What’s open, what’s closed and what’s still to come in the Twin Cities and beyond.
El Taco Real in Richfield opened in early May, serving up dishes like a birria tostada. (Nancy Ngo/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Stay up to date on the latest from your favorite restaurants, bars and food purveyors. For a complete list of past openings and closings organized by month, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Bellecour (107 N 3rd Av., Mpls., instagram.com/bellecourmn) Gavin Kaysen is bringing back his French bistro concept in the North Loop and Edina. Bellecour North Loop will open first with a pastry lineup plus grab-and-go options in the morning and over lunch. In the evening, the restaurant will flip to full service, with a full bar. Edina Bellecour will be more casual, with the morning service like North Loop, plus beer and wine. Look for a fall opening. Read our coverage here.
Dark Horse (250 E. 7th St., St Paul, instagram.com/darkhorsestpaul) This Lowertown neighborhood pub is making a comeback with new ownership and fresh chef talent in the kitchen. Chef Shane Oporto and Sarah McDonough will lead the restaurant that's now under the same ownership as St. Paul Brewing and Can Can Wonderland. Read our coverage here.
Southern Social (Chaska) (2880 Chaska Blvd., Chaska, outhernsocialmn.com) A Minnesota restaurant group with a Southern-styled menu will open its next location in Chaska. Read our coverage here.
Smorgie's (127 W. 7th St., St Paul, smorgiesbar.com) Casual and fun eats at an affordable price, this restaurant doesn't take itself too seriously. The original outpost is across from the Xcel Energy Center and has thrived on pre-event crowds.
House of Jane (1601 W. Lake St., Mpls.) Michelle Courtright, who owned plant-based restaurant Fig + Farro from 2017 to 2020, will open House of Jane in place of Italian restaurant Pinoli. Courtright started the women’s lifestyle brand Jane, featuring low-dose cannabis, in 2023 and is planning a flagship store and a plant-based restaurant called Matriarch for the space. Read our coverage here.
Stock & Bond (88 S. 6th St., Mpls., marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mspmi-the-westin-minneapolis/dining) A new steakhouse is replacing Bank Restaurant in the Westin Hotel, under the leadership of executive Chef, John Sobojinski, a Minnesota native who worked in New York under Missy Robbins and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Look for a summer opening. Read our coverage here.
Mirabelle/Shiki (200 Water St., Excelsior, parlourbar.com ) The group behind Borough, Parlour, Butcher & the Boar, Char Bar and P.S. Steak, all in Minneapolis, announced three new restaurants in Excelsior. One, Parlour, opened in Nov. 2024, while two more concepts to come in summer 2025. Mirabelle will have an American menu that should please families, date-night couples and casual meetups over fresh fare. The menu has a couple of hallmarks of great Midwestern dining, including popovers and nightly specials like meatloaf, prime rib and fish-fry Fridays. Shiki will focus its menu on ramen and dumplings. Read our coverage here.
Sweet Paris (Galleria, Edina, sweetparis.com) The crêpe-centered, fast-casual chain will expand to Edina’s Galleria this fall. The restaurants specialize in sweet and savory crêpes, along with a few other French-inspired menu items. This new outpost is under the same ownership as the two other Sweet Paris locations in the metro area, Woodbury and the Mall of America.
Marrone's (4250 Nicollet Av., Mpls., marronespizzapa.com) Steven Brown, the chef/owner behind venerable Minneapolis eateries Tilia, St. Genevieve and culinary partner of Hotel Emery’s Giulia, is creating a whole vibe for his next restaurant. Marrone’s will sport around 30 seats and build its menu around wood-fired pizza. In the back, there will be a courtyard like those little urban slices of outdoor dining found in New York City neighborhoods. Read our coverage here.
Dairy Cream (1720 Lexington Av. N, Roseville) It looks like the state’s oldest Dairy Queen will turn the lights back on, but under a new name and different recipes. Fans had been holding out hope that the Roseville location — one of the first Minnesota Dairy Queens built by the chain founded in Illinois but now based in Bloomington — would be resurrected under new owners since learning that the 2024 season was its last. The new owner said that if it can’t be a Dairy Queen, he’s setting his sights on the next best thing — an independently run operation called Dairy Cream with a menu that’s an ode to the space’s greatest hits. Read our coverage here.
Hometowne Pizza (118 N. 4th St., Mpls., hometownepizza.com) It looks like the former Dulono’s, which closed last year in the downtown Minneapolis Warehouse District, will become a Hometowne Pizza, a family-friendly restaurant and arcade, come early May, according to the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal.
Nokko Sushi (4747 Nicollet Av., Mpls., nikkosushi.org/home) Hide Tozawa of Okome House plans to open a new restaurant with a focus on temaki, or rolled-up cones of sushi. Tozawa has made his name around the Twin Cities working in notable kitchens like the original Origami and Fuji-Ya before he co-founded Kyatchi as executive chef. He left to open Okome House, also in Minneapolis, in 2020. Look for a 2025 opening in the space that last belonged to Fast Eddie's Pizza.
Hippo Pockets (735 E. 48th St., Mpls., hippopockets.com) With Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken's departure in south Minneapolis, another restaurant is waiting in the wings to take over the space. Hippo Pockets, the pop-up concept from Centro, the locally run taqueria with four area locations, will take over the spot on 48th Street near Chicago Avenue. Hippo Pockets’ stuffed tortilla wraps including the Original (taco seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato and nacho cheese with a tostada wrapped inside a flour tortilla), Cubano, chicken bacon and falafel concoctions and more could be available for orders at the new location this summer.
Silverbird Roasting Co. (4237 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., silverbirdcoffee.com) Opening this summer in the former Kruse Markit bistro, this coffee and wine bar will be the first brick and mortar for the roastery, which has been supplying coffee to shops around the cities and nationally since 2020. Read our coverage here.
Liliana (10060 City Walk Dr., Woodbury, instagram.com/liliana_wdb) From the owners of Estelle and Mario’s in St. Paul comes a new eatery with some bold-name culinary talent. Owners Peter Sebastian and chef Jason Hansen have been viewing real estate all over the metro area for the Italian place both were dreaming of opening for years. Leading day-to-day operations inside Liliana’s kitchen will be Kenzie Edinger, who is just wrapping up an impressive run at Saint Dinette. Before that, she led the kitchen at Mucci’s. Read our coverage here.
Tono Pizzeria + Cheesesteaks (North Loop) (210 N. 2nd St., Mpls., tonomn.com) The fast-expanding local pizza and cheesesteak chain Tono has announced it will open in the Wheelhouse development, formerly known as Traffic Zone, in Minneapolis.
Prince Coal-Fired Pizza (512 N. Robert St., St. Paul, princepizzamn.com) The former Black Sheep Pizza on Robert Street has landed a new owner that knows a few things about great pizza. Prince Coal-Fired Pizza will open in the location that’s been dark since 2022. The new restaurant is the work of the same owners as Tono Pizzeria and Cheesesteaks and Frank From Philly & Andrea Pizza. Look for the fires to get rolling in July.
Rustica (794 E. Lake St., Wayzata, rusticabakery.com) By this summer, Jester Concepts' new addition to Rustica’s other two locations, in Minneapolis and Edina, will open in Wayzata. The bakery and cafe takes over a now-vacant former Wuollet’s Bakery, which closed last year amid eviction proceedings. Look for coffee drinks, homemade breads and pastries from Cafe Ceres' Shawn McKenzie, who is head of Rustica’s production team. Eventually, the menu will expand into more savory food, but mainly in a grab-and-go format. Read our coverage here.
Burger Dive (Rosedale Center, 1595 Hwy. 36, Roseville, burgerdivemn.com) Burger Dive is leaving the Potluck food hall inside Rosedale Center and into its own location, closer to the AMC movie theater on the mall’s upstairs, outer plaza. With all that space and dedicated seating, the smashburger-focused restaurant from Josh Thoma and Nick O’Leary will expand hours and menus to include breakfast through dinner, as they do at their St. Paul location (731 Randolph Av., St. Paul). A mid-2025 opening is expected.
Feast Buffet (1690 Woodlane Dr., Woodbury) The owners of Sushi Train will open a seafood buffet in the former Cowboy Jack's, with a menu that is expected to include dim sum, hibachi, Cajun seafood boils and more. Opening mid-2025. Read our coverage here.
Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar (1125-1135 Shenandoah Dr., Shakopee, boardwalkmn.com) A huge new restaurant and entertainment venue, with an 18,000-square-foot patio overlooking Canterbury Park racetrack, will open soon. Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar will join the already opened Bravi’s Craft Mexican Kitchen, Badger Hill Brewing and, most recently, OG Zaza at the south metro's fast-growing Canterbury Park development. The kitchen will be led by executive chef Chris Dmochowski, a D'Amico and CoV alum. Read our coverage here.
David Fhima Excelsior restaurant (205 Water St., Excelsior, fhimasmpls.com) The owner of Maison Margaux, Fhima’s and Mother Dough will add a new address to his packed restaurant lineup. David Fhima will open what he’s calling “a little taste of Palermo” in a space that includes the former Red Sauce Rebellion on Excelsior’s Water Street. His next project will include an upstairs espresso bar in the mornings and a subterranean bar. Opening 2025.
Mother Dough Bakery (800 Nicollet Av., Mpls., motherdoughbakery.com) David Fhima's French-influenced bakery and cafe serves pastries and coffee in the morning and sandwiches for lunch. The latest location, in the U.S. Bancorp building, will join the original two locations in downtown's Capella Tower and a lofty new spot at the base of the Vicinity Apartments in the Mill District.
Bubble Line Brewery (St. Paul, bubblelinebrewing.com) Launching in 2025, Bubble Line Brewing Co. is currently crowdfunding to open a brewery and taproom in St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood. In addition to brewing beer, the taproom would serve coffee drinks and other nonalcoholic beverages and serve as a family-friendly gathering space.
Pig Ate My Pizza (10700 Bloomington Ferry Rd., Bloomington, travailkitchen.com) The Robbinsdale-based Travail team has set its sights to the south, with the revelation of a new Pig Ate My Pizza location coming to Bloomington. The group behind its eponymous fine-dining complex and the casual Nouvelle, both in Robbinsdale, has filed a proposal with the city of Bloomington to take over a former gas station. The new pizzeria is slated for summer 2025. Read our coverage here.
Ate Ate Ate (1178 Burnsville Center, Burnsville, ateateatemn.com) The food hall slated to open in Burnsville Center will anchor the mall's redeveloped north section, in the space once occupied by a Gordmans Department store. Its website lists this roster of vendors: Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, Oday, Niko Niko Boba, Amazing Momo, Han Sang Korean Cuisine, Messy Jesse’s, Soga, Saigon Meats Manila and Sho Ramen. Read our coverage here.
Ray J's (Rogers, ray-js.com) Fans of those giant Ray J's wings will soon be able to get them in the east, west and now north metro area when the newest location opens in Rogers. The restaurant is expected to open in the fall of 2025. Get your wing fix in the meantime at Ray J's in Minneapolis (500 Central Av. SE.) and Woodbury (9854 Norma Lane) and Schullers Tavern in Golden Valley (7345 Country Club Dr.). Read our coverage here.
Asia Village (301 Northtown Dr. NE., Blaine, facebook.com/people/Asia-Village) Partners with a stake in the Asia Mall in Eden Prairie say they plan to bring a similar concept to the Northtown Mall in Blaine. Work to transform a 130,000-square foot space that once was Herberger’s department store and is currently occupied by Becker Furniture began August 2024 and is expected to take 12 to 16 months. Two restaurants have been announced: 85°C Bakery & Cafe and Pho Mai. Read our coverage here.
Namos Restaurant & Lounge (601 Chicago Av., Mpls., instagram.com/namosminneapolis) A high-end sports bar in the former Erik the Red and Hubert’s space near U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, is in the works, according to Downtown Voices.
North Loop tequila restaurant (113 N. 1st St., Mpls., nololovestequila.com) Local restaurateurs Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald are doubling down on their efforts in Minneapolis' North Loop with a second restaurant. The duo, which owns Burger Dive, Smack Shack and the Lexington, originally announced that their yet-to-be-named restaurant would open summer 2023 in the former Alliance Française, but there have been no recent updates to that status. Read our coverage here.
Tim McKee project (121-125 N. 1st St., Mpls., thewesthotel.com) When James Beard Award-winning chef Tim McKee, the La Belle Vie trailblazer, announced his intentions to open a Spanish restaurant in Minneapolis' North Loop in 2023, details were hazy. Now, the picture is becoming clearer, with news of a new hotel opening in Minneapolis, originally slated for 2024 but delayed. Salt Hotels will launch the West Hotel in a development on the corner of 2nd Avenue N. and N. 1st Street. And there's more: In addition to a Basque-inspired restaurant featuring pintxos and other dishes cooked over charcoal, McKee will spearhead an Eastern Mediterranean-inspired bakery that will utilize a wood-fired oven. McKee is also overseeing the hotel's events and in-room dining. After a delay in construction due to funding, there is no official opening date. Read our coverage here.
Saffron (TBA, saffronmpls.com) It's been eight years since Saffron, the influential Mediterranean restaurant, closed its doors in downtown Minneapolis. Now, chef/owner Sameh Wadi has announced he will reopen Saffron in 2025. Read our coverage here.
Downtown food hall (825 Hennepin Av., Mpls.) It looks like the defunct Rock Bottom Brewery space in downtown Minneapolis could become a food hall. The Mpls./St. Paul Business Journal reports that key players from the Market at Malcolm Yards and LaSalle Plaza owners Hempel Real Estate plan to convert the expansive 30,000-square-foot space into a food hall by 2026. Read our coverage here.
Fro Yo Soul Sips + Snacks (725 Vineland Place, Mpls., fro-yo-soul.com) Frozen yogurt and a few light bites (and drinks) will be available in the Minnesota Sculpture Garden. Fro Yo Soul has signed a five-year agreement to provide vending for the summery tourist-draw. Opens June 7. Read our coverage here.
Red Coral Coffee (4457 42nd Av. S., Mpls., redcoralcoffee.com) Red Coral Coffee is now open inside Okome House weekday mornings through afternoon. The company started by Ben Wu offers specialty pour over coffee imported from Taiwan online. There are special brews along with espresso drinks, matcha, premium teas and affogato. The location offers indoor and shaded patio seating.
Golden Thyme (934 Selby Av., St. Paul, goldenthymeco.com) A return of the community-focused cafe, Golden Thyme has returned to the Rondo neighborhood with a coffee shop with a few grab-and-go food items and a nearby full-service restaurant and bar serving elevated Southern cuisine for both lunch and dinner. Read our coverage here.
Cabana Anna's (4165 Shoreline Dr., Spring Park, cabanaannas.com) The restaurant inside the new Shoreline Hotel and on the shores of Lake Minnetonka is up and running with Josh Brown, whose resume includes D’Amico’s catering and Gather at the Walker Art Center, heading the kitchen. Menu items include wagyu smashburgers, walleye sandwiches and pizza on the casual side as well as more composed entrees. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available. Read our coverage here.
El Taco Real (2208 W. 66th St., Richfield, eltacoreal.com) Oscar Ramos is serving up traditional tacos in the style he grew up with in Mexico, along with gourmet tacos to keep things creative and fun in the kitchen. Gorditas and salads are also available at the counter-order spot once home to a historic Taco Bell and, most recently, Tazzah Mediterranean. Read our coverage here.
The Farmer's Cellar (8333 W. 210 St., Lakeville, thefarmerscellar.com) Party like it's the Roaring ‘20s at this speakeasy, where art deco meets rustic charm. The Lakeville spot is run by the same crew behind Volstead House Whiskey Bar and Speakeasy in Eagan with the same attention to detail from the Prohibition era-inspired craft cocktails to the storied decor.
Kinsley's Smokehouse Deli (501 30th Av. SE., Mpls., instagram.com/kinsleys_deli) Inspired by East Coast delis and the New Jersey childhood of chef/owner James Adams, this pop-up gets a stationary home at Market at Malcolm Yards for house-smoked pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup, cannolis and more. Read our coverage here.
Mochi Dough/Bober Tea/Momo Korean Egg Drop (7724 Olson Memorial Hwy., Golden Valley, boberteagoldenvalley.square.site) Mochi doughnuts, those bubbly/chewy fried treats, are now available along with Boba tea favories and scrambled egg sandwiches at this combo restaurant concept.
Lago Tacos (730 Vikings Pkwy., Eagan; 3801 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, lagotacos.com) Lago Tacos left Lyndale Avenue after more than a decade, citing the planned reconstruction of the street set to begin in 2027, and instead moved to the former McCoy’s Public House in St. Louis Park. Also on the horizon: a fourth location of the taco and tequila restaurant will open near the Minnesota Vikings' training camp this summer. Read our coverage here.
Abang Yoli (Minnetonka) (12945 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, abangyoli.com) Abang Yoli, which started in a food hall but has moved far beyond, opened its third location in Minnetonka. It’s a return to the west side for chef/owner Jamie Yoo, who once worked at Bellecour in Wayzata. Yoo opened the first Abang Yoli inside Market at Malcolm Yards and quickly gained a loyal following for his menu inspired by Korean and Malaysian comforts, like his beloved double-fried, Korean-style chicken. A second location opened at 3749 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., in 2022.
Hope Breakfast Bar (10950 Club West Pkwy., Blaine, hopebreakfast.com) Sarah and Brian Ingram’s Hope Breakfast Bar is still in growth mode. The all-day breakfast restaurant is now open in Blaine and coming soon to Chanhassen. That’s just part of even larger plans: If all goes as expected, 2025 also will see Hope Breakfast Bars taking shape in Roseville and Wayzata. Opened May 19. Read our coverage here.
Qahwah House (1851 Central Av. NE., Mpls., qahwahhouse.com) The metro's first Qahwah House coffee shop has opened in Northeast in the former home of Half Fancy and the Mill Northeast. It serves espresso, drip coffee, sweet treats and coffee beans imported from Yemen.
Dan Kelly's Pub (212 S. 7th St., Mpls., dankellyspub.com) The longtime downtown Irish(ish) pub, a popular spot for downtown workers, closed May 31. It's been a fixture since 1997. Read our coverage here.
Lagniappe/Du Nord Cocktail Room (2700 E. Lake St., Mpls., dunordcocktailroom.com) DuNord's renewed cocktail room and New Orleans-flavored restaurant have closed after less than a year on Lake Street in the Coliseum Building. Read our coverage here.
Chip's Clubhouse (272 Snelling Av. S., St. Paul) It was a sweet run of great burgers and cocktails on Snelling Avenue, but Chip's Clubhouse closed May 1 after almost five years in St. Paul. Read our coverage here.
Burning Brothers (1750 Thomas Av., St Paul, burnbrosbrew.com) The metro area's only gluten-free craft brewery poured its last pint in Midway on May 10. Read our coverage here.
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