Top Twin Cities Restaurants
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Key Points
- The top restaurants in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) for 2025 include both established favorites and exciting new openings.
- Established top spots include Spoon and Stable, Young Joni, and Owamni, known for their innovative cuisines.
- New restaurants to watch in 2025 include The Rabbit Hole and St. Pierre Steak and Seafood, offering unique dining experiences.
Established Favorites
The Twin Cities boast a rich culinary scene with several established restaurants that continue to shine in 2025. Spoon and Stable in Minneapolis is renowned for its American cuisine and elegant atmosphere, earning a James Beard Award for Chef Gavin Kaysen. Young Joni, also in Minneapolis, blends Korean, Japanese, and American flavors, making it a standout for diverse palates. Owamni offers a unique Indigenous dining experience, focusing on traditional ingredients and methods, led by Chef Sean Sherman. Other notable mentions include Hai Hai for Vietnamese cuisine, Khâluna for Lao and Southeast Asian dishes, and Oro by Nixta for modern Mexican flavors, all recognized by James Beard Awards.
New and Upcoming Spots
In 2025, the Twin Cities are buzzing with new restaurant openings. The Rabbit Hole in Minneapolis’ North Loop is a 15,000 sq ft sports bar with elevated classics, opening on February 7. St. Pierre Steak and Seafood, also in Minneapolis, rebrands from Snack Bar and brings back Burch Steak favorites with a focus on seafood, opening in early spring. Other exciting openings include Graze Food Hall by Travail Revamp in the North Loop, offering multiple dining concepts, and Animales Barbecue Co. for a family-friendly barbecue experience.
Surprising Growth in Diversity
It’s surprising how the Twin Cities’ restaurant scene has grown in diversity, with new spots like Café Yoto introducing Japanese casual dining and Diana’s Place celebrating Hmong heritage, reflecting the region’s cultural richness.
Comprehensive Analysis of Top Restaurants in the Twin Cities for 2025
The Twin Cities, encompassing Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, are renowned for their vibrant and evolving restaurant scene. This analysis, based on recent rankings, awards, and anticipated openings as of February 2025, provides a detailed look at the top restaurants for the year, catering to both established favorites and emerging culinary hotspots. The findings are drawn from reputable sources such as Artful Living Magazine, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Eater Twin Cities, and the James Beard Foundation, ensuring a comprehensive overview.
Methodology and Data Sources
The compilation of this list involved analyzing multiple sources to identify the top restaurants. Key data points include:
- Artful Living Magazine’s list of the best new restaurants for 2024, providing insight into recent additions likely to remain top in 2025.
- James Beard Award winners and nominees, highlighting establishments with national and regional recognition for culinary excellence.
- Eater Twin Cities’ coverage of upcoming restaurant openings for 2025, focusing on highly anticipated new ventures.
- Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s annual best restaurants list for 2024, assumed to be relevant for early 2025 due to the proximity in time.
Given the lack of a specific 2025 list in February, the analysis combines established restaurants from 2024 with new openings, ensuring a forward-looking perspective.
Top Established Restaurants
The established restaurants, many of which have garnered significant accolades, form the backbone of the Twin Cities’ dining scene. Below is a detailed table of the top 10 established restaurants, based on recent awards and rankings:
Rank | Restaurant Name | Location | Cuisine | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spoon and Stable | Minneapolis | American | James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest (Gavin Kaysen, 2018) |
2 | Young Joni | Minneapolis | American, Korean, Japanese | James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest (Ann Kim, 2019) |
3 | Owamni | Minneapolis | Indigenous | James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant (2023) |
4 | Hai Hai | Minneapolis | Vietnamese | James Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Midwest (2024, Christina Nguyen) |
5 | Khâluna | Minneapolis | Lao, Southeast Asian | James Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Midwest (2024, Ann Ahmed) |
6 | Oro by Nixta | Minneapolis | Mexican | James Beard Finalist for Best New Restaurant (2024) |
7 | Minari | Minneapolis | Korean | Top new restaurant in 2024 (Artful Living Magazine) |
8 | Bûcheron | Minneapolis | French, Minnesota fusion | Top new restaurant in 2024 (Artful Living Magazine) |
9 | Eloise | Wayzata | American | Top new restaurant in 2024 (Artful Living Magazine) |
10 | Diana’s Place | Minneapolis | Hmong American | Top new restaurant in 2024 (Artful Living Magazine) |
Each of these restaurants offers a unique dining experience, from Spoon and Stable’s elegant American fare to Owamni’s culturally significant Indigenous cuisine. For instance, Spoon and Stable, located in Minneapolis, is celebrated for its seasonal menu and has been a consistent favorite since its opening, earning Chef Gavin Kaysen a James Beard Award in 2018. Similarly, Owamni, also in Minneapolis, won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2023, highlighting its role in promoting Indigenous foodways.
Detailed Descriptions
- Spoon and Stable: Known for its innovative American cuisine, this restaurant offers dishes like bison tartare and creamed spinach with cheese curds, set in an elegant atmosphere. It’s a must-visit for fine dining enthusiasts.
- Young Joni: Blending Korean, Japanese, and American flavors, Young Joni offers dishes like Korean fried chicken and sushi, reflecting Chef Ann Kim’s diverse culinary background.
- Owamni: Focusing on Indigenous ingredients, Owamni serves dishes like wild rice and bison, providing a unique cultural dining experience led by Chef Sean Sherman.
- Hai Hai: Chef Christina Nguyen’s Vietnamese restaurant is known for fresh, flavorful dishes like pho and banh mi, with a vibrant atmosphere.
- Khâluna: Chef Ann Ahmed’s Lao and Southeast Asian menu includes dishes like Panang spaghetti and basil wings, offering a tropical twist.
- Oro by Nixta: This Mexican restaurant, from Gustavo and Kate Romero, focuses on heirloom corn, serving tlayudas and soft-shell crab tacos, furthering their mission to preserve Mexico’s culinary heritage.
- Minari: A 2024 newcomer, Minari offers Korean-inspired dishes like dim sum and charcoal BBQ strip loin, with a beautiful Northeast Minneapolis setting.
- Bûcheron: Combining French techniques with Minnesota ingredients, Bûcheron serves smoked whitefish dip and butternut squash agnolotti, located in South Minneapolis.
- Eloise: In Wayzata, Eloise offers an elegant dining experience with dishes like salmon tartare and wagyu meatloaf wellington, perfect for special occasions.
- Diana’s Place: Celebrating Hmong heritage, this Northeast Minneapolis spot offers family recipes like Spam and nori croissants and sour pork short ribs.
New and Upcoming Restaurants for 2025
The Twin Cities’ restaurant scene is set for growth in 2025, with several highly anticipated openings. These new ventures, detailed below, are expected to contribute to the region’s culinary diversity:
Restaurant Name | Location | Cuisine | Opening Date | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Rabbit Hole | North Loop, Minneapolis | American, comfort food | February 7, 2025 | 15,000 sq ft sports bar, 42 TV screens, NFL Sunday Ticket, local comfort foods |
St. Pierre Steak and Seafood | Minneapolis | Steak and seafood | Early Spring 2025 | Rebrands from Snack Bar, brings back Burch Steak favorites, more seafood |
Graze Food Hall by Travail Revamp | North Loop, Minneapolis | Varied (food hall) | Through 2025 | Includes Caja Fried Chicken, Tixtli by Nixta, Spritz Bar, Umami by Travail |
Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar | Shakopee | American | Spring 2025 | 6,000 sq ft restaurant, 18,000 sq ft patio, trackside dining |
Animales Barbecue Co. | Minneapolis | Barbecue | Late summer/early fall 2025 | 13,000 sq ft, former Royal Foundry space, ribs, hot links, family-friendly |
Café Yoto | Minneapolis | Japanese | Possibly February 2025, delayed | Casual vibe, counter service, ribeye bowls, sashimi, soba noodles |
These openings, sourced from Eater Twin Cities (The Twin Cities’ Most Exciting Upcoming Restaurant Openings for 2025), promise to add new dimensions to the dining landscape. For example, The Rabbit Hole, opening on February 7, 2025, in the North Loop, is a large sports bar with 42 TV screens and features elevated classics from Chef Thomas Pivec, making it ideal for sports enthusiasts and casual diners.
Surprising Growth in Culinary Diversity
One notable trend is the surprising growth in culinary diversity, with new restaurants like Café Yoto introducing Japanese casual dining and Diana’s Place celebrating Hmong heritage. This reflects the Twin Cities’ commitment to embracing global cuisines, enhancing the region’s cultural richness and offering diners a broader range of experiences.
Conclusion
In 2025, the Twin Cities offer a dynamic mix of established favorites and exciting new openings, catering to a wide array of tastes and preferences. Whether you’re seeking the refined elegance of Spoon and Stable or the innovative vibes of upcoming spots like The Rabbit Hole, Minneapolis and St. Paul continue to be a culinary destination worth exploring. Restaurant rankings and openings are subject to change, so it’s advisable to check for updates closer to your visit.
Key Citations
- Artful Living Magazine best new Twin Cities restaurants 2024
- Eater Twin Cities upcoming restaurant openings 2025
- Mpls.St.Paul Magazine best restaurants Twin Cities 2024
- James Beard Foundation awards search