Best Vegan Lunch in Minneapolis: 10 Top Spots for Midday Eats

Minneapolis has one of the strongest plant-based dining scenes in the Midwest -- and that extends well beyond dinner. Whether you want a quick counter-service bowl, a sit-down cafe moment, or a fully vegan deli sandwich, the city has solid options across neighborhoods.

This guide covers the ten best vegan lunch spots in Minneapolis, all confirmed open midday as of July 2026. Restaurants are listed in rough order of how consistently they deliver.

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1. World Street Kitchen -- Lyn-Lake

2743 Lyndale Ave S, Lyn-Lake | $$ | Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm

World Street Kitchen is globally-inspired fast-casual done right. The Yum Yum Bowl with crispy tofu -- jasmine rice, pickled vegetables, sesame cucumbers, herb salad, and creamy peanut sauce -- is one of the best vegan lunch bowls in the city. The mushroom bulgogi burrito is a close second.

Everything is labeled, the kitchen moves fast, and the Lyndale Ave location is walkable from multiple bus routes.

Best vegan order: Yum Yum Bowl with crispy tofu ($12-14), mushroom bulgogi burrito

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2. Afro Deli -- Cedar-Riverside

1810 Riverside Ave, Cedar-Riverside | $ | Mon-Sat 10am-8pm

Afro Deli punches well above its price point. The vegan falafel wrap is one of the best lunch values in Minneapolis -- crispy chickpea fritters, tahini, fresh vegetables, and house-made hot sauce in a soft wrap, all under $10. The vegetable sambusa (savory pastry) rounds out the order.

Multiple metro locations if you need one near downtown or the airport. The Cedar-Riverside original is the most atmospheric.

Best vegan order: Vegan falafel wrap, vegetable sambusa, lentil soup

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3. Seward Cafe -- Seward

2129 E Franklin Ave, Seward | $ | Daily 8am-3pm

Seward Cafe has been feeding the neighborhood since 1974 and has always skewed heavily toward plant-based eating. The menu has a strong vegan section -- grain bowls, tofu scrambles, soups, and daily specials that rotate with what is in season. Everything is affordable and made with care.

Worker-owned and popular enough to have a short wait on weekends. Get there at 11am on a weekday for the smoothest experience.

Best vegan order: Grain bowl, tofu scramble, soup of the day

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4. Hard Times Cafe -- Cedar-Riverside

1821 Riverside Ave, Cedar-Riverside | $ | Daily 8am-9pm

Hard Times has been a vegan and vegetarian institution since 1990 -- punk diner energy, all-day breakfast, and a menu that works hard for plant-eaters. The tofu scramble is generous and cheap. The veggie burger is a well-seasoned house patty. Cash only.

One of the few spots in Minneapolis where you can get a proper vegan lunch at 11am that feels more like breakfast -- and that is rarely a bad call.

Best vegan order: Tofu scramble, veggie burger, black bean chili

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5. Saturday Dumpling Co -- Northeast Minneapolis

519 Central Ave NE, Northeast | $ | Wed-Sun 11am-9pm (also 5401 Penn Ave S, Linden Hills)

Saturday Dumpling Co is small, focused, and consistently excellent. The veggie dumplings (hand-pinched, pan-fried or steamed) and the tofu burrito bowl are the go-to vegan orders. Counter-service and quick -- in and out in 20 minutes if you are in a hurry.

The Northeast original has the most seating. The Linden Hills location (5401 Penn Ave S) keeps similar hours and is great for the southwest side.

Best vegan order: Veggie dumplings (pan-fried), tofu burrito bowl

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6. The Herbivorous Butcher -- Northeast Minneapolis

507 1st Ave NE, Northeast | $$ | Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

America's first vegan butcher shop is also a full deli. The Italian cold cut sandwich uses house-made plant-based meats -- salami, provolone, pepperoncini -- on a proper roll. The Korean BBQ ribs sandwich is another strong lunch pick. This is the place to bring skeptical omnivores who need to be shown what plant-based protein can actually taste like.

Best vegan order: Italian cold cut sandwich, Korean BBQ ribs, house-made deli meats to go

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7. May Day Cafe -- Powderhorn

3058 Bloomington Ave S, Powderhorn | $ | Wed-Mon 9am-3pm

May Day Cafe is a community staple in Powderhorn with strong vegan options and local, seasonal ingredients. Grain bowls, sandwiches, and daily specials change with what is available. Fair trade coffee, a small patio, and a neighborhood-first vibe. Best for a slower midday meal.

Best vegan order: Grain bowl of the day, soup, house-made baked goods (ask which are vegan)

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8. Modern Times Cafe -- Powderhorn

3200 Chicago Ave S, Powderhorn | $ | Wed-Mon 9am-3pm

Modern Times bills itself as "for punks and their parents." The veggie bowls and breakfast burritos can be made vegan -- ask for no dairy and add tofu or tempeh. Everything is organic and locally sourced. In the same Powderhorn area as May Day Cafe: worth visiting both on the same afternoon.

Best vegan order: Veggie bowl (vegan), breakfast burrito with tofu, fair trade coffee

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9. Francis Burger Joint -- Northeast Minneapolis

313 13th Ave NE, Northeast | $$ | Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm

Francis is 100% vegan -- everything on the menu is plant-based, including the full bar. The crispy chick'n sandwich is the top lunch pick: well-seasoned plant-based chicken, pickles, and sauce on a brioche bun. The Northeast location has the most seating. A second location operates at 3900 E Lake St in Longfellow.

Best vegan order: Crispy chick'n sandwich, smash burger, loaded fries

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10. Trio Plant-Based -- Midtown Global Market

920 E Lake St (Midtown Global Market), Midtown | $$ | Tue-Sun 11am-7pm

The first Black-owned 100% vegan soul food restaurant in Minneapolis, Trio Plant-Based reopened at Midtown Global Market in March 2026. Founder Louis Hunter's menu anchors around comfort food: buffalo mac and cheeze, jackfruit ribs, collard greens, and rotating daily specials. Midtown Global Market is a great lunch destination in itself -- easy parking and Greenway bike access.

Best vegan order: Buffalo mac and cheeze, jackfruit ribs, collard greens

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Tips for Vegan Lunch in Minneapolis

Hours matter. Seward Cafe, May Day Cafe, and Modern Times all close at 3pm. Plan accordingly if you are eating late -- or go to Hard Times or Francis, both of which run into evening hours.

Cedar-Riverside cluster. Hard Times Cafe and Afro Deli are both on Riverside Ave within a few blocks of each other, walkable from the 6 bus from downtown Minneapolis. Easy to combine into one trip.

Northeast corridor. The Herbivorous Butcher, Francis Burger Joint, and Saturday Dumpling Co are all in Northeast Minneapolis and bikeable from each other. The Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market (1100 NE 2nd St, Saturdays) pairs well with a Herbivorous Butcher deli run.

Budget picks. Afro Deli ($), Hard Times ($), and Seward Cafe ($) are consistently under $12 per person. Saturday Dumpling Co and May Day Cafe are also in the budget range.

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For more Minneapolis vegan dining ideas, see our best vegan restaurants Minneapolis guide, the vegan brunch Minneapolis guide for weekend mornings, and cheap vegan food Minneapolis for options under $15.