Lakeshore Grill

At the restaurants at Macy's, indulge in a Minnesota classic: wild rice soup, fortified with cream and sherry and dressed with chicken and sliced almonds. Cup $4.25, bowl $5.25. Popovers, too. Lunch and dinner daily. Hurry, the restaurants' downtown sibling, the Oak Grill (700 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-375-2398, weekday lunch only) closes for good on Jan. 27.

12411 Wayzata Blvd. (Ridgedale), Minnetonka, 952-591-6640 and 100 Southdale Center, Edina, 952-924-6727, macysrestaurants.com

Yum! Kitchen and Bakery

Chicken soup just like Mom used to make, or everyone wished Mom used to make. The golden broth shimmers with fat globules, and the tender chicken is accented with colorful snips of carrot and celery. Pick up a quart ($11.95) and stock the freezer for chicken soup emergencies. Cup $4.95, bowl $5.95 (matzo balls extra, and recommended). Lunch and dinner daily.

4000 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-922-4000 and 6001 Shady Oak Rd., Minnetonka, 952-933-6001, yumkitchen.com

Salsa a la Salsa

At this friendly Mexican restaurant, the kitchen's pozole de pollo is the epitome of a winter warm-me-up, brimming with chicken, hominy and zesty guajillo salsa. The bowl version, which is served with tostadas, onions, cilantro and lime, is an ideal January make-it-yourself meal. Cup $5.50, bowl $6.99 and $9.95. Lunch and dinner daily.

1420 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-813-1970 and 920 E. Lake St. (Midtown Global Market), Mpls., 612-872-4140, salsaalasalsa.com