We first experienced La Cucaracha in the late 1980s, when we moved to the Twin Cities. It was new to us, but had already been around since the 1960s. We love Mexican food and read rave reviews about it so decided to check it out. This was in the days before GPS so places were not as easy to find as they are now.
I still remember stopping at a phone booth near Dale and Grand (no cell phones then). We had driven the whole length of Grand looking for the family-owned Mexican restaurant to no avail. When I called to ask where they were located and told them where I was they told me to turn around and look… there it was, just around the corner on Dale!
When I stopped there on Saturday with our son, he said he understood why we had trouble finding it… the sign is not that easy to read in the daylight. The restaurant still looks and tastes the same… local, organic, authentic Mexican.
I don’t remember what I ordered on that first visit, but I saw a different order being delivered that looked fabulous! When I learned it was Nachos Azteca that became ‘my’ standby. I hadn’t been there for awhile, and when it was delivered to our table on Saturday I remembered why I loved it… homemade chips, marinated grilled chicken, black beans, cilantro, all baked with Chihuahua cheese… yummm!
La Cucaracha is a down-to-earth, neighborhood-style restaurant started in the late 60s by a woman in a kitchen the size of a large closet. It continues its history as a place where people like to eat, celebrate and have a good time. Expect a happy, memorable experience in an unpretentious environment.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com
