Milda’s Café – 60 Years of Community and Resilience

Milda’s Café opened in North Minneapolis in 1965 as a tiny neighborhood diner with a staff of three. Sixty years later, they’re still serving the same classic comfort food and their famous fresh pasties. The café has remained family‑owned and operated since the beginning, staying true to its original values: good food, great service, and reasonable prices.

Current owner Ahmed Kata is deeply committed to preserving Milda’s legacy. “We keep everything Milda,” he told us. “Same menu, same recipe … the same pasties.”

Running a long-standing neighborhood restaurant has never been easy—and recent years have brought challenges unlike any other. Covid devastated locally owned eateries, and even five years later, many still struggle to rebuild their customer base. Inflation has pushed the cost of ingredients, labor, and operations sharply upward, making it harder than ever to keep prices low for the community they serve. Despite these challenges, Kata remains dedicated to the neighborhood that has supported Milda’s for decades.

After receiving a MN PROMISE Act grant in Round 1, Milda’s has been able to continue that commitment a little longer. As Ahmed shared:

“Thank you very much for this grant. It helped us with payroll, inventory, and keeping the doors open. These grants helped us a lot to keep serving people during this hard time.”

With support like this, Milda’s hopes to continue serving North Minneapolis for many more decades. Visit them at 1720 Glenwood Avenue to enjoy their traditionally made beef pasties, homemade cinnamon and caramel rolls, or your favorite classic American breakfast.