Best Places For Vegetarian Food In The Twin Cities
French Meadow Bakery & Café
2610 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-870-7855
Directory | Website
French Meadow entertains a full house for breakfast, lunch and dinner and provides many vegetarian and even vegan options. Start your meal with vegan black bean soup or vegetarian tomato basil with chunks of fresh tomatoes and slivers of basil. The roasted veggie or grilled tempeh reuben sandwiches are outstanding and come with a side of tortilla chips or mixed greens. Don't miss the sweet corn arepas layered with vegan sausage, red peppers and spinach. The flavors are amazing!
Ecopolitan
2409 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55405
612-87-GREEN
Directory | Website
Ecopolitan is not only vegan, but raw as well, so finding a vegetarian meal on the menu is oh-so-easy. Enjoy pizzas topped with cashew cheese, walnut sausage' and marinated mushrooms or "pasta" made from raw zucchini. Juices are squeezed fresh on-site and desserts like the fudgy carob brownie can be a rich ending to a healthy meal.
Evergreen Chinese Restaurant
424 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-871-6801
Directory | Website
Evergreen Chinese has long been known as offering plenty of vegetarian and vegan options and it goes the extra mile by preparing these dishes in a separate wok as to avoid any cross contamination. Mock duck, tofu, and even faux seafood are available as meat substitutes in most dishes and the vegetarian egg rolls are crispy and meat free! For dessert, soy bubble tea hits the spot.
Spoonriver
750 S. 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-436-2236
Directory | Website
Spoonriver, owned by Brenda Langton of Café Brenda fame, has secured a steady following in the herbivore world by offering house made hummus, salads full of lentils and veggies, and the famous Brenda Burger made of rice and nuts. A new vegetarian entrée is featured each evening based on seasonality and since Langton started Mill City Farmers Market, she is in touch with some of the best produce available.
Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-333-7399
Directory | Website
The Triple Rock is a hot spot to hear live indie bands and eat copious amounts of bacon on Free Bacon Wednesdays, so it may be surprising to learn that vegetarians and vegans love the food here. Breakfast portions are huge, so regulars go for the half order of tofu scrambles and breakfast burritos with veggie sausage. The veggie chili is outstanding and a rare find in the Twin Cities. Polish it all off with a vegan white Russian and enjoy a show.
The Loop Bar & Restaurant
606 Washington Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-340-0010
Directory | Website
The Loop is located in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis. With giant flat screen televisions on every wall, it is a great sports bar to catch a game while noshing on vegetarian fare. Appetizers include jalapeno hummus, red pepper tapenade, and sweet & sour tofu while dinner includes portobello mushroom wrap, grilled cheese, and an array of delicious salads like the Cherry Almond Greens topped with creamy maple dressing.
OM
401 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-338-1510
Website
OM is a relatively new Indian restaurant in downtown Minneapolis and provides many options to enjoy meat-free meals without sacrificing often neglected protein. With a menu full of traditional Indian spices but free from the standard curry bowls, OM offers two solid vegetarian entrees to choose from: Grilled Saffron Paneer and Squash and Lentil Casserole. However, a diner could easily skip the entrée section and focus on appetizers and sides like the flavorful Mumbai Crackers, warming Cardamom Thai Chile soup, or the dal of the day with hot from the oven naan bread.
Delights of India
1123 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN
612-824-6342
Directory | Website
While OM may satisfy your need for an elegant Indian meal, Delights of India has the more traditional side covered. Offering solely vegetarian options, many items can also be made vegan. From yummy samosas to vegetable packed korma, there is no need to worry about meat entering your meal. After dinner, try a refreshing pina colada sorbet for dessert.
Seward Café
2129 E Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
612-332-1011
Directory | Website
This eclectic café in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis is quite large, providing not only a place to eat with like-minded individuals, but a place to socialize as well. Only open for breakfast and lunch, huevos rancheros and buckwheat pancakes are favorites any time of day. Fresh produce from a local CSA share is used throughout the menu and shines in the Radical Roots Stir-Fry chock-full of broccoli, beets, and ginger.
Trotters Café
232 Cleveland N. Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-645-8950
Directory | Website
Trotters Café is located in the Merriam Park neighborhood of St. Paul is home to several popular dessert spots like Izzy's and Sweets Bakeshop. A chalkboard boasts local ingredients used in menu items and the list is overflowing. Try the house made veggie burger or the West African Sweet Potato Stew for a taste of Trotters' flair or stop by during breakfast for a veggie pie with a mashed potato crust. Don't forget to take home a brownie or freshly baked chocolate chip cookie for dessert.
-Crystal Grobe is a local food blogger who writes the WCCO blog, Bite of Minnesota, focusing on fresh and local foods in the Twin Cities area. She is passionate about discovering great food and recipes and enjoys sharing those finds with others. Crystal also blogs at Café Cyan, City Pages and Twin Cities Food Finds where she talks about cooking, food events and restaurants.