Heading to the Mall Of America? Here’s my frugal guide to Mall of America® featuring all the best tips to save money on food, clothing and other goods – as well as fun affordable (and free) things to do around the mall.

A Budget-Friendly Guide to the Mall of America

I’ve gone to the Mall of America (MOA™) in Bloomington, Minnesota, probably 100+ times in my life. And I know this Mall like the back of my hand. If you’re new to my blog, you should know that I’m all about bargains and budget shopping.

I’ve come up with some lists to help you get the most out of MOA while sticking to a budget. I hope you enjoy!

Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota

Best places to get deals on clothing:

  • Nordstrom Rack: Be prepared to dig deep to find the best deals at this store. I recently found a super cute winter coat on clearance for just $39 – one that I can wear for years to come. A brag-worthy find, if I do say so myself.
  • Ragstock: Ragstock stocks both new and recycled/vintage clothing – the only retailer at MOA to stock used clothing. There are deals to be found in this store, from flannels to leggings to ugly Christmas sweaters and more.
  • Old Navy: This is a MOA mainstay. Always good deals on clothing. Be sure to head to the back of the store to the (large) clearance section.

A budget-friendly guide to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Click through for ideas!

Best budget-friendly eats:

  • Burger Burger: This is my favorite place to eat at the MOA. Get a really great, filling burger for about $8.00. (Try the John Wayne!) They also have really good fries with a wide array of dipping sauce options.
  • Johnny Rocket’s: Get a lot of food for not a lot of money at this 50’s style diner in the south food court.
  • Culinary on North: The north food court is full of fun dining options: Shake Shack, Naf Naf Grill, Chick-fil-A, and Piada (Italian sandwiches) all offer plenty of options on a budget. Take your fast food and grab a table at the north end of this food court, which offers great views of the city as well as planes landing and taking off from MSP airport.
  • Poukei: This addition to the north food court offers poke bowls and sushi burritos. It’s not the cheapest fast food dining option, but I love their food. You can get a filling meal for about $11.00. I have tried the spicy salmon poke bowl (with kimchi, avocado, Japanese pickles, carrots, yum yum sauce, and eel sauce) and the tempura shrimp sushi burrito. SO good, you guys!
  • Bussin Barria Tacos: This taco stand features some of the best Birria tacos I’ve ever eaten. You can order al carte here – I ordered 2 barrio tacos which were jam packed with meat.

Best places to get something for little or nothing:

  • The South Food Court: Want to grab a quick bite but feel overwhelmed with options? Take a stroll around the South Food Court. Some of the food stands give out free samples. My favorite? The mango chicken at Ruby Thai.
  • Pepper Palace: You can sample almost every hot sauce, barbecue sauce, and salsa in this store. Take my advice: Start mild!
  • Lindt Chocolate: What’s better than chocolate? Free chocolate! Rumor has it, Lindt sometimes hands out free chocolate truffles to shoppers.
  • 5 Below: Everything sold at 5 Below costs $5 or less. They have a surprisingly good variety of items for sale from snacks to clothing to toys and more.
  • Ebisu: This fun Japanese store has a little of everything, and most of it is really cheap. Pick up a bottled Japanese beverage, some snacks, and check out their selection of random household and beauty items as well.

Best places to indulge:

  • Lush: Sampling is encouraged at this intoxicatingly fresh cosmetics store. The friendly staff routinely offer skin treatments and explain how to use their unique body products. My favorite product? The shampoo bars that make my hair smell super fabulous.
  • Coffee and tea: Stay caffeinated during your trip to the Mall of America. Throughout the mall you’ll find 6 Caribou Coffees, 2 Starbucks shops, a Dunkin’, Chatime Tea, Sencha Tea Bar, The Golden Nuts, and other cafes to pick up a latte, boba tea or your beverage of choice.
  • Ice cream: You can’t mention indulging without talking about one of many ice cream shops at the MOA! Spoil your supper at Cold Stone Creamery, Haagen-Dazs, or Sugar Factory.

Where to stay

Want to make a weekend out of it? The Radisson Blu is connected to the Mall of America by skyway. How convenient is that? After a day of shopping, eating, and entertainment, nothing feels better than being mere steps away from your hotel room.

The lobby at Radisson Blu at Mall of America

The rooms are modern and comfortable. And I loved the Minnesota-themed accents. The headboard featured pictures of the Minnesota Twins, Bob Dylan, the Walker Art Center, and other local icons.

The new Radisson Blu at the Mall of America

 

Mall of America in Bloomington, MN

Frequently Asked Questions About MOA

Q: How does Mall of America compare to nearby outlet malls for budget shopping?

A: I get asked this a lot, so let’s break it down. MOA has way more variety; food, entertainment, department stores, and hundreds of specialty shops all under one roof. The stores aren’t really discount-specific, so you’ll find the types of deals you’ll usually find at Malle, with a few clearance-specific stores in, like the Nordstrom Rack deals I mentioned above. 

If you’re purely hunting outlet-level discounts, Twin Cities Premium Outlets in Eagan is about 15 minutes from MOA and is actually the only true outlet mall in the metro area. It’s got 85+ stores, including outlet versions of some MOA brands, plus tax-free clothing and shoe shopping.

If you’re willing to drive a little further, Albertville Premium Outlets (about 45 minutes northwest) and the Medford Outlet Center (about an hour south, near Owatonna) round out the trio of MN outlet malls, and outlet centers in general tend to run 25-65% off regular retail. My honest take: MOA wins for a full day out with kids or a group, since you get shopping and entertainment. But if your only goal is stretching a clothing budget, an outlet mall trip will probably get you further per dollar.

Q: When is the best time to visit Mall of America for deals?

A: January and early February are my top picks. This is prime post-holiday clearance season, when stores are marking down leftover holiday inventory and last season’s stock to make room for spring. It’s also a slower travel period, so you’ll deal with smaller crowds while you dig through those racks. 

Late August is another sleeper pick thanks to back-to-school sales across clothing and accessory stores. 

I’d actually steer you away from late November and December if deals are your main goal. Yes, the mall is beautifully decorated and the holiday atmosphere is fun, but it’s also the most crowded and the least “clearance,” since stores are pushing full-price gift items rather than markdowns. Save the holiday trip for the experience, and save the January trip for your wallet.

Q: Are there coupon strategies or loyalty programs for MOA stores?

A: Yes, and this is worth setting up before your first trip: MOA Insiders is the mall’s own free rewards program (through the MOA app). You earn 1 point per dollar spent on qualifying purchases, or you can upgrade to Premium for $35/year and earn 5 points per dollar, plus perks like dedicated parking and a Nickelodeon Universe wristband. Points don’t expire, and you redeem them in-app for things like dining perks, attraction tickets, and mini golf. 

The MOA Coupon Book (sold at Guest Services and online) runs around $10 and packs in 200+ store, restaurant, and attraction discounts – it tends to pay for itself in one or two stops.

Don’t skip retailer email lists for stores you actually shop at. Readers in my comments have mentioned getting regular coupons from places like Bath & Body Works this way; buy-2-get-1 type deals show up in your inbox before they hit the sales floor.

Q: What free things can I do at Mall of America besides shopping and eating?

A: So much, honestly:
Watch the LEGO Store’s massive builds: Some of their in-store models are 30+ feet tall, and it’s free to wander through and admire the detail (or let your kids build at the play tables).

Window-watch Nickelodeon Universe from the walkways without paying for a ride wristband. You can see the rides, characters, and general chaos for free.

Peek through Sea Life’s viewing windows outside the paid aquarium entrance for a glimpse of the tanks.

Check the MOA events calendar for free entertainment, there are regularly scheduled character appearances, live music, and seasonal displays (holiday decorations are a genuinely fun, free photo op).

Do a mall-walking loop. MOA has an early-morning mall walker program before stores open, and the full loop is close to a mile; free exercise, climate controlled, year-round.

People-watch at the Rotunda, which hosts pop-up shows and events pretty regularly.

Combine a few of these with the free samples I mentioned earlier (Pepper Palace, the South Food Court, maybe some Lindt chocolate if you’re lucky) and you can genuinely spend hours at MOA without opening your wallet much at all.

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