Photo: Photos are copyrighted by their ownersHai Hai
7.8Friend Score / 10#13 of 15 Restaurants in Minneapolis
Known forbanana blossom saladcrispy spring rollsVietnamese crepe (banh xeo)turmeric and dill fish
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.
Key facts
| Hours | Tue–Sat 16:00–22:00 Sun–Sun 16:00–21:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Metro Transit buses along University Ave NE; about 5-10 minutes by car from downtown |
| Time needed | 1.5-2 hours |
| Best time to go | Early dinner Tuesday-Thursday, or book Resy ahead for weekends; patio season is the move |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.8/10- Value8.0
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level5.5
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility6.5
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the chef at Hai Hai?
- Christina Nguyen, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2024 — the first Vietnamese-American woman to win a Beard chef award. She and her husband also ran the much-missed Hola Arepa.
- What should I order at Hai Hai?
- The banana blossom salad and water fern cakes (banh beo) are the dishes people talk about, and anything from the grill section delivers. Dishes are meant for sharing — order three or four for two people and add as you go.
- Is Hai Hai open for lunch?
- No — it's dinner-only, opening at 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays. If you want Vietnamese food at lunch in Minneapolis, head to Eat Street on Nicollet instead and save Hai Hai for the evening.
- Do I need a reservation at Hai Hai?
- For Friday or Saturday dinner, yes — book on Resy as early as you can. Weeknights and early (4-5:30 pm) seatings are much more forgiving, and they hold some space for walk-ins at the bar.
- Does Hai Hai have good vegetarian options?
- Yes, genuinely — the menu marks several vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes, and the banana blossom salad can be made without fish sauce. Tell your server; the kitchen handles it well.
- Is Hai Hai expensive?
- Mid-range: shareable plates mostly in the teens, so two people eat and drink well for roughly $70-100. For a Beard-winner's restaurant, it's honestly one of the better values in the city.
- Does Hai Hai have a patio?
- Yes, and it's one of the best in Minneapolis — lush, tiki-adjacent, and worth planning around in summer. Patio seats are partly walk-in, so showing up right at 4 pm on a nice day is a solid strategy.
- What does 'Hai Hai' mean?
- It means 'two two' in Vietnamese — a wink at the building's former life as the 22nd Avenue Station, a notorious Northeast dive bar. The tropical makeover is complete, but locals enjoy the backstory.
Nearby in Ask Minneapolis
- Northeast (Nordeast)Neighborhood1.37 km · 17 min walk
- Spyhouse Coffee (Northeast)Café1.47 km · 18 min walk
- Northeast Farmers MarketMarket1.78 km · 22 min walk
- Boom Island ParkPark2.18 km · 27 min walk
- Dangerous Man BrewingBar2.65 km · 33 min walk
Where to stay near Hai Hai
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