Eastside’s Groundbreaking Diner Is Making a Complete Change

Cook St. Paul will close around October and an entirely new restaurant will take its place. Much has changed since Eddie Wu took over operations at the former Serlin’s Cafe in St. Paul’s Eastside neighborhood. The restaurant has had a few iterations, but always stayed true to its heart as an American diner with a Korean touch. The restaurant has also acted as a launching pad for several other young food businesses, acting as host for countless pop-ups. Now, Cook St. Paul will completely change, but what comes next is uncertain.

In a Facebook post Wu said he was inspired by his last, long-standing pop-up Golden Horseshoe. “I have looked back on the last 5 + years of Cook St Paul, and I want to do a better job of being part of the community I am in. I want to have a stronger connection with the food Cook St Paul serves. I want Cook St Paul to truly be about the people we are serving, and for the reasons we want to serve them.”

It was inside this space that many people fell in love with its perfect morning pancakes; Korean nights; the legacy of pop-ups like Union Kitchen that have gone on to be larger presence inside the Twin Cities; and its place as community touchstone for activism.

For the next couple of months, it’s time to say goodbye to what Cook St. Paul has been. “Just anticipate that no menu items will carry over, the hours are going to change, and the style of service will change.”

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