Twin Citians have come regard Maria's Cafe as one of metro's prime breakfast destinations. Maria Hoyos, owner and operator of Maria's Cafe, arrived in Minneapolis in 1980 from Medellin, Colombia. In this "City of Flowers" she owned a florist shop and the kitchen was simply a hobby. Her hobby evolved into a calling.
After 14 years with a popular restaurant in South Minneapolis, Maria opened Maria's Breakfast Club on her own in 1993. Business boomed. At the end of her lease, Maria opted to move her restaurant with no success. For the past few years, Maria has performed private catering and worked at two country clubs.
After 14 years with a popular restaurant in South Minneapolis, Maria opened Maria's Breakfast Club on her own in 1993. Business boomed. At the end of her lease, Maria opted to move her restaurant with no success. For the past few years, Maria has performed private catering and worked at two country clubs.
Reviews (25)
Karl Bunday
Jan 29, 2022
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Four of us from my family visited just after noon on Sunday. The greeter checked our vaccination verification and led us to a table for four near the tall outside windows. The dining area was spacious and we weren't near other diners. Our server Abigail served us right away. We had hot chocolate for beverages and ordered that day's Sunday special and a couple of the Colombian breakfast combinations. Our eggs were prepared to our individual orders. The orders came up quickly. The food was EXCELLENT. We will be back.
There was a guitarist playing live music as we dined and we enjoyed that a lot
There was a guitarist playing live music as we dined and we enjoyed that a lot
Alejandro Sanchez
Jan 20, 2022
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Alan Wolff
Jan 03, 2022
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Tom E.
Dec 27, 2021
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Eric Jeffreys-Berns
Nov 16, 2021
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Excellent local restaurant. Busy busy on a Thursday at 1030am. Lots of locals young and old so you know the food has a great reputation. Their corn pancakes are killer served w a side of shredded cheese. Who knew. 🤔 I had the french toast and that was really good! The service is top notch. Quick and attentive. Definitely a neighborhood treasure. I will return🌮🥞🍳💜
Lee Hansel
Oct 20, 2021
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John Prette
Sep 30, 2021
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The coffee was very favourful, unlike large chains. I had a buttermilk pancake and it was the best pancake of my life. It’s obvious their batter is the perfect consistency and the grill temperature is spot on. My wife had a corn pancake that was excellent also. We were visiting from Canada and staying downtown, it was close to downtown and accessible. Lots of parking and seating capacity. We won’t miss it next time we visit.
Tim Harmston
Sep 04, 2021
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Anjola Dee
Aug 02, 2021
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Hollie Ann Huntington
Jul 24, 2021
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Ja M.
Jun 27, 2021
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So quaint and filling! We stopped for breakfast and had a wonderful time. The bottomless Columbian coffee was delish and smooth! Be sure to order a corn pancake, even just one to share- it was very sweet and a new flavor to try! We were actually served by Ms. Maria and she was very sweet and proud of her establishment. The place was clean and inviting and we are very happy we stopped by. It's easy to see why so many locals were eating and enjoying their time there.
Mama Mariah
Jun 22, 2021
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Visited Minneapolis for 4th of July weekend, ended up coming here on a whim Saturday morning for a family breakfast. Let’s just say it was so good we came back Sunday and Monday too LOL. We had Devin and Angela for our servers- they were so kind!
I had the croissant sandwich with egg cheese and sausage. Amazing! My daughters had pancakes and eggs, they made the eggs perfect with yolk just like they like.
Bathrooms are clean, servers are nice, overall great atmosphere.
Only complaints (but very small ones) - American fries need salt, and my husband ordered a medium rare steak and it was fully
I had the croissant sandwich with egg cheese and sausage. Amazing! My daughters had pancakes and eggs, they made the eggs perfect with yolk just like they like.
Bathrooms are clean, servers are nice, overall great atmosphere.
Only complaints (but very small ones) - American fries need salt, and my husband ordered a medium rare steak and it was fully
Nachia Yang
Jun 16, 2021
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York S.
Feb 24, 2021
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Tl;dr - good food and great service
Ordered through DoorDash and they gave me a free hot chocolate, which was super awesome, both of them and taste-wise. Fruit pancakes were fluffy and delicious, and I like how many choices of fruit are offered. Guava turnover was texturally amazing, buttery, flakey, although the sugar on top and the guava filling were a little too sweet for me in combo. Flavour of the flan was great (I personally prefer more custard-y flan, but if you don't 10/10 would recommend). Loved the eggplant sandwich, and the apple chips on the side were bomb. The Colombian huevos
Ordered through DoorDash and they gave me a free hot chocolate, which was super awesome, both of them and taste-wise. Fruit pancakes were fluffy and delicious, and I like how many choices of fruit are offered. Guava turnover was texturally amazing, buttery, flakey, although the sugar on top and the guava filling were a little too sweet for me in combo. Flavour of the flan was great (I personally prefer more custard-y flan, but if you don't 10/10 would recommend). Loved the eggplant sandwich, and the apple chips on the side were bomb. The Colombian huevos
Susan M.
Feb 24, 2020
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Tasty breakfast spot. Convenient location right off E Franklin with two options of off street parking lots. Not your typical breakfast fare, though they do have many traditional breakfast standards. I opted for the Colombian breakfast and it didn't disappoint! I went with a friend who visited Columbia and stayed with a family and she said this is authentic and very similar to her daily Columbian breakfast. She said they would also have hot chocolate (which I saw was also on the menu).
The rice and beans were perfect, as was the over easy egg. The chorizo was full of flavor and not spicy as
The rice and beans were perfect, as was the over easy egg. The chorizo was full of flavor and not spicy as
Jess R.
Dec 05, 2019
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It seems weird that I haven't left a review for this place, as it is on the top of my list everytime I stop into Minneapolis. Their food is very flavorful and the corn pancake is a MUST have. Get it...you can thank me later.
Parking is usually pretty easy, but be prepared for a line if you go during peak brunch on the weekends.
Parking is usually pretty easy, but be prepared for a line if you go during peak brunch on the weekends.
Yash B.
Dec 04, 2019
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Brunch in the Twin Cities has been getting tedious of late. Pretense often eclipsing taste and the volume of these weekend meals. So when a friend suggested we try this Columbian place with a reasonable menu in a non-hipsterish part of town I was intrigued.
Opposite the Aldi parking lot on Franklin Maria's is not hard to find or park at. Enter from the side, walk past the legal aid offices, none of their external facing doors actually open. The place is clean and very simple but spacious. I got the Sunday special, fried yuca, arepa, eggs made to order, sausage and beans. Colombian coffee
Opposite the Aldi parking lot on Franklin Maria's is not hard to find or park at. Enter from the side, walk past the legal aid offices, none of their external facing doors actually open. The place is clean and very simple but spacious. I got the Sunday special, fried yuca, arepa, eggs made to order, sausage and beans. Colombian coffee
Ken A.
Nov 24, 2019
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Used to be a good place until they decided service was optional. 47 minutes at the counter, after waiting to be seated. Finally, I had things to do, so I said I had to leave.
"Well, other people have been waiting longer" was what I was told. Why don't care. I'm out of time
They cancelled my order, (the special) which was 6-7 orders down the line (i saw which ticket they pulled down the line.
Stopped by Pizza Luce for a slice. Not as good, but given the time, really the only option I had.
Been following Maria since she was at Victor's, and was one of her first
"Well, other people have been waiting longer" was what I was told. Why don't care. I'm out of time
They cancelled my order, (the special) which was 6-7 orders down the line (i saw which ticket they pulled down the line.
Stopped by Pizza Luce for a slice. Not as good, but given the time, really the only option I had.
Been following Maria since she was at Victor's, and was one of her first
Fernando Molano
Nov 01, 2019
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I love this place. It’s always so cozy, food is great. We usually get Colombian food and taste is amazing, right amount and fair price.
Staff is really kind, we’ve been there like 4 times and is always a great time. If it’s your first time it can be a little bit confusing to get there since front door is not available so you have to get into the building and go around until you find the right door.
For some reason once you’re there, the first big room is never available, but anyway the main area right in front of the bar is a great location and sometimes they have live music on weekends
Staff is really kind, we’ve been there like 4 times and is always a great time. If it’s your first time it can be a little bit confusing to get there since front door is not available so you have to get into the building and go around until you find the right door.
For some reason once you’re there, the first big room is never available, but anyway the main area right in front of the bar is a great location and sometimes they have live music on weekends
Kamrin D.
Oct 27, 2019
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I was told that Maria's had some of the best corn pancakes and it's absolutely true!
We went early enough that there wasn't a wait. We were seated quickly and there was even live music playing.
The service was great and we got our food quickly. I ordered three different kinds of pancakes- plantain, corn, and chocolate chip. If you have a sweet tooth you NEED to get the chocolate chip pancakes, it was like dessert but it was amazing. The corn pancakes lived up to the hype and I can't wait to go get more. The plantain cakes were ok, they had a weird texture that I didn&apos
We went early enough that there wasn't a wait. We were seated quickly and there was even live music playing.
The service was great and we got our food quickly. I ordered three different kinds of pancakes- plantain, corn, and chocolate chip. If you have a sweet tooth you NEED to get the chocolate chip pancakes, it was like dessert but it was amazing. The corn pancakes lived up to the hype and I can't wait to go get more. The plantain cakes were ok, they had a weird texture that I didn&apos
Anita T.
Sep 25, 2019
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HOLD ON. Wait a minute? Why haven't I written a review for Maria's Cafe yet? This place is spectacular! They're only open till 3pm and are absolutely packed on the weekends. They also sometimes play live music here so not only is it packed, but LOUD.
I alternate between two orders whenever I come here. I either get the Huevos Pericos (egg scramble) or the Corn Pancakes w/ Cotija Cheese. I also like to add on an order of chorizo sausages. Both are equally amazing, and I recommend either getting one or the other or just both! Why not?
If it's your first time here -- I highly
I alternate between two orders whenever I come here. I either get the Huevos Pericos (egg scramble) or the Corn Pancakes w/ Cotija Cheese. I also like to add on an order of chorizo sausages. Both are equally amazing, and I recommend either getting one or the other or just both! Why not?
If it's your first time here -- I highly
Keno W.
Dec 03, 2018
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Maria's Cafe has been a favorite breakfast spot of a friend since his days at the U of M.He was finally able to drag me out of bed early one morning to try breakfast at Maria's.
When we first arrived we were accosted by a homeless person which was not rattling,but it reminded me of our location very quickly.Located on Franklin in a strip mall Maria's is strategically located in the Twin Cities.There is lots of parking space.
Walking in to the the dinning room is confusing.There are three rooms that are linked,however the first room is not the main dinning room.We seated ourselves
When we first arrived we were accosted by a homeless person which was not rattling,but it reminded me of our location very quickly.Located on Franklin in a strip mall Maria's is strategically located in the Twin Cities.There is lots of parking space.
Walking in to the the dinning room is confusing.There are three rooms that are linked,however the first room is not the main dinning room.We seated ourselves
Margie A.
Nov 19, 2018
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This is safe bet for an enjoyable breakfast in the Twin Cities, especially if you're not wanting a boring meal. I was just here for a small group mtg and was reminded how much I like this Columbian, family-owned restaurant.
THE FOOD
My table ordered 3 dishes to share - The Special, Columbian Breakfast, & Corn Pancakes. You get the choice of 1 or 2 pancakes and you're gonna want 2! The corn pancakes and chorizo sausage were my favs & the stars of the meal. I thought the beans were just ok flavor-wise & the arepas were a little sad but I still ate them. I also wished they
THE FOOD
My table ordered 3 dishes to share - The Special, Columbian Breakfast, & Corn Pancakes. You get the choice of 1 or 2 pancakes and you're gonna want 2! The corn pancakes and chorizo sausage were my favs & the stars of the meal. I thought the beans were just ok flavor-wise & the arepas were a little sad but I still ate them. I also wished they
Molly M.
Oct 27, 2018
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I was shocked to find this cafe so close to an urban area, yet neighborhood-y in feeling. The waitress welcomed other diners by name, bringing them coffee without having to ask. Two small children played on a table nearby (no one watching their every move-like they trusted the other diners to be nice).
I had to try the corn pancakes-I was NOT disappointed! I had mine with the special cheese ($2 more-but well worth it!). The 'cakes were delicious, in a different kind of way! Since it was my first visit to Maria's Cafe, my server brought some syrup for the corn pancakes-which I&apos
I had to try the corn pancakes-I was NOT disappointed! I had mine with the special cheese ($2 more-but well worth it!). The 'cakes were delicious, in a different kind of way! Since it was my first visit to Maria's Cafe, my server brought some syrup for the corn pancakes-which I&apos
Tawanda R.
Jul 16, 2018
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After having their delicious and humongous pancakes the first time, they've been all I've been thinking of!
Sitting in line at Cub Foods thinking about how much i don't feel like cooking.... *inner me: call in an order of pancakes,* but i just keep thinking about how i need to get back on my low carb diet. *inner me: start Monday* Inner me won... because I was on the line calling Maria's ordering 2 pancakes and 2 medium poached eggs.
I swear I think they make you walk all the way around for no reason... I digress.
Service was very pleasant. I was greeted by a nice
Sitting in line at Cub Foods thinking about how much i don't feel like cooking.... *inner me: call in an order of pancakes,* but i just keep thinking about how i need to get back on my low carb diet. *inner me: start Monday* Inner me won... because I was on the line calling Maria's ordering 2 pancakes and 2 medium poached eggs.
I swear I think they make you walk all the way around for no reason... I digress.
Service was very pleasant. I was greeted by a nice
