Asian Food Guide
3 Days of Asian Food in Minneapolis
From legendary Eat Street pho to James Beard–winning Hmong cuisine — a curated three-day journey through the Twin Cities' deep, diverse Asian food scene.
Day 1
Vietnamese & Southeast Asian
Quang
Start your Asian food crawl with a giant, fragrant bowl of pho at this legendary Eat Street institution. Quang has been the gold standard for Vietnamese in Minneapolis since 1989.
Must Order
- Pho dac biet
- Bánh xèo (Vietnamese crepe)
- Vietnamese iced coffee
Pro Tip: Skip the line by going right at opening — the morning pho crowd is no joke.
Hai Hai
Christina Nguyen's James Beard Award-winning ode to the street food of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The tiki-tinged patio is one of the best afternoon hangs in the city.
Must Order
- Coconut rice noodles
- Whole crispy fish
- Tropical cocktails
Pro Tip: Sit on the patio if the weather cooperates — it's the best vibe in Northeast.
Sen Yai Sen Lek
Family-run neighborhood Thai with handmade noodles and bold, regional dishes you won't find on a typical Thai menu. Warm, unfussy, and consistently excellent.
Must Order
- Boat noodles
- Khao soi
- Crispy pork belly
Pro Tip: Order the boat noodles — the broth simmers for hours and it shows.
Day 2
Japanese & Korean
Aki's BreadHaus
A one-of-a-kind bakery blending German baking traditions with Japanese precision. The shokupan milk bread is the softest, most pillowy loaf in the Twin Cities.
Must Order
- Shokupan milk bread
- Matcha pastry
- Anpan (sweet red bean bun)
Pro Tip: Grab a loaf of shokupan to take home — it makes the best toast you'll ever have.
Kyatchi
Sustainable, sourcing-obsessed Japanese restaurant from chef Sam Peterson. The sushi is pristine, the hot dogs (yes, hot dogs) are a cult favorite, and the omakase is a steal.
Must Order
- Omakase nigiri
- Spicy tuna handroll
- Japanese hot dog
Pro Tip: Sit at the sushi bar and ask for the chef's choice — best value omakase in the city.
Young Joni
Ann Kim's James Beard Award-winning restaurant marries blistered wood-fired pizzas with Korean-inspired plates. The Korean BBQ pizza alone is worth the trip.
Must Order
- Korean BBQ pizza
- Kimchi fried rice
- Wood-fired whole fish
Pro Tip: Find the hidden Back Bar speakeasy behind the unmarked door — best cocktails in Northeast.
Day 3
Chinese, Hmong & Pan-Asian
Keefer Court Bakery
A Minneapolis institution since 1983, serving steaming bao, BBQ pork buns, and Hong Kong–style pastries. A perfect, cheap, deeply nostalgic morning stop.
Must Order
- BBQ pork bun (char siu bao)
- Egg tart
- Coconut bun
Pro Tip: Grab a half dozen to go — they reheat beautifully and the variety is the whole point.
Hmongtown Marketplace
The beating heart of Twin Cities Hmong culture — an indoor/outdoor market with dozens of food vendors serving papaya salad, laab, sticky rice, and grilled meats. An essential Minnesota experience.
Must Order
- Papaya salad (tam som)
- Purple sticky rice
- Hmong sausage
- Nab vam (sweet coconut drink)
Pro Tip: Bring cash and an appetite — graze from multiple vendors and don't skip the produce side.
Vinai
Chef Yia Vang's love letter to his family and the Hmong refugee experience — named after the Thai refugee camp where he was born. One of the most personal and important restaurants in America right now.
Must Order
- Hmong sausage
- Whole grilled fish
- Galbi-style short rib
- Family-style feast menu
Pro Tip: Book the family-style menu if you're with a group — it's the way the food was meant to be eaten.