The Twin Cities food scene is welcoming a fresh wave of restaurants, bakeries, and specialty food spots, giving locals plenty of new places to explore. From Sushi by Baaska’s first permanent home to Persian-inspired ice cream, South African peri-peri chicken, and a returning Burmese favorite, these nine openings and reopenings bring an exciting mix of flavors to Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Picco Pizza + Gelateria Brings Italian Flavor to St. Paul’s Midway
St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood has a new destination for pizza and frozen treats. Picco Pizza + Gelateria opened near Allianz Field, bringing together 12-inch pizzas, antipasti, and house gelato in one neighborhood-focused restaurant. Its pizza menu includes familiar choices such as pepperoni and four-cheese, alongside combinations like sausage and rapini. The restaurant also serves beer and wine, espresso, and Italian-inspired drinks. Picco is connected to Midway Diner, another recently opened restaurant nearby, and both are part of a development intended to serve the surrounding community throughout the year, not just soccer fans visiting the stadium. Its location and mix of savory and sweet offerings give residents another reason to explore this part of St. Paul.
Sushi by Baaska Opens Its First Permanent Restaurant
After building a following through highly sought-after pop-up dinners, chef Baaska Tegshbileg has given his sushi concept a permanent home. Sushi by Baaska is now serving diners in Minneapolis’s Mill District, taking over the former Zen Box Izakaya space on Washington Avenue. The restaurant builds on the chef’s reputation for carefully prepared Japanese food, with a menu that includes nigiri, omakase, specialty rolls, and donburi rice bowls. Other offerings include Japanese wagyu beef, crispy rice, and furikake fries. Bluefin tuna flown in weekly from Baja, California, is another notable ingredient. The restaurant has different seating areas for diners who want an omakase experience, a more flexible à la carte meal, or a drink at the bar. Its opening marks a significant step for a concept that previously brought its dining experiences to temporary locations around the Twin Cities.
Cultured Crust Takes Over the Former Good Times Pizza Space
Kingfield’s pizza options have changed, but the neighborhood has not been left without a local pie shop. Cultured Crust has moved into the space previously occupied by Good Times Pizza, which closed in October. The new restaurant puts sourdough pizza at the center of its menu, making the dough itself an important part of the experience. Sourdough preparation relies on fermentation, which can contribute a distinctive flavor and texture to the finished crust. Cultured Crust is also keeping an eye on community events, with bagel pop-ups and other activities expected to appear through its social media updates. Taking over an established neighborhood restaurant space gives the business a ready-made connection to Kingfield, while its focus on sourdough offers local pizza fans something different to try.
Sweet Joon Adds Persian-Inspired Ice Cream to Uptown
A familiar ice cream storefront in Uptown has a new family-owned business bringing a different cultural influence to its dessert menu. Sweet Joon opened in the former La La Ice Cream space on Hennepin Avenue. The shop comes from Liz Akhavan and Tadji and Matt Akhavan Smith, who are drawing on their Persian background for some of their flavors. Saffron, pistachio, and rose come together in one of the standout combinations, offering a taste that differs from the standard chocolate and vanilla options found at many ice cream shops. The menu also includes coffee, cookies, and other sweet treats, making it more than a traditional scoop counter. Its arrival gives Uptown another independent dessert business while introducing customers to flavors rooted in Persian food traditions.
Vuka Flame Grilled Peri-Peri Chicken Introduces South African Flavors
Chicken is a familiar restaurant staple, but Vuka is putting a South African-inspired spin on it in Minneapolis’s Lyn-Lake neighborhood. Vuka Flame Grilled Peri-Peri Chicken has moved into the former It’s Greek to Me building on West Lake Street. Its signature is flame-grilled chicken that is marinated for 48 hours before cooking, with peri-peri seasoning providing the distinctive heat and flavor. The restaurant is connected to brothers Taz, Dominic, and Shepherd Nzara, whose food business has a strong focus on sauces. That emphasis is reflected in the restaurant’s identity: the chicken is built around bold seasoning and grilled flavor rather than complicated preparation. The opening brings another international influence to the Twin Cities dining scene and gives local diners a new place to explore peri-peri, a style of spicy chili-based seasoning associated with southern African cooking.
Taizo Serves Japanese Sweets and Snacks in South Minneapolis
Japanese street-food favorites have found a new home in South Minneapolis with the arrival of Taizo. Taizo Japanese Sweets and Bites comes from chef Hide Tozawa, who is also associated with Okome House. One of the main attractions is taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake traditionally cooked in a molded iron pan and often filled with sweet ingredients such as red bean paste. The shop also serves onigiri, Japanese rice snacks that can be prepared with a variety of fillings. These familiar Japanese treats give customers a chance to try something beyond the usual bakery pastries or packaged snacks. Located on Nicollet Avenue, Taizo adds a specialized Japanese sweets and bites concept to the neighborhood, with a menu that brings together comforting traditional snacks and accessible grab-and-go food.
Plaza del Sol Creates a New Food Destination on St. Paul’s East Side
Plaza del Sol is more than a place to grab a meal. The new food hall and commissary kitchen on Payne Avenue is designed to give local food entrepreneurs room to build their businesses while creating a shared community destination. The project is an initiative of the Latino Economic Development Center, with a mission that includes supporting small businesses and strengthening connections across the neighborhood. Its food vendors include Bien Dorados, La Moreliana, and Valentina’s, with additional businesses expected to join as the space develops. The wider concept also includes room for food-related events and community gatherings. Because it combines dining with business support, Plaza del Sol serves two purposes: visitors get a place to discover different food offerings, while participating entrepreneurs gain access to a shared space in which to reach customers and grow.
Mandalay Kitchen Reopens After Months of Repairs
For regular customers of Mandalay Kitchen, the restaurant’s return is welcome news after a difficult stretch. The St. Paul Burmese restaurant had to close for several months after a car crashed into the building during the winter. It finally reopened on October 16, bringing its distinctive menu back to University Avenue. Mandalay Kitchen is known for Burmese cooking, with dishes and influences that also draw from Thai and Karen food traditions. That range makes it a distinctive stop for diners interested in Southeast Asian flavors beyond the more familiar restaurant offerings. Its reopening restores a neighborhood dining option that had been missing while repairs were underway. For a small independent restaurant, returning after an extended closure is no small achievement, especially when it means rebuilding the daily rhythm of serving customers and welcoming familiar faces back through the door.
Savory Bake House Returns at a New St. Paul Address
Savory Bake House has made a move across the Twin Cities, bringing its popular baked goods to a new address in St. Paul. The bakery has reopened at 895 Front Avenue after leaving its previous Minneapolis location. Its reputation rests on small-batch baking and a selection that includes both savory and sweet items. That combination makes it a little different from a bakery focused entirely on cakes, cookies, or breakfast pastries. The business has also developed a following among customers who know to arrive early, as its daily offerings can sell out quickly. The move gives Savory Bake House a fresh setting while allowing it to continue serving the customers who have followed its baking over the years. For St. Paul residents, its arrival adds another independent bakery to the local food scene, while longtime fans have a new address to remember.
