A taste of London has officially landed in Minneapolis.

D's Kitchen, the Somali-owned fast-food chain built in London, has opened its first North American location at 18 University Ave NE in Northeast Minneapolis, bringing its smash burgers, wings and shakes to Minnesota for the first time.

The restaurant held a ribbon cutting on Friday, October 23, ahead of its public grand opening. In video documented by The Somali Brief, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey put on an apron and gloves and stepped behind the grill, learning to "smash" burger patties alongside D's Kitchen staff as the team prepared for opening day.

Co-founder Hassan Mohamed told attendees the restaurant is about more than food, describing it as a place built for the community. In a separate clip shared by The Development Tracker Minneapolis, Mohamed billed the opening as the first UK food concept in Minnesota and invited families to the grand opening.

From a London home kitchen to Minneapolis

D's Kitchen was founded in London by Dirie, who, according to the SSCOPE podcast, started the business with no prior experience in the food industry, at one point selling food from his home before growing the concept into a shop and then multiple locations. The chain operates five locations in London, according to The Development Tracker Minneapolis, including a Holloway Road restaurant listed as American fusion with a Somali twist. In London, the brand built its following on halal fast food and a strong social media presence, and its founder has described the mission as community uplift — mentoring young people and creating opportunities, not just selling meals.

The Minneapolis restaurant, in a brick storefront near Punch Pizza under red signage reading "D's Kitchen — Burgers • Wings • Shakes," is set up primarily for takeout. Menu items featured in the restaurant's opening posts include smash burger meals, a glazed donut burger, fried chicken sandwiches, sauced wings, loaded fries and macaroni and cheese.

Grand opening Wednesday

The public grand opening is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., according to the restaurant's announcement on Instagram (@ds_kitchenmn). The first five people in line will receive free food, the restaurant said.

The opening connects two of the largest Somali diaspora communities in the world. Minneapolis is home to one of the biggest Somali communities in North America, and D's Kitchen's move from London to Northeast Minneapolis gives the chain a second home in a city where its food — and its story — will feel familiar.

D's Kitchen is located at 18 University Ave NE, Minneapolis. The restaurant can be reached at (651) 391-0310.

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