Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Pariente Mexican Grill

    3.7 (91 reviews)
    InexpensiveTacos, Beer Bar
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order El Pariente Mexican Grill Takeout or Delivery

    El Pariente Mexican Grill Photos

    EL PARIENTE MEXICAN GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like El Pariente Mexican Grill

    Recommended Reviews - El Pariente Mexican Grill

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Margarita
    Sami G.

    Always a great place for an authentic meal! Super friendly staff and clean restaurant. Ordered a margarita, one birria taco and the Wednesday special. Usually the standard rice and beans at most places are blah, but not here! Such good flavor and nice moist rice. All delish and highly recommend a trip here!

    VIP margarita
    Diane B.

    Cozy environment. Outside seating Large margarita? Not sure I did not order the margarita but wondered about that VIP margarita. It looks awesome. Menu is big. Lots of choices. For me, the winner is always a good cheese and chips. The cheese dip was good, thin but really good.

    Al Pastor / Marinated Pork, Chorizo / Mexican Sausage,  Asada / Steak
    Natalie P.

    Honestly, this place exceeded my expectations. Everything was amazing and the staff were so fast and friendly. There was a lot of seating and the music was good. The prices were average. If I had to recommend one thing, it would be al the pastor tacos.

    Al pastor and asada street tacos
    Shannon L.

    Giving this place my toughest review as I had to wait more than 30 minutes for two tiny tacos that should've taken less than 10 minutes to cook. Not sure what the hold up was but I saw a few other guests waiting quite a while for their food. Prices were pretty normal for a Mexican restaurant, and once I did get my food I thought it was a pretty forgettable taco - nothing special and just a pretty typical flavor that did not make the wait worth at all. I'm sure this place has better days / experiences for other customers but because of my personal experience I don't think I'd come back again.

    Spicy chicken bowl. A bit too much sour cream. It does taste good.
    Kevin B.

    The food was fine. I ordered a burrito bowl, chicken, spicy sauce. The chips were extra, I skipped it. The service was low effort. My person who helped me seemed rude and didn't care. I was trying to ask a question and he shooed me out. Happy to take my money and move me along. There was no one in the restaurant. Not sure about going back, there are many other options.

    Drive-thru- if you don't have a mask they ask you use the drive-thru
    Kristina K.

    The first thing I tried Quesatorta, which is a quesadilla + torta. I choose goat meat for the meat option. I enjoyed this, but the shell did get a bit soggy on the bottom in the to-go box. I didn't remember to bring a mask, so they ask you to use the drive-thru if you don't have one. The drive-thru window showed they have a goat on Saturday and Sunday! I decided to go back within a week to try something different. I tried the marinated pork Pobrecito's. These were delicious. They weren't soggy. I also substituted the corn to tortilla for a flour tortilla. This I enjoyed outside at one of the few tables they have. This place is definitely worth trying!

    A little peek at part of their menu they offer.
    Mark G.

    Ohhhhhh my Goodnessssss..... the most authentic and amazing food. Their corn quesadilla. Carnitas is amazing freshly made corn quesadilla cheese, melted in to perfection, radishes vegetables, and a fine, seasoned Carnitas or whatever meat you were looking for Cabeza available and more. Roasted jalapeños are so good they make their own green and red sauces and a Sunday buffet you don't have enough room for their huge selection ,my favorite Mexican food in Minnesota.

    Chicken flautas, large serving. Delicious
    Yolanda S.

    We've been here now almost a year and finally decided to stop and eat! On county road E in white bear across from the caribou/bagel shop. There is a open parking lot, a drive thru and seating outside. Inside there is a good amount of seating and booths. Great music playing! We are originally from texas however we have been living in Hawaii the last 4 years. Mexican food is practically nonexistent there. We've had quite a bit of great Mexican food while here in MN. There is a decent large menu, service staff was friendly as we mentioned this was our first time. Recommended several items and they have specials of the day. Food was hot and fresh and service was quick. Red salsa is a spicy habanero and the green is a delicious tomatillo which was our favorite. We got a side of guac and we loved it great flavor! We will be back to try more menu items! We will be back can't wait to try more menu items

    Mexican Coke
    Tony H.

    I had tried El Pariente from the food truck about a year ago. I wanted to see if the food tasted any fresher than that time. The Birria with consumé was pretty good and tasted pretty fresh. I think it was a little on the spendy side for three Birria tacos but I'll be honest I'm not sure what I have paid for them elsewhere, and I would pay any price to try Birria from a new place. I also had the carne asada and the tacos al pastor. Here's where El Pariente lost me. The meat didn't taste freshly prepared. So like El Taquito in west St. Paul always cooks fresh steak tacos and I've been going there for over twenty years for that reason. When you can taste that the meat is not freshly prepared, there really is no telling how long it has been sitting before being reheated to serve. The al pastor. The same thing. It did not taste fresh. I go to Andalè in Richfield for their tacos al pastor. Although I believe their al pastor to be prepped before being ordered, it still tastes fresh. So if I am noticing the taste of meat that isn't fresh, again, there is no telling how long it has been sitting, waiting to be cooked. Pretty unfortunate to have a less than stellar review for these guys. The service was good and somewhat fast. And the place was clean. I'm not sure what else to say except I might only ever go back for the Birria.

    Cuban Torta

    See all

    2 months ago

    The food was amazing like SO good and the service was pretty good too, and ambiance was good

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J R.
    0
    2
    0

    13 days ago

    Food great, owners are great, staff is great. Sometimes it take a while but honestly some of the best around.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Sami G.
    158
    307
    1003

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R M.
    0
    3
    0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Thank you Natalie P. for you amazing review and cool pictures! :)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Rude to there black customers , the food isn't always right , the ambiance is nice tho that's it .

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vee V.
    358
    576
    1224

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Thank you so much Cindy!! Goat Birria Tacos are my favorite too!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Yooo Jirah thank you!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Food is always amazing! Staff is always kind. We love getting the street tacos or plate. Kids love the rice and quesadilla.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Thank you very much! Hope y'all had a wonderful day!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt T.
    234
    2
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    I am Mexican ... and this is authentic Mexican food. It was fabulous. My family and I had tamales, carne asada and margs.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick O.
    119
    30
    17

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah T.
    109
    100
    181

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jan N.
    0
    11
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Thank you Mike M. ¡Surcale!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim W.
    38
    5
    0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bryant C.

    Bryant C.

    Thank You for your support!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - El Pariente Mexican Grill

    You might also consider

    MAYA Cuisine - Maplewood

    MAYA Cuisine - Maplewood

    3.8
    (9 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    It's a bit shocking, but this mall food court stall is currently my favorite Mexican restaurant in…read morethe Saint Paul area. Consistently great cooking, good technique, very fresh ingredients. I have observed them preparing lengua and cabeza on the chopping block from cryovac cuts instead of having a bunch of crap frozen in plastic wrap ready to warm up and go. Once I was there with my wife and they delayed making her simpler dish, and when asked about it it was to have everything ready and hot at the same time in our order. You know, like they would do at a restaurant. Great salsas. Best value: burrito (no surprise here). Have had different meat versions of the burrito, street tacos, torta, birria, quesadilla, probably some others, plus elotes and chips/guac. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the torta, but it turns out I just don't like tortas, not their fault. There's a Maya in Minneapolis and there used to be one in the Rosedale Mall that got closed when the mall decided to gut and refurbish the wing they were in. That place was pretty good as well but seemed to struggle, and I wonder if they wound up picking the best staff from that restaurant and the taqueria here. This food court has a number of surprises in it: Maya, Blueprint Burgers, Taste of Saigon, Charlie's, and Twin Cities Crepes & Waffles (not in the food court but in the mall) are all good places, but Maya is by far the best and most consistent, and I go out of my way just to eat there. I'm always a little angry when I go here and the longest line is for Panda Express.

    The birria tacos were flavorless, and the consommé was overly oily. We used to come here often and…read morereally loved this place, but unfortunately the quality has declined. We gave it multiple chances in hopes things would improve, but today's visit was the worst yet and confirmed that we won't be returning.

    Photos
    Maya Cuisine! My favorite Mexican restaurant is in a food court!
    Maya Cuisine! My favorite Mexican restaurant is in a food court!
    Rice
    Rice
    Quesabirria 3 corn tacos toasted in huajillo salsa with melted cheese and beef birria, cilantro and onions. with "consome"  on the side.

    See all

    Quesabirria 3 corn tacos toasted in huajillo salsa with melted cheese and beef birria, cilantro and onions. with "consome" on the side.

    El Pariente Mexican Grill - tacos - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...