Trieste Cafe

I am always skeptical of 4.7+ star places with with hundreds or thousands of reviews, but when I arrived before 11:30am there was a line a dozen people deep. As I reached the counter I realized the chef was making each meal to order, making Greek salads on the fly. In an era when seemingly everything is pre-batched and streamlined, this counter service Greek deli is a breath of fresh air. Food was fantastic, line moved quickly given the handmade nature of the operation, and prices were readable for what you’re getting.

A very kind and cute couple serve you in such a way that makes you feel like family. The food was authentic and full of wonderful flavor. This little gem makes me wish I could visit Minneapolis more than only once a month. This is the first of many stops. I'm so glad I found this great place. I love the artwork on the walls and music playing in the dining area, too. Try the gyro! It was superb!

Trieste has been there for 34 years. It has survived Covid and a small business whose food is fresh and delicious. I usually have #7 and their baklava adds a good dessert option. They are open only for lunch from 12 to 2pm

Great deli with tasty food. Service is quick and easy excellent. Food is fresh and welll made. Seating is limited but works.

Really nice classic Greek spot. It’s been in the same place in Minneapolis downtown since 1990 and the food shows. Not only that, the person who set it up still cooks and serves the food. Quality food in a nice cozy spot. You can’t go wrong with it if you’re just looking for a quick lunch while you’re in Downtown.

I watched him make the guy in front of me this salad and I had to order it. He cut and squeezed a lemon, poured oil and vinegar and a pinch of spices for the dressing. A stack of pita and hummus to go with. It was so fresh and delicious. 10/10

I love the food here and the customer service, honestly thought the chicken would be warm and was hoping it would be but it’s not - honestly not a huge disappointment cause it was still delicious. $40 to feed two people, isn’t bad 🫶🏻

Happy Greek food . Yummy food . Simple , healthy and delicious .

My wonderful co-workers and I were on a quarterly retreat to the office. My good friend was in from Chicago and this was his favorite place to go to in Minneapolis for a meal. Off we go. Score! I have not been to Trieste in 11 years and I gave it a four, for some reason, (I was a rougher critic in my younger days) probably because it was a hot summer day and they have no air-conditioning. I am not kidding, it is like a sauna in there. AC please? We took the 5 block walk from Target HQ and my feet were barking from a foot condition, but I was destined for some Trieste. It was like shooting BBs in my sole, but I was getting schwarma! I arrived at the holy land of Greek schwarma in downtown Minneapolis. I ordered the #5 with extra garlic dip. This garlic dip is not normal, it is obviously handmade and has such an awesome bite, you taste it from your belches three hours later. Heaven. Mixed with the sliced red onion and lovely tomato and kalamata olives, OMG. The food bowl is plentiful, and the pita bread is cut perfectly, like a crafty artesian. The line is out the door, but WAIT, it is worth it. Your mouth is watering as you wait. Everything is fresh and the owner cuts the cucumbers right in front of you, the only thing cooler would be if there was a spit of lamb spinning in front of you. Seriously, it is the best. The gyro meat was tender and flavorful and the whole meal is a lot of food, but because it is so fresh, it does not weigh you down. The dollop of hummus is great and the tzatziki is super refreshing. The garlic dip is a MUST, do not skip! This place is a downtown Minneapolis gem.

I ordered the #7 Chicken Lunch Box today for lunch and it was delicious and filling! The portion sizes for the lunch box were more than I could eat, so it helped when justifying the higher price tag of $15. The garlic dip was out of this world, and I love that I was able to mix & match the different ingredients with the pita to create unique combinations and flavors. We ordered over the phone and my co-worker picked it up in person, so I can't comment on the friendliness of the staff or the atmosphere of the restaurant. Overall, I will be back to try other menu items!

Stopped by today for lunch as I was craving some Gyros. Got there around 12:15 PM and the line was out the door. Took me 20 mins to get throiugh the line and another 5 to order and get my food. This is a small place with limited seating but fairly clean. Most of the orders are togo orders. The menu is fairly straight forward. Gyros, chicken and falafel. Either sandwich or plate. They also have some hoagies but I didn't see anyone order any. I ordered a gyro sandwich with a side salad (Mediterranean pasta salad) and a drink. The gyro meat was good. The sandwich itself could have been a little better prepared with equal distribution of the veggies and sauce, but easily fixable. The pasta salad was simple and fresh. Both could have used a little bit more flavor. Overall, it hit the spot for me and satisfied my craving.

Love this place! Always come when I'm close by. Plate is freshly prepared and salad freshly chopped. Very efficient stop for lunch downtown.

The food was delicious and well priced. Service was quick and friendly with a simple ambiance.

I ordered trieste Gyro Plate for take out. The portion was big to have leftovers for lunch the next day but it was expensive! With all the fees that were added for delivery, the total came to $22. Honestly, I didn't like the food enough to feel it justified the price. The gyro meat and rice were pretty dry. I liked how they added tsaziki sauce to the side and included a fresh small salad but I probably wouldn't order here again.

This place has the most amazing beef gyros! Fresher than fresh produce, incredible sauce, thinly shaved meat, and enormous size. I am confident everything else in their menu is amazing too but I always get the gyro since I never know how long it will be until I can indulge again. Literal Mom and Pop owners, so nice, and their food is so good. Come try it out, you will not be disappointed!

Decent place for a quick, no fuss lunch option. Food was okay and employees were super friendly.The location is good.

I have no words. I ordered the chicken kabob and my heart sang. My soul lifted. My spirit soared. This is the freshest most delicious meal I've had in MN. California quality. At first I though 1 kabob was stingy but the chicken chunks were massive! So many pita wedges! The rice was incredibly tasty. The salad was perfectly dressed and the olives were pitted. My heart. I will be ordering from here regularly!

Back for lunch again! I tried the chicken kebab this time and it came with rice, a Greek salad, and some pita bread. I found the chicken kebabs to be well flavored, but it was a bit overcooked/dry. I could taste an earthy taste (cumin?) and paprika?. Pretty flavorful! And salted just right. If it was tender and juicy too.... It would be WHOA.! The Greek salad was awesome again. The feta was just phenomenal with the dressing they use too.... I'm almost developing a craving for it. There was also an accompanying white spead/sauce in a plastic ramekin. It was amazing.!!!!!! Sour, savory, TANGy (horse-radish / wasabi-ish). It went well with the pita bread, which was also good. Pretty standard, but well-cooked and fluffy. My only real complaint was that the lettuce itself was not cut through and through. The leaf was still in one piece (connected through the stem) but still easy enough to break apart to take bites. Friendly, nice, and good service again, too!

I have been going to Trieste Cafe for over 20 years; their food is authentic and good. I go when the doors open to avoid the lunch rush; the line is normally out the door. My favorite is the Gyro Salad.

Trieste Cafe is a hidden gem off the beaten track of the downtown skyway system, but I am glad I finally found it. The Greek salad and hummus with pita combo hits the spot every time. Whether I have it with or without gyro meat I am always satisfied. I am usually lucky to arrive when there is not a long line and my order is made fresh. The pita bread is always nice and warm and the hummus is on point! Sometimes it's the simple things that count: reliable, fresh, light, filling, and consistency makes this simple no frills cafe one of my favorite lunch spots !!!

My favorite lunch spot downtown. My go to is the Gyro plate with green salad with red pepper hummus

I needed a late lunch that wouldn't be too filling as I had a dinner I needed to attend later that night. Trieste Cafe's reviews were so overwhelmingly positive that I decided I would at least go by to judge the book by it's proverbial cover - glad I did. A couple thoughts: this place doesn't exactly scream come eat here (photo attached) plus I trIed two of the wrong doors before finding the right one - part of the adventure I guess. When I did make it in I was greeted by a very nice man and woman. She took my Gyro Pita Sandy order and opened my old school glass bottle Coke. Simultaneously, the chef began gathering fresh onion, greens, and tomato from a large basket on display in the preparation area - chopping each specially for me. The meal was great however the potato chip side seemed misplaced although well intended. This was definitely the top one or two Gyros I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and give this place some business. Bring an appetite though... the portions are significant. My only slight on the place is that there has to be a more sophisticated way to heat a pita than a microwave.

Food: *** Atmosphere: * Service: * I don't give many places 5-star rating but Trieste is my only exception. For the price, quantity and taste this is it, plus super crave-able. If you're looking for the best gyros in town this is it. A hole in the wall place run by 2 men. This place is a gem for downtowners since they open only on Monday-Friday and for a few hours. The gyro meat is nice and juicy and the portions are generous. Highly recommend if you find your way here. Please note that during lunch hours there aren't much seating, and line is always out the door.

Trieste Café is one of my favorite restaurants in downtown. I hardly ever get to eat here since they're only open for lunch on weekdays, but whenever I have the chance, I come because I know it'll be amazing. My go-to is the gyros plate with salad. You get piles of gyro meat, Greek salad, hummus, pita bread, and veggies. The food is absolutely delicious, and the quantity you get makes it a great value. The restaurant interior is a bit small and can get crowded during the lunch rush. But if you come during the slower hours, it can be a nice place to relax and enjoy your food. You're also free to get the food to go, so you can enjoy it on your own turf (such as at home or in the office). Come check it out next time you're in the area for lunchtime!

I used to work in DT so would get my lunch here every few weeks!! Since WFH, I haven't been able to stop by until today!! I am so happy they're still open! They're taking good protective measures; social distancing, face masks required (staff & guests), hand sanitizers as well & there are limiting seating. I just get mines to go since their cafe is smaller. They also have a NEW MENU but the food is exactly still the same & still amazing! So fresh & made with quality ingredients! I was in & out in less than 5 minutes! I always get my favorite; gyros with Greek salad, hummus, pita & baklava (lunch box)! I sometimes will substitute the Greek salad for the feta pasta salad & it's delicious. Yum! Happy to support this local business & highly would recommend this place!!! Omar, the owner cuts up the veggies for you & you definitely get a very generous portion! He's very warm & welcoming! Street parking (paid) is available all over. The restaurant is on the 1st floor of the Lumbar Exchange building! Entrance to the restaurant is on Fifth Street (facing the light rail!)

Gyro with rice and hummus plate = $10 = Huge = So flavorful. Even the plain rice was excellent. He threw in a meat pie, and just the bread was worthwhile, nevermind the huge piece of just enough spiced (not heat) meat. Salad pieces were fresh and tomato was perfect ripeness. Lastly, the Coke was ice cold which is rare imo. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this meal which is also rare, especially at lunch-only places. Throw them your business.

Super solid and great food! There is not much space inside for eating. When entering, the line forms to the left and through the narrow hall. While waiting in line the guy behind the counter will ask what you want. Then when you make it to the front of the line, you get your drink and transact. Food should be ready within minutes of you paying. The gyro meat is perfect. The gyro salad was good, but I wanted more lettuce. The hummus good. What did I learn today? On a cold Minneapolis day, the lack of seating makes it a take-away location.

This location was a little tough to find. I was literally standing in front of where this restaurant should be on the Yelp map and it's actually across the shabby rail-loaded street. Oh. And it's closed during it's listed hours of business. Cue my disappointment. I wish I could praise the food, but I'm not going to get the chance.

One of the coolest things about this place is that you can see your food being prepared right in front by the cashier. Check out my yelp video! I ordered the gyro platter with hummus, pita and salad which was insanely large. I had leftovers too! This place is pretty small and doesn't have outdoor seating but it's one of the best places for Greek food in downtown. It's easy to walk here through the skyways too and it's right next to the Pourhouse. This is the place to come if you want a lot of food and you will be nice and full until the end of your work day!

My coworker introduced me to this place and I lovveee it. This place has the best gyro I have ever had and the portion is generous. This place is tiny but the line goes quickly. After having gyro in this place, I can't go to any other Mediterranean restaurants. It really sets a new standard for gyro :).

The hidden gem of downtown Minneapolis. Weekdays at lunch, find the best fast Greek in downtown, maybe even further. I always get the Gyro Plate with tobouli salad. Comes with choice of regular or red pepper humus. If you get there early enough, this feast also will gain you a cheese, meat, or spinach appetizer pie. Seating is a very limited, but not a problem for me as I take it back to the office. These two guys are friendly, and work hard for your money. Give it a try already!

Cozy and cute, Trieste knows how to cook a perfect egg alongside a delicious butter croissant. Not an essential stop on your list of restaurants, but if you're in the neighborhood and need a snack, stop by.

I was so glad to see this place is still going even after COVID-19 hit a lot of downtown businesses and restaurants (RIP 508). I was pleased to be able to walk there for lunch again today while I was downtown for a few hours. I ordered the gyro plate with rice, and like always, loved it. The portions are generous and you can see all the fresh ingredients cut right in front of you!

Highly recommend this restaurant!! We ordered their gyros & their hoagies and both were amazing. Their portion sizes were also great you get a lot for the price. Thankfully we just missed the lunch crowd so no line when we walked in.

It can sure get motherbitchwhorefuckin cold in Minneapolis, MN. One on our most recent stay, we uber'd because I was cranky and wanted hummus. Our uber driver was not at all pleased with my freekout when his car kept sliding at stop lights. Dude, put hummus on your tires and this should keep us from colliding head on into a garbage truck. Any-who, I'm sure my freekout landed me (well his account) a one star rating from Mr. Uber. But it was worth it right?. The hummus and pita was delightful and the mystery meat just as delicious. We will back later this week to your wonderful city to freeze my titties right the hell off.

Deliciously satisfying for a small price. I was able to eat more than my fill for under $10.00. Unheard of in downtown. I had the gyro platter with hummus and it amazing. The place was packed over lunch. I will be back. So yummy!

Redemption. Back up to 4 stars. Delicious salad although Kevin could be less dry. Just don't come for late lunch here. Previous review: I came here a few years ago and was blown away by the falafel and portions. Unfortunately since then I had a couple of mediocre meals including dry kebob in an underwhelming salad, and a mediocre dry falafel (came in for late lunch and it was obviously sitting around for awhile) and veggies that had seen better days. Oh well.

This place really delivers on authentic gyros. I went in expecting small place, with homemade food and that's exactly what I got. The place screams mom and pop shop, with the two owners the only staff at this place. I got the gyro combo for lunch , which included awesome hummus gyro meat tztazikibsauce and pita bread + wait there's more. As part of the combo, I also got a dolmade (veggie wrap) and the samosa looking spinach. 5/5 starts for sure , you will not be dissapointed. I recommend you go for lunch , and around 1130 am, before the rush

Good food, fresh food! The hummus is really fresh (non-sabra/packaged...) and their gyro meat is super tender. I loved their tatziki sauce! The portions are also really, really large, so for $11 you do get a lot but if you're going for smaller portions, I'd pick another place for lunch. The guys behind the counter are also really nice and they prepare your food pretty quickly. I love that they chop the vegetables in front of you. It gives you an authentic experience. Wished they had baklava though...

Yum!!!! Not all Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food tastes the same if you eat it often like me. I frequently eat this style of food at home as well as dining outside of home. Oooohhhh this place has the flavors I've been looking for!!! I had the falafel combo plate with dolmades (grape leaves) and it hit the spot! I am definitely coming back and recommending among all my social media platforms. Yeah-- it's that good.

Great lunch spot. I've been here a number of times for lunch and probably never would have unless someone brought me. It's a hidden gem downtown and the food is delicious. They cut up the vegetables fresh when you order your food and the serving sizes are generous. Don't miss out! Picture is the Gyros Greek Salad.

Trieste Cafe is one of the only places to get falafel in downtown Minneapolis. For that reason alone it holds value and importance. The space itself is a small, quaint lunch spot in the historic Lumber Exchange building on the corner of 5th and Hennepin. I had a falafel sandwich ($6.50 with tax) which was decent, though it was overstuffed with lettuce and the falafel didn't have enough flavor on its own. But it mixed well with the tomato and tahini and the pita was soft and good. The falafel was not made fresh, however. It was pre-made and then put into some type of microwave/toaster combination and reheated, which was disappointing, but not a deal-breaker (not for me, anyway). The service is fast and friendly and the owner/sole employee is a really nice, earnest fellow. If I were to work downtown, I would probably stop by Trieste Cafe fairly often, as it's affordable and also has those other standard vegan Middle Eastern foods, hummus, baba ganouje and tabouli. Trieste doesn't have the best falafel in the Twin Cities (that title belongs to Mim's in St. Paul), but it's good enough for downtown.

This place is phenomenal! I had the gyro platter and nothing about it disappointed me. Huge portion of food, the meat is very traditional and has lots of flavor. The salad was super fresh. The hummus was a great texture and flavor. Pita was the perfect mix of soft and chewy. And I added the garlic sauce on the side. Don't skip on this if you like garlic sauce. It's amazing! Also super reasonably priced for what you get!

I tried this place for the first time last Friday with my co-worker and I am a big fan! We normally go to the Greek Place since it is so close to our office, but I will walk to Trieste Cafe from now on. The food was really good and the portions were huge! Reasonable price and this place gets packed during lunch hour so go early! I had the Gyro combo plate with greek salad and I was so full by the end. It satisfied my mediterranean food craving for sure. It comes with a generous helping of gyro meat, big greek salad, hummus and pita bread. Everything on that plate was delicious. I have been craving it ever since!

Yummy gyros salad! We arrived during lunch hour and the line was wrapped out of the door. Very popular place. The salad was made fresh while I waited. The chef was chopping so quickly it seemed like a show.

Love coming here every Friday. Chicken Combo with Salad - phenomenal. Everything you would expect: Chicken skewer, hummus, garlic paste, pita, salad. The guys working there always friendly and love being able them put together all the orders.

I was walking by the Lumber Exchange yesterday and the smell of Greek food cooking sort of drew me in, it has a tendency to do that. I wasn't even considering Greek as it's usually something that I crave more in the Summer than the Fall. That's one of the great things about dining in Central Downtown before 5:PM, there are so many choices that you're never really commited to any specific place, you just come upon a neat looking and nice smelling cafe and you just go with it. While I usually order either a Gyro combo or a Pastrami Hoagie (make sure to ask for no mayo on their hoagies if you don't wan't it), today I tried the Gyro Salad and their HOMEMADE LEMONADE. Whoa was this a great tasting meal, and it was a huge portion. To start with the always friendly Greek guy sliced the vegetables right there on the kitchen counter after he took my order, these were some of the freshest veggies I've yet had in a restaraunt. Then the always amazing Gyro meat was loaded with fresh hot pita slices, slices of romaine lettuce that were sliced on the spot, red onions, peppers, feta, olives and two kinds of creamy sauces on the side. As I said it was humongous, and everything was extremely fresh and delicious. The lemonade is worth the trip in itself as it was incredibly good and refreshing. Last of all since this place is always packed whenever I've been here for lunch I've never got to sit wherever I wanted, but since it was later in the afternoon and many tables were available I was able to sit in a table near the lobby entrance to the Cafe. This was an amazing corner to dine in as you have all these great views of the elaborate marble in the Lumber Exchange, and you're looking out these really deep windows with visible exterior sandstone. I'm telling ya you'd swear you were somewhere in Manhattan.

My favorite type of restaurant, a little hole in the wall place with delicious, authentic food, generous portion sizes and cheerful service. My boyfriend and I both got the gyro combo plate and the cook even gave me a free falafel on the side because I couldn't make up my mind. One of the best falafels I've ever had and the gyro meat tastes like it was good quality and not too greasy like most gyro meat I've had. I highly reccomend this place over all the food chains that seem to dominate the area!

The. Best. Skyway. Food. Seriously. It's so fresh, delicious, and well portioned. Considering how crazy some of the skyway prices can be, this place is amazingly reasonable. I can't recommend it enough. My coworker and I went together and they gave us both free Baklava! Very generous of them.

Oh wow, the Greek Gyros Salad is out of this world. Presentation wise is uninviting but take a bite of the juicy and you'd be blown away. A fresh lemon is squeezed onto the green, with a healthy does of sour cream and jalapeno. Everything for $8.50. YUmmmm! The fresh lemonade was too sweet for my liking but I won't complain. Who the hell goes to a greek place for lemonade anyway.. A definite must try!

Small hole in the wall place which is open for.lucnh. It has been around forever. Great fresh food. Truly a delight.

Trieste is in the same building where I work, so I eat here quite often. For some reason I haven't written a review for it until now. I love this place, and have recommended it to friends who want to meet for lunch. They've all loved it, too. I usually get the same thing every time (gyro plate with hummus, which also includes rice and a salad, plus pita for the hummus) but have had and enjoyed a few other items on the menu, too. Their pasta salads are also good, and the garlic butter that comes with the chicken kebab is amazing. (Also, if you like baklava, they have pretty dang good baklava here.) This place always hits the spot, and it always tastes fresh. The only two employees are the co-owners. One works the register while the other prepares the food. It's fun to see that it's just two guys running the whole operation. There is often a line out the door during peak lunch hours, but it's worth the wait.

Fresh ingredients, delicious product with very friendly service. Would definitely come back in future visits.

Outstanding gyro salad! A bit of a line, but completely worth it. I'm certain the guy preparing my salad saw I was a big guy and gave me extra meat "just because".

The line out the door was worth waiting through. The gyro/salad combo was fantastic and the staff were so fast. I was visiting Minneapolis for work and heard about the Trieste Cafe through colleagues. Not fancy at all, but the food impresses. This is a great spot for lunch -- highly recommended.

I can't say enough good things about this place. I think the layout for seating could be better (knock out that "tunnel" unless it's a weight bearing wall), otherwise, excellent! I love watching these guys make the salads in front of me with fresh ingredients. Splurge on the baklava - it's sooo good!

After reading some favorable reviews online for this place the Wife and I decided to give it a try. We were in town for a Twins game and it was along the way. It is within walking distance to the park. We both ordered the special of the day. Everything was great, cooked perfectly and the portions are spot on. I would definitely recommend Trieste Cafe.