Diane’s Place, the Hmong-American restaurant from chef Diane Moua in northeast Minneapolis, has quietly taken the first official step toward getting a little more elbow room. Recent city filings show the Food Building favorite has pulled permits to expand its dining footprint. The restaurant is already one of the city’s most sought-after tables and often fills at peak service, so a buildout could mean more seats at a spot that now draws both local regulars and national attention.
Permits filed with the city outline plans to enlarge the restaurant’s footprint, and Moua’s representatives told the Star Tribune that details are still in flux but that “Diane’s Place is expanding to enhance its space and better serve its guests.” The report notes that the filings do not yet spell out the full scope of work, so for now the paperwork looks more like a signal of intent than a complete renovation roadmap.
Bring Me The News also flagged the permit activity and reported that Diane’s Place currently seats roughly 70 guests, with brunch service six days a week and dinner four nights. The restaurant’s website lays out the present hours, its 14th Avenue entrance, and the adjacent Events by Diane space inside the Food Building, along with reservation and contact details for anyone trying to snag a table.
National praise and why it matters
Food & Wine named Diane’s Place its 2025 Restaurant of the Year, a splashy honor that amplified Moua’s Hmong-American cooking far beyond northeast Minneapolis. That profile, along with other national coverage, has helped push Hmong cuisine further into the spotlight in the Twin Cities and beyond, turning the restaurant into a kind of ambassador for the food and the community behind it.
What the permits could mean
Moua’s team has not shared a construction timeline or firm details on the remodel, so the permit pull functions more like a public hint than a start date. The Star Tribune reports that the documents do not yet specify the complete scope of work, meaning any schedule will depend on city review and how quickly contractors can get lined up…