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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, the Heatmap is almost entirely new, with a record seven new spots: 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.

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


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

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

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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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Agra Culture Kitchen & Press

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The Uptown location of this fast-casual health-focused spot is just the first of what will surely be several Agra Culture Kitchens (another is already under construction at 50th and France). From the owners of Yogurt Lab, Agra Culture features an extensive menu of cold-pressed juices, porridges, salads, sandwiches, and make-your-own Agra plates, all with hot health foods (kale, chia seeds) and options for every diet (paleo eaters, this is your spot).
2939 Girard Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

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

Hot Indian Foods

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After debuting last year, popular food truck Hot Indian Foods has already found a brick n' mortar home for their trademark Indurrito (an Indian burrito wrapped in house made roti). Find them at the Midtown Global Market stall that formerly belonged to the Left-Handed Cook. Can a full on restaurant be far behind?
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407

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

Birchwood Cafe

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Newly reopen after a few months closed for Kickstarter-backed renovations, this Seward neighborhood favorite boasts an updated, bigger space, serving up the same fresh, local food (like the savory waffle, vegetable handpie, pizzas, and sandwiches).
3311 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 722-4474
(612) 722-4474

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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

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

Agra Culture Kitchen & Press

2939 Girard Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
The Uptown location of this fast-casual health-focused spot is just the first of what will surely be several Agra Culture Kitchens (another is already under construction at 50th and France). From the owners of Yogurt Lab, Agra Culture features an extensive menu of cold-pressed juices, porridges, salads, sandwiches, and make-your-own Agra plates, all with hot health foods (kale, chia seeds) and options for every diet (paleo eaters, this is your spot).
2939 Girard Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

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

Hot Indian Foods

920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
After debuting last year, popular food truck Hot Indian Foods has already found a brick n' mortar home for their trademark Indurrito (an Indian burrito wrapped in house made roti). Find them at the Midtown Global Market stall that formerly belonged to the Left-Handed Cook. Can a full on restaurant be far behind?
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407

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

Birchwood Cafe

3311 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Newly reopen after a few months closed for Kickstarter-backed renovations, this Seward neighborhood favorite boasts an updated, bigger space, serving up the same fresh, local food (like the savory waffle, vegetable handpie, pizzas, and sandwiches).
3311 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 722-4474
(612) 722-4474

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