Pili's adds new torta shop to downtown Bloomington restaurant scene

A new restaurant offering Mexican sandwiches, known as tortas, opened Monday, April 1, 2024, at 109 S. Walnut St.

Pili's Tortas takes the place of what had been a Mexican grocery store with seating for people who purchased food from the Pili's Party Taco truck outside. Owner Maria Gonzalez decided to close the grocery and open the restaurant offering different food from the Pili's food trucks.

Now when customers enter, they'll be able to order at the counter and then find a seat — there's room for 30-40 people. When the order's ready, customers will pick it up at the kitchen window.

The base for the sandwiches is Pili's Tortas' handmade flour tortas. Then customers choose a meat: marinated pork legs, pork cheese, ham, hot dog, breaded chicken, breaded beef and egg. The tortas have a base layer of mayonnaise, quesillo cheese and pinto beans. Customers can add tomato, red onion, avocado and lettuce. Patrons can choose habaneros, chipotle adobo or jalapeno peppers.

People can have tortas with or without meat or add more meat and potatoes. Prices begin at $10. The torta with six meats and potatoes costs $17.50.

All the tortas are served with a side of butterfly fries, just like the ones served in the Wacky Bunzz food truck that was once part of Pili's food trucks. Sides include more butterfly fries, seasonal fruit with chamoy, tajin and lime, and a veggie cup with chamoy, tajin and lime.

Pili's Tortas also has fresh juice — carrot, orange and a mix of the two — as well as Mexican fruit drinks with watermelon, horchata and cantaloupe.

Hours will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

The Pili's Party Taco Truck will remain open outside the restaurant as well. The taco truck menu has not changed.

Contact Carol Kugler atckugler@heraldt.com