Some of the best meals in St. Paul do not come with white tablecloths or long waits. They come on a paper plate, ordered at a back counter, with a cup of consommé on the side for dipping.
On a busy stretch of road in the city’s North End, one small Mexican restaurant has quietly built a loyal crowd that drives across the Twin Cities just for a taste. People call it one of the best taco spots in the whole state, and that is a big claim in Minnesota.
The star of the show is a dish that mixes two favorites into one: pizza and birria. Keep reading to learn where this place is, what makes the cheesy pizza birria so popular, and the simple tips that make a first visit easy.
A North End Address Worth Remembering
Rice Street runs north through St. Paul, and plenty of drivers pass by without slowing down. Those who do stop at one particular building tend to come back again and again.
Tromperia El zac sits at 1322 Rice St, St Paul, MN 55117, in Minnesota, United States. It is a Mexican restaurant with a casual setup and a menu built around tacos, tortas, burritos, and birria.
The name gives a small clue about the focus here. A trompo is the vertical spit used to roast al pastor pork, and that spit plays a major role in the kitchen.
Diners have given the restaurant a 4.7 star average across more than 500 opinions. That is a strong number for any spot, and an especially strong one for a neighborhood taco counter.
The location is easy to find once you know it. Many guests say it is simplest to reach when heading north on Rice Street, which saves a tricky turn across traffic.
People who live nearby treat it as a regular lunch stop. Others make the trip from across the Twin Cities after hearing friends talk it up.
Either way, the address is the starting point for a meal that has earned a lot of word of mouth.
The Cheesy Pizza Birria Spotlight
Here is the dish that keeps showing up in conversation. The pizza birria takes slow-cooked birria beef and layers it with melted cheese between tortillas, cut into wedges like a pizza.
It arrives with a cup of consommé for dipping. Guests regularly call that consommé rich and full of flavor, and it is a big part of the appeal.
Some fans go as far as saying they like it even more than the regular birria tacos. The cheese is the reason most often given, since it pushes the whole thing up a level.
Onions and other toppings round it out. The meat, the cheese, and the sauces all work together without any one part taking over.
Portions matter too. The quesobirria pizza is often described as a lot of food for the price, which makes it a smart pick for sharing or for a very hungry person.
It also travels well. Pickup orders come out fast, and people who grab it to go still praise the portions and the consommé once they get home.
For a first visit, this is the order that explains the hype in one plate.
Al Pastor Straight From the Trompo
Pork stacked on a vertical spit, topped with pineapple, slowly turning. That setup is the heart of the restaurant and the reason for its name.
Al pastor is the most talked-about item on the menu by a wide margin. Fans call it some of the best in the Twin Cities, and a few say it is the best they have had in Minnesota.
The spit-roasting gives the meat a mix of tender pieces and crispy edges. Some diners expected a wetter style and found it crispier than usual, so it helps to know that going in.
Many people who come for birria end up ordering a few al pastor tacos on the side. It is an easy way to try the two things the kitchen is best known for.
The pairing with guacamole and the green salsa gets frequent praise too. Those small extras turn a quick taco order into a full meal.
Plenty of regulars started with al pastor and never really stopped ordering it.
More Birria Beyond the Pizza
Pizza birria may grab the headlines, but birria shows up in other forms here as well. Quesabirria and birria tacos are both popular orders.
The birria torta is another option. Lunch guests who try it often say they leave completely full, with no room left to sample more.
That is a common theme. Many people plan to order a few things and find that one main dish is plenty.
The consommé is a constant across these dishes. It ties the birria menu together and gives each plate something to dip into.
Trying birria tacos and pizza birria side by side is a fun way to compare. Some people stay loyal to the tacos, while others switch teams after one bite of the cheesier version.
Either choice keeps the slow-cooked beef at the center, and that beef is what built the reputation.
Tortas, Burritos, and Hearty Plates
Big appetites get plenty of options. The Torta Hawaiana has a reputation for being huge and heavy, and it is one of the larger sandwiches on the menu.
Burritos are another major draw. The wet burrito, La Burritas, and a fried rolled flour burrito wrap all have their fans.
The alambre also gets mentioned often. Guests who try it tend to rank it alongside the best things they have eaten here.
Steak, or asada, is a favorite in tacos and other dishes. Some diners even prefer it over the al pastor, which says a lot.
Not every plate lands the same for everyone. A few people have found the barbacoa a little dry, while others call barbacoa tacos the best they have had.
A small number of longtime pickup customers have also felt burrito wrapping and portions slipped lately. It is a reminder that tastes vary.
Still, most guests leave satisfied, and many of them leave with leftovers.
Tamales, Sopes, and the Vegetarian Side
Meat gets most of the attention, yet the menu has more range than people expect. Tamales come up again and again, and they are often described as moist and flavorful.
Sopes have their own loyal crowd. Tinga and crispy tripa tacos, along with buche tacos, give adventurous eaters something new to try.
Vegetarians are not left out. The kitchen offers zucchini tacos, poblano and corn tacos, and mushroom tacos.
The zucchini taco is a frequent favorite among the meat-free options. The team itself counts it as a favorite too.
One detail to know: these vegetarian tacos come with plenty of melted cheese under the filling. The restaurant is happy to customize, so asking for no cheese is an easy fix.
That kind of flexibility helps a mixed group order without fuss, and nobody has to settle for a side salad.
Salsas, Sips, and Sweet Endings
Four house salsas sit ready to match any order. A smoky one gets plenty of love, and a light green creamy salsa brings real spice.
The green enchilada sauce falls more in the medium range. That gives people who prefer less heat a safer choice.
Drinks lean classic. Horchata and agua de jamaica are both popular, and bottled beverages in glass are available too.
Chips and guacamole make a good starter while waiting for the main order. Sweet plantains are another side worth noticing.
For dessert, tres leches cake gets regular mentions. Churros are made fresh, which even people who skip sweets tend to appreciate.
These small extras can easily turn a quick taco run into a longer, more relaxed meal.
Inside the Dining Room
Nobody comes here for fancy decor, but the dining room still has character. Historic photos line the walls, and guests often stop to look at them.
The space is known for being clean. That comment shows up again and again, which counts for a lot at a busy counter-service spot.
Music can run loud at times. Groups hoping for a quiet chat may want to pick a slower hour.
Those slower hours do exist. A weeknight evening can feel calm, and some families have had the room nearly to themselves.
The overall setting is casual and relaxed. It suits a solo lunch, a family dinner with kids, or a quick bite with friends.
Simple, tidy, and a little nostalgic, the room lets the food stay in charge.
How the Counter Works
First-timers sometimes pause at the door, unsure where to go. The answer is simple: walk to the back to order.
Everything is counter service. You place your order there and pick up your food from the same area.
The staff earns steady praise for being polite, friendly, and easy to talk to. Many guests mention being greeted quickly with a smile.
Food tends to come out fast. That speed makes it a handy lunch stop on a workday.
Online ordering for pickup is also popular. Pickup orders are usually ready quickly, and grabbing them is described as no hassle.
A little know-how at the start makes the whole visit smooth from order to last bite.
Hours, Prices, and Parking Perks
Good news for planners: the schedule is the same every day. Tromperia El zac is open from 11 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week.
Prices typically land in the 10 to 20 dollar range per person. Most guests call them reasonable, especially given the portion sizes.
Parking is a real perk. A large fenced lot sits behind the building, which is a welcome surprise for a city spot.
Heading north on Rice Street is the easiest approach. It keeps the turn into the area simple.
Construction has affected the area at times. Even so, many diners say the meal is worth working around a detour.
Check the restaurant website before heading out for the latest menu details, then show up hungry.
Why the Hype Holds Up
Calling a taco counter one of the best in Minnesota is a bold move. Plenty of diners make that claim about this one without hesitation.
The reasons are easy to list. Spit-roasted al pastor, a pizza birria with serious cheese and a dip-worthy consommé, four house salsas, and a friendly team.
Add clean surroundings, fair prices, daily hours, and an actual parking lot. Few neighborhood spots check that many boxes.
It is not perfect for every taste. Some dishes split opinions, and a few longtime regulars want more consistency.
Most people, though, leave full and already planning the next order. Some even say it beats their home cooking.
For a first trip, start with the pizza birria and a couple of al pastor tacos. That combination tells the whole story, one cheesy wedge at a time.
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