Tacos are the ultimate “safe place” when it comes to stepping out of your comfort zone. Hundreds of different ingredients and unique flavor profiles start with the simple magic of a hand held corn tortilla.

I first started this blog as a way to keep myself motivated to try new places, but I can honestly say I wasn’t very adventurous with my food choices until I became addicted to tacos. They are small enough that you feel completely comfortable trying out a new flavor, because it’s basically sacrilege to only have one anyway!

For Taco Tuesday I’m going to be gushing over Sonora Grill Minneapolis so I recommend not reading this on an empty stomach.

Sonora Grill first started in the Midtown Global Market and serve up a variety of “Scratch America and Spanish infusion cuisine.”

Drinks:

Sonora Margarita: Corralejo tequila, fresh orange & lemon juice, cointreau

When I mentioned my dinner plans to a couple coworkers who live near Sonora Grill, the margarita was a resounding recommendation. Normally I’m hesitant about margaritas as I’m someone who can hazily trace tequila as the source of most of my bad life decisions, however, I do not regret my choice and may or may not have had 3….#sorrynotsorry

Looking at the menu, I was also really interested in their Chabelita, which is fresh muddled cucumber, Sauza Signature Blue Tequila, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar so that will definitely be my next cocktail adventure.

Pro Tip: try to get their for Happy Hour when the margarita is only $5! (Happy Hour is everyday 2pm – 5pm)

Food:

Tacos + Margaritas = No possible way to mess this up

I cannot gush about the food enough. In typical fashion it started with the chips & salsa. The salsa had the perfect amount of heat and the chips were cooked to perfection (and having recently tried and failed to make my own corn chips, I can now say it’s not as easy as I always thought it was).

The night I was there the menu had a taco with fried eggplant in it, which I ended up deciding against in favor of the Chicken Al Pastor and the Tongue taco, so we compromised by getting the eggplant fries to share. I can honestly say I am baffled I’ve never had these before. They are so good and because it’s eggplant you can trick yourself into thinking you’re being healthy! I definitely recommend them.

Chicken Al Pastor: chihuahua cheese, arbol aioli, pineapple salsa

When ordering tacos it’s my habit to get one “adventurous” one and one that I’m more comfortable with. The 2nd taco may still be a little different but it’s more accepted as my “fall back” taco. In this case the Chicken Al Pastor was the fall back, however, the pineapple salsa added the perfect amount of citrus and in no way did this feel like a consolation prize. Four Stars.

Tongue: beef tongue, cilantro, onion, cabbage, chipotle salsa

The idea of eating tongue grosses me out beyond belief, which is odd considering I will happily eat breast, thigh, and wing (under duress) so when I saw this on the menu and the waitress assured me it was one of her favorites I went for it. I am so glad I did. I want to say it was a tender tongue, but for some reason that alliteration keeps bringing to mind visions of awkward first kisses so instead I’ll say it was incredibly juicy and flavorful and I would order it again in a heartbeat.

If you’re a shrimp person (which I am not) that was also one recommended to me by my coworkers. My friend Andrea did get it and can vouch for it’s deliciousness.

SEE THE FULL MENU

Service/Atmosphere:

It’s relatively small inside with bar seating as well. When I first walked in the sign said wait to be seated so I did just to be completely ignored by the first waitress passing me by, but the bartender was quick to tell me to sit wherever I wanted, so there’s that.

Our waitress was extremely friendly and great with giving us recommendations, but she messed up Andrea’s drink and rarely came back to check on us so our glasses were empty more than they should have been…although maybe that was the universe trying to help me resist tequila’s temptation. The service can definitely be improved upon, but the food came out really quick and was absolutely delicious. There was also a cute patio space that looks like it must be packed during the summer.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend checking this place out and I’m happy to say my first forage into E Lake Street cuisine was a success!

3 1/2 Stars.

Sonora Grill – Minneapolis
3300 E Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Monday – Wednesday: 11AM – 9PM
Thursday – Saturday 11AM – 10PM
Sunday 9AM – 9PM