With people cutting meat out of their diets left and right, it’s important to know where to get your budget friendly vegetarian fix. We scoured Minneapolis for our favorite meat-free meals and created this list of 9 places to tempt your taste buds and keep your wallet full. Listed in descending order from lowest priced to highest.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know or send us a tip.
This neighborhood café started out in 1926 as a dairy-turned-grocery store. Focused on locally sourced, in-season ingredients, it’s only natural that they make amazing vegetarian meals. For a vibrant $8 lunch, grab the half chimichurri tofu sandwich with a cup of minestrone or carrot dill soup. For dinner, try the spring salad - a bed of crisp house-mixed greens & herbs topped with Shepherd’s Way Hope cheese, radish, carrot, and onion dressed in a flavorful rhubarb fennel vinaigrette and sprinkled with sunflower seeds.
[Photo Courtesy Birchwood Café’s Facebook]
This farm-food friendly fast-casual spot from James Beard Award winning chef Alex Roberts might be known for meats, but the black bean fritter sandwich is worth discovering. Topped with hunks of fresh mozzarella, guacamole, and tomato, it's hard to believe it's under $8. Also, try the spicy masa corn cake served with pickled onion and roasted yam.
[Photo Courtesy Brasa’s Facebook]
This little basement restaurant serves Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes to delight omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike. The clearly-marked menu won’t have you searching or needing to ask the waiter whether dishes are meat-free. They have mock beef, mock pork, mock chicken and even mock seafood, so you won’t be lacking options. Start with the garlic-ginger seaweed knots ($2.15) - salty snacks that will whet your appetite.
[Photo courtesy Evergreen Chinese]
Serving up a variety of Middle Eastern food in a casual atmosphere, Jerusalem’s Restaurant has some of the best falafel and hummus in the Twin Cities. The dining room has pillow-like curtains hanging from the ceiling and the patio features a gazebo of sorts covered with hanging plants. But let’s not get sidetracked here. Order the large falafel sandwich ($6.25) or the vegetarian plate ($9.25). Bonus falafel are just 80 cents a piece. [Photo Courtesy Jerusalem’s Facebook]
This tiny restaurant serves cuisine from the Malabar region in southwest India. Flavoring agents often used in this region include cardamom, curry leaves, mustard seeds, tamarind and coriander. Try the koon masala, a satisfying sandwich packed with mushrooms, tomatoes and onions that have been slowly simmered in a thick, spice-laden sauce that are $5.99. Other options include Palappam (Indian rice crepes) with your choice of potato stew or egg curry. Cumin and herb seasoned jeera rice and parippu (lentil) curry. All are available for under $10.
[Photo Courtesy Malabari Kitchen’s Facebook]
The award-winning Modern Times has excellent plant-based dishes for unbeatable prices. The bright and sunny exterior matches the attitudes of its employees. For breakfast try the hearty Chakra Khan scramble packed with veggies, brown rice and cheese or popular Southside hash with vegetarian chorizo. Lunch is ruled by the house-made tempeh which is served as a burger or piled high in the Don Quixote sandwich.
[Photo Courtesy Modern Times Facebook]
Since being featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, The Wienery has been attracting more locals than ever before to its tiny Cedar-Riverside shop. They may be known for their wieners, but they serve up breakfast and a variety of sandwiches with plenty of vegetarian options. For breakfast, try Aisha’s Mexico City Breakfast – scrambled eggs with hot peppers, onion, garlic, tomato and cumin ($4). For lunch or dinner, snag a vegan tofu dog ($3.50) or vegetarian Italian sausage ($4) done in your choice of sixteen different styles. If it’s a sandwich you want, go for the open-faced veggie melt on homemade bread with mock duck or black beans ($6). Cash only. You’ve been warned.
[Photo Courtesy The Wienery’s Facebook]
This 20-seater restaurant on the U of M campus in Stadium Village dishes out savory and authentic Korean soft tofu soups. Creamy, spicy and perfect for a winter lunch, go for the vegetable soft tofu with broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms ($9.99). Each bowl is served with banchan (Korean side dishes) and a side of rice to make sure won’t go home hungry.
[Eater file photo]
We know Triple Rock as a kickass concert venue and bar, but they also serve awesome, home-cooked food. Get The Mother Biker, a huge portion of home fries and veggies topped with the tofu scrambler and vegan nacho “cheese” sauce that could satisfy three people for the low price of $9.50.
[Photo Courtesy Triple Rock Social Club’s Facebook]
This neighborhood café started out in 1926 as a dairy-turned-grocery store. Focused on locally sourced, in-season ingredients, it’s only natural that they make amazing vegetarian meals. For a vibrant $8 lunch, grab the half chimichurri tofu sandwich with a cup of minestrone or carrot dill soup. For dinner, try the spring salad - a bed of crisp house-mixed greens & herbs topped with Shepherd’s Way Hope cheese, radish, carrot, and onion dressed in a flavorful rhubarb fennel vinaigrette and sprinkled with sunflower seeds.
[Photo Courtesy Birchwood Café’s Facebook]
This farm-food friendly fast-casual spot from James Beard Award winning chef Alex Roberts might be known for meats, but the black bean fritter sandwich is worth discovering. Topped with hunks of fresh mozzarella, guacamole, and tomato, it's hard to believe it's under $8. Also, try the spicy masa corn cake served with pickled onion and roasted yam.
[Photo Courtesy Brasa’s Facebook]
This little basement restaurant serves Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes to delight omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike. The clearly-marked menu won’t have you searching or needing to ask the waiter whether dishes are meat-free. They have mock beef, mock pork, mock chicken and even mock seafood, so you won’t be lacking options. Start with the garlic-ginger seaweed knots ($2.15) - salty snacks that will whet your appetite.
[Photo courtesy Evergreen Chinese]
Serving up a variety of Middle Eastern food in a casual atmosphere, Jerusalem’s Restaurant has some of the best falafel and hummus in the Twin Cities. The dining room has pillow-like curtains hanging from the ceiling and the patio features a gazebo of sorts covered with hanging plants. But let’s not get sidetracked here. Order the large falafel sandwich ($6.25) or the vegetarian plate ($9.25). Bonus falafel are just 80 cents a piece. [Photo Courtesy Jerusalem’s Facebook]
This tiny restaurant serves cuisine from the Malabar region in southwest India. Flavoring agents often used in this region include cardamom, curry leaves, mustard seeds, tamarind and coriander. Try the koon masala, a satisfying sandwich packed with mushrooms, tomatoes and onions that have been slowly simmered in a thick, spice-laden sauce that are $5.99. Other options include Palappam (Indian rice crepes) with your choice of potato stew or egg curry. Cumin and herb seasoned jeera rice and parippu (lentil) curry. All are available for under $10.
[Photo Courtesy Malabari Kitchen’s Facebook]
The award-winning Modern Times has excellent plant-based dishes for unbeatable prices. The bright and sunny exterior matches the attitudes of its employees. For breakfast try the hearty Chakra Khan scramble packed with veggies, brown rice and cheese or popular Southside hash with vegetarian chorizo. Lunch is ruled by the house-made tempeh which is served as a burger or piled high in the Don Quixote sandwich.
[Photo Courtesy Modern Times Facebook]
Since being featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, The Wienery has been attracting more locals than ever before to its tiny Cedar-Riverside shop. They may be known for their wieners, but they serve up breakfast and a variety of sandwiches with plenty of vegetarian options. For breakfast, try Aisha’s Mexico City Breakfast – scrambled eggs with hot peppers, onion, garlic, tomato and cumin ($4). For lunch or dinner, snag a vegan tofu dog ($3.50) or vegetarian Italian sausage ($4) done in your choice of sixteen different styles. If it’s a sandwich you want, go for the open-faced veggie melt on homemade bread with mock duck or black beans ($6). Cash only. You’ve been warned.
[Photo Courtesy The Wienery’s Facebook]
This 20-seater restaurant on the U of M campus in Stadium Village dishes out savory and authentic Korean soft tofu soups. Creamy, spicy and perfect for a winter lunch, go for the vegetable soft tofu with broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms ($9.99). Each bowl is served with banchan (Korean side dishes) and a side of rice to make sure won’t go home hungry.
[Eater file photo]
We know Triple Rock as a kickass concert venue and bar, but they also serve awesome, home-cooked food. Get The Mother Biker, a huge portion of home fries and veggies topped with the tofu scrambler and vegan nacho “cheese” sauce that could satisfy three people for the low price of $9.50.
[Photo Courtesy Triple Rock Social Club’s Facebook]
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