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The Eater Mpls Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Claire Stanford
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by Claire Stanford

Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, etc., and more often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What is the "it" (ie, newest) place of the moment?

Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change often to continually highlight where the food-focused crowds are flocking to at this very second. This time around, please welcome five new spots: Tiny Diner, Dong Hae Korean Grill & Sushi, Little Szechuan St. Paul, Tongue in Cheek, and 6Smith.

Did we miss your personal favorite hot, new restaurant? By all means, let us know in the comments or email the tipline.


6/5/14: Added Hola Arepa, The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen, Lago Taco, Agra Culture Kitchen & Press, Hot Indian Foods, the newly renovated Birchwood, and the new location of Corner Table

5/1/14: Added Heyday, Brasserie Zentral, and Cook St. Paul

4/3/14: Added Hen House Eatery and BoneYard

3/6/14: Added La Fresca, Kyatchi, and the Birchwood pop-up at Verdant Tea

2/6/14: Added Day Block Brewing, Relevé Champagne Lounge, Coup d'Etat, Travail, and The Rookery

1/2/14: Added Sonora Grill, Chef Shack Ranch, The Freehouse, and Hammer & Sickle

12/5/13: Added The Mill NE, Lake & Irving, and DiNoko's Bar Zia

11/7/13: Added The Rabbit Hole, Honey & Rye Bakehouse, and Umami Dim Sum

10/3/13: Added Seventh Street Social, Eat Street Buddha Kitchen, and Union Fish Market

9/5/13: Added Umami by Travail

8/1/13: Added: Ideal Diner, Town Hall Lanes

7/11/13: Added: Verdant Tea Tasting Room, The Buttered Tin, Terzo Vino Bar, Sandcastle

6/16/13: Added: Pig Ate My Pizza, Smoke in the Pit

5/2/13: Added: Potter's Pasties, Daily Diner Frogtown

4/4/13: Added: Spill the Wine, Origami Uptown, The Sample Room

3/7/13: Added: Rincón 38, Smack Shack, Burch Steak & Pizza Bar, One Two Three Sushi

2/7/13: Added: Parka, Blue Door Longfellow

1/3/13: Added: Borough, Parlour

12/6/12: Added: World Street Kitchen, Union

11/15/12: Debuted: The Lynn on Bryant, The Left Handed Cook, Fika, Icehouse, The Gray House, Nightingale, The Kenwood, Café Maude at Loring, New Bohemia

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Corner Table

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This longtime favorite has a new location (just a few blocks from its former spot) and a new look. The menu features the same creative, local, constantly-changing dishes, which usually include its famed pork belly (get it with anything) and a doughnut dessert (again, get it, don't ask questions). Plus, that's right, a new 20-seat patio.
4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 823-0011
(612) 823-0011

Tiny Diner

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The latest spot from restaurateur-about-town Kim Bartmann, Tiny Diner focuses on updated diner dishes, made from local, sustainable ingredients (lots of organic eggs up in here). Plus, the menu highlights a different classic diner city every month with special dishes.
1024 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 767-3322
(612) 767-3322

Hola Arepa

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The incredibly popular food truck Hola Arepa has gone brick n' mortar. The expanded menu features nine kinds of arepas, lots of small plates (be sure to order the shitake cachapas), and a killer cocktail menu. Plus, an awesome patio, just in time for summer.
3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen

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This new Nicollet coffee shop/bakery/cafe serves up fresh baked breads, pastries, and desserts, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Think sophisticated rustic fare like bourbon rabbit liver pate, beef heart tartare, rustic pizzas, chicken pot pie, and rotating soups like chive & nettle.
2515 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 872-2221
(612) 872-2221

Also featured in:

Lago taco

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The first Minneapolis location of super-popular Excelsior taco spot, Lago Tacos Lynlake serves up tacos, of course, plus burritos, appetizers, salads, margaritas, and brunch on the weekends. Tacos come in the traditional (carnitas, chicken tinga) and not-so-traditional (walleye, lobster, BLT) varieties, and, yes, it's open late-night (until 2 a.m.).
2901 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 353-6736
(612) 353-6736

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Heyday

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This new Uptown bar/restaurant comes from Union's former chef, Jim Christiansen, and former La Belle Vie frontman Lorin Zinter. Think: carefully-prepared, ever-changing seasonal small plates like lamb tartare and roasted monkfish. Plus, killer cocktails and a dessert menu with help from La Belle Vie's famed pastry chef Diane Yang.
2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 200-9369
(612) 200-9369

Brasserie Zentral

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This downtown spot - from Meritage's Russell and Desta Klein - features continental European food, ranging from housemade spaetzle to braised pork cheeks to creamy white asparagus soup. Plus, an entire section of the menu devoted to foie gras, and an extensive wine list that's getting its own accolades.
505 Marquette Ave A, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-0505
(612) 333-0505

Dong Hae Korean Grill & Sushi

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At long last, Korean food has come to downtown Minneapolis at Dong Hae, which serves up an expansive menu of both traditional Korean and Japanese food at lunch and dinner. Think hot pot, bento boxes, sashimi and nigiri, and a whole lot more.
251 1st Ave N Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 333-1999
(612) 333-1999

6Smith

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This 420-seat behemoth on Lake Minnetonka boasts both a rooftop patio and a normal patio, with 180-degree lake views from each. Plus, an entire section of the menu is devoted to lobster: guacamole, croquettes, lobster rolls, and a 1/2-lb. lobster cooked in a variety of styles.
294 Grove Lane East, Wayzata, MN 55391
(952) 698-7900
(952) 698-7900

Little Szechuan

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After closing for a brief remodel, the St. Paul location of Little Szechuan just reopened with an all-hot-pot menu. What is hot pot? You get a hot pot of broth (spicy or non-spicy) and your choice of over 100 items (including Szechuan crispy pork, tofu, enoki mushrooms, and at least 97 more), which you cook in the broth at your table for a fully interactive dining experience.
422 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55103
(651) 222-1333
(651) 222-1333

Tongue In Cheek - Eastside

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This East Side spot from former W.A. Frost chef Leonard Anderson features intriguing $2 teasers (with names like burnt feta & sweet pea), plus a carnivore or herbivore tasting menu and weekend brunch.
989 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130
(651) 888-6148
(651) 888-6148

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Corner Table

4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
This longtime favorite has a new location (just a few blocks from its former spot) and a new look. The menu features the same creative, local, constantly-changing dishes, which usually include its famed pork belly (get it with anything) and a doughnut dessert (again, get it, don't ask questions). Plus, that's right, a new 20-seat patio.
4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 823-0011
(612) 823-0011

Tiny Diner

1024 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
The latest spot from restaurateur-about-town Kim Bartmann, Tiny Diner focuses on updated diner dishes, made from local, sustainable ingredients (lots of organic eggs up in here). Plus, the menu highlights a different classic diner city every month with special dishes.
1024 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 767-3322
(612) 767-3322

Hola Arepa

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
The incredibly popular food truck Hola Arepa has gone brick n' mortar. The expanded menu features nine kinds of arepas, lots of small plates (be sure to order the shitake cachapas), and a killer cocktail menu. Plus, an awesome patio, just in time for summer.
3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen

2515 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
This new Nicollet coffee shop/bakery/cafe serves up fresh baked breads, pastries, and desserts, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Think sophisticated rustic fare like bourbon rabbit liver pate, beef heart tartare, rustic pizzas, chicken pot pie, and rotating soups like chive & nettle.
2515 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 872-2221
(612) 872-2221

Lago taco

2901 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
The first Minneapolis location of super-popular Excelsior taco spot, Lago Tacos Lynlake serves up tacos, of course, plus burritos, appetizers, salads, margaritas, and brunch on the weekends. Tacos come in the traditional (carnitas, chicken tinga) and not-so-traditional (walleye, lobster, BLT) varieties, and, yes, it's open late-night (until 2 a.m.).
2901 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 353-6736
(612) 353-6736

Heyday

2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
This new Uptown bar/restaurant comes from Union's former chef, Jim Christiansen, and former La Belle Vie frontman Lorin Zinter. Think: carefully-prepared, ever-changing seasonal small plates like lamb tartare and roasted monkfish. Plus, killer cocktails and a dessert menu with help from La Belle Vie's famed pastry chef Diane Yang.
2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 200-9369
(612) 200-9369

Brasserie Zentral

505 Marquette Ave A, Minneapolis, MN 55402
This downtown spot - from Meritage's Russell and Desta Klein - features continental European food, ranging from housemade spaetzle to braised pork cheeks to creamy white asparagus soup. Plus, an entire section of the menu devoted to foie gras, and an extensive wine list that's getting its own accolades.
505 Marquette Ave A, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-0505
(612) 333-0505

Dong Hae Korean Grill & Sushi

251 1st Ave N Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
At long last, Korean food has come to downtown Minneapolis at Dong Hae, which serves up an expansive menu of both traditional Korean and Japanese food at lunch and dinner. Think hot pot, bento boxes, sashimi and nigiri, and a whole lot more.
251 1st Ave N Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 333-1999
(612) 333-1999

6Smith

294 Grove Lane East, Wayzata, MN 55391
This 420-seat behemoth on Lake Minnetonka boasts both a rooftop patio and a normal patio, with 180-degree lake views from each. Plus, an entire section of the menu is devoted to lobster: guacamole, croquettes, lobster rolls, and a 1/2-lb. lobster cooked in a variety of styles.
294 Grove Lane East, Wayzata, MN 55391
(952) 698-7900
(952) 698-7900

Little Szechuan

422 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55103
After closing for a brief remodel, the St. Paul location of Little Szechuan just reopened with an all-hot-pot menu. What is hot pot? You get a hot pot of broth (spicy or non-spicy) and your choice of over 100 items (including Szechuan crispy pork, tofu, enoki mushrooms, and at least 97 more), which you cook in the broth at your table for a fully interactive dining experience.
422 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55103
(651) 222-1333
(651) 222-1333

Tongue In Cheek - Eastside

989 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130
This East Side spot from former W.A. Frost chef Leonard Anderson features intriguing $2 teasers (with names like burnt feta & sweet pea), plus a carnivore or herbivore tasting menu and weekend brunch.
989 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130
(651) 888-6148
(651) 888-6148

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