Minneapolis Food Fun Recommendations
Minneapolis and St Paul (and the metro) have a huge range of cultures and food traditions to draw from, and as a metro area, we are really finding out own place in the food world.
Here are some of my favorite fun food things for out-of-town visitors to know about as they navigate the Twin Cities metro.
Where to send your guests for food fun in Minneapolis
The Minnesota State Fair
Many people have mixed feelings about “Great Minnesota Get Together” – on one hand, it has been, for me, a celebration of wholesomeness and innovation. On the other hand, it is a HUGE and crowded spot with a mix of very standard and wacky fare. That said, it is an amazing spectacle of farm and food and I generally steer people to the all-you-can-drink milk stand ($2) or the fried cheese curds. There are lots of new options every year, notably the offerings from the Blue Barn. I have entered my watermelon pickles every year for a decade (and I won a blue ribbon twice!). And every year I travel with Heavy Table to try most of the new Fair fare (typically about 50 different items) on the first day. http://www.mnstatefair.org/
Sea Salt Eatery
Minneapolis has park land around every body of water and the Mississippi, making for great walks but not a lot of lakeside dining. Sea Salt (open April through October) is inside the park pavillion at Minnehaha Falls, a park and falls worth seeing in their own right. It’s unexpected to get poboys and crab cakes around here, but these folks care about their ingredients and are making delicious picnic-friendly fare. Grab a table outside and enjoy a beer until your food arrives. https://www.seasaltmpls.com/
Stockholm Pie Company
If you find yourself with a free morning and a yen to drive along the Mississippi, take the 80 minute trip to Stockholm Pie Company in Wisconsin. The drive down it lovely, heading through smaller towns along the river, and the pie is among my favorites. Anything with rhubarb, please.
Animales BBQ
You won’t find a lot for your vegetarian friends here, but if you are up for meat, Animales’ new location in NE Minneapolis is excellent. Casual interior, live music often, great smoked brisket, and a huge indoor play area for kids to enjoy.
Can Can wonderland
An indoor mini golf, adult-drink-having, arts-focused answer to a classic kids arcade, this is a perfect choice for a lazy Sunday with friends or a rainy indoor activity! It ironically is a little too crowded and chaotic for small kids, but great for pretty much everyone else. https://www.cancanwonderland.com/
Distilleries and Breweries
Many breweries dot the twin cities, often with their own identities. Distilleries are getting a little harder to find as many have moved across to Wisconsin for more favorable tax and production codes.
Distilleries: for food and atmosphere, O’Shaughnessy Distilling is a lovely choice by the University campus. If you are up for a 30 minute drive, head to the amazing Tatersall distilling in River Falls, WI.
Modist Brewing is in the warehouse district and features a large beautiful location with lots of tasty session-able options. Fulton Brewing (near the new Twins Stadium) features a variety of Saisons (my favorite beer) in the summer, and their small patio is lively as well. Sociable Cider Werks features ciders from dry to sweet.
Hmong Village Shopping Center
There is a large Hmong population in the Twin Cities area, and if you want traditional Hmong food and an immersive experience to go with it, you can’t beat the Hmong Villiage – it’s part food court and part bazaar. If you are up for a little adventure, you’ll have to wend your way around this warehouse space until you find the wall of 20+ food windows. I recommend the Pho from almost anywhere (I prefer no tripe, but you might feel differently) plus a green papaya salad and people watching. http://www.hmongvillageshoppingcenter.com/
Icehouse
The Minneapolis music scene is a vibrant and diverse beast, but it all seems to come together at this Eat Street restaurant. Come for the craft cocktails and excellent menu, and then stay late for a show of some of the best local talent in the Twin Cities. https://www.icehousempls.com
Aster Cafe
A patio that overlooks the Minneapolis skyline and Mississippi river, and lovely cocktails to boot. The Aster also hosts events and small weddings (hello, grooms dinner!) and has an “old Minneapolis” vibe of brick and cobblestone. http://astercafe.com/
Checklist tours of Central Avenue, University Avenue, Lake Street, and Lyndale Ave
I’ve been a part of 4 epic, years-long restaurant crawls. If you have friends looking for some adventure and something totally off the tourist path, check out our recommendations from these very diverse streets.
Central Avenue in Northeast – old school billiards parlor to the best Ecuadorian restaurant in town. University Avenue – following the path of the Green Line light rail from downtown St Paul, through the heart of Pho restaurants, and into the U of M campus. Lake Street in South Minneapolis – known for Mexican fare and some of the most accessible Somali and West African restaurants. Lyndale Ave – Suburban immigrant fare into the heart of hipster Minneapolis.
http://heavytable.com/category/stories/checklist-project/
Foodie-forward small group catering/pick up
And, wherever people gather, having food is important. Here are some favorites for an after wedding picnic, pre-wedding lunch, casual rehearsal dinner, or wherever you gather!
Animales BBQ – classic delicious BBQ for pickup in NE Minneapolis https://www.exploretock.com/animalesbbq/
Arepa Bar – take out of Venezualen classics from Midtown Minneapolis. https://www.arepabarmpls.com/catering
Brasa – southern style comfort food with well sourced foods for catering or take out. https://www.brasa.us/catering
Union Hmong Kitchen – Hmong take out by a master chef, also features a “Kamayan feast” of family style offerings set up on a table covered with banana leaves. https://unionkitchenmn.com/
Katar River (Ethiopian) – My favorite local Ethiopian fare, perfect for take out (the platter for 4 is a giant selection of well known Ethiopian dishes on a bed of injera bread). https://www.katarrestaurant.com/
FOOD GUIDES:
Breakfast
Lunch
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Food Fun
Updated 2026
Hi, I’m Becca!
Things you should know about me: I love running my photography business. and I also love food. My husband runs The Heavy Table, a local food magazine, and together we have documented the food and drink of the Upper Midwest by creating books including Lake Superior Flavors (University of Minnesota Press) and The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin Press).
Having lived in other parts of the country before choosing Minneapolis as our home, we’ve accumulated friends from all over the country who visit regularly. Our February based Thanksgiving celebration (Febgiving, baby!) was even featured in the New York Times.
Basically – we take special pride in finding the restaurants and experiences that showcase the awesome food being created in the Twin Cities right now, from haute cuisine to local mom-and-pop shops.
I deeply want the Twin Cities to be showcased at their best.
Fun Fact: I also offer SHORT portrait sessions every Thursday night at Minnehaha Falls – if your guests are up for some updated portraits in the city, they can find more info about Thursday Portraits at Minnehaha!
