The 10 best restaurants in Minneapolis

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What is it? Tenant is a neighborhood spot that serves up a cool, creative and unpretentious tasting menu in a space that is broken up into two areas. The first is the bar Next Door that features a foosball table and slings delightful cocktails for some of the most reasonable prices in town for what you get alongside some small, snack-y plates like TenantWurst sausages from a handwritten menu. The other part is a small restaurant comprised of a few tables that revolve around an open kitchen and a six-seat counter. The restaurant offers six courses of super seasonal fare for $80 per person with optional wine pairings for $40 per person. 

Why we love it: Their creative and casual approach to a hyper-seasonal tasting menu. One course is usually a sandwich of some kind (like the delightful chicken parm I had once), but every dish I’ve had there has been glorious. Instead of a stuffy explanation, the staff gives a relaxed and easy-to-understand and enjoyable telling of each dish. The music comes from records stored around the space and the bathroom comes complete with an extensive comic book collection. Tenant is fine dining with all of the creativity but none of the pretension that can be such a turn-off. You’ll want to hang out there.

Time Out tip: While the bar Next Door is a popular before or after-dinner spot for those with reservations at the restaurant, it’s always open to walk-ins, so don’t hesitate to stop by.

Address: 4300 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55409

Opening hours: Tue–Thur 5–10:30pm; Fri, Sat 5–11pm

Expect to pay: About $250 a couple

What is it? What started as a taco stand inside a suburban gas station has blossomed into a full-service Minneapolis restaurant (El Sazón Cocina and Tragos) and, most recently, into another brick-and-mortar location, this time in the form of Xelas by El Sazón in Stillwater’s old Thai Basil space. Xelas is dedicated to sharing the heritage and traditions of Mayan cuisine by way of ancient cooking techniques and staple crops from chef Cristian De Leon’s Guatemalan roots, blended with those of his wife, Karen, from Mexico. 

Why we love it: Xelas’s frontage road location is off the beaten path of downtown Stillwater and just a quick 30-minute drive from the Twin Cities that’s well worth it no matter what you order, but the chef’s table taco omakase isn’t to be missed. This eight-course delight (seven savory, one sweet—an elegantly cool take on a choco taco!) comes with an optional cocktail pairing. The drinks are just as creative as the courses, like their unique take on a michelada made with the tomato water drains off the house-made pico, alongside a couple of N/A courses thrown in to keep things balanced. 

Time Out tip: Make a day trip or a weekend out of it! There are plenty of cute Stillwater shops to explore and hotels to stay in. Plus, you don’t have to worry about driving back to the Cities after the cocktail pairings that you definitely shouldn’t miss.

Address: 1180 W. Frontage Road, Stillwater, MN 55082

Opening hours: Tue–Thur, Sun 4–8 pm; Fri, Sat: 4–9 pm

Expect to pay: $50–$100 per person

What is it? Mandarin Kitchen has been serving Hong Kong-style Chinese food (along with its homemade soy sauce and chili oil!) since 1991. There’s congee, dim sum, hot pot, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, too, all served in a no-frills suburban location. 

Why we love it: Mandarin Kitchen is home to the best dim sum in the metro area, hands down! Starting at 9:30am on Saturdays and Sundays, expect a bit of a wait. The good news is that your wait time can be spent people watching among the bustling crowd or taking in the bubbly aquariums and koi pond that surround the waiting area near the front door. From fluffy pork buns and shrimp shumai to pineapple buns for dessert, it’s the experience of ordering from a cascade of carts to the sharing inherent in dim sum that makes Mandarin Kitchen the place to eat on a weekend morning. Despite the fact that you might have to wait a bit to get seated, one of the best things about dim sum is that you can go from sat to eating in 30 seconds.

Time Out tip: Arrive around 9:15 am if to try to avoid a wait or come by around 10:30 am-ish when tables start to turn over for a minimized wait time. Dim sum ends at 2 pm!

Address: 8766 Lyndale Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420

Opening hours: Mon–Fri noon–10pm; Sat, Sun 9:30am–10pm

Expect to pay: $25-$75 per person

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What is it? Who would’ve imagined that Italian and Japanese fusion could be so good? Sanjusan’s dishes blend these two culinary traditions into unique and satisfying dishes like crab fettuccine with saffron and shishito and even a pizza that features raw tuna. In addition to the pasta and pizza offerings, the yakitori (grilled skewers) are a must-try. Most recently, Sanjusan has started offering Monday evening omakase dinners that are comprised of five seasonal courses of Itameshi (Japanese for “Italian food,” but referring more to Japanese-Italian fusion) cuisine. This intimate counter experience can accommodate 10 guests or less and offers 5:30pm and 7:45pm seatings.

Why we love it: The best part is that Sanjusan doesn’t stand alone—it’s got several sister restaurants. Upstairs, you’ll find an intimate and delightful Japanese whiskey bar and an omakase sushi restaurant, too. The properties use the Kintsugi method of repairing broken dishware with gold powder, so if you’re lucky, you’ll get a recently repaired dish or glass to marvel at. Plus, across the bar and restaurants, the curated playlists are tight, tight, tight—get your Shazam ready!

Time Out tip: During the warmer months, Sanjusan’s outside tables are set under twinkly lights, which makes it a great spot for a summer date night in the North Loop.

Address: 33 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55401

Opening hours: Sun–Thurs 5–9 pm; Fri, Sat 5–10 pm

Expect to pay: $50–$100 per person

What is it? After many years at the helm of a food truck and doing pop-up dinners and presentations around the city and the country, Sean Sherman and his then-business-and-romantic partner, Dana Thompson, opened Owamni, their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, in 2021. The following year, the restaurant that features dishes crafted from Indigenous ingredients (think tacos that feature corn four ways and duck pupusas) took home the prestigious James Beard award for best new restaurant. 

Why we love it: Owamni is about so much more than just food alone—it’s a whole philosophy that’s anchored in an indictment of the status quo. As the back of Owamni’s hyper-seasonal, organic food menu explains, the entire ecosystem around the restaurant serves as a rejection of the profit-at-all-costs values of settler colonialism “such as the wanton destruction of the environment, including mining, logging, and monoculture agriculture, all of which contribute to the enrichment of a select few while our beautiful Indigenous landscapes and the people who have traditionally lived on them are continually abused.” Owamni shows that a different way is possible.

Time Out tip: Finding the entrance to the restaurant can be difficult by way of digital maps. Putting Mill Ruins Park into your GPS will get you nearby. Enjoy a walk through the park to get to the doors of Owamni inside the park’s Water Works Pavilion.

Address: 420 S. 1st St., Minneapolis, MN 55401

Opening hours: Tues–Fri 11am–9pm; Sat, Sun 10am–9pm

Expect to pay: $50–$100 per person

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What is it? Located in a historic Victorian home in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood, the team at this quaint and cozy spot with a sprawling front patio cooks up South Asian dishes from Nepal and India, so expect a lot of curry and chaat. The ingredients used in Namaste’s dishes are sourced from local and sustainable farms and other suppliers from across the region. Naturally, Namaste’s Indian and Nepalese cuisines lend themselves to many vegetarian and vegan options. They do brunch, too! Think a shrimp egg benedict, a breakfast roti wrap, or a mango smoothie bowl.

Why we love it: Namaste is a great place to linger over a long meal with friends. The casual setting makes it feel like you’re spending the evening at a friend’s house (which, in many ways, is what this neighborhood spot is). Plus, its extensive chai list is often declared the best in town. Try a plain or masala chai, or opt for a specialty flavor like dark chocolate, spearmint or cardamom pistachio. Choose a dairy-free milk if that’s your thing and order it iced in the summer months.

Time Out tip: There’s been extensive construction going on in front of Namaste—don’t let it deter you! The businesses along Hennepin Avenue are still open and need your support.

Address: 2512 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55405

Opening hours: Sun–Thurs 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–10pm

Expect to pay: $20–$40 per person

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What is it? While you can only enjoy this restaurant in the warmer months, its annual opening in April and closing in October signal the change of the seasons around Minneapolis. This Old Bay-seasoned seafood spot has a southern flair, beer and wine offerings and an expansive patio that’s super dog- and kid-friendly. There are crab cakes. There are oysters. There are clam strips. There are simple yet delicious tacos. There’s po’boys. And it’s all got a bit of that summer vibe by way of a staff that seems to mostly be comprised of students and other young adults on summer break. The lines and the waits can be long, but when you’re surrounded by a park and you can drink in line while you wait, what’s there to worry about?

Why we love it: Sea Salt is located in a park right next to the beautiful Minnehaha Falls and the laid-back hiking options that surround it. When you’re done eating and drinking and your food has had the option to settle, go for a walk along Minnehaha Creek and marvel at the falls any time of year, but especially when they’re frozen mid-drop in the winter.

Time Out tip: Grab a drink before getting in the sometimes long food line.

Address: 4825 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55417

Opening hours: Mon–Sun 11am–8pm from April through October

Expect to pay: $15–$30 per person

What is it? Lobster rolls on a patio in the summer? Yes please! This seafood market, cafe, and cooking school with locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul is the place to go for fish to cook at home, but it’s also one of the best-kept restaurant secrets in the Twin Cities. Believe it or not, one of the best smash burgers in the area is found here at a seafood spot. The Coastal Burger gets you two beef patties plus American cheese, caramelized onion jam, pickles, and Dijon mayo on a toasted brioche bun. Regardless of what you order, rest assured that sustainability is high on the priority list at Coastal Seafoods. Seafood sustainability isn’t easy, but they’re committed to offering high-quality, responsibly sourced seafood to the Twin Cities. 

Why we love it: The staff is super friendly and super knowledgeable. Not only can they help advise you on all things fish and seafood, they also happily share new recipes and even unique cooking ideas with customers—a trip to Coastal Seafoods is so much more than just shopping at a store or dining at a restaurant. 

Time Out tip: At least one person in your party has to break from the seafood pack give the Coastal Burger a try—you won’t regret it!

Address: 2007 E. 24th St., Minneapolis, MN 55404 & 286 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, MN 55105

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10am–7pm; Sun 10am–6pm

Expect to pay: $15–$30 per person

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What is it? Turns out that Argentine pizza is where it’s at! The pizza and empanadas at Boludo come by way of Facundo DeFraia’s grandmother’s kitchen in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ever since opening the first of what are now a whopping four metro locations in 2018, Boludo has been slinging some of the Twin Cities’ favorite pizza. In addition to bubbly cupped pepperoni and classic margarita pizzas and more, Boludo also offers seven kinds of empanadas. The meatless empanadas (like the humita and its corn, Fresno and serrano peppers, and fontina cheese as well as the puerro’s pairing of creamed leeks and gorgonzola) are delicious no matter your meat-eating status. Plus, the chimichurri sauce that accompanies them? Delicious!

Why we love it: There is no shortage of excellent pizza places in the Twin Cities, so to bring something new to the scene and enjoy near-instant popularity is no small feat. The pizzas aren’t gigantic either, so it makes sharing in order to try a couple of different pies an easy choice. Not into carbs? Both of Boludo’s salads—its Caesar topped with spicy breadcrumbs and the De La Casa which sports seasonal fruit) are just as good as the rest of Boludo’s fare. 

Time Out tip: Don’t skip on the flan! It comes with a thick layer of caramel in a jar you get to keep.

Address: 8 W. 38th St., Minneapolis, MN 55409 & 530 S. 4th St., Minneapolis, MN 55415 & 1519 Como Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 & 2935 Girard Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55408

Opening hours: Varies by location

Expect to pay: $20–$40 per person

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What is it? This Northeast Minneapolis restaurant is the place to go for authentic Mexican food. Their quesabirra is some of the best around (the consome is rich and zesty), they’ve got tamales, they’ve got agua fresca, they’ve got micheladas, they’ve got tortas. But they also have nachos, burritos, and taco salad, too, so don’t worry—there’s something for everyone at Maya Cuisine. Come for the handmade, super fresh corn tortillas and stay for the relaxed atmosphere where there’s no rush if you want to stay and linger with friends. The prices are fair, and the portions are big. If you’re a sauce monster like me, you’ll delight in Maya Cuisine’s extensive salsa bar that’s teeming with sauces alongside necessary garnishes like jalapeños and limes. 

Why we love it: They’re not looking for recognition, they’re just here serving up delicious Mexican food like they have been since 2012. The service is quick, the margaritas are big, the food is delicious and there are no frills to be found. Stop by between 10 am–3pm on Sundays for a Mexican buffet that will knock your socks off.

Time Out tip: Once you’re done eating, head over to Little India across the street to load up on spice and more for a global evening before heading home.

Address: 1840 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Opening hours: Daily 10 am–9pm

Expect to pay: $15–$30 per person