“Hey, we’re in Uptown,” the message read. “Where’s the best place for sushi?”
“Dude, I’ve got clients coming into town, where should I take them for cocktails?”
“Yo, I got a meeting in The North Loop. Where should I eat lunch?”
“Who the hell has a favorite Malaysian lunch place?”
I get asked food questions a lot, which is nice, because no one ever asks me fixing-stuff questions. The other day, when She and I were talking about our favorite places to eat, She asked me an interesting one: What are my top ten places to eat in the Twin Cities? But there was a twist, the list would be of the ten places I eat at the most and not necessarily the places I’d tell other people to try. There’s a difference. When the only variables are Troy and his stomach, and not necessarily the likes and quirks of all the various personalities that occupy my particular clown car, where do I go and what do I crave?
So…
I love this menu. If you go, and you should, check out the whole menu. Try to order from the front part, where all the great stuff happens (and don’t fret, most of it is not spicy). Chengdu dumplings, Grilled Lamb, Fish-flavored Beef, Ma-Po Tofu, and a Beef and Tofu in Chili sauce so hot it’ll make your sweat taste spicy.
Years ago I saw an article in a local magazine by one of my favorite food writers. She had written about the best lunches in the TC you’ve never heard of. On the list was a curried chicken and potato dish from this tiny little place in a strip mall in the parking lot of the Apple Valley Home Depot. I went that day, and chuckled at the 5 Ikea tables in the place. I was no longer chuckling after eating the Nasi Lemak. It was so good I went back the next day and had it again. From the menu, which is just inkjet-printed photos with a brief description taped to the front of the counter, I’d highly recommend the Nasi Lemak (Curried chicken and potatoes with coconut rice), The Curry Mee (a curry soup with chicken and noodles), Mee Goreng (stir fried noodles and vegetables), Laksa (a spicy soup with rice noodles), Nasi Goreng (if you like fried rice, you’ll love this), and the curried chicken pastries. Corinne, the chef and owner, makes the best gyoza in town, and the barbecued ribs are great. And for dessert, pick up a Golden Milky Bun. It’s what a Twinkie wants to be when it grows up.
Do you like barbecued chicken? Or roast pork? Or chicken wings? Or curried goat? Go to Pimiento. Order your food with a beef patty and Red stripe on the side. You’ll thank me later.
Darin Koch from D-Spot made an art out of making chicken wings. The menu is huge, and broken up into categories. Check it out online, then go order wings. Order some fries, and get a beer from a well-assembled list of taps.
Harry Singh’s & Marla’s, South Minneapolis
Ok, I’m cheating with these two, but I’m excusing myself because the menus are pretty similar, and Harry and Marla are siblings from Trinidad. Harry’s food is spicier and I love his jerk pork roti and Pelau (a fried rice dish). Marla’s jerk chicken roti and curry garbanzo beans and potatoes are insane.
Revival, South Minneapolis and St. Paul
Best fried chicken in the TC. The Boys and I love the Tennessee Hot, which is perfectly spicy. But a few weeks ago the three of us tried The Poultry-geist. Holy Shit. It was delicious. Painful, but delicious. About 3/4 of the way through our three pieces, we asked the server for something to ease the burn. She smiled and said she’d fix us right up. She brought us each a little glass of cold heavy cream. We were rightly fixed. Revival’s St. Paul location is easier to maneuver and has a few added menu items, but both locations serve some of my favorite food.
Yeah, yeah, Guy Fieri loved it there. Don’t care, I was there first. The food rocks hard, and the parking lot is a crime. The Carnitas in Adobo will ruin your shirt if you let it, but you won’t care because it’s so good and shirts can be replaced. I love the Cecina (salted beef) and buche (pork belly) tacos. She loves the Al Pastor and Carnitas, Older Boy loves the Chorizo and Carnitas. Younger Boy loves the Tripe and Cabeza tacos. And we all love the Salsa Aguacate (a really spicy green sauce made from avocados and serrano peppers).
The menu has some great looking fish presented in some really interesting ways. Everything I’ve ordered there I’ve liked. My favorite thing? The hot dogs.
World Street Kitchen, South Minneapolis
Years ago, seven to be exact, our Younger Son was celebrating his thirteenth birthday. He’d read somewhere that there was a great Middle Eastern restaurant called Saffron that served lamb brain. He wanted to try it. So we reserved a table there. We grew to love the place. So when Chef Sameh Wadi and his brother Saed opened World Street Kitchen, we went immediately. It’s fantastic. My faves? The tofu burrito, the Lamb Belly tacos, and the brussel sprouts.
Ann Kim is a genius. She keeps winning well-earned awards, and I keep eating her food.
So there they are, the places I go most often. If you try one of them, or all, let me know what you think. Preferably while you’re still there, so I can ask you to pick something up.
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