In every culture there's a bowl of comfort, usually simmered by a grandmother, that is at the ready when the threat of illness strikes. From congee and matzo ball to pozole and chicken wild rice, the long-stewed concoctions are steeped with love and care, soothing everything from a cold to a broken heart.
Soups aren't just served out of tradition, or simply because they're yummy (although they are). There is science to back up why you should slurp it when you're sick: The salty broth restores electrolytes, the warmth can clear nasal passages and protein gives the immune system a little boost.
While these soups don't come with the aid of a granny (or abuelita or bubbe), they are big bowls of rich warmth — each bite packed with flavor and care — that can be sourced from Twin Cities restaurants.
Arroz Caldo at Kalsada
Kalsada serves their take on Filipino arroz caldo ($13): A downright hot bowl brims with soft-cooked rice porridge that's the color of the sun we've been missing for so long. Garnished with crispy bits of fried garlic, the porridge also comes with a plate of mixing buddies. Nubs of fried chicken add texture and a little saltiness, Fresno chiles amp up the spice and pea shoots add a lovely green crunch. However, it's the egg that really takes this dish over the top. Expertly soft-boiled, it opens to spill just a little bit into the golden mixture. The arroz caldo is available on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 8 a.m.
1668 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-340-0496, kalsada-stpaul.com
Matzo ball soup at Cecil's
One of the best things about the matzo ball soup at Cecil's ($7.50) is the chicken broth: cooked for hours until all the veggies and bones have relinquished their flavors and nutrients. Little sunny dots of rendered chicken fat loll along the surface. Bowls of this soup are served with a massive sphere of tender, poached matzo and large hunks of carrot and celery bobbing up and down along with juicy pieces of chicken. For those of us not lucky enough to have a bubbe close by when the sniffles show up, this soup is the next best thing.
651 S. Cleveland Av., St. Paul, 651-698-0334, cecilsdeli.com
Khao poon at Slurp
Chef Yia Vang shared the first tastes of his version of the brothy khao poon in his early pop-up days. Now it's readily available at his current Uptown pop-up noodle shop, Slurp. Giant bowls are filled with a sea of rice noodles, nubs of pleasantly chewy ground chicken, snappy cabbage and a pile of fresh herbs ($18). With each sip the spice level from the broth builds to a pleasing inside-out furnace level of coziness. Don't worry if there's no room at the tables inside, this bowl travels well. Go ahead and grab one, buckle it up in the passenger seat and haul it home.
901 W. Lake St., Mpls., hilltribemn.com
Pozole de Pollo at Salsa á la Salsa
The rich, red liquid inside the cup is an alluring promise of the velvety sumptuousness of its pozole. The bobbing white hominy is a fun hunt-and-slurp game to play while alternately making sure the roof of your mouth doesn't burn from greedily inhaling each spoonful too quickly. With a bright citrusy spritz of lime juice and the snappy, grassy green of cilantro, each bite hits all the flavor receptors full force ($6 cup, $12 for a bowl and two tostadas).
920 E. Lake St., Mpls., 612-872-4140, salsaalasalsa.com
Boat Noodle Soup at Friends Cafe
Step into this nondescript strip-mall restaurant for a massive bowl of boat noodle soup ($12.99). The rich, silken broth is made from long-stewed beef bones, warm Burmese spices such as five spice and cinnamon, and salty dark soy sauce with just a hint of sweetness for balance. Basking in the glistening broth are slow-cooked beef slices and beef meatballs — all flecked with chopped coriander. On the side are bean sprouts, purple basil and a lime wedge — much like how pho is served. Add some crispy chiles soaked in oil to crank up the heat in a way that accentuates the nuances of the broth's flavor.
1711 Rice St., Roseville, 651-487-7696, bit.ly/4138xpy
Karamiso Ramen at Ramen Kazama
Greedily slurping up a tangle of ramen noodles is a mood booster even during the best of times. But, if there's a scratchy throat or stuffy head, the karamiso ramen ($15.75) is a flavorful shot of betterment. Deeply flavorful and creamy textured pork broth mingles with savory miso, and each spoonful delivers roundhouse kick of red chile heat that opens up the nasal passages. Combined with the noodles, this is a deeply satisfying bowl. Chef Matthew Kazama's broth elixirs are available at the original Nicollet Avenue location or on Como Avenue, not too far from the University of Minnesota.
3400 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., and 1510 Como Av. SE, Mpls., 612-353-6160, ramenkazama.com
Gumbo at Mr. Paul's Po' Boys and Jams
Many of the best soups are born from not having much on hand. Humble bits of this and that are tossed into a pot with water and time, and the end result often becomes the focus of nostalgia and nourishment during dark days. That's origin of Louisiana's gumbo. A rich mix of cultures and people bring this pot together and the kind offered at Edina's Mr. Paul's ($9) is a fine ode to this Cajun classic. Rich, dark roux provides the backbone while all those smoky meaty bits meld together, served over tender white rice with just enough cayenne kick to make your nose run. Grab it during the daytime hours when this shop is open.
3917 Market St., Edina, 612-259-8614, mrpaulssupperclub.com
Borscht at Moscow on the Hill
The hospitable Moscow on the Hill, in St. Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood, knows how to bring cold-weather coziness inside. The classic borscht ($4.95-$6.95) is a good order on a sunny day, but somehow tastes even more exquisite on a dark and snowy evening. Tart cabbage and vibrant beets mingle with dill, topped with a plush dollop of sour cream.
371 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-291-1236, moscowonthehill.com
Lentil soup at Filfillah Mediterranean Grill
Central Avenue is one of the metro's great food corridors. When in search of steamy comforts, a stop at Filfillah is a must. Deeply nourishing, this vegan soup ($7.99) is a sumptuous blend of vegetables and lentils made aromatic with Mediterranean spices. Add in a round of Turkish bread for $1.25 to fill out the meal.
4301 Central Av. NE., Columbia Heights, 763-781-2222, filfillahmn.com
Pho at Ngon Bistro
There are myriad reasons to visit Ngon Bistro year-round. The bar serves an intriguing mix of cocktails, head-bopping music plays softly in the background, and in the summer there's a great patio. But there's one mandatory order, no matter the season: Someone at the table has to get the pho ($15). The broth is made from grass-fed beef and marrow bones that are simmered with toasty spices until all that is left is a rich and wonderful (and light and gorgeous) broth. Served with rice noodles, shaved thin onions, herbs and a tray of mix-ins for customizing, it's a giant bowl of care and comfort.
799 W. University Av., St. Paul, 651-222-3301, ngonbistro.com
Chicken Ginger Congee at IndoChin
The soothing in this bowl comes from its simplicity: White rice is cooked until it's starchy, swollen and tender, served with poached, pulled chicken with a heap of fresh ginger on top. This is the ideal meal for when the stomach wants something gentle and calm ($14). And if you're not feeling up to leaving the house, third-party delivery is available, too.
1702 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-690-2728 indochingrandave.squarespace.com
Chicken wild rice soup at 328 Grill
Chicken wild rice soup is canon in Minnesota, a creamy, decadent dish emblematic of our hearty, steadfast stock. While many fond memories are built around this dish, the kitchen at the American Legion in St. Paul Park is serving a soup with nutty wild rice mingling with a rich broth blended with just enough cream to make it decadent. If a bowl ($5) isn't enough, try it served over cheese curds and tots in the Minnesota Poutine ($11).
328 Broadway, St. Paul Park, 651-459-8016, 328grill.com
Garlic Chicken Bone Broth at Foxy Falafel
The backbone of so many of these soups is a humble chicken stock, the result from hours of cooking bones, water and aromatics. At Foxy Falafel, an adorable fast-casual restaurant on Raymond Avenue in St. Paul, it's served simply on its own ($5), flush with flavor and fortifying goods. On cold days, or when the tummy is feeling unsteady, it's wonderful to drink more like a tea than eat with a spoon, soothing everything from a heavy head down to chilly toes.
791 Raymond Av., St. Paul, 651-888-2255, foxyfalafel.com
Chongqing Spicy Noodle Soup at Master Noodle
Fiery red broth coats the handmade noodles Master Noodle has staked a reputation on inside each brimming bowl of the Chongqing spicy noodle soup ($12.95). Swimming in that spicy cauldron are baby bok choy, chopped nuts and ground meat. Each slurp is a dance with chili, oil and those substantive noodles. It's the perfect antidote to an arctic freeze or the cold, damp days of late winter.
1337 W. University Av., St. Paul, 651-369-6688, magicnoodleusa.com
Tom Kha at Coconut Thai
Calming the treacherous seas of a queasy stomach, the ginger- and lemongrass-infused broth of an excellent bowl of tom kha soup can work wonders. Coconut Thai's version ($13-$25) strikes that perfect balance between the creaminess of the coconut milk and the rehydrating broth with a lively zing of citrus. Mixed in with earthy mushrooms and snappy vegetables and a choice of protein, it's available at both the Edina and St. Paul locations.
720 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-348-7250; 3948 W. 50th St., Edina, 952-288-2888; coconutthaimn.com
