Veganism has become increasingly popular in this day and age, as well as in the Twin Cities. While I am by no means an expert on all things vegan, I have lived my life this way for the past couple of years. So, I have my fair share of favorite *vegan* restaurants.

Trio Plant-Based:

https://www.trioplant-based.com/

Located in Uptown Minneapolis, Trio serves a variety of soul food items, burgers, wraps, etc. I would say it’s more of a dinner place, as the food is very rich and heavy. But being a vegan soul food restaurant in Minnesota, it is definitely one of a kind. It has a very vibrant energy during the summer, with its windows open and people enjoying their food. Some of my favorite things on the menu include any of the burgers (especially with a pretzel bun) and the ‘for your soul bowl.’ The only bone to pick I have with Trio is that their prices are expensive. Their burgers are upwards of $17. This isn’t an uncommon thing to see with vegan restaurants, but it can definitely be a deterrent for some.

Stalk and Spade:

https://www.stalkandspade.com/

Stalk and Spade, a newer vegan restaurant, opened in April 2021. It started in Wayzata and now has locations in Edina and the North Loop as well. Out of all the included restaurants, this one is the most fast and casual. While more expensive than various fast food restaurants, the type of food they serve is very similar. Their menu is filled with different burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, and shakes. My favorite thing on the menu is their cheeseburger, fries, and strawberry shake.

Vegan East:

https://www.veganeast.com/

Vegan East is a little different than some of my favorite restaurants because they function as a bakery first, and restaurant second. They have the most delicious cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and especially cinnamon rolls. It’s also located in Uptown Minneapolis, in what’s currently an apartment building. I love anything here, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but their grilled cheese sandwiches and cinnamon rolls are hard to top.

Reverie:

https://www.reveriempls.com/

Reverie pretty much has it all: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They’re located in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis, and in the summer they have a pretty extensive outdoor seating area. Their menu is also pretty creative; they like to mix different flavors so their food is really unique. I love their ‘eggs’ benedict and french toast. I’m a big brunch fan and most of the vegan restaurants we have typically only serve one type of meal. I definitely recommend Reverie for a good, filling meal.

Seed Cafe:

https://seedcafempls.com/

Seed Cafe is a great place for a quick bite to eat on the go. They mainly specialize in lunch foods like bowls and wraps. They also have a small brunch menu that is pretty good (the breakfast sandwich is delicious). Typically when I stop by, it’s just for a smoothie or matcha latte. Another thing about Seed Cafe is that it shares a space with a yoga studio, so it’s a perfect place to refuel after a workout. Here, I love the ‘shrimp’ tacos. I’ve never seen a restaurant that serves a shrimp substitute, so I was pretty excited when they added this to their menu.

Herbivorous Butcher:

https://www.theherbivorousbutcher.com/

Herbivorous Butcher is the most unique out of all these restaurants. It’s an entirely vegan butcher shop located in Northeast Minneapolis. They offer a variety of meats, cheeses, prepared deli sandwiches, charcuterie boards, etc. It truly is a type of heaven for vegans missing something fun like charcuterie boards. Their products are understandably expensive, as it’s the only one in Minnesota, and most likely one of the few in the U.S. While I haven’t tried all of their products, my favorite is the turkey dill havarti sandwich.