Mercado Central

Came here for the pupusas! Met a couple of friends here over lunch. One friend of mine speaks Spanish, and that was a good thing because the lady who was working didn’t speak any English. So it worked out, and the pupusas are legit.
I got the pork pupusas with cheese and beans. OMG. SO good. Like, the wholetime you are eating it you know how bad it is for you but it’s so delicious and you can’t stop. The slaw and red sauce were good too. Cheap– 2 pupusas and a bottle of water for $ 7.75. Can’t wait to come back next time I want to blow my diet.

Mercado Central is like my home! literally when I was younger I would live here no joke morning till night that’s because my parents would buy groceries and clothes and décor and have a bite to eat here and mingle and get legal advice and get into there catholic church community!
Its a building with individual shops and if you know the right ppl you can get great deals and hook ups and also different types of food you want Mexican food its right there you want Salvadorian food its right there Ecuadorian no problem. They also have a bakery beware sometimes the bread is hard but next to the bakery they serve latin drinks like Mexican hot chocolate or champurrado! its like the Mexican hot chocolate but they add masa which is like flour to thicken the drink up omg and pair it with a or 3 tamales verdes ITS A WRAP hands down delicious!
oh and the security or sometimes the cop that’s infront of the door is the funniest dude there I don’t know if he still works there but he is very funny and friendly!

On my way out of Minnesota and I thought I’d check this place out. I got one Taco Al Pastor and one Barbacoa Taco. Both were probably the best of their kind I’ve ever had. I can’t really comment on the place itself, since I carried-​out the food, but the tacos were the real deal. The homemade tortillas may be small, but they are delicious with the perfect texture. The meat on the tacos is so well-​seasoned and flavorful that all they need is a little onion, cilantro, and a few drops of salsa. Both the green and the red salsas are great: spicy, but also flavorful. I’d love to stop by again the next time I’m in Minneapolis.

Love this place! The shops, bakery, grocery store, restaurants and floral shop! Reminds me of street markets in MX but cleaner. It is a cultural experience! Taqueria la Hacienda is definitely my favorite restaurant! Al pastor, burritos are my two favorites. I’ve tried Manny’s…I guess I’m not big on sandwiches. The floral shop is fast and friendly and very affordable!!! Beautiful rose arrangements.
A mini taste of Mexico in Minnesota!

If you have ever traveled to a foreign country where English is not the primary language you may feel intimidated to enter Mercado Central. Don’t be afraid, during the cold Minnesota winters if you can’t afford a trip to Mexico Mercado Central will be a good substitute.
The people working at the food stands are used to dealing with non-​Spanish speakers and most of the menu boards have pictures that allow you to point at what you want. They also have a basic understanding that if you say chicken you will wind up with pollo, if you say beef you will wind up with beef, see wasn’t that easy?
Price points are very affordable for the amount of food you get. And I don’t think you can get a much better taco on the streets of Mexico.
If language is a really big issue avoid the weekends when the place is bustling and parking is migraine inducing. Go on a weekday or a holiday when crowds are not as plentiful.
The whole building is kind of a maze with LaLoma tamales in the NE corner and the other food stalls in the opposite corner of the building and take advantage of the layout to browse and find some really excellent wares.
One of the cooks at Open Arms is Mexican and he told me that LaPerla, the tortilla shop, has the best menudo — the meat is always tender, so I will check that out next time.

If I could plagiarize, I would just use Susannah H’s review. It’s spot on.
But in my own words, Mercado Central is so much more than a place to buy incredible and affordable tamales, tortas, and conchas. It’s also a community gathering spot for residents, entrepreneurs, and youth. Want to grab a tasty and affordable lunch with your family? Of course. Have an awesome business idea that you want to pilot? Rent out a space. Need college admissions counseling? Head to the second floor.
Mercado Central is an artery connected to the heart of Minneapolis’ Latino community, and it represents the perfect marriage between economic development and culture. Don’t believe me? Look at Manny’s Tortas! Manuel Gonzalez –the owner– always dreamed about owning his own business. He finally got his opportunity in 1999, opened up shop, and now has two locations! How awesome is that? (Delicious tortas for errbody!) Mercado Central’s model is one that should be replicated by organizations and (potential) businesses that want to revitalize a neighborhood and empower a people.
For the community. By the community. Mercado Central!
Love and respect times infinity.

This place was great! I was craving Mexican food and a co-​worker suggested I check this place out. I was able to get tacos, sweet bread, and candy. And there was a grocery store next door where I happily shopped for more Mexican food items.

I love Mercado Central, the vendors, the foods, etc…
But, many people probably aren’t aware of how TRULY SPECIAL Mercado Central is, and how influential it has been in helping make Lake Street what it is today. Not only has it brought authentic, amazing Latino food and culture to Minneapolis, but it has greatly revitalized the area. More importantly, Mercado Central was created to be a central market, gathering, and community space for the Minneapolis Latino community, while also giving help and support to many Latino immigrants so that they may gain the entrepreneurial opportunities to grow and flourish.
Groups involved in Mercado Central offer resources to new or small businesses, such as low overhead costs, group marketing opportunities, pro bono legal service, technical assistance, and office equipment. Thanks to these services, businesses have been able to expand around Minneapolis, buildings along Lake Street have been restored, and many other free services, such as career and college counseling, are now available to the Latino community.
SO! Next time you’re at Mercado Central, take a look around the building and outside, and realize the power a unified community can have to make something so truly wonderful.

This place is hopping, with a selection of food to suit every taste. When I arrived here, I was in the mood for a pick me up in the form of dessert. I love rice pudding, but I ended up getting the tastiest Tiramasu I’ve had in awhile. I could tell the chocolate topping was mixed with mocha, and I’m pretty sure the cream used in the middle was rice pudding at Manny’s Tortas. It’s pretty great that Mexican Coke is served here, yay for real sugar and no high fructose corn syrup! If you’re going with a group like I did, make sure to have someone stake out some prime seating. It can be a competitive sport.

Are you hungry for some real Mexican food? Only got a couple of bucks? Do you have a few minutes to wait, for your food to be made fresh? Do you like to browse through things like handmade clocks and First Communion dresses while waiting for your fresh, hot pupusa?
If yes, then get your ass to Mercado Central.
Are you uncomfortable with loud crowds of people, all speaking in another language? Do you have a problem with sharing a table with 20 strangers? Do you believe an authentic taco means a hard shell with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese?
If so, then please stay in the suburbs. This place is not for you.
I really enjoyed our recent stop at Mercado Central, and I think I’ll be spending a lot more time there. The variety of vendors, the astounding aromas, and the community atmosphere are right up my alley. (FYI, though, the parking lot is a nightmare. Best be prepared to walk a few blocks.)

Mercado central is like a more authentic and more latin version of Midtown global market. Getting in the place is almost like going to Mexico.
In here there are some stores selling clothing, accessories and similar appareal. In addition there are stores selling all sorts of snacks, chilies and spices and then there are the food stalls.
The food stalls are the great thing about Mercado central and a place to pretend you are on vacation choosing some street food.
Bring your best spanish and enjoy some food!

It’s amazing how you enter the un-​assuming plaza and you are immediately taken into another world. Little open area shops to stroll through; Mexican goods that have labels in Spanish and that local-​feel chatty cafeteria/​food court all add to the ambiance.
That being said, I did walk around for a very short while and sat down to enjoy a pupusa and something from Manny’s Tortas.
As someone had said, they’re not sure what’s in a pupusa. I’m not sure either, lol. All I know is that it was pretty good and excellent for the price.
The bf got something from Manny’s and while he said the sandwich was good, we both looked at what he received for his higher price and what I received for my pupusa… and it didn’t really make too much sense.
Nonetheless, if you want the cafeteria feel while eating your Mexican food, Mercado Central is your place! (It’s funny, Unilocal asks what the «ambience» is like for this place, and I almost want to select touristy… lolol)

This is great food is excellent, people and staff are very friendly. Prices are great except for Manny’s Tortas (why so $$$$?).
Ambiance is a great example of the rich diversity of Minneapolis.
If that’s not your piece of heaven, go to Woodbury for a $ 20 burger behind the security gates and stop in Edina for your cake.

The best way I can describe this place is to have you imagine the Discount MegaMall (you know… the frankensteined Mexi-​centric mall on Milwaukee Avenue). Now try and picture a giant hand karate-​chopping it in half, cleaning it up (thanks health department) and moving it to Minneapolis. This anonymous hand would decide to call it Mercado Central and people would actually want to go there… by choice.
If you find that description too Chicago-​centric, I’ll try and make it more concrete: a bunch of vendors (food and other) inside this building. It was clean. The tacos were awesome! The pupusas were awesome! This should be a required stop for anyone traveling through Minneapolis.

How dare every single previous poster not tell me about this place a million years ago? I had to meet a work cohort here yesterday and I almost died of happiness. I lived in Mexico for a year and this place was the closest thing I’ve seen to a Midwestern remake since I moved to Minneapolis. The tostadas had the real crumble cheese on them and the salesmanship of tight lycra tops was supreme. This place has got nothing on the Global Market, which although cute feels pretty suburbanized to me. This is going to be my new taco spot from now on.
Also — real quick — this super cute lady was walking around the dining area asking people to go to a 4^th of July party in Powderhorn park on Sunday. (Not her personal party — there were going to be bands and food and whatnot.) She was just talking to people about trying to get the different folks from the neighborhood to participate and hang together. I loved that and the fact that there were Mexicans getting their taco on, pupusa lovers googling over Ecuadorian food, hipster/​bikers looking for a cheap snack, kids, old people — a whole variety of folks. Warm fuzzies abound.

Awesome. try the popusas, and the first taco stand next to the popusas makes the best tacos. Small, jam packed with flavor, great tortillas. The other kiosks are decent but this is where you want to take your belly to.

Mercado Central is one of those places that just not enough people know about. From the street, you can’t really tell what’s inside, but when you walk in, you know you’ve stumbled into a vibrant and energized little piece of the city.
I’ve loved everything I’ve tried at Mercado Central, but you MUST try the pupusas, which, at $ 2 each, are like a perfect little piece of fabulousness. On top of the perfect price and great taste, the woman working behind the counter is super-​cute in a «friendly-​neighbor» or «mom of your friend down the street» kind of way. Stop by: you’ll know what I mean.

Any place where you can get awesome Mexican candy is a draw for me. Top that with some stellar food, other random mish mash of products, and you’ve won this gal’s heart. I am crazy for Tamales! You can get them here! Muy Muy delicioso amigos and amigas! Hop on to you moped and dine here then get some candy. Follow that with some Mexican Pastry or pastry then candy. I’ve done it all! Me gusta tu comida Mercado Central, every last bit of it!

Really I should be reviewing each vendor here. But, I don’t remember their names– So, one review must fit all. I’ve never had a bad meal here, and I agree with some of the other reviewers, don’t let people tell you you can’t get good real mexican food in the cities. The Mercado is very no habla friendly, though it can get kind of hard sometimes, still even if everything is lost in translation you can just point at the menus. Not only is the food good but the cause is great too. check it out!

Don’t let people tell you that you can’t get real Mexican (or even El Salvadoran) food in the Twin Cities.
I’ve been to Mercado Central a couple of times and cannot express to you how awesome it is to have this place in town. I just went there the other day to satisfy a taco al pastor craving, but instead of getting myself a taco, I ordered a pupusa with chicarrone and queso. If you are wondering what this is, you’ll just have to get your butt down to Lake Street and find out.
The next thing I need to find in the Twin Cities is a nice Colombian place. I love arepas con queso.
And for those of you who are wondering, Mexican coke does taste different from American coke. But now with the price of corn products skyrocketing, American bottlers may start using real cane sugar again just like in the old days.