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The dishes that define our little part of the world.
The dishes that define our little part of the world.
Katie Cannon

The Iconic Dishes of the Twin Cities

The dishes that taste like home.

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The dishes that define our little part of the world.
| Katie Cannon

When describing our cities, there are plenty of ways to approach a stranger. There is the Minnesota Nice standard: we can out-nice each other into a standstill at a four-way stop. We are friendly to a fault, just so long as you swear allegiance to the correct Ju(i)cy Lucy. Our 10,000 lakes are a source of pride and everyone has somewhere "up North" to visit on summer weekends. Kids are taught to ice skate before they can walk and we absolutely do not talk like those people in the movie Fargo. (Go bears!)

For us, we can't describe our state without including the flavors of Minnesota. Holidays smell like lefse. A fresh-caught walleye fish-fry is a holy occasion. And the steak dinner is king of meals in our land of bread and milk.

These are the icons of our dining industry, the foods that make us feel at home. But we also want to hear from you! What is the one dish you would use to introduce your Minnesota to the world? Please let us know in the comments!

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Tavern on Grand

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Every other summer weekend it is our Minnesotan duty to pack up the car and head to the cabin. Once there, we take to the nearest lake in search of our state fish: the walleye. While other fish from the store can be prepared any which way, walleye requires a shore lunch. Whenever we can't make it to the cabin, Tavern on Grand has us covered with the tender fish, fried perfectly crispy served on chewy bread with tart and creamy tartare sauce.
Katie Cannon

Murray's Steakhouse

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We are a meat and potatoes people and the butter knife steak at Murray's is the pinnacle of Midwestern eating. Charred on the outside, cooked to order on the inside and smooth as Dino's voice paired with two fingers of Scotch.
Katie Cannon

Al's Breakfast

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The blueberry studded pancake arrives threatening to bury the plate attempting to carry it. What seems like a million bluberries mingle with the twangy buttermilk dough, shrouded by a toasty brown crust. Don't be shy with that maple syrup. This fat cake is just like mom never made.
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Matt's Bar

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We can argue all day about who has the first or the best cheese stuffed burger, but you can't call yourself a Minnesotan without choosing a side. We're coming down on Matt's Bar. The perfectly sized patty, the hot-as-the-surface-of-the-sun cheese, satisfyingly squishy bun and perfectly seasoned grill make for the best jucy lucy in town.
Many of the region's early settlers were of the Scandinavian variety and the Swedes brought with them a tasty, tasty take on meatballs. Subtly spiced (because, let's be honest, these folks were pretty light on the spice in most instances) the meatballs are dressed in a creamy gravy and at Fika attached to the American Swedish Institute they are served atop a creamy bed of mashed potatoes with a lingonberry accompaniment. The tart-sweetness is a fabulous complement to the richness of the dish. Heaven even if your ancestors didn't pass down any Ole and Lena jokes.

St. Paul Grill

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While the rest of the world might be discovering the native grain we call wild rice as a "super food," we're still pouring ours into a cream-heavy soup. Wild Rice Soup is as cozy as a cableknit sweater, mellow as Sunday morning. Health food it's not, but it's a nice way to get your grains. The down-home version at the elegant St. Paul Grill acts as an ambassador to eating in our corner of the world.
St. Paul Grill

Kramarczuk's East European Deli

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Polish heaven must smell amazing. At least, that's what we're assuming after every heavily perfumed visit to Kramarczuk's in Northeast Minneapolis. The polish sausage here, available in the deli or at the restaurant is best served nestled into a bed of sauerkraut. The wafts of caraway, mellowed cabbage and a serious punch of garlic is entirely intoxicating.

Mickey's Diner

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We are a people who enjoy a hearty breakfast. That is why we will pack in the diners dotting every major roadway early in the morning for a bottomless cup of coffee, eggs our way with hashbrowns, toast and meat. Here inside the cities, that means hitting Mickey's Diner for America's Favorite All Day, it's just exactly that served around the clock, seven days a week.

Tavern on Grand

Every other summer weekend it is our Minnesotan duty to pack up the car and head to the cabin. Once there, we take to the nearest lake in search of our state fish: the walleye. While other fish from the store can be prepared any which way, walleye requires a shore lunch. Whenever we can't make it to the cabin, Tavern on Grand has us covered with the tender fish, fried perfectly crispy served on chewy bread with tart and creamy tartare sauce.
Katie Cannon

Murray's Steakhouse

We are a meat and potatoes people and the butter knife steak at Murray's is the pinnacle of Midwestern eating. Charred on the outside, cooked to order on the inside and smooth as Dino's voice paired with two fingers of Scotch.
Katie Cannon

Al's Breakfast

The blueberry studded pancake arrives threatening to bury the plate attempting to carry it. What seems like a million bluberries mingle with the twangy buttermilk dough, shrouded by a toasty brown crust. Don't be shy with that maple syrup. This fat cake is just like mom never made.
Eater file photo

Matt's Bar

We can argue all day about who has the first or the best cheese stuffed burger, but you can't call yourself a Minnesotan without choosing a side. We're coming down on Matt's Bar. The perfectly sized patty, the hot-as-the-surface-of-the-sun cheese, satisfyingly squishy bun and perfectly seasoned grill make for the best jucy lucy in town.

FIKA

Many of the region's early settlers were of the Scandinavian variety and the Swedes brought with them a tasty, tasty take on meatballs. Subtly spiced (because, let's be honest, these folks were pretty light on the spice in most instances) the meatballs are dressed in a creamy gravy and at Fika attached to the American Swedish Institute they are served atop a creamy bed of mashed potatoes with a lingonberry accompaniment. The tart-sweetness is a fabulous complement to the richness of the dish. Heaven even if your ancestors didn't pass down any Ole and Lena jokes.

St. Paul Grill

While the rest of the world might be discovering the native grain we call wild rice as a "super food," we're still pouring ours into a cream-heavy soup. Wild Rice Soup is as cozy as a cableknit sweater, mellow as Sunday morning. Health food it's not, but it's a nice way to get your grains. The down-home version at the elegant St. Paul Grill acts as an ambassador to eating in our corner of the world.
St. Paul Grill

Kramarczuk's East European Deli

Polish heaven must smell amazing. At least, that's what we're assuming after every heavily perfumed visit to Kramarczuk's in Northeast Minneapolis. The polish sausage here, available in the deli or at the restaurant is best served nestled into a bed of sauerkraut. The wafts of caraway, mellowed cabbage and a serious punch of garlic is entirely intoxicating.

Mickey's Diner

We are a people who enjoy a hearty breakfast. That is why we will pack in the diners dotting every major roadway early in the morning for a bottomless cup of coffee, eggs our way with hashbrowns, toast and meat. Here inside the cities, that means hitting Mickey's Diner for America's Favorite All Day, it's just exactly that served around the clock, seven days a week.

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