In Coon Rapids, Minnesota, there’s a scratch-made BBQ and burger joint with one of the most charming origin stories you’ll ever hear — and the food is just as memorable as the name. 🔥
Jellybean & Julia’s has built a fiercely loyal following among local food lovers in the Twin Cities’ north metro, and once you dig into their story and their menu, it’s incredibly easy to understand why.
How Jellybean & Julia’s Won Coon Rapids’ Hearts
Jellybean and Julia are the middle names of owners Cory Swap and Koli Fyten-Swap’s two daughters — and everything about this restaurant flows from that same deeply personal, family-first spirit.
The couple’s journey to the restaurant world is one of true grit and reinvention.
According to the Star Tribune, when Cory lost his factory job, he and Koli made an extraordinary leap — cashing out their retirement savings to launch a food truck in 2012, serving classic American fare with a creative twist across Anoka County.
The food truck closed in 2014, but the dream didn’t die — not even close. 💪
By 2016, the couple had established a brick-and-mortar location in Anoka, and the community showed up for them in a big way.
As Hoodline reported, in spring 2024, Jellybean & Julia’s made another bold move — relocating to a larger space at 2501 Coon Rapids Blvd, doubling their seating capacity and adding a full bar.
The new location has a particularly sentimental story of its own: it’s the former home of Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, where Cory and Koli first met when she worked there as a waitress. 🥹
What really sets this family-owned BBQ restaurant in Coon Rapids apart is the couple’s uncompromising commitment to quality from the ground up.
And in a dining landscape increasingly dominated by chains and predictable menus, that kind of authentic, independently owned dining experience is something truly worth celebrating and, more importantly, worth driving to Coon Rapids for. 🚗💨
Food Highlights
Here are the most popular and most-talked-about dishes at Jellybean & Julia’s — all verified from the restaurant’s menu and diners who’ve been there:
- Heart Attack Sandwich 😅🥪: A boldly stacked, indulgent sandwich built for serious appetites — this has been a fan favorite since the food truck days.
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Minnesota Oak-Smoked Brisket 🥩🔥: Slow-smoked brisket cooked to an internal temperature of over 200 degrees using real wood smoke and live fire.
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Pulled Pork Sandwich 🐷: All-day smoked pulled pork piled onto a custom-recipe, seed oil-free bun from Diamond City Bread.
- Chubber Nutter 🥜🍳🥓: A burger stacked with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, balsamic onions, peanut butter, and a fried egg on top.
- Smoked Gouda Cherry Jam Burger 🍒🍔: A juicy smash burger topped with melty smoked gouda and a sweet-tangy cherry jam.
- Brisket Wontons 🥟: Crispy fried wontons stuffed with flavorful smoked brisket — a creative appetizer that bridges BBQ tradition with a fun, shareable twist.
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St. Louis-Style Ribs (Half Rack) 🍖: Slow-smoked St. Louis-style ribs with a deep smoke ring and fall-off-the-bone tenderness — best enjoyed with creamy house mac and cheese and smoky baked beans for the full Jellybean & Julia’s BBQ experience.
Atmosphere 🌟
Jellybean & Julia’s has the kind of laid-back, community-first energy that makes you want to stay for another round and order just one more thing from the menu.
Since moving to their expanded Coon Rapids location, the restaurant now offers doubled seating capacity and a full bar, creating a livelier and more social vibe that still feels distinctly neighborhood and unpretentious.
The space carries a warm sense of personal history — after all, it’s the same place where Cory and Koli’s love story began — and that intimate backstory seems to infuse the whole atmosphere with a sense of belonging.
Bottom Line
Jellybean & Julia’s is a one-of-a-kind, family-built BBQ gem in the north metro. Everything is scratch-made, the story is deeply personal, and the food is undeniably exceptional. From the smoked brisket to the legendary cornbread fritters, this is independent dining at its absolute finest. 🔥🥩
Address:
2501 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
📞 (763) 421-6119
🕗 Open Tue–Thu 11AM–10PM | Fri–Sat 11AM–Midnight | Sun 9AM–10PM (Closed Monday)