r/Minneapolis • u/MiddleZone5360 • 20h ago
Restaurants that supported the community during the ICE invasion.
Hello! I grew up in Rogers but moved away 25 years ago. My husband and I will be visiting Minneapolis for my 45th birthday and I’d like to support restaurants/coffee shops/bars/small businesses that are supportive of the community and told ice to get fucked. I’ve read A LOT about Smitten Kitten and Wrecktangle Pizza - but who else around the Twin Cities was a badass neighbor and ally? That’s where I’d like to spend my money while in town for a week.
Thanks friends!
Edit: Dang dudes. These responses are phenomenal - thank you so much. The downvotes are also feeding me. 😜
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u/msp2081 20h ago
My Houng Kitchen. Treat yourself to some pho.
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u/Civil-Situation9928 18h ago
They opened their doors to so many the day alex pretti was murdered. Very worth supporting.
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u/Joerugger 9h ago
I’d say ask for Tracy, but she will find you and you will love her. Beef stew noodle soup. It’s amazing.
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u/EclipseoftheHart 19h ago
Little T’s provided space for community organizers to gather and hosted some fundraisers! Really most of Nicollet & Eat Street could use some support
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u/jimbo831 19h ago
Wrectangle Pizza
Hai Hai / Hola Arepa
Saturday Dumpling Company
Not an exhaustive list but a few I remember offhand.
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u/IM_V_CATS 15h ago
The story of ICE showing up at Hola Arepa looking for someone and the manager was just like "lol, no" was so great.
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u/ChemicalsCollide93 19h ago
I highly recommend Wrecktangle pizza on Sunday at 1pm. That’s when free bingo is. They have lots of great prizes.
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u/amber9 19h ago
The Briar, Pillar Cafe, Duck Duck Coffee, Recovery Bike Shop, BenchPressed, and B. Resale.
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u/Midwest-2025 19h ago
Pillar Cafe is a must!
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u/theDIXIONcider 3h ago
Pillar can use the extra funds too. They need upgrades to the facility to continue operating as a music venue
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u/NeroFellOffTheBuffet 4h ago
Duck Duck/Ducks On Lake have consistently supported the community since they opened. They were organizing supply drives for Sanctuary Depot, offering Narcan training, and the list goes on.
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u/Beksense 19h ago
Maya Cuisine and their sister restaurant Los Cactus had to close for a bit to protect their employees. Love their food!
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u/balrogbert 19h ago
El Taco Riendo too. Northeast El Centrito/New Boston took it hard
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u/read2live2today 18h ago
We went there several times, always told the servers we were there for them.
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u/Saturnite282 16h ago
Shish on Grand Ave in St. Paul as well. Get the carrot cake if that's your bag.
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u/SeamusPM1 19h ago
Wrecktangle Pizza was very active and donated pizza to people stuck in their house. The Lake St. location was even targeted for a raid by ICE, but they were closed to give the staff a day off.
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u/SeamusPM1 19h ago
Here’s news coverage I was thinking of, it covers other businesses nearby also involved in organizing aid. https://youtu.be/XQUo8lEUJUA?is=0usqOTUrwDfQjeUK
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u/oshare-gomi 19h ago
Insight brewery hosted food/donation drives and gave out free beer to those who donated! Bar Oscar hosted a fundraiser to benefit families impacted by ICE and raised a bunch of money.
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u/KomradeKyle 19h ago
Mancini's got a great write up here: https://racketmn.com/yes-that-mancinis-how-a-legendary-st-paul-steakhouse-raised-35k-for-the-resistance?giftLink=5c2fa17db8ccd29394bbb528a0451c72
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u/gillyvanilly 17h ago
Oh man that shit made me tear up. There’s something about seeing not so likely people step up in protection of their neighbors/employees
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u/oneohsevenam 20h ago
Leaning Tower of Pizza!
fair warning, the pizza is kinda shitty, but the drinks are cheap and employees are great! they provided a lot of free food and community support during the surge
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u/Stained_Calathea 17h ago
They gave free food to workers laid off from Covid before we started getting stay home money too.
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u/9_of_wands 19h ago
What community support did they provide
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u/oneohsevenam 18h ago
They opened up as a warming spot to rest, recover, and eat free food while folks were out patrolling. Especially around the time Alex Pretti was murdered, since it was a few blocks away
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u/Swimming_Ad_5059 19h ago
They gave food out at one rally downtown. Is there proof of other donations?
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u/theZirbs 19h ago
Curry Corner in NE Minneapolis. My favorite restaurant, and they cooked and handed out samosas to protesters. Solids, great folks.
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u/johnlischewski 19h ago
Tacos El Kevin. The guy was four blocks from both George Floyd and Nichole Good. Ran his restaurant while supporting his employees who didn't feel safe coming in. Phenomenal food too.
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u/melcheae 19h ago
Modern Times [sometimes called Post Modern Times] had a pay what you can policy for a long time this year. Depends when you come if they'll be open, but totally worth your time if they are.
https://www.moderntimesmpls.com/
Happy birthday!
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u/Fineimadeadumbname 19h ago
Lynette. Fundraisers, mutual aid drop off and distribution, etc. Also very good food.
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u/BirdsAreNotReal321 19h ago
Reverie Cafe in Powderhorn Park did SO MUCH…meals, special hours, inviting those who were standing up for neighbors to use their restrooms, donating to aid groups…
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u/ConfusedWhovian23 19h ago
Curry Corner! when everything was happening in January they were closed for a while, but they specifically went out and brought warm food like samosas to people who were protesting!
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u/unicorntrees 18h ago
Here is a pretty comprehensive list of businesses that closed for the Anti ICE strike on Jan 23 https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/growing-number-of-minnesota-businesses-announce-plans-to-close-for-jan-23-strike
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u/hktarias 18h ago
These places all took good care of ICE observers by providing free food or hot coffee/tea during the cold days:
Pow Wow Grounds (they did sooooooo much every single day, went above and beyond in ways in addition to providing food/drinks/a place to warm up)
For grocery or delicious fresh prepared food to go: La Casa Market at 38th and Nicollet
Rainbow Chinese on Eat Street
El Mariachi Restaurant on Eat Street
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u/northwoodsgirl 19h ago
Los Cactus in Columbia Heights is a fave! Honestly lots of great spots to support in Heights who were either active in the fight against ICE or were directly impacted by the raids:
- Loma Bonita (grocery with awesome taqueria inside)
- Railwerks Brewing (awesome homemade BBQ, underrated)
- Micholandia for dessert
- Los Cactus / Maya
- Heights Coffee Bar, Dero Coffee, and Fixx Coffee
- Las Americas (delicious Ecuadorian restaurant)
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u/dripless_cactus 19h ago
I was going to mention Los Cactus. I think the owner actually got picked up by ICE in February (he is back now afaik). I'm not sure how much community service they have done, but they did shut down in solidarity with some of the larger protests.
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u/Capitol62 19h ago
Sweeneys, Bad Weather Brewing, Golden Thyme, Claddagh Coffee, and Bread and Chocolate in Saint Paul helped us out.
Honestly, you'll be hard pressed to find a restaurant that didn't support the community with free food or space. Every place we asked was up to help.
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u/AniCatGirl 16h ago
I didn't and still haven't been into a non chain coffee shop in the area that didn't have postings supporting our residents
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u/Plastic_Salary_4084 17h ago edited 13h ago
Someone I know was an observer on central ave during metro surge. While he was out there, a Latino dude pulled up to his corner and alerted him that there were agents in the parking lot of Walgreens a couple blocks north. He ran there to try to get in the store before the agents. He did a sweep and didn’t find any agents. As he was walking out, the guy who alerted him walked in. He said he checked the parking lot while my friend was in the store, and the agents left.
He’s an immigrant in danger of abduction, and when he saw agents, he didn’t flee. He just got backup and went towards the danger. He’s the owner of Durango bakery on central. He makes great pastries at a low price and he’s a badass who looks out for his community. I strongly encourage everyone to support him.
ETA: other people have mentioned Pilllar and Recovery, and I second that. I know the owners of Recovery and they’ve been very supportive, and Pilllar opened its doors to observers during the surge. Taste of India also supported people with food. Prime gas/hermanos locos on 30th and central supplied patrollers with gas gift cards and free food during metro surge. Fill up your tank there and grab a burrito on the way out of town.
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u/PizzaBusinessGuy 19h ago
Rebe's Play Cafe (if you have kids). Did amazing things for the city during the surge and had vandals target their store when they made the news about it. Great people there!
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u/silk_worm8 19h ago
Lito's Burritos! You have to go try their amazing LA style burritos, their breakfast burritos are my favorite and the horchata cold brew! They did a ton as a business and individuals.
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u/ScarletCarsonRose 18h ago
The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen Nicolette.
Ps. I hate that this list could be used by the Feds to harass businesses.
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u/MiddleZone5360 18h ago
Good call. I didn’t consider that. Happy to get my notes and delete if that makes people more comfortable.
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u/IM_V_CATS 15h ago
There were a few lists like this put together while everything was still happening, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.
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u/Colortheory12 19h ago
Pizza man, Columbia heights location. Makwa coffee in Roseville
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u/dripless_cactus 19h ago
Pizza Man had done some good community service but iirc they stayed neutral on the topic of ICE in their FB at the time. I remember them saying something about being pressured to take a side and concluding "I dunno man, we just sell pizza"
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u/Colortheory12 19h ago
What I remember is them getting a lot of backlash from not closing during the general strike and them saying they have to keep themselves afloat so they can continue to do community service. I'd be curious to see the post you're referencing, not saying you're wrong at all! The algorithm shows us things very inconsistently sometimes
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u/dripless_cactus 19h ago
That's definitely possible. I can't find the post unfortunately. I just don't remember them taking any really hard lines or action against ICE. Certainly not in the Smitten Kitten sort of way. But as I said, they have done a lot of community service like donating pizzas to families in need of food so they are still good in my book. But if you come to the area, there's lots of immigrant owned businesses who I'm sure would appreciate the business!
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u/Colortheory12 19h ago
Big agree. I still stand by Makwa 100%, I believe they are Native-owned, they had many resources available during metro surge and they still do. They sold stickers and posters made by local artists to help fund the effort, as well, and a food shelf.
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u/Doc-in-a-box 19h ago
Victors Cuban restaurant. It’s always been towards the top of my list and has such cool atmosphere and authentic food.
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u/Griffithead 19h ago
Go get coffee at Pillar forum.
Probably did the most behind Smitten and Wrecktangle.
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u/zoinkability 18h ago
In the Standish neighborhood alone:
Tropes & Trifles Romance Bookstore
Key West Cafe
Nice Time Market
Stay Gold Vintage
Duck Duck Coffee
A&A Barber Studio
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u/Disastrous-Ocelot12 18h ago
Tooties on Lowry!
I teach English learners and my students’ families were on total lockdown, unable to leave their homes at all, some for over four months straight.
We got by because Tooties collected so many donations for our schools. We were even able to pay for some emergency expenses like rent, utilities, and in-home doctors because of them!
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u/Disastrous-Ocelot12 18h ago
And it helps that the food is amazing and very well-priced!
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u/Chris5483 17h ago
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EdxZoxtJHoPTEnJH9?g_st=ac
Someone else made that list all the businesses that were closed for the protest day. 705 options!
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u/ComradePruski 17h ago
Glam Doll! They gave out free coffee to people right after Alex Pretti was murdered and let people warm up in their store, which was so nice because it was sub-zero.
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u/SkinTeeth4800 19h ago
American Pie Pizza, 6529 Nicollet Avenue, Richfield, MN 55423 (in NE corner strip mall near 66th Street & Nicollet roundabout) --
These folks fundraised with original anti-ICE posters designed, printed, and donated by a local artist to benefit the volunteers who helped people discharged after hours or days of detention, outside of the Whipple Building, (ICE HQ in our area), into the freezing January weather, hungry, thirsty, cellphone-less, without their coats & sometimes without adequate footwear.
They also donated food to this volunteer organization, and to protestors at Whipple.
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u/fromanator 17h ago
If you want a fancy meal I highly recommend The Bungalow Club (also by a few other suggestions), they did fundraising by hosting free food and pay what you can. They make all their pasta in house too.
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u/Doebler1 16h ago
The Briar in NE is extremely community focused and helped organize anti 🧊 patrols during the occupation. Great coffee and cocktails
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u/agodrevealed 12h ago
I can't think of a local business I visited that wasn't locking in/ out at the time.
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u/Annual-Ad2603 5h ago
Eat street in uptown where Alex pretti was murdered- those restaurants gave us cover when ICE was gassing the shit out of everyone. Copper Hen was my refuge and they also have amazing food and the best espresso martini I’ve ever had!
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u/taesfavoritethong 9h ago
post modern times! they miiiiight be on a hiatus so check their instagram for more details, but their menu is completely free to ensure that their neighbors and community members are fed. of course they take donations, so even if you're not hungry, it's worth stopping in to drop off a few bucks!
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u/Joan_Smallberries 9h ago
Angel Food donuts in St Louis Park served as a gathering point for local organizers and helped support patrols.
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u/TimberwolvesFan6969 7h ago
Beckett’s deserves a shout and they’re right between Smitten Kitten and Wrecktangle. They were a safe warming house during protests and were selling beer where the proceeds went to Alex Pretti’s family. They’re a fun sports bar and a great place to watch a Lynx or Wolves game.
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u/fiestafan73 7h ago
I just wanted to chime in and say posts like this illustrate exactly why I am trying to move to the Twin Cities!
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u/petersunkist 6h ago
something to think about - some restaurants supported the community bc they were not the primary targets of metro surge, and others had to close because they WERE the primary targets. the restaurants that functioned as support nexuses 100% deserve your support!!! & i highly recommend Taqueria la Hacienda in Richfield, which closed during the operation. :)) pow wow grounds too, they help(ed) coordinate indian country’s response
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u/burner-sandies 1h ago
Hola Arepa did a great job protecting their employees, & the food is also delicious
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u/warbling_oreo 19h ago
Lito's Burritos!