Ingebretsen Scandinavian Foods & Gifts

Here’s the deal. Jeg er norsk (I am Norwegian for those who can’t read Norsk). When I first moved here which was about a year and a half ago, I was surprised to have found this little gem in Minneapolis. I know there’s IKEA but it pales in comparison when it comes to the selection and variety of products Ingebretsen has to offer.
Now this cute corner store is split into two sides. 1^st side when you walk in is a gift shop where you can find the most exquisite Scandinavian souvenirs and all kinds of novelty items. I’ve found myself surrounded by Nordic cookware, glassware and a variety of custom-​made wooden figurines. Heck, I even found myself an ostehøvel (cheese slicer) here.
The foods and godteri (confections) section makes up the other side. This is where I spend most of time perusing through their offerings on display. They do have a full glass showcase of deli meats, cheese and of course LEVERPOSTEI (liver pâté). You will also find quite the selection of different jams displayed on their shelves. They also sell the WASA crispbreads which I miss from home.
There’s also a limited selection of chocolates/​candies. I say limited because they don’t have all the ones I want which is unfortunate but then again, I don’t see them selling much of the chocolates as they are somewhat pricey. $ 4 for a single pack of Kvikk Lunsj (Norway’s version of Kit Kat). Heck, I can buy a whole bags worth of Kit Kats for that amount of money but make no mistake, if Kvikk Lunsj was close to me, I’d get it over Kit Kat any time of the day even at that price. That’s how good it is. You can really distinguish the distinct cacao taste of the milk chocolate. It’s silky smooth and MUCH better than your average Kit Kat (Sorry Hershey’s). I can probably write a whole essay about Kvikk Lunsj but why write about it when you can munch on it for a divine mouthwatering experience?
Also as a side note and pretty important one at that, is that they ONLY use cash or check at the foods section. You can use whatever payment method you want at the gift shop. These are two separate counters where you pay. It’s been noted here before me that it’s not possible to go to the checkout lane in gifts shop if you have stuff from the foods side. I did, somehow luck out on the first visit since I didn’t know any better and was told to go use my card at the gift shop. I knocked down a star due to this wonky payment system.
Everytime I come here I leave SAD because it makes me miss home. Everytime I come here I bring a little piece of Norway back home with me which leaves me HAPPY!

My mother and I are from Sweden. We’ve been customers at Ingebretsen’s since we moved to the States. It is the only place, other than having it sent via mail, I am able to get a lot of my Swedish goodies at. This is my one-​stop shop for Swedish chocolate, candy, julskinka (Christmas ham), cheeses, etc. Yum!

Great customer service! The store had so many authentic items and the food side did as well!

I am 100% Scandinavian. We live in Chicago, but were up in St. Paul for a concert, so we decided to visit Ingebretsen’s and pick up some food products to take home. Others have listed the plethora of available choices from the deli counter, so I won’t repeat it. Everything we got was very good.
My only complaint was the service. We came a very long way for less than friendly treatment. It sort of killed the thrill as it were. I’d probably stop back because of the wide variety of good Scandinavian food products, but not enthusiastically for sure.

Ingbretsen’s in Minneapolis is actually made up of three connecting stores. There is (1) a Scandinavian Gift Shop, (2) a Butcher Shop & Deli, and (3) a Needlework store. (1) and (2) are in the same establishment, but run separately. (3) is next door. This is a review for (3).
I was pleased to see a Norwegian knitting shop and heartened to see that they have class is nordic knitting. I wish they carried more yarn though and carried the occasional pattern in Norwegian. If I lived nearby I would explore some of the classes here but it is unlikely that I would buy yarn here. The yarn is reasonably priced but nothing is on sale and the selection is small. I found the staff particularly unhelpful. We were struggling to track down some patterns for displayed items and were essentially left with the message that we should just figure it out on our own. The women working there seems nice, but not actually helpful or encouraging. It seemed possible that this was a fluke and there was a non-​knitter minding the store while the knitters were teaching a class …

After living in this town for 30+ years, I finally made it to this place in mid-​January, and then again in early February. I was surprised and delighted by the variety of comestibles they offered. I saw so many things I wanted to try, and I also noted some prices on certain items that seemed like a steal (specifically, butter and eggs, both from towns in Minnesota). I’ve tried their ground beef, which they grind in house, and their ham, which they smoke in house. Both were excellent in quality and flavor.
The men working behind their meat counter are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, as well as courteous. It seems they make it a habit to focus on one customer at a time, and most customer politely wait their turn.
Next time I go, I want to get some of their lefse and some of that ‘bargain’ butter…

Heard about this place for years… first time there, I didn’t want to leave. Lots of things on my wish list now. Made a few gift purchases. I know I’ll be back.

The Ingebretsen deli may be good, but their ability to handle on-​line orders is abysmal. The website indicated they had a large selection of various Scandinavian gifts, however, after making several purchases and filling out all the various shipping addresses, I was notified the following day that nothing I ordered was in stock. Perhaps they should stick to brick and mortar for their gifts. It takes appropriate resources, timely processing of orders, and general know-​how to manage on-​line business; Ingebretsens lacks all of this. Very disappointing experience.

The gift store is nice. A slice of Norway in the US. Some of the goods are pretty reasonable. Some of them be prepared to pay Norwegian prices. If you are looking for Norwegian items in the midwest you will not do better than Ingebretsen’s.
On the the grocery side. Where to begin. They have the best sausage and Swedish meatball mix I have ever had. Including grandpa and grandma’s. They have varieties from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. When I have parties and make this — people gobble it up like a starving child throwing down some fresh macaroni and cheese. The smoked midday sausage is perfect. Don’t leave without some. Lefse is top notch. Put a little butter on top and sprinkle a little sugar on top of that and you have what it quite possibly the world’s most perfect food.
The guys behind the counter are helpful, but not overly friendly. But you are in a Scandinavian store in Minneapolis so don’t be expecting lots of smiles and hugs. That’s how these people roll. They are more friendly than the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld and less friendly than the hostess from some breakfast restaurant in the Deep South. Just don’t go in there pretending you know everything about the culture and the language unless you do.
The store is in an odd, yet inviting, location. Lots of Mexican stores on all sides. But it works for me. I don’t think there is another street in the country, perhaps the world, where you can get potato sausage and walk a few steps and buy some fresh tamales.

Holy lutefisk, I am in heaven. I finally got to go to a proper Scandinavian store while visiting my birth state! This store has everything– Scandinavian foodstuffs, décor, jewelry, kitchen accessories, Christmas products, basically all the items that remind me of being a kid raised in a semi Norwegian-​American setting.
If you’re not into Scandi culture it’s still a cool place to get gifts, and cute baby gifts at their adjoining store one door down. And that place is also filled with knitting supplies!
My aunt told me this was in a bad part of town, but it looked cool and charming to me. But then again I live in Atlanta where you can get robbed with an AK-​47 in broad daylight.
Anyway, go. I have started stalking their site, you should too.

Do you want to know how good Ingebretsen’s Swedish meatball mix is?
I stood in line outside in 8-​degree weather for two hours two days before Christmas Eve to procure some.
And I would do it again, by gum, I would do it again.
Those were two hours standing in line with 50 – 80 year old men with Scandinavian heritage asking me about my family and telling me how happy they were to see the young people keeping some traditions (Swedish meatballs for Christmas) alive. They told me about their holiday gatherings and their kids and their grandkids. They laughed at me because I did not –at all– anticipate how long the wait would be just a few days before Christmas. So come prepared. Everyone will be very jolly and sweet, but you will also be cold.
Ingebretsen’s has two sides: the gift shop side and the meat shop side. Here’s something important to note: the gift shop side takes credit cards and all manner of payment. The meat shop side is a cash-​or-​check business. You can’t pay for your meat-​shop-​stuff over on the other side, either.
The lefse, krumkake and meats are all top-​notch. You’ll also find pre-​made gravy and lutefisk (if that’s your thing) and lingonberry and cloudberry jams/​jellies. And the gifts? Glass and wood objects, cooking implements (lefse griddle, anyone) and various other Scandinavian sundries are available. Scandinavian Christmas décor abounds at Christmas time.
Ya know, it’s just a nice place to be with decent folk.

I simply adore Ingebretsen’s. How could you not? Well, actually, there are a lot of you who won’t get it. And that is okay, because truth be told, I wouldn’t want you to.
My loving spouse brought me here to expose me to part of his Scandinavian heritage, to introduce me to some traditional food and some of the craftwork of the store. And the first few times, I have to be honest, I was appreciative but not wowed.
Until a rainy day a few weeks ago after I made an off the cuff remark about wanting to learn a new skill (knitting, if you are curious) he oh-​so-​casually brought me back here. To which I am grateful! There are two parts to Ingebretsen’s: the main grocery and gift shop on the corner and along the street slightly farther down, a smaller gift shop with a classroom for traditional crafts.
The wonderful ladies (Joan and Pat) were incredibly gracious and patient with me. I was a bit sheepish and overwhelmed and who could blame a girl with the quality of finished, hand-​made products that they offer? But they steered me into the right direction, helping me pick out needles and yarn and then sat me down for an hour to teach me the basics. And this was after the lessons were done for the day!!! I know Joan stayed a bit later just to teach me beginners skills.
The shop offers classes for many traditional crafts and the uniqueness of the gifts they have there is really something to see. I highly recommend stopping by some day to casually browse, perhaps buy a thoughtful gift for a loved one or learn a new skill to keep you busy in the winter months.

Ingebretsen’s is, along with Schatzlein’s saddle shop – a relic of the other ethnic history of South Minneapolis; the bazillions of Scandinavian, German and other folks who populated the area, worked like dogs at sawmills, grain mills, and factories, and died and were buried at Pioneers and Soldiers cemetery on Lake Street.
My fisherman grandfather came from Norway with two brothers in 1912 with seven dollars to his name, and wound up in a tenement with 42 other guys in little rooms divided by bedsheets.
His brothers died, one of tuberculosis, and the other in a factory accident. But he worked his way up and out, learned english (kind of badly), and built a teeny little house by Minnehaha creek – he felt he’d lived the American dream!
This is the story of South Minneapolis! Then and now…
So, while you may think of the area as presently an ethnic neighborhood, it was ALWAYS an ethnic neighborhood! Which is why I so love that I can go get some fantastic tamales and Mexican mystery pastries up the street, and then walk a block and buy some Limpa bread and potato Sausage and scandahooovian whatnots.
I’m always headed for the deli side, which is full of good tasty stuff. I love the Limpa bread, the herring, Gjetost cheese. Be warned, cash (or oddly, checks — for those who remember such things) only, and they mean it!
Much is made in house, fresh – and is superb. That’s the stuff to seek out.
I tend not to shop the Boutique side much, not my thing. There are some lovely handicrafts and some hokey stuff too (little wooden dwarves and such).
And the truly odd – my wife bought a ice cream scoop there on sale for a couple bucks today. It is called an Eisdipper, and is sorta clever in design, so we grabbed it.
Then we noticed it is made in… WEST germany (For you less historical-​minded folks, Germany reunited in 1990) Gotta love a store that puts a 22 year stuff on sale and just waits, and waits, and waits, and waits… until somebody buys it!
That tells you a bit about what a quirky place it is, and that’s why I love it! The word «quirky», by the way, is of Norse origin. Just sayin…

How did lunch at the Capital Grille Land me here. I found out that what they sweeten the grapefruit soda with is Elderberry Flower Syrup. I did a search and this is one of the few places they carry it. Ikea is another. This is a bottle of it as a drink concentrate, a product of Sweden. It’s the only item I was after, though it could have easily have been 10. I can see lots of stock piling for the upcoming holidays. With MN having such wonderful diversity, don’t rule out how awesome Scandinavian food and imports can be.

I love Ingebretsen’s.
First of all, it’s so out of place on Lake Street that it is hilarious. Mexican, Mexican, Mexican, Scandinavian, Mexican. As a half-​Ojibwe, half-​Norwegian girl, this place helps me get in touch with my lefse-​eating, star mitten-​knitting side.
The yarn and needlework shop is a rare commodity, not many places offer tatting classes. The ladies have been very friendly with me through the years, despite me not looking like the typical tatter or lace knitter. There are many great, solid patterns and a good selection of Dalegarn.
After swinging through the yarn store, I usually pick up some refrigerator pickles, lefse or Freia’s Melkesjokolade, the best milk chocolate I’ve ever had. My Norweigian exchange students in high school would bring it over and I got hooked.
Over all, a fun little store.

If you’re looking for any Scandinavian gift, they’ll have it. We bought a beautiful, hand painted Christmas ornament and can’t to show it off around the holidays! If you have the time, take a class. We took a woodcarving class and found it to be informative, unique, and fun! For an all day class (6 – 7 hrs) and all supplies/​tools included, it’s $ 70 and absolutely worth it. If we were in town longer, we would have tried some of the other classes they offer– rosemaling, cooking, knitting, etc. And the staff is more than welcoming– we’ll be back! We even featured it in our Minneapolis episode of our webseries «Sus and Chlo On the Go.»

Great scandinavian store! This place is magical and has been around for 90 years, opening back when this colorful section of Lake Street was home to immigrants from Scandinavia.
Definitely coming back around Christmas, some of the stuff in the deli you can probably find cheaper elsewhere, but they have some specialty items and goods that you can’t find at Lund’s or Byerly’s or the International section of Cub Foods, etc. There is another section of their store right next to the meat market with clothing — note the free coffee and ginger cookies (delicious!). Just go past the older ladies chatting and knitting — they lure them in with the cookies and coffee.
I came here to pick up some kransekake rings (still haven’t successfully made a cake though, it’s tricky!) and will definitely be coming back — especially around Christmas time!

The people at Ingebretsen are wonderful! It’s a great place to go to get Scandinavian foods but you definitely don’t need to be Scandinavian to go there. It has a small town or neighborhood feel. We go and buy klub by the case and they always give us a significant deal, no questions asked. It’s a little pricey but they deal in specialty items that are very hard to find. The gift shop is nice too.

THE place to go for anything & everything Scandinavian.
I remember coming here ever since I was litte with my Dad & Aunt. My Dad always makes a traditional Swedish meal on Christmas, so we come here a few days before to stock up. However, they carry most items all year! Here’s our typical shopping list:
–Lefse
–Meatball mix
–Lingonberries
–Herring (pickled, creamed & dill)
–Ginger thins
–Dried beef
–Julekake
–Potato sausage
I’m sure there’s more but that’s all I can think of!

Ja, vi elsker dette landet!
Yes, we love this country are the first words of the Norwegian national anthem and going into Ingebretsen’s remind me of my friends and visits to the beautiful country of Norway!
My dad is 100% Norwegian and he will not let you forget it. He has instilled in us the true values of being Norwegian and to me that is knowing Olé and Lena jokes and saying oh! or you betcha! after any sentence.
Going to Ingebretsen’s always helped me feel a little closer to my Scandinavian heritage and I especially loved how I could get all the fixings for a wonderful Norwegian dinner here. In the past I would have to add all the spices to my meatball mix, but it is all made up for you to take home here. They have it all here… lutefisk, pickled herring, weird shrimp paste in a toothpaste tube, lefse, lingonberries, and so much more. The gift store is especially nice for unique gifts and I love that I have a place to buy a troll to add to my collection!
Tusen takk Ingebretsen’s!