Vegan Comfort Food & Soul Food in the Twin Cities

Brasa Premium Rotisserie is a vegan-friendly Southern and Creole restaurant at 600 E Hennepin Ave in Northeast Minneapolis, with a second location in St. Paul, priced at $$. While known for rotisserie meats, Brasa's vegetable sides and plant-based options are destination-worthy on their own. The yams with bourbon and brown sugar, collard greens, corn maque choux, and black-eyed peas are all prepared without meat products (confirm when ordering). Build a vegetable plate of any three sides for a satisfying meal. The cornbread is phenomenal. Perfect for dining with mixed groups. Q: Is Brasa vegan-friendly? A: Yes -- while Brasa focuses on rotisserie meats, the vegetable sides are destination-worthy on their own. The yams with bourbon and brown sugar, collard greens, corn maque choux, and black-eyed peas are all prepared without meat products (confirm when ordering). Building a three-side vegetable plate makes a full vegan meal. Q: What should vegans order at Brasa? A: Build a vegetable plate of any three sides. Top picks: yams with bourbon and brown sugar (rich and indulgent), collard greens (Southern classic, no meat), corn maque choux (Creole-style creamed corn), and black-eyed peas. Do not skip the cornbread. Q: Where is Brasa in Minneapolis? A: The Minneapolis Brasa is at 600 E Hennepin Ave in Northeast Minneapolis. A second location is in St. Paul. Open every day 11am to 9pm.

The second location of Minneapolis's 100% vegan burger joint, opened November 2024 on East Lake Street in Longfellow. Same smash-style plant-based burgers, crispy chick'n, and shakes as the Northeast original, now serving Longfellow and the river neighborhoods. Located at 3900 E Lake St, open daily from 11am with extended hours until 10pm on Friday and Saturday. The closest fully vegan restaurant to Mall of America, roughly 15 minutes by car. Q: Is Francis Burger Joint in Longfellow 100% vegan? A: Yes. Francis Burger Joint at 3900 E Lake St in Longfellow is completely plant-based - no meat, no dairy, no eggs anywhere on the menu. It is Minneapolis's only fully vegan smash burger restaurant, with the same menu as the original Northeast location. Q: What should I order at Francis Burger Joint on Lake Street? A: The smash burger is the essential order - a plant-based patty smashed thin on a flat-top with classic burger toppings. The crispy chick'n sandwich is the other must-try. Add loaded fries for the table and finish with a dairy-free milkshake, which is thick enough to eat with a spoon. Q: Where is Francis Burger Joint Longfellow and when is it open? A: Francis Burger Joint is at 3900 E Lake St in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. Open daily Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday until 10pm. A short drive from Seward, Powderhorn, and the river neighborhoods.

Heal sits in a striking red-brick former bank building at 42nd Street and Lyndale Avenue in North Minneapolis, and the space feels every bit as intentional as its name. Owner Sierra Carter, a music executive and trained herbalist, opened the cafe as a community pop-up during the 2020 uprisings before turning it into a permanent fixture in 2021. The name is an acronym: herbs, eats, all love. The menu is described by the team as 90% vegan, 10% halal -- the cafe evolved from its fully plant-based roots to better serve the community's nutritional needs while keeping the plant-forward foundation intact. Tinga cabbage tacos, banana chia seed pudding, a Mississippi Bae Bowl with pan-fried catfish cakes (plant-based), and fresh-pressed juices round out a menu that changes with the season. Organic locally roasted coffee and custom-blended teas make Heal a strong morning anchor too. Beyond the food, the space functions as a healing center. An in-house apothecary stocks over 130 herbs for purchase. Books on self-help and wellness line the shelves. Goods from local Black makers fill the shop floor. A floor-to-ceiling tropical rainforest mural bathes the dining room in green, and plants drip from the ceiling -- the effect is immersive and genuinely calming. Black-owned and women-owned, Heal is one of the most distinctive and community-rooted plant-based spaces in the Twin Cities. Q: Is Heal in North Minneapolis vegan? A: Heal is primarily plant-based -- the team describes the menu as 90% vegan, 10% halal. Most items are fully plant-based. Heal is a Black-owned, women-owned cafe and healing center at 4171 N Lyndale Ave. Q: What should I order at Heal Minneapolis? A: The Mississippi Bae Bowl is the most distinctive plate -- plant-based catfish cakes with Southern roots. The tinga cabbage tacos are bold and satisfying. Fresh-pressed juices are made to order and are the heart of the menu. Q: What are Heal Minneapolis hours? A: Monday through Thursday 8am to 4pm, Friday 12pm to midnight, Saturday 12pm to 9pm. Closed Sunday. Located at 4171 N Lyndale Ave in North Minneapolis.

J. Selby's is a 100% vegan restaurant in Saint Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood, serving plant-based takes on American comfort food and fast food classics. The menu features the legendary Crunchwrap (vegan taco meat in a grilled flour tortilla), crispy fried lion's mane mushroom wings, and the indulgent Dirty Double burger with secret sauce. Weekend brunch offers bottomless mimosas and hearty breakfast burritos. Dairy-free shakes, sundaes, and extra-thick Frostbites with mix-ins like cookie dough round out the menu. Q: Is J. Selby's 100% vegan? A: Yes. J. Selby's is completely plant-based -- no meat, dairy, or eggs anywhere on the menu. It opened in 2017 as one of the first fully vegan comfort food restaurants in the Twin Cities, and it remains the go-to spot for vegan versions of American fast food and bar food in Saint Paul. Q: What should I order at J. Selby's? A: The Crunchwrap is the signature -- vegan taco meat in a grilled flour tortilla, crunchy, satisfying, and better than the fast food original. The lion's mane wings are the best bar snack on the menu. The Dirty Double Burger is the move for burger nights. On weekends, the breakfast burrito and bottomless mimosa brunch are local favorites. For dessert, the Frostbite shakes with cookie dough or Oreo mix-ins are worth the extra time. Q: Is J. Selby's worth visiting -- what do reviews say? A: J. Selby's consistently earns strong reviews for converting skeptics. The most common verdict: even non-vegans enjoy the food. It holds 4.5 stars on Google across hundreds of reviews. Critics have highlighted the lion's mane wings and Crunchwrap specifically. The vibe is casual and welcoming, prices are reasonable at $$, and the Cathedral Hill location makes it easy to pair with other Saint Paul dining.

Lutunji Abrams is best known for her peach cobbler, and her vegan version with flaky coconut oil crust is equally sumptuous. This Elliot Park bakery specializes in all kinds of vegan treats, many of them gluten-free: coconut macaroons, cashew milk ice cream, and Oreo 'cheezecake.' Savory options include plant-based omelets and croissant sandwiches. Lutunji's warmth and dedication to craft shine through in every bite. A hidden gem that deserves more attention. Q: Is Lutunji's Palate fully vegan? A: Yes, completely. Every item is 100% plant-based, and many options are also gluten-free -- making it one of the few spots in Minneapolis where vegan and gluten-free eaters are both well-served. Q: What should I order at Lutunji's Palate? A: Start with the signature peach cobbler -- a flaky coconut oil crust sets it apart. The Oreo 'cheezecake' and cashew milk ice cream are the other must-orders. For savory, the croissant sandwich is a strong morning choice. Q: When is Lutunji's Palate open? A: Monday through Friday 7am to 3pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm. Closed Sunday. Located at 1400 Park Ave in the Elliot Park neighborhood.

Trio Plant-Based is the first Black-owned, 100% plant-based soul food restaurant in Minneapolis. Founded by Louis Hunter after six years on West Lake Street, Trio relocated to Midtown Global Market (920 E Lake St) in March 2026 and is now part of the East Court food hall. The menu is rooted in comfort: buffalo mac & cheese, slow-cooked collard greens, jackfruit barbecue ribs, and hearty burgers and wraps, all fully plant-based. This is the kind of soul food that doesn't require compromise; every dish is built to satisfy. Trio has always stood for more than food. It's grounded in resilience, community, and healing, values that Louis Hunter has centered from the start. Midtown Global Market is a vibrant multicultural food hall at the heart of the Lake Street corridor. Trio fits right in: accessible, community-focused, and one of the most meaningful vegan spots in the city. Q: Is Trio Plant-Based 100% vegan? A: Yes. Trio Plant-Based is a fully plant-based restaurant with no animal products on the menu. It is also Minneapolis's first Black-owned 100% vegan restaurant. Located inside Midtown Global Market at 920 E Lake St. Q: What should I order at Trio Plant-Based? A: The buffalo mac and cheeze is the signature -- creamy, spicy, and fully plant-based. Jackfruit barbecue ribs are slow-cooked with smoky sauce and one of the best things on the menu. Collard greens are done right: slow-cooked and well-seasoned. The vegan burger is hearty and satisfying. Q: What are Trio Plant-Based's hours? A: Trio Plant-Based is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30am to 7:30pm, and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Located inside Midtown Global Market at 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis.