• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • Cities Stories
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Launch Your Creative Vision with CCX Create
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

El Taco Riendo Mexican Restaurant Finds Success in Crystal

4:51 PM | Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Every once in a while a craving comes along for authentic Mexican cuisine.

“After work, nothing hits the spot quite like a burrito,” said Isiah Valle of Minneapolis.

“It just tastes better,” said Dana Hackett of Champlin. “You can tell the difference between fast food and an authentic Mexican restaurant.”

For the past year and a half, employees from El Taco Riendo in Crystal have worked hard to be the go-to spot for people looking to fulfill their taco fix.

“We searched around and there was no Mexican places like, around the area,” Isa Vergel, general manager of El Taco Riendo in Crystal. “And we said, why not?”

el taco riendo crystal

Some of the authentic Mexican tacos sold at El Taco Riendo in Crystal.

The restaurant, located in a Crystal strip mall across from Cub Foods at 5101 36th Ave N, opened in March of 2019.

“At the beginning it was really hard, because no one knew we were here,” Vergel said. “There used to be a Subway here before, so sometimes people would be like, can I have a sandwich? Oh no, it’s not Subway anymore. So we’re like, yeah, we have tacos.”

And these tacos are not what you’d find at a fast food restaurant. The meat selection is steeped in Mexican tradition.

“I like the authentic-ness of it,” said Valle. “It reminds me of home, and in terms of authentic Mexican food, no one else really kind of tops it.”

Loyal customers from NE Minneapolis come after March fire

Valle was first introduced to El Taco Riendo’s northeast Minneapolis location, but after a fire damaged the building in March, he and other loyal customers started coming to the Crystal shop.

“The northeast community helped us a lot, support us a lot,” Vergel said. “I think that’s what you get when you work with your heart. Like [everybody] that worked here put their heart in the business, and people get attached to our Taco Riendo.”

Mexico may be thousands of miles away, but the employees of this little shop in Crystal are doing their part to bring a little Latin flavor to the northwest suburbs.

“What I say to everyone, no matter what you ask for, you’re gonna like it,” Vergel said.

Sponsored
Delane Cleveland, reporting

Crystal

Related Stories

New Hope Water Tower Undergoing a Massive Paint Job:  Every day, thousands of cars travel along… Read More
North Memorial Health Doctor Warns of Fireworks Injuries:  A doctor from North Memorial Health doctor… Read More
Crystal Cove Aquatic Center Celebrates Grand Reopening:  A summertime favorite is "back and ready to… Read More
New Motorcycle Lane-Splitting Law Comes with Police Warning:  Motorcycle riders in Minnesota will now… Read More
Co-owner of Crystal Bakery Charged with Filming Teen in Bathroom:  The co-owner of a Crystal cafe has… Read More
Crystal Enacts Moratorium on Town Center Redevelopment:  Crystal is putting new development on hold in… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
  CCX MEDIA     SPORTS
 NEWS                SPORTS
SPORTS.           SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2025 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in