Food · Minneapolis · United States
What to eat in Minneapolis
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Minneapolis, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BpA9543, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Jucy Lucy, Walleye and Wild rice soup. Nicollet Avenue between downtown and Lake Street, known as Eat Street, is lined with Vietnamese, Mexican, Thai, Greek and other immigrant-run restaurants within a few blocks. Minnesotans eat early: many restaurants are busiest from 6pm to 8pm and kitchens close earlier than in coastal cities.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Jucy Lucy
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Jucy Lucy (Juicy Lucy)
A burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty, served so hot that the first bite needs care. Two south Minneapolis bars both claim to have invented it in the 1950s.
Where: Matt's Bar (spelling it Jucy Lucy) and the 5-8 Club (Juicy Lucy) in south Minneapolis.
Dish
2.Walleye
Minnesota's state fish is a mild, flaky freshwater fish, usually served pan-fried or beer-battered, in sandwiches or with wild rice. Fish fries are popular on Fridays during Lent.
Where: Supper clubs, bars and riverfront restaurants; many menus label it as Canadian or Minnesota walleye.
Dish
3.Wild rice soup
A creamy soup of nutty wild rice, a grain harvested by Ojibwe communities on Minnesota's lakes, usually with chicken, carrots and celery. It is a classic winter lunch.
Where: Cafés, delis and lunch counters across the Twin Cities; packaged hand-harvested wild rice makes a good souvenir.
Dish
4.Tater tot hotdish
Minnesota's version of a casserole: ground beef and vegetables in cream of mushroom soup, topped with a layer of crisp tater tots. It is the dish of church suppers and potlucks.
Where: Diners, brewpubs and restaurants serving Midwestern comfort food, often as a weekly special in winter.
Snack · Vegetarian
5.Cheese curds
Fresh nuggets of young cheddar, battered and deep-fried until they stretch, served with ranch or marinara. They are an essential Minnesota State Fair food.
Where: Bars, brewpubs and baseball games at Target Field; the State Fair in late August.
Dish
6.Somali food
Minneapolis has the largest Somali community in the United States. Try sambusa (fried pastries filled with spiced meat or lentils), suqaar (sautéed beef) and rice or spaghetti with banana on the side.
Where: Restaurants and malls around Cedar-Riverside and Lake Street, and stalls at the Midtown Global Market.
Street food
7.Hmong and Southeast Asian food
The Twin Cities have one of the largest Hmong communities in the United States. Look for papaya salad pounded to order, Hmong sausage, purple sticky rice and khaub poob curry noodle soup.
Where: Hmong food courts and markets in Saint Paul, such as Hmongtown Marketplace and Hmong Village, and Vietnamese restaurants on Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Scandinavian baking
The Swedish and Norwegian heritage of the region shows in lefse (soft potato flatbread spread with butter and sugar), cardamom buns and krumkake waffle cookies, especially around Christmas.
Where: The Fika café at the American Swedish Institute, Scandinavian bakeries and holiday markets.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Bars
In Minnesota, 'bars' are traybake desserts cut into squares: lemon bars, seven-layer bars and the peanut butter and chocolate scotcheroo. They appear at every potluck and coffee hour.
Where: Bakeries, coffee shops and church or community fundraisers.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Craft beer
A 2011 state law allowing breweries to sell pints on site led to dozens of taprooms opening across the city, many with food trucks parked outside.
Where: Taprooms across Northeast Minneapolis and the North Loop, many with food trucks or snacks.
Food experiences
Eat Street
Nicollet Avenue between downtown and Lake Street, known as Eat Street, is lined with Vietnamese, Mexican, Thai, Greek and other immigrant-run restaurants within a few blocks.
Taproom crawl in Northeast
Northeast's breweries are a short bike ride or rideshare apart, and most welcome families in the afternoon and host food trucks.
Minnesota State Fair
Over 12 days ending on Labor Day, the state fair in Falcon Heights draws huge crowds for food on a stick, Sweet Martha's cookies, cheese curds and all-you-can-drink milk.
Mill City Farmers Market
On Saturday mornings in season, the market under the Mill City Museum's train shed sells local produce, cheese and breakfast from food stalls.
Quick bites and street food
- Cheese curds — Bars, brewpubs and baseball games at Target Field; the State Fair in late August.
- Hmong and Southeast Asian food — Hmong food courts and markets in Saint Paul, such as Hmongtown Marketplace and Hmong Village, and Vietnamese restaurants on Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Cheese curds, Scandinavian baking, Bars and Craft beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Minnesotans eat early: many restaurants are busiest from 6pm to 8pm and kitchens close earlier than in coastal cities.
- Reserve dinner ahead in the North Loop and at well-known restaurants, especially on weekends and theatre nights.
- Some restaurants add a service or wellness charge to the bill; read the menu and the bill before tipping.
- Taprooms often do not serve food themselves but allow food trucks or delivery, so check before you arrive hungry.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Check for automatic service charges, which some restaurants add.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ope | Oops / excuse me, said when bumping into someone |
| Uff da | Scandinavian-flavoured exclamation of surprise or dismay |
| Hotdish | A casserole |
| You betcha | Yes, certainly |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Minneapolis famous for?
Jucy Lucy, Walleye, Wild rice soup and Tater tot hotdish. A burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty, served so hot that the first bite needs care.
+Is Minneapolis good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Cheese curds, Scandinavian baking and Bars.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Minneapolis?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Check for automatic service charges, which some restaurants add.