Hai Hai at a Glance
Christina Nguyen won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest, the first Vietnamese woman to take a Beard, and Hai Hai is where she did it. The Northeast Minneapolis room is a love letter to Southeast Asian street food, the kind Nguyen grew up eating at family celebrations and chased on trips across the region. The dish that anchors the case is the Hanoi sticky rice bowl, layered with ground pork, Chinese sausage, mung beans and pickled vegetables. The tiki-leaning cocktails are not an afterthought.
The Kitchen
Christina Nguyen is a self-taught chef who went from a food truck to two restaurants, the Venezuelan-arepa hit Hola Arepa and this one, with her partner Birk Grudem. In 2024 she won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest, the first Vietnamese woman to do so. Hai Hai is pan-Southeast Asian street food rather than a single-country menu: Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian threads run through it. The Hanoi sticky rice bowl, built from ground pork, Chinese sausage, mung beans, shallots and pickled vegetables, is the signature and the dish most associated with the award. The beef rendang, a dry coconut-and-tamarind curry, is the other plate regulars insist on. Mains run roughly $15 to $25, landing a full meal around $30 to $50 per person. The bar matters here: tropical, rum-forward drinks like the Sapa Sling and the vodka-and-passion-fruit Sundown Saigon are part of the appeal, not a sideline.
The Room
Hai Hai is bright, colorful and a little kitschy in the best way, with tropical wallpaper, a busy bar and a covered patio that opens in warm months. The sound level is upbeat and social, closer to a good party than a hushed dining room, which suits the food and the cocktails. Lighting is warm and saturated rather than dim, tables turn at a friendly clip, and seating spans the main room, the bar and the seasonal patio. Dress is fully casual; nobody here is checking your shoes.
Best for a First Date
Book Hai Hai for a first date because energy beats silence on a first meeting. The bright room and the rum drinks loosen things up fast, the shareable street-food plates give you a reason to reach across the table, and the Beard award gives you something to point at without sounding like you are trying. Start with the Hanoi sticky rice bowl and a Sapa Sling each, grab the patio if the Minneapolis weather cooperates, and the evening builds its own momentum. It is equally a great pick for a relaxed birthday dinner with a group.
Not for
Not for a quiet, formal dinner or a delicate negotiation. The room runs loud and social, the cocktails flow, and the energy is closer to a party than a boardroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hai Hai worth it?
Yes, Hai Hai is well worth it and is one of the Twin Cities' best tables. Chef Christina Nguyen won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest cooking the Southeast Asian street food served here. Mains run $15 to $25, so a full meal with a cocktail lands around $30 to $50 per person, which is strong value for food at this level.
How hard is it to book Hai Hai?
Hai Hai takes reservations on Resy, and demand jumped after Christina Nguyen's 2024 James Beard win. Weekend prime times now book one to two weeks ahead, so reserve early. Weeknights and the patio in warm months are easier, and the bar takes some walk-ins if you are willing to wait for a seat.
What is the dress code at Hai Hai?
The dress code at Hai Hai is casual. It is a bright, lively street-food room with a tropical bar, and guests come in jeans, casual date outfits and everything in between. There is no formality and no jacket requirement, which fits the party-leaning energy of the room.
What should I order at Hai Hai?
Order the Hanoi sticky rice bowl, the dish most tied to Christina Nguyen's James Beard award, and the beef rendang, a rich coconut-tamarind curry. Plates are made to share, so order several across the table. Pair them with a Sapa Sling or the passion-fruit Sundown Saigon from the tiki-leaning bar.
Is Hai Hai good for a first date?
Yes, Hai Hai is a great first-date room in Minneapolis. The bright, social atmosphere and strong cocktails make conversation easy, and the shareable plates keep things relaxed. For more options, see our first date dining guide.