TL;DR
Vegan options in Bloomington MN: Inside Mall of America, Crave Restaurant has strong vegan options (sushi, pasta, soups — all labeled). True Food Kitchen at MOA has an entirely vegan-friendly menu by design. Outside the mall, People's Organic in the Mall of America area serves organic, heavily plant-based menus. For the full vegan experience, Bloomington is 15-20 minutes from Minneapolis's dedicated vegan restaurants.
Vegan Restaurants in Bloomington, MN: The Complete Guide
Bloomington is home to Mall of America, MSP Airport, and a sprawling suburban landscape that's not typically vegan-destination territory. But the options have improved, and knowing what's available — inside the mall, near the airport, and in the broader Bloomington area — is useful whether you're visiting Minnesota or just ending up on the south side of the metro.
Here's what vegans need to know about eating plant-based in Bloomington, MN.
Vegan Food at Mall of America
True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen is the strongest vegan option inside Mall of America. The concept was built on Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory diet principles, which means the menu is designed with plant-forward eating at its core — not as an accommodation, but as the organizing principle.
The menu has an extensive and clearly labeled vegan section: grain bowls, plant-based protein dishes, salads built around legumes and seasonal vegetables, and vegan desserts. The food is genuinely good — not mall-food-good, but restaurant-good. This is the choice for a real sit-down vegan meal at MOA.
Vegan standouts: The edamame dumplings, the ancient grains bowl, the seasonal vegetable plates, and the vegan dessert offerings change with the seasons.
Crave Restaurant
Crave is a more conventional upscale American restaurant that rolled out a strongly plant-forward menu after recognizing demand. The vegan options are clearly labeled and cover multiple categories: sushi rolls made with cucumber, avocado, and pickled vegetables; pasta dishes with vegetable preparations; and soups built without dairy.
This is a good option for a group with mixed diets — the menu is broad enough that everyone finds something, and the vegan section is substantial enough that you're not ordering a side salad for dinner.
Outside the Mall: Bloomington Vegan Options
People's Organic is a health-forward cafe and market in the Bloomington/Eden Prairie area with an organic, heavily plant-based menu. Smoothie bowls, grain bowls, salads, and prepared foods skewing strongly toward vegan and vegetarian. A good option for a lighter, health-focused meal.
YoYo Donuts (Richfield, adjacent to Bloomington) — technically Richfield rather than Bloomington, but worth noting given the proximity. One of the best vegan donut selections in the metro area. A 5-minute drive from most Bloomington locations.
The Minneapolis Option (15-20 Min Drive)
For the full vegan restaurant experience, Minneapolis is close enough that a deliberate drive is worth it. The closest fully vegan restaurants to Bloomington/MOA include:
Francis Burger Joint — Longfellow (Lake Street): 100% vegan smash burgers, chick'n sandwiches, and bar food. The Longfellow location at 3900 E Lake St is the closest fully vegan restaurant to Mall of America — approximately 15 minutes by car.
Lulu EthioVegan: South Minneapolis Ethiopian restaurant, fully vegan, about 20 minutes from MOA. One of the best restaurants in Minnesota regardless of dietary category.
Hard Times Cafe — Cedar-Riverside: 24/7 diner-style food with extensive vegan options, close to downtown Minneapolis. About 20 minutes from MOA.
Trio Plant-Based: St Paul's fully vegan Southern-inspired restaurant. About 25 minutes from MOA via 35E.
Near MSP Airport (Also in Bloomington)
MSP Airport has improved for travelers who eat plant-based. Inside the terminals:
Holy Land (Terminal 1, Lindbergh): Mediterranean food with clearly labeled vegan items. Falafel, hummus, vegetable-stuffed flatbreads — the best vegan airport food at MSP.
Various smoothie and bowl concepts in both terminals offer vegan-friendly options.
For a real meal before or after flying, see our full vegan restaurants near MSP airport guide.
Getting to Minneapolis Vegan Restaurants from Bloomington
The Blue Line light rail connects Mall of America directly to downtown Minneapolis — no car needed. The ride is about 25 minutes to downtown, where you can connect to other light rail or bus lines, or walk/Lyft to South Minneapolis, Seward, or Northeast neighborhoods.
From MOA, the Blue Line also serves the airport, making a combination of airport + Bloomington + Minneapolis vegan dining genuinely feasible without a car on a day trip.
Neighborhood Context: Bloomington for Vegan Travelers
Bloomington is not a vegan destination in the way Northeast Minneapolis or Seward is — it's a transit point and a suburban commercial hub. The strategy for vegan eating in Bloomington is to use it correctly: True Food Kitchen and Crave for meals when you're genuinely at or near MOA, People's Organic for lighter fare, and Minneapolis as the deliberate destination when you have time.
The Blue Line light rail changes the calculation significantly. MOA is a direct connection to Downtown East, Lake Street/Midtown station, and further south or north depending on direction. From MOA, you're 20 minutes from the heart of South Minneapolis's vegan scene without a car.
Price Range & Hours
True Food Kitchen (MOA): Mid-range, $15-$25 per person for mains. Dinner reservations recommended on weekends. Open daily, lunch through dinner. Full bar.
Crave Restaurant (MOA): Mid-range to upscale, $18-$32 for mains. Validated mall parking. Open daily lunch through dinner. Cocktails available.
People's Organic: Lighter price point, $12-$18 range. Cafe-style, counter service for most items. Good for quick meals or coffee + snack.
YoYo Donuts (Richfield): $3-$5 per item. Open mornings, sometimes sells out of vegan items by early afternoon. Call ahead for availability.
Pro Tip
The Transit Strategy: If you're flying into MSP and have a few hours before your hotel, skip the food court and take the Blue Line north to Lake Street/Midtown station (about 25 minutes). You're now walking distance from Midtown Global Market (Holy Land flagship, other vendors) and a short Lyft from Lulu EthioVegan. Return via Blue Line with no parking stress. This is a better vegan meal than anything in the airport, and the logistics are genuinely simple.
Planning for Groups with Mixed Diets
Bloomington's vegan options — particularly True Food Kitchen and Crave — are well-suited to mixed groups because the menus are broad. Non-vegan diners have plenty of choices while vegans eat well. This is the practical advantage of choosing True Food Kitchen over a fully vegan restaurant for group meals in the Bloomington area.
For families visiting Mall of America with kids: the food court vendors in MOA have expanded vegan options, including smoothie bowls and rice-based dishes. True Food Kitchen has a kids' menu with some vegan-friendly items.
Accessibility & Transit Notes
Mall of America: Fully wheelchair accessible, including both True Food Kitchen and Crave Restaurant. MOA is served by the Blue Line light rail at the Mall of America station — no car needed from downtown Minneapolis or MSP Airport. Parking at MOA is free in the attached ramps. True Food Kitchen is on the upper dining level; Crave is near the North entrance.
People's Organic: Street-level accessible, standard parking lot available.
Blue Line from MOA: The train runs from early morning through midnight, every 10-15 minutes during peak hours. The ride to Lake Street/Midtown (heart of South Minneapolis vegan scene) is about 12 minutes from MOA station.
Pro Tip — Plan the Blue Line Detour: If you're at Mall of America and have 90+ minutes, don't just stay in the mall for dinner. The Blue Line to Midtown puts you at Lulu EthioVegan or a 10-minute Lyft from J. Selby's. The food is dramatically better. Return train runs until midnight. This is the insider move for vegan visitors to MOA.
Related Posts
Looking for more vegan dining guides for the Twin Cities? See our vegan restaurants near MSP airport guide for airport-specific options, vegan food Minneapolis guide for the full city picture, and the best vegan restaurants Minneapolis 2026 overview. For south-metro suburban options, also check our vegan restaurants St Paul guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there vegan restaurants in Bloomington MN?
Yes — Bloomington has several vegan-friendly options, especially at and near Mall of America. Inside the mall, True Food Kitchen has an extensive vegan menu, and Crave Restaurant has labeled vegan options. People's Organic serves organic, plant-forward food nearby. For fully vegan restaurants, Minneapolis (15-20 min drive) has J. Selby's, The Herbivorous Butcher, Lulu EthioVegan, and more.
Is there vegan food at Mall of America?
Yes — Mall of America has improved significantly for vegans. True Food Kitchen (built on Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory diet principles) is the strongest option with an extensive labeled vegan menu. Crave Restaurant offers a range of vegan sushi, pasta, and soup options. Several food court vendors also offer vegan items — look for Asian-inspired bowls and smoothie bars.
What is the closest fully vegan restaurant to Mall of America?
The closest fully vegan restaurants to Mall of America are in Minneapolis, about 15-20 minutes north. Francis Burger Joint on Lake Street in Longfellow is among the closest — fully vegan smash burgers and bar food. Lulu EthioVegan and Hard Times Cafe are also relatively close. YoYo Donuts in Richfield is the closest for vegan pastries.
Are there vegan options near MSP Airport in Bloomington?
MSP Airport and Mall of America are both in Bloomington. For airport vegan food, Holy Land at MSP Terminal 1 has Mediterranean food with labeled vegan options. YoYo Donuts in nearby Richfield is a quick stop. For a proper vegan meal before or after flying, plan an extra 20-30 minutes to reach Minneapolis proper.