This afternoon, following numerous suggestions by MSPD on other posts across the site, Kim and I headed over to Taqueria La Hacienda #3 (they have two locations on Lake Street in Minneapolis as well) in Burnsville, MN for lunch. While MSPD has given some great recommendations in the past, I was still a bit leery of trying authentic Mexican food with Kim in tow as you never know what she’s going to like and what she’s going to really hate me for later.
We pulled into the tiny parking lot, with narrow spaces, just before noon and walked in. The restaurant was pretty crowded and we found that we were the only people that weren’t of Hispanic descent inside. We took this to mean, improperly I suppose, that this was truly authentic cuisine and figured we were in for a real treat. After taking a look at the menu hanging on a large board overhead (I wasn’t able to find any website so I scanned their menu and put it in PDF format here for you) we made our choices and sat down and waited for our orders.
The restaurant itself is fairly small and definitely fits your typical South Metro strip mall look and feel. There was a simple deli style counter to order at and plenty of simple tables and chairs to enjoy your food. While I find Chipotle to be more or less ridiculous, plenty of you seem to feel that it’s the best thing since sliced bread and this is more or less just like that–except they make everything, including the tortillas fresh before your eyes. Being that they do everything right there the service was a bit slow but it only added to the overall experience (smells mostly) and made me only that much more excited to eat the food once it was in front of me.
When ordering Kim went with their $6.95 Carne Asada Platillos (combination plates) which included rice, beans, salsa, and corn tortillas. She ordered a bottle of Mexican Coke ($2.25) to drink and also picked up a hefty piece of their Pastel De Tiramisu (Tiramisu cake at $3.95) for dessert. I was a little more adventurous and went with their Lengua taco (beef tongue) to which Kim said, “don’t even show it to me” and to which Mrs. Marcos posted to Twitter, “beef tongue taco…I feel queasy” for $1.80. In addition I picked up a Al Pastor Platillos (BBQ pork, Mexican style) also for $6.95 and a small cup of their rice water for $1.75.
While we were waiting I tried a sip (I don’t drink caffeine as many of you know) of Kim’s Coke and was pleased as how excellent it tasted. Fortunately for Kim I liked my rice water even more and Kim later admitted that when we return (sorry, gave it away a little bit there) that she would go with it as well. I was quite impressed with the rice water except until the very end when I ended up with the gritty cinnamon which had sunk to the bottom. Honestly, it was so fucking good that I will definitely be back if not just to stop in for one of those on a hot summer day.
Eventually our food came out and we dug in. Kim’s carne asada was tasty. She isn’t a fan of cilantro and will be sure to ask that they not include it next time but had absolutely no problems in eating nearly every last little bit on her plate. My beef tongue taco was quite tasty and if I hadn’t told Kim what it was, I’m sure she would have enjoyed it as well. My BBQ pork platter was also very good although I would definitely go with a different meat next time. The salsas they came with were spiced well even for someone who likes to eat raw habaneros and I was glad that I got two containers to slather all over my meal. The beans were different than the refried concoctions you normally see at Americanized Mexican restaurants and were quite tasty. The tortillas were nice and quite small (they are described in the menu as being palm sized) but were plentiful enough that I didn’t run out. My sole complaint comes with the rice. It wasn’t that it wasn’t good, it was. It’s just that it wasn’t as good as everything else we tried today. Honestly, if that’s the worst of it, well you know you’re in good shape ;-)
Kim’s dessert was fantastic, although a bit frozen to start but had thawed enough by the time she was ready to eat it. I don’t eat tiramisu due to the espresso but I did take a little taste and thought it was one of the best I’ve had in some time. Kim didn’t seem to have any problems eating it all so I have to assume that it was quite good for her as well.
Overall, an excellent lunch and one that I hope to repeat in the very near future. Our lunch, with the drinks, food, and dessert came to $25.25 which is a bit on the high side when you think of a typical Mexican restaurant but when you factor in the excellent drinks available and dessert, I don’t think it was overpriced in the least and I know you could eat for as little as a few dollars and be quite pleased with the result.
Taqueria La Hacienda #3 in Burnsville comes highly recommended by both Kim and I and if you’re into Mexican food I suggest that you immediately change your dinner plans and get your ass over there right now to eat some of the best food I’ve had in a very long time. Yum.
Address:
Taqueria La Hacienda #3
2000 Williams Dr Suite #105
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone:
952-808-6895
Hours:
Mon – Sun 9 AM – 11 PM
Check out all of the pictures from Taqueria La Hacienda #3 on Flickr here.
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March 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Glad you liked it. If you ever have a chance to get to their location in the Mercado Central at Lake St. and Bloomington Ave., I would encourage it. It’s even better. Plus, you can get tamales from La Loma just around the corner.
On a side note — you remind me that I have a whole beef tongue in my freezer right now. Honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to do with it. Maybe bring it to my next pot luck.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Lick it up!
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:06 am
I’ve been to TLH in Burnsville a few times now. I love the Al Pastor tacos. I highly recommend the Tortas as well. I’m not sure if I’m up for the beef tongue.
It’s only 9am and I’m now craving Mexican food.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
The beans from that place call to me in the night, I swear. I try to keep a little styrofoam container of them in my fridge at all times. Love the cheese quesadilla, too. Their cheese is the kind I like—white, salty, and bouncy, as opposed to the white creamy kind that seems to have come into fashion at Mexican restaurants.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
MSPD, thanks your suggestion on which one on Lake to try. My buddy Andy and I are meeting up next week after I get back from Boston and we’re going to eat there.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
We really enjoy this place too. We’ve been pretty frequent visitors since I read about it in one of MSPD’s posts.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
Sorry for the typo MSPD!
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 am
I fixed it, no worries :)
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:04 pm
We have been to the place based on one of MSPD’s posts as well. We enjoyed it a great deal. If you are used to the more north of the border Mexican food, you may have to be careful what you order, but the food is great.
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Yes Chad…thanks for that. Hopefully I’ve been clear in recommendation — this is Mexican street food-style Mexican. You won’t find burritos smothered in sauce, cheese and sour cream. Bill’s photos are an outstanding representation.
The El Loros, El Patio, Chevy’s, Teresa’s, El Azteca, La Cucaracha, etc. are your go-to places for Tex-Mex/Americanized Mexican food.
TLH, Los Ocampos, Gorditas el Gordo, La Loma, the Mercado Central, Manny’s Tortas, Salsa a la Salsa, Barrio, Masa, El Burrito Mercado, etc. are the places to go for authenticity if you like this style of food. I go to different places for different things and am happy to make reservations accordingly (obviously).
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Just to pile on here… this is one of the few places in the south metro that I’ll plan errands around. Good stuff.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Mmmmmm my favorite! I am craving Don Pablos now!
March 24th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Mrs M…I enjoy a smothered burrito as much as the next guy. Just want to make sure folks aren’t expecting one at Taqueria La Hacienda.
On a side note, I was going to add Don Pablos to my list of Tex Mex, but I thought they all closed. Are there any left anywhere?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:01 am
MSPD:
Eden Prairie, Roseville, Richfield, and Maple Grove are still open according to their website. I drove by both the Richfield and Eden Prairie locations and they seemed quite alive. I cannot personally vouch for the other two however.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Wow. Shows what I know. I guess I’ll have to run out immediately and not eat at one as quickly as possible.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
For similar authentic “street-style” Mexican without the warm and clean strip mall atmosphere, be sure to check out Taco Loco in Shakopee. Beware, it is take-out or eat outside only.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Don Pablos – possibly the worst food in the city.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Chad, Chad, Chad, you disappoint me! ;)
March 30th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Glad you went and liked it… i prefer the ‘al pastor” and the chorizo tacos… i just buy three tacos and ask for extra hot sauce.
I live just a half mile away so I never eat there… just take out and have it with a cold beer at home. It goes very well with college basketball, or “House” or whatever.
I concur with MSPD’s interpretation of the Mex offerings in the TC. I also concur with your take on the rice, it sucks… that is why i stick to just the tacos maam. And the refrieds are real, made with lard, that is what makes the difference in taste and consistency. no doubt the other mexican authentic places listed by MSPD serve them too… wish they also served black bean refrieds like this…
March 31st, 2009 at 10:38 am
mulch, I had some outstanding black beans at Barrio in downtown Minneapolis a few weeks ago. They came with the Oaxacan ribs. They were super flavorful to begin with, but as I was eating, I kept discovering surprise chicharrons (small chunks of fried pork skin)…oh man. I’d go all the way down there just for that.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Barrio is on my list. I love Masa. Odd that they are pretty much next door to each other.
Have any of you tried Nick & Eddie or Blackbird? We love both of these restaurants.
April 4th, 2009 at 12:06 am
I wasn’t at all impressed with Blackbird. Nice atmosphere when it’s not totally packed, but the food didn’t do anything for me nor my wife. Actually, in that neighborhood, Heidi’s just moved up my short list again — not only do I enjoy Stuart Woodman’s cooking, they just brought in David Vlach (formerly of Town Talk Diner and Aquavit among others). He’s an outstanding chef and a really nice guy.
I actually have never made it to Nick & Eddie. I’m much more eager to go there with Steven Brown in the kitchen.
Masa and Barrio are really not that similar aside from being Mexican influenced and offering amazing churros desserts.
Wow…that was a tangent.
April 4th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I agree with Heidi’s. Stuart Woodman has contributed a lot to the cities. Blackbird sometimes goes out on a limb a bit with their ideas, but we kind of liked that – it makes things interesting.
Yes, we really like taqueria la hacienda, also. Good basic street food. Hate the El Loros and such. Velveeta.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:05 am
TLH #3 now has daily specials.
If I recall correctly…
• Monday is $5 Quesadilla
• Tuesday is $5 Burrito
• Wednesday is $1 Tacos
• Thursday is $5 Alambres (awesome!)
• Firday is $5 for 4 Tacos (same kind).
July 10th, 2009 at 9:06 am
TLH #3 now has daily specials.
If I recall correctly…
• Monday is $5 Quesadilla
• Tuesday is $5 Burrito
• Wednesday is $1 Tacos
• Thursday is $5 Alambres (awesome!)
• Friday is $5 for 4 Tacos (same kind).
October 29th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Just ran across this post again.
Those daily specials are no longer available.
April 1st, 2010 at 2:03 pm
For the month of April, TLH is offering their wonderful burritos for only 5 bucks.
July 21st, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] to El Loro, an absolutely disgusting Americanized Mexican restaurant is just downright wrong when Taqueria La Hacienda #3 sits only a short jaunt down MN-13 and offers food that is 1000000x better. Get a clue [...]
September 20th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
La Hacienda Tacos are overrated and expensive.
If wanting a good mexican taco with regular size tortillas and yummy mexican flavor try Tacos Pinedas on lake street, they are the best for my liking and im from the south of mexico
September 20th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Definately not the best in town and still for me the best come from tacos pinedas down in lake street. They also serve tacos with regular tortillas and the best flavor around
September 20th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Thanks for the suggestion.
September 20th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
For people wanting some good mexican grub in burnsville you should stop at this hole in the wall deli next to subway on nicollete ave.
Its called taqueria Hidalgo and they have a true mexican variiety of foods from the north and south side of mexico
September 20th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
I will try Hidalgo out, but at at $1 per taco this month the Hacienda’s carnitas tacos are pretty tasty. they seem to be the same size i have had in very authentic places in Chicago, and LA. I sure wouldnt call $1 per taco overpriced. ?
September 21st, 2010 at 9:33 am
Pineda on Lake Street is good, but they have a few other locations that range from bad to horrible. The one in Golden Valley/Plymouth (next to the original Tea House restaurant) is awful.
December 8th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Absolutely one of the worst tacos I have ever had, I was born and raised in San Diego California, spent many a afternoon in Tijuana eating authentic Mexican food, my favorite tacos, piled high with lettuce, shredded beef, cheese, onions, cilantro, and salsa, on a corn tortilla. Now after eating a shredded beef taco from TLH, the works as the server said, shredded beef onions and cilantro with lettuce and salsa on a mini corn tortilla not even a regular sized tortilla, I was mad and disgusted. Never Ever, Ever will I set foot in there, absolutely no taste Taco’s.
May 20th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
We finally made it here for dinner. The Wife and I loved it. I had carnitas, chirizo and al pastor tacos while the Wife had the al pastor combo plate. Yum Yum. It was very similar to food I have had in Mexico not tourist placed either. The bean were fine, nothing special, and the rice was simple and moist.
We will go be going back. Maybe I will get the pork stomach taco.
May 20th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I had lunch here today. Chorizo tacos are my favorite. Love them.
June 15th, 2011 at 10:05 am
[...] Taqueria La Hacienda #3 [...]
August 19th, 2011 at 7:01 am
[...] However, the food and general lack of service were not the biggest disappointments. The biggest shock came when we received a bill for $28.12. With a commenter noting that a meal for 2.5 back in June set them back only $20, I was expecting something more reasonable than a price I could pay for much tastier food served with a smile at any number of other local places starting with Taqueria La Hacienda. [...]
September 15th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
[...] And while I recommend it, I want to again warn you that this is not as clean and tidy as Taqueria La Hacienda #3 just a bit further down the road and it’s not a place I’m going to be dragging Kim to [...]
April 17th, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] love the twist done by Hispanic restaurants. Being that I recently had two Cuban tortas at Taqueria La Hacienda #3 in Burnsville which include such wonders as multiple types of pork and a hot dog, I decided I had to do a more [...]