Brian Nagele
Minneapolis, Minnesota, has a fascinating culture and history, with a rich array of cuisine to go with it.
However, if you’re vegan, finding restaurants that cater to your dietary wishes can always feel challenging.
Many people assume that vegans are okay with tasteless food, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Just because we don’t want to eat animal products does not mean we want to go without flavor!
So without further ado, I’ll share the best vegan restaurants in Minneapolis so you can stick with your principles while still enjoying delicious meals.
Vegan East
Multiple locations
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There are two Vegan East locations in Minneapolis, but my favorite is the one in Uptown, close to Loring Park.
After strolling around Loring and viewing all the life there — geese, squirrels, fish, ducks, birds, turtles, etc.
I love making my way to Vegan East for a tasty vegan dessert.
They have an expansive bakery serving popular items like cakes, cinnamon rolls, and cupcakes — all vegan!
If you think dessert can’t be dessert without real eggs or milk, Vegan East will surely prove you wrong.
If I’m a bit hungrier, I also grab their sandwiches.
My favorite is the spicy mustard club because they use a “herbivorous butcher turkey” that’s salty and delicious.
Infusedlife Plant Based Emporium
3800 S 28th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: 612-208-7302
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Infusedlife Plant Based Emporium is a cozy, delightful, and highly-reviewed vegan eatery in Standish, between Lake Hiawatha Park and Longfellow Park.
Their smoothies are my favorite items to get here because they are always sweet and tasty. You can tell they use fresh fruits and other ingredients.
I love the mellow yellow, minty monkey, and coconut supreme smoothies the most.
In terms of food, they have some of the best mushroom tacos I’ve ever tasted.
The mushrooms are barbecues, so they have a similar smokey quality as actual meat, but, in my opinion, they taste a lot better!
Plus, the space feels heartwarming and homey, with plants, pillows, and beauty care products all around.
It makes me feel like I’m simply visiting a friend and relaxing in the comfort of their home.
Reverie Cafe + Bar
1517 E 35th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: 612-987-7080
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Reverie is a chic, hip, and vibrant bar with a colorful and attractive exterior that matches the colorful and attractive plates of food!
Located in Powderhorn, right next to Powderhorn Park, Reverie is one of the best vegan restaurants for dinner and drinks.
Instead of just salads and juices, they offer a wide range of filling menu items, such as a Cuban sandwich with potato wedges, one of my favorite orders.
The pulled jackfruit in the Cuban sandwich is out of this world, especially since it’s covered in garlic, cilantro, tomato, pickled onions, and their prized, mouthwatering garlic aioli.
Another favorite of mine is the lemongrass tofu tacos.
Reverie also has amazing desserts to finish off your meal, such as chocolate-chili-cashew cheesecake and powdery beignets.
It doesn’t have much of a bar vibe, but it’s nice to know that they also serve beer and wine.
Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken
735 E 48th St, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Phone: 612-224-9251
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The Herbivorous Butcher is a Minneapolis restaurant known for its authentically-tasting meat substitutes.
Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken is a branch of the main restaurant that serves the best-tasting vegan chicken sandwich I’ve ever tried!
In addition to vegan fried chicken sandwiches and buckets, this restaurant — located between Tangletown and Powderhorn — has delicious shakes, coleslaw, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and tater tots.
Their buffalo chicken sandwich is my favorite item on the menu. Their portions are also notably large, so come hungry!
Coconut Whisk Cafe & Bubble Tea Shop
905 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612-440-5734
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Coconut Whisk Cafe & Bubble Tea Shop is a small but mighty vegan cafe in Minneapolis’s Skyway System.
This place is perfect for a quick bite or snack between shopping or errands.
They have a range of sweet and savory items such as avocado toast, cloudberry pancakes, and strawberry cheesecake.
Of course, their bubble tea is exceptional, and their Vietnamese coffee is pretty great too.
I love that their food, snacks, and drinks are not only vegan but 100% gluten-free.
This gluten-free policy is helpful as I am gluten-intolerant, and I know it helps other people who have celiac or are highly sensitive to gluten.
Modern Times
3200 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: 612-886-3882
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Modern Times is a vegan-friendly brewery located in the South Minneapolis neighborhood of Powderhorn, to the west of Powderhorn Park.
This place is perfect for beet lovers and vegans, as they have unique beet dishes like roasted beets and beet salads.
It has a bit of a hipster feel to it in terms of decor and atmosphere, which I don’t mind, and the food comes in more significant portions than you might expect.
I particularly love coming with a few friends for brunch because they have such a wide range of items that I’ll never get bored.
Plus, there are plenty of options for lactose-intolerant individuals here. Make sure to get there early, or you can expect quite the wait!
Hark! Cafe
430 N 1st Ave Ste 150, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-354-7098
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Hark! Cafe is a modern yet cozy cafe that caters to vegans and gluten- and dairy-free diets.
It’s in downtown Minneapolis, so it’s convenient to get to, and I recommend going for breakfast or brunch.
I love their chicken and waffles, egg and cheese bagels, biscuits and gravy, and french toast.
I genuinely believe this is a place you can bring your non-vegan friends to, and they will enjoy the plant-based nature of it as much as you do.
They may not even notice it’s a vegan restaurant! On your way out, getting a gluten-free pasty from their bakery is the way to go.
The Herbivorous Butcher
507 1st Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 612-208-0992
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As I mentioned earlier, The Herbivorous Butcher is one of the best vegan restaurants in Minneapolis for meat-like food in terms of taste and texture.
Instead of relying on raw meals as a vegan, you can come here and truly satisfy your savory-loving tastebuds with fully-cooked, plant-based items that resemble meat and cheese.
This family-owned spot is in northeast Minneapolis near St. Anthony Park and offers so many different types of food.
My favorites are their pastrami sandwich, Korean BBQ ribs, and turkey roast sandwich.
And in addition to the classic meat tastes, you’ll also get the classic meat buying experience with the “butcher shop” section of the restaurant.
It feels and looks like a real butcher shop!
Overall, The Herbivorous Butcher is a great place to go if you’ve only recently adopted a vegan diet and are already starting to miss meat but want to stick with it.
Seed Plant-Based Cafe
3252 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Phone: 612-345-7265
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Seed Plant-Based Cafe is a well-lit cafe with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
You can find excellent bowls, wraps, and sandwiches at this restaurant, which is on W Lake St, across from Whole Foods.
I love going here if I want a healthy and nutritious lunch.
I usually get the kale caesar wrap with a kale lemonade for a kale-filled meal, but there are many other great options.
No matter which main meal you choose, you’d be remiss to forgo getting the artichoke dip on the side.
