Matt's Bar and Grill

"Matt’s, one of the Twin Cities' most essential restaurants, claims to have invented the Jucy Lucy. (To distinguish its Lucy from other Twin Cities renditions, Matt’s spells its burger without the “i.”) The legend goes that in 1954, a Matt’s customer ordered two patties with a slice of cheese in the middle — after taking the first molten bite, he declared “That’s one juicy Lucy!” Matt’s Lucy is classic and unadorned (in the best way); flavor-dense and charred at the edges. The American cheese takes on a particular liquid quality compared to some oozier others." - Justine Jones, Serena Maria Daniels

"Matt’s, which claims to be the home of the original Jucy Lucy (to distinguish its Lucy from other Twin Cities versions, Matt’s spells its burger without the “I”) is a great budget-friendly option for classic bar food. The Lucy clocks in at $9.75, while classic burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheeses, and fries all run under $10." - Justine Jones, Alex Lodner

"Matt’s, stationed in the first floor of a simple stucco building on Cedar Avenue, is one of the most legendary dives in the Twin Cities. (Former President Barack Obama ate here in 2014.) It claims to be the home of the original Jucy Lucy — that iconic, gooey, cheese-stuffed burger. (To distinguish its Lucy from other Twin Cities versions that have since proliferated, Matt’s spells its burger without the “I.”) According to local legend, in 1954, a Matt’s customer requested two beef patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. After his first oozy bite, he declared “That’s one juicy Lucy!” The restaurant has maintained its exquisitely divey interior: Slide into a pleather booth or grab a seat at the roomy, unadorned bar." - Eater Staff

"Matt’s Bar is known for being the home of the Jucy Lucy, a unique variation of the cheese-stuffed burger that omits the 'i' from 'Juicy'. It was recommended by Gov. Tim Walz as a date-night spot for celebrities Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift." - Justine Jones

"MINNEAPOLIS In addition to being a beloved Minneapolis specialty, the juicy lucy is a heated local controversy, with Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club each claiming to be the originator of the cheese-stuffed burger. Although the real answer may be lost to history, Matt’s Bar gets our vote for the nostalgia: they’re still serving it decades later in a narrow, memorabilia-lined space that hasn’t changed much since the restaurant opened in the 1950s. The beef and grilled onions are extra flavorful, probably due to the well-seasoned grill that’s churned out millions of burgers. Just be careful with your first bite: the molten cheese has burned many a tongue." - team infatuation, carlo mantuano