Their guacamole is good too. You can choose corn or flour tortillas. There's a tiny bit of a language barrier, but that's why this place is authentically yummy & satisfying. UPDATE: Continued 5 stars, would give 6 if I could. I've been here many more times and have tried several different meats and some more expensive stuff on the menu. Always consistently good quality, generous portions. The garlic shrimp plate is crazy amazing. Warning: contains the most garlic I have ever seen in one dish. Their red salsa seems spicier now. It's a fantastic place!
(5)Chris M.
Pineda dishes up some fairly tasty, fairly authentic and overall very affordable Mexican eats. Their tacos are on par with most of the other local taquerias and are priced a little over $2 a pop. They are simply, and rightfully, adorned with the traditional cilantro and onions and they have a decent amount of protein options available (carnitas, chicken, lengua, etc.). I wouldn't place their tortas near the top of any list, but they aren't bad and are pretty affordable. Other menu selections include burritos, various asada and shrimp platters, etc. Ordering is counter service only, but always comes with a smile and food is made available quickly. The interior ambiance is nothing to write home about, but at least it's clean. The facade of the building is a bit of a different story, as the architecture is certainly unique with its pseudo-pyramid shape. Definitely not a bad option if you're in the area, but certainly not worth making a trek for.
(3)