MY BEST RESTAURANTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL
These are the best! Not the best new, not the most cool, not anything other than The Best Restaurants in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Can you be the best if you’ve been open a couple months? You cannot.
As the food writer for Minnesota Monthly and food reporter for WCCO Radio, I do a lot of research. And reviews come out of new restaurants in the order they open. It's not always the most useful format. So here I've put things in categories: Top Recommendations (which would be sort of like a 4 star restaurant), Highly Recommended (3 star), Recommend (2 star), and Worthy (1 star). 1 star is good! If I didn't like the place it wouldn't be on this list at all. This list is not inclusive of all Twin Cities restaurants, so let me know if there's a place I should visit. And let me know what you think! Click the link to read my reviews too!
I was nudged to write this by this post by Andrew Zimmern, talking about the glut of the end-of-the-year “BEST NEW” lists. I do write a BEST NEW restaurant list (it’s not online yet, but it’s in the Jan/Feb 2026 Minnesota Monthly magazine). I think there’s value in these - as plenty of people aren’t plugged in to the openings and closings. That said, holding up the places that are good, that are consistently good, and that continue to be good - is really important.
4 star: dErusha’s Top Recommendations
Demi - Beautiful room. Incredible service. A uniquely Minnesotan look at fine dining technique. If this were a traditional list, it may stand alone as a “4 star” restaurant.
Myriel - Myriel’s tasting menu is truly high art, a love letter to farm-to-table, and worth flying to Minnesota to experience. Warm service, you can feel the passion in this restaurant from the moment you walk in.
Spoon & Stable - Gavin Kaysen’s Spoon is our most complete restaurant: gorgeous space, great cocktails and wine, glorious dessert.
Diane’s Place: Diane Moua combines love for her Hmong heritage with decades of technique honed in the finest restaurants in Minnesota. Pastry that is world class, the best chicken noodle soup I’ve ever had in my life, coupled with amazing service.
Kado no Mise/ Kaiseki Furukawa - Kaiseki is a 10 course Japanese experience and Shigeyuki Furukawa is the only kaiseki chef in the Midwest. Truly beautiful, serene, formal and special.
Bûcheron - A younger generation defining fine dining their way. Technique as high as Demi, service as approachable and friendly as your neighborhood pub.
Meritage - The best spot in downtown Saint Paul, a classic French upscale brasserie, with technique and service that rarely disappoints. The casual oyster and wine bar has some of the best French wine in the state.
Oro by Nixta - Gustavo Romero’s fine dining Mexican restaurant is a love letter to corn. Soulful tortillas, bold and impressive flavors, a unique and beautiful experience here.
3 Star: Highly Recommend
Restaurant Alma
Joan’s In The Park
Hai Hai
Hyacinth
Vinai
Martina
P.S. Steak
112 Eatery
All Saints
Sanjusan
Manny’s Steak
2 STAR: RECOMMEND
Estelle, Saint Paul
Gus Gus, Saint Paul
Hola Arepa, Minneapolis
Tilia, Minneapolis
Pizzeria Lola, Minneapolis
Owamni, Minneapolis
Gai Noi, Minneapolis
Red Wagon Pizza, Minneapolis
Josefina, Wayzata
The Bungalow Club, Minneapolis
Quang , Minneapolis [podcast]
Punch Pizza, Various
J.D. Hoyt's , Minneapolis
Mucci's Italian [WCCO Story], Saint Paul
1 STAR: WORTHY
Mancini's , Saint Paul
The Lexington, Saint Paul
Butcher & The Boar, Minneapolis
Butcher’s Tale, Minneapolis
Gianni's Steakhouse , Wayzata
Brasa Rotisserie, Saint Paul / Minneapolis
Lat 14, Golden Valley
Maison Margaux, Minneapolis
Master Noodle, Saint Paul
El Burrito Mercado, Saint Paul
Rainbow Chinese, Minneapolis
Pajarito , Saint Paul
Red Rabbit , Minneapolis and Saint Paul
Q Fanatic [WCCO Story], Champlin
Jax Cafe , Minneapolis
Manny's Tortas Minneapolis
Mario’s, Saint Paul
DeGidio's , Saint Paul
Broders' Cucina Italiana, Minneapolis
Victor's 1959 Cafe, Minneapolis
Sea Salt Eatery - summer only
