The Mexican street food specialists at Hamburguesas El Gordo are planning to add a third location this spring.
St. Paul-based Union Park Management Inc. confirms the restaurant has signed a lease for its 161 Victoria St. space in St. Paul. Formerly home to Tori Ramen, the storefront is just north of the Selby Avenue and Victoria Street intersection.
Known for its tacos, hot dogs and gigantic burgers, Hamburguesas currently has two locations: 1731 S. Robert St. in West St. Paul and 4157 Cedar Ave. S. in Minneapolis.
The sit-down restaurant on Victoria Street will also offer takeout and delivery.
Hamburguesas El Gordo’s signature hamburger is the Del Gordo Burger, a two-fister topped with both mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, ham, bacon, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, avocado, pickled peppers, ketchup and mustard. The similarly loaded Del Gordo Cubano adds a split hotdog, fried egg and bacon to the formula.
Hamburguesas’ hot dogs come wrapped in bacon in the style of the street dogs served in northern Mexico and Los Angeles.
Hamburguesas El Gordo owner Claudia Gutierrez said she was already thinking about adding a third restaurant when she was approached by Union Park owner Joseph Hughes about the Victoria Street space. It’s located about midway between Gutierrez’s other two restaurants.
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“We’re excited about bringing traditional Mexican street food to the Selby area” Hughes said in a statement Hamburguesas El Gordo will share the building with J. Selby’s, which bills itself as a “plant-based eatery.” The restaurant, open since 2017, caters to vegans and vegetarians, and the menu includes plant-based proteins like the meatless Beyond Burger.
Tori Ramen closed its Victoria Street location in August and relocated to St. Paul’s West 7th Street.