The Twin Cities has the best restaurants – from a well-traveled local with much experience eating out. The Minneapolis & Saint Paul restaurant scene has everything from impeccable Italian to crazy-good Japanese. The locals all know that Minneapolis is one of the best restaurant towns in the nation.
So why not the rest of the world?! Each neighborhood in the Twin Cities offers a different type of cuisine. In Northeast Minneapolis, you’ll find funky and unique spots.
On Eat Street, you can find Pho and a German Bierhaus. You’ll find the infamous Jucy Lucy at Matt’s Bar and the Midtown Global Market in South Minneapolis. And don’t even get me started on St. Paul and the ‘burbs!
We’ve compiled the best restaurants in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the Metro Area, so you don’t have to guess. Add these to your list, and let us know what you think!
The Short Answer: Where to Eat in Minneapolis Right Now
If you have one night in the Twin Cities: book Spoon and Stable in the North Loop for a special dinner, order a Jucy Lucy at Matt’s Bar in South Minneapolis, and eat at Indigena by Owamni inside the Guthrie Theater for Indigenous cooking you cannot get anywhere else in the country. If you want one stop that covers the most ground, walk the stalls at Midtown Global Market.
This guide was re-checked restaurant by restaurant in August 2026. Sixteen places that had closed since it was first published were removed, and they are listed at the bottom with their closing dates so you do not build an evening around a restaurant that is gone.
Best Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis
Northeast Minneapolis is artsy and a little weird, and the restaurants match. The neighborhood lost several landmarks between 2022 and 2025 – the tiki bar and the mini-golf-and-ferris-wheel place are both gone – but the delis, the supper club and the small plates rooms below are still going. It is also an easy pairing with the Weisman Art Museum across the river, and if you would rather eat at your hotel, we keep a separate list of the best takeout in Minneapolis.
1. Sample Room
A local haunt, the Sample Room offers small sharing plates and wine flights. Even Anthony Bourdain visited and enjoyed the Sample Room. Call on weekend nights to get on the list, or walk in and sit at the bar.
They offer small sharing plates as well as entree portions. Try one of the great wine flights, perfect for a girls night or date night. While you’re there, order the cheese curds, bison, and duck. If the fried chicken is on the menu, order that too. Trust me.
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2. Hai Hai
One of two creative restaurants by Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai is a crazy good blend of Vietnamese street foods and modern cocktails. The dishes here are sure to surprise you!
Try the crispy rice salad, the turmeric & dill fish, and the Balinese cauliflower. The lychee slushy and the Death by Coconut are our favorite drinks on the menu.
3. Emily’s Lebanese Deli
Lebanese food is hard to come by, but not in Northeast Minneapolis. Here, you will find Emily’s Lebanese Deli, a staple for traditional Lebanese fare. You can stop in for a casual meal or takeaway. They also offer take-and-bake versions of staples such as spinach pies.
My family has been coming here since they opened in the 1970s, and they still hold on to their roots!
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4. Jax Cafe
Jax Cafe opened in the 1930s and has kept its popularity ever since. Here, you can enjoy scallops, steak, and lobster. Try a classic cocktail with the daily special and ask the server for their recommendation. The patio is great for summer, and the indoor dining is great for viewing the historic bar’s stained-glass windows.
See Related: Indoor Activities in Minnesota
Best Restaurants in Downtown Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis is a destination for true foodies from across the country. In just a short 20-minute ride from MSP airport, you can enjoy a city full of different flavors! Whether you live here or are in town for work, there are a lot of great restaurants to try.
5. 112 Eatery
Many people overlook the tiny sign on the street near Washington Ave. Minneapolis, that says 112 Eatery. This secret hideaway in the warehouse district has a fine menu of pasta, vegetable dishes, and classic Continental European fare.
Start with the 112 steak tartare or Provencal frog legs, then move to the scallops with oyster mushrooms. Another favorite of ours is the pan-fried gnocchi. Ask the staff for a wine recommendation to complete your meal.
We recommend making a reservation here. We have never tried walking in, but it is a small restaurant, so the tables are usually full. Ask about the by-the-glass list – Minnesota is quietly building a wine industry, and our guide to Minnesota wineries covers where those bottles come from.
6. Indigena by Owamni
Sean Sherman’s Owamni left its small room by the Stone Arch Bridge and reopened on June 23, 2026 inside the Guthrie Theater as Indigena by Owamni, with roughly 204 indoor seats and a riverfront patio. It is the same James Beard-winning kitchen in a much bigger space, and it is still the most distinctive meal in the city.
The Sioux Chef created a Native American menu entirely made from decolonized foods. That means no dairy or processed sugars. Any eggs used are duck or turkey – no chicken eggs here!
All the menu items are based on ingredients that would have been present before European colonization. With this, patrons enjoy traditional meals based on local ingredients like wild rice, squash, and bison.
Best Restaurants in the North Loop
The North Loop is an old warehouse district turned into a millennial playground. Some of the best restaurants in Minneapolis are located here, and the list keeps growing.
7. Italian Food in the North Loop: Bar la Grassa
Minneapolis has a few great Italian restaurants, but this one takes the cake. Bar La Grassa (or BLG, as the locals say) offers a sharing style of pasta and traditional Italian dishes.
Their pasta can be ordered in small or regular portions, which makes it great for family-style sharing. Try the soft eggs and lobster bruschetta or the rabbit ragu. The arancini is to die for, and the wine list is outstanding. The Bar la Grassa menu changes frequently, so you can always try something new!
Book reservations well in advance. They do take walk-ins, but the wait can run a couple of hours on a weekend. There are plenty of North Loop bars within a block or two to wait it out.
8. Spoon and Stable
One of Minneapolis’s most well-known fine dining restaurants is Spoon and Stable. The dining room is modern and clean, and the dinner options are fantastic.
Try the creamed spinach with cheese curds or the duck. The menu changes frequently, so there is always something new to experience. The wine menu and the ever-changing cocktail selection are also fantastic.
If you can’t snag a table (reservations are hard to come by on the weekends), you can sit at the bar and still have the same menu. On Saturday nights at 10 pm, you can come in for the secret ramen.
There is only one option and limited amounts, so you must get there early and put the secret ramen order in quickly to experience whatever is new that week!
9. Best Patio in the North Loop: Monte Carlo
A North Loop staple, Monte Carlo is like stepping back in time: antique wallpaper, a gilded bar, and strong cocktails. Monte Carlo has an awesome patio in the summer. It feels like you are in Europe!
Our favorite menu items are chicken wings, fried chicken, and steak sandwiches. Their shaken martinis come with a sidecar, so you get two martinis in one!
10. Fine Dining Restaurant in Minneapolis: Demi
Owned by Gavin Kaysen, the chef of Spoon and Stable, Demi is true fine dining. It is similar to Next Restaurant in Chicago.
They offer a chef’s tasting menu that changes frequently and you can add on wine tastings as well. Demi is expensive, but people rave about the experience.
11. Billy Sushi
Billy Sushi is another great spot to try in the North Loop. With their fun cocktails and extensive sushi menu, you really can’t go wrong. Our favorite thing on the menu at Billy Sushi is the bluefin tuna. They have many slices available, and all are fantastic.
You’ll need to book a table in advance. If you’re lucky they might have a seat but reservations are recommended.
12. Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza
Coal-fired, thin and blistered – Black Sheep has been doing this crust since 2009, and the classic cheese pizza is still the order. The original North Loop shop at 600 Washington Avenue North is the one to go to now: the Eat Street location near the Minneapolis Institute of Art closed on November 30, 2024, and the downtown Saint Paul shop closed back in 2022.
They also have a lot of different types of pizzas (and you can make your own). You’ll find craft beers on tap and a good selection of cocktails and virgin cocktails.
13. Sanjusan
Daniel del Prado and Shigeyuki Furukawa opened Sanjusan at 33 North 1st Avenue in the street-level room that Kado no Mise used to occupy – Kado no Mise simply moved upstairs and is still serving omakase. Sanjusan itself is a Japanese-Italian restaurant, and the pairing works better than it has any right to. If Japan is on your list, our guide to why Japan is worth the flight is a good place to start planning.
From sushi to creative pizzas, Sanjusan is pleasantly surprising for every bite. Upstairs there is also Gori Gori Peku, a whiskey bar with a deep Japanese list.
Best Restaurants in South Minneapolis
South Minneapolis is home to eat street filled with restaurants from all ethnic backgrounds. South Minneapolis is also home to many great neighborhood restaurants that people overlook. Whether you’re looking for a Parisian vibe or a dive bar with great burgers, this neighborhood has it all.
14. Hi-Lo Diner
An old retired train car turned into a diner with great breakfast foods and boozy milkshakes. This is a great Minneapolis restaurant with a lot of options. Try their donut masterpeices or a traditional eggs benedict with lox.
15. Boludo
A pastry chef turned pizza maker created this phenomenal Argentinian pizza restaurant in South Minneapolis. The pizzas are incredible – the crust is soft but crunchy and dusted with crunchy salt. Try the pera pizza, and don’t forget to try the empanadas too!
16. Midtown Global Market
Stop by the Midtown Global Market if you can’t decide what you want to eat. It has small, independent food stands from every culture and shops with crafts made by real people to highlight their cultures. There’s even the East Lake Brewery where you can bring food from the market to accompany a yummy beer flight.
Some of the food stands are Indigenous Food Lab, Andy’s Garage, Safari Express, and Soul To Soul Smoke House (helloooo soul food!). With so much to try, the Midtown Global Market will keep you coming back for more.
17. Pizzeria Lola
Pizzeria Lola is known for their Korean-inspired wood-fired pizzas and international wine selection. They have traditional and unique, inventive pizzas with a bit of everything.
Try the pea and burrata starter and the Boise pizza at Pizzeria Lola. If you want the true Korean-inspired pizza, try the Lazy Zaza, complete with kimchi and Korean sausage.
18. Kyatchi
Kyatchi, on Nicollet Avenue, is one of the best restaurants in Minneapolis. The chef was hired from Japan by the Twins Organization, and the restaurant has a fun mix of Japanese and ballpark fare.
The sushi and sashimi are unreal, and the ramen is fantastic. The unique menu items are hot dogs with a Japanese twist, like the Yakisoba Dog. Our go-to order is miso soup, vegetarian Kara-age, and a mix of sashimi and ramen. Try the snow crab if you can.
The cocktail menu also offers a black sesame cocktail- perfect.
19. Okome House
A neighborhood favorite, Okome House is operated by the same expert chef as Kyatchi. Okome House is a great takeout option and is perfect to sit on the patio for some sushi rolls on the weekends.
They have a super fun Japanese market with snacks and ramen imported from Japan. Our go-to order is the cauliflower kara-age, salmon sushi roll, and the tori (chicken) don like a rice bowl with all the fillings. The avocado don is also a personal favorite. It has a nice hint of spice!
See Related: The Ultimate Guide to Minneapolis Nightlife
20. Bungalow Club
One of our favorite Minneapolis restaurants is located on East Lake Street. The Bungalow Club has a luscious patio with ivy draped over wrought iron chairs. The dining room decor feels like a modern home with simple comforts.
The food is fresh and fantastic. Homemade pasta, local ingredients, and a great bar menu are why the Bungalow Club makes us repeat visitors.
Our go-to order changes with the season, but we always have the arancini! Try this pasta dish of the moment, and you won’t be disappointed. They also have meal kits to go!
21. St. Genevieve
Looking for a touch of Paris? You’ll find it at St. Genevieve. One of the very few French restaurants in the Twin Cities, Saint Genevieve offers a tasting menu that changes with the seasons.
Try the Randy Alexander, a twist on the brandy Alexander, but without the ice cream, don’t worry; it still somehow tastes like there is ice cream! They have a range of French beers and wines, too.
Stop by when the weather is good, the French doors open, and the petit patio is charming!
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22. Bull’s Horn
Dill pickle fried chicken, yep. It’s so good, so crisp and so clean. This Minnesota dive bar became an outstanding low-key restaurant with fantastic fried chicken and burgers. They also have some great cheese curds! We live nearby and always come by for dinner when we pass by.
Come for the meat raffle and pull tabs, and stay for the friendly staff and good food.
See Related: Best Restaurants in Duluth, Minnesota
23. Broders’ Pasta Bar
Broders’ Pasta Bar is an Italian restaurant near Lake Harriet. They have amazing homemade pasta and a wine list that is hard to beat.
The traditional Italian fare changes frequently, but the menu always boasts handmade pasta and slow-cooked risotto filled with seasonal vegetables and local meats. We always get the burrata and bucatini. The cacio e Pepe is also a great classic choice!
24. Tenant
Tenant is a smaller restaurant with a constantly changing chef’s course menu. The menu usually contains handmade fresh pasta, a slow-cooked soup, and local meats.
You can also order a wine pairing with the tasting, or order a la carte. We’ve visited for the New Year’s Eve dinner a few times, which was spectacular – we can’t wait to return!
25. Martina
Martina is newer to the Minneapolis restaurant scene but worth the hype. We went for brunch for outdoor dining on their patio and were very happy!
The brunch menu has smoked salmon and burrata and a king crab omelet. For dinner, enjoy the avocado bruschetta, empanadas, and potato gnocchi. We can guarantee that you will enjoy everything on the menu here!
26. Hola Arepa
There are a few generic Latin restaurants and some Mexican restaurants on this list, but Hola Arepa is a Venezuelan-style style restaurant. It has to make the cut because it’s so darned good.
Another restaurant by chef Christina Nguyen, Hola Arepa, has fun and an Instagram-worth dining room with creative cocktails and yummy stuffed arepas. Try the vegetarian black bean and sweet potato arepas and the chips and salsas.
Parking is a drag, but the patio and dining room are well-decorated and fun. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation.
27. Best Jucy Lucy: Matt’s Bar
Matt’s Bar is an infamous spot. It’s rumored that they created the Jucy Lucy/Juicy Lucy (the debate over the spelling is a whole thing). The Lucy is a Minnesota favorite; a cheeseburger, where the cheese is stuffed INSIDE the patty. They’re amazing. Even former President Barack Obama enjoyed one here.
Matt’s Bar is a total dive bar with good eats to match its traditional Minnesota flair. They share a friendly (if ever-so-slightly savage) rivalry with the 5-8 Club. Regarding the spelling and origins of the burger, Matt’s Bar says; “Remember, if it is spelled correctly, you are eating a shameless rip-off!”
28. All Square
All Square makes the best grilled cheese in the city. It is near Minnehaha Falls and deserving of your time.
They have a ton of different grilled cheese options with unique combos. It is fast-casual but has a very modern interior. And it’s all for a good cause – criminal justice reform. All Square is a nonprofit that helps provide jobs to previously incarcerated persons.
29. Italian Eatery by Travail
Italian Eatery on Cedar Avenue near Lake Nokomis closed in June 2024 after a ten-year run under founders Eric and Vanessa Carrara, then reopened in early 2025 as Italian Eatery by Travail, with the Travail Collective running the kitchen. It is still a neighborhood Italian restaurant with creative cocktails and a good wine list, and there is still a small patio. Un Dito, the fast-casual spot next door, did not come back.
Everything on the menu is fantastic. We usually order the gnocchi, mushroom cappelletti, and baked garganelli. The burrata & prosciutto appetizer is great too (but skip the ricotta).
30. Best Juicy Lucy: 5-8 Club
Looking to try another Juicy Lucy/Jucy Lucy? Hop down to the dive bar 5-8 Club near the airport. The 5-8 Club has cheese curds, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers. Everything you need for a happy Midwesterner!
Let’s be honest, though, you came for that cheese-stuffed hamburger, as do we, basically every single time. Leaning into the rivalry with Matt’s bar, the 5-8 Club’s motto is “If it’s spelled right, It’s done right!”
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Best Restaurants in Uptown
Hip, young Uptown is filled with unique and artsy restaurants and bars. This is also a great area for nightlife and fun things to do any day of the week.
31. Barbette
This is the place for you if you want a great brunch or dinner spot with classic French inspiration. From classic tartare to onion soup, the menu has excellent selections.
Try the truffle scrambled eggs or the vegetable hash with smoked onion broth for brunch. For dinner, try the escargot and steak frites.
32. World Street Kitchen
One of Uptown’s top restaurants is the World Street Kitchen. This restaurant has visitors from all over the Twin Cities. World Street Kitchen started as a food truck and became so popular that it opened a restaurant.
Stop in to try Bangkok burritos, rice bowls, and sandwiches (including a sensational fried chicken sandwich) inspired by different locations worldwide (hence the name World Street Kitchen). There is truly something for everyone here!
If you still have room, the Milk Jam Creamery is next door, with boozy milkshakes and fun ice cream flavors. Add some chocolate chips for an ultimate bite. It is the perfect spot for dessert. If the menu makes you want the real thing, an around-the-world plane ticket is cheaper than most people assume.
Best Restaurants on Eat Street
Eat Street is a stretch of ethnic foods from around the world along Nicollet Avenue between Uptown and downtown Minneapolis. It’s called Eat Street for a reason. Make this place a priority!
33. Pimento Jamaican Kitchen & Rum Bar
Looking for some Caribbean fare on a snowy day? Pimento Jamaican Kitchen & Rum Bar has you covered. Stop in for some Kingston-style jerk chicken and slow-roasted jerk pork.
Pimento also hosts a lot of events and concerts – watch their social media to see what is coming up next. If the jerk chicken sends you looking for the real thing in January, start with our guide to the best beaches in Costa Rica.
34. Pho 79
Pho 79 doesn’t look like much from the outside or the inside, but the food is fantastic. It’s good, authentic “no-frills” Vietnamese fare, with a photo-menu book you can read for ages. This is the stuff in movies. THIS is the place your hero eats.
Try the Pho and the marinated chicken. Try everything. You can dine in or take it to go. Depending on when you go you might have to wait a while for a table, but it is well worth the wait.
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Best Restaurants in Dinkytown/St. Anthony
When locals hear Dinkytown, they think of the University of Minnesota. High numbers of college students don’t usually mean great food – normally it’s cheap junk to help soak up alcohol – but in Minneapolis, it does. You’ll find Prospect Park and several great dining spots right outside.
35. Restaurant Alma
Located in the boutique Hotel Alma, Restaurant Alma has two dining options. The bar located as you enter offers a simplified a la carte menu and great cocktails. Sometimes they offer themed menus!
The more upscale Restaurant Alma dining area offers a chef’s tasting menu with an option to pair the perfect wine. They also have great cocktails like our go-to favorite, the gold fashioned. They also have a small patio for sunny days.
36. Aster Cafe
Located right on the boardwalk in St. Anthony Main, Aster Cafe is an excellent spot for foodies. Stop by for weekend brunch or dinner.
They have a medieval-inspired interior with candles on their dark oak bar and wooden tables and chairs. On weekend nights, they often have live bands. There is usually a cover, but just a few dollars.
The patio at Aster Cafe is amazing when the weather is nice. Pull up a chair and enjoy drinks and excellent food while looking at the Minneapolis skyline.
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37. Nicollet Island Inn
If you want to step back to enjoy classic cocktails and traditional dinners with a twist, have dinner at the Nicollet Island Inn. This historic boutique hotel has an impeccable restaurant with an extensive wine list. And around the corner from the restaurant is a historic bar.
You’ll want a reservation if you are with a larger group and call ahead anyway. The bar will always have space.
After your meal, take a walk along Nicollet Island. It has a crazy history; just across the bridge is St. Anthony Main.
Best Restaurants in Saint Paul
If you venture to the other half of the Twin Cities, you will find restaurants catering to every taste and budget – enough to counter the town’s unofficial motto, “Keep Saint Paul Boring.” If you are trying to decide which side of the river to base yourself on, we compared them in Minneapolis vs St. Paul.
38. Meritage
Arguably the best French restaurant in the Twin Cities, Meritage offers an extensive wine list and Parisian fare. They have fresh oysters delivered daily and very tasty French fries.
Stop by early for their happy hour, or enjoy a wonderful full dinner. Try the steak frites, duck, and mini tuna tacos. Order a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and you will go home happy!
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39. W.A. Frost & Co.
Voted the best patio in St. Paul, W.A. Frost & Co. is a homage to the golden era of St. Paul. Its underground speakeasy is the perfect spot for a warm cocktail on a snowy day, while its ivy-lined patio is the perfect place for a glass of champagne when the sun is out.
Their dinner menu is superb. Order the seared polenta and lemon pasta. It is to die for! They also have brunch. We recommend getting a reservation, although they can usually accommodate small walk-in groups.
40. Mancini’s
Mancini’s is the absolute essence of old-age bootlegging St. Paul. The wine is cheap, and the food is hearty. Come by for some fried ravioli and a prime-cut steak.
The ambiance of the bar area room is vintage and cozy. They often have live music and events. Around the corner, you’ll find the dining room, which is always busy and filled with groups celebrating anniversaries and graduations.
Check out the photos on the walls. You’ll find a lot of famous people who visited the Twin Cities and enjoyed an awesome dinner at Mancini’s.
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41. Editor’s Choice: The Gnome
The Gnome is home to Minnesota bar food and comfort dishes. Here, you will find poutine, cheese curds, giant braided pretzels, and a killer grilled cheese. It’s on Selby, just a hop off historic Grand Avenue near the Cathedral.
This is a great spot for a cozy afternoon or dinner. The extensive beer list and the food options warm the soul and wow the palate. It gets busy during happy hour and dinner, but you shouldn’t have a problem finding a seat. They also have a huge patio when the weather is nice.
Try the Beef & Bone Marrow Pot Pie. It is to die for.
42. Bread & Chocolate/Cafe Latte
Technically, it’s not a restaurant – but two!
Bread & Chocolate on Grand Avenue is worth mentioning for its pastries, cookies, and coffee. They also have paninis and salads available to enjoy in the cafe or to go. Try the Florentine croissant and the chocolate chip cookie. You will instantly smile! The staff are always lovely.
Across the street is their sister restaurant, Cafe Latte, which has a larger menu with pasta dishes, soup, salads, and sandwiches. Oh, and pies and cakes, a lot of excellent pies and cakes. Like arguably the greatest pies and cakes in the city pies and cakes.
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43. Tori
One of the coolest and most innovative ramen joints in the Twin Cities, Tori Ramen is one of our favorite hangout spots for feisty pho and ramen dishes.
A short hop from Mancini’s on West Seventh, you can enjoy irresistible bowls of firey goodness in a super-cool rail car setting. Their dishes are fully customizable to suit all diets and tastes, and the staff are great!
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44. Hamburguesas el Gordo
Home to decadent Mexican-style hamburgers and tip-top tacos Hamburguesas el Gordo actually lives in the original spot Tori Ramen used to inhabit before moving to West Seventh.
If you’re a fan of Mexican-American fast food or you take your burgers seriously, this is the stop. The burgers are packed with flavor, the fries are simply heaven and they also do an Impossible meat taco that will blow your socks off.
45. Vegan Restaurant in Saint Paul: J. Selby’s
Just around the corner from the meat lover’s paradise, Hamburguesas el Gordo, you’ll find another food Nirvana; only this one is meat-free!
A few years ago, I would have never touched anything marketing itself as vegan. J. Selby’s changed that. With an incredible menu of vegan takes on American classics, you can find exciting salads, mouthwatering burgers, and sandwiches that will convert any carnivore!
See Related: Do you need a car in Minneapolis? An insider’s peek.
Best Restaurants Outside Minneapolis
Well, Saint Paul got me thinking…
There are a lot of great restaurants in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis has a boatload, and St. Paul has a plethora, but the suburbs have some great spots, too! These are just a few of our favorites.
46. Travail Kitchen & Amusements
Travail is still in the Twin Cities and is located in Robbinsdale, just north of downtown Minneapolis. Here, you will find a creative tasting menu with surprises everywhere. Each dinner serves 11 to 14 courses. Some are small bites, and others are main dishes. There is always a dessert.
One time we came, the centerpiece looked like a bunch of rocks and moss – it was dessert. You must reserve a ticket in advance; it is a little spendy but worth every penny. Robbinsdale is an easy drive from the northwest suburbs, so pair it with a day of things to do in Maple Grove.
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Several of these restaurants sit within walking distance of a major gallery, which makes for an easy afternoon – see our guide to Minneapolis’s best museums for what to pair with lunch.
If your next trip trades the Midwest for the Pacific, our guide to the best restaurants on Oahu follows the same format – neighborhood by neighborhood, with what to order.
For a beach-resort equivalent of this list, see where to eat in Waikiki, which separates the hotel dining rooms from the places locals actually queue for.
47. Kai’s Sushi & Grill, Minnetonka
Located in the western suburb of Minnetonka, Kai’s Sushi & Grill has a lot of items on the menu and pretty amazing ramen. Someone is always picking up take; every table will fill up by 7 pm, so go early.
Try the ramen and a sushi roll. Order a side of gyoza and garlic edamame. Kai’s may be in a strip mall but the food quality is superb!
48. Benedict’s, Wayzata
Looking for an awesome salmon benedict with light and crispy hashbrowns and a frozen daiquiri? Well, here is the spot for you.
When we lived in Wayzata, we went to Benedict’s nearly every Saturday morning. They have a great menu of Instagram-worthy dishes that taste as good as their luck. And the staff is amazing. It gets very busy from 10-2 so come early or after, or grab a seat at the circle bar.
The western suburbs have their own dining scene worth the drive. where to eat in Wayzata covers Belle and Grey, Cov, McCormick’s and the bakery that replaced Wuollet’s.
Twin Cities Restaurants That Have Closed
Restaurant guides go stale quietly. These sixteen places appeared in earlier versions of this list and have since closed or stopped serving the public. Dates come from Twin Cities news reporting.
- Young Joni (Northeast) – closed September 12, 2025 after a lease dispute.
- Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge (Northeast) – closed August 19, 2023 after 20 years.
- Betty Danger’s Country Club (Northeast) – closed August 2022.
- Zen Box Izakaya (Downtown) – closed November 22, 2025 after 21 years.
- Constantine (Hotel Ivy, Downtown) – closed May 31, 2023.
- Monello (Hotel Ivy, Downtown) – closed May 31, 2023.
- Borough (North Loop) – closed June 27, 2026 after 13 years; Revival is taking the space.
- Revival (South Minneapolis) – closed January 19, 2025 along with its other locations.
- Sooki and Mimi (Uptown) – rebranded to Kim’s in 2023; Kim’s closed August 30, 2024.
- The Lowry (Uptown) – closed April 26, 2026.
- The Lynhall (LynLake) – stopped public restaurant service July 16, 2023; private events only.
- Wilde Cafe (St. Anthony Main) – rebranded to Pivo Riverplace in February 2023; Pivo closed October 15, 2023.
- The Sonder Shaker (Northeast) – closed April 19, 2025 after seven years.
- Saint Dinette (Lowertown, Saint Paul) – closed March 22, 2025.
- Pajarito (West Seventh, Saint Paul) – closed March 2026; the Edina location is still open.
- Kalsada (Selby Avenue, Saint Paul) – closed September 15, 2023.
FAQ
What are the best restaurants in Minneapolis for takeout?
Pho 79 on Eat Street, Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza in the North Loop and Bull’s Horn in South Minneapolis all travel well. Our guide to the best takeout in Minneapolis has the full list.
What are the coolest restaurants in Minneapolis?
Hai Hai, Hola Arepa, Travail Kitchen and Indigena by Owamni at the Guthrie. Each one has a room and a point of view you will not find anywhere else in the Twin Cities.
What is Minnesota’s most popular restaurant?
Minnesota’s most popular restaurant is Matt’s Bar for its Jucy Lucy. There is a never-ending debate about who created the first Juicy Lucy/Jucy Lucy: Matt’s Bar or 5-8 Club. Try them both and pick a winner. Realistically, you’ll be the real winner for eating two amazing burgers!
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