Knoephla soups prepared by five local restaurants were sampled and judged in a friendly cooking competition. The participating restaurants were Charlie’s Main St Café, Homesteaders Restaurant, Jamaican Vybz Kitchen, Kroll’s Diner, and Schatz Crossroads. They were selected for the tasting competition based on their menu’s broad availability of knoephla soup. It is served by many additional restaurants in Minot and throughout the area, on select days and/or during cooler weather.
Try knoephla soup in —a German-Russian classic featuring dumplings in a creamy chicken and potato broth. It’s a local favorite and North Dakota’s state soup.
Five Minot Restaurants Featured in Knoephla Contest
We invited a diverse group of judges that ranged from two knoephla connoisseurs and a foodie to knoephla newbies. They taste-tested the soups and selected the fan favorite and honorable mention winners. Judges said all five restaurants definitely earned bragging rights for their mouthwatering versions of this beloved local soup. Read more about these knoephla soups served in Minot.
Knoephla Soup
What is Knoephla Soup?
A creamy chicken and dumpling soup, that name originates from the German word knöpfle, meaning little buttons. Traditionally made by Germans from Russia, knoephla soup uses simple and accessible ingredients: flour, water, and salt for the dumplings, and broth made with chicken stock, cream, and butter. Knoephla is the official state soup of North Dakota.
Try These Knoephla Soups in Minot
Jamaican Vybz Kitchen
Try a flavorful twist on traditional knoephla made using the owner’s mother’s recipe with Jamaican jerk seasoning added. The owners are a couple who met in Minot; she is from North Dakota, and her husband is from Jamaica.
This non-traditional take on the flavor profile for knoephla won the Fan Favorite after a tie-breaking second vote.
Schatz Crossroads
Treat yourself to a bowl of knoephla soup, made from a secret recipe by the dedicated cook who has been perfecting it for the last 42 years. They serve 14 gallons of this creamy soup every Wednesday at this roadside hotspot.
This knoephla soup that received an Honorable Mention. Judges appreciated its unique, sweet signature flavor.
Kroll’s Diner
Eat a bowl of their ‘lumpy yellow soup‘ made daily using the founder’s 50+-year-old recipe. Their recipe uses dumplings made in North Dakota, fresh onions, potatoes, and heavy cream. Kroll’s makes over 100 gallons each week.
A local judge who grew up eating knoephla described the soup from Kroll’s as the most traditional.
Charlie’s Main Street Cafe
Head into downtown Minot for knoephla soup made from scratch every Wednesday by the owner’s mom. She’s been perfecting the recipe for 12 years and makes it weekly with love; to Charlie’s, it’s not just a German soup but a soul food.
The extra chicken in this knoephla was enjoyed by the panel of judges.
Homesteaders
Sit down at this homey, comfort food restaurant for a bowl of knoephla soup made using a long-standing recipe each week on Thursdays. Make sure to finish your meal with a piece of homemade pie.