Northeast Minneapolis Nourishment

The top spots in the heart of Minneapolis’ dive bar country

A Meat Waffle from Hazel's Northeast in Minneapolis covered in butter and powdered sugar.
Hazel’s Northeast

photo by jpellgen – Flickr


Jason: Still the dive bar capital of the Twin Cities, Northeast has an incredible diversity of food choices from across the globe—from chef-driven restaurants to casual family joints.

Chimborazo: This adorable, welcoming Ecuadorian restaurant serves one of my favorite brunches in Minnesota. Get the cheese-filled potato pancakes, called llapingachos, or, for lunch or dinner, the beef stew with rice and sweet fried plantain.

Hazel’s Northeast: Odds are good you’ll spot brothers Adam and Andrew Sieve running this modern comfort-food spot named for their grandmother. Hazel’s is open for breakfast seven days a week (don’t miss the granola-infused Hippie pancakes) but also has an underrated dinner menu (get the fried pickles and chicken pot pie).

Joy: What was once a blue-collar neighborhood of mostly Eastern European descent has become an area of artists and immigrants with a delicious variety of food.

Whitey’s World Famous Saloon: Northeast is ground zero for great neighborhood bars, and Whitey’s is one of the best. Order skinny French fries, housemade chili, and a stiff bump. The room is steeped in Northeast dive-bar nostalgia, and the service is as friendly as you want it to be.

Pinku: I’ve developed a powerful passion for the crusty, chewy potstickers served at this small University Avenue restaurant. They come stuffed with shrimp, pork, or tofu and are always a satisfying cheap eat among the eatery’s many other delicious-but-affordable little bites.