Walleye is the state fish, but a guide with that name has to be honest about what Minneapolis actually serves alongside it: seafood houses, fried fish counters, and rooms where the walleye shares menu space with paella, hot pot, and pad see ew. These eleven span price and neighborhood, from Nokomis patios to skyway-adjacent dining rooms.
№ 01
Shuang Cheng
$$
1320 4th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123780208
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Lobster, crab, and clams are the draw for the large groups this room is built around, with tofu soup and stir-fried dishes filling out a table meant for ten or more. It has held its place among Minneapolis seafood options for years, favored by regulars who return for the same platters that hooked them the first time.
What to orderlobster, crab, clams
№ 02
JJ Fish & chicken
904 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 · +16125210628
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Crack wings and jerk chicken and rice carry the menu, seasoned heavily and served without pretense. The Italian beef gives the room a Chicago accent unusual for a Minneapolis counter spot. This is quick, generously spiced food built for delivery and takeout rather than a long sit, and it delivers on both fronts.
What to ordercrack wings, jerk chicken and rice, Italian beef
№ 03
Smack Shack
$$$
603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · +16122597288
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Seafood paella loaded with shrimp, clams, mussels, and smoky sausage anchors the menu at this Minneapolis room, which also runs a patio suited to family gatherings and Restaurant Week crowds. Service tends toward attentive without hovering, and the setting works as well for a casual weekend meal as for marking an occasion.
What to orderSeafood Paella, Shrimp, Clams
№ 04
The Anchor Fish & Chips
$$
302 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · +16126761300
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Crispy fried fish and homemade tartar sauce have kept this Minneapolis counter spot a neighborhood fixture for decades, the fries getting equal billing. It runs order-at-the-counter rather than table service, which moves slower at peak times, but the fish and chips remain the reason regulars treat Friday night here as routine.
What to orderfish and chips, homemade tartar sauce, fries
№ 05
Sea Salt Eatery
$$
4801 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · +16127218990
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Grilled salmon, fish and chips, and shrimp pasta come with a view near Minnehaha Falls, making this Minneapolis seafood spot as much about the setting as the plate. It works for a casual lunch or a longer dinner, with outdoor seating that turns a simple seafood meal into the main reason for the trip.
What to ordergrilled salmon, fish and chips, shrimp pasta
№ 06
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
$$$$
50 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · +16123332277
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Oysters, grilled fish, and lobster tail set the tone at this upscale Minneapolis seafood room, where attentive service and a polished dining room justify the price for anniversaries and business dinners alike. The happy hour in the bar offers a lower-cost way into the same kitchen, though the full menu runs at full-price expectations.
What to orderoysters, grilled fish, lobster tail
1600 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN, 55408 · +16128275710
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Croque vegetarienne and French onion soup anchor a menu built for a relaxed evening in this Uptown Minneapolis room, one of the neighborhood's longer-running survivors. The happy hour draws a low-light crowd for cocktails and food that arrives fast, and brunch service adds a second, quieter identity to the same address.
What to ordercroque vegetarienne, French onion soup, duck confit
№ 08
Mac's Fish & Chips (Minneapolis)
$$
610 W 54th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419 · +16128244804
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Clams and cod get a light, crisp breading here, with fish described as thick and flaky rather than heavy, and delivery orders arriving hot. The storefront itself shows its age, but the fry work is the reason this Minneapolis counter spot keeps drawing people back for a fast fish fix.
What to orderfish and chips, clams, cod
№ 09
Jasmine 26 | Hot Pot Restaurant & Bar
$$
8 E 26th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · +16128703800
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Beef, shrimp, and vegetable hot pot come in individual pots that still work for a shared table, letting small groups build their own combinations without committing to a communal vat. Attentive service and a build-your-own format make this Minneapolis room a practical alternative to the bigger hot pot halls for parties of two or three.
What to orderbeef hot pot, shrimp hot pot, vegetable hot pot
№ 10
Lela
$$
5601 W 78th St, Minneapolis, MN 55439 · +19526565980
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Eggs Benedict with a well-timed hollandaise leads the breakfast menu, alongside pancakes and grilled chicken for dinner service. Housed inside a Minneapolis hotel, the room outperforms the low expectations that come with that setting, and attentive servers steering newcomers toward the Benedict make breakfast the stronger of its two meal periods.
What to orderEggs Benedict, pancakes, grilled chicken
№ 11
Mai Thai Restaurant
$$
3839 Lakeland Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55422 · +17635331877
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Pad Thai at the higher spice levels has built a following on its own, alongside tofu tom kha and pad see ew that hold up well through delivery. This Minneapolis Thai spot works best for a fast weeknight order, the kind of place people stop into on the way home rather than plan an evening around.
What to orderPad Thai, Tom Kha, Pad See Ew
Frequently asked
What is the best walleye near me in Minneapolis?
This guide covers seafood, fish and chips, and a few other cuisines rather than a dedicated walleye list, since most Minneapolis kitchens serve it as a special or sandwich rather than a standing menu item. Check current specials at seafood-forward rooms like The Oceanaire or Smack Shack for the best odds. None of the restaurants here paid for placement; ranking is based on the Insider Score, which reflects the volume and consistency of real customer feedback.
Is walleye actually caught locally in the Twin Cities?
No restaurant on this list should be assumed to serve locally caught walleye. Most restaurant walleye in this metro is sourced from Canadian waters, regardless of how a menu describes it, and that is standard practice rather than a knock against any kitchen.
Which restaurant on this list is best for a special occasion?
The Oceanaire Seafood Room and Smack Shack are built for that kind of night, with oysters, lobster tail, and paella at higher price points and rooms designed for groups and celebrations. Their Insider Scores reflect consistent service and food quality over a large volume of real visits, not paid promotion.
Where can I get fried fish quickly without a big sit-down meal?
The Anchor Fish & Chips and Mac's Fish & Chips both run counter service built for speed, with fish and chips as the clear reason to visit either one. Both scored well based on real customer feedback tracked over time, with no restaurant able to buy its way onto this list.
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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 →
Marit Solheim
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Marit Solheim is the Food Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born and raised in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis, she spent six years on the line in downtown kitchens before she started writing. She covers the institutions and the chef tier in both downtowns and holds the desk to one standard: know which city you are standing in.
