This has been quite a year. Due to our press cycles, I am writing this before Election Day. At this moment, we have no idea what the next four years will look like. If we cast back four years, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the world were much different places. Maybe that\u2019s the lesson we need to focus on.<\/p>\n
In the 2024 edition of The MSP 50, we find a few spots that have been toiling for four years to make their dreams come true. New ideas germinated in a time of uncertainty have finally bloomed this year, proving how resilient the hospitality industry can be.<\/p>\n
At the same time, we see some significant anniversaries for a number of our foundational restaurants. Having weathered the tough times, they have found their groove and act as incubators for the next generation of hospitalitarians. Last year, we created the Hall of Fame category to highlight those who have paved the way and have so many Golden Forks they might need to annex the dry cleaner next door just to hang them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I\u2019ve said before, if you want to move forward, you have to look back to know where you\u2019ve been. The Hall of Fame group harbors this history, and we will celebrate a new group each year as they move on from The MSP 50 to live among other Hall of Fame restaurants henceforth. The Class of \u201923 included some stalwarts, as does this year\u2019s Class of \u201924: historic Italian and heritage Mexican among them.\u00a0So whatever world you\u2019re in, as you\u2019re reading this, remember that you can find comfort in the fact that the Twin Cities restaurant world will survive, and thrive.\u2014Stephanie March<\/p>\n
Scroll to the full list.<\/p>\n
New\u00a0in 2024<\/p>\n
There was a bounty of new restaurant openings this year.<\/p>\n
B\u00fbcheron<\/p>\n
Kingfield, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Everyone dreams of a luxurious seafood platter with elegant oysters and shrimp arranged before you on sparkling ice\u2014but no one wants to shell out a car payment to order one!\u00a0Enter B\u00fbcheron, where all the fine French-influenced foods thread the needle of affordable luxury within a comfortable neighborhood space. Don\u2019t miss the rare wines by the glass, the pastas as exactingly handmade as pocket watches, and the elevated Midwestern dishes, such as venison tartare, that deliver humble elegance.<\/p>\n
Diane\u2019s Place<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
The first solo spot by seven-time James Beard Award\u2013nominated chef Diane Moua is what happens when a pastry chef enlarges her world with savory dishes but keeps her pastry habits of paying careful attention to every tiny detail. The khao piak chicken soup looks as pretty as a plated dessert, with a bouquet of curly scallion ribbons and a soft-boiled egg so elegantly sliced it could be an ivory and gold medallion made of porcelain. What does a soup have in common with a dessert? Just the understanding that excellence is all in the details.<\/p>\n
Starling<\/p>\n
Edina<\/p>\n
The Edina set could not have been more excited for the old Perkins on Highway 100 to come down and make way for Starling. Carved out of a vanilla shell, the space has been given so much attention by its owners, Jester Concepts, that it breathes green and light. For a company that does big restaurants with big personalities, it\u2019s nice to see something smaller and more intimate, especially when you can get butter chicken tacos, green curry walleye, or a slow-roasted pork bo ssam feast to order for your friends.<\/p>\n
Berlin<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re that gal who leaves a restaurant when the guitar player in the corner starts strumming, hear us out. It\u2019s not that you hate music in restaurants; you just haven\u2019t had it good, like we do at Berlin. Here, it\u2019s ridiculously easy to slip into the bar for happy hour, have your most intense conversations while snacking on salmon crudo or a fried chicken katsu sandwich, and sip swell drinks. When the music kicks in, you can hang back and still have a light chat or get another drink and relax into the city moment.<\/p>\n
Dario<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
When customers express joy for Dario\u2019s exquisite pastas, such as the fat little purses of buttery doppio stuffed with sunchoke and sparkling with honey or the rustic ecstasy of rigatoni alla vodka, it may sound as if your fellow diners are speaking of something other than pasta. So, if you hear squeals from the next booth along the lines of, \u201cAmazing! Oh my God!\u201d\u2014just know that the conversation is in fact about pasta, and you should simply quote the line from When Harry Met Sally and tell your server: \u201cI\u2019ll have what she\u2019s having.\u201d Then you, too, can enjoy ecstasy-provoking pasta.<\/p>\n
Pink Ivy<\/p>\n
Hopkins<\/p>\n
Mainstreet eating has never looked better. Michael and Viorica Shaughnessy opened their restaurant amid the sports bars and antiques shops of Hopkins, and it has been a good bet. Locals love the vibe, which gives just enough elegance to be cool but not uncomfortable, and the plates are bright, with a new vision: mussels with lobster butter, chicken bacon meatballs, seasonal roasted squash with salsa verde. And lunch! Actual hot-cooked new American lunch for the WFH set is a gift to any street.<\/p>\n
Black Duck<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Jason Sawicki casts a spell at his new spot in Northeast Minneapolis. He takes bits of everything he learned from cooking in great kitchens all over town and brings them to the fire. To this he adds perseverance, the kind it takes to buy a building and work on it for years to get it right. And while paying homage to history with pierogi, he forges his own path forward with a standard-setting duck burger, whole-fish tacos, and so many more bright plates.<\/p>\n
Picnic<\/p>\n
Linden Hills, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Is it a mom bar? Well, what if it is? Proprietress E Kitzenberg knows that moms like whiskey and a killer hot dog, too. So yeah, it\u2019s a mom bar. And it has quickly become a cornerstone of the neighborhood, during a summer when few were visiting due to road construction. But locals showed up\u2014wine fans, too\u2014and so did visiting chefs, who kept the menu fresh for people who now treat it like a clubhouse.<\/p>\n
The Camden Social<\/p>\n
Camden, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Not enough destination restaurants open in historically Black, historically under-restaurant-supplied north Minneapolis. If you haven\u2019t been to The Camden Social, you need to go, because chef Gerard Klass and crew are doing important things, like bringing the historical Shorty and Wags wings into a present-day vitality and serving both a blackened catfish and a caramel cake for the ages. Go for brunch and enjoy the peach cobbler French toast and textbook shrimp and grits that routinely tempt people from all over the Cities.<\/p>\n
Wells Roadside<\/p>\n
St. Louis Park<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a risk when you bring back a beloved neighborhood haunt: If you don\u2019t do it \u201cright,\u201d the loyalists might revolt. For the Craft and Crew guys, it was a risk worth taking to bring life back to the old Wagner\u2019s Drive-In spot. By keeping it simple with fresh burgers and fries and giving it a zhuzh with full liquor and using Wagyu beef but keeping it crazy affordable, they\u2019ve won the drive-in game.<\/p>\n
Lynette<\/p>\n
Longfellow, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
All hail the all-day caf\u00e9. Since the pandemic, we\u2019ve definitely seen a rollout of more hours and days of service, but we still haven\u2019t had the luxury of an all-day eatery renaissance. Lynette is currently flying this flag for us as a neighborhood coffee spot in the morning, a lunch and patio hang space in the afternoon, and a full-service dinner restaurant for dates and families alike. From quiche to wild mushroom pizza to a grilled rib eye with b\u00e9arnaise, you can be wowed from morning to night.<\/p>\n
Parcelle<\/p>\n
Old Town, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Let’s not overlook the fast-casual coffee caf\u00e9s working hard to keep it fresh, keep it clean. Kamal Mohamed is best known for his splashier restaurants, like nearby StepChld, but this year he opened this organic counter caf\u00e9, offering generous smoothies, house-made sourdough egg toasts, balanced and delicious macro bowls with only wild-caught salmon, and sandwiches free from seed oils and preservatives. Good eateries with great ingredients should not only be for the wellness set.<\/p>\n
Gia<\/p>\n
Armatage, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
The eternal dream is having a friend down the street who always has an open door, offers a plate of something simple and wonderful and fun new wines to try, and waves from the kitchen when you arrive. Co-chefs and co-owners Jo Seddon and Lisa Wengler have made this dream a reality for everyone in southwestern Minneapolis at Gia by creating beautiful, simple pastas and salads in an environment where the vibe is a very strong welcome, friend.<\/p>\n
Vinai<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Chef Yia Vang\u2019s long-awaited Vinai is the biggest restaurant news of Minnesota\u2019s 2024 for his translation of traditional Hmong food into present-day restaurant vernacular. Don\u2019t miss the smoky, well-charred double-cut pork chop, the ultra-umami braised beef, or the inventive cocktails made with ice carved to resemble traditional Hmong needlework. The ice speaks to unity, and as you look out over the buzzing, center-of-the-world feeling in this dining room, consider how much that unity depends on survival and how much it depends on joy.<\/p>\n
Setting the\u00a0Tone<\/p>\n
Certain restaurants aren\u2019t here just to cook good food. they\u2019re here to change the game.<\/p>\n
Oro by Nixta<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Dining here is really like taking a senior seminar in our continent\u2019s most important native grain, corn. Try it in fresh-made tortillas that might smell oaky or even meaty, depending on the corn variety. Try it in one tamale stuffed with confit rabbit or in another tamale with strawberries and rhubarb. Try it next to top-shelf agave spirits, such as tequila and mezcal. All offer a taste of our hemisphere\u2019s original and ancient foods, made glorious by Gustavo and Kate Romero.<\/p>\n
Mother Dough<\/p>\n
Downtown Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Why aren\u2019t there more chef-driven coffee shops? This French-leaning one from David Fhima is really more of a caf\u00e9\u2014you can\u2019t deny the power of what his great-great-grandmother\u2019s 130-year-old starter will do for a menu. You may stop in for a latte, but you\u2019ll undoubtedly leave with a prosciutto and butter baguette or an \u00e9clair, and for sure, at some point, a grilled cheese. Starting in an office building, Mother Dough is now in the Mill District, with plans to open more in the city this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Krewe<\/p>\n
St. Joseph<\/p>\n
Mateo Mackbee and Erin Lucas have worked hard to build community, promote diversity, and teach people about food outside the metro. The N\u2019awlins flavors that permeate the menu are a beacon of friendship and good eating in the Northland at a restaurant that offers drive-worthy gumbo, \u00e9touff\u00e9e, and bread pudding made from day-old baguettes baked in their neighboring Flour and Flower Bakery. They are about to launch a new concept, Joetown Smashburger, which will live in St. Joseph\u2019s first food hall.<\/p>\n
Gai Noi<\/p>\n
Loring Park, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Ann Ahmed\u2019s multilevel Loring Park playhouse is a smash hit because of seemingly rare qualities, such as affordability (think $14 pad Thai and weekday happy hour bargains) and variety (so many gluten-free, vegan, and paleo options). And there\u2019s Ahmed-specific magic, such as irresistible flavors that call to you at all times, especially those curries that are big-tasting and fragrant or that Lao sausage that is so terrifically herbal and zesty. Plus, it has the ability to seat scores of your friends, no reservations needed.<\/p>\n
Keefer Court<\/p>\n
Eden Prairie<\/p>\n
When this small shop\u2014a Seven Corners institution feeding warm buns to generations of college students for 40 years\u2014announced it would close in 2022, it was no surprise to see the outpouring of sadness. The partners of Asia Mall took heed and decided to bring it back this year. Though it has a shinier storefront and a few more Vietnamese offerings, the family-recipe Chinese buns, barbecue buns, and Lotus cakes are as great as ever.<\/p>\n
Porzana<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Cooking food over fire has been happening for, oh, 8,000 years, give or take. More recently, one of the newest and best developments in fire cooking has been flame-focused Porzana. Top-shelf steaks, like the domestic Wagyu tomahawk, a koji-inoculated steak with a little umami oomph, bring innovation to what has been a pink\u2013no pink tradition in town. But it\u2019s not just meat that meets the grill: prawns, bread, broccoli\u2014even pasta comes with char in the modern world of fire tamers.<\/p>\n
A Bar of Their Own<\/p>\n
Seward, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Now that we\u2019re all caught up with the fact that everyone watches women\u2019s sports, it seems like our favorite local ladies\u2019 league bar is, shall we say, ahead of the game? And yes, we love the Lynx fans who pack it for games, and the USWNT soccer fandom has a place for World Cup matches, but you know what else? The totchos are fire, the Tracy\u2019s dry rub wings kill it every time, and the kimchi carnitas sandwich is, as the bar is, a game changer.<\/p>\n
Saturday Dumpling Co.<\/p>\n
Old Town, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been quite a year for Peter Bian and Linda Cao. The duo launched their online dumpling business during the pandemic and became a cult favorite for their collaboration dumplings with other chefs and the scallion pancake breakfast burrito people clamored for at pickup. Now, with their new fast-casual space in Old Town and more potential projects (like a concessions gig at Timberwolves games) on the way, they\u2019re poised to be local dumpling royalty.<\/p>\n
B-52 Burgers and Brew<\/p>\n
Inver Grove Heights and Lakeville<\/p>\n
Out in suburbia, there\u2019s a local chain that debunks the myth that multi-unit means cookie-cutter cardboard boredom. Burgers here are award-winning. This crew was the first to take top honors at the Twin Cities Burger Battle for good reason: They think creatively, use great, fresh ingredients, and don\u2019t take themselves too seriously. Please enjoy their periodic table of wing seasonings and dips, which allows for 26 versions of wings, and that\u2019s even before you get experimental with mixing and matching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forepaugh\u2019s<\/p>\n
Irvine Park, St. Paul<\/p>\n
Who doesn\u2019t love a good resurrection? The stately mansion-restaurant came back to life thanks to owner Bruce Taher, who brought on Tim McKee to revive the menu. It feels familiar from when you went to a wedding there in the past, but there\u2019s new energy and a lovely sense of hospitality. It\u2019s here for you with classics like cioppino, beef Wellington, and brick-roasted half chicken (also having a revival in town).<\/p>\n
Sanjusan<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
When it opened in 2021, Sanjusan redefined how this Italian food\u2013loving metro looked at pasta. With the introduction of Itameshi cuisine, Japanese and Italian fusion, we learned the beauty of ahi on pizza and nori on spaghetti. These days, chef Peter Thillen is taking it up a notch with Monday omakase dinners, creating smaller but more impactful small plates.<\/p>\n
Cooks Bellecour<\/p>\n
Three metro locations<\/p>\n
The catering menu for big and small groups at Cooks Bellecour is the greatest thing to emerge from our back-to-the-office culture change. Be a good boss and order in lunch while you take advantage of the fact that anyone would drop everything for one of Bellecour\u2019s legendary flaky, lush, buttery, truly perfect ham and cheese croissants or gluten-free carrot muffins or a Bellecour salad. Court your workers back appropriately.<\/p>\n
Hot\u00a0Spots<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to be a new spot to have a buzzy vibe and a packed dining room.<\/p>\n
Myriel<\/p>\n
Mac-Groveland, St. Paul<\/p>\n
When local chef hero Karyn Tomlinson popped up on CBS Mornings, they said she\u2019s \u201cmaking grandma chic cool.\u201d Grandmas rule! But also: How have we gotten so lost as a culture that handmade pie crust is breaking news? Just know that Myriel\u2019s fame is unquestionably growing, Tomlinson\u2019s skills are undeniable, and if national media ever finds a way to accurately convey what\u2019s going on here, none of us will ever get a seat again. So get in while the getting\u2019s good!<\/p>\n
Red Wagon Pizza<\/p>\n
Armatage, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Not many restaurant owners live in the same neighborhood as their restaurant. Peter and Jacquie Campbell live around the block from their pizza place, which gives them a unique insight into how to best serve the eaters who walk over for dinner. It also gives them the opportunity to bring work home, which, when it\u2019s pizza, is a good thing. The duo have begun offering private gatherings and chef collaborations in their home, where they\u2019ve installed an oven like the one at the restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So Yen<\/p>\n
Lowertown, St. Paul<\/p>\n
Follow the line until you reach the donut counter at one of the most exciting bakeries in St. Paul. So Yen doesn\u2019t do too many things\u2014not fancy croissants, not crazy tarts\u2014it just does lovely and creative hand-rolled and filled brioche donuts. The flavors rotate each month, and there\u2019s usually a seasonal treat like the pumpkin pie delight donut in November, but the best ones are the savory flavors, like an everything donut filled with sun-dried tomato cream cheese.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bina\u2019s<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no small feat to create a new bar that from the start feels, instead, like a classic, comfortable, time-worn small-town watering hole. With dreams of crafting this kind of place in the city, owner Jami Olson brought pieces of her own small-town past to the walls of this good-time bar, which instantly had a following. And the menu, while never taking itself too seriously, delivers what you want to eat when you drink: dill pickle chips and dip, mozz sticks, a Wagyu butter burger, and high-class Jell-O shots.<\/p>\n
Jellybean and Julia\u2019s<\/p>\n
Coon Rapids<\/p>\n
Longtime fans will tell you they are OG supporters from the days when J&J was a food truck. That was before it become a cult burger spot with its first location in Anoka. Since fans will fan, the restaurant had to move to a bigger location in Coon Rapids this year, and the barbecue, burgers, and beef tallow\u2013fried fries are worth following. If you haven\u2019t had the iconic PB&J brisket sandwich\u2014with crunchy peanut butter, strawberry habanero jam, and pickled onions on the house-smoked brisket\u2014yet, just get in your car and go.<\/p>\n
Paris Dining Club<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no small thing that Jamie Malone only just created a Grand Cafe signature meal box for the first time this past December for her Paris Dining Club. It calls back to that delightfully sophisticated pink room with dishes we remember: the pike quenelles, the carrots in carrot butter, that gilded foie gras egg that became an icon. But the team knows, while it\u2019s good to look back and rekindle some fond memories, PDC is all about the future of restaurants\u2014one that\u2019s less hemmed in by tradition and more excited by possibilities.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
My Burger<\/p>\n
Ten metro locations<\/p>\n
The local burger chain hit a big mark this year. Far from the 10 billion sold of other fast food spots, this Abdo family project hit 10 locations with the opening of the Eagan store this year. It\u2019s a feat worth mentioning because it remains a Minnesota brand, using locally grown ingredients when able, and can deliver a fresh and flavorful griddle-cooked burger and fries for $10. And its rotation of Burger of the Month creative specials slaps. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Chimborazo<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis and Highland Park, St. Paul<\/p>\n
The little Ecuadorian restaurant that has countless loyal fans did a surprising thing this year: It grew. Since 2009, people in Northeast have been stopping by for llapingachos empanadas, lomo saltado, and plantains aplenty, and now, after 15 years, people in the Highland Park neighborhood can learn the habit. The new shop is modern and bright, but it carries all the warmth and all the South American flavors of the original.<\/p>\n
Burger Daddies<\/p>\n
Food Truck\/various locations<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s a harder-working food couple in the Twin Cities, we defy you to name them. Nikki and Brian Podgorski, the duo behind The Salsa Collaborative, have spent the last few years on the grind, defining themselves in the market with pop-ups, market stalls, and residencies. They\u2019ve finally found a home for their award-winning burgers. Find Betty, the Burger Daddies truck, all over town with lacy-edged smash burgers and a line. Never count these two as done. Look for more innovations this year.<\/p>\n
Marty\u2019s Deli<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
In a city that deserves more independent, dedicated sandwich shops, Marty\u2019s is the template. Fresh-made focaccia is, yes, the secret foundation, but the sauce has to be the team inside. The crew putting up solid stacks, like the legendary Pool and Yacht chicken salad or the newest Gigi turkey sandwich with garden giardiniera, are friendly and helpful, seem to be having fun, and give off the great vibes you need as a side to your meal.<\/p>\n
Bar Brava<\/p>\n
Near North, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Bar Brava has made itself the center of the local natural wine scene since opening in 2019. These days, it\u2019s also the go-to spot for up-and-coming culinarians who want to test the waters with a pop-up or residency. Whether it\u2019s Khue\u2019s Kitchen bewitching us with chicken sandwiches or Torsk with a beautifully Nordic pork schnitzel, our future food landscape is being sorted out at this bar. Watch the socials to know, truly, what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n
Hall of Fame<\/p>\n
These institutions are the bedrock of our eating landscape. Once hot, still hot.<\/p>\n
Spoon and Stable<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Jet-setters know that there\u2019s only one restaurant in the Twin Cities the glamorous folk abroad are going to ask you about: Spoon and Stable. Gavin Kaysen\u2019s first just hit a decade of influence. It\u2019s the home of the famous midnight-black Spaghetti Nero and the land of the arancini bar snack that impels North Loop creatives to wait outside for a bar seat. And, of course, we can\u2019t forget the sloppy, glorious Dirty French burger at brunch. There\u2019s no question: Spoon has made its mark on our towns.<\/p>\n
Quang<\/p>\n
Eat Street, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Yes, Quang\u2019s pho broth is deserving of foodie rhapsody\u2014so lemongrass tangy! Yes, the pork chop broken-rice platters are the contemporary equivalent of our grandparents\u2019 blue plates of yore\u2014so filling, so tasty, so generous. But beyond any culinary feat of derring-do at this busy-all-day and busy-all-night restaurant, the wildly consistent and remarkably affordable Quang is us. The Seinfeld characters had their diner, the Gilmore girls had their spot, and all of Minneapolis has Quang.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Owamni<\/p>\n
Mill district, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Owamni has been leading the global conversation about decolonized foods right from the downtown Minneapolis riverfront since it opened in 2021. But do we talk enough about the sensory pleasure of eating Indigenous cuisine? The wild gamey opulence of smoked elk, the rare pleasure of layers of sour sumac, the intensity of a berry cobbler where you can really taste the berries, not just the corn syrup. Food that\u2019s at once meaningful, healthy, and indulgent, with downtown\u2019s greatest river views.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matt\u2019s Bar<\/p>\n
Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Matt\u2019s has gone full Eiffel Tower as the sort of city-defining tourist destination that gets filled to the brim in advance of every Twins or Vikings game. Let\u2019s not complain. Let\u2019s celebrate that the originator of the cheese-stuffed burger, the iconic Jucy Lucy, is getting ever more famous. Because then, when we sneak in on a random evening and score a prime booth for our own extra-griddled, extra-oniony, extra-Minneapolis-tasting Jucy Lucy, it feels downright glorious.<\/p>\n
Yum! Kitchen and Bakery<\/p>\n
Four metro locations<\/p>\n
Patti Soskin is not shy about mentioning that she might be the only woman in her 60s still opening new restaurants. And why shouldn\u2019t she shout that out? Her Yum! Kitchen and Bakery helped define the high-quality fast-casual sector, with the OG opening in 2005. She went farther west with Minnetonka and now heads east to St. Paul and Woodbury with her grilled chicken club, Fancy Schmancy tuna salad, and those killer fries. The Patticake will not be stopped, nor should it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Billy Sushi<\/p>\n
North Loop, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Visiting celebs must get a secret hotline number when deplaning their jets, one that gets them squired away to Billy Sushi. And yet, while it may be North Loop\u2019s hottest fish shop for the glitterati, plenty of normal humans sit at the counter grabbing bites of the freshest-cut tuna, and tables of finance bros from Wayzata drink the most exclusive Japanese whiskeys next to a group of moms out for a night of sake bombs and Silly Billy rolls. That\u2019s the gift: Everyone feels like a celeb at Billy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
El Burrito Mercado<\/p>\n
West Side, St. Paul<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s one way to lead the good life: Put a cooler in your trunk and drive to El Burrito Mercado. Load up your shopping cart with pints of guacamole, pico de gallo, salsas, ready-to-heat guisados, tamales, and all the good stuff you need to feed yourself well for a month. Pack your haul into your cooler for safekeeping. Now head back into the restaurant for its famous quesabirria tacos, so big-tasting, so smoky and rich. Congratulations: You won life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mancini\u2019s Char House<\/p>\n
West Seventh, St. Paul<\/p>\n
Not all of the good old spots are going the way of the condo. Hopefully, we can count on the Mancini family, which some say is the real heart of hospitality in Capitol City, to hold strong. We\u2019ll never be ready to say goodbye to deeply red high-backed booths, Wisconsin-grade Old Fashioneds with a cherry and orange slice, live-band dancing in the bar, and the baked potato that\u2019s always on the side. Some things can\u2019t change, ever. So, move along, developers. Keep eating, diners.<\/p>\n
Sea Salt Eatery<\/p>\n
Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Who knew, way back in 2005, that a park concession stand serving ocean fish (not just lake fish!) in a park would still be courting huge lines nearly 20 years later? What\u2019s the secret sauce? Is it the clam fries; the mahi tacos; the oil pan of oysters, shrimp, and pickled herring that feels so right next to the fast water of Minnehaha Falls? Or is it the limited season, which causes us to rejoice at the spring opening like we, too, are coming back to life? Or, honestly, is it the clam fries? You decide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alma<\/p>\n
Marcy-Holmes, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
Happy 25th anniversary! Through all those years, the good and the bad, the James Beard Award\u2013winning Alma has been setting beautifully prepared plates in front of appreciative diners. Check in on a classic that has been on and off the menu for 25 years: Wild Acres duck two ways, with the leg confit and the duck breast seared. Or check out something new, like the takeaway-for-two menu that means Alma can meet you where you are, even at home.<\/p>\n
Cossetta<\/p>\n
West Seventh, St. Paul<\/p>\n
Since 1911, Cossetta has defined the Italian American food experience for the metro. Whether you go for the groaningly gargantuan ultra-cheesy pizza slices on a busy Friday night or you grab a box of cannoli and a coffee to enjoy while you do paperwork on a Tuesday morning, you know that two things are going to happen as soon as you tug open the heavy doors. You\u2019re in step with the old country, yet tuned in to the new glory of abundance.<\/p>\n
Young Joni<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
That crust! Light as a feather, crisp as a bubble of dough sealed in the wood-fired inferno that makes every Young Joni pie so craveable. Get the pickle pie or the famed Korean pie with beef short ribs, add the chewy rice cakes and cheese (like an ultra-creamy mac and cheese), throw some pork spare ribs on the table, and ask yourself: \u201cIs there a better pizza dinner to be had in North America?\u201d Probably not.<\/p>\n
Hai Hai<\/p>\n
Northeast, Minneapolis<\/p>\n
On a late night when you\u2019ve been so busy, dash into Hai Hai. Get a cocktail\u2014maybe the Calamansi Reviver, with its banana-vanilla-musky-undefinable flavors made even more intriguing with gin? Get a banana blossom Cobb salad and a coconut milk shrimp and grits. Then plunge into a world where each flavor is both distinct from the next and as harmonious as the elements in a quilt. How lucky are we to have Christina Nguyen\u2019s James Beard Award\u2013winning food whenever we want?<\/p>\n
The MSP 50<\/p>\n
The 50 best restaurants of 2024, all in one list.<\/p>\n
Alma,\u00a0528 University Ave. SE, Mpls., 612-379-4909, almampls.com
\n\tB-52 Burgers and Brew,\u00a05639 Bishop Ave., Inver Grove Heights, and 20751 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville,\u00a0b52burgersandbrew.com
\n\tBar Brava,\u00a01914 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-208-1270, barbravamn.com
\n\tA Bar of Their Own,\u00a02207 Franklin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-540-2574,\u00a0abaroftheirown.com
\n\tBerlin,\u00a0204 N. 1st St., Mpls.,\u00a0berlinmpls.com
\n\tBilly Sushi,\u00a0116 1st Ave. N., Mpls., 612-886-1783, billysushi.net
\n\tBina\u2019s,\u00a01404 NE Quincy St., Mpls., 612-315-5540, binasbar.com
\n\tBlack Duck,\u00a02900 NE Johnson St., Mpls., 612-331-1421,\u00a0blackduckmpls.com
\n\tB\u00fbcheron,\u00a04257 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-255-5632, bucheronrestaurant.com
\n\tBurger Daddies,\u00a0Food truck\/various locations,\u00a0@eatburgerdaddies, facebook.com\/thesalsacollaborative, thesalsacollaborative.com
\n\tThe Camden Social,\u00a04601 Lyndale Ave. N., Mpls., 612-489-8073,\u00a0thecamdensocial.com
\n\tChimborazo,\u00a02851 Central Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-788-1328, and 508 Lexington Pkwy. S., St. Paul, 651-728-1483,\u00a0chimborazorestaurant.com
\n\tCooks Bellecour,\u00a0Edina, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, cooksbellecour.com
\n\tCossetta,\u00a0211 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-222-3476, cossettas.com
\n\tDario,\u00a0323 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-614-2560,\u00a0dariorestaurant.com
\n\tDiane\u2019s Place,\u00a0117 14th Ave. NE, Mpls.,\u00a0612-489-8012,\u00a0dianesplacemn.com
\n\tEl Burrito Mercado,\u00a0175 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul, 651-227-2192,\u00a0elburritomercado.com
\n\tForepaugh\u2019s,\u00a0276 S. Exchange St., St. Paul, 651-666-3636, forepaughs.com
\n\tGai Noi,\u00a01610 Harmon Pl., Mpls., gainoimpls.com
\n\tGia,\u00a05555 Xerxes Ave. S., Mpls., 612-274-7163, giampls.com
\n\tHai Hai,\u00a02121 University Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-223-8640, haihaimpls.com
\n\tJellybean and Julia\u2019s, 2501 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids, 763-421-6119, jellybeanandjulias.com
\n\tKeefer Court,\u00a0Asia Mall, 12160 Technology Dr., Eden Prairie, 952-600-5477, keefercourt.com
\n\tKrewe,\u00a024 College Ave. N., St. Joseph, 320-557-0083, krewemn.com
\n\tLynette,\u00a03753 42nd Ave. S., Mpls., 612-223-8060, lynettemn.com
\n\tMancini\u2019s Char House,\u00a0531 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-224-7345, mancinis.com
\n\tMarty\u2019s Deli,\u00a0400 Lowry Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-886-3952, martysdeli.com
\n\tMatt\u2019s Bar,\u00a03500 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls., 612-722-7072, mattsbar.com
\n\tMother Dough Bakery,\u00a0Two Capella Tower locations and Mill District, Mpls., 612-354-2025, motherdoughbakery.com
\n\tMy Burger,\u00a0Ten metro locations, myburgerusa.com
\n\tMyriel,\u00a0470 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul, 651-340-3568,\u00a0myrielmn.com
\n\tOro by Nixta,\u00a01222 NE 2nd St., Mpls., 612-200-8087,\u00a0nixtampls.com\/oro
\n\tOwamni,\u00a0420 S. 1st St., Mpls., 612-444-1846, owamni.com
\n\tParcelle,\u00a0233 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-875-7345,\u00a0parcelleorganics.com
\n\tParis Dining Club,\u00a0North Loop, Mpls.,\u00a0parisdiningclub.com
\n\tPicnic,\u00a04307 Upton Ave. S., Mpls., 612-505-0785,\u00a0picniclindenhills.com
\n\tPink Ivy,\u00a0712 Mainstreet, Hopkins, 952-600-7290, pinkivymn.com
\n\tPorzana,\u00a0\u00a0200 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-489-6174,\u00a0porzanampls.com
\n\tQuang,\u00a02719 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-870-4739,\u00a0quang-restaurant.com
\n\tRed Wagon Pizza,\u00a05416 Penn Ave. S., Mpls., 612-259-7147,\u00a0redwagon-mpls.com
\n\tSanjusan,\u00a033 1st Ave. N., Mpls., 612-354-7763, sanjusanrestaurant.com
\n\tSaturday Dumpling Co.,\u00a0519 Central Ave. NE, Mpls.,\u00a0saturdaydumpling.com
\n\tSea Salt Eatery,\u00a04825 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls., 612-721-8990,\u00a0seasaltmpls.com
\n\tSo Yen,\u00a0275 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-219-5175,\u00a0soyendesserts.com
\n\tSpoon and Stable,\u00a0211 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-224-9850,\u00a0spoonandstable.com
\n\tStarling,\u00a04925 Eden Ave., Edina, 952-295-8180, starlingmn.com
\n\tVinai,\u00a01300 NE 2nd St., Mpls., 612-749-6051, vinaimn.com
\n\tWells Roadside,\u00a03712 Quebec Ave. S., St. Louis Park, 952-277-7777, wellsroadside.com
\n\tYoung Joni,\u00a0165 13th Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-345-5719, youngjoni.com
\n\tYum! Kitchen and Bakery,\u00a0Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, and Woodbury, yumkitchen.com
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This has been quite a year. Due to our press cycles, I am writing this before Election Day. At this moment, we have no idea what the next four years will look like. If we cast back four years, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the world were much different places. Maybe that\u2019s the lesson we need<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":63906,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[2554,22491,44853,17175,4657,304,2383,4075,4073,4071,4074,4072,12147,4656],"class_list":["post-63905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-minnesota","tag-best-restaurants","tag-best-restaurants-in-minneapolis","tag-best-restaurants-in-st-paul","tag-dara-moskowitz-grumdahl","tag-eating-guide","tag-features","tag-food-news","tag-minnesota","tag-minnesota-dining","tag-minnesota-food","tag-minnesota-grocery-stores","tag-minnesota-restaurant","tag-stephanie-march","tag-the-lists"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/vive.im\/@dc\/117509656702695624","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63905\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}