Minneapolis’ culinary icons

With four chefs, bars and restaurants recently named finalists for the 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards, Minneapolis dining spots are receiving accolades nationally making the city a must0visit hub for foodies.

In fact, Minneapolis has long been home to culinary institutions that have shaped its identity.

Numerous restaurants are celebrating big anniversaries this year, demonstrating the lasting power exceptionally good restaurants can have on the community. These dining favorites have been delighting locals and visitors for decades.

The James Beard OGs:

Celebrating 25 years (2000), Restaurant Alma’s chef and owner, Alex Roberts, won the first James Beard Best Chef: Midwest award for Minneapolis in 2010 and later expanded in his building to add Café Alma and Hotel Alma.

112 Eatery opened in 2005, and chef/owner Isaac Becker’s James Beard Best Chef: Midwest came along in 2011, cementing the city’s reputation as a growing foodie scene. Becker and partner Nancy St. Pierre just opened their latest, St. Pierre Steak & Seafood, last month.

Born in the 80s:

The Dakota, a staple since 1985, seamlessly blends live music and a chef-driven menu. Originally located in Saint Paul, the venue moved to Nicollet Mall in 2003. What began during the era of the “Minneapolis Sound” draws national and local acts downtown seven nights a week. Prince was a fan too.

J.D. Hoyt’s Supper Club has been serving steaks and craft cocktails in the North for 40 years—long before the neighborhood became the downtown hot spot. It’s a favorite of the sporty set and was visited by “Sir” Charles Barkley during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ last playoff run.

Generations of traditions:

From the forests of Southern Germany, the Christ family brought their recipes to Minneapolis in 1965 and have been serving homemade brats, beer and scratch-made sides for 60 years at the Black Forest Inn on Eat Street.

For 75 years, the tiny diner in Dinkytown has been slinging hash and other tasty breakfasts to University of Minnesota students and fans willing to line up around the block for one of the 14 coveted seats. Al’s Breakfast won a James Beard award in 2004 as one of America’s Classics.

Other long-standing restaurants from 25 to 120 years old:

Monte Carlo (1906) dates back nearly 120 years with its copper-topped bar and famous chicken wings as the oldest bar in Minneapolis.

Ingebretsen’s (1921) houses an original butcher shop and extensive Scandinavian retail and specialty foods on East Lake Street

Chatterbox Pub (1923), founded as a speakeasy, is the oldest established bar in Minneapolis.

The 5-8 Club (1928) started as a speakeasy and now is a home to Minneapolis’ famous Juicy Lucy cheeseburgers.

Jax Café (1933) is a post-prohibition bar turned steakhouse that has built a reputation with its Sunday brunch buffet as well as its monogrammed matchbooks and trout pond patio.

Gluek’s Bar & Restaurant (1934) opened as Fransen’s, inside the 1902 Bavarian-style beer hall built by Gluek Brewing Co. It took on the Gluek’s name in the 1970s, honoring the Minneapolis brewer founded in 1857.

Bandbox Diner (1939) is a small vintage diner near downtown is the last of a locally owned chain of nine restaurants.

Market BBQ (1946) has moved a few times but kept its food and décor for nearly 80 years.

Murray’s (1946) is a third-gen steakhouse oozing with traditional hospitality and historic signage.

Kramarczuk’s (1954) is a beloved Ukrainian deli, bakery and market, and a James Beard honoree, known for its sausages, kolachis and piroshky, still made by hand from the family recipes.

Matt’s Bar (1954) is home to the Jucy Lucy, with an origin story and motto, “Fear the Cheese!”

Keys Café & Bakery (1973), family owned since opening, serves up comfort foods and baked goods at nine cafes including downtown’s historic Foshay Tower.

Lotus Restaurant (1983) introduced many in the Minneapolis area to Vietnamese foods like bành mí, pho and rice vermicelli noodle salads.

Broder’s (1982) Cucina Italiana opened to share the family’s love of Italian food and East Coast-style pizza. They added the Pasta Bar in 1984 and still serve house-made and imported pastas and risottos.

Sawatdee (1983), Minneapolis’ first Thai restaurant, was also the first in Minnesota and the four surrounding states.

Lyon’s Pub (1984) is the friendly neighborhood pub in the heart of downtown.

Quang (1989) is a family-run Eat Street restaurant honoring a late husband’s legacy, rooted in Vietnamese traditions.

Isles Buns & Coffee (1993), famous for cinnamon buns baked in front of you, and was named home to the World’s Best Cinnamon Roll.

D’Amico & Sons (1994) was fast-casual before that was a thing, with Italian salads, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas at its three locations.

Taquerias la Hacienda (1999) is a South Minneapolis taqueria that introduced tacos al pastor to Minnesota as an original vendor at Mercado Central on East Lake Street.

Prima (1999) is a South Minneapolis neighborhood staple for tasty Italian plates.

Zelo (1999) dishes up fresh Italian cuisine on Nicollet Mall with local ingredients.

Manny’s Tortas’ (1999) Mexican sandwiches with a gourmet touch are a staple at Midtown Global Market.

More places to eat and drink

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