What to Eat at the Twin Cities' Top Food Halls
What to Eat at the Twin Cities' Top Food Halls
By Erica Wacker
The national food hall phenomenon arrived in the metro area with a vengeance, offering a wide variety of inventive vendors to attract the masses. So what’s a food hall? Think food court, only trendier — and much more Instagram-worthy. Here's where you can find them within the Twin Cities and beyond.
Minneapolis-St. Paul
For a taste of one of St. Paul's most vibrant cultures and communities, the Hmongtown Marketplace features over 100 vendors serving traditional larb, locally grown Asian produce, papaya salad, bubble tea and so much more. In the summer, the food court expands to include outdoor vendors. Hmong Village, on the city's East Side, is a similarly massive Hmong market.
Opened all the way back in 1997, Mercado Central in south Minneapolis is the granddaddy of Minnesota food halls. The thriving Latino marketplace specializes in tacos, tamales, pupusas and other favorites from Mexico and Latin America, along with a handful of retail storefronts. For a wider variety of international flavors, head to the Midtown Global Market—an incubator for minority business owners selling everything from tamales to camel burgers—less than a mile up the road.
Andy's Mexican/American Garage at Midtown Global Market / Meet Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Opened all the way back in 1997, Mercado Central in south Minneapolis is the granddaddy of Minnesota food halls. The thriving Latino marketplace specializes in tacos, tamales, pupusas and other favorites from Mexico and Latin America, along with a handful of retail storefronts. For a wider variety of international flavors, head to the Midtown Global Market—an incubator for minority business owners selling everything from tamales to camel burgers—less than a mile up the road.
More recent additions to the Minneapolis food hall scene include The Market at Malcolm Yards located inside the historic Harris Machinery Co. building with vendors like Joey Meatballs slinging red sauce pastas and meatballs, incredible cheeseburgers and frozen treats at Bebe Zito, or a fusion of flavors from Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and Japan at Abang Yoli.
Opening week at Eat Street Crossing
Other newcomers include Graze Provisions and Libations — a downtown Minneapolis destination with a rooftop deck, two bar areas, and such popular vendors as Soul Bowl and Union Hmong Kitchen — and the newly opened Eat Street Crossing. Named after the multi-cultural neighborhood it's now a part of, the complex features Brazilian-style pizza, sushi sandwiches, ramen, and the innovative ice cream of Bebe Zito (think: Gochujang Brownie, Chocolate Mezcal, and a bracing combination of lemon and extra virgin olive oil).
The hall's in-house bar is also straight out of left field, with a cocktail menu that revolves around star signs. For instance, the Taurus blends cognac with rye whiskey, chai and cold brew. The Virgo, on the other, shakes gin up in a tin with jasmine-matcha syrup, Falernum, dry vermouth and lemon juice.
Further Afield
While it's technically located in a mall (Rosedale Center), Potluck is no food court. The suburbs' leading food hall features counter-service concepts like Adam's Soul to Go, Salad Slayer and OG ZaZa, along with outposts of popular Twin Cities eateries including Burger Dive, Smack Shack and Joey Meatballs.
Not to mention buttery and flakey Southern-style biscuits at B&E that were modeled after the family recipe of FOX 9 host Jason Matheson. Local baker Diane Minor also gets to show off Sweets By Diane specialties like 8-inch banana creme, lemon meringue and French silk pies.
Another welcome addition to the greater metro area is the former Gander Mountain store a group of Chinese-American investors converted into the sprawling Asia Mall. Located in Eden Prairie — about 20 minutes from the heart of Minneapolis — the two-story, 116,000 square foot space features a specialty grocery store and food vendors slinging bubble tea, pho, hot pot, mochi donuts and more.
Erica Wacker is a Midwesterner through and through, growing up in Illinois, going to college in Wisconsin, and settling down in Minnesota. She loves to run, travel with her family, and go to concerts to relive her youth.