Medora, ND is the land of bison and other big game, dusty and rugged terrain, and cowboys. When we think about asking for vegan food options while dining out in Medora we can practically hear the entire restaurant going completely silent and everyone turning to find the person who would ask such a question. Believe it or not, it’s possible to eat vegan in rugged Medora, North Dakota!

Located just eight hours from the Twin Cities, MN this is the perfect road trip for the whole family. We will absolutely be returning to Medora, ND since there is so much to see in the town of Medora itself and also with Theodore Roosevelt National Park AND the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (slated to open in 2025) we could spend a week and not see everything!

Now let’s talk about the food…

Our stay in Medora, North Dakota was hosted but our opinions are our own.

Food Apps for Travel

Practically the first thing we do when trip planning is figuring out where we’re going to eat! We love to eat local so we utilize apps like Happy Cow and Trip Advisor to find local restaurants when traveling. After switching to WFPB, scoping out the restaurant scene has become crucial because not every restaurant offers plant-based or vegan options.

Before our trip to Medora, we viewed online menus but didn’t even see a basket of tater tots in the appetizer section that we could share. We consider ourselves to be pretty low-maintenance people. Depending on where we eat, ordering vegan options, or in this case, modifying a carnivore-focused menu, is definitely NOT low maintenance.

But we were able to make it work! We’ll share some vegan option ideas that you can enjoy while visiting Medora, ND.

Eat Vegan in Rugged Medora, North Dakota

Boots Bar & Grill

Boots Bar & Grill has a fun atmosphere for the whole family. There is a large air-conditioned dining area with a bar or a more quaint patio seating area for an outdoor experience. We sat on the patio and had a great time getting to know some new people and sharing some laughs.

We started things off with a couple of refreshing pints from Beaver Creek Brewery (Wibaux, MT). Dusty went with the Paddlefish Stout Ale (ABV- 6.3%, IBU 30) and Kelly chose the Castor Mexican Amber Ale (ABV- 4.6%, IBU 27). Both beers were excellent and perfect for sipping on a shaded patio to escape the North Dakota Badlands heat!

When it was time to order some grub we were in the mood for some fresh veggies, so we went for some big salads! There are three salads on the menu. We chose two of them. The menu also offers chips and guac but we didn’t order that.

On the left: Badlands Salad- we modified this salad to have only the mixed greens, sauteed mushrooms and onions served with balsamic vinegar.

On the right: Boots Salad- mixed greens, candied pecans, dried cranberries with raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Both salads were delicious, light, and satisfying.

The Farmhouse Cafe

We couldn’t find a menu online for The Farmhouse Cafe prior to visiting so we were a little nervous about what options there would be for us. We were floored with the option of hashbrowns with onions, red and green peppers. It was an enormous serving and delicious. Also, doesn’t any kind of beverage taste better in a mason jar? Especially ice-cold H2O! Pair that with a hot black coffee and we were ready to explore Medora, ND.

There is also a bean burger that is on the lunch menu that they start serving at 11 am that we will be ordering next time we are in town!

Bread + Butter Kitchen

We had a quick lunch while learning about plans for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library being built in Medora. Lunch was catered by Bread + Butter, a sister company to The Farmhouse Cafe.

Our options for lunch were some wraps and we both opted for the veggie spinach wrap. Very good. The veggies were crisp and fresh and totally hit the spot. We’re excited to stop back next time we are in town to explore the rest of their menu!

Medora Uncork’d

The appetizer we chose at Medora Uncork’d was a hummus platter which is always a great option. We enjoyed it and so did the other non-vegans in our group. The wine menu is robust and has many options for anyone interested in a glass or bottle. The ambiance is upscale and comfortable all-in-one, so everyone feels welcome. We really enjoyed our time at Medora Uncork’d and we will be back!

More vegan options: some of the pizzas could be modified menu by adding veggies and omitting the cheese.

Little Missouri Saloon

The Little Missouri Saloon is a fun stop for anyone. The first floor is decorated with dollar bills hanging from the rafters. We were able to find buffalo cauliflower and avocado bites on the menu. The servings were enormous!

On a side note: Dusty has always been a big fan of buffalo-flavored food. This night was no different, we estimate he may have eaten four heads of cauliflower. There was no stopping him, he was a man on a mission and he definitely succeeded in that mission!

We also headed back to the Little Missouri Saloon the next night to enjoy some cold beers on their second-floor deck overlooking some of the beauty that is downtown Medora, ND. A cold beer (many options on tap) and a cool night breeze were just what the doctor ordered that evening!

More vegan options: Chips and salsa and chips and guacamole. You could also modify the beef fajita salad or taco salad for your entree.

Badlands Pizza & Saloon

Badlands Pizza & Saloon was excellent! They have vegan cheese on the menu and that put some perma-grins on our faces from the time we walked in to our last bite! Also, we always comment on how some side salads are pretty basic. We were very impressed with this house salad that comes loaded with cucumber, onion, tomato, and black olives! Badlands has a large dining area where larger groups can dine comfortably. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive making this place another one on the list we will be returning to!

The pizza we ordered is Jane’s Pizza made vegan. This included onion, mushroom roasted redd peppers, and a balsamic reduction.

See, it’s possible to eat vegan in Medora, ND

Overall, we were very happy to have some vegan options that we could enjoy while touring Medora with other travel bloggers. As previously noted we will be making a return visit to Medora, ND and we think you should too!

Pin for planning a trip to Medora, ND