My wife and I were on a date night and looking for something that was simple and unique. We wanted to grab a drink at Loon Liquors and so I looked on Yelp to see what was close by for a quick bite to eat. This place caught my eye with all the talk about Asian/Mexican fusion. Panda Express and Chipotle combined? Hmmm...you peaked my interest. The menu does not disappoint when it comes to a mixture of fusion food, whether that be a taco, rice bowl, or burrito. You basically can build your own combo or choose from one of their own recipes. My wife decided upon the fried shrimp poke bowl and I tried three tacos - the spiced cauliflower, bahn mi, and fried fish. All of our meats were deliciously cooked and seasoned. The spiced cauliflower sauce was packed full of flavor. They have cracked the code on how to make cauliflower taste good! Amazing. I especially loved the pork belly in the bahn mi inspired taco. It was unique, not quite bahn mi, but extremely tasty nonetheless. I enjoyed all three of my tacos. My wife raved about her poke bowl. Once again, it was not quite a poke bowl since there was no raw fish included but you got everything else and it was all fresh and tasty. We also shared a bag of chips and their fresh guac - very good choice to even out our meal. We liked the variety and uniqueness of the dishes we tried. I will definitely stop back when I am in Northfield for more of that pork belly, yum. read more

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I stopped here after the movies for a snack. I ordered the Bahn Mi and Bulgogi Beef tacos. They were both super flavorful and delicious! The staff seemed to be new, they didn't know what was on the tacos so I had to take a photo of the menu and read it to the guy making it, but it wasn't a big deal. The other people in my group got the queso, a cheese quesadilla and each had one of the bowls. They all enjoyed them, though from my few bites, I'd say the tacos were definitely the standout items. The only item I didn't like was the egg rolls. They were extremely greasy and overall tasted off. None of us in the group ate more than a bite. Overall, a nice spot to stop into with a Chipotle style "build your own" vibe. I highly recommend trying the speciality tacos. read more

Went here when it first opened and we were satisfied with not only the food but another option in Northfield. It's not priced too high and reminds me of a "better chipotle," if that makes any sense. People working were young but friendly. Not any decor on the walls and just kind of said Gong Loco on the wall. Update: went back last night and there is decor painted on the walls in an almost Latin way some food items. Flavor still very good but I had the cilantro lime rice and there were hard pieces in there that almost looked like they had been there since lunch. Almost like instead of switching holding pans, new rice was dumped in the old pan. Pic below. read more

Gong Loco - This is a rice chunk that wasn't friendly for my teeth. - Latin American Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

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This is my first experience with this restaurant. It is setup kinda like a Chipotle. This decor is a typical fast food restaurant. They have A lot of interesting selections and combinations between Asian and Mexican food. The service is friendly, and they helpfully guide thru the menu options and combinations. read more

Gong Loco - Sign - Latin American Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

We went to Dundas from the Twin Cities on an errand then went to Northfield for lunch and spotted this Asian/Latin fusion place as we entered the city. Located on the West side of Minnesota Highway 3, the newly built establishment is flanked with large glass windows. Bright and lively pictures of tacos, noodles, and vegetables decorate the walls. The well-organized and easy to read menu is printed on the half wall as you enter the lobby. They also have a kids menu. Be careful not to lean on the glass window on a sunny day. It's hot! We went for a beef quesadilla to share and each ordered the three tacos combo for $13: Bahn Mi (2), Bourbon Chicken, Fish taco, Tuna & Salmon Poke, and Spicy Cauliflower. Watch out for the jalapenos in the bahn mi! Unlike my MN taste bud, my wife ordered the spicy salsa and happily ate the jalapeno slices. The food was tasty with nice spice blends and some heat if you want it in both the food and the salsa choices. The vegetables are fresh and full of flavor. My wife said the banh mi tacos have the right crunch from the vegetables and was pleasantly surprised to find vegetarian options too. All the non-veggie choices had a significant amount of marinated meat, which probably explained the group of St. Olaf College athletes who came in after us to dine. The surprise was the desserts we had: fried ice cream and churros. Fried ice cream used to be a staple in American Chinese restaurants so it's a bit nostalgic to find this little bit of Americana still in Gong Loco. The ice cream really stood out for us. Fresh, smooth, and creamy complimented with the crunch from the fried exterior. It's supplied by a hyper local MN company called "Udder Buddies" so we looked it up and made the trek to a BBQ establishment to buy a couple pints in the nearby town where they're located. However it was only reading their menu online that we learned that Gong Loco also sells the Udder Buddies ice cream by the pint also. Don't skip the dessert if you're visiting this place! The staff was friendly and very helpful though a bit unorganized at the toasting machines. There might be a couple new employees still learning the flow of the operation. The establishment is less than a year old so be kind and patient as the staff learn the process of making the food. They were patient with us so we did the same for them. Eat good food and be kind. We recommend this place! read more

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Fast casual Asian Latin fusion locally created in Northfield. My favs are the Korean BBQ Burrito and the Shrimp Poke Bowl. Well staffed with clean bright atmsosphere. Prices a value considering the fresh quality ingredients. Think Qdoba or Chipotle on the style, price point and food quality (but better). Hint: Don't try to be the chef by building your own. Just order a standard menu item and do minor modifications to fit your pallette. Bon appetit! read more

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Pleasantly surprised. Having read and heard varying reviews, finally decided to give it a try. Ordered the chipotle chicken bowl and it was great! Lots of toppings to choose from and tailored to my liking. Everything was fresh. Large serving; could have shared with another person. Ate in and, therefore, was served in a reusable bowl and with real silverware resulting in minimal waste. Plenty of seating and very clean. Competitively priced. Staff were great! Will definitely be back. read more

Gong Loco - Chipotle chicken bowl - Latin American Near Me - Northfield, Minnesota

My wife and I have been on a low/no carb diet and we really missed being able to go out to eat. Gong Loco is exactly what we have been looking for. Think a healthy version of chipotle and Panda Express but tastes much much better!! Price point is about same as chipotle. They have lots of carb choices that look delicious, but for those looking to stay low/no carbs and still go out and have a delicious meal this is your place! This is a new favorite for us! read more

Great options, plenty of seating with lots of space. Got three different tacos, love the option of ahi tuna for tacos.

Friendly staff. Latin bowl with barbacoa was tasty. Ingredients all seem fresh. Clean establishment.

My husband was here this week and loved the food. So this was my First visit and I will be coming back! Love that most of the menu is gluten free! I had the steak bowl and added pico and pineapple. Ingredients were very fresh and warm. Their guac is amazing but I'll ask for extra next time as it is a pretty small serving. Fast! Clean! Great place when you want to eat healthy and fast! read more

First time here. It's set up like Chipotle. A lot of interesting combinations between Asian and Mexican food! I love both so this was a good place for me. The place inside was clean and bright. The woman who helped me smiled and was friendly. She suggested dish I got and it was excellent, it's called the Cha cha chino! read more

It's like Chipotle but with even better options for the ingredients. I'll definitely be going back.