Vegan Restaurants in Minnesota

by Amie Sugat

Home to the Vegan Rock Star Prince, Minnesota ranks number seven in the world's top vegetarian and vegan hot spots. This is thanks to 266 vegetarian, vegan, and vegetarian-vegan friendly restaurants, grocery, health food, and natural co-ops and stores. While the Twin Cities boast farming and hunting activities, vegans and vegetarians can feel at home with dining choices from Asian and East Indian to greasy spoon and raw food treats. However, there are only three restaurants so far which boast 50 percent and 100 percent vegan menus.
Ecopolitan: Vegan and Raw

This non-profit ecologically friendly shop features an all-vegan and all-raw foods restaurant, bar, spa, sauna, oxygen bar and art gallery. It even offers delicacies such as beer, wine, ice cream and delectable desserts. The facility was built with non-toxic products and the business supports sustainable living, education, local businesses and farmers. It even uses purified water in all preparations. In addition to eat-in or takeout food orders it also offers product such as juicers, dehydrators, books, and organic cottons and hemp clothing and accessories. Additionally, they offer uncooking classes for just $45 on the last Sunday of each month, which is followed by a raw-vegan potluck. Ecopolitan 2409 Lyndale Ave S. (at 24th Street, Twin Cities) Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 87-GREEN Ecopolitan.com

Delights of India

Delights of India features vegan-friendly, all-vegetarian cuisine and a daily lunch buffet. Vegan foods are clearly marked with over half the menu offering vegan options. The cuisine is in the North Indian Punjabi style. This modest restaurant features standard dishes such as aloo matar gobi (cauliflower, peas and potatoes) and palaak paneer (soft cheese in a creamy spinach sauce). It also has a few south Indian favorites such as dosas, baighan masala (spicy eggplant and potatoes), and aloo chana (chickpea curry with mushrooms, onions and potatoes). The lead chef is the critically acclaimed former Chutney's Grill chef Sanjay Kumar. Delights of India 1123 West Lake Street (at Emerson Ave S.) Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 824-6342
Pure Market Express

Pure Market Express is a vegan-raw food mecca and support system. For those who don't have time to sprout and prepare their vegan diet on a daily basis, this restaurant caters. Its raw-vegan meals are prepared with organic ingredients such as lasagna, cabbage wraps, pad Thai, pizza, sushi, soups, desserts and other American dishes served raw. It features rich creamy raw-vegan ice cream. This cafÃ©-style establishment will deliver or ship anywhere in the continental United States. If dining in, prepare to wait or order ahead of time as raw-vegan food takes longer to prepare. Pure Market Express 500 Chestnut Street Chaska, MN 55318 (952) 452-4865 puremarketexpress.com/