Minnesota winter doesn’t just show up, it swings a frozen fist. When the wind chill has you rethinking every decision you’ve ever made, the only smart move is hot soup and a sandwich that actually means business.
The Twin Cities has turned this combo into a cold-weather survival skill, from matzo ball bowls that taste like a reset button to minestrone that warms you up before your hands even work again. Whether you’re escaping into a skyway for a quick lunch or driving across town for the real deal, these 13 spots prove one thing: Minnesota knows how to feed you through the worst of it.
1. Cecil’s Delicatessen & Bakery (St. Paul)
Snowflakes the size of quarters are falling outside, your fingers are numb even through your gloves, and all you can think about is something warm and substantial – Cecil’s delivers exactly that fantasy. This St. Paul institution has been slinging classic Jewish deli fare that feels like a hug from your bubbe, even if you never had one.
The matzo ball soup here isn’t messing around. Fluffy, tender dumplings float in golden broth that tastes like someone’s grandmother spent all morning perfecting it…