The 10 Best Restaurants in Minneapolis MN 2026: James Beard Winners to New Gems – Definitive Guide

The 10 Best Restaurants in Minneapolis MN 2026: The Definitive Guide to the Twin Cities' Culinary Crown

Minneapolis in 2026 is no longer the quiet sibling of St. Paul—it's the North Star State's undisputed food capital, where James Beard winners serve fermented focaccia in Kingfield lofts and Michelin-level tasting menus bloom in North Loop warehouses. With a record 11 James Beard semifinalists in 2025 (including Bûcheron winning Best New Restaurant and Karyn Tomlinson of Myriel taking Best Chef: Midwest), a surge of 2025 openings that has Eater calling it "America's most innovative dining scene," and hidden gems like Spoon and Stable blending Nordic soul with global flair, the Mill City now rivals Chicago and Portland for creativity and heart. From Owamni's Indigenous revival to Khâluna's Laotian fire, Minneapolis serves plates that taste like resilience—earthy, bold, and unapologetically Midwestern.

Curated by the Twin Cities flavor obsessives at World Club Directory — online since September 2025 — this is the ultimate Minneapolis restaurants guide for 2026. We've devoured every course (multiple visits in 2024–2025), cross-referenced the James Beard Awards (June 2025 ceremony), Eater Twin Cities' 38 Essential, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Best New, and Yelp's Top 100. Zero sponsored bites — just the unmissable addresses, with reservation hacks, spend ranges ($100–$350 pp), and why they're worth the light rail ride. Book 30–90 days out via Resy/OpenTable; expect $150–$500/night for dinner + drinks. Dig in — Minneapolis's feast is calling.

Why Minneapolis MN Dining Dominates 2026: From James Beard Glory to Nordic Fire

Minneapolis's culinary supernova (25% growth in 2025 per Meet Minneapolis) stems from its perfect storm: world-class produce (Lake Superior whitefish, Northfield berries), zero sales tax on groceries, and a chef renaissance fueled by affordable space and the Guthrie's energy. The 2025 James Beard gala celebrated Bûcheron's Best New Restaurant win and Myriel's Best Chef: Midwest, while Eater's Heatmap spotlighted 2025 newcomers like Diane's Place. Neighborhoods rule: Kingfield's tasting-menu row, North Loop's breweries-turned-bistros, Uptown's global fusion. Pro tip: Use the Blue Line ($2.50/ride) for Northeast crawls. Updated November 2025 with confirmed 2026 pop-ups (e.g., Spoon and Stable's new tasting) and eco-menus (zero-waste at Owamni).

The Top 10 Best Restaurants in Minneapolis MN 2026 – Ranked and Unmissable

1. Bûcheron – Kingfield's Best New Restaurant Winner (James Beard 2025)

Location: 4355 S Upton Ave, Kingfield (street parking $3/hr).

Adam and Jeanie Ritter's 2025 James Beard Best New Restaurant national winner – French-American with Midwestern soul. 2026: New brunch expansion.

Signature: Turnip with bone marrow ($28) + poached octopus bolognese ($42) Average spend: $140–$240 pp Reservation tip: Resy 60 days at 10 AM CT; walk-ins for bar

→ Bûcheron Reservations

2. Myriel – St. Paul's Best Chef Midwest Winner (Karyn Tomlinson, James Beard 2025)

Location: 4254 46th Ave S, St. Paul (valet $10).

Karyn Tomlinson's 2025 James Beard Best Chef: Midwest winner – vegetable-forward with earth reverence. 2026: New "Myriel After Dark" series.

Signature: Beef shank with white beans ($38) Average spend: $130–$220 pp

→ Myriel

3. Spoon and Stable – North Loop's James Beard Classic (Gavin Kaysen, Best Chef 2018)

Location: 211 N 1st St, North Loop (valet $12).

Gavin Kaysen's 2018 James Beard Best Chef: Midwest winner — still the gold standard. 2026: New Bellecour French expansion.

Signature: Seared scallops ($48) Average spend: $150–$250 pp

→ Spoon and Stable

4. Owamni – Northeast's Indigenous Revival (James Beard Best New 2021, Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist 2025)

Location: 420 S 1st St, Northeast (valet $10).

Sean Sherman's 2025 Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist – Indigenous North American cuisine. 2026: New Guthrie Theater location.

Signature: Wild rice porridge ($24) Average spend: $120–$200 pp

→ Owamni

5. Khâluna – Kingfield's Laotian Fire (James Beard Semifinalist 2025)

Location: 5224 Bloomington Ave S, Kingfield (street parking $3/hr).

Ann Ahmed's 2025 Outstanding Chef semifinalist — Laotian street food elevated. 2026: New rooftop bar.

Signature: Sticky rice with mango ($16) + khao soi ($28) Average spend: $110–$170 pp

→ Khâluna

6. Hai Hai – Northeast's Southeast Asian Street Food (James Beard Semifinalist 2025)

Location: 221 N 1st St, Northeast (valet $10).

Christina Nguyen's 2025 Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist — bold spices in the Food Building. 2026: New pop-up series.

Signature: Pork belly with peanuts ($24) Average spend: $100–$150 pp

→ Hai Hai

7. Diane's Place – Northeast's Hmong Heritage (2025 James Beard Semifinalist)

Location: 221 N 1st St, Northeast (Food Building).

Diane Moua's 2025 Best Chef: Midwest semifinalist — Hmong family recipes. 2026: New bakery expansion.

Signature: Sticky rice salad ($18) Average spend: $90–$140 pp

→ Diane's Place

8. Oro by Nixta – Northeast's Masa Magic (James Beard Semifinalist 2025)

Location: 221 N 1st St, Northeast (Food Building).

Kate and Gustavo Romero's 2025 Best New Restaurant semifinalist — corn-centric Mexican. 2026: New tortilla lab.

Signature: Tlayuda ($22) Average spend: $100–$160 pp

→ Oro by Nixta

9. Bar Brava – Northeast's Natural Wine Bar (James Beard Outstanding Bar 2025)

Location: 221 N 1st St, Northeast (Food Building).

Dan Rice's 2025 James Beard Outstanding Wine Program semifinalist — 300+ natural wines. 2026: New tasting events.

Signature: Natural wine flight ($45) Average spend: $80–$130 pp

→ Bar Brava

10. Union Hmong Kitchen – Northeast's Indigenous Soul (James Beard Semifinalist 2025)

Location: 221 N 1st St, Northeast (Food Building).

Yia Vang's 2025 Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist — Hmong street food. 2026: New cookbook tie-in dinners.

Signature: Sticky rice with sausage ($18) Average spend: $90–$140 pp

→ Union Hmong Kitchen

Minneapolis Restaurants 2026 Comparison Table

Rank & Restaurant Neighborhood Cuisine Avg. Spend pp 2026 Highlight 1. BûcheronKingfieldFrench-American$140–$240Best New Restaurant winner 2. MyrielSt. PaulNew American$130–$220Best Chef Midwest 3. Spoon and StableNorth LoopNordic$150–$250Bellecour expansion 4. OwamniNortheastIndigenous$120–$200Guthrie Theater move 5. KhâlunaKingfieldLaotian$110–$170Rooftop bar

How to Book Minneapolis's Hottest Tables in 2026

• Bûcheron → Resy 60 days at 10 AM CT
• Myriel → Tock 45 days out
• Spoon and Stable → OpenTable 30 days
• Owamni → Walk-ins for bar; dinner 21 days

Ready to Dine Like a Twin Cities Insider in 2026?

From James Beard fire to Indigenous soul, Minneapolis's plates are world-class. Subscribe for first access to 2026 openings and secret reservations. Pair with our Minneapolis Hotels 2026 Guide for the full experience.

Bon appétit, North Star style.

World Club Directory – Online Since September 2025