Where to Eat in Minneapolis

25 Best Restaurants in Minneapolis Right Now (2026)

Let’s get one thing out of the way right now: take this ranking with a healthy pinch of salt. I have never loved putting restaurants in a strict numerical order because the “best” place in Minneapolis really depends on your mood, your budget, and what you are craving. If you want pho, you are not booking a tasting menu. If you want steak, you are not heading out for sushi. On any given night, these spots could easily move around. So think of this less as some locked-in hierarchy and more as my local shortlist of the 25 restaurants I would most strongly recommend in Minneapolis right now. If a restaurant made this list, it is firing on all cylinders.

One quick note on how to use this guide: this Top 25 is the foundation, but it is not the whole story. You will see some of these restaurants pop up again throughout the guide in sections like brunch, patios, or special occasions. That is intentional. The goal is not just to rank them, but to help you understand when they actually make sense. A great restaurant is rarely just one thing, so if a place shows up twice, it is because it is doing more than one thing really well.

1. All Saints

An intimate Northeast Minneapolis restaurant with one of the most dialed-in kitchens in the city. I have eaten here twice in the last year, and it simply hits all the right notes with interesting menus, good drinks, and a great vibe. It is built for sharing and works beautifully for date night.

Must Order: The NY Strip with crispy fingerling potatoes and the Golden Beets.

Read my full review of All Saints

2. Khâluna

Chef Ann Ahmed’s South Minneapolis restaurant brings a resort-like atmosphere and one of the most refined Lao-inspired menus in town. It is a beautiful space, and everything from their curries to the basil fried jalapeno wings is always delicious.

Must Order: The duck fried rice, yellow curry, or basil fried jalapeno wings.

3. 112 Eatery

When Chef Isaac Becker opened this downtown classic, it blew my mind. It felt like a small, intimate New York restaurant. The nice touch of warm candied almonds to start and the perfectly seasoned grilled lamb chops made me order the exact same thing over and over.

Must Order: The grilled lamb chops, the 112 cheeseburger, and tagliatelle with foie gras meatballs.

4. Quang

We eat here a couple of times a month. It is an absolute no-miss Eat Street staple that delivers incredible value, super quick and friendly service, and piping hot food every single time. This is one of the best casual comfort meals on the whole list.

Must Order: The pho with brisket and the egg rolls.

5. Bar La Grassa

A North Loop institution and still one of the best pasta restaurants in Minneapolis. Jenny used to work right above this spot, so we went a lot. Because they offer large and small plates, the best move is to order a variety of their amazing pastas and share everything. It is one of the easiest group-friendly special dinners in the city.

Must Order: The soft eggs and lobster bruschetta or the red wine spaghetti.

6. Billy Sushi

A high-energy North Loop sushi spot that leans into celebration, theatrics, and a strong overall night-out vibe. If you want a fun dinner that feels like an event, this is one of the best moves in town.

Must Order: The chef’s choice sashimi platter.

7. Bûcheron

This South Minneapolis neighborhood spot feels like one of the most complete restaurants in the city right now. We were lucky enough to get in there before they won their recent awards. The food is polished but never stiff, and the room still feels intimate and personal.

Must Order: The spaghetti with poached lobster or the chamomile-crusted Alaskan halibut.

Read my full review of Bûcheron

8. Myriel (St. Paul)

Chef Karyn Tomlinson runs one of the most thoughtful and quietly beautiful restaurants in the Twin Cities. It is seasonal, intentional, and deeply Midwestern in spirit.

Must Order: The seasonal tasting menu is the move here.

9. Demi

Gavin Kaysen’s tiny tasting counter remains one of the toughest reservations in town and the current foodie hot take. Go in with an open mind, expecting great service and food rather than demanding your mind be blown every time, and you will have an incredible culinary experience.

Must Order: The tasting menu, especially any broth or seafood courses.

10. Owamni

A completely unique Indigenous dining experience overlooking the Mississippi River. The menu centers pre-colonial ingredients and offers one of the most meaningful meals in the city. If you are visiting Minneapolis and want one meal that feels specific to place, this is one of the strongest choices.

Must Order: The bison tartare and any smoked lake fish dish.

11. Restaurant Alma

My top pick for a beautifully balanced tasting menu in Minneapolis. It never feels showy, just deeply thoughtful and hospitable.

Must Order: The seasonal tasting menu.

12. Porzana

Daniel del Prado’s fire-driven Argentinian steakhouse in the North Loop is absolutely the hottest new restaurant to be seen at. We had our anniversary dinner here and even spotted Gavin Kaysen and the Gophers football coach eating in the dining room. It is great for a big night out and one of the city’s strongest upscale brunch reservations too.

Must Order: Any prime cut of steak and the sweet corn empanadas.

13. Hai Hai

Fun, vibrant Southeast Asian food in Northeast Minneapolis with bold flavors and a room that always feels alive. It is one of the easiest places on this list to recommend when you want energy without going full fine dining.

Must Order: The Balinese chicken thighs and the Hanoi sticky rice.

14. Spoon and Stable

Still one of the city’s most important restaurants from Gavin Kaysen and one of the most reliable special-occasion picks in Minneapolis. Just like Demi, go in expecting great service and good drinks instead of impossibly high expectations, and you will have a fantastic night. It is also one of the best polished brunch reservations in town.

Must Order: Dorothy’s pot roast and one of the pastries or desserts.

15. Oro by Nixta

One of the most exciting Mexican restaurants in the metro, with exceptional heirloom corn tortillas and creative, chef-driven flavors.

Must Order: The duck carnitas.

16. Kado no Mise

The definitive omakase move when you want traditional Japanese craftsmanship and a refined dining room.

Must Order: The chef’s omakase experience.

17. Diane’s Place

Already one of the most respected newer restaurants in the city, blending Hmong-American cooking, pastry talent, and neighborhood warmth.

Must Order: The pork belly and the pastries.

18. Martina

Argentinian and Italian influences come together in one of the best neighborhood fine-dining rooms in Minneapolis. It is an especially strong date-night pick when you want something polished but not stuffy.

Must Order: The potato churros and celery root ravioletti.

19. Gai Noi

Bright, lively, and packed with bold Southeast Asian flavors, this is one of the city’s most fun modern restaurant rooms.

Must Order: The green papaya salad and the khao soi.

20. Vinai

Chef Yia Vang’s long-awaited flagship is one of the most important restaurant openings in Minneapolis in years, centered on Hmong home cooking with a modern, elegant twist. It is one of the clearest examples of where Minneapolis dining is headed.

Must Order: The Hmong sausage, sticky rice, and any of the wood-fired meats.

21. Colita

Modern Mexican food with one of the strongest cocktail programs in the city and a consistently fun atmosphere.

Must Order: The tempura fried shrimp and the churros.

22. Animales Barbeque Co.

Creative, high-level barbecue with a cult following and some of the most memorable meat plates in town.

Must Order: The Texas hot link and pork belly burnt ends.

23. Chimborazo

One of Northeast Minneapolis’ most beloved restaurants, serving deeply satisfying Ecuadorian and Andean comfort food. This is the kind of place that reminds you how much soul the city’s neighborhood dining scene still has.

Must Order: The hornado and the llapingachos.

24. Matt’s Bar

The essential stop for an iconic Jucy Lucy and one of the most classic Minneapolis food experiences. If it is your first real Minneapolis food crawl, this is one of the easiest boxes to check.

Must Order: The Jucy Lucy and a half order of fries.

25. Kramarczuk’s

An old-school Northeast institution for sausages, soups, and deli classics that absolutely belongs on any Minneapolis food list.

Must Order: The Polish sausage sandwich with sauerkraut.

Classic Minneapolis Institutions

Not every essential Minneapolis restaurant is the hottest reservation in town. These are the places that help define the city’s dining identity and still matter.

• Murray’s: The most iconic steakhouse in Minneapolis. This is our go-to special occasion restaurant. Jenny and I love going there and ordering the Silver Butter Knife Steak for two. It is old-school Minneapolis dining at its finest.
• Manny’s Steakhouse: A bigger, more modern steakhouse experience with massive cuts, a lively atmosphere, and a strong reputation for classic steakhouse dining.
• Al’s Breakfast: The legendary 14-stool counter in Dinkytown. It is a Minneapolis rite of passage for classic breakfast fare in a space that has not changed in decades.
• Jax Cafe: A timeless supper club with white tablecloths, a beautiful patio, and one of the most classic dining experiences in Minneapolis.
• Monte Carlo: A true Minneapolis classic known for its legendary wings, strong drinks, and old-school bar atmosphere that still feels untouched.
• JD Hoyt’s: A North Loop institution known for its old-school vibe, steaks, and anything-goes energy.
• Broders’ Pasta Bar: The classic Italian red-sauce neighborhood favorite with a tiny dining room and serious pasta credibility.
• Brit’s Pub: A downtown staple for British pub food, pints, and summer rooftop lawn bowling.
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room: The city’s most upscale seafood dining room and a strong choice for oysters, fish, and a classic special-occasion feel.

Best Special Occasion Restaurants

If you want a modern, stunning atmosphere, Maison Margaux is Chef David Fhima’s multi-level French brasserie in the North Loop that feels like stepping into a party in Paris. St. Pierre Steak and Seafood is another fantastic newer option; restaurateurs Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre opened it as an homage to their former hit, Burch.

For a big steakhouse night, Porzana brings fire-driven energy, while Manny’s Steakhouse delivers the classic upscale chops experience. If seafood is the priority, The Oceanaire Seafood Room still feels like a proper celebratory destination.

This is the section to use when you are planning around the occasion first, then backing into the menu. Anniversaries, birthdays, client dinners, or any night where the room matters almost as much as the food should start here.

Iconic Minneapolis Foods

Some dishes are just part of the city. You cannot leave without trying a Jucy Lucy at Matt’s Bar. Kramarczuk’s is a Northeast institution for Polish sausage and deli comfort food. Broders’ Pasta Bar gives you one of the city’s classic neighborhood Italian meals, and Owamni offers a dining experience that is unlike anywhere else in the country.

Best Lunch Spots

Midday meals in Minneapolis range from quick counter service to bakery lunches and neighborhood classics.

• Marty’s Deli & Clancey’s Meats: Both deliver absolutely elite sandwiches.
• Fika Cafe: Located inside the American Swedish Institute, this is one of the most beautiful lunch spots in the city, offering fresh, seasonal Swedish food.
• Afro Deli: A fantastic, reliable stop for vibrant African, Mediterranean, and American comfort food.
• Midtown Global Market: When your group cannot decide, this massive market on Lake Street offers incredible global variety all under one roof.
• Turtle Bread Company: One of the best bakery stops in South Minneapolis, with solid lunch options from both its Longfellow and Nicollet locations.
• Lu’s Sandwiches: Serves some of the best, fastest banh mi in town.

The Best Patios and Outdoor Dining

When the weather breaks, the entire city moves outside. Outdoor dining in Minneapolis is a competitive sport, and the best tables are highly coveted.

Smack Shack in the North Loop has a massive, energetic patio perfect for lobster rolls and cold drinks. Just down the street, Graze Food Hall offers a phenomenal rooftop patio where you can grab bites from different vendors curated by the Travail team while enjoying the skyline.

For a more relaxed neighborhood vibe, the courtyard at W.A. Frost in St. Paul is legendary. If you want to stay near the water, Sea Salt Eatery at Minnehaha Falls is a local summer ritual for fried fish and local beer, while The Painted Turtle at Lake Nokomis is the perfect casual stop after a walk or an afternoon on the local courts.

Best Food Neighborhoods

Minneapolis dining is deeply neighborhood-driven, and where you eat often shapes the whole feel of the night.

The North Loop has the highest concentration of nationally relevant and destination-worthy restaurants. Northeast Minneapolis gives you the best mix of old institutions, creative chefs, and neighborhood personality. Eat Street remains the city’s most diverse and walkable food corridor. South Minneapolis hides some of the city’s best residential gems, from bakeries to chef-driven dining rooms.

Northeast Minneapolis Deep Cuts

Northeast is one of the best neighborhoods in Minneapolis to eat through slowly. It has old-school character, immigrant roots, and some of the city’s best newer restaurants.

• Vinai: One of the most important new restaurants in the city, with deeply personal Hmong cooking.
• Animales Barbeque Co.: Creative barbecue that feels distinctly Minneapolis.
• Holy Land: A massive neighborhood staple. Their deli, hummus, and freshly baked pita are legendary in Northeast.
• Earl Giles Restaurant and Distillery: A massive, stunning space with fantastic cocktails, pizza, and a great apothecary vibe.
• Uncle Franky’s: Located at 729 NE Broadway St, this tiny spot is absolutely famous for its high-quality, custom-made all-beef hot dogs.
• Pikok Lounge at Minari: Minari recently refreshed this lounge space with a great nod to the previous inhabitants, Erté & the Peacock Lounge, making it a stylish Northeast stop.
• Brasa: Chef Alex Roberts’ casual rotisserie spot, built around fresh local ingredients with Latin American and Caribbean influences.
• Centro: A casual taco and margarita spot that is almost always lively.

Hidden Gems

These are the places that may not land on every national list but still deserve real love from locals and food-focused visitors.

• Ono Hawaiian Plates (Inside United Noodles): United Noodles is my absolute go-to grocery store for Asian food in Minneapolis. They have great pricing on produce, the ginger is infinitely better than what you find at standard local chains, and I always stock up on baby bok choy and any condiments I need to make the perfect Asian dish at home. Tucked right inside the store is Ono Hawaiian Plates, an absolute hidden gem serving incredible Hawaiian comfort food.
• Coastal Seafoods: Located literally in the same driveway as United Noodles, this is my trusted local fishmonger. If you are staying in an Airbnb and want to cook a serious meal, you have to stop here. They fly in fresh fish six days a week, so you are always getting the absolute freshest seasonal catches, scallops, mussels, oysters, and shrimp. They also recently remodeled to include a cafe menu, so grab one of their fantastic lobster rolls, a bowl of clam chowder, or even their burger while you are there.
• Meet Up Noodle: A fantastic, under-the-radar spot for highly comforting, deeply flavored noodle soups.
• Hola Arepa: Bright, dependable, and still one of the most craveable casual meals in Minneapolis.
• Red Sea: A long-running Ethiopian favorite that adds important depth to the city’s food story.
• Wendy’s House of Soul: A beloved soul food spot with comfort, personality, and loyal local support.
• Victor’s 1959 Cafe: Cuban comfort food in one of the city’s most charming, character-filled restaurant spaces.
• Young Joni Back Bar: Not exactly unknown anymore, but still one of the coolest hidden-feeling spaces in the city if you know to duck behind the alley entrance.

Eat Street

This stretch of Nicollet Avenue remains one of the most concentrated, walkable food corridors in Minneapolis. If you want to see exactly how much our food scene has evolved over the decades, just take a walk down this street.

You can easily spend several days exploring this strip, jumping from massive food halls to tiny, family-run neighborhood staples.

• Quang: This spot anchors the whole street for me. We eat here a couple of times a month, and it is the absolute go-to for brisket pho and hot egg rolls.
• Eat Street Crossing: Located at 2819 Nicollet Ave, this 15,000-square-foot food hall is a massive addition to the neighborhood. It is a stylish two-story space filled with art and greenery. You can grab phenomenal birria from El Sazon, tip-top sushi from Hikari Hand Roll, or bun bo hue from House of Hue, and wash it all down with cocktails or boba from Niko Niko. It is the perfect move when your group cannot agree on one cuisine.
• Christos: Open since 1988, this is our absolute go-to Greek place ever since Greek To Me shut down. They have deliciously fresh baked pitas, and we always get the gyro platter along with the combination of appetizers just for the amazing hummus. It is a consistently great value.
• Black Forest Inn: Holding it down on Nicollet since 1965, this is the essential stop for classic German food. Beyond the schnitzel and bratwurst, they have a fantastic courtyard patio that is absolutely perfect in the summer.
• Pimento Jamaican Kitchen: Right at 2524 Nicollet Ave, this fast-casual spot serves up incredible, deeply flavorful jerk chicken and rich curried dishes. It brings a massive punch of flavor to the block.
• The Copper Hen: A rustic, welcoming spot right on the street. If you are looking for scratch-made comfort food, excellent baked goods, or a solid weekend brunch, this is the place to drop in.
• Jasmine 26 Hot Pot Restaurant and Bar: A fantastic stop when you want a communal, interactive meal. Get a split pot with a spicy broth and load up on fresh veggies and meats.
• Pho Tau Bay: A legendary spot for pho purists. While Quang is my default, Pho Tau Bay delivers an incredibly deep, rich broth that constantly competes for the best bowl in the city.
• My Huong Kitchen: An amazing, low-key gem for banh mi and authentic Vietnamese comfort food. It feels like a true, welcoming neighborhood joint.
• Rainbow Chinese: An absolute Eat Street institution. They have been serving up high-quality, fresh Chinese dishes for years, and their wok game is a massive step above your standard takeout.
• Little Tijuana Neighborhood Lounge: A classic lounge that got a fantastic revival. It is a great stop for a strong drink and some unexpectedly excellent bar food after hitting the other spots on the street.
• Glam Doll Donuts: The Twin Cities’ fancy, sassy donut superstar. If you need a sugar fix after a savory crawl down Nicollet, their highly creative flavors and vintage vibe make this a mandatory stop.

Brunch & Coffee

Minneapolis does brunch extremely well, especially when you mix classic neighborhood spots with strong bakery culture. Some of the bigger-name restaurants on this page also do a strong brunch, but this section is more about the dedicated daytime moves.

• Hell’s Kitchen: The quintessential downtown brunch spot. If you want great food, live music, and a legendary Bloody Mary bar, this is the move.
• Al’s Breakfast: The ultimate classic breakfast experience, provided you are willing to wait for one of the 14 iconic stools in Dinkytown.
• Turtle Bread Company: A longtime local favorite for pastries, breakfast, and a cozy South Minneapolis bakery feel.
• Hola Arepa: One of the city’s more memorable brunches, especially if you want something a little different.
• Victor’s 1959 Cafe: An excellent brunch choice if you want Cuban comfort food and character.
• Marty’s Deli: Great for a more casual daytime food stop.

Best Food Combos

Bar La Grassa into Bunker’s Music Bar & Grill is a perfect North Loop combo. Lock in a great dinner, then roll straight into live music and a more casual night-out vibe.

Grab pho and egg rolls somewhere along Eat Street, then walk to another spot for dessert or drinks.

Brasa or Chimborazo followed by a Northeast brewery or bar crawl.

Jax Cafe into Grumpy’s Northeast is one of the best oxymoron nights in Minneapolis. Go from a classic supper club dinner straight into a true Northeast dive bar just a couple blocks away.

Brit’s Pub for pints and rooftop lawn bowling on a warm-weather afternoon.

Venn Brewing and Bull’s Horn are a perfect South Minneapolis one-two punch. Grab a beer or two at Venn, then walk a couple blocks over to Bull’s Horn for a great burger and one of the best casual neighborhood dinners in town.

Lynette or Blue Door Pub into the Riverview Theater is a perfect South Minneapolis night. Grab dinner, then walk over for a movie at one of the city’s most old-school, budget-friendly theaters.