Best Ethnic Restaurants (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Roseville: home, movies, university)

[MNlakelover]

Will be in the Cities over Labor Day. What are you favorite (not too expensive) ethnic restaurants in St Paul?
Thai
Vietnamese
Indian
others???

[nick is rulz]

Sinbad off Nicolett Ave. Its a buffet/deli type of deal...middle eastern food. Amazing stuff.

[Ben Around]

Thai = Pad Thai on Grand Ave St Paul, or Royal Orchid, Roseville. Both excellent food, Royal Orchid is suburban strip mall setting, Pad Thai is nicer ambiance.

Indian = India Palace, Roseville.

Mexican = Boca Chica, St Paul

Eclectic American, reasonably priced = Longfellow Grille, Minneapolis (great ambiance, indoors or out)

Wine bar with food = Riverview, S Mpls.

German = Glockenspeil, St Paul

Gourmet Pizza = Punch's, St Paul

[MNlakelover]

Thanks for the suggestions...
Any one else have opinions on the places suggested or want to add any others?

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by MNlakelover

Thanks for the suggestions...
Any one else have opinions on the places suggested or want to add any others?

There used to be a good Russian restaurant near the cathedral - Moscow on the Hill. Don't know if it's still there but it should be. The Highland Cafe on Cleveland Ave isn't an ethnic restaurant per se, but it does great perogies and falafel.

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by MNlakelover

Will be in the Cities over Labor Day. What are you favorite (not too expensive) ethnic restaurants in St Paul?
Thai
Vietnamese
Indian
others???

I suggest my list of more unusual ethnic restaurants in the Twin Cities. Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian are not listed as they are "too common", but you'll find where to get Nepali, Hmong, Somali, Eritrean, and other more unusual cuisines on it: Coizin Guide .

There are numerous Vietnamese, Thai, Laotian, and Cambodian restaurants along University Avenue in St. Paul. However, Quang, on Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis, seems to be the favorite of MSP-area Chowhound members. It's very cheap and apparently excellent.

For Indian, I suggest Bombay 2 Deli on NE Grand Ave. It isn't much of a restaurant, more of a snack bar, but is cheap and excellent, both in food and service. You can get all kinds of Indian fast food there (samosas, vada pav, onion bhaji, bhelpuri, etc.), as well as your choice of 2 curries and rice for just $5.49.

For Ethiopian food, Fasika seems to be the one preferred by my friends at Chowhound and others. Haven't been there, but plan on going sometime soon. You can get a gigantic combination meal for $26.25.

For a very unique experience, I suggest the Hmong International Market on 217 Como Ave. between Marion and Galtier. Once you enter, you find yourself surrounded by several buildings home to dozens of stores selling everything from traditional herbs to Hmong movies to Chinese produce. At the back of one of the buildings is a expansive food court with about ten vendors with names like "Nyob Zoo Market", "Thai Thai Daily", and "Asian Special Drink" selling authentic Hmong, Laotian, and Thai food.

Minneapolis has numerous Somali restaurants. The most friendly for non-Somalis is probably Safari Restaurant on Nicollet Ave. I suggest Beef Suqqar with their delicious basmati rice (bariis), probably the best I've ever had.

Everest on Grand has a great reputation as a Nepali restaurant.

[lukeache]

Babani's Restaurant! It is a Kurdish restaurant in St Paul, Address is 544 St Peter St! I absolutely love this place, the food is so delicious and cheap and they make this Kurdish lemonade that is just incredible!

[punkerdunker]

Everest on Grand (St. Paul) is one of my favorite restaurants - Nepali & Tibetan food, which has characteristics of both Indian and Chinese food ; curries and dumplings...mmmmm. However, its not what I'd call "cheap eats", though its pretty reasonable.

Since nobody has given any suggestions for Vietnamese yet, University ave in St. Paul is where to head for that. Trieu Chau and Saigon are really cheap and good, but don't expect to be impressed by the decor - they are good cheap lunch joints. Theres also a new place on University called Ngon Vietnemese Bistro - its awesome - beautiful room, great service, upscale cuisine, and the price is fantastic.

[think.reciprocity]

I believe all of these are still around & wonderful:


Jerusalem's Restaurant in Mpls ( 1518 Nicollet Ave )

Kilimanjaro Cafe in Mpls ( 324 Cedar Ave S )

Blue Nile in Mpls ( [SIZE=-1]2027 E Franklin Ave )

Machu Piccu in Mpls ( [/SIZE] 2940 Lyndale Ave S )

Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit in NE Mpls ( 2300 University Ave NE )

Kikugawa in Mpls ( 100 Main St SE )

Black Forest Inn in Mpls ( 1 E. 26th Street )

Chez Bananas in Mpls (129 N. Fourth Street )

Victor's 1959 Cafe' for Cuban Breakfast in Mpls ( 3756 Grand Avenue S. )

[schu0786]

I moved out of MN 2 years ago, and I sooooo miss the Blue Nile (Ethiopian food) on Franklin in Minneapolis.