Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

Gloria285054
 In-Home Care Minneapolis, MN

How does In-home Senior Care in Minneapolis, MN work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Minneapolis, MN

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Minneapolis, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Minneapolis, MN gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Minneapolis, MN

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Minneapolis,MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Minneapolis, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Minneapolis, MN

Wave of Latin businesses, culture bringing diversity to Minneapolis neighborhood

This is a modal window.No compatible source was found for this media.This is a modal window.This video is currently unavailable.Wave of Latin businesses, culture bringing diversity to Minneapolis neighborhoodA neighborhood in Minneapolis is seeing a wave of Latino business owners bring diversity to the area.In the last year, a handful of Latino businesses ranging from restaurants to nightclubs opened their doors.From the floor-to-ceiling greenery and pops of color around every corner, Ivan C...

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Wave of Latin businesses, culture bringing diversity to Minneapolis neighborhood

A neighborhood in Minneapolis is seeing a wave of Latino business owners bring diversity to the area.

In the last year, a handful of Latino businesses ranging from restaurants to nightclubs opened their doors.

From the floor-to-ceiling greenery and pops of color around every corner, Ivan Cardenas is bringing Latin vibes to the doorstep of Minneapolis.

“You come inside here, and you see tropical drinks and food,” said Cardenas, the owner of Rumba. “In Rumba there’s food, drinks and dancing.”

Cardenas opened Rumba in September to bring new flavor to Uptown. It’s a restaurant during the day and turns into a dancing nightclub from Thursdays to Sundays.

“I want to show people from Minneapolis how Latinos do life — how we eat, drink and party,” Cardenas said.

The food is crafted by a chef from Tulum, Mexico and the DJs are from Miami.

Cardenas said the restaurant is riddled with Latino culture and comfort.

“It’s a warm place like home and like family,” he said. “I want people to come in and enjoy it with us.”

Cardenas said seeing people happy and smiling in his restaurant is what makes it all worth it.

“I’m so happy. I feel so good and I say ‘Thank God’ for this,” he said.

Just a few steps down the block on Girard Avenue, there’s a slice of Argentina.

Chef Facundo DeFraia is the brains behind Boludo. His father, Omar Cruz, is a friendly face who helps out at some of the locations in Minneapolis.

“The pizza is amazing. I love Pepperoni,” Cruz said in Spanish. “I am so proud of my son and what he has accomplished.”

Cruz said the family wanted to bring a taste of Buenos Aires to Minneapolis.

The Uptown location was the newest opening to spread the dough and Latin culture.

“He [his son] came here with the influence of his friends from Argentina. We wanted to show ‘We are from Argentina and we love our cuisine,’” Cruz said in Spanish. The Latino businesses are passionate about sharing their culture so Minnesotans can experience it.

“To be a bit more open-minded and trying new things is always a good thing and not just staying in your own bubble,” Maribel Estrada Martinez, Boludo Uptown manager, said. “I like to experience that too.”

La Boulangerie Marguerite opens new bakery in Northeast Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A popular bakery in St. Paul is opening its second location in Northeast Minneapolis after finding a location that felt like fate to its owners.On Sept. 28, husband-and-wife owners Francois Kiemde and Meli...

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A popular bakery in St. Paul is opening its second location in Northeast Minneapolis after finding a location that felt like fate to its owners.

On Sept. 28, husband-and-wife owners Francois Kiemde and Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde joined Minneapolis Council Member Michael Rainville to hold a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of La Boulangerie Marguerite, known for their croissants and pastries.

The new location takes over the former Maeve’s Café spot, and more recently Mary Ellen’s Bistro before it at 300 13th Ave. NE.

Its opening represents a dream the couple worked hard to achieve — one that was a long time in the making.

"Fourteen years ago when we were just dating, I was a teacher at Minneapolis Public Schools, and we had a friend who lived only a couple blocks from this location," Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde told FOX 9 of the location’s origins. "We said ‘Wouldn’t that make the cutest little bakery?’ We picked it out then, but getting married was the first order of business."

Francois lived in Madison, Wisconsin, at the time, owning his own bakery in Francois’ Bakery & Café. Before that, he studied at the French Culinary Institute in New York City, now known as the International Culinary Center, after immigrating to America from Burkina Faso in West Africa at the age of 25 in 1995.

After moving to Minneapolis to be with Melissa — "It was either he moves here or I go there," Melissa says — they had a daughter together, Marguerite, named after her sister.

On a roundtrip home from her parent’s wedding anniversary in Nebraska, the idea to make their dream a reality together was officially hatched.

"My dad was speaking to Francois, saying we’re not getting any younger," Melissa said. "We Googled locations coming back home, and somewhere outside of Sioux Falls the idea was born."

Their first location at 1279 Randolph Ave. – formerly PJ Murphy's Bakery – opened in 2017, offering croissants, apple fritters and donuts.

"It was challenging at the beginning, it hasn’t always been smooth," Francois said. "But we’re still standing, even after the pandemic."

Six years into establishing their first location and expanding their brand together, the building they first spotted all those years ago became available, allowing them to move in.

"We owe our very existence to our neighborhood in St. Paul, and we hope to have the same support here," said Francois. "We’ve already noticed we have."

The Northeast location will offer all the familiar breads and sweets, with the addition of savory options such as ham and cheese croissants, soups and coffee, all with available seating for patrons.

"The idea was always to take the bread, and add protein to it," Melissa said.

"In St. Paul, we also don’t have seating capacity. We always wanted to create a community and place for people to sit," said Francois. "We want to take you to Paris."

Long-term the duo hopes to make their business a family one, with their daughter eventually taking over the reins. Admittedly, that path still has to be forged with its namesake.

"We want to see this legacy passed on to her, but right now it’s in the negotiation stage," said Francois with a laugh. "She sees what we’re doing, and we want this to be hers when we retire."

"The whole way we’ve felt led down a particular path," Melissa said. "Our story has a bit of fate tied into it."

Gophers' Ben Johnson uses Steelers coach Mike Tomlin video to motivate basketball team

The preseason projections for the Gophers men's basketball team are far from flattering this year, but that doesn't shake the expectations third-year coach Ben Johnson has for his program.Before Tuesday's practice, Johnson showed his players a video of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talking about how polished and professional Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud...

The preseason projections for the Gophers men's basketball team are far from flattering this year, but that doesn't shake the expectations third-year coach Ben Johnson has for his program.

Before Tuesday's practice, Johnson showed his players a video of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talking about how polished and professional Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud looked because he played at Ohio State.

"Stroud's doing an awesome job," Tomlin said on the video. "He looks mature beyond his years. He looks like a guy who just wore the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback at Ohio State. You know what I mean. Some programs are different than others."

Tomlin added: "You do it for multiple years at a place like that, man. It's probably very similar in terms of wearing the responsibilities for being a quarterback for an organization at this level. He doesn't appear to be overwhelmed by it at all. He manages himself in game and out of game with a maturity level that's impressive."

Johnson gave his team a speech after the Tomlin video about how he wants to raise the standard of what it means to play for the Gophers.

"In my mind, we're not taking a back seat to anybody," Johnson told the team Tuesday. "Dudes that play here. That needs to be said about us. That you played at Minnesota, so you're going to be at this level. That standard has risen because you played here. Everybody clear on that?"

Is it realistic for Gophers hoops to be talked about like Ohio State football? Obviously not after they finished last in the Big Ten in back-to-back seasons. But Johnson's message is clear that his goal is for players to have much higher expectations for themselves and the program.

Looking back on this 2021 profile on Johnson, when he took the Gophers job, he also talked about Tomlin being one of the coaches he tries to emulate. A framed picture of Tomlin (along with Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra) was on the wall in Johnson's basketball office.

"Mike Tomlin is a guy who does it the right way, all the way around," Johnson said in 2021. "He's a players' coach but scheme-wise he knows what he's doing. He can do it all. He's got quotes I tell the team all the time. That dude is just a winner."

Practice notes

— Quality point guards are hard to come by in college basketball. Last season, the Gophers had no depth at the position. They have three players who will be the team's primary ball-handlers this season with Pepperdine transfer Mike Mitchell Jr., Howard transfer Elijah Hawkins and freshman Cam Christie, Johnson said Tuesday. Sophomore Braeden Carrington was also mentioned as "being more comfortable handling it."

"This is probably the most perimeter ballhandlers that we've had," Johnson said. "With Cam, with Mike and with Elijah, you've got three guys who I'm pretty good with playing in ball screens, pushing it. [Dawson Garcia's] a guy on a defensive rebound, I'm comfortable with him bringing it. So, it's another ballhandler."

— Forwards Parker Fox and Isaiah Ihnen were cleared for contact this fall and looked to be running, jumping, and dunking with ease in practice. There were really no signs of them being out the last two seasons with knee injuries. Ihnen even ran with what could potentially be starting lineup alongside Mitchell, Christie, Garcia and Pharrel Payne. Known for his highlight-reel play as a Division II All-American, Fox was dunking everything at the rim.

"He's getting that pop back," Johnson said on Fox. "Like anybody, it's going to be a work in progress once you get used to playing 5-on-5 with conditioning. But you can see he's got a nose for the ball. He really understands how to play."

11 Underrated Restaurants to Explore in the Twin Cities

As exciting as it is to check out the newest restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul, there are certain neighborhood gems that anchor the dining landscape. For golden-fried arepas, tangy pani puri, or creamy pasteis de nata, look no further. Here are 11 great underrated restaurants worth returning to time and time again in the Twin Cities.Note that these restaurants are listed geographically. ...

As exciting as it is to check out the newest restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul, there are certain neighborhood gems that anchor the dining landscape. For golden-fried arepas, tangy pani puri, or creamy pasteis de nata, look no further. Here are 11 great underrated restaurants worth returning to time and time again in the Twin Cities.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Tucked off Dodd Road in a residential area of St. Paul, El Cubano serves hot sandwiches, all toasted and pressed with butter. Try the eponymous Cubano, a layered masterpiece of roasted meat, tangy mustard, and pickles, served with yuca frita and a house mojito dip. (El Cubano serves entrees like Dominican-style red snapper or traditional Cuban bistec encebollado, too.) Don’t forget an order of the tostones.

Moscow on the Hill is a St. Paul staple for Eastern European fare: Think pillowy deruny (Ukranian-style potato pancakes), borscht, chicken kiev, and neatly wrapped pelmeni served with a dollop of sour cream. The house infused vodkas — particularly the horseradish — are one of this restaurant’s specialties. There’s a big, leafy patio out back for when the weather’s good; otherwise, the main dining room, draped in rich red and gold fabrics, is one of St. Paul’s coziest.

Zait & Za’atar, a casual “Mediterranean dhaba” on Selby Avenue, marries Mediterranean and South Asian flavors. It’s a great place to fill up on fresh falafel, baba ghanoush, and juicy shawarma sandwiches and plates. But don’t overlook the chaat: crispy samosas, tangy pani puri dripping with tamarind, and vada doused in cool dahi.

Estelle pairs breezy Spanish and Portuguese dishes like patatas bravas, shrimp al ajillo, and beet escabeche with comforting Italian pastas. The pasteis de nata, a classic Portuguese egg tart, is a flawless sweet note at the end of the meal. Slip into the cozy adjoining bar for an herbaceous nightcap (think charred rosemary vodka, plum honey shrub, etc.).

Heather’s might be the perfect neighborhood restaurant. The brunch specials — like pineapple upside-down pancakes and classic croque-madames — are always a hit. For lunch and dinner, it rotates in specials that feel fresh and seasonal (think sweet corn polenta with roasted duck and blueberry chutney). The space is casual but bright, and usually filled with fresh-cut flowers. Cap off a meal with a stroll around nearby Lake Nokomis, and grab a noodle salad from the little deli counter on the way out.

Apoy serves traditional Filipino cuisine and a few original dishes of its own on Nicollet Avenue. Start with the classic lumpia or tender, caramelized tocino; the Shrimp Bicol Express pairs creamy coconut with piquant ginger in a tantalizing sauce. For dessert, the halo halo, a shaved ice medley of coconut, plantains, jackfruit, and sweetbeans, is the perfect dessert for a hot day (or a cold one, honestly).

Chef Abi Baire takes inspiration from the women in her family — her grandmother, mother, and Aunt Maria — who’ve been cooking Salvadoran food for generations. She brought their time-tested recipes to Minneapolis in 2015, when she opened Abi’s Restaurant on Lyndale Avenue. The entire menu, which has everything from quesabirria to camarones a la plancha, is stellar, but the absolute musts are the flavor-packed pupusas. Mix and match the revueltas, the chicharrón con queso, and the queso con ayote.

Peninsula is an Eat Street gem that serves Malaysian fare like tamarind fried fish and prawn sambal, but the can’t-miss dish here is the spicy golden tofu. This restaurant makes its tofu by hand — it’s cut into big, irregular hunks, fried to a perfect crisp but custardy and tender on the inside. Note that Peninsula is takeout only.

Cafe Racer’s arepas — subtly sweet and soft on the inside, fried golden on the outside — are at the heart of this pared-down Latin American menu. For breakfast, they’re served with marmalade or kielbasa, or as a side to an omelet topped with bright salsa criolla and pico. For dinner, they’re a perfect complement to braised pulled pork or roasted chicken, and other sides like yuca frita and sweet plantains.

Nearly lost in the menagerie of PR-backed restaurants that populate Dinkytown, Korea Restaurant keeps quietly chugging along with a glorious assortment of bibimbap, bulgogi, and potstickers. Lunch is mayhem, but worth every second of wait time. Prepare for self-service and generous helpings, and don’t be shy to refill on the side dishes.

While Giulia is a hotel restaurant in sleepy downtown Minneapolis, it pretty much stands on its own. Giulia shares its vaulted space with the Emery’s lobby, but the hotel overlap stops there. The focus on northern Italian flavors are precise and spot-on — think virtually faultless ricotta meatballs, a play on arancini (here, named suppli) paired with apple, and maltagliati: homemade, silky ribbons of pasta with a tonkotsu-style Japanese stock that’s wildly flavorful.

Tucked off Dodd Road in a residential area of St. Paul, El Cubano serves hot sandwiches, all toasted and pressed with butter. Try the eponymous Cubano, a layered masterpiece of roasted meat, tangy mustard, and pickles, served with yuca frita and a house mojito dip. (El Cubano serves entrees like Dominican-style red snapper or traditional Cuban bistec encebollado, too.) Don’t forget an order of the tostones.

Moscow on the Hill is a St. Paul staple for Eastern European fare: Think pillowy deruny (Ukranian-style potato pancakes), borscht, chicken kiev, and neatly wrapped pelmeni served with a dollop of sour cream. The house infused vodkas — particularly the horseradish — are one of this restaurant’s specialties. There’s a big, leafy patio out back for when the weather’s good; otherwise, the main dining room, draped in rich red and gold fabrics, is one of St. Paul’s coziest.

Zait & Za’atar, a casual “Mediterranean dhaba” on Selby Avenue, marries Mediterranean and South Asian flavors. It’s a great place to fill up on fresh falafel, baba ghanoush, and juicy shawarma sandwiches and plates. But don’t overlook the chaat: crispy samosas, tangy pani puri dripping with tamarind, and vada doused in cool dahi.

Estelle pairs breezy Spanish and Portuguese dishes like patatas bravas, shrimp al ajillo, and beet escabeche with comforting Italian pastas. The pasteis de nata, a classic Portuguese egg tart, is a flawless sweet note at the end of the meal. Slip into the cozy adjoining bar for an herbaceous nightcap (think charred rosemary vodka, plum honey shrub, etc.).

Heather’s might be the perfect neighborhood restaurant. The brunch specials — like pineapple upside-down pancakes and classic croque-madames — are always a hit. For lunch and dinner, it rotates in specials that feel fresh and seasonal (think sweet corn polenta with roasted duck and blueberry chutney). The space is casual but bright, and usually filled with fresh-cut flowers. Cap off a meal with a stroll around nearby Lake Nokomis, and grab a noodle salad from the little deli counter on the way out.

Apoy serves traditional Filipino cuisine and a few original dishes of its own on Nicollet Avenue. Start with the classic lumpia or tender, caramelized tocino; the Shrimp Bicol Express pairs creamy coconut with piquant ginger in a tantalizing sauce. For dessert, the halo halo, a shaved ice medley of coconut, plantains, jackfruit, and sweetbeans, is the perfect dessert for a hot day (or a cold one, honestly).

Chef Abi Baire takes inspiration from the women in her family — her grandmother, mother, and Aunt Maria — who’ve been cooking Salvadoran food for generations. She brought their time-tested recipes to Minneapolis in 2015, when she opened Abi’s Restaurant on Lyndale Avenue. The entire menu, which has everything from quesabirria to camarones a la plancha, is stellar, but the absolute musts are the flavor-packed pupusas. Mix and match the revueltas, the chicharrón con queso, and the queso con ayote.

Peninsula is an Eat Street gem that serves Malaysian fare like tamarind fried fish and prawn sambal, but the can’t-miss dish here is the spicy golden tofu. This restaurant makes its tofu by hand — it’s cut into big, irregular hunks, fried to a perfect crisp but custardy and tender on the inside. Note that Peninsula is takeout only.

Cafe Racer’s arepas — subtly sweet and soft on the inside, fried golden on the outside — are at the heart of this pared-down Latin American menu. For breakfast, they’re served with marmalade or kielbasa, or as a side to an omelet topped with bright salsa criolla and pico. For dinner, they’re a perfect complement to braised pulled pork or roasted chicken, and other sides like yuca frita and sweet plantains.

Nearly lost in the menagerie of PR-backed restaurants that populate Dinkytown, Korea Restaurant keeps quietly chugging along with a glorious assortment of bibimbap, bulgogi, and potstickers. Lunch is mayhem, but worth every second of wait time. Prepare for self-service and generous helpings, and don’t be shy to refill on the side dishes.

While Giulia is a hotel restaurant in sleepy downtown Minneapolis, it pretty much stands on its own. Giulia shares its vaulted space with the Emery’s lobby, but the hotel overlap stops there. The focus on northern Italian flavors are precise and spot-on — think virtually faultless ricotta meatballs, a play on arancini (here, named suppli) paired with apple, and maltagliati: homemade, silky ribbons of pasta with a tonkotsu-style Japanese stock that’s wildly flavorful.

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