When the thermometer drops below zero, Minnesotans start thinking about one thing: a big bowl of wild rice soup. It is creamy, hearty, and tied to the land in a way few dishes are, since wild rice is the official state grain.
Some restaurants treat it like a side note, but others have turned it into a reason to load up the car and hit the highway. The seven spots below stretch from the Boundary Waters to downtown Minneapolis, and each one serves a bowl that earns the trip.
Some come with lake views, some with live piano, and one comes with a baseball theme and a side of cheese curds. Whether you are planning a winter road trip or just need a lunch excuse, this list has a stop for you.
Grab your warmest mittens and a full tank of gas.
1. Evergreen Restaurant, Ely, MN
Up near the edge of the Boundary Waters, the staff at Evergreen will tell you straight out that wild rice soup is what the kitchen is known for. After one cup, it is easy to see why that reputation stuck.
The restaurant sits at Grand Ely Lodge on North Pioneer Road, with a lake view and a cabin-style dining room built around a fireplace. On a snowy day in Ely, that setup is hard to beat.
The Chicken Wild Rice Soup is the menu highlight, but the kitchen also leans into northern Minnesota favorites. Blackened walleye is a standout dinner, and teriyaki salmon rounds out the fish options.
Hours run from 7 AM to 9 PM every day, so breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all fair game. Prices mostly land between 10 and 20 dollars per person.
I would save this stop for a weekday morning if you want a quiet table. Weekend evenings and Sunday afternoons fill up, and dinner reservations are recommended.
Parking is free and usually easy to find.
2. Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee House, Bemidji, MN
Weekday lunch crowds in downtown Bemidji have a habit of drifting toward Minnesota Avenue, and Wild Hare is a big reason why. The little bistro keeps its focus on homemade soups, sandwiches, and baked goods.
Wild rice shows up in more than one place here. Besides the wild rice soup, the kitchen has offered wild rice sandwiches and platters, which fits a town so close to the heart of wild rice country.
Soup specials rotate, so the lineup can change from visit to visit. The veggie panini and the Cuban Burrito are popular picks, and there are full vegetarian and vegan menus.
Art on the walls changes too, giving regulars something new to look at with their coffee. The space is casual and quiet enough for a laptop session.
Plan carefully, though. Wild Hare is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3 PM and closed on weekends, so this one belongs on a weekday road trip.
3. Silos Restaurant at Pier B Resort, Duluth, MN
Few bowls of soup come with a view of the Aerial Lift Bridge, but this one does. Silos sits inside Pier B Resort on the Duluth harbor, and the windows and deck look out over the bay.
The chicken and wild rice soup here is creamy and full of flavor, and it has earned a reputation as one of the best versions in town. On a gray Lake Superior afternoon, it hits the spot.
The rest of the menu is a modern tavern lineup. Walleye cakes, calamari, seafood pasta, the Silos Signature Burger, and vegetarian Silos Nachos are all menu highlights.
Portions are generous, and prices typically run 20 to 30 dollars per person. The kitchen opens at 7 AM daily, so a breakfast stop before exploring Canal Park works well.
Saturday evenings are the busiest time, and dinner reservations are recommended. Weekday afternoons tend to be much calmer, which makes them ideal for lingering over a bowl and watching the harbor.
4. Willy T’s Tavern & Grill, Alexandria, MN
Turkey instead of chicken is the twist that sets this bowl apart. Willy T’s serves a turkey wild rice soup, and it comes in a big bowl that makes a real meal out of it.
The tavern sits on Highway 29 in Alexandria, right in the middle of west-central Minnesota lakes country. It is an easy stop for anyone heading to a cabin or passing through on a winter weekend.
Burgers and sandwiches anchor the menu, with the Cheese Curd Burger as a signature. The grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries pairs well with a cup of soup.
Families do well here. Kids meals come in generous portions, and there are high chairs and a kids menu.
A fireplace, sports on the TVs, and occasional live music keep things lively.
Takeout is available, and the soup travels nicely. Thursday and Friday evenings are the busiest, so an earlier lunch is a smart move.
5. Feller, Stillwater, MN
History buffs get a bonus with this bowl. Feller operates inside a former brewery building at the Lora Hotel on South Main Street in Stillwater, and the dining room keeps that industrial-chic character.
The menu changes with the seasons and leans a little more upscale than the other stops on this list. Wild rice soup is on the lineup, and the kitchen also serves a wild rice hotdish, so you can double up on the state grain.
Other highlights include Pommes Robuchon, smoked wings, Brussels sprouts, the Feller Burger, and a Foragers Omelette. Zeppole make a sweet finish.
Weekend brunch starts at 9 AM on Saturday and Sunday, and reservations are recommended for brunch and dinner. Prices range from about 20 to 60 dollars per person.
One practical tip: parking on downtown streets can be tight. Give yourself a few extra minutes, then enjoy a stroll along the St. Croix riverfront after your meal.
6. Passport Restaurant & Catering, Brainerd, MN
Global flavors fill most of the menu at Passport, yet one of its biggest draws is pure Minnesota. The house chicken wild rice soup is hot, flavorful, and a favorite to take home by the container.
The restaurant lives in a charming building on Laurel Street in Brainerd, complete with a patio and an eclectic look. Live piano music adds to the relaxed mood on some days.
Soup is clearly a point of pride. Samples of the day’s soups, such as tomato basil alongside the wild rice, have been offered to guests waiting on their food.
The rest of the menu travels the world. Red curry bowls, Thai peanut with tofu, shrimp spring rolls, Chicken Milanese, and the Walleyewich share space with homemade pretzel bites.
Check the calendar first. Passport is closed Monday and Tuesday, serves lunch Wednesday through Sunday, and adds dinner only on Thursday and Friday.
Dogs are welcome on the patio.
7. The Loon Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
Chili may get top billing at The Loon Cafe, but the chicken wild rice soup quietly holds its own. This version is broth-based rather than creamy, which makes it a nice change from the rest of the list.
The no-nonsense tavern sits at 500 North 1st Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, close to the light rail. A strong baseball theme runs through the place, which suits its location near the stadium area.
The menu reads like a crash course in local classics. Wild rice soup and Wisconsin cheese curds sit next to the Burger Loon, Dragon Wings, buffalo shrimp, and a sandwich with a cup of chili.
Hours are long on the days it is open, running late into the night Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
Parking downtown can be tricky and usually costs money. Taking the light rail is the easy fix.
From the North Woods to the North Loop, these seven bowls prove wild rice soup is more than a winter staple. Pick a direction, pack a thermos for leftovers, and let the soup set your route.
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