There’s so many delicious restaurants in Uptown, Minneapolis that sometimes making a decision on where to eat can be brutal.
But fear not! As long-time Minneapolis locals, Lily and I have explored every nook and cranny of the Uptown ‘hood, and I’m here to report back with our 9 favorites restaurants.
On this list, you’ll find Uptown’s best Italian, Indian, sushi and even a dessert spot or two. Happy uptown’ing!
Map of the Best Restaurants in Uptown, Minneapolis
World Street Kitchen
If you put a pronto pup to my head and made me choose, I’d say World Street Kitchen is my personal favorite restaurant in Uptown, Minneapolis.
“WSK” started as a humble food truck from Chef Sameh Wadi and his brother Saed. With its unique blend of world flavors, it’s not surprising that the truck was an instant hit. A trip to Iron Chef America later, and Chef Sameh was a local celebrity.
Today, WSK has a full fast casual, open concept restaurant right in the heart of uptown. And the menu is as diverse and delicious as ever. With surprise standouts like the most delicious brussel sprouts you’ve ever had all the way to their signature Yum Yum Rice Bowls, this place consistently kills it. My personal go-to? The Red Curry Chicken Bangkok Burrito. I promise it will be one of the most unique and amazing burritos you’ve ever had.
- Address: 2743 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: World Street Kitchen
Lake & Irving
Lake & Irving, located at the cross-streets of Lake and Irving of all places, surely doesn’t give you any hints what their restaurant is about with the name. So as avid fans, we’ll fill you in on the gaps.
This pub-style restaurant grew a rabid fan base thanks to their incredible Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. They then followed that up that theme with the “KFC” – that’d be Fried Korean Cauliflower – just in case any veggies were feeling left out. Then they topped it all off with a Cheeseburger that’s out of this world, and a tap beer list that’s sure to make you thirsty.
This is one of the most popular restaurants in uptown, and for good reason.
- Address: 1513 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Lake & Irving
Bryant Lake Bowl
Dinner and… bowling???
Yep, this crazy unique Uptown legend features an antique bowling alley in the back. Sure, you might have to compensate for the old bowling lane’s obvious tilt to one side, but there’s just something unforgettable about grabbing a meal, ordering a pitcher, and lacing up the bowling shoes.
- Address: 810 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Bryant Lake Bowl
India Palace Uptown
Proving yet again that you can find a delicious restaurant of every variety in Uptown, India Palace Uptown brings incredible Indian flavors all the way to Hennepin Ave. Known for their delicious curries, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Indian classics here. Which is probably why India Palace Uptown is a a frequent winner of the “Best Indian Food” awards handed out by local Twin Cities magazines.
- Address: 2546 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
- Website: India Palace
Mucci’s Italian
At this point, it’s no secret that we’re total Mucci’s fanboys. We’ve named them in our list of best pizza in Minneapolis and our list of best Italian in Minneapolis. And now you can add best Italian in Uptown to Mucci’s credentials!
We have a good reason for our obsession though, we promise! From their fried crust pizza to their legendary lasagna, everything at Mucci’s is done with the love of and care of your long-lost Italian grandmother. That is, if she put chef-like spins on her meals and started serving them up in a cool and trendy Uptown restaurant.
- Address: 901 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Mucci’s Italian
Barbette
The only French bistro on the list, Barbette is an Uptown farm to table favorite.
Thanks to the warm, welcoming design and sophisticated plates, locals have been known to flock here for everything from a casual morning brunch to a romantic date night.
- Address: 1600 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Barbette
Isles Bun and Coffee
You knew we were gonna get to the sweets eventually, right?
Forget Uptown… Isles Bun and Coffee has some of the best sweets in the whole Twin Cities!
That’s thanks to their legendary and incredibly popular Cinnamon and Caramel Buns, which come out as massive mountains of sweet, sticky deliciousness. For those who don’t feel like eating a mountain for breakfast, there’s also the much smaller and more manageable Puppy Dog Tails, which are essentially mini versions of their legendary cinnamon rolls.
If you have trouble finding this place, just look for the line wrapped all the way around the block!
- Address: 1424 W 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Isles Buns
Origami Restaurant
For decades, Origami in downtown Minneapolis, was considered some of the best sushi in the Twin Cities. Then, in 2013, Chef “Ichi” Ichikawa opened an Origami Uptown location, and shortly thereafter, transferred the entire downtown location to Uptown. In doing so, Origami traded an old brick building for a trendy Uptown location, featuring two levels and a massive outdoor patio.
But one thing they didn’t change was their menu’s fresh sushi, notably the nigiri and shashimi. It’s the same high quality, uber fresh fish that we’ve come to expect from Chef Ichi over the past 30 years.
- Address: 1354 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Origami
Milkjam Creamery
Chef Sameh Wadi’s second appearance on this list. Milk Jam Creamery is located right next to World Street Kitchen, and the two restaurants are actually connected inside by an open door-frame. Step through that door-frame, and you’re transported from WSK’s warm, street food atmosphere into the cool, classic ice cream parlor that is Milk Jam. It’s like entering another world, and makes for the perfect end cap to a delicious World Street Kitchen meal.
At Milk Jam, you’ll find all sorts of unique, chef-inspired ice cream flavors. My personal favorite flavor is the flagship Milkjam, which is basically vanilla ice cream on steroids (thanks to a mixture of caramelize goat, cow, and condensed milk) but I know Lily is known to grab the Cereal Killer (candied pebbles with orange coriander milk) or the Ridin’ Duuurty, a crazy oreo concoction.
- Address: 2743 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Milkjam
