Diane's Place

As a new comer, this is a memorable brunch restaurant. Every meal was so enjoyable: from delightful pastries to delectable Hmong sausage and chicken noodle soup.

The sausage was unbelievable, slightly crispy skin with flavorful, tender meat.

It was nice to talk to Diane. She is a creative and inventive chef, infusing rich Hmong elements and accents in food and ambiance.

Salted egg yolk pork danish needs little bit more salted egg yolk.

Every staff was welcoming and attentive. Chris patiently took good care of us.

Our server, Zach (I think), was so friendly and detailed in giving us a rundown of the menu items. They surprised me with Chef Diane’s homemade ice cream, and some free pastries for my birthday! That was very sweet of them.

All of the food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the Hmong sausage and pepper! That was my favorite of everything we ordered.

I would definitely go back again. ☺

They just opened in April 2024 but it’s not a secret since it was packed when we arrived at 11 AM on a Tuesday. Many reviews suggested getting the Hmong sausage. Wrinkled, dried crispy skin covered a soft tangy spicy but not hot spicy stuffing. This was paired with a delicious sticky sweet rice that puts white rice to shame. On top of that we got a light sweet and sour sauce that you didn’t need but could be used to add extra flavor to the rice or the meat. Thai tea French toast is an inch and a half thick under a scoop of butter and covered with berries. It had a crunchy crust with a soft delicate egg soaked center the secret of the toast that it’s made with croissant dough, which I imagine has more than the usual amount of butter. You can pour maple syrup over but the delicious tender dough and Christ crunch of the crust offer a lovely taste sensation just in itself. The place is famous for its pastry so I took a picture of them without trying one. If I am in the neighborhood looking for a snack, I will be sure to try one. The service was attentive and friendly but you can’t get these tastes anywhere else so come back until you have tried them all. That’s my plan.

Ordered the raspberry danish, Diane’s Hmong sausage with both sauces and an egg, and the egg, cheese, and sausage croissant. All the food was amazing. The hot sauce is indeed hot. Loved the sticky rice that comes with the Hmong sausage. We also got one order of black drip coffee - solid coffee. I had noted on the reservation that we were celebrating an anniversary. The staff brought us a surprise sweet treat at the end and wished us well. Will be back!

Absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious and the service was calm and polished. We will definitely be back.

We shared the strawberry lychee danish special and both loved it. I got the sticky rice, Hmong sausage, over easy egg and chili crisp. It had a pleasant zing to it that made my nose run. My son got the sweet pork bowl and he didn't seem to care for it because it was mushy.

They may want to consider noting spice levels on the menu. There was a man in my line of vision who ordered the same dish as me but he must have gotten the hot sauce... he was mopping his brow and blowing his nose frequently. And the lady at the table next to us barely touched her papaya salad. I overheard her say it was too spicy. It's kind of the signature trait for papaya salad but may want to provide information upfront so unfamiliar people aren't disappointed.

It’s off to a nice start, the brunch menu was good (although a little more lunch than breakfast). Sweet buns were tasty, good coffee. Service was very friendly. Lots of people waiting for a table - sign of a positive experience. We’d go back again- three different types of croissant sandwiches - all of which everyone enjoyed.

It is no surprise that the former pastry chef from Spoon and Stable would make fabulous pastries. Located on Marshall in Northeast Minneapolis, the location is a bit off the beaten track. It is worth the drive over here. I just picked up breakfast pastries to go, but I can't wait to return for a sit down breakfast or lunch.The menu is an eclectic mix of sweet and savory dishes, with a decidedly Asian flair. The best of the pastries I picked up was the sweet pork danish with salted egg yolk. This is delicious, and I keep thinking about it. I want another one!!! The other two were equally interesting. The Thai tea croissant was filled with a very lightly flavored cream, and it is surprisingly topped with chocolate. The coconut pandan croissant was also delicately flavored, and filled with cream. These fillings are not traditional creme patisserie. I am looking forward to trying everything else. The croissant was light and flaky. What's not to love!

Exceptional food and service! I ordered the Green Scallion Danish and garlic butter, Chocolate croissant, and the Hmong Sausage with sticky rice plus an extra egg and D’s hot sauce. My family planned what we would order coming to the restaurant but still had difficulty choosing from the menu. The dishes all sound tempting. The Hmong sausage with sticky rice is superb. What a delight to have this outstanding restaurant in NE!

What a beautiful contribution to the Hmong community and food restaurant industry. The food and flavors all reminded me of growing up as a little Hmong boy, but also innovated. It felt homey, a safe space, and elevated. I would recommend Diane’s Place to anyone who would like to try out Hmong food. Thank you Diane for opening your home to us. Definitely will be coming back.

Probably my new favorite restaurant/brunch spot in town now!! Everything was so delicious and flavorful, I cannot wait to come back!! The pandan coconut croissant was on point, the sesame balls were the perfect size and texture and with the red bean caramel—AMAZING!! I loved D's hot sauce it was spicy and authentic. The sticky rice was also perfectly cooked, soft, sticky and warm. The bean thread noodles were also delicious. The spam and nori croissant was good, but we would skip next time since everything else was so much more memorable in comparison. Food also came out pretty quick too 😋

I had the Hmong Sausage and Sticky Rice. The sauce that comes with it makes the whole dish. I met up with a friend, and thankfully, she made reservations. It's not a place you want to take the chance to walk in without reservations. We met up on a Friday just after noon, and the restaurant was hopping along with people waiting. I would give this place 5 stars, but the server was short, impatient, and not friendly at all. We ignored their attitude so it would not ruin how amazing this restaurant is. The food is outstanding, and the owner delivered the food directly to our table. Honestly, it made me feel so special and adds to the whole experience. The server won't stop me from returning again. I look forward to future visits.

I have been waiting to try out this place and went here for my birthday. The aesthetic is pleasant, beautiful, and relaxing. Our waiter and staffs were friendly. It didn’t take long for our food. My husband and I ordered chicken banh mi sandwich, sweet pork, Hmong sausage, papaya, matcha latte and cappuccino. I also order coconut pandan croissant and raspberry danish. The food is tasty and flavorful. I wished the papaya had more spice. I requested medium and tasted no spice. My personal preference is lots Asian spices. I think this is a wonderful place to change up your palate and dip your toes into Hmong American food. Diane personally brought out the sweet pork and is super friendly. My favorite was the pork, chicken sandwiches, and pastry! Also, a birthday dessert on the house was a bonus!

This place is such a a gem. Came here 30 minutes before closing on a Saturday and it was still packed, but they had room for 2 of us at the bar. Extremely patient and friendly wait staff.
We ordered the Thai tea French toast and the bean thread, and the portions were perfect. I was more impressed with the French toast but the all veggies in the noodle dish were nice to have. Stayed for over 2 hours and did not feel rushed. Excited to revisit and try other items on the menu.

Wow, incredible pastries and a beautiful space inside and out. Diane's may be new, but they are already operating with exceptional service and outstanding food! We had reservations for brunch on the weekend. We tried the Hmong Sausage, the egg, sausage and cheese croissant, Thai Tea French Toast and croissant, Strawberry Lychee Shortcake Danish, Thai Chocolate and Banana Danish plus the unique Zen Zero drinks. There are so many great restaurants in the MSP area, but this is one I'll definitely go back to!

Perfection that is also approachable. This coffee shop/patisserie meets neighborhood gem is welcoming, calm, and most importantly, delicious! Timmy was a fantastic server, and the total staff seemingly “coursed” breakfast.

The pandan, coconut croissant was our starter with a cold brew and latte. The Hmong sausage/eggs are delightful and substantial. Could serve two when paired with a croissant. To earlier comments, the hot sauce IS SPICY but incredibly delicious. MN tastebuds should heed this warning. I am dreaming about this hot sauce…

Will return and appreciate the care and intention that went into this experience.

The food served felt very homie. The sweet pork dish was very reminiscing of the flavors I grew up as a child. The Asian chicken noodle soup had a good balance of flavor as well. The tropical sundae was a good way to finish the experience. Great fruity, crunchy textures that combine into a great dessert. Definitely a must try!

Today was my first time at Diane’s place, and it definitely will not be the last!! Amazing food, their service is excellent. Our server was amazing, he was so knowledgeable and had great recommendations. A must have is the Thai tea croissant, it is dream worthy. Easily the best brunch I have had in years.

Loved the esthetics of simplicity, warm, Mediterranean feel. The kaopia was nicely prepared. My favorites were the perfect bite size, warm, crunchy and melts in your mouth sesame balls!! Also to die for coconut, pudding with mango/raspberry sorbet!! It was delightful. Great service. We were even served by Diane herself.
One thing I’d wish to see was a little more options on the menu.

Everything we had was great! As someone who is Hmong, I truly enjoyed Dianes' take on these classic dishes. The flavor profile stayed true to the original yet wasn't too intimidating for new palettes. The beef salad was citrusy and refreshing, the papaya salad was crunchy and refreshing without being too strong in umami flavors. The kaopiak with chilli oil is also really good, the shallots in the chilli oil were a wonderful surprise (from the usual garlic chilli oil). The bean thread stirfry was a miss for me as it was sweeter and I'm more of a savory fried noodle person. Not pictured are the baked goods,Thai tea latte, and Thai tea French toast, all were delicious. Overall I'm excited and thankful for the space Diane's has created for the Hmong food scene. Can't wait to be back.

A perfect blend of Hmong American food in a lively restaurant with white coat hostess/waitress who were very tentative.
Will definitely go back to try other foods.
We finished everything we ordered.