Chef Jeff Watson’s culinary roots run deep. With an impressive resume in the vibrant Minneapolis food scene, Watson’s craft began many years earlier. Born in Daegu, South Korea, and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, Chef Jeff Watson grew up in a home where food was a central part of life. His childhood was filled with contrasting yet complementary flavors of his parents' cuisines. Whether it was his father’s love for Mexican food or his mother’s traditional Korean cooking, Watson learned that food was a way to bring people together.

After years of honing his skills in some of the city's top kitchens with DDP Restaurant Group, mentor Daniel del Prado will return the favor and helped Watson open his first restaurant, Minari, in Northeast Minneapolis. Minari’s menu blends Korean and East Asian influences with a dim sum twist, creating a unique dining experience that is both modern and approachable. With a focus on banchan and seasonal dim sum offerings, Watson aims to introduce new flavors while staying true to the communal, inclusive spirit of East Asian dining. Watson has been leading the menu with a Korean phrase he learned in his family kitchen, “Sohn-mat,” or “flavor in the fingertips,” an approach that encourages creating dishes with instinct.