Union Hmong Kitchen

09/24/2024

Food is a universal language we can use to speak to anyone. Regardless of our race, creed, sexuality or economic stance food is what brings us together. My mother and father believed in that. I believe in that. We (Vinai MN) believe in that.

In less than 3 months I’ve seen a team of people come together because they believe in the vision of 2 poor Hmong refugees who fought and sacrificed for this sons and daughters to have a chance of a future.

Vinai is build on the idea that there’s always a space for grace within our doors. From the dishwashers to our leadership team we believe that our love for adventure will overcome our fear of the unknown because we can do anything when we put our minds together and work as a team. The success of Vinai does not fall on the shoulders of one person but it’s carried on the shoulders of everyone on this team.

Being on The New York Times 2024 The Restaurant List is a great honor and we’re so happy that we can serve our families, our friends and our community! Also we’re so excited to be on this list with our neighbors across the street…Congrats Oro by nixtampls!

08/16/2024

Minnesota State Fair is less than a week away! See what Star Tribune food writers are excited about!

Plus: The five new fair foods we can’t wait to try, from Crab Boil Wings to Walking Shepherd’s Pie.

08/01/2024

What to eat when you come to Vinai MN! Check out Justine Jones (Eater Twin Cities)!

Also we love walk-ins so come grab a seat at the bar...one of the best spots in the whole space!

Vang picked three of his favorite dishes on his new menu: An aromatic braised meat soup, a riff on oil-packed sardines, and a flame-grilled chicken swimming in ginger and coconut

07/25/2024

It’s officially opening time for Vinai MN! We open next week July 30th! Get your reservations here!

https://resy.com/cities/minneapolis-mn/venues/vinai?date=2024-07-25&seats=2

06/11/2024

Thanks for this beautiful interview Sheila Regan (MinnPost)

In a Q&A with MinnPost, the Yia Vang discussed helping Hmong cuisine find its identity and his soon-to-open restaurant Vinai.

04/09/2024

Join us on WCCO-TV....Check out the new menu at Union Hmong Kitchen at Graze Provisions + Libations!

A delicious and award-winning Twin Cities restaurant has done it again. It's introducing us to flavors and food combinations not found at any other spot in town.

03/22/2024

The snow came to Minneapolis after all— time to come to for your bowl of noodles before the next wave hits! We’ll be switching up our menu soon so Slurp while you can!
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03/20/2024

Snow is on the horizon which means right now is the perfect time to grab some noodles at our North Loop location! Plus, we’ve got a new menu in the works for springtime… 👀
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03/17/2024

Have you stopped by our Lake Street location for brunch yet?! This is our classic All Meeka breakfast - hmong sausage, rice, eggs, and fermented mustard greens. Plus we’ve also got omelets, a congee hash, and more! Stop in from 9-3 Sundays only!!

02/15/2024

We often get asked “What’s a good beer to go along with Hmong food?”… is our go to beer! There is nothing better than a refreshing cold, crisp and clean beer to go along with the rich flavors and herbaceous dishes that we serve at our kitchens! If you like lager or Pilsner beer try one of these next time you stop in! Now serving at Lake St location!

02/13/2024

Let’s clear up a few things. UHK started about 7 years ago on the back of old beat up 2001 Rav4 with over 280K miles. Along w/ .her (cousin) they moved around from events and space to space popping up here and there. Along with their trusty 10X10 pop up tent and beat up yakitori grill ($100 ) they grilled chicken on a stick along with boxes of noodles.

Fast forward a few years later along with a pandemic and ups and downs of the world…the best way to describe UHK is ONE RESTAURANT MANY LOCATIONS! One location at (SLURP…noodles only) . One location on Lake and Bryant (Uptown)…with full menu doing lunch and dinner along with beer and wine. Come in…order from the counter and sit down and enjoy. In our Lake St location we also host events, private dinners, engagements parties, rehearsal dinners, company parties, bar and bat mitzvah, quinceanera, small wedding receptions…pretty much whatever the occasion we’ll host you. We also do all our catering and off site events out of our Lake St location…so we say to you…invite us to your dinner party!

Oh…not done yet…UHK is at the also…more on that later this year and we’re currently in two sports area in town… () and ()…also coming this spring ().

Like we stated earlier…ONE RESTAURANT MANY LOCATIONS.

02/03/2024

A few weeks ago I (Yia) was asked by a food writer “How does it feel having Diane Moua (who is also a Hmong Chef) new place a few blocks away from Vinai?” I felt like the tone of the question was “will you guys be in competition with each other” or “is it ok to have 2 Hmong restaurants right next to each other?”. This question broke my heart a little bit. I wonder when a burger joint opens a few blacks down from another burger joint are they’re asked that same question? Or a pasta joint opens a few blocks down from a pizza place are they asked this question? It makes us (Hmong) feel like we can’t be close to each other. It sending the message that “how can 2 Hmong restaurants operate with in that close proximity “…but it’s ok if other “white” establishments build next to each other and that’s not questioned at all because it’s considered “normal”.

If you dig into the history of Northeast during the Great Depression and WW2 you’ll notice that it was a place where many of the immigrants and refugees from Eastern Europe settled. They left their homes because of war, persecution and wanting a better life for their family. For over almost 100 years Northeast was built on the literal backs of immigrants and refugees. And in 2024 it’s still holds true to our spot in NE. So f*ck yeah I’m so happy to see Diane open here spot right down the way from Vinai. But at last this was an interview so I stated…

“It’s amazing to have her spot as our neighbor. It’s also amazing to see that area grow. nixtampls (Oro) right across the street and Young Joni right across the alley. The Anchor Fish & Chips a few blocks away then Hai Hai less than a mile down the road.”