Wisconsin likes to claim the cheese curd, but Minnesota has plenty of squeak to share. Fresh curds are one of the simplest joys in the Midwest, and the best ones come straight from farms, creameries, and old-school delis where the cheese never sits around long.
Some of these stops fry or pan-sear their curds, while others hand you a bag so fresh it squeaks against your teeth. The six places below stretch from farm country near Brooten to a busy corner of St. Paul.
A few are full creameries with tours and cheese cases, and one is a tiny farm operation that focuses almost entirely on curds. If you have ever driven past a dairy sign and wondered whether it was worth stopping, this list answers that question.
Save it for your next road trip, or send it to the friend who always orders curds first.
1. Redhead Creamery, Brooten, MN
Pan-fried fresh cheese curds are the reason plenty of people make the trip to this working dairy farm in central Minnesota. That is not a typo.
Here, curds can show up pan-fried as well as deep fried, which gives regulars two ways to get their fix.
Redhead Creamery is an artisan cheese shop attached to a dairy farm, so the cheese is made close to where the milk comes from. The shop sells handcrafted cheeses, and the farm also offers educational tours for anyone curious about how milk turns into a wheel or a curd.
Lunch is part of the appeal. A charcuterie board paired with a basket of hot curds makes a solid midday stop on a country drive.
Plan around the schedule, since the shop is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday. It opens 10 AM to 4 PM Wednesday and Thursday, and 10 AM to 5 PM Friday and Saturday.
Parking is free, with an on-site lot. I would save this one for a Friday or Saturday when you can stay a little longer, take a tour, and leave with a cooler full of cheese.
2. Little Red Dairy LLC, Theilman, MN
Some places do a little of everything. Little Red Dairy does one thing and builds the whole operation around it.
This small on-farm creamery near Theilman in southeast Minnesota specializes in fresh cheese curds. That narrow focus is exactly why it belongs here.
When curds are the main event, freshness gets top priority.
The curds also turn up in some local grocery stores, which says a lot about how well they travel. They have a habit of becoming a first squeaky cheese experience for out-of-state guests who never knew cheese could talk back.
Hours are generous for a farm stop. The creamery is open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM, so a weekend drive through the bluff country can easily include a detour here.
There is no delivery, so you will need to come to the source. Bring a cooler if you plan to keep exploring afterward.
3. Bongards Creameries – Perham Retail Store, Perham, MN
Lake country road trippers, take note. Perham sits on the route to plenty of cabins, and this Bongards retail store makes an easy snack stop on the way.
Bongards is a cooperative creamery, and the Perham shop focuses on cheese. You will find a wide selection of cheeses, fresh curds, and specialty snacks under one roof.
The curd lineup comes in multiple flavors, which is handy if your car has picky eaters. Prices are fair for the variety on offer.
Timing matters here. Fridays and Saturdays get busy from morning through afternoon, while Monday and Thursday mornings tend to be quieter.
Hours run 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday, and 9 AM to 3 PM Sunday. Free parking in a lot and on the street keeps it a quick visit.
4. Bongards Creameries – Retail Store, Norwood Young America, MN
Curds at 6:30 in the morning? At this Bongards store, the doors open that early on weekdays.
The Norwood Young America location southwest of the Twin Cities is the larger, more food-focused sibling of the Perham shop. Along with a wide selection of cheeses, it serves sandwiches and signature ice cream.
The flavored cheese curd selection is the standout. There is also a good spread of processed cheese for anyone stocking up for a party tray.
I like this stop because it covers lunch, a curd haul, and dessert in one parking lot.
Weekday hours are 6:30 AM to 7 PM, and weekends are 9 AM to 5 PM. Weekday afternoons get busy, so Saturday or Sunday morning is the calmer choice.
Parking is free on-site.
5. Nelson Cheese & Deli, St Paul, MN
City dwellers do not need a farm drive to find squeaky curds. On Como Avenue in St. Paul, an old-school deli has them waiting at the counter.
Nelson Cheese & Deli is a long-standing neighborhood cheesemonger with a fun, unfussy vibe. It carries Midwestern cheddar and Swiss, along with fresh curds that hold their squeak.
The menu goes well beyond cheese. Specialty sandwiches lead the way, including The St Paul Special, and there are vegetarian options, a salad bar, pasta dishes, and root beer.
Most lunches land between $10 and $20 per person. Box lunches and catering are available, too, which makes it a go-to for office orders.
Watch the hours closely. The deli is open only Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and closed on weekends.
That short window makes it a true lunch-hour spot. Free street parking and a lot help, and takeout and delivery are options if you cannot get away from your desk.
6. Autumnwood Farm, Forest Lake, MN
Glass-bottled milk is the headliner at this family-run dairy north of the Twin Cities, but the curds deserve a spot in your basket.
Autumnwood Farm runs a sustainable dairy store in Forest Lake. Shelves feature its fresh milk in glass bottles along with local specialty foods, and cheese curds are part of the farm store lineup.
Free curd samples have been known to appear, which is a friendly way to get hooked.
This is the kind of place I would visit on a lazy afternoon. The store opens from noon to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and stays closed Sunday.
Parking is free in an on-site lot. Plan on a quick shopping trip, then head home with milk, curds, and a few local treats for the week.
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