Minneapolis Food Guide

Minneapolis punches significantly above its weight for restaurant quality relative to city size. It has produced multiple James Beard Award winners — Gavin Kaysen (Spoon and Stable), Ann Kim (Young Joni, Sooki & Mimi), Christina Nguyen (Hai Hai) — and has a documented immigrant food culture that is often overlooked: the Twin Cities have the largest Somali diaspora in the United States and one of the largest Hmong populations outside Southeast Asia. Both communities sustain restaurant scenes that are among the most authentic of their respective cuisines in the country.

James Beard Tier

Spoon and Stable — 211 N First St, Warehouse District. Gavin Kaysen’s flagship opened in 2014 and has been the city’s most acclaimed restaurant since. The menu is French-influenced American: housemade pastas, whole roasted fish, composed meat dishes with classical technique applied to Midwestern ingredients. À la carte dinner approximately $28–$55 per main; full dinner for two with wine approximately $150–$220. Open Tuesday–Sunday for dinner. Book 3–4 weeks ahead via Resy.

Young Joni — 165 13th Ave NE, Northeast Minneapolis. Ann Kim’s wood-fired restaurant launched in 2016 on the strength of Korean-American pizza combinations — kimchi and bacon, short rib, corn — that sound eccentric and taste precise. The non-pizza menu (rice dishes, grilled proteins, snacks) is equally strong. Pizza approximately $18–$26; mains approximately $22–$36. Open Tuesday–Sunday for dinner; Sunday brunch. Reservations recommended.

Hai Hai — 2121 University Ave NE, Northeast Minneapolis. Christina Nguyen’s Vietnamese street food restaurant focuses on the dishes least well-represented in mainstream Vietnamese-American restaurants: larb, boat noodles, bánh mì tacos, a pandan tres leches that has appeared on multiple best-dessert lists. The space is colourful and loud; the kitchen is technically capable. Dinner mains approximately $16–$26. Open Tuesday–Sunday for dinner; Saturday–Sunday for brunch.

Warehouse District and Downtown

Bar La Grassa — 800 N Washington Ave, Warehouse District. Italian-leaning pasta and small plates with the city’s best bar scene attached. The carbonara and the ricotta crostini are perennial orders. Pasta approximately $18–$26; dinner for two approximately $80–$120 with drinks. Open Tuesday–Sunday for dinner.

Parlour — 615 Second Ave S, inside the Kimpton Grand Hotel. Upscale bar food: house-ground burgers, deviled eggs, smash tacos. Burger approximately $16–$20. Open daily.

112 Eatery — 112 N Third St, Warehouse District. One of the city’s original fine-casual restaurants (opened 2005), still producing consistent modern American. Tagliatelle with foie gras is the signature dish that has never left the menu. Mains approximately $24–$38. Open Tuesday–Sunday for dinner.

Somali Food

The Cedar-Riverside neighbourhood (south of downtown, near the West Bank LRT station) is the centre of the Somali community and the place to find the most authentic Somali food in the US outside of the East African corridor.

Safari Restaurant — 2516 Nicollet Ave S, Whittier (adjacent to Powderhorn). Goat and lamb in berbere sauce, canjeero (fermented flatbread), suqaar (chopped meat with spices), hilib ari (stewed lamb). A full meal approximately $14–$20. Open daily; cash preferred.

Afro Deli — 1939 Third Ave S, and additional locations. A more accessible entry point for Somali food: shawarma, beef samosas, injera with various stews, Somali tea. Counter-service; lunch approximately $10–$14.

Hmong Food

St. Paul’s East Side has the largest concentration of Hmong restaurants, but several are accessible from Minneapolis via the Green Line LRT.

Hmong Village — 1001 Johnson Pkwy, St. Paul. An indoor Hmong market and food court in a converted building, with dozens of stalls serving Hmong sausage, papaya salad, rice noodle soup (khao poon), fried bananas, and bubble tea. Market open daily. Stall food approximately $7–$12.

Scandinavian Heritage

Minneapolis was heavily settled by Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish immigrants in the late 19th century, and that heritage persists in a few specific food institutions.

Ingebretsen’s — 1601 E Lake St, Midtown. A Norwegian deli and gift shop in operation since 1921. The deli counter sells lefse, lutefisk (in season, primarily November–December), head cheese, Norwegian flatbread, and imported Scandinavian products. Worth a visit for the deli and the attached holiday shop. Open Monday–Saturday.

Patisserie 46 — 4552 Grand Ave S, South Minneapolis. Not specifically Scandinavian but widely regarded as the best bakery in the city: croissants, laminated pastries, seasonal tarts, and a strong bread program. Open daily; lines on weekend mornings.

Uptown and South Minneapolis

Burch Steak — 1933 Colfax Ave S, Lowry Hill. Isaac Becker’s steakhouse — same ownership as 112 Eatery — with a wood-fired grill and a wine list that has won multiple James Beard nominations. The butcher’s cut and the bone-in ribeye are most frequently ordered. Mains approximately $38–$68. Open Tuesday–Sunday for dinner.

Tilia — 2726 W 43rd St, Linden Hills. Steven Brown’s neighbourhood bistro, the kind of restaurant that would be overrun with tourists in a more visited city. The burger and the rotating seasonal menu are the draws. Mains approximately $18–$32.

Matt’s Bar — 3500 Cedar Ave S, Nokomis. Originator of the Jucy Lucy (also spelled Juicy Lucy). The cheese goes inside the raw beef before cooking, melting into the patty. Burns the roof of your mouth if you bite immediately. Cash only; burger approximately $8–$10. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Craft Beer

Northeast Minneapolis has the city’s densest brewery cluster.

Sociable Cider Werks — 1500 Fillmore St NE. Cider-focused; the most notable producer of Minnesota apple ciders. Taproom open daily; pints approximately $6–$8.

Dangerous Man Brewing — 1300 Second St NE. A small Northeast brewery with regular seasonal releases. The Rye Pale Ale and the Stout are the house standards. Open Tuesday–Sunday.

Surly Brewing Company — 520 Malcolm Ave SE, near the U of M. Surly was the catalyst for a 2011 Minnesota law change allowing craft breweries to operate taprooms on-site. The destination taproom on Malcolm Ave has a large beer hall and full food menu. Pints approximately $6–$9; food mains approximately $14–$22.