If there’s one thing Dinkytown has, it’s restaurants.
Many restaurants vie to be the late-night fix of a drunken University of Minnesota student. Others are more fitting for dinner dates with friends and lovers alike.
As a senior, I cut my teeth on certified classics like Wally’s, D.P. Dough and Raising Canes, but there are several places in Dinky I’ve never tried.
So, which ones are worthy of our highly coveted dollar, much less our time?
CrunCheese
I first ventured to CrunCheese Korean Hot Dog, a small, dingy space cut out of the corner of 14th Ave. SE and Fourth St. SE serve a variety of Korean-style deep-fried corn dogs.
I remember when this restaurant first opened during the spring semester of 2022. Lines were stretching out the door and I even remember spotting my friend and their out-of-town family partaking.
Nowadays, it’s decidedly empty.
Ordering is slightly confusing for a newcomer. They don’t display all of their options on the menu, rather it’s a build-your-own type of arrangement.
I got the “mozzarella + hot dog,” drawn in by its “best” star. After your dog is cooked, you choose seasoning and sauce for it. I went with the garlic parmesan sauce.
The whole deal cost me $5, which is not a bad deal for an after-class snack or a quick fix.
The initial eating experience was inoffensive. The deep-fried batter had a satisfying mouthfeel. The mozzarella tasted like mozzarella, though I was wondering when I would reach the hotdog. The sauce added much-needed flavor, though I wished I had gone with a spicier option.
A curious thing happened as I went about my night, though. I lost my appetite, and thinking about what I’d eaten made my stomach drop not out of regret, but of nausea.
Thinking about CrunCheese still gives my stomach flashbacks.
Overall, it was not an experience I would like to relive, but give it a shot if you really want to. And no shade if you enjoy it, either.
Frank and Andrea’s
For dinner one night, I ordered pickup from Frank From Philly & Andrea Pizza, or as it is more commonly known, Frank and Andrea’s, located just one block down from CrunCheese on 13th Ave. SE.
Frank & Andrea offers a variety of Philly cheesesteaks and New York-style pizzas.
Among the latest open, they close at 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, part of their appeal is filling, tasty, post-party fare.
Indeed, the Cheesesteak Hoagie I had with steak and provolone was good, but nothing special. It was a big sandwich, very filling, but somewhat lacking in flavor and slightly overpowered by the mayonnaise drizzled on top.
I got regular fries and a Mug Root Beer with my order, which were extra because Frank & Andrea do not offer combo meals, bringing my total to just over $22.
Personally, over $20 for a passable meal for myself is too rich for my blood. Still, Frank & Andrea’s undeniable variety of both sandwiches and pizza may make that a worthy investment for some, and definitely worthy of splitting with a group of friends after a night out.
Al’s
After sleeping off CrunCheese, I got up early the next morning to go to Al’s Breakfast, an over 70-year-old Dinkytown institution now sandwiched between Wally’s and Crisp & Green.
Even with its unassuming exterior and its small, cluttered lunch counter interior, there’s a good reason why Al’s has survived Dinkytown’s commercialization.
Funnily enough, as I walked in the door, the staff were talking about how much they hated Dinkytown for that very reason.
I was greeted warmly by the friendly staff with infectious camaraderie with each other, and as soon as I sat down the server told me my hair was beautiful (the key to my heart).
Al’s interior has a warm, cozy vintage feel with playful idiosyncrasies, such as a wall covered in bills of various currencies, charmingly wobbly stools and stained glass ceiling lamps.
I ordered a simple, regular stack of chocolate chip pancakes slathered with a generous helping of butter, which I covered in maple syrup. Though simple, they were soft, sweet and heartwarming.
The kind server kept the coffee coming, which I always appreciate when I go to a diner. What’s more, the total only came to $12.60, not including tip.
The biggest caveats to Al’s come with its limited hours of 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. seven days a week and its cash-or-check-only policy. Still, it says something that Al’s has stuck around for this long even with those limitations.
In sum, it’s worth the early rise and the trip to the ATM.
Wally’s
As I was walking down 14th Ave. to a new spot for lunch on Friday, I walked past Wally’s, the Palestinian restaurant that has been a favorite of mine and my friends since our freshman year.
On a whim, I decided to revisit it, getting my go-to falafel deluxe sandwich combo with a refreshing mint lemonade smoothie.
As I ate my lunch, I traced my finger along the table covered in sepia photos of 1990s Jenin, Palestine, absolutely teeming with life. It made me sad, but it also prompted me to savor the food that much more.
The fact is, Wally’s was once new to me. I gave it a chance, and now it’s a go-to option for eating out.
Dinkytown is not the same as it was even just three years ago, but its culinary mainstays have proven themselves worthy not only of staying open but of shaping our lives as students.