Eating Out in the Twin Cities and Environs

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 many of these restaurants have closed (for example, Piccolo—R.I.P); some have been overhauled significantly (for example, Kabob’s stopped serving their wonderful lunch thalis a while ago); and some have changed their names (for example, Lao Sze Chuan has become Legendary Spice and Magic Noodle has become Master Noodle). I am not good at going back and adding that information in so use these reviews with caution.

At a friend’s 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.) Though the number of angry emails about my failure to update the map more often than once every four years will probably offset that.

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

The Twin Cities Metro

American

Chinese

European

Fine/High End Dining, Part 1

Note: The “Fine/High End Dining” list has been split into two in order to accommodate a WordPress shortcode quirk that was preventing more than 100 entries in any list from being displayed.

Fine/High End Dining, Part 2

Indian/South Asian

Japanese

Malaysian, Hmong, Other Asian

Mexican and Other Latin American

Somali, Ethiopian, North African/Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Thai

Vietnamese

Here be Lutefisk (and Other Minnesotan Delights)

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.

21 thoughts on “Eating Out in the Twin Cities and Environs”

  1. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  2. 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?

    Reply

  3. 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.

    Reply

  4. 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.

    Reply

  7. 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

    Reply

  8. Hoping to see that Colita write -up soon.

    FYI, in the meantime, we had dinner at Pajarito (the original outpost in STP) since I’ve been wanting to give it a try for a long time now. Wow, what a disappointment.

    Mainly the dishes just didn’t come with any flavor. I had pork tacos and they had zero personality. The dry fried shrimp dish was not bad, however (barely shareable with only four 21-25 size head-on shrimp). But a tuna tostada was another miss, just no real flavor to it, and a nondescript cardboardy corn shell holding up the fish was no help. The pricey $15 house margarita was way too sweet. Also the place was just way too loud thanks to huge, all brick walls.

    Wondering what the experience has been for your readers, if any. I know we won’t ever be back.

    Reply

  10. Hello,

    Please if you can, review Thai Express restaurant in Maple Grove on the cross section of Elm Creek and Hemlock Ave, opposite Costco. They serve authentic Thai food that is cooked to order with fresh ingredients in front of the customer. It is fast, fresh and very tasty. Please write and provide your valuable opinion about Thai Express.

    Thanks,

    Reply
      1. 112 Eatery.
      2. Alma.
      3. Grand Szechuan (unless you’re coming from Los Angeles or somewhere else with excellent Sichuan food).
      4. Hmong Village or Hmongtown Marketplace (not a restaurant but a Hmong food court).
      5. Khaluna.
      Reply

  12. khue’s Kitchen just opened a couple months ago — fire Vietnamese spot with real home-style dishes. Definitely worth checking out. Menu is kept pretty small, was hesitant at first. But the dishes are very authentic, really hits home for me. Quality over quantity.

    Reply

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