Now Open: Diane’s Place by Diane Moua, A Place to Call Her Own

Acclaimed chef, Diane Moua (a five-time James Beard Award nominee), recently celebrated the opening of her restaurant, Diane’s Place, with a grand opening celebration (which offered attebdees cocktails, desserts, and a few savory options as well). 

Diane's Place is located in the Northeast neighborhood in Minneapolis. 

Chef Diane Moua

Diane Moua's famous sesame balls accompanied by red bean caramel. Photo courtesy Amber Kispert

Diane’s Place is a full-service Asian bistro with Hmong-inspired dishes located at the Food Building in northeast Minneapolis. Diane’s Place will be comprised of a 1,900-square-foot restaurant and a 2,600-square-foot event space. 

Strangers at the Moxy (tequila, passion fruit, cacao, and lemon). Photo courtesy Amber Kispert

Coconut panna cotta, pineapple, guava sorbet & mango. Photo courtesy Amber Kispert

The oldest daughter of Hmong refugee immigrants, Moua was the first of her six siblings to be born in the United States and grew up on a 120-acre farm in central Wisconsin.

The Maker's Board (daily selection of meats and cheeses from Lowry Hill Provisions, Alemar Cheese, and Baker’s Field Flour toast, accoutrements). Photo courtesy Amber Kispert

Pandan macarons. Photo courtesy Amber Kispert

Thai tea profiterols. Photo courtesy Amber Kispert

Diane's Place

The menu at Diane's Place celebrates the signature dishes of Moua’s Hmong heritage and extensive experience as a pastry artisan and industry visionary. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served. Diners can expect to enjoy exquisite breakfast pastries with coconut, pandan and taro; along with savory offerings such as Asian style chicken soup with scratch-made noodles; sesame balls; and bamboo sourced from Moua’s family. A full bar program is also in development with mixology masterminds Robb Jones and Tyler Kleinow. 

Assorted pastries from Diane Moua

Assorted menu items from Diane's Place

The food

Chicken noodle soup (house-made noodles, bamboo, soft boiled egg, and fried shallots)

Pan fried bean thread noodles (bamboo, carrots, napa cabage, and mushrooms)

Sweet Pork Danish with Salted Egg Yolk

The drinks

Dark Forest (vodka, espresso, cherry, and toasted coconut)

Gardens of Garibaldi (fresh orange juice, negroni bitters, clementine, and jasmine)

Pandalada (rum, lime leaf, pineapple, and pandan)

She-Eye (galangal vodka, peach, and orange flower water)

The space

The event space, Events by Diane, is now available for bookings. This menu includes Asian inspired dishes, and offerings from fellow Food Building tenants – abundant meat and cheese boards with Alemar Cheese Company and Lowry Hill Provisions, along with specialty drinks from 3Leche.

Events by Diane

Tablesetting from the grand opening celebration.

All photos courtesy Gemma Weston Photography, unless otherwise noted.