Insider Tips for Tasting the Town

We asked Mecca Bos, Saint Paul–based food writer and professional chef, for three “do not miss” spots in her beloved city.

University Avenue’s Thai Cafe. Standing in the shadows of the bigger and more famous Bangkok Thai Deli (also a ‘don’t miss’), Thai Cafe is a mom-and-pop shop for the ages with some of the best food I’ve eaten, anywhere. Order the Sour Pork Ribs and prepare to have life changed, forever.

Brunson’s Pub. Growing up on the Eastside, I would want my visitor to have a quintessentially Eastside experience. Brunson’s is just that: part vintage neighborhood pub, part melting pot, part simple burger and beer joint, and all parts excellent.

Engaging with our vast East African community is a Minnesota experience that’s not to be missed. Have a full injera, tibs and wat meal at Fasika, the Snelling Avenue Ethiopian institution, and if you can go with a group, even better. Sharing is the whole point.

Make your way through a market or bustling food hall where you can sample a wide world of flavor in one visit. The Hmongtown Marketplace and Hmong Village provide tastes of southeast Asia, including pho, barbecue, curry, spring rolls, boba tea, stuffed chicken wings and more.

Insider tip from food writer and chef, Mecca Bos: be sure to experience a made-to-order fresh green papaya salad. Just tell a vendor how you like your salad — more or less sweet, sour, umami or spicy. Then eat up. It’s an event.

The iconic, open-air Saint Paul Farmers' Market is a weekend hotspot for locally sourced goods. As is the Keg and Case West 7th Market, home to an eclectic mix of curated regional food and retail vendors.