Restaurants Forcing Spring Despite What’s Happening Outside

Will MidNord Empanadas be the next food truck to join the wave of wheels to permanent address restaurants? The popular food truck that peddles those bubbly/crackling shells wrapped around savory fillings teased a new adventure on Instagram this morning. There might be brunch empanadas paired with adult beverages just around the corner.

—Exciting news for Woodbury, United Noodles, the 47 year-old Asian grocery store in South Minneapolis is expanding with a second location that will open in the eastern suburb. Mpls/St. Paul Magazine reports that the small space that will be located at 7730 Hudson Road. The markets owners and chef went on a massive research and development mission to Taipei and Hong Kong to bring back ideas for the new store, but also a few new dishes to Unideli, the restaurant inside the Minneapolis location, including pork broth congee and scallion pancake wrapped around fried egg, ham, and cheese that’s dipped in oyster sauce. The new dishes are available on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

—Blizzard be-damned, Sea Salt Eatery is opening today. The seasonal seafood restaurant at Minnehaha Falls is a sure sign of warmer temperatures. The fish fries kick off 11 a.m. today until 8 p.m. with plenty of wine, local beers, and Sebastian Joe’s ice cream.

—In other brave-against-the-elements, Allianz Field is finally ready to open and the first game comes tomorrow (maybe plan to bring a couple of extra scarves.) The food available includes burritos from Brasa, MyBurger, AfroDeli, Los Ocampo, El Burrito, and Handsome Hog. Justin Sutherland worked with the field to pull in a diverse selection of Twin Cities restaurants that will be perfect for eating in the stands while cheering on our pro-soccer team Minnesota United.

—Five Watt Coffee tells the Pioneer Press that the coffee shop’s fourth location will open inside the former Bull Run coffee shop location on Lyndale Avenue. Look for an opening this month.