The 16 Best Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis: Our Local Awards

Northeast, Minneapolis: The Twin Cities’ haven for artists, breweries, and… delicious restaurants?

You bet!

Over the years, Northeast has been upping its restaurant game. Big time.

To the point that I’d now argue there might be more amazing restaurants in the six funky square miles across the river than just about anywhere else in the Twin Cities.

How do I know? Because as we were putting together our local picks, you’ll notice this list is far longer than our usual roundups.

Why?

Delicious restaurants! Pay attention!

From our picks for the best date night spots to the best dive bars without a roof. Here’s our choices for the 19 best Northeast Minneapolis restaurants.

Twin Cities Map of the Best Restaurants in Northeast, Minneapolis

Most awesome lobster inside a dive bar: Smack Shack at The 1029 Bar

How’s that for a category to start things off??

The title says it all. Smack Shack at The 1029 Bar is the only place you’re going to find lobster inside a dive bar. And not just any lobster either, but absolutely delicious lobster that we’d put up against anything on the East Coast.

So step inside this dive, grab a beer, and get ready to get weird. Only in Northeast!

• Website: Smack Shack at The 1029 Bar
• Address: 1029 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Best fancy Asian food: Hai Hai

At Hai Hai, Chef Christina Nguyen, excuse me… three-time James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef in the Midwest* Christina Nguyen, takes the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian dishes she grew up loving and turns them on their head.

*She won the James Beard Award in 2024. Represent!

You won’t find the usual pho or pad Thai here. Instead, you’ll get unique plates that you’ve got to try to believe. Fan favorites include the Balinese Chicken Rice Plate, the Balinese Cauliflower, and the Banana Blossom Salad.

Oh, and don’t skip on the bar. It’s got some of the best cocktails in the Twin Cities.

• Website: Hai Hai
• Address: 2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Best dive bar burger: Shaws

In Northeast, it doesn’t get more divey than Shaws. For years, this place literally didn’t have a ceiling, instead opting for a plastic tarp.

Thankfully, the bar menu puts the interior design to shame. Namely, some classic, no-fuss burgers we’ve come to love.

• Website: Shaws
• Address: 1528 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Best patio: Aster Cafe

The Stone Arch bridge has some of the best views of Downtown Minneapolis anywhere. Aster Cafe has views of Downtown Minneapolis AND The Stone Arch bridge. Meaning this place really has some of the best Minneapolis views anywhere.

This beautiful patio is perfect for lounging away a lazy day while taking in all the downtown Minneapolis views. Located on Northeast’s Main Street, a street somebody once called “one of the most scenic roads in America.”

Who was that somebody? No clue, but they probably made that decision after enjoying Aster Cafe’s patio.

• Website: Aster Cafe
• Address: 125 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Our favorite brunch: Diane’s Place

Diane’s Place is a critically acclaimed spot that mixes the chef’s fine-dining background with her Hmong heritage. The result? A hugely popular restaurant that is somehow both homey and elevated. We’d argue that breakfast and brunch is the main event here, and with popular menu items like Hmong Sausage and Thai Thea French Toast, this is one of the most unique brunches around.

Maybe that explains the long list of accolades, and serious accolades at that: NYT’s Top 50 Restaurants in America, Food & Wine’s Restaurants of the Year 2025, and Minnesota Monthly’s Best New Restaurant 2024. 

• Address: 117 14th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
• Website: Diane’s Place

Best wood fired pizza: Element Wood Fire Pizza

If you’re looking for plentiful cheesy yet extra charred wood fired pizza, Element is your best bet in Northeast Minneapolis. Don’t let the small building fool you. This neighborhood spot churns out huge flavor.

• Address: 96 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
• Website: Element Pizza

Best upscale taco bar: Centro

When we heard a Mexican place was opening across the street from one of our favorite Twin Cities breweries, (that’d be the Northeast legend, Indeed Brewing) we weren’t sure what to expect.

What we got were some absolutely fantastic takes on classic Mexican tacos. Tinga, al pastor, fish, and even nopales cactus… it’s all here and it’s all amazing. All served in a beautiful tequila bar atmosphere. (Centro is also connected to its even fancier sister restaurant, Popol Vuh, in case you want to up the chef-factor even higher.)

• Address: 1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
• Website: Centro
  

Best casual Mexican: Maya Cuisine

This authentic Mexican spot includes both cafeteria style ordering and casual sit down. No matter which option you choose, you’re sure to get the area’s most authentic tamales, tacos, and pozole. All topped with your choice of incredible salsas, of course.

• Website: Maya Cuisine
  
• Address:1840 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

The critic’s favorite Mexican restaurant: Oro by Nixta

When Oro opened in 2023, they were immediately nominated for a James Beard award as one of the best new restaurants in the country, followed by Eater naming it Minneapolis’s restaurant of the year. And the rave reviews keep pouring in.

Why the hype? Oro is one of those restaurants that would be accurately described as a concept – they have the lofty goal of elevating corn in the eyes of American diners from an overlooked side dish to the star of the show. To do so, the chef whips up all sort of creative Mexican dishes revolving around corn. 

But a cool idea only goes so far. Oro wouldn’t maintain the hype it does without delicious food to back it up, And I can confirm, this stuff is the real deal! 

• Website: Oro by Nixta
  
• Address: 1222 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Most unique world fare: Chimborazo

A few years ago, I’d just returned from a week-long trip to Costa Rica. (For anyone who’s ever been to Costa Rica, you know that the hugely flavorful Arroz con Pollo is the unofficial national dish of that country.) Fresh off the plane with a huge craving, I found myself searching all over the Twin Cities for a place serving this authentic dish.

Not only did Chimborazo have it (they call it Chaulafan) but their version was nearly an exact replica to the dish I’d fallen in love with, nearly 3,000 miles away.

This sort of experience is exactly why Chimborazo has the most unique world fare in Northeast Minneapolis. Their authentic Ecuadorian food is unmatched, and has rightfully become a neighborhood staple.

• Website: Chimborazo
• Address: 2851 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

For high-end dim sum: Minari

Minari is a cool and trendy restaurant with one of my all time favorite features – a dim sum cart! 

And this ain’t your parent’s dim-sum. Minari takes the concept and throws a chef’s spin on it, with upscale dumpling fillings like squid ink and foie gras regularly making the rounds. 

There’s also a full Southeast Asian menu, plus a unique bar area with its own menu. 

• Website: Minari
• Address: 323 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Best Indian food: Gorkha Palace

Okay, technically Gorkha Palace tilts towards Nepalese cuisine, but with Curries and MoMos this delicious, who needs to split hairs?

Gorkha Palace definitely serves up some of the most delicious food in all of Northeast, which is why we don’t even hesitate to award it the best Indian food in Northeast Minneapolis.

• Website: Gorkha Palace
• Address: 23 4th St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Our favorite Mediterranean food: Olive & Lamb

Olive & Lamb serves delicious Mediterranean food in a beautiful fast-casual atmosphere.

Here, you’ll find all the Mediterranean staples, like top notch gyros, hummus, and rice bowls, but the star of the show is certainly their Kebab Plates.

• Website: Olive & Lamb
• Address: 2424 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Most popular Mediterranean: Holy Land

Holy Land is definitely one of the biggest names in Mediterranean food in Minneapolis. That’s probably thanks to an evolution that since 1986, has seen the brand grow from a small Mediterranean deli to a big business now stocking pita and hummus at grocery stores around the country.

At the root of it all though, is the tasty Northeast Minneapolis restaurant. Their lengthy menu features classic takes on all the Middle Eastern staples, like gyros, kabobs, wood fired rotisserie chicken, meat and rice plates, and Greek salads.

• Website: Holy Land
  
• Address: 2513 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Best Lebanese food: Emily’s Lebanese Deli

Oh Emily’s, how we love you. This neighborhood staple has been delighting Northeast residents since 1973. In that time, it’s perfected a menu packed with unique Lebanese flavors, and the result is so good they even lured in Guy Fieri and the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives team. (Who all had fantastic things to say, of course.)

No matter what you get here, just make sure to douse it in their crack-like garlic sauce.

• Website: Emily’s
• Address: 641 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Best fried fish: The Anchor Fish & Chips

What began as a delicious food truck has now become a Northeast Minneapolis favorite. Through the small but charming space, Anchor Fish and Chips consistently serves up perfectly fried fish… and chips.

As in, the best fish and chips in the city, at least according to our best seafood in Minneapolis awards.

• Website: The Anchor Fish & Chips
• Address: 302 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Best Hmong Food: Vinai

Vinai’s opening was years in the making, but thankfully, it’s been worth the wait.

We first had our minds sufficiently blown at Vinai’s sneak peek tasting menu in a temporary space. And now that the James Beard chef found a permanent home for his restaurant in Northeast, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most delicious spots in the neighborhood. 

Here you’ll find elevated spins on classic Hmong cuisine from head chef Yia Vang’s childhood. Don’t forget to douse it all in Mama Vang’s sauce! 

• Website: Vinai
• Address: 1300 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55413