Minnesota Culinary Treasures: Try These James Beard Award Semifinalists (Plus the 2024 Winner!)

Minnesota may not be known for Michelin stars, but is better known for cold winters and hundreds of lakes. However, some restaurants deserve a mention, even though there isn’t a Michelin guide for the state. So, no Michelin Guide, no Michelin stars. What started as a way to sell more tires has grown into a guide for the best hotel and restaurant experiences in the world. Michelin stars are among the most coveted ratings they can receive.

Yet, even if your area doesn’t have a Michelin Guide, other awards recognize excellent food and chefs. In North America, the James Beard Foundation awards restaurants and chefs in several categories, including Best Chef and Best New Restaurant. In our search for Minnesota restaurants with Michelin stars, we discovered several James Beard Foundation award semifinalists and a winner for 2024.

Myriel — 2024 James Beard Semifinalist

470 Cleveland Avenue South, St Paul, MN 55105

Myriel’s menu changes frequently and offers several vegetable dishes, meats from local small farms, and charcuterie. Prices vary from $6 to $32 per plate, with three protein choices, vegetable dishes, and charcuterie available. Because of the ever-changing menu items, their website doesn’t give up much in details.

Still, Myriel chef Karyn Tomlinson was in the running for Best Chef of the Midwest, making it to the semifinals in 2024. Her food is beautifully inspired by the fresh ingredients they source from local farms, making Myriel worth a visit when you’re in St. Paul.

Union Hmong Kitchen — 2023 Semifinalist

520 N 4th St Ste 4, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Making it to the 2023 James Beard Award semifinalists for Best Chef, Chef Yia Vang of Union Hmong Kitchen serves up cuisine from Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The first location opened in 2022, during which, Union Hmong Kitchen itself was a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. This James Beard Foundation star just might be worthy of a Michelin star, but time will tell, after all, who knows when Michelin will invest the money in adding a guide for Minnesota.

Main dishes like Hmong sausage or crispy chicken legs with ginger, lemongrass, and scallion dressing are delicious and sides include taro chips and chilled rice noodles. Menu items vary slightly between the restaurant’s two locations, but the style is the same: Southeast Asian culinary delights that inspire and educate customers.

Porzana — 2024 Semifinalist

200 N. 1st Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401

This Argentinean steakhouse offers grass-fed steaks and prime Argentinean cooked to perfection, with some of the best seafood platters you’ll find in landlocked Minnesota. Chef Daniel del Prado was a 2024 James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Chef, and it shows in the food.

Starters at Porzana include oysters with an optional caviar addition, cured salmon, and spicy scallop tartare. Main dish offerings include several pasta dishes, chicken and pork plates, and premium grain and grass-fed steaks.

Khâluna — 2024 Nominee & 2023 Semifinalist

4000 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409

Khâluna ‘s chef Ann Ahmed was nominated for Best Chef Midwest in 2024 and, in 2023, made the semifinals. The restaurant showcases colorful traditional Southeast Asian food and hosts cooking classes. There’s also a shop that offers hand-crafted products, often imported from Laos to help support Laotian people.

Menu items include laksa, duck fried rice, and gaeng toon. There are red curries, Malaysian curry broth, and a delicious yellow curry. Tempura fried chicken wings with Thai basil, jalapenos, and their signature dry rub are popular, and the chicken samosas are outstanding. No matter which dish you try, this Laotian eatery will fill your belly with fabulous flavors that evoke Southeast Asia.

Hai Hai — 2024 James Beard Award Winner

2121 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Hai Hai is a Minneapolis gem and serves Southeast Asian street food. Chef Christina Nguyen has been either a nominee or semifinalist for a James Beard Best Chef Award since 2018 and brought home a win in 2024.

Showcasing Southeast Asia’s bright colors and bold flavors, Hai Hai offers less well-known dishes alongside traditional pho and pad Thai. Try coconut shrimp toast and follow it up with Thai banana blossom salad. For your main course, enjoy the Balinese chicken thigh or beef rendang. Desserts include passion fruit posset and Vietnamese coffee tiramisu. The restaurant’s trendy bar offers a casual experience and a patio for your next evening with friends.

Whether you try Hai Hai or one of the other outstanding restaurants on the list, Minnesota has plenty of fantastic restaurant choices. Maybe one day, we’ll hear about Michelin Guide in Minnesota, but these James Beard Award winners and semifinalists will impress with beautiful, delicious food.

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