Sichuan Province

Top 10 Middle Eastern restaurants in the Twin Cities

Ah, the cradle of civilization: birthplace of modern agriculture, organized religion, and falafel. The Midwest isn't exactly a Mecca of, well, Mecca-inspired cuisine, but we do have a handful of Middle Eastern restaurants here in the Twin Cities worth seeking out when those kabob cravings strike. He ... More >>

Hell's Kitchen introduces Craft Cocktail Wednesdays

If you're looking for a new way to get over the midweek hump, Hell's Kitchen has recently created a new option. Hopping on the same bandwagon as other major Twin Cities restaurants, Hell's Kitchen is invading the craft cocktail scene: From 9 p.m. until close every Wednesday night, you can head down ... More >>

Tilia in Linden Hills feels like it's been around forever

Steven Brown's comeback rings out loud and clear

Zakia Deli's Kafta Sandwich: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 6

Spicy meatballs of love...​The simple joy of a gently spiced meat sandwich filled with hummus should not be overlooked, especially when you can survey its beautiful contents through the deli glass before they meet their enrobing pita. Add to that a cheery person who assembles your lunch with a kin ... More >>

Cake Eater's Blackberry Pie Bar: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 4

Is that a whole blackberry?​Emily and Taylor Harris's Cake Eater has become a neighborhood hang, serving breakfast and pastries in their charming day-glo orange trimmed building. The cupcakes are still important, but have lost their primacy in the wake of Sheela Namakkal's departure for Chicago. W ... More >>

Tilia's corn bread waffles Benedict: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 1

The Benedict 2.0 at Tilia.​We started this list with one of the most humble breakfast foods and we're ending it with one of the most refined: the corn bread waffles Benedict at the new Tilia in Linden Hills. Chef Steven Brown and crew bring a fresh take to this iconic dish by serving the eggs on ... More >>

La Loma's puerco tamale: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 10

The lure of the puerco​Some dishes are precious, requiring a dedicated diner to make deep forays into their wallet, the world of impossible-to-get reservations, and hoity-toity food circles. La Loma's puerco tamale is just the opposite, which is part of the reason we consider it like an old friend ... More >>

Trung Nam coconut croissant: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 15

Expand your plain/chocolate/almond horizons: the coconut croissant.​Plain croissants are an indulgence that's fairly straightforward in nature: layers of whisper-thin pastry with a buttery buffering between. Almond filling adds an element of sophistication; chocolate a certain hedonism. But coco ... More >>

Loring Kitchen & Bar's zucchini fries: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 14

Veggies fryer = deliciousness​You've just completed a seriously competitive shuffleboard session, or perhaps you've been taking in the spring plumage of those imposing and numerous geese. Or did you ride your bike across the Irene Hixon Whitney bridge, or hike into the wilds of downtown to get y ... More >>

The Triple Rock's mother biker: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 12

Debbie TallenNo animals were harmed in the making of this hangover cure​The Triple Rock Social Club may not be the most intuitive place to find one of our 100 favorite dishes of the year. More bar than restaurant, and more punk music club than anything else, it's not the kind of place you br ... More >>

Zumbro Cafe's Chicken Wild Rice Hash: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 17

A healthier hash!​Normally we like to go to Zumbro Cafe in Linden Hills for breakfast and fuel up for a walk around Lake Harriet with eggs Benedict or flapjacks. But when all those carbs and cholesterol feel like too much, we turn to the chicken wild rice hash.

The Good Day Cafe's glazed doughnut pancakes: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 20

Anne Rucker Craving pancakes AND doughnuts? Now you can have both!​What could be better than two decadent, sweet and delicious breakfast staples rolled into one dish?  With the glazed doughnut pancakes at the Good Day Cafe you get the best of both breakfast treats.  Hearty-yet-l ... More >>

Rinata's eggplant involtini: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 24

Mo PerryA delicate amuse-bouche​Rinata's eggplant involtini with goat cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and tomato sugo is perhaps the perfect appetizer. Light, delicate, and intensely flavorful, this is no heaping plate of deep-fried calamari or platter of bruschetta dense enough to render the bre ... More >>

Smack Shack's lobster roll: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 25

Emily UtneIt's finally food truck season!​Early this week, we're told, Smack Shack should be rolling its big white truck into its downtown Minneapolis parking spot at First Avenue and Fourth Street North to kick off its outdoor season. (Don't worry, Northeasters, it'll still be at the 1029 Bar ... More >>

The Happy Gnome's MN game burger: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 27

Mo PerryEating locally sourced food never tasted so indulgent​Eating locally sourced food has been all the rage for quite some time now, but maybe you've eschewed the whole idea, thinking it meant stuffy, sparse plates of morally superior greens sprinkled with a few smug flax seeds. Allow me ... More >>

Meritage's pommes frites: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 33

Joy SummersHold the ketchup, pass the Bearnaise ​Everything tastes better in French. Admit it. Would you rather eat mayo or aioli? A loaf of bread or a baguette? Velveeta or a little fromage? French fries or pommes frites? I rest my case. For French cuisine in the Twin Cities, it's hard to ... More >>

Sunny Side Up Cafe's Santa Fe Railroad French Toast: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 40

Sara RiceSunny Side Up Cafe knows the way to Santa Fe... French toast, anyway​After a night out in Uptown, it's important to have your recovery plan in place before hitting the sack for the night so you know where to stumble to when the sun rouses you. There's no shortage of breakfast joints ... More >>

Brit's Pub Scotch Eggs: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 45

Is it patio season yet?​The humble Scotch egg combines two bang-up breakfast foods and turns them into an edible, portable, rollable snack--that somehow manages to make sausage and eggs pair perfectly with pints of beer. We try 'em nearly every chance we get, and though we appreciate the, ahem, ... More >>

Peninsula's chili tofu: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 46

Danielle LenzHousemade tofu at Peninsula​Encountering tofu on a menu may leave some shuddering with the thought of beige, tasteless hunks of rubbery soybean curd, choked down primarily by smug vegetarians and overzealous health nuts. Meat and potatoes may seem the more satisfying way to go. Th ... More >>

Annona Gourmet's balsamic vinegars: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 47

Mo PerryAnnona Gourmet has a whole wall lined with delicious flavored vinegars​Tucked away in a sleepy corner of Northeast Minneapolis, in the Saint Anthony Village strip mall, lies a hidden gem. Annona Gourmet, a small shop whose motto is "educate your appetite," invites guests to do just t ... More >>

Cocina del Barrio's jalapeno poppers: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 48

Alma GuzmanPoppers in the making, filled with Oaxaca cheese. ​Jalapeno poppers have all the makings of a great junk food fix. They're salty, fatty, crunchy, and cheesy, and leave behind a spicy kick--Hot Cheetos, you ain't got nothing on this! But the typical deep-fried jalapeno popper prove ... More >>

Patisserie 46's Rory Cake: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 52

Patisserie 46 bakes this beautiful Rory cake. ​A boy named Rory is one lucky fellow. He's joined the likes of local adman Tom "Wheels" Whalen and author Neal Karlen in having a foodstuff named in his honor. But his tribute is no ordinary cheese plate or blended coffee drink: It's the stunning Ror ... More >>

Il Gatto's ravanelli: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 53

In the plain white dish​Despite it's vibrant magenta coat, the radish usually plays the role of supporting garnish or salad accoutrement. Not so at Il Gatto, where the ravanelli makes the taproot of the Raphanus sativus a star, putting it front and center in this simple, yet addicting dish. Served ... More >>

Mandarin Kitchen's Seafood and Tofu Hot Pot: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 54

Kei TerauchiA hot mess = bubbling pot of seafood​Do you ever find yourself in a Chinese rut? You keep ordering the same old egg roll, sweet and sour, lo mein, sesame chicken, and egg foo young. What? You are ordering pad thai at a "Chinese" restaurant for "change"? Now, that's just desperate ... More >>

Polish Delight Cocktail at the Inn, 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 55

Polish Delight is downright delightful​The Polish Delight cocktail from the Inn in downtown Minneapolis tastes like a lingering spring kiss. Bison Grass vodka, ginger, and apple-and-scallion simple syrup are slurried within a sparkling white white and served with a fresh lemon curlicue. The fruit ... More >>

Gopher Bar's Coney Dog: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 56

Anne RuckerIf nothing else, this dive bar sure has good Coney Dogs.​If you've never set foot in the Gopher Bar, prepare to be sent back in time. It's a true, old-time dive bar, complete with politically incorrect, if not blatantly offensive, signage, dingy lighting, and generally grumpy service. D ... More >>

Holy Land's hummus tahini: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 57

Danielle Lenz​Hummus has been gaining rapid popularity across the country as a healthy and delicious spread, perfect for parties, snacking, and even dieting. Around these parts, however, it's been popular for decades, thanks in no small part to a northeast Minneapolis institution, the Holy Lan ... More >>

The Sample Room's wild mushroom ragout on polenta: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 58

Mo PerryA rich, complex, earthy treat​Everyone keeps saying spring is around the corner, but it's hard to believe when ice is still encrusting the sidewalks and your skin seems to have taken on a permanent, dry translucence. Still, you know from experience that this is the time of year when y ... More >>

On's Thai Kitchen Nam Thok: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 59

An off-menu variant of Nam Thok at On's. ​Sure, On's Thai Kitchen on University Avenue offers the usual suspects: spring rolls, green curry, pad Thai. But it's worth exploring the further corners of the menu's authentic, home-style Thai cooking and considering lesser-seen dishes such as Pad-Ph ... More >>

Flamingo Restaurant's vegetarian combo: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 60

Sara RiceUnlike Skittles, this rainbow has more than one flavor​The Midway area of St. Paul is a veritable melting pot, bringing together cultures from around the world. One point where two of them -- Somali and Ethiopian -- meet, is Flamingo Restaurant.

Bars Bakery's Turtle Bar: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 64

Shauna Younge for City PagesYou can visit the bar, even on your lunch break.​ Even though Bars Bakery hasn't even been open six months, the little Selby Avenue shop has made itself heard over the din of the ever-expanding cupcake competition. By specializing in freshly baked bars of every variety, ... More >>

Tremblay's Sweet Shop salt water taffy: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 63

We're gonna need a bigger bag​It's easy to be overwhelmed when you enter Tremblay's Sweet Shop in Stillwater. Who knew there was THIS MUCH variety when it comes to saltwater taffy? Everywhere you look is a bucket or barrel heaped with a new -- sometimes bizarre -- flavor of taffy to try: butte ... More >>

Pizzeria Lola's Lady ZaZa Pizza: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 65

A slice of Korean-Italian heaven...​I am not alone in my reverence of the Lady ZaZa, although when I first made her acquaintance, this lovely dish had not yet been christened with a proper name. She was known simply as the kimchi pizza among those who frequented Ann Kim's hugely popular Pizzeria L ... More >>

Cave Vin's steak frites: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 67

Lu LippoldGood, and good FOR you.​I do not want to hear one more word about you and your cholesterol. Furthermore, I do not want you giving me that look when I say I'm having a giant slab of red meat for dinner with a side of fat-ridden fried potatoes smothered in mayonnaise. You know why? Bec ... More >>

In Season's fried oysters: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 66

Sasha LandskovWe wish these were always In Season!​Though scientists have disproved the notion that oysters may only be safely eaten in months with the letter "r" in their names (May, June, July, and August), it is true that the mollusks tend to posses their best qualities when water temperatures ... More >>

Everest on Grand's cabbage and potatoes: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 68

Sara RiceFinding your way to Everest on Grand is a lot easier than climbing Mt. Everest​If you're a curry lover and looking for a change of pace from some of our more standard-issue Indian restaurants around town--or if you're a vegetarian or vegan in search of a dish that doesn't pale compar ... More >>

Surly Coffee Bender: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 70

Anne RuckerLike the can says, "It's never too early to GET SURLY!"​Never before has a beverage so delicious been so darnn confusing. Is it coffee or is it beer?  Is it acceptable to drink at breakfast, or should it be reserved for later in the day?  Why not both? 

Maple bacon donut at YoYo Donuts: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 72

The best thing to happen to breakfast​The salty. The sweet. The long john. It just all makes sense. YoYo Donuts in Minnetonka has made breakfast an ass-kicking event with the introduction of the maple-bacon long john--and they aren't skimping.

Cupcake's mini cupcakes: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 73

Mo PerryA whimsical treat for any occasion​Sometimes we feel inspired to make a gesture--a little something to say thank you or good job, or add a touch of brightness to the day. At such times, options are limited. You can swing by Super America for a box of doughnuts, grab a dozen bagels f ... More >>

Willy D's ribs: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 74

​There are way too many situations that restrict us from getting our rib on: One doesn't dare order a rack of bones on a job interview, a first date, or any meal-based meet-up that involves signing paperwork or handshakes. Ribs are for eating in the presence of loved ones who have already pl ... More >>

Mozza Mia's house-made limoncello: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 79

Lu LippoldLa dolce vita, right here in Edina​Remember that time you were in Rome, awaiting the arrival of your latest Italian inamorata/o at the stazione, and train after train came in, and your beloved failed to appear, and you said (in Italian, of course), "Where is the nearest bar in this t ... More >>

Salty Tart Bakery's pastry cream-filled brioche: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 80

Anne RuckerScone who? Once you go brioche you'll never go back.​Salty Tart Bakery just may have created the perfect breakfast pastry. Bagels, scones, and muffins are all fine and good, but once you indulge in this sweet and tender brioche bun you'll never go back to your boring old coffee shop st ... More >>

Top 5 ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year

Tea HouseThe Chinese New Year is a celebration of food and family​The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese Lunar calendar. This year it starts on Thursday, February 3. To celebrate, Chinese people often attend festivals and fireworks. But most important, they get toget ... More >>

Body of missing Minnesota climber found in China

After extensive searches through dangerous blizzard conditions, search crews recovered the body of a Minnesota climber who went missing in southwestern China last week.

Live review: The Hold Steady almost killed me

2004's Top Dozen Dishes

If you read this list and subsequently eat your newspaper and/or hat, don't come crying to me

Lyn-Lake Conquers the World

A long-awaited mom-and-pop shop redefines Minnesota highbrow

For Your Eyes Only

Buffet, Brooklyn Center, Wow

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place