Bloomington eats in the shadow of the Mall of America, but the plaza addresses around it hold their own without leaning on that fact. This list runs from a Japanese ramen counter to a Brazilian churrasco room, with the burger bars and buffet lines that keep the suburb fed on a normal Tuesday.
№ 01
Hazelwood Food and Drink
Bloomington $$
8150 26th Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 · +19522224000
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The burger and salad plates anchor a room built for groups who need a meeting point without a plan. Hazelwood works as a brunch spot for friends split across the metro, plant-filled and busy without feeling loud. Service runs warm most visits, though it pays to be clear about seating needs when the room fills up on a weekend morning.
What to orderburger, salad, sandwich
№ 02
Ciao Bella
Bloomington $$
3501 Minnesota Dr, Bloomington, MN 55435 · +19528411000
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Classic pasta and a risotto worth ordering on repeat make Ciao Bella a dependable choice for date night or a table of six. The room reads formal without being stiff, and the vegetarian options run deeper than most Italian spots in the suburb. Reservation requests for patio seating are not always guaranteed, so confirm on arrival.
What to orderpasta, risotto, tiramisu
№ 03
Gyropolis
Bloomington $
2320 W 90th St, Bloomington, MN 55431 · +19527462091
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A gyro plate with french fries and baklava on the side is the order here, and the building has been updated enough that longtime regulars barely recognize the old exterior. Parking is easy and the counter moves fast for a quick lunch. Prices run higher than the format suggests, but the food backs it up.
What to ordergyro, baklava, french fries
№ 04
Luna Di Luna
Bloomington $$
8820 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55420 · +19523034111
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Bolognese and a short, focused Italian menu make Luna Di Luna the move for a Friday dinner with no advance planning. The room does not take reservations, but walk-ins get seated even at peak hours. The olive oil service at the table sets the tone before the pasta arrives, and the staff keep the pace warm without rushing anyone out.
What to orderbolognese, risotto, tiramisu
№ 05
Cantina Laredo
Bloomington $$
300 W Market, Level 3, Bloomington, MN 55425 · +19524068311
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Carne asada and enchiladas verdes anchor a menu built for a fast, air-conditioned break from Mall of America shopping. The dining room has been updated since its early days, and the interior no longer reads as plain. Service moves quickly and the noise level stays manageable even when the tables fill in around lunch.
What to ordercarne asada, chile relleno, enchiladas verdes
№ 06
Woolley's Kitchen & Bar
Bloomington $$
7901 34th Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 · +19528541010
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Crab cakes and a steak list built for special occasions make Woolley's the pick for a group that needs one room to hold everyone. Set inside the Embassy Suites, the kitchen handles large parties well, and the servers keep pace even with kids at the table. Double check any modified order before it leaves the kitchen.
What to ordercrab cakes, Asian salad, steak
№ 07
Itton Ramen
Bloomington $$
2137 W 80th 1/2 St, Ste D, Bloomington, MN 55431 · +19526886566
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Pork ramen and udon dominate a short, self-serve menu that leans hard into one lane and does it with focus. The room's design reads distinctly Japanese, down to the counter setup, and it draws people who want something closer to what they had traveled for. Diners who avoid pork will find the options thin.
What to orderramen, udon, pork ramen
№ 08
Hunan Restaurant
Bloomington $$
8066 Morgan Cir S, Bloomington, MN 55431 · +19528812280
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Mapo tofu and kung pao chicken lead a Chinese menu best caught at the weekday lunch buffet, where a dozen dishes rotate at high quality rather than the sprawling steam-tray approach some buffets take. The room is small and the decor plain, but the kitchen's output justifies the higher price point for the format.
What to ordermapo tofu, kung pao chicken, chow mein
№ 09
Cadillac Ranch
Bloomington $$
352 South Ave, Bloomington, MN 55425 · +19528541004
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Pork chops and pasta headline a bar menu built for casual nights out, with live music keeping the room lively past dinner hours. Service tends to run attentive without hovering, and regulars come back as much for the staff as the plates. It works as a reliable option when the goal is food plus atmosphere, not fine dining.
What to orderpork chops, pasta, burgers
№ 10
Chevys Fresh Mex
Bloomington $$
2251 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425 · +19528149555
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The smothered steak fajita burrito is the order to know at this Mexican bar and grill, a solid stop after a day of errands or mall shopping. Fajitas and quesadillas round out a menu that travels well as takeout, though portions and temperature can vary slightly on to-go orders. The room stays clean and the service brisk.
What to ordersmothered steak fajita burrito, fajitas, quesadilla
№ 11
Scramblin' Egg
Bloomington
7828 Portland Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420 · +19523148138
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A veggie scramble and a breakfast sandwich with two sauces on the side make this counter worth the stop before the food truck version of Scramblin' Egg gave way to a permanent storefront. It runs take-out only, with tots as the reliable side. Service moves fast even when the morning line stacks up.
What to orderbreakfast sandwich, tots, veggie scramble
№ 12
Bullvino's Churrascaria Bloomington
Bloomington
5121 W 98th St, Bloomington, MN 55437 · +19528562412
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Churrasco and picanha arrive tableside in continuous rounds at this Brazilian steakhouse set inside an older strip mall, the kind of format built for groups who want to keep eating without reordering. The kitchen built its reputation at the Wine and Food Fest before opening a permanent room, and the pace from seating to first meat stays quick.
What to orderchurrasco, grilled beef skewers, picanha
Frequently asked
What is the best restaurant for groups in Bloomington?
Woolley's Kitchen & Bar and Bullvino's Churrascaria Bloomington both handle large parties well, with Woolley's suited to a mixed-age group and Bullvino's built specifically around continuous meat service for a table that wants to keep eating.
Are there good restaurants near me in Bloomington near Mall of America?
Cantina Laredo and Chevys Fresh Mex both sit close to the mall and are built for a fast, efficient meal between shopping stops. Neither restaurant paid to be listed here; placement reflects the Insider Score assigned to each based on the review record.
Where can I get ramen in Bloomington?
Itton Ramen is the ramen counter on this list, known for pork ramen and udon in a small, self-serve room. It carries a strong Insider Score, but diners who avoid pork should know the ramen options lean heavily in that direction.
How are restaurants ranked on this list?
Every restaurant here carries an Insider Score built from the public review record, not from payment or advertising. No restaurant on this list paid for placement, and the order reflects that score alongside the signature dishes and operating pattern described in the writeups.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Hodan Abdi
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Hodan Abdi is a Staff Writer at Top of Minneapolis. Raised in Cedar-Riverside two floors above the Somali mall her aunt worked in, she now lives in Eagan and covers the whole metro ring. She writes the guides, sweeps the suburbs, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
