Mexico 32 Cocina brings family flavors to St. Paul’s East Side
Jackie Martinez originally planned to open an ice cream shop. Instead, she and her family saw an opportunity to invest in their community with Mexico 32 Cocina, a family-owned Mexican restaurant that opened this month at 883 Payne Ave.
Martinez runs the restaurant with her partner, Pedro Camarena, and their daughters, Adrien and Angie. After nearly a year of planning and three months renovating the building, the family opened a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, beginning at 7 a.m.
“I lived on Jenks Avenue a long time ago, and I’ve seen the neighborhood change, so when we saw this place for lease, I was like, ‘This is the opportunity for me to be a part of my community and help it grow,’” said Martinez, who now lives in Dayton’s Bluff.
Martinez said the effects of Operation Metro Surge and the closure of businesses along East Seventh Street and Payne Avenue helped shape the family’s decision to open the restaurant.
“Being here, I’m part of the revival of, the rebuilding of, our community,” Martinez said. “It wasn’t just the opening of business, but also being part of something bigger.”
Mexico 32 Cocina celebrates the culinary traditions of Mexico’s 32 states. Cocina means kitchen in Spanish. The menu includes chilaquiles and tres leches concha French toast for breakfast, $5 tacos for lunch, and roasted shrimp platters and handcrafted cocktails in the evening. Breakfast customers also receive complimentary coffee with the purchase of a breakfast item.
The family renovated the space together, adding hand-painted tables and reupholstered chairs. The restaurant also features a full bar and televisions for watching sports.
Martinez hopes the restaurant will bring people together through food, whether it reminds them of home or introduces them to Mexican cuisine for the first time.
“I want an experience that makes you feel at home, one that connects you to food or a dish that tastes like your grandma's refried beans or your grandma's chilaquilas,” Martinez said. She also said the restaurant's service and the overall ambience add to the customer experience.
Mexico 32 Cocina will celebrate its grand opening Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, food and bar specials, and a special Day of the Dead three-course prix fixe menu available Sunday and Monday.
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