FALCON HEIGHTS, Minnesota — After more than a decade of trying to secure a spot as a food vendor at the Minnesota State Fair, El Burrito Mercado is serving up its first dishes to the fair crowds this week.
Milissa Silva has been running El Burrito Mercado's Mexican Import Decor booth at the fair since 2013. Since then, she's been applying for them to become a food vendor.
She remembers her brother getting a call back in May, saying, "He literally sat down and put his head on the table and then I was like, 'What happened?' He's got tears coming down and he's like, 'I just got the call from the fair. 'So you got in?' And he's like, 'Yeah dude. I think we finally got in.'"
"It's definitely a game-changer," said Tomás Silva Jr., owner of the the El Burrito Mercado food booth at the State Fair.
Now El Burrito Mercado's two booths are straight across from each other at the International Bazaar on Judson Avenue.
The booth is serving Quesabirria Fried Taquitos which consists of beef birria and cheese rolled in a corn tortilla, fried, served with salsa verde and crumbled cheese ($16). Then Esquites which is fresh cooked corn kernels with crema, crumbled cheese, chile seasoning and a fresh lime wedge ($8). For the drink, they're serving Agua de Sandia Loca — a watermelon drink infused with mango bits and Chamoy on ice ($8).
El Burrito Mercado was started by parents Tomás and Maria Silva.
"They started in 1979 with a small little grocery store and they've just been growing since. My sisters and I have kind of been taking it to new levels, having new experiences with it. This is our latest adventure," Tomás said.
The longtime family-owned restaurant and marketplace has been a St. Paul staple for 45 years, offering authentic Mexican food and specialty groceries. In 2015, the parents retired and passed the business to daughters Milissa, Suzanne and granddaughter Analita.
Maria, who is now retired, said, "Very proud of my children that they have wanted to follow our footsteps. I couldn't want more. I'm just so proud of them."
El Burrito Mercado
At the International Bazaar, south wall