Birria pizza and tacos lead at Tromperia El zac
Strong public feedback points to flavorful birria, steak tacos and filling portions at this budget-friendly Saint Paul counter-service spot.
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Photos published by diners on Google, not AI generated.
What stands out
- Pizza birria with flavorful consommé
- Highly praised asada tacos
- Crispy tripa tacos
- Filling birria dishes
- Budget-friendly counter service
Worth knowing
- Barbacoa drew mixed reactions
- Al pastor may be crispier than expected
- Orders are placed and picked up at the back
Suggested meals
Dishes that come up most in public reviews
- Pizza birria
- Asada tacos
- Al pastor tacos
- Barbacoa tacos
Worth a visit?
What public feedback says
Tromperia El zac holds a 4.7 Google rating from 524 reviews, and the sample feedback points to a straightforward strength: satisfying Mexican food with several compelling meat options. Diners repeatedly praise the flavor, portions and service, with tacos and birria-based dishes receiving the most attention. The restaurant also comes across as budget friendly and casual rather than built around a drawn-out dining experience.
The enthusiasm is broad enough to matter. Reviewers describe trying multiple items in a single visit, then leaving interested in returning for more. That makes Tromperia El zac especially appealing for a group willing to order across the menu and compare fillings, sauces and formats.
Birria pizza is the clearest draw
Pizza birria stands out as the most distinctive recurring recommendation. Reviewers praise its cheese and the accompanying consommé, which is described as rich and flavorful. One diner preferred it even to the birria tacos, while another paired it with churros and came away impressed. Based on that pattern, pizza birria looks like the strongest starting point for a first visit and a practical dish for sharing.
Birria also earns approval in torta form. A lunch customer found the birria torta excellent and notably filling. Although that dish appears less often in the supplied feedback, it reinforces the broader impression that birria is one of the kitchen’s reliable areas.
Tacos offer range, with a few differences of opinion
Asada, or steak, receives some of the strongest taco praise. Multiple reviewers favor it, including one comparison that placed it ahead of al pastor. Al pastor still draws positive feedback, though one diner notes that it arrived crispier than the juicy, wetter style they typically expected. That texture may be a selling point for some and a mismatch for others.
Crispy tripa tacos also earn specific approval. Barbacoa is harder to call: one review was less impressed, while another diner considered the barbacoa tacos exceptional. That split suggests it may be more preference-dependent than the steak or birria choices.
Sauces add another layer. One review singles out a light green creamy sauce with noticeable heat, while the broader sauce selection is described positively. Chips and guacamole also appear in a group order, though the strongest praise remains focused on meat, tacos and birria.
Practical notes and overall verdict
This is counter service, with customers walking toward the back to order and collect food. A large rear parking lot is a useful detail for drivers, and one reviewer found access easiest while traveling north on Rice Street. The format appears well suited to lunch, quick meals and informal group orders.
Taken together, the ratings and reviews make Tromperia El zac a strong Saint Paul option for diners prioritizing birria, steak tacos and substantial portions. Pizza birria with consommé is the headline order, while asada tacos look like the safest follow-up. Expectations around al pastor texture and barbacoa should remain flexible, but the overall public response is notably favorable.
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Research-based review: our MN editor synthesized 524 public reviews and the current 4.7-star rating, not an anonymous visit.