TL;DR
Best plant-based restaurants in Minneapolis: J. Selby's (St. Paul, fully vegan, best comfort food in the metro), Herbivorous Butcher (plant-based deli shop + sandwiches), Reverie Cafe + Bar (fully vegan bar + cafe, South Minneapolis), Seward Cafe (co-op, affordable, plant-forward since 1974), Hard Times Cafe (volunteer-run, sliding scale, vegan-friendly dive). Strong mixed-menu options: Birchwood Cafe (seasonal vegetable-forward), French Meadow Bakery (organic, labeled vegan options), Black Sheep Pizza (coal-fired, Violife cheese available).
Plant-Based Restaurants in Minneapolis
You don't have to be vegan to prefer eating mostly plants. A growing number of Minneapolis restaurants have figured this out — some are fully plant-based, others have menus where the vegetable dishes are clearly the main event, even if there's a burger on the menu too.
This guide covers both. Whether you're fully plant-based, cutting back on meat, or just genuinely like vegetables more than steak, these are the restaurants in Minneapolis worth knowing about.
Fully Plant-Based Restaurants
These spots are 100% plant-based. Nothing on the menu has meat, dairy, or eggs. Zero ordering anxiety.
J. Selby's (St. Paul) The metro's best fully vegan restaurant, full stop. Comfort food executed well — burgers, mac, scrambles, tacos. The kind of place where you forget to check whether something is vegan because everything is. Weekend brunch draws lines. Worth it.
The Herbivorous Butcher A plant-based meat and cheese shop that also does sandwiches. The products — seitan, nut-based cheeses, deli-style meats — are what put Minneapolis on the national plant-based food map. The Reuben is better than it has any right to be.
Reverie Cafe + Bar A South Minneapolis cafe with a rotating menu built around plants and quality ingredients. Better coffee than most dedicated cafes, and brunch options that don't feel like an afterthought. Low-key atmosphere, high-quality execution.
Seward Cafe Cooperative, community-run, and plant-forward since 1974. Breakfast and lunch, affordable, reliably vegan-friendly. No frills, but the food is good and the prices are honest.
Hard Times Cafe Volunteer-run, sliding scale pricing, late hours. West Bank institution. The food is simple and the atmosphere is eclectic, but it's been part of Minneapolis vegan history for decades and it's worth knowing about.
Strong Plant-Based Options (Mixed Menus)
These places aren't fully vegan, but the plant-based dishes are developed and intentional — not an accommodation.
Birchwood Cafe One of Minneapolis's most respected neighborhood restaurants, and the vegetable-forward dishes here are genuinely some of the best cooking in the city. Local sourcing, seasonal menus, clear labeling.
French Meadow Bakery & Cafe Organic, health-focused, and a genuine commitment to plant-based options since before it was common. The bakery side means excellent bread and pastries. The cafe side has a full menu where plant-based items are clearly marked and well-executed.
Black Sheep Pizza Coal-fired pizza with Violife cheese available. The crust is exceptional — high heat, proper char — and the vegan options hold up in that environment better than at lower-temperature ovens.
Pizza Luce Minneapolis pizza institution with dedicated vegan options developed over two decades. Multiple locations. Consistent execution. The vegan cheese actually melts.
Plant-Based by Cuisine
Thai and Southeast Asian Minneapolis has a strong Thai food scene, and Thai restaurants are generally plant-friendly by default. Many dishes can be made vegan easily.
Indian Indian cuisine has more naturally plant-based dishes than most. Dal, chana masala, aloo gobi, saag — many Indian restaurants in Minneapolis have full sections of the menu that are plant-based without any modification.
Ethiopian Injera and lentil-based wots are traditionally plant-based (especially during fasting periods). The Ethiopian restaurants in Minneapolis tend to have strong plant-based options built into the menu.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, roasted vegetables, grain-based dishes — Mediterranean restaurants offer some of the easiest fully plant-based eating in the city.
Neighborhoods with Strong Plant-Based Options
Seward / Longfellow — The historic heart of Minneapolis's co-op and vegan community. Most reliably plant-forward neighborhood in the city.
Uptown / Lyndale — Dense restaurant corridor with multiple plant-forward options. French Meadow, Reverie, and several Thai and Indian spots within walking distance.
Northeast Minneapolis — Growing food scene with several spots that take plant-based cooking seriously.
North Loop — Higher-end dining district with several farm-to-table and vegetable-forward restaurants.
The MPLS Vegan restaurant directory tracks plant-based and vegan-friendly restaurants across the Twin Cities and updates as new spots open.
If you're looking for something specific — vegan brunch in Minneapolis, vegan pizza, or vegan bakeries — we have dedicated guides for those too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many plant-based restaurants are in Minneapolis?
Minneapolis has dozens of fully vegan and plant-forward restaurants, more than most cities its size. The number has grown significantly since 2018 and continues to expand. The MPLS Vegan directory tracks current openings and closings.
What's the difference between plant-based and vegan?
In practice, 'plant-based' often signals a health or environmental motivation rather than an ethical one, and it's increasingly used by restaurants that want to appeal to a broader audience. The food is the same — no meat, dairy, or eggs — but the framing is different.
Is Minneapolis a good city for plant-based eating?
Yes. Minneapolis consistently ranks among the most vegan-friendly cities in the Midwest and often in the top tier nationally. The co-op culture, strong food scene, and engaged local community have supported plant-based restaurants here for decades.
Are plant-based restaurants in Minneapolis expensive?
Range is wide. Hard Times Cafe uses sliding scale pricing. Seward Cafe is very affordable. Birchwood and higher-end spots are more expensive. Most fall in the mid-range — comparable to any restaurant in the city.