The Minnesota State Fair rightfully captures many of August’s food headlines, but we’d be remiss to not tell you about the roughly two dozen new restaurants that opened during the month.
After a decade closed, Saffron just celebrated its grand reopening in Minneapolis.
In St. Paul, flamenco performers welcomed diners to Tasca Madrid – a new restaurant that’s bringing a celebration of Spanish culture (and tapas) to Cathedral Hill.
And that’s just the beginning. Here’s a roundup of August’s restaurant news:
Openings
7 Brew (421 Anderson Road, Duluth): The drive-thru coffeehouse company, which also serves energy drinks, teas and smoothies, opened two locations in the Twin Ports this month: one in Duluth and one across the water in Superior.
Arizona Taco Company (1405 W Lake St., Minneapolis): The Twin Cities taco restaurant, founded in New Hope in 2019, just expanded to the heart of Uptown and Sunday brunch is on the menu.
Aruma Tacos & Tequila (900 Clarice Ave., Marshall): An upscale Mexican restaurant just opened in southwestern Minnesota and its table-side guacamole and handcrafted are already generating buzz.
Baghdad Restaurant (8593 Edinburgh Center Dr., Brooklyn Park): Authentic Iraqi cuisine is the focus of a brand new Brooklyn Park restaurant. Kababs are freshly grilled over an open flame and served with fresh veggies, herbs and warm tandoor bread.
Bill’s Bait Shop (3101 42nd St., Minneapolis): Smoked burgers, fried walleye, maple-bacon-bourbon soft serve and plenty of cold beer deliver the Northwoods dining experience to south Minneapolis at this new restaurant from the team behind Centro.
Bill’s Bait ShopCentro Restaurant Group
Cajun Express (2015 Woodlynn Ave., Maplewood): A new fast-casual restaurant is bringing seafood boils, po’boys, wings and other southern favorites to Maplewood.
Crisp & Green (13510 Rogers Dr., Rogers): The wellness-focused, fast-casual restaurant opened its 22nd Minnesota location this month in Rogers. The chain focuses on scratch-made salads, wraps, grain bowls, açaí bowls and smoothies.
Dave’s Hot Chicken (16490 W 78th St., Eden Prairie): Have we entered hot chicken’s heyday in the Twin Cities? The metro just gained another Dave’s Hot Chicken and more are on the way.
Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream (750 Main St., Mendota Heights): Happy Joe’s is serving arcade games, nostalgia and plenty of taco pizza at its first Twin Cities location. The Iowa-based pizza franchise, founded in 1972, could soon have as many as six locations in Minnesota. Read more here.
The taco pizza at Happy Joe’s. Submitted photo
Illy (Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport): The Italian coffee company, founded in 1933, is now keeping travelers caffeinated in Terminal 2. The eatery serves gourmet coffee, breakfast sandwiches, pastries and more.
Inti Kitchen & Bar (4537 Nicollet Ave. S): The former Revival building in south Minneapolis has been revived with a brand new restaurant serving authentic Tibetan and Indian cuisine. Read more here.
Kin Cafe (324 Beltrami Ave. NW, Bemidji): A new “brew & bite bar” is serving over a dozen different matcha drinks ahead of its Sept. 5 grand opening. “More drinks, more food and endless desserts” are coming soon.
Marc Heu Café (227 Colfax Ave. N, Minneapolis): Acclaimed French-Hmong pastry chef Marc Heu has brought a taste of his patisserie to the Alliance Française building. The new café, stocked with croissants and other favorites, becomes his third eatery in the Twin Cities.
Mama Suli’s Pizza & Spaghetti House (200 Main St. S, Pine Island): When asked on social media how “East Coast” the Italian grinder sandwiches are, the restaurant responded: “Forget about it!!! That’s how East Coast they are!!” There’s an extensive pizza and “pah-sta” menu, too.
Modern Times (3200 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis): The longtime Powderhorn Park restaurant reopened with its original name Aug. 26 after a stint as the Post Modern Times, which served more than 30,000 free meals during Operation Metro Surge. Prices are back on the menu, but the restaurant remains a no-tipping establishment.
Nokomis House (5401 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis): American dishes and traditional Mexican flavors are on the menu at this new south Minneapolis neighborhood restaurant in the former Stonegarden space. Stop in for dinner or weekend brunch.
Saffron (165 14th Ave., Minneapolis): Chef Sameh Wadi’s beloved upscale restaurant, which closed a decade ago, is back. The Star Tribune raved about the recent opening, writing that the menu “mixes ancient Arab cooking methods and Palestinian ingredients with the training and polish of one of Minneapolis’ most ambitious fine-dining chefs.”
Tasca Madrid (173 Western Ave., St. Paul): At his lively Spanish in St. Paul’s Cathedral Hill neighborhood, owner Alberto Blanco promises “simple and straightforward cuisine done with heart and good ingredients.” Read all about Tasca Madrid’s origins here.
Tom’s Thai (1601 W. Lake St., Minneapolis): A new Thai restaurant is settling into the former Pinoli space.
Closings
Arya Cafe (4605 Minnehaha Ave. S, Minneapolis): The cafe on the street level of the Wakpada Apartments near Minnehaha Falls has closed after one year in business. Read more here.
Bar Brava (1914 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis): The once acclaimed wine bar that abruptly went to blacklisted when its owner made controversial comments about the Somali community has closed its doors. Read more here.
The Big Pepper (Minnesota State Fair): Although its closure was confirmed earlier this year, fair-goers will have noticed the absence of The Big Pepper’s distinctive Minnesota State Fair stand, which was demolished in April. Read more here.
Crumbl Cookies (2037 S Robert St., West St. Paul): Crumbl Cookie’s West St. Paul location, which was cited in 2022 for violating child labor laws, closed this month.
El Sazón Cocina & Tragos (5309 Lyndale Ave. S #201, Minneapolis): Cristian and Karen De León decided to close their south Minneapolis restaurant this month following “many sleepless nights and difficult conversations.” Their counter at Eat Street Crossing and their Stillwater restaurant, Xelas by El Sazón, remain open.
The Gnome (498 Selby Ave., St. Paul): Facing issues with the 140-year-old building, restaurateur Brian Ingram decided to close his Selby Avenue restaurant this month. The closure happened days after a burglary, but Ingram said the decision to close was unrelated.
Krusty’s (1600 Warren St., Mankato): The Mankato bakery, which gained a following for its maple bacon donuts, closed its doors in mid-August. Read more here.
Lake Monster Brewing (550 Vandalia St. #160, St. Paul): A St. Anthony Park neighborhood staple said goodbye this month, with Lake Monster closing its taproom amid ongoing challenges from declining alcohol sales. Barrel Theory will take its place this fall.
Swede Hollow Cafe (725 E. 7th St., St. Paul): The cafe closed after 29 years on Aug. 31, but ownership plans to continue hosting pop-ups, offering catering, and appearing at community events. Read more here.
Thai-riffic (1217 2nd St. SW., Rochester): The Thai restaurant blamed longtime road construction for its closure. Read more here.
T-Rex Cookie (MSP airport): The ubiquitous giant cookie makers closed its kiosk at Concourse C in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport’s Terminal 1. The Eagan company was founded in 2015. Read more.
This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Sep 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Lifestyle section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dining and Cooking