Cheap eats not only fall in the category of affordable dining, but often they're the tastiest bite on the block. We appreciate the value of a buck. That's why Minneapolis and St. Paul have plenty of thrifty food options. Here are twenty one of our essential dishes, in alphabetical order, to get a taste of the Twin Cities. Don't agree? Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments what your essential cheap eats are.
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There's one building and two concepts led by these mavericks of the local food scene. Travail is tasting menu only. Inside The Rookery, small bites are just a couple of dollars and rotate often. It's a fantastic way to taste what's on the edge of the culinary landscape.
Summer is fleeting. Every warm day should be spent near the water with a little sand between your toes. There is no better way to toast that glorious orb in the sky than with an icy cold cup of Sandcastle's horchata.
[Photo by Katie Cannon]
Nordeast might now be know as a hip kid draw, but there was time when this neighborhood was mostly Eastern European immigrants. The Old Word tastes are all available inside Kramarczuk's — specifically in the Polish sausage.
Fear the molten cheese, but don't worry about running out of cash at this quintessential Minneapolis burger bar. Even if you don't believe that this was the original jucy lucy, it's hard to argue with beef on a bun at this price.
It only looks bright, crisp and refreshing, but digging into the green papaya salad served at the deli inside this University Avenue grocer, an unsuspecting eater will find the fury of juicy hellfire. It makes an unbearably hot summer day even better with the addition of a little fire within. Make sure to seek out this stand at the Little Mekong Night Market.
There's a veritable cult that's arisen around this fluffy cake doughnut tossed in cinnamon sugar. Converting costs less than a dollar.
[Photo courtesy A Bakers Wife Facebook page]
There's nothing fancy or trendy inside this working class bar, just an appreciation for a hard earned dollar. Get a cold pint of beer, a bump and a dago. Cooked right behind the bar on a flattop grill, the dago is sausage, peppers, onion and a slice of provolone cheese on a white bread bun.
[Photo by Katie Cannon]
Oh magical, gooey cinnamon roll, you deserve sonnets written about you. Sure, your cousin the doughnut is having a moment, but the twist of sweet dough, laced with that aromatic spice and topped with creamy, sweet icing remains a classic.
[Photo courtesy Isles Bun Facebook page]
The Oaxacan tamale from La Loma is so tender you'll banish all memory of other tamales after the first bite.
[Photo courtesy La Loma Tamale Facebook page]
Mancini's has been serving generations of St. Paulites steak in style at this family owned spot on West 7th. Carb lovers delight with the application of bread to that heavily seasoned grill.
Dining inside this North Loop restaurant is a throwback to another time. From the generous martini pours (like a milkshake, you get to keep the icy silver cup) to the servers uniforms. As the neon sign blinks, summer nights are even better spent on the patio digging into the mysteriously spiced, fat chicken wings.
Childhood tastes like Pizzeria Lola's build-your-own ice cream sandwich. Soft serve ice cream is topped with olive oil and sea salt and served with warm chocolate chip cookies.
[Photo courtesy Trip Advisor]
A perfectly made biscuit is a thing of beauty. It's a blank canvas that can go sweet with homemade jam or savory with sausage, milk gravy. No one makes a better biscuit in this town than Solveig Tofte.
[Photo courtesy Sun Street Bread Facebook page]
A sope topped with chicharron prensado holds all flavor desires within its small cornflour walls: succulent, spicy pork with crispy edges, cool crema, snappy radishes, a hot gooey interior and enough food to fill a person for hours afterwards.
There's one building and two concepts led by these mavericks of the local food scene. Travail is tasting menu only. Inside The Rookery, small bites are just a couple of dollars and rotate often. It's a fantastic way to taste what's on the edge of the culinary landscape.
Summer is fleeting. Every warm day should be spent near the water with a little sand between your toes. There is no better way to toast that glorious orb in the sky than with an icy cold cup of Sandcastle's horchata.
[Photo by Katie Cannon]
Nordeast might now be know as a hip kid draw, but there was time when this neighborhood was mostly Eastern European immigrants. The Old Word tastes are all available inside Kramarczuk's — specifically in the Polish sausage.
Fear the molten cheese, but don't worry about running out of cash at this quintessential Minneapolis burger bar. Even if you don't believe that this was the original jucy lucy, it's hard to argue with beef on a bun at this price.
It only looks bright, crisp and refreshing, but digging into the green papaya salad served at the deli inside this University Avenue grocer, an unsuspecting eater will find the fury of juicy hellfire. It makes an unbearably hot summer day even better with the addition of a little fire within. Make sure to seek out this stand at the Little Mekong Night Market.
There's a veritable cult that's arisen around this fluffy cake doughnut tossed in cinnamon sugar. Converting costs less than a dollar.
[Photo courtesy A Bakers Wife Facebook page]
There's nothing fancy or trendy inside this working class bar, just an appreciation for a hard earned dollar. Get a cold pint of beer, a bump and a dago. Cooked right behind the bar on a flattop grill, the dago is sausage, peppers, onion and a slice of provolone cheese on a white bread bun.
[Photo by Katie Cannon]
Oh magical, gooey cinnamon roll, you deserve sonnets written about you. Sure, your cousin the doughnut is having a moment, but the twist of sweet dough, laced with that aromatic spice and topped with creamy, sweet icing remains a classic.
[Photo courtesy Isles Bun Facebook page]
The Oaxacan tamale from La Loma is so tender you'll banish all memory of other tamales after the first bite.
[Photo courtesy La Loma Tamale Facebook page]
Mancini's has been serving generations of St. Paulites steak in style at this family owned spot on West 7th. Carb lovers delight with the application of bread to that heavily seasoned grill.
Dining inside this North Loop restaurant is a throwback to another time. From the generous martini pours (like a milkshake, you get to keep the icy silver cup) to the servers uniforms. As the neon sign blinks, summer nights are even better spent on the patio digging into the mysteriously spiced, fat chicken wings.
Childhood tastes like Pizzeria Lola's build-your-own ice cream sandwich. Soft serve ice cream is topped with olive oil and sea salt and served with warm chocolate chip cookies.
[Photo courtesy Trip Advisor]
A perfectly made biscuit is a thing of beauty. It's a blank canvas that can go sweet with homemade jam or savory with sausage, milk gravy. No one makes a better biscuit in this town than Solveig Tofte.
[Photo courtesy Sun Street Bread Facebook page]
A sope topped with chicharron prensado holds all flavor desires within its small cornflour walls: succulent, spicy pork with crispy edges, cool crema, snappy radishes, a hot gooey interior and enough food to fill a person for hours afterwards.
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