When I hear about an eagerly anticipated new restaurant opening in Uptown, I tend to envision hip 20-somethings with complicated drinks. I don’t usually think family friendly, yet that’s exactly what I found on a recent visit to Uptown’s new World Street Kitchen.
The location on Hennepin Avenue is the brick-and-mortar version of Sameh and Saed Wadi’s award-winning food truck. I visited with my six-year-old son one evening when we had some time to kill. When I finished scanning the menu, and discussing options with my young dining partner, I scanned the crowd. I saw a mom with her teen daughter, a couple with their middle-school-aged kids, and some couples and groups in their 20’s and 30’s with no kids. The crowd, like the menu, was an intriguing mash-up that defied categorization.
I managed to pause and share a bite of my beef short-rib Yum Yum rice bowl with my son before I finished it, but just barely. He got the Morrocan fried chicken on a biscuit (MFC), which earned a thumbs up with its mix of flavors, textures, and cuisines. He was a little disappointed not to see the banh mi sandwiches from the food truck on the menu. (He fell in love with them when we went on a tour of food trucks last year.) We found the chicken Bangkok burrito had a similar style and when we took leftovers home, everyone enjoyed the red curry spice and jalapeno kick.
My two boys are recovering picky eaters. What I find at World Street Kitchen and other globally influenced food places is that if the food is great, more often than not my kids will eat it. If I limit us to burgers and pizza, I’m doing no one any favors. So if you’re looking to expand your kids’ palate, or you find yourself near Uptown and in need of something fast and casual, check out World Street Kitchen. It’s got a little something for everyone.
World Street Kitchen
2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.
612-424-8855, eatwsk.com
Sunday–Thursday, 11am–Midnight.
Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–1 a.m.
Daily Happy Hour: 3–6 p.m. & 9 p.m.–close.
