On Wednesday afternoon I met up with the almighty MSPD in Burnsville near MN-13 and CR-11 for lunch. There are two hidden combo restaurant and grocery gems located in the maze of commercial parks and strip malls which line this notorious intersection: Florida Oriental Market and Ramadan Restaurant & Grill. While we started at Florida Oriental Market, apropos on a day which hit a high of 50+ in late November, and the menu looked decent, we decided to save that one for another day and try Ramadan next door instead.
Ramadan Restaurant and Grill is set back from MN-13 in a drab and unassuming location not directly accessible from the main road. If you aren’t looking for it I can almost provide a 100% money-back guarantee you will miss it as you whiz by trying to avoid the gunshots and assaults which seem to prevail in that particular area of Burnsville. The restaurant is adjacent to a Halal market of the same origin which is surprisingly sparse until you head to the meat counter in the back where you can buy just about anything from chicken parts to whole goats and cows for very competitive prices ($7.99/lb ribeyes and I’m sure they’ll cut them in front of you as they were today).
We walked into the restaurant and were the only people in the surprisingly cavernous and barren space. The tables looked like someone purchased them at an auction for recently closed girl scout camps from the 1960s. Think sealed knotty pine and cheap booths in one of the largest and most underutilized spaces I’ve ever seen since the now defunct Applewood Rustic Grille just down the street. Aside from a handful of paintings, the tables, a cash register, and the buffet line there just wasn’t much in this place.
After being assured by the two guys carrying tables that they were indeed open and we could go up to the buffet to get our meals. With a line of only a couple of items I have to admit, at first glance, I was seriously thinking about running back to Florida Oriental Market to order some cheap Pad Thai and eat at their single wooden table with two plastic patio chairs instead.
They had tandoori chicken, basmati (vegetarian), basmati (with some meat), some salad, and various other dishes which included meat aside from some mixed vegetable dish all the way at the end. I was honestly surprised at the lack of vegetarian options but I suppose they know their lunch rush business better than anyone. I took a little bit of everything, aside from a beef dish as I didn’t have any more room on my plate, and brought it back to the table.
While the plate looked almost like a plate at any other of the numerous Indian places around the metro, after the first bite my doubts were instantly erased. Ramadan’s tandoori chicken, usually miserably dry and tasteless at just about every other buffet in the world, was tender and juicy while being full of flavor. Laying on a bed of onions and peppers they really nailed this one–something I never thought I’d say about tandoori chicken at a buffet line.
The basmati rice, another item which I usually have to slather with whatever leftover sauce exists after I wipe my plate clean with naan, was full of herbs and bursting with flavor. Perfectly cooked, light and fluffy, this was almost an absolute joy to eat; something which should never be said about rice, ever. The rest of the items, especially the beef dish, were surprisingly flavorful. Ramadan was not afraid to work with a heavy hand when they were loading in the spices and I found my nose running and my mouth burning long after we left even though we were eating from the buffet and didn’t ask for any additional spice.
However, I’m saving the best for last…the price. I ate three huge plates of food and stuffed my face silly (yes, the day before Thanksgiving) with chicken, beef, vegetables, rice and naan and I paid a whopping $7.75 for the pleasure. In all honesty the only time I have been that full for that low of a price was when I stuffed my face with a Nookie Supreme and I still had to pay $2 more to do it.
I am not kidding you when I tell you that if you’re looking for some of the best Indian food South of the River then you’re going to want to head to a Burnsville commercial strip mall across from an Aldi and next to what used to be a wonderful center for saving animals before the mayor let it leave town and die a horrible death along with all the kittens they used to adopt out, and eat at Ramadan Restaurant and Grill. I cannot wait to get back there to try their lengthy regular menu items and I plan to do that soon. Very soon.
Have you ever eaten at Ramadan Restaurant & Grill in Burnsville? If so what did you think? Have you ordered off their menu or eaten their buffet? From what I understand the buffet items change regularly yet are always just as tasty. Do you agree? If you haven’t eaten from the buffet what did you order off the menu? What do you recommend? Aside from Ramadan, Sambol and India Palace, what other Indian places do you recommend around town? Whatever you have to say about Ramadan go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Address:
Ramadan Restaurant and Grill
1501 Highway 13 East
Unit 1515
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone:
952-746-9042
Hours:
Monday to Friday 11 AM – 10 PM
Closed Tuesday
Saturday to Sunday 11 AM – 10 PM
See all the pictures from Ramadan Restaurant & Grill on Flickr here.
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November 24th, 2011 at 10:18 am
Cool! I’m going to have to give this place a whirl!! I didn’t even know about it.
I went to the Burnsville India Palace yesterday for their lunch buffet and while it was OK I’m not itchin to return anytime soon.
I personally love ethnic markets with cafe’s attached even though they usually are dingy holes in the wall. Maybe its a clever mental trick to make their food seem all the better muwahahaha
November 24th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
how in the world did you ever find this place :)
bb
November 24th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
whoops add this pic:)
bb
November 25th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
I am definitely checking this place out soon (regardless of the fact that I work in Burnsville). Plus, I need a break from India Palace of Bursnville.
November 25th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
If you like Middle Eastern food, or food with flavor/cooked with skill for that matter, you need to go here. THESE are the places the City of Burnsville should have highlighted on that ridiculous Rand McNally/USA Today tour thing this summer, not BD Mongolian.
This was my third time to Ramadan’s lunch buffet and each time they had a different assortment of dishes (with some standards like the tandoori chicken and chicken tikka masala). The last time, they had a delicious palak paneer, something I like very much. Even the naan is clearly straight from the tandoor to the table.
They cook with quality ingredients and like Bill said, they don’t dumb down the complexity. I also haven’t had a chance to order from the regular menu, but I will in short order.
I can’t think of a restaurant in Burnsville that’s making better food than this, period.
November 25th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I’ve been past Florida Oriental Market plenty of times, but I never knew about this place until I read this post. How did you guys learn about it? It makes me wonder what other great places might be around that most people don’t even know about.
November 25th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Tim,
I knew of Ramadan months ago but they were closed when I tried to stop in at that time. I kinda forgot about it until MSPD brought it up again. He also knew about Florida Oriental Market.
November 26th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Bill,
Wow. I am always on the lookout for Subcontinent dining options. Looks like I’ll have to drag my wife and kids there for no particular reason. Thanks for the tip!
Also, I occasionally go to Gandhi Mahal. They respect your desire for “heat level” and what I’ve tried so far has been quite good.
Cheers, Sanjaya
November 27th, 2011 at 12:55 am
Thanks for the specific directions. I have never noticed this place, but having adopted two cats from the now closed (grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!) Humane Society, I know exactly the location that you are speaking of. I’ll be shimmying over soon.
Also, I need to comment about a nearby restaurant, Nha Sang. Wonderful Asian food. I don’t know what Chef De puts in his hot and sour soup, but at the first sign of feeling under the weather, I scream over for a takeout quart. Fucking medicinal beyond words.
November 30th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I’ll have to check out Nha Sang. Definitely a different menu. Mmm.
December 26th, 2011 at 7:02 am
[...] Ramadan Restaurant and Grill: Burnsville, MN [...]
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Visited Ramadan over the holiday break. The buffet was as described by Bill: flavorful, spiced, and a great value. I plan to return for Sunday brunch soon.
January 9th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
We finally checked out the Ramadan Restaurant and Grill today for the lunch buffet and it was excellent, just as described. I especially enjoyed the spicy lentils as accompaniment to the delicious meat dishes. We loved having the naan brought to our table fresh and hot rather than having it cool from a big basket on the buffet table as it often in other places. The hot tea with milk was wonderful.
When I mentioned that I’d heard about the restaurant on Lazy Lightening the very friendly manager (owner?) named Huck gave us an additional 10% off the already very reasonable price. He also gave us a tour of the grocery and meat locker and counter and the meat looks wonderful.
Since I live in Savage we passed up other favorite restaurants on the way but this was definitely worth the drive. Thanks for letting us know about this place. We’d never have found it on our own.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Really glad to hear it Karol!
January 10th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Nha Sang is great, and the lunch buffet price is tough to beat. The only draw back is that the place gets packed at lunch time. A little bit of spice in a few of the lunch items, which is a welcome change from the typical Chinese Buffet.
That said, I will definitely be visiting Ramadan which is just up the street from where I work.
January 11th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
I recently mentioned this place to a co-worker from Jamaica. She went there and was very happy to find goat. I will be checking it out very soon.
It is very easy to find, with the GROCERY sign in this font size. LOL
I guess I should not ask about pork ? :-)
January 11th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
!
January 14th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
I was in the area today getting an oil change for my non-autocar, and while waiting for that I walked over to my favorite tea shop. So I’m sitting in there enjoying a spot of tea and I think of Ramadan and that I’m getting pretty hungry. Looked it up on my phone, and was astonished to see that my phone said it was directly across 13 from where I was. So I look out the window and there it was! I’ve been going to that tea shop often for the last year now and never noticed this place before.
So after picking up my wheels I zoomed over and had lunch. Man this place is a gem. Loved the various rice dishes and I’m not sure the name of what I was eating on some of the other dishes, but I can say I’ve never eaten things like cauliflower and peas with such enthusiasm. The fresh na’an is a cool touch too, it was very good.
I did check otu the grocery too. I think I will buy meat here in the future. Good prices. Spices, they even have loose leaf tins of Twinings tea, yay!
I really like this place, its a good find!!
January 18th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Their Chana Daal, on the lunch buffet today, is one of the best vegetarian dishes I’ve ever had.
January 18th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Good to know MSPD, thanks. I still eat mostly vegetarian meals, so good to know where the good ones are.
How would it have compared to the sausage pizza I had for lunch though?
January 18th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Closet Carnivore,
For someone who eats mostly veggie meals here, your tales of meat may be the most voluminous on Lazy Lightning. :)
lefty
January 18th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
L,
That’s because veggies aren’t at all exciting to write (or think) about. Meat, on the other hand…So yum and thrilling.
CC
January 18th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Depends where the sausage pizza was from.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
MSPD, not anywhere you’d want to eat a sausage pizza I promise you.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
It was Sorrento Cucina, in the Minneapolis skyway. The lasagna looked delicious, but I was in a pizza mood.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Ouch. In my defense, I did ask for, but did not receive, a skyway lunch recommendation.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Closet Carnivore, hit up Andrea’s Pizza outside Macy’s, you’ll thank me later.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Even if you had received a recommendation it’s unlikely that you would have listened to it anyway.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Why, is it similar to Ramy’s?
January 18th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Cant remember if I said anything about this on another thread, but I had Sausage Pizza at Pizza Biga (Bigga?) last weekend and loved it. Great flavor, wonderful crust. A little expensive, but worth every penny.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
I don’t know what Ramy’s pizza is like anymore. Probably has taste, unlike you.
January 18th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I’ll thank you now and later, Dan N. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the recommendation!
January 18th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Ramy’s Stromboli was too greasy for me on my first return since the new ownership took over. They were very customer friendly, brought us the equivalency of mini donuts for free as we waited (deep fried dough as they were making new garlic knots).
January 25th, 2012 at 7:31 am
[...] Ramadan Restaurant and Grill 2. Andiamo 3. Stockmen’s Truck Stop 4. Bella Pizza 5. Valley Tap House 6. Morgan’s on [...]
February 7th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Here’s a great story about eating goat meat. You can find this at Ramadan’s meat counter: http://www.npr.org/2012/02/07/146474817/how-to-get-your-goat
February 28th, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] $8.00/person Review: http://www.lazylightning.org/ramadan-restaurant-and-grill-burnsville-mn Directions: [...]
June 1st, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] other day I heard about a new restaurant which opened up in Burnsville across MN-13 from Ramadan, Pita Plus Sandwich [...]
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Thanks Bill for intorducing me to the best gyro I have had in the Twin Cities and it was only $6.99. We sat down at 1:00 and talked with the owner Huck and ordered two gyro which came with fries which were very good as well. The gyro was packed with meat and the largest I have seen. After eating it I was just as full as after eating a Nookie Supreme. Ramadan has the best gyros I have had and when in the mood now for a good gyro I do not need to look any further. Huck was kind enough to have us try his new dessert our meal.
I then proceeded to pick up some nice ribeyes for later this week at the Ramadan grocery, $20 for four ribeyes 1.5 inches thick, mmmmm…..
July 7th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Got a carry out Gyro. I have to agree with Thought Leader completely. A fresh tasty, and HUGE gyro in a pita large enough to actually hold it all. I need to go no where else for a gyro. Huck was a pleasure to talk to and obviously takes great pride in the food he offers. He knows customer service. I am adding this place to my list of locally owned restaurants I want to visit frequently.
July 7th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Huq told me that they use 1/2lb of lamb in their gyros.
July 15th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Hmnnnn… I’m going to have to give this place another try. I went there last year not too long after they opened on the recommendation of a Bangla friend of mine who lives right around the corner. It was deserted, which is fine, I prefer dining alone sometimes…
Three things I remember: the Aloo Palak was very good and looked like it had been prepared when I ordered it, not ladled out of a big overcooked vat. It was a bit too oily, though. And then the Pakoras I ordered showed up with a SIDE OF KETCHUP – a bizarre first for me in over 3 decades of Indian dining. I asked for some chutney, green or red, and was told they did not have any (?) which was probably why I ‘forgot’ about the place. The Chai was watery and kind of meh.
Guess I’ll have to go back and divide the difference and get some Gyros and some ‘deshi food. And hope the Chai got better.
August 30th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I have been trying to get to Ramadan, the restaurant, all summer long, and after a lunch attempt during Ramadan, the holy month, I finally succeeded. As Bill described, it was pretty quiet, but it was almost 2PM, with a group of five just finishing up.
Huq was very pleasant again, as he was last month when he explained that the restaurant side was closed for lunch due to the Holy Month and directed me to the market side where I purchased two very nice, freshly cut bone in ribeyes for 10 dollars, total!
After a short wait, my to go order was delivered in a styro container and a cone shaped foil wrap. I assumed the gyro was in the styro and I was getting a ton of fries….nope. My first response, via twitter, was to the sheer size of the gyro. As I made my trip home, the aromas that filled my car were making my mouth water. Once home, I dug in. The pita was warm, crunchy, and soft all at once with amazing flavor for pita. The lettuce, onion, and tomato were all fresh and flavorful. For me, the meat and sauce were what made this gyro, as it should. The meat was tender, with a nice spice flavor and the sauce was cool, creamy and fresh.
I highly recommend you stop at Ramadan, I can’t wait to go back.
August 30th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
I tried the gyro tonight because Ryan did, and I didn’t want him to have one up on me.
I waited for 3-4 minutes at the counter until going over to the market side where I met what turned out to be Huck. I said, “I would like the gyro but I don’t like fries. Can I get something else?” I said, “I’ll get you fries.” He told me it would be 7-8 minutes and went to get the order in.
He came back and invited me to sit down. I got a nice rundown of the process of halal meat and I now know that eating non-halal meat will likely make me go “psycho” at some point in the future. Good to know, but most people figure I have already done that anyway. Huck and I also had a good chat about our careers respectively and eventually my food came out (with fries) and I paid and left with my 27 pounds of food.
As described above, the food was plentiful and tasty. Love the naan as the bread device. Tasty, chewy and did not overpower the rest of the food. Overall a nice “little” meal for a great value. I would agree with everyone and recommend you go back in spite of the fact it takes 10 minutes to get there if you are heading West on 13 during rush hour. It’s worth it!
Also, the fries looked good.
Thanks for the tip.
lefty
September 1st, 2012 at 12:46 am
Would someone please explain this?
I said, “I would like the gyro but I don’t like fries. Can I get something else?” I said, “I’ll get you fries.”
BTW, I’m not asking this to be a smartass. I hate fries too and would like to know if there is another option.
September 1st, 2012 at 6:12 am
Ozzie, English isn’t their first language would be my guess based on my many visits there.
September 1st, 2012 at 10:23 am
So, the second “I said” in that quote should be “He said.” I get it now.
Thanks Bill.
September 1st, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Is English lefty’s first language?…..ha.
September 4th, 2012 at 8:47 am
Be nice. I was in a hurry when I posted that.
September 4th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Loosers.
September 4th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
lefty said, “Be nice. I was in a hurry when I posted that.”
Sorry. I was going for the cheap and easy thumbs-up score at your expense.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
sandy,
Look closely. I am not giving you the thumb.
lefty
January 7th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Does anyone know their web address? The link above doesn’t seem to work anymore.
Has anyone been there lately?
January 19th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Is Ramadan still open? My girlfriend and I tried to go here yesterday, but it was all locked up and the lights were off. This was right at 11AM, which is when they are supposed to open. The only signage on the door indicated they are closed on Tuesdays, but this was a Friday.
February 1st, 2013 at 10:32 am
Bryan H.
I drove by, quickly, on Hwy 13 today and noticed a “coming soon” sign in the store front window.
Hmmm….
February 15th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
I stopped by there this afternoon since I’d seen the sign in the window from Highway 13, but couldn’t read it. The sign says “Tenjor Indian Restaurant Coming Soon”. There’s a smaller sign by the front door that says it too. The restaurant appears to be closed for the time being — but the market is definitely still open.
February 16th, 2013 at 11:56 pm
Oh man. I’m gonna miss that gyro.
June 12th, 2013 at 9:34 am
This location is now closed.