As anyone who has visited Minneapolis will tell you, the city’s restaurant scene is remarkably vibrant, varied, creative, and absolutely worth traveling for.
There are innovative concepts like Owamni, which specializes in Indigenous fare; award winners like the French-American Bûcheron, recognized by the James Beard Awards as the USA’s best new restaurant in 2025; and a multitude of spots for memorable Southeast Asian, Somali, Mexican, and other international cuisines.
Right now, though, restaurants in Minneapolis and elsewhere in Minnesota are struggling.
The Trump administration’s prolonged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown in the state has, according to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, “decimated foot traffic, created staffing shortages, and forced temporary closures” at restaurants, causing revenues in January to drop by some estimates as much as 50% compared to a typical year.
Immigrant-owned businesses have faced especially intense pressure.
Yes, the Trump administration announced it is ending its immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, but the dining industry still faces substantial challenges if it is to come back strong.
If you’re looking for a way to help—and to contribute toward saving one of the best reasons for traveling to Minneapolis—you can make a donation to a new nonprofit, community-led initiative called the Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund. The project has been established to support Minnesota’s independent restaurants facing severe financial hardship.
Described as an “act of preservation,” the fund “provides grants to locally owned restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses to help cover urgent needs such as payroll, rent, lease obligations, and operational costs amid unprecedented challenges,” according to a news release.
Eligible businesses will be able to apply for grants from the fund, which will prioritize small, independently owned establishments with fewer resources to launch their own fundraising efforts.
Anyone concerned about the challenges facing Minnesota’s culinary industry can make a donation right now at TheSaltCureFund.org.
Additionally, the fund has announced a National Day of Giving for Wednesday, Feb. 18, inviting restaurants across the country to donate a portion of their proceeds that day and encouraging diners to make direct donations as well—all with a goal of raising $1 million for the cause.
In a statement, Minneapolis journalist and Salt Cure Fund cofounder Stephanie March lays out what’s at stake.
"Our restaurants don’t exist without immigrants—it’s that simple,” she says. “From the finest dining to the coolest food truck, from the chefs creating culinary wizardry to the farmers growing our food, our entire food culture is intertwined with immigrants. To lose these restaurants, this food scene, is to lose the very best of who we are."
For more information or to make a donation, go to TheSaltCureFund.org.