Minari sits on 13th Ave NE in Northeast Minneapolis, serving East Asian flavors filtered through a modern lens. The menu centers on seasonal dim sum and banchan, built to change with what's in season rather than hold to one fixed format.
Chef Jeff Watson was born in Daegu, South Korea, and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, a bicultural upbringing that shaped his approach to flavor. He spent years cooking in DDP Restaurant Group's kitchens under mentor Daniel del Prado before opening Minari as his own project.
The kitchen isn't working to replicate tradition exactly — Watson describes his cooking as a third-culture reflection of his Korean heritage rather than a strict throwback. Alongside the dim sum and banchan, dishes like a gochujang vodka rigatoni show the kitchen mixing references freely.
Minari is connected to the Pikok Lounge, extending the space into a bar setting alongside the dining room. The restaurant has built a following of repeat customers, with regulars returning to a room known for its atmosphere and design as much as its food.
Chef Jeff Watson was born in Daegu, South Korea, and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, a bicultural upbringing that shaped his approach to flavor. He spent years cooking in DDP Restaurant Group's kitchens under mentor Daniel del Prado before opening Minari as his own project.
The kitchen isn't working to replicate tradition exactly — Watson describes his cooking as a third-culture reflection of his Korean heritage rather than a strict throwback. Alongside the dim sum and banchan, dishes like a gochujang vodka rigatoni show the kitchen mixing references freely.
Minari is connected to the Pikok Lounge, extending the space into a bar setting alongside the dining room. The restaurant has built a following of repeat customers, with regulars returning to a room known for its atmosphere and design as much as its food.