Best "Meats": The Herbivorous Butcher

The Herbivorous Butcher knows a thing or two about vegan meats. As one of the only 100% vegan butcher shops in the country, these folks have captured the texture, taste, and crave-ability of meat... without the meat. Stock up on totally vegan chorizo, breakfast sausage, bacon, steaks, ribs, brats, burgers, chicken, cold-cut sandwiches, and more. They even have cheese plate-ready vegan cheeses!

Best Burgers: Stray Dog & Francis Burger Joint

Stray Dog's epic vegetarian menu offers so much more plant-based goodness than your typical bar that it'll leave your head spinning. Loaded with vegan options, the burger section alone features a whopping FOURTEEN veg-friendly burgers, including Beyond patties with vegan bacon on a white cheddar-stuffed pretzel bun and housemade vegan patties topped with jalapeños and cayenne lime mayo.

Francis Burger Joint is Northeast Minneapolis' newest all-vegan restaurant. Francis' atmosphere feels nostalgic and like the neighborhood's go-to diner, and it's already a staple for plant eaters and omnivores alike. Most importantly, though reviewers are raving about their burgers. Try the classic Francis burger, the infamous Juicy Lucy, or even their take on a fried chicken sandwich. Orders are placed via QR code, and you can specify if you are avoiding gluten or have a gluten allergy.

Best Variety: Reverie Cafe + Bar

As an "entirely plant based" restaurant, Reverie has to bring the variety to their menu. They have appetizers, bowls, handhelds, burgers and even vegan dessert! A couple favorites include a Cuban sandwich, pulled Cuban jackfruit, garlic aioli, pickled onions, tomato, and cilantro or the bulgogi cauliflower starter made with crispy cauliflower, gochugaru, and toasted sesame. And don't leave without having a slice of mini cashew cheesecake made with a date pecan crust.

Best Rice Bowl: Seed Plant-Based Cafe

The flavorful Golden Child bowl at Seed Plant-Based Cafe is a must-get. Picture roasted cauliflower, roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, yellow curry, toasted fennel cashews, turmeric all over basmati rice. Yum! They have a few other bowl creations to try out as well, but if you want something truly different get the shrimp tacos, made from mung bean, the texture and flavor are a hit. Before, you go splurge for the chocolate chip cookie and you won't be disappointed.

Best Brunch: French Meadow Café

French Meadow Café is a local favorite for organic, local eats and boasts tasty options to suit any diet. One of the best vegan breakfasts in the city, the “Classic Vegan Breakfast” features organic tofu scramble, hashbrowns, vegan sausage, and seeded sourdough toast.

Best Vegan & Gluten-Free Spots: Hark! Cafe and Coconut Whisk Cafe

Opened by two best friends, Hark! Cafe is Minneapolis's first 100% plant-based and gluten-free restaurant. Located in the Historic Kickernick Building, this spot aims to please all diners with bagel sandwiches, jambalaya bowls, weekend waffles, and seasonal pastries like preserved orange tarts and cream-filled oatmeal cookie sandwiches.

Coconut Whisk Cafe, from the makers of local allergen-friendly baking mixes, offers mini pancakes, waffles on a stick, and vegan-friendly boba teas all made without gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, preservatives, GMOs, and artificial ingredients on Nicollet in Downtown Minneapolis.

Best Soul Food: Trio Plant-based

Louis Hunter is passionate about fighting for and feeding the Black community, and Trio Plant-based—the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minneapolis—captures that passion on every plate. Dig in to the For Your Soul Bowl, featuring vegan Mac & Cheeze and collard greens with a splash of buffalo sauce topped with crumbled cornbread, and a dab of maple butter. The BBQ Jackfruit Fries and Mac Attack cheeseburger are also legendary.

Best Bakery: Vegan East

Vegan East offers a variety of vegan cakes, rolls, bars, and sandwiches that taste just as good as the non-vegan stuff. Cool off with a vegan ice cream sandwich or treat a loved one to a bouquet of vegan cupcakes!

Best Global Flavors: World Street Kitchen

In the mood for food from... just about everywhere? World Street Kitchen is your place! Try the squash and mushroom tacos with pumpkin seed salsa, crispy marinated tofu rice bowl, sweet onion-stuffed, falafel burger, or mushroom bulgogi lettuce wraps.

Best Vegan "Chicken": Herbie Butcher's Fried Chicken

The vegan masterminds behind Herbivorous Butcher are at it again, with 100% plant-based fried chicken and classic sides—think biscuits with maple butter, coleslaw, mac & cheese, and tater tots. The menu may be simple, but you can really get creative with their long list of sauces, from Modern Times Nashville Hot Sauce to Sweet & Sour.

Best for Holistic Lifestyles: HEAL MPLS

This newly opened plant based cafe and herb shop wants to "heal" Minneapolis by creating a "safe space to chill, eat, socialize and gather as a community." Their daily selection of nutritious food is specially curated to provide plenty of variety and options. Visitors can also pick up some sweet treats, smoothies, fresh juices, herbal teas and more than 130 kinds of bulk herbs to keep that healthy lifestyle in tact. As a black-woman owned business, HEAL MPLS, is hoping to bring a little bit of wellness to the NorthSide Minneapolis community.

Best Fast Food-Style Nosh: J. Selby’s

A "fast-food" restaurant where you don’t have to modify anything because everything is 100% vegan? Yes, please! The totally plant-based menu features wings, burgers and sandwiches, milkshakes, and veggie-loaded bowls, so you're covered whether you're in the mood for something indulgent or virtuous.

Best Veggie Creations: Advellum Vegetable Eatery

Located inside Malcolm Yards Market, Advellum is a refreshing spot when you're feeling something light and healthy. They offer a menu that is friendly to all lifestyles with options that are vegan, vegetarian, vegan adaptable, gluten-free and gluten-free adaptable. The vegetables they use are grown by local farmers and while they do offer some dairy and protein options, most of the dishes are served with protein subsitues from Herbivorous Butcher, a plant-based meat and cheese shop.

If you're an avocado toast fan you have to get the Ave Toast, which includes avocado, charred tomatillo vinaigrette, cucumbers, baby tomatoes, radish, lime, grilled cranberry wheat, arugula, and pepitas. And the Bury Beet Salad is a must for all salad lovers with its roasted beets, strawberries, arugula, baby kale, mint, chives, goat cheese, red lentils, shaved fennel, and Champagne ginger vinaigrette.

Best for Ice Cream: Milkjam Creamery or Crepe and Spoon

Milkjam is known for their wild creations and their variety of vegan and gluten-free ice cream flavors. You'll often find a line out the door during the summer months, but don't worry, it moves quickly. Sample a few rotating flavors like "Poison Apple" (caramel apple sorbet), "PB vs Everybody" (peanut butter banana with oreo chunks), or "Black" (the darkest cocoa).

Don't want to bother with any non-vegan options? Crepe and Spoon offers a fully vegan menu of ice cream parlor classics—think ice cream tacos, peanut butter fudge ice cream, vegan milkshakes—as well as nostalgic sweet and savory crepes.

Best if You're Looking for Some Spice: Himalayan Restaurant

With dishes from India, Nepal, and Tibet you know Himalayan is going to bring the spice. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian to be found on this menu as well. Grab a variation of the Daal soup to start and then dig into the Takari entrees all of which are vegetarian or vegan.

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