Chimborazo, a popular Minneapolis Ecuadorian restaurant, is bringing its traditional South American flavors to this side of the river.

The restaurant’s second location will open this spring near the corner of Lexington Parkway and Randolph Avenue, in the former Rusty Taco spot.

Chef and owner Marcos Pinguil, who grew up near the coast in Ecuador, opened Chimborazo in Northeast Minneapolis in 2009. There, he has developed a reputation for classic Ecuadorian dishes like llapingachos, or cheese-filled potato pancakes, and flavorful and tender stewed meats.

And while Chimborazo will still serve plenty of Ecuadorian favorites in St. Paul, its new iteration is “not going to be completely what we have right now,” Pinguil said.

For one, Chimborazo in St. Paul will be a counter-service establishment, as opposed to the more traditional sit-down service offered at its Minneapolis location, Pinguil said. The food menu, while similar, will be a bit smaller; drinks will likely include beer and wine but there’ll be no full bar for cocktails.

And as for why the restaurant is growing, Pinguil’s answer is simple: “We have customers asking why we don’t expand to St. Paul — so we decided to expand there,” he said.

In St. Paul, Chimborazo will join a wave of restaurant openings that highlight specific national and regional South and Central American cuisines. Chef Soleil Ramirez opened Crasqui last summer to serve delicious, upscale interpretations of Venezuelan dishes she remembers from childhood. Little Brazil offers an affordable taste of that country, and Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan chain that currently has just one Minnesota location, on St. Paul’s West Side, is planning to expand in the Twin Cities.

A firm opening date for Chimborazo in St. Paul is not set yet, but Pinguil hopes to be up and running by March or early April once all the restaurant’s permits have been approved.

Chimborazo: Opening this spring at 508 S. Lexington Pkwy; chimborazorestaurant.com

Related Articles

Smorgie’s, focusing on affordable comfort food, opens across from Xcel Energy Center

Downtown St. Paul real estate mogul Jim Crockarell dies at 79

Eight local chefs and restaurants, including two in St. Paul, make long list for James Beard Foundation Awards

Central American fried chicken chain Pollo Campero aims to spread its wings in Twin Cities

Iconic walleye-centric restaurant Tavern on Grand to close