Minneapolis has a plant-based lane that goes well beyond salad, from a vegan Juicy Lucy to a butcher shop that never touches meat. This guide sticks to rooms that treat vegetarian and vegan food as the whole point, not an afterthought on a burger menu.
№ 01
French Meadow Cafe & Bluestem Bar
$$
2610 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · +16128707855
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Eggs benedict and pancakes anchor the weekend brunch crowd at this Minneapolis cafe, where hash browns round out a menu built for groups. Tables turn fast even on busy Saturdays, and the plant-based options sit right alongside the standard brunch lineup rather than off in a corner. It draws a mixed crowd of regulars and first-timers looking for a full breakfast spread without a strict vegetarian menu.
What to ordereggs benedict, pancakes, hash browns
№ 02
Francis Burger Joint
$$
2422 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 · +16122086870
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The vegan Juicy Lucy is the reason to know this Minneapolis burger counter, a cheese-stuffed patty built to match the classic bar version bite for bite. Fries and sauces round out a menu that works equally well for vegan diners and skeptics along for the ride. It is a rare room where a vegan and a non-vegan can order off the same board and both leave satisfied.
What to ordervegan juicy Lucy, burger, fries
№ 03
Reverie Cafe + Bar
$$
1517 East 35th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · +16129877080
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The Long Haul burger and a potato salad with real texture make the case for this all-plant-based Minneapolis kitchen, even to diners who never seek out vegan food on purpose. The room runs loud, with music up and a house salad that holds its own next to the burger. It works best for groups who want a full meal, not a side plate of vegetables.
What to orderLong Haul burger, potato salad, house salad
№ 04
Hard Times Cafe
$
1821 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454
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Coffee and a case of vegan desserts anchor this Cedar-Riverside cafe in Minneapolis, where the menu splits cleanly between vegetarian and vegan plates built for a full sitdown, not just a snack. Seating runs deep and service moves quickly, with allergies handled carefully. Prices run higher than the counter-service look suggests, so budget accordingly before ordering a full meal here.
What to ordervegan desserts, coffee, vegan food
№ 05
Stray Dog
$$
401 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123782855
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Happy hour is the move at this Northeast Minneapolis room, where Beyond sliders, boneless vegan wings, and tots hit the discount menu together on weekday afternoons. The vegetarian wings come in limited heat levels but land well regardless, and a dedicated vegan section on the regular menu means the plant-based options are not an afterthought. Seating and bar space run generous for groups.
What to orderBeyond sliders, vegan wings, tots
№ 06
Wienery
$
414 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55467 · +16123335798
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A chili dog and a Chicago dog anchor this cheap, no-frills Minneapolis hot dog counter, open since the 1980s and still running on a single grill some shifts. The wait can stretch when the counter gets busy, since one cook often handles the whole line. It is a fast, inexpensive stop for a dog and fries rather than a sitdown meal.
What to orderhot dog, chili dog, Chicago dog
№ 07
The Herbivorous Butcher
$$
507 1st Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · +16122080992
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The hot panini built on house-made plant-based meat is the order at this Minneapolis market and deli, which sells no animal products at all. Vegetarian sandwiches come out hearty enough to split into two meals, and the shop ships and delivers well beyond the neighborhood. It fills a gap for vegetarians who grew up on meat-heavy cooking and want that same satisfaction without it.
What to orderhot panini, vegetarian sandwich, plant-based meat
№ 08
Dreamstate Cafe
$$
2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405 · +16124662227
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This Minneapolis vegan restaurant draws visitors well beyond the neighborhood, with a menu built entirely around plant-based cooking rather than a vegan section bolted onto a standard menu. Staff get consistent credit for steering both longtime vegans and first-time visitors through the options. It works as a stop for out-of-towners and locals alike who want a full vegan menu rather than a token dish or two.
What to orderUnable to determine - specific dishes not named in excerpts
№ 09
Tao Organic Cafe + Herbery
$$
2200 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405 · +16123774630
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The spicy sweet potato bowl is the dish regulars name first at this Minneapolis health cafe, alongside smoothies made with real ingredients rather than syrup shortcuts. The room suits a coffee meetup as easily as a full lunch, with a menu built around clean, vegetable-forward plates. It draws both locals and visiting family looking for something lighter than the standard Minneapolis lunch counter.
What to orderspicy sweet potato bowl, smoothies, coffee
Frequently asked
What is the best vegan restaurant near me in Minneapolis?
It depends on the neighborhood, but Reverie Cafe + Bar and Dreamstate Cafe are fully vegan menus, while The Herbivorous Butcher covers plant-based meat and sandwiches. Each restaurant here carries an Insider Score based on the review record, and no restaurant pays to be listed or ranked higher.
Are these restaurants fully vegan or just vegetarian-friendly?
Reverie Cafe + Bar, Dreamstate Cafe, and The Herbivorous Butcher are entirely plant-based. Hard Times Cafe splits between vegan and vegetarian dishes. The rest, like French Meadow, Francis Burger Joint, Stray Dog, Wienery, and Tao Organic Cafe, serve vegetarian and vegan options alongside a standard menu.
Which spot is best for a group with both vegan and non-vegan diners?
Francis Burger Joint and Stray Dog both handle mixed groups well, since their vegan options like the Juicy Lucy and Beyond sliders sit on the same menu as standard burgers and wings. Reverie Cafe + Bar also works, since its plant-based menu wins over regular meat eaters.
How were these restaurants picked and ranked?
Each listing reflects an Insider Score built from the public review record for that restaurant, covering food, service, and consistency over time. No restaurant paid for placement or a higher score, and rankings are not sponsored.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Hodan Abdi
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Hodan Abdi is a Staff Writer at Top of Minneapolis. Raised in Cedar-Riverside two floors above the Somali mall her aunt worked in, she now lives in Eagan and covers the whole metro ring. She writes the guides, sweeps the suburbs, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
