Matt's Bar and Grill
Hamburger restaurant · Powderhorn Park ·
Iconic dive bar famed for the original cheese-stuffed Jucy Lucy
![Matt's Bar and Grill by Matt’s Bar [Official]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62749722/Matt_s_Bar.0.0.jpg "Matt's Bar and Grill by Matt’s Bar [Official]")
Iconic dive bar famed for the original cheese-stuffed Jucy Lucy
"There’s a long-standing debate across the Twin Cities about the origins of the Jucy Lucy. Some say it all started at the 5-8 Club, while others swear that it originated here at Matt’s Bar. Regardless of origin, there’s just something special about the zero-frills simplicity of the burger at Matt’s. Nestled within the modest menu of just a handful of burgers, sandwiches, and fries is the Jucy Lucy. Oozing with molten cheese, it comes with or without onions and pickles — that’s it. It’s cash only with an ATM on site." - Cinnamon Janzer
"In addition to being a beloved Minneapolis specialty, the juicy lucy is a heated local controversy, with Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club each claiming to be the originator of the cheese-stuffed burger. Although the real answer may be lost to history, Matt’s Bar gets our vote for the nostalgia: they’re still serving it decades later in a narrow, memorabilia-lined space that hasn’t changed much since the restaurant opened in the 1950s. The beef and grilled onions are extra flavorful, probably due to the well-seasoned grill that’s churned out millions of burgers. Just be careful with your first bite: the molten cheese has burned many a tongue." - team infatuation, carlo mantuano
"Matt’s, one of the Twin Cities’ most essential restaurants, claims to have invented the Jucy Lucy. (To distinguish its Lucy from other Twin Cities renditions, Matt’s spells its burger without the “i.”) The legend goes that in 1954, a Matt’s customer ordered two patties with a slice of cheese in the middle — after taking the first molten bite, he declared “That’s one juicy Lucy!” Matt’s Lucy is classic and unadorned (in the best way); flavor-dense and charred at the edges. The American cheese takes on a particular liquid quality compared to some oozier others." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Matt’s, which claims to be the home of the original Jucy Lucy (to distinguish its Lucy from other Twin Cities versions, Matt’s spells its burger without the “I”) is a great budget-friendly option for classic bar food. The Lucy clocks in at $9.75, while classic burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheeses, and fries all run under $10." - Alex Lodner
"The juicy lucy is a beloved Minneapolis specialty, and a heated local controversy: both Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club each claim to have invented the cheese-stuffed burger. Although the real answer may be lost to history, Matt’s Bar gets our vote for the nostalgia: they’re still serving them decades later in a narrow, memorabilia-lined space that hasn’t changed all that much since the restaurant opened in the 1950s. Just be careful with your first bite because the molten cheese has burned many a tongue. This spot only accepts cash and local checks—and insists on the spelling "Jucy Lucy"—but there’s an ATM on-site." - stacy brooks
