10 Best St Paul Restaurants

The food St Paul is famous for includes dishes reflecting its Midwestern heritage, like Juicy Lucy, walleye and hotdish, alongside a prominent Southeast Asian food scene. The city's location in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" makes walleye, served fried, broiled, or in sandwiches, a regional staple. The St Paul food identity is also deeply connected to its large Hmong and Vietnamese communities, concentrated along University Avenue, which is a destination for authentic pho, banh mi, and traditional Cambodian food. The food in St Paul is also characterized by classic American comfort food, found in its historic diners and long-standing neighborhood delis.

The average cost for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in St. Paul is between $18 and $25 for a single person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $70 and $100. At fine dining establishments, tasting menus start at $100 per person, with the total cost for a full meal often exceeding $150 per person.

St. Paul's fast-food landscape includes beloved Midwestern chains like Culver's and popular national brands. Local favorites like Raising Cane's, known for its simple chicken finger menu, and the Minnesota-founded Caribou Coffee are also extremely popular for quick meals and drinks.

• Culver's: A Wisconsin-based chain famous for its ButterBurgers, fresh frozen custard, and cheese curds.
• Raising Cane's: Known for its focused menu of high-quality chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, and signature Cane's sauce.
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: A popular spot for toasted sandwiches, salads, and hand-dipped milkshakes.
• Noodles & Company: A fast-casual restaurant serving noodle dishes from a variety of international traditions, with the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese being a favorite.
• Caribou Coffee: A Minnesota-based coffee chain that is a go-to for coffee, tea, and quick breakfast sandwiches.
• Chick-fil-A: Popular for its chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and waffle fries.
• Shake Shack: Known for its high-quality burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and frozen custard shakes.
• Jimmy John's: Famous for its "freaky fast" delivery and cold-cut submarine sandwiches.

Recently opened restaurants in St. Paul like Gus Gus have brought modern, chef-driven energy to neighborhood spots, while others have expanded the city's international food offerings. Listed below are some of the best new restaurants in St Paul:

• Gus Gus: A contemporary American restaurant in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood serving a creative, seasonal menu and cocktails in a stylish, welcoming space.
• Em Que Viet: A second location of a popular Minneapolis Vietnamese restaurant, bringing its well-known egg rolls and pho to the Macalester-Groveland area.
• Kalsada: A Filipino restaurant and coffee shop in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood, serving traditional Filipino dishes and coffee sourced from the Philippines.
• Estelle: A restaurant in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood serving Portuguese and Spanish-inspired food, including tapas and paella, along with a curated wine list.
• Chloe's Pizza: A pizzeria in the Highland Park neighborhood from the team behind the fine-dining restaurant Myriel, offering artisanal pizzas with high-quality ingredients.

For a memorable dinner St Paul has many excellent options that offer elevated food and a refined atmosphere. The following restaurants are perfect for a special evening out:

• Meritage: A classic French brasserie in downtown St. Paul. It offers an elegant, bustling atmosphere perfect for a sophisticated dinner of steak frites or fresh oysters from its famous raw bar.
• W.A. Frost and Company: Set in a historic building on Cathedral Hill, this restaurant serves upscale American food. Its grand interior with fireplaces and its famous outdoor patio provide a beautiful setting for a nice dinner.
• Joan’s in the Park: An intimate fine-dining restaurant in Highland Park. It serves a seasonal tasting menu in a cozy, personal setting, making it ideal for a quiet and focused culinary experience.
• Myriel: Another fine-dining spot in Highland Park from a James Beard Award-nominated chef. Myriel offers a creative, wandering tasting menu in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
• Handsome Hog: For a more lively but still high-quality dinner, this Cathedral Hill restaurant serves contemporary Southern food with a focus on pork and an extensive whiskey list.

Several bars in St Paul are known for serving excellent cocktails, from classic recipes to modern creations. Among the best bars in St Paul, W.A. Frost and Company stands out for its classic cocktails served in a historic setting, especially in its lower-level lounge. The Commodore Bar & Restaurant, a restored Art Deco landmark, is famous for its classic, 1930s-era cocktails. For more inventive drinks, Handsome Hog offers a massive whiskey list and creative bourbon-forward cocktails. These  bars and restaurants demonstrate a commitment to high-quality mixology, making them the places to find the best cocktails the city has to offer.

The most romantic restaurant in St. Paul is W.A. Frost and Company. Its setting in a magnificent, historic building on Cathedral Hill creates an unparalleled atmosphere of timeless elegance. The restaurant's romantic appeal comes from several specific features. Inside, multiple fireplaces provide a warm, intimate glow during the colder months, while the lower-level lounge offers a cozy, secluded space for drinks. In the summer, its multi-level, garden-like outdoor patio, filled with greenery and soft lighting, is widely considered the most beautiful and romantic restaurants St Paul has for outdoor dining. This combination of historic grandeur, intimate spaces, and beautiful scenery makes it the definitive choice for a romantic occasion.

St. Paul has vegan restaurants like J. Selby's, Eureka Compass Vegan Food, and Trio Plant-Based. These establishments offer 100% plant-based menus. J. Selby's is known for its vegan versions of classic American comfort food, such as burgers, wings, and milkshakes. Eureka Compass Vegan Food is a deli and market serving a rotating menu of creative vegan sandwiches, salads, and hot dishes. Trio Plant-Based is a Black-owned vegan restaurant specializing in plant-based soul food. Other restaurants like Brasa and Demera Ethiopian Restaurant also have extensive and clearly marked vegan options.

The restaurants in St. Paul that serve gluten-free food include Brasa, Red Cow, and Demera Ethiopian Restaurant. These places offer many gluten-free items or have dedicated procedures for gluten-sensitive diners. Brasa's menu of slow-roasted meats and Creole-inspired sides is almost entirely gluten-free. Red Cow, a popular burger spot, offers gluten-free buns and can prepare many of its burgers and appetizers to be gluten-free. Demera's Ethiopian food is naturally gluten-free, as the traditional injera bread is made from teff flour, and its stews do not contain gluten.

St. Paul's most famous types of food are classic American and Southeast Asian. The city's food identity is a mix of traditional Midwestern comfort and the flavors brought by its large immigrant communities. Listed below are the most common and popular types of food in St. Paul.

• American (Diner & Comfort Food): St. Paul has a strong tradition of classic American food. This is seen in its historic diners like Mickey's Diner, its long-standing neighborhood delis like Cecil's, and restaurants serving hearty Midwestern comfort food.
• Southeast Asian (Hmong, Vietnamese, & Cambodian): The city is a major center for Southeast Asian communities, particularly Hmong. University Avenue is lined with restaurants serving authentic pho, banh mi, and traditional Cambodian and Hmong dishes, making it a key part of the city's food scene.
• French: St. Paul has a notable appreciation for classic French food. This is best represented by Meritage, a downtown brasserie that serves traditional French dishes in an elegant setting, and other bistros in the city.
• Ethiopian: The area around University Avenue is also home to a number of excellent Ethiopian restaurants. These spots are known for their flavorful stews (wats) and the communal dining experience centered around injera bread.
• Southern & Barbecue: There is a growing number of restaurants in St. Paul specializing in Southern and barbecue traditions. These establishments serve dishes like shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and slow-smoked meats.