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Named for the Thai refugee camp where chef Yia Vang was born, Vinai is a Hmong restaurant that brings a cuisine most Minneapolis diners have never properly encountered. The menu runs from Hill Tribe chicken to grilled lamb heart, and the hot sauces come from family recipes. The New York Times put it on their Restaurant List, and Bon Appétit named it among America's best new restaurants. Every dish has a story, and Vang is usually around to tell it.
Fourteen honors, in evidence:
The record strongest first
- Condé Nast Traveler The best new restaurants in the world
- Bon Appétit America's Best New Restaurants
- Eater Best New Restaurant
- Eater The Best New Restaurants in America
- Esquire The Best New Restaurants in America
- The New York Times The Restaurant List
- Minnesota Monthly Top 75 Restaurants
- Artful Living The Top New Twin Cities Dining Experiences
- Artful Living The Best New Twin Cities Restaurants
- Mpls St Paul The Best Restaurants in the Twin Cities
- Midwest Living Best Restaurants in Minneapolis
- Minnesota Monthly Best Aesthetic · Best New Restaurants
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best New Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Midwest · Yia Vang
One number, weighted & current 91
How we scoreThe dishes from the writeups
- Mackerel, tomato, and chilli confit Condé Nast Traveler, 2024
Nearby in the record closest first
- Stargazer Eat · 77
- Nixta Masa-Driven Mexican Eat · 88
- Diane’s Place Eat · 94
- Minari Eat · 60
- Mestiizo Eat · 54
- Baker's Field Flour & Bread Eat · 64
- Aki's BreadHaus - German Style Baking Eat · 77
- Northeast Farmers Market Eat · 61
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