Eat Street

Mecca's Picks:

Choose your own adventure by strolling over to Eat Street, where you’ll find top-notch coffee at Spyhouse, or my best recommendation, pho or banh mi at either Quang, or Lu’s Sandwiches. The former being one of Minneapolis’ most famous Vietnamese eating institutions, the place does a brisk business of a thousand customers on a busy day. Or, watch the true sandwich artists at Lu’s build a banh mi just the way you like it. I recommend plenty of their handmade pate and mayo with your choice of meats or tofu on their also outstanding made in-house bread.

Recommended dishes:
Quang: Pho, and a frosty and sweet Vietnamese coffee over ice
Lu’s Sandwiches: Made to order banh mi or rice noodle bowls

If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, stroll to the far end of Eat Street and pop into Rainbow Chinese, a three-decades running gem owned and operated by the one and only Tammy Wong. If you’re still hungry, nibble on the best chicken and chive dumplings in town, or some crisp, 5-spice calamari along with a refreshing Hibiscus Martini or Mango Margarita. If Tammy is in the house, be sure and say hello. She’s not just a local, but a national treasure, and a dear friend of mine. She’ll be yours too, in short order.

Our Picks:

The best part about Eat Street is how you can travel the world and experience all its flavors in one place. That includes Pho Tau Bay for it's Vietnamese staples. The unassuming building is actually a great spot for generation portions of hot Pho bowls, banh mi sandwiches, and platters of broken rice with grilled meat. Leaning into their German heritage, Black Forest Inn has all the hearty, delicious dishes found in the Deutschland, you also can't miss the charming little patio that will transform you overseas to Europe. Little Tijuana serves up late night bites in the form of elevated bar food. The lounge decor makes it the perfect atmosphere to sip on their carefully crafted cocktails. Kebabs, falafel, tabbouleh, and more can all be found at Marhaba Grill, a Middle Eastern and North African restaurant. The buffet is filled with these favorites as well as some deep cut specials, like the okra stew.

Lake Street

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Next head over to the nearby Midtown Global Market, where an afternoon’s worth of strolling, snacking, sipping, and shopping await. The market lives up to its global name, and is home to restaurants from Morocco, Mexico, and Somalia to name only a few worldly attractions. This is a great place to get some shopping done, whether you’re looking for African art or Norwegian pastries.

On the way back, take East Lake Street and hit up some of our best Mexican offerings for dinner, which happen to be out of the taco trucks lining the thoroughfare of this bustling Mexican enclave. My two favorites include Que Chula es Puebla, selling huge Cemitas, a Pueblan specialty sandwich bursting with fried meat cutlets, cheese, chiles and avocados; or Tacos El Primo, consistently my favorite tacos in town at unbeatable prices. The scene in the parking lot alone is worth the price of admission.

Our Picks:

Cool down with the abundance of ice cream flavors at La Michoacana. The specialize in the Mexican frozen treat, paletas, an ice Popsicle made from fresh natural fruits or rich creamy ingredients such as chocolate and coconut. Quruxlow brings you authentic Somali dishes, from the sambosas to the chicken suqaar to the goat meat and rice this is where you'll find all the most loved flavors of Somalia.

Uptown & Lyn Lake

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Heading back towards the Uptown area, make a stop at Lake and Lyndale, and bypass all of the many bars and restaurants in favor of Volstead’s Emporium, which has no signage, and no storefront, but instead hides down an alley and opens through a heavy back door with only eye slots to indicate you’ve arrived. The speakeasy often hosts live jazz bands, and make sure you find the secret passageway into the secret cocktail room. I’d tell you how, but then it would remain a secret no more.

Have that all-important late night bite at nearby and walkable from Volstead’s World Street Kitchen (WSK) where Palestinian chef Sameh Wadi pays homage to street food from around the world. Get spicy bites inspired by Mexico, Korea, the Middle East, and more. Instead of a nightcap, grab a cone or a shake from Milkjam, WSK’s adjacent ice cream shop, where handmade inspirations like passionfruit lychee swirl or hibiscus lemonade keep fans lined up down the block well into the night.

Recommended Dishes:
The daily special at WSK, and at Milkjam, try “Black” the deepest cocoa ice cream.

Our Picks:

Hummus bowls filled with flavors like za'tar, falafel, or beef minced shawarma. That's the main focus of Baba's Hummus Hut, a Middle Eastern restaurant inspired by the owner's Palestinian heritage. At Trio Plant Based, find the great taste of soul food all made with vegan ingredients. Make sure to grab an order of the Cauliflower Wings which are battered fried & tossed in your choice of sauce. A favorite rooftop stop, Moto-i gives incredible views of the Minneapolis skyline while enjoying Tokyo-style ramen noodles, house-made steamed buns, and a rotating menu of seasonal specials. You also can't miss the Sake here, as the brew their own authentic sake onsite!

Cedar Riverside

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You’ve been logging plenty of hours, steps, and miles, so if you want to sleep in a little, it’s totes understandable. Get a bit further off the beaten path, and jump on the blue line towards the Mall of America. But don’t go all the way to the Mall. Instead, jump off at 46th Street Station, and walk the block or so to Bull’s Horn, where top chef Doug Flicker has taken things delightfully lowbrow, and made updates to a longtime neighborhood dive bar. Inside, scratch bar food meets zero pretense (pull tabs and an original jukebox) for a relaxing lunch over tap beers. Think ring bologna, fried chicken gizzards, and meatloaf for eats.

Recommended dishes:
I love the “Daily Trays” with rotating platters of mains (fried chicken, pork shoulder) and sides (baked beans, macaroni salad) appropriate for sharing.

Our Picks:

Cedar Riverside is known for its abundance of East African restaurants and a clear favorite of them all is Dilla's Ethiopian Restaurant. Here they have plenty of vegetarian options, plus plenty of wot dishes, berbere spice and of course all the injera you can eat. Tamu Grill specializes in the flavors of Kenya and Africa. We can't get enough of the curries, but we'd also recommend the jollof rice and the samosas.

University of Minnesota Campus

Mecca's Picks

For dinner, get back on the train towards St. Paul, and get off at Stadium Village, where there are are plenty of commons areas for lounging around if you’re in the mood for a break. When your appetite inevitably surges, head over to Afro Deli, for something more specific to Minneapolis. This is where East African favorites get the fast-casual treatment, and you can try things like Somali Rice or chicken suqaar (Somali stir-fry) served in a chapati wrap or bowl.

Our picks:

Teahouse is not your average Chinese restaurant. The menu offers a full list of Szechuan specialties, including dumplings, tea-smoked duck, and mu shu pork. The perfect spot for a late night bite, Frank & Andrea's, where you can get Philadelphia cheesesteaks, NYC-style pizza and more! Caspian Bistro is family-owned restaurant operating for over 30 years, that serves traditional Persian cuisine in a welcoming communal atmosphere. Bring all your friends and family for some Kashk e Bademjan (baked eggplant and garlic puree served with special yogurt sauce and basmati rice) or Ghormeh Sabzi (an aromatic stew made with sautéed fenugreek, Persian chives, parsley, spinach, kidney beans, sun dried limes, and cubed select tenderloin served with basmati rice). Attached to the restaurant is a Persian market with specialty goods of nuts, fruits, meats and cheeses.