MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in Minneapolis, MN

Mediterranean Grocery Wholesalers Mobile Number770-795-9026

Free Estimate

We promise a 100% satisfaction guarantee

The Largest Selection of Wholesale Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Products in Minneapolis

When it comes to trying new, exciting cuisine, few foods hit the spot like a deliciously fresh Mediterranean meal. However, we know that it can be very difficult to find authentic Mediterranean grocery wholesalers in Minneapolis, MN. Having lived in metro Atlanta for years, we realized that our customers needed an easy way to find quality wholesale Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food in bulk. That is why we created Nazareth Grocery Mediterranean Market - to give everyone a chance to enjoy tasty, healthy food, desserts, and authentic Mediterranean gifts at wholesale prices.

Founded in 2009, Nazareth Grocery has become one of Minneapolis's leading international wholesale grocery stores. We are very proud to serve our customers and do everything in our power to give them the largest selection of high-quality wholesale goods available.

If you're looking for the freshest, most delicious Middle Eastern wholesale products and ingredients, you will find them here at the best prices in the state. We encourage you to swing by our store in Marietta to see our selection for yourself. We think that you will be impressed!

The Nazareth Difference

At Nazareth Grocery Mediterranean Market, our mission is simple: bring you and your family the largest selection of wholesale Mediterranean products in Minneapolis. When coupled with our helpful, friendly staff and authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere, it's easy to see why we are the top Middle Eastern grocery wholesaler in Minneapolis, MN. We're proud to carry just about every kind of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern product that you can think of, from prepared meals and hookahs to fine seasonings and sweets. We're here for our customers and want each one of them to have a unique, one-of-a-kind experience when they shop with us.

Our loyal customers love our selection of the following wholesale foods and gifts:

  • Fresh Breads
  • OlivesOlives
  • HummusHummus
  • CheesesCheeses
  • SaucesSauces
  • Savory-FoodsSavory Foods
  • DessertsDesserts
  • DrinksDrinks
  • HookahsHookahs
  • TobaccoTobacco
  • SaucesGifts
  • Much More!Much More!

Our Service Areas

Most Popular Wholesale Mediterranean Foods

There is so much more to Mediterranean food than pizza and pasta. The perfect climate combined with delicious foods and amazing wine makes the Mediterranean incredibly irresistible. That's why our customers absolutely love to buy this kind of cuisine in bulk. Every country in this region has its own set of specialties and delicacies, each with its own flavors and styles of preparation.

Mediterranean countries include:

  • France
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Turkey
  • Syria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia
  • Spain
Mediterranean Grocery Minneapolis, MN

So, when it comes to the most popular wholesale Mediterranean products in Minneapolis,
what are we talking about?

 Mediterranean Supermarkets Minneapolis, MN

Feta Cheese

Feta cheese is a classic Mediterranean dairy product that is often enjoyed on its own, in Greek salads, on bread, or mixed with zucchini. Depending on where the feta is sourced and produced, the cheese can be made from cow, sheep, or goat milk, or even a combination of the three. Regardless of the animal it comes from, this delicious cheese is a crowd favorite.

 Mediterranean Grocery Store Minneapolis, MN

Baba Ganoush

This Levantine dish is one of the most well-known Mediterranean dishes to eat in the United States. It typically comes in the form of a dip, served with pita or another kind of dipping bread. Commonly served before dinner as an appetizer of sorts, it usually features tahini, eggplant, garlic, spices, and sometimes yogurt. This tasty cuisine works great as a spread on a sandwich, or you can even eat it with a spoon, all on its own.

 Middle Eastern Grocery Minneapolis, MN

Baklava

If you have never tried authentic baklava before, get ready to have your mind blown. This dessert is a traditional Mediterranean food that will have your taste buds craving more and more. Once you open a box of baklava from our Mediterranean grocery wholesaler in Minneapolis, MN, you won't want to stop eating! Baklava is made with layers of thin filo dough, which is layered together, filled with chopped nuts (think pistachios), and sealed with honey or syrup. Baklava is so good that its origins are debated, leaving many wondering which country invented the dessert. Everyone from the Turks to the Greeks and even Middle Easterners hold unique takes on baklava. Try each one to discover your favorite!

Most Popular Wholesale Middle Eastern Foods

Fresh, healthy, aromatic, rich: it's no wonder that the popularity of Middle Eastern cuisine and products has skyrocketed in the United States. This genre of cuisine features a large variety of foods, from Halvah to Labneh. If there were one common theme throughout all Middle Eastern food, it would be the bright, vibrant herbs and spices that are used. These flavorings help create rich, complex flavors that foodies fawn over. Typically, Middle Eastern food is piled high for all to eat, with enough food for an entire republic to put down.

 Mediterranean Food Stores Minneapolis, MN

Tabbouleh

This refreshing, healthy dish is chock-full of greens, herbs, tomatoes, and bulgur (or cracked wheat), creating a memorable, bold flavor. This dish may be eaten on its own or paired with a shawarma sandwich or helping of falafel. It's best to buy your ingredients in bulk to make this dish because it tastes best freshly made with family around to enjoy. Just be sure to bring a toothpick to the tabbouleh party - you're almost certain to have some leafy greens stuck in your teeth after eating.

 Middle Eastern Market Minneapolis, MN

Shawarma

We mentioned shawarma above, and for good reason - this dish is enjoyed by men and women around the world, and of course, right here in the U.S. Except for falafel, this might be the most popular Middle Eastern food item in history. Shawarma is kind of like a Greek gyro, with slow-roasted meat stuffed in laffa with veggies and sauce. The blend of spices and the smoky meat mix together to create a tangy, meaty flavor that you will want to keep eating for hours. For western-style shawarma, try using beef or chicken. For a more traditional meal, try using lamb from our Middle Eastern grocery distributor in Minneapolis, MN.

 Greek Grocery Store Minneapolis, MN

Hummus

Traditionally used as a dip meant for fresh pita, hummus is a combo of chickpeas, garlic, and tahini, blended together until silky, smooth, and creamy. You can find hummus in just about any appetizer section of a Middle Eastern restaurant menu. That's because it's considered a staple of Middle Eastern food that can be enjoyed by itself, as a spread, or with fresh-baked pita bread. Hummus is also very healthy, making it a no-brainer purchase from our grocery store.

Benefits of Eating a Mediterranean Diet

If there's one diet that is most well-known for its health benefits, it has got to be the Mediterranean diet. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report listed the Mediterranean diet as No. 1 on its best over diet list. This incredible diet has been cited to help with weight loss, brain health, heart health, diabetes prevention, and cancer prevention.

Whether you already love Mediterranean food or you're looking to make some positive changes in your life, this "diet" is for you. Eating cuisine like Greek food, Persian food, Turkish food, and Italian food is healthy and tastes great. Even better than that? At Nazareth Wholesale Grocery, we have many staples of the Mediterranean diet for sale in bulk so that you can stock up on your favorites at the best prices around.

So, what exactly is the Mediterranean diet?

It is a way of eating that incorporates traditional Greek, Italian, and other Mediterranean cultures' foods. These foods are often plant-based and make up the foundation of the diet, along with olive oil. Fish, seafood, dairy, and poultry are also included in moderation. Red meat and sweets are only eaten in moderation, not in abundance. Mediterranean food includes many forms of nuts, fruits, vegetables, fish, seeds, and more. Of course, you can find at them all at our wholesale Mediterranean grocery store!

Here are just a few of the many benefits of eating a healthy Mediterranean diet:

Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

Reduced Risk
of Heart Disease

Many studies have been conducted on this diet, many of which report that Mediterranean food is excellent for your heart. Some of the most promising evidence comes from a randomized clinical trial published in 2013. For about five years, researchers followed 7,000 men and women around the country of Spain. These people had type 2 diabetes or were at a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Participants in the study who ate an unrestricted Mediterranean diet with nuts and extra-virgin olive oil were shown to have a 30% lower risk of heart events.

Reduced Risk of Stroke for Women

Reduced Risk
of Stroke for Women

In addition to the heart-healthy benefits of a Mediterranean diet, studies have shown that eating healthy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods can reduce the chances of stroke in women. The study was conducted in the U.K., which included women between the ages of 40 and 77. Women who stuck to the Mediterranean diet showed a lower risk of having a stroke - especially women who were at high risk of having one.

Benefits of Eating a Mediterranean Diet

First and foremost, purchase your Mediterranean and Middle Eastern wholesale foods from Nazareth Grocery - we're always updating our inventory! Getting started on this healthy, delicious diet is easy.

Try these tips:

Try these tips

1.

Instead of unhealthy sweets like candy and ice cream, try eating fresh fruit instead. It's refreshing, tasty, and often packed with great vitamins and nutrients.

2.

Try eating fish twice a week, in lieu of red meat. Fish is much healthier and doesn't have the unfortunate side effects of red meat, like inflammation.

3.

Try planning out your meals using beans, whole grains, and veggies. Don't start with meats and sweets.

4.

They're tasty, but try to avoid processed foods completely.

5.

Instead of using butter to flavor your food, use extra virgin olive oil instead. Olive oil contains healthy fats and tastes great too.

6.

Try to get more exercise and get out of the house. The Mediterranean lifestyle is an active one, best enjoyed in the beautiful sunshine when possible.

Why Buy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Products Wholesale?

Buying wholesale and retail are quite different. When you buy products from a wholesaler, you're essentially buying from the middleman between a retail establishment and the manufacturer. Wholesale purchases are almost always made in bulk. Because of that, buyers pay a discounted price. That's great for normal buyers and great for business owners, who can sell those products to profit. This higher price is called the retail price, and it is what traditional customers pay when they enter a retail store.

Free Estimate
 Middle Eastern Store Minneapolis, MN

Latest News in Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis festival celebrates monarchs' fall migration to Mexico

This weekend, invite a monarch butterfly to sit in your hand.“They smell with their feet,” says MaryLynn Pulscher, the environmental education manager for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “They really are just amazing, amazing creatures.”Pulscher is also the event manager of the Minneapolis Monarch Festival/Festival de la Monarca, which celebrates its 15th year on Saturday at Lake Nokomis Park.The festival honors the ...

This weekend, invite a monarch butterfly to sit in your hand.

“They smell with their feet,” says MaryLynn Pulscher, the environmental education manager for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “They really are just amazing, amazing creatures.”

Pulscher is also the event manager of the Minneapolis Monarch Festival/Festival de la Monarca, which celebrates its 15th year on Saturday at Lake Nokomis Park.

The festival honors the monarchs’ annual fall migration, a 2,300-mile journey, as well as other connections between Minnesota and Mexico.

In addition to more than a dozen education and habitat booths, where the black and orange butterflies will be hanging out, the festival features a prairie garden, food trucks, art, live music and performances from Ballet Folklorico Mexico and the Twin Cities Orchestra Salsa del Sol.

There will also be a kids parade at noon — “Wear your wings!” says Pulscher — and a monarch puppet show.

“As Minnesotans, our job is to really keep monarchs healthy, and get them fattened up for that flight back back to Mexico,” Pulscher says. The monarchs’ journey across North America is among the longest of insect species.

Due to habitat loss and climate change, the population has declined by about 90 percent since 1990, the equivalent of almost a billion butterflies.

The butterfly, however, has yet to be put on the endangered species list. According to the nonprofit Monarch Joint Venture, which will be at the festival, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reassess the monarchs’ endangered status in 2024.

One way to help monarchs, Pulscher says, is to plant pollinator gardens with milkweed and the purple-flowered liatris ligulistylis, which she says folks can learn about at the festival’s plant education booths.

The spiky perennial “is like the candy store for monarch butterflies,” Pulscher says. “You can get five, six monarchs per stem of that in your yard. It's amazing.”

Pulscher says Minnesota is one of the key spots where the “super generation” of monarchs is born in the fall. The super generation lives up to eight months rather than the usual six to eight weeks of other monarchs. They also travel farther, flying from Minnesota to overwinter in Mexico, then flying north to lay eggs on milkweed plants.

“This super generation is pretty much unique, as is the migration itself, amongst insects, so we really highlight that,” Pulscher says of the festival. “And really, it's just the wonder of monarch butterflies themselves.”

Watch FOX 9 on the FOX LOCAL streaming app

CannabisView More ...

Cannabis

View More

While low-dose THC gummies, drinks and other hemp-based cannabinoid edibles have been legal in Minnesota for more than a year, it’s been unclear how widespread the industry is throughout the state.

October 3

September 22

September 22

Voices for Change

View More

Every year, roughly a thousand students at Summit Academy OIC study everything from IT technical support to construction to healthcare. Now the vocational school is banking on getting its graduates into a new line of work.

2 days ago

September 30

Morning

View More

In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre is getting in the spirit of Halloween. This weekend, they're hosting a mask-decorating workshop. The free event is taking place Saturday from 10am - 2 pm. From October 26-30, the theatre is also hosting The Haunted Avalon: A Puppet Theatre Showcase. The shows feature a series of spooky and funny vignettes that utilize a wide range of puppetry techniques.

3 days ago

Sports

View More

Floyd of Rosedale is coming back to Minnesota for the first time since 2014 after the Gophers beat Iowa 12-10 on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium in one of the more controversial finishes in the history of the rivalry.

3 hours ago

2 days ago

US & World News

View More

An alleged thief found a clever way to hide from authorities in Poland — posing in a store window as a mannequin.

4 hours ago

1 day ago

Maury's Stories

View More

A three-story house on Scandia Avenue in Boyd, Minnesota, has stood in the middle of town for more than a century. A number of families have called it home over the years, but now it may be a portal to the supernatural.

October 11

August 23

Money

View More

In expanding Big Ten, Gophers basketball teams know there's lots of catching up to do — and fast

The Big Ten Conference held its annual basketball media days event at Target Center earlier this month. In the same city as the Gophers. But there was zero talk about the U's men's and women's programs being contenders.Both teams have a lot of catching up to do in the Big Ten. And tougher times are coming.The conference will soon be as deep as ever after expanding to 18 teams next season with ...

The Big Ten Conference held its annual basketball media days event at Target Center earlier this month. In the same city as the Gophers. But there was zero talk about the U's men's and women's programs being contenders.

Both teams have a lot of catching up to do in the Big Ten. And tougher times are coming.

The conference will soon be as deep as ever after expanding to 18 teams next season with the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington.

For Gophers coaches Ben Johnson and Dawn Plitzuweit, this is a critical season to climb the standings and build their brands so they can walk into a new-look Big Ten with more swagger.

"We're adding four pretty prestigious programs," Johnson said. "We want to continue to grow and be the best we can be."

In Johnson's first two seasons, the Gophers finished tied for 14th and in sole possession of 14th place in the Big Ten. They were 9-22 last season.

The Gophers women finished in 10th place or lower in four of Lindsay Whalen's five years, including 11-19 last season. Plitzuweit, who came from West Virginia to replace Whalen, inherited a team with bright young talent and is working to establish a winning identity.

Johnson, in his third season, has a deeper and healthier roster after two years of massive rebuilding. He's not nearly as experienced as Plitzuweit, but his passion to resurrect the program runs deep as a Minnesota native and Gophers alum.

"I've spent a little time now with Ben Johnson," Plitzuweit said. "That's good for me to see it through his set of lenses."

Where do the Gophers under Johnson and Plitzuweit fit in with the bigger Big Ten? For lower-to-middle-tier teams looking to move up in the conference, "It's not going to get easier," first-year Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said.

"Everybody wants to be competing against the best on the biggest stages," Petitti told the Star Tribune. "Things change quickly. Teams get better and things are unexpected. It's hard to always predict."

Recruiting challenges

Johnson has already gone toe-to-toe against some Pac-12 schools for players. California is one of his staff's top recruiting bases. Assistant Marcus Jenkins is from the Golden State.

But USC, Oregon and UCLA had the top three 2023 recruiting classes in the Pac-12. All of them were top 13 nationally, including the Trojans with the No. 2 class overall behind Kentucky, per 247Sports.

For the second straight year, the Gophers men will get exposure on the West Coast by playing in California in the nonconference schedule.

They face San Francisco at the Golden State Warriors' arena on Nov. 26. They played in the SoCal Challenge last year, and in front of five-star 7-foot recruit Dennis Evans III, who lived nearby. But after signing with the Gophers, Evans eventually asked out of his letter of intent to play at Louisville.

The impact of NIL on recruiting could make it difficult for the Gophers to compete with new Big Ten teams, but Johnson expects them to show progress in that area soon.

"Sometimes new things and change isn't always the easiest thing," Johnson said. "Especially when you talk about finances and money, but I think we have a really competitive fan base. They're going to show up when we need them."

Whalen landed a top-10 recruiting class two years ago, but that was with Minnesota talent. UCLA and Oregon had the No. 1 and No. 2 classes nationally that year, per ESPN. For the class of 2023, the top 20 national recruiting classes include USC, Washington and Oregon.

Plitzuweit, who spent one season at West Virginia, won 158 games in six seasons at South Dakota, including a Sweet 16 run in 2021-22. Her recruiting at South Dakota was primarily limited to the Midwest. She understands that needs to change in the Big Ten.

"At South Dakota, we recruited a kid here or there nationally, but we didn't have a lot of kids from outside of our region," Plitzuweit said. "At West Virginia, we [started] recruiting nationally. So now we're able to continue with those ties but really kind of hone in and focus."

'We want to establish ourselves'

Gophers coaches are trying to figure out how to add talent to compete in the new Big Ten, but players are also thinking about battling on the court and proving themselves against different schools.

"It's very important," junior Dawson Garcia said about the Gophers showing they can be contenders in the expanding Big Ten. "But the best way we can do that is by focusing on this year. I feel like [the rest] will come."

Earlier this month, the Pac-12 released it preseason men's hoops poll. Arizona was the favorite, but right behind were USC, UCLA, and Oregon. Washington was projected ninth.

On the women's side, UCLA was picked second in the Pac-12 preseason poll recently. USC (sixth), Oregon (eighth) and Washington (ninth) were not far from one another.

Gophers sophomore Amaya Battle said it will be cool to travel to California, Washington and Oregon for Big Ten games, but she's trying to not look too far ahead.

"We definitely want to establish ourselves," Battle said, "not just with those new teams but to other teams in the Big Ten. We can play, too."

Where to Slurp Ramen in the Twin Cities

Nothing hits the spot like a hearty, aromatic bowl of ramen, its broth clouded with gelatin that’s coaxed from slow-cooked, marrow-rich bones. Bouncy noodles bask in their salty bath, adorned with shreds of seaweed, pink-swirled fish cakes, or a soft-cooked, soy-soaked egg. Find noodle bliss with these essential bowls of ramen in Minneapolis and St. Paul.Note that these restaurants are listed geographically. Read More...

Nothing hits the spot like a hearty, aromatic bowl of ramen, its broth clouded with gelatin that’s coaxed from slow-cooked, marrow-rich bones. Bouncy noodles bask in their salty bath, adorned with shreds of seaweed, pink-swirled fish cakes, or a soft-cooked, soy-soaked egg. Find noodle bliss with these essential bowls of ramen in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

Read More

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.

This Queens, New York-based franchise recently opened a location in Eagan. Kyuramen’s chasu (braised pork belly) is barrel-cooked in a special marinade, making it ultra-tender; there are veggie and chicken options on the menu too. Save room for matcha pudding or cherry blossom jelly.

Tori Ramen has two locations: Mod, cozy Tori 44 in North Minneapolis, and the original Tori St. Paul, where servers whisk steaming bowls of ramen to tables in the vintage interior of an old train car. “Tori” means “bird” in Japanese — this restaurant specializes in pork-free ramen, offering rich chicken, duck, and vegetarian broths. These beautifully layered bowls don’t lose an ounce of flavor, though. The salted, citrus-based ramen shakes things up with a lightly tangy broth. Tori is also one just a few local spots offering gluten-free bowls, with rice noodles and no soy sauce.

St. Paul’s Ishita ramen sits on a restaurant-dense stretch of University Avenue. Brick walls, industrial decor, and a decorative wall of soup spoons keep the focus on the food. The crispy chicken ramen features a crunchy breaded cutlet, sliced cabbage, black mushrooms, pickled ginger, green onion, and corn. The shoyu broth is flecked with red pepper flakes and spicy chili oil for an extra boost of flavor.

This cozy joint is known for Japanese comfort food — it’s a great spot to grab a meal before a show at the Guthrie. Be sure to try the kimchi ramen: Fermented cabbage adds a dose of heat and refreshing tartness to balance the luxurious heritage pork bone broth. Pinwheels of pork float atop chewy noodles, and ribbons of black mushrooms and a golden, gooey-centered egg round out this ramen.

Though Masu’s sustainably-sourced sushi and small-bite robata are its claims to fame, don’t miss the ramen either. The tonkotsu curry ramen is a standout: It features slices of crispy pork tenderloin, steamed Chinese broccoli, and a hazy, porky broth with an added flavor spike of fragrant curry. Masu has locations in Northeast Minneapolis, Apple Valley, and the Mall of America. Play some Japanese arcade games after dinner, while you’re at it.

Ramen Kawae is a newcomer to Minneapolis’s North Loop Galley. The restaurant describes itself as “A little noodle shop emerged out of a desire to keep pushing the creativity of Japanese cuisine” — chef Tuan Hoang’s broths are meaty and rich, an ideal base for fatty pork belly and umami-packed mushrooms. Some of the ramen selections even come with chewy dumplings floating in the broth. Pair a bowl with the crispy karaage, a must.

Not a pork eater? Find a ramen oasis at Tori 44 Ramen, a pork-free restaurant with many options for vegetarian and vegan diners. Don’t think that means the soups lack flavor or depth, though. Try the Bali ramen, which features a thicker broth made with creamy tahini, spicy Szechuan pepper, delicate bites of seasoned ground chicken, and a soft-cooked egg, all atop tender noodles.

Ramen Shoten serves a rare chicken-based broth at Eat Street Crossing, Nicollet Avenue’s new food hall. Chef John Ng of Zen Box Izakaya is behind this menu, which also offers a chili garlic chashu and a creamy mushroom miso ramen. Pull up to the stand-and-slurp bar and pair a bowl with beef gyoza.

A trendy Uptown restaurant and the first sake brew pub in the United States? Moto-i has everything, from a generous happy hour to rooftop dining overlooking the bustling Lyn-Lake area. First-timers should sample the classic ramen, which features both pork belly and shredded smoked pork shoulder. Moto-i uses Tokyo-style straight noodles, and the shoyu broth is embellished with a drizzle of chili oil, then topped off with a poached egg, nori shreds, and a heap of scallions.

Tenka is tucked away on Lake Street, right next to Stella’s Fish Cafe. The ramen here is built on densely flavorful broth. The spicy miso is a crowd favorite: It stars springy noodles, fiery pork miso broth with an extra dose of chili pepper flakes, and a little funk from fermented bean paste. It’s all topped off with crumbles of ground pork, corn, a soft-cooked egg, and scallions.

Since its opening in 2015, this ramen-dedicated restaurant has been so popular that owner Matthew Kazama opened a second location in the Como neighborhood in 2017. Ramen Kazama’s tonkotsu ramen features one of the most decadent pork-bone broths in the Twin Cities — it has all the signature silkiness that comes from slow-cooking marrow-rich bones. Succulent pork belly, lacy black wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green onion, and a marinated egg top off this beautiful bowl.

Warm wood paneling on Kyatchi’s exterior welcome diners to an unpretentious experience in Minneapolis’s Kingfield neighborhood. Another spot for sustainably sourced sushi, the handful of ramen offerings here are served piping-hot. Kyatchi’s signature ramen stock uses a light chicken broth — it’s topped with seared pork belly, a soft-cooked egg, green and yellow onion, and earthy bamboo shoots.

This Queens, New York-based franchise recently opened a location in Eagan. Kyuramen’s chasu (braised pork belly) is barrel-cooked in a special marinade, making it ultra-tender; there are veggie and chicken options on the menu too. Save room for matcha pudding or cherry blossom jelly.

Tori Ramen has two locations: Mod, cozy Tori 44 in North Minneapolis, and the original Tori St. Paul, where servers whisk steaming bowls of ramen to tables in the vintage interior of an old train car. “Tori” means “bird” in Japanese — this restaurant specializes in pork-free ramen, offering rich chicken, duck, and vegetarian broths. These beautifully layered bowls don’t lose an ounce of flavor, though. The salted, citrus-based ramen shakes things up with a lightly tangy broth. Tori is also one just a few local spots offering gluten-free bowls, with rice noodles and no soy sauce.

St. Paul’s Ishita ramen sits on a restaurant-dense stretch of University Avenue. Brick walls, industrial decor, and a decorative wall of soup spoons keep the focus on the food. The crispy chicken ramen features a crunchy breaded cutlet, sliced cabbage, black mushrooms, pickled ginger, green onion, and corn. The shoyu broth is flecked with red pepper flakes and spicy chili oil for an extra boost of flavor.

This cozy joint is known for Japanese comfort food — it’s a great spot to grab a meal before a show at the Guthrie. Be sure to try the kimchi ramen: Fermented cabbage adds a dose of heat and refreshing tartness to balance the luxurious heritage pork bone broth. Pinwheels of pork float atop chewy noodles, and ribbons of black mushrooms and a golden, gooey-centered egg round out this ramen.

Though Masu’s sustainably-sourced sushi and small-bite robata are its claims to fame, don’t miss the ramen either. The tonkotsu curry ramen is a standout: It features slices of crispy pork tenderloin, steamed Chinese broccoli, and a hazy, porky broth with an added flavor spike of fragrant curry. Masu has locations in Northeast Minneapolis, Apple Valley, and the Mall of America. Play some Japanese arcade games after dinner, while you’re at it.

Ramen Kawae is a newcomer to Minneapolis’s North Loop Galley. The restaurant describes itself as “A little noodle shop emerged out of a desire to keep pushing the creativity of Japanese cuisine” — chef Tuan Hoang’s broths are meaty and rich, an ideal base for fatty pork belly and umami-packed mushrooms. Some of the ramen selections even come with chewy dumplings floating in the broth. Pair a bowl with the crispy karaage, a must.

Not a pork eater? Find a ramen oasis at Tori 44 Ramen, a pork-free restaurant with many options for vegetarian and vegan diners. Don’t think that means the soups lack flavor or depth, though. Try the Bali ramen, which features a thicker broth made with creamy tahini, spicy Szechuan pepper, delicate bites of seasoned ground chicken, and a soft-cooked egg, all atop tender noodles.

Ramen Shoten serves a rare chicken-based broth at Eat Street Crossing, Nicollet Avenue’s new food hall. Chef John Ng of Zen Box Izakaya is behind this menu, which also offers a chili garlic chashu and a creamy mushroom miso ramen. Pull up to the stand-and-slurp bar and pair a bowl with beef gyoza.

A trendy Uptown restaurant and the first sake brew pub in the United States? Moto-i has everything, from a generous happy hour to rooftop dining overlooking the bustling Lyn-Lake area. First-timers should sample the classic ramen, which features both pork belly and shredded smoked pork shoulder. Moto-i uses Tokyo-style straight noodles, and the shoyu broth is embellished with a drizzle of chili oil, then topped off with a poached egg, nori shreds, and a heap of scallions.

Tenka is tucked away on Lake Street, right next to Stella’s Fish Cafe. The ramen here is built on densely flavorful broth. The spicy miso is a crowd favorite: It stars springy noodles, fiery pork miso broth with an extra dose of chili pepper flakes, and a little funk from fermented bean paste. It’s all topped off with crumbles of ground pork, corn, a soft-cooked egg, and scallions.

Since its opening in 2015, this ramen-dedicated restaurant has been so popular that owner Matthew Kazama opened a second location in the Como neighborhood in 2017. Ramen Kazama’s tonkotsu ramen features one of the most decadent pork-bone broths in the Twin Cities — it has all the signature silkiness that comes from slow-cooking marrow-rich bones. Succulent pork belly, lacy black wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green onion, and a marinated egg top off this beautiful bowl.

Warm wood paneling on Kyatchi’s exterior welcome diners to an unpretentious experience in Minneapolis’s Kingfield neighborhood. Another spot for sustainably sourced sushi, the handful of ramen offerings here are served piping-hot. Kyatchi’s signature ramen stock uses a light chicken broth — it’s topped with seared pork belly, a soft-cooked egg, green and yellow onion, and earthy bamboo shoots.

Lake Street Kmart fire burns vacant Minneapolis building: Videos, photos

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A fire burned the vacant Kmart site on Lake Street in Minneapolis Friday morning, causing part of a wall to collapse.Minneapolis Fire Department Assistant Chief Melanie Rucker confirmed the fire started in the rear of the building, with heavy fire and smoke from the rear. The fire had breached the roof of the building by the time fire crews arrived a...

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A fire burned the vacant Kmart site on Lake Street in Minneapolis Friday morning, causing part of a wall to collapse.

Minneapolis Fire Department Assistant Chief Melanie Rucker confirmed the fire started in the rear of the building, with heavy fire and smoke from the rear. The fire had breached the roof of the building by the time fire crews arrived around 5 a.m. on Oct. 20, according to Rucker. Officials say there is a partial collapse in the rear of the building; fire crews were not harmed in the collapse.

Fire crews have not been able to make entry into the building as of around 8 a.m. Officials do not believe there were any people in the building as there were no breaches at the entrances of the building, but officials are still investigating.

The fire department confirmed that gas and electricity were still turned on for the building and utility companies are working to shut of them off.

Fire crews are still working on containing the fire and will do a search of the building once they are able to enter.

As of this writing, there are no injuries reported.

The City of Minneapolis in an update on Friday said city staff partially demolished unstable walls at the building, noting the city was on track to demolish the entire building in early 2024. The fire has "brought newfound urgency" to the city's effort to demolish the structure, the city said.

"In the next City Council cycle, City staff will be seeking Council approval on the demolition contract that was already bid out. Following approval, formal demolition work can begin, starting with abatement and proper disposal of hazardous materials. The work will unfold as quickly as it can over the upcoming weeks and months," the city said.

Recently, there have been public meetings on what to do with the site. The City of Minneapolis earlier this month hosted an open house to get feedback on the Nicollet Redevelopment Project, which would demolish the Kmart building that has cut Nicollet Avenue in two for more than four decades, and reconnect the popular thoroughfare with Lake Street, along with housing, retail, and public spaces.

"The New Nicollet Redevelopment Project remains on track and staff are currently gathering feedback from community members on new roadway and public space design concepts," the city said on Friday.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.