The thing we love about living close to the Twin Cities is the access to the thriving food scene. It offers a vibrant culinary scene that’s hard to beat. From authentic international flavors to elevated local cuisine, we’ve explored some of the best spots around and are excited to share our current favorites with you.
Location: Minneapolis
Hands down our top choice – we love everything about Gia Noi. Located right off Loring Park, this Laotion restaurant was named to the 2023 New York Times list of the 50 Best Restaurants in the U.S and for good reason. The restaurant has a great atmosphere whether you are seated inside or on the beautiful rooftop. Gai Noi offers an expansive menu of snacks, noodles, rice, and curries that provide a flavor that is unmatched to anything we have had before. Typically, dining is done in a “family style” setting where small plates are shared amongst the diners. The top choice is the basil wings which we make sure to get every time we go. The wings are perfectly seasoned with a spicy but tangy dry rub, and the tempura-fried Thai basil is something we never knew we needed in our lives. Dreaming about the basil wings is not an unheard thing in our house. The crunchy wings, egg rolls, and jalapeno wontons are all very delicious. You can honestly make a meal out of the snacks alone and leave happy.
Picking a favorite main dish is almost impossible because everything we have tried is done so well. The peanut noodles are packed with a beautiful red curry peanut sauce. The Khao Poon Gai has a creamy but light coconut curry broth that provides a punch of heat but is so craveable. Want something simple? The pork fried rice with the Chinese sausage has a sweet flavor that melts in your mouth. If comfort food is what you are looking for, then the Panang spaghetti is the way to go with a creamy spicy Panang curry sauce that sticks to the spaghetti noodles and is topped with the most aromatic Thai basil.
If you still have room at the end of your meal the mango cremeux is so fresh. It’s a rich and decadent mango-infused custard topped with fresh fruit and mint.
We could go on and on about this place, but I just recommend you go. They do not take reservations so you will have to plan your visit accordingly. We have gone before the dinner rush and have had good luck getting in quickly.
Location: North Loop Minneapolis
Bar La Grassa is an institution in the Minneapolis North Loop dining scene. This Italian-inspired restaurant brings together bold flavors and a creative twist on classic dishes.
The menu is robust with multiple options of antipasti, bruschetta, pasta, and meats. Unfortunately, we did not get to try their famous soft eggs and lobster bruschetta since they had ran out the evening we visited. We did however get to enjoy the charred red onion with goat cheese bruschetta. The sweetness of the red onions mixed with the tartness of the goat cheese was a perfect combination. Our pastas were perfectly executed. The maltagliati with milk braised short rib and ricotta sugo was beautifully creamy and the meat was tender and flavorful. You wanted to continue eating it all night. The ziti with shrimp and vin santo cream also did not disappoint. We finished the night with a unique gjetost cheesecake, it’s a butterscotch flavored goat’s milk cheesecake atop a chocolate-almond crust.
Bar La Grassa is a go-to for anyone seeking a sophisticated yet comforting meal in a chic atmosphere. It’s the perfect place for a special night out. Be sure to get a reservation in advance as it does get busy.
Location: Minneapolis
For a truly unique dining experience, Owamni is a standout in the Minneapolis food scene. This award-winning restaurant (2022 James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant in the US) specializes in Indigenous cuisine. It pays homage to the native ingredients and food traditions of North America before the influence of European colonizers. The menu is free from colonial ingredients like wheat, dairy and sugar. Instead, it features flavors and techniques that honor the land and its history.
The menu is seasonal to feature dishes that reflect the flavors of the current season. Their fall featured menu incorporating squash, pumpkin, sage, and walnut was everything we had hoped for.
We chose to go family style and share multiple dishes and get the full experience. First to the table was the Three Sisters Stew and the tomato walnut soup. The stew featured a mix of beans, squash broth and hominy and was very hearty and flavorful. The tomato walnut soup brought a flavor profile like no other – sweet and savory but rich and nutty at the same time. It became the favorite dish of the night.
Competing for the top spot was the sweet potatoes. A bowl of char-striped sweet potatoes, doused in chili oil. The chili oil brought a good amount of heat and did not overwhelm the potatoes. Such a simple dish done so well.
Jumping out of our comfort zone, we tried the bison picahna, which I would describe as a fancy steak tartare. The bison was thinly sliced and topped with roasted tomato, chile crisp aioli, and cured duck yolk. The flavor was unique and fresh and what you would imagine meat is supposed to taste like.
After a long back and forth, we decided on the spoon bread as our final dish of the night. What a great choice that was. Braised buffalo over blue bread and topped with salsa verde mixed and spooned into a fresh corn tortilla. The combination of sweet, smokey and fire made for a mouth-watering experience.
Overall Owamni is an experience that needs to be had if you are in the Minneapolis area. The modern twist on traditional dishes makes it a must-visit for anyone looking to experience something both delicious and meaningful. Be sure to plan ahead as reservations to fill up quickly.
Final Thoughts
Minneapolis is home to some truly remarkable dining experiences. From Italian delights to Indigenous cuisine, there’s something for every palate in the Twin Cities. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, we highly recommend checking out these spots the next time you’re looking for a great meal.
What are your favorite places to eat in the Twin Cities? Let us know in the comments, and we might just add them to our next foodie adventure!
A Cap and Leo Travel 
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