TL;DR
Best vegan BBQ in Minneapolis 2026: Trio Plant-Based (soul food BBQ plates at Midtown Global Market), Herbivorous Butcher (grill-ready Korean BBQ ribs and pulled pork in Northeast), Francis Burger Joint (100% vegan smash burgers and fried chicken), Reverie Cafe + Bar (summer patio with vegan comfort food), and Seward Cafe (casual garden setting with hearty vegan plates). Bringing your own grill: stock up at Herbivorous Butcher for the best plant-based backyard BBQ in the Twin Cities.
Vegan BBQ in Minneapolis: Where to Eat and What to Grill This Summer
Summer in Minneapolis is short, loud, and fully outdoors. From June through August, the city runs on lake days, back porch hangs, and the kind of long evenings that make you forget winter exists. And increasingly, Minneapolis summers run on vegan food.
The plant-based dining scene here has grown well beyond salads and grain bowls. Minneapolis now has legitimate vegan BBQ options -- the smoky, saucy, stick-to-your-ribs kind -- both at restaurants and through shops that make it easy to run a world-class plant-based cookout at home.
Here is where to find it.
1. Trio Plant-Based -- Soul Food BBQ at Midtown Global Market
Midtown | 920 E Lake St (Midtown Global Market) | $$ | Mon-Sat 11:30am-7:30pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Trio Plant-Based is Minneapolis's first Black-owned 100% vegan restaurant, and it serves the most dedicated BBQ-style soul food in the city's plant-based scene. Founder Louis Hunter reopened Trio inside Midtown Global Market in March 2026 after the original LynLake location closed in 2025.
The menu is built on Southern tradition: BBQ plates with bold smoke and sauce, mac and cheese loaded enough to be an entree, collard greens seasoned properly, and fried chicken sandwiches with genuine crunch. Everything is plant-based and nothing tastes like a substitute -- it tastes like the food it set out to be.
What to order:
- BBQ plate -- the centerpiece, with smoky jackfruit and sides
- Mac and cheese -- rich, creamy, soul food style
- Fried chicken sandwich -- plant-based, full crunch
- Collard greens -- properly seasoned
Trio is inside the market, which means you can combine a meal here with a browse through one of Minneapolis's best food halls. Salty Tart is a few stalls away if you want dessert.
Best for: The most direct vegan BBQ experience in the city. Come hungry.
2. The Herbivorous Butcher -- Grill-Ready Meats and a Northeast Institution
Northeast Minneapolis | 507 1st Ave NE | $$
The Herbivorous Butcher is the anchor of vegan summer eating in Minneapolis, whether you are eating in or stocking up for a backyard cookout. America's first vegan butcher shop, run by siblings Aubry and Kale Walch, has been making the case since 2016 that plant-based meat does not have to be a compromise.
The Korean BBQ ribs are the item most people come in for: smoky, glazed, and convincing enough to have earned their reputation across years of word-of-mouth. The Italian sausage snaps like it should. The pulled pork alternative works on a bun with coleslaw and nothing else. The bratwurst is exactly what you want at a Minnesota summer cookout.
For home grilling, this is your best source in the Twin Cities. Everything is made in-house and designed to perform on a grill or in a pan.
Grill-ready picks:
- Korean BBQ ribs
- Italian sausage or bratwurst
- Pulled pork alternative
- House-made burger patties
- Bacon for side dishes
The shop also has a deli counter for ready-made sandwiches if you want something on the spot. The Italian sub is a Northeast staple.
See more Northeast spots in our Northeast Minneapolis vegan guide.
3. Francis Burger Joint -- The Vegan Smash Burger Standard
Northeast Minneapolis | 2422 Central Ave NE | $$
No summer eating guide in Minneapolis is complete without Francis Burger Joint. The 100% vegan spot on Central Ave NE has become the city's benchmark for plant-based burgers, and the smash patty approach means you get real char and crust on every order.
The Juicy Lucy -- Minnesota's signature cheese-stuffed burger, done vegan -- remains the move. The Hunny Dijon Chicken Sandwich draws its own crowd. The fries are better than most burger places, vegan or otherwise.
Francis is also a no-tipping establishment, which matters when you are feeding a group. The vegan bar program means you can pair a burger with a real cocktail or a cold beer.
The summer order:
- Juicy Lucy -- cheese-stuffed, fully vegan
- Hunny Dijon Chicken Sandwich
- Fries -- crisp and well-seasoned
- Chocolate milkshake
Best for: The burger-and-fries BBQ format, done entirely plant-based.
4. Reverie Cafe + Bar -- Patio Comfort Food
South Minneapolis | $$
Reverie Cafe + Bar is fully vegan and has a patio, which makes it a natural summer destination. The food skews comfort: mac and cheese with shiitake bacon, a solid burger, creative cocktails. It works for a long outdoor lunch or a post-lake dinner when you want something substantial.
The bar program is strong, with craft cocktails that hold up in summer heat.
Best for: A sit-down patio meal with a full bar. Good for groups that want comfort food without the backyard.
See the full list of outdoor options in our vegan patio dining guide.
5. Seward Cafe -- Casual and Community-Rooted
Seward | $
Seward Cafe is one of Minneapolis's longest-running worker-owned cooperatives and a neighborhood institution for affordable, honest vegan and vegetarian food. The garden seating in summer is relaxed and unhurried -- the kind of spot where you can linger over coffee after a meal.
The food is hearty and straightforward: grain bowls, breakfast plates, soups, and specials that rotate with what is seasonal and local. Prices are some of the lowest for plant-based food in the city.
Best for: Casual summer lunches. Budget-friendly. Community-focused.
Home Grilling: Stock Up at Herbivorous Butcher
If you are hosting a backyard cookout, Herbivorous Butcher at 507 1st Ave NE is the best single stop in the Twin Cities for vegan grilling proteins. Call ahead or check online to make sure your preferred items are in stock -- popular cuts sell out on weekends.
For produce and sides, the Seward Co-op and Mississippi Market carry local summer vegetables and prepared salads that complete a cookout spread without much effort.
For dessert: Sebastian Joe's for dairy-free ice cream, Glam Doll Donuts for vegan flavors, or Vegan East Bakery for a custom celebration cake.
Quick Reference
| What You Want | Where to Go |
|---|---|
| Soul food BBQ plates | Trio Plant-Based |
| Grill-ready vegan meats | Herbivorous Butcher |
| Best vegan smash burger | Francis Burger Joint |
| Patio comfort food | Reverie Cafe + Bar |
| Budget casual outdoor | Seward Cafe |
The Summer Itinerary
Saturday morning: Pick up Korean BBQ ribs and bratwurst at Herbivorous Butcher for a backyard cookout later.
Saturday lunch: Swing by Trio Plant-Based at Midtown Global Market for a BBQ plate and mac and cheese.
Saturday afternoon: Hit the lake.
Saturday dinner: Grill the Herbivorous Butcher haul with local corn from the co-op.
Sunday: Francis Burger Joint for a Juicy Lucy and fries.
For the full Minneapolis plant-based dining picture, start with our best vegan restaurants guide. For more summer-specific spots, the vegan comfort food guide covers the indulgent end of things and the patio dining guide has every outdoor option worth knowing.
Minneapolis summers are short. Eat well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get vegan BBQ in Minneapolis?
The best spots for vegan BBQ-style food in Minneapolis are Trio Plant-Based (BBQ plates, collard greens, and mac and cheese at Midtown Global Market), The Herbivorous Butcher (Korean BBQ ribs and pulled pork to eat in or take home for grilling in Northeast Minneapolis), and Francis Burger Joint (100% vegan smash burgers with all the fixings in Northeast).
Does the Herbivorous Butcher sell products for home grilling?
Yes. The Herbivorous Butcher at 507 1st Ave NE in Northeast Minneapolis sells house-made vegan meats designed for grilling: Korean BBQ ribs, Italian sausage, bratwurst, and pulled pork alternatives. You can order online for pickup or shipping.
What vegan restaurants in Minneapolis have outdoor seating for summer?
Several Minneapolis vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants have patios or outdoor seating: Reverie Cafe + Bar (South Minneapolis patio), Seward Cafe (garden seating), French Meadow Bakery (Lyn-Lake patio), and Namaste Cafe (Uptown courtyard). See our full vegan patio dining guide for the complete list.
Is there vegan soul food BBQ in Minneapolis?
Yes. Trio Plant-Based at Midtown Global Market (920 E Lake St) is Minneapolis's first Black-owned 100% vegan restaurant and serves soul food BBQ plates: BBQ jackfruit, collard greens, mac and cheese, and fried chicken sandwiches. Open Monday through Saturday 11:30am to 7:30pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm.
What should I bring to a vegan BBQ in Minneapolis?
For a backyard vegan BBQ, the Herbivorous Butcher is the best source for grill-ready proteins: Korean BBQ ribs, sausages, and burgers. For sides, hit the Seward Co-op or Mississippi Market for local produce and prepared salads. For dessert, grab dairy-free ice cream from Sebastian Joe's or vegan donuts from Glam Doll.