Minnesota’s food scene is no joke, especially in the Twin Cities. Over the past several years, our local chefs have consistently pulled James Beard Award nominations—and the secret weapon behind that success is the community itself. The most beloved spots draw hungry crowds every weekend, with no signs of slowing down.
Another thing that makes Minnesota’s food scene so great is its diversity. Our food and drink culture truly brings people together (we’re looking at you, Minnesota State Fair). You can eat so many kinds of cuisine here, and new concepts are always around the corner.
Here are 15 Black-owned restaurants in Minnesota you don’t want to miss. Whether you’re craving soul food and hot chicken, fine dining and cocktails, or croissants and smoothies, you’ll find it in the Twin Cities (and beyond).
1. Hyacinth
Upscale Italian-ish fare is what’s for dinner at Hyacinth on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Scrumptious, adventuresome dishes crafted by chef and owner Abraham Gessesse are on the menu—like fried chicken fra diavolo, a generous hunk of fried chicken on labneh, doused in chili oil, and topped with cucumber salad. Now that’s a level of craftsmanship worth getting dressed up for.
2. Krewe
Who knew you could find New Orleans flavors in St. Joseph? Krewe brings NOLA spirit smack-dab in the middle of the prairie. You’ll want to make the trip for this one, since co-owner and chef Mateo Mackbee was recognized as a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2025.
Krewe’s menu is brimming with thoughtful Creole dishes including shrimp étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and catfish po’ boys—plus small faves like hush puppies and crab cakes.
3. Parcelle
The Erewhon of the Twin Cities, Parcelle features organic, health-conscious foods with responsibly sourced ingredients. Sandwiches and salads are served up alongside protein plates—but delectable smoothies are the stars of the show at this local chain.
Le Défenseur has a base of açaí and coconut meat with spicy additions including turmeric, ginger, and more. The blue-and-white Blueprint features house-made coconut milk topped with blended blueberries, avocado, banana, and spirulina. Meet us at Parcelle after a gym sesh.
4. Milton’s
A suburban mainstay, Crystal’s own Milton’s is a beloved neighborhood hotspot making standard American fare with an elevated touch. Here, classic breakfast is done to the nines—plus club and pastrami sandos, burgers and nachos, and fan-favorite jerk chicken mac and cheese.
5. Solomon’s Bread
Minneapolis has a new favorite bakery in town: Solomon’s Bread opened its new retail storefront in Northeast Minneapolis this summer. That means top-tier pastries of the classic French kind, as well as Solomon’s Afro-Caribbean goods right off Hennepin Avenue.
Looking for something sweet? Try the lemony sweet “tennis roll” or a raspberry croissant. For standard breads, they’ve got a variety of loaves from classic baguettes to seeded pumpernickel to Caribbean plaited breads. Solomon’s has flavorful savory options, too, including daily quiches and spicy chicken croissants.
6. Ted Cook’s 19th Hole Barbecue
Since 1968, Ted Cook’s 19th Hole Barbecue has been doing pit barbecue off Hiawatha Avenue in South Minneapolis. Hickory and cherrywood-smoked meats are what Ted’s all about, and you can get barbecued pork or beef ribs any way you want ‘em, with classic sides like potato salad, jojo potatoes, and coleslaw. It doesn’t get any better than that.
7. The Kitchen
Inside the Midtown Global Market, The Kitchen by Baked Brand is slinging seriously decadent comfort food. Behind the scenes, creative mastermind Destinee Shelby has engineered yummy plates like their best-selling turkey leg stuffed with baked mac and cheese, Fruity Pebbles-crusted French toast, buffalo dill loaded fries, and garlic toast Philly cheese steaks, just to name a few.
The deliciousness doesn’t stop there; many of The Kitchen’s dishes feature their signature buttery, spicy “budda sauce.” Is your mouth watering yet?
8. Afro Deli
This Cedar-Riverside lunch spot has been a staple for a decade and a half—and its success only seems to grow year after year. Afro Deli even recently joined the illustrious ranks of Minnesota State Fair vendors in 2023. Kudos!
Their menu features a purposefully eclectic mix of Somali bites, Mediterranean fare, American classics, and more in a snappy, counter-service setting. The sambusas, falafel sandwich, and chapati wrap are go-to handhelds for the lunch-lovers of Minneapolis.
9. Nashville Coop
One of Minneapolis’s first hot chicken joints, Nashville Coop started out as a popular food truck and has grown into several brick-and-mortar locations around the metro
Nashville Coop represents the genre well: ultra-crispy chicken strips and sandwiches—with special sauce and pickles, of course—coated with “cluckn’ hot” breading. Waffles are an option, too! A nod to owner Arif Mohamed’s heritage, you can also get your chicken dusted in berbere barbecue spice mix.
10. Driftwood Char Bar
This South Minneapolis dive is a live music staple with an eclectic menu of better-than-average bar food. Grab a Brownstone burger—stacked with peanut butter, bacon, an egg, and jalapeño jelly—catch a local band, and shoot some pool any night of the week at Driftwood Char Bar.
11. The Camden Social
North Minneapolis’s best-kept secret is a restaurant with supper club vibes and a truly social atmosphere. In the heat of the summer, you can pull up to The Camden Social for hand-rolled cigars on the patio. Or, stop by for a Saturday morning R&B singalong brunch. Listen to a live band play everyone’s favorite songs while feasting on chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, or berry French toast.
12. Francisco’s Restaurant
Francisco’s Restaurant is Rochester’s must-visit Caribbean spot. The family-owned restaurant features many creative specials alongside classic island items like jerk chicken and braised oxtail. We recommend helping yourself to a plate of Caribbean-themed tacos with a side of coconut rice and peas (they’ve got seven kinds to choose from).
This much-loved restaurant is worth the drive for anyone outside of the Rochester area. And if you’re from Rochester, what are you waiting for?
13. Cobble Social House
Cobble Social House serves inventive rice bowls and sushi alongside elegant cocktails in the heart of the North Loop. Whether you want to do dinner, just drinks, or both, Cobble Social House has you covered for a stellar night out.
The cheeky cocktail menu features a spicy cocktail with adaptogens (the Biohacker), a fruity and herby tequila drink (called Check Your Notes), a bright sake-vodka-yuzu concoction (see Peels in Motion), and many more fun-loving cocktails to carry you through the night.
14. Mama Sheila’s House of Soul
A South Minneapolis institution, Mama Sheila’s House of Soul cooks up classic soul food staples. Think: catfish and wings alongside mac and cheese, red beans and rice, and collard greens.
You won’t want to grab-and-go from Mama Sheila’s because the atmosphere is half the fun. Part steakhouse, part Hard Rock Café vibes, the restaurant is decked out with paintings of Prince and portraits of Black celebrities from Oprah to Stevie Wonder and beyond.
15. West Indies Soul Food
This Caribbean eatery offers Jamaican jerk every way you could possibly want it—as grilled or fried chicken, chicken tacos, and even ribs. The menu at West Indies Soul Food also features funky fare from The Islands like jerk chicken sandwiches on coco bread and the yard man snack, a classic Jamaican patty inside coco bread.
Their sweets are also enviable—hello, sour cream pound cake and peach cobbler. Plus, West Indies Soul Food earns bonus points for having vegetarian and vegan Jamaican standards, including hearty vegan yam and bean curry as well as vegan patties.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: The 19 Minneapolis restaurants featured on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’
