Minari & The Pikok Lounge

“I was in Minnesota for work and tried this spot on a friend’s recommendation. It definitely lived up to it. Nicholas was a great server, super warm and thoughtful, and I appreciated that he used my name throughout the meal. I had no idea what to order, so I asked him to pick a few things he thought I’d like and everything he chose was spot on. Every dish was really good. The long beans were honestly one of the best versions I’ve had, and the dumplings were excellent. The atmosphere was great too. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in town.”

“So glad I stopped in here. I’m on a work trip and had the pleasure of having the weekend to explore Minneapolis which led me to discovering this place. The restaurant itself has a sexy, upscale look and the vibe is immaculate. I came in right as they opened so it was still quiet. My waiter was super helpful and diligent (wish I grabbed their name). Wait time for food was great but I was one of the few people in there. They gave me a small sample of corn tea and it was good! I had never tried it before and loved to be able to sample some. I ordered the yuzu Caesar salad and gochujang rigatoni. Both were delicious. This has been my fav Caesar salad to date period! I love that the pasta had a cool temp burrata to compliment the mild spice of the gochujang. All in all, if you’re looking for a place to go that’s sexy, modern and has great food, definitely go here. (Also, parking was not too hard at all! It is street parking and I did go earlier on a Sunday, so this may change for other days/times).”

“It was my niece’s 21st birthday, so we made reservations and decided to try this restaurant for the first time. There were four of us, and from the moment we walked in we were impressed. The restaurant had a very nice atmosphere with dim lighting and great vibes. We especially loved that we could see the kitchen and watch the staff cooking from where we were seated. The service was excellent and truly went above and beyond. We ordered several dishes to share: pork & shrimp dumplings, Szechuan ribs, beef tartare, KFC wings, pork jowl, eight fresh oysters, and the Dan Dan mafaldini. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the timing was perfect. The dishes arrived one after another, which made it easy for us to snack, talk, and then enjoy the rest of the meal together. Oysters – 5/5 The oysters were fantastic. They tasted very fresh with no overpowering raw aftertaste, and the accompanying sauces were delicious. Beef Tartare – 4/5 This dish was something a little different. On its own, the flavor reminded me somewhat of a “beef salsa.” It wasn’t my favorite by itself, but it paired very well with the crispy seaweed (which I believe it was), adding a nice texture and balance. KFC Wings – 5/5 These were definitely our favorite dish of the night. The wings were large, incredibly crispy, and coated in a garlic soy glaze with a hint of spice. Absolutely delicious. Pork Jowl – 4.5/5 One of my nieces especially loved this dish for its rich, fatty, and juicy flavor. It came with sauces and lettuce for wrapping. While the pork itself was great, the lettuce had a slightly bitter taste when used as a wrap. Dan Dan Mafaldini – 2/5 The king oyster mushrooms and bok choy helped balance the dish, but overall the flavor wasn’t quite to my liking. The sauce was very thick with a strong peppercorn flavor and a peanut-like richness. Also, if the noodles weren’t eaten right away, they became firm and harder to chew. Szechuan Ribs – 3/5 The Szechuan seasoning was very prominent, but I found it difficult to taste much of the rib itself. Some pieces were tender, though overall the ribs leaned more toward dry and crispy. Pork & Shrimp Dumplings – 4/5 These dumplings had a great filling with a good balance of shrimp, pork, and vegetables. The wrapper was slightly thicker than expected but still enjoyable. Overall, we had a wonderful time celebrating here. If I return, I would likely try different dishes, though I would definitely reorder the pork & shrimp dumplings, oysters, and the KFC wings”

“-Atmosphere and service 5/5 -Tuna gimbap 5/5 -Salmon tartare 5/5 -Squid ink dumplings 4/5 Not sure what squid ink is supposed to taste like, but this just tasted like a normal dumpling. Maybe it’s just hype because it’s got color. -KFC wings 3/5 Huge, meaty wings. The crunch was perfection. However, it tasted like nothing. We had to ask for more sauce and chili oil. Worst part is we only got one flat and the rest were drummies, lol but I won’t die over it. -Crab ramyeon 4/5 Not sure if the sauce contains tomato, but this dish reminded me of lobster bisque; if you like that kind of flavor combo, this might be for you. I don’t. -Wagyu Zabuton 0/5 GROSS. Definitely not worth $68. It was chewy, hard, and poorly seasoned. My boyfriend said it was the worst wagyu he’s ever had. I spit my second bite out because I couldn’t chew it through. It was the only dish we didn’t finish eating. -The caramel tart thing 4/5 I honestly don’t know which part of the dessert was caramel? It’s literally chocoate.. I’m still confused. But it was really good! If the berry sauce wasn’t salty, it would’ve been perfection.”

“The food was not that good. When u order mocktail it looks dirty and they give u half of a tiny glass. The plates was chipped. I dont think they have seen how mocktail is supposed to be presented. The KFC chicken was under cooked. I have sent a poll on social media to see if it is undercooked. Unfortunately everyone agreed with me. When I brought up the issue to the waitress she said that is not undercooked. Just to make sure I have also asked Gemini ai and it also said that its definitely undercooked. I will never go back there again or advice anyone to order food from there.”