During this time of U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) occupation in Minnesota, many members of Minnesota’s immigrant community are afraid to leave their homes, for fear of encounters with ICE. This means that many restaurants run by immigrants have taken a hit. Many employees and regular diners at Latino-owned restaurants especially are scared to work and eat. In Mpls St. Paul Magazine, Justine Jones spoke to a Latina-owned restaurant owner, who said that she “hasn’t seen most of her regulars—the same families that have dined at her restaurant for generations—in months.” This same restaurant owner also said that she saw one of her regulars, a friend of hers, being taken by ICE as soon as he walked out the door with his takeout order. While I have attended protests, called my representatives, and raised awareness overall, it is also my duty to support the businesses impacted by this occupation, especially if I have the resources to do so. And what better way to do so than going out to get some delicious food! So, I compiled a notes app list of restaurants and cafes near my house, and did some reviews of the places I visited to share with you all!
Mercado Central, Best Tacos Del Sol: Carne asada alambres
Located on Lake Street, Mercado Central is a marketplace made up of 35 businesses made to foster Latino business development. Aside from restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, Mercado Central also offers products ranging from flowers, clothing, jewelry, traditional hispanic medicines, to piñatas, as well as services like television providers, realtors, beauty salons, insurance, and much more.
When my mom and I paid a visit there, things were relatively quiet. I am not sure if this is because of ICE directly, but I noticed some businesses were closed, and most of the people eating nearby were not Latino and probably had the same idea I did. Nevertheless, thank god one restaurant called Best Tacos Del Sol was still open. It had an expansive menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, alambres, and various platters that you could customize with various types of meat, making my decision a hard one. I decided to go with the carne asada alambres, which are tortillas topped with grilled meat mixed with bacon, peppers, onion, and cheese that becomes all melted and delicious. My alambres came with corn tortillas, in which I could taste the corn and tell they were fresh. The meat was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and the melted cheese along with the softened peppers and onions was heavenly. Additionally, I was given a mild green salsa and a spicy red salsa, which was quite spicy indeed. The green salsa really pulled everything together, and overall this meal was very delicious. My hands were definitely pretty alambres-infused after this one, but that was worth it. I gave it a 9/10.
Pineda Tacos Plus: Meat plate with steak + grilled chicken (plus a free salsa bar?!)
Also located on Lake Street, Pineda Tacos Plus was another restaurant serving up a large variety of Mexican food. Unfortunately, ICE was seen at their St. Paul location, so thankfully when I visited their Minneapolis location they were ICE-free, and it was nice to see that the place was pretty busy with a diverse group of customers. The interior was decorated with beautiful murals on the walls and string banners hanging from the ceiling.
I ordered the meat place with steak and grilled chicken. It was a nice portion that came with Mexican rice, refried beans topped with cheese, lettuce, two limes, and guacamole– all for $10.99. Additionally, I went crazy at the salsa bar, grabbing pico de gallo, corn salsa, radishes, pickled cauliflower and cactus (nopales), and a cup of mild green salsa. All of these options compounded into quite a harmonious meal. Chipotle’s got nothing on Pineda. I left the restaurant feeling happy and fulfilled. I gave it a 9.5/10.
Guavas Cuban Cafe: Vaca frita hash
My family and I ordered takeout, and this dish was perfect for a cozy weekend lunch. It came with braised beef, house potatoes, charred onions and peppers, yuca, 2 eggs, cilantro aioli and a tostada on the side. The beef was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside; the eggs were perfectly runny; the vegetables were crispy and charred. But I’d say the star of the show was the aioli. It was savory and indulgent, bringing everything together perfectly. I made sure to scoop up every last drop with the tostada. I gave it a 9.5/10.
El Sazón Cocina & Tragos: Camarón Machaca Burrito
On their website, El Sazón Cocina & Tragos shares the struggles of the past few months, as their locations in Eagan and Stillwater have closed. However, I saw some of my favorite food influencers on social media going to El Sazón, and I was easily convinced to try it out, since everything looked absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the Camarón Machaca Burrito from their breakfast menu, and I’m glad I did. The thing spanned the whole diagonal length of the tray! It also came with pickled onions, a pickled poblano pepper, and a spicy red sauce. I cut it in half, picked it up, and went to work. The cheese was melty and rich; the shrimp was seared and seasoned perfectly; the tortilla was crispy; caramelized onions were done perfectly; all of these combinations made for a glorious and filling meal. Additionally, the fresh pickled onions, pepper, and spicy sauce were a fresh addition to this already mouthwatering burrito. I gave it a 9.5/10.
Hmong Village: Boat noodle soup, Hmong sausage, Fresh produce
In a CBS News interview with Kaohly Her, the first Asian American and woman mayor of St. Paul, Her said that many Hmong Minnesotans are “worried about their customer base and their own safety.” The Hmong community has also been targeted in Minnesota, as ChongLy Thao, a 56 year old Hmong man from Laos, who was a U.S. citizen, had his home broken into with guns drawn by ICE. He was handcuffed, dragged out of his house, and into the freezing snow wearing only shorts and sandals, NBC News reported. I remember visiting Hmong Village right before COVID, and it was near impossible to find a place to sit down and eat. However, when I visited just recently with my mom, there was much less activity, and my mom and I could find a spot easily. Despite this, I was wowed at the long list of food options, and after long deliberation I went for the boat noodle soup, which came filled with meatballs, crispy pork belly, onions, and a rich, savory dark broth that had complex hints of cinnamon, and various aromatics, as well as bean sprouts, jalapeños, and lime on the side. This soup was like pho’s rowdier cousin. I also ordered some Hmong sausage, which was crispy and savory, with hints of herbs and aromatics. Overall, I gave the soup a 9.5/10 and the sausage a 9/10.
After eating, we went to get some fresh produce, of which the Hmong Village has plenty. I had to stop my mom from cleaning out the place, as she got everything from lychee, to cilantro, to bananas, to garlic; the list goes on. I would highly encourage shopping for groceries at smaller and more local businesses, especially during these times.
Karmel Mall, Wiilo Restaurant & Bakery: Goat + rice platter, Complementary Bajiya, Beef + fish sambusas.
The Somali community has also been hit hard by this ICE occupation, so I decided to come to Wiilo Restaurant & Bakery at Karmell Mall, a Somali community hub. I noticed that the stalls and businesses were relatively quiet, which may have been because of ICE. We ordered the goat and rice platter, which came with rice, goat meat, and a salad. Additionally, we were surprised when our server came to give us these fried dough balls with various vegetables in them. I am not 100% sure what these were, but I think they are called Bajiya. However, I am 100% sure that they were delicious. They were crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and perfectly savory. Also, on our way out, we ordered beef and fish sambusas, which were spicy and crispy to perfection. Overall, the rice was delicious and infused with flavor, and the salad was a fresh addition to the plate. However, I did wish they would give us more meat, since it was so good. I gave it an 8/10.
Marissa’s Bakery: Conchas, piedras, cuernitos, cornmeal cookies, and more!
My biggest regret is not taking a picture of these Mexican pastries. I can even remember their sweet smell lingering from the passenger seat next to me on my drive to school. I was bringing in a bunch of different pastries for a Community Action Council meeting, and they were so good that I went in that very next day to bring some cookies for BATO BATO! At the bakery, I was able to choose from a very, very large selection of pastries, ranging from conchas (soft, sweet bread shaped like a seashell), piedras (dense, cinnamon pastries shaped like rocks and often made from leftover bread), cuernitos (sweet bread shaped like crescents), cornmeal cookies, and so much more. Everything was self-service, so I had free roam to choose whatever I wanted and check out at the counter. Overall, I would totally recommend this place if you’re looking for a sweet treat. I gave it a 9.5/10. Overall, I am not a picky eater in the slightest, but I can truly say that all of these places were simply delicious. Additionally, everyone of the staff I encountered was very polite and helpful.
Aside from the importance of supporting the community, I think it is also important to go out and try new foods that you may have never had before, as it opens your mind to new possibilities and exposes you to new cultures. I encourage you, if you are able, to take your money to local businesses – and to continue doing so, even after this occupation is over.
