Oasis on the I-94

By Deb Jenkins
Staff Writer

How many times on the way back from Minneapolis have I stopped in Clearwater, I do not know. But it is a great gas stop and a place that my friend Morgan turned me on to if I wanted some fun bread. There is this gas station/restaurant/bakery that has everything—okay, not everything.

And this time I found a sweet little taco spot right next door to the Petro gas. Yep, I had never noticed it and then two and half weeks ago when I turned into the gas station I saw a great big sign that said “FISH TACOS.”  If you have been following my columns you know I LOVE Mexican, and there it was, like a meant-to-be moment. When I walked in and said that I was so hungry and wanted to keep driving, two lovely ladies by the name of Bev and Lonna said ”burrito” in unison. I had walked into a family-owned business and I could not wait to get more information on the whole enchilada. Sorry, I could not resist saying that. So here is my interview with Lonna and I highly recommend you check them out next time you’re driving down the I-94. 

High Plains Reader: How long have you had your business?

D & L Taco Gringo: We have been open for 2 ½ years. We have been in our current location for 1 year and 7 months. We had started our restaurant on the other side of I-94 here in Clearwater and moved it to where it is now, on County Road 24 between Nelson Brothers Truck Stop and the Dairy Queen.

HPR: I guess my first question is, is your business a chain?

D & L: No, or like I always say, not yet.

HPR: How many places do you have?

D & L: One.

HPR: What are the challenges these days in having a business that is family-run?

D & L: Challenges? Hmmmm, maybe not having a corporate office to tell me how to do everything and have a procedure on everything or have their budget or have their advertising power…I have learned everything as I go. What is great about being family run is that I get to make all the decisions and my family does help me out a lot.

HPR: Can you give our readers a little background on you and your business?

D & L: My husband Dan and I both grew up in St. Cloud. In January of 2007, we decided to go into business together and D&L Taco Gringo is what we came up with. He has been a self-employed finish carpenter (3-D Finish Carpentry, Inc.) for over 12 years and we decided we would continue with the self employment and open a restaurant. I have a four-year degree in criminal justice, but own a Mexican Restaurant.  We also have a 10- year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter.

HPR: What is Gringo Sauce?

D & L: Our D&L Taco Gringo sauce is a creamy, very mild southwest sauce. Dan came up with the idea and we put it on all our burritos, chimichangas, tacos, taco salads, tostadas and a side for your chips.

HPR: Where can you purchase this item?

D & L: Currently you can purchase our Taco Gringo Southwest Sauce at our store in Clearwater, Byerly’s in St. Cloud and two of the Cashwise stores in St. Cloud. We have met with a bottling company and plan to expand into many more grocery stores soon.

HPR: I love all the choices of salsa. Are these all your recipes?

D & L: Yes. The basic, Pico de Gallo, I first ate in Mexico about 9 years ago and fell in love. The black bean and corn recipe I learned from my sister-in-law Jackie and the cucumber tostada we came up with from my daughter. Before the restaurant, we used to put all our food in a tortilla.  Well, my daughter was five years old and the only way she would eat a burrito was if there were cucumbers on it and that is how the cucumber salsa was born.
HPR: Who came up with the cucumber tostada?

D & L: Right before we opened the restaurant, I worked in my neighbor’s computer business for a few months. There was an employee there originally from Mexico that made something like the cucumber tostada for lunch and shared it with me. It was fantastic and I decided that it must be on our menu.

HPR: Although I did not see it on the menu, do you or would you make vegetarian options?

D & L: Yes, we have vegetarian options. Tacos with black beans instead of meat, nachos with black beans and burritos with beans, rice and salsa.  We also have some gluten-free menu items.

HPR: Why do you think Mexican is so popular in this area?

D & L: I am not sure. I wonder if it’s because so many Minnesotans escape to Mexico every winter and fall in love with the food.

HPR: What would you advise someone who wanted to open a small business?

D&L: Be prepared to work very hard for very little money. They tell me the money is supposed to come some day. Tee hee hee.

HPR: Is there anything I have not asked that you would like our readers to know?

D & L: We have fish tacos, and we cater too. Our menu items are made with high-quality ingredients.
We are fresh and fabulous!

D & L Taco Gringo is 60 miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul and 180 miles from Fargo-Moorhead.

Editor’s Note: HPR Readers—Do you know of any good places to stop and eat on the road, between Fargo-Moorhead and The Cities, or F-M and Winnipeg, or Duluth, or Sioux Falls, or Bismarck? Email Deb!

Any questions and concerns, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Eat well and stay safe.

If You Go

What: D & L Taco Gringo
Where: 800 Nelson Dr (County Rd 24) Suite 101, Clearwater, Minn.
When: Every day, 10:30am-8pm, ThFSat till 9pm
Info: 320.558.4016