Legendary Minnesota Dive is Now the Most Famous Restaurant in the State

When you think of famous restaurants, what comes to mind? Is it a glitzy steakhouse in New York with velvet ropes and celebrities in sunglasses? Or maybe a trendy cafe you saw on TikTok with espresso art and lines around the block.

READ MORE: Minnesota Pizza Place Featured in Netflix Show Now One of the Best in America

Here in Minnesota, it’s not a fancy steakhouse or a cafe; our most famous restaurant is a no-frills neighborhood bar with no dress code and no reservations needed... although it does have lines around the block.

They have been perfecting their house specialty for more than 70 years at this local landmark. It's the kind of place that makes you feel at home, with old-school memorabilia on the walls, a griddle that’s been seasoning for decades, and the unmistakable charm of a neighborhood dive. Over the years, it has even become somewhat of a national treasure, with former President Barack Obama stopping in for a bite!

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What is the Most Famous Restaurant in Minnesota?

We’re talking, of course, about Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis. Home of the legendary Jucy Lucy (yes, with no “i”... more on that in a second).

Lovefood.com just confirmed what many locals have known for years: Matt’s is the most famous restaurant in Minnesota. If you’ve ever waited in line with strangers turned friends, scalded your lips on your first bite, and walked away smelling like a griddle but satisfied you just ate one of the best burgers of your life, you know the hype is real... and totally deserved.

Here's what Lovefood says about Matt's:

Yes, there are James Beard Award–winning restaurants and plenty of incredible steakhouses in the North Star State, but the most iconic food here is the Jucy Lucy or Juicy Lucy. There's a fiercely fought rivalry between Matt's Bar and The 5-8 Club over the origin of the revered burger, a thick meat patty filled with oozing melted cheese. Matt's – which has seen the likes of Barack Obama swing by for a burger – nudges it for the most well-known spot, but why not try both?

Who Created the Ju(i)cy Lucy First in Minnesota?

Lovefood mentioned the well-known and long-running rivalry in Minnesota over who actually invented the iconic Juicy Lucy, so I'll give you the top-level lowdown on that.

On one side, you’ve got Matt’s Bar, where it’s spelled Jucy Lucy with no “i” and where legend has it the burger was born back in the 1950s when a customer asked for cheese to be sealed between two patties. One bite in, he supposedly declared, “That’s one juicy Lucy!” and the name stuck. "Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the 'i' and the 'Jucy Lucy' has now become a local culinary hero," Matt's says on their website.

Just a few miles away, The 5-8 Club also proudly claims the title of the original. They go with the more traditional Juicy Lucy spelling and serve up several different cheese options, making it a slightly more customizable experience.

While the 5-8 Club doesn't have a specific Juicy Lucy story to go along with their claim like Matt's does, they do apparently have a registered trademark for the spelling with an 'i,' so there's that.

The friendly rivalry between the two has been going strong for decades, and most locals will tell you the only right answer is to try both and pick a side. Or just keep going back to both forever. No judgment.

Either way, I would have to agree with LoveFood on their claim and say that Matt's Bar does feel like the most famous restaurant in Minnesota. Search it on TikTok and other socials and you'll see.

If you're craving more iconic eats beyond the Juicy Lucy, you're in luck. Minnesota’s food scene is packed with can't-miss spots. Below is a list of the most booked restaurants in Minnesota that everyone’s trying to reserve right now.

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