Uptown Adventures: Anti‑ICE Art, Birria Epiphanies, and Burritos That Restored Me
Justin and I were able to stop through the Twin Cities - one of our favorite places to visit his brother Nathan, who’s living his best life with his family in Uptown, MN.
Whenever we’re in town, Nathan takes us on a mini‑tour of the best restaurants in the Cities. He always finds the good stuff - Bebe Zito, World Street Kitchen, French Meadow, Brasa, and a handful of other gems.
This time, he took us to Lito’s Burritos, and from the food to the anti‑ICE prints plastered on the walls, I fell in love instantly. At Art You Heart they’ve got a whole collection of the best anti‑ICE protest posters.
I kept seeing this one over and over on our trip until I finally caved and bought it. Here’s a little bit about the poster and the printmaking studio that made it.
Burlesque of North America
A Minneapolis staple since 2003, Burlesque of North America is an award‑winning creative studio known for bold graphic art, high‑end screen printing, and throwing some of the most iconic art and music events in the Twin Cities.
When ICE raids escalated, they printed and handed out over 20,000 free “ICE OUT” posters starting in January 2026.
They’re the kind of studio that reminds you why local artists matter: they make things that look good, feel good, and stand for something bigger.
Now let’s talk about the food — the real reason I lost my mind at Lito’s.
Day one: I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese Little Lito with arbol salsa. The tortilla was warm and soft, the eggs perfectly fluffy, the bacon salty‑crispy in that way that makes you close your eyes for a second… but the tater tots? Those tater tots were obscene. Juicy, crunchy, buttery little flavor bombs tucked inside - like a tiny secret. They didn’t just taste good - they melted my brain and warmed my heart.
Day two: I begged us to go back the next morning. I grabbed the veggie egg and cheese Little Lito for Justin and me to try, and then we split the Birria Supreme - and yum. The birria was a revelation - stunning. Rich, tender meat soaked in spices that tasted like warmth itself - cardamom and clove, that deep slow‑cooked magic that hits you in the chest. The tortilla was soft and steamy, wrapping everything together like a hug. It was decadent, comforting, and honestly a little spiritual.
When you order, they make you choose one salsa - here’s in order of my favorite:
Arbol — bright, spicy, perfection
Diablo — hot in a fun way
Verde — fresh, tangy, classic
Verde Crema — smooth, mild, still tasty
Morita Crema — smoky and creamy
And pair your burrito with something cold and sweet - fresh lemonade, horchata cold brew, or one of those gorgeous neon Jarritos. YUM.
I know it’s tough to exist under yet another administration of chaos, unprofessionalism, stupidity, chicanery, and absolute buffoonery - but at least we’ve got each other, good art, and warm, juicy, plump burritos to keep us sane. Comfort food and sexy art: the real dual‑wield.
Here’s the menu if you want to drool over it a little more.
-Madeline
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