This MN Eatery Is Among Esquire’s Best New Restaurants In America

MINNEAPOLIS — Vinai in Minneapolis has made Esquire’s exclusive 2024 list of the Best New Restaurants in America, which was released Tuesday.

The list of 35 restaurants includes eateries that punch above their price point, are romantic enough for date night, or are just a great place for a boozy, delicious night out with friends, Esquire said.

At Hmong restaurant Vinai, chef Yia Vang serves up beef rib in ginger broth, crab fried rice, and four hot sauces, including one featuring pickled peppers from his mother's farm, according to Esquire.

"Vang is adamant that Vinai is not 'elevated' Hmong cuisine but rather Hmong cuisine presented in a culture that is finally putting some respect on its name," Esquire reported.

California and New York each had eight mentions on the list, including the “Restaurant of the Year,” Four Kings in San Francisco, and the “Comeback of the Year,” Le Veau d’Or in New York City.

Other states with restaurants on the list include Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas, with two each, and Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington and the District of Columbia, with one each.