Manny’s Tortas makes Mexican sandwiches with a gourmet touch at Midtown Global Market, 920 E Lake St in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. The family business began at Mercado Central, also on Lake Street, and locals and food-curious visitors come for generously stacked tortas built on crusty, toasted bread.
Every torta gets the full treatment: cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion, avocado, jalapeños, refried beans and a smoky chipotle mayo, with chips on the side (source: Manny’s Tortas). Fillings range from carnitas and milanesa to ham and chorizo, and the menu also includes salads and desserts. It’s a counter-service stall, so you order at the register, grab a seat in the market’s shared dining area, and eat surrounded by vendors selling Somali, Vietnamese and Ethiopian food. Diners on Yelp regularly praise the portion sizes and the balance of the chipotle sauce.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The lunch rush from noon to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays brings in workers from the Midtown Exchange building. For shorter lines, arrive late morning or mid-afternoon. Weekend afternoons draw families to the market. One torta is plenty for most appetites, so consider splitting one if you plan to sample other vendors. The market has its own parking, and Metro Transit’s Route 21 runs along Lake Street. The Midtown Greenway bike trail passes just north of the building, which makes cycling an easy way to get there. Check current hours before visiting, since stall schedules can follow the market’s hours.
