Every year the Mankato Free Press polls residents and visitors alike to develop their annual Best of Mankato issue. This publication is full of listings of the best places to go to based on specific categories. Below is a list of winners in different dining and drinking categories. Please keep in mind that it’s a snapshot-in-time survey, and doesn’t mean that anyone who didn’t “win” isn’t very good at what they do.

Below is a partial list of winners. Check out the FULL LIST of winners here.

Asian Cuisine

1st Shogun Sushi & Hibachi

2nd China Star

3rd Tokyo Sushi & Hibachi

Atmosphere 

1st Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

2nd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

3rd Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen

Bakery / Donut Shop

1st Krusty’s Donuts

2nd 2 Pins Bakery by Tony Friesen

3rd Diamond Dust Bakery & Coffee Shop

Breakfast

1st Weggy’s On Campus

2nd The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

3rd NaKato bar & Grill

Brewery

1st Mankato Brewery

2nd Schell’s

3rd Lost Sanity Brewing

Burger Joint

1st The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

2nd The Boulder Tap house

3rd NaKato Bar & Grill

Business Lunch 

1st Tav on the Ave

2nd Pub 500

3rd Olives Mediterranean Restaurant

Chain Restaurant

1st Chipotle Mexican Grill

2nd Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

3rd Jersey Mike’s Subs

Coffee Shop

1st Coffee Hag

2nd Neutral Groundz

3rd Caribou Coffee

Family Restaurant 

1st Weggy’s On Campus

2nd The Boulder Tap House

3rd Dino’s Pizzeria

Fine Dining 

1st Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

2nd Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar

3rd Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen

Food Truck

1st Lola

2nd The 507

3rd Scotty Biggs BBQ

Happy Hour

1st The 507

2nd The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

3rd Pub 500

Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

1st Mom & Pop’s

2nd Culver’s

3rd Frozen Yogurt Creations

Locally-Owned Restaurant 

1st Pagliai’s Pizza

2nd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

3rd Weggy’s On Campus

Mexican Cuisine

1st El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant

2nd La Plaza F!esta

3rd La Terraza Mexican Grill and Bar

Patio Dining

1st Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

2nd Tav on the Ave

3rd The 507

Place to get a Steak

1st Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar

2nd The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

3rd George’s Fine Steaks & Spirits

Pizza Place

1st Pagliai’s Pizza

2nd Dino’s Pizzeria

3rd Jake’s Stadium Pizza

Signature Cocktail Joint 

1st Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

2nd Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

3rd Flask

Social Lunch 

1st Ummies Bar & Grill

2nd Flask

3rd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

Sports Bar

1st Big Dogs Sports Cafe

2nd Tav on the Ave

3rd The Boulder Tap House – Mankato

Sub / Sandwich Shop

1st Jersey Mike’s Subs

2nd Erbert and Gerbert’s

3rd Jimmy John’s

Take Out / Curbside

1st Pagliai’s Pizza

2nd Sadaka’s Deli

3rd Tav on the Ave

Vegetarian Options

1st Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

2nd St. Peter Food Co-op & Deli

3rd India Palace

Winery

1st Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

2nd Indian Island Winery

3rd Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery

Wings 

1st Buffalo Wild Wings

2nd Tav on the Ave

3rd Big Dogs Sports Cafe