7 Minnesota Soup Spots That Warm A Cold Night
When the mercury plunges and the Minnesota wind bites with an icy sting, there’s one culinary antidote that never fails: a steaming bowl of soup. Forget the shivers, embrace the comfort.
We’ve scoured the Land of 10,000 Lakes to find the coziest, most soul-satisfying soup spots guaranteed to warm you from the inside out and transform a frigid evening into a moment of pure bliss.
1. Turtle Bread Company
Nestled in Minneapolis, Turtle Bread Company crafts soups that feel like a grandmother’s hug. Their chicken wild rice soup combines Minnesota’s native grain with tender poultry in a creamy broth that locals line up for when the snow flies.
Family-owned since 1994, they make everything from scratch daily. The cozy brick-walled space invites lingerers to thaw out while savoring hearty goodness served in bread bowls made fresh on-site.
2. Pho 79
Vietnamese warmth awaits at Pho 79, where steaming bowls of fragrant broth have saved countless Minnesotans from winter’s grip. The restaurant’s signature beef pho features rich broth simmered for hours with star anise and cinnamon.
Located in St. Paul, this family-run establishment offers generous portions that steam up your glasses when you enter from the cold. Customize your bowl with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime to create your perfect winter remedy.
3. Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace
For over 100 years, Ingebretsen’s has honored Minnesota’s Nordic roots. Their deli counter serves authentic Swedish meatball soup that transports you straight to Stockholm without leaving Minneapolis.
Yellow split pea soup appears every Thursday, following Scandinavian tradition. The marketplace atmosphere buzzes with shoppers picking up imported goods while waiting for their soup orders. Pair your bowl with a slice of limpa bread!
4. Spoon And Stable
James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen elevates soup to art form status at his North Loop restaurant. The seasonal soup offerings change regularly, showcasing Minnesota’s agricultural bounty through sophisticated preparations.
Winter might bring parsnip velouté with apple cider reduction or mushroom bisque featuring foraged fungi. The restored horse stable setting balances rustic charm with urban elegance. Kaysen’s soups maintain comforting warmth that fights Minnesota’s brutal cold with culinary finesse.
5. Grandma’s Restaurant
Perched on Lake Superior’s shore in Duluth, Grandma’s wild rice soup has warmed northern Minnesotans since 1976. The recipe remains unchanged-a perfect balance of smoky bacon, forest mushrooms, and hand-harvested rice in cream-enriched broth.
Winter storms off the lake create dramatic views through the windows as you spoon up comfort. Local legend claims this soup has prevented more cases of hypothermia than the Duluth fire department! The restaurant’s vintage decor and memorabilia create a nostalgic atmosphere,s.
6. Cecil’s Delicatessen
Cecil’s matzo ball soup has cured what ails St. Paul residents since 1949. Golden chicken broth cradles fluffy dumplings that float like clouds-the perfect antidote to Minnesota’s gray winter skies.
Three generations of family ownership ensure consistency in this Highland Park institution. The vintage deli counter buzzes with regulars ordering their liquid penicillin to go during cold season.
7. The Lynhall
Minneapolis’s Lynhall transforms local organic ingredients into soups that warm both body and conscience. Their roasted squash and apple bisque features produce from nearby farms, blending sweet and savory notes that dance on winter-chilled taste buds.
The bright, airy space with communal tables encourages conversation among soup-seeking strangers. Owner Anne Spaeth created this gathering spot to foster community through food. Sustainability practices extend beyond ingredients to compostable containers for takeout orders.
