Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a haven for vegans and more restaurants opens each year that goes by. If you need to fuel up to explore some trails in town, or do one of my 8 must-try activities…
Here are some of my favorite vegan options, listed alphabetically. I go to Milwaukee fairly often and try to eat in new places, so keep checking this page for updates!
Beans and Barley
The hummus at Beans and Barley is the creamiest I’ve ever had. Located on North Avenue, on theEast Side, this place is perfect for dinner after a movie at the Oriental Theater. It has many vegan options on the menu (like the sweet potato burrito pictured here) but make sure to save some room for dessert because the size of the cake slices is ridiculous!
Adjacent to the restaurant (all in the same indoor spot) is a store with many everyday vegan items (food and drinks) as well as a deli (if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to stay for dinner). On your way out, don’t forget to grab a vegan cookie… or a ridiculously large slice of pie to go!
Check out their website for more info: https://beansandbarley.com
Beerline Café
This is my favorite restaurant in Milwaukee! It’s all vegetarian and there are many vegan options. Pictured here are the loaded nachos, the Ethiopian lentil wrap with a side roasted of asparagus and a special… their specials change often and adapt to the seasons, it’s always interesting to see what they come up with.
They also serve crepes, tacos, burgers, omelettes, salads and more! They also have desserts on display (many from East Side Ovens) and many drinks (hot and cold). The owner is so very nice and the whole staff will help with what you need.
The restaurant is located on the West side, and it’s easy to go for a walk along the nearby river after your meal !
Check out their website to check their hours and see the full menu: https://beerlinecafe.com
Bel Air Cantina
Things are pretty simple at Bel Air Cantina: good guac and good tacos! There are quite a few options labeled vegan on the menu, and the staff has always been good about modifying vegetarian times to make them vegan. If you order three tacos you get a side or rice and beans. Ask for black beans to make sure it’s vegan.
There are several locations in Milwaukee and the suburbs, but the restaurant on Downer Ave is a perfect choice for dinner after a movie at Downer Theater! Talk about the movie and enjoy vegan tacos!
Check out their website for an up-to-date menu and see which location is closest to you: https://belaircantina.com/qr-menu/
Cafe Corazón
You can find great food at Café Corazón and the drinks are really tasty too. This restaurant has many vegan items on their menu, including the ones pictured here: vegan enchiladas and vegan chilaquiles, both with green salsa. Their guacamole is super creamy and their red salsa very flavorful.
They offer a variety of vegan protein for you to choose from and customize your meal: soy chorizo, cremini mushrooms and corn, herbed tofu and grilled veggies.
They have several locations in Milwaukee, but the décor in the Riverside location is definitely worth a visit! And if you travel the city by bike… this location is on the Beerline Trail.
To see the locations and see a full menu, visit https://corazonmilwaukee.com
Comet
So happy that Comet café has reopened!
Their fries are legendary, many items of their menu are vegan and can be made vegan, so you’ll have to spend a bit of time inspecting the menu. They have some usual items like a vegan scramble and a vegan breakfast burrito, but some unusual items too like vegan chili cheese fries (pictured bottom right) and tofu wings.
Also pictured here are the vegan schwarma sandwich, the wedge salad, and the hummus.
Check out their full menu here: https://www.thecometcafe.com/lunch-dinner
The Lafayette Place
I have been to this restaurant twice and ordered the same thing because it was so delicious!
The Lafayette place is a 100% vegan brunch restaurant located at the corner of N. Farwell Ave and (you guess it!) E. Lafayette Place open Thursday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 2pm. It’s the perfect place to eat out before seeing a movie at the Oriental Theater, or after a morning walk along Lake Michigan or on the Oak Leaf Trail (both very nearby).
Pictured here are the Cheesy Hash (a very generous bowl) and the Breakfast Sammie. They serve Anodyne Coffee and have many smoothies that look delicious… but I never have room for them. If you try one, let me know!
To see their full menu: https://lafayetteplacemke.com
Stone Creek Coffee
If you are looking for a coffeehouse where you can eat and then get some work done while drinking coffee, Stone Creek Coffee is perfect for you! I tend to go to their Downer St. location, which is very large and has outdoor seating, but they have several locations. Downer has several gender neutral bathrooms.
For food, they have vegan tacos and you can veganize the Cauliflower Bowl by replacing the egg with mung bean egg, which is also what they use for protein in the tacos.
The portions are small, but the food tasted really good. Stone Creek also has many delicious coffee beverages, and sometimes vegan deserts like muffins, so make sure to check their desert options when you go!
To check out their locations and see a full menu, click here.
Strange Town
Strange Town has a strange name (for a restaurant), and a concept a little different from other places in Milwaukee, and is absolutely worth a visit.
It’s a “small plates” 100% plant based restaurant: you order many small dishes to share with your party. Don’t worry too much about how many dishes to order, you can order more as you go if you still feel hungry. The menu changes often, but one thing I can assure you is that everything is delicious. I’ve been there many times and I’ve always loved what I ordered.
The place is small and intimate, the light is low, and conversation is easy as there are many sound dampening foam pads on the walls. Which is a good thing because the meal will take some time, as they only bring one or two dishes at a time. So take your time, enjoy your conversation and your food!
There is a unisex bathroom, and a 20% gratuity is added to the check to make sure to pay their employees a fair wage.
Check out their website for more info: https://www.strangetownmke.com