Albertville, Minnesota isn’t a huge town, but The Hen & The Hog has made sure it’s on the map for anyone who loves scratch-made comfort food. 🐓
Named for its two signature proteins, chicken and pork, this family-owned eatery has built a devoted following on wontons stuffed with pastrami, towering burgers, and a brunch menu locals still talk about years later.
It opened its doors in the middle of a pandemic and somehow thrived anyway, proof that great food and genuine hospitality can win over a community no matter the circumstances.
How The Hen & The Hog won Albertville’s hearts
The Hen & The Hog was founded by two couples, Ben and Amanda Frank alongside Matt and Rebecca Taus, who combined decades of restaurant experience into one shared vision. 🍳
Ben and Matt each brought over 20 years in the restaurant industry, including Ben’s background as a chef, while Amanda added another 15 years of hospitality know-how to the mix.
From the moment they opened in downtown Albertville, the four owners made clear this wasn’t going to be a typical diner, and the scratch kitchen philosophy became the restaurant’s calling card almost immediately.
What really sealed the deal with locals was the Minnesota Wontons, a dish nobody in the area had quite seen done this way before.
Crispy wontons stuffed with cream cheese, house-made pickles, and corned beef pastrami turned into an instant regional obsession, described by longtime fans as “the comfort food kings” of the local dining scene. 🥟
The dish became such a phenomenon that customers specifically request it by name, even though it’s traditionally reserved for the weekday lunch and dinner menu since weekends shift to brunch.
Diners have also praised the restaurant’s scratch-made comfort food across the board, from cozy brunch classics to hearty dinner plates.
The other secret to the restaurant’s staying power is consistency paired with local roots. All four owners live in the community they serve, and that connection shows in the warm, welcoming service style that regulars mention again and again. 🏡
It’s this blend of ambitious flavor and neighborhood familiarity that turned The Hen & The Hog from a pandemic-era newcomer into one of Wright County’s most talked-about family-owned restaurants.
Food Highlights
- The Flaming Hen 🌶️: Buttermilk-marinated, hand-breaded chicken breast tossed in cayenne butter sauce, topped with house-made pickles, Duke’s mayo, and red onions on a brioche bun.
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Minnesota Wontons 🥟: Crispy wontons filled with cream cheese, house-made pickles, and pastrami, served with a dill mustard aioli dipping sauce.
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H&H Hamburger 🍔: Two smash-seared ground chuck and short rib patties topped with house-made pickles, red onions, and Dijonnaise on a brioche bun.
- Hog Heaven 🐖: House-made pulled pork and seared pork belly piled with bacon jam, house-made pickles, and tangy BBQ sauce on a brioche bun.
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H&H Grilled Cheese 🥪: Gruyère and sharp white cheddar melted with seared pork belly, cider-poached apples, and a cranberry gastrique on Parmesan-crusted sourdough.
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Pastrami Sandwich 🥩: Sliced pastrami and Gruyère layered with the restaurant’s signature wonton filling of cream cheese and pickles, plus extra house-made pickles on a pretzel bun.
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Hand Cut Fries with Cheese Sauce 🍟: A shareable plate topped with aged cheddar, bleu, American, and Gruyère cheeses blended into a bacon sauce, finished with house-made pulled pork and crispy onion petals.
- Black & Bleu Steak Pasta 🥩: Sautéed filet tips and portobello mushrooms tossed with penne pasta in a rich bleu cheese Alfredo sauce.
Atmosphere
The Hen & The Hog leans into a cozy, farmhouse-style setting that feels warm without trying too hard. 🌾
Guests describe the decor as small and simple, the kind of space where a big plate of food feels right at home alongside friendly conversation.
The patio adds extra charm during Minnesota’s warmer months, giving diners a relaxed spot to linger over brunch.
Overall, it’s a space built for comfort first, letting the scratch-made food do most of the talking. 🍽️
Bottom Line
Come for the Minnesota Wontons nobody else in the area makes quite like this, stay for a Flaming Hen sandwich with real kick, and return for a brunch menu locals still rave about years later. Add genuinely warm, community-rooted service, and this family-owned spot earns its growing reputation. 🐔✨
Address:
5262 Kyler Ave NE, Suite 111, Albertville, MN 55301
📞 (763) 276-1744
🕔 Mon–Thu, 11 AM–10 PM | Fri, 11 AM–11 PM | Sat, 8 AM–2 PM & 3 PM–11 PM | Sun, 8 AM–9 PM