Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants In Minnesota
Eating out can be difficult for those whose diets are meat and dairy free, but these vegan-friendly restaurants offer a great selection, from egg-free breakfasts to faux meat lunches and dinners.
(credit: Crystal Grobe)
Seward Cafe
2129 E. Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 332-1011
www.sewardcafe.com
This eclectic neighborhood cafe caters to the vegan, offering a bunch of breakfast, lunch and dinner options for those with dietary restrictions. Instead of eggs for breakfast, Seward Cafe offers the option to substitute tofu, pinto or black beans for no additional charge. If you're stopping by for lunch, try a tofu sandwich or grab a tempeh gyro. Dinner offers selections like mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, made vegan-friendly with soy cheese. Breakfast is served daily until 4:30 p.m., so you can enjoy the most important meal of the day even if you're not an early riser.
Galactic Pizza
2917 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 824-9100
www.galacticpizza.com
Pizza is one of those dishes that can be tricky to make vegan-friendly, but Galactic Pizza does it and does it well. An Uptown pizza joint dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint and your hunger, most of Galactic's pizza offerings can be made vegan by substituting meats and cheeses for vegan-friendly meat and cheese alternatives. You can also "Build Your Own Pizza," choosing from dozens of veggies and other vegan-friendly toppings to create the perfect meat and dairy-free pie. A vegan garlic cheese bread appetizer is also available, and if you have room for dessert, you can even order up a slice of its vegan strawberry cheesecake. If you live in Galactic Pizza's delivery area, you can get a pizza delivered hot and fresh to your door by a superhero whose mission is rescuing you from hunger.
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Ecopolitan
2409 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 874-7336
www.ecopolitan.com
At the Ecopolitan, vegans don't have to read the fine print or be reassured by wait staff that they are ordering a vegan-friendly dish because everything on the menu is vegan. Each item served is organic, vegan and raw, with the option to dine-in or take-out. From premium fruit juices and smoothies to tostadas and burritos to pastas and pizza, the Ecopolitan has something for everyone. If you have little ones in tow, the kids' mac and cheese is sure to please. After your meal, pamper yourself by relaxing in the Ecopolitan's infrared sauna.
Evergreen
2424 Nicollet Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 871-6801
www.evergreen-chinese.com
While many Chinese restaurants feature a menu full of meat-centric dishes with no meat alternatives, Evergreen caters to the vegan crowd by offering a host of faux meat substitutes ranging from mock beef to mock seafood, with each vegan dish mindfully prepared using a separate cutting board and wok. From spring rolls to lemon grass mock beef to pepper fried mock pork and more, Evergreen offers up a great selection of Chinese, Cantonese and Taiwanese eats. Soy milk is made fresh in the kitchen, so it is incredibly fresh, silky and sweet.
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Hard Times Cafe
1821 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 341-9261
facebook.com/hardtimescafe
Gritty diners aren't usually known to be vegan-friendly, but the Hard Times Cafe offers a large selection of menu options for those with meat- and dairy-free diets. From a host of vegan pastry options including muffins and sticky buns, vegan biscuits and gravy, scrambled tofu, migas and more, Hard Times serves up hearty vegan meals at reasonable prices. The Hard Times Cafe is open 22 hours a day, closed only between the hours of 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.
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A Minnesota native that was born and raised Up North, Christina Kalinowski currently calls Minneapolis home. Christina appreciates irony, loves bacon, enjoys a hearty libation (drink responsibly, folks), and is an avid proponent of the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
