Food & Drink

15 Vegan-Friendly Eateries

Plant-based options abound at these St. Louis Park and Golden Valley eateries. From "burgers" and pizzas to bowls and desserts, these restaurants provide mouthwatering dishes free of meat, dairy and eggs.

March 20, 2023

The Block Food + Drink

Known for their classic American fare and dog-friendly pawtio (and special dog menu!), The Block has a wide array of vegan options. For breakfast, enjoy a vegan egg biscuit sandwich made with Acre Made eggs or breakfast bowl. For lunch or dinner, try the vegan Philly, made with The Herbivorous Butcher’s vegan porterhouse, chao vegan cheese, sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms on a vegan hoagie roll with a side of vegan au jus. Other dishes include a vegan fried chicken sandwich, buffalo cauliflower with vegan ranch, a beyond burger, black bean burger with vegan dill ranch, vegan nachos, vegan mac & cheese (with vegan chorizo, porterhouse or tofu) and a Phuket bowl. Be sure to save room for dessert and enjoy a slice of vegan Muddy Paws New York-style cheesecake with a seasonal compote and mint.

The Loop

The Loop is a vibrant, West End restaurant with a classy, yet comfortable décor and a large variety of menu options. Hang out with friends on the patio, cozy up to the outdoor fireplace or catch the game on one of the Loop’s 22 TV’s. Their plant-based menu includes a Nashville chicken sandwich (with crispy plant-based chicken, of course), Impossible burger, pineapple chicken, crispy chicken Caesar salad (with vegan parmesan), Szechuan cauliflower tacos, and Kung Pao with cauliflower or tofu. They’re also known for their specialty cocktail menu with fun names such as Resting Spritz Face, Watermelon Sugar, and Rocket Fuel.

Mill Valley Kitchen

MVK is a tribute to the Mill Valley region of Northern California, a community known for its thoughtfully crafted food and credited with the birth of the Slow Food movement and sustainable farming.  MVK serves locally sourced, farm-to-table food in a cozy, fine dining atmosphere. They also have a lovely outdoor patio. Signature vegan dishes include Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit with coconut creamed corn and crispy plantain and Ratatouille with roasted vegetables, pistachio romesco and crispy spinach quinoa. Salads are vegan adaptable and sides include roasted fingerling potatoes, spicy edamame, sesame carrots and hummus.

Mill Valley Market

A sister restaurant to Mill Valley Kitchen, the Market, located at The Trailhead in the heart of Theodore Wirth Regional Park, specializes in delicious and healthy grab-n-go options with a number of vegan or vegan adaptable offerings. Choose from breakfast burritos, avocado toast, a veggie burger, tacos, salads and bowls. Snacks include fresh fruit, hummus and veggies, chermoula brussels sprouts and sweet potato fries.

Parkway Pizza

Parkway Pizza lays claim to making the best. pizza. ever. Their pies are served Minnesota-style, with a thin crust and secret recipe red sauce. They use vegan “meat” toppings from The Herbivorous Butcher including pepperoni, sausage, hamburger and chicken, along with vegan mozzarella. Signature vegan pizzas include the Vegavore (pepperoni, sausage and hamburger), Artichicken (oil and garlic sauce, chicken, artichokes, tomato and spinach) and Vegan Hawaiian (capicola ham and sweet pineapple). Other pies can be made vegan upon request. Additional offerings include an unmeatball hoagie, vegan chicken parmesan pasta and hoagies, vegan supreme penne pasta, plus appetizers such as vegan cheese toast and vegan artichoke dip.

Vibe Organic Juice Bar

Give your health a boost at this vegan eatery serving organic, cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Beverages are made with almond or coconut milk and can be customized by adding strawberries, blueberries, goji berries, chia seeds, hemp granola, vanilla and chocolate plant proteins and so much more. Open for breakfast and lunch, enjoy sandwiches made with Dave’s killer bread, homemade soup, and customizable power bowls, Buddha bowls and salads.

Wok in the Park

Wok in the Park features simple, handcrafted recipes that put a fresh and unique twist on classic Asian cuisine. Their menu is inspired, inventive and passionate, providing creative cultural infusions from Japan, Vietnam, China, Thailand, and France. Everything they serve is prepared fresh in house, using the highest quality ingredients, from whole garlic to real lemon and local produce (when in season). Start your meal with a Ginger Salad or Curry Coconut Soup, then choose from a tasty (and sometimes spicy!) array of curry, noodle and stir fry dishes. Most dishes can be made vegan using tofu or mock duck and gluten-free options abound. The chef is happy to accommodate dietary restrictions – just ask!

Yard House

Yard House is a high-end sports bar with a huge menu of made-from-scratch dishes and 100+ taps of the best American craft and import beers. They use Gardein™ chicken products to create tasty chicken dishes, including buffalo, BBQ, black pepper and lemon pepper wings, as well as chicken tenders, BBQ, chicken salad, orange chicken, a chicken and avocado sandwich, and a chicken rice bowl. They also serve a Beyond Burger™ and sides such as spicy rice, French fries, edamame, and more. Their menu is more vegetarian than vegan, so you’ll need to ask for no cheese, no ranch and so on. Their buns contain dairy, but you can request their gluten-free bun which does not. Their website has a great PDF of vegan friendly menu items.

Other Places Worth a Mention

There are several quick service restaurants that will “bowl” you over with vegan options.

Bliss Açai

Bliss is a family-owned açaí sorbet bowl restaurant that features made-from-scratch sorbets that are packed with flavor, while still focusing on your body and your health. The menu includes a variety of health and dessert bowls, with ingredients such as açaí and pitaya sorbet, coconut, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds, granola and more. They also serve a variety of smoothies made with honey Greek yogurt and sorbet and topped with whipped cream, as well as sorbet parfaits made with spirulina chia pudding or honey Greek yogurt topped with fruit or granola.

Nautical Bowls

Located at the West End, Nautical Bowls is a quick-service restaurant offering healthy, fresh superfood bowls made with ingredients that are organic, gluten free, dairy free, plant-based, zero refined sugars and packed with essential vitamins & nutrients to fuel your life. Bowl bases include pitaya, mango, coconut, blue majik, açai, and chia pudding (3 flavors). Toppings include hemp seeds, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, chia seeds, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, coconut butter crumbles, almonds, granola, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, honey, cashew cacao butter, peanut butter, almond butter, and PB cacao protein crumbles.

Song Tea and Poké

Down the street from Nautical Bowls, you’ll find Song Tea and Poké, a bubble tea shop serving the perfect fruity teas and build-your-own poké bowls. Choose one of the house poké bowls or build your own! Select your base, proteins (raw, cooked or vegan), mix-ins, toppings, crunchies and dressing. Tea options can be made with dairy substitutes.

Tii Cup

Tii Cup is a family-owned restaurant serving authentic boba (bubble) tea and Taiwanese street food. Their boba tea options include their signature Golden Milk Tea and Thai Tea, iced teas, milk teas, and caffeine-free smoothies, with vegan and plant-based options. Try the spicy tofu squares or build your own biing – fluffy, flavored shaved ice with fruit toppings and syrups. We like the Aloha, which has pineapple biing, fresh strawberries, roasted coconut and pineapple syrup.

Urban Wok

Urban Wok serves up global fusion stir fry that is fast, fresh and flavorful! The menu is built on clean and natural ingredients with vegan and vegetarian friendly options too. Their Signature Sauces are gluten-free, vegan and made in house daily. Start with an appetizer, such as a chickpea tikka bowl or a black bean mango quinoa salad. Then pick your base (rice, udon or zucchini noodles or brown / jasmine rice), your protein (tofu or fresh veggies), vegetables, sauces and toppings. Wok your way!

Hold The Wheat

Hold The Wheat is a small takeaway bakery and coffee shop that specializes in gluten-free cakes, pies and cookies. The bakery recognizes that people with other allergies and dietary restrictions deserve great tasting baked goods, so they’ve also mastered some great tasting vegan and dairy-free recipes. Try the Berry Sweetie Pie or Oatmeal Smart Sandies. The barista bar includes drip coffee, espresso drinks, kids cocoa, teas, and 16 oz iced drinks. GF oat and almond milk substitutes are available.

Muddy Paws Cheesecake

This artisan cheesecake bakery serves over 222 flavors of made-from-scratch cheesecake, whole or by the slice, with numerous vegan and gluten-free options. Choose from 14 different vegan flavors, including Raspberry Swirl, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Key Lime, Chocolate Decadence, New York Style, Pumpkin, and Oreo. They usually have 1-3 vegan options available on any given day for walk-up purchases.

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