The 15 Best Restaurants in Minneapolis

A Minneapolis institution for Vietnamese food, Quang has been serving the community on Eat Street for decades with consistently excellent pho, bún bò Huế, and bánh mì. The portions are generous, the prices are remarkably low, and the quality never wavers. Cash is preferred and the space is no-frills.

Ann Kim's wood-fired pizza restaurant is a perennial local favorite with creative, Korean-inflected pies that helped put Minneapolis pizza on the national map. The Lady Zaza with kimchi and the Korean sausage pizza are must-orders. Waits can be long on weekends and they don't take reservations.

Gavin Kaysen's flagship restaurant in a converted stable is one of Minneapolis's most celebrated fine-dining destinations. The seasonal American menu is precise and inventive — the duck and pasta dishes are perennial standouts. Reservations are competitive and should be booked weeks in advance.

Alex Roberts's long-running restaurant remains one of the city's most thoughtful, with a seasonal menu rooted in local farms and a commitment to craft that predates the farm-to-table trend. The tasting menu format is the best way to experience it, and the wine list is carefully curated. It's not flashy, which is exactly the point.

Kramarczuk's is a Ukrainian sausage maker, deli, and cafeteria-style restaurant that's anchored East Hennepin since 1954 — brats, pierogi (varenyky), cabbage rolls, and a meat counter locals stock up at. A James Beard America's Classic and completely unpretentious. Caveat: closed Sundays and Mondays, which surprises a lot of visitors.

Daniel del Prado's Argentine-inspired pasta and wood-fired restaurant is a neighborhood gem that punches well above its weight. The handmade pastas and empanadas are exceptional, and the wine list leans thoughtfully South American. It's a smaller space so walk-in waits on weekends can be long.

A wildly creative, chef-driven tasting menu experience in the suburb of Robbinsdale that feels like dinner theater in the best possible way. The rotating multi-course menu is playful, technically impressive, and genuinely fun — chefs serve you directly at an open kitchen counter. It requires a ticketed reservation purchased in advance like a show.

Al's Breakfast is a 14-stool, ten-foot-wide diner in Dinkytown that's been slinging blueberry pancakes and hash browns since 1950 — a James Beard America's Classic and maybe the most charming breakfast in the Midwest. A friend would insist you go. Caveats: cash only, and you'll stand behind seated strangers waiting for a stool.

Daniel del Prado's Mexican restaurant is a love letter to the regional cuisines of Mexico, going far beyond Tex-Mex with mole negro, tlayudas, and mezcal-forward cocktails. The weekend brunch is one of the best in the city. It can get very loud inside when full.

Matt's Bar is the dim, no-frills South Minneapolis dive that claims the original Jucy Lucy — a cheese-stuffed burger served molten since the 1950s. Presidents have eaten here; nothing has changed, which is the point. Caveats: cash only (ATM inside), no fries — it's chips or nothing — and peak times mean a wait.

Surly's massive flagship brewpub is a destination in itself, with a full kitchen turning out excellent burgers, smoked meats, and wood-fired pizzas alongside their celebrated craft beers. The beer hall can seat hundreds and has a great outdoor beer garden. It's loud and communal — not ideal for quiet conversation.

The restaurant inside the Hewing Hotel showcases Minnesota's Nordic heritage through a locally sourced, wood-fired lens. Walleye, wild rice, and smoked meats anchor a menu that feels genuinely of this place. The rustic-chic space inside a converted warehouse is stunning for out-of-town guests too.

Hai Hai is James Beard winner Christina Nguyen's Vietnamese street-food spot in Northeast — banana blossom salad, water fern cakes, and a tropical patio that feels nothing like Minnesota. It's one of the restaurants locals actually take out-of-towners to. Caveat: dinner-only (closed Mondays), and prime-time tables go fast on Resy.

A late-night diner-inspired spot with a creative, globally influenced menu that goes well beyond typical diner fare — think smash burgers alongside Korean fried chicken and excellent cocktails. It's one of the few places in Minneapolis serving quality food late into the night. The vibe is deliberately retro and fun.

The Four Seasons Minneapolis restaurant helmed by Gavin Kaysen offers a luxurious Mediterranean-inspired menu in a stunning lakeside-view setting. The raw bar, pastas, and wood-roasted proteins are highlights of an ambitious menu. Prices are hotel-fine-dining steep, but the experience and views justify a splurge.