Just north of Tattersall Distilling, in the heart of Northeast, is a mile-long stretch of Central Avenue that’s home to many restaurants, bakeries, and shops selling an array of cuisines and goods from around the world. Nestled right along that same stretch, new spots continue to open that draw visitors from across the cities to drink and eat. As this corridor slowly snowballs towards what seems like complete gentrification, now’s a great time to take in the area’s unique mix of dining and drink offerings.
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Discover the Wealth of Fantastic Restaurants on Northeast’s Central Avenue
Panderias, German breads, cooperative craft beer, monster sandwiches, and more

Sabor Cuencano
Recently relocated from East Lake Street, Sabor Cuencano offers a variety of Ecuadoran comfort food served in a bright, casual space serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Don’t miss out on the hornado, topped with crispy pork skin or the llapingachos – fried potato pancakes filled with cheese. Stop by on a weekend for an expanded menu with rotating specials.
Holy Land
Holy Land needs no introduction, as a well-loved local spot with multiple locations. Not only is the Central Avenue location a spacious grocery store that makes arguably the best hummus in the area, the sit-down deli touts healthy Mediterranean eats that are, love it or hate it, Triple D-approved. The chicken shawirma never disappoints. Try the falafel combination with equal parts cauliflower and falafel for a top-notch vegan option.
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Not only has Fair State consistently created some of the Twin Cities’ most highly regarded beers, their brewery features a minimalist taproom with a large beer garden in the back. Grab a glass of Roselle sour or a pilsner, order some delivery from nearby spots like Minnesota BBQ, and enjoy accordingly with friends and dogs.
Aki's Bread Haus
Owned and operated by native German Joachim “Aki” Berndt, this bakery specializes in dense and savory Deutsch breads, although a variety of sweets are also available. Standbys include pretzels, bacon cheese chive rolls, and broetchen (hard rolls).
Sen Yai Sen Lek Thai
Joe and Holly Hatch-Surisook’s Sen Yai Sen Lek touts a menu inspired by Bangkok’s street food, and has been a mainstay on Central Avenue for a little over a decade. Standouts are both the chicken and pork laab, served with sticky rice, and the tod nun – curried fish cakes with a peanut cucumber relish on the side. Pair both with a cold beer.
Dipped & Debris
Inhabiting what used to be one half of Sen Yai Sen Lek’s dining area and under the same ownership, Dipped & Debris serves up gooey frozen custard and hefty throw-your-diet-out-the-window sandwiches like the King of Siamwiches with chicken satay, cucumber relish, peanut sauce and Mississippi Queen, a catfish po’ boy.
Durango Bakery
This panaderia packs a mighty amount of baked goods into a small space. With over 80 varieties of breads, cakes, and pastries, it’s the perfect spot for a treat before or after dining at one of the many restaurants in the area.
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Panaderia Ecuatoriana "Charito"
Do not pass this place by as inside awaits a wonderland of any just about any baked good imaginable, including cookies, cakes, and more savory rolls like empanadas de yema. This spot also offers a substantial food menu that includes fried pork ribs and plantain balls stuff with cheese, all at very reasonable prices.
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Adelita's | Mexican Restaurant
While it’s hard not to order at the always-appealing milanesa de res torta at Adelita’s, it’s even harder to order one without a margarita, especially during happy hour. The Mexican fare here is among the best in an area ripe with competition. On Fridays and Saturdays, Adelita’s is a great destination for late night food, drinks, and karaoke.
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The Mill Northeast
The Mill sets inside a modern space towards the south end of the Central Avenue corridor. A seasonal menu draws lines between American and Americanized staples, upping the ante with items like a peanut butter pub burger with whipped chevre and house made pickles, and a wood-smoked ramen bowl. The Mill also serves brunch on the weekends and currently has a Tiki themed bar menu that is worth a visit alone.
Maya Cuisine
With fun decor that harkens to a warm night dining outdoors – but indoors – Maya is a popular casual lunch and dinner spot where each meal is highly customizable and made-to-order. Top that with a large salsa bar, and the flavor combos may just be endless. As such, it’s the flavors at Maya that really shine, from house made corn tortillas to the chicken tinga to the well-seasoned barbacoa.
MOMO Sushi
With an extensive menu of Japanese favorites like sushi rolls, udon and soba noodle dishes, and bento box lunches, don’t pass over what might be the best item on the menu, the Tibetan momo, dumplings stuffed with beef, rice noodles, and green onion.