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Find this big boy out in Circle Pines
Bistro La Roux/Facebook

11 Underrated Suburban Restaurants Worth Exploring

Where to eat arepas, jambalaya and massive egg rolls

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Find this big boy out in Circle Pines
| Bistro La Roux/Facebook

Here are 11 compelling reasons to explore the outer reaches of the cities to discover Venezuelan corn cakes, Korean hot pot, Scandinavian cakes, and more. These restaurants and bars deserve just as much attention as those on Minneapolis’s eat street or in downtown St. Paul and most of them come complete with actual parking lots. What more could you ask for?

—by Kara Somberg

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AREPA BITE LATIN FOOD

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Find authentic Venezuelan food in Mounds View. Inside this bright exterior are freshly made arepas and other Latin delicacies. It is family owned, family friendly, and a great place to enjoy corn cakes stuffed to the brim with flavorful meats, cheeses, and vegetables.

Venezuelan corn cakes packed with ingredients
Arepa Bite/Facebook

Bistro La Roux

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Who knew that fantastic Cajun food was only a trip to Circle-Pines away? Find everything from seafood-packed gumbo to New-Orleans-worthy beignets.

Get dat
Bistro La Roux/Facebook

Mac's Fish / Chips / Strips

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Just on the edge of St. Paul is this unassuming little fish and chips shop that has been feeding fans for generations. Come for the fried food and stay for the freshly-made saltwater taffy.

Fish, chips and saltwater taffy
Mac’s Fish & Chips/Facebook

Grand Szechuan Restaurant

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This Chinese restaurant’s huge menu is worth a trip or two out to Bloomington. Stop by to find anything you could want in the way of spicy Szechuan cuisine or traditional Chinese favorites.

A dish of dumplings
Grand Szechuan/Facebook

Maiv's Egg Roll Basket

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Your search for some of the Twin Cities’ finest egg rolls ends at this wonderful counter-service restaurant in Maplewood. Order as many huge, inexpensive egg rolls as your heart desires or make it a meal with a comforting bowl of noodle soup along with a big cup of bubble tea.

Great eggrolls and serious pho
Maiv’s Egg Roll/Facebook

King’s Korean Cuisine and Sushi Bar

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Find mighty fine Korean food (and a huge selection of sushi) at a strip mall in Fridley. It’s possible to visit this restaurant dozens of times and still not have tired everything on this massive menu. After the meal, wander into the Korean grocery store next door for some take-home kimichi.

Hot pots and nigiri in Fridley
King’s Korean and Sushi/Facebook

Truffles & Tortes

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Downtown Anoka is home to this little cafe known best for Instagram-baiting, llick-your-plate-worthy desserts. But, it also offers an assortment of sandwiches, soups, and quiche to balance out all the sweets.

All the tarts
Truffles & Tortes/Facebook

Taste of Scandinavia Bakery & Cafe

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Serving up both hearty Scandinavian breakfast and a huge slice of cake to save for later. Or to eat right after breakfast, let’s be real. It’s dessert time somewhere. Don’t miss the Bailey’s Irish Cream Torte.

Almond topped kringla
Taste of Scandinavia/Facebook

Prime Deli & Restaurant

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A good kosher deli is not easy to find in Minnesota, but Prime Deli in St. Louis Park is exactly that. The Schnitzel sandwich and the Mad Russian (a kosher version of a reuben) are must-trys, but there is also traditional matzo ball soup to an assortment of kosher sushi.

Totally Kosher Buffalo chicken sandwich
Prime Deli/Facebook

The Alchemist

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It’s time to ask why so many Saturday nights drinking are wasted drinking the same old drinks at the same old bars, when downtown White Bear Lake has these thrilling cocktails with a Steampunk styled room.

The steam-punk cool in White Bear Lake
Photo courtesy The Alchemist

Hoban | Korean Restaurant

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This casual restaurant in Eagan offers a huge variety of traditional Korean dishes. Bring a friend and enjoy one of their satisfying “hot pots for two” or stop in for lunch and fill up on the all-you-can-eat buffet. And then be sure to hit up the karaoke bar next door.

hoban bap Hoban/Facebook

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AREPA BITE LATIN FOOD

Find authentic Venezuelan food in Mounds View. Inside this bright exterior are freshly made arepas and other Latin delicacies. It is family owned, family friendly, and a great place to enjoy corn cakes stuffed to the brim with flavorful meats, cheeses, and vegetables.

Venezuelan corn cakes packed with ingredients
Arepa Bite/Facebook

Bistro La Roux

Who knew that fantastic Cajun food was only a trip to Circle-Pines away? Find everything from seafood-packed gumbo to New-Orleans-worthy beignets.

Get dat
Bistro La Roux/Facebook

Mac's Fish / Chips / Strips

Just on the edge of St. Paul is this unassuming little fish and chips shop that has been feeding fans for generations. Come for the fried food and stay for the freshly-made saltwater taffy.

Fish, chips and saltwater taffy
Mac’s Fish & Chips/Facebook

Grand Szechuan Restaurant

This Chinese restaurant’s huge menu is worth a trip or two out to Bloomington. Stop by to find anything you could want in the way of spicy Szechuan cuisine or traditional Chinese favorites.

A dish of dumplings
Grand Szechuan/Facebook

Maiv's Egg Roll Basket

Your search for some of the Twin Cities’ finest egg rolls ends at this wonderful counter-service restaurant in Maplewood. Order as many huge, inexpensive egg rolls as your heart desires or make it a meal with a comforting bowl of noodle soup along with a big cup of bubble tea.

Great eggrolls and serious pho
Maiv’s Egg Roll/Facebook

King’s Korean Cuisine and Sushi Bar

Find mighty fine Korean food (and a huge selection of sushi) at a strip mall in Fridley. It’s possible to visit this restaurant dozens of times and still not have tired everything on this massive menu. After the meal, wander into the Korean grocery store next door for some take-home kimichi.

Hot pots and nigiri in Fridley
King’s Korean and Sushi/Facebook

Truffles & Tortes

Downtown Anoka is home to this little cafe known best for Instagram-baiting, llick-your-plate-worthy desserts. But, it also offers an assortment of sandwiches, soups, and quiche to balance out all the sweets.

All the tarts
Truffles & Tortes/Facebook

Taste of Scandinavia Bakery & Cafe

Serving up both hearty Scandinavian breakfast and a huge slice of cake to save for later. Or to eat right after breakfast, let’s be real. It’s dessert time somewhere. Don’t miss the Bailey’s Irish Cream Torte.

Almond topped kringla
Taste of Scandinavia/Facebook

Prime Deli & Restaurant

A good kosher deli is not easy to find in Minnesota, but Prime Deli in St. Louis Park is exactly that. The Schnitzel sandwich and the Mad Russian (a kosher version of a reuben) are must-trys, but there is also traditional matzo ball soup to an assortment of kosher sushi.

Totally Kosher Buffalo chicken sandwich
Prime Deli/Facebook

The Alchemist

It’s time to ask why so many Saturday nights drinking are wasted drinking the same old drinks at the same old bars, when downtown White Bear Lake has these thrilling cocktails with a Steampunk styled room.

The steam-punk cool in White Bear Lake
Photo courtesy The Alchemist

Hoban | Korean Restaurant

This casual restaurant in Eagan offers a huge variety of traditional Korean dishes. Bring a friend and enjoy one of their satisfying “hot pots for two” or stop in for lunch and fill up on the all-you-can-eat buffet. And then be sure to hit up the karaoke bar next door.

hoban bap Hoban/Facebook

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