Here is the list of Twin Cities metro restaurants and other food vendors that I have written up on the blog. Since being written up some of these restaurants have closed (for example, Piccolo—R.I.P); some have been overhauled completely (for example, Grand Cafe); and some have changed their names (for example, Lao Sze Chuan has become Legendary Spice). I am not good at going back and adding that information in so use these reviews with caution.
By recent request, at the bottom of the page you will find a custom Google Map with all my reviewed restaurants marked. Hopefully this will reduce the number of angry emails I get for almost never remembering to say where exactly the restaurants I review are located. (The map does not include closed restaurants or food trucks with no fixed address.)
If a restaurant you really like or find interesting is not listed here, by all means write in to the comments below to draw my attention to it.
Duluth and the North Shore
- Angry Trout (Grand Marais, MN) (7/14/2019)
- Lake Ave. Cafe (Duluth, MN) (8/25/2019)
- Lunch at the Naniboujou Lodge (Grand Marais) (7/28/2019)
- OMC Smokehouse (Duluth, MN) (7/10/2019)
- Smoked Fish and Fudge (Grand Marais, MN) (8/13/2019)
- The Crooked Spoon Cafe (Grand Marais, MN) (7/21/2019)
- World’s Best Donuts (Grand Marais, MN) (8/18/2019)
The Twin Cities Metro
American
- Big Daddy’s Barbecue (Saint Paul) (3/16/2016)
- Grand Cafe (Minneapolis) (7/5/2016)
- Handsome Hog (St. Paul, MN) (6/11/2019)
- In Bloom (St. Paul, MN) (3/5/2019)
- In Bloom, Again (St. Paul, MN) (9/25/2019)
- Lunch at the Keg and Case Food Hall (St. Paul, MN) (11/12/2019)
- Lyn 65 (Minneapolis) (11/14/2017)
- Midtown Global Market (Minneapolis) (12/4/2018)
- Pandemic Takeout 05: Quarterback Club (Northfield, MN) (4/28/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 16: Smoke in the Pit (Minneapolis) (7/22/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 56: Firebox Barbecue (St. Paul, MN) (5/4/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 59: Black Market StP (St. Paul, MN) (5/25/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 65: Matt’s Bar (Minneapolis) (7/20/2021)
- Revival (St. Paul, MN) (5/21/2019)
- Saint Dinette (St. Paul, MN) (5/29/2019)
- Sandcastle (Minneapolis) (9/6/2016)
- Young Joni (Minneapolis) (7/12/2019)
Chinese
- A&L Chinese: Dim Sum Again (Inver Grove Heights, MN) (2/20/2018)
- A&L Chinese: Dim Sum in Inver Grove Heights (Minnesota) (4/26/2015)
- Dim Sum at Mandarin Kitchen (Bloomington, MN) (7/17/2019)
- Dim Sum at Yangtze (St. Louis Park, MN) (11/2/2017)
- Golden Horseshoe at Cook St. Paul (St. Paul, MN) (7/2/2019)
- Golden Horseshoe II: Sichuan Boogaloo (St. Paul, MN) (7/17/2019)
- Grand Szechuan (12/29/2013)
- Grand Szechuan Redux (4/27/2014)
- Grand Szechuan Yet Again (12/23/2014)
- Grand Szechuan, 2015 (11/3/2015)
- Grand Szechuan, 2016 (12/29/2016)
- Grand Szechuan, 2017 (Bloomington, MN) (1/2/2018)
- Grand Szechuan, 2018 (Bloomington, MN) (2/24/2019)
- Grand Szechuan, 2019 (Bloomington, MN) (1/7/2020)
- Lao Sze Chuan (Minneapolis) (6/5/2018)
- Little Szechuan (Hot Pot), Saint Paul (6/17/2014)
- Little Szechuan, West End (7/15/2014)
- Magic Noodle (St. Paul, MN) (1/28/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 03: Grand Szechuan (Bloomington) (4/15/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 08: Back to Grand Szechuan (5/19/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 14: Grand Szechuan Again (7/7/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 22: More Heat from Grand Szechuan (9/3/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 28: Szechuan Spice (Minneapolis) (10/13/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 34: Grand Szechuan (Bloomington, MN) (11/24/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 39: Grand Szechuan to Start the New Year (1/5/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 50: A Midweek Grand Szechuan Feast (3/23/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 60: Grand Szechuan, Again (6/8/2021)
- Szechuan (Roseville, MN) (7/14/2015)
- Szechuan II (Roseville, MN) (3/27/2018)
- Szechuan Spice (1/9/2014)
- Szechuan Spice II (Minneapolis) (11/4/2014)
- Tea House (Minneapolis) (6/23/2015)
- Tea House II (Minneapolis) (4/10/2018)
- Twin Cities Dim Sum (Yangtze Mostly) (6/30/2014)
European
- Kramarczuk’s (Minneapolis) (3/17/2019)
Fine/High End Dining
- 112 Eatery…and Some Thoughts on La Belle Vie (Minneapolis) (10/13/2015)
- Bar La Grassa (6/25/2014)
- Borough (2/27/2014)
- Brasserie Zentral (5/30/2014)
- Brasserie Zentral, One Year On (6/5/2015)
- Corner Table (Minneapolis) (4/14/2015)
- Demi (Minneapolis) (1/21/2020)
- Grand Cafe II (Minneapolis) (4/16/2019)
- Hai Hai (Minneapolis) (4/30/2019)
- Heirloom (St. Paul) (5/20/2016)
- Heyday (7/10/2014)
- Hyacinth (St. Paul, MN) (4/2/2019)
- Hyacinth II (11/26/2019)
- In Bloom (St. Paul, MN) (3/5/2019)
- In Bloom, Again (St. Paul, MN) (9/25/2019)
- Joan’s in the Park (St. Paul, MN) (10/29/2019)
- Lat14 (Golden Valley, MN) (12/20/2019)
- Martina (Minneapolis) (10/24/2018)
- Meritage (St. Paul) (5/10/2016)
- Ngon Bistro (St. Paul) (8/15/2018)
- Piccolo (3/29/2014)
- Piccolo II: The Re-Piccoloning (7/27/2014)
- Piccolo III (10/14/2014)
- Piccolo IV: Fifth Anniversary Dinner (1/27/2015)
- Piccolo IX (1/17/2017)
- Piccolo V (6/16/2015)
- Piccolo VI & Some Complaining about the James Beard Awards (3/22/2016)
- Piccolo VII (8/16/2016)
- Piccolo VIII (12/20/2016)
- Piccolo X (2/24/2017)
- Piccolo XI (One Last Time with Feeling) (3/10/2017)
- Popol Vuh (Minneapolis) (5/14/2019)
- Restaurant Alma, Fall 2017 (10/31/2017)
- Restaurant Alma, January 2014 (1/18/2014)
- Restaurant Alma, Summer 2015 (7/8/2015)
- Saffron (Minneapolis) (6/14/2016)
- Saint Dinette (St. Paul, MN) (5/29/2019)
- Sea Change (4/24/2014)
- Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis) (9/15/2015)
- Spoon and Stable II (2/28/2018)
- Tenant (Minneapolis) (9/20/2018)
- Tenant II (Minneapolis) (7/24/2019)
- Tenant III (Minneapolis) (9/10/2019)
- Tenant IV (Minneapolis) (11/20/2019)
- Tenant V (Minneapolis) (7/27/2021)
- The Bachelor Farmer (10/13/2013)
- Tilia (12/26/2013)
- Tilia, Again (Minneapolis) (5/22/2018)
- Tongue in Cheek (St. Paul) (10/4/2016)
- Travail (Robbinsdale, MN) (8/7/2015)
Indian/South Asian
- A Highly Subjective Ranking of Indian Restaurants in the Twin Cities Metro Area (12/22/2020)
- Bawarchi (Plymouth, Minnesota) (9/3/2014)
- Bay Leaf (Eagan, MN) (6/2/2019)
- Darbar India Grill (Apple Valley, MN) (2/3/2019)
- Dosa King (Spring Lake Park, Minnesota) (9/9/2014)
- House of Curry (Rosemount) (11/11/2014)
- House of Curry II (Rosemount, MN) (3/6/2018)
- House of Curry III (Rosemount, MN) (4/9/2019)
- Kabob’s: Beyond the Weekday Lunch Thali (Bloomington, MN) (2/7/2020)
- Kumar’s Mess and the Changing Face of Indian Food in the Twin Cities Metro (Apple Valley, MN) (12/10/2019)
- Malabari Kitchen (Minneapolis) (10/7/2014)
- Midtown Global Market (Minneapolis) (12/4/2018)
- Pandemic Takeout 02: House of Curry (Rosemount, MN) (4/7/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 12: Kumar’s (Apple Valley, MN) (6/23/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 15: Kabob’s Indian Grill (7/14/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 23: Back to House of Curry (Rosemount, MN) (9/8/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 25: Godavari (Eden Prairie, MN) (9/22/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 27: India Spice House (Eden Prairie, MN) (10/6/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 30: Back to Kabob’s Indian Grill (Bloomington, MN) (10/27/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 31: Indian Masala (Maplewood, MN) (11/3/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 33: Kumar’s (Apple Valley, MN) (11/17/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 35: Hyderabad House (Plymouth, MN) (12/3/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 37: Back to Bawarchi (Plymouth, MN) (12/20/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 40: Back to Indian Masala (Maplewood, MN) (1/12/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 42: (Mostly) North Indian Food at Kabob’s (Bloomington, MN) (1/26/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 47: Back to Godavari (Eden Prairie, MN) (3/3/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 54: Aroma Indian Cuisine (Bloomington, MN) (4/20/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 63: Namaste India Grill (Arden Hills, MN) (7/6/2021)
- Persis Biryani Indian Grill (Eagan, MN) (2/19/2019)
- Scenes from India Fest, 2018 (St. Paul, MN) (8/19/2018)
- The Lunch Buffet at Hyderabad Indian Grill (Bloomington, MN) (6/27/2019)
- The Lunch Buffet at Surabhi (Bloomington, MN) (6/16/2019)
- The Lunch Buffet at Tandoor (Bloomington, MN) (10/9/2019)
- The Lunch Thali at Kabob’s (Bloomington, MN) (11/5/2019)
- Three More Thalis at Kabob’s (Bloomington, MN) (11/24/2019)
Japanese
- Ichiddo Ramen (St. Paul) (4/17/2018)
- Kado no Mise (Minneapolis) (2/9/2018)
- Kyatchi (Minneapolis) (9/10/2015)
- Masu Sushi & Noodles (Apple Valley, MN) (12/5/2017)
- Origami (Minneapolis) (10/21/2014)
- Pandemic Takeout 06: Flickeramen from Bull’s Horn (Minneapolis) (5/5/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 18: More Ramen from Bull’s Horn (Minneapolis) (8/4/2020)
- Sakura (St. Paul, MN) (3/10/2020)
- Sushi Fix (Wayzata, MN) (8/25/2015)
- Tokyo Grill (Northfield, MN) (6/19/2018)
- UniDeli (Minneapolis) (4/5/2018)
Malaysian, Hmong, Other Asian
- Cheng Heng II (St. Paul, MN) (8/6/2019)
- Cheng Heng: Cambodian Cuisine in St. Paul (1/16/2018)
- Cook St. Paul (St. Paul, MN) (10/22/2019)
- Hmong Village (St. Paul) (9/20/2016)
- Hmongtown Marketplace (10/28/2014)
- Hmongtown Marketplace: Food (5/15/2018)
- Hmongtown Marketplace: Shopping (5/18/2018)
- Kolap: Cambodian Cuisine in St. Paul (9/5/2018)
- Lat14 (Golden Valley, MN) (12/20/2019)
- Pandemic Takeout 38: Cheng Heng (St. Paul, MN) (12/29/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 57: Peninsula (Minneapolis) (5/11/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 58: The Deli at Asian Mart (Burnsville, MN) (5/18/2021)
- Peninsula (Minneapolis) (9/23/2014)
- Peninsula, Again (Minneapolis) (10/9/2018)
- Pinoy Fusion (Saint Paul) (4/19/2016)
- Satay 2 Go (Apple Valley, Minnesota) (12/2/2014)
- Singapore (Minneapolis) (10/20/2015)
- Sole Cafe (St. Paul, MN) (12/12/2018)
- The Rabbit Hole (Minneapolis) (12/16/2016)
Mexican and Other Latin American
- A Return to Homi and the Question of Who Makes Money Cooking Mexican Food? (12/3/2019)
- Andale Mercado (Richfield, MN) (4/26/2018)
- Andale Taqueria (Richfield, MN) (4/24/2018)
- Chimborazo (Minneapolis) (4/15/2014)
- El Cubano (West St. Paul, MN) (6/22/2021)
- El Triunfo (Northfield) (5/25/2014)
- El Triunfo, 2019 (Northfield, MN) (10/3/2019)
- El Triunfo, Three Years On (Northfield, MN) (3/7/2017)
- Homi (St. Paul) (9/13/2016)
- Homi, Again (St. Paul, MN) (9/26/2018)
- La Colonia (Minneapolis) (5/3/2018)
- La Huasteca (Minneapolis) (11/17/2015)
- Maya Cuisine (Minneapolis) (10/27/2015)
- Pandemic Takeout 01: El Triunfo (Northfield, MN) (3/31/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 07: Back to El Triunfo (5/12/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 20: Back to El Triunfo (Northfield, MN) (8/18/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 21: Homi (St. Paul) (8/25/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 46: El Triunfo (Northfield, MN) (2/23/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 52: Back to Homi (St. Paul, MN) (4/6/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 62: Coco’s Place (Northfield, MN) (6/29/2021)
- Popol Vuh (Minneapolis) (5/14/2019)
- Tacos etc. at Los Ocampo (Minneapolis) (6/9/2016)
Somali, Ethiopian, North African/Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- 4th Annual Little Africa Fest, St. Paul (8/22/2017)
- Ansari’s (Eagan, MN) (11/6/2018)
- Babani’s Kurdish Restaurant (St. Paul, MN) (1/25/2018)
- Demera (St. Paul) (3/20/2018)
- Fasika (St. Paul) (9/21/2017)
- Ghebre’s (St. Paul, MN) (3/27/2019)
- Moroccan Flavors (Minneapolis) (2/7/2017)
- Nawal (Burnsville, MN) (1/31/2017)
- Pandemic Takeout 17: Beirut (St. Paul) (7/28/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 41: Nawal (Burnsville, MN) (1/19/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 44: Fasika (St. Paul, MN) (2/9/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 48: Gyros Grill (Bloomington, MN) (3/9/2021)
- Saffron (Minneapolis) (6/14/2016)
- Tawakal (Burnsville, MN) (3/3/2017)
Thai
- Bangkok Thai Deli (3/20/2014)
- Bangkok Thai Deli II (Saint Paul, MN) (12/9/2014)
- Bangkok Thai Deli III (11/10/2015)
- Bangkok Thai Deli IV (St. Paul, MN) (5/8/2018)
- Bangkok Thai Deli V (St. Paul, MN) (3/3/2020)
- Joy’s Pattaya Thai (Richfield, MN) (10/10/2017)
- Joy’s Thai (Lakeville, MN) (11/27/2018)
- Karta Thai (3/19/2015)
- Khun Nai Thai Cuisine (Minneapolis) (11/21/2017)
- Krungthep Thai (3/14/2014)
- Krungthep Thai (St. Paul, MN) (1/14/2020)
- Lao Thai (St. Paul) (3/13/2018)
- Lat14 (Golden Valley, MN) (12/20/2019)
- On’s Kitchen (11/24/2013)
- On’s Kitchen II (5/5/2015)
- On’s Kitchen III (St. Paul) (2/15/2018)
- On’s Kitchen IV (St. Paul, MN) (9/18/2019)
- Pandemic Takeout 04: Joy’s Thai (Lakeville, MN) (4/22/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 13: Bangkok Thai Deli (St. Paul, MN) (6/30/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 19: Thai Cafe (St. Paul) (8/11/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 32: On’s Kitchen (St. Paul, MN) (11/10/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 45: Bangkok Thai Deli (St. Paul, MN) (2/14/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 49: Back to Thai Cafe (St. Paul, MN) (3/16/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 53: Back to On’s Kitchen (St. Paul, MN) (4/13/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 55: Basil Cafe (St. Paul, MN) (4/27/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 64: Karen Thai (St. Paul) (7/13/2021)
- Ruam Mit Thai (St. Paul) (8/29/2018)
- Sen Yai Sen Lek (Minneapolis) (11/18/2014)
- Sota Hot & Cold (St. Paul, MN) (9/16/2018)
- Spice (Savage, MN) (2/15/2017)
- Supatra Thai (7/6/2014)
- Taste of Thai Yai (Apple Valley, MN) (12/22/2015)
- Thai Cafe (St. Paul) (12/19/2017)
- Thai Cafe, Again (St. Paul, MN) (10/16/2018)
- Thai Curry House (Burnsville, MN) (12/27/2016)
- Thai Garden (St. Paul) (12/13/2017)
- Thai Street Market (St. Paul, MN) (2/18/2020)
Vietnamese
- Cam Ranh Bay (Burnsville, MN) (10/28/2016)
- Hai Hai (Minneapolis) (4/30/2019)
- Ngon Bistro (St. Paul) (8/15/2018)
- Pandemic Takeout 09: Simplee Pho (Apple Valley) (5/26/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 24: Pho Valley (Apple Valley, MN) (9/15/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 26: iPho by Saigon (St. Paul, MN) (9/29/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 29: Pho Pasteur (St. Paul, MN) (10/20/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 36: Saigon Deli (Burnsville, MN) (12/8/2020)
- Pandemic Takeout 43: Pho Everest (Lakeville, MN) (2/2/2021)
- Pandemic Takeout 51: Trieu Chau (St. Paul, MN) (3/30/2021)
- Pho 79 (Minneapolis) (11/23/2016)
- Pho Everest (Lakeville, MN) (12/17/2015)
- Pho Everest, Again (Lakeville, MN) (1/27/2019)
- Pho Hoa (Minneapolis) (12/6/2016)
- Pho Tau Bay (Minneapolis) (10/17/2017)
- Pho Valley (Apple Valley, MN) (7/25/2018)
- Pho Valley II (Apple Valley, MN) (2/11/2020)
- Saigon Palace (Burnsville, MN) (8/9/2018)
- Simplee Pho (Apple Valley, MN) (5/29/2018)
- Tay Ho (St. Paul, MN) (11/20/2018)
- Trieu Chau (St. Paul) (9/14/2017)
Here be Lutefisk (and Other Minnesotan Delights)
- “Scandinavian Buffet” (Northfield, MN) (12/4/2015)
- Smelt Fry at Ranchero Supper Club (Webster, MN) (4/5/2019)
Map (I hope you’re happy, Chad)
Clicking the icon at the left of the bar at the top of the map will open a “legend” with all the restaurants listed in alphabetical order. That big cluster on and along University Ave. in St. Paul is where I recommend you spend most of your time.
Have you tried –
Joy’s Pattaya Thailand in Richfield
India Palace in Burnsville
Spice (Thai) in Savage
The first 2 are I liked; Spice, not so much.
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I’ve been to Spice Thai recently. And no, I didn’t like it either—it made Thai Curry House seem like On’s Kitchen. I should have a review up soon. Will try to get to Joy’s Pattaya Thailand at some point. Indian restaurants in the US I’m a little more wary of.
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Looking forward to your reviews.
We live in Savage, like Asian food, and are not happy about the dearth of good choices in our area. When kids were little, we would often make a trek to Quang on Eat Streat; now it is either Joy’s or Grand Sichuan in Bloomington.
Out of your way in NE metro, and a real “hole in the wall”, but Friends Cafe at Larpenteur/Rice in Roseville serves outstanding Burmese and Thai specialties, very cheaply.
PS You have not blogged about TC food under a different blog name a few years ago by any chance?
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Nope, no previous blog! And thanks for the other recommendation too.
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You are welcome!
I noticed that the Flavor restaurant at the Savage depot has recently started serving Vietnamese food for lunch, but I have not tried it yet. Pictures look good, though.
I may also revisit Cam Rahn and give it another try.
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If you make it to the cities, please consider Flavor at the depot in downtown Savage – their Vietnamese menu has really only 3 entries, but the pho was very credible.
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Happy Holidays to you and The Wife and The Brats, :) and thank you very much for your blog. Truly.
So refreshing and concise and NOT full of descriptors such as “Nom!” & “On Point!”
Snicker…anyhoo, long time fan and lurker here wanting to make sure that you know of the (semi pop-up?) Sri Lankan dinners at Our Kitchen on 36th and Bryant in South Minneapolis.
It is run by Heather, the woman who owned the amazing (to me) Sri Lanka Curry House that was on Hennepin for years.
Oh, such wonderful years…with wonderfully massive lion-headed wooden front door and shockingly green chutney… sigh.
I believe the dinners are on Wednesday and Saturday nights…mostly curries and salads? not sure, but the place is TINY and you need to make an appointment to dine. (and this is why I have never been. Boo)
Well, I do not know how to do wacky things like “post links” snicker…but her website is The Curry Queen.
So. There ya go. maybe you already knew and have been there before, but thought you might be interested.
Peace to you and yours.
Dawn.
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Oh Gads…nope, she is NOT the Queen, she is The Curry Diva.
I’m drunk.
:)
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A few more to check out
Aida (Mediterranean) Richfield
Pagoda (Szechuan) Dinkytown
At Sara’s Table (American) Duluth
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I’ve been looking for a blog like this, I was wondering, will you ever do Korean?
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Sole Cafe is a Korean restaurant. Once the pandemic ends I’ll finally have reports on the two locations of Hoban.
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Hi, I stumbled across your blog when looking for a review on Basil Cafe. I enjoyed your thorough review and pictures of the foods and menu! Looking forward to more reviews on restaurants in TC
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