Best Restaurants in Minneapolis (2025)
Owamni by The Sioux Chef
Native American restaurant · Downtown West
Sean Sherman’s riverfront landmark centers Indigenous ingredients and producers for a decolonized menu. James Beard’s Best New Restaurant and widely featured by national outlets like The New York Times; owned by the local nonprofit NATIFS.
Spoon and Stable
New American restaurant · North Loop
Gavin Kaysen’s North Loop flagship blends Midwestern seasonality with polished hospitality. A perennial critic favorite and 2025 reader pick in Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, it remains a defining Minneapolis dining room.
Demi
Restaurant · North Loop
An intimate counter-only tasting menu by Kaysen’s team, booked monthly and praised by local critics for precision and warmth. A quiet showcase for Minnesota ingredients and thoughtful service.
Porzana
Argentinian restaurant · North Loop
Daniel del Prado’s modern Argentinian steakhouse fuels the North Loop with prime beef, wood fire, and a lively sala vibe. Celebrated by local editors and frequently cited on citywide best-of lists.
Young Joni
Restaurant · Sheridan
From James Beard winner Ann Kim, this wood-fired icon pairs inventive pizzas with global small plates and a beloved back bar. Featured by The New York Times for standout pizza; slated to close Sept. 14, 2025 per local reports, and operating until then.
Hai Hai
Southeast Asian restaurant · Holland
Christina Nguyen’s Southeast Asian street-food spot brims with herbs, spice, and cocktails. The chef won James Beard Best Chef: Midwest in 2024; a fixture on local and national recommendation lists.
Gai Noi
Laotian restaurant · Loring Park
Ann Ahmed’s Loring Park love letter to Laos serves jeow, laab, and bold, bright plates in a tropical multi-level space. Included on The New York Times 2023 Restaurant List and praised by the Star Tribune.
Khâluna
Laotian restaurant · East Harriet
Ahmed’s south Minneapolis stunner channels Southeast Asia with graceful curries, noodles, and a teaching studio. Recognized by regional critics and James Beard committees for elevating Lao flavors.
Alma
New American restaurant · Marcy-Holmes
Alex Roberts’s intimate, seasonally driven institution marries a three-course menu with a café and boutique hotel. A longtime James Beard winner and pillar of Minneapolis dining.
Petite León
American restaurant · King Field
Chef Jorge Guzmán’s neighborhood bistro turns Yucatán inspiration into soulful, seasonal plates and stellar cocktails. Featured on The New York Times Restaurant List and lauded by the Star Tribune.
Vinai
Restaurant · Sheridan
Yia Vang’s long-awaited Hmong restaurant fires big-format meats and punchy sauces in a lively room. Named one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America and a Time World’s Greatest Places pick.
Oro by Nixta
Mexican restaurant · Sheridan
Gustavo and Kate Romero’s masa-driven kitchen champions heirloom Mexican corn through nixtamal and inventive dishes. A James Beard semifinalist and on Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants list.
