Holiday Alt: The 13 Best Chinese Restaurants Around the Twin Cities

Holiday Alt: The 13 Best Chinese Restaurants Around the Twin Cities

Mandarin Kitchen

Hand-pulled dan dan noodles, dim sum, and everything in between!

There are plenty of excellent Chinese restaurants around the Twin Cities, from dim sum institutions like Mandarin Kitchen and Yangtze Restaurant to beloved Cantonese staples like Shuang Cheng. For hand-pulled noodles, Sichuan fare shimmering with chili oil, or Anhui-style braised whole walleye, look no further than these Chinese restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul, listed geographically (not ranked) as always.

Peking Garden

Peking Garden is a casual, family-oriented spot on St. Paul’s University Avenue, where it’s been serving Cantonese fare since 1991. Come for the excellent hospitality, the lobster with ginger and scallions, and the sizzling beef brisket five-spice hot pot.

Master Noodle (Saint Paul)

Master Noodle (formerly Magic Noodle) makes fresh, hand-pulled noodle dishes daily in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood. There are few better places for tender, springy dan dan noodles, hot and sour sweet potato noodle soup, and Mongolian beef fried noodles. Master Noodle also serves an excellent Taiwanese tomato beef brisket soup.

Wide rice noodles in a brown sauce and chili oil in a ceramic blue and grey bowl
Master Noodle in St. Paul.

 Master Noodle

Szechuan

Szechuan, of course, specializes in Sichuan cuisine: glassy dumplings swimming in chili oil; beef with Sichuan bean curd and peppercorns; dry pot with squid and vegetables. But it also serves Cantonese and Mandarin dishes, plus some Chinese American appetizers like cream cheese wontons. The dan dan noodles are especially popular. Szechuan’s sister restaurant, Jun, helmed by chef Jessie Wong, is another great stop for fiery Sichuan fare.

Pagoda

Head to Pagoda for an all-you-can-eat dim sum spread of steaming shu mai, taro buns, pork congee, and turnip cakes, served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (A la carte dim sum is also offered Tuesday through Sunday.) Add on bottomless mimosas, sake, or sangria for an extra $15 a person. Pagoda has a full entree menu of roast duck, egg drop soup, and much, much more.

A spread of dim sum dishes on a wooden table.

Justin Jones

Tea House Chinese Restaurant

After nearly 15 years on University Avenue, Tea House remains a staple for excellent Chinese fare — Szechuan in particular. It’s a great place to dine family-style: Mix and match between a steaming bowl of thick, supple kudai lamb noodles (a street food from China’s Shaanxi Province); the whole braised Anhui walleye; or the classic kung pao chicken, peppered with crispy peanuts. On the weekend, come for a dim sum brunch.

A walleye in a red sauce in a white dish.
Szechuan-style walleye at Tea House.

 Tea House Chinese Restaurant

Legendary Spice

Legendary Spice — formerly of the Lao Sze Chuan restaurant group, now linked to a Chengdu, China-based restaurant — focuses on classic Szechuan cuisine. The vast menu spans seafood, pork, beef, chicken, and vegetarian dishes, but the highlights are among the Szechuan cold appetizers (preserved duck egg with chili pepper, sliced beef and maw, etc.) and the Chengdu local favorites (spicy mao cai, tea-smoked duck, Szechuan crawfish, etc.).

A person adding scallions to a plate of dumplings topped with chili oil.
Legendary Spice in St. Paul.
 Legendary Spice

Lao Sze Chuan

Also near the University of Minnesota campus, Lao Sze Chuan is a great place to share chilled, tangy Szechuan noodles; tea-smoked duck; and steaming beef soup, infused with spicy chili oil. Lao Sze Chuan’s appetizer list is notable, too — order some green bean jelly and spicy and sour squid for the table.

Shuang Cheng

This 31-year Dinkytown staple is known for its top-notch Cantonese menu. It specializes in seafood dishes, like crab with ginger and scallions and baked lobster in a five-spice salt. (For holidays and celebrations, the Peking duck is a solid choice.) Shuang Cheng has great hot pot, too.

Rainbow Chinese Restaurant and Bar

Situated on Eat Street’s main drag, chef Tammy Wong’s Rainbow Chinese has been dishing up excellent “Chinese Minnesotan” fare since the late 1980s, and after a pandemic hiatus, the dining room has finally reopened. Wander down Nicollet Avenue for plates of sauteed green beans, firecracker dumplings with fried hot pepper, and ma po tofu, simmered with Sichuan peppercorns.

Mandarin Kitchen

Head to Mandarin Kitchen for a dim sum brunch of pan-fried turnip cakes, pillowy steamed buns, egg custards, and steamed pork dumplings. (Mandarin Kitchen has a vast menu of entrees, too, and hot pot.) At peak meal times, small parties can expect share tables — an arrangement that only adds to the bustling, convivial atmosphere. On weekends, this spot is packed with families, and the line often wraps out the door.

A person using chopsticks to grab one of three pan-fried chive dumplings on a plate.
Pan-fried chive dumplings from Mandarin Kitchen.

 Mandarin Kitchen

Grand Szechuan Restaurant

Chef Luo Guanghe’s dishes, shimmering with chili oil and studded with peppercorns, hit all the hot, sour, mouth-numbing notes of classic Szechuan cuisine. Try the beef and tofu in hot peppercorn broth, or the spicy lotus roots as an appetizer.

Yangtze Restaurant

Though Yangtze has a full menu, it’s best-known for its weekend dim sum, served every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spare ribs arrive in a rich black bean sauce; golden-seared shrimp and chive dumplings are packed with sharp allium flavor. Round out the meal with sweet bites of egg custard.

Rice rolls in soy sauce on a white plate with a red patterned border.
Yangtze is one the metro’s best dim sum spots. 

Yangtze Restaurant

Holidazzle Fun & Food Returns – Minneapolis, MN

Holidazzle Fun & Food Returns – Minneapolis, MN

Holidazzle

Holidazzle is back!! Five blocks of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, from 6th Street to Peavey Plaza (11th), will transform into a free and family-friendly holiday experience Holidazzle 2024 promises a vibrant holiday atmosphere filled with fun, joy, and holiday cheer in the heart of the city. Stroll down Nicollet Mall as it becomes a festive playground complete with twinkling lights, performances, and tasty bites from local food trucks.
The Jingle Bar – Minneapolis, MN

The Jingle Bar – Minneapolis, MN

The Jingle Bar – Minneapolis

 The Jingle Bar Sleighs into Minneapolis!

After spreading festive cheer to over 5,000 holiday lovers on the East Coast, the most magical Christmas pop-up bar is finally landing in Minneapolis this December! Get ready for a dazzling season filled with twinkling lights, heartwarming holiday moments, and festive fun around every corner.

What Ticket Holders Can Expect:

🎁 The Merriest Bar in Minneapolis: Step into a wonderland decked out with tinsel, twinkling trees, and presents galore. Our venue is fully transformed into a Christmas dream!

🎶 Holiday Hits & Jolly Jingles: Non-Stop Xmas Classics: From Mariah Carey to Frank Sinatra, we’ve got the ultimate festive soundtrack, with a few party tunes to keep the vibes pumping.

🍹 Festive Cocktails & Tasty Treats: Sip on delicious, holiday-themed drinks and nibble on festive bites to keep the holiday cheer flowing!

🎲 Christmas Games & Elfin Entertainment: Our “Christmas miracle makers” will host some holiday games and surprises to make your night unforgettable!

👚 Prizes for Best Dressed: Show off your Christmas style! Whether it’s the ultimate ugly sweater or a surprise Grinch costume, there are prizes for the most festive outfits

🎟️ Limited tickets and sessions available—grab yours before they’re gone! This magical event sells out fast every year, so round up your crew, and let’s make this Christmas one to remember.

FAQs:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages Welcome: Patrons under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

🚫 Non-Refundable Tickets: Can’t make it? You may transfer to a different session (if available) for a $10 fee.

Food offerings will vary by location (and may not be available at all), with menus released closer to the event.Get ready to experience the holiday magic at The Jingle Bar—your Christmas spirit awaits! 🎅🎄✨

Event

The Jingle Bar – Minneapolis

View multiple dates and times.

Select Tickets

Event organized and delivered by Showtime – for partnerships, large groups and sponsorships email us to partners@showtime-presents.com

Location

Brit’s Pub

1110 Nicollet Mall

 Minneapolis MN

ICYMI: “Grapegate” Remembering the New York Times’ grape salad debacle 10 years later

ICYMI: “Grapegate” Remembering the New York Times’ grape salad debacle 10 years later

Grapes where they belong — not in the oven.
George Rose | Getty Images

A decade ago, NYT food writers did Minnesota dirty on a Thanksgiving recipe roundup

Minnesota News: As part of its 2014 collection of recipes “The United States of Thanksgiving,” the New York Times upset most of the state of Minnesota by claiming we celebrate Thanksgiving with what appeared to be a disgusting, broiled grape salad.

The Times said it “scoured the nation for recipes that evoke each of the 50 states,” and Minnesota wound up with this grape monstrosity mixed with sour cream and topped with brown sugar.

We weren’t so much mad as we were disappointed.

Minnesotans like their salads. And they take the art of making a dish of mixed ingredients held together with condiments or salad dressings — typically served chilled — in directions that may seem … different to some folks outside the Midwest.

The mixed ingredients can be anything, not just lettuce and vegetables. I’m talking about mini marshmallows, pineapple tidbits and chopped-up candy bars. They are often topped with coconut or crushed pecans.

Condiments and dressings can range from a coating of Cool Whip to a binder of fruity Jell-O. (Sometimes both!)

And, for this Minnesotan — and the many others outraged by Grapegate — we do not put salads in the oven.

a recipe for grape salad
The New York Times picked this grape salad recipe for Minnesota in its 2014 “The United States of Thanksgiving” recipe collection. Minnesotans were not very happy about it. New York Times | Illustration by Lisel Jane Ashlock

Minnesotans knew something was amiss with this grape salad from the first step.

“Heat broiler.”

No.

“Place under broiler…”

Absolutely not.

The recipe calls for chilling the dish after preparation (thank goodness), but why sour cream?

“Other versions, I hear, call for softened cream cheese and nondairy ‘whipped topping;’ I can’t say I’ll be trying that.”

The audacity.

Well you really should have, David. And you should have kept it out of the oven.

Also, was using a single source for this endeavor really the best choice? Who was this mysterious, unnamed “Minnesota-born heiress” that claimed grape salad “was always part of the holiday buffet” anyways? I don’t care that she “made a lot of Swedish pancakes with lingonberries,” as you stated in your response to outraged Minnesotans.

I agree with a Facebook commenter on the Times’ post about the recipe: The only royalty I trust on this matter are dairy princesses.

Grape Salad

NYT Grape Salad

30 minutes, plus at least 1 hour chilling time8 servings

  …

Ingredients

2 pounds seedless grapes, removed from stems and rinsed, about 6 cups

2 cups sour cream

1 cup brown sugar

¾ cup toasted pecans (optional)

Preparation

  1. Heat broiler. Put grapes in a large mixing bowl. Add sour cream and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula, making sure all grapes are well coated.
  2. Transfer mixture to a 2-quart ceramic soufflé dish or other baking dish. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over top. Place dish under broiler as far from heat source as possible and broil until sugar is caramelized and crispy, about 5 minutes (be vigilant or you’ll risk a burnt black topping). Rotate dish as necessary for even browning. Chill for at least one hour. May be prepared up to 24 hours ahead. Just before serving, sprinkle with toasted pecans, if using.

Minnesota food folks were riled. James Beard Award-wining food writer Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl told MPR News in November 2014:

“I could not be more outraged by the whole grape salad thing. That has nothing to do with Minnesota. We don’t grow those green table grapes. We definitely don’t grow them in November … and pecans are from the south,” she said. “I think it’s almost like a veiled insult. They want to be beating us over the head with Jell-O salad but they don’t actually have the guts to do it.”

Amy Thielen, author of the James Beard Award-winning “The New Midwestern Table” cookbook, was also baffled at the Times’ choice for Minnesota.

“In all of my research, in all of the church cookbooks I have and all of the Minnesota food books that I have, I have not found grape salad … and nobody in Minnesota would call themselves an heiress,” Thielen told MPR News in 2014. “I did get one lead from my aunt, and she said that she remembered a grape salad that they served at the Lowell Inn in Stillwater. And so I called them, and it’s actually called Grapes Devonshire. That sounds like a dish fit for an heiress, right?”

NPR’s pop culture correspondent Linda Holmes even chimed in with her experience after living in Minnesota for 10 years.

“I have never in my life heard of a grape salad. Not at Thanksgiving, not at Christmas, not during a Vikings game, not during the Winter Carnival, not during the State Fair, and not during the greatest state holiday: the annual hockey tournament of the Minnesota State High School League,” she said. “Please don’t accuse us of being best represented by a tradition (?) of heating up grapes for Thanksgiving.”

Anna Haecherl

doitinnorth shop/share gallery

Oh! Top 50 Grape Salad Recipes Volume 4: A Must-have Grape Salad Cookbook for Everyone

ICYMI

GLOW Holiday Festival Season Opens – St. Paul, MN

Twin Cities: Where to Get Thanksgiving Dinner

Twin Cities: Where to Get Thanksgiving Dinner

Wise Acre

Take the weight of cooking off your shoulders and be thankful for these delicious meals.

The food & dining blog

by Mpls.St.Paul Editors

doitinnorth shop/share gallery

Minneapolis, Minnesota Turkey Trot Squad Thanksgiving 2024

ICYMI

GLOW Holiday Festival Season Opens – St. Paul, MN

MIA: Art & Dining After Dark – Minneapolis, MN

MIA: Art & Dining After Dark – Minneapolis, MN

Art & Dining After Dark

An Art-Inspired Culinary Adventure: “1,000 Years of Spain”

Join us for an entirely unique, completely delicious way to enjoy Mia: an intimate dining experience, after-hours in the galleries, inspired by Mia’s special exhibition.

The evening features a multi-course, salon-style dinner from Jamie Malone and Paris Dining Club; wine pairings by acclaimed sommelier Bill Summerville; and a private, curator-led tour of the exhibition. Throughout the evening, insights from Mia’s director and curators as well as the culinary team highlight creative expression from field and kitchen to studio and museum.

Event

Art & Dining After Dark

Wednesday, December 11th, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Complimentary valet is included.

Your purchase supports the museum’s mission.

Tickets

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