stepawayfromthetable's Profile
Where can I find habernero (hot pepper) plants in the Twin Cities?
3/$1 peppers at the Hmong Market on Como. Oops...did I just give it away?!@
Potato Chips
Merlin's Rest has some homemade chips too! I'm from the west coast so I love getting pickle chips here!
Favorite Restaurant to bring out-of-town guests?
I would get some Bahn Mi from a good Vietnamese and ride around the Lakes. I live in St. Paul so I like Saigon, but I think there's a thread about a few good sandwich places in Mpls/Uptown/Eat Street.
As a recent resident of MN, I love the local food neighborhood restaurants like Sample Room in NE, Birchwood in Seward, Heidi's and Lucia's. Timing is important on these since they can be busy. I second Gasthaus and Chimbarazo's, too. Amazing Thai for happy hour sticker shock (in a good way). A picnic with some Holy Land by the river would be nice too!
Authentic Chinese?
I still have not been to Grand Shanghai. But, I recently did show up at 10am for the Mandarin Kitchen experience and was not disappointed. So good. I now believe there is great Dim Sum here!
Fish Fries & Church Suppers in MSP, 2011 edition
I guess I can start a new thread...
but I just ate at the Tavern on the Avenue for their all-you-can-eat fish fry and it was delicious. Greasy yummy but not super crispy hand-cut potatoes and coleslaw come with cod. The fish was moist and fried in clean oil; the breading was good. You have to put up with terrible music; it's a sports bar with a dining area, but the service was good and the beer was cold. They also had other items on their Lenten menu.
Bun bo hue
I'm curious about Indochine. Is it the same owner different name of the same vietnamese restaurant of about 3 yrs ago? I'm going to try their pork bun!
Pho at Ngon
I like their Bun and their entrees are delicious; went on NYE early no reserv. GREAT. Two pepper steaks were enjoyed with their wasabi potatoes. I'd like to try the Ox tail soup. I know the pho a friend got was not insanely complex, but good nonetheless. They also have great beer and wine. Consistently a good night out.
Visit to Minneapolis
I second a Jucy Lucy. If you can go on an "off" time, I'd definitely try the Blue Door and get some tots or deep fried greenbeans or pickle cheese. For Vietnamese, I'd go to Ngon and get some pho or Bun but if you're on a budget, perhaps Saigon. I'm not sure if you like Korean; there are a few good places. As for local meats, I wholeheartedly recommend taking part in this unique area where you can get some really good meats. I've had a great potted meat/rillete at the Sample Room which also has some delish root veggies and cheeses and Brasa has a great local meat menu too. I would pair a Surly Furious or cynic beer or a Crispin. I've had a great meal at Maritage and Tampopo is a favorite as well, both in St. Paul. For a lunch, I recommend the Birchwood or Namaste. I think the Twin Cities has a strength in small local sourced good food restaurants and great Vietnamese/Hmong. Have fun!
What's with the salt & pepper shakers and Sriracha at every table in MSP?
Great NYT article. It's not even about poverty.
What's with the salt & pepper shakers and Sriracha at every table in MSP?
Perhaps it is the growing hipsters! or perhaps it is with the increased global pop., or maybe the baby boomers declining taste buds.
What's with the salt & pepper shakers and Sriracha at every table in MSP?
Loss from theft is NOT the issue on this thread. And the overconfidence and bias is laughable as poverty and theft is not so regional!
Authentic Chinese?
WOW! Hand made noodles? I will try Grand Shanghai very soon. I did get take out from them 2 years ago and was not impressed. The veggies weren't especially fresh and it fell into that syrupy overcooked oil Chinese. I look forward to checking out the noodles and will report!
best hotdog
I haven't been there in about a year, and I only was there when it was empty, but I greatly enjoyed my chili dog. Granted, I would not argue with Sarah overall and it's sad that they disappoint, especially on a nice outing.
Need Dinner Recommendation
Brasa, The Modern. Birchwood has half price wine nights on Mon and Tues.
best hotdog
The Weinery! Despite a myriad of drawbacks, their dogs and fries and bottomless press coffee rock.
http://www.wienery.com/
Authentic Chinese?
I really like their flavor. They do a buffet and I check if they have fresh bok choy or beans and I'll grab some pork or chicken. They are not the best I've had, but I like their Pan fried noodles, their fish dishes, their veggies and tofu. Everything is fresh and flavorful. I just ate recently at United Noodle and it was fantastic. I got savorysweet bbq pork and sausage rice to go and a bowl of noodles to eat there that I barely looked up from once.
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United Noodles Asian Supermarket
2015 E 24th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Authentic Chinese?
I've eaten at the Tea House in St. Paul especially for the soup dumplings but they had thick skins; sadly, I don't think anywhere in the Twin Cities has the dim sum comparable to the West Coast or NY. I've eaten at Evergreen and Little Szechuan; both are good. But, I hate to say...(and I always say that), my favorite Chinese is the closest to me, in a strip mall next to a Rainbow.
http://pekinggardenmn.com/
New Years Resolution: Explore Vietnamese Restaurants in MSP
A recent transplant, I live near Macalester and so Saigon is my go-to place. There bahn mi sandwichies, pho, and rice plates are consistently great flavor and value. Ngon is fancy, tasty but in a different price range. Mai Village does not have the refinement as it's a big place; I've only been to Hoa Bien once and it was delicious...I had a rice plate and the ban Cuan. I've gone to the little place on Grand for pho, and it was just okay. Bahn mi at Trung Nam not as good at Saigon. I have tried to go to Vina Plus, but somehow have missed their hours or something? I will try again...that spicy chicken sounds enticing.
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Mai Village
394 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Vina Plus
1821 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Best Catered / Pre-Made Thanksgiving Dinner?
Birchwood is doing this too. Order by the 14th I think!
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Birchwood Cafe
3311 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Banh Mi Sandwich - Best Place in Mpls or St. Paul?
I was flying out of town and stopped at the Surdyks in the airport for some 'thanks for picking me up" gifts and a snack for me on the plane. How great that they had a bahn mi and how fun to bring a fancy yummy bahn mi to LA from the Midwest. It was tasty and fresh and I love the Vietnamese in the Midwest!
For the record--SAIGON all the way.
MSP - Who's got the best mac and cheese?
It's good. Too good. They also have a Delicious VEGAN Mac and Cheese!
MSP: Poutine
The Triple Rock....which is also the answer to the Mac and Cheese thread too.
The TR's is $7.50 for a skinny fries, clumps of white cheese and salty-but-not-too-salty good gravy.
And just a note, Wednesday offers free bacon.
Simply the best Korean meal I have eaten in decades!
I love this place and there's a great Heavy Table review of it (link on this board in a Korean food thread). I agree about Kimberly, the owner...hands down she is the best Korean cook in the Twin Cities and so nice and fun. The food is delicious, fresh and clean tasting. I hate to admit that the decor and atmosphere do nothing to bring me into the place and as a great Korean cook (no modesty), I can make what I want at home. I do think I need to get back there this next week!
Kim Huoy Chor closed... Chinese delivery in Midway?
I wish we had the grading system like seen in LA.
I got delivery from KHC once. Once. Bad food is bad. Bad Asian food is worse.
I really like Peking Garden in the Rainbow/Midway strip mall. Alas, they do not deliver.
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Peking Garden
1488 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Good Korean in MSP
Sole is my favorite...I love the HT article citing that Sole means evergreen/forever in Hangul. I thought they may had a bad spelling translation. That said, I love the flavor and the owner, but am not a fan of the ambiance. I overlook the tables and decor because EVERYTHING on their menu is the best I've eaten in the Twin Cities. Delicious!--Ma chi sayo/ma-si-sseo-sseo-yo맛있었어요.
I have not been to Hoban and am curious about the kareoke. Are there salon/LAstyle private rooms? I'd love to see more descriptions because I will make it out there.
Kim's is wonderful too (across the street from Sole). I buy my staples there--soy, sesame oil and toasted seed, rice vinegar and wine, chili sauces, noodles ...and I break down and buy potstickers. I just experiment myself, tasting them (they are never better than homemade). I like their prepared pan/chan and kim chi's-they are packaged in tiny clear deli boxes. Crunchy garlic stems, soy beans or dried fish, the taste is very good; also, the owner lady is very nice. She also has marinated meat there too for a quick bbq of kalbi ribs. I cook a lot of Korean!-also a dashi stock for soups. I think tofu is cheaper at Seward and organic.
If I lived near Dong Yang, I think I would eat there often. I went out there because I heard they had jja-jjang myeun. I just moved here in Oct. from LA. It was delicious (no egg and I had to ask for cucumber), but it was 10$ which is a bit dear. Fyi-You can buy the premade package that is just as good in the korean grocery...but I guess you may not want all the prep. I also got a pancake and it was greasy(but so is Sole's).
Well I've rambled about my favorite food that I love. I guess I can be excused seeing what board I'm on!
oh and here are some great women who have just recently exploded on the internets!
http://www.maangchi.com/
http://aeriskitchen.com/
Maangchi was even out at MOA in last year?!
Lunch location on Grand Avenue?
I always forget about the coffee news cafe next to shish. good burgers, sandwiches and beer. I also like cat-man-do. Excellent spicy goat dumplings/momos and good curries. Shish is always good...and St. Paul Cheese has excellent sandwiches for a picnic.
