Twin Cities Ethnic Markets (Minneapolis, St. Paul: restaurant, food, places)

[tvdxer]

Which have you been to?

Which are your favorite?

The big ones I've been to:

> Hmong International Market (Asian) - St. Paul
> Suuq Al-Karama (Somali) - Minneapolis
> Mercado Central (Mexican) - Minneapolis

All have multiple vendors. Suuq Al-Karama is the smallest; Mercado Central is getting pretty big; the Hmong Market is gigantic.

I mainly go for the food. My favorite in that respect is probably Mercado Central, because I like Mexican food. The Hmong Market has a lot of food vendors and is fairly cheap - try the papaya salad stand, or the one with bubble tea. I could only find a single little food vendor in the Somali market, and they just heated me up a samosa in the microwave.

All seem pretty "authentic" - almost every one at the Hmong International Market was Asian, same with East Africans at the Suuq, and although the Mercado Central seems to target non-Mexicans, most there were Mexicans.

[lalife]

Also check out the Global Market on Lake Street ( 1 block from Chicago Avenue). Los Campos is in the Global Market
( very good Mexican). There are Arabic, African places etc there too.

You say that you like Mexican food... You have to go to the little 7-11 converted into a restaurant on 36th or 35th
(I forget) and Nicollet Avenue in South Minneapolis. The restaurant is called El Pairso. The food is incredibly good. If you go with about 4 people, order the seafood / pork etc plate of food for 4 + people. It is about $47, however it is enough to feed 6. Just incredibly good Mexican food!!.

[lalife]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Which have you been to?

Which are your favorite?

The big ones I've been to:

> Hmong International Market (Asian) - St. Paul
> Suuq Al-Karama (Somali) - Minneapolis
> Mercado Central (Mexican) - Minneapolis

All have multiple vendors. Suuq Al-Karama is the smallest; Mercado Central is getting pretty big; the Hmong Market is gigantic.

I mainly go for the food. My favorite in that respect is probably Mercado Central, because I like Mexican food. The Hmong Market has a lot of food vendors and is fairly cheap - try the papaya salad stand, or the one with bubble tea. I could only find a single little food vendor in the Somali market, and they just heated me up a samosa in the microwave.

All seem pretty "authentic" - almost every one at the Hmong International Market was Asian, same with East Africans at the Suuq, and although the Mercado Central seems to target non-Mexicans, most there were Mexicans.

Oh yes, the places that you mention are authentic. Nothing annoys me more than a chain "ethnic" restaurant targeted to the mainstream. Plus the authentic places feed you well and don't break the bank.

[tvdxer]

I forgot to mention I've been to the Midtown Global Market as well. Unfortunately, almost everything there was closed by the time I got there. (This was 6 PM on a Sunday)

[taysantanamama]

I have only been to El Burrito Mercado in del sol, St. Paul. Love it, miss it. Great tamales, better than my Mexican mother in laws. Also very good chorizo.