Dinner at Ginger Hop
Update 3/28/2020: Ginger Hop is permanently closed.
Ginger Hop in northeast Minneapolis offers a nice selection of vegan options, and I enjoy going especially for happy hour. I've never had trouble getting a table, and the service is consistently good.
My go to is always the Yellow Curry with mock duck because I love curry and I love mock duck so it's a win all around. This time, though, I opted for the Ginger Orange Salad with pea pods, red peppers, carrots, orange slices, mock duck (are you seeing a trend?) and maple-spiced walnuts topped with ginger vinaigrette. It's fresh, healthy, and filling. The Edamame and Avocado Salad is also super yummy.
Ginger Hop has three vegan soups: Potsticker Soup, Tom Kha, and Carrot Ginger. My friend chose the Potsticker Soup which seemed perfect for the cold night. It has a ginger soy broth, and in addition to the potstickers it has shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, green onions, and (optional) tofu.
My other friend selected the Udon Noodle Curry Bowl that comes with veggies and yellow curry. Like many of the other Ginger Hop dishes, you can add tofu or mock duck.
A couple other dishes that I've enjoyed are the Fire Noodles and Ginger Stir Fry. The only dish I don't recommend is the Steven Seagal which is a take on a Sloppy Joe. It feels out of place at a Thai restaurant and just isn't that great regardless. If you want to round out your meal with something sweet, they have sorbet from Sebastian Joe's.
The last thing I'll mention is parking. It can be a little tricky in northeast Minneapolis since many streets are metered. So you can grab a spot at a meter (they should be free on Sundays) or park at the ramp next to Ginger Hop, accessible from NE 2nd Street. Because I strive to not pay for parking, I usually try to find a spot by Holmes Park which has residential parking.
If you're ever in the mood for Thai food and haven't been to Ginger Hop, I recommend you check it out!