The Playground

 All the food staples to familiarize your new home. 

By Hannah Jarosch

Here in the Twin Cities, our most iconic plates might just leave you surprisingly delighted. You’ll find comfort in a variety of flavors from different cultures and even some grown and established right here in the new place you call home. 

Jucy Lucy: Comfort doesn’t have to be boring. Sink your teeth into the iconic “Jucy Lucy” burger founded in Minneapolis with its pocket full of cheese spews from the burger patty. The question is: Which has the best one?  

Matt’s Bar and Grill claims to have invented the “Jucy Lucy” in 1954. Their rivalry is the 5-8 Club which also claims to be the originator of the “Jucy Lucy.” 

“A customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle and when bitten into, the customer said ‘that’s one juicy Lucy’ and from there, a legend was born,” said owner Matt Bristol. 

Hotdish: While typically known as a casserole, here in the Twin Cities, we lovingly refer to it as a “hotdish.” It often features layers of meat and vegetables all baked in one dish. 

Tator tot hotdish is a favorite for many accompanied by crispy tator tots. To savor this ultimate comfort food, consider dining at The Mason Jar, Crooked Pint Ale House, or Stray Dog.

Walleye: Minnesota’s state fish is the walleye, so of course this is a food you’re going to want to try. Caught right in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, the walleye is the perfect addition to many traditional dishes. In a sandwich, a taco, or cooked how you prefer all on its own, walleye is an iconic food you must try. 

Wild Rice: If the state’s fish wasn’t enough, Minnesota’s state grain is wild rice. You simply can’t beat locally harvested wild rice to accompany and elevate any flavorful dish. Try the wild rice pancakes from The Mill Northeast, or the Native-harvested wild rice porridge from Hell’s Kitchen. 

Eat Street in Minneapolis: A few short blocks on Nicollet Avenue south of Downtown is notable for its wildly diverse cuisines. You can find anything from Scandinavian food, Hmong and Vietnamese dishes, Korean barbecue, and many authentic Mexican restaurants that extend from Eat Street located on East Lake Street. 

“Moving here, I noticed there were a lot of diverse food options my old city doesn’t have. There is also a ton of boba places here,” said Denis Jiang, who recently moved to the Twin Cities from South Dakota. 

My Huong Kitchen, a Vietnamese restaurant in Eat Street, is one of her favorite places said Jiang.