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Two hands holding an oval white plate with eggs Benedict on two halved English muffins and a green side salad topped with radishes. — The Copper Hen, on Eat Street.

23 Essential Brunches in the Twin Cities

Chimichurri chicken-stuffed arepas, buttermilk short stacks, and salted caramel sticky buns at the Cities’ enduring brunch spots

by Justine Jones and Eater Staff Updated Jun 24, 2024, 3:03pm CDT

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The Copper Hen, on Eat Street.

| The Copper Hen

by Justine Jones and Eater Staff Updated Jun 24, 2024, 3:03pm CDT

Below are some of the Cities’ most essential brunches, from dim sum feasts to Mexican buffets to classic steak-eggs-and-hashbrowns spreads. While this map highlights longstanding brunch spots that have stood the test of time, our brunch heatmap covers exciting new brunches on the scene. Our breakfast map highlights restaurants that open earlier in the morning, though of course many of these also serve brunch — so if you don’t find a perfect fit here, give that a peek. Here are 23 essential brunches in Minneapolis and St. Paul, listed geographically (not ranked) as always.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Heather's

Heather’s brunch specials change regularly (check Instagram for the latest) but expect dishes like pineapple upside-down pancakes, croque-madames, and carnitas Bendicts, served alongside brunch classics like egg sandwiches and crepes. Cap off brunch with a stroll around nearby Lake Nokomis, and grab a noodle salad from the little deli counter on the way out.

5201 Chicago Ave (E 52nd street), Minneapolis, MN 55417

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St Genevieve

This focused and elegant French bistro serves an especially delicate omelet du jour. Beyond it, try dishes like a wild mushroom and brie crepe, or shakshouka en cocotte with bacon and harissa — an order of beignets is a must at St. Gen’s. Vietnamese coffee, mimosas, and Bloody Marys are also on offer. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can.

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5003 Bryant Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN

A platter of oysters on ice. — Oysters at St. Gen’s.

Martina

Linden Hills restaurant Martina offers a savory-leaning brunch menu with notable Argentinian influences: think empanadas; choripan with mozzarella and chimichurri; salsa verde-drizzled smoked salmon bagels; and bavette and eggs served with potato churros are a few highlights. Start brunch with a platter of oysters and end the meal with a chocolate croissant.

4312 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410

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Victor's 1959 Cafe

This classic south Minneapolis restaurant has been serving Cuban favorites and classics for more than 20 years. Order the Basque stew — eggs with a Creole stew of Spanish chorizo, ham, and vegetables — or the slow-cooked ropa vieja with eggs and plantains, fit for a true brunch feast. Victor’s has a great coffee menu, too: Try a cafe con leche sweetened with a house sugar paste, and pick it up at the little sliding glass window out front.

3756 Grand Ave S (West 38th St), Minneapolis, MN 55409

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Hola Arepa

This sunny south Minneapolis brunch spot offers one of arepas stuffed with chimichurri chicken, Argentinian steak and eggs, or Cuban ham — best paired with sides like crispy yuca hash, sweet corn pancakes with blueberry compote, and mango chia seed pudding. Brunch cocktails like chipotle Bloody Marys and mimosas are also available, as are a number of nonalcoholic cocktails.

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN

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A white dish with a large arepa stuffed with shredded beef and pickled onions on a wooden table. — Arepas for brunch.

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Reverie

Reverie, one of the Cities’ finest vegan restaurants, serves a great brunch. Swing by this casual, sunny Powderhorn spot for breakfast burritos stuffed with coconut achiote beans; vegan Benedicts served with biscuits and rooibos tomato jam; and French toast topped with mango jerk sauce and a dollop of coconut-lime creme fraiche. Round out the meal with an order of dark chocolate beignets, which suffer nothing for their lack of butter.

1517 E 35th St (Bloomington st), Minneapolis, MN 55407

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Modern Times

South Minneapolis’s Modern Times — a cafe, in its own words, “for punks (and their parents)” — has a uniquely, delightfully Minneapolis vibe. Weekend brunch is a smorgasbord of garlic kale and tofu scrambles; buttermilk pancakes drizzled with Wisconsin maple syrup; polenta rancheros served with poblano sour cream; and pastrami hash. This spot is especially accommodating for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free folks. Save room for a handmade doughnut.

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3200 Chicago Avenue, MN 55407

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Mama Sheila's

True, Mama Sheila’s doesn’t open til noon, but if you’re willing to wait for a later brunch, this soul food buffet is hard to beat. Load up on barbecue chicken and meatloaf with sides like mac and cheese, candied yams, cabbage, jerk spaghetti, and red beans and rice, and end the meal on a sweet note with a slice of strawberry shortcake.

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3744 Bloomington Avenue, MN 55407

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Standish Cafe

It’s easy to love Standish Cafe, which whips up brunch staples like biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and buttermilk short stacks (served with real maple syrup, of course) weekend in and weekend out. With a casual, neighborhoody feel, this cafe puts an emphasis on eggs, offering omelets made with uncaged and pasture-raised eggs. Sweet treats like pull-apart monkey bread and aebleskivers (fluffy Danish pancake balls) balance the savory dishes.

2403 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

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The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen

The Copper Hen, Eat Street’s bustling brunch spot, answers the eternal sweet-or-savory brunch dilemma by pairing its farmhouse-style breakfast dishes (think braised short ribs with poached egg; pork belly skillets; biscuits and gravy) with a la carte sides like sticky rolls, buttermilk pancakes, and beautifully dense, inch-thick bread pudding French toast. Brunch cocktails include the usual Bloodys and mimosas, plus Irish coffee and gin-spiked cider.

2515 Nicollet Ave (E 25th St), Minneapolis, MN 55404

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A hand holding a white plate with a BLT on it against wallpaper that is blue and white. — Be sure to make a reservation during peak hours.

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Hell's Kitchen

Employee-owned since 2020, this quirky downtown Minneapolis icon serves brunch favorites like dense sausage bread made with dates and black currants; and walleye hash and eggs, an infamous lemon ricotta pancakes. The gothic basement vibe makes mornings spent in Hell worthwhile. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can, and on your way out, pop into Angel Food Bakery upstairs for a to-go bag of donuts.

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN

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A round white dish with a stack of golden pancakes topped with berries and powdered sugar. — Lemon ricotta pancakes at Hell’s Kitchen.

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NOLO's Kitchen & Bar

NOLO’s strikes a balance between buzzy North Loop restaurant and cozy neighborhood cafe, dishing up weekend brunch specials like salted caramel sticky buns, burrata with cantaloupe and prosciutto, red chili chilaquiles, and breakfast fried rice. Or go for the wood-fired breakfast pizza.

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515 North Washington Avenue, MN 55401

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Spoon and Stable

Spoon and Stable carries its rustic-but-elegant vibes from dinner service to brunch, with a menu of tender butter lettuce salad, bison tartare, cucumber gazpacho, whipped chevre asparagus omelets, and sorghum waffles, infused with a subtly savory bite. Accompanying Spoon’s main brunch menu are pastries (think lemon meringue profiteroles and vanilla crepe cake) and cocktails (carajillos, fresh-squeezed mimosas, and spritzes).

211 N 1st St (btwn 2nd & 3rd), Minneapolis, MN 55401

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Stepchld

Chef Kamal Mohamed’s brunch is much like his dinner menu at Stepchld in Northeast Minneapolis: fun but focused; delightfully off-kilter. Sweet potato fritters — crispy on the outside, sweet and soft as a cloud on the inside, served with a tangy smear of ricotta — are a perfect preamble to entrees like blueberry ricotta pancakes, pork belly with ginger coconut rice, and Ethiopian birria tacos. Mimosas (classic, mixed berry, or turmeric) are served by the glass.

24 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

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A long narrow black dish with five round sweet potato fritters over ricotta cheese. — Sweet potato fritters in tangy ricotta.

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Maya Cuisine

A local favorite for tacos and chile relleno tortas, Maya Cuisine in Northeast offers a brunch buffet every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet varies week to week, but expect classics like tamales, mole dishes, and pozole, plus pancakes, French toast, and desserts. (Recent specials include shrimp fajitas, buttered codfish, and sopa de mariscos.) Maya Cuisine’s buffet returned from its pandemic hiatus after an outpouring of support from customers — reservations in advance are recommended.

1840 Central Ave NE (18th Street), Minneapolis, MN 55418

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Chimborazo

Chimborazo, a Northeast staple, serves Ecuadorian classics. Starchy dishes like llapingachos (cheese-filled potato pancakes, served with a rich peanut sauce) and empanadas de queso — stuffed with queso fresco and dusted with powdered sugar — are great brunch picks. Don’t skip the chicha morada, a purple Peruvian drink made from dried corn.

2851 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

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A plate of eggs, rice, potato pancakes, veggies, and beans. — Llapingachos for brunch.

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Hazel's Northeast

Hazel’s, one of Northeast Minneapolis’s most popular brunch spots, offers a relaxed atmosphere and a reliably good menu of breakfast classics. Egg dishes, chicken-fried steak, and brisket hash are all great bets, but the pancakes, French toast, and waffles are the standouts here. Try them savory — stuffed with ham, smoked bacon, and cheese — or sweet, drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with bananas and pecans. Reservations are a wise move, as Hazel’s gets quite busy on the weekend.

2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

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A white plate with a round waffle topped with berries and a dollop of whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar. — Waffles at Hazel’s.

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Pagoda

Once a Dinkytown dim sum staple, Pagoda offers the same stellar steamed clams, barbecue pork buns, and pillowy taro cakes at its new(ish) Roseville location. Tea is served by the pot; a $40 all-you-can-eat option is available on the weekends; and the shu mai and steamed shrimp dumplings, best dredged through some chili oil, are standouts.

2401 Fairview Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113

A wooden table set with a silver tea pot and an assortment of dim sum dishes on white plates and in round metal dishes. — Dim sum at Pagoda.

Tongue in Cheek

East St. Paul’s Tongue in Cheek nails the balance between casual and elevated, offering brunch entrees like braised pork Benedict, smoked salmon with eggs, and sugar-dusted Belgian waffles with thoughtful flourishes. Brunch cocktails — think espresso martinis with Irish cream; screwdrivers with a creamy egg foam — are a must here.

989 Payne Ave (Jenks), Saint Paul, MN 55130

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Brunson's Pub

Brunson’s keeps it casual with a brunch menu of brioche French toast, pulled bacon Benedicts on toasted English muffins (or make it veggie), and smoked ham breakfast sandwiches smeared with strawberry preserve aioli, plus Bloodys and mimosas. This St. Paul spot is especially kid-friendly, offering kids’ plates for half the price of full entrees — in the summer, the leafy patio is lovely for catching the morning breeze.

956 Payne Ave (Case Ave), Saint Paul, MN 55130

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A white plate with eggs Benedict and a side salad, two Bloody Marys, and a menu sitting on a wooden table, from an aerial view. — Bloodys at Brunson’s.

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The Buttered Tin

The second its doors opened in St. Paul’s Lowertown, the Buttered Tin became a local favorite for laid-back weekend brunches. Here, old-school brunch favorites are given new life: Try a Benedict made with Lake Superior walleye, banana foster French Toast, or a smothered breakfast burrito. The Buttered Tin also serves boozy brunch drinks, like Irish cream cold press, mimosas, and a sparkling rose, keeping things casual and comfy with counter service.

237 7th St E (Wacouta), Saint Paul, MN 55101

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A selection of pastries and sweets in glass dishes on a counter, with restaurant workers in the background. — Pastries at the Buttered Tin.

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Saint Dinette

Chef Tim Niver’s Saint Dinette channels France’s bistros; Spain’s tavernas; and Italy’s trattorias — those essential neighborhood restaurants with fresh, simple food and an unshakeable sense of place. For brunch, this downtown St. Paul spot keeps things classic with delicate mushroom duxelles omelets, French toast with orange and honey butter, poutine, and Caesars. Order beignets for the table.

261 5th St E (at Wall Street), Saint Paul, MN 55101

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A white plate with an omelet covered in a creamy white sauce next to slices of toast. — Saint Dinette’s omelet.

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Hope Breakfast Bar

Hope Breakfast Bar has a buzzy, Instagrammable vibe on busy weekend mornings. This spot specializes in over-the-top breakfast food like banana churro waffles, German chocolate pancakes, and biscuits smothered with chili and topped with eggs. It also offers an impressive lineup of creative espresso drinks and breakfast cocktails — favorites include banana milk coffee, peach and rose punch, and espresso martinis. (A note for suburbanites: Hope Breakfast Bar also has a second location in St. Louis Park and Eagan, with more to come in Edina and Woodbury.)

1 Leech St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

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Two hands with a bright yellow manicure holds a white plate with a toasty colored pancake drenched in macerated cherries and a dark, sticky syrup — Pancakes at Hope.

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Heather's

5201 Chicago Ave (E 52nd street), Minneapolis, MN 55417

Heather’s brunch specials change regularly (check Instagram for the latest) but expect dishes like pineapple upside-down pancakes, croque-madames, and carnitas Bendicts, served alongside brunch classics like egg sandwiches and crepes. Cap off brunch with a stroll around nearby Lake Nokomis, and grab a noodle salad from the little deli counter on the way out.

5201 Chicago Ave (E 52nd street), Minneapolis, MN 55417

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A post shared by Heather’s (@heathers_mpls)

St Genevieve

5003 Bryant Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN

This focused and elegant French bistro serves an especially delicate omelet du jour. Beyond it, try dishes like a wild mushroom and brie crepe, or shakshouka en cocotte with bacon and harissa — an order of beignets is a must at St. Gen’s. Vietnamese coffee, mimosas, and Bloody Marys are also on offer. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can.

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5003 Bryant Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN

A platter of oysters on ice. — Oysters at St. Gen’s.

Martina

4312 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410

Linden Hills restaurant Martina offers a savory-leaning brunch menu with notable Argentinian influences: think empanadas; choripan with mozzarella and chimichurri; salsa verde-drizzled smoked salmon bagels; and bavette and eggs served with potato churros are a few highlights. Start brunch with a platter of oysters and end the meal with a chocolate croissant.

4312 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410

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Victor's 1959 Cafe

3756 Grand Ave S (West 38th St), Minneapolis, MN 55409

This classic south Minneapolis restaurant has been serving Cuban favorites and classics for more than 20 years. Order the Basque stew — eggs with a Creole stew of Spanish chorizo, ham, and vegetables — or the slow-cooked ropa vieja with eggs and plantains, fit for a true brunch feast. Victor’s has a great coffee menu, too: Try a cafe con leche sweetened with a house sugar paste, and pick it up at the little sliding glass window out front.

3756 Grand Ave S (West 38th St), Minneapolis, MN 55409

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Hola Arepa

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN

This sunny south Minneapolis brunch spot offers one of arepas stuffed with chimichurri chicken, Argentinian steak and eggs, or Cuban ham — best paired with sides like crispy yuca hash, sweet corn pancakes with blueberry compote, and mango chia seed pudding. Brunch cocktails like chipotle Bloody Marys and mimosas are also available, as are a number of nonalcoholic cocktails.

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN

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A white dish with a large arepa stuffed with shredded beef and pickled onions on a wooden table. — Arepas for brunch.

Reverie

1517 E 35th St (Bloomington st), Minneapolis, MN 55407

Reverie, one of the Cities’ finest vegan restaurants, serves a great brunch. Swing by this casual, sunny Powderhorn spot for breakfast burritos stuffed with coconut achiote beans; vegan Benedicts served with biscuits and rooibos tomato jam; and French toast topped with mango jerk sauce and a dollop of coconut-lime creme fraiche. Round out the meal with an order of dark chocolate beignets, which suffer nothing for their lack of butter.

1517 E 35th St (Bloomington st), Minneapolis, MN 55407

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Modern Times

3200 Chicago Avenue, MN 55407

South Minneapolis’s Modern Times — a cafe, in its own words, “for punks (and their parents)” — has a uniquely, delightfully Minneapolis vibe. Weekend brunch is a smorgasbord of garlic kale and tofu scrambles; buttermilk pancakes drizzled with Wisconsin maple syrup; polenta rancheros served with poblano sour cream; and pastrami hash. This spot is especially accommodating for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free folks. Save room for a handmade doughnut.

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3200 Chicago Avenue, MN 55407

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A post shared by Modern Times (@moderntimescafempls)

Mama Sheila's

3744 Bloomington Avenue, MN 55407

True, Mama Sheila’s doesn’t open til noon, but if you’re willing to wait for a later brunch, this soul food buffet is hard to beat. Load up on barbecue chicken and meatloaf with sides like mac and cheese, candied yams, cabbage, jerk spaghetti, and red beans and rice, and end the meal on a sweet note with a slice of strawberry shortcake.

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3744 Bloomington Avenue, MN 55407

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A post shared by Mama Sheila’s House of Soul (@mamasheilas_hos)

Standish Cafe

2403 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

It’s easy to love Standish Cafe, which whips up brunch staples like biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and buttermilk short stacks (served with real maple syrup, of course) weekend in and weekend out. With a casual, neighborhoody feel, this cafe puts an emphasis on eggs, offering omelets made with uncaged and pasture-raised eggs. Sweet treats like pull-apart monkey bread and aebleskivers (fluffy Danish pancake balls) balance the savory dishes.

2403 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

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The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen

2515 Nicollet Ave (E 25th St), Minneapolis, MN 55404

The Copper Hen, Eat Street’s bustling brunch spot, answers the eternal sweet-or-savory brunch dilemma by pairing its farmhouse-style breakfast dishes (think braised short ribs with poached egg; pork belly skillets; biscuits and gravy) with a la carte sides like sticky rolls, buttermilk pancakes, and beautifully dense, inch-thick bread pudding French toast. Brunch cocktails include the usual Bloodys and mimosas, plus Irish coffee and gin-spiked cider.

2515 Nicollet Ave (E 25th St), Minneapolis, MN 55404

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A hand holding a white plate with a BLT on it against wallpaper that is blue and white. — Be sure to make a reservation during peak hours.

Hell's Kitchen

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN

Employee-owned since 2020, this quirky downtown Minneapolis icon serves brunch favorites like dense sausage bread made with dates and black currants; and walleye hash and eggs, an infamous lemon ricotta pancakes. The gothic basement vibe makes mornings spent in Hell worthwhile. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can, and on your way out, pop into Angel Food Bakery upstairs for a to-go bag of donuts.

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN

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A round white dish with a stack of golden pancakes topped with berries and powdered sugar. — Lemon ricotta pancakes at Hell’s Kitchen.

NOLO's Kitchen & Bar

515 North Washington Avenue, MN 55401

NOLO’s strikes a balance between buzzy North Loop restaurant and cozy neighborhood cafe, dishing up weekend brunch specials like salted caramel sticky buns, burrata with cantaloupe and prosciutto, red chili chilaquiles, and breakfast fried rice. Or go for the wood-fired breakfast pizza.

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515 North Washington Avenue, MN 55401

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A post shared by NOLO's Kitchen & Bar (@noloskitchen)

Spoon and Stable

211 N 1st St (btwn 2nd & 3rd), Minneapolis, MN 55401

Spoon and Stable carries its rustic-but-elegant vibes from dinner service to brunch, with a menu of tender butter lettuce salad, bison tartare, cucumber gazpacho, whipped chevre asparagus omelets, and sorghum waffles, infused with a subtly savory bite. Accompanying Spoon’s main brunch menu are pastries (think lemon meringue profiteroles and vanilla crepe cake) and cocktails (carajillos, fresh-squeezed mimosas, and spritzes).

211 N 1st St (btwn 2nd & 3rd), Minneapolis, MN 55401

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A post shared by Spoon and Stable (@spoonandstable)

Stepchld

24 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Chef Kamal Mohamed’s brunch is much like his dinner menu at Stepchld in Northeast Minneapolis: fun but focused; delightfully off-kilter. Sweet potato fritters — crispy on the outside, sweet and soft as a cloud on the inside, served with a tangy smear of ricotta — are a perfect preamble to entrees like blueberry ricotta pancakes, pork belly with ginger coconut rice, and Ethiopian birria tacos. Mimosas (classic, mixed berry, or turmeric) are served by the glass.

24 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

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A long narrow black dish with five round sweet potato fritters over ricotta cheese. — Sweet potato fritters in tangy ricotta.

Maya Cuisine

1840 Central Ave NE (18th Street), Minneapolis, MN 55418

A local favorite for tacos and chile relleno tortas, Maya Cuisine in Northeast offers a brunch buffet every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet varies week to week, but expect classics like tamales, mole dishes, and pozole, plus pancakes, French toast, and desserts. (Recent specials include shrimp fajitas, buttered codfish, and sopa de mariscos.) Maya Cuisine’s buffet returned from its pandemic hiatus after an outpouring of support from customers — reservations in advance are recommended.

1840 Central Ave NE (18th Street), Minneapolis, MN 55418

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Chimborazo

2851 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Chimborazo, a Northeast staple, serves Ecuadorian classics. Starchy dishes like llapingachos (cheese-filled potato pancakes, served with a rich peanut sauce) and empanadas de queso — stuffed with queso fresco and dusted with powdered sugar — are great brunch picks. Don’t skip the chicha morada, a purple Peruvian drink made from dried corn.

2851 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

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A plate of eggs, rice, potato pancakes, veggies, and beans. — Llapingachos for brunch.

Hazel's Northeast

2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Hazel’s, one of Northeast Minneapolis’s most popular brunch spots, offers a relaxed atmosphere and a reliably good menu of breakfast classics. Egg dishes, chicken-fried steak, and brisket hash are all great bets, but the pancakes, French toast, and waffles are the standouts here. Try them savory — stuffed with ham, smoked bacon, and cheese — or sweet, drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with bananas and pecans. Reservations are a wise move, as Hazel’s gets quite busy on the weekend.

2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

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A white plate with a round waffle topped with berries and a dollop of whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar. — Waffles at Hazel’s.

Pagoda

2401 Fairview Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113

Once a Dinkytown dim sum staple, Pagoda offers the same stellar steamed clams, barbecue pork buns, and pillowy taro cakes at its new(ish) Roseville location. Tea is served by the pot; a $40 all-you-can-eat option is available on the weekends; and the shu mai and steamed shrimp dumplings, best dredged through some chili oil, are standouts.

2401 Fairview Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113

A wooden table set with a silver tea pot and an assortment of dim sum dishes on white plates and in round metal dishes. — Dim sum at Pagoda.

Tongue in Cheek

989 Payne Ave (Jenks), Saint Paul, MN 55130

East St. Paul’s Tongue in Cheek nails the balance between casual and elevated, offering brunch entrees like braised pork Benedict, smoked salmon with eggs, and sugar-dusted Belgian waffles with thoughtful flourishes. Brunch cocktails — think espresso martinis with Irish cream; screwdrivers with a creamy egg foam — are a must here.

989 Payne Ave (Jenks), Saint Paul, MN 55130

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Brunson's Pub

956 Payne Ave (Case Ave), Saint Paul, MN 55130

Brunson’s keeps it casual with a brunch menu of brioche French toast, pulled bacon Benedicts on toasted English muffins (or make it veggie), and smoked ham breakfast sandwiches smeared with strawberry preserve aioli, plus Bloodys and mimosas. This St. Paul spot is especially kid-friendly, offering kids’ plates for half the price of full entrees — in the summer, the leafy patio is lovely for catching the morning breeze.

956 Payne Ave (Case Ave), Saint Paul, MN 55130

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A white plate with eggs Benedict and a side salad, two Bloody Marys, and a menu sitting on a wooden table, from an aerial view. — Bloodys at Brunson’s.

The Buttered Tin

237 7th St E (Wacouta), Saint Paul, MN 55101

The second its doors opened in St. Paul’s Lowertown, the Buttered Tin became a local favorite for laid-back weekend brunches. Here, old-school brunch favorites are given new life: Try a Benedict made with Lake Superior walleye, banana foster French Toast, or a smothered breakfast burrito. The Buttered Tin also serves boozy brunch drinks, like Irish cream cold press, mimosas, and a sparkling rose, keeping things casual and comfy with counter service.

237 7th St E (Wacouta), Saint Paul, MN 55101

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A selection of pastries and sweets in glass dishes on a counter, with restaurant workers in the background. — Pastries at the Buttered Tin.

Saint Dinette

261 5th St E (at Wall Street), Saint Paul, MN 55101

Chef Tim Niver’s Saint Dinette channels France’s bistros; Spain’s tavernas; and Italy’s trattorias — those essential neighborhood restaurants with fresh, simple food and an unshakeable sense of place. For brunch, this downtown St. Paul spot keeps things classic with delicate mushroom duxelles omelets, French toast with orange and honey butter, poutine, and Caesars. Order beignets for the table.

261 5th St E (at Wall Street), Saint Paul, MN 55101

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A white plate with an omelet covered in a creamy white sauce next to slices of toast. — Saint Dinette’s omelet.

Hope Breakfast Bar

1 Leech St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Hope Breakfast Bar has a buzzy, Instagrammable vibe on busy weekend mornings. This spot specializes in over-the-top breakfast food like banana churro waffles, German chocolate pancakes, and biscuits smothered with chili and topped with eggs. It also offers an impressive lineup of creative espresso drinks and breakfast cocktails — favorites include banana milk coffee, peach and rose punch, and espresso martinis. (A note for suburbanites: Hope Breakfast Bar also has a second location in St. Louis Park and Eagan, with more to come in Edina and Woodbury.)

1 Leech St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

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Two hands with a bright yellow manicure holds a white plate with a toasty colored pancake drenched in macerated cherries and a dark, sticky syrup — Pancakes at Hope.

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