Recent content from Jon Cheng
A restaurant critic's guide to navigating Eden Prairie's Asia Mall
Jon Cheng says the best way to enjoy the food hall is to try mostly everything.
There's nothing fancy but the food at the best Thai restaurant in the Twin Cities
Thai Café on St. Paul's University Avenue looks understated, but is brimming with flavor and personality.
Our chain salad power rankings: Who dishes the best salad in the Twin Cities?
Restaurant critic Jon Cheng ate his share of leafy greens to find out.
The best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area in 2022
Our food writers scrolled through a year's worth of photos and notes, and these are the meals and places we're still thinking about.
Mara is the Star Tribune's 2022 Restaurant of the Year
Gavin Kaysen strikes gold with his new restaurant, offering inspired takes on Mediterranean cuisine in a stunning dining room inside the Four Seasons.
7 restaurant openings in the Twin Cities area you should know about
From new entries by marquee chefs to a supper club takeover of a suburban mainstay, it's been a busy few months on the restaurant scene.
![Salmon tiradito at Macanda photographed on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022 in Wayzata, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com](https://chorus.stimg.co/24204609/merlin_69130737.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Review: With Macanda in Wayzata, an empire has finally met its match
One of the latest Daniel del Prado restaurants fails to rekindle the magic that made him king.
5 Twin Cities restaurant desserts our critic can't stop thinking about
Restaurant critic Jon Cheng (and his sweet tooth) make a case for why you should save room for dessert.
Review: Guacaya Bistreaux pushes Minneapolis' North Loop to cuisines near and far
Chef Pedro Wolcott's food takes sometimes delicious twists and turns as he embraces his Panamanian roots by way of Louisiana.
Critic's diary: A day of eating and drinking in Minneapolis' North Loop
Restaurant critic Jon Cheng takes us to some of his favorite places in the food-centric neighborhood.
![Croffle is seen Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Mara in Minneapolis. ] ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann@startribune.com](https://chorus.stimg.co/24036904/merlin_68607667.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Review: Mara at the Four Seasons in Minneapolis reaches for the stars
Behind all the opulence and grandeur of the Four Seasons is a Gavin Kaysen restaurant with really good food.
Restaurant critic Jon Cheng finally tried a Juicy Lucy and he has a favorite
After months of resisting, he tries four of them in one day — and has choice words.
Review: Fine dining finds a home in former hardware store in northern suburbs
Resident Carly Gatzlaff's work to raise the profile of Shoreview dining has paid off in several delicious ways.
A restaurant critic's quest to find the Twin Cities area's perfect taco
After a couple of weeks — and a couple of dozen taquerias — the search led him to a Minneapolis tortilleria.
Review: Sooki & Mimi in Minneapolis a showcase for chef Ann Kim's worldly vision
The menu at the transportive restaurant reflects the chef's Korean heritage and love of Mexican cuisine.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
Who serves the best steak in the Twin Cities? Our steakhouse power rankings
Here's the beef: Restaurant critic Jon Cheng tried eight major steakhouses in the metro area so you don't have to.
![Swordfish, with eggplant caponata and pine nuts, as prepared by chef Denny Leaf-Smith at All Saints in Minneapolis Tuesday, May 31, 2022. ] JEFF](https://chorus.stimg.co/23603448/merlin_67593181.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Review: Searching for the New American ideal at All Saints in Minneapolis
Twin Cities restaurant veterans Kim Tong and Dennis Leaf-Smith foray into a celebrated space.
Review: Minneapolis' Petite León redefines the local neighborhood eatery
Chef Jorge Guzmán's cozy restaurant proves that local hangouts can be fine dining, too.
The 5 best things we ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of recent dining experiences.
Review: At Minneapolis' Creekside Supper Club, charm greets you like an old friend
With its wood paneling, relish trays and creamy dessert drinks, the Minneapolis restaurant is supper-club chic.
The best Chinese restaurant in the Twin Cities is on University Avenue in Minneapolis
Tea House embraces the soul of China's regional cuisines — and nails it.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares highlights from weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
Restaurant review: Creole and club classics served with fanfare at Mr. Paul's Supper Club in Edina
Led by powerhouses Tommy Begnaud and Nick Kosevich, there's no shortage of good food or good times. ⋆⋆ ½
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
Restaurant review: Khâluna in Minneapolis a first-class trip to the flavors of Southeast Asia
Chef/owner Ann Ahmed is in her element as she puts her own spin on the tastes of her native Laos. ⋆⋆⋆
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
Restaurant review: Vann brings classy coastal touches to the Twin Cities suburbs
Chef Erik Skaar fuses his Norwegian heritage with Japanese touches, coaxing the best out of the ingredients. ⋆⋆ 1/2
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
3 Ethiopian restaurants that are spicing up the Twin Cities area
Brimming with flavor and texture, these three neighborhood restaurants might become your new favorites.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
Looking for the best pho in the Twin Cities? It's not in Minneapolis or St. Paul
Our favorite spot for this classic Vietnamese soup, plus two more places to try.
These 2 Minneapolis restaurants are raising the Twin Cities sushi game
Billy Sushi and Kado no Mise provide two very different experiences. Here's what to expect.
Our best Minnesota dining experiences of 2021
From old favorites to new places, dining out had a deeper meaning after a rocky 2020. Our food writers share their best moments.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities this year
The Taste team recounts their favorite meal of the year, from takeout to a communal spread.
5 Twin Cities restaurants and chefs who survived 2020 to thrive in 2021
After a crippling 2020, these restaurants and makers forged ahead, only to re-emerge.
Owamni is the Star Tribune's 2021 Restaurant of the Year
Chef Sean Sherman has worked tirelessly to reclaim Indigenous cuisine.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.
Review: Owamni empowers chef Sean Sherman and the Indigenous food he's famous for
The Minneapolis restaurant is garnering international attention, but to call it the "hot new" restaurant is a disservice. ⋆⋆⋆ ½
Review: St. Paul restaurant Myriel masters the art of improvisation
Chef Karyn Tomlinson's talent and connections to local farms both run deep.
Walker Art Center's Cardamom stays true to its Mediterranean mission
Restaurant review: Chefs Daniel del Prado and Shawn McKenzie join forces to reinvent the museum's culinary offerings. ⋆⋆
