When folks think about pizza in the United States, New York, Chicago, and even Detroit enter the conversation. It wasn’t until the last decade or so that Minnesota pizza earned its seat at the table, thanks largely to Ann Kim: a James Beard Award-winning chef who came to the U.S. as a Korean immigrant, majored in English, and spent several years as a working actress before turning her attention to pizza. We’re all just thankful she made the shift, because we Minnesotans get enjoy the considerable fruits of her award-winning talent – and even entertain the idea that Minnesota pizza may actually be the best pizza there is. So, visit one of Kim’s pizza restaurants and judge for yourself. (Hint: You won’t be disappointed!)

Award-winning chef Ann Kim co-owns four restaurants in the Twin Cities. Her first three all focus on pizza.
Young Joni
And thanks largely to Kim’s talent and vision, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has a seat at the national pizza table.
After spending eight years in the acting profession, Ann Kim turned her talents to the culinary arts.
Reveena Yamin/Google Reviews
And in 2011, she, along with her partner and future husband, Conrad Leifur, opened Pizzeria Lola.
The cozy space in the Armatage neighborhood of south Minneapolis was an immediate smash.
Management/Google Reviews
Lines out the door, snaking along the Xerxes Avenue sidewalk were commonplace.
Paul Peterson/Google Reviews
In response to Pizzeria Lola, food writer and chef Andrew Zimmern announced in Food & Wine magazine that Minnesota was now home to the country’s best pizza.
Pizzeria Lola, Xerxes Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Fabio Rosa/Google Reviews

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Riding the success of Pizzeria Lola, Kim and Leifur opened a second restaurant in nearby Edina in 2012.
Alyssa918/TripAdvisor
Hello Pizza is a counter-service pizzeria that specializes in New York style pies and slices.
Hello Pizza, Sunnyside Road, Edina, MN, USA
John Melich/Google Reviews
Kim’s burgeoning pizza empire arguably reached its pinnacle with the 2016 opening of Young Joni.
Lynn Berg/TripAdvisor
This hip Northeast Minneapolis eatery offered up the pizza that Kim’s fan base expects.
Justin Newell/Google Reviews
But it also represented an expansion of her talents with the addition of Korean and Korean-inspired dishes.
This fusion of her passion and her roots resulted in astounding acclaim. Young Joni made best-restaurant lists all over the United States.
Young Joni, 13th Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Minnesota Traveler/TripAdvisor
The Star Tribune named ​​Young Joni “Restaurant of the Year” in 2017, and after having been nominated previously, in 2019, Ann Kim won the James Beard Award for Best Chef - Midwest.

You don’t usually get this kind of national attention and acclaim around pizza. So, as you can probably surmise, there’s something really special about the Minnesota pizza that Ann Kim has introduced to us – and we’re lucky to be able to enjoy it! I personally love to grab a couple of slices – or even a whole pie – from Hello Pizza and take it over to nearby Lake Harriet and enjoy the day. It’s like a staycation in the city!

Have you dined at one of Ann Kim’s pizza restaurants? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

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Pizzeria Lola, Xerxes Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Young Joni, 13th Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN, USA