Burnsville, Minnesota, is a suburb with serious soul — and nowhere is that soul more alive than on a Sunday morning at Jensen’s Cafe. ☕
Tucked into the heart of the city’s downtown district, this locally-owned breakfast institution has been feeding families, fueling friendships, and perfecting the art of the morning meal since 2005 — carrying a legacy that stretches all the way back to post-depression rural Nebraska.
How Jensen’s Cafe Won Burnsville’s Hearts
The story of Jensen’s Cafe didn’t begin in Burnsville — it began in 1947, when Alvin Jensen opened a small café on Broad Street in Fremont, Nebraska, rooted in Danish heritage and a deep belief that good food and genuine hospitality go hand in hand. 🇩🇰
That philosophy traveled generations, landing in the hands of Alvin’s grandson Doron Jensen and his longtime restaurant partner Brian Hehr, who in 2004 spotted an available corner location in what would become Burnsville’s newly built downtown — and couldn’t pass it up.
Jensen’s Café officially opened its doors on March 30, 2005, and the recipe for success, passed down from grandfather to grandson, has always been refreshingly straightforward: “Hire the best people… buy the best products and deliver consistent, quality food… give customers the best service you can… and the money takes care of itself.”
Since opening, Jensen’s Cafe has earned a reputation as one of the best breakfast restaurants in Burnsville — currently holding the #1 restaurant ranking in the city out of over 100 establishments, a title that reflects nearly two decades of relentless consistency.
Minnesota-proud ingredients are at the core of everything on the menu — from top-quality meats and farm-fresh eggs to produce sourced as locally as possible, all tied together with True Stone coffee, roasted fresh once a week from a Minnesota-owned roaster. ☕
The Burnsville breakfast scene has never been the same since Jensen’s arrived, and after 20 years of scratch-made pancakes, housemade soups, and that famous butter-maple syrup, the cafe shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Food Highlights
- Strawberries ‘n Cream Cakes: Scratch-made buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and housemade butter-maple syrup. 🍓
-
Stuffed French Toast: Thick-cut bread with a housemade cream cheese filling, topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
-
Swedish Pancakes: Thin, delicate crepe-style pancakes served with housemade butter-maple syrup and fresh whipped butter — a nod to the café’s Danish roots. 🧈
-
The Cajun Breakfast: A bold, spice-forward plate featuring eggs any style with Cajun-seasoned steak and Café potatoes — regulars recommend upgrading with Santa Fe chicken or chorizo sausage. 🌶️
-
Eggs Montreal: Poached eggs on Jensen’s housemade Café cakes with Canadian-style toppings and a rich hollandaise sauce. 🍳
-
Smoked Salmon Scramble: Four farm-fresh eggs scrambled with premium smoked salmon, real cheese, and the finest ingredients — served with toast and Café potatoes.
- Café! Kitchen Sink Ome-Alot: Jensen’s signature four-farm-fresh-egg omelette, pan-fried and baked to perfection, and packed with everything in the kitchen.
-
Café! Caramel Roll: A warm, housemade caramel roll served fresh from the kitchen — the perfect way to kick off any morning at the café.
Atmosphere
Jensen’s Cafe is the kind of place that wraps around you like a warm cup of coffee — bright, bustling, and completely unpretentious, with a dining room that hums with conversation and the comforting sounds of a kitchen firing on all cylinders. ☕
The Heart of the City location in downtown Burnsville gives it a charming, community-centered energy — outdoor seating adds an extra layer of warmth when the Minnesota weather cooperates. 🌞
Fair warning: Sundays fill up fast — the café is walk-in only, first-come, first-served, so arriving early is half the battle and entirely worth it.
Bottom Line
Jensen’s Cafe is Burnsville’s breakfast crown jewel — a 77-year-old legacy brought to life with scratch-made everything, locally sourced ingredients, fresh-roasted Minnesota coffee, and the kind of genuine hospitality that has made it the #1 restaurant in the city. Go early. Go hungry. Go often.
Address:
12750 Nicollet Ave S, Burnsville, MN 55337
📞 (952) 808-0500
🕔 Open Mon–Sat, 7:00 AM–3:00 PM | Sun, 7:00 AM–3:00 PM